News & Events

New Books, DVDs & other materials | Archive of Past News & Events 11/12/08: Survey results - eBooks in the library The library conducted a survey of all students, faculty, and academic staff last month to explore interest in and use of eBooks. Eighty-three people completed the survey, 65% of which were students. Roughly half (49%) of the respondents reported they had used eBooks. More people (68%) viewed the eBook online as opposed to using an eBook reader or printing it out. The majority (63%) indicated that they prefer using an eBook or do not care about the format. People liked the convenience and increased availability from off-campus, the ease of adding quotations to papers, and the search capabilities. Those that prefer the printed versions of books indicated their preference for being able to hold a book, the strain on eyesight and headaches from staring at a computer screen for too long, and the inability to annotate the text (notes in margins, highlighting, etc). More than half (59%) of the respondents indicated they would use eBooks if the library selectively acquired them, while 29% might use them. There were 12% who would not. We would like to thank everyone for their participation in this survey. The results have helped us to determine that we should again selectively add eBooks to the library collection. Please watch the library’s website for an announcement in early 2009 about eBooks being added to the library collection. 11/11/08: New database: S&P NetAdvantage Standard & Poor’s NetAdvantage gives you ready access to some of their most popular research products including Industry Surveys, Stock Reports, Bond Reports, The Register of Corporations, Directors and Executives, among others. Access S&P netAdvantage via the Library's A to Z database list. 10/26/08: "text me the call number" now available No pen? No paper? No problem! The library is pleased to announce a new feature in the online catalog: "text me the call number". Users can now click on a "text me this call number" link to have the first few characters of the title, the full call number and location sent to their cell phones for their personal use. Please note that selected cell phone service providers are presented in the dropdown list on the form the user completes in order to send the text. If your cell phone provider is not represented in the list, please send a note to aweidner@ben.edu. 10/14/08: Do you dig vinyl? The Benedictine Library is retiring most of its collection of LP records. For a full list of albums, go to either www.ben.edu/library/news/images/records_LPs.pdf for the Adobe format of the list or www.ben.edu/library/news/images/records_LPs.xls for an Excel file of the list. For more information or to reserve your favorite LP, contact Cynthia Snyder at csnyder@ben.edu or call ext. 6054. 9/15/08: First Annual Edible Books Contest The Benedictine University Library has the perfect solution for folks tired of the paper cuts and indigestion caused by eating regular books and bored by the bland flavor. In celebration of Banned Books Week and National Archives Month, the Benedictine University Library is holding its first annual Edible Books Contest at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 2 in Kindlon Hall Room 126. In order to enter the contest, you must make an original dessert item that is book or literature themed. After the “books” are judged and trophies awarded in three categories, contestants will be allowed to sample the entries. For further information, full contest rules and entry forms, visit http://www.ben.edu/library/asc/ediblebooks, or contact Jennifer Merriman at jmerriman@ben.edu or by calling ext. 6064. 9/9/08: New database: Accounting Research Manager A comprehensive financial reporting knowledgebase that provides materials designed to help solve your most pressing issues. Updated daily, it is the most timely, complete, interpretive and objective resource for your financial reporting needs. Our subscription includes CCH’s 10K Look up tool which is a powerful search engine that retrieves data on SEC filings (e.g. Forms 10-K, 10-KSB, Form 10-Q, 10-QSB, 8-K) from the SEC EDGAR filings database. Powered by 10-K Wizard, users can quickly find specific data within extensive SEC filer information on people, companies and industries. With 10-K Lookup, Accounting Research Manager subscribers can streamline their research by having access to accounting, auditing and SEC interpretations and guidance, plus actual SEC filings. Access ARM via the Library's A to Z database list. 8/22/08: Go green with EBSCO’s GreenFILE! GreenFILE indexes scholarly and general interest titles, as well as government documents and reports. This resource offers a unique perspective on the positive and negative ways humans affect the environment. Drawing on the connection between the environment and disciplines such as agriculture, education, law, health and technology, GreenFILE serves as an informative resource for anyone concerned about the issues facing our planet. The database contains nearly 300,000 records, full text for selected titles and searchable cited references for more than 200 titles as well. Access GreenFILE through the Library's A to Z database list or directly at greeninfoonline.com 5/1/08: Tell Us What YOU Think Please help us to prepare for 2008's Freshman Orientation but answering the following questions: What do you know about the library now that you wish you knew when you began your studies here at Benedictine University? What are your favorite things about the library? What resources, services, rules, etc. should we highlight for our new students? Email your answers/suggestions to Joan Hopkins, jhopkins@ben.edu, or print out the questionairre and turn it in at the library's circulation desk. Thanks! 4/18/08: Third Annual Information Literacy Quiz Winners Many thanks to all for participating! The winners for the contest are: Students: Katie Braun – 1st Place – Ben cap, sweatshirt, shorts Fadi Shihadeh – 2nd Prize - $25.00 Barnes and Noble Gift Certificate Stefan Turcic – 3rd Prize – 256 MB Flash Drive Faculty: Zubair Amir - $50.00 Barnes and Noble Gift Certificate 4/14/08: Challenge Yourself - Enter the Third Annual Information Literacy Quiz Calling All Students, Faculty & Staff! We invite you to enter the Third Annual Information Literacy Contest Link to electronic version of the quiz Download a print copy of the quiz Read the contest rules & regulations Many thanks to the Benedictine University Bookstore for their generous donation of items for this year's quiz prizes. 4/11/08: Celebrate National Library Week @ Your Library The Benedictine Library is celebrating National Library Week Monday, April 14 through Saturday, April 19 with a series of special events. Our theme for this year is Chicago! Events include: Monday, April 14 Launch of the 3rd Annual Information Literacy Quiz (through April 17) Enter to win prizes including Benedictine clothing, Barnes and Noble gift certificates and a 256 MB USB Flash Drive! Deadline for quizzes is 11:00 p.m. Thursday, April 17 Maxwell Street sale (through April 21) It’s more than just books! Just outside the library entrance. Withdrawn library treasures include: Books in foreign languages—German, French, Latin, Greek, Russian, Spanish and more; booklets and selected softcover books on an incredible range of topics; Audio Cassettes; Miscellaneous videos and DVDs; CD jewel cases; DVD cases, and assorted office supplies.   Amnesty Week (through April 18) Fines will be forgiven for overdue Benedictine Library books returned in person to the Circulation Desk Popcorn Served from 2 – 5 p.m. at the Circulation Desk       Tuesday, April 15 Progressive lunch for faculty and staff Held from 11:30 – 1:00 p.m. This year there will be punch on the fifth floor, appetizers on the fourth floor, main course on the third floor, and desserts on the second floor. Please join us!       Thursday, April 17 Friends of the Library event: Eric Zorn Noon – 1 p.m., Library - 5th floor. Eric Zorn from the Chicago Tribune will speak about Libraries and Liberalism       Friday, April 18 3rd Annual Information Literacy Quiz prize drawing Did you enter? Maybe you won!   Shakespeare Reading 3:00 p.m., Library - 2nd floor. Displays of interest include the annual Faculty Author Display and new books added to the collection from four grants in Health Sciences, Health Issues in Latin America, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, and Growth, Development and Training of Academic Administrators. All new book displays are on the second floor, but don't miss our Chicago themed book displays throughout the library! 3/18/08: Easter Weekend Announcements Please note that the library will be closed for the Easter holiday. We will be closed as of Friday, March 21 and will not reopen until 4:00 p.m. Monday, March 24. Over the holiday weekend we will also be upgrading the I-Share catalog. During this time a read-only version of the catalog will be available for your use, but the My Account section will be unavailable. 3/4/08: New database: CQ Global Researcher We'd like to introduce the latest addition to our electronic collection: CQ Global Researcher. This database will compliment our existing subscription to CQ Reasearcher and offer context from a global perspective. "Hot" global topics covered in the CQ Global Researcher include: Nuclear Proliferation Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Global Warming Rise of the Petro-States Anti-Americanism Emerging India Global Cops Newly Militant Japan 1/8/08: Library Catalog Unavailable from 5 p.m. - 8 a.m. The library will be upgrading its software begining at 5:00 p.m. today. During that time access to the electronic catalog will not be available. The upgrade will be comeplete and access re-established as of 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 9. 12/13/07: Library Closed Monday, December 17 from 12 - 3 p.m. The library will be closed from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Monday, December 17 for a library event. 12/2/07: Extended Hours for Exams/Finals The library will be open extended hours for exams/finals from Sun., December 2 through Thurs., December 13, 2007. Extended hours are:          Mon.-Thurs. - 7:45 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.          Fri. - 7:45 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.          Sat. - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.          Sun. - 12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. 11/19/07: Library Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday The Benedictine University Library will be closed Thursday, November 22 through Saturday, November 24 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will reopen with normal hours on Sunday, November 25. 11/14/07: The Coal Ben is NOW OPEN! Check it out... Today at 9:00 AM Benedictine University celebrated the opening of its newest campus building, the Coal Ben. The Coal Ben offers a fun, social setting for students to meet and eat, offering a variety of dishes and organic specialty coffees. The Coal Ben has five (5!) flat screen televisions, large seating areas (including outdoor seating), wireless hotspots, and beer and wine will be served Thursday - Saturday from 5 PM until 11 PM. Hours of operation are: Monday - Friday | 7:30 AM - 12 midnight Saturday & Sunday | 11:30 AM - 12 midnight 11/6/07: Chaucer Program Announcement Jean-Marie Kauth, Director of the Writing Program and Assistant Professor in the Department of Language and Literature, will present a talk on Geoffrey Chaucer from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 16 on the 4th floor of the Library. Dr. Kauth will present background information on Chaucer and his times, share pictures of manuscripts, and lead an audience participation reading of The Wife of Bath’s tale in Middle English. Print out The Wife of Bath’s tale before you come (available via this link) to follow along with the reading. The 1687 printing of Chaucer’s Complete Works, on loan from the Linardakis Collection, will also be available for viewing. Please R.S.V.P. to Archives & Special Collections at ext. 6064 or bpjoseph@ben.edu.   Archive of Past News & Events