Masland Library Blog

Looking for a book this summer? Student worker Ryan Eshelman provides us with a view into e-books.
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It seems like every time a new piece of technology is introduced, people are quick to jump on the bandwagon and proclaim it as “The next big thing”, often supposedly rendering whatever it replaced obsolete. This happened somewhat recently, with the introduction of electronic books, or “eBooks” for short.

eBooks were not regarded as much of a threat to physical print at launch, as they had to be read on a bulky home computer. However, in 2007, Amazon released the Kindle, a portable eBook reader. Able to store over a thousand books, this changed everything. Although not the first eReader, the Kindle was so wildly popular that it sold out within 5 hours of launch, and libraries everywhere started integrating technology to allow patrons to “check out” eBooks, which would then delete themselves after a set period. 6 years later, eReaders have become mainstream, with many people owning one, or a tablet with an eBook reader app.[For more information see our Libguide on Tablets.]

Yet this doesn’t necessarily mean that physical books are dying. There are many reasons to still head to Masland Library to check out a book. For one thing, it’s free. While there are a few classics that can be downloaded onto a reader for free, the majority of eBooks cost money. Another wonderful feature of the physical book is that it can’t run out of power. Some people just prefer the feel of turning the pages of a physical book in their hands, or even the satisfying “thud” of slamming a finished book closed. Whatever your preferences, the Masland Library has both physical and electronic resources available to you, to suit any need or inclination.

To see what the Masland Library has available you can check the Library Catalog for more information.  To download ebooks from the Masland Library you will need to download the ebrary app from either Google Play or the iTunes store.   

Ever wonder about when and where you can take your girl or spouse on a date for no cost? I know the exact place for you to take your date for free of charge and when that place is open. The Masland Library at Cairn University is open for couples to go on library dates! Library dates are a fun experience for couples to have if they are broke and want to have an excellent but studious time together.

A library date occurs when a guy (or girl) wants to take their loved one on a date that is free of charge. The first thing that they need to know is when the Masland Library is open. The library is open on Monday to Thursday from 7:30 AM to 11:00 PM; Friday from 7:30 AM to 7:00 PM; Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM; and Sunday from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM.  For special hours please see our library hours page here. When the library is open, the date will begin when once a couple enters the library. The order of events that will be described does not have to be done chronologically.

If the couple has a love of art and romance then the first place they should go together in the library is to see the Grace Livingstone Exhibit and also see the other art that is featured on the Mezzanine level. Second, they will go to the downstairs computer lab where a lovely student assistant will greet them. In the computer lab, they will sit at two different computers and get on Facebook (if they have Facebook accounts) and Facebook chat with each other. They will continue to send each other adorable messages for a little while. Next, while they are still at their computers, they will show each other their favorite databases that are offered on the library website: library.cairn.edu. Some of those databases may include ARTstor (which is famous for Lit/Arts projects), Business Source Elite (which is very helpful for business research), JSTOR Arts/Sciences Collections, and many more!

After sharing some memorable moments in the computer lab, the couple will go to Juvenile Lab which is located next to the Curriculum Lab on the Mezzanine level. As they browse the various children's books, they will have an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia and will grab their favorite children's books from the shelves and proceed to read to their loved ones. The time in the Juvenile Lab is a great time to pour your childhood feelings into someone else so that they may love you all the more. The books in the Juvenile Lab are also useful for the elementary education majors. When the couple finishes with their stories, they will find one of the small cubicle desks in the library and share it. The cubicle desks are very useful for all students to use when they want to do homework with peace and quiet. So with peace and quiet, the couple can sit together and whisper sweet little nothings to each other. The couple will leave the library very much in love and still without money. Nonetheless, they will treasure those sweet moments together during their library date for the rest of their days.

Some of these ideas are simple ideas for loved ones to invest their time in if they want to have cheap library dates. Enjoy the Masland Library and all of the wonderful dates you may have there. I trust that the student body at Cairn University will also have ideas to contribute to the concept of a cheap library date, and I hope they will treasure those moments.

~Daniel Wright

It has come upon us once again. That time of the year where students pull all-nighters with their noses stuffed into books and coffee in their hands. We all know the stress of finals week, so the library is offering some good news to hard-core study students! The library will be open an extra hour than later, making closing time midnight instead of 11! We also advise you to make use of the study rooms that can be checked out at the front desk, if having people going by will get you distracted. The study rooms help you to focus on your studies and not get distracted by friends who walk by.

And if you need time to de-stress, you can check out a movie to help relax! With May 4th having just passed us, a personal recommendation is one of the Star Wars movies. The movies will come up on a search in the library catalog, and can be checked out at the front desk. And for those of you who listen to music while you study, the library has headphones to check out at the front desk as well!

Hope all of our commodities help with this last week of craziness. Good studying!

~Rachel

The library has a wide collection of different and special places spread out across the building. Whether it’s the comfortable curriculum lab, or the computer lab that encourages productivity, the library offers many neat spots to study, do homework, or simply chill after a long day.

Most people are not aware that there are two sets of stairways in the library. The flight of stairs that everybody uses is the main stairway, in the front of the library. What most people don’t know is that there is another flight of stairs in the back of the library.

Maybe I’m biased, but I think the back stairway is the coolest spot in the library, and probably one of the coolest spots on campus.

It stretches from the basement door (behind which is the rare book collection, LP records, and excess shelving), to the second story door (which is of course home to curriculum lab, music reference, computer lab, and stacks). The whole stairway is lined with large windows, looking out on the pond, driveway through campus, and the athletic fields in the distance. With such tall windows, looking out from above provides what has to be one of the best views on campus. Some days while I’m working, I’ll find myself on the stairway to deliver a book upstairs, and the view stops me. The way the light shines, or the vantage point causes me to stop and admire God’s beauty.

The next time you’re in the library and you need a study break, or you’re a photographer with nothing to take pictures of, or you need a spot of reflection, try the back staircase. It provides a unique quiet minute (or two) away from your loud, busy college life.

Just another way you can take advantage of what the library has to offer!

|Andrew