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Dean's Welcome
 
Dean Binder
Welcome to the web site of the Western Kentucky University Libraries. Under the leadership of Haiwang Yuan, Web Site and Virtual Library Coordinator, our Web Site Team has been keeping our site up-to-date. As you can see from the redesigned homepage, our library faculty and staff have been working hard to provide you with various information resources, from print and electronic library materials to a value-added web directory; and from research guides to information of particular interest to our WKU and community constituents, such as the Kentucky Information in Cyberspace and resources on the Kentucky Education Reform Act. The Kentucky Library and Museum, a valuable component of Western University Libraries, has been digitizing some of its collections and making them available to the public via the Internet. This effort is seen in the newly redesigned Kentucky Library and Museum Online and the ongoing Mammoth Cave National Park Digital Library partner project.

From the Libraries’ web site, you will also discover that many new developments have been ongoing to enhance our library services, including:

  • initiation of proxy server software providing remote access to our electronic databases with simple login procedures
  • installation of compact shelving on the ground floor of Helm Library
  • reopening of the Helm Library entrance and housing the Java City coffeehouse within its interior
  • laptop University pilot program enabling our patrons to borrow a laptop computer to use wirelessly in the Helm-Cravens Library
  • launch of WILLS (Western’s Interactive Live Library Service), a virtual reference service allowing you to have your questions answered in real time
  • establishment of a Community Outreach office with a full scope of activities including the Southern Kentucky Book Fest
  • expansion of e-book, music CD, and movie DVD collections
  • implementation of TDNet, an e-journal finder service that enables library patrons to access nearly 18,000 e-journals

In collaboration with the University's academic departments, the library faculty in the Department of Library Public Services have developed and are maintaining departmental and subject research guides that have been incorporated within TIP (Topper InfoPortal). I think you will enjoy browsing their selections and find this resource of continuing value. The University Libraries faculty have enjoyed significant professional and academic accomplishments and won recognition nationally, regionally and campuswide for their achievements. You may readily locate them from our library liaison pages and organization charts. We strive to be responsive to the citizens and the needs of the Bowling Green area and are actively involved in developing partnerships with the community. Since 1999, with the Bowling Green Public Library and Barnes & Noble, we have organized the highly acclaimed Southern Kentucky Book Fest. At Barnes & Noble, with the sponsorship of Integra Bank, we have been hosting a series of "Far Away Places with Strange Sounding Names!" international talks by Western faculty. In addition, we are hosting a "Kentucky Live! Southern Culture at Its Best" lecture series sponsored by Trace Die Cast. We continue to look for opportunities to contribute our expertise to enriching the cultural understanding for our region. Globally, in addition to a partnership with the public library of Bowling Green's sister city, Kawanishi, Japan, we have established an exchange program with Chongqing University of Industry & Business, China. In sum, there is much that we at Western Kentucky University Libraries are proud of as our highly motivated and devoted faculty and staff continue their work to improve and expand services and programs. Thank you for visiting our web home. Please come back and visit us often.


Michael Binder
Dean of Libraries
Western Kentucky University

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E-Mail library.web@wku.edu. Phone (270) 745-6125. Fax (270) 745-6422.
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