Mickey Mouse Monopoly

"A daring and disturbing look at Disney's power to shape mass culture..."

Come join us for Mickey Mouse Monopoly, a critical look at the world Disney films create and the stories they tell about race, gender and class. 

Disney's corporate power and cultural influence are undeniable; this fascinating documentary reaches disturbing conclusions about the values propagated under the guise of innocence and fun, and asks the question, "What are we really learning?"  

December 6 at 2:00 p.m.
Jackson Screening Room

Introduced by Prof. Jill Weber

Reception to follow - free and open to the public!

This series is co-sponsored by Wyndham Robertson Library, the Office of Student Activities, and the Film Department. For further information, contact Maryke Barber at 362-6328 or mbarber@hollins.edu (posted 11/18)

Featured Databases: ACS and CQ Researcher

Attention chemistry and biology majors, environmental science, physics and math: the American Chemical Society (ACS) database is an indispensable resource for those conducting research in the chemical and related sciences. 

This database searches each of the 34 research journals published by the American Chemical Society, such as Journal of the American Chemical Society; Environmental Science and Technology; and Biochemistry, providing full-text access to more than 75,000 articles and 500 book chapters in over 130 years of original scientific research. 

In addition to being one of the leading science information resources in the world, the ACS database is extremely easy to search, allowing title, author, abstract, and full-text searching.  Users can also narrow results by publication, publication type, author, date range, and type of information provided. 

Find it: e-Resources,  Division 3: or the A-Z Database List pages.

CQ Researcher: one-stop shopping for current topics

The CQ Researcher database provides detailed, in-depth reports on almost any issue you can think of in current U.S. affairs. Reports start with an overview, followed by a comprehensive exploration of the subject.

Each report comes with a pro/con section, a timeline, maps, graphs, links to related reports and suggestions for further reading. Browsing the subject and date categories will give you an appreciation of all you can find here, from politics to culture, from energy to human rights, from communications to women's issues. Coverage starts in 1991. 

Examples of recent reports:

• Human Rights Issues
• Conspiracy Theories
• Financial Literacy
• Gays in the Military
• NNuclear Disarmament

Find it: on the e-Resources page, Division 2, or on the A-Z database list. (posted 11/03)

ROI: Library by the Numbers

It's been a busy semester! Here, from the library's public services department, are some numbers to show you what the library has been doing for you.

Since the beginning of the fall semester, circulation staff have:

• Served 2,714 patrons
• Checked out 6,700 items
• Shelved 4,736 returned items
• Processed 1,417 holds  

Our Librarians have:

• Taught 710 students in 55 instruction sessions
• Answered 472 reference questions
• Total Library Visits: 20,046 !

Many thanks to the library's student employees, without whom we could not provide these services.  (posted 11/18)

Beth Harris: Librarian/Archivist

If you've ever had a question about Hollins history or about illuminated medieval manuscripts; about Margaret Wise Brown or about getting a copy of the latest government regulations...you've met Beth Harris.

Beth is our Special Collections and Government Information Librarian.  She began working at the library in 1989, then left for graduate school at UNC Chapel Hill in 1992; in 1994 she returned to Hollins and received her current position. Three years ago, she was given the additional responsibility of government documents. 

To learn more about Beth and the library's archives, we asked her a few questions.

Q:   What exactly do you do ?
A:   With the government documents side of things, I catalogue and administer the collection because there are a lot of rules that have to be followed.  I have to make sure that's being done, and promote the collection.  The other side is special collections.  It encompasses Hollins authors, university archives, manuscripts, and rare books. 

Q: Can you give an example of how you help someone who comes into the archives?
A:   I try to find out what the person is researching and why. For example: are they working for a professor and need to look up some information for them; is it a class assignment? Some folks aren't sure what they want but others have a specific need.  For questions needing archival sources, I often start with my database.  I have Hollins publications and other items indexed by subject: I can search by person, organization, etc.  Some questions can be answered with a few resources, while others require a good deal of time reading through minutes, reports, departmental correspondence, etc. Some things are easy to find while others are quite elusive and possibly don't exist.

Q:   What are some of your hobbies?
A: I like to scrapbook when I have the time.  I sing.  I have two children ages two and seven, and they keep me very busy.  I like to bake, and I enjoy walking, which I don't get to do much.  And reading, of course!

Q: What's your favorite thing about working here at Hollins?
A: I'm always learning, and I love history.  I love books too.  I love physically being in this environment and being the caretaker of the collection.  It's always so challenging and never boring.  It's also fun to help people and see them get excited about the archives.

Special Collections is located on the third floor of the library.  Call 362-6237 or email bharris@hollins.edu.(posted 11/18)  

DVD Fines Lowered

As of October 1, new lower fines are in effect for all of our library's films! Fines will be:

• $1 per day for the first 3 days past the due date, and
• $3 for day 4 and onward.

Note: this change will not apply to films borrowed from Roanoke College; fines for RC films will remain at $3/per day.

Many thanks to the library's Student Advisory Committee, who suggested lowering the fine amounts! (posted 10/02; edited 10/20)