IRC • What's New

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What's new in the IRC? 

We're glad you asked. 😊 We have two new cafe tables on the second floor! They are 36 inch square tables that seat four. Located on either side of the 2nd floor near the computers, they are available now! 💯

But wait, there's more!

New Book Shelf

Just when we thought it couldn't get better, more new children's books have been processed! 

Located outside of the Instructional Resource Center in the children's book area, the new books shelf features juvenile titles recently added to our collection. Blog posts featuring these titles are scheduled to publish over the next few weeks.  Each entry title is categorized (e.g., Picture Books, Nonfiction, and Fiction) with a selection of titles that link to the library catalog. 

Looking for other new titles? Explore blog categories or the blog archive.

Need help locating a book? Stop in the IRC, we can help.

It's back! New Books Display

New Juvenile Books 

We enjoyed sharing timely and seasonal juvenile collection displays, but are more excited to announce the return of our new books area on the second floor. Located outside of the Instructional Resource Center, the new books shelf features titles recently added to the juvenile collection. Once shelf ready, titles are placed here and remain until they are checked out - or the end of a term - whichever comes first. 

Feel free to browse the new titles. We have fiction and nonfiction, picture books through young adults.  Many of the new titles are award winners, all were reviewed and selected to support teaching and learning. New books are also posted to this blog, catalog links are included. Stay tuned for more arrivals!

IRC Spotlight: Library Event Calendar

What's New? The Archer Library Event Calendar! 

Interested in learning more about Archer Library events? Explore our new event calendar and see what we have planned. We will be featuring exhibits, events, displays, programs, library instruction, and more.

Currently, our September calendar includes: 

• September 11, 2001: The Day That Changed the World: A Poster exhibit on the library main floor available through September 30th..
• Celebrating Constitution Day:  A display on the library main floor celebrating ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

But wait, there's more! 

A Faculty Open House is planned for the Active Learning Lab on Wednesday, September 22nd and Banned Books Week is coming soon. Stay up-to-date with our event calendar.  Links are located on the Archer Library home page.

Films on Demand: Feature Films for Education

New Database

Feature Films for Education, part of the Infobase Films on Demand Collection, has been added to our list of database resources. A complete listing of Library database resources is available on the A to Z Database List.

About the Resource:

"Teach with the best Hollywood has to offer and harness the storytelling power of film as a tool for engaging and inspiring students. The Feature Films for Education Collection offers hundreds of full-length feature films for educational instructional purposes. Brought to you in partnership with Global Eagle, this outstanding collection focuses on both current and hard-to-find titles, including dramas, literary adaptations, blockbusters, classics, science fiction, environmental titles, foreign films, social issues, animation studies, Academy Award® winners, and more" (Infobase, 2021).

Coming Soon! New Big Book Area

The juvenile big book collection will soon be moving from here ...


To here ... behind the activity books, between the audio books and book kits. Each big book will be placed in a large hanging bag making it simpler to locate and browse the collection. This afternoon the shelving was put in place and the collection move is scheduled for Monday.

Welcome Back!

Library 2nd Floor: Juvenile Collection

It's that time again! For the remainder of the summer we will be moving juvenile books within the stacks on the second floor. Working from the end of the collection to the beginning, an additional four sections will be allotted to juvenile books. This means more room on the shelf, an easier time locating and returning books to the stacks, and opportunity to grow the collection. During this time there will be large gaps in the stacks and the above sign placed in the empty sections. At any time, just move several sections to your right and the remainder of the collection will be at your fingertips.

As always, please feel free to ask for help locating titles in the juvenile collection. Thanks for your patience!

Free Video Resource: Annenberg Media

Annenberg Media has free video on demand for teachers, as well as other multimedia resources, on their website Learner.org.

"Annenberg Media's multimedia resources help teachers increase their expertise in their fields and assist them in improving their teaching methods. Many programs are also intended for students in the classroom and viewers at home. All Annenberg Media videos exemplify excellent teaching." -- About Us, Learner.org

Many of the media teacher resources may be viewed with a broadband connection. A one time service registration is required, but it is free. For more information, browse the available teacher resources on their website.

Juvenile Collection: Signs in the Stacks

New signs have been placed at the end of each juvenile stack, these signs will help make browsing the collection a bit easier!

An overview and additional Library of Congress subject heading information is detailed in the Children's Literature LibGuide.

New IRC Web Site

A new library web site also means a new Instructional Resource Center web site! Both sites have been created using the University Template and both sites retain the same useful information as always. Additionally, both the library and IRC web sites now feature easy to use sections and many new updates.

As with the library web site, if you find broken links on your personal web pages, online course documents or Angel course management pages please feel free contact Diane Schrecker, library web administrator at dschreck@ashland.edu for help locating and linking to your favorite pages.

New Library Web Site

This week Ashland University Library will launch its new web site. Although the address/URL remains the same, links to individual library pages may have changed as we have reorganized the page to make finding information simpler.

If you find broken links on your personal web pages, online course documents or Angel course management pages please feel free contact Diane Schrecker, library web administrator at dschreck@ashland.edu for help locating and linking to your favorite pages.

New Ellison machine and dies

A new assortment of Ellison dies, and one more prestige pro machine, arrived in the IRC yesterday. Included within this order:

• Barn, chicken, cow, lamb, & pig
• Bald eagle, flag, Statue of Liberty, USA (word), & USA outline
• Snowman, snowflake, & mitten
• Pumpkin, turkey, heart, rabbit, & Christmas tree
• Set of caption (balloon) boxes
• Words: great, super, wow, welcome & thanks
• Sign language: okay, I love you & thumbs up
• Butterfly
• Maple leaf
• Dog

Interested in using the Ellison machines and die collection? It costs a penny a cut for each cut if you use our paper. Bring your own paper and use of the Ellison machine is free.

ERIC Unveils New Look: Expanded Coverage

The following information was posted to the EBSS List by Jane Atwell, Sr. Communications Specialist, ERIC Project.

We’re pleased to announce two recent advances in ERIC of interest to librarians and all ERIC users: the addition of more than 130 new comprehensively indexed journals, and release of a redesigned and enhanced Web site. Users can now search a richer collection of education-focused literature while taking advantage of improvements that speed information discovery on the public ERIC Web site. In addition, a newarea just for librarians includes useful information for patron support and collection maintenance.

New Journals in ERIC
As of June 30, 2008, ERIC has added more than 3,600 new records from newly acquired journals. Work is underway to increase coverage even further by seeking additional partnerships with publishers of both journal and non-journal literature. New journals are indexed from 2004 forward, exceptfor titles indexed prior to ERIC’s 2004 transition to an all-electronicservice. Once recent titles have been acquired and indexed, ERIC willacquire 2002-2003 electronic back issues of previously indexed titles toprevent gaps in journal coverage.

Redesigned Web Site
ERIC released a redesigned Web site on August 3. Highlights include:

• A major restructuring features clearer, more intuitive paths to information, making the site easier to use.
• A completely new and expanded Help section that includes brief tutorials, a glossary, and a searchable index.
• Help tools have been integrated into the ERIC Web site. “How do I” links and help tips on key fields and features provide direct access to information that helps you take advantage of ERIC’s robust search tools and submit documents.
• A new section, "For Librarians", consolidates information of interest to the library community into a single location. This area includes flyers, brochures, lists of ERIC microfiche, links to frequently used help topics, and other relevant information, including ways to provide feedback about ERIC.
• Lighter visual design, so pages load faster and new graphics refresh the site while retaining ERIC’s look and feel.

For more information about ERIC’s new journals and the redesigned site (including a detailed list of what’s changed), see the rotating featuresarea on the home page of the ERIC Web site. - August 6, 2008

This information has been cross-posted on the Ashland University Library News Blog.

Scholastic Book Fair: Gault Family Learning Center

Gault Family Learning Center
716 Beall Avenue
Wooster, OH 44691

Scholastic Book Warehouse Sale
50% off Cover/Retail Price

Wednesday, April 16th - Noon to 8 pm
Thursday, April 17th - 10 am to 6 pm
Friday, April 18 - 10 am to 2 pm

Flyers for this event are available in the IRC. For more information, please contact the Gault Family Learning Center (330) 263-8912.

* This posting is for informational purposes only; the event is not sponsored by or affiliated with the IRC, Ashland University Library, or Ashland University.

Scholastic: Teacher Book Wizard

New from Scholastic.com is Teacher Book Wizard, a website created by teachers, for teachers, to help locate books and resources for their students.

• Quick Search:
  "Know what you're looking for? Find it fast."
• BookAlike:
• "Find similar books at the reading level you
  need."
• Leveled Search:
  "Customize by reading and interest level, subject,
  genre, and more."

The site provides access to their database of over "50,000 books by all publishers." Learn more about this resource by taking the Teacher Wizard Book Tour.

New Ellison Dies

New dies have been added to the IRC's Ellison letter collection! Included are several SureCut Die Sets (Dinosaurs, Words, Traffic, and Rain forest) as well as single dies:

• Dinosaur Set #1: Brontosaurus, Pterodactyl, Stegosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus
• Words Set #2: 100th Day, Read w/Book, Back to School, Welcome, and Class Of
• Traffic Set: Railroad crossing, Signal, Stop sign, and Street sign
• Rain Forest Set: Firefly, Toucan, Jungle leaf, Jaguar, Leaping frog
• Arrow
• Buterfly #1
• Flag #1
• Heart #2
• Leaf, birch
• Mitten
• Moon

Another Prestige Pro letter machine, bringing the total to four Pro and three standard machines, as well as two storage racks complete this order. The Ellision area has been reconfigured to house the new collection items; all of the larger machines have been moved to the right, the three smaller machines are now situated nearer the GA and student worker desk along with the borders, extra large dies, and hole punches.

Stop in and see the new items! Remember, all Ellision cuts are a penny a cut using our paper and free if you bring your own paper.

New Ellision Die's

The following Ellison Dies have beeen added to the existing IRC collection:

• Treble Clef
• Bass Clef
• Quarter, Half, Whole note
• Music X
• Picture Frame
• Pilgrim Hat
• Protractor
• Mouse
• First Aid Bag
• Flower Pot
• Flowers 2

Looking for a particular Ellison die or alphabet? IRC Ellison Die collection information may be found using the Ellison Die Library:

IRC Borders & General Dies:
Die Library ID 0234
Guest Password - auirc

IRC Alphabet & Number Library:
Die Library ID 8795
Guest Password - auirc

More information about the IRC circulating collection may be found on the IRC web site.

Tags: Ellison, Ellison Die Library, Ashland University Library, Ashland University Library Instructional Resource Center

Microsoft Office 2007

Ashland University's Information Technology department is installing MS Office 2007 on all campus network computers.

• Library comptuers on the main floor have Office 2007.
• IRC and second floor computers have Office 2003.

This distinction will become obvious if you are working within one system and move to another. Until all computers have like software, or if you are using an earlier version of Office at home or in your room, it is important to save any Office 2007 items with the distinction "save as 97 - 2003" in order to be able to use with both versions of the software.

If you would like a copy of MS Office 2007:

"MS Office 2007 is now available! MS Office Work at Home software is currently available for all fulltime graduate and undergraduate Ashland University and Ashland Theological Seminary students." (I.T. Request MS Office Software)

Follow this link; AU Microsoft Office Work at Home Software Request to get your copy.

New IRC web page

The re-designed Instructional Resource Center web page is here! With a debut late last week, the new web page includes all of the old favorites, what's new, the children's author and information page, and class handouts, but with less clutter and fewer distractions.



Information is presented in five categories:

• IRC Information - Faculty, GA's, student workers, hours, pricing and both IRC and EDCI 131/504 FAQ's.
• IRC Collection - Information regarding the library catalog, juvenile books, curriculum textbooks, IRC & it's technology, IRC services, and quick copyright resources.
• What's new - Links to the various IRC blogs for the latest information regarding additions to the collection and news. Sidebar widgets detail new books reviewed in the IRC Book Review blog, news from this blog, and a quick catalog search tool.
• Children's Author & Illustrator Pages - The main page presents reference resources, database recommendations, and Internet links for children's authors and illustrators. Additionally, over 75 individual author and illustrator pages are presented.
• IRC Resources - A compilation of various resources available beyond the traditional IRC collection; Internet resources, education & research, course handouts, leveled book kits, and mock Caldecott pages are featured here.

Take time to see what's new!

Tags: Ashland University Library, Ashland University Library Instructional Resource Center, Resource Center Web page, Web page redesign