WVUP Library

By Robert Walling
Barbara Marquess has joined the West Virginia University at Parkersburg Library staff. After working last year at the West Virginia University downtown library, she transferred this past summer to WVUP to be closer to her family. Barbara enjoys working at the Parkersburg campus because our smaller staff allows her a “greater variety of duties,” she says.

When returning students walk into the library this fall, they will immediately notice the 18 new computers and 2 printers at their disposal. However, students are doing more than browsing the Internet in this newly upgraded facility. There has been an upsurge in the number of library cards issued.

Several new services have been added to the library’s electronic resources. The Oxford Reference Online premium service is a new addition to the online book-search engines. This tool gives students access to about 200 reference works in a wide range of academic fields.

Students studying history will find the American Council of Learned Societies' History E-Book Project. This site provides access to over 70,000 books, recounting human history from the time of the Neanderthals to the current conflict in the Middle East.

The music search engine Naxos Music Library provides links to about 80,000 music titles in classical, folk and many other genres. Students can access the service by clicking the Naxos link on the library home page and typing “WVUP” as both a user name and password.

If students wish to use the Internet on their own laptops, the library provides a wireless network. The service extends throughout the library and the nearby student lounge.

To answer student’s requests, library hours have been extended. The library is now open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.