Drake University, Cowles Library

Drake's Cowles Library was recently funded to conduct a long term feasibility study in preparation for a renovation and expansion of the present library.  Baldwin-White has been retained as the lead consultant, along with George Lawson, Library Consultant.

The library, working in collaboration with the teaching faculty, has launched the "Journal Format Migration Project".  This is a set of multi-year initiatives, designed to complete the conversion of the journal holdings from print to electronic.

The library has implemented the initial version of the a "Mission, Planning and Assessment" web portal. http://www.lib.drake.edu/site/aboutCowles/mission.php   This portal provides all library faculty and staff with access to planning information, the library's data repository, and links to Drake's Self Study/Assessment process.  Dean Rod Henshaw and Collection Development Director Teri Koch will be presenting the organizational model for the portal at the upcoming Library Assessment Conference, Seattle, Aug. 4-6.

Drake's Heritage Collections continue to grow at Cowles Library, most recently with the addition of the "Cowles Family Publishing Legacy." This digital collection features the papers of three men who presided over the Cowles family publishing empire, John Cowles, Gardner Cowles, Jr. ("Mike") and David Kruidenier, Jr.  In addition to owning the Des Moines Register and the Minneapolis Star Tribune for many years, the Cowles family has made a major impact on Des Moines through various philanthropic activities, including many generous donations to Drake University. This collection can be accessed at the Library website at http://www.lib.drake.edu/heritage/. 

In addition to the creation of this digital collection, the Library hosted a "Live! At the Drake Library" event on April 15th in the Reading Room. Herb Strentz, professor emeritus and former dean of Drake University's School of Journalism and Mass Communication, gave a speech about the Cowles Family. The speech, entitled "From the Cowles Closet" provided a glimpse into the personal, local and national affairs of the Cowles family, based on correspondence, commentary and whimsy, now part of the Cowles Library Collection.

Submitted by Rod Henshaw

Loras College Library

On October 2, the Loras College Library celebrated its fifth birthday!  The library staff had gatherings for faculty, staff, and students.  For the faculty, librarian services were highlighted.  For staff, we highlighted the library’s popular reading, DVD, and audiobook collections.  We served ice cream out on the library lawn to the students.

This spring, during National Library week, we unveiled 4 new READ posters and co-sponsored a Faculty Publications event along with the Friends of the Library.  Selected faculty gave a brief overview of their research and publications.

Our new acquisitions coordinator, Deone Merkel, began work at the end of February.  Finally, on April 11, Loras College hosted the 2^nd Midwest Interlibrary Loan Conference.  Almost 100 people registered from 13 states (including Delaware, Vermont, and Arizona!)  The Midwest Interlibrary Loan Conference is sponsored by the Dubuque Area Library Information Consortium. The next conference will be in 2010.

Submitted by Joyce Meldrem

Maharishi University of Management

Our biggest reference achievement was helping The History Channel create a documentary on the life of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, our Founder, who passed on in February. We advised the directors and provided them with some beautiful early videos from our tape library. Library hours have been expanded to 9:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., M-F, with shorter weekend hours. Rustin Larson, a published and award-winning poet, was hired to cover the additional hours.

Facility and equipment upgrades include:  new, comfortable teal couches and chairs, new wiring for faster and safer service, a new computer work station with special software available to the students: Adobe Suite with Photoshop, CD burner, Optical Character Recognition and conventional scanning, along with a color printer. Shelving was also reorganized to accommodate large groups.  We have also started to beautify the east entrance by adding a nice glass display case for announcements.  An improved system for wheelchair access and a new security gate have also been added.

Some recent events include:
A Persian Poetry Series featuring Rumi scholar Professor Ali Arsanjani (pictured here)accompanied by student Amine Kouider on the gumbri.
St. Patrick’s Day with a special guest, Mark Stimson, who makes and performs on uilleanns, Irish bagpipes.
Our serials manager, Emo Baer, (pictured in Israel overlooking the old city of Jerusalem and the temple mount) presented a fascinating travelogue on his visit to Israel.
There was also a triumphal gathering of many local poets to celebrate National Poetry Month this April that attracted an enthusiastic audience of 40.

Finally, we are involved in many meetings and activities in preparation for our accreditation visit in 2009.

Submitted by Suzanne Araas Vesely

University of Dubuque 

Paul Waelchli, Assistant Director for Library Instruction and Public Services, has resigned effective May 31, to take a position as Information Literacy and Instruction Librarian at St. Norbert's in De Pere, Wisconsin.

Anne Marie Gruber, Reference and Instruction Librarian, has been promoted to Assistant Director for Library Instruction and Public Services effective June 1. The library is searching for a replacement for her position.  

We recently welcomed Meris Muminovic as Acquisitions Assistant.

Submitted by Mary Anne Knefel