Recently in General miscellany Category

GPS has come to Mendel! We are excited to announce the launch of a new StackMaps feature that enables Mendel Music Library patrons to zero in on the exact location of materials shelved in the library (this tool is also available in other branches). From the catalog record for books and scores, you can now click on the location link to open a window that shows exactly where the item is located in the Mendel stacks. Here's how to bring up the maps in the standard catalog and SearchIt.

From the individual bibliographic records in the standard catalog interface, click on:

Item details: Where to find it:

From the new SearchIt interface, click on the Locations & Availability tab, and then click on the Where to find it icon:

And voila! Up comes a map showing you exactly where to find the item in the Mendel stacks:


This new feature will be particularly helpful for finding scores and books located in separate collections based on size or material type, such as study scores, oversized items (q), folios (f), reference books and scores (SV), facsimiles (SVF), and periodicals (MUSP). Keep in mind, however, that these maps designate where the item is found when shelved in the library. It does not indicate that items are checked out, lost, or otherwise absent from their normal homes on the shelves. Check the status indication to determine if the item is available, checked out, lost, or temporarily relocated before following the map to the first or second floors of Mendel.

We are still refining some formatting for correctly indicating the location of materials held behind the circulation desk (CDs, DVDs, microfilms, etc.); eventually the maps will indicate that you can obtain these items by requesting them at the circulation desk.

If you find yourself misdirected by any of the Mendel StackMaps, please inform Maggie Capewell so that she can correct the coding.

We appreciate any feedback you have to offer on this feature!

Since arriving at Princeton University on April 1 (no fooling!) as the new music librarian for the Arthur Mendel Music Library, one of my chief goals has been to set up a blog for the Mendel Music Library--often just called "Mendel." Finally it has arrived! There are a host of reasons to publish this blog, and they will become obvious as the blog's content develops--but its fundamental purpose, of course, is to reach out to the array of Mendel patrons (the students and faculty of the Princeton Music Department, the Princeton community at large, and the wide range of music researchers and music lovers who visit the library and use its collections) with items of interest, updates on new acquisitions, exhibits, new or recently discovered electronic resources and Web sites, research tools, sundry bits of information from hours to policies, and so forth. And, of course, to encourage feedback and comments from Mendel users on what I post here.  The Mendel Music Library staff look forward to keeping you informed and engaging in a lively dialog about issues concerning the music library and its collections!

Many thanks to Michael Muzzie, digital media consultant in the Office of Information Technology for his help in setting up this blog--and no doubt much guidance in the future.

Cheers!

Darwin