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University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

August 25, 2008

TO: New Faculty and Academic Staff

FROM: Anita Evans, Library Director (5-8805; evans.anit@uwlax.edu )

RE: UW-L Murphy Library Resources in Support of Instruction and Research

Welcome to UW-La Crosse!

This "Essentials" website developed by Stefan Smith, Outreach Librarian, will introduce you to many of the resources and services available at Murphy Library to support your teaching and research. We also invite you to visit the Library for a firsthand look at the Library’s facility and to make a House Call appointment for a more in-depth discussion with a librarian about the wealth of Library information available to you.  You also have the opportunity to sign up for an opening week individual consultation in the Library on Thursday, August 28, from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

The Library’s website is your gateway to fast access to electronic information 24/7.  Over recent months librarians have worked on a comprehensive redesign of the website which will make it more user-friendly.  Please note that there are web pages designed specifically for faculty. Your comments on the website or other aspects of library services are always welcome. 

Beyond those resources which reside or are made available electronically in Murphy Library, you can easily access research materials across UW System Libraries.  Through the Library’s interlibrary loan system, ILLiad, electronic documents are delivered to your desktop. Within the Library’s Endeavor catalog is a borrowing module which allows you to directly request books from other University of Wisconsin campuses.  Also, a growing number of digitized resources are available locally and through the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections. 

Librarians and staff have developed a number of services to help you and your students identify relevant materials. When you search the catalog, you will see a New Materials tab:  you can select criteria and generate a list of new acquisitions matching your specifications. Schedule information literacy classes for your students to help build their critical thinking and library research skills or find a course reserves form on the forms web page.

Librarians work closely with faculty to select books, periodicals, DVDs and other formats essential for your teaching and research. We invite you to partner with us to identify key materials that support your academic discipline.

Over the last 2 years all of us in the Library have been rethinking how building spaces are used for every kind of learner.  You will find on the first floor a Collaborative Learning Information Commons where students can work together in groups using tablet PCs checked out at the circulation desk.  New furniture was added to this space over the summer.  Last year Murphy’s Mug opened.  The café, which is just around the corner from the Library’s entrance, features Caribou Coffee products and light refreshments. It’s a great environment for you to meet with colleagues or students. 

Again, welcome. Do not hesitate to let any of us know how we can assist you with your teaching and research endeavors.