What's Available in the Libraries?

Herrick and Scholes Libraries are here to support the campus with remote services and limited onsite services under COVID safety protocols.

See the Herrick and Scholes Library websites for current hours.

What’s Available?

-Library books and media are circulated through contactless pick up via a request system. Requests can be picked up at either Herrick or Scholes Library. Instructions can be found under the “Request Materials for Pickup” tab found through this link.

-PCs, printers, and scanners are available in both libraries to current AU students, faculty, and staff. The set up includes reduced seating capacity to support distancing.

-Article databases, Kanopy, and ebooks.

-Interlibrary Loan.

-Research assistance with Librarians and Archivists by video conferencing such as Zoom, or email. To check the availability of in-person appointments please contact a Librarian or Archivist directly, or contact libraries@alfred.edu.

-Library Instruction for classes.

-Study rooms can be reserved by commuters and other students who need a dedicated space to participate in online classes. Reservable space is limited. For more information, email: libraries@alfred.edu.

What’s Not Available?

-Shelf browsing materials in the stacks.

-Study rooms and conference rooms for groups.

-24-hour study rooms.

-Reserve Books (email libraries@alfred.edu and we will assist you via scanning or other alternatives).

-Shareable items like headphones, laptops, chargers, and markers.

Questions? Email libraries@alfred.edu

Link: https://libguides.alfred.edu/COVID

Drawing of a germ

Libraries response to COVID-19

As of Wednesday, March 18, Herrick Library and Scholes Library are closed for an indefinite period of time.
Even though our buildings are closed, the Alfred University Libraries are still here to assist you!
The Herrick Library and Scholes Library webpages remain the gateway to millions of articles, ebooks, videos, databases, and other resources, most of which are not freely available elsewhere.
In addition, we have created a guide for Alfred University Libraries Remote Support that contains the most essential information for connecting with our resources, services, and people, including:
– Tips for accessing electronic resources remotely
– Accessing our print collection
– Accessing materials on Reserve
– Continuation of Library Instruction to classes and one-one research assistance
We will continue to update our online guide with additional information throughout the remainder of the Spring semester.
Please feel free to reach out to us with your questions and needs at libraries@alfred.edu. We are here to support you and help you have a successful semester.
The Alfred University Librarians and Library Staff

AU Libraries announce upcoming systems migration

The AU Libraries are pleased to announce an upcoming systems migration in early July that will improve services to the campus. A new library services platform, called Alma, manages all of the libraries’ back-office functions, including circulation, the acquisition and cataloging of print and electronic resources, and resource sharing within SUNY.
The library staff have been working over the last year to prepare for this transition. While we expect disruptions to be minimal, we appreciate your patience and understanding as we make this upgrade.
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Library patrons will have access to an improved public search interface called Primo which has several new features:
* Mobile-friendly design
* An integrated search of physical and print materials at both Scholes and Herrick (videos, articles, books, databases, etc.)
* The ability to save favorite searches or articles as well as manage personal accounts for renewals and other circulation functions
* The ability to search across the collections of all SUNY Libraries (and beyond) with links to request materials for inter-library loan
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask any of the librarians.

Start Using Kanopy Movie Streaming!

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Kanopy is a movie steaming service that is available to Alfred University students, faculty, and staff through the AU Libraries. Kanopy has a large selection of movies including documentaries, classic films, and independent films.  Kanopy is a great resource for assignments, classes, or for when you are just looking for something different to watch!
Here is how you can access Kanopy from either library website:
-First go to either the Herrick or Scholes library home page:
http://herrick.alfred.edu/
http://scholes.alfred.edu/
-Then select the Databases tab (as shown below)
-From there click on All databases A-Z (as shown below)
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-From the databases page click on K at the top of the page
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-In the K section click the link for Kanopy
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-Clicking the link will automatically take you to the Kanopy website if you are signed in using your Alfred account. If you are not signed in, or if you are off campus, you can still access Kanopy by entering your Alfred username and password. From there you can create your own Kanopy account. It’s as simple as that!
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Another way you can access Kanopy is to go to the Herrick Library home page:
-Click on Movies/Music under Quick Links (as shown below)
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-Next click the Kanopy link at the top of the page (as shown below)
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-Clicking this link will take you to the Kanopy website where you can make an account or first sign in as is mentioned above.

Streaming video from the libraries

Kanopy logo
Did you know that the Alfred University Libraries provide access to online videos?
Kanopy‘s collection includes thousands of award- winning documentaries and feature films, including many foreign films.
The collection includes films by leading producers, such as the Criterion Collection, PBS, Kino Lorber, New Day Films, The Great Courses, California Newsreel, and hundreds more.
Click here to start watching.

To find to Kanopy in the future, choose the Databases A-Z option on the Herrick or Scholes library homepage.

 We hope you enjoy the films!

AU Libraries mark Open Access week

During the week of October 24-28, the Alfred University Libraries celebrated Open Access Week with a series of SUNY-sponsored webinars. The webinars highlighted the potential of this movement to benefit libraries and researchers.
What is Open Access?
Open Access is the free, immediate, online availability of research articles, combined with the rights to use these articles fully in the digital environment. This contrasts with the dominant scholarly communication system that puts research behind publisher “pay walls” and asks authors to relinquish rights to their own writing.
Why does Open Access matter?
The current system of scholarly publishing puts large financial burdens on libraries and severely restricts access to scholarly research. Faculty contribute research articles to scholarly journals for free, signing away their copyright in the process, and libraries must then buy back this content through annual subscription fees that have grown by as much as 400% in recent years.
As illustrated in the chart below, some major scientific publishers are realizing profits that exceed the returns of successful companies like Google and Apple:
publisher-profits
What can you do to support the Open Access movement?
Authors can take steps to preserve their rights. To learn more, watch this very informative webinar on “Understanding and Protecting Your Rights” by Jill Cirasella of the City University of New York.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcL7IxZo3H0]
How do the AU Libraries plan to improve access to faculty and student research?
You may have heard of AURA, Alfred University’s institutional repository. AURA is designed to provide access and to ensure the long-term preservation of documents produced at Alfred University, including faculty and student research.
The Open Access movement is an important piece of the puzzle, because many publishers place restrictions on what faculty can do with their own work, making it more difficult for libraries to archive copies locally.
The more faculty and students learn about their own rights, and take concrete steps to retain those rights, the easier it will be for libraries like ours to ensure long-term access to the intellectual output of our campus.
-Ellen Bahr, Information Systems Librarian, Herrick Library

Check Out Our New Study Rooms at the Herrick Library!

Looking for a quiet space to study or meet in? Whether you are looking for an area for independent study or to meet with others, Herrick offers several options!
If you are interested in reserving a room for a particular date and time, there are four rooms to choose from: The Seminar Room (106), The Conference Room (202), the Children’s Room (212), and the Computer Lab (120).
The Seminar Room is an excellent option for group meetings. Along with four rectangular tables and eight chairs (with more chairs available if needed), it comes equipped with a ceiling mounted projector and screen, laptop, LCD television, and podium with a built-in sound system. A conference phone is also available for set-up upon request. You will find the Seminar Room on the first floor near the Learning Commons; it is the last room on the left:seminar room.jpg
The Conference Room is also an excellent option for group meetings. One large conference table and 12 chairs sit in the center of the room. It is best for groups who do not require a projector on a regular basis or AV capabilities. Herrick’s “Harry Potter” room, as many of our students refer to it, holds a historic charm that makes it an appealing space to meet either in groups or individually. It is located on the second floor at the top of the stairs leading from near the main entrance and to the right:confrence-room
The Computer Lab, opposite the front desk on the first floor, is available for student use at all times during library hours. It is also ideal for class or club meetings which require computer and internet access. The lab includes 16 computers and chairs (extra chairs may be brought in from other areas of the library for larger groups). It is also equipped with an LCD projector, moveable podium, desktop computer with sound system, and an erasable whiteboard. Additional laptops, dry-erase markers, and a remote control for the LCD projector may be checked out at the front desk:computer-lab
The Children’s Room is perfect for individual and group study sessions, as well as for smaller club meetings. Located on the second floor directly in front of the stairs leading from near the main entrance to the library, the room contains one table and eight standard chairs, two armchairs, and one rocking chair. It also includes one desktop computer for personal research and browsing:childrens-room
In addition to the four rooms above, the BookEnd Lounge is also available for reservation upon request. This area is large, open, and welcoming, making it accommodating for faculty, staff, and student campus events. In the past, the lounge has hosted events such as Team Trivia Night, Massage and Therapy Dog Night, short-term art exhibits and auctions, orientations, ceremonies, and receptions. The BookEnd Lounge also has a café area that may be used to lay out food and beverages for guests.bookend-lounge
To make a reservation, please visit the following link to check for room availability and to make a room reservation request: http://herrick.alfred.edu/index.php/reservation-request-form
If you are a walk-in, you are welcome to use the Seminar Room, Conference Room, Children’s Room, Computer Lab, and BookEnd Lounge for personal use as long as they have not already been reserved for that time. J
There are also other options for walk-ins! Herrick has recently constructed four new study rooms that are available on a first come, first serve basis.
Two of the study rooms, Room 20 and Room 21, are located opposite the elevator on the ground floor of the library:


One study room, Room 122, is located first floor near the side entrance of the library :room 122.jpg
Last but not least, there is another study room near the ground floor entrance to the library near the parking lot. This study room is also known as Room 25:room-25
Please feel free to stop by Herrick to check out all of our rooms in person!

Who's Your Librarian?

Gnome Bibliomancer.
High Elf Loremaster.
Undead Espier.
If these don’t sound like names that belong in an academic library, you probably just haven’t heard about the Personal Librarians Program yet. Starting this fall, incoming undergraduates will have one of seven librarians assigned to them as their “personal librarian,” a sort of academic advisor for library and research issues.  This librarian will be their primary contact point for a vast range of research help, ranging from how to sign up for InterLibrary Loan to help developing a bibliography to figuring out how to use the printers. To help publicize the program, the participating librarians have agreed to reveal their secret identities taken on new personas, ones that capture the essence of their specialized skills.  Without further ado, allow me to introduce the FELLOWSHIP OF THE LIBRARIANS:

Brian_tradingcard Brian_tradingcard_back

Brian, the Information Literacy Librarian at Herrick Library, has also become the Bibliomancer, a magic user committed to helping students find their way through the world of research and library skills.  In more mundane terms, that means he plans and teaches many library instruction sessions.  He’s also a subject specialist in Astronomy, English, Environmental Studies, Geology, History, Medieval Studies, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, and Religion.

Ellen_tradingcard Ellen_tradingcard_back

Technology can be difficult to pin down, and it can be even harder to make different technologies work together. Fortunately, we have Ellen, the Technology Tamer and one of our two technology experts. She forges new paths through the information wilderness by setting up and maintaining the software and programs needed for our search interfaces to work, among other things. Subject-wise, she specializes in Anthropology, Biology, Communications, Criminal Justice, Global Studies, Modern Languages, Psychology, School Psychology & Counseling, and Sociology.

Eva_tradingcard_35x25Game Cards Design Kit

Where the Bibliomancer acts as a light in the dark to guide lost and confused students, the Citation Hunter leads expeditions–sometimes large classes, sometimes journeys with a single other soul–to assess and track down the best sources for a given topic. This can take the form of instruction sessions or one on one reference questions. And that 90% survival rate isn’t bad. Eva has a special interest in Art, Art History, Medieval and Early Modern Art, Medieval History, and Illuminated Manuscripts.

John_tradingcardJohn_tradingcard_back

Grappling with the library’s voluminous image collection and with ever-changing image technologies, John the Imagemaster is to visual resources as Ellen the Technology Tamer is to our information systems. John captures new images for the collection and tames them, leaving them orderly and easily accessible for library users. He can also provide guidance on the various features of image use, such as creating Power Point presentations, using ARTstor or MDID to find images, or dealing with citations and copyright. His subject area of expertise is Visual Resources.

Laurie_tradingcardLaurie_tradingcard_back

Whatever ancient lore or dark secrets reside in the history of this village and its scholars, Laurie the Loremaster has the keys to uncover them. She guards the archives, keeping the hallowed records safe from harm, and also easing the path for those who seek to learn their secrets. The tales of figures vanished in the mists of time still live on in her files. Laurie’s subject specialties are Athletic Training, Chemistry, Education, Gerontology, and Women’s Studies.

Steve_tradingcard_35x25Steve_tradingcard_back

Someone has to build and protect the collections that these heroes navigate so deftly, and that someone is the Collection Defender. Steve manages the collection, ensuring both that it grows and flourishes, and that older and no longer relevant texts don’t gather dust on the shelves. As Library Director, he is also our fearless leader. Steve specializes in the subject areas of Business, Dance, Mathematics, Music, and Theater.

Trevor_tradingcardTrevor_tradingcard_back

The newest member of our team, Undead Espier Trevor Riley gazes into the future, scrying to determine our upcoming technological needs. With his sidekick “Data” and the powers of technomancy, he then works to alter our current technology, honing it to meet the requirements of the days to come.  As the Engineering Librarian and subject specialist, he is also the go-to librarian for Engineering students with research questions.

SO WHAT NEXT?
First off, find out who your personal librarian is here!

If you’re an incoming freshman, you’ll be receiving a packet in your campus mailbox at the start of the year telling you who your personal librarian is (and including a trading card of that librarian in character).  You can also pick up this information at freshman orientation on August 21st.

If you’re not an incoming freshman and are sad that you haven’t been assigned a librarian of your very own, never fear!  Any of these adventurers would be happy to help you, or even to serve as your library needs contact point for the rest of your Alfred University career.  Just find someone whose subject specialties match your needs and drop them a line using the contact information listed here.  You might not find a gigantic treasure chest full of loot, but your time as a student will probably be a LOT easier.

Hope to see you at orientation!

To Summon or not to Summon — that is the question!

 

There's a lot of information coming your way when you use Summon!

There’s a lot of information coming your way when you use Summon!


To Summon or not to Summon?  No we’re not talking about magic spells, but a way to search almost everything available from both AU Libraries.
Where do you find Summon?  Both Scholes and Herrick Libraries prominently feature a Google-like blank box on their home pages: http://scholes.alfred.edu http://herrick.alfred.edu
 
HerrickHome
 
ScholesHome
 
Why would you want to use Summon?
It’s the most comprehensive search available.  Summon searches both libraries’ catalogs, almost all of the AU Libraries’ databases, and additional freely available, high quality web content.  You’ll get all of your results in one search.  Summon provides a variety of filters to reduce your results to a manageable number of items. So if you want to do a search and make sure you don’t miss out on any of the resources the libraries have to offer, use Summon.
Why would you not want to use Summon?
If you have been using a specific database which brings back great results for your research, doesn’t miss anything important, and doesn’t bury you with a ton of off-topic results to sort through — then you’ll be happier using that database.
Or, if you find that, when you search Summon, you consistently find that your best results are coming from a specific database or databases — then you might prefer to use those databases directly.  Both the Herrick and Scholes web pages allow you to select a specific database from an A-Z list.  You will also be directed to high relevance databases through the research/subject guides provided.
Please share your experiences with us…
Summon is one more tool to dig into the libraries content.  Please contact us with questions or suggestions about how to make the best use of Summon in your search for the information you need.
Steve Crandall 607-871-2987 or email: fcrandall@alfred.edu