Updates and Improvements

In the span of the past year or so, the Masland Library has upgraded the study areas in the building in order to provide the students of Cairn University with greater comfort for the long hours of reading, a quieter atmosphere for quality study sessions, and even more advanced technology options for those of us who forget our laptops, phone chargers, or earphones all the way down in Heritage Hall. Some of these additions are obvious and exciting – others are subtle, yet essential to the academic success and the mental sanity of the students of the university. The exciting additions are as follows:

• BRAND NEW headphones, ones that fit most head sizes. These headphones are classy, comfortable and sound-cancelling (for the most part). Not only will you experience quality sound, but you also get a quality look as you jam out to your tunes. No more of those clunky, old, space antennas that we used to offer. (Unless you really liked the space antennas. We still have those.)
• The downstairs computer lab has been magically transformed into a quiet study space for those of you that don’t want to be affected by the not-so-whispered conversations and the sound of books dropping in the main part of the library. Use this space for individual study – NOT for group study. (We have private study rooms available for groups to have space to discuss and work together. Check out keys for the study rooms at the front desk!*) Specialities of the quiet study space involve super big and comfy chairs, large work areas (a few of which resemble dining room tables), and inspirational pieces of art to stimulate your brain.
• We now have CHROMEBOOKS available for check-out! These sleek little pieces of technology are a great tool for those days when you spill your coffee all over your MacBook, when you forgot your power cord in your dorm room, or when you just want to try out some new technology. The Chromebooks can be checked out for 2 hours at a time, but they have to stay in the library. Make sure you treat them as if they were your own, because if you don’t.. Well.. it might cost you something**.
• Finally, the most exciting addition of all. The Masland Library has FINALLY – after years of tears, petitions, pleas, suggestion cards, threats, and stiff backs – added BEANBAGS to your library experience. These beanbags serve many purposes, of few of which I will name.

WHAT BEANBAGS ARE FOR

1. Sitting on
2. Taking that inevitable study break nap
3. Hanging out with your friends in comfort (quietly, of course***)
4. Writing papers and doing research while feeling like you’re enveloped in a cloud
5. Generally enjoying because they are soft and fluffy and big and lovely and infinitely better than the chairs

WHAT BEANBAGS NOT FOR

1. Throwing over the second floor balcony. Seriously. No. That’s how people die.
2. Canoodling. Shenanigans. You know what I mean. All those Cairn couples out there.. One person per beanbag, please. PDA to the minimum, please. For everyone else’s sake, please.. Leave room for Jesus.
3. Eating food. These beanbags are in pristine (kind of) condition and deserve to be treated with respect to keep them as beautiful and comfortable as they are now. Also, you’re not allowed to be eating food in the library anyways****, so.. Keep that in mind as you enjoy the fluff.
4. Building forts. Those suckers are pretty hefty, so keep them on the floor, okay*****? It’s better for everyone that way.

Take advantage of all of these upgrades******! They are here to make your life easier, happier, and less stressful. Happy Thursday!

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* Seriously. We will ask you to relocate to a noise-friendly area of the library.

** Cost you something like the price of a Chromebook. Or your technology-using privileges.

*** Seriously. We will call security to escort you from the premises in handcuffs if you can’t keep your voices down. Well.. maybe not in handcuffs, but.. Be respectful, okay?

**** Nobody likes ants and rodents hanging out by the beanbags, right? Right. Keep the crumbs in the library. Seriously.

***** Seriously. Do your back and your tired limbs a favor and leave them on the floor.

****** Seriously!! We want you to be here and we have these resources for your enjoyment and convenience.

~Emily Tielmann

Summer reading

Looking for a book this summer? Student worker Ryan Eshelman provides us with a view into e-books.
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It seems like every time a new piece of technology is introduced, people are quick to jump on the bandwagon and proclaim it as “The next big thing”, often supposedly rendering whatever it replaced obsolete. This happened somewhat recently, with the introduction of electronic books, or “eBooks” for short.

eBooks were not regarded as much of a threat to physical print at launch, as they had to be read on a bulky home computer. However, in 2007, Amazon released the Kindle, a portable eBook reader. Able to store over a thousand books, this changed everything. Although not the first eReader, the Kindle was so wildly popular that it sold out within 5 hours of launch, and libraries everywhere started integrating technology to allow patrons to “check out” eBooks, which would then delete themselves after a set period. 6 years later, eReaders have become mainstream, with many people owning one, or a tablet with an eBook reader app.[For more information see our Libguide on Tablets.]

Yet this doesn’t necessarily mean that physical books are dying. There are many reasons to still head to Masland Library to check out a book. For one thing, it’s free. While there are a few classics that can be downloaded onto a reader for free, the majority of eBooks cost money. Another wonderful feature of the physical book is that it can’t run out of power. Some people just prefer the feel of turning the pages of a physical book in their hands, or even the satisfying “thud” of slamming a finished book closed. Whatever your preferences, the Masland Library has both physical and electronic resources available to you, to suit any need or inclination.

To see what the Masland Library has available you can check the Library Catalog for more information.  To download ebooks from the Masland Library you will need to download the ebrary app from either Google Play or the iTunes store.   

Future of the Library?

The only true equalizers in the world are books; the only treasure-house open to all comers is a library; the only wealth which will not decay is knowledge; the only jewel which you can carry beyond the grave is wisdom.
– J. A. Langford

No furniture is so charming as books.
– Sydney Smith

There has been a lot of debate in the media about ebooks, ereaders and tablets. It has become a badge of honor to be in a certain camp for either digital or print media, kind of on par with the Twilight obsessed fans of Team Jacob or Edward (insert eye rolling here). Personally I find myself in both media camps. I cannot say one media source is better than another, in fact I will probably be working with both for the remainder of my life. Will I buy an ereader? I believe I may, but I will be waiting for a reader that accomplishes all of my goals and wishlist of services. Will I give up my print library? For certain books I believe I may, but will I give up my classics? The books that I wish my future friends and children to read? Not at all.

{Geekiness warning} Growing up I watched whatever my dad had on and my most vivid memories are of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Jean Luc Picard is in my opinion the most awesome of all Star Trek captains, he has a amazing voice, he was kind to children and his crew, and he appreciated the Arts. In his quarters he played classical music and even had physical books lying around, but when we saw him reading he was always on his “tablet” reader. To me as a child that was the epitome of cool (that and when I discovered that Jordy was that guy on Reading Rainbow). When I hold a Kindle or Nook, I feel like I am on Star Trek reading awesome Classic books with style, much like Cpt. Picard.

So now you are probably wondering why I have brought up this meandering midst of memories? As a student at Philadelphia Biblical University you have been blessed with receiving an education that takes an interest in you and your worldview. We want our students to succeed, all the faculty and staff are here to invest ourselves in your future., That is a gift that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Part of that investment is the Library and its databases and its physical offerings. Regardless of whether you prefer print or digital media we have resources for you. With over 70 databases and more than a 100,000 physical items on our shelves, we have and continue to develop our offerings to meet the needs of our students and their programs of study. So if you want to immerse yourself in the print resources you may do so, or if you are busy commuter who prefers working online you can conduct your research from your favorite wireless location. Whichever way suites you best than we are here to accommodate you. If you need pointers or have suggestions on how we can improve our services we would love to hear from you. You can contact us through “Ask a Librarian” or you can also make suggestions about items to acquire.

~Laura Saloiye