Welcome to the Fall 2024 Semester
By Hannah Herrlich, Emerging Technologies Librarian
Welcome back, Rams! The Fall 2024 semester has officially begun, and the University Libraries is thrilled to open its doors to the Fordham community for the start of another academic year. After a long, and may we add, sweltering, hot summer, it’s time to hit the ground running, crack open some books, and grab the semester by the (ram) horns!
New and Improved Services
Who doesn’t love a makeover? While you were out, we did some spring– or summer– cleaning and spruced up a few of our favorite library resources and services.
Enterprise
In our last blog post, we featured the details and highlights of the new library catalog format, Enterprise. Enterprise operates in the same fashion as the previous catalog, but includes enhanced searching capabilities and personalized features that provide our users with a smoother search experience. Don’t just take our word for it- Try it out for yourself, here!
Database Homepage
The database homepage also got a makeover. You still can scour the database list by honing in on discipline and using keywords, and now, searches can also be narrowed through the type of material. For example, if you wish to search for “Art & Architecture” databases that also include images, you may now do so, simply by going to the “types” dropdown bar and clicking “images.”
Library Homepage
The catalog and database pages aren’t the only facets of our online library that have undergone remodels and renovations; the library homepage was also zhuzhed up. Don’t worry, it’s still the same library homepage that you know and love, but this time with some additional quick links to our most popular resources and services, such as:
And lest we forget…
The Library Blog!
Papercut Printing System
Over the summer, the university upgraded to the new Ram Print service, allowing anyone to securely print, copy, or scan materials at any Ram Print device. With the new printing system comes new printers (and who doesn’t love the sight of a new multi-function printer in the Library?) We have new Canons in the EIC on the Lower Level; on the Fourth Floor across from the elevators; and in the Computer Lab (108B) and the Reference Room on the First Floor.
New-ish Services
Walsh Student Lounge
Last semester, we opened the Walsh Library Student Lounge (yes, of course there is a blog post about it). Located on the First Floor of the Walsh Library, Walsh 108A is now the Student Lounge- An inviting environment for students who want a place to relax, get away from their books for a while, read their books for a while, enjoy a coffee, or simply ponder life, the universe, and everything. The Student Lounge is the perfect place for when you want to be in the library, but maybe you don’t want to feel like you’re in the library. Designed with evoking the vibes from your favorite coffee shop in mind, the Student Lounge is equipped with comfortable plush chairs, coffee table books, and various study playlists accessible through QR codes.
LITE
There are more than just books in the library! Tucked away beneath the Walsh Library Atrium, on the Ground Floor, lies LITE: Learning Innovation Technology Environment. As a collaboration between Information Technology (IT) and the University Libraries, LITE brings an integrated learning commons to the Fordham community. Here is just a snapshot of some of the many services and state-of-the-art equipment that LITE offers:
- A Makerspace with 3D printers, 3D scanners, a laser cutter, CNC router, and more
- Sound-controlled recording and podcasting rooms with microphones and HD cameras
- An Extended Reality area with Meta, HTC, Microsoft, and Sony headsets
- One Button Studio, an easy-to-use video recording environment with a light board
- High-end PC and Mac workstations for multimedia production with Adobe Creative Cloud
- Collaborative work areas with wireless presentation displays and glass whiteboards
Needless to say, LITE has something for everyone. Don’t just take our word for it- Take a virtual tour, or better yet, stop by in-person.
Tried and True, Reliable Services
Here at Fordham University Libraries, we know that starting a new semester can be overwhelming, to say the least. Though there are plenty of new and exciting features within our University Libraries, there are also still many of our tried-and-true library resources and services that remain available to you. We recommend referring to our University Libraries Survival Guide for insight and information on some of our most popular resources and services, such as access & borrowing, library tutorial, and room reservations, to name a few.
We wish everyone a smooth and splendid Fall 2024 semester!
As we embrace the start of the Fall 2024 semester, we invite you to explore all of the library resources and services available to you. Questions, comments, concerns? Reach out to us through our Ask a Librarian portal.
