Writing & Linguistics Department
January 30, 2008
Library Resources in Support of the 2008 Academic Program Review
for the Department of Writing and Linguistics
Zach S. Henderson Library, Georgia Southern University
Contact: Jonathan H. Harwell, Collection Development & Assessment Librarian
912-681-5114, jharwell@georgiasouthern.edu
Following is an
explanation of the library resources in support of Writing and Linguistics,
based upon a collaboration with Dr. Rebecca Ziegler (Subject Specialist
Librarian) and Dr.
Michael Pemberton (Director of the University Writing
Center).
Books and Journals
Based upon the most
recent data available, the Library holds more than 63,800 relevant
monographs (books), as well as 42 current journal subscriptions in
print format, as listed
below.
In addition, the Library’s
Electronic Journals A-to-Z list provides direct access to 335
full-
text electronic journals on philology and linguistics, in a spectrum
including such titles as
College English, The Germanic Review, International
Journal of American Linguistics,
Modern Language Quarterly, and Oceanic
Linguistics.
GALILEO Databases
GALILEO provides access
to many information resources, including secured access to
licensed databases
indexing thousands of periodicals and scholarly journals. Over 2000
journal
titles are provided in full-text. Other resources include encyclopedias,
business
directories, and government publications. Databases listed in GALILEO
include those
provided through GALILEO and those funded by Georgia Southern
University. Specialized
databases in support of Writing and Linguistics include
the following:
The MLA International Bibliography
indexes consist of critical
literary and language
scholarship. They index literature, languages,
linguistics, literary theory and criticism,
dramatic arts, and folklore from
over 4,400 journals and serials, as well as books, essay
collections, working
papers, proceedings, dissertations, and bibliographies. Approximately
45,000
records are added annually. Classical Greek and Latin literature are not
covered. This
database is produced by the Modern Language Association. The print
edition counterpart to
this database began in 1921. MLA has been working
diligently to digitize retrospective
materials from the early print collection.
MLA has recently completed adding retrospective
materials from 1926-1962 to the
online collection. The coverage dates of the database are
now 1926-present.
The MLA Directory of Periodicals is now
part of the MLA International Bibliography.
Included is information on the
periodicals that are indexed in the database, plus many more.
The Directory of
Periodicals data is updated annually.
Database provider: EBSCO Publishing, Inc.
Coverage Dates: 1926 to the present
Update Frequency: Ten times per year
“The
Oxford English Dictionary is
the accepted authority on the evolution of the English
language over the last
millennium.” The OED gives definitions, etymological analysis, and
quotations to
demonstrate the use of words in the English language over time.
The web-based version of the OED include
all information contained in the print
counterpart plus at least 1,000 new and
revised entries each quarter.
The publisher, Oxford University Press,
provides extensive information
about the dictionary
and its use on their web site.
Database provider: An Oxford University
Press database
Coverage Dates: Second edition, 3-volume Additions Series, plus updates
Update Frequency: Quarterly (updated on Jan. 23, 2008)
Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery, and GIL Express
The Henderson Library
participates with other libraries in an international network of
borrowing and
lending of library materials. The Henderson Library absorbs all charges, so
the
service is free to borrowers. Georgia Southern faculty, staff, and students are
eligible for
Interlibrary Loan service. Students enrolled in Distance Learning
and other off-campus
classes at Georgia Southern University may request that
Henderson Library materials be sent
directly to them. Faculty also enjoy library
items and interlibrary loan items being mailed to
their offices free of charge.
There is no limit to the number of articles requested, and there
is no charge
for the service. In 2007, GSU obtained 173 interlibrary loans in writing
and
linguistics, 4.4% of a total of 3923 items borrowed from other libraries.
GIL Express is an
initiative whereby circulating books may be ordered directly from any
University
System of Georgia Library. The subject matter is not limited to research
interests;
hobby and pleasure reading are perfectly acceptable. In most cases,
materials are sent to and
checked out from the patron’s home library, but
patrons may ask that their items be sent to
any University System library for
pickup. All faculty, staff, and students in good standing are
eligible to use
the service.
Subject Specialist Librarians:
Research Assistance, Information Literacy Instruction, and Collection Development
The Information
Services Librarians, along with the Collection Development & Assessment
Librarian (coordinator of the newly reconfigured Library Liaison program),
provide
integrated services focusing upon specific subject areas. As Subject
Specialists, we work
closely with students, staff, and faculty in the
appropriate colleges/departments, in delivering
reference and research
assistance (including instant messaging), information literacy
instruction, and
library collection development, as integrated services for our subject
specialties. Our specialties are based upon a combination of our backgrounds
(academic
degrees and/or subject-specific library service experience) and our
research interests.
We provide customized,
course-focused information literacy instruction, as well as one-on-
one research
appointments.
The Subject Specialist
Librarian for the Department of Writing and Linguistics is Dr.
Rebecca Ziegler,
Information Services Librarian, 912-486-7819,
rziegler@georgiasouthern.edu
Our Library Liaisons,
including the Subject Specialists, have selected GSU entities beyond
the
subject-based academic structure, with the following goals:
§
Facilitate consistent,
ongoing, two-way communication between Henderson
Library and GSU faculty, staff,
and students
§
Gather input from GSU entities
which will be vital in continually refining
Henderson Library’s provision of
access to information, collections, and
services.
For example, Dr.
Ziegler also serves as the Library Liaison to the Center for Irish Studies
and
the GSU Museum. Other librarians serve such entities as the First Year
Experience
program, the Multicultural Student Center, the University Honors
Program, and the
International Student Club.
University Writing Center Library Resources
The University Writing
Center maintains its own collection of research texts, journals, and
instructional videos related to rhetoric, composition, writing instruction, and
to a limited
extent, linguistics. These resources are available for students,
faculty, and staff research, and
the Writing Center secretary, Bettye Stewart,
is responsible for managing circulation records.
At present, the Writing
Center holdings include 413 books, 528 journal issues (including
College
English, College Composition & Communication, the Writing Lab
Newsletter, Language &
Learning across the Disciplines, and the
Writing Center Journal), and 28 videotapes and DVDs.