Library FAQs!

The class of 2019 has arrived on campus and are diving head first into their first year of college! The freshman Cornerstone classes are in full swing, and the new students have been working hard on completing the required Lewis Library Orientation worksheet!

Seriously, look at all these things!

You might be asking yourself, "Self, what are these Cornerstone Library Orientation Worksheets?" 

There are approximately 240 Cornerstone students this semester, all of which will be required to find scholarly sources from the library to incorporate into their presentations and papers. In order for our new students to orient themselves with what our library has to offer and how to identify a scholarly source, they will complete the Library Worksheet that is designed to help them familiarize themselves with our online and print resources.

Our new students will need a little bit more than a short worksheet in order to learn how to find and identify a scholarly source as well as familiarize themselves with our online and print resources. Though it is no replacement for a face-to-face instruction session with a librarian, here are some Frequently Asked Questions that may help Cornerstone students (and any LaGrange College students) find sources for their papers:

For all of your Cornerstone students out there, this blog is for YOU! Keep reading.

Q: Where do I begin when I am ready to do my research? Do I just Google my topic?

A: Google is a wonderful thing. Never in the history of humanity have we been able have so much information at our fingertips so quickly. However, when you are searching for your scholarly sources (as required by all Cornerstone professors) Google could lead you in the wrong direction. Google Scholar allows you to search for articles on specific topics that often have academic credibility, but often you have to work harder to find and evaluate them. Also, many times, you may find an article that you believe works well for your project, but you are required to subscribe or pay for access.

The good news is that the Lewis Library has access to the GALILEO Discovery Service, which searches everything that the Lewis Library owns, including books, e-books, magazines, and articles, print or online. As a LaGrange College student, you have access to thousands upon thousands of Academic Journals through GALILEO, and the search is much easier. When you are searching GALILEO, there is a handy little checkbox marked "Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals" that allows you to narrow down your search to just those types of articles. Look for it in the left-hand column after you perform your search.

Q: Ok, I found an article through the GALILEO Discovery service that I want to use in my paper. How do I know if it is a scholarly source or not?

A: We have an entire LibGuide page dedicated to this very question. On that page you will find a video explaining how to identify a scholarly source and a scholarly sources checklist. While you are evaluating your sources, keep this checklist on hand to help you out. If you are still stumped, please ask your professor or a librarian, and we will be able to help you.

Q: Why can't I use Wikipedia for my paper? It has information on there that I can't find anywhere else.

A: Wikipedia is another one of those resources that gives us instant information at the click of a mouse, but there are multiple problems with using Wikipedia as a source in your paper. First, Wikipedia is a wiki (thus the name, Wikipedia). A wiki is a webpage that can be edited by multiple people at any given time, some of which may not be identifiable or trustworthy. For instance, hundreds of people may have logged in from all parts of the globe to add information to the Wikipedia page for Elvis Presley, but the identities and credibilities of these people may not be known. Therefore, there is no way to prove that the information given is accurate or complete or that the writers are experts on the subject. 

Q: What about books and e-books? How do I find those to use in my projects and papers?

A:  Our Library Online Catalog is the first place to go to look for books and e-books. Our e-books are all accessible from a computer, 24hrs a day. You don't even have to leave the comfort of your dorm room! Find the link to the Library Catalog on our Library Homepage.

Q: What about websites? Can I use those in my papers and presentations?

A: If your professor allows you to use websites, then by all means, go for it. However, you need to consider the credibility of the webpage before you go citing it in your papers. Once you find a website you want to use, then put it to the CRAAP test. Yes, the CRAAP test. Check out this link to the Cornerstone LibGuide and see the document titled "The CRAAP Test" in the right column. Answer the questions regarding your web page to help you evaluate its credibility.

You may still have more questions about how to find good sources for you projects, papers and presentations. That's where we come in.

Stop by Lewis Library and speak with a librarian, or you can use the Ask-A-Librarian feature!

What is going on in the library?!

You may be wondering what we have been up to all summer and what changes have occurred since Mr. Loren Pinkerman's retirement at the end of June. Well, the wait is over! Here are the many changes that have taken place over the past few months.

Ms. Charlene Baxter and Mr. Joe Marciniak have begun to work together as Co-Directors of Lewis Library. Ms. Baxter will remain the liaison to the Education, Psychology and Counseling, Sociology, Latin American Studies and Spanish, and Women's Studies departments while Mr. Marciniak will remain the liaison to Nursing, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Exercise Science, Math, and the new Philanthropy and Development program.

Dr. Arthur Robinson, our Reference Librarian will remain liaison to Religion, Art and Design,  upper-division English, and Theater Arts while also taking on liaison responsibilities to the History department and the Music department. If you need an interlibrary loan or have a complicated reference question, he's your man!

Our former Technology Applications Assistant, Mrs. Lindsey Lowry, has moved into her new position as Access Services Librarian upon Loren's retirement. Ms. Lowry will be the liaison to the Business, Political Science, Cornerstone, and lower-division English courses. She will also continue to oversee our library technology.

Mrs. April McArdle is our newest staff member! She will be our new Circulation Manager, and we are happy to welcome her to the team.

Ms. Lisa Farrow, our former Circulation Manager, will now be a Circulation Associate, working more nights and weekends at the circulation desk.

Our new Helpdesk graduate assistant, Abriel McFarland, joined us at the beginning of the summer and is not only working hard toward her M.Ed., but also helping with all of our library technology and room reservations!

So in a nutshell, that is what has been happening at Lewis Library this summer! We've made lots of changes (including moving our offices), but we are geared up for a great new start to the school year in just a couple of weeks!

Moving day!

This fall, you may walk into Lewis Library and notice that something is just a little different...

(queue the drumroll)

We are moving! 

(Ok, just some of us. And just to different offices.)

Keep reading to learn everyone's new location!

Ms. Charlene Baxter has moved into 205, located on the main floor near the back of the library. She has taken on the new role/title of Co-Director.

Ms. Lisa Farrow has moved from 210 all the way to 211, located just behind the circulation desk. She will be taking on her new role of Circulation Associate on August 1st.

Also as of August 1st, you will find our new Circulation Manager, Mrs. April McArdle, in 210! Welcome, April!

Finally, Ms. Lindsey Lowry, our new Access Services Librarian, has moved down to the main floor to 208 near the circulation desk!

The following Librarians and Staff members will be remaining in the same space as before:

Dr. Arthur Robinson, our Reference Librarian, can still be found at our Reference Desk on the main floor, helping you with all of your reference and ILL questions!

Mr. Joe Marciniak, our Electronic Resources Librarian and Co-Director, is remaining in his office, 327, on the 3rd floor. 

(Not pictured: Joe. He's on vacation this week.) 

And finally, our new graduate assistant, Abriel McFarland, is here to answer all of your printing/scanning/ technology questions at the 3rd floor Helpdesk!

In a follow-up blog, look for what everyone's new role will be now that we're in new spaces! Stay tuned!

Loren's Parting Words

At the retirement reception on Friday, June 20th, Loren gave a few parting words to his colleagues and friends. Below is the transcript of his reflections!

REFLECTIONS

I am grateful for all the many kind words expressed here this evening.  These 16 years at LC have gone altogether too quickly.  Oh for those days when we were in our 20’s and time moved so much more slowly!  Now, I pause and wonder, “where have all the years gone?”

Now that I am retiring I often think I’ve become a relic of the past.  How many in this room, for example, rode horseback to a one-room country school?  One of my vivid school memories was the periodic visit from the County Superintendent of Schools and her bringing a large wooden box filled with books.  It was always like Christmas to open up that box and retrieve a new book.  Our teacher always read to us immediately following the noon recess.  On Saturdays when my parents made the 23-mile trek to town for groceries I would go to the Carnegie public library and read.  That was my first introduction to libraries and probably had a bearing on my becoming a librarian later in life.  Growing up on the ranch in Nebraska taught me a lot about life and I’m grateful I had that experience.

I didn’t start my career as a librarian.   I earned two degrees in music from Westmar College and Colorado State University and I taught secondary and college vocal music for ten years.  I might have made a career in music had it not been for my habit of forming new ensembles, teaching more sections of voice class, etc.   I found myself “burning out!”  Indeed, the last year I taught I told my wife, Pat, that Christmas just wasn’t fun anymore because it seemed like my performing ensembles were involved singing everywhere during the season and there was precious little time for my own family.  That prompted me to consider an alternate career and I guess my early experiences in the Carnegie Library at O’Neill, Nebraska had some influence to that end. 

With our two oldest children, Lisa & Gina, and our newborn son, Ryan, Pat and I made the move to Bloomington, Indiana where I had a graduate assistantship directing the Eigenmann Graduate Residence Hall Library.  My first job out of library school was at the University of Nebraska at Kearney as Head of the Government Documents Depository, and two years later I became Head of Government Documents and Microforms at Auburn University.

When our fourth child, Amy, came along and Pat was quitting her job I decided I needed to make a better living for the family and I accepted a position with 3M Company.  That began a career in the business world that included me representing the Books Division of Brodart Company, and the Library Systems Division of General Research Corporation in Santa Barbara, California.   Santa Barbara is one of my most favorite places in the world!

While representing Brodart Company I worked weekends as a Reference Librarian at Wofford College.  I never expected to be able to re-enter a career in libraries but Providence had other plans and I became Director of the Library at Erskine College & Seminary until July 1, 1998 when I began my career at LaGrange.

One of my long-time dreams as a librarian was to be involved in the building of a new academic library.  Thankfully, I had that opportunity at LaGrange and was able to work with the late Jay Lucker (library building consultant) and Steven Foote of Perry Dean Rogers (architects).  It has been such a delight to work within this marvelous building that they had such a huge role in bringing to reality.

Almost immediately upon arriving at LaGrange College I started in earnest to begin the groundwork for planning a new library.   The Banks Library was one of the smallest academic libraries in the Southeast and the collection was considerably smaller than that at Erskine.   There was very little study space in the old Banks Library and one could not stuff one more book on the shelves.  I am thankful to the

Board of Trustees of the College for approving $100,000 for the installation of compact movable shelving in Banks Library.   That enabled us to recoup much needed study space and shelving for new acquisitions.  Indeed, it bought us some time until we were able to move into the Lewis Library in 2009.

In the early stages of planning for a new library I contacted library directors in Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania and traveled to a number of their libraries.  I asked them three questions: (1) What works about your library?  (2) What doesn’t work? And (3) What might the library of your dreams be like?   At the request of Jay Lucker, our building program consultant, I organized 20 focus groups that represented every aspect of LaGrange College life.  The input from those focus groups was provided to Jay Lucker for his consideration in developing the buiding program.

After Jay Lucker had presented his building program, President Gulley and the Board of Trustees authorized me to issue invitations to architectural firms for proposals for a new library at LaGrange College.  All of the firms (with the exception of Perry Dean Rogers) recommended tearing down Pitts Dormitory and building the library in its place.  However, Perry Dean Rogers presented a plan to place a rectangular building in space that was a parking lot in front of Pitts Dining Hall.  Their initial plan included consideration of renovating space in Pitts Dormitory to be used as a library annex and archives at a future date.

Although Jacque Hornsby and Pat Barrett have done a stellar job as part-time personnel in the Suber Archives of Lewis Library, the earlier proposal by Perry Dean Rogers to utilize Pitts Dormitory as a library annex and archives would still be a very welcomed reality, indeed.   If you visit the Suber Archives on the Lower Level of Lewis Library you will quickly realize what I mean as we are already out of space.

I am especially grateful to the Board of Trustees that they saw fit to include a half million dollars for collection development in the Defining Moment Campaign.   In 1998 the library had fewer than 90,000 catalog records for books and other items.  Thanks to the funds associated with the building of Lewis Library we can now boast of nearly 500,000 bibliographic records for books,  e-books, and other information types  .   Few liberal arts colleges in the nation can match the resources available for LaGrange College students.   Yes, I’m proud of this building but I am also proud of the collections that we have been able to build for our students & faculty.   

LaGrange librarians serve as liaisons to assigned academic departments and programs and have responsibility for collection development and library instruction.   The strong service orientation of librarians and staff has strengthened a very active information literacy program at the college.   I have been blessed to have the best library staff in America.   I credit any success that the library may have enjoyed directly to their efforts and to their taking ownership of the library’s mission. 

Speaking of “taking ownership,” I want to give credit to National, and especially Brenda who keeps our building neat and maintains a pleasant place for work, study, and research.  All of the people at National are to be commended for the work they do day in and day out.  I constantly receive compliments from visitors about our library building and the LaGrange College Campus.  National is a big part of that and I’ve always considered them to be a part of our “team.”

So, here we are 16 years after I first arrived on campus.  I am especially thankful to have had the pleasure of knowing Frank & Laura Lewis for whom this library is named.  During my time in LaGrange I have been fortunate to have organized and conducted the Sons of Lafayette Male Choir for eleven years, and to have served as Director of Music at First Presbyterian in LaGrange for an equal number of years.  I cherish my many friends from the community and I especially thank each of you for being here this evening to share in this celebratory event.  

Perhaps one of the poems in “God is No Fool” by Lois Chaney says it best, “We are all made up of bits and pieces of all who have touched our lives … pray God that we accept the bits and pieces.”   As my wife, Pat, and I close out one chapter of our lives, we will cherish the bits and pieces from having known each of you.  I give thanks to Almighty God that in His Divine Providence He caused our paths to cross.

When I was commuting from Greenville, South Carolina down to Due West at Erskine I often used the commuting time to compose.  My friend and colleague, Lee Johnson, will come and direct members of the First Presbyterian Church Choir and the Sons of Lafayette in singing two parting blessings that resulted from that time in my life.  I hope each of you received a copy when you came this evening and I invite you to open it up and “sing along.”  Then, please enjoy some good fellowship, food, and drink and explore the library.  After all, this is a celebration!

Loren Pinkerman, Celebrating 16 Years

This past Friday evening, more than 100 people gathered in the Lewis Library to celebrate the retirement of our fearless leader and Library Directory, Mr. Loren Pinkerman.

The program included songs sung by Loren himself, the Sons of Lafayette choir, and the choir of First Presbyterian Church of LaGrange, led by Lee Johnson, the Minister of Music at First Presbyterian Church.

Loren and his accompanist, David Kocsis

Snacks and drinks were provided by Aramark, and the beautiful cake was provided by LaGrange's own Kathy Pirrman!

Among the speakers at the reception were:

Loren's Daughter, Gina

Dr. Dan McAlexander, President of LaGrange College









As well as Dr. David Garrison, Provost; Dr. Kevin Shirley, Professor of History; Charlene Baxter, Technical Services Librarian; Lisa Farrow, Circulation Manager; and Joe Marciniak, Electronic Resources Librarian.

If you weren't able to attend, please enjoy these great photos from the event, and look for a follow-up blog with Loren's reflections of the past 16 years at LaGrange College!

Library Staff Member Stacey Davis, Lisa Farrow, Pat Barrett and Charlene Baxter talk with Alumni and former library staff member, Jennifer Putnam.

Ms. Betty Reagan, Ms. Mary-Lou Dabbs, and Mrs. Donna Barger

Loren sings a number for the audience, with accompanist, David Kocsis

The crowd sings along with the choir

Loren's wife, Pat, presents him with a gift from his family

Loren with his new artwork by local artist, Mrs. Annie Greene

Lewis Library's New Graduate Assistant

My name is Abriel McFarland. I am pleased to say that I am the new Graduate Assistant here at the Lewis Library. I am a recent LaGrange College graduate who holds a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and am currently enrolled in the M.Ed. program. The Lewis Library faculty and staff have been nothing but wonderful and helpful thus far in welcoming and assisting me in my new position. I look forward to a wonderful year with them all! Outside of school and work, I enjoy reading, writing, sewing, shopping, cooking, and hanging with friends and family! Whenever you're in the library, you can find me at the 3rd floor help desk. Be sure to stop by!

A Special Gift to the Suber Archives and Special Collections

      Last Tuesday, Lewis Library had a special visitor come to our Suber Archives and Special Collections to donate a rather unique and interesting piece to our collection: A hand-carved, hand-painted Nativity Scene.

     This special visitor was the talented art major and LaGrange College graduate of 1969, Wanda Lybarger. She visited campus for the FIRST TIME in 45 years this past Tuesday, and brought the nativity scene with her to gift to the college.

Wanda Lybarger (center) and her friends Colleen Snelling and Kathy Skelly 

     Wanda created this nativity scene for her mother, and it took approximately eight years to complete. It is made of two different types of wood (one for the larger pieces, and a different one for the smaller, more delicate pieces like the hands) and is painted with oil-based paints. Her fascination with whittling began as a child, and she is largely self-taught in this skill.

Wanda unpacking her Nativity Scene

     Wanda and her friends enjoyed a tour of the Lewis Library and the campus with our very own Jacque Hornsby and our Director, Loren Pinkerman. 

     Jacque, who first met Wanda while they were students at LaGrange College, says, "It was a joy to welcome her back to campus and to share the remarkable changes which have taken place during the last forty-five years."

Here are some close-ups of the Nativity:

Angels atop the créche

Baby Jesus with Joseph and Mother Mary

The Three Wise Men

The Lewis Library and Suber Archives and Special Collections are thrilled to receive this gift from Wanda and are so grateful for her visit last week!

Help wanted!

ATTENTION:  LaGrange College Graduate Students

The Lewis Library at LaGrange College is pleased to announce a graduate assistantship for students enrolled in a graduate program at LaGrange College.  This position requires at least a 14 month commitment that encompasses two summers and an academic year.  A graduate assistant is expected to work 24 hours per week in the library.  A stipend of $4,800 is available for the 14-month period as well as tuition remission.  Position starts Summer 2014.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES may include …

·      Facilitating use of technology in the library

·      Readying library spaces in advance of expected use

·      Assisting students and members of the faculty in use of technology appropriate for presentations, lectures, films, etc.

·      Providing service at the Circulation & Reserves Desk (checking materials in and out, assisting with printing, scanning, word processing, and information access).  Some evening and weekend hours may be required.

·      Supervising student workers

·      Collaborating with librarians on special projects

·      Performing other duties as may be assigned

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

·      Bachelor’s Degree

·      Demonstrated technology skills and aptitude

·      Working knowledge of MS Word, EXCEL, and PowerPoint

·      Familiarity with basic computer operations and troubleshooting

·      Strong oral and written communication skills

·      Ability to work collegially with others

·      Must be attentive to detail

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:  Submit a letter of application and resume including three references to Mr. Loren L. Pinkerman, Lewis Library Director, LaGrange College, 601 Broad Street, LaGrange, GA 30240.  Review of applications will commence on May 8, 2014 and the position will remain open until filled.