Tuesday, August 31, 2010

SLRC Treasures: Sights & Sounds Department

The Sights & Sounds Department (SAS) of the Central Library/State Library Resource Center houses a collection of audio-visual materials reflecting the general scope of most Pratt subject areas. But there’s more to SAS than just popular and world music CDs, fiction audiobooks (on cassette tape and CD), and educational and popular movies on DVD and video. Some of its lesser-known gems include:

16mm Films: Did you know that SAS maintains a collection of over 2,100 16mm film titles, including many obscure and hard-to-find titles not available in other media formats? There is a concentration in the areas of independently produced films (including many Baltimore Film Festival entries), student films, film history, children's films, animation, experimental and avant-garde shorts, and documentary films. The collection also boasts an impressive number of feature films, including films from the silent era, Hollywood classics and a broad representation of world cinema. And because all of SAS’s 16mm films have "public performance rights" (meaning they can be shown at free public screenings without having to get clearance from the copyright owners), they are frequently used by local film curators, including Station North’s Windup Space, Hexagon/Magic Eye Cinema, and the 14K Cabaret’s Nineteen23 non-theatrical film series. (All 16mm films are stored in the third floor A/V Inspection Room; although this room is not open to the public, staff will bring films down to the Sights & Sounds Department upon patron request.)

Phonograph Records: Long considered a “dead medium” in the era of digital CDs, vinyl records are coming a comeback, with a growing number of popular musicians now releasing their works on 33 1/3 albums (with the vinyl version sometimes more expensive than the CD!). Although SAS no longers adds to its phonograph collection, it boasts an impressive collection of both musical and spoken word records, including many that have never been released on CD. Strengths include ‘50s and ‘60s jazz, obscure children’s records (including a number of hard-to-find titles by electronic music pioneer Bruce Haack), UNESCO’s renowned world/folk library, and its spoken word collection that features famous authors and poets reading their works, like the extremely rare H. L. Mencken Conversing with Donald Howe Kirkley (used copies of this out-of-print 1957 interview conducted by the Baltimore Sun’s Kirkley fetch up to $60 on eBay!). You can even hear world-famous mime Marcel Marceau speak (it’s true!) on his instruction record Marcel Marceau Speaks in English. (Like its 16mm film collection, records are stored in SAS’s third floor A/V Inspection Room; staff will bring records down to the Sights & Sounds Department upon request.)

More SAS treasures to be revealed next week!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

I have had customers who have become frustrated with using the computers and became upset with me.

Do you have suggestions for how to best handle this situation?

My best general advice is to learn as much as you can about the computers, keep up to date on the technology, and be prepared to apologize. Does that always work? No. The computers sometimes fail. Customers can make mistakes and mess up what they are doing. You may make a mistake. All of this is your fault and you must accept the resulting beatings. All kidding aside, computers cause a lot of frustration for both customers and for you. It helps not to take it personally and to keep your sense of humor.

Many times people who come into the library to use the computers are totally out of their element. This electronic world is frightening, and frightened people are frequently angry, demanding people. You are the Librarian, and you are an expert in all things. So when you can’t help them as quickly as they think you should, or if it is something that you can’t do, they feel even more frightened. Sometimes it helps to make some sort of light comment about having to learn new stuff, but that you will try to work through the issues together. And sometimes, if you are able to fix an issue quickly and they seem to feel foolish, it may be a good idea to downplay your expertise. For instance, they have tried to do something simple and the computer has not cooperated. You walk over and click on the mouse and lo and behold, the computer behaves. I usually make a comment like “It’s afraid of me.” They chuckle and embarrassment is over.

Hardware issues cause major headaches. Nothing is more frustrating to the customer or to you than to have the computer crash. You have to do the best you can. Apologize profusely and try to get the customer on another computer. If you don’t have another computer available, see if you can help at the reference desk. If the customer needed to look something up for example, look it up for him. And print out the results for free.

Printing problems are a big issue and can be highly frustrating. If the printer and computer aren’t speaking to one another or Adobe is not cooperating, I will apologize (notice the trend here) and do everything I can to get the document printed. Generally, that will mean that I will print it at the staff computer for no charge. Good customer service will go a long way in calming the customer down.

Internet problems can be another source of irritation for the customer. There are as many internet problems as there are web sites. The problems may range from blocked sites by your library’s filter to web sites that are down to network problems. Or the web site and your browser aren’t compatible. And don’t forget the confusing job application sites. Patience and education are vital. You will never be familiar with all social networking, blogs or web sites, so don’t let anyone make you feel guilty. Be familiar with your library’s pages, and a couple of good search engines. Share information with other librarians. You may know a lot about several networking sites and someone else may know a lot about job searching sites. Compare notes. If you find a super site on something of interest to many of your customers, post the address on a bulletin board or otherwise spread the word.

Document creation can be a nightmare. Customers want professional looking documents and they expect the librarian to be an expert in all facets of the task. Your best defense is to know as much about the software on your computers as you can. Read, play with the software, and take workshops. Don’t be afraid to ask your colleagues or other customers who you know to be well versed in the software for help.

And that brings me to my last point. Be approachable. Smile. Be friendly. If you don’t know the answer, ask for help. Cultivate your regulars who are good with computers. They will feel appreciated. When your customers see you as another person and not as “The Librarian” even problems go more smoothly.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

SLRC Treasures: African American Department

The African American Department has a wealth of hidden treasures! For starters, the collection contains several rare and out of print books, dating back to the 1800s. Some of these books are so fragile that they have to be kept in a secure location and handled with extreme care.

We also have an extensive autographed book collection including the signatures of prominent Americans such as Gordon Parks, Lena Horne, John Hope Franklin and Langston Hughes. Our ephemera file has hundreds of brochures, transcripts, playbills, funeral programs and more. A significant amount focuses on the events and accomplishments of Marylanders.

The African American Department also maintain a large set of colorful drawings, posters, photographs and reproductions depicting the rich history and pioneers of African American culture.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Who are the People in Your State Library Resource Center

Meet Emma Beaven!
Resource Sharing Supervisor
Maryland Interlibrary Loan Organization (MILO)

What do you do?
I manage the MILO (Maryland Interlibrary Loan Organization) office which includes transshipping. I help coordinate Marina for the state of Maryland and my department also handles non-Marina network interlibrary loans for Pratt patrons as well as the patrons of many counties in Maryland. I provide training for Marina and am currently working with testing groups for the URSA upgrade.

How did you get here?
Previously I worked at McKeldin Library at the University of Maryland College Park. I worked in the interlibrary loan department on the lending side. I was anxious to have a more challenging job so one day my boss handed me an ad from the ILL listserv for my current position.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?
My favorite part of the job is getting material that is difficult and challenging to find. I feel a sense of accomplishment when the material actually comes in and some or our patrons get very excited when they get what they’re looking for.

What’s a book that you didn’t expect to like – but did?
Let’s see. I’ve recently been reading Bowing to Necessity: a history of manners in America, 1620-1860. I was reading it for research purposes but found it incredibly engrossing. It gives wonderful glimpses of life in early America and the way in which behavioral norms have been reflective of the ever changing class structure in this country.

What is your favorite SLRC program, service, or training?
Marina training, of course!

What do you do when you’re not reading?
I write, play computer games and cook.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

The Trouble with Different Computer Files

I have some customers who have come in with different types of files – Open Office and Office 2007. What are some online resources that I can use to help them with these newer formats?

Staying up-to-date on the latest file formats is an important part of customer service in libraries. One of the newer software application suites is OpenOffice. OpenOffice is an open-source software, which is similar to Microsoft Office but free to download. Its programs include word processing, spreadsheets, graphics, databases and more, and it is available in many languages. Why Open Office? gives a great overview of the benefits of the software suite.

OpenOffice.org offers a number of resources for its users including FAQ’s, templates, help guides, and tutorials on using the programs.

Microsoft Office has released Office 2010 in June. This latest version of Office is similar to Office 2007 but still a major change from the previous format in 2003. Microsoft Office also has a support service for its users, which is a great place to start to familiarize with their new user interface. It also offers a printable list of Office 2010 commands and buttons. There are tutorials available though some require a free download of Silverlight to view their videos, training, and interactive guides.

One challenge with different types of files is converting files without downloading the software. Zamzar is one resource that converts files, including images, documents, music, video, and e-book formats. It does require an active email account to receive the converted file, and the new version is only available for 24 hours though you can save the new file.

You can also suggest to your customer that they look for free computer classes to become more familiar with computer software and files. Most libraries offer computer training. For example, Enoch Pratt Free Library also offers free Computer Classes, including on Microsoft Office 2010. Classes take place at several locations during both daytime and evening hours.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

SLRC Treasures: Children's Department

There is a number of “hidden treasures” in the Children’s Department. We have a vast selection of retrospective as well as historical books. Some are first editions and some are autographed. We carry Children’s Literature Review for those looking for critical commentary about authors and books.

Did you know that the Children's Department has 49 versions of Cinderella or Cinderella-like tales from around the world? Many different versions of narrated or illustrated fairy tales are available from the Children's Department.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

I’ve had a customer who is interested in finding an authentic African baby name. Where should I start?

For the customer looking for authentic African names for their new baby, the African American Department has many resources. All of these books fall under the CS 2375-2377 call numbers in our reading room. 1,001 African Names: First and Last Names from the African Continent by Julia Stewart is a great place to start. Not only does it give you male and female names from A to Z with pronunciation, country, village or tribe of origin as well as definition of meaning, yet Stewart also includes an introduction on traditional African naming practices, ceremonies, superstitions associated with names and much more. Other sources to consider:
If you are looking for a way to search for African baby names on the internet, try the following websites:

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

SLRC Treasures: Fiction & Young Adult Department

What are some of the hidden treasures of SLRC in the Fiction and Young Adult Department?

With over 250,000 items, the Fiction Department has the largest collection of fiction in the state of Maryland and is one of the largest in the country. The retrospective collection has items dating back to the early 1900’s and is especially strong in American and English novels from the 1930’s on.

The Young Adult Collection spans young adult fiction from the 1940’s to the present. Many of these titles are long out of print and represent the history of young adult literature in the U.S.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

A customer asked me about books being considered "classics." How do they get that designation?

According to A Handbook to Literature, a classic is "a piece of literature that by common consent has achieved a recognized superior status in literary history; also an author of similar standing."

Another definition can be found on Esther Lombardi’s excellent About.com site:
  • A classic usually expresses some artistic quality--an expression of life, truth, and beauty.

  • A classic stands the test of time. The work is usually considered to be a representation of the period in which it was written; and the work merits lasting recognition. In other words, if the book was published in the recent past, the work is not a classic.

  • A classic has a certain universal appeal. Great works of literature touch us to our very core beings--partly because they integrate themes that are understood by readers from a wide range of backgrounds and levels of experience. Themes of love, hate, death, life, and faith touch upon some of our most basic emotional responses.

  • A classic makes connections. You can study a classic and discover influences from other writers and other great works of literature. Of course, this is partly related to the universal appeal of a classic. But, the classic also is informed by the history of ideas and literature--whether unconsciously or specifically worked into the plot of the text.
Lombardi also discusses modern classics. She makes the point that a modern classic would have to have been written after World War I or possibly World War II because those events marked major events in global history and changed the way we view the world.

Here are some lists of classics to get you started:

Finally, here’s a site that provides "ultra-condensed" classics, good for a laugh but not for an assignment!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

SLRC Treasures: Maryland Department

What are some of the hidden treasures of SLRC in the Maryland Department?

There are many collections held in the Maryland Department that are not apparent when one searches the catalog. Since the 1930’s the Department’s staff has been collecting and organizing materials exclusive to Maryland. Some of the interesting collections include:

Maryland Telephone Directories: Phone books dating as far back as the World War I era for every county in the state. Many of these are quite brief but, in addition to telephone listings, contain interesting advertisements from local businesses.

Annual Reports: Business and non-profit organization reports for entities that are not included in the Pratt catalog. The date range of these reports is wide, but some date from the early 19th century.

Music and Theater Programs: Actually, two separate collections that include programs back to 1795. Some contain beautiful cover art and details of famous actors (e.g., Edwin Booth) who played in the area.

Photographs: More than 20,000 black-and-white photos from all over Maryland with emphasis on the Baltimore area. Particularly strong in the 1930’s. Many are available for reproduction. In addition, there are smaller, photographer based collections from A. Aubrey Bodine and M. Robert Rappaport.

Campaign Literature: A growing collection of election advertising in many shapes and sizes for Maryland state elections and national campaigns in Maryland. Material covers mid-19th century to date.

Yearbooks: High school and college yearbooks from educational intuitions in Maryland. Dates vary, but a current list is always available.

Postcards and Stereoscopic Views: Hundreds of postcards from places and points of interest from around the state- many with personal notes. Two hundred stereoscope views of Maryland sites.

Ephemera: Almost 6000 items of material that can be viewed as time sensitive, but provide a fascinating look at life in the past. Menus, programs, invitations, awards, posters, etc. from actual events. Useful for creating displays or exhibiting with other historical material.

Think about these collections as a supplement to other SLRC materials. Since most are composed of primary source documents, they are useful for students and make excellent display material-especially when mixed and matched!

Contact the staff of the Maryland Department to talk about access to these and other collections.