We’ve named our new catalog HalCat (short for Harold Andersen Library Catalog). It needs more tweaking, and we are experiencing some technical difficulties with its functionality (which are not local), so please bear with us.

If you want to search other UW System campus library catalogs and borrow materials, either click on the “Universal Borrowing” link on the Library home page’s left sidebar, or once in the catalog click on “Change” on the line where it tells you what catalog you are searching (and then scroll down to click on “Select”):

Database:UW-Whitewater (HAL CAT) Change

After you do a search and you are looking at the record for a title you want to borrow, look at the blue box on the right side of the display. Click on “Make a Request” and log in when prompted.

Yesterday morning and again this morning we are all getting an error message when we try to use this capability. I hope they can fix it again so we can all use it later today…and we apologize for any inconvenience.

The Wishing Tree is near the Food for Thought cafe, Circulation Desk, and the Mitten Tree.

Since May, we have had four new people join the Library staff.

• Kim Apel, a recent graduate of UW-Green Bay, started with us in May as reserves staff and then took over as the night manager after Joe Jacquess retired.
• Sue Coenen joined the Reference staff in August – in addition to her general reference duties, she also serves as the liaison to the College of Education.
• Erin Wetzel began last week as reserves staff, bringing her experience from working at the library at UW-Eau Claire.
• Last, but not least, Myrna McCallister has completed her journey north from Indiana State University to take the helm of the Library, filling the director position after Joyce Huang’s retirement. She’s brand new, having only been here in the library since yesterday.

Welcome Kim, Sue, Erin & Myrna!

Raise your hand if you actually paid attention and/or remember every little detail of the tour.

My point exactly.

We understand that traveling as a herd with your classmates isn’t the most enjoyable experience, regardless of whether you’re checking out the library or a museum. That’s why there’s now a podcast tour of the library! Ronna will guide you through the three floors of the library while you listen on your MP3 player without anyone knowing that you’re NOT rocking out to your favorite song. Trust me, you’ll go places you didn’t even know existed. And that’s a good thing!

You can get to the library’s podcast tour through the Podcast@UWW directory under Non-instructional or go straight to it.

Library Radio Spot – MP3 (1 MB)

writing credits: Leigh Otten

Thanks to WSUW for producing and airing the ad!

Financial markets – they’re like roller coasters – rocketing up, plunging down, leveling out and any variation in between. For those involved, it can be a gut-wrenching and exhilarating experience. People gamble their entire life savings on a chance to win it big. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn’t. You should make sure to do your homework before beginning any venture to ensure a solid investment decision.

The Library would like to invite faculty and staff to an open session with Professors John Howat and David Porter of the Finance & Business Law Department. Howat and Porter have graciously agreed to share their knowledge of stocks and mutual funds and answer any questions that you may have about investing.

The session will also highlight library resources that help navigate the seemingly complicated financial world, namely Morningstar Library Edition, Standard & Poor’s NetAdvantage, and ValueLine Investment Survey. These well-respected investment information sources offer guidance in educating yourself about companies, industries and markets.

So mark your calendars and be sure to join us on March 6 at 4 PM! If you can’t make it right at 4 PM or you can’t stay the whole time, that’s OK too. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kyle Naff, Business Librarian, at naffk@uww.edu or 472.5519.

Please note: This session will not tell you which stocks or funds to choose. Our speakers are very knowledgeable in personal finance, but they are not licensed investment professionals. They may be able to guide you in the right direction, but it’s up to you to decide where you’d like your money to go.

I’m not sure how everyone feels about the ridiculous amount of frozen precipitation that we’ve gotten already this winter, but did you see the size of the snowflakes falling down last night? They were HUGE.

Conveniently enough, we also had some large snowflakes in the Library. After reading one of the campus department newsletters, Dianne was inspired to host a snowflake contest. Library staff designed some excellent and creative snowflakes that were on display for all staff to then vote. Not surprisingly, Joyce won top prize and Denise (pictured at right) came in second. Those two win everything around here – they took top honors in the staff chili cook-off last year.

Congratulations to the winners! Maybe next year we’ll have the blog readers vote…

The Library has changed the prices of the Community Borrowers effective January 1, 2008. The price has increased to $10 for one year or $25 for three years. Check out the Community Borrowers section of the Borrowing Policies page for more information about the program, loan periods and other details.

Sweating over your works cited? Unsure of what to underline or italicize? Puzzling over where the publisher is located? Unsure how to go from the article to the citation? What if you don’t see an author?! Don’t panic–we can help!

In fact, we’re having a citation party, and you’re invited!

Martha Stephenson, Reference Librarian, will host drop-in sessions where you can bring your questions about MLA or APA citation styles. Two sessions! Come once or twice!

• Monday December 10, 3-5pm
• Tuesday December 11, 3-5pm

Both sessions will be in the Library’s instruction lab (L2211). Ask at the Reference Desk for directions.

We’ve also got APA, MLA, and Turabian style help online at http://library.uww.edu/guides/index.html#cite (on the Library’s home page hover on “Guides” and then click “Citations”). You can call the Reference Desk if you need more help–we’ve got the complete style manuals there–(262) 472-1032.