Even though finals are quickly becoming a distant memory, don’t forget to visit the library this summer. Below are the top five reasons that you should make a habit of coming to the Main Library during the summer season.

Beat the heat

Escape the sun and the crowds within the cool, airy Anderson Academic Commons. Our air-conditioned building is a respite from the intense Colorado sun; and with many students leaving campus for the summer, it is easy to find a comfortable chair or cozy corner where you can relax or get some work done.

Plan a vacation

The library has a large collection of resources geared to helping you make the most of your vacation. Search the library catalog to access hundreds of travel guidebooks, both print and electronic. A good search strategy is to use the Classic Catalog to create a search for guidebooks tailored to a particular geographic area. Enter where you want to travel in the keyword search box and the phrase “travel guidebooks” in the subject field, as shown below.

Depending on where you are traveling, you may want to brush up on your language skills using one of our online language learning programs, or, if you are staying in the Colorado area, plan a vacation around some of the resources that make this state unique, such as these geological points of interest.

Get lost in good books…literally

Did you know that the library has 8 miles of books stored on moveable shelving on the lower level of the AAC and an equivalent amount in our offsite storage facility? Our strong academic collection combined with collections geared toward pleasure reading give you ample opportunity to “get lost” in some good books this summer.

Get a head start

Even though many classes do not meet during the summer, research help is still available at the Research Center. Our Research Center Desk is staffed Monday-Friday from 9-5 and Saturday and Sunday from 1-5. Expert reference librarians are available by appointment to meet with you to give you an in-depth overview of library resources or to answer any other questions that you may have. Becoming familiar with research tools over the summer will give you time to practice your skills so that you are ready to tackle your classes in the fall.

Summer break? What summer break?

We are well aware that not everyone in our community has a summer break. Many faculty and staff work on campus during the summer months, and many graduate programs are still in session. The Anderson Academic Commons maintains our commitment to being open 24 hours a day, 5 days a week during the summer, with earlier closures on Saturdays and Sundays. (See our summer quarter schedule for details on holiday closures). All of the resources that you rely on to get your work done will also be available, as will expert assistance if you need it.

Rather than asking yourself why you should come to the library this summer, maybe you should ask yourself why you aren’t there already!

Summer quarter hours at the Main Library and the Research Center are:

Main Library:

Sunday, June 9 – Saturday, June 15 :

• Sunday: Closed
• Monday: 8 am – Friday 8 pm (24 hours)
• Saturday: 9 am – 8 pm

Sunday, June 16 – Thursday, August 15 (except July 3-5):

• Sunday: 10 am – Friday 8 pm (24 hours)
• Saturday: 9 am – 8 pm

Wednesday, July 3 – Friday, July 5:

• Wednesday, July 3: close at midnight
• Thursday, July 4:  closed for holiday
• Friday, July 5: open at 8 am

Research Center

Research Center Desk:

• Monday – Friday: 9 am – 5 pm
• Saturday – Sunday: 1 pm – 5 pm

Research Center Consultation Room:

• By appointment

Closed June 9 and July 4

Do you have a VHS tape or CD that you would like to convert into a more usable form? The Anderson Academic Commons has its own full-service digitization lab that can help.

Digital Conversion Services can convert a variety of analog or digital media into either digital or electronic formats. The trained media technicians in Digital Conversion Services can either directly convert your media or edit and enhance it. Check out the Digital Conversion Services homepage for details on the many types of media that can be converted.

Making a request to have your media converted is easy. Simply send an email to library-av@du.edu, with the details of your project, including the type of media you would like to convert, the format that you would like to convert it into, and details on how and when you would like the final product to be delivered. Requests should be submitted with at least 72 hours notice.

Conversion projects are, of course, subject to copyright laws. You will need to complete the Copyright Acknowledgement Statement before the project can be completed. While you may wish to review the general pricing list, Digital Conversion Services recommends that you schedule a consultation to review the specific pricing and requirements for your unique project.

Converting your media to newer forms will allow you to preserve and access your content for years to come…and it may just give you the final reason that you need to get rid of your old VCR.

Because of the different learning styles in our community, the library subscribes to several online language learning programs: Mango, Livemocha, Tell Me More, and Transparent Language Online.  In addition, for those who wish to download audio lessons to a iPod or MP3 player, we have Pimsleur.

In collaboration with the Center for World Languages and Cultures, we have created a research guide, Language Learning Programs, in which we list the languages included and the special features offered for each program.

You must register to use the programs.  We have included that information on the tabs in the research guide for the individual programs.

The Center for World Languages and Cultures recommends you try the different programs to see which is right for you.

If you have any questions about the library’s language learning subscriptions, please contact Peggy Keeran, Arts and Humanities Reference Librarian, at peggy.keeran@du.edu.

The language learning programs are only available for current DU faculty, staff, and students. If you are alumn, contact your local public library to inquire if they offer any online language learning programs, or if they have audio CDs for the language you wish to learn.  If they don’t have either, they may be able to borrow audio CDs via Interlibrary Loan for you for the language you wish to learn.

The Digital Media Center located in the Anderson Academic Commons is a new service that will assist students, faculty, or staff with any multimedia editing project, including video production, audio engineering, or still photography enhancement.

Bring the media you want to edit on an external drive, like a USB, Firewire, or Thunderbolt hard drive, and staff in the Digital Media Center will assist you in using software like Adobe Photoshop and After Effects, or Apple’s Final Cut Pro X. A staff member is always available for walk-in tutorials as available or scheduled appointments.

The Center is open:

Mon.-Thur: 8am-12am
Fri.: 8am-8pm
Sat.: 9am-8pm
Sun.: 10am-12am

Visit the Digital Media Center portfolio page for more information as well as helpful tutorials: portfolio.du.edu/media

Accessing materials in the new library will be faster and more efficient than ever.

Our extensive library collections will be stored in both the Anderson Academic Commons (opening on March 25) and in our offsite storage at the Hampden Center. You can retrieve materials stored in the easy-to-use moveable compact shelving on the lower level of the AAC by yourself, or you can use our popular book paging service to have materials retrieved for you. Simply click on the Request It button in the online library catalog, and library staff will retrieve your items and have them waiting for you at the Lending Desk.

Just as you did during the library renovation, you can also use the Request It button to request materials stored at the Hampden Center. Library staff will work hard to ensure that your requested items will be delivered to the Lending Desk within hours; you will receive an email when they are ready for pick up.

We began moving the books back into the library on March 5.

The monographs collection is being shelved in the compact shelves on the lower level.

The compact shelving can be moved manually, three stacks at a time. For assistance, ask at the Lending Desk, located near the front entrance, or look for instructional signs in the area.

The new books will be located on the main level, and the browsing periodicals and newspapers next to the Front Porch Cafe. The DVDs will be located on the upper level.

You will be able to continue using “Request It” to request most available materials, whether located in the library or at Hampden Center.