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The library's Homecoming display for "Beyond the MilliBubble" was a
ceiling-full of bubble wrap circles and multi-colored rounds inscribed with
various student ambitions for life beyond Millikin - some ambitions perhaps
more serious than others? A selection of these ambitions:
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- I want to work in environmental
conservation OR work with farmers to help make their jobs more
environmentally friendly. Save the Earth!
- Broadway and/or top of the R&B charts! We
got high hopes!
- I want to attend a specialized make-up
school in Toronto, Ontario to learn to work with animatronics.
- Get a job in Decatur! We like it here!
- I am going to graduate school at Loyola
University [Chicago].
- I would like to be successful in all
avenues of my life, especially in maintaining friendships and close family
relationships. Oh, and more school ... and more.
- I am going to be a nurse for two years.
Then I will get my master's in being a physician assistant. Then I will
move to Toronto and open up a practice with a doctor. I also plan on
opening a café, traveling the world and owning a condo that overlooks the
city of Toronto. And of course ... being happy and blessed!
- I want to be a Hooters girl!
The Find-It! function is now active in our
databases, and has been happily received according to anecdotal evidence and
also as shown by the interlibrary loan requests being generated through Find
It! from those times when no electronic full text is available in any of our
databases. (For more information about Find It!, see the
October newsletter.)
 Although the
functionality of our online library catalog (Millinet) will not change, the
consortial catalog of which it is a part will be re-named
I-Share come January 2006.
This comes about as one result of the consolidation of several earlier library
Illinois library consortia into one, the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois, or CARLI.
The change will show up in Millinet in the re-naming of the button now
called "ILCSO libraries" to be "I-Share."
 We never stop
tweaking the library's website with updating, expanding and also refining,
always with the intended aim of improving it as a research tool. Most
recently we have added links to the library's overall and instruction
mission and goals; and we have also reduced the number of click-steps needed
to reach various resources behind the green roll-over headings in the middle
of our home page.
Another legacy from Catie Parish, is the total re-design of the
Archives web site, a project that she completed before leaving in August
for her current position at Illinois State University's Milner Library in
Normal. She fit existing content into the new look and also created new
content such as the really fun
illustrated
timeline. Take a peek! Be impressed!
During the summer of 2005, Staley Library received a donation of nearly
900 books, primarily on religion and philosophy, from the personal
collection of Reverend Dr. James O. Mahaffey, a local minister. Many of
these volumes were added to the Staley Library collection, either as new
titles or to replace existing books that had become worn. The remaining
books from this gift are being offered for purchase on the Library's sale
shelves. Several people, including two divinity students, have been
delighted at the opportunity to acquire some of these books, while the
library has used the sale income to buy other books!
 
As you know, every month we create a list of all new titles (books,
videos, music recordings, etc) that we have catalogued the previous month.
This list is sorted in the same subject order as materials are shelved in
the library stacks (Library of Congress classification.) Also, look
periodically at the constantly changing display on the library's new-books
shelves beyond the stairs.
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Todd Rudat and sons, Nov. 2004 |
We welcomed our newest staff member,
Todd Rudat, as
Archives Associate
on October 31.
Todd has a B.A. from
Northern Illinois University and an M.A. from the University of Northern
Iowa; both degrees are in history. In his work to earn these degrees, he
gained experience in library and archival research, including the use of
electronic databases, digital archives, and 100 year-old documents.
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Todd's most recent work
experience was as a Teacher Associate and Adjunct Instructor at
Northeast Iowa Community College, and he has also worked as a customer
service representative, a training coordinator, office manager, and a cryptologic linguist/cryptanalyst.
Todd will be working
with Amanda Pippitt, Millikin University Archivist. (Amanda is also
Access Services Coordinator and
Research/Instruction Librarian.)
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 In this new
feature of the library newsletter, members of the library staff will
occasionally highlight a library resource, sometimes a new treasure,
sometimes a long-time favorite. Flight Volume 2,
published by Image Comics. Call Number: PN 6710. F57 2005 If you have never read a graphic
novel, but are curious about them, this collection of graphic short stories
is an excellent introduction to the genre. This volume contains a wide
variety of work of both emerging and established graphic artists. You can
sample the many different ways in which images, with or without text, are
used to tell a story. The artwork is excellent and imaginative. The book is
well produced, with very good color and clear imagery; and there is a broad
range of subject matter in the stories. Flight Volume 2 is a book to
be savored. BB
Rovell, Darren. First in Thirst: How Gatorade Turned the Science of
Sweat into a Cultural Phenomenon. Call Number: HD9348 .U54 G38 2005.
Originally concocted by a medical professor to help the performance of the
University of Florida football team (the "Gators"), Gatorade is now well
known as the "Drink of Champions". Rovell's book tracks the Gatorade story
from its invention in the 1960s with its first unpalatable prototypes, to
today where it controls 80 percent of the sports drink market. Along the
way, it has become a cultural icon regarded as one of the top brands ever
invented. However, as with any popular product there are critics. Some
scientists claim the drink provides athletes with too much sodium, which in
turn makes them thirstier. Others are suspicious of the intentions of
Gatorade's research center set up at the University of Florida. In depth
discussion is provided of Gatorade's business, marketing, and advertising
strategies - everything from its association with university athletics and
pro teams, to attracting a larger female audience, to its sports celebrity
endorsements. With over $2 billion in sales, Gatorade is at the top of its
game. A recommended read for anyone interested in business, sports, science,
and communication. JH
To further brighten our new library entrance with its new gate, we have
added a magnificent ficus tree (weeping fig) given to us by library staff
member Linda Chitwood. It had grown too big for her house she says.
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Here is the most recent travelogue from Millikin student
Kyle in
London.
He sure is having a great time studying abroad!!
 We leave you
with a
Thanksgiving holiday thought (sort of). Make sure you have the sound
on for best effect.
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