Matt Dilworth

Matt Dilworth

Class Prep

Class Prep

, , ILL, Library Resources, Library Services, Matt Dilworth, outreach, Reserves
Welcome to all our new students, and to our returning students, welcome back! As you enjoy your ice cream, pancakes, movies, and other Back with the Pack activities, you’ll quickly be settling into a routine of coursework, study, research, and writing. And the library is a vital part of that – not just later, when things are coming due, but right now, at the beginning of the semester – whether you need scholarly resources, computers, a place to print out your syllabi (remember to bring your new Crimson Card, available in room 109), or just a quiet place to study. One common request we get at this time of year is for textbooks. Like most college libraries, we have a … Continued
Artistically Inclined

Artistically Inclined

, , Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
You might not think of the library first for the fine or performance arts. After all, you learn art by ‘doing’ – putting pencil to paper, or flute to lips. Words alone can’t fully articulate what it is. Sure, art students can frequently be found sketching in the library – the strong architectural and perspective lines here are great for compositions – but do they need to do research? The answer, of course, is yes. Art without context loses a lot of its meaning and power. And research helps both understanding and technique; whether you are yourself an artist training in new styles or merely a scholarly connoisseur. There are lots of resources available, including ProQuest Arts for scholarship and … Continued
GLBT Book Month

GLBT Book Month

, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
This June, the American Library Association is sponsoring GLBT Book Month, a way of bringing attention to writers and literature written by, for, and about the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community and experience. This celebration coincides with the national LGBT Pride Month, which is held in June to memorialize the Stonewall riots of 1969, the beginning of the modern gay liberation movement. The ALA’s focus is on very recent books, highlighting works published in the popular press in the last year. These include fiction and nonfiction, and works written for adults and for children of all ages. If you’re interested, we can obtain these books or others like them for you through interlibrary loan. As a college library our … Continued
One Stop Searching

One Stop Searching

, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth, Research
Last week, we showed you the incredible new interlibrary loan system we’re rolling out. But that isn’t the only change we’re implementing this summer. Now, looking for any library resource will be a lot easier. We’re debuting the EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) – a type of meta-search engine that looks through every library database at once. EBSCO is the maker of about a third of our databases, including ones you’ve probably used like Academic Search Premier, Business Source Complete, and CINAHL. The format and layout of the new EDS tool matches those databases, so if you’ve used one, you already know what you’re doing. And we’ve placed it prominently, so it’s easy to find. There’s a search box right on … Continued
Log Off, But Don’t Shut Down

Log Off, But Don’t Shut Down

, Matt Dilworth, outreach
The end of another school year will soon be upon us! Some of you might have a few classes scheduled for summer school. But for many, these months are ones of complete academic freedom. Lethargy can be an enemy, though. Studies have shown that learning is lost over the long break (particularly in the sciences), wasting time at the beginning of a semester re-learning content. And while these effects are documented far more on the K-12 level, the risks are real at the collegiate level, too. Of course, the summer break gives you time for trips or experiences that would be impossible during the normal school year. And taking those opportunities is something to be encouraged. But still, for the … Continued