From The Desk Of The Chief Librarian

Change, in my perspective, is challenging, exciting, and creative. This semester, the library has initiated a number of changes designed to improve services for all users, starting with expanding library hours to include 12 additional Sundays this fall.

With funding provided by Provost David Lavallee, the library installed its first Web cluster with full Internet access on computers adjacent to the Information Desk in Cohen.

The Science/Engineering Library has established an Information Desk, and the local area network there has added five new workstations.

Interlibrary Loan services are expanding. Requests may now be submitted via email to illcc@cunyvm.cuny.edu.

The library instruction program is also expanding. A move into more suitable classroom space in the near future will help facilitate further growth.

New internal appointments of library personnel have also been made. I am pleased to announce the following new assignments:

Dr. Philip Barnett, Chief, Science/Engineering Library
Prof. Frances Chambers, Collection Development Officer
Prof. Herman Cline, Coordinator, Bibliographic Instruction
Prof. Jacqueline Gill, Chief, Acquisition Division
Prof. Ruth Henderson, Chief, Music Library

In a change designed to more fully integrate the Instructional Media Division into direct classroom support, the unit now reports to the college's new Deputy Provost, Dr. Ron Simmons. The library has placed its instructional media collection at the disposal of the Instructional Media Division to ensure that access to media materials and the appropriate playback technology can be provided from a single source.

And, more changes are planned this fall! The library is in the process of having electrical wiring completed which will enable the installation of 44 new public workstations offering full Internet access. Most of them will be located in the reference area in Cohen, with some earmarked for the Architecture Library.

We are also in the midst of upgrading our CD-ROM LANs in both Cohen and Science/Engineering, to provide better and faster service to the databases the library licenses. With all this comes a commitment on the library's part to upgrading the support infrastructure—to linking our technology into the college's network structure efficiently and effectively. We will also be mounting the library's WWW home page shortly.

Finally, I am pleased to report a change in our library periodicals—it will not be necessary to reduce our number of periodical subscriptions for 1997.

Comments, suggestions and feedback regarding the library's services are always welcome and should be addressed to me by calling x7271, sending email to prghc@shiva.hunter.cuny.edu, or by dropping by NAC 5/333 (Cohen Library).

Pamela Gillespie