Samford Library News

Liz Wells Wins Service Award

2012-02-01T13:37:00.001-06:00

Our very own Elizabeth Wells (Special Collection) has won this year's Jennings B. Marshall faculty service award! This award is given annually to a member of the faculty in recognition for significant sustained contribution of service to the University. Please see the Belltower article for more information. Congratulations, Liz!

Julie Williams: A Rare Titanic Family

2012-01-18T11:21:00.000-06:00

Julie Williams, Samford University journalism professor, shares the story of a missionary couple who survived the sinking of the Titanic: A Rare Titanic Family: The Caldwells' Story of Survival, published January 1, 2012, by NewSouth Books.

Encyclopedia, anyone?

2012-01-18T09:46:00.002-06:00

A number of web sites, including Wikipedia, are protesting the SOPA bill before Congress with a 24-hour blackout. Here is an informative LibGuide about the Wikipedia Blackout from Texas A&M University.

Remember: the University Library provides you with uninterrupted online access to a wide range of encyclopedias and other scholarly reference materials. Whether you are conducting in-depth research or are simply curious to learn more, our resources can help you. Please contact the Reference Desk for assistance.

Welcome, Marliese Thomas

2012-01-12T14:04:00.000-06:00

We are delighted that Marliese Thomas has joined the University Library staff as our Reference and User Engagement Librarian. Thomas will assist in reference and instruction as well as coordinate library marketing initiatives and outreach activities. She will also have primary responsibility for managing the web presence for Reference and Research Services.

Thomas comes to us from Auburn University, where she served as Special Collections Technology Librarian and Database Enhancement Librarian. She holds a bachelor's degree in communications from Loyola University New Orleans and a master's degree in library and information science from the University of Alabama.

Forthcoming book by John Knapp

2011-12-05T13:36:00.002-06:00

Please see this post from the Eerdmans blog. Here is the description from the blog:

John C. Knapp is founding director of the Frances Marlin Mann Center for Ethics and Leadership at Samford University and author of the forthcoming book How the Church Fails Businesspeople (and What Can Be Done About It). In this post (the first in a three-part series), he discusses the “dangerous chasm separating the worlds of faith and work” that compelled him to write the book.

New Electronic Books

2011-12-01T11:34:00.004-06:00

You can browse our recently added ebooks here, organized by category. 1,705 ebooks were added to the the library catalog today!

Mobile-friendly databases

2011-11-28T10:30:00.004-06:00

We are pleased to announce that 40 of the University Library databases now have a mobile-friendly option available. If you see this mobile icon - - you can click it to access the mobile-friendly version of the database.

We hope that this will make our resources even more accessible. Please let us know if you have any questions.

The Early Republic

2011-11-22T09:00:00.002-06:00

The University Library has acquired access to The Early Republic, an extensive collection of primary documents from the first days of the United States, published by Johns Hopkins University Press. This database is available on and off campus to all students, faculty, and staff.

Wrapping Up Project SAILS

2011-11-18T13:21:00.003-06:00

A special thank you to the 675 students who participated in Project SAILS:

Freshmen: 361 (53.5%)
Sophomores: 77 (11.4%)
Juniors: 50 (7.4%)
Seniors: 173 (25.6%)
Other: 14 (2.1%)

Your feedback gave us valuable data that will help us serve you more effectively.

Again, congratulations to Katie, Cole, Kenan, Grace, Paul, Laura, and Anna for winning our prizes!

SAILS Grand Prize Winner

2011-11-14T15:43:00.003-06:00

Anna Crawford won an iPad for participating in Project SAILS. Congratulations, Anna!

Thank you to everyone who helped Project SAILS to be a great success.

SAILS Winner #6

2011-11-09T07:54:00.002-06:00

Laura Bedsole won a $50 Amazon Gift Card for participating in Project SAILS. Congratulations, Laura!

Measure of Devotion

2011-11-09T07:44:00.002-06:00

The Samford University Library invites you to remember the American Civil War and the lives that were changed through an exhibit open to the public featuring historical documents, journals, letters and photos.

Measure of Devotion
November 7th - December 2, 2011

With thanks to Jennifer Taylor, Special Collection Department.

SAILS Winner #5

2011-11-08T07:39:00.002-06:00

Paul Austin won a $50 Amazon Gift Card for participating in Project SAILS. Congratulations, Paul!

SAILS Winner #4

2011-11-04T08:17:00.005-05:00

Grace Kimrey won a $100 Amazon Gift Card for participating in Project SAILS. Congratulations, Grace!

SAILS Winner #3

2011-11-03T11:37:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to Kenan Solomon, our third SAILS winner! Kenan won a $50 Amazon Gift Card.

The iPad Grand Prize is still available. If you have not already taken Project SAILS, be sure to take the survey by 11/11/11 and enter to win an iPad.

Need instructions on how to take the test or a code? Just e-mail Stephanie Rollins.

Thank you for helping us help you!

Royal Society Journal Archive

2011-10-27T09:57:00.002-05:00

The Royal Society opened its archives to the public yesterday in digital format.

"Treasures in the archive include Isaac Newton's first published scientific paper, geological work by a young Charles Darwin, and Benjamin Franklin’s celebrated account of his electrical kite experiment." (The Royal Society)

Please read more about the archives, or enjoy searching them yourself!

SAILS Winner #2

2011-10-26T07:50:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Cole Limbaugh, who won a $50 Amazon Gift Card for participating in Project SAILS!

Popcorn Aftermath

2011-10-25T12:12:00.004-05:00

Thank you to all those who visited us during our popcorn give-away. We promoted Project SAILS by giving away 26 batches of fresh popcorn and 83 SAILS cards! The SAILS survey will remain open to undergraduates through November 11.

Free Popcorn

2011-10-24T09:37:00.006-05:00

Tomorrow during Convo hour (10:00-11:00 a.m.), we will be distributing free popcorn in front of the University Library. This is to promote Project SAILS.

We will also be distributing SAILS cards to undergraduate students during this time. Any undergraduate student who has not received a SAILS card may also acquire one at the Reference Desk on the 2^nd floor of the Library.

There are still five prizes to give away to undergraduates. Please help us help you by participating in Project SAILS!

SAILS Winner #1

2011-10-21T12:10:00.004-05:00

We are giving away prizes to our undergraduates for taking the Standardized Assessment of Information Literacy Skills (SAILS). Our first winner is Katie Wood - she won a $50 gift card to Amazon.com. Congratulations, Katie!

Project SAILS

2011-10-14T07:33:00.003-05:00

From October 17 through November 11, the University Library will be administering the Standardized Assessment of Information Literacy Skills (SAILS) to Samford undergraduate students. This will give us a detailed snapshot of our students’ information literacy skills and will help us to optimize our instructional efforts to meet areas of need. We will need the support of our faculty in encouraging students to connect to the library website and complete the test.

The library will be giving away prizes for taking this test. If you are an undergraduate student, you could win an Amazon Gift Card ($50-$100) or a new iPad. Prizes will be given out on the next five Fridays (10/21 to 11/18).

The test takes 35 minutes on average. For instructions on how to take the test and other information, see http://library.samford.edu/purl/sailsinfo.

Live at the Library 2011

2011-10-05T15:40:00.003-05:00

Dr. Wayne Flynt will be speaking at Live at the Library this year. Be sure to read the Belltower article about this exciting event.

Farewell and Welcome

2011-09-29T19:01:00.004-05:00

We are sad to say goodbye to one of the library's most familiar faces. Beth Smith has served the Samford community for over five years as our Reserve Specialist at the Circulation Desk. In this capacity, she has been in close contact with faculty all over campus to ensure that the library provides access to necessary resources for our students. We are grateful for Beth's excellent service, for her genuine investment in our students, and for the cheerful spirit she has brought to this place. Beth's last day at the Circulation Desk will be Friday, September 30.

We are very excited to welcome Jordan Hughes as our new Reserve Specialist. A Samford alumna, Jordan is familiar with our campus and passionate about serving this community. Jordan worked in the library as a student, and we could not be more pleased that she has joined our staff. Please join us in welcoming Jordan back to Samford.

A Look Inside the NPR Library

2011-09-28T08:19:00.003-05:00

American Libraries recently posted an illuminating article about the National Public Radio library:

http://www.americanlibrariesmagazine.org/columns/next-steps/broadcast-collaboration

Beethoven for Free

2011-09-22T10:00:00.007-05:00

If you are a music lover, you may want to follow Alexander Street's music blog. For the next week or so, Alexander Street Press is offering a free download of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony. Although themes from the Fifth and the Ninth are more famous, the Seventh is easily my favorite. Beethoven himself considered it one of his best works. The second movement of this symphony has been used effectively in a number of movie soundtracks, including Mr. Holland's Opus (1995) and The King's Speech (2010).

Ode to Instruction

2011-09-16T11:31:00.001-05:00

Because I serve on staff at the University Library, I usually think of library instruction as a service we offer at the library. Recently, however, I experienced library instruction as a service offered to me as a graduate student in a research class.

On the first day of class, as our professor described our formidable research assignment, I felt a distinct pang of anxiety. Never before had I been assigned a paper of this magnitude. I inwardly fixated on questions like "How do I do this?" and "Where do I start?" Minutes later, under the expert guidance of Harold Goss, my anxieties dissipated. I enjoyed the relief of knowing that I had the tools I needed for my research paper, coupled with the mild amusement that I still have much to learn even after years of library service. Harold patiently demonstrated the capabilities of Multi-Search to our class and reassured us that the reference librarians were here to help us. By the end of our instruction session, I knew how to sift through all the Library’s holdings to find what I needed, and the research paper seemed much less intimidating to me. To be honest, it's starting to look rather friendly.

I am delighted to report that the University Library has met my needs as a student. This has broadened my perspective and deepened my satisfaction as a library staff member. I commend all those responsible for the instruction program here at Samford and recommend it to any faculty members who may not have considered it for their own classes.

New Britannica Media Collection

2011-09-12T12:11:00.002-05:00

Encyclopaedia Britannica now has thousands of audio and video files online. This media collection is very rich in content, and you can browse it on the Britannica Public Library website.

Vital Documents (Yours) & Disasters

2011-09-07T09:53:00.000-05:00

Should you need to replace your vital documents, for example a Social Security card, then use this list to help identify the correct office for replacements.

9/11 Resources

2011-09-07T07:49:00.001-05:00

As we near the 10th anniversary of 9/11, Credo Reference, one of the University Library's newest online resources, has shared a topic page on "September 11." This topic page combines summary information, links to articles and book reviews, links to books here in the library and elsewhere, and links to images. As we remember this tragic event, you might be interested in these resources, some of which have been very recently published.

With thanks to Lori Northrup, Associate Director and Chair, Collection Management/Acquisitions.

Music Databases

2011-09-01T13:41:00.007-05:00

Thanks to support from the School of the Arts, the University Library has acquired access to the Classical Scores Library through the Music Online platform. This enables you to access several databases simultaneously:

• African American Music Reference
• Classical Music Library
• Classical Music Reference Library
• Classical Scores Library
• Garland Encyclopedia of World Music

Please enjoy your access to this impressive array of music scores, recordings, and other resources.

Entre Nous Online

2011-09-01T07:49:00.006-05:00

In celebration of the class of 1961 and their upcoming golden anniversary, the University Library is excited to announce that the 1958–1961 Entre Nous are now available on the Internet Archive. The digitization of these volumes has been made possible with the help of Dr. Heather West (in honor of Ira L. West) and alumnus Joe W. McDade (in honor of Elizabeth Wells). The library plans to have more yearbooks available in time for the 2012 homecoming celebration. There is still time for alumni and friends to support this digitization effort.

With thanks to Jennifer Taylor, Special Collection Department.

ILL Has Moved

2011-08-29T07:47:00.003-05:00

The Interlibrary Loan office has moved from Room 226 (2nd floor) to Room 410 (4th floor). Because ILL is a very active department, the larger space will certainly be put to good use. To visit the new office, you may use the stairs or the left-most elevator. Please see the Circulation Desk for assistance.

WorldCat Turns Forty

2011-08-26T14:28:00.005-05:00

Here is a letter from Jay Jordan, the President and CEO of OCLC:

"Today marks the 40th anniversary of the launch of WorldCat, the world's most comprehensive online library database. Few of those involved in the creation of WorldCat would have guessed that 40 years later, thousands of librarians and catalogers around the world would have cataloged more than 1.7 billion items.

"Contributions to WorldCat from individual libraries and other partners in the community allow many libraries to get most of the records in their local catalogs from this shared resource. While records come in to WorldCat from a variety of sources, it is the ongoing partnership between dedicated catalogers and the WorldCat team at OCLC that keeps collection data accurate and useful to information seekers.

"WorldCat is a singular achievement. It represents the cooperative spirit at the heart of what makes libraries unique among cultural, educational and civic services. It is a shared resource that is built and maintained by thousands of members for the good of all. We who work at OCLC are proud to have been a part of this remarkable story, and I want to thank our member institutions and employees for the years of dedicated effort that helped build this unique resource. Fred Kilgour's vision—improving access to information through library cooperation—is every bit as vital today as it was in 1971. This anniversary is an important milestone in a shared journey that, I believe, will continue for many decades to come.

"At one point in our history, OCLC used Irascope LTE terminals to send message traffic at 2400 baud over dedicated, leased telephone lines. Our network people tell me that information moves in and out of WorldCat via the Web at approximately 416,000 times that speed today. People now access WorldCat from desktop computers and laptops that are far more powerful than the dedicated servers of the 1970s and '80s. And with tablets and smartphones, our users are staying connected to member libraries at any time, from almost anywhere on the globe.

"The technology has obviously changed, but the vision has not: furthering access to the information in the world's libraries. WorldCat may be one of the world’s oldest databases, but our libraries' commitment to its health and improvement keeps it truly young at heart. And that heart, still beating strongly, is at the center of a unique, global bibliographic system.

"Happy 40th birthday, WorldCat. And congratulations to everyone who had a hand in building this marvelous resource, one record at a time. You're truly part of something extraordinary."

New Database Trials

2011-08-25T13:42:00.003-05:00

The University Library has recently gained access to three new database trials. These resources cover a wide variety of topics and are offered for a limited time. You can view all our current trials here.

With thanks to Lori Northrup, Associate Director and Chair, Collection Management/Acquisitions.

Spotlight on Microfilm

2011-08-23T08:26:00.004-05:00

Microfilm continues to be the desired means of preservation for many archivists. If maintained correctly, film can preserve records for up to 500 years. Currently the Samford University Library is the only institution in Alabama with a mission that includes preservation microfilming for manuscripts, records, and newspapers. Recently, the staff of the Special Collection Department received a microfilm camera on loan from the Alabama Department of Archives and History to aid in the library’s mission. Each year, Samford's microfilm lab preserves a high volume of materials on film for approximately 95% less than it would cost in time or money if it were to be digitized. On average, it costs the department $0.07 to $0.15 per page filmed. Recent studies at other institutions have found a low budget manuscript digitization project costs approximately $1.50 per image to be scanned and uploaded to a website. In 2010 Samford's microfilm laboratory preserved approximately 200,000 pages of records, manuscripts, and newspapers on microfilm. The film produced by the library is sent to various newspaper companies and libraries across the Southeast. The film is also made available to any researcher with access to a library across the United States.

For more information on the Samford University Library's Microfilm Laboratory, please visit http://library.samford.edu/about/sc/microfilm.html.

With thanks to Jennifer Taylor, Special Collection Department.

Butterworth Collection Featured in SC Treasure Chest

2011-08-15T10:20:00.007-05:00

Every two months, the Special Collection department shares a new "treasure" from their Treasure Chest. This is one way you can enjoy the wide variety of materials housed in Special Collection. The newest treasure is the William E. Butterworth Collection. Butterworth is a prolific author, and you may recognize him by his most famous pen name, W. E. B. Griffin. Click here to read more.

With thanks to Jennifer Taylor, Special Collection Department.

Southern Baptist Convention Annuals

2011-08-10T13:43:00.003-05:00

The Southern Baptist Convention annuals (1845-2010) are now available for viewing and downloading on the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives website. Most all, but not all, have been indexed through Google Search. Thanks to the Executive Committee, SBC, and many folks at the Baylor University Library for making this cooperative project a success. The annuals are also accessible through the Baylor University Digital Library.

With thanks to Jennifer Taylor, Special Collection Department

Perseids Meteor Shower

2011-08-04T11:47:00.004-05:00

"The Perseids Meteor Shower peaks on August 13 and 14, but they're visible now through August 22. Even though they peak at 60 meteors per hour, the full Moon on the peak nights will somewhat frustrate your meteor watching pleasure. Find the darkest area you can and look to the northeast after midnight. But don't wait until mid-August -- enjoy the shooting stars now while the Moon isn't so bright and the evenings are still warm!"

With thanks to George Atchley of Samford's Christenberry Planetarium.

Free Music Download from Alexander Street Press

2011-08-03T11:04:00.002-05:00

The latest free music download from Alexander Street Press is "Cowboy Jim" from the album "Pioneering Women of Bluegrass," performed by Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard.

Four Ways that iPads are Changing the Lives of People with Disabilities

2011-08-02T08:48:00.002-05:00

This caught my eye. I know that technological devices can have adaptive features that create real utility for users with various disabilities. The iPad seems to excel at this.

Alexander Street Press/Classical Music Library Download

2011-07-27T12:02:00.002-05:00

The most recent Alexander Street Press/Classical Music Library free download is Mozart's Clarinet Concerto, K. 622. Enjoy!

Inside the New York Public Library's All-Night Scavenger Hunt

2011-07-25T09:47:00.005-05:00

How's this for programming?

"On Friday, May 20, 500 young adults gathered at the New York Public Library to spend the entire night indulging in an ambitious interactive game that would test their collaborative abilities while introducing them to the library's vast holdings. 'Find the Future at NYPL: The Game' was conjured up as part of a weekend of activities celebrating the library's centennial. Participants were picked from a field of 5000 applicants based on their creativity and ability to dream big, as demonstrated through an online submission process where they were asked, 'How do you want to make history and change the world?'"

The Debt Limit: What, How & Why

2011-07-20T12:06:00.002-05:00

Missed Tweeting with the President?

2011-07-07T11:26:00.002-05:00

World Music Download from Alexander Street and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

2011-07-06T10:14:00.011-05:00

I received this message today and wanted to share it with our readers.
_____________________________________________________

World Music Download from Alexander Street

and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

"By and By When the Morning Comes" the album Lead Belly Sings for Children by Lead Belly (SFW45047)

From the Alexander Street Press Website:
________________________________________________________

"Our featured download from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings is "By and By When the Morning Comes" performed by Lead Belly, from the album Lead Belly Sings for Children. This collection features delightful songs for young children as well as the work songs, blues, and spirituals Lead Belly used to teach children about the experiences and emotions of adult life. Originally recorded in children's concerts and studios for Moses Asch and Folkways Records in the 1940s, the 28 songs and spoken introductions reveal the humor, humanity, and musical genius of one of the great artists of the twentieth century. For more information, and to download this track, click here."

Congratulations Poetry Contest Winner Regina Coleman

2011-07-05T16:53:00.001-05:00

We in the University Library are as proud as we can be of our own Regina Coleman, whose poem "Sweet New Orleans" was a first prize winner in the Credo Reference poetry contest. Regina manages our Acquisitions Department. You can read her poem here. Congratulations to a multi-talented member of the Library team!

New Library Website - Beta Version

2011-07-01T12:05:00.005-05:00

The University Library is pleased to announce the launch of its redesigned website, currently in beta form. There is a link to the Beta site from the library's home page: http://library.samford.edu/

The Beta site is available during the summer and is updated continuously, so please bookmark it! We're very excited about it and hope you will be too. We'd love to hear your feedback for improvements. Please try it out and let us know what you think!

More Alabama Demographic Data

2011-06-17T09:20:00.002-05:00

Kathryn Tucker Windham, 1918-2011

2011-06-14T16:17:00.011-05:00

A great lady has passed. Kathryn Tucker Windham died on Sunday at the age of 93. She was an Alabama treasure and a national treasure. National Public Radio offered this segment about her life and work. Here is another article from The School Library Journal.

In 2007, the University Library was fortunate—and thrilled—to have Ms. Windham speak at the annual "Live @ the Library Event." You can visit the library's Facebook page to view more photos, which show a packed house. No surprise there.

You may be interested to know that there seems to be quite a lot of video material featuring this gifted writer and storyteller on YouTube.

2011-06-13T21:18:00.002-05:00

The Samford Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) is underway. You may see participants on campus during the week, or enjoying break time in the Student Center:

National Academies Press - Free eBooks

2011-06-10T11:05:00.003-05:00

The National Academies Press has made hundreds of its book titles free via PDF download.

A wide range of science and technology materials are available: biology and life sciences, earth sciences, energy and energy conservation, food & nutrition, and health & medicine.

There are also a a substantial number of books that deal with teaching. For example, the seminal series titled "How People Learn" is available, which includes material on teacher education and the teaching of subjects such as history, as well as math and science.

Other subjects covered are behavioral sciences, conflict and security issues, climate change, and understanding evolution.

You must register as a user. Once you've located a book or books you're interested in, look for the PDF download button.

Visit http://www.nap.edu.

Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research

2011-06-06T10:10:00.003-05:00

June 12-17, 2011 is IGHR week here at Samford, and the library is an integral part of this event. The Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) is a week-long event attended by genealogists and researchers from all over the United States. It offers a wide variety of courses focused on the discovery, evaluation and use of genealogical sources and research methods specific to genealogical research. Courses are offered by educators prominent in the field of genealogy research. To learn more, please visit http://www4.samford.edu/schools/ighr/.

Gigantic Book Sale!

2011-06-01T14:18:00.010-05:00

Make some time this weekend for Birmingham Public Library's Gigantic book sale, June 3-4 2011. This video tells you all you need to know—and then some:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3erMYfEehzE

Exhibit of New York Public Library Artifacts

2011-05-23T10:45:00.001-05:00

From Wired magazine:

"The curators at the New York Public Library have spent a century amassing the library’s extensive research collection — everything from 4,300-year-old Sumerian cuneiforms to Malcolm X’s briefcase.
Now the library is putting a vast selection of that stash on display in Celebrating 100 Years. The exhibit opens Saturday at the NYPL’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, which is celebrating its 100th birthday."

You can view some of these truly fascinating items by clicking here.

BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY'S GIGANTIC BOOK SALE

2011-05-18T10:42:00.009-05:00

Mark your calendars for Birmingham Public Library's Gigantic Book Sale, June 3-4 2011.

Click here to view an event flyer.

CONVOCATION WEEKEND CLOSING HOURS

2011-05-11T10:26:00.004-05:00

This weekend is Samford convocation, so please be aware of our closing hours: http://library.samford.edu/about/hours.html

PROQUEST HISTORY VAULT

2011-05-09T08:49:00.001-05:00

We invite you to explore our latest database trial, Proquest History Vault, which includes substantial content dealing with Alabama History, and modules titled "The Black Freedom Struggle in the 20th Century: Federal Government Records & Organizational Records and Personal Papers." Please visit the trials page to view login information for this trial.

DAYBREAK IN ALABAMA

2011-05-02T11:37:00.001-05:00

From the Knopf "A Poem A Day" site, with thanks to Anna Embree. "Daybreak in Alabama," by Langston Hughes:
http://poem-a-day.knopfdoubleday.com/2011/04/29/hughes/

RECENT BOOK ACQUISITIONS

2011-04-27T10:29:00.004-05:00

Thanks to Ed Cherry for creating the content of this posting.

Would you like a quick and easy way to learn about books our library has recently acquired? Would you like to receive an automatic notification when new books in your field(s) of interest are added to the library collection?

Have a look at "Recent Acquisitions" available on the "Find Books" flyout on the homepage. The link is also accessible from the "Find Books" tab on subsequent pages.

Or you can visit http://library.samford.edu/newacq/. This list of new books is updated weekly. Books are grouped by broad subject categories, such as “language and literature” and “religion and society.”

This page includes RSS feeds for each subject area. You can subscribe to these feeds to receive a notice when new books are added to the library collection. To subscribe to a feed, click on the orange RSS link beside the subject name.

Encyclopedia of European social history from 1350 to 2000

2011-04-26T15:03:00.000-05:00

The Encyclopedia of European Social History covers all aspects of European social history from 1350-2000. This six-volume reference resource includes more than 230 articles on subjects ranging from education and marriage practices to clothing/fashion, ethnicity and national identities, and the impact of religious authority on social life. The volumes include photographs, drawings and maps.

This resource is located on the second floor of the University Library in the Reference Department.

NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK PRIZE WINNERS

2011-04-22T09:59:00.009-05:00

Here are some of our happy Library Week prize draw winners, who enjoyed gift certificates from their favorite restaurants, such as Five Guys, Moes, Mugshots, Yolo's, and the Samford Food Court. Committee member Jennifer Taylor did an outstanding job of contacting the restaurants and obtaining these gifts. Almost every student said to me "I never win anything!" Not true anymore! Thanks to everyone who entered and to the terrific National Library Week committee.

BUSINESS PLANS HANDBOOK FROM GALE PUBLISHING

2011-04-20T11:14:00.000-05:00

The Business Plans Handbook, a Gale Virtual Reference Library title, is now available. Visit the library's catalog to view the title and gain access to this electronic resource.

OPEN MIC POETY READING!

2011-04-14T17:19:00.011-05:00

We were very fortunate to have Michael Adams start us off with a rap poem of his own making titled "Thunderstorm." It was thrilling. Other readers included Eric Allen, Beth Ashmore, Jim Baggett, Garrett Brown, Cheryl Cecil, Naomi Gold, Harold Goss, Bradley Harris, Monica Longoria, Jennifer Taylor, Steven Thomas, Michael Virga, and Will Womack.

Thanks to everyone who read, recited, rapped, or came out to participate by watching and listening!

MEET N' GREET

2011-04-13T12:47:00.002-05:00

Yesterday's meet n' greet (aka "meet n' eat") was a great success. Thanks to my great committee: Catherine Evans, Jennifer Taylor, Dana Webster, and Bekah Wood. Thanks especially to everyone who attended and enjoyed good coffee, good conversation, and delicious sweets.

NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK

2011-04-11T09:04:00.002-05:00

It's National Library Week, and the University Library will be marking this occasion Monday April 11-Friday April 15 with daily prize drawings, a Tuesday meet n' greet, a Thursday open mic poetry reading, and a final prize draw on Friday for a $50 Amazon gift certificate. Click here to learn more.

CENSUS BUREAU WORKSHOPS AT BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY

2011-04-08T10:32:00.002-05:00

Click here to learn more about Census Bureau Workshops at Birmingham Public Library.

CLASSICAL MUSIC DATABASE TRIAL: MediciTV

2011-04-08T08:39:00.008-05:00

With thanks to Jaro Szurek, Music Librarian.

We have a trial access to the MediciTV video database, which is devoted to classical music performance, dance, and other areas of the performing arts. The trial expires May 5.

Please click here to access MediciTV.

PROQUEST DISSERTATIONS AND THESES

2011-04-06T08:36:00.004-05:00

Our current trial to Proquest Dissertations and Theses A & I will be active until the end of April.

The publisher states: “This database is the world's most comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses from around the world, spanning from 1861 to the present day.” Our trial includes abstracting and indexing.

You will find the trial linked from our Databases Trials page and from our Dissertations and Theses subject guide.

EARTH DAY ART DISPLAY AND CONTEST

2011-04-04T08:07:00.004-05:00

University-wide Earth Day Art Exhibition 2011

Who: Samford artists: students (graduate or undergraduate), staff or faculty

What: Any piece of art that is framed/matted and ready to hang, or sculpture suitable and ready to be displayed. (No outdoor installations please.) If you are in doubt, ask Naomi.

Where: Exhibition in the University Library

When: April 18 – 25, 2011

Why: Receive two weeks of fame and a fabulous Earth Day Art T-shirt.

To participate in the show, you MUST do the following:
Deliver artwork between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., April 1-15 to:

Naomi Gold, Reference Librarian
Room 224, University Library
ngold@samford.edu

Your submissions must be accompanied by the appropriate paperwork. Please download the paperwork instructions from this link.

DATABASE TRIALS

2011-03-30T11:47:00.002-05:00

Please keep in mind the substantial number of excellent trial resources being made available to the Samford community. These trials carry expiration dates, so visit the Trials page sooner rather than later, and feel free to contact Lori Northup, lanorthr@samford.edu, with your comments.

GUIDE TO eBOOKS

2011-03-25T11:06:00.001-05:00

You may be aware that the University Library is obtaining more and more of its access to books in eBook format. Many of you have likely seen, and perhaps used, items in the library catalog marked “electronic resource.” If so, you will know that these important resources are accompanied by a certain learning curve.

In order to assist you in your use of electronic books, we have created a page on the library website providing instruction and assistance:

http://samford.libguides.com/eBooks

Please view it at your convenience, and feel free to contact any member of the reference department for further clarification.

WELCOME, DR. STEPHANIE ROLLINS

2011-03-25T11:01:00.006-05:00

Thanks to Kim Herndon for providing the text for this posting.

It is our pleasure to announce the appointment of Dr. Stephanie Rollins as Reference and Instruction Librarian for the University Library, effective April 4th. Dr. Rollins is currently the Reference Librarian and Branch Manager at the College of Southern Nevada in Henderson, Nevada and is a native of Alabama. Dr. Rollins’ strong professional background with sixteen years of experience in research and access services will complement our already strong Reference and Research Services Department.

Dr. Rollins received a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree in English from Auburn University, and a Master of Library Science and Doctor of Public Administration from the University of Alabama. She is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Library Association, Nevada Library Association, and Mountain Plains Library Association, and was an active member of the Alabama Library Association during her tenure at the Muir S. Fairchild Research Information Center, Maxwell AFB. Dr. Rollins is assuming the position previously held by Harold Goss who became the Chair of Research Services of the University Library on January 1st, 2011. In her role, Dr. Rollins will be responsible for planning, designing, implementing, and assessing library instruction and information literacy initiatives as well as assisting with reference and research services.

We are most grateful to Harold Goss for his hard work this semester, as he assumed his new duties in addition to continuing to fulfill the duties of Instruction Librarian during the search process.

We are pleased to have Dr. Rollins as part of the University Library faculty and we know you will join us in welcoming her in her new role.

EARTH DAY 2011

2011-03-23T11:04:00.001-05:00

Attention student groups and organizations, faculty, and students: Earth Day is coming! Make your plans, share your ideas, and bring it all to the Earth Day Sustainability Fair, coming to you on Ben Brown Plaza Thurs, 21 April 2011. This year's suggested theme is "Renewal." Sign up here:
http://www4.samford.edu/earthday/oncregform.html

And view a full list of events here:
http://www4.samford.edu/earthday/schedule.html

University-wide Earth Day Art Exhibition 2011

2011-03-21T13:20:00.000-05:00

Who: Samford artists: students (graduate or undergraduate), staff or faculty

What: Any piece of art that is framed/matted and ready to hang, or sculpture suitable and ready to be displayed. (No outdoor installations please.) If you are in doubt, ask Naomi.

Where: Exhibition in the University Library

When: April 18 – 25, 2011

Why: Receive two weeks of fame and a fabulous Earth Day Art T-shirt.

To participate in the show, you MUST do the following:
Deliver artwork between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Wednesday, April 1 through Wednesday, April 15 to:

Naomi Gold, Reference Librarian
Room 224, University Library
ngold@samford.edu

Your submissions must be accompanied by the appropriate paperwork. Please download the paperwork instructions from this link.

EARTH DAY ESSAY CONTEST. GRAND PRIZE: NOOK eREADER!

2011-03-11T11:24:00.000-06:00

The Communication Resource Center is sponsoring an essay contest for Earth Day. The grand prize is a Nook e-reader. Visit the CRC site to learn more, and visit the library's Earth Day book display, which also includes details about this great writing opportunity!

TRIALS AND MOBILE-FRIENDLY DATABASES

2011-03-07T12:09:00.005-06:00

Please take a moment to have a look-see at the database trials we are now offering--
http://samford.libguides.com/trials--as well as our list of mobile-friendly databases now available at http://samford.libguides.com/mobile.

MOBILE-FRIENDLY DATABASES!

2011-03-04T11:54:00.004-06:00

We have created a page that lists all the databases with mobile-friendly interfaces. It is available here: http://samford.libguides.com/mobile.

We would really appreciate hearing your feedback about this page and the resources on them. How well do they work with your mobile device? Feel free to comment on our Facebook page, here on the Library News Blog, or with the comment feature on the mobile-friendly device page.

Thank you!

Women's History Month

2011-03-02T12:16:00.007-06:00

The library's Government Documents area has a display of numerous materials related to Women's History Month, including materials dealing with women's involvement with the American trade union movement 1824-1976; Women in Congress; Women marines in World War II; and a document titled "Equal Pay: A Thirty-Five Year Perspective."

Please visit the Government Documents area on the second floor of the University Library. Thank you.

FREEBIES! DATABASE TRIALS!

2011-03-02T08:19:00.004-06:00

Thanks to Lori Northrup for providing the material for this posting.

I hope that heading got your attention. What term works better, do you think?" "Freebies? Or "database trials?"

Whatever your preference, we're glad you're reading this, because the University Library is hosting many trials at the moment, and we’d love your feedback. On our database trials page at http://samford.libguides.com/trials, you’ll find collections of ebooks, article databases, image databases, databases of films and music, and more! There’s a tab on the page that links to surveys about each product.

There is a survey for each trial. The surveys are short. We are genuinely interested in your feedback and would really appreciate hearing from you. Let us know what you think of these resources, especially as they relate to your respective disciplines.

Getting your feedback helps us to be better informed as we search for resources that will meet your needs and those of our students. Thank you for your assistance.

AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH AT THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

2011-02-28T10:15:00.028-06:00

Black History Month is coming to an official end, but the study of history never ends, and thanks to resources such as the Library of Congress African American History Month collection, we will never run out of interesting avenues to explore.

The Library of Congress African American History Month collection provides an endlessly fascinating array of historical photographs, an online exhibition from the Smithsonian Museum of African Art titled "African Mosaic: Celebrating a Decade of Collecting," and online exhibits of materials related to arts and culture, civil rights, government & politics, religion, and sports.

Click here to read about the history of African American History Month and the work of Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson, founder of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) and the first Negro History Week in 1925.

Note, in particular, a link to the extraordinary collection of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey, who over the span of 40 years collected a variety of important documents, rare artifacts, and works of art, such as an early version of the Emancipation Proclamation to correspondence between Malcolm X and Alex Haley.

The Kinsey collection includes items such as an 1854 letter, written by one A.M. Crawford, the owner of a young slave named Frances, offering her for sale. (This letter can be viewed at the top of this posting. Click on the image to enlarge it.) The letter states: "She is the finest chamber-maid [sic] I have ever seen in my life." In the letter, Crawford goes on to say: "She does not know that she is to be sold. I could not tell her. I own all her family." Crawford is aware of the heartbreak the separation will cause, but his only concern is for making the sale and avoiding a "distressing leave-taking." The proceeds from the sale are earmarked for the construction of a new stable.

This year's theme for African American History Month, chosen by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, was "African Americans and the Civil War." (See http://www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/about.html). This theme "...honors the efforts of people of African descent to destroy slavery and inaugurate universal freedom in the United States."

The Association "...urges all Americans to study and reflect on the value of their contribution to the nation."

SAMFORD NOBEL PRIZE BIG READ

2011-02-25T12:50:00.003-06:00

With thanks to Bryan Johnson of the English Department, who is responsible for the text reproduced here:

"Please join us for the spring 'Samford Nobel Prize Big Read.' To refresh your memory, in fall semesters we read a work by a past Nobel Prize winner in literature, and in the spring we take on the newest laureate, announced in October."

"This semester we’ll read Mario Vargas Llosa’s The Feast of the Goat
(2002)...The Feast of the Goat concerns chiefly the downfall of a Latin American dictator and the specific experiences of different agents of that downfall. As Walter Kirn writes in his NY Times review, Vargas Llosa gives us 'the lowdown on organized evil in high places.'"

The bookstore will be ordering fifteen copies of the novel. Dr. Johnson will hold spots for the first fifteen people to email him (bmjohnso@samford.edu). The discussion group will meet on Wednesday, April 6 at 3:00, Brooks 105.

Source: Dr. Bryan Johnson

DATABASE TRIAL: SMALL BUSINESS REFERENCE CENTER ™

2011-02-23T08:44:00.001-06:00

We have yet another great trial to tell you about: the Small Business Reference Center™, providing "up-to-date information on relevant topics from starting a company, operations management and sales to growing or rescuing a business. The database contains nearly 400 full-text periodicals and over 450 full-text reference books." Available until 6/30/11.

INTERNATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS CENTER AND MUSEUM, GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

2011-02-21T11:33:00.006-06:00

In January 2010, the New York Times wrote a review of the new International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina. It is housed in the very same Woolworth building, the same "mundane luncheonette," where four 17-year-old freshmen at the all-black Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina sat down on Feb. 1, 1960 and attempted to order some food

That simple act in the American South set off "....[one of the] greatest political movements of the twentieth century...a cataclysmic social transformation."

Read about it here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/arts/design/01museum.html

DR. PERCY JULIAN - "FORGOTTEN GENIUS"

2011-02-18T09:56:00.019-06:00

"Against all odds, African-American chemist Percy Julian became one of the great scientists of the 20th century."

There is a wealth of information about the work of Percy Julian on this PBS website based on the NOVA series that featured Julian's story and work: this PBS website.
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Dr. Percy Julian was born in 1899 in Montgomery, Alabama into a family "...that believed absolutely in education." (Source http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2007-02-02-watchlistenread_x.htm?csp=34)

He was a talented student, but at that time the city provided no public education for black students after eighth grade. He persisted in pursuing his education, however, and was admitted to DePauw University in Indiana as a "sub-freshman," taking remedial classes to make up for the foundational courses denied him in Montgomery's public system. In 1920, he graduated first in his class with Phi Beta Kappa honors.

He became a chemistry instructor at Fisk University, and in 1923 received a fellowship that took him to Harvard to complete his masters degree. Subsequently, he again taught at the university level before traveling to Austria to obtain his PhD in chemistry from the University of Vienna in 1931.

He returned to DePauw to continue his research. His original interest was investigating plant products, especially traditional medicinal plants such as the African calabar bean. In 1935, in collaboration with Josef Pikl, he first synthesized from this plant a chemical called physostigmine, or esserine, which had properties allowing for the treatment of glaucoma by reducing pressure inside the eyeball. This brought him international scientific acclaim, but DePauw would not offer him a professorship.

Perry was interviewed at DuPont and numerous other chemical companies, all of which rejected him once they learned that he was black. He was eventually offered the position of Director of Research at The Glidden Company, a paint manufacturer now part of Imperial Chemical Industries. At Glidden, he was supervising white chemists ten years before Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color line.

He devised methods for using soybean protein to improve water-based paints, and as a central ingredient in the fire retardant Aer-O-Foam. Just as significantly, Perry and his Glidden team discovered that soybean protein could be used to make human hormones. They developed a method for bulk manufacturing of these hormones, which lead to the production of drugs that prevent miscarriage.

He also discovered new and more cost-effective methods for synthesizing cortisone, a drug that relieves the pain of rheumatoid arthritis. In 1948, the Mayo Clinic had announced the discovery of cortisone, but it was difficult to produce. Julian focused his gifts on this challenge, and by October 1949, his team had created a synthetic cortisone substitute, equally effective and much less expensive, since natural cortisone had to be extracted from the adrenal glands of oxen and cost hundreds of dollars per drop, while Julian's synthetic cortisone cost pennies per ounce.

Julian held more than 100 chemical patents, wrote scores of papers describing his work, and received dozens of awards and honorary degrees. He founded The Julian Laboratories, Inc., with labs in the U.S. and Mexico, and worked to hire as many qualified black chemists as possible. (Both laboratories were purchased by Smith Kline French in 1961).

In 1951, Julian and his family moved to Oak Park, Illinois, becoming the first black family to live there. His house was firebombed twice (events that my parents recall and mentioned to me when we were discussing Dr. Julian). But the community was largely supportive of him and a community group was established to defend the family. (Source: http://www.sayitwithme.com/blackhistoryfacts.htm). The Julian family became "a focal point" for civil rights work in Oak Park. (Source: http://www.oprfhistory.org/explore_local_history/hometown_legends/science/percy_julian/default.aspx)

Ned Heindel, former president of the American Chemical Society stated:
"If you look at Percy Julian's career, you can say, if this man had not been black, he could have been a chaired professor at any Ivy or Big Ten institution...The breadth of his understanding of chemistry, and his fire in the belly to produce so many results in such a short period of time, this is Nobel Laureate stuff."(Source: http://www.depauw.edu/news/index.asp?id=18843)

MARY MAHONEY, R.N. (1845-1926) THE UNITED STATES' FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN REGISTERED NURSE

2011-02-16T09:02:00.017-06:00

Mary Eliza Mahoney, R.N.
First Black Nurse
1845-1926

Mary Mahoney was the first African-American woman to complete the course of professional study in nursing.

Mahoney was born in Boston in 1845. She was employed as a cook and cleaner at the New England Hospital for Women and Children, but she had a greater vision for herself and was determined to move beyond domestic work. In 1878, she applied and was accepted to the hospital's nursing school

She graduated from the rigorous program in 1879, one of only a handful of students from the original class to graduate that year. Her graduation marked a new era for the education of African-American nurses in Boston. From that time on, Black students were accepted into the program as long as they were able to meet its requirements. (Source: http://www.bridgew.edu/HOBA/Mahoney.cfm)

Mahoney recognized the need for African-American nurses to combine forces in order to improve their status in the profession. In 1908, she co-founded with Adah B. Thoms the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN), and was the speaker for the organization's first annual convention in 1909. The NACGN merged with the American Nurses Association (ANA) in 1951.

(Note that the archival records of the NACGN are held at the New York Public Library. Click here to learn more.)

In 1921, helped to bring about the reception of Ms. Thoms and a group of African-American nurses to the White House during the NACGN Convention in Washington, D.C., where they met President and Mrs. Warren G. Harding. (Thoms had worked with Jane Arminda Delano, Chairman of the American Red Cross Nursing Service, to convince the Surgeon General to enroll black nurses in the Army Nurse Corps. Though African-American nurses enrolled in July 1918, it wasn't until after the war was over that 18African-American nurses were appointed to the Army Nurse Corps.)

From 1911 to 1912 Mahoney served as supervisor of the Howard Orphan Asylum for Black Children in Kings Park, Long Island. After her return to Boston, she is reputed to have been one of the first women in that city to register to vote after the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920.

Ten years after her death in 1926, the NACGN honoured her memory by establishing the Mary Mahoney Medal, an award to a member for distinguished service to the profession.

Mahoney was named to the Nursing Hall of Fame in 1976 and to the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993.

LEARN MORE (click link to title below)
Davis, Althea T. Early Black American Leaders in Nursing: Architects for Integration and Equality

MAHALIA JACKSON, THE QUEEN OF GOSPEL SONG

2011-02-14T09:33:00.017-06:00

No one could make a joyful noise to the Lord like Ms. Jackson.

Most people can recall the names of great jazz and blues singers, but gospel music, because it has less commercial appeal, has fewer widely-known "stars." The name most closely associated with gospel in the minds of many is that of Mahalia Jackson, the undisputed "Queen of Gospel."

My father was a fan from years and years ago, when Ms. Jackson had a Sunday-evening television show in Chicago. This was around 1954. He told me that if he went out with friends on a Sunday night, he would tell them that he had to be near a television between 7-8 p.m. so he wouldn't miss Mahalia Jackson.

Ms. Jackson was born in New Orleans in 1911 and moved to Chicago at the age of sixteen, where she joined the Greater Salem Baptist Church on Chicago's South Side and eventually began touring with a gospel quintet. She had an outstandingly beautiful contralto voice. She made her first recordings as a soloist in the mid-1930s for Decca and Apollo records, and eventually signed with Columbia records.

There is an interesting piece of information about one of the South Side Chicago churches where Ms. Jackson sang--the Pilgrim Baptist Church--which flourished under the leadership of Dr. Thomas Dorsey, best known for his hymn "Precious Lord."

She could have had enormous success--and greater wealth--singing blues and jazz. These opportunities were offered to her, but she never wanted to sing any type of music other than gospel. (My father also emphasized this point during our discussion about her; he was well aware that she could have been a great blues singer, but that she never wanted to depart from the singing of gospel music.)

Ms. Jackson explained her deep commitment to gospel music this way: "When you sing gospel you have a feeling there is a cure for what's wrong. But when you are through with the blues, you've got nothing to rest on." (Source: http://www.southernmusic.net/mahaliajackson.htm)

Both her own music and that of Dr. Dorsey were, not surprisingly, significantly influenced by the vocal artistry of ragtime, jazz, and blues artists such as Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith. (Dr. Dorsey was himself originally a blues musician.)

Throughout the 1950s, Ms. Jackson appeared regularly on radio and television, and in concert halls around the world. Her European concert appearances were packed. She sang at the 1957 Newport Jazz Festival at an all-gospel program she herself requested. In 1954, she began hosting her own Sunday night radio show for CBS.

She performed on the Ed Sullivan show in 1956, from which she introduced gospel music into America's mainstream.

Gospel concerts are still alive and well, as my parents discovered last night during their attendance in Miami Beach last night of a concert featuring Kurt Carr accompanied by the Miami Mass Choir and the Voices of Christian Fellowship Choir. A joyful noise indeed. They report that it was splendid.
______________________________________________

Now everyone do yourselves a favor and take a break when you can to listen to and watch this historic video of Ms. Jackson:

According to the note attached to this video, Ms. Jackson sang this just prior to the March on Washington before Dr. King's "I Have a Dream Speech."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l49N8U3d0Bw

Here is a German-produced video of Ms. Jackson singing at the rally:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TALcOreZi0A&NR=1

Here is Ms. Jackson singing "Didn't It Rain," accompanied by a choir.

BLACK GOSPEL MUSIC RESTORATION PROJECT

2011-02-11T08:51:00.005-06:00

This is an especially interesting and important project with relevance for music, theatre, history, and the social sciences.

Black Gospel Music Restoration Project at Baylor University:
http://www.baylor.edu/lib/electrres/index.php?id=44987
This is an ongoing project that seeks to acquire, preserve and catalog rare and seldom-heard 78s, 45s and LPs dating from 1945-1970. The project's eventual goal is the creation of a digital audio archive. The site currently offers limited streaming material. Click on "browse a portion of the collection," then click on a vinyl disc thumbnail. Choose side one or side two, and then click on "access this item" from the top center of the page. The project's director, Robert Darden, was interviewed on the NPR program Fresh Air on December 20, 2007. Click here to listen to this interview and to learn more about how materials for this unique and important collection are being acquired.

MORE DATABASE TRIALS

2011-02-09T11:47:00.004-06:00

Folks, we have still more great database trials for you.

1. APA Books E-Collections: Scholarly and professional books published by the American Psychological Association;

2. Image Quest: High-quality images from over 40 of the best collections in the world, fully cleared for academic use.

Please visit the library "trials" page to explore and enjoy

DR. VIVIEN THOMAS-SURGICAL PIONEER

2011-02-07T09:34:00.005-06:00

Born in New Iberia, Louisiana, Vivien Thomas was an aspiring medical student when the stock market crash wiped out his education savings. The lack of funding forced him to drop out of college, and in the absence of other types of work during the difficult time, he took a job sweeping floors at Vanderbilt University. There, Dr. Alfred Blalock, took notice of him and hired him to work as a laboratory, and eventually, surgical assistant. Blalock was in charge of the surgical research laboratory, and was working to research and develop methhods of treating hemorrhagic and traumatic shock.

Thomas very rapidly learned to perform surgery and physiologic studies, and to carry out chemical determinations. He developed into a highly skilled technician capable of conducting complicated experimental cardiac operations and devising new surgical methdods completely unassisted. He remained Blalock's principal technician and laboratory chief for the rest of Blalock's career. When Blalock was offered a pretigious position at the then-segregated Johns Hopkins University in 1941, he accepted on the condition that Thomas accompany him.

In 1976, Thomas was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Johns Hopkins University and was made a member of the medical school faculty in recognition of his contributions to the practice of cardiovascular surgery and to the education of young surgeons. Today, his portrait hangs in the lobby of the Blalock Building on The Johns Hopkins Hospital campus.

Dr. Levi Watkin, of Johns Hopkins University, described Thomas as, "the most un-talked about, unappreciated, unknown giant in the African American community. What he helped facilitate impacted people all over the world." Recently, Vivien Thomas' story has been the inspiration for the PBS documentary, "Partners of The Heart" and the HBO film, "Something The Lord Made."

You can read more about Dr. Vivien Thomas here and here.

ELLA FITZGERALD-THE FIRST LADY OF SONG

2011-02-04T13:40:00.017-06:00

My family is on a first-name basis with Ella Fitzgerald. Not because we knew or even met her, but because my father has always been in the habit of referring to her--with great reverence--simply as "Ella." When he says, "I've been listening to Ella," or "I watched a documentary about Ella," we know exactly what he's talking about. Because there is only one Ella. Her gifts were completely unique. There was no one like her.

When my nephew came home from school one day singing "A-Tisket A-Tasket," my brother naturally asked him where he had heard it. He told my brother that his music teacher had played the song, sung by Ella Fitzgerald, in that day's music class. My brother phoned my father immediately to tell him the news--and this sort of thing definitely qualifies as news in my
family--about the wonderful music teacher and the latest addition to the Gold family Ella fan club.

A 2007 NPR segment describes the career and gifts of the great Ella. And in honor of Jazz Appreciation Month in 2008, NPR made available for streaming five Ella classics, including "Something's Gotta Give" and "It Don't Mean a Thing." Make your day by taking some time to listen.

STATE OF SEIGE: MISSISSIPPI WHITES AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

2011-02-02T08:47:00.003-06:00

February is Black History Month, and it's just as well that the event spans an entire month, because we have a lot to cover. The Civil Rights Movement is just one element, and a central one to be sure. We will also be posting material covering the visual and performing arts, science, medicine, and political & public life.

This item was provided by the Internet Scout Project:

"American RadioWorks is always looking for compelling topics to explore, and this recent radio documentary looks into the role that certain groups of white people played in combating the civil rights movement in Mississippi. Here visitors can listen to the complete program, or take a look at some of the separate sections, which include 'The March Backward' and 'The Citizens' Council.' The program includes interviews and commentary from a wide range of persons, and there is particularly good coverage of one well-known race riot at the University of Mississippi and the Citizens' Council, whose goal was to maintain white supremacy. The site is rounded out by a selection of links and resources and social media buttons designed to allow users to share the program with others."

SOUTHERN INTELLECTUAL HISTORY CIRCLE

2011-01-31T09:19:00.002-06:00

The Southern Intellectual History Circle will be gathering in Tuscaloosa from February 24-26. Registration for this event is free and can be done online at http://tinyurl.com/sihc-register. The deadline is Tuesday, February 1.

More information about the conference can be found at the Summersell
Center for the Study of the South website, http://www.scss.ua.edu.

SPRINGER TRIAL--BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS

2011-01-28T10:42:00.002-06:00

We have another great trail database to offer you. Enjoy free access (denoted with a green icon) to over 20,000 ebooks from Springer covering subjects such as Architecture & Design, Behavioral Sciences, Biomedical & Life Sciences, Business & Economics, Chemistry & Material Science, Computer Science, Earth & Environmental Science, Engineering, Humanities, Social Science & Law, Mathematics & Statistics, Medicine, Physics & Astronomy, Professional and Applied Computing. Click here to view the "Trials" page and view the link to this new Springer trial.

DATABASE TRIALS PAGE

2011-01-26T12:12:00.001-06:00

Please take a few minutes to visit the library database trials page for links to databases currently under review. There are two especially interesting resources there now: The Naxos Music Library (one of my favorites) and the Gale Virtual Reference Library.

National Archives Discovers Date Change on Lincoln Record

2011-01-25T09:03:00.002-06:00

TUESDAY CONVOCATION AND LIBRARY HOURS

2011-01-24T11:51:00.000-06:00

The opening convocation of the spring semester is tomorrow, Tuesday, January 25th. The Library will be closed from 9:45 am until 11:00 am so everyone has the opportunity to attend. Spring semester hours have resumed. Please visit http://library.samford.edu/about/hours.html to view a detailed list of library opening and closing hours.

GALE VIRTUAL REFERENCE LIBRARY TRIAL

2011-01-21T08:47:00.002-06:00

We are pleased to announce that the library has obtained trial access to the Gale Virtual Reference Library, a database of encyclopedias and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research. We will have this access to this resource until March 15, 2011.

Your comments about this resource are welcome and encouraged. Please feel free to contact Lori Northrup, lanorthr@samford.edu.

New American FactFinder Debut

2011-01-19T09:57:00.000-06:00

NEW CAREER DATABASES

2011-01-19T09:06:00.001-06:00

The Network of Alabama Academic Libraries (NAAL), a consortium of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education and college and university libraries, has developed a partnership with the database producers EBSCO and Facts on File for access to two valuable career information resources: Career Library and Ferguson's Career Guidance Center.

These resources will be available at no cost to all residents of Alabama on the Alabama Virtual Library from January 2011 through June 2011.

The University Library has included these two databases in its own resource listings on the Alphabetical Database List and on the Career Information and Job Search page.

EBSCO Publishing’s Career Library is an excellent resource for individuals looking for jobs and for those who want to consider changing careers. In addition to providing information on over 2,500 occupations including job profiles on up-and-coming and out-of-the-ordinary careers, it has information on almost 4,000 2-year and 4 year colleges and universities. Some of this database’s major components include sections for assessing career interests and exploring information pertaining to occupations and higher education; searching web resources related to colleges/universities, careers, and curriculum; and test - GED, ACT/SAT, etc – preparation materials.

With the award-winning database Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center, Alabama residents will be able to research profiles of nearly 3,400 jobs and 94 industries, find guidance on building job-hunting and workplace skills, and explore more than 55,000 career and industry resources. An invaluable new feature is the comprehensive school search database--with current data provided by Peterson's Nelnet, LLC--of more than 4,000 schools offering two- and four-year degrees in the U.S. and Canada. The useful Career Interest Assessment feature helps users identify interest areas and related jobs.

Please note that you are now being prompted for your Samford username and password when accessing library resources from on campus.

NEW DATABASE LOGIN PROCEDURE

2011-01-14T08:30:00.004-06:00

In order to better serve you as well as collect useful data regarding resource usage the University Library will be changing how you access resources beginning January 10th, 2011. On-campus users will be prompted to login when you access a database. Off-campus use will not be changed.
___________________________________________

The message will read:

Please enter your Samford Username (without the "@samford.edu") and password in the blanks below to access, then click on the "sign in" button.

Please enter your Samford Username:________@samford.edu
Please enter your Samford Password:________

[Sign In]
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Note: These databases are available only to current students and employees of Samford University. All users are allowed to login, even when using resources from on campus locations. Visitors to the campus: Please visit the circulation or reference desk of the University Library for temporary access to online research resources.

Once you have logged in to a database you will not be required to login again as long as you keep your browser open. In most cases databases will open in a new browser or tab.

We appreciate your understanding and look forward to serving you this year.