LearningExpress Library: Great for Skill Development & Test Preparation

Here's a Prezi presentation I created to help people understand what kinds of great resources are made available through the LearningExpress Library.  All residents of Idaho may access these resources.

We often see students who wish to prepare for the GRE, the LSAT, and other graduate entrance exams.  Additionally, international students come looking for materials to help them get ready to take the TOEFL test, and it is nice to have easy-to-reference materials we can recommend that speak to all of these tests.  The Idaho Commission for Libraries has secured funding for the subscription of this resource over two years, so this subscription ends in November 2012.

LearningExpress Library Demonstration on Prezi

It also offers many computer, math, and reading tutorials.  Anyone interested in becoming a U.S. citizen can also prepare for the necessary test(s) with resources here.

Oboler Library ca. 1975

Oboler Lib ca. 1975_2,
originally uploaded by Ref & Ins.

Here's a photos of construction on the Eli M. Oboler Library about 1975. It was completed in 1977 and ready to be open for the Fall semester in August of that year.

Library Art

Library Art4,
originally uploaded by Ref & Ins.

Works of art have been donated to the Oboler Library through the years. Some of the pieces, though, originate from the University's collection of art, including works from former graduate students. This work of art does not include a title, and the artist's signature in the lower right is not easily legible.

During the month of November works of art have been hanging in the Current Display area. Afterwards they will be sent back to other locations in the Library.

Book Sale Prices

Family in Poky 009,
originally uploaded by Ref & Ins.

Here's a photo with the prices. It looks like hardbacks sold for $3.00 on the first day and $1.50 the second day. Paperbacks sold for $1 the first day and 50 cents the second day. I managed to find a children's book about the Nativity told entirely with pictures of Gothic sculptures from the outside of a cathedral in France.

Anyone can donate books to the Oboler Library. We also have a Book Swap rack where individuals may bring a book in exchange for one on the rack.

Library Book Sale

Family in Poky 010,
originally uploaded by Ref & Ins.

Every other year the Oboler Library has a book sale. Usually, the books have been donated to the Library, and a bibliographer has determined that we already have a copy or we do not need that book for our collection. The money made from the book sale goes back into purchasing more books for our Library. We sold books for two days. The first hour or two was the busiest, as it seemed that local book sellers came to buy as much as they could. They knew what they wanted and would dump them into boxes. The first day each book was a dollar and then the second day they were fifty cents, if I remember correctly. It seems that the paperbacks were sold for less than the hardbacks.

Recently, the Library has begun a continuous book sale. A stand of books are always for sale near the Circulation Desk. I have heard that it is going rather well. I frequently see people looking at the books available.

Arrrrgh! Come to the Library!

Pirate2,
originally uploaded by Ref & Ins.

A year ago we had a theme of finding buried treasure at the Library, so I dressed up as a pirate for the white-tent event. We gave away brochures and pens. I did have to almost grab people to get their attention. Most students thought it was fun, and a few wanted to take pictures with me.

We rented the hat, boots, and shirt from a local rental place, but most of the paraphernalia came from Library colleagues. We bought the eye patch and the parrot from the rental place.