I Want You To Know...

The library has added the online version of the Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls to its collection. The Encyclopedia offers an interdisciplinary view of the Scrolls, with articles written by over 100 scholars from around the world. To search or browse the Encyclopedia, visit the library's web page at http://www.ctu.lib.il.us/find-books-and-other-materials and click on Oxford Digital Reference Shelf to view the Encyclopedia.

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The library has added the Encyclopedia Britannica to its collection of online resources. In addition to the encyclopedia, Britannica Online includes a collection of classics of Western literature, a "this day in history" feature, and a biography of the day. Go to http://www.ctu.lib.il.us/find-books-and-other-materials and click on Britannica Online to try it out.

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The library has added a new database of electronic documents called eHRAF World Cultures. This database is a cross-cultural database that contains information on all aspects of cultural and social life. The annually growing eHRAF database is unique in that the information is organized by cultures and ethnic groups and the full-text documents are subject-indexed at the paragraph level. Check out this new database on the library's web page for electronic books and reference works at http://www.ctu.lib.il.us/find-books-and-other-materials.

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JSTOR has added a few new titles to the library's online journal collection.

Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences: http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublication?journalCode=mameracadartssci

Transactions of the American Philosophical Society: http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublication?journalCode=tranamerphilsoci

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The library has a collection of eBooks from www.NetLibrary.com. The collection includes almost 2000 titles on various topics. To access these books from off campus, visit the NetLibrary web site while you are in the library, create a free account on the NetLibrary site, and then you will be able access NetLibrary books from any location. In addition, each month a different eBook is available for free as the featured book of the month.

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For quick access to popular search engines and library resources, check out the library's new toolbar. The toolbar can be installed in your web browser by visiting http://ctulibilus.mylibrarytoolbar.com. The toolbar includes a button linking to CTU's phone directory, and searches for several library catalogs, as well as Google Books, are available in the search box. Ask a librarian for more information on how to make the most of this toolbar.

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the library now has a quiet study area. The Weber-Killgallon Room is set aside for quiet study unless it is scheduled for a class or meeting. While I don't expect conversations to become raucous, I also do not believe that the entire library should be kept quiet.The Library provides a welcoming environment that promotes teaching, learning, and research and this sometimes creates noise. Librarians use the space to do instruction with patrons, students use tables for group study, students see faculty and need to ask questions, people see others they know and exchange greetings and information. I remind everyone to be considerate of others, but if you really need total quiet, please use the Weber-Killgallon Room for your study.

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The library will be offering a trial to Oxford Scholarship Online for the month of November. Oxford Scholarship Online is a collection of books from Oxford University Press in a variety of subject areas. This trial can be access on campus at www.oxfordscholarship.com.

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Please join us for a book discussion of a spiritual classic, The Story of a Soul, the Autobiography of Saint Therese of Lisieux on Thursday, November 20th from noon to 1p.m. If you would like, you may bring your lunch to the discussion. Contact Melody at mmcmahon@ctu.edu if you plan to attend.

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Check out our latest display highlighting books that coincide with the theme from this week's conference, Transformed by Hope: Building a Catholic Social Theology for the Americas. The books will be on display through next week.

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This is the last week to turn in your scavenger hunt for Theological Libraries Month. Don't miss your chance to be entered in a drawing for a $50 gift certificate at the Seminary Co-op Bookstore!

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JSTOR has added several titles to the library's electronic journal collection:

Studies in Philology - http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublication?journalCode=studphil

Journal of Linguistics - http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublication?journalCode=jlinguistics

Language in Society - http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublication?journalCode=langsoci

I Want You to Meet...

Melody Layton McMahon has been a librarian for over 25 years, with specialization in both music and theology. She has co-edited an anthology of writings on theological librarianship (A Broadening Conversation: Classic Readings in Theological Librarianship, 2006) and serves as the Critical Reviews Editor for the recently-launched online journal Theological Librarianship: an Online Journal of the American Theological Library Association (www.theolib.org). Besides her work, Melody enjoys playing the piano (she still takes lessons), reading, and traveling. She really likes to watch her son, Niall, play soccer, and her daughter, Maeve, play the baroque and Irish flutes.

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Finding the full text of articles is getting easier though the library's new SFX service. Be on the lookout for links that mention "full text" when you are searching for articles when you are on campus. More information about how this service can help you find full text faster will be available soon - in the meantime, feel free to ask a librarian for more help when you need to find an article quickly for your research.

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A native from the Philippines, Juventino Lagos has been a resident of Hyde Park since 1986, where he lives with his wife of 24 years and their 22 year old daughter. For the past 22 years, he has worked as a full time library acquisitions assistant in CTU's library. In his spare time he enjoys cooking desserts from his native country; he also enjoys playing games for the Wii and challenging himself with Sudoku puzzles.

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Kenneth O'Malley, C.P., is the Archivist for the CTU Archives. He has been an adjunct instructor at Dominican University Graduate School of Library and Information Science. Currently, he is also the Coordinator for the ACTS (Association of Chicago Theological Schools) Common Council. On the weekends he helps with Masses at Midway Airport, and he preaches for Food for the Poor. He is also the chair of the Board of Directors of D.A.R.E. (Disabled Adults Residence Enterprise) at the corner of Cornell and 55th. Some of his favorite sites to visit in Chicago are the Art Institute, Smith Stained Glass Museum at Navy Pier, and the Bahai Temple. He enjoys ethnic foods very much, and his favorite places to take visitors include the Breakfast Club, Reza's Persian Restaurant, and the Chicago Pizzeria & Oven Grinder.

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In celebration of Theological Libraries Month, please join us for cake and coffee in the library next week. Cake will be served in the library Tuesday, October 21st from 4p.m. to 5:30p.m. See you there!

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The library has added the BAS Archive Online, which includes Biblical Archaeology Review, Bible Review, and Archeology Odyssey. To browse or search for issues, visit the library's web page for finding articles at http://www.ctu.lib.il.us/find-articles-databases-alphabetical-order. All articles from the inception of these journals to the present are included in this archive from the Biblical Archeology Society.

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Latoya Thompson has been a part of the CTU Library for the last year and a half. She works at the circulation desk and is responsible for the reserves and all the I-Share books that we borrow or send. In her down time Latoya enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also enjoys reading and shopping, but most of her time is spent baking for her nieces. This upcoming spring Latoya plans to return to school where she will study Social Work.

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Frances Hankins started at Catholic Theological Union in 1986 in what was then called Student Services. In 1987 she was offered a job in the Library at Circulation and took it. She began to look at her job as her "ministry," not work, because she loved her job and what she was doing. She attended school while working and received her degree in General Studies. "I like to read, travel, sew, cook and experience different ethnic food and customs," she says. Frances was born in Jackson, MS and moved to Chicago at an early age. She has 5 children (one deceased), 17 grandchildren (one deceased) and 1 great grandchild. Frances has been an employee of Catholic Theological Union for 22 years and still loves her job.

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All are invited to attend the library's inaugural book discussion on Tuesday, October 21st from noon to 1p.m. The book up for discussion will be My Life with the Saints, by James Martin, S.J. Please R.S.V.P. to Melody as soon as possible at mmcmahon@ctu.edu.

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Starting this month, we will be highlighting some of the books in the library's collection in our new display case. Check out the library's book display for Theological Libraries Month, entitled Beyond B. The purchase of this display case was made possible by a grant from the American Theological Library Association.

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The library will be sponsoring a scavenger hunt for the month of October in celebration of Theological Libraries Month. Patrons who complete the scavenger hunt will receive a free book, and will also be entered in a drawing for a fifty dollar gift certificate at the Seminary Co-op bookstore at the end of the month. Pick up a scavenger hunt form at the library's circulation desk, and good luck!

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Catherine Meaney started at CTU library in 1997 working part time cataloging the Weber Killgallon Catechetical Collection. She has been a full time cataloger at CTU for nine years. A native Chicagoan, Catherine enjoys attending as many cultural events in the city as she can, especially theatre and dance. She is an avid reader; mysteries and poetry are her usual choices. Catherine also enjoys writing Haiku and has had some published in St. Anthony Messenger. Baking and cooking are among the things she makes time for when she is at home. Catherine and her husband Timothy have been married 36 years and live in Downers Grove where they raised their four children.

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Lisa Gonzalez is the newest member of the CTU library, having joined the staff a few weeks ago as the Electronic Resources Librarian. Lisa grew up in the Chicago suburbs, and worked in various libraries in the area before moving to California to attend Fuller Theological Seminary. After completing a degree in theology at Fuller, she is happy to be back in her native Illinois. Though she doesn't like to conform to librarian stereotypes, Lisa does admit to being both a book lover and an aficionado of cats.

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The Paul Bechtold Library will celebrate Theological Libraries Month this October, in conjunction with the American Theological Library Association. The library will sponsor a scavenger hunt with valuable prizes, a book discussion group, and more! Check back for more information throughout the month.

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JSTOR has added several titles to the library's collection of electronic journals. Some of these journals are:

Dead Sea Discoveries
http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublication?journalCode=deadseadisc

Corinth: Results of Excavations Conducted by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublication?journalCode=coriresuexca

Cahier d'Etudes Africaines
http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublication?journalCode=cahietudafri

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the PBL now has scanning capability in the copy room. Rather than pay to make copies, just choose scan, then follow instructions on the touchpad to enter your email address. Scan the pages you need, and the pdf will be sent to your email.

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the Paul Bechtold Library is going green. Going green is the responsible thing to do; even the Pope says so. Paul Bechtold Library staff have been looking at ways to save natural resources. Effective immediately, we will stop printing due date slips—patrons can check their own record easily in the online catalog by clicking on the “My Account” tab at the top of the page. We will be happy to demonstrate this if you do not know how to find it! Also, we will no longer be providing printed lists of items on reserve for specific courses. This information is also easily available by clicking the tab, “Course Reserves” in the online catalog. Reserves can be searched by Instructor, Department, or Course.

Other paper forms (Interlibrary Loan requests, meeting room and AV equipment requests) will be transferred to electronic format over the next few months. We have already made substantial reductions in paper waste in the Cataloging Department by discontinuing printouts of cataloging information and cards for the shelf-list. The library responsibly discards its unused books by furnishing them to third world seminaries, as well as working with Better World Books, which sells and donates books for literacy programs.

The photocopier in the library is being reconfigured so that patrons may scan and email rather than print articles and books. We encourage users to use the blue recycling bins that are located in the Copy Room and near the computers in the back of the library.

Please see Melody McMahon, Library Director, if you have questions, comments or other suggestions for preserving resources.

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Late yesterday, the Illinois State Library announced that budget cuts have forced them to discontinue their subsidized subscriptions to Periodical Abstracts and Wilson Select Plus effective immediately. CARLI is trying to make subscriptions to these databases available at a cost-effective rate, but until further notice we no longer have these databases available.

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that we have reconfigured the study furniture in the library. The facilities survey told us several things: you want it to seem less crowded, you want quiet, comfy reading areas, you didn't want to see the study carrels when looking up from the atrium. We listened; we'd like for you to come see the results and give us more feedback.

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that EBSCOhost2.0 is coming soon. It will offer much more functionality, especially while viewing images, using the citation manager and with personal folders. It also has a cleaner look. If you want a preview, use the 'New Features' function at the top of the EBSCOhost page. Feel free to stop in to see me if you'd like some help on using the more advanced features of EBSCOhost (like searching multiple databases together or setting up search alerts).

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that we now have Origins online. This allows for keyword searchability of the documents that are covered in the print version. Please let me know if you need help with this resource.

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ATLASerials and CPLI do not have much overlap. American Theological Library Association and Catholic Library Association (the people that create CPLI) have an agreement that they will not index the same journals, so only the few that were duplicated in the past are in both. ATLASerials indexes only a handful of Catholic journals, so if you are trying to do a comprehensive search or one that provides a Catholic viewpoint, you should search both databases. You can search both databases at the same time! Ask me how!

...how you can ask me about ATLA Serials and CPLI (or any other reference or research question you have). Email, phone, make an appointment, stop by on a whim, leave a comment on this blog, and possibly by end of summer, IM.

Electronic Reference Works

The big improvement to library resources this week is the access to lots of major reference works through the library webpage. Go to Find Books and look at the lists under Gale Virtual Reference Library, Oxford Digital Reference Shelf and Oxford Reference Online Premium. Now you have online access to the New Catholic Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia of Religion, Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World, Encyclopedia of Bioethics, Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture and twelve other major Gale encyclopedias. You can click on any reference book listed and do a search of all the works at once. If you want to only search in that particular work, make sure you click the box, "within this publication." Note that there are basic search and advanced search capabilities.

Oxford Reference Online Premium puts an entire reference collection at your desk. Browse the subject areas to see what all is available. A few of the religion titles included are Oxford Dictionary of the Popes, Oxford Dictionary of Saints, A Dictionary of Buddhism. You can search the entire database at once, or just a single title. The Oxford Digital Reference Shelf is a separate component of more major reference works published by Oxford, but they are also searchable in the Oxford Reference Online Premium.

New Databases 6/15/08

OriginsOnline--go to Find Articles and click on link for OriginsOnline. This database includes all documentation going back to Volume 1 from Origins. There are some search hints on the webpage, but let me know if you need help.

Bibliography of the History of Art-- Go to Find Articles and click on link for FirstSearch databases. The most comprehensive art bibliography available worldwide, covering European and American visual arts from late antiquity to the present. Encompasses the fine arts as well as decorative and applied arts. Includes international material selected from periodicals since 1973. Indexes and abstracts journal articles, art-related books, conference proceedings and dissertations, exhibition and dealers' catalogs.

JSTOR--go to Find Articles and click on link for JSTOR. Soon you should be able to search your favorite databases, like ATLAS or CPLI and have the articles you find link directly to JSTOR full text.

Iter: Gateway to the Middle Ages and Renaissance--go to Find Articles and click on link for Iter. Iter's bibliography includes literature pertaining to the Middle Ages and Renaissance (400-1700). Citations for books, journal material (articles, reviews, review articles, bibliographies, catalogues, abstracts and discographies) are included, as are citations for dissertation abstracts, and essays in books (including entries in conference proceedings, festschriften, encyclopedias and exhibition catalogues). In addition, there are several other smaller databases associated with Iter that you can access. They are the ones that say "Connect to:"

RAMBI; The Index of Articles on Jewish Studies--click on link for RAMBI. This is a freely available database from The Jewish National and University Library. Once you have entered RAMBI, use the link called "RAMBI Web" to start searching.

Kennedy Institute of Ethics Databases--There are several databases here--if you've used the print Bibliography of Bioethics, try this. It's a more complete version than the print!

New Databases 6/6/08

Our website is a work in progress, but please take a look at these new resources. On the ‘Find Books’ page, you may now access the full-text of the OED. On the ‘Find Articles’ page, there is now a link to IxTheo. IxTheo is a database indexing journals and festschriften in theology and religious studies from the entire world. Although produced in Germany, over 3/4ths of the works indexed are from countries other than Germany. The website also includes a “current contents service” and a monthly list of new monographs in religious studies and theology.

We now provide access to the Saskia Art Image Collection. You can find this under ‘Find Online Images.’ This database has over 30,000 digital images of paintings, sculpture and architecture, including images from many important collections. A quick search of ‘saints’ turns up 629 images. On the ‘Find Online Images’ page you will also find a link for the ATLA Cooperative Digital Resources Initiative. This is a database of digital images of woodcuts, photographs, slides, papyri, coins, maps, postcards, manuscripts, lithographs, sermons, shape-note tune books, and various forms of Christian art, architecture, and iconography.