Archives for August 2013

Changes

For many of you, this week is all about change–a change in lifestyle, a change of address, and a change in sleeping patterns.  The Library has made some changes, too.  Here’s a summary of some of the new things we’ve added, along with some of changes we’ve made to our existing collections over the summer break:

New Databases

We added two new databases to our collection that is sure to appeal to anyone interested in current events, international studies, foreign languages, or just about anyone trying to brush up on their Spanish.  Mango Languages is our new language-learning system which can help you learn over 60 different languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, or even Pirate.   Library Press Display is a digital newspaper database featuring newspapers from around Arkansas, the United States, or from 97 other countries around the world.   Learn more about both services from our summer blog posts from July 12 and July 17.

New Research Guides

The Librarians have been hard at work this summer creating new study guides for various subjects and courses to get you prepared for researching using Library resources.  This summer, we added research guides for Art, Biology, Distance Learning, E-Tech 101, and many more.  You can view them all by directing your browser guns here: http://libguides.atu.edu/.  They can also be found under the Help menu from our homepage.

New Mobile Site

Get help from Library whenever and wherever you are with our new mobile site: http://library.atu.edu/m/.  Get quick access to our databases, online catalog, and our contact information from any mobile device.

Audiobooks Moved To the 1st Floor

We’ve moved the Audiobooks to the east of the Reference Desk, in the first section of shelving.  Last year, they were in the Music Lab, which made it difficult to browse for your favorite titles.  Now they are on the shelves near the Reference desk, available for check-out and browsing any time the library is open.

Youth Moved To the 1st Floor, Too

The Youth collection, comprising books for children and young adults, has moved to the first floor as well, directly across from the Periodicals section in the “short” shelves.

Reference and Index were shifted

Looking for a familiar book in a familiar place in Reference?  Can’t find it? Never fear–we have shifted the Reference and Index collections so not everything is in their usual place anymore.  If you still can’t find it, it is possible the item is missing or was removed from the collection.  If so, tell us about it: askalibrarian@atu.edu.   We might be able to acquire another copy for the library.

So how do you like the changes?  Let us know by commenting below, on Facebook, or send us an email.  It’s your library–what would you change?

 

Live Music!

Kick off the fall semester with a concert in the Library Thursday night, August 29th, at 7:00 P.M. in room 300 as we host the musical group HARMONY.  The concert is part of a month-long recognition of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, featuring special guest speakers and exhibits.  HARMONY will be playing Civil War era music for both history and music enthusiasts.

For more Civil War history, be sure to check out the traveling Civil War Exhibit panels and display case in the Library lobby.  You can also read more about the exhibit and find other Civil War resources in our Civil War 150 resource guide: http://libguides.atu.edu/civilwar150

Questions? Call (479) 964-0569 or send e-mail to askalibrarian@atu.edu

 

Backyard cannonballs

On Thursday night, Ross Pendergraft Library hosted an evening with history.  We were joined by panelists Paul Slaton, David Vance, and Michael Whitaker to discuss how the Civil War played itself out in our own backyard.

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Panelist Paul Slaton, owner of The Emporium in downtown Russellville, discussed some of the local skirmishes around Dardenelle which occurred “almost on a weekly basis” during the Civil.   Audience members also learned about attacks on Union army steamships by Confederate troops along the Arkansas river, and the local artillery outposts used by the Confederates to rain bullets and shells on federalist troops.  One of the many examples of cannon balls and artillery pieces he brought to the discussion were found in his own backyard.

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Michael Whitaker described the “Record Caves” where the Pope County official records were hid during the Civil War since a common practice for union troops upon arrival into a  town was to burn the courthouse.  As a result, he says, Pope County is one of only nine counties which still contains county records from before the Civil War.

David Vance brought an extensive knowledge of Civil War currency and Arkansas banking history, as well as a large collection of Arkansas Treasury bonds and other currency issued by this state and other confederate states during the Civil War.

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Join us next Thursday, August 29th, for more Civil War history when the musical group HARMONY will be playing authentic Civil War era music in room 300 at 7:00 P.M.

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Tonight!

Join us this evening at 7:00 P.M. as we host a panel discussion on the Battle at Dardenelle and other skirmishes in Arkansas, presented by historians Wayne Phillips, Paul Staton, and Michael Whitaker in the Ross Pendergraft Library & Technology Center, room 300.

Civil War 150 Traveling Exhibit

The guest lecture is part of our month-long recognition of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, featuring speakers, musicians, and a traveling exhibit called, Civil War 150: Explaining the War and Its Meaning Through the Words of Those Who Lived It.

The exhibit panels, located near the south entrance to the Library, depict events and primary source documents from the Civil War such as newspaper headlines, portraits, and photographs.

In our exhibit cases at the north entrance, you’ll also find a collection of Civil War era artifacts including a sword, confederate currency, bullets, a powder horn, and other antiques loan from Paul M. Slaton, owner of The Emporium in Russellville.

Don’t miss our final guest performance next Thursday, August 29th, when we feature the musical group HARMONY, performing music from the Civil War era at 7:00 P.M. in room 300.

Read more about the exhibit and find other Civil War resources in our Civil War 150 resource guide: http://libguides.atu.edu/civilwar150

Questions? Call (479) 964-0569 or send e-mail to askalibrarian@atu.edu

Interim Hours

Please note the hours of Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center for the Summer Interim, August 10th-August 27th:

  • Saturday – Sunday:  CLOSED
  • Monday – Friday:  8:00 am – 5:00 pm
  • Monday, August 26 – Tuesday August 27th:  7:00 am – 6:00 pm

Our normal hours will resume August 28th, but we will again be closed Labor Day weekend.

Civil War 150

Join us as Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center at Arkansas Tech University hosts a national traveling exhibit entitled Civil War 150: Explaining the War and Its Meaning Through the Words of Those Who Lived It during the month of August.

Civil War 150 is a national traveling exhibit presented by The Library of America in partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and the National Endowment for the Humanities.  Students, faculty, and staff will have the chance to view primary source historical documents and personal accounts of the Civil War from those who lived it.

Exhibit Dates:

  • August 12-16 & August 19-23, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • August 26-27, 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
  • August 28-29, 7 a.m.-Midnight
  • August 30, 7 a.m.-6 p.m.

Special Presentations:

Dr. Thomas A. DeBlack, Professor of History
“The Civil War in Arkansas: An Overview”
Thursday, August 15 at 7 p.m.

Wayne Phillips, Paul Staton & Michael Whitaker, Historians
Panel discussion on the Battle at Dardenelle and other skirmishes in Arkansas
Thursday, August 22 at 7 p.m.

Musical Group HARMONY
Performing music from the Civil War era
Thursday, August 29 at 7 p.m.

Presenters will be in Pendergraft Library and Technology Center Room 300
305 West Q Street, Russellville, Arkansas

Read more about the exhibit and find other Civil War resources in our Civil War 150 resource guide: http://libguides.atu.edu/civilwar150

Questions? Call (479) 964-0569 or send e-mail to askalibrarian@atu.edu

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