Something New!
Reading Room Focuses on Works of the Pacific NW
By Paul Piper, Special Collections Librarian
 The room known by students as the Harry Potter Room has been transformed, and although students will no doubt continue to call it the Harry Potter Room, the stately and ornate Four Central Reading Room, designed in the late 1920’s by architects Charles H. Bebb and Carl F. Gould, now houses the Northwest Collection.
What is the Northwest Collection you ask? The Western Libraries’ Northwest Collection is a rich and extensive resource for information on the Pacific Northwest, a region defined as Oregon, Washington, Idaho, British Columbia, and Alaska.
The collection features works by authors, scholars, and others whose efforts have contributed significantly to the interpretation and understanding of the Northwest region. This circulating collection of books and video emphasizes important works on regional and local history; art; literature; business, labor, industry and commerce; science and technology; agriculture and natural resources; politics, government, and law; environment and conservation; ethnicity and culture; geography; and archaeology, and anthropology.
Additionally it features work by renowned Pacific Northwest authors and film-makers whose scope of creation has expanded beyond the region. This collection will significantly enhance research and instruction for students, staff and faculty alike.
It is a living, growing collection that we will continue to build. It is a browsing and circulating collection. So, in addition to authors like David Gutterson and Tom Robbins – which one would expect to find – view some of the other amazing offerings in the gallery of titles linked here.
From beautifully photographed works of tribal art to a video telling the incredible story of Bellingham’s own “Mountain Runners” who foreshadowed the modern Ski-to-Sea racers there are works that will speak to every northwesterner.
This newly developed space provides plenty of seating, tables, and it is a quiet area. A perfect place to create a respite in your normally busy day, browsing and reading.
The Reading Room also serves as a special place to connect technology-empowered students to the historic research libraries of the past. And last but not least, the Libraries plans to use the room for events and exhibitions that advance our knowledge of the Northwest. Stay tuned.
For more information, contact paul.piper@wwu.edu.
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This Issue's Great Tip
Streaming Video: In Canvas and In the Classroom
By Gabe Gossett, Librarian for Extended Education
 Increasingly, as services like Netflix take off, we are used to streaming videos online. Streaming video can be an excellent teaching resource since it allows for flexibility. Rather than taking up class time to show a film professors can “flip” the class and place streaming videos on reserve. Hybrid and online courses can better take advantage of streaming video as well.
At Western Libraries we are fully aware of this trend. Around this time last year we let you know about access to 20,000+ documentary collections through Academic Video Online. We have continued to work towards meeting demand for streaming video and are pleased to announce a few more resources you can access.
Environmental and social issues are common areas of focus at Western. Because of that we have lined up a package of 240 documentary titles from distributors such as Bullfrog and Icarus Films. You can browse and view these titles through OneSearch or by accessing them through Docuseek2 in the database list.
Many instructors seek access to streaming feature films and we can meet this need through Swank Films, which allows us to get access to films on a course-by-course basis. You won’t find these films through the OneSearch catalog, since access on a per title basis and streamed directly to a specific course in Canvas, but you can find out which titles are available by searching the Swank catalog. Contact a librarian for details on how to arrange for a streaming feature film in your course.
Even if a film is not available through one of the sources described we might still be able to get streaming access to it. Currently, if you place a purchase request for a video we will check for streaming access and default to purchasing that, unless you ask us to do otherwise. We do have some limitations, such as distributors that don’t provide streaming access. However, we are constantly seeking ways in which to meet our patrons’ needs for new media. In the near future you can expect clarifications around policies related to the streaming of DVD and VHS content.
If you have questions about streaming video don’t hesitate to contact a librarian about the options that might be available to you!
More information about streaming video can be found on our Streaming Video Guide or contact gabe.gossett@wwu.edu.
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