Cowles Library Blogs

American Library Association president Julie Todaro recently issued a statement on libraries, diversity, and inclusion. Cowles Library fully endorses this statement, which reads:

This week, The Drake University Archives facility will close on Thursday (October 13) at 1:45 pm, and be closed all day Friday (October 14).

Earlier this Summer we here @CowlesLib welcomed our new STEM Librarian (Dan Chibnall). Now we are equally pleased to introduce our new Campus Engagement Librarian, Samantha (Sam) Becker. Sam comes to us from the University of Nevada-Reno. We are very happy to have her as a member of our faculty! Find out more about Sam: http://www.iowaacrl.org/content/node/675

Cowles Library is happy to welcome two new Librarians this Summer. Dan Chibnall (Twitter: @BookOwl ) started on 1 July and is Drake’s new STEM Librarian. Dan is already very active in the Des Moines community (he was at Grand View University prior to coming to Drake) and has a wide variety of interests, one of which was highlighted recently on the Science Center of Iowa’s website: Dan is a volunteer who supports the Center’s “Star Parties.” We hope you get a chance to meet and welcome Dan soon!

P.S. Watch this space for background on the Library’s other new Librarian, coming soon!

Cowles Library is having roof repair done this week (from the 25th through the 29th). It’s possible that the noise level may be intrusive during that time; thank you for your patience while this important maintenance is done.

Also, steam line maintenance is being done across campus for the next couple of weeks. This may have an impact on our ability to cool the facility; if that happens, we will post a notice; we will take more serious steps should we lose cooling altogether (which is not anticipated).

Thanks for your forbearance!

Screenshot of the new SuperSearch

On May 25th, the Drake Libraries completed the migration to a new platform for SuperSearch.

Designed to increase efficiency, the new system should provide faculty, staff and students a more streamlined research experience while also significantly reducing the time required for library faculty and staff to maintain search platforms.

New System Highlights

• You can simultaneously search the library catalog and SuperSearch in a single interface.
• Many features remain the same in the new SuperSearch, including the ability to search across print and electronic collections, limit by peer-reviewed content, and export citations.
• While you can search SuperSearch without logging in, using your Drake credentials to log in allows you to access content licensed by the libraries and provides other options, such as saving searches and accessing and managing your library account.
• The next phase of this transition, which we hope will take place in 2017, will connect SuperSearch to the print collections of several other libraries in Iowa, including the three Regents’ universities, Wartburg College, Grand View University, and others. Drake users will be able to search across the physical collections of, and place requests for physical materials from, those institutions. This collaboration will not include access to databases and e-journals, but it is nonetheless a major step forward in our access to scholarly content.

Mastering the New System and Migrating Personal Content

• We hope you find the new system to be fairly intuitive to use. Formal training opportunities will be offered in the fall. Once the system is running, librarians will also be happy to provide individual demonstrations and training upon request.
• A SuperSearch research guide provides additional information about the new system and how to successfully use it. The guide also has a form for providing feedback, so you can help us continue to improve your experience using SuperSearch. We will be adding more information, tips, and tutorials to this guide in the coming days.
• The current SuperSearch will be available through June 30, 2016. If you have folders set up under your personal log-in, please sign in to your SuperSearch account, open any folders with content you want, mark the items you want to save, and then use either the save or email options. Contact a reference librarian for further assistance.

Drake University’s Cowles Library invites applications for a 12-month, 3-year consecutive term appointment as the Campus Engagement Librarian beginning July 1, 2016. This faculty position with the rank of Assistant Professor has the possibility for reappointment.

As a member of the Public Services Team, the Campus Engagement Librarian will be responsible for coordinating the library’s user engagement efforts in both the online and physical library environments with a primary goal of contributing to Drake students’ academic success. Working collaboratively, the successful candidate will be responsible for the development, implementation and assessment of programming, activities, and projects designed to improve and enhance student success by engagement with librarians and library resources. This position is responsible for enhancing overall campus engagement with the library by developing relationships with the library’s user communities and utilizing information gathered from these relationships to identify and prioritize the users’ needs as they pertain to the library. The Campus Engagement Librarian will serve as library liaison to appropriate Social Science disciplines. This position reports to the Director of Library Instruction and will have reference, instruction, liaison, and collection development responsibilities, including some evenings and weekend hours.

The successful candidate will hold a Master of Library Science (MLS) or equivalent from an ALA-accredited program.

Salary is competitive (with a range beginning in the mid-fifties) and dependent on qualifications and experience. For the full job description and to apply, please submit an application letter addressing qualifications, a current vita, and contact information including email addresses of three references to Hire Touch or access this position directly. Follow the instructions to apply and upload requested materials. Questions may be directed to reference@drake.edu.

Review of applications will begin May 20, 2016 and will continue until the position is filled.

More information about Drake University’s work environment, employee benefits, faculty development opportunities, and the greater Des Moines area can be accessed at http://www.drake.edu/hr/.

Drake University is an equal-opportunity employer and actively seeks applicants who reflect the diversity of the nation. No applicant shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information or veteran status.