In the Spotlight

Dates for University Library's Book Sale

More than 7,000 new and used books -- from fields ranging from journalism to art and literature -- will be available for sale at Northwestern University Library April 8 and 11-13. The book sale will be held in the Ver Steeg Faculty Lounge on the third floor, south tower of the Main Library, 1970 Campus Drive.

All books, including 1,000 volumes of overstock from Northwestern University Press, will be sold at discounted prices. Hardcover books will be available for $3 each, regular paperbacks for $2 each, and mass-market paperbacks for $.50 each. Select books and special items such as multivolume sets, CDs, VHS tapes, serial runs, and records will be priced selectively.

Sale hours:

Friday, April 8
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Northwestern Community Day
For all Northwestern students, faculty, staff, and alumni. A valid WildCard or Alumni ID is necessary for entry.

Monday, April 11
10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Open to the general public.

Tuesday, April 12
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Open to the general public. All books 50 percent off.

Wednesday, April 13
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Open to the general public. Deep discounts on all inventory.

For more information on the book sale, contact Jessica Bartlett at 1-2932 or j-bartlett@northwestern.edu. The book sale web site is available at www.library.northwestern.edu/booksale.

Ask a Government Information Librarian

The Government Publications & Maps Department now offers online reference service through an innovative pilot program coordinated by the Illinois State Library, in collaboration with Northwestern University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Kent State University, and the University of New Mexico. The service is available to faculty, students, and the general public at http://govtinfo.org.

Anyone with Internet access can use “Ask a Government Information Librarian” to locate information on state and federal government resources and services. Users can ask a question via e-mail and receive reference assistance in real time through either a chat service or by e-mail. A librarian at one of 30 participating libraries will respond in real time, or will refer the user to a library specially qualified to handle the question. E-mail questions are answered by reference specialists within 48 hours.

More and more researchers are seeking information about government programs, services, and policies, and this virtual reference service provides them with access to libraries and reference specialists throughout the country. The pilot program is an excellent supplement to existing reference services in the Government Publications & Maps Department.

"I strongly encourage people to use this virtual reference program, which will run through May 31, 2005," says Beth Clausen, head of the Government Publications & Maps Department. "We hope the pilot program will be successful so that Northwestern can continue to provide this online government reference service to its users."

For more information about the "Ask a Government Information Librarian" service, contact Beth Clausen, Government Publications & Maps Department (1-2927 or b-clausen@northwestern.edu)