The plastic is back..but not for long!

Pictured above is the new "InTeleR" desk, being fitted with the latest computers and technology.

While most folks are away on winter break, Library renovations have temporarily resumed! Improvements being made include the following:

• The InTeLeR (Interactive Teaching, Learning and Research) desk will be completed and opened at the Support Station.
• The 2nd floor carpeting will be completed.
• The remainder of Quiet-Zone signs will be hung around the periphery.
• Furniture will be rearranged to facilitate Quiet-Zone tables and carrels, with most soft seating surrounding the atrium.
• The computer tables will be cored for more effective running of cables.
• The ground floor will be outfitted with a bit more furniture.
• Three new HP 9000 printers will be installed on the 1st and 2nd floors.
• The ground floor will be outfitted with a bit more furniture.

Did you know that a portion of these renovations are being funded by a $150,000 grant from the Champlin Foundation? An important goal of the Foundation is to fund organizations that will have the greatest impact on the broadest possible segment of the population. Another goal is to provide “hands on” equipment and facilities for those being served by these organizations. The PC community is grateful to the Foundation for the new computers, new furniture and improved accessibility to materials on the second floor!

Sports Cartoons from the Providence Journal: The Frank Lanning Collection

Frank Lanning spent 46 years as a legendary sports
cartoonist for the Providence Journal, from 1937 to 1982.
Many of his cartoons and drawings centered around the
Rhode Island college community in general, and Providence
College in particular. Over the years, Mr. Lanning donated
many of these drawings to PC, where they have remained boxed in the Library archives.

Recently, however, they have been scanned and organized into an online digital collection which has been made available for viewing. You can get more information about Mr. Lanning and the collection, and view all 80 images, here.

Old-timey photos of Providence: The John O Pastore Photograph Album

"Board of Trade" - downtown Providence in 1883

For those of you interested in viewing photographs of downtown Providence from a by-gone era, check out the new online digital collection on the Special and Archival Collections webpage:

The Sentor John O. Pastore Photograph Album

Pastore, who was Governor and then United States Senator from 1945 through 1976, donated his papers to Providence College at the end of his political career. Included among the donated items was a photograph album of late 19th and early 20th century images. It is this album which is now available for viewing here.

..and be sure to visit other Digital Projects from Special and Archival Collections at http://www.providence.edu/Archives/Digital+Projects.htm

Providence College September 11th Memorial

Flags arranged to spell “9-11″.

Alternate shot of flags spelling out “9-11″.

A large grouping of flags on the green.

Close-up of flags and poster.

Alternate shot of flags on the green.

Welcome back! But don’t forget your hardhat!

Renovations continue at the library.....

It’s been a busy summer in and around the library, with all the construction — but no, you don’t actually need a hardhat. Outside the library, you’ll see the beautiful new granite-and-brick walkway, as well as new landscaping, lights and expanded parking area.

Inside the library, however, the second floor renovation is still ongoing, and the renovation schedule has been adjusted. Here’s what you need to know, per our Director, D. Russell Bailey:

As we approach the beginning of the academic year, I want to update you on the availability of library resources for faculty and students in light of the ongoing library renovation. As is common with renovation projects, the timeline has been somewhat adjusted.

Still, faculty and students will find good access to all needed information.

All of our journals (over 35,000 titles) and 2/3 of our books (over 240,000 titles) remain unaffected by the renovation.

The new shelving (for about one-third of our collection, DR441.E75 through PR5908.025) is not yet ready for the books.

However, over 75% of these books are available (within a couple of days) from other HELIN libraries.

The first and basement floors of the library remain open and available for use. Make sure you check out the newly replaced computers!

We thank you for your patience during the renovations. Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions or issues about the library’s resources:

Reference Desk: 401-865-2581 reference@providence.edu

Inter-library Loan: 401-865-2582 ILL@providence.edu

We will gladly assist you in getting the materials you need.

“Inti” Journal launched on Digital Commons website

We’ve recently finished scanning and uploading the first issue of the Hispanic literature journal, Inti.

Providence College Professor Roger Carmosino has published this journal
continuously since 1974. Named for the Incan Sun god, Inti is a collection of Hispanic literature reviews, short stories, poems, interviews, and other works. We will continue to scan and upload previous issues of Inti in conjunction with our other ongoing journal project, The Prose Poem.

Please check out the new addition at http://digitalcommons.providence.edu/inti/ . Don’t worry if you can’t read Spanish – take a look at the page design, which partially mirrors the layout of the upcoming version of BEpress’s Digital Commons product.

Goodbye 1970, hello 2008! Library renovation begins

Pictured here is a truckload of broken and obsolete furniture being removed from the upper floor of the library, as renovation begins. Already, the effects of the construction can be seen on the first floor, as the “Pit” has been enclosed in protective plastic to keep dust out.

We’ll be regularly uploading pictures to the Library Commons Flickr account, so everyone can watch the progress. Check back often to see how it’s going!

Library renovation to begin soon!

Have you been wondering when the Library’s second floor will be renovated? Well, wonder no longer– construction is set to begin around May 19th and continue through the summer.

From our director, Dr. D. Russell Bailey, here’s a summary of what will be changed:

About 70% of the public space on the second floor, southern end will be involved in the renovation..

The ranges of book shelves at the southern side (Eaton Avenue side) and eastern side (chapel side) will be replaced with modified compact shelving, providing additional book capacity. The collection from those two ranges of book shelves will remain as before on the second floor and be available following the renovation transition period.

The plaza in front of the library will also be renovated over the summer, but access to the library should continue without interruption.

As can be expected, we’ll have to be patient and deal with some minor inconveniences as the work progresses. In particular, the following portions of PC’s 2nd-floor circulating collection will be affected and unavailable during much of the renovation :

DR441/E75/1969 – HX/314/T676/1973 – south, Eaton St. side shelf ranges
HX/315.5/A6/H6 – PR/5908/025/F5 – east, St. Dominic Chapel side shelf ranges

These call numbers include the following subject areas:

Asian & African history
South American history
American history
All of the social sciences
Political science
Law
Education
Music
Fine arts
Romance languages & literatures
Oriental languages & literatures
Classical languages & literatures
English language and literature (partially)

The remainder of the circulating collection should be accessible without interruption.

PC patrons may continue to request and receive books from all HELIN libraries and via interlibrary loan.

Please contact library staff with questions or needs during this period.

Before you go…Don’t Forget to Return Library Books

Just a reminder to all students to return any library books before you head home for the summer. Library overdue notices go out automatically by email, so if you have received any notices from us about overdue books, please take a final look around your dorm as you are packing up. Library hours thru the remainder of the semester:

Thursday, May 8	8:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Friday, May 9	8:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Saturday, May 10	8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 11	9:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Monday, May 12	8:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Tuesday, May 13	8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Photos from “Prose Poem Journal” Launch event uploaded to flickr

Check out the Library’s flickr page for photos from last week’s
“The Prose Poem: An International Journal” Launch event.

Click here to view the flickr photostream

The image at right is Providence College English Professor Peter Johnson, explaining the origins of this acclaimed journal to the audience gathered at the Library.