FROM THE DIRECTOR'S DESK

You asked: We listened!

This academic year promises to be one of the most exciting yet in the history of McQuade Library. Many changes that the community has sought are currently taking place, and many more will follow.

First, we are so pleased to be offering extended library hours to the Merrimack College community! During the fall and spring semesters, anyone with a valid MackCard can use the library Sunday through Thursday evenings from midnight to 7:30am, and Friday and Saturday evenings until midnight. Please visit the Library Hours page on our website for more information, and please be sure to bring your MackCard with you during extended hours. The safety and security of everyone in the building are our top priority, so we need to strictly enforce this policy.

There have also been big changes on the library’s second floor. Come visit the new home of the Educational Resources Collection (ERC) in the former Periodicals Room. There you’ll still find current newspapers and magazines, but also discover the ERC materials, which are resources for teaching, curriculum planning, and other materials that support the Merrimack College graduate and undergraduate Education programs. You will find the space transformed with fresh paint, new carpeting, and lots of comfortable furniture. Renovations are currently being completed to create a new quiet study space on the other side of the old Periodicals Room with an additional group study room created adjacent to this space. Stop by and take a look!

Finally, exciting changes will be coming soon to the first floor of the library. Construction will begin later in the semester to create a Learning Commons space that will include a café, flexible instruction and meeting spaces, and a single service point to address multiple requests such as borrowing library materials, research assistance, and more.

All of these new library services (extended hours, quiet study areas, and new collaborative study spaces) have been requested by you, the Merrimack College community, and we are delighted to be able to provide them to you.

~ Bridget Rawding

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

The ERC has Relocated!

The The Education Resources Collection (ERC) has relocated to the newly transformed Perkins Periodical Room, a bright, comfortable space on the second floor past the main computer lab. A glass wall divides this room; the ERC collection is located in the front half, while the back portion of the room is designated as quiet study space.

As always, the ERC offers instructional materials for curriculum planning and lesson preparation (preK-12), ELL kits and materials, teacher certification materials, and more. This collection provides resources and services to support Merrimack’s undergraduate and graduate teacher preparation programs, student outreach volunteers, alumni, and professional educators.

All Merrimack students, faculty, and staff are welcome to use the ERC. We invite you to browse and explore this wonderful collection.

Print journals, formerly located in the Perkins Periodicals Room, are now shelved on the 3rd floor. Current magazines and newspapers remain available in the Perkins Periodical Room on the 2nd floor.

Library Open House is a Success!

Open House On Tuesday, September 21st McQuade Library kicked off the semester by hosting a successful Open House. Over one hundred faculty, students, and staff visited the library’s second floor atrium to meet the staff and learn more about the various student services offered within the library, including the Center for Academic Enrichment, Information Technology Services, The Mathematics Center, and The Writing Center. Open House Librarians

McQuade Library’s tables featured a sampling of materials from the Education Resources Collection (ERC) and popular DVDs. Librarians were available to answer questions about databases, print resources, ebooks, and services such as interlibrary loan.

Congratulations to Computer Science professor David Toth who won the Nook E-book reader donated by McQuade Library and to student Gabriella Angelini who won the iPod Touch donated by Information Technology Services.

David TothGabriella Angelini

Also, Helene Nicotra of the English Department won a Merrimack sweatshirt raffled off by the Center for Academic Enrichment.

Additional pictures of McQuade’s Open House are posted on the library’s Flickr account.

Fall Gallery Exhibit Features Lovely & Salemme

Adjunct Professor, Christopher Lovely and McQuade Library's Director of Media Instructional Services, Kevin Salemme have combined their work in oil painting and digital photography into a single exhibit.

Stop by the library's Art Gallery to view the exceptional talent of Merrimack's faculty.

LIBRARY HOURS

Regular Library Hours (all floors open, library services available)

Weekday Time
Monday – Thursday 7:30a.m. – 12:00p.m. midnight
Friday 7:30a.m. – 5:00p.m.
Saturday 10:00a.m. – 5:00p.m.
Sunday 10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. midnight

Extended Evening Hours (MackCard ID required, basement and first floor only, limited services)

In response to students requests, the library will be open 24 hours a day Sunday through Thursday and from 5 PM to midnight Friday and Saturday. Study when inspiration strikes!

Weekday Time
Sunday – Thursday 12:00p.m. midnight – 7:30a.m.
Friday & Saturday 5:00p.m. – 12:00p.m. midnight

A Mack ID is required to remain in the building during these hours.

Media Center Regular Hours

Weekday Time
Monday – Friday 8:30a.m. – 4:30p.m.
Saturday & Sunday CLOSED

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

Call the Campus Weather Emergency number 978-837-5700 in the event of extreme winter weather.

If the recording states "Merrimack College is closed" all classes are cancelled, and offices throughout the campus are closed, including the library.

WHAT'S NEW

All–in–One Reference Room Computers

This summer all of the computers in the library's reference rooom were upgraded to all–in–one units with Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2007.

Ask IT Logo If you have any questions about the new computers, please ask a librarian for help or visit the AskIT Help Desk, located on the 2nd floor of McQuade Library.

Text–a–Librarian Service!

Text-A-Librarian

McQuade Library recently added text/sms messaging to their list of methods to ask a question. In addition to telephone, email, IM chat, and face–to–face communication, students, faculty and staff may now use their cell phones or web–enabled handheld devices to ask a McQuade Reference Librarian a brief question.

Begin the text/sms message with mcquaderef and send to 265-010,

Librarians are available to answer text/sms messages if the status of IM is "Online". If we are offline, consider calling or emailing us your questions, or stopping by the library in person for a faster response.

This service is free, but standard text messaging fees from you service provider still apply.

New Student Workers

McQuade Library's Circulation Department is pleased to announce the hiring of the following students:

Our Circulation workers are usually the first contact that patrons have with the library, and we appreciate all their hard work!

The McQuade Library Media Center is also pleased to announce the hiring of the following students:

These students staff the Media Center desk and assist in photography and video editing.

The entire library staff welcomes all the new and returning student workers and hope they have a great fall 2010 semester!

The Media Center Gets a Facelift

This summer the Media Center, located in the basement of the library, received a few updates. In addition to new paint and furniture, the Media Center also has a new set for the video production studio.

The Media center provides a variety of services and resources including video studio production and post-production equipment, digital photography and photography services, and slide production. Open to all students and the Merrimack College community, the Media Center also provides 5 MAC computers with high quality video and photo editing software. Merrimack's MCTV10, a closed circuit on-campus cable television station is broadcast here.

For more information, contact Kevin Salemme, Director of Media Instructional Services, x4205.

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