ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries


258/C&RL News

Letters
Food in the library
To the Editor:

I read with interest the article entitled “No 
food, no drink, no noise” (Februaiy 1994) and 
I was amused by the author’s innovative signs 
such as “Ravenous Roaches Ravage Rootbeer 
and Rare Books.”

T w o  years ago our library dropped its 
“no drink” policy and began allowing drinks 
in any kind o f covered container. W e also eased 
our “no food” policy, prohibiting only messy, 
smelly foods such as pizzas or hamburgers 
and fries, etc. We have even gone as far as to 
establish an annual Christmas party in the li­
brary. The library provides the drinks, cookies, 
snacks, and loud Christmas music. The students 
LOVE it!

In two years I have yet to see a roach in our 
library. In fact, I have detected no major spills, 
wet books, water rings, or any o f the other 
nightmares librarians have about allowing food 
and drink in the libraiy.

In my judgment, this is a customer service 
issue. I want to do everything reasonable to 
make our students feel good about libraries. 
Allowing food and drinks has been a reason­
able concession and, I believe, it has had very 
positive repercussions.— Dennis Ingolfsland, 
Bryan College

More w om e n ’s studies resources on 
the N e t …
To the Editor:

I am writing in response to Mary Glazier’s 
article, “Internet resources for women’s stud­
ies” (March 1994). I have been doing research 
on women’s studies and the Internet and was 
very glad to see such attention given to 
women’s studies.

However, I would like to call your atten­
tion to an oversight in that article: since there 
are no databases/CD-ROMs dedicated to 
women’s studies, and others may include only 
some wom en’s studies journals, a database 
which includes almost all (over 80) such jour­
nals is CARL UnCover. CARL UnCover is avail­
able through the Internet by telnetting to 
uncover.carl.org. Also, a list I compiled o f the 
wom en’s studies-related journals on CARL 
UnCover and some search tips are available on 
the University o f Maryland gopher. Telnet to

inform.umd.edu, then choose 4. Educational Re­
sources, 17. Women’s studies, 11. Resources, 
then 6. Using CARL UnCover.

Access to women’s studies information is a 
major concern o f all librarians because women’s 
studies has been integrated into all subjects, in 
particular literature, sociology, and psychology. 
CARL UnCover is a great resource for women’s 
studies information.—-Jill Morrissey, University 
o f  Connecticut

… and another
To the Editor:

As a women’s studies librarian, I was veiy 
pleased to see Mary Glazier’s article in the 
March 1994 issue o f C&RL News.

I must point out, however, that Glazier 
makes an unfortunate omission by neglecting 
to mention the Schlesinger Library on the His­
tory o f Women in America in her section on 
OPACs.

The Schlesinger Library is one o f the larg­
est and best-known women’s history libraries 
in the world. All o f our holdings, including 
50,000 books and 2,000 manuscript collec­
tions, are listed on Harvard’s online catalog, 
HOLLIS. T o  access HOLLIS, teln et to 
HOLLIS.HARVARD.EDU. Press return for v tl00 
terminals, or enter in another type. Select 
HOLLIS from the next menu. Our holdings 
are included in the HU database.—  Wendy 
Thomas, Radcliffe College ■

(Internet cont.from page 257)

• The National Distance Learning Center 
Clearinghouse at Owensboro Community Col­
lege in Kentucky.

• The Centre for Distance Education at 
Athabasca University is creating a database of 
e-mail addresses o f adult and distance educa­
tion researchers in an effort to provide infor­
mation and connections.

• At the University of Washington, IBM and 
the university maintain a Bulletin Board Ser­
vice for educators which contains a conference 
on DE. It may be reached by telnet to 
isaac.engr.washington.edu or 128.95.32.61. This 
service requires registration. ■



May 1994/259



260/C&RL News