News

During the summer months, two previously separate collections in the Parks Library--Maps and Microforms--will be merged with the existing Reserve & Media collections to form a unified "Media Center" with a single service desk. The Media Center will be housed on the lower level of Parks Library, in the space currently occupied by Reserve & Media Services. By fall 2008, the new center will have expanded hours and will offer improved public access to maps, microforms, audio-visual media (CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, etc.) and "hard-copy" course reserve material (books and other physical formats).

A move of this size (3.5 million microforms, and over 100,000 maps and aerial photos) will take some time and produce some minor service interruptions. Please note the following:

MICROFORM collections & services:

• May 9-June 22, the Microforms Center will maintain reduced hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. only) in its current location (Floor 1, Room 140).
• June 23-27, the Microforms Center will be closed, as collections are physically transferred. If you have urgent need for an item from the Microforms Collection during this time, contact Lisa Gilbert at (515) 294-8436 or (515) 294-0438, leaving a voice mail if necessary. Equipment to read microfilm and microfiche will be available in the Media Center during this time, but copying/scanning equipment and services will not be available. If the required item cannot be located or accessed, you may be referred to the Library's Interlibrary Loan service.
• On Monday, June 30, the Microforms Collection and the full array of microforms-related services will be available in the Media Center (Lower Level, Room 2).

MAP collections & services:

• May 9-June 29, the Map Room will maintain reduced hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. only) in its current location (Floor 2, Room 281).
• June 30-July 3, the Map Room will be closed, as collections are physically transferred. If you have urgent need for an item from the Map Collection during this time, contact Steve Shuman at (515) 294-3956, leaving a voice mail if necessary. If the item cannot be located or accessed, you may be referred to the Library's Interlibrary Loan service.
• On Monday, July 7, the Map Collection and the full array of map-related services will be available in the Media Center (Lower Level, Room 2).

MEDIA collections & services:

• The Media Center will continue to undergo renovation in May and June, producing some noise and dust; and individual collections (CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, etc.) will move internally within the room. However, we anticipate no closings or service interruptions.

RESERVE collections & services:

• The Library's small collection of "hard copy" course reserve materials, consisting of books, DVDs, and other physical formats, will continue to be housed in the Media Center. (Of course, the vast majority of course reserve material is available online, via the e-Library.) However, staff who process Course Reserve lists will no longer be housed in the Media Center. Instead, they will be part of the Instruction Department, with offices in the area formerly occupied by the Microforms Center (Floor 1, Room 140). Please see the related announcement, New home for Library Instruction Department.
• Request forms and/or physical items to be placed on reserve can continue to be dropped off at the Media Center. However, from May 5 through May 8, if you need to consult with Reserve Processing staff, please contact them by email (preferably) or by phone, as they will be in the process of moving offices. From May 9 through June 20, Reserve Processing staff will share office quarters with Microforms staff in the Microforms Center (Floor 1, Room 140). To contact Reserve Processing staff, please email ereserve@iastate.edu or call (515) 294-4958.

Questions or comments about the overall merger of these services points or related issues can be directed to David Gregory, Associate Dean for Research & Access, (515) 294-0447, dgregory@iastate.edu.