Search your family tree

Interest in genealogy has grown considerably in recent years, spurring some to call genealogy “the fastest growing hobby in North America.” You can now search through billions of records in census data, vital records, directories, photos, and more through Ancestry Library Edition. This resource is now available as a one-year pilot project through a federal IMLS LSTA grant awarded to the State Library of Ohio. Unlike most of the library’s databases, it is available from on campus only (no remote access). Though of particular interest to genealogists and researchers, Ancestry Library Edition can also be a valuable resource for course projects through its rich trove of primary source documents.

Need help with a paper?

Summon resources for your final projects using our newest research tool, Summon. Search Summon on the library home page or bookmark this link: http://oberlin.summon.serialssolutions.com/
Or click for more about Summon.

Need help from a real person? Librarians can help you find resources and plan your research strategy. Sign up for a research appointment for a one-on-one meeting with a Reference Librarian.

Houston, we have a problem ...

with the group study room reservation request form. All better now! 11/28/11

We're working on it, but until we get it fixed, send your requests to reference@oberlin.edu or call x55031 and include this info:

1. name
2. phone
3. email address
4. date room is needed
5. start time/end time (3 hr max)
6. number of folks in the group
7. requested room #'s
8. need the LCD panel?

Thanksgiving break library hours

The library will have shortened hours over the Thanksgiving holiday. The Main Library building hours are:

Wednesday, November 23 8 am - 5:30 pm

Thursday, November 24 CLOSED

Friday, November 25 10 am - 5:30 pm

Saturday, November 26 10 am - 5:30 pm

Sunday, November 27 10 am - 2 am

For complete information about each branch and department, see our hours page.

Need to know who's who in Congress? There's an app for that!

The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) has released its first mobile Web application (app), which provides the public with quick, easy access to information on Members of Congress. The app allows users to browse for Members of Congress by last name, state, chamber, or party. To access the app on your mobile device, go to <http://m.gpo.gov/memberguide> or scan the QR code with your mobile device that is available at <http://www.gpo.gov/mobile/>.

“The Meaning of Rivers: Flow and Reflection in American Literature”

T. Scott McMillin, Professor of English, will speak to the Friends of the Oberlin College Library about his latest book on Wednesday, November 16, at 4:30 in the Moffett Auditorium (Mudd 050) Join us!

Open Access to information and why it matters - Thurs 11/17, 4:30pm Moffett Auditorium

Open Access - the principle that research should be accessible online, FOR FREE, immediately after publication.

Want to know more? Come to the Open Access talk! Ray English, Directory of the Oberlin College Libraries, and Sebastiaan Faber, Professor of Hispanic Studies, will be talking about what open access is, and why it is important.

Thursday, November 17th at 4:30 pm in Moffett Auditorium.

Support Oberlin Community Services during Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday this week, the Oberlin College Libraries will accept donations of food and other household items as payment for some unpaid library fines. Please read our flyer for complete information about the program but here's a quick summary:

• Up to $20 worth of fines accrued before and during Fall Break are eligible. If you have more recent fines, pay with cash or a check and take advantage of your 1/2 off discount!
• Credit for donated items is based on a standardized price list for items particularly needed by Oberlin Community Services
• Please try to come during the publicized hours, when we'll be sure to have enough staff to handle the donations and clear your fines speedily

In Lorain County, 42,135 people, 14.4% of the population, live below the poverty threshold, defined as an income of $22,350 for a family of 4. More than one-quarter of the children in the county face food insecurity, defined as "the household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food". Oberlin Community Services assists our neighbors throughout southern Lorain with food, housing, utilities, clothes, transportation, medicine, counseling, and much more. This year the staff met with more than 100 clients each month, a quarter of whom had never needed assistance before. They rely entirely on donations, so even if you don't owe any fines, please consider a donation.

• 
  

Closing at 10 pm Friday and Saturday

We are closing the whole building at 10 pm on November 11 and 12, because of the missing exit door. We're very sorry for the inconvenience.

New & Improved Database Listings

Take a look at the new format for our list of databases!

Browse by letter of the alphabet, by format (audio, video, or images), or by the list of subjects that more closely resembles Oberlin courses and departments.

Bibliophiles Delight!

The not quite annual Oberlin College Book Sale will be held on Friday, November 11th from 12:30p-7p and Saturday, November 11th from 10a to 1p in the Academic Commons in Mudd Center.

Friends of the Library can attend the pre-sale on Friday morning.

Mark Dimunation to Speak at Friends Dinner Saturday

Mark Dimunation, Chief of Rare Books and Special Collections at the Library of Congress will be the featured speaker at the annual Friends of the Library Dinner. The title of his talk is "Forged in Fire: The Library of Thomas Jefferson at the Library of Congress.

All are welcome to attend the talk at 8pm in the Root Room on the second floor of the Carnegie building.

October's New Stuff!

Don't miss the lists of newly cataloged books, videos, scores, recordings, and gov docs!