Welcome to the Library
 

 

 

 

 

 


Online Newsletter of Roxbury Community College Library

 

December 2009

 

 

MORE STUDENTS!!

 

The economic downturn and the continuing expansion of college services have translated into more students at RCC this fall.  In turn, this has translated into about 20 percent more students in the library compared to last fall, depending on the week.  Library staff members have been on their toes responding to this unprecedented influx of students who have an increased seriousness about the business of improving their lives through higher education.

 

 

 

NEW STAFF

 

To help with the influx of students, 2 new part-time library assistants have joined the staff, assigned to the circulation desk.

 

Lauren Froomer is working morning hours.  Lauren is a recent graduate of Suffolk University where she worked 3 years as a student aide at the circulation desk.  So impressed was the Suffolk library director that he officially named her “super student.”

 

 

 

 

Jasmine Meadows is working evenings and Saturdays.  Jasmine graduates from Pine Manor College in the spring.  She has worked at WCVB-TV and as a Registrar/Education Coordinator at Lincoln Technical Institute in Somerville.  Jasmine grew up in Roxbury and knows the College well.  

 

 

 

 

 

MARIE MAGLOIRE PROMOTED

 

Because of her outstanding work and expanded duties, Marie Magloire has been promoted to Administrative Assistant I.  Marie has worked in the library for 27 years.  She currently concentrates on administrative duties like financial affairs, ordering and receipts of library materials and also helps students at the circulation desk.  Marie is originally from Haiti where she graduated from College Jose Marti.  She and her family have lived in the Boston area for 33 years after first moving from Gabon.  Marie is a competent and calming presence in the library for both students and other staff.  She has seen several library directors come and go and the present director would be hard pressed to get through his day without her.

 

 

 

 

 

SIMMONS VOLUNTEER

 

Also new is Katharine Dunn, a graduate student in the master’s program in Library and Information Science at Simmons College.  Katharine is volunteering Friday mornings for this academic year before getting her degree in May.  This is the 7th year of the Simmons volunteer program.  It is a win-win situation.  RCC gets enthusiastic, knowledgeable volunteers.  The volunteers get real world experience before transitioning to a professional librarian career around Boston or around the country.  Facilitating this partnership is the fact that RCC is only a 20 minute walk from Simmons.


 

 

 

NEW LIBRARY BLOG

 

The library has so many new information sources that the challenge is how to explain them in ways that busy people can absorb.  To help facilitate this the library blog presents small information nuggets delivered by RCC email every couple of weeks or so.   The blog is also available on the library web page www.rcc.mass.edu/lib for review later.  The direct link is right here.

 

 

DISPLAYS FOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

 

In September and October, the library hosted a display of paintings by Guatemalan artist Maynor Campos.  The works were at the library entrance and in the Group Study Room.  This event was one part of the campus wide celebration of Hispanic heritage called Celebracion 2009.  Several images have been saved here.

 

 

5 YEAR REVIEW OF LIBRARY SERVICES

 

Five years ago when the College was evaluated, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) had some suggestions for library improvement involving expansion of resources and staffing.  Here is a summary of these and other improvements made possible by the strong support of the College administration and the interest of many members of the RCC community.

 

EXPANDED SERVICES IN THE LAST 5 YEARS

 

  • STAFFING & INFORMATION RESOURCES
  • 3 new full-time professional positions and 2 part-time library assistant positions.
  • 9,000 new books & DVDs.
  • Big increase in online resources
    • 1,500 online books
    • 20 new databases. 
  • HOURS & OVERALL USE
  • Open ˝ hour earlier at 8:00 a.m., Monday to Friday.
  • Number of people entering library, up 30%.
  • BORROWING
  • Borrowing of books and other materials, up 70%.
  • Joining 2 library networks resulting in 8-fold increase in inter-library borrowing.
  • More required textbooks for Reserve borrowing.
  • Faster registration to become a library user.
  • Book return box in hall to cut down on waiting.
  • REFERENCE & INSTRUCTION
  • Larger reference desk to encourage questions.
  • Reference questions answered, up 138%.
  • Instruction sessions on doing research, up 104%.
  • Attendance at instruction sessions, up 62%.
  • Database searches to find quality articles for research papers, 3.6 times more, from 15,000 to 54,000 searches per year.
  • 50 online research guides, keyed to 33 courses and 17 research subjects.  Used 33,000 times in the last year.
  • EQUIPMENT
  • 10 laptop computers to borrow inside library.
  • Self-service computer printing system with 200 free pages for students per semester.
  • Self service sign-up system making computer sign-up faster.
  • 12 new LCD projectors, & new DVD players & TVs for classroom use.
  • Digital cameras.
  • ENVIRONMENT
  • Creation of Group Study Room.
  • 120 pieces of newer furniture.
  • Stunning annual exhibits of African American quilts thanks to Michelle Howard-Harrell.
  • Regular displays of RCC student achievement.
  • 26 pieces of original artwork & 60 plants to improve environment.
  • Music listening station.
  • New security system with sleek, unobtrusive design.
  • Ceremonial doors better displayed.  These beautiful doors with an African motif, by artist Napoleon Jones-Henderson, were poorly positioned and partially hidden for many years.  For the last 2˝ years they have been on glorious display, welcoming students at the library entrance.

 

 

 

 

To build a better college library and provide superior customer service, we need your comments.  Send both praises and gripes to mlawrence@rcc.mass.edu. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you missed earlier issues of Welcome to the Library, click on “Read the Library’s newsletter” on the library website http://www.rcc.mass.edu/lib.

 

Welcome to the Library, published by Roxbury Community College Library, Roxbury Crossing, MA

Mark Lawrence, Library Director