PowerBlog

Over the past few years, slowly but surely, most of the Library's furniture (tables, desks, study carrels, different kinds of chairs) have been replaced with nice, new shiny versions.  Most, not all.  Those familiar, much-enjoyed purple armchairs have been aligned along the glass walls on the main floor, silently providing comfort to appreciative students (and  faculty and staff) for a few decades now.  But years of use and abuse have taken their toll, as is to be expected. So they're going to be "retired" too.  Over the coming weeks we'll be buying about 40 new armchairs, which we hope will be enjoyed as much as the old ones. Of course, chairs come in many shapes and sizes.  What ones are best for reading?  For resting?  For using a laptop?  To help us make a decision we've brought in some samples.  Look for them under the "We Want Your Input!" sign near the entrance.  Because we would also like your help.  Pick one, hav...

From May 5-11, the Patrick Power Library will be home to a very special exhibition.    The World Knew - Jan Karski's Mission for Humanity tells the incredible, true story of the Polish Secret State courier's mission to alert the Western Allies to the situation in occupied Poland and the Holocaust during World War II.  Karski's epic journey across war-torn Europe was recounted in his book, Story of a Secret State: my report to the world .    A series of panels will chronicle the events of Karski's life, from his childhood in Poland to his legacy - a fitting tribute to one of the twentieth century's most important figures. This exhibition was created by the Polish History Museum in partnership with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland and the Jan Karski Educational Foundation. For more information,visit the University's events page .

There are only 2 times in the year when this Library is closed more than a couple days in a row.  And this weekend is one of them (Christmas, of course, is the other).  Like the rest of the University, the library will be closed on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday as part of the Easter holidays. Here are our hours after that: April 22 - May 4 Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm Saturday & Sunday CLOSED Enjoy the weekend!

Yes, it's that time of year.  Time for the second annual UP ALL NIGHT event!  This Monday, March 31, the Library won't close: 1am, 3 am, 5am, breakfast (which we'll provide), we'll be open. Working with staff from the Writing Centre, CAID and Student Services, we'll be offering students all kinds of help: with research, studying, writing, stress-relieving.  It's a great chance to finish those last assignments and/or prepare for inevitable exams with others doing the same things. See how late you can stay up.  There will be activities as well as support and food and drinks to help keep you going. Bring a friend.  See you there.

When students are busy, libraries are busy.  And that mid-March to mid-April stretch we're in right now is the busiest time of the entire year.  Lots of people around, reading, writing, studying, worrying. If you're one of those many people who like to do their reading, writing, studying or worrying in the library, we're going to give you more opportunity to do that.  Our hours of operation have been extended and will stay that way until the last exam has been written.  It's a (semi) annual tradition. Here's what they look like: March 24 -  April 16 Monday - Saturday 8:00am-1:00am Sunday 10:00am-1:00am (Please note that Circulation services (borrowing/returning, print credits, etc.) will stop at 11pm.) And just a reminder: if you need any last minute help with your assignments, drop by the RESEARCH HELP desk and speak to someone there -they can make a difference. Good luck everyone.

Every year around this time the various libraries in the Novanet system come together for a good cause.  Food for Fines, as its name implies, allows those who have overdue books to bring in food donations  and, in return, have their fines reduced.  Every non-perishable food item is worth $2 in fines (to a maximum of $50).  In other words, if you currently owe $14, just bring in 7 items worth about a dollar each and you'll save $7.  And all the food goes either to Feed Nova Scotia or the SMU Food Bank so a lot of people benefit. This year's campaign runs a little longer than in the past, from February 17 and right through to March 9 so you have plenty of time. Donations can be dropped off at the Circulation Desk, just inside the entrance.  Thanks in advance.

It's true that we'll be open on Monday (till noon, re-opening January 2).  But, for most of us here at the Patrick Power, this is our last day for this year.  So this is the best time for us to wish all members of the Saint Mary's community a great holiday.  No matter how long it lasts, or where you go, or how much you eat, we hope you enjoy each and every minute of it.  It's called a holiday for a reason. It's been a great term - if the gate count matters, our busiest ever.  Which is a good thing.  And we expect to be just as busy next term.  Providing the things we provide.  Year after year.

For some reason, lost in the mists of time, Acadia was the only university or college in our province which did not belong to Novanet ( Nova Scotia library net work).  All of the metro schools, those further afield like StFX and CBU, all the community colleges, were all part of it.  But not Acadia.  Well that has (finally) changed. For the past week or so a lot of cataloguers and IT folks have been busy adding the valley school's records to the Novanet catalogue.  They are now full-fledged members and they (and us) will start to see the benefits of that right away. Apparently Acadia's great library had tens of thousands of books not owned by any of the Novanet libraries.  So all of them, and their entire collection, will now show up when you search the catalogue.  Of course, they will also be available for borrowing via Novanet Express (free, about 3 days to arrive).  And I'm sure Acadia faculty and students will appreciate the fact t...

It's hard to believe but the end of the term is only a few weeks away.  For university students, that can only mean one thing: exams.  Make that two things: the Library's open longer. Starting this weekend, and continuing until the end of exams on December 8, we won't close until  1:00am.  Every night.  And on Saturdays and Sundays we'll open earlier than usual too. Here's what our hours look like for the foreseeable future: November 12 - 17   Monday - Friday   8:00am-11:00pm Saturday 10:00am-1:00am Sunday  10:00am-1:00am November 18 - Dec. 8 Monday - Saturday 8:00am-1:00am Sunday  10:00am-1:00am So good luck on your exams, your papers or any other final assignments you may have to handle before the break.  You'll make it!

  The library is very pleased to be hosting a new exhibit from the Canadian Language Museum at the University of Toronto.  Speaking the Inuit Way highlights the development of native languages in Canada's north.  Its series of 6-foot panels combine to provide an informative account of the socio-cultural history of  Inuit languages and their current state and challenges. The Library has worked with the Centre for the Interdisciplinary Study of Culture at Saint Mary's to bring this traveling exhibit to Halifax.  It will be here for just a few weeks so catch it while you can.  It's near the elevator and stairs on the main floor. 

The Library is very pleased to announce that we have acquired one of the world’s leading business research databases.   Ebsco Business Source Premier provides the full text of over 2,000 publications in the areas of accounting, marketing, finance, economics, management and more .   Highlights include:   More than 1,000 peer-reviewed journals Harvard Business Review – complete pdf. fulltext from volume1, number 1, 1922 to the present All Academy of Management journals   - complete pdf. fulltext from their first date of publication to the present MarketLine Company Profiles – current reports on thousands of companies from around the world Regional Business News – collection of approximately 100 regional publications from the U.S., Canada and abroad Also includes trade publications, newspapers, industry profiles and country reports Searchable by subject, author, company name, indus...