MAY IS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH

Each year, the Administration on Aging (AoA) issues a theme for Older Americans Month to assist our National Aging Services Network of state, tribal, area agencies on aging, and community services providers plan for activities that might take place in May or throughout the year.

This year's theme "Age Strong! Live Long!" recognizes the diversity and vitality of today's older Americans who span three generations.

For further information check out their website at: http://www.aoa.gov/aoaroot/press_room/observances/oam/oam.aspx

IMAGES & MORE: OIL LEAK FROM DAMAGED WELL

Check out the post on the Government Documents blog for images and more information about the oil leak and the ensuing oil slick.

HAITI LIBRARY RELIEF PROJECT FROM UA'S SCHOOL OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATIONS STUDIES

Students at the University of Alabama’s School of Library and Information Studies are raising funds for the recovery and reconstruction of libraries in Haiti destroyed by the recent earthquake. Book arts and library science students and faculty worked together to create a Haiti Broadside, which features “Night and Day”... by Haitian poet Paul Laraque and an original design by UA artist Sarah Marshall printed on handmade paper. Please visit http://www.slis.ua.edu/Haiti.html to view this beautiful broadside.

NEIL GAIMAN AND THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

You probably know Neil Gaiman as a science fiction and fantasy writer. But did you know that he was also the honorary chair of National Library Week?

See what he has to say about libraries and librarians: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH-sR1uCQ6g

CONGRATULATIONS LIBRARY WEEK DRAW WINNERS!

Congratulations to the winners of last week's Library Week prize drawings. Prizes included certificates for free meals in the food court, jump drives, a hooded Samford sweatshirt, and our grand prize, a $40.00 Amazon gift card.

Our winners are:
Stephen C. Johnson
Charlie Everett
Callie Gibson
Claire Heard
Daniel Williams
Shantel Waters
Robert Paul
Jonathan Bailes

SAMFORD SECRET PROJECT

Remember the "Samford Secret" project? Well there is now a website. Flash must be working in order to view the site.

It's really excellent. Kudos to Jonathan Haas and the Samford Secret team: http://www.samfordsecret.com/

SUPPORT THE LIBRARY WITH AMAZON

Did you know that you can support the University Library every time you shop at online retailers such as Amazon?

You can! And we know you want to! Please visit http://library.samford.edu/about/support.html.

ROMEO AND JULIET ON TWITTER

Here's a novel use for Twitter. The Royal Shakespeare Company is using it to perform scenes from Romeo and Juliet. Check it out here: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23823525-rsc-uses-twitter-to-perform-romeo-and-juliet-scenes.do You can also view it here: http://www.suchtweetsorrow.com/

Thanks to Jennifer Taylor for submitting this post.

Relevancy ranking . . . like Google does

When you search your favorite search engine, you are accustomed to having the search results sorted by relevancy. In relevancy ranking, the results are sorted so that those near the top of the list will likely be more relevant to your search.
EBSCO has recently improved its relevancy ranking, and has offered the library the option to make this type of ranking the default in all EBSCO databases. We thought we would give it a try. Once you've performed a search, you'll have the option of sorting the results in date descending order, the former default, if you wish.
Here's a short video of how this process might work. You'll notice on the right side of your results list in these databases a box that you can use to ask us librarians any questions you might have, or to lodge a complaint if you don't like this new ranking. You can also let us know what you think by contacting the reference desk at reference@samford.edu

Alabama Energy Efficient Appliance Program

Learn more about the Alabama Energy Efficient Appliance Program from the Government Documents blog.

Library of Congress & Twitter Archive

From the Government Documents blog, the Library of Congress will digitally archive tweets from Twitter.

2nd ANNUAL OPEN MIC POETRY READING

Today's open mic poetry reading on the steps of the Samford University Library was an enthusiastic success. We had 28 readers/reciters, including some who read poems written by themselves or friends, dramatic reciations of Paul Laurence Dunbar's "Accountability" and T.S. Eliot's "The Hollow Man," and a Shel Silverstein poem set to a rap beat / beat box. Thanks to everyone who joined us, and particularly to those who read and recited for us! Please visit Samford University Library Facebook page to view more photos, and don't forget to become a fan (!) http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Birmingham-AL/Samford-University-University-Library/40083044488

LIBQUAL PRIZE WINNERS

Here is a list of our LibQual Survey Winners. I love a win-win situation. The library wins when our patrons provide feedback. And some of our patrons win prizes such as Amason gift cards and Bulldog bucks--and an LCD HDTV! Congratulations everyone!

Grand Prize – 19” Toshiba LCD HDTV
Krista Fuhrman

$40.00 Amazon.com Gift Card
Jonathan Bass
Christine Baylet
Emily Johnson
Tatum Moffett
Daniel Sanders


$10.00 Bulldog Bucks Gift Card
Rachael Bailes
Maggie Cravens
Dani Darby
Joe Glovacz
Jordan Helms
Megan Jackson
Chenelle Terry
Mary Todd
Carmen Truelove
Arngenel Wells

FREE FOOD!

Okay, now that I have your attention, please join us tomorrow, Tuesday April 13, at 10:00 a.m. in the circulation desk area of the University Library for a meet 'n' greet with coffee and something sweet.

And speaking of rhymes, don't forget Thursday's open mic poetry reading at 10:00 a.m., with sign-up starting at 9:30 a.m. ...in the front area of the University Library. Free food and open mic poetry--all in one week!

EARTH DAY IS APRIL 22, 2010

The University Library Government Documents department is celebrating Earth Day this month. Patrons and visitors are invited to view the following documents. See http://sulibgovdocs.blogspot.com/2010/04/earth-day-is-april-22-2010.html for more details.

• Energy Star for Homes Sales Toolkit
  
• After the Storm (DVD, VHS & pamphlet)
  
• What Can I Teach My Young Child About the Environment?
  
• Islands of Green in a Sea of People
  
• Small Business? Save Money! Do your business a world of good and do the earth a favor too!
  
• The Road from Global Warming to a Cleaner Future
  
• Today's Special: Energy Savings ...
  
• Green Lights: An Enlightened Approach to Energy Efficiency and Pollution Prevention
  
• Earth Day Everyday
  
• Living on a Restless Planet
  
• Earth Notes
  
• The happy earth day activities book
  
• Environmental Curricula Handbook: Tools in Your Schools
  
• Climate Change, Wildlife, and Wildlands: A Toolkit for Teachers and Interpreters

NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK APRIL 12-16

National Library Week was established in 1958 by the American Library Association and is celebrated each April by all types of libraries: school, public, academic and special. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians, and to promote library use and support.

National Library Week 2010 is celebrated with the theme "Communities thrive @ your library." Please join us April 12 - 16, 2010 for a week of festivities. Daily Prize drawings

Prize Drawings
Monday - Friday
Visit the circulation desk of the University Library daily to enter your name for prizes such as jump drives and food court gift certificates.

Food for Fines Drive
Monday - Friday
Do you have fines at the University Library? You can get them forgiven with a donation of canned food! The library will forgive $1.00 in fines for every canned food item brought to the circulation desk, up to $10.00 per library card. Canned food will be donated to the Brother Bryan mission. Does not apply to books placed in the book drop, lost books that have been billed, or processing fees.

Meet 'n' Greet
Tuesday April 13
In celebration of National Library Worker Day, join us at 10am for a meet 'n' greet and enjoy coffee and cookies.

Open Mic Poetry Reading
Thursday April 15
April is National Poetry month. Weather permitting, poets and poetry-lovers will meet on the front steps of the library at 10am for reading and open mic time. Open mic signup begins at 9:30am. Final Prize Drawing

Friday April 16
A final drawing for one $40.00 Amazon gift certificate will be today, so be sure you've signed up at the circulation desk.

Source (http://library.samford.edu/about/events/2010/nlw.html)

The University Library has arranged trials for the following databases.

These trials will be active through the end of June and are only available on campus.

American Antiquarian Society (AAS) Historical Periodicals Collection: Series 1
550 titles dating from 1693 through 1820; early works imported by the colonists to later titles published on American soil on the eve of the Revolution and during the early republic

American Antiquarian Society (AAS) Historical Periodicals Collection: Series 2
Over 1000 titles dating from 1821 through 1837; represents the Jacksonian Democracy era in history and is broad in scope; includes agriculture, entertainment, history, literary criticism, and politics

American Theological Library Association (ATLA) Historical Monographs Collection: Series 1

American Theological Library Association (ATLA) Historical Monographs Collection: Series 2

The American Theological Library Association (ATLA) Historical Monograph Collection consists of two Series that contain more than 29,000 titles focused on religion and theology. In its entirety, the collection is estimated to contain over 10 million pages, representing a core collection for colleges and universities with programs in history, theology, religion, sociology, political science and other disciplines.

Series 1 consists of titles from the 13th Century through 1893. Series 2 consists of titles published from 1894 through 1923."

(Source: http://www.ebscohost.com/thisTopic.php?marketID=1&topicID=1152)