Eckles Library

Why Are These Students Smiling?

2007-05-08T01:37:00.000-05:00

They are smiling because they are about to enjoy a delicious midnight snack! Thanks to all of you weary finals-takers who came to Eckles tonight to enjoy a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a fluffernutter or just some chocolate milk. We hope this snack will sustain you through the long hours of studying ahead.

How About a Midnight Snack?

2007-05-07T01:21:00.000-05:00

Come to Eckles tonight at 11:30pm for a tasty midnight snack. We'll have all the fixins for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as well as milk and cookies. And because we know how important good brain food is for studying, there will be marshmallow fluff and chocolate sauce too! It is gonna be delicious.

Eckles Goes 24 Hour

2007-05-06T00:47:00.000-05:00

Whether you need to study at 4pm or 4am - you can do it at Eckles this week. That's right! From Sunday at 11am until Friday at 9pm ECKLES WON'T CLOSE. Free coffee at 5am? Oh yeah! It is everything you've dreamed of and more!

It's Free Coffee & Snacks Time Again!

2007-05-05T00:28:00.000-05:00

It's finals and you've got a lot of studying ahead of you, so to help out Eckles is offering FREE Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Cappucino, Hot Tea and Snacks in the 2nd floor student lounge. Free stuff is available anytime we are open from now until Tuesday, May 15th. Enjoy!

Last Chance to Distinguish Yourself!

2007-05-04T00:18:00.000-05:00

This is it, Freshmen! This is your last chance to submit your research paper for The Eckles Prize for Freshman Research Excellence. Don't miss out on our fabulous prize - Your choice of ONE of the following:

$250 Gift Certificate to JetBlue OR
30 GB iPod OR
$250 iTunes Gift card

Applications are due by 11:59PM TONIGHT! Submissions can be delivered to the Eckles Library service desk or emailed to eckles@gwu.edu.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to impress your friends and family while winning a fabulous prize!

What a House Party It Was!

2007-05-02T10:09:00.000-05:00

President Trachtenberg poses for a photo with his cut out.

It was quite the blowout last night at SJT's House Party! Everyone who experienced the awesomeness that was the confetti canons will remember it forever. Even those who didn't see it live will remember it a good long time while watching it biodegrade into the grass all over the Vern. Thanks to SJT for retiring so we could have this excellent party in his honor!

These students were ready for a house party!

Are You Ready to Par-tae? (for real this time)

2007-04-30T14:17:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow night is your chance to party with SJT! Don't miss the blowout, which concludes with a massive gathering on the Mount Vernon Quad. This is your chance to send SJT out with style while enjoying food and fun and a free t-shirt. I know it will be hard for you to leave the cozy happiness that is Eckles, but it is just for a few hours and then you can come back to you favorite study spot!

You can find out more about about the House Party here: gwired.gwu.edu/gwhousing/SJTsHouseParty/

Happy Fountain Day!

2007-04-29T11:25:00.000-05:00

Fountain Day was fun for all! The weather was (almost) perfect, the music was good and the Paradise ice cream was extra delicious. Congratulations to all of the hard working people who planned and executed such a great event!

In case you missed it (and I feel sad for you if you did), here are a few photos to help you feel the Vern love!

No one was more excited about "the re-spoutin of the fountain" than the Mount Vernon Campus Life staff.

GW band Jukebox the Ghost were awesome! I knew I was going to love them when the keyboard player came on stage in a t-shirt that said, "J Street Stole My lunch Money."

Students enjoying Ben Kweller (and some serious Vern love) on the Quad.

Just One Week!

2007-04-27T11:10:00.000-05:00

You have just one more week to distinguish yourself! Submission for the Eckles Prize must be received by Friday, May 4th.

Click on the "The Eckles Prize" on the menu to the left for more information, including the submission application.

Come on...you know you want a new iPod!

All Your Dreams Come True !

2007-04-26T13:19:00.000-05:00

Who among us hasn't dreamed of watching the sun rise gracefully over the Vern from the 3rd floor windows, while sipping delicious free coffee??

Now, this delight will be available to you for an entire week! That's right

Eckles Library is going 24 hour!!

From our 11am opening on Sunday, May 6th until the 9pm closing on Friday, May 11th, the Library building will not close.

As if that weren't exciting enough, Eckles will continue the tradition of offering free coffee and snacks from May 3rd until May 15th. To celebrate our 24 hourness Eckles will also host 2 Midnight Study Breaks featuring make-your-own PB&J sandwiches and milk.

Wow...Eckles really rocks.

Genocide Book Display

2007-04-25T13:47:00.000-05:00

April 6th marked the 13th anniversary of the beginning of the genocide in Rwanda. All of the news coverage of the anniversary, as well as the ongoing situation in Darfur made me think about the concept genocide...and our latest book display was born. Check out a few of the many interesting titles on display:

East Timor: Genocide in Paradise
by Matthew Jardine
"In 1975, after centuries of Portuguese rule, tiny East Timor - population 700,000 - declared its independence. Nine days later, Indonesia - current population 200 million+ - invaded. Since that day, well over 200,000 East Timorese have died...yet Indonesia's actions are supported diplomatically and economically, by the US and most other western countries."

The Bridge Betrayed: Religion and Genocide in Bosnia
by Michael A. Sells
"The Bridge Betrayed reveals the crucial role of the religious mythology of Kosovo in the destruction of Yugoslavia and the genocide in Bosnia."

Hotel Rwanda
Okay, it's not a book and it is not on the display, but it is available as an Eckles Flix DVD. Hotel Rwanda is the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager in the Rwandan capital of Kigali who in 1994 saved 1,200 Rwandan "guests" from certain death during the genocidal clash between tribal Hutus, who slaughtered a million victims, and the horrified Tutsis, who found safe haven or died.

Tuesday's Tip

2007-04-24T11:29:00.000-05:00

So, while you should be busy getting ready for finals, you're probably also trying to figure out what to do with your summer. Well, here are a few resources that will make your search easier:

Finding a job or internship:
GW Career Center: gwired.gwu.edu/career/StudentsAlumni/skills/Consulting/

Job Resources:
www.idealist.org
www.summerjobs.com/
www.coolworks.com/
www.studentjobs.gov

Preparing your resume:
Electronic Books (Just search for these titles in the ALADIN Catalog):
Resumes for College Students and Recent Graduates
The Resume Makeover 50 Common Problems with Resumes and Cover Letters by John J. Marcus

Web Resources:
Writing a Resume: www.csuchico.edu/plc/resume.html

GW Career Center Career Resources:
gwired.gwu.edu/career/CareerResources/

Getting ready for the interview:
Web Resources:
Successful Interviews: www.csuchico.edu/plc/interview.html
Interviewing Tips: www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/students/resources/interviewing.htm

So you could travel to a far away, exotic land to help a thirsty community build a much needed water well or you could roll up your sleeves in your own community. My main point is that you should get off your parent's couch this summer and do something!

Next week . . . study tips for those final exams.

Cutest Baby EVER!

2007-04-23T11:42:00.000-05:00

In case you haven't met her, this is Annasophia. She is the official baby of Eckles Library and isn't she the cutest baby ever? No need to even ask - of course she is!

That other lovely lady in the photo is Sarah. In addition to being the best damn Reference Librarian this side of M Street, she is also Annasophia's mother.

Alternative Spring Break Reception

2007-04-21T11:33:00.000-05:00

Friday night Eckles hosted a reception and special viewing of the New Orleans 2007 photo exhibit. It seems like the entire Alternative Spring Break crew showed up to eat some tasty beignets and discuss the photos and their experiences in New Orleans. A good time was had by all!

Eckles is always looking for new and interesting student exhibits for the gallery wall. If you have some artwork you think should be seen, please email us at eckles@gwu.edu!

UW20 Posters

2007-04-20T12:08:00.000-05:00

Come into Eckles this weekend to check out some outstanding research done by students in the University Writing and Research Program. As part of the UW20 Symposium, Eckles is hosting an open poster session on Saturday, April 21 at 1pm. This will be a public session to view the posters and for the students to discuss their work.

If you miss the poster session you can still view the posters in the Eckles 1st floor study room through Friday, April 27th.

Mmmm...Beignets!

2007-04-19T11:48:00.000-05:00

Friday at 6pm, Eckles is having a reception and special viewing for the Alternative Spring Break photo diary, New Orleans 2007. I know many of you have already been through the exhibit and you may be wondering why you should plan to attend this reception. Well, I can sum it up in one word:

Beignets!

That is right! This reception will feature beignets and coffee, a real New Orleans favorite! You might ask, "What is a beignet?" It can only be described as a square, fried, powdered-sugar coated piece of heavenly deliciousness. And if you have to ask, you need to come to Eckles on Friday night to try some!

Announcing the Eckles Prize for Freshman Research Excellence!

2007-04-17T17:09:00.000-05:00

Freshmen students are encouraged to submit a research project of any length or format, along with a one page essay summarizing how they used library resources to complete the project. Students should submit only one project that reflects their best work of the year.

The winner will select one from the following prizes:
$250 Gift Certificate to JetBlue
OR
30 GB iPod
OR
$250 iTunes Gift card

All submissions must include:
Application Cover Sheet - Due May 4, 2007
Research Project - Due May 4, 2007
Research Essay - Due May 4, 2007
Faculty Support Form - Due May 11, 2007

Submissions can be delivered to the Eckles Library service desk or emailed to eckles@gwu.edu. Email submissions should include all of the above information.
The winning project and research essay will be made available to the public.

The Application Cover Sheet and Faculty Support Form will be available from this site later this week as will a complete Selection Criteria Matrix. If you have any questions please contact Sarah Palacios Wilhelm at palacios@gwu.edu.

Par-tae in the House!

2007-04-13T15:05:00.000-05:00

Have you heard about SJT's House Party? It's going to be quite the blowout and it concludes with a massive gathering on the Mount Vernon Quad. Don't miss your chance to send SJT out with style while enjoying food and fun and a free t-shirt. I know it will be hard for you to leave the cozy happiness that is Eckles, but it is just for a few hours and then you can come back to you favorite study spot!

You can find out more about about the House Party here: gwired.gwu.edu/gwhousing/SJTsHouseParty/

Tuesday's Tip

2007-04-10T15:27:00.000-05:00

Those final paper due dates are looming and hopefully you've already started tracking down your resources. But, how would you like to refine your skills and boost your results? Lucky for you, we've got your back. You can find strategies for finding books and articles here:

Books: http://www.gwu.edu/gelman/catalog/tutorial/
Articles: http://www.gwu.edu/gelman/database/articles/

Of course, you could always IM EcklesInfo or GelmanInfo...

New Orleans Book Display

2007-04-09T16:07:00.000-05:00

It is hard to walk away from the powerful exhibit of photographs taken in New Orleans by the participants in this year's Alternative Spring Break and not have some questions about Hurricane Katrina and it's aftermath. We've brought together a few books for a book display about New Orleans' past, the impact of Katrina and plans for the future. Here are a few I thought looked the most interesting:

Stormy Weather: Katrina and the Politics of Disposability
by Henry Giroux
In his newest provocative book, prominent social critic Henry A. Giroux shows how the tragedy and suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina signals a much larger crisis in the United States. Questions regarding who is going to die and who is going to live are driving a new form of authoritarianism in the United States. Within this form of “dirty democracy” a new and more insidious set of forces – embedded in our global economy – have largely given up on the sanctity of human life, rendering some groups as disposable and privileging others. Giroux offers up a vision of hope that creates the conditions for multiple collective and global struggles that refuse to use politics as an act of war and markets as the measure of democracy.

New Orleans: Playing a Jazz Chorus
by Samuel Charters
In December 1950, Samuel Charters first journeyed to New Orleans in search of its jazz sources and its musicians. In December 2005, he returned to his beloved city to find what still was left of this musical heritage after the catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina.
In this highly personal portrait, Charters decribes staying with his son's family in their small, temporary apartment, as he explores the new music scene in the undamaged French Quarter and revisits old haunts like the celebrated Preservation Hall.
Amid the inevitable destruction and chaos, he found hope. Clarinet player Pete Fountain sums up the feelings of many fo the New Orleans musicians, old and new: 'I have two of my best clarinets. I can still toot.'

Federal Disaster Programs and Hurricane Katrina
Editor: Douglas D Syzerhans
Preface: Federal disaster programs kind of sit there and gather moss after all the expenses of running the government agencies responsible for rendering assistance to the disaster victims are spent on staff salaries, computers, travel and all the accompaniments of perceived power. Hopefully there will be no disasters. Otherwise, let them be small disasters which might not inturrupt lunch. In the case of Hurricane Katrina, the federal disaster programs were themselves disasters which were limp responses to the thousands dead, hundreds of thousands homeless and entire sectors of America destroyed. This new book tries to examine the initial disaster programs, recovery disaster programs designed to cover-up for the initial flaws and the programs planned to prevent more disastrous disaster programs.

Wow...that was fast!

2007-04-06T22:29:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the quick work of your faithful Eckles Crew, 35 new movies are sitting on the shelf just waiting for you to check them out. Hurry in and be the first in your residence hall to see them!

Alternative Spring Break Exhibit

2007-04-05T15:35:00.000-05:00

Do you wonder what New Orleans looks like today, more than 18 months after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita? Well, parts of it look like this:

And like this:

But thanks to the hard work of 45 GW students from Alternative Spring Break and the good people of Habitat for Humanity, parts of it also look like this:

Come in to the First Floor Gallery space at Eckles Library and view more of the extraordinary photographs of New Orleans taken by the participants in Alternative Spring Break!

Tuesday's Tip

2007-04-03T19:08:00.000-05:00

Did you know that you can customize Google Scholar? Wait, let me back up - did you know there was a Google Scholar search engine? Google Scholar (www.scholar.google.com) allows you to search through scholarly literature, including peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, abstracts and articles, and professional literature. Now, there are limitations to Google Scholar, the main one being that you don't always have full access to the information you find on Google Scholar. However, you can customize Google Scholar to include the resources available to you through Gelman to maximize your search power. Here's how:

Go to www.scholar.google.com
Select *Scholar Preferences* (to the right of the search box)
In the *Library Links* section, search for *George Washington
University* and add GW to your library links

** Bonus Tip: In the *Bibliography Manager* section you can also
set Google Scholar to export to bibliographic management software, such
as Refworks or Endnote.**

Now select *Save Preferences*

Now every time you use Google Scholar you will notice a "FindIt@GWU Libraries" link. Select this link to see if you have access through Gelman Library and then, when possible, Google Scholar will link you directly to the resource. However, don't let this be the starting and ending points of all of your research, if you can't find something find a librarian! We've got special research powers, if its out there we'll help you track it down.

ttyl - Sarah

Voting is Done!

2007-03-30T21:00:00.000-05:00

The voting is finished, the votes have been tabulated and I have ordered the new Eckles Flix! As promised, below is a list of the DVDs I ordered and which will soon be added to the collection.

PLEASE NOTE: It will take 2-3 week to get the DVDs in and get them ready for circulation. Also, several of these are pre-orders (meaning the DVDs have not been released yet) so they won't be available for a bit longer.

24 (Seasons 1-5)
The 40 Year Old Virgin
An Inconvenient Truth
Apocalypto
Babel
Blood Diamond
Borat
Brokeback Mountain
Casablanca
Casino Royale (2006)
Children of Men
The Constant Gardener
The DaVinci Code
The Departed
The Devil Wears Prada
Dreamgirls
Finding Neverland
The Godfather
Godfather, Part II
Godfather, Part III
Gone With the Wind
Grease
Grey’s Anatomy (Season 1)
Grey's Anatomy (Season 2)
Happy Feet
Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle
The Holiday
Hotel Rwanda
The Illusionist
The Incredibles
The Last King of Scotland
The Little Mermaid
Little Miss Sunshine
Lord of War
Lost (Season 1)
Lost (Season 2)
Love Actually
Marie Antionette
Mr Smith Goes to Washington
Night at the Museum
The Notebook
Notes on a Scandal
Pan’s Labrynth
Pleasantville
The Pursuit of Happyness
Rent
Sideways
The Sound of Music
Stranger than Fiction
Syriana
Talladega Nights – The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Thank You for Smoking
V for Vendetta
Volver
Walk the Line

Wondering What is Winning?

2007-03-28T10:59:00.000-05:00

Don't forget to vote for the new Eckles Flix! Voting ends Friday, March 30th. That is only 2 days away so HURRY to the Eckles Circulation Desk to get your ballot today!

Here are the current films that have been chosen on at least 10% of ballots:

Little Miss Sunshine
Borat
Thank You for Smoking
Hotel Rwanda
Casino Royale (2006)
Pan’s Labrynth
The 40 Year Old Virgin
Grey’s Anatomy (Season 2)
An Inconvenient Truth
Casablanca
The Departed
The Devil Wears Prada
Grey's Anatomy (Season 1)
Talladega Nights – The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Babel
Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle
V for Vendetta
Walk the Line
The Illusionist
The Incredibles
The Last King of Scotland
The Little Mermaid
The Pursuit of Happyness
Blood Diamond
Brokeback Mountain
The Godfather
Happy Feet
Rent

Seriously?

2007-03-27T09:44:00.000-05:00

Here at Eckles we work very hard to provide you with a clean, comfortable place to study. When you ask for it (like cheap coffee, a student lounge, expanded hours, etc.) we try our hardest to make it happen.

Not to sound like an after-school special or anything, but it just takes a few people to ruin that for everyone else. The picture to the right is of the student lounge this morning. Puzzle pieces were thrown around the room and piles of books were on the floor.

We have a finite amount of time and money at out disposal. The time we spend cleaning up this mess is time we don't spend helping another student. The money we spend replacing damaged books is money we don't spend on new Eckles Flix or snacks at finals. Think about what you'd rather have when you see someone damaging library property.

Enough said. End of lecture.

Tuesday's Tip

2007-03-27T08:00:00.000-05:00

What’s up with WRLC??

Libraries are infamous harborers of acronyms. Librarians like to make them up and then toss them around at our important meetings; this however, does you little good. WRLC is one term you may see when searching the ALADIN catalog or hear when speaking to library types. WRLC stands for Washington Research Library Consortium. The consortium is made up of eight schools: GW, American University, Catholic University, George Mason University, Georgetown University, Marymount University, and University of the District of Columbia. What does that mean to you? Well, it means you can borrow the millions of books located at any of these area universities. You can request items using the Consortium Loan Service (CLS - see previous post). You can also walk into each of the libraries and borrow the item directly using your Gworld card.

Find out more about using CLS here: http://www.gwu.edu/gelman/service/circulation/cls/

Your friendly librarian,
Sarah

Agents of Change

2007-03-26T13:08:00.000-05:00

This Friday, March 30th, the 2007 Women's Leadership Conference (gwired.gwu.edu/wlc) will take place on the Mount Vernon Campus. The conference celebrates women who have taken leadership roles. We thought that was a pretty good thing to celebrate, so we put up a book display highlighting a few of the women leaders throughout history who have inspired us.

Here are just a few of the books you might find interesting:

African American Women in Congress: Forming and Transforming History
by Laverne McCain Gill

Shirley Chisholm rocks my world. In 1968 she became the first African American woman elected to Congress. Four years later she became the first African American woman to run for president, running with the slogan, "Unbossed and Unbought." This book chronicles her life and and the lives of 14 other trailblazing women who have served in the House and Senate.

We Were Making History: Women and the Telangana Uprising
by Stree Shakti Sanghatana
From the back: The Telangana struggle (1948-51) against the feudal overlords in the princely state of Hyderabad, and later against the Indian army itself, is now legendary. These interviews tell of women who left behind a life of the household to learn a life of activism: hiding from the police, fighting and facing the death of comrades. The excitement of working in a resistance movement is clear, but also the bitterness of being told to go back to the kitchen once the struggle ended.

Rachel Carson: Witness for Nature
by Linda Lear
From the back: Rachel Carson's Silent Spring did more than any single publication or event to alert the world to the hazards of environmental poisoning. Linda Lear gives a compelling portrait of this heroic woman, illuminating the origin of her connection with nature and of her determination to save what she loved.

A Note on the Vote

2007-03-26T12:39:00.000-05:00

Don't forget to cast your vote for the new Eckles Flix! You can pick up your official ballot at the Eckles Circulation Desk. Voting ends March 30th (this Friday) so don't delay!

Unofficial Voting Results
We have a NEW Hands Down Favorite today:
Casino Royale

Little Miss Sunshine is now tied with Borat for second place.

As Confusing as a Palm Beach Ballot? I think not.
At least one person has had a small problem completing the Official Eckles Flix Ballot properly. Where the ballot says to circle 10 choices, they chose 22. Just so everything stays above-board, I wanted to let you know how this situation was handled.

Since the ballots are anonymous, I can't just contact the voter and ask them to choose ten. Therefore, I am picking the ten choices I like best out of their 22 and counting those. If you can think of a better and/or more fair way to handle this situation I would be happy discuss it. The best bet, however, is only to vote for 10.

The Race Is On

2007-03-25T15:41:00.000-05:00

It seems like everyone is excited about the new Eckles Flix! In only two days of voting, we have received many, many ballots. Here is a brief update on the voting so far:

Hands Down Favorite:
Little Miss Sunshine
*So popular that on a ballot with 188 choices, it has still managed to be selected by 34% of voters.

Next Top 20:
Borat
Brokeback Mountain
Casino Royale
The Devil Wears Prada
The Last King of Scotland
The 40 Year Old Virgin
Babel
Deja Vu
Hotel Rwanda
Talladega Nights
Thank You for Smoking
Sex and the City (Season 6)
The Departed
Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle
Pan's Labrynth
Syriana
V for Vendetta
Walk the Line
X-Men - The Last Stand
Sex and the City (Season 5)

Write-In Votes:
Airplane
Blow
Desperate Housewives (Season 2)
Sex and the City (Season 4)
Sex and the City (Season 5)
Sex and the City (Season 6)
So I Married an Axe Murderer

Vote for Flix!

2007-03-23T12:34:00.000-05:00

We're adding new flix to the Eckles Flix collection and we need your help!

Come to the Eckles Circulation Desk and pick up a ballot to vote for the DVDs you think we should buy for the collection. You get ten choices PLUS you can write in anything you think we missed.

We will tabulate all the votes and choose approximately 50 DVDs to purchase by the end of the semester. Winners will be announced right here!

Voting ends March 30th, so hurry in and cast your ballot!

Brand New and Just For You!

2007-03-21T10:55:00.000-05:00

Every once in a while something happens that gets us library nerds all a-twitter. We get NEW BOOKS. And how we love them...all shiny, spines unbroken, free from coffee stains and those faint pencil marks that you think we don't notice but we do.

In the last month, we've been bursting with happiness over the arrival of 100+ beautiful new books on a wide array of subjects. Below are a few I thought you'd find especially interesting:

Mechademia 1: Emerging worlds of Anime and Manga
Frenchy Lunning, Editor

From the back: "Mechademia 1 is a juicy compendium that casts a wide net over the worlds on manga and anime. It is a beautiful, lively book with something for the otaku in all of us."

I don't know what that means, but it seems pretty good.

The Cutting Edge of Wallpaper
Cigalle Hanaor, Editor

Stunningly beautiful photographs of the most amazing, crazy, hip, funky and downright trippy wallpaper you have ever seen. Also, I think there are words. The Eckles staff has spent some serious time flipping through this book.

Inside the Jihad: My Life with Al Qaeda (A Spy's Story)
Omar Nasiri

From the back: "A chillingly detailed portrait of life inside the Afghan training camps. Omar Nasiri's memoir offers a unique insider's perspective on the crucial years during which a loosely connected group of regional Islamist movements coalesced into Al Qaeda's global jihad."

Spring Has Sprung

2007-03-21T09:32:00.000-05:00

Happy first day of Spring!

Let us all remember what Emily Dickinson has to say:

A little madness in the Spring
Is wholesome even for the King,
But God be with the Clown,
Who ponders this tremendous scene—
This whole experiment of green,
As if it were his own!

Part Five: The Single Hound
from The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson

Tuesday's Tip

2007-03-20T10:28:00.000-05:00

Hey! Welcome back from Spring Break. I’ve just returned from sunny Florida myself. Upon my return to DC I was rudely greeted by 36 degree weather, which made me seriously reexamine why I got on the return flight. Then I remembered all of my faithful readers . . . So as promised:

Decoding Call Numbers

Books on the library shelves are organized by subject, this requires a complex system of letters and numbers called call numbers. Each book in the library is assigned a call number that denotes exactly where the item belongs. Call numbers are usually found on the spine of the book or the upper left side of the face of the book. Here are some tips for finding books in the stacks (that's the cool library term for the shelves).

1. Books are shelved alphabetically (left to right) by the top letter or letters in the call number.
2. All books of the same top letter are arranged numerically by the number below.
3. All of the same number are arranged first alphabetically by the letter after the decimal point and then decimally by the number after the letter.
4. If another letter appears after the decimal number, it is also arranged first alphabetically within the previous number group and then decimally.

Here is a sample row:

B351.C3 / BC2.C3 / BC10.C3 / BC15.C3 / BC15.5.C3 / BC15.5.D331 / BC15.5.D4 / BC15.5.D4A1

***Now, the most important thing to remember: When in doubt ask a library staff member!****

Stop by the Eckles Circulation desk for a graphical representation of this information.

Your friendly librarian,
Sarah

Sweet 16

2007-03-20T09:55:00.000-05:00

The GW Women's Basketball team rocks our socks!

Last night they kicked the behinds of 4th-seeded Texas A&M (does that stand for Aim and Miss?), 59-47, to advance to the sweet 16. This is clearly awesome! I think they are going to win it all! Who is with me??

The next game will either be against North Carolina or Notre Dame and will be next Tuesday night. Go Colonials!

Welcome Back!

2007-03-19T10:15:00.000-05:00

We're glad you're back from Spring Break (even if you aren't glad to be back)! Here at Eckles it was quiet as could be. The staff just stared sullenly into the silence, counting the hours until our beloved students returned.

So spring has sprung and classes have resumed and you are back in that relentless march toward finals. You're going to want to buckle down and hit the books and we're here to help. Not only do we have books for you to hit, but we have expanded our hours even more!

From now until the end of the semester, Eckles Library will remain open until 9pm on Friday nights! Keep watching for even more expanded hours during finals.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2007-03-16T10:50:00.000-05:00

What better finale could there be to Spring Break than a robust celebration of that most frolicsome of holidays - St. Patrick's Day! Eckles will be CLOSED on Saturday, March 17th, so that the staff can be free to dye their hair green and River Dance around the fountain.

We hope you'll be celebrating too, but please, PLEASE, I beg you, don't do anything foolish! Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

*Stripes and plaid never go together - even if they are green and it is St. Paddy's Day. Everyone has a camera on their cell phone these days and your friends will never let you forget this particular fashion faux pas.

*It is physically impossible to look "cool" while River Dancing. If Michael Flatley couldn't do it with stage lights and fleet of stylists, you can't do it either.

*A shillelagh is just a big stick. If someone offers to show theirs to you, you're probably going to get beaten over the head.

Be safe! And we'll see you all on Sunday (when Eckles is back to regular hours).

Beware the Ides of March!

2007-03-15T22:25:00.000-05:00

Sadly, the GW Men's Basketball team was no match for the Ides of March...or Vanderbilt, for that matter. Our beloved Colonials lost 77-44 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament tonight.

BUT

I believe St. Patrick's Day will be a much luckier day for GW! That is the day that our 5th seeded GW women are destined to dance a leprechaun jig all over Boise State in the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. Go Colonials!

Happy Spring Break!

2007-03-12T10:32:00.000-05:00

Congratulations! You've made it through papers and tests and endless reading...and now it is time to enjoy some Spring Break!

Here are a few Spring Break tips to keep you healthy and happy:

Red skin does not look good with your red bathing suit - wear sunscreen!
Only swim within sight of a really cute lifeguard. If you need to be saved, make sure you are saved by someone hot.
When dancing on the beach, beware of sharp shells and bad music.

Just in case your Spring Break plans don't involve sunscreen and lifeguards, Eckles Library is open for your enjoyment! Come and join us for the fun and excitement you can only find in an academic library during Spring Break!

Spring Break Hours:
Mon. - Fri., March 12-16 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sat., March 17 CLOSED

We've Got Spirit. Yes We Do!

2007-03-11T22:59:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to our Men's Basketball team on their sock-rocking win over the University of Rhode Island to become the A-10 champions!

They are off to the big dance as an 11th seed! GW will face Vanderbilt on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Man's Basketball Tournament in Sacramento, CA.

Go Colonials!

The Clothesline Project

2007-03-08T14:52:00.000-05:00

Throughout the month of March, Eckles is pleased to be hosting a display of The Clothesline Project.

The Clothesline Project (CLP) is a program started on Cape Cod, MA, in 1990 to address the issue of violence against women. It is a vehicle for women affected by violence to express their emotions by decorating a shirt. They then hang the shirt on a clothesline to be viewed by others as testimony to the problem of violence against women.

Come to the first floor of Eckles Library anytime in March to see this powerful display. Don't forget to check back here for more information as the month rolls along.

The Final Days of Free Coffee

2007-03-07T08:35:00.000-05:00

We know that you're counting the hours until Spring Break and busy day dreaming about the warm sun and sandy beach...BUT there are still a few days of classes left. That means there are still a few days left of FREE COFFEE.

Just a reminder, Free Coffee hours are
Monday-Friday: 4pm - close
Saturday-Sunday: All day!

Free Coffee ends Friday, March 9th at 5pm, so get it while it's hot!

Tuesday's Tip

2007-03-06T11:21:00.000-05:00

Cryptic Terms in the Library World
The library is full of library lingo that can be difficult to decipher if you're not a permanent resident of Library World. Over the next couple of weeks I'll define and explain some of secret library code that is essential to a successful library experience.

CLS (Consortium Loan Service) - The consortium loan service allows patrons to request books from any one of GW's eight partner schools in the Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC), these include, American, Catholic, George Mason, Georgetown, Gallaudet, Marymount Trinity, and University of the District of Columbia. CLS gives you access to millions of books, so you should always find something on your topic.

You can find out more information on how to use CLS here: http://www.gwu.edu/gelman/catalog/request.html

ILL (Inter Library Loan) - ILL is a service that allows you to access materials not available thorough any of the libraries in the consortium. If you are looking for a specific title and can't find it in the ALADIN Catalog or any of the 250+ databases offered by GW, then you can submit an ILL request and the library staff will search the world over (literally the world) to find the resources you need. This service is free to GW students.

You can find out how to place an ILL request here: http://www.gwu.edu/gelman/service/interlibrary/

Next time: Decoding Call Numbers and What's Up with WRLC?
Have a great Spring Break!

Your reference librarian - Sarah

A Scrumptious Time Was Had By All!

2007-03-04T19:50:00.000-05:00

See the smiling faces in these pictures? They are smiling because they know their grades will improve by spending Sunday night at Eckles! Of course, the Chinese Food may have had something to do with it too.
Free Chinese Food night at Eckles was a smashing success! Over 150 people came in tonight to get some rice with their Reference. Thanks to everyone who came in with Reference or Writing questions and left with a belly full of Lo Mein.

Vote for Flix!

2007-03-03T15:24:00.000-05:00

Mmmm....Chinese Food!

2007-02-28T11:45:00.000-05:00

Join us this Sunday night to learn more about Sunday nights at Eckles and some
FREE CHINESE FOOD!

That's right! Delicious Chinese food and soda just for coming to the library! How cool are we?

Sunday, March 4th
Eckles Library - 1st Floor Study Room
7pm until the food is gone

Tuesday's Tip

2007-02-27T11:19:00.000-05:00

It's midterms, which means you are probably knee deep in papers to write. Well, you're gonna need some solid research to support your well-formed arguments. A great place to start your research is a research guide. Research guides provide links to relevant databases and online resources, as well as a list of print resource related to a topic area. Each guide is put together by a librarian who specializes in the subject area, so you can be sure that you're getting off on the right foot. You can find the research guides here:
http://www.gwu.edu/gelman/guides/

Now that you've got all that research, you need to cite it. Well, I've got just the thing to lighten your load. Gelman offers a collection of online citation guides, so you don't have to track down a style guide every time you have a question. You can find the citation guides here:
http://www.gwu.edu/gelman/database/articles/step5.html

You can find these and other great research tools at the Gelman homepage (www.gwu.edu/gelman), just look in the Research Help section.

Its That Time Again

2007-02-26T11:05:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Midterms, weary students!

We like to make this time as painless as possible, so your good friends at Eckles are offering FREE COFFEE (also cappuccino, hot tea and hot chocolate) throughout the midterms season. Just follow the arrows (you can't miss them) to the Student Lounge to enjoy a tasty caffeinated treat.

Free coffee hours are
Monday-Friday: 4pm - close
Saturday-Sunday: All day!

Snow Makes Everything Beautiful!

2007-02-25T14:20:00.000-05:00

Okay, sure it is cold and the sidewalks are slippery and you can't go outside without your hair getting all messed up from either the hat or the snow melting in your do, but LOOK! Snow makes the Vern even Vernier!

Check out our Bird's fetching new hairstyle! I believe he would like to be a British barrister...or maybe George Washington.

And look at these fine women building an uber-fabulous snow man. They could be inside studying, but NO. They are spending their precious free time decorating the campus for others to enjoy.

Who would have thought, but Eckles Library looks even better in the snow! Plus, the Quarter Coffee tastes even yummier, the Eckles Flix are even funnier (or sadder, if that is what you're into), the seating is even comfier, The Writing Center will be even writing-ier tonight and no matter how much it snows, we won't kick you out until 3am.

So come into Eckles today where you can warm up and buckle down!

The Pay Off

2007-02-22T13:59:00.000-05:00

This is Travis.
Not only is he a great employee of Eckles Library, but he just landed a super-fantastic internship with the John McCain Exploratory Committee.

What made him stand out among the many applicants?
His winning smile?
His new-found ability to use a razor?
Nope.
His experience with research and ability to use Lexis-Nexis.

That is right! The skills Travis learned at Eckles have landed him a prime political internship, where he will meet important people and launch his incredibly successful career.
So I ask...
Can YOU use Lexis-Nexis?

The Vern Predicts!

2007-02-21T13:50:00.000-05:00

The Vern has spoken (and continues to speak) about who it thinks will be the nominees for president next year. Handy graphs are posted on the walls (and below, but that is no excuse to skip a trip to Eckles).

Make a Prediction

2007-02-20T13:28:00.000-05:00

We want to know what you think. Yes, YOU! That is why, as part of the presidential candidate display on the gallery wall, we're asking students, faculty and staff to predict who will be the Democratic and Republican nominees for president next year.

Stop by Eckles' first floor to find out about your friends' predictions and make one of your own. I will keep track and of who is in the lead and keep you posted. The winner gets...well, nothing, but it's exciting anyway!

So many candidates...

2007-02-19T14:18:00.000-05:00

Yes, it is true. Every person ever to hold elected office is officially running for president in 2008. But don't worry, Eckles is here to help you decide.
Check out the wall on the first floor for a helpful display of the 19 (yes, 19!) declared candidates for the Democratic and Republican nomination for president. Watch the wall for updates (will Al Gore declare? will Newt Gingrich? what about a Stewart/Colbert ticket?) and we'll keep you informed.

Looking for the stapler?

2007-02-18T13:39:00.000-05:00

Everything you need to assemble that precious paper in the five seconds before class starts can now be found in one place: The Student Supply Station!

Beside the circulation desk and in front of the new(ish) first floor study room are all of those little essentials to improve your library experience. This used to be the Reference Desk, but now reference is everywhere (like air and Starbucks) through AIM: EcklesInfo.

Seek, and ye shall find:

+ stapler
+ tape
+ paper clips
+ hole punch
+ white-out
+ pencils
+ highlighters
+ paper scraps
+ a scanner

Is there something else you need, but aren't finding at the Student Supply Station? End us an email at Eckles@gwu.edu or send an AOL instant message to EcklesInfo to let us know.

President's Day: The first, the current and the next

2007-02-17T12:40:00.000-05:00

In honor of President's Day we have a new book display focusing on (almost) all of our American presidents. From the beloved to the impeached, you can find biographies, speeches, and other assorted writings on the shelves at the entrance to Eckles. On the table below, you will find books about what it takes to run for and win the presidency.

Here are a few of my favorites from the current display:

This is the best book I've ever read about presidential politics. No lie. I have a Masters Degree in Political Management from this august institution so I've read a lot of political books, and this is still the best.
Theodore White was the first journalist to really cover the "process" of political campaigning. He started in the Fall of 1959 and gained intimate access to each of the seven candidates vying for the presidency in 1960. His book was a sensation and caused the tidal wave of "process" reporting that we live with today.
I wish I could share with you a few of the great tidbits from this book that I just love, but there isn't enough space. You'll have to read it for yourself!

Bob Woodward (the man who brought you Watergate) interviewed over 100 high level Bush Administration officials to write this "account of George W Bush at war during the first 100 days after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks." If you are wondering how we got into Afghanistan or how the decision was made to go to war there, this is a good book for you.

George Washington. He's why we drink a cup of coffee instead of a spot of tea. He shaped the powers of the presidency, created our city, founded our university and still had time to build that cool house at Mount Vernon. What a guy! He's also half the reason we have Monday off.

Don't be bored...Be Board!

2007-02-15T12:31:00.000-05:00

It's cold outside and we're headed into a long weekend, so what better time to check out Board at Eckles! Mount Vernon residents can check out their favorite board games at Eckles Library with only a Gworld card. The following games are available:

Cranium Turbo
Connect Four
Yahtzee
Playing Cards
Uno
Monopoly
Risk
Scrabble
9 Game set including: chess, checkers, backgammon, Texas Hold ′Em, Chinese Checkers, Pachisi, Cribbage and Poker dice

Invite some friends over, break out the Doritos and you can have a fun game night without braving the cold (except for the short walk to Eckles)!

Oh, the Weather Outside is Frightful...

2007-02-13T15:43:00.000-05:00

But in Eckles, its so delightful!

Never fear hearty students! Eckles Library is open and will remain that way. The Eckles staff is sort of like the Post Office...neither rain, nor sleet, nor dark of night can keep us from...something...something...however that ends.

Just so you know:
* Even if GWU cancels classes - we'll be open
* Even if the Vern Express isn't running - we'll be open

Now, if the power goes out (or we all decide to go play slip-and-slide on the quad) we would be forced to shut down, but it isn't likely. Feel free to IM (AIM: EcklesInfo) or call (202.242.6620) with questions.

Eckles Library Loves You

2007-02-12T11:01:00.000-05:00

Back by popular demand are our special "Eckles Library Loves You" bookmarks for Valentine's Day. Drop by the circulation desk now through Wednesday to pick up this little reminder of just how much you mean to us (and candy)!

Lets Talk About Sex

2007-02-08T10:00:00.000-05:00

In honor of Valentine's Day (hint: it's next week, guys!) our current book display is about Love, Sex and Valentine's Day. Actually, it is just about love and sex because I couldn't find any books of Valentine's Day, but I know you'll let it slide.

Here are a few of the most interesting:

The Kama Sutra and The Perfumed Garden
Vatsyanyana and Cheikh Nefaoui
Hey guess what...there are actual words in this book, not just the pictures you might already be familiar with. The Kama Sutra is actually a Hindu sexual treatise from the 4th century AD and it isn't just about sexual positions. It is more like an essay on sexual etiquette, telling the reader just what is permissible. The Perfumed Garden is an Arabian work from the 16th century and is much more poetic. Both provide and interesting look at sexuality in different cultures.

The Well of Loneliness
Radclyffe Hall
This book definitely falls into the "love" category. In fact, the only sex scene in the entire book consists of the words "and that night, they were not divided." However, it was banned anyway because the couple in question are both women. This is a classic of lesbian fiction and was groundbreaking for being the first novel to condemn society for its unfair treatment of gays and lesbians.

Outspoken Women: An anthology of women's writing on sex, 1870-1969
Edited by Lesley Hall
The "sexual revolution" may have started in the 1960s, but women were writing about sex long before that. This is a pretty interesting look at women's attitudes about sex from the Victorians to your grandmothers.

Is There Love for the FrankenRabbit?

2007-02-05T16:29:00.000-05:00

Poor Bunny!

This odd, slightly disturbing green rabbit had been quietly living on a shelf in the Eckles student lounge since the beginning of time (or since the beginning of the student lounge, which ever came first). Sadly, during finals last semester, our little bunny friend met the floor at a shattering velocity.

The Eckles staff rushed into action. Pieces were gathered. Glue was applied. But tragically, the plastic surgeons were unable to preserve this rabbit's previous good looks. Instead, we are left with FrankenRabbit!

So here is the question:
Sure, he's a little creepy and disturbing, but is there still love for FrankenRabbit? Should he be returned to his former place of honor in the student lounge, or remain out of sight? Let me know your opinion in the comments section. Majority rules.

My Library is Better Than Yours

2007-02-01T11:11:00.000-05:00

We at Eckles Library try to be good citizens, but when you are great as we are it is hard not to taunt others.

If you'd like to join us in silently mocking other libraries, come by Eckles to pick up your very own button.

You know you want to.

Book Display: The Middle Ages

2007-01-30T16:41:00.000-05:00

On display for your browsing pleasure are a few interesting and enlightening books about the Middle Ages. Many have asked why I chose this particular subject and I'll tell you - because the books have pretty covers. It had nothing to do with the fact that many facets of the Middle Ages (such as the rise of Islam and the founding of European universities) continue to effect us today.

Here are a few from the display that look pretty good:

Beowulf
PR1583.D6 2002
The touching tale of a hero who sets off to kill a monster and then has to take on his monster mama. Later on he kills a dragon too. That Beowulf was one bad dude.

Holy War: The crusades and their impact on today's world
Karen Armstrong
D157.A76 2001
From the back cover: "The Crusades becasme the stuff of romantic legend, but in reality they were a series of rabidly savage battles carried out in the name of Christian piety to advance the power of the Western Church. Their legacy of religious violence is felt today as the age-old conflict of Christians, Jews and Muslims persists."

Medieval Art
Veronica Sekules
N5970.S46 2001
Very pretty pictures.

Who Rocks?

2007-01-29T14:09:00.000-05:00

Yep, Eckles Rocks. There is no denying it.

But, for you doubters out there, let me list just a few reasons:

-Excellent coffee, cappuccino and hot chocolate for only a quarter in the student lounge
-FREE coffee, cappuccino and hot chocolate during midterms and finals
-Open until 3am on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday
-Comfortable furniture throughout the building
-Private study rooms
-3 computer labs, one of which is open 24/7
-Reference services so easy to access you don't even have to leave your computer, just AIM: EcklesInfo
-The Writing Center at Eckles every Sunday night from 7pm - 10pm
-A great collection of Eckles Flix for your viewing pleasure
-Fabulous student lounge for your lounging pleasure
-Board at Eckles board games for your gaming pleasure
-The best damn Outreach Coordinator ever

Your Questions Answered

2007-01-25T10:38:00.000-05:00

Lately, I've heard a lot of this:

It's great that you have extended hours, but why is it only on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday nights? What is so special about those nights? Will it ever be every night?

The answer is simple: This is a pilot program.

Rather than just throw the building doors open, we wanted to make sure that this is something the students want and will use. So this semester, we're trying it out a few days a week. If we find we are kicking people out at 3am, we may extend the hours on other nights or open up even later

Do you like the later hours? Do you wish the later hours were on other nights or that we were open past 3am? Let us know! Leave a comment here, send an email to us at Eckles@gwu.edu or AIM: EcklesInfo.

Sleep is for Suckers!

2007-01-22T10:58:00.000-05:00

You asked for it. We brought it.

The Eckles Library Building will now be open until 3AM on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursdays!

Cutest Baby Ever!

2007-01-19T10:55:00.000-05:00

Who knew librarians had such adorable babies??

This little angel is Annasophia, also known as Eckles Baby! She is the daughter of our Reference Librarian, Sarah. She can also be known as a Women's Leadership Program Baby, since her mother was a proud participant in the WLP and also a Vern Baby, since her mother lived on this campus as an undergrad. She is ours now, though, so we're just going to call her Eckles baby.

As you can see, Eckles Baby is beautiful and perfect. That is a completely unbiased opinion.

Welcome Back

2007-01-16T10:11:00.000-05:00

Welcome Back, Students of the Vern!

Although we hope you had a relaxing Winter Break, it was way too quiet around here without you! The Eckles staff resorted to asking each other fake reference questions just to feel useful.

Eckles has decided this is going to be The Best Semester Ever (to be fair, we name every semester that, but sometimes we're right). We've got expanded hours, new study space and fabulous new furniture, which seems like a pretty good start to this Best Semester Ever stuff. Watch here for more information about excited things happening at Eckles!

Have You Seen Our Fabulous First Floor?

2007-01-10T11:15:00.000-05:00

New and Improved Eckles 1st Floor

Eckles 1st Floor circa 2004

If you have been around Eckles Library for a few years, you've seen a big transformation on the second floor.

In the past 18 months, Eckles has taken down the old, (ugly) gray, floor-to-ceiling shelving units. They were replaced by shorter shelving units which allow more light and don't block the windows. We've also installed new carpeting (what a difference that made!) and added new comfortable chairs, larger tables and all new study carrells.

To complete the transformation, we now have 2 new sofas and 4 new loveseats, complete with comfortable, rolling ottomans for your studying pleasure! Be sure to stop by the new and improved Eckles 1st Floor and let us know what you think!

What Did You Learn?

2006-12-08T11:18:00.000-05:00

Another semester is almost done and it's time to ask yourself, "What did I learn this semester?"

Come in to Eckles first floor and find out what knowledge your friends and neighbors managed to absorb. You'll be surprised by the answers.

Here are a few favorites:
Late night Chinese food is always a good
decision
- Maddie

Feminism is for everyone
- Ursula

I learned the Viennese Waltz
- Lauren

And of course, our ABSOLUTE favorite:

The 25 cent Hot Chooclate is worth the walk to Eckles
- Merilys

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Papers driving you crazy? Help is here!!!

2006-11-13T14:54:00.000-05:00

If semester papers are starting to bog you down, remember that Eckles can help you out in several ways:

The GW Writing Center offers assistance with all sorts of papers and writing projects, and they are available every Sunday at Eckles from 7-10pm.

Reference help is available by drop in and appointment, as well as by IMing us. Our reference librarians can help you with your research on a drop in basis any Monday - Thursday from 10am-noon or 4-6pm.
For more concentrated research help, make an advance appointment for a one-on-one session with one of our librarians.

You can also IM during our regular hours at screenname EcklesInfo.

Eckles welcomes Colonials Weekend visitors

2006-10-19T07:32:00.000-05:00

Eckles Library will be open our regular fall hours for Colonials Weekend, October 20th-22nd. We invite all alum and parents to come in and meet us and get some information about library services we offer. Also, take a few minutes to take in both art exhibits that we currently have on display in our gallery spaces:

"Mount Vernon students: Then and now" illustrates a history of student life on campus through fascinating photographs and archival memorabilia.

"To the Light" is presented to commemorate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and shows, in photographs, the life journey of Patricia Kinney, a long-term survivor of breast cancer.

"To the Light" photo exhibit

2006-10-03T10:05:00.000-05:00

From October 3rd-27th, Eckles is hosting an exhibit of photographs showing the journey of a long-term breast cancer survivor through her treatment to her successful 10-year anniversary. We invite you to stop in to view the exhibit during all of our open hours.
We will also host a free opening reception with our survivor, Patricia Kinney, and participants from our partners, the GW Cancer Institute. The reception is from 5:30-7PM on Tuesday, October 10th, and all are invited to attend!!

BANNED BOOKS WEEK 2006

2006-09-26T15:08:00.000-05:00

What is obscene? · Who should decide? · Are there books so dangerous they should not be published?

Throughout the week of September 22—30, Eckles Library is displaying the stories of literature which has been branded obscene by U.S. officials and trials that followed on our main gallery wall. We also have pulled items from our collection that have been historically challenged and/or banned, and we invite you to check them out and decide for yourself!

"The First Amendment is often inconvenient. But that is besides the point. Inconvenience does not absolve the government of its obligation to tolerate speech."
-- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy

Welcome to Fall '06 at Eckles!!!!!! We ARE minty and fresh!

2006-08-30T13:24:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note to welcome everyone to Eckles!!! Please stop in during move-in weekend, September 2nd and 3rd, when we will be open 11am-7pm. Check out the building and say hello to the staff! Grab a free frisbee or highlighter and a mint!
Also, if you are interested in a student job, our flexible schedules and many open hours make Eckles a great place to work! Stop in and talk with the staff about job opportunities and to fill out an application!

Looking forward to meeting you soon!

John

And Because I Can't Resist...

2006-08-09T13:19:00.000-05:00

Okay, these pictures are just too cute. Check out the attitude on these former Vern students. This is a photo of the 1937 Drama Club and I have to say - they've got style.

Seriously, there was no reason for this post. I just really like the picture and I control the blog!

Ready for Move-In?!

2006-08-07T13:14:00.000-05:00

I was rummaging through the Mount Vernon Archives last week and found this photo of students moving into Somers Hall in August of 1964. Aren't they adorable?!

Strange Things Are Afoot at the Circle K!

2006-08-04T12:57:00.000-05:00

Things are changing here at Eckles. Don't worry, you can still find the best coffee on campus in the student lounge, but some other stuff might look different.

We've been listening when you ask for more comfortable furniture and opportunities for group study and we're giving you just that. Shortly after school starts you will find the old reference office transformed into the new and fabulous Casual Study Room.

We're planning on some comfortable chairs and sofas and maybe even a stereo you can plug your iPod into for some background tunes.

Have ideas? We'd like to hear from you. Drop us a line at eckles@gwu.edu with any thoughts on how we can make this the best study room ever.

Off to the Campaign Trail

2006-07-31T12:34:00.000-05:00

Your intrepid Outreach Coordinator is off on a new adventure! Beginning this Friday, I will be gone from my beloved Eckles until mid-November.

What, you might ask, could pull me away from the minty and fresh Eckles Library?!

Well, I am leaving to manage a US Congressional Campaign in New Jersey. I'm certain it won't be nearly as thrilling and fun as life at Eckles, but somehow I will survive...

And so will you! Eckles has tons of fun stuff planned for the semester, including another Nightmare at Eckles. And never fear, I will be guest blogging from New Jersey every once in a while to tell you of my adventures on the campaign trail.

See you in November!

We've Got Spirit! Yes We Do!

2006-07-21T14:53:00.000-05:00

Eckles has spirit and we like to show it whenever we can. Tuesday night we showed it all over the softball field as we cheered on the intermural team of our big sister, Gelman Library.

They lost 16-7, but the Eckles staff clearly won the cheering, sign making and mascoting contests!

FYI - Yes. That is our library manager dressed as Mr. Frosty, the Gelman mascot. It's quiet here in the summer and we have some unstructured time on our hands. Maybe a little too much...

Urgent: Have You Seen This Cube?

2006-05-09T12:24:00.000-05:00

After less than a week in it's new home, our Rubik's Cube is gone! I'm certain he has innocently wandered away and is right now desperately trying to find his way home. We are, of course, worried sick for his safety!

If you find him, perhaps having mistakenly hitched a ride in your backpack or jacket, please return him to his loving home. We promise not to punish him for his misadventures, only welcome him back with open arms.

Student Lounge: New and Improved!

2006-05-05T12:17:00.000-05:00

If you need a break from the finals grind, stop by the Eckles Student Lounge. In addition to the FREE COFFEE and SNACKS (yes...snacks!) we've added some new items solely for your amusement.

Need to de-stress? Play with the new Legos, hit the pucnhing bag, solve the Rubik's Cube or put together a puzzle with a few friends. We've also got new books in there including some crossword puzzle and sudoku books (no need to feel naughty - you can write in them).

It's so much fun in there you won't want to leave. But you'll have to. It's finals, you know.

Board at Eckles

2006-05-04T12:07:00.000-05:00

Looking to waste some time during finals? Let us help!
Mount Vernon residents can now check out their favorite board games at Eckles Library with only a Gworld card.
The following games are available:
Cranium Turbo
Connect Four
Yahtzee
Playing Cards
Uno
Monopoly
Risk
Scrabble
9 Game set including: chess, checkers, backgammon, Texas Hold’ Em, Chinese Checkers, Pachisi, Cribbage and Poker dice.
Come to the Eckles Circulation Desk to pick one up.

Great Minds Need Coffee...

2006-05-03T11:57:00.000-05:00

and Eckles has it!

That's right - it is free coffee time again. We know you're working hard on your finals we're giving you free coffee, hot chocolate and cappucino in the student lounge. And because we're just about the greatest library ever, we're giving you free snacks, too!

What else have we got for our favorite finals-weary students?
24-hour study in the auditorium
Your favorite comfy chairs
Lots of private study rooms
and the most often used tool in the library, the stapler.

Free Coffee!

2006-02-28T11:44:00.000-05:00

It's midterms and we know that you're stressed so it's FREE COFFEE time again!

Free coffee starts Wednesday, March 1 and goes until Friday, March 10th. After that it's Spring Break and you can go home and drink you parents' free coffee - that's what I'm doing.

REMEMBER
Free coffee is available Monday through Thursday: 4pm to close and Friday through Sunday: all day.

Enjoy!

The Clothesline Project

2006-02-28T11:33:00.000-05:00

If you walk through the first floor of Eckles this week, you may notice several t-shirts hanging from clothesline. No, the staff isn't doing our laundry, we are hosting The Clothesline Project.

The Clothesline Project is a display of shirts created by survivors of gender-based violence. The personal stories and pictures are a testimony to the reality of violence against women and the strength of survivors.

My Sister's Place manages and maintains the Washington DC Clothesline Project. My Sister's Place (MSP) is a shelter for battered women and their children. They provide safe, confidential shelter; programs; education; and advocacy for battered women and their children. Their goal is to empower women to take control of their own lives.

This display is co-sponsored by Neightbor's Project. If you'd like to find out how to volunteer at My Sister's Place or are looking for another community service opportunity, please contact them.