Alabama’s Gorgas Library undergoes extreme, ‘eco-friendly’ makeover
Mobile Press-Register – Jan. 12
The University of Alabama Gorgas Library’s first floor is expected to reopen with a new look in February, with brighter colors, better lighting and a new space to be known as the Gorgas Library Learning Commons…”We’re creating a communal space in a library where students and faculty come together to work, to do research, to get help from librarians, to get coffee – or do whatever,” Gary Wasdin, assistant dean for Gorgas Library access and information services, said in a university news release. “Obviously technology is a big part of it, but a lot more of it has to do with the idea of community.” Growth of the University of Alabama’s student body has led to increased use of the Gorgas Library and, in turn, the renovation, Wasdin said. “Use of the library, interestingly enough, has actually grown even higher than the rate of enrollment for the university,” Wasdin said. “We’ve seen 10 to 15 percent more users in the library that we had even last year.”…The redesign will add more electrical sockets to plug in laptops, and the computer areas will accommodate technology users bring with them, including iPhones…
New findings on dark energy back discarded Einstein theory
Christian Science Monitor – Jan. 6
Scientists have found that dark energy, the force thought to be accelerating the expansion of the universe, may be doing the same thing to local groups of galaxies. That bolsters Einstein’s idea of a ‘cosmological constant.’… “We have an outflow that is consistent on the scale of millions of light years with the value of the dark energy that’s obtained by studying galaxies billions of light years away,” says University of Alabama astronomer Gene Byrd, a member of the team. He described the results at a briefing today at the American Astronomical Society’s winter meeting in Washington…
UA group donates $8.800 in books
Crimson White – Jan. 13
More than $8,800 worth of books were donated by the UA School of Library and Information Studies through its Book Bonanza Program to schools in the black belt region of Alabama in December of 2009. Fifteen schools applied for the program, and the winners were chosen based on level of need. “Several school library media centers that applied this year had an average nonfiction copyright date of the 1970s across all subject areas,” said Jamie Naidoo, creator of the program and assistant and foster-EBSCO endowed professor. “This means that many of their books in areas such as science and technology were much older than the 1970s.”
Students find options for books
Crimson White – Jan. 13
Students are finding alternatives to purchasing regular textbooks as technology moves forward, making digital formats a more attainable option. Teresa Shreve, director of the University SUPe Store, said students now have many options when making textbook purchases. “The store continues to stock several textbook options for students – hardback, paperback, binder-ready, digital and rental,” Shreve said in an e-mail. Shreve said the textbook rental program is relatively new. The Supply Store began the program during the fall semester and it has been well received by students, she said. The digital format textbooks have also become more popular with students. “The store orders digital format books when they are available for a title,” Shreve said…
UA’s national championship benefits Tuscaloosa
FOX6 (Birmingham) – Jan. 12
…another unexpected benefit for the city of Tuscaloosa. The Convention and Visitors Bureau says the national exposure is putting points on the city’s economic scoreboard.
Alabama House of Representatives passes resolution praising the University of Alabama football team
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Jan. 12
…The (Alabama) House approved a resolution praising the University of Alabama football team for winning the BCS National Championship.
Saban Wins Leadership Innovation Award
WAAY (Huntsville) – Jan. 12
…Nick Saban is the winner of the 2009 Leadership Innovation Award…