TAMIU Killam Library Offers New, Expanded Services, Collections

Patrons of the Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library will notice some changes and improvements to Killam Library services this fall semester. Among them are a new user interface for the interlibrary loan site, a new chat service with the reference desk, expanded digital items, new collections, additional study carrels in the first floor and one less password to remember.

“The major change over the summer was the moving of the Small Business Development Center to the third floor of the Library. To replace the lost study rooms, we added three study carrels to the first floor,” said Doug M. Ferrier, Library Director.

“We are also making a major shift in the print collection, but it’s to adjust the collection due to growth and the removal of some large collections which have been replaced online,” he explained.

Ferrier added that the Library has opened a new digitization lab and began digitizing Killam Library Special Collections and Archives materials. They have also expanded the Kozer Collection, including personal diaries, and other unique collections and plan to make them available as open access material in the Texas Digital Library.

One of those items is El Mañana, a Spanish-language newspaper from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, México. The archives can be accessed at http://repositories.tdl.org/tamiu-ir/handle/2152.4/118

“Interlibrary Loan now has a fresh new user interface. Item statuses, due dates and renewals are now much easier to see. Patrons may opt to have notices sent by email, text or both. The best part is that the service now uses CAS authentication, so there is no additional login or password to remember,” said Ferrier.

Reaching the Library Reference Desk is also easier now.

“The Killam Library recently inaugurated a chat service that allows the University community to connect live to staff at the Reference Desk to receive help with Library resources. The chat service was added to enhance the Killam Library’s rich Web presence and channels of access,” said Ferrier.

The chat service can be accessed from the Killam Library homepage, www.tamiu.edu/library by clicking on “Library Reference Chat” under the “Get Help” section. It can also be found directly at https://breeze.eto.tamiu.edu/kllivechat.  Users simply enter as a guest using their TAMIU email address.

Regular chat hours are Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Library help can also be found via email at researchhelp@tamiu.edu, Library tab on Uconncect, through Blackboard Learn: Killam Library Page, Killam Library Research Guides: http://tamiu.libguides.com/, by telephone at 956.326.2138 during reference desk hours, or Library administration at 326.2400 during University office hours.

Those doing research will want to explore the Library’s new e-resources including Dataverse, TAMIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, Nursing Education in Video, Safari Tech Books Online, Encyclopedia of Information and Science Technology, San Antonio Express News Digital Historical Archive (1867-1989), Dallas Morning News Digital Historical Archive (1885-1984) and Fort Worth Star-Telegram Digital Historical Archive (1902-1991).

Dataverse, https://dataverse.tdl.org/dataverse/tamiu, is designed for the use of TAMIU researchers to store their research data. They have the option to make it available to other research and grant agencies as required by some government grants.

TAMIU researchers have access to Dataverse, a platform for uploading datasets and files of approximately 2GB produced by TAMIU researchers. Storage space will be increased as required. Researchers can also download datasets previously uploaded by other participating institutions.

Dataverse is an open access component of the TAMIU Institutional repository available through Killam Library. For additional information and training,  please contact Nerissa Lindsey, Catalog Librarian, (nslindsey@tamiu.edu or 326.2114) or Rogelio Hinojosa, Acquisitions Librarian, (rhinojosa@tamiu.edu or 326.2123).

TAMIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) in Vireo is available at http://repositories.tdl.org/tamiu-ir/handle/2152.4/1

Vireo is a component of The Texas Digital Library, where more than 50 TAMIU ETDs are openly accessible. In coordination with the TAMIU Graduate School, Killam Library continues expanding the TAMIU ETD Collection.

Nursing Education in Video is the newest addition to the Library’s growing collection of streaming videos. The Library acquired Alexander Street’s Nursing Education in Video, a unique online collection of videos created specifically for the education and training of nurses, nursing assistants, and other healthcare workers. This collection is available at https://tamiu.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.alexanderstreet.com/mcom

Safari Tech Books Online features more than 6,000 titles. The books on this platform cover the technologies most essential to users including certification, enterprise computing, Java, Linux/Unix, Web development, Windows, XML, and more. To access, visit https://proquest.safaribooksonline.com

Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology is a prestigious 10-volume encyclopedia now in its 4th Edition and accessible through Killam Library https://tamiu.on.worldcat.org/oclc/988679389

Newspaper digital historical archives for San Antonio Express News (1867-1989) is accessible at http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/search/nb?p=WORLDNEWS&t=favorite%3ASAE%21San%2BAntonio%2BExpressNews%253A%2BHistorical%2Band%2BCurrent%2Fpubname%3A10EEA20F1A545758%21San%2BAntonio%2BExpress , Dallas Morning News(1885-1984) at http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/search/nb?p=WORLDNEWS&t=favorite%3ADMN%21Dallas%2BMorning%2BNews%253A%2BHistorical%2Band%2BCurrent%2Fpubname%3A0F99DDB671832188%21Dallas%2BMorning%2BNews and Fort Worth Star-Telegram (1902-1991) at http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/search/nb?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3A10EEA3CFD727D370%21Fort%2BWorth%2BStar-Telegram

For more information, contact Ferrier at douglas.ferrier@tamiu.edu or 326.2393 or visit offices in Killam Library 216A.

University office hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.

Additional information is available at tamiu.edu/library