A quiet week...

It's a quiet week here, with finals over last week and the semester done. We are open though, and welcome you to stop by. Check our hours here. Among other news is that two long time staff members are retiring, Bob Gilliam and Linda Pickering. Many of you will know Bob from his years of interlibrary loan service. Linda worked in our technical services area. We wish them well!

Best Holiday Wishes!

All of us here at Drake Library wish you the best for the holiday season, and look forward to seeing many of you back here for the Spring 2009 semester. We are still open, even though it has gotten rather quiet in here this Thursday evening :-)

Tomorrow, Friday 12/12, we close at 4:45pm, and are closed all weekend. Monday through Friday next week we are open 8am to 4:45pm, and then are closed for the next two weeks. You can always check our hours online.

(Pictured here are Brockport students singing in the Christmas Vespers program of 1964.)

First computer mouse

For a little break from the stress of finals week, have a look at this YouTube link , showing the first ever demo of the computer mouse, from 1968! Pictured here is that first mouse; it was a block of wood with two wheels, and had a wire running out of the back. The wire looked like a tail to the researchers, and that's where the name "mouse" came from.

Public library - digital book downloading

Academic and public libraries have different missions, and sometimes they are able to offer something the other doesn't have. For example, the public libraries don't have anything like the extensive lineup of online article databases we have. On the other hand, public library systems in NY are now offering collections of online digital books that you can download. Here is the link for the local Monroe County system page for example. Download a few books to your iPod to read over break!

Last week of classes!

Yes, it's the last week of classes and everyone is busy. Here's a few suggestions and links to help you through this week and next!

The library is open our regular extensive hours, right through next week, when we close Friday, 12/12, at 4:45pm.

It takes energy to research and write papers, and the Aerie Cafe in the library is there to help keep you going!

As always, if you need help, don't hesitate to ask us, we are glad to be of assistance.

Amazing online article and book site!

The Cornell Digital Library is an amazing collection of articles, books, photographs and more. For example, if you click on the Making of America link, you can view and print articles from many 19th century publications, like the Atlantic Monthly, 1857-1901. If you're a Civil War researcher, you might be interested in searching the multivolume set of the War of the Rebellion, the official records of the Union and Confederate armies, the entire set online.

There is so much more, the site is well worth a visit. If you want to look for other such sites, consider a google search, or have a look at our Primary Sources guide. (Pictured here is Cornell's library ca. 1920.)

Welcome Back!

We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving break, and look forward to helping you through these last two weeks of the semester. We're open regular hours again, and are ready to answer any questions you may have.