Malpass Library revisits the 80's
Karen Tableiou
Issue date: 9/3/08 Section: The Edge
Last Friday, the Inter-Library Loan services at the Malpass Library hosted an '80s day festival to inform and encourage students to use their new system, Iliad.
In the offices of the ILL, a variety of displays were set up dealing with the best of the best in the '80s, such as the top TV shows, bestsellers and music. They also advertised some of the celebrities who visited Western during the decade: The Go-Gos, Cheap Trick and Jean Kilbourne, to name a few.
Door prizes such as a Led Zeppelin poster, gift certificates for the Phoenix and Spirit in the Sky, and '80s accessories were available to participants.
The '80s theme was first conceived at a staff motivation event and it was decided to be used as an outreach to Western students. The goal was to shed more light on the ILL and promote its use by students.
Aside from the various displays, the main attraction was Iliad. This new Inter-Library Loan system is entirely electronic; forget all the forms and papers of the old days, the ILL has moved into the 21st century.
Iliad was first introduced in February and, with all kinks worked out of the system, is ready to work for the students of Western. This new system allows students to borrow books not only in Illinois and the rest of the country, but the world as well. Other materials (besides books) can also be borrowed. If you're searching for a certain DVD, CD, video or microfilm, then Iliad is the right way to go.
Signing up for the system is easy as pie. You can access and sign up to Iliad through the library's Web site, and from there you have access to the world's books. All participants of the '80s day were given the opportunity to sign up for Iliad at the event and to ask any questions of the ILL staff.
It is not required, though, for students to sign up at the ILL offices, and you can access Iliad wherever you are.
If you've never used the ILL system then you are sorely missing out. Malpass Library only has so many books available, but students regularly require books outside of Western's collection. You can also order photocopies of materials that can be in print or available as PDF files. Besides Iliad, another service provided by the ILL is I-Share, which is strictly statewide, drawing from 75 different libraries in Illinois.
In the offices of the ILL, a variety of displays were set up dealing with the best of the best in the '80s, such as the top TV shows, bestsellers and music. They also advertised some of the celebrities who visited Western during the decade: The Go-Gos, Cheap Trick and Jean Kilbourne, to name a few.
Door prizes such as a Led Zeppelin poster, gift certificates for the Phoenix and Spirit in the Sky, and '80s accessories were available to participants.
The '80s theme was first conceived at a staff motivation event and it was decided to be used as an outreach to Western students. The goal was to shed more light on the ILL and promote its use by students.
Aside from the various displays, the main attraction was Iliad. This new Inter-Library Loan system is entirely electronic; forget all the forms and papers of the old days, the ILL has moved into the 21st century.
Iliad was first introduced in February and, with all kinks worked out of the system, is ready to work for the students of Western. This new system allows students to borrow books not only in Illinois and the rest of the country, but the world as well. Other materials (besides books) can also be borrowed. If you're searching for a certain DVD, CD, video or microfilm, then Iliad is the right way to go.
Signing up for the system is easy as pie. You can access and sign up to Iliad through the library's Web site, and from there you have access to the world's books. All participants of the '80s day were given the opportunity to sign up for Iliad at the event and to ask any questions of the ILL staff.
It is not required, though, for students to sign up at the ILL offices, and you can access Iliad wherever you are.
If you've never used the ILL system then you are sorely missing out. Malpass Library only has so many books available, but students regularly require books outside of Western's collection. You can also order photocopies of materials that can be in print or available as PDF files. Besides Iliad, another service provided by the ILL is I-Share, which is strictly statewide, drawing from 75 different libraries in Illinois.
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