Happy New Year!

Where did August go? Hey, where did SUMMER go? Here we are, back in the swing of things. It's a new and improved school year! Blue week only schedule, lots of new students (and faculty!), plenty of great classes to take and wonderful extracurriculars too.

And, of course, lots of new books and DVDs. I counted: last week alone I added 50 new DVD titles to our already-impressive collection, on everything from war to art to history and feature films too. Everything in the entire library except reference books can be checked out by anyone - students, faculty, staff - so come see what's new!

Realistically, however, you're probably here for a Mac charger. I have more of those too, so do stop by. And welcome back!

Name that search!

I am about to roll out a fabulous new feature for the library, and I need your help. Early next week I hope to change the way you do research for your papers, homework, class discussions, even just to satisfy your curiosity. Instead of visiting four or five different databases on the library webpage, you will now be able to type your search term into one box, click a button, and as if by magic you will search every one of our electronic resources and the book catalog simultaneously. (Except Questia, and I'll say more about that later.)

Got that? Those of you researching Alexander the Great, Shakespeare, or the causes of the Great Depression - in the past you had to search the library catalog, then look for articles in Gale, then EBSCO, then Questia, and then some of you looked at Oxford Art Online and Bloom's too, returning to the library page every time. No more! Now you just type in "Alexander the Great," click the button, and wait for dozens of relevant resources to be returned, all in one spot. Except Questia. Why?

Because as you experienced paper-writers know, Questia keeps a digital bookshelf just for you, from which you can take notes, make a bibliography, and do other useful academic things. That requires an individual login and password, so a Questia search can't be jammed in there with the rest of the research materials.

It's still pretty revolutionary (some colleges are starting to do this, so you're ahead of the game!), still pretty exciting, and . . . you can do it from home, too. Ask me how!

So, why do I need your help? Because this fabulous new way to search needs a name. There will be a simple box in the library webpage and in it will be a single word that describes the wonder of this amazing new tool. Some obvious choices have already been taken: Searchasaurus is out, for example. I will award a small but very pleasant prize to he or she who thinks of the best, most exciting and appropriate name, with an extra prize for making it a cool acronym, like SCORE - Student Centered Online Research Experience. (No, that's not an option.) Open to students and faculty alike - time is running out, so get started!

The library wants your opinion!

Hello, readers! I've been away too long, but as you may know I was busy enjoying my chance to teach Issues in Contemporary Society to the senior class last semester and it diverted my attention a little, if pleasantly. It was wonderful getting to know our seniors better, but equally wonderful to have a bit more time to devote to library tasks.

One of which is exploring e-reader technology for the library! Many of you have e-readers already, and I'd like to hear about it. Come see me at the desk and sing the praises of your Nook, Kindle, Sony, whatever - convince me that's what I want to buy. Your opinion matters. Can't stop by? Email me. Thanks!

Home at last

This is Homecoming Weekend. Last night kicked things off with an epic bonfire and tonight is the all-school family picnic followed by what will be one of the most important games in Out-of-Door history: the first Homecoming football game at our very own field. At long last the Out-of-Door Thunder has a place to call its own: brand-new tennis courts, baseball fields, and a stadium for football and soccer complete with grandstand and concession area. It's been a hive of activity around here ever since I was hired on in August of '08: since then I have seen the Arts Building and Black Box theater, then some renovations on the Petrik Thunderdome gym, then the construction of the Gelbman Wellness Center, and now the Homecoming inauguration of Thunder Arena. Am I wearing my blue and white? You bet!

Saturday is the dance, and from the rumblings I've been hearing on campus all week it will no doubt prove historic in its own way . . . I'll be reporting on that next week. See you at the game!

Way past my due date!

That was too easy, but it's not every day you can mix a library joke with obstetrical humor, right? As some of you may have noticed, I took leave last March, now have the second of two of the world's cutest children, and have failed to update the blog in about six months. I promise to more regularly appear here in the future. Other than  the obvious, the really important thing is that I have shiny new databases to unveil. Want a personal demo? Come visit me at the desk, and prepare to be dazzled.

Breaking news!

The Bolt has gone online! Moving from its traditional paper format to a digital one, Out-of-Door's own student newspaper debuted today in its shiny new form. Faculty adviser Ken Sommers and his team of hard-boiled journos made the switch after what was no doubt careful deliberation and some gentle polling. So, for the latest in ODA news, events and of course those bold opinions, visit The Bolt at http://theodabolt.com/.

100 days and counting

Pictured above: Miss Mandel as wise, constant Penelope, wife of Odysseus, and Mr. Woods in his guise as President Truman. Mr. Woods claims not to like what his countrymen call "fancy dress," but I think his scarlet bowtie is quite dashing. Don't tell him I said so.

I can't believe it's been almost two years already, but I remember writing this very post at this time last year. Here at Out-of-Door there is a lovely tradition upheld by the senior class, in which the students honor their teachers with a dinner when 100 days of the graduating class's final year are left. This year we were able to hold the event in the new Black Box Theatre, part of the new Arts Building that opened this past fall. As ever, it was a glowingly special occasion - I know last year I derived tremendous satisfaction from hearing how my colleagues affect the lives of their students every day, and I am pleased to count myself among their number. This year I had the pleasure of hearing words from Anika P. and Sarah H., two articulate women with bright futures on the horizon. I am glad to have had some small impact on them during my short tenure here so far, and so although I am taking my leave on March 19th and do not plan to return to work until August, it's because of students like them that I will be back for the Senior Dinner in June, and commencement exercises shortly after.