Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 9, 1981)
The “new” University library features relocation of the newspaper reading room, a redesigned book-finding system and a new library sign system color-coded by floors. Photos by Steve Dykes *»J Room . w w w* * w # Microforms-* Checking out the new-look library Outside it may look the same, but inside the University’s main library is a different place. "Every book in the place has been moved,” University Librarian George Shipman says. Shipman and the library staff feverishly revamped the library over Thanksgiving and Christmas vacations. “The staff did it," Shipman says. “From the last day of finals, everyone worked from 7 in the morning until 6 in the evening. And there was one 22-hour shift that some staff members worked. “Students who come to the library will find it more predictable with fewer complex service points,” the librarian ^ says. Money for the reorganization, which H cost less than $20,000, was obtained from salaries from unfilled library | positions. “We asked the University Administration if we could keep the salaries for positions left open,” Shipman says. “It was either that or wait until next year and maybe not be able to do it. The Administration has been responsive; they didn't want us to wait.” ■ The reorganization begins with a less complicated sign and graphic system. I "Informational signs should hit you at every point as you come in the library," Shipman says. The sign system, is color-coded by floor, and each floor's set of signs go from general information such as what's on a floor to detailed information on exactly where specialty items, such as research documents, can be found. Maps of the library are located at the two entrances on each floor. “The signs repeat some information,” Shipman says. “But, if you can’t find something, ask a librarian.” To prevent cluttering of the library's sign system, no additional signs will be added until approved by the library’s graphics services. Another major feature of the library organization is the consolidation of the three subject areas, Education-Pyschology, Social Sciences and Humanities, along with four reference librarians and reference materials, into a central reference area on the first floor. In the past, reference librarians helped students by giving them the benefit of their subject specialty area, and Shipman says he forsees this service continuing. “That trend of personalized service will continue, and we hope to improve upon it," he says. “We're working to identify those heavily used areas of subject expertise so we can fulfill those needs.” Also located on the first floor is the Current Periodicals-Reserve Book Room, which houses short-term check-out materials that are required course reading and all unbound periodicals. No periodicals bound or unbound will be allowed to circulate out of the library. The old Reserve Book Room, located in the northeast corner of the first floor is now the Newspaper Reading Room. In addition, books were reshelved to enable students to find books easier and faster, Shipman says. Library of Congress classified books from A-thru-L are on the second floor, and those under M-thru-Z are on the third floor. Also located on the the third floor is a section for the Dewey Decimal system books not yet classified under Library of Congress cataloging. The library is considering joining a bibliographic utility that would enable the Library to catalog books faster and would speed the transfer of Dewey books into Library of Congress. Shipman says this complete run of books will improve the library's accessibility for students, but that the shelves of books are tight, leaving little room for expansion in coming years. The shelves “need some degree of looseness because each year has areas of heavy interest that aren’t predictable,” Shipman says, citing the rise of Middle Eastern interest since the crisis in Iran. “The time will come when I might have to say ‘Folks, I have to remove those chairs to make room for books. We need to start on the problem now because it takes time to jump through the Legislature's hoops.” Most of the Microforms and equipment are now located in the Microforms and Recordings Department on the third floor. Recordings are kept within the Douglass Listening Room, now part of the Microforms and Recordings Department. The Library is open now from 8 a m. to 11 p.m. Monday — Thursday and from 8 a m. to 5 p.m. on Friday — Sunday. There will be an open house Wednesday Jan. 14 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Parts of the Library used to be open until midnight, but Shipman has established uniform hours. "When the building is open, the whole thing is open.” The transition to the new organization should be smooth, he says. “Within a couple of weeks, it will be like old times. Everyone had to work hard, but it was worth it.” “It's going to be a while before everyone knows where everything is, but I like it,” said Kate Freeman, a secretary in the Librarian's office. “Everyone is really encouraged by the changes that have been made," said Ruth South, a reference librarian. "It will be more efficient and easier on students because they only have to come to one place.” “It’s probably more logical in terms of students ability to find things,” said Susan Fisher, a circulation staff person. “It’s helpful to have reference librarians in one area, but I’m not sure about the cutting of some parts’ hours from midnight to 11 p.m. A number of students used that." Overall, students liked the new arrangement. Some, however, were concerned about the new central reference area. “It works okay for me now because I’m using the reference books down here, but I think it works better for lower division students because most of the books I need are on the third floor," Stan Stanford, a doctoral student said. “It’s a pain in the ass,” said Tim Weber, an English graduate student. "It makes it tough for me because most of my books are located on the third floor and the reference books are on the first. Also they won’t let you take out periodicals." “In some ways I like it better," said history student Gail Unruh. "I think it simplifies matters a great deal, but I'm still getting used to it." Story by Marian Green Cultural Forum II I, Claudius The Winter Film Series JANUARY Fri 9 The Kids Are Alright 150 Geol 7:00 & 9:00 Sat 10 Richard Pryor Live In Concert 150 Geol 7:30 & 9:00 Sun 11 A Slave of Love 180 PLC 7:00 & 9:00 Thurs 15 I Claudius (1 & 2) 150 Geol 8:00 Fri 16 Remember My Name 180 PLC 7:00 & 9:00 Sat 17 Star Trek* EMU Ballroom 7:00 & 9:30 Sun 18 KeetjeTippel 180 PLC 7:00 & 9:00 Thurs 22 I Claudius (3 & 4) 177 Law 8:00 Fri 23 Time After Time 150 Geol 7:00 & 9:15 Sun 25 The Lacemaker 180 PLC 7:00 & 9:00 Thurs 29 I Claudius (5 & 6) 177 Law 8:00 Fri 30 Nosferatu 150 Geol 7:00 & 9:00 Sat 31 Agatha 150 Geol 7:00 & 9:00 FEBRUARY Sun 1 Lumiere 180 PLC 7:00 & 9:00 Thurs 5 I Claudius (7 & 8) 150 Geol 8:00 Fri 6 Luna 150 Geol 7:00 & 10:00 Sat 7 The Rose 150 Geol 7:00 & 9:45 Sun 8 Summer Paradise 180 PLC 7:00 & 9:00 Thurs 12 I Claudius (9 & 10) 150 Geol 8:00 Fri 13 Romeo and Juliet 150 Geol 7:00 & 9:45 Sun 15 Women 180 PLC 7:00 & 9:00 Thurs 19 I Claudius (11,12,13) 150 Geol 7:30 Fri 20 Peppermint Soda 150 Geol 7:00 & 9:00 Sat 21 The Seduction of Joe Tynan 150 Geol 7:00 & 9:00 Sun 22 My Brilliant Career 150 Geol 7:00 & 9:00 Fri 27 All That Jazz 150 Geol 7:00 & 9:30 MARCH Sun 1 La Salamandre 180 PLC 7:00 & 9:30 Fri 6 The Tin Drum 180 PLC 7:00 & 9:30 Sat 7 Gilda Live 150 Geol 7:00 & 9:00 Sun 8 The Apple War 180 PLC 7:00 4 9:00 Fri 13 Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex 150 Geol 7:00 4 9:00 Sat 14 No Nukes EMU Ballroom 7:00 4 9:00 Admission-$1.25 * Indicates 75 cent tickets available for children under 12 years of age Page 7 CLIP 4 SAVE
