Library News and Events

René Molineaux Completes His Shaker Seeds Installation

Those who have had classes in the Standish Library's Rose & Kiernan Library Instruction Lab often ask about the wooden wall construction that was in progress practically since the building opened in 1999.

Left: The framework on which Shaker Seeds was built, 1999.

Right: The finished construction completed in the summer of 2007.

More photos of the work in progres.

When the Library was in its planning stages, a committee was formed to advise on art for the building. Gary Thompson, Library Director, knew that René Molineaux, Lead Instructional Technologist in I&TS, had an art background and approached him back in 1998 to see if he would be interested in submitting a proposal. Among his submissions was the design for Shaker Seeds, and it was accepted. In addition, René applied for and was awarded a grant from the New York State Foundation for the Arts to assist in the purchase of materials.

The completed work measures approximately 6 feet high and 18 feet long. It is constructed of cedar shakes, wood scraps and found objects assembled into a cutaway wall.

In a statement that he posted as he was working on Shaker Seeds René states that, "In a library, time witnesses a building accumulation of knowledge, experience and things. It's a positive accumulation that gradually becomes better and more useful as it ages. Only after years of collecting (and weeding) does a library really hit its stride as a great tool. This piece will offer a different experience to the viewer at a distance than it will to the viewer up close. It will be a combination of detail and texture with a pleasing overall pattern. The name is a pun, of course, but allows me to imply meaning associated with the handmade simplicity of Shaker furnishings, tools and architecture. A sensibility that precedes much of what we see in this geographical area today."

René graduated from Fordham University, Lincoln Center campus, with a B.A. degree with emphasis in the fine arts. While there he also took studio art courses at the Art Students League of New York. He has a strong library empathy due to his having earned a Masters in Library Science from the University at Albany.

The Instruction Lab is normally locked when classes are not being held in the room. If you would like to see Shaker Seeds at other times please contact the Reference Librarian on duty.

A new interlibrary loan service is now on line in the Library.

Beginning with the Spring 2008 semester, we're using a new, state-of-the-art interlibrary loan software – ILLiad – which we think will improve our service to you.

ILLiad does require that you complete a one-time registration before you begin submitting online requests AND that you pick a username and password to use after that. That is an inconvenience, but by giving you a regular interlibrary loan "account" ILLiad is able to provide several new benefits:

• You don't have to enter your personal information every time you fill out an interlibrary loan request.
• You can now track the processing of all of your interlibrary loan requests via the Web, without having to get in touch with the ILL Department staff.
• You can keep track of everything you have out through interlibrary loan (NOT from ConnectNY) via the Web.
• You can view and print out from the Web PDF versions of most articles sent electronically by lending libraries (about 80% of the articles), rather than come into the library to pick up paper copies.
• Your requests are filled faster because ILLiad automates more of the ILL ordering and receipt process.

Please try ILLiad and let me know how it works for you! (markley@siena.edu or 783-4196). If you'd like to have someone take you through the registration process in person or on the phone, call me and we'll arrange it.

Pat Markley, Interlibrary Loan Librarian

SienaAir installation completed in Standish Library

Access the campus network via wireless is now available in all areas of Standish Library. Contact SienaAir in I&TS for further information.

Accounting Society Donates Professional Materials

Standish Library Designated Collection Depository for Local Accounting Organization

In April 2007, Standish Library accepted the first collection of professional materials donated by the Albany Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors when Mark Mitchell, President of the Albany Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors, presented a copy of one of the donated titles to Gary Thompson, Library Director.

The Institute of Internal Auditors, an international professional association of more than 130,000 members, is recognized as the internal audit profession's leader in certification, education, research, and technological guidance.

The library's collection will grow as the chapter donates additional items. The books are entered into the CYRIL database and can be located using the usual author, title, or subject searching. Additionally, to see what titles have been donated, a keyword search on Siena Donor- I.I.A. Albany Chapter will list items received to date. Some titles received so far:

Irvin N. Gleim. CIA review. (2006)
Charles H. Le Grand. Information technology controls. (2005)
Bahram Soltani. Factors Affecting Corporate Governance and Audit Committees In Selected Countries. (2005)

Important New Copyright Information

Faculty: Please read important new information regarding changes in the College's copyright and reserves policy! Download/print permission letter.

5,500,000+ volumes one click away via ConnectNY

When requesting books via ConnectNY, the number requested is the barcode number on the back of your Siena ID; it begins 25239...