Usage survey of current magazines & journals

Every so often, we like to get a handle on the usage of current copies of the popular magazines and scholarly journals to which we subscribe. We collect statistics that tell us which titles are read the most and the least, and this informs some of our subscription renewal decisions. (The "current copies" are the magazines and journals on the main level, near the copy room. The journals on the third level are not affected by this.)

You can help us with this project, without having to do anything special. We are asking that library patrons (and staff) do NOT re-shelve current print periodicals after reading them. After being used, they should be placed in the basket found on the table in the middle of the current periodical shelves.

Every afternoon, someone will empty the basket, make a note of what issues have been used, and then reshelve them. We'll be doing this until September, and have put some signs up to remind you.

Thanks in advance for your help with this project. Of course, if you have any questions about it, just ask!

Change to library hours

Since the library's hours were changed in January, we've continued to take a careful look at how the building is being used, especially in the evening. Our ongoing observations have shown us that library use remains high until midnight on most nights, and drops of significantly after that. As a result, we have decided to extend the operating hours of the full building until midnight Monday through Thursday, effective March 2. (The full Library was already open until midnight on Sundays.) The main level gallery space will still remain open until 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday for study, computer access and wireless Internet capability.

During final exam periods, the full Library building will remain open until 2 a.m. and the main level gallery space will be open 24 hours a day. (Stay tuned for more information on exact dates.)

NEW LIBRARY HOURS (as of Monday, March 2, 2009)
Sunday: Noon to Midnight**
Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. to Midnight**
Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday: 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

** The main level addition will remain open until 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.

Italian Week 2009

Loyola's Department of Modern Languages and Literatures will celebrate Italian language and culture during its 9th annual Italian Week, Feb. 19 – 26. Here at the library, you can peruse a selection of books on Italian culture, including cookbooks, travel books, art books and works of Italian literature. You'll find the exhibit on the main level, underneath the Italian flag.

In addition, the film “L’orchestra di Piazza Vittorio” will be screened in the Library auditorium on Wednesday, Feb. 25, from 6 - 8 p.m. The film documents the creation of an orchestra that formed while the musicians were trying to find ways to save a theatre and concert hall. Read more about it in the New York Times.

Presidential Trivia

Can you name the first (and only) president who was sworn in by a woman? Or the first to be sworn in while wearing long pants?

If you can answer these questions, come take a crack at our Presidential Trivia Contest. Now through February 16, 2009, pick up a sheet of questions at the Research Assistance/Information Desk. The person with the highest score will win a $25 gift certificate to the bookstore.

Answer sheets are due at the Research Assistance/Information Desk by 11pm on Monday, February 16. (why that particular day? You tell us!) Should there be a tie, the winner will be chosen at random from the high scorers. This contest is open to current students at Loyola or Notre Dame.

Closing early on Wed. Jan. 28

Due to the continuing inclement weather, LNDL will be closing at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28.

New Library Hours

Those of you who are avid library-watchers will already know about this change. But in case you didn't see the announcements sent out to Loyola and Notre Dame, we wanted to post information about the change to library hours here, as well. We hope that the change to our hours will not prove to be too disruptive to anyone's schedule.

Over the last several months, the leadership of the Loyola/Notre Dame Library has been studying student and faculty usage of the Library to determine the best hours to be open. This analysis was performed to help determine how to conserve resources such as energy and personnel and subsequently reduce the Library’s carbon footprint.

Consequently, beginning on Monday, Jan. 26, the Loyola/Notre Dame Library changed its hours of operation during periods when it will have the smallest impact on students and faculty. Making these modest reductions in the Library’s weekend hours, when usage is low, will lower energy consumption and cut operating costs.

In addition to more limited weekend hours, the majority of the Library building will also close earlier during the week, while the main level addition will remain open until 2 a.m. for study, computer access and wireless Internet capability.

During exam periods, the full Library building will remain open until 2 a.m. and the main level addition will be open 24 hours a day.

NEW LIBRARY HOURS**
Sunday Noon to Midnight
Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

** The main level addition will remain open until 2 a.m. Sunday - Thursday.

New music databases

LNDL recently purchased several new music databases. Some of these resources enable you to search for and stream full tracks. By creating an account, faculty and students can make and save playlists to share and listen to later. Some of the other new databases contain music reference materials. For now, these products are all separate; in the spring the provider will release a single landing page to search them all at once!

A list of all of our music databases is below. To learn more about them, visit the Music Subject Guide.

Recordings:

• African American Song
• American Song
• Contemporary World Music
• Smithsonian Global Sound
• Classical Music Library

Reference materials:

• African-American Music Reference
• Classical Music Reference Library
• Classical Scores Library
• Garland Encyclopedia of World Music Online
• Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians Online