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Libraries updating services, resources

By Rachael Zylstra

Many services and resources for students, faculty and staff are being updated and expanded this semester at the MSU Libraries.

“The libraries must constantly evolve to provide services and collections that mesh with the changing expectations and needs of our user community,” said Clifford Haka, director of MSU Libraries.

The following is a list of what library patrons can look forward to in coming weeks:

Collaborative technology labs

There are now six collaborative technology labs in the Main Library and four in the Engineering Library. These interactive labs provide spaces where students can utilize various methods of technology, Haka said. With a camera and Smart Board in the room, the presentation lab allows users to practice and record speeches and presentations to DVD for playback. The interactive board lets users save and print anything written on the Smart Board. Other labs include Intel and Macintosh computers, CAD and Web design software and video-conference capabilities.

“Beyond this, the rooms serve to educate library staff about hardware and software enhancements desired by our community,” Haka said.

For more information, visit: www2.lib.msu.edu/computer/ctlabs.jsp.

Streaming music

New resources in the form of streaming music, from Alexander Street Press, complement the libraries’ traditional recorded media and are often the only source for rare recordings, said music librarian Mary Black-Junttonen.

“With additional tracks added regularly, and with 24-hour access, these databases should encourage the exploration of many different genres by users throughout the campus community,” she said.

New resources include the Classical Music Library, the world’s largest multilabel database of classical music recordings; American Songs by and about American Indians, miners, immigrants, slaves, children, pioneers and cowboys; and African American Songs, offering a range of genres such as jazz, blues, narratives and 16,000 tracks of historical recordings. In addition, Smithsonian Global Sound provides tracks from various world perspectives.

E-books

Digital access to more than 10,000 e-books published by Springer during 2005-07 will be available.

Springer, one of the world’s leading publishers of scholarly information, publishes material with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, medicine and social science, said Steven Sowards, assistant director of collections.

The access to these publications is possible because of a collaboration with peer universities involved with the Committee on Institutional Cooperation.

“These current and authoritative materials will be available to the MSU community on a 24/7 global basis, substantially improving support for distance education and for programs conducted outside of the United States,” Sowards said. “Hot links to these

e-books will appear in the library’s catalog shortly, and the full text of the books also will be fully searchable through the SpringerLink and MyiLibrary platforms.”