Going the Distance!

Phil Orr of Rice Library was recognized October 19, 2009 for his outstanding leadership and service to the statewide library community. Distance Learning Librarian since 2001, Phil received the Indiana Library Federation 2009 Federation Leadership Award, honoring a librarian whose leadership performance within the group far exceeds expectations. He founded and chaired the ILF Distance Learning Division (2006-2009) and recently was Guest Editor for a distance-education themed issue of Indiana Libraries. The Distance Learning Division promotes and supports the delivery of library services for distance and off-campus students and faculty in Indiana institutions. Susan Akers, ILF Executive Director, says “the awards committee was impressed with Phil’s determination and desire to improve library services and his tireless commitment to achieving excellence in the distance learning setting.”

Prior to coming to USI, Phil held professional library positions with Saint Louis Christian College in Florissant, MO, Kaskaskia College in Centralia, IL, and the Mississippi Library Commission in Jackson, MS. He also has twelve years experience as a public school teacher and a school library media specialist in Nashville, IL. He earned his B.A. in History and an M.S. in Ed. In Instructional Materials, both from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, as well as an M.S. in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

In bestowing this award, ILF has manifested what USI’s distance faculty and students as well as Phil’s colleagues have known for years: he is a consummate librarian, always thinking of ways to improve programming and resources, while providing excellent direct service to users. Your teammates are proud of you, Phil!

Flatlined: Resuscitating American Medicine

Just in time for the current health care debate, NetLibrary is making available as its eBook of the Month a relevant work entitled Flatlined: Resuscitating American Medicine. "In Flatlined, author Guy L. Clifton, M.D., lifts the veil of secrecy on twenty-first century health care and delves into the realities of people caught in a bad medical system. Arguing that a lack of coordinated care and quality medical practice benchmarks result in high levels of redundancy and ineffectiveness, Clifton proposes that the key to reducing health care costs, improving quality, and financially protecting the uninsured, is to reduce wastefulness, and offers a solution for achieving success."

This electronic book will be freely available to USI personnel (students, faculty, and staff) during the month of September. To access this title, simply go the the library's Databases page. Once in the NetLibrary database, a link to the title is provided along the right side of the screen. For help with this or other NetLibrary eBooks, contact the Rice Library Reference Desk: (812) 464-1907, (800)246-6173, libref@usi.edu, or in person on the 1st floor.

Rice Library Welcomes New and Returning Users!

The library is excited to see all the new faces and old friends with the start of Fall semester.


There have been a couple of personnel changes here....our Reference and Interlibrary Loan Librarian Margie Ruppel departed in July for a new position in Boise, Idaho. We miss her, wish her well, and await someone new to fill the vacant spot. Fear not, ILL service continues without missing a beat!


Please welcome our new Instructional Services Librarian, Johanna MacKay. She has her BA in English and American Literature from New York University, and her MLIS from SUNY-Buffalo. Johanna has already accomplished many good things for us since beginning work July 20.


Another BIG change for Fall are the new editions of the MLA and APA style guides. We have both in Reference, and have prepared single-page tip sheets for each: http://www.usi.edu/library/citeyoursources07.asp



The Reference Team encourages faculty and students to visit us in the library, give us a call at 812-464-1907, [800-246-6173] or seek help through our email reference service at libref@usi.edu. Have a terrific start to the semester and drop by soon!

New Reference Book

Rice Library recently received a reference book that may be interest to many people.

Barnet, Richard D. et al. The Story Behind the Song: 150 Songs That Chronicle the 20th Century. Westport, CT:

Greenwood Press, 2004. REF ML3477 .B36 2004

“Songwriters often use lyrics to describe the current events and social attitudes of a particular period or people. An examination of America's popular songs--and the stories behind their creation--can help us better understand our history and culture. This chronologically organized volume provides the stories of 150 songs in 20th-century American history. Each chapter begins with an historical overview of how songs from the period reflected the political, social, and economic culture of the decade. A discussion of 15 influential songs from each decade provides the songs' histories, what inspired the writers to create them, and why they have resonated over time. Included are patriotic songs, such as "The Yankee Doodle Boy" and "God Bless America," protest songs of the civil rights and women's rights movements, such as "We Shall Overcome" and "I Am Woman," songs that defined musical genres, such as "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Stayin' Alive," and contemporary, often controversial music like Eminem's "Stan." Each song's entry includes the song title, songwriter(s), publication information, and current availability. A selected bibliography includes web sites and books helpful for researching songs, songwriters, and events of the 20th century. Indexes are arranged alphabetically, by song title, by songwriter name, and by subject, making this an excellent research tool for students and general readers alike.”
(annotation from booksinprint.com)

Rice Library Receives Collection on Contemporary Japanese Culture

In an effort to promote better understanding of contemporary Japanese culture among other nations, the Nippon Foundation of Tokyo, Japan offered to donate a collection of 100 books to three hundred libraries in the United States. Martha Niemeier, Associate Director and Collection Development Librarian, successfully applied for the program on behalf of Rice Library, and the collection has been received and processed and is ready for use by USI students, faculty, and staff.

Virtually every aspect of Japanese culture is addressed by the collection, including politics and international relations, economics and business, society and culture, literature and the arts, and history. For a complete list of the books as well as catalog descriptions of individual titles, visit: http://www.nippon-foundation.or.jp/eng/news/2008/20081217.html. Our thanks to sociology professor Dr. Stephen Zehr for passing along information concerning the book donation program to library staff.

For more help finding these books, and any other research question (just ask!), contact the Rice Library Reference Desk: 1-800-246-6173, (812) 464-1907, libref@usi.edu, or in person on the 1st floor.

Text a Call Number: Rice Library's Newest Service

Tired of writing down book call numbers on old catalog cards or trying to memorize them? Use our newest library service: Text a Call Number in the Rice Library Catalog! Here's how:

1. Start in the Rice Library Catalog. Type any topic, title, or author. E.g. urban legends.
2. Select a book from the list by clicking on its title.
3. Click on "Text call number & location to your cell phone." Choose your cell phone provider and type your 10-digit phone number.
4. Take your cell phone with you to the stacks and locate the book - it's that easy!

Rose Scruggs, Electronic Services Coordinator, and Mike Adcock, Library Computer Services Administrator, added this new library service. Thanks, Rose and Mike!