What's New in the Grinnell College Libraries: Spring 2009

Lots of Databases, Just One Search: Research Pro is a tool for searching several databases at the same time. Rather than searching each database individually, you will be able to search and view all results from a single page. This type of search is known as “federated searching” or “meta-searching” and is an efficient way to explore unfamiliar databases to see which ones might be worth searching in greater depth. Look for Research Pro on our home page.

This is our first offering of a meta-search tool. Please send us your questions and comments!

Subject Guides: A New Look and New Features. Locate sources for your next research project quickly using our new subject guides. From each subject guide page, you can now browse a list of databases and reference books directly related to your subject; search for books in the Library catalog, WorldCat, and Google Books; search for a journal; and chat with a librarian using IM. Look for Get Help With Research -- Subject Guides on the library home page.

Put the Library in Your Web Browser with LibX: LibX is a toolbar for Firefox and Internet Explorer that gives you direct access to library resources without going to the library Web site. You can search the library catalog, WorldCat, Journal Finder, and CRL right from the toolbar; drag and drop article citations onto the toolbar to locate a full-text copy automatically; go from a book’s page on Amazon.com to searching the library catalog for that book with just one click; and much more. Look for LibX on our home page.

Favorite Films Festival: The 2009 Favorite Films Festival is scheduled for January 23-25. Watch for announcements of locations and times. The festival is sponsored by the Grinnell College Libraries and the Student Government Association Film Committee. We'll have films in the following categories, including top vote-getters based on votes from 274 participants:

* Film Noir (first place selection: The Maltese Falcon)
* Foreign Film (first place: Amelie)
* Animated Film (first place: Beauty and the Beast)

See the complete list of films in Burling Library's Listening Room and on the festival blog at PioneerWeb.

New Furnishings in Burling: We continue the modest renewal to Burling's interior that started in the summer of 2007. Look for some new lamps in the center "living room" and in the Current Periodicals reading area, which are modeled after original designs created by the architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill for the Forum in 1964. Skidmore was also the architect for Burling Library in 1959.

We continue to offer complimentary hot water and tea, now located on an attractive "tea cart" in Current Periodicals. And don't forget about the vending machine for cold drinks (basement level), white boards (level 1), and laptop tables (level 2).

Looking Ahead: Self-study. The Libraries are engaged in a self study to identify our strengths, our weaknesses, and our key directions for the next several years. We'll release our report to the campus community early this semester for your comments, and host a team of external reviewers who will meet with students, faculty, and staff to prepare their own report of assessment and recommendations. We look forward to hearing from you!