Fogler Library Friends - The OliveTree

VOLUME 19 NUMBER 1, SPRING 2011

Around the Library

Introducing OneSearch
OneSearch, a simple and fast search engine that helps you discover relevant information on any topic from the Fogler Library collections, is now available on the library home page <http://www.library.umaine.edu/>. It's a great place to start your research in scholarly journals, books, and more. From your search results, it's one step to the full text of articles or to finding a book on the shelf.
OneSearch is not a complete replacement for searching the library's subscription databases, but it is a convenient way to get an overview of the literature on a topic.
The OneSearch search box is set to exclude results from newspapers. If you are searching for a current-events topic or would otherwise like to see newspaper articles, you can uncheck the "Exclude Newspaper Articles" box on the left side of the search results screen.
OneSearch is always growing and changing, and at Fogler Library we want to make sure we are serving your needs as best as we can. Please use Ask a Librarian <http://maine.cb.docutek.com/um/vrl_entry.asp> to let us know what you think.

Air Conditioning Comes to Fogler Library
Thanks to a bond approved by State of Maine voters, Fogler Library will have air conditioning in a portion of the building by summer. Work on the ventilation systems began December 20th and will continue through the late spring. To keep distractions to a minimum, we have tried to schedule the most disruptive work when Fogler is closed and/or during semester breaks.
Signage has been posted throughout the duration of the project to assist our users in locating areas that are the most conducive to research and study. Both library staff and our summer users can look forward to a more comfortable work environment when the project is complete.

Fogler Library Sponsors Town Reports Event
Is your family name in the town report? Did it appear there in 1898? What did this mean? Do you still think of the annual reports prepared by towns in Maine as dull bureaucratic documents detailing arcane activities of municipal governments, of little interest to anyone except local residents? This view was challenged in a program sponsored by the Friends of Fogler Library entitled Town Reports: Rich Texts, Vital Resources, held in the Special Collections Reading Room of Fogler Library on Monday, November 15th.

Librarians Mel Johnson and Richard Hollinger demonstrated that town reports are unique and valuable resources for local history and genealogy, and are essential sources for research on regional and state history as well, containing information about social history often available nowhere else.

The program also featured Maine Town Reports Online, where digitized historical reports from a number of Maine towns can be viewed. This site is a collaborative project between Fogler Library, the Maine State Library and several municipalities and historical societies.
Individuals, towns and organizations that would like to add their town’s reports to this site should contact Sharon Quinn Fitzgerald at Fogler Library (voice: 581-1667, email: sharonquinn.fitzgerald@umit.maine.edu).

Fourth Cohen Papers Forum a Success
How can we, as citizens, make use of the tremendous amount of information available in our modern, electronic era in a meaningful way? This was one of the many questions raised by members of the audience at the fourth William S. Cohen Papers Forum organized by Fogler Library, held at Wells Conference Center in November. The full-day event focused on the topic of transparency and featured speakers who offered national and regional perspectives on the advantages and disadvantages of readily available digital information—whether regarding the activities of government agencies, non-profit organizations, or individuals.

The keynote speaker, Cary Coglianese--a professor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and representative of the national, nonpartisan Task Force on Transparency--encouraged the audience to distinguish between “fishbowl transparency,” or the ability to see bits of information online, and “reasoned transparency,” an additional benchmark where agency decisions are clearly articulated and the evidence on which the decisions are based is made publicly accessible.

Additional speakers represented agencies that have been involved with transparency efforts or legislation including the office of Senator Susan Collins, the Maine Heritage Policy Center, Maine.gov, and the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition. Several University of Maine professors discussed their research including Sunny Skye Hughes of the Communication and Journalism Department, Amy Fried of Political Science, Carolyn Ball of the Department of Public Administration, and Joline Blais and Jon Ippolito of the New Media Department.

In a final session, Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, the director and producer of the documentary film The Way We Get By, shared their experiences studying journalism, their impressions of the news media while covering events in the Boston area, and their transition into documentary film-making. They were joined by the three individuals featured prominently in the film to discuss the challenging balance between capturing compelling film footage while respecting the privacy of those involved.

The topic of transparency emerged from the Cohen Papers in a number of ways. Following Watergate, Cohen expressed that greater openness in government would be the only way to regain the trust of the American people. He was a leader in legislation that allowed journalists to protect their sources, and frequently wrote about the delicate balance between freedom of the press and ensuring national security. The Forum was organized as an opportunity to examine issues drawn from the archival materials and discuss them in the context of current events.
The day opened with a welcome from Library Dean Joyce Rumery and a presentation by Mike Hastings, the Director of Research and Sponsored Programs and former member of Cohen’s staff. The day was provided with the assistance of the Bangor Daily News, the Cultural Affairs/Distinguished Lecture Series, Maine Humanities Council, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Max Kagan Family Foundation, and the Cohen Center for International Policy and Commerce.

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