Archives for February 2016

Quiet, Please!

It’s hard enough to prepare for upcoming tests, group projects, and paper deadlines when the group seated next to you is being noisy in the library, the sacred space for quiet and effective study. Spring midterms are fast approaching at Tech, and this means more students will be visiting the library. Like in finals week, this is one of the busiest weeks of the semester. More students inevitably leads to a higher-than-average buzz of activity and, namely, noise.

Bad study group

Don’t be like these guys

Try as we might, the librarians and staff can’t be everywhere at once (much as we’d like to shush to our hearts’ content in our continual quest to end needless noise). Luckily, we have a resource for students who want their peers at the next computer to lower their voices, for the gentleman with his headphones too loud, or the girls having a social break instead of studying Sociology—all without having to leave their desk and risk being caught tattling to a library worker.

Students can text (479) 802-4876 to report loud or obnoxious patrons. This anonymous tip line sends the message to a working librarian or staff member, who can handle the noise complaint so students can focus on their own work without having to shush their neighbors.  As long as the library is open, our shush line is open. Standard text message rates will apply.

And sure—we understand that group projects and study partners need a place to work, too.  That’s why the 1st floor is designated a “low-noise” floor.  However, the 2nd floor is our quiet study area–whisper only, please.  If you need to get a little louder, consider reserving a study room, where groups can meet and talk at normal volume.

Give our new texting service a try.  Your texts will help us enforce our existing noise policy when we cannot be in all places at once.

Remember–sometimes shhh happens.  But through our new texting service, you have the power to make shhh happen when you need it the most.

On Trial

If you want to keep better tabs on congressional representatives, check out the Library’s newest database trial: CQ Press Congress Collection.  From now until February 20th, the Ross Pendergraft Library is hosting a trial of this new reference tool enabling users to find biographical, political, and electoral data on every member of Congress since 1945.  Research floor votes, search full legislation text, and see statistical data, legislative analysis, Supreme Court case summaries and more with this easy-to-use platform.

map

For political science junkies, this tool can provide fast facts about current Congressional members, as well as in-depth details on past members.  Analyze and export voting data by state, religious affiliation, gender, and more.

hillary

ted

Not really up to speed on the political progress?  The Congress Collection includes a Congressional Dictionary, Congressional Encyclopedia, list of important public policy issues by topic, and comprehensive overviews of how Congress works.

policy

Vote for or against this collection by emailing your friendly neighborhood librarians at askalibrarian@atu.edu.  Your voices make a difference in your library, so make them count.