Tuesday, March 27, 2012

The Marist Environmental History Project


The Marist Environmental History Project (MEHP), started by the Archives and Special Collections in 2001, is dedicated to identifying historically significant materials concerning the Scenic Hudson Decision,promoting access to these materials for use by researchers, and most importantly preserving these materials.

The Scenic Hudson Decision was a 17-year (1963-1981) legal dispute which defeated Consolidated Edison's plan to embed the world's largest pumped storage hydroelectric plant into the face of Storm King Mountain, near Cornwall, New York. The lengthy and controversial case had an immense impact on environmental and legal issues affecting the Hudson River Valley as well as the nation. The landmark case set important precedents in environmental law including: the right of citizens to participate in environmental disputes, the emergence of environmental law as a legal specialty, ideas Congress incorporated in the country's first National Environment Policy Act (NEPA), federal and state regulation of the environment, and it is credited with launching the modern environmental movement.

In October of 2005 the Marist College Archives and Special Collections received the Debra E. Bernhardt Annual Archives Award for developing the MEHP. This project is a continuation of the work that Marist has been concerned with for the past decade. During this time the Marist College Archives and Special Collections has been awarded numerous grants to preserve and make accessible the many significant environmental collections held by the College. These important collections, combined with the efforts of Marist College to process and maintain them, have brought an increased awareness to issues that threaten our environment.

To access our Environmental History Collections, please visit the Archives and Special Collections’ webpage. Or stop by the Archives and Special Collections on the first floor of the Library (LB 134) to see them in-person!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Ask Us for a Custom Library Pathfinder for your Class

EMBED A PATHFINDER  INTO YOUR iLEARN COURSE 

Would you like to embed a librarian into your iLearn course?  The Library has the tools to create such a “virtual librarian”.  We call it a Library Pathfinder.  You know the content and research needs of your course;  working together we can create a custom Library Pathfinder for your course.
COURSE SPECIFIC PATHFINDERS
Pathfinders are attractive mini-websites written by librarians in cooperation with faculty to address the research needs of your class.  These customized web-based guides direct students to a focused subset of resources that will help them complete successfully assignments in a given course.  Pathfinders are as easy to use as Google, but guide students to resources appropriate to college level research, including:
        • specific online journal and reference work articles, ebooks, evideos, online images and maps and other online documents. 
        • The most recent news articles (constantly updated)
        • Open source resources
        • Search boxes and links to library databases
        • Tips on conducting successful searches
        • Library instructional videos
        • Link to Ask-a-Librarian (7 days a week email reference service)
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CREATE A PATHFINDER?
If you are interested in having a Pathfinder created for your course, contact your Library Liaison and let us know what you would like. The initial discussion takes about 15 to 20 minutes.  Many faculty send a copy of the assignment, reading list and/or syllabus.  You do NOT need to provide us with URLs to anything the Library owns or subscribes to; just give us enough of a citation so we can clearly identify the resource.   Give us your thoughts on what you might like in the Pathfinder.  After two or three days we will send you a link to a draft for your critique.  We will then make revisions based on your feedback.
There is no set format for what a Pathfinder should be.  Some faculty want to use the Pathfinder as an electronic reserve reading list.  Others want a few databases highlighted with tips about how to run successful searches.  The content of your Pathfinder is completely faculty driven.
If you want additions or changes made to the Pathfinder after you start using it in class, that can happen fairly quickly.
Pathfinders can be created for classes currently underway, or they can be developed for classes being taught in future semesters.  We will work at whatever pace suits you.  We can keep the Pathfinders from being displayed publicly until the moment is right for you.
HOW WILL MY STUDENTS ACCESS THE PATHFINDER?
Each Pathfinder has a unique URL.  We (or Academic Technology) can help you embed the Pathfinder into your iLearn Course.  There is also a main page for Pathfinders, http://libguides.marist.edu/.  Students can locate the Pathfinder they need by the subject category.
SUBJECT PATHFINDERS
The Library also is creating Pathfinders for subjects that are frequently asked at the Reference Desk.  For example. we  recently published the Citation Style Pathfinder (http://libguides.marist.edu/citation) that provides links to resources about APA, MLA, CSE, Chicago/Turbian styles, as well as a page devoted to Zotero.  Even if you do not request a Pathfinder be created for your class, you may want to direct your students to a subject Pathfinder. 

Monday, March 19, 2012

FACULTY RESOURCES PAGE - "ONE-STOP SHOPPING"


The library has created a page specifically tailored to the faculty.  From this one page, you will be able to link to forms to put items on reserve; request new books, dvds and journal purchases; and submit interlibrary loan requests.

                                                      
You are also able to:

  1.  Obtain information on joining the library's iLearn site where you can obtain useful information on incorporating library resources into your courses, including links to journal articles and "how to" video tutorials.

  2.  Discover which publishers specialize in your area of research (see link to the Association of American University Presses under Acquisitions).

  3.  Contact your department's library liaison or ask for research help.

  4.  Search for online videos and book reviews.

As you will note, there is also a convenient link to this Library Faculty Blog and a "Find" frame on the right that allows you to quickly search for library resources, words in the dictionary, and subject guides by major.

We hope you will use this faculty resources page frequently and please let us know if you would like us to add any additional links or information to the page.