Information Overload

When Marriott Library first subscribed to the SFX service five, perhaps six, years ago, I remember thinking we’d finally eliminated our patrons' frustration with discovering an article citation in a database that didn’t provide access to the corresponding article. Now, by clicking on the "Check SFX for Full Text" link in an article database, one can quickly determine if an article is available electronically through one of the other databases we subscribe to or if it's in a print edition owned by the library.

But thanks to 2011 changes to the library catalog, now called USearch, we’re once again pointing patrons to a broader range of information objects that exist--books, articles, images, streaming media, and more--but which may not be available (or we may not be allowed to provide, due to copyright restrictions) at the University of Utah. And there are evermore options for this type of discovery: WorldCat, GoogleScholar, GoogleBooks, HathiTrust Digital Library, and even Pinterest!

To paraphrase the song, I think we need to start accentuating the positive and minimizing the negative. One way we can do this is to teach library patrons about all those discovery tools while simultaneously promoting the various points of access the University of Utah offers to them: off-campus access (for article databases, e-books, e-journals, and electronic reserves), Pull Service for ARC and General Collection materials, ILL and Document Delivery, UALC reciprocal borrowing, Suggest-a-purchase, Media Streaming, (and many more) in addition to the old-fashioned finding materials physically on the shelf! 

The challenge, though, is how to communicate all the possible combinations of these options in a way that helps patrons' find what they're looking for without overwhelming them.  My initial thought is to create an infographic like this Venn diagram or this flowchart or this decision tree that compares the types of information and content each tool provides and how they interface with those points of access.

What do you think? Are you nostagically longing for the dark ages when you only knew what was available through the library's card catalog and print indexes? Do you pull your hair out trying to figure out how to get your hands on a limited-edition book owned by a small library in Bangalore? Or do you blissfully click link-after-link-after-link, simply rejoicing in the vast quantities of information at your fingertips?

SLC Mini Maker Faire

The publisher of Make magazine has been sponsoring Make Faires at a few locations around the country since 2006. Apparently they've been popular enough to start offering Mini Make Faires, and one is coming to Salt Lake City on October 6, 2012. Early-bird deadline for tickets is July 31 (but don't worry if you're late, tickets are on sale all the way up to the event). Before you go, be sure to check out the latest issue of Make magazine in the Fine Arts and Architecture Library's periodicals collection.

Monkeysuit Press and Other Mayhem

     I think it is safe to say that we can officially call these the dog days of summer (well, as official as googling the phrase anyway). Summer semester is about to end and the temperatures are going to do nothing but rise, so as we all prepare to crawl under a rock for a few weeks,  let me recommend some reading. 

 

    First of all, I have to say, when talking about the Fine Arts Library Collection I am a pretty proud parent.  So, just a warning, if you hurt this mama bears books she is libel to maul you. Now, with that out of the way, that doesn’t mean I don’t want you to love, adore, skim, peruse, ogle, analyze, and enjoy the Fine Arts Collection.

    Grab an ice cold Arnold Palmer (the drink not the golfer) with a straw (and nice tight fitting lid…we don’t want any spills) and get ready to read Monkeysuit: Comics for the People Vol. 1-5.  Featuring the work of Mo Willems, Doc Hammer, Chris McCulloch aka Jackson Publick, Stephen DeStefano, and more. Primarily based out of the New York City animation scene these volumes are a quick read ripe with eye candy by artists known for work on MTV’s Daria, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, and The Venture Brothers to name only a few.

               And like all the best things this post comes with a BONUS FEATURE: The Fine Arts Collections includes Survival machine:stories by Prentis Rollins and Thebig problem with Marshall by Pat Giles also published by Monkeysuit Press. Not enough, you need even MORE? Try checking out the July 2012 Juxtapoz: SpecialAdult Swim Issue in the Fine Arts Library Browsing Periodicals for art and articles about The Venture Brothers!

New Documentary Films From Spy Hop Students

Take a look at this article from the Utah Cultural Alliance and mark your calendars for 6:30pm, Monday, July 9th at the City Library downtown. Spy Hop will be screening it's latest batch of documentary films created by local teens over the course of the last year. Reception with the talented teen filmmakers to follow!