8/10/10 -- Problems with Full Text in ATLA

As of yesterday, Monday, August 9, there have been problems with finding full text articles in the ATLA Religion Database. EBSCO recently released a new upgrade to their search interface, and evidently something has happened to the ability to limit searches to only full text articles, particularly in the ATLA Religion Database.

Until EBSCO can resolve this problem, please be aware that if you are using the ATLA Religion Database and want to find only full text articles, using the "Full Text" check box to limit your results to only full text will most likely cause you to retrieve only some of the full text articles.

The best way to ensure that you are finding all full text articles is to not use any limit on the search and then manually sort through the results.

I will post an update once EBSCO confirms that they have resolved this problem.

8/3/10 -- Changes to I-Share, Part 1

I-Share connects the resources of 76 academic libraries in the state of Illinois. Thanks to I-Share, Northern Seminary students, staff, and faculty can access over 9 million library items either by requesting them online or by going to any I-Share library and checking out books directly from that library.

One of I-Share's strengths has been its flexibility. Cooperatively, the I-Share libraries agree to loan materials to each other; individually, each I-Share library is free to establish local policies that determine things like how long their own students can borrow a book.

Starting on Wednesday, August 4, there will be a significant change to how I-Share libraries will loan materials to each other. There will now be a single, unified policy to ensure that every I-Share library offers the same loan periods and policies to every other I-Share library. Those of you who have used I-Share in the past may have noticed that some I-Share libraries let you keep books longer than others. That will change; starting on August 4, every I-Share loan will be for 28 days with 3 renewals permitted.

Note that each school will still have the freedom to establish different policies for loaning materials to their own students. What will change is that I-Share loans -- loans from one I-Share library to a patron at another I-Share library -- will now all be a uniform 28 days. This new policy is meant to reduce confusion and ensure equitable loan arrangements between I-Share libraries.

This is the first of two changes. The next change to be implemented will affect how much libraries charge for overdue fines for I-Share loans and the kinds of fines that can block someone from using the I-Share system. Keep watching this blog or subscribe to blog postings to learn when I-Share Change, Part 2 will happen.

7/29/10 Changes at the JKM Library in Chicago

For any Northern Seminary faculty or students who make use of the JKM Library in Chicago (which serves LSTC and McCormick), please be aware that there will be changes to their library that will extend into the foreseeable future.

The JKM Library will be CLOSED July 30 - August 15 while all library services are moved into temporary quarters on the other side of their building. While renovations to the facilities at LSTC last, there will not be public access to the books in the JKM Library collection. Requests for interlibrary loan materials from the JKM Library will take longer since their library staff will have to retrieve requested materials at scheduled times.

If you use the JKM Library, please follow their web site at http://www.jkmlibrary.org/ for regular updates.

6/8/10 -- Mondays & Fridays Closed For Summer

In general, the library will not be open on Mondays and Fridays during the summer. The exceptions will be the weeks when summer courses are in session.

When there are no summer courses scheduled, the library's summer schedule will be:

      Tues - Thurs         2pm - 6pm
      Saturdays             2pm - 6pm

This will make for an irregular summer schedule, so please consult the library web site (http://www.seminary.edu/library) or call the library front desk (630-620-2104) to confirm the library hours.

6/5/10 -- Library hours week of June 7

We will have extended hours during the week of June 7 due to the DMin course that is meeting:

     Mon - Thurs         8:30am - 8:00pm
     Fri, 6/11                 8:30am - 4:00pm
     Sat - Sun               CLOSED

5/28/10 -- Memorial Day & Finals Week

Library hours will be slightly different for the week of May 31:

   Mon, 5/31       2pm - 6pm
   Tues, 6/1         10am - 11:30am; 1pm - 10pm
          (Closed during final chapel & campus BBQ)
   Weds, 6/2       2pm - 6pm
   Thurs, 6/3      10am - 10pm
   Fri, 6/4            2pm - 6pm
   Sat, 6/5           CLOSED for Commencement
   Sun, 6/6          CLOSED

The library will reopen on Monday, June 7 at 8:30am.

3/29/10 -- Holy Week Hours

The library will be closed Good Friday - Easter Sunday:

     Mon - Tues          10am - 10pm
     Weds, 3/31          2pm - 6pm
     Thurs, 4/1           10am - 10pm
     Fri - Sun               CLOSED

The library will reopen at 10am on Monday, April 5.

3/20/10 -- Reduced Hours For Spring Break

The library will have reduced hours during the spring break week:

     Sun, 3/21         CLOSED
     Mon - Fri          2pm - 6pm
     Sat, 3/27          10am - 6pm
     Sun, 3/28        CLOSED

2/9/09 -- Library Closing at 7pm Due to Weather

Tonight, Tuesday, February 9, the library will close at 7pm due to weather.

1/18/10 -- Library Closed For King Day

The library, along with the rest of the seminary campus, will be CLOSED on Monday, January 18 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

The library will reopen at 10am on Tuesday, January 19.

1/11/09 -- Adjusted Library Hours

Many thanks to those of you who participated in the library hours survey emailed to students over break. I realize that our hours remain limited, and, due to budget concerns, they will remain limited for the rest of this year.

Based on feedback from the survey, though, I believe that offering longer hours on days when classes are in session will better meet the needs of most students. This does require us to reduce hours on days when classes are not in session. The following will be the new hours for the library during winter quarter:

Mon - Tues       10am - 10pm
Wednesdays       2pm - 6pm
Thursdays       10am - 10pm
Fridays       2pm - 6pm
Saturdays       10am - 6pm
Sundays       6pm - 8pm

Please feel free to send any comments or suggestions to bwalter@seminary.edu.

1/6/10 -- Have you expired?

This is your New Year's reminder to check the expiration date on your library card. If you were not taking classes last quarter, or, if (*gasp*) you never used the library last quarter, please take a moment to verify that your library card is current.

Without a current library account, you will not be able to check out materials, place requests for materials from other libraries, or access the library databases from off campus.

You can have your library account updated by stopping by the front desk in the library, by calling the library at (630)620-2104, or by emailing your current address and phone number to library@seminary.edu.

If you cannot find your library card, we can create a new one for you.

Also, if you make use of any of the four ACTS libraries that are not part of I-Share (JKM, Chicago Theological Seminary, United Library, University of St. Mary of the Lake), you will need to stop by the front desk in the library to request a new ACTS identification card.

12/23/09 -- Library Hours Survey

A brief survey on the library hours has been emailed to student email accounts. So far, 22 people have responded. If you have not checked your seminary email recently, please look for the survey and take a few minutes to respond as this will help us plan our hours for the winter quarter.

12/10/09 -- Hours During December Break

Please check the library home page to verify the library's hours during the December break.

The library will be closed on Sunday, December 13. After that, the library will be open noon - 5:00pm Monday - Friday.

The library, along with the rest of the Northern Seminary campus, will be closed December 24 - January 3.

9/21/09 -- Fall Library Hours

With the start of classes on Monday, September 28, the library will begin regular hours for the fall quarter (September 28 - December 11):

    Monday - Thursday       Noon - 10pm
    Fridays                              Noon - 5pm
    Saturdays                         1pm - 5pm
    Sundays                            8pm - 10pm

9/6/09 -- Library Closed on Labor Day

The library, along with the rest of the seminary offices, will be closed on Monday, September 7 for Labor Day. The library will reopen at 2:00pm on Tuesday, September 8.

8/7/2009 -- Library Closed on Friday

The library, along with the rest of the seminary offices, will be closed on Friday, August 7.

The library will reopen at 2:00pm on Monday, August 10.

7/7/09 -- Try the New Religion Databases

If you search the library databases regularly, you will notice that the interface for the ATLA Religion Database has changed. We now subscribe to ATLA via EBSCOHost. If you have not tried the new interface, take a moment to see what you think:

ATLA Religion Database on EBSCOHost

One reason for this change is that EBSCOHost provides five major religion databases: ATLA, Old Testament Abstracts, New Testament Abstracts, Catholic Periodical Literature Index, and the Christian Periodical Index. With EBSCOHost, you can search all five databases at once:

All Religion Databases

This new arrangement now provides greater access to journal articles in religion, theology, and biblical studies with enhanced linking to the full text available in any of the library databases.

6/28/09 -- Library Closed July 3

The library hours for the week of June 29 will be:

        Monday - Thursday                2:00pm - 8:00pm
        Friday, July 3                           CLOSED
        Saturday - Sunday                  CLOSED

The library, along with the rest of the seminary campus, will be closed on Friday, July 3 for the Independence Day Weekend.

The library will continue to have reduced hours for the rest of the summer.

6/4/09 -- D.Min. Seminars & June Library Hours

From June 8 - 28, the library will be open in the mornings while the D.Min. seminars are being held. During these three weeks, the library hours will be:

    Mon - Thurs   8:30am - 8pm
    Fridays             8:30am - 5pm
    Sat - Sun          CLOSED

For our D.Min. students: If your library card has expired, please remember to stop in the library to have it renewed.