In This Newsletter

Tisch Library Level G Naming Opportunities

News from Tisch Library

News from Ginn Library

News from Health Sciences Library

News from Vet Library

Upcoming Authors Talks

Calendar of Friends Events

A new Millennium for all Tufts Libraries

Friends Home page

Joann Wellner, J63, Chair Friends of Tufts Libraries

A message from the Chair…

I am delighted to let you know that there are two double events planned for the Friends this spring. On March 10th, Gregory Maguire, G90, will give a Friends Authors Talk on his latest book Mirror Mirror. In response to Friends and alumni requests, a special workshop on Uncovering the Hidden Web has been scheduled immediately before Gregory's Authors Talk. So mark your calendars for March 10th at 2:15 pm for the workshop and 3:30 pm for the Authors Talk. Our second double event is on April 23rd when we will have our fourth Tufts Poetry Walk, which this year will be dedicated to the one hundredth anniversary of John Holmes' birth. Immediately after the walk, we will open an exhibit of John Holmes' Robert Frost Collection. Holmes and Frost were good friends, and Holmes collected Frost's books, many of which were inscribed by Frost to Holmes. So mark April 23rd on your calendar for 10:30 am for the Poetry Walk and 11:30 am for the exhibition opening.

I am also very happy to report that Tisch Library's Level G construction project will have begun by the time you receive this newsletter thanks to the many Friends who have contributed to the project, which will receive matching funds from my reunion class gift. Since Level G will not become public until after construction, Tisch Library has arranged that you will be able to "see" the project's progress by viewing the photos on the Level G website at http://www.library.tufts.edu/friends/levelg. As you read further into this newsletter, you will also learn about a two-year construction project at the Health Sciences Library and that plans to renovate the Ginn Library have begun.

I hope to see you at the Spring Authors Talk on March 10th at 3:30 pm, the Uncovering the Hidden Web Workshop immediately before, at 2:15 pm, and also at the April 23rd Tufts Poetry Walk at 10:30 am and the unveiling of John Holmes' Robert Frost Collection exhibit at 11:30 am. Please mark your calendars right now!

The generosity of the Friends of Tufts Libraries is the enabler for all of these events, so I thank each of you for supporting the libraries as they work to improve their collections and services. Without you, our libraries would accomplish less. As always, the Tufts Community and I are grateful for your continued support of the libraries.

J.Wellner Signature
Joann Wellner, J63, Chair
Friends of Tufts Libraries

Tisch Library's Level G Naming Opportunities

This year, an important initiative for Tisch Library is the renovation of Level G, a space located on the lowest level of the library, and currently accessible only to library staff. Requests for items stored in this area have risen dramatically, so faculty have requested that it be opened to the public. Once renovated, Level G will provide additional study space and approximately 10,000 linear feet of shelving. The project is underway, but needs more funding. In order to complete Level G as soon as possible, JoAnn Giffuni Wellner, J63, Chair of the Friends of Tufts Libraries, will match dollar-for-dollar, up to $100,000, all gifts dedicated to the Level G project. This is a great opportunity to make a difference in the library experience of current and future students and faculty. Signature gift naming opportunities are available: a gift of $10,000 names a study carrel, and a gift of $25,000 names a stack range. Your gift will allow Tisch Library to better respond to the teaching and research needs of the Tufts community. If you would like to make a gift directed to this project, please contact Allison Davies at (617) 627-5704 or allison.davies@tufts.edu. Thank you in advance for your support.

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News From Tisch Library


 

Members of Professor Dale Peterson's English class, with Reference Librarian Regina Raboin, gather around one of the 15 new computers recently installed in the Electronic Resource Center. An endowment for the ERC created by Richard and Ellen Levine, A62, A91P, in memory of their parents, Vivian and Herman Levine, provided funding for the new computers. Photo credit: J. D. Sloan

Margaret Gooch, Connie Reik and Rosemary Resmini, members of the exhibit mounting tem, with Virginia Drachman, author of Enterprising Women, 250 Years of American Business, and Jo-Ann Michalak, Director of Tisch Library. Professor Drachman gave a Friends of Tufts Libraries Authors Talk on Parents Weekend-October 24, 2003. The Drachman video will not be available until the exhibit tour which accompanies Drachman's talk is completed in early 2005. Photo credit: J. D. Sloan

The Undergraduate Experience Task Force has recommended a café in the Tisch Library to symbolize the library's role as an intellectual center on campus. This concept has been endorsed by the Library Committee, which has faculty and student members, and sees the café as enhancing the intellectual climate on campus as well as enhancing the Tufts Community. A café project group is developing architectural renderings of the café and a floor plan, a business plan for the café, including hours and menu, and policy documents outlining the types of faculty-student interaction and types of activities/events to be encouraged, as well as what will be discouraged. The library will propose appropriate reading material for the café. It is hoped that some gallery space for student, faculty and staff display can be included. Further review by the faculty and student community is planned during spring semester. Fund raising will begin soon with the enthusiastic support of President Bacow and Dean Ernst. The location of the café will be in the Dranetz Tower on the entrance level of the library.

Wayne Powell, Tisch Library Engineering Reference Librarian and Bibliographer, at his on-site service desk in Anderson Hall, which he visits weekly. Tisch reference staff has initiated a pilot project to physically bring reference to popular user locations, in addition to the Boston Library Consortium's ASK 24/7 service, in an effort to meet Tufts students and faculty where they might need library assistance, such as the Anderson Project Center and Computing Labs. Photo Credit: Richard Fleischer

Jay Cantor reads from his latest book, Great Neck-the slory of a group of friends growing up idealistic, radical, and romantic in the sixties and seventies. Professor Cantor gave a Friends of Tufts Libraries Authors Talk on November 4, 2003. A video of his Authors Talk is at http://www.library.tufts.edu/friends/mainevent.asp?event=52. Photo credit: J. D. Sloan

 

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News from Ginn Library


 

The Edwin Ginn Library is looking forward to a major renovation as part of the Fletcher School's Master Plan for space and facilities. In all probability as you read this, the library is installing compact shelving on its ground floor and preparing to shift all collections out of the second floor, which will in turn become desperately needed office space for the School during summer 2004. The renovations will likely continue for two to three years and will lead to a modern space for the library, better suited to service in the Information Age, more attractively furnished and designed to adapt to emerging technologies. Approval of the renovations came in November 2003.

During 2003 the library initiated the Ginn Blog-a link to worldwide items of interest to the Fletcher community. Library staff adds to the Ginn Blog on an almost daily basis and provides immediate access to internet-based materials on topics of interest to the Fletcher community. Subjects added recently include Iraq, terrorism, political upheaval in Georgia, international law resources, Central Asia resources, etc. The Ginn Blog is an attempt to capture items not normally seen by most Fletcher students that present a balanced view of the world we live in. Go to http://www.library.tufts.edu/ginn and click on "Ginn Blog"-it is freely accessible on the internet.

In October 2003, Zachary Abuza, a Fletcher Ph.D. currently on the faculty of Simmons College and a widely cited expert on terrorism in southeast Asia, discussed his just-published book Militant Islam in Southeast Asia : Crucible of Terror.

The Ginn library manages the Fletcher School website and during 2003 worked with outside consultants to produce a redesign of the School's website. The new site is a bold design accentuating clearer graphics, improved navigation and easy entry for different audiences. To see it, go to http://fletcher.tufts.edu.

To help students take better advantage of the sometimes overwhelming array of electronic journal databases, Ginn has developed an online tutorial, "How to find Journal Articles at Ginn Library." It suggests databases targeted to the research topics of Fletcher students and answers some of the most frequently asked questions, such as "Which databases include full text?" and "How do I know if a journal is available electronically?" Students can teach themselves about journal research by doing the full tutorial, and return to the answers to specific questions as needed.

Ginn Library has recently added two major electronic resources: Hein Online is an electronic page image archives of law journals from volume one of each title.

Also, Ginn now has the United Nations Online Document System-all the official UN documents in searchable electronic format. World Trade Law.net Dispute Settlement Commentary was also added in 2003.

One of the many photos exhibited in Perspectives-"Sow and Reap," by Noah Bessoff.

For over a year, the library staff has worked with the editors of Perspectives, a Fletcher-student produced journal of photographs from around the world. The library provides (and benefits from!) display space for the photographs, and each year purchases several photographs to frame and hang in the library. For a look at some of the wonderful photographic work produced by Fletcher students, go to http://fletcher.tufts.edu/perspectives.

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News from Health Sciences Library


 

Walls are erected near the Circulation Desk as part of HS's renovation.

In response to student input, the Health Sciences Library has embarked upon a two year renovation project to improve the atmosphere of the library. The students requested a more comfortable and welcoming space in which to work. The library will respond to these requests with better lighting, more group workspace, additional leisure seating and the addition of a coffee bar. The main goals of this renovation are to improve the student community life of campus, enhance and expand access to library resources and to add much needed study space. The Health Sciences Library has created a website to record the renovations as they occur. Go to http://www.library.tufts.edu/hsl/construction.html to take a look.

The Health Sciences Library is embarking on a significant community outreach project. The HSL has been funded by the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) to launch the Tufts SPIRAL (Selected Patient Information Resources in Asian Languages) project. SPIRAL is designed to make Asian-language consumer health resources readily available to the Asian-language community in Boston and surrounding areas. The Asian Community in the Boston area is expanding rapidly. The 2000 census showed 238,000 Asians in Massachusetts; up from 137,000 in 1990. Of the 238,000 in the state, 44,000 live in the city of Boston and 30% of those have family incomes under the poverty level. This is clearly an underserved population. This web site will consist of evaluated and annotated links to consumer health-related information sites in Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), Vietnamese, Thai, and Khmer languages. Those resources will be promoted through community organizations; including the South Cove Community Health Center, the Sharewood Project Health Clinic (a student run clinic); and community religious associations and community clubs.

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News from Vet Library


 

Two thousand three marked the Webster Veterinary Medical Library's 10th anniversary, and we have celebrated with a variety of events. Our Veterinary InfoFair showcased the array of technology and information tools available for teaching and learning. Ongoing workshops, demonstrations of searching methods, and vendor exhibits attracted both faculty and students, as did the ice cream sundaes!

This spring, Dr. Nicholas Dodman, respected expert on animal behavior, entertained an audience of animal lovers with his fascinating accounts of actual case studies. Fifty people attended the talk and book signing.

The highlight of the year, however, was the 10th Anniversary Luncheon, held in conjunction with the visit of the Board of Veterinary School Overseers. This provided a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the ongoing support of our donors. It was especially nice to see Dean and Eliza Webster. This was Mrs. Webster's first visit to the library bearing the family name. Mr. Webster was one of Tufts Veterinary School's earliest friends, and his commitment has been steadfast.As President and CEO of Blue Seal Feeds, Mr. Webster was well aware of the importance of a veterinary school to a region's animals. He served two terms on the School's Board of Overseers, and the library has been the recipient of both his interest and his generosity. Also attending were Win Duke and his niece, Margaret Willliams, who works with the World Wildlife Fund. Win celebrated his 50th reunion at Tufts this year. At the Veterinary School, he has endowed two library funds to support information resources pertaining to wildlife and conservation medicine. Fairlee Hersey, a member of Tufts' Jackson College Class of 1935, loves books, dogs and owls. She has put those interests together by endowing a library fund at the Webster Family Library. Fairlee was joined by her husband Bill, also a Tufts graduate. Drs. Howard Coffman and Cathy Curley met as members of our Class of V'93. Drs. Coffman and Curley who are celebrating their 10th reunion this year, are small animal practitioners. Howard has also done some teaching at Tufts. Richard and Miriam Coffman, Howard's parents, made the gift that named the reading room on the second floor of the library. Beth Burke and Marcia Adam were lifelong friends of Jack Seaverns and now they are the executors of Jack's estate. We're very grateful that Jack bequeathed his extensive and important collection of equine books to Tufts. Jack was himself an equestrian and worked very devotedly to build this collection. We feel privileged to have his life's passion at Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine.

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Upcoming Authors Talks


 

March 10, 2004 Mirror Mirror,
3:30-4:45 pm, Austin Conference Room, Tisch Library, Medford

Gregory Maguire's, G90, Mirror Mirror is a fresh, compelling take on a beloved classic fairytale. A lyrical work of stunning creative vision, Mirror Mirror is set in Renaissance Italy, where the author draws a connection between the poison apple in the original Snow White story and the Borgia family's well-known appetite for poisoning its foes. In Mirror Mirror, Snow White is named Bianca de Nevada. Her father is ordered by the duplicitous Cesare Borgia to go on a quest to reclaim the relic of the original Tree of Knowledge, a branch bearing three living apples that are thousands of years old. Bianca is left in the care of the beautiful and vain Lucrecia Borgia, Cesare's sister. Lucrecia becomes jealous of her brother's interest in Bianca and plots a dire fate for her in the woods below the farm. There Bianca finds herself in the home of seven dwarves-the creators of the magic mirror-who await the return of their brother, the eighth dwarf, long gone on a quest of his own. Mr. Maguire received his Ph.D. in English and American Literature at Tufts University in 1990. The third Maxine Newberg Gordon, J70, Book Prize will be awarded before the Authors Talk to a mathematics major who has demonstrated a love of reading, literature and poetry. Please consider coming early to attend the special workshop described below.

"Wildly inventive...Maguire refreshes his source material capably...Every bit as good as Wicked: wicked good, in fact."
-Kirkus Reviews

 

A book signing sponsored by Tufts University Bookstore will follow these talks. To order the author's books, call Tufts University Bookstore, General Book Dept., 617-627-2060. Please RSVP by calling 1-800-326-4001. Suggestions for future Authors Talks are welcomed. Come with a Friend or bring a potential Friend. Hope to see you there!

 

March 10, 2003
Friends Workshop on Uncovering the Hidden Web

2:15-3:15 p.m., Tisch Library Electronic Resources Center, Medford campus

This workshop has been specially developed to meet the needs of Friends and alumni to teach you how to find the kinds of things most people want to locate easily on the web: travel, health, financial and genealogical information. Tisch Reference Librarian Anna Neatrour will help you uncover the hidden web in this workshop scheduled immediately before the March 10th Authors Talk for your convenience. There will be time for hands-on searching for you to practice the new skills you have acquired in this workshop.

 

Fourth Annual Tufts Poetry Walk on April 23, 2004
Please join us for the fourth Tufts Poetry Walk and unveiling of the exhibition of John Holmes' Robert Frost Collection on April 23.

Tufts Poetry Walk10:30-11:30 am starting from Tisch Library patio
This year's Poetry Walk is dedicated to the one hundredth anniversary of John Holmes' birth. The Tufts Poet tradition began in 1930 with John Holmes and has been continuously handed down to faculty who both teach and write poetry. The current incumbent, Deborah Digges, received the title in 1988. The Poetry Walk will visit sites around the Medford campus, where poems by all the Tufts Poets and current students who have received poetry awards will be read aloud. Rain location: Tisch Library Reading Room

Exhibition unveiling 11:30 am in corridor to Dranetz Tower
John Holmes collected the works of Robert Frost, many of which are inscribed by Frost to his close friend Holmes. While some of the inscriptions are short, quite a few contain snatches or complete poems by Frost to his friend. The Holmes family gave the collection to the Tisch Library, which has recently been cataloged as a special collection to be highlighted in this exhibit.

 

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Calendar Of Friends Events
Continuing through April 21, 2004
Corridor to Dranetz Tower
Tisch Library, Medford campus
Last chance to see the exhibit Tufts and the V-12 Program, highlighting the personal stories of Michael Lash, Robert J. McNicholas, Curtis E. Drury, John F. Zamparelli, Victor A. Prather and Jason H. Samuels.
March 10, 2004
2:15-3:15 pm
Tisch Library, Electronic
Resource Center
Medford campus
Workshop for Friends and alumni on "Uncovering the Hidden Web." Reference Librarian Anna Neator will teach you how to find the kinds of things most people want to locate easily on the web: travel, health, financial and genealogical information.
March 10, 2004
3:30-4:30 pm
Tisch Library, Austin Room
Medford campus
Friends Authors Talk by Gregory Maguire, G90, entitled Mirror Mirror. Book signing sponsored by Tufts University Bookstore and reception follow talk. Exhibit in Tisch Library lobby February 5-April 2, 2004. The third Maxine Newberg Gordon, J70, Book Prize will be awarded before the Authors Talk to a mathematics major who has demonstrated a love of reading, literature and poetry.
April 23, 2004
10:30-11:30 am
Walk starts on patio in front of Tisch Library,
Medford campus
The fourth Tufts Poetry Walk is dedicated to the one hundredth anniversary of John Holmes' birth. The Tufts Poet tradition began with John Holmes, professor of English from 1930-1962, and has been passed down to our current Tufts Poet, Deborah Digges. The Poetry Walk visits sites around the Medford campus, where poems by Tufts Poets and current students who have received poetry awards will be read aloud. Sponsored by Tisch Library and the English Department. Rain location: Hirsh Reading Room in Tisch Library.
April 23-August 19, 2004
Corridor to the Dranetz Tower, Tisch Library
Medford campus
John Holmes' Robert Frost Collection Exhibition will display the poetry and inscriptions from Frost to Holmes. The exhibition is dedicated to the one hundredth anniversary of John Holmes' birth.
May 17, 2004
10 am-5 pm
Tisch Library
Open House for Friends and Alumni provides the opportunity for self-guided tours of Tisch Library all day, with guided tours only between 2-5 pm. Come and see what's new at the library.

Complete list of Friends events with the latest information at http://www.library.tufts.edu/friends/events.html

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Coming in Summer 2004....a new Millennium for all Tufts Libraries

In Summer 2004 the Tufts Libraries will debut Millennium, a new library system from Innovative Interfaces, Inc. Millennium will replace Tulips, implemented at Tufts in 1986, and Millennium provides a variety of exciting new features for Tufts library users. During Spring 2004, the Tufts University Libraries' staff will receive training, migrate the online catalog and other files and complete preparations before Millennium will debut in Summer 2004 for the public to use.

Tufts Libraries' new system will enable our users to link directly into full-text sources from the online catalog and search across multiple databases simultaneously. In future releases, users will link to particular electronic journal issues directly from the web catalog. The new system begins to fully integrate our access to traditional and electronic collections, making the library catalog a one-stop source for the libraries' myriad of information resources.

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Friends is published twice annually by the
Friends of Tufts Library
We welcome letters and suggestions. Correspondence should be sent to:
Jo-Ann Michalak, Editor
Director of Tisch Library
Professors Row, Medford, Ma 02155
617-627-3345;
jo-ann.michalak@tufts.edu
Graphic Design:
Lynda Gutowski (J61) Publications, Arlington, MA