The popular meeting room on Bracken Library’s second floor now has a name. Formerly called “Bracken 225,” the room is now called the Bracken Library Forum Room.

The Forum Room is ideal for larger group meetings because it offers a comfortable meeting space for up to 100 people. It is popularly reserved by Ball State administrators for candidate presentations, such as those hosted recently for Provost candidates. Often, these types of events are streamed for remote viewing.

The faculty reserves the room for lectures, conferences, and public presentations; staff reserve it for assembly meetings, workshops, and similar activities.

The Forum Room offers amenities such as

• An overhead Epson projector for digital video and PowerPoint or other presentations
• A large pull-down screen
• Internet access in Bracken Library’s 100% wireless environment
• Worldwide videoconferencing capability
• A podium, microphone and sound system
• Two large monitors for participants to easily view video or television programming provided through the University’s video information system
• Chairs for seating 100 persons, or computer tables and chairs for 24 persons
• Refreshments are permitted in the room if arranged through Banquet and Catering Services.

For information on reserving the room or equipment options, contact Denise Kinney at DKinney@bsu.edu or call (765) 285-1307.

This article was published in The Library Insider May 2006, pg. 7.

Music students from all over the country will come to the Ball State University campus June 19 to July 15 for an intensive month of study and performance for advanced instrumentalists between the ages of 15 and 32.

The Aria Academy features 31 instructors/performers from major orchestras and faculty from Ball State and other universities. The event is organized by Mihai Tetel, Associate Professor of Cello at BSU.

Aria participants know that Bracken Library’s Music Listening Center is the place to visit to check out books, recordings, scores, and periodicals. View www.bsu.edu/library/collections/musiccoll/aria – a webpage that has been designed especially for Aria students and faculty.

“We plan to promote the new page to students and faculty both before their arrival for Aria and during their visit,” said University Libraries’ music librarian Keith Cochran. “We are hoping it will generate a lot of interest in our music collection and make Aria 2006 an even better experience for these dedicated musicians.”

Aria students like to visit the Music Listening Center to browse the collection. The web page facilitates finding resources by listing call number ranges for scores for specific instruments and ensembles. Keith added that searching for music in an online environment poses special challenges and that the web site will provide help in searching Cardcat, the online catalogue for scores and recordings in the University Libraries’ collection of more than 17,000 compact discs.

For information, contact Keith Cochran, Music Librarian, at KCochran@bsu.edu

This article was published in The Library Insider May 2006, pg. 5.

A topic of discussion among librarians is whether academic libraries should belong to online social communities, such as MySpace. This is an important question because MySpace is the most successful social networking site, receiving more daily visitors than Google.

As a Night Information Services Librarian at Bracken Library, I frequently rove through the Reference Learning Center area to help students, and I notice the MySpace pages displayed on many of the computer screens.

MySpace is a free site that consists of the online profiles of young adults, rock bands, and other assorted entities. This virtual space allows its users to blog, join groups, send instant messages, promote events, share photos, and much more.

The majority of our 4,300 daily visitors are undergraduate students who are accustomed to using new technologies, like MySpace. They use MySpace and facilities such as those provided by the University Libraries, to meet friends, discover new information, and figure out “what’s cool.”

These students belong to the Millennial Generation. Technology has always been a part of their world. They expect to encounter it, and in most cases, use it for their benefit.

Creating a MySpace profile for the University Libraries provides the Libraries a unique opportunity to acknowledge that we understand our student’s information needs and that we are compatible with their technological and cultural expectations.

With administrative approval, I recently established a profile on MySpace for the Ball State University Libraries. Click on www.myspace.com/brackenlibrary to view the University Libraries’ MySpace.

This profile is designed to use the power of MySpace to raise awareness about the Libraries’ awesome services and resources. Students who visit the Libraries’ MySpace page will discover links to CardCat, Ask a Librarian, online academic databases, and much more. It may also function as a virtual suggestion box since students can post comments and send messages to the profile. Our off-campus remote users will still need to be authenticated through the EZproxy server.

Finally, and of greatest importance, the Libraries’ MySpace profile will let students know that the University Libraries is a cutting-edge institution that comfortably reaches beyond the traditional definitions of “library” to meet them in their space.

As for me, I am pleased to work in an academic library that recognizes the importance of having a presence in new media.

For information, contact Kelli Keclik, Information Services Librarian, at KKeclik@bsu.edu

This article was published in The Library Insider May 2006, pg. 3.

Librarians and paraprofessional personnel at the Ball State University Libraries recognize that today’s library customers are accustomed to service and convenience. They want it. They expect it. They demand it.

An example of how the University Libraries seeks to customize each student’s educational experience for learning and research is in our offering expanded service hours. Longer hours allow students flexibility in designing his/her individual study program based on personal needs, such as working on-campus or off.

Peter John, a senior who is majoring in Piano Performance, takes advantage of the Music Listening Center’s expanded hours by utilizing the listening carrels. In addition to using the sound resources to study, Peter also searches the Educational Resources Center’s catalogs for visual resources. By coupling his listening research with viewing a Stravinsky ballet, for example, Peter enhances both his understanding and appreciation for informational materials.

Sherrell Robinson is a Telecommunications senior. She does not own her own computer, so being able to check out a laptop from the Educational Resources Center allows Sherrell the flexibility to study wherever she feels most comfortable in Bracken Library. Most nights, she reserves one of our many group study rooms with a friend. According to Sherrell, studying collaboratively allows the two of them to “focus and get our work done.”

Having his own laptop did not help Bryan Williamson recently to complete a project on time; however, Bracken’s resources did! Bryan is an interior design major in the College of Applied Sciences and Technology. While working, he lost the project on his computer and had to begin completely over. Having REVIT software available on Bracken’s public PC stations allowed him to work since the department lab was closed. He printed the final project on the large plotter in the Geospatial Center and Map Collection unit.

For information, contact Kathleen E. Pickens, Library Night Supervisor at KEPickens@bsu.edu

This article was published in The Library Insider May 2006, pg. 1.