Highlights of Retirement Party

On June 24, 2010, CSU Libraries celebrated the retirement of three faculty and staff members: Erma Banks, Becky Boswell, and Sandra Stratford.

Below are a few photos of the well-attended party.

We will miss you, Erma, Becky and Sandra!

CSU Libraries Summer Hours

As a reminder, CSU Libraries' summers hours are as follows:

Simon Schwob Memorial Library

Monday-Thursday: 7:30 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday: 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Sunday: 2:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Music Library

Monday-Thursday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

For more information about CSU Libraries, please see the CSU Libraries website.

Have a wonderful summer!

Welcome Our New Staff Member: Rachel Cotney

Please help CSU Libraries in welcoming Rachel Cotney as our newest staff member!

Rachel Cotney is the new part-time Circulation Assistant. She processes GIL Express requests and also helps with other circulation activities, such as checking out library resources to CSU students, staff and faculty. Ms. Cotney also assists students in the ETC computer lab.

Rachel Cotney graduated from Lanett High School and has lived in the Chattahoochee Valley area her entire life. She graduated from LaGrange College with a BA in English in 2004. Since then, Rachel has worked as Circulation Assistant at Lewis Cooper Memorial Library in Opelika, Circulation Manager at H. Grady Bradshaw Chambers County Library in Valley, and is currently employed at Chattahoochee Valley Community College as an Associate Librarian.

Ms. Cotney has a Boston Terrier named Otis Redding who is an only child. Her hobbies include reading, playing the guitar and singing. She also collects vintage cookbooks and kitchen wares, and also kimonos.

Welcome to CSU Libraries, Rachel!

Staff Profile: Brian Hulsey is the Winner of a Salem Library Blog Award

Brian Hulsey's Libraries and Transliteracy Blog won first place in the Salem Library Blog Awards. Considered the best "General Library Blog," the Libraries and Transliteracy Blog discusses all literacies (digital literacy, media literacy, information literacy, visual literacy, 21st century literacies, transliteracies and more) with an emphasis on libraries of all types (academic, public, special and school). Brian Hulsey, CSU Libraries' Periodicals Assistant, co-authors the blog with Bobbi Newman, Buffy Hamilton and Tom Ipri.

Transliteracy is the "ability to read, write and interact across a range of platforms, tools and media from signing and orality through handwriting, print, TV, radio and film, to digital social networks" (definition is from www.transliteracy.com). It has become an important topic to libraries that offer resources in all digital and print media types.

Salem Press publishes both print and electronic library reference works used in public, school and academic libraries. It recognizes the unique intellectual efforts of blogs in the library world and awards blogs in the following areas: general, academic library, public library, school library and "quirky" blogs. Each award comes with a cash prize.

Congratulations to Brian Hulsey for winning such an honor!

Upcoming Retirement Celebration

Please join CSU Libraries in celebrating the retirement of Rebecca Boswell (33 years), Sandra Stratford (32 years) and Erma Davis Banks (26 years).

Thursday, June 24, 2010
3:30 - 5:00 PM
Center for International Education
4225 University Ave.
Columbus, GA 31907

Rebecca Boswell (33 years)



Ms. Rebecca Boswell began at Columbus State University (then Columbus College) in January, 1977. Since then, she has been promoted several times until finally becoming a Senior Library Associate and Coordinator of the Library's Acquisitions Department. Ms. Boswell was awarded the Employee of the Month award in 1992 and the Employee of the Year award in 1993. Ms. Boswell also served on many university-wide committees during her tenure at CSU.

Sandra Stratford (32 years)



Dr. Sandra Stratford began at Columbus State University (then Columbus College) in 1978. She was the Coordinator of Instructional Technology Services from 1984-2009 and Executive Director of Distance Learning Design & Delivery since 2009. Dr. Stratford has served on many university-wide committees and as the Executive Officer of the Faculty Senate (2008-2009). She is the recipient of the 2009 CALA (Columbus Area Library Association) LIBRA Award.

Erma Davis Banks (26 years)



Ms. Erma Davis Banks began at Columbus State University (then Columbus College) in 1984. Since 1992, she has been the Coordinator of Information Commons/Reference. Ms. Banks is the recipient of the 2008 CALA (Columbus Area Library Association) LIBRA Award and the recipient of a 2008 CSU Outstanding Teacher of Writing Award.

JSTOR Plant Science is Now Available

CSU Libraries is proud to announce that the JSTOR Plant Science database has been added to its digital collections found in GALILEO.

From the JSTOR website (www.jstor.org):

JSTOR Plant Science is an online environment that brings together content, tools, and people interested in plant science. It provides access to foundational content vital to plant science – plant type specimens, taxonomic structures, scientific literature, and related materials, making them widely accessible to the plant science community as well as to researchers in other fields and to the public. It also provides an easy to use interface with powerful functionality that supports research and teaching, including the ability to measure and record plant specimens, share observations and objects with colleagues and classmates, and investigate global plant biodiversity.

JSTOR Plant Science offers access to botanical and other resources from around the world including:

• The world’s largest database of plant type specimens representing the botanical diversity of the planet. More than 600,000 specimens are available today. When complete, there will be an estimated 2.2 million.
• Over 175,000 scientific research articles and other content dating back hundreds of years from leading academic journals including Kew Bulletin, Mycologia, International Journal of Plant Sciences, Science, PNAS, and others.
• Foundational reference works and books such as The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa, Flowering Plants of South Africa, and illustrations from Curtis's Botanical Magazine.
• A significant set of correspondence, including Kew’s Directors' Correspondence which included hand-written letters and memorandum from the senior staff of Kew from 1841 to 1928.
• More than 20,000 paintings, photographs, drawings, and other images.

You can access JSTOR Plant Sciences from GALILEO at: www.galileo.usg.edu/scholar/colstate/databases/j/

Or directly at: www.galileo.usg.edu/express?link=jsrn-col1.

CSU has access to this database until December 31, 2011.

Georgia Career Information System is Now Available in GALILEO

CSU Libraries is proud to announce that the Georgia Career Information System (GCIS) is now available in GALILEO. The GCIS contains career assessments, explorations, and search strategies, as well as the most comprehensive and accurate state and national occupational and educational information. In addition to career management tools for individuals, tools are available to assist administrators.

The Georgia Career Information System is an initiative of the Georgia Career Information Center-- a research and outreach center located at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. The center partners with various public, private, state and national agencies to provide career management information and services for students, counselors, career advisors, administrators, and industry professionals.

More information about the GCIS is online at: www.gcic.peachnet.edu/GCIC_About%20GCIC.htm.

You can access the GCIS through GALILEO at: www.galileo.usg.edu/scholar/colstate/databases/g/.

Please note that to access the GCIS, you will need to use a user name and password. This information is found in GALILEO underneath the listing for the GCIS.

CSU Libraries Survey Results are Now Available

In March 2010, CSU Libraries conducted a comprehensive survey to measure its progress in meeting its goals to provide services to CSU students, faculty and staff.

From the survey, we learned that we are doing a good job at providing services to CSU students and faculty. However, we were given many helpful suggestions on how to improve our services, such as adding more computers to the Information Commons and providing more group collaborative spaces.

Please know that we are working hard to make CSU Libraries the premiere spot on campus for research, group collaboration and study.

The results of this survey are posted online at: http://library.colstate.edu/about_us/library_survey/index.asp