Reference Point

New director implementing change in collections Providing students with the information sources most valuable for their work is one of Matthew Ismail's primary concerns. "I really want to reach out to students to get a better idea of how to integrate their interests with what we provide, Timothy Peters responds to a question he received online while staffi ng Park Library's Reference Desk. cellphones to instant message librarians with questions about the library's numerous resources. "We are trying our very best to make Park Library accessible to students in a mobile age, " "Students want to talk to librarians but are doing it in a diff erent way than before. " Peters says. These new technological developments also have off ered students access to information through downloading articles or requesting online versions of books whenever and wherever they happen to be. "I like how I am able to get the resources and help I need from librarians on my own time, Humes, who uses these forms of communication with Park Library. " says senior Nichole Matthew Ismail Peters says he thinks the Libraries are keeping up well with the changing technology to meet patron demands and expectations. "The ability for students to chat with librarians electronically is only aiding us to accomplish our goal of providing resources and help to patrons, who, by the way, confi rmed to the student mentioned earlier that the library not only has the North American Journal of Fisheries Management, but has it available in a convenient electronic format. • " says Peters As the library continues to incorporate digital resources into its collections, more books are available to patrons in print and online. Having learned much about collection development working for twelve years overseas, Ismail saw the position at CMU as an attractive one. While many industries are facing cutbacks due to the economy, he says he appreciates the university's continued commitment to its libraries. "The university understands that you need a great library," he says. Prior to coming to CMU, Ismail served as head of collections at the American University in Cairo and the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. After receiving his bachelor's degree in Middle Eastern studies from Hiram College in Ohio, he earned master's degrees in Middle Eastern history at The Ohio State University, humanities at the University of Minnesota, modern European history at the University of Chicago and library science at Kent State University. • 11 Libraries' new director of collections development. "It is a time of fundamental change in the library service profession." " says Ismail, the Among the fundamental changes in library collections is the shift to online resources. Ismail says the use of printed materials is declining because many users are accessing library collections electronically. Because students don't always have time to do extensive library research, Ismail says he is trying to make such information more readily available online.

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