The Hesburgh Libraries is proud to announce the launch of our new Featured Resources blog, designed to help members of the Notre Dame community navigate the Libraries' vast, rich and complex collections.
“It can be difficult for our patrons to keep track of all the resources we offer, particularly in the e-resources environment, which has expanded in recent years,” Mark Robison, department head, Academic Collections and Services, said. “The Libraries have more collections than one could ever be familiar with. Raising awareness is an important piece of the puzzle, and this blog aims to do just that.”
According to Robison, the biggest issue users face with library resources is discovery.
“This is not for lack of trying,” he says. “The Libraries have several powerful, intricate tools that allow users to independently look for resources in a variety of formats, yet the sheer scope of our collections can confuse even seasoned researchers, and our discovery tools can’t always tell the full story.”
A large portion of the blog will be dedicated to highlighting new e-resources and exploring how they fit into the Libraries’ broader approach to collections. It will include longer-form stories that explore collection issues in greater depth, giving users insights into the Libraries’ guiding strategy to collection development and management.
“An early post introduced the Libraries’ Taylor & Francis Evidence-Based Acquisitions (EBA) e-book program and then dove deeper into the e-book landscape,” Robison said. “Scholarly Resource Assessment Librarian for Arts, Humanities, and Architecture Julia Schneider is preparing a post about the Libraries’ e-preferred collections development strategy, which has been in place for approximately a decade.”
A Resource Round-Up feature, written by E-Access Librarian Megan Elsen, will include updates on recent purchases. The blog will also offer regular updates on e-resource trials, interface enhancements and helpful guidance.
While the blog will focus heavily on the less familiar and evolving e-resource environment, Robison said they do plan to highlight some of the Libraries’ physical collections on the platform through regular features about print subcollections that readers may not have discovered before.
“Notre Dame students and employees have access to some spectacular collections, right under their noses,” Robison said. “The collection is the result of thoughtful investment and curation by several generations of dedicated library employees, archivists, curators, administrators and donors. Researchers travel from around the world to use these materials. I hope these blog posts will make readers excited to dig into the collections and get lost in the immersive joy of research.”
For more information, contact Mark Robison, Hesburgh Libraries.