While the ODU Libraries are closed due to the inclement weather, we wanted to let you know that the reference librarians are monitoring the ask-a-librarian online reference service regularly. If you need reference assistance please click here to use our Ask-a-Librarian online form. You can also get to this service by clicking the Contact Us link at the top of our new web site pages.

Enjoy the winter wonderland

Matt Jabaily is our new Education Reference Librarian. Prior to coming to ODU, he was an intern at University of Wisconsin-Madison's Education Library (MERIT), served at the Wendt (Engineering) Library and Memorial Library at UW-Madison, and taught as a substitute high school teacher. He has his BA in English and Teacher Licensure from Carleton College in Northfield, MN and his MLIS from University of Wisconsin-Madison.

An exhibit in the lobby of Perry Library features information about the concept of the "Learning Commons" and what is planned for the Learning Commons in Perry Library. You may also visit the Learning Commons Wiki at: http://www.lib.odu.edu/learningcommons

In preparation for our new Learning Commons, work has already begun:

• On the 1st floor, many reference books have been transferred to the upper floors, where they are available for check out.
• On the 2nd floor, current print journal issues have been interfiled with the bound volume collections. With the exception of weekly issues such as Time and Newsweek, you will now find a current journal issue shelved with its bound volumes, in call number order.

We'll be happy to help you find what you need. Just ask at the reference desk if you need assistance.

In February, renovations on the 2nd floor will begin to move Circulation services to the 2nd floor. Construction at the rear of the Perry Library will also begin for the addition of the University College.

Workshop cancelled due to inclement weather. EndNote help is available on the library's website. You may also request a research consultation.

On Saturday, January 30, from 10:00-11:30am, come to the Graduate Student Workshop "Using EndNote with Library Databases to Save You Time!" Learn how to collect citations from the library's databases and export them into EndNote, a powerful tool for organizing and managing bibliographic citations. Both desktop and Web versions will be included. Bringing your own laptop would be very helpful. If you do bring a laptop, we ask that you have EndNote downloaded to it already.

See instructions for EndNote @ ODU Libraries

Click here to Register for the workshop. For more information, contact Miriam Bridges at mbridges@odu.edu.

On Wednesday, January 27, graduate students are invited to attend a workshop "Doing a Literature Review in the Social Sciences" from 4:30-6:00pm.

Hundreds of thousands of journal articles, dissertations, government publications and other resources can be found online through various library online subscription services. Learn how to do a thorough literature review in the social sciences, using the library's research information databases.

Registration is required. Click here to register. For more information, contact Judy Trump at jtrump@odu.edu

Be sure to attend a BLT Wednesday 1/20 at 3:30pm or Thursday 1/21 at 3:30pm. Interested individuals (not whole classes, please) meet in the lobby of Perry Library near the poster at any of these times for a 30-minute informative tour led by a staff member from the Reference and Research Department.

Plan to attend one of many workshops scheduled for Spring semester.

==> BLTs (Brief Library Tours) for the campus community (students, faculty, staff) are available to interested individuals (not whole classes, please). Meet in the lobby of Perry Library near the poster at any of these times for a 30-minute informative tour led by a staff member from the Reference and Research Department: Thursday 1/14, Wednesday 1/20, Thursday 1/21--all at 3:30. If you would like a virtual tour of Perry Library click here.

==> Faculty workshops:

* January 20: Up-to-Date Census Data for Everyone
* February 5: Using EndNote with Library Databases
* February TBA: Harnessing the Power of Thomson ONE Banker
* March 17: E-clectic E-books for E-veryone
* April 1: Copyright and Copywrong: Considerations for Teaching

Click here for more information and to register.

==> Graduate Student Workshops:

* January 27: Doing a Literature Review in the Social Sciences
* January 30: Using EndNote with Library Databases to Save You Time!
* February 6: Doing a Literature Review in the Social Sciences + an Introduction to EndNote
* February 13: Doing a Literature Review in Science & Engineering
* February 20: Doing a Literature Review in Business
* February 25: Using EndNote with Library Databases to Save You Time!
* February 27: Using ICPSR to Access Social Science Research Data
* March 20: Effective, In-Depth Searching of Two Engineering Databases
* March 27: Using EndNote with Library Databases to Save You Time!
* April 3: Doing a Literature Review in the Humanities
* April 10: Doing a Literature Review in the Health Sciences

Click here for more information and to register.

Old Dominion University men’s basketball and the Friends of the Old Dominion University Libraries will join forces on Saturday, January 16, 2010 for the annual Baskets for Books game.

The ODU Monarchs will host the Drexel Dragons at 7 p.m. at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.

Two local celebrities will compete in a shoot-out at halftime; each successful basket will earn $25 for the University Libraries, thanks to ESPN Radio 94.1 FM.

Purchase your $20 ticket through the Friends of the Libraries and you will receive club level seating* and a free buffet of all-you-can-eat pizza, soft drinks, and bottled water. $6 of your ticket price is a tax deductible donation to the Old Dominion University Libraries.

Fans that wish to support the ODU libraries may purchase their game tickets by contacting Paul Homsher at 497-6833 or (phompsu53@aol.com) or Mary Lewis Ash at 489-8643 or (kickash@cox.net).

*Club level seating: oversized cushioned seats with full back support.