[Alumni-chat] Why Aren't the Students Using the Library?

[lucyann (lwollin at echonyc.com)]

Sounds great, Sandy.  I like the e-reserve idea.  If I could, I'd be on a plane tomorrow to see
it for myself!  Lest someone think I'm anti-technology, I should add that I'm about to teach
a workshop to the Institute For Retired Professionals (New School( people who want to
learn PowerPoint with a colleague who is teaching how to use blogs and Picassa).  I'm 
online all the time myself. But I'm often in the library borrowing books as well!  I loved
interlibrary loan when I taught in a high school in the '80's and needed materials for my
own graduate work.  Interlibrary loan is great. Still, browsing in real live shelves continues
to be a source of gems as well. I hardly ever used the catalog at Antioch after a couple
of years because I had sort of learned the shelves and stacks and didn't need to!

Lucy


>Indeed, the Library is alive and kicking and contrary to popular belief,
>collection development did not stop in the early seventies as has been
>commented on before.
>
>In a recent survey I did of one wee off items we lent on interlibrary
>loan, only 27 came from the period before 1971. Of the 173 books lent, 57
>had copyrights of 2000-2007.
>
>With the explosion of publishing, it is impossible to purchase everything
>that comes out. Faculty still send requests for items they want to put on
>reserve for a class, it is purchased and added to the collection after the
>term. More and more, faculty are using e-reserves, meaning chapters from
>books and articles are scanned and made available online at the users
>leisure, eliminating the need to come to the Library and the risk that
>someone from a class keeps a reserve longer than allowable and unavailable
>for others.
>
>Personally, I love libraries, any library. I love to browse the shelves
>and the feel of the book in my hand. A computer just can't replace that.
>Unfortunately, in our fast paced world, not everyone feels the same.
>
>It may be musty and dusty here (old fwspies, Duffy would say) but come see
>us Lucy. I think you'd still love this place.
>
>Sandy Coulter
>Library Assistant / Serials
>Antioch College Library
>Yellow Springs, OH     45387-1694
>(937)769-1235
>scoulter at antioch-college.edu
>
>"Don't Fall Down! That's the whole key."
>Joe Cali
>
>
>Alumni Chat List <alumni-chat at w3.antioch.edu> on Tuesday, October 09, 2007
>at 7:46 AM -0500 wrote:
>>Whew. Thanks, Duffy! Glad to hear the library I
>>love is still alive and kicking!
>>
>>Lucy Wollin (1961)
>>----- Original Message -----