After a few years without it, the ODU Libraries has brought back the full Britannica Online Academic Edition.

You now have access to Encyclopaedia Britannica, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary and Thesaurus, magazines and periodicals, and many other research tools including an atlas, biographies, news, and multimedia. Also available is a comprehensive database of statistics on every nation of the world, and 225 classic works by 140 authors that offer an introduction to significant works of history, literature, philosophy, and science.

One exciting feature is the extensive video collecton – "over 3,000 videos and video clips that cover a variety of subjects, including History, Science, the Arts, and Social Studies. Video topics include Toulouse-Lautrec, Botticelli, Lewis & Clark, Asia, Ancient Cultures, World Wars, Economics, Native Americans, Insects, the Chaos Theory, and the expanding Universe, among others. Short video clips are 1-5 minutes long and full length extended play videos are between 15 to 45 minutes long. All videos can be played online or downloaded and used in Power Point Presentations.

Access Britannica Online Academic Edition from "Find Databases A-Z" or "Find Books & More" then "General Reference Resources."

From the Art Library blog:

Share Our Strength! Women Artists of the 1960s and 1970s

Feminism’s ‘second wave’ emerged in the USA at the end of the 1960s. Women were fed up with isolation at home and inferior pay and conditions at work. The emphasis on equal opportunity led women artists to organize against institutional discrimination.

From the early 1970s several exhibitions and publications began the retrieval of knowledge about women artists that had been overlooked in the 20th century. Among them were artist Judy Chicago who created The Dinner Party, one of the most significant works of feminist art. Around the same time, Art Historian Linda Nochlin wrote her groundbreaking article "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?"

The exhibit in the Diehn Atrium highlights a few of the influential women artists and art historians during the time, including Judy Chicago, Louise Bourgeois and Virginia native Sally Mann.

The exhibit in the Art Library showcases art work by Old Dominion University student Mary-Paige Cannon, and places the work within the context of the feminist art movement.

Take a break and come by to view the exhibits!!

It’s course evaluation time again and the University would appreciate your assistance. Students, this is your opportunity to help improve academics here at ODU. The information gathered through the Course Evaluation System is used as part of the evaluation of instruction at Old Dominion University.

Students can complete the evaluations through the last day of classes (cuts off at midnight).

Click here to participate in the course evaluation process.

In case you've been wondering... work continues as planned on the north and south additions to the Perry Library.

On the north addition -- Learning Commons:

-- finishing coats are being placed on the drywall partitions and soffits
-- the ceiling grid installation in the renovation/addition space is 2/3 complete
-- sprinkler work in the addition continues
-- other mechanical, electrical and plumbing installations continue and should be ready for inspection in May
-- roofing work will be completed in the next few weeks
-- work on the concrete patio for the café area has begun
-- fireproofing for the third floor infill continues

On the south addition -- Student Success Center:

-- BCOM( Bureau of Capital Outlay Management) inspection completed
-- paint, blinds and carpet on the 1st and 2nd floor rooms should be completed in two weeks
-- delivery and installation of doors should begin later this week
-- toilet partitions and accessories are being installed
-- fire alarm and air conditioning systems are being tested for startup
-- the water line to the building will soon be approved, with water available by 4/29
-- on the exterior, the courtyard has lights

Sometime in early Fall 2011, we will have two beautiful new spaces to serve ODU's students and faculty!!!

The following databases are being evaluated on a trial basis by the Old Dominion University Libraries.

Adam Matthew Education 03/17/2011 - 04/14/2011
   an extensive collection of digitized primary source materials -- username/password required

Political Science Complete 02/24/2011 - 04/24/2011
Mosby's Nursing Skills 03/07/2011 - 04/08/2011
Biography in Context 03/07/2011- 03/31/2011
AccessEngineeringLibrary 02/14/2011 - 03/31/2011

Be sure to try them out before the dates listed above. There is no guarantee that we will be able to acquire them. But while we have trial access, please use them and let us know what you think. Contact your subject specialist librarian or Pamela Morgan, Collection Development Officer, or click on the links above to access and provide feedback.

Access is also available from at the bottom of the FIND DATABASES A-Z page on the library's Web site.

"Our History is our Strength" is the national theme for 2011 Women’s History Month. 2011 is also the centennial anniversary of the YWCA of South Hampton Roads. The ODU Libraries would like to take this month to promote and celebrate the YWCA which "has served as a source of strength to over a quarter million women and children in Hampton Roads."

Visit the exhibit on the 2nd floor (near Circulation Desk) and on the Web which feature materials from the archives of the YWCA of South Hampton Roads housed in Special Collections of the ODU Libraries.

Contact Karen Vaughan kvaughan@odu.edu with questions or comments.

The following databases are being evaluated on a trial basis by the Old Dominion University Libraries.

Biography in Context 03/07/2011- 03/31/2011
Mosby's Nursing Skills 03/07/2011 - 04/08/2011
19th Century Masterfile 02/28/2011 - 03/18/2011
Political Science Complete 02/24/2011 - 04/24/2011
Manuscript Women's Letters and Diaries 02/23/11 - 04/22/11

Be sure to try them out before the dates listed above. There is no guarantee that we will be able to acquire them. But while we have trial access, please use them and let us know what you think. Contact your subject specialist librarian or Pamela Morgan, Collection Development Officer, or click on the links above to access and provide feedback.

Access is also available from at the bottom of the FIND DATABASES A-Z page on the library's Web site.

The Perry Library will be open the following hours for Spring Break:

Saturday-Sunday, March 5-6: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Monday-Tuesday, March 7-8: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Wednesday, March 9: 8:00 am - 10:00 pm
Thursday-Friday, March 10-11: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday, March 12: CLOSED
Sunday, March 13: 1:00 pm - 12:00 midnight

The Diehn Composers Room and Hofheimer Art Library:

Sunday, March 6: CLOSED
Monday-Friday, March 7-11: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday, March 12: CLOSED

Doing a Literature Review in Education
Thursday, March 3, 12:30-1:30pm
Perry Library 3rd floor, Research Commons

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 education using the library's research information databases. Registration is required. For more information, contact Matt Jabaily at mjabaily@odu.edu.