June 2013
Dedication to Noam Chomsky
14-28 June, 2013
Noam Chomsky, "the father of modern linguistics", is to receive this evening an Honorary Doctorate from the American University of Beirut.
To honor Doctor Chomsky for his outstanding contribution to academia, the University Libraries will hold a two-week book exhibit highlighting selected titles and book chapters at Jafet, main lobby.
The Libraries' book stacks accommodate a fine collection of Chomsky's publications—a total of 72 books, in addition to hundreds of other books in which his work is discussed or referred to.
Summer Semester
Welcome returning students for the summer. Students not taking courses in the summer can borrow up to five books from the library.
Congratulations to all graduating students. You are welcome to continue visiting and using the library as AUB alumni.
Children's Book Exhibition
The University Libraries are currently holding a Children's Book Exhibition at Jafet, Main Lobby, May 27-June 16.
The books displayed are student’s projects, prepared by Dr. Amal Bou Zein Eddine's EDUC 218 - Children's Literature class, and include illustrated stories, fairy tales, poetry, fiction, etc.
Featured also is a selection of children's literature books and multilingual stories from the Libraries' collections.
Do not miss the closing ceremony on 12 June 2013, 3-5pm that will host Lebanese publishers and student authors and designers.
Guest author and publisher speakers are: Fatima Sharafeddine, Samar Mahfouz Barraj and Shereen Kreidieh.
Place: Jafet Library lobby
Date: June 12, 3:00-5:00 pm.
May 2013
A Public Lecture: RDA for the Non-Cataloger: What's in It for You?
The AUB Libraries and the Lebanese Library Association invite you to attend a public lecture on RDA, Resource Description and Access, the new cataloging standard which many libraries have started implementing as of early 2013. What will this mean for technical services and other library staff? How are RDA records different from AACR2 records? This lecture provides a general overview of the changes in RDA, particularly those affecting staff in technical services and those noticeable in the OPAC. No knowledge of current cataloging standards or MARC is required! This session does not teach how to catalog with RDA, but it provides a useful foundation for library staff and administrators, as well as to catalogers new to RDA.
Speaker: Ms. Lori Robare, Professor and Monographic Team Leader, University of Oregon
Date: May 31, 2013
Place: AUB, West Hall, Room 402
Time: 3:00-5:00pm
RDA Workshop
The AUB Libraries and the American International Consortium of Academic Libraries (AMICAL) are jointly organizing a week-long (May 27-31st, 2013) workshop on RDA, the Resource Description and Access new cataloging standard which is currently being implemented across libraries in the world. Led by Ms. Lori Robare (University of Oregon), and Ms. Iman Dagher (UCLA), the workshop offers a general overview of cataloging rules in RDA, highlights changes and differences with the previous cataloging rules (AACR2), and offers hands-on exercises and modules. Participants include AMICAL members from various countries (Bulgaria, Egypt, Morocco, Kuwait, Lebanon), as well as invited guests from the Lebanese National Library and the Lebanese University, in addition to AUB Library staff. The workshop is generously supported by AUB, AMICAL and sponsors (Elsevier, ProQuest and Levant).
Al-Ayyash Donation
Mrs Jihan Baghdadi Al-Ayyash has generously and thankfully donated her late husband’s prized library collection to the University Libraries. Each of the books donated will contribute to knowledge diffusion and sharing among AUB community. All are invited to discover some highly recommended reads, currently displayed at Jafet Lobby until the end of May 2013.
Print / Copy / Scan
Public printing is available from your personal laptops in the Libraries using your printing account. Besides, you can now use the same printing quota for photocopying and scanning. Cost has been reduced by around 17% !. 
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April 2013
Meet with Publishers, Get Published
On 10 April 2013 (12pm-3pm), the University Libraries held a publishing seminar in West Hall (Room 402), hosting senior speakers from two international publishing houses, Elsevier and Springer.
Dr. Lokman Meho, the University Librarian, welcomed the audience and introduced special Library services for faculty and graduates.
Mrs. Monique Lamine, Elsevier Publisher, centered her presentation on how to get published with a glimpse into the peer review process and scientific journal evaluation.
Dr. Chris Bendall, Springer Middle East Senior Editor, discussed latest trends in scientific publishing including open access, content discovery and networking.
The attendees, more than 50 faculty and graduate students, interacted with the guest speakers actively. One of the debatable topics concerned the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of open access publishing.
March 2013
Women's Month Exhibit
The Reference Department at Jafet Library features a varied selection of novels by Arab women writers, published in Arabic or translated into English.
All items, in addition to some References, are at your disposal from 8am to 8pm until 31 March 2013. Enjoy reading them in the Libraries or at home!
Dance Exhibit: History, Culture and Traditions
A diverse selection of DVDs and books from various corners of the world are displayed in Jafet Library, main lobby.
Admirers of this kind of art can find a variety of styles of dance like African dance, Ballet, Belly dance, Break dance, Chinese dance, Gothic bellydance, etc.
All items can be borrowed after the Exhibit.
Graduate Students’ Seminar
On Wednesday, 6 March 2013, the University Libraries conducted two training sessions for graduate students, entitled "Graduate Student's Seminar: Effective Research Practices".
The trainees, total of 25 from different majors, were introduced to special library services, citation tools, and AUB Thesis formatting requirements.
February 2013
An Exhibit for Children of all Ages!
The Archives and Special Collections at Jafet Library is pleased to announce the opening of a book exhibit entitled: Dar El Fata El-Arabi and Mohieddine El Labbad, from February 12th till March 31st, 2013.
Founded in 1971 by Dr. Nabil Shaath, Dar El Fata El-Arabi is an influential publisher of children books in the Arab world. It was amongst the first publishing houses for children to present scientific and historic topics in an engaging and age-appropriate manner. It also did not shy away from addressing difficult and poignant political issues.
On display in the basement of Jafet Library, next to the Archives and Special collections alcove, is a panoply of children books published by Dar el Fata between 1970 and 1990. Included in the exhibit are a few noteworthy works by Mohieddine el-Labbad, a book illustrator and caricaturist who worked for Dar el-Fata upon its inception and gave it some of its best material. Come enjoy the stunning graphics and texts!
"Eight Essential tools that can help you invest your research time efficiently and effectively"
The Engineering & Architecture Librarian delivered three seminars to Master and PhD students in Civil & Environmental Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering in the past few weeks. The seminars were aimed to introduce students to essential research design and assessment techniques and tools.
The seminars covered the following techniques and tools:
- Citation searching (using Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar)
- Finding highImpact factor journals (using JCR and Scopus)
- Finding influential authors or researchers in the field of study (using WOS and Scopus)
- Locating dissertations and theses from AUB and other universities
- Acquiring articles and conference proceedings in full text (via DDS)
- Direct importing and organizing of references according to the required style (using Refworks OR Endnote)
- Keeping up with new research (email alerts from google scholar and Scopus)
- Reading the Thesis manual and finding dates of deposit
Library Tours and Instruction Sessions
Do you want to explore the richness of the University Libraries ? Need help building your research and library skills ? The Library offers library tours and workshops throughout the semester. Request a library instruction session, or sign up your class for a library tour.
Library Tour
Library tours are physical tours of the library aiming to help users know their way around the library, and introduce them to the different services, collections and facilities at the Library. Tours are open to individual students and to faculty members who wish to bring their class for a tour of the Library.
Reserve online, call 2659/2620-21, or e-mail jftref@aub.edu.lb
Library Instruction Class
Library Instruction classes provide instruction sessions in using and searching library resources. General classes cover the library’s website, databases, research tools and citation management. Librarians welcome and encourage faculty to request subject or course-specific library sessions. Classes could cover areas such as Library Research, Web Research, Citing Sources, RefWorks, Google Search, Newspapers, and much more.
Reserve online, call 2629, or e-mail libinfo@aub.edu.lb
January 2013
Retirement of Mr. Elie Shwairi
AUB Libraries regrets to announce but with warm wishes the early retirement of one of its team members Mr. Elie Shwairi.
Mr. Shwairi joined Jafet Library in 1994 and served as a Reference Librarian until his retirement in December 2012. He was dedicated to his job and was always willing to assist all library users with love, passion, enthusiasm, devotion, sense of humor ..... 
We wish Mr. Shwairi all the best in his next stage of life and we would like to thank him for his years of outstanding service. We will all miss him, colleagues, library users and many others, and look forward to see him again when he visits AUB.
December 2012
Amin al-Mumayiz Exhibition
Jafet Library is hosting a month-long exhibition of books donated by Mr. Amin al-Mumayiz (1909-1997), starting December 6, 2012 at 6:00 pm., in the Library’s main lobby.
This exhibition celebrates the donation of Mr. Al-Mumayiz’s library to Jafet in accordance with his will. An AUB Alumnus (BS in Biology, 1933) and a prominent diplomat, Mr. al-Mumayiz served in the diplomatic circuit of what was then the Kingdom of Iraq for 25 years: London (1937-39), Damascus (1946), New York (1947-49), Washington DC (1949-1951), and Jeddah (1954-1956). His last post was Undersecretary (Deputy Minister) for Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Iraq. 
The exhibition showcases some books authored by Mr. al-Mumayiz, many of which recount his personal experiences and observations during his distinguished and long diplomatic career. It also features one hundred books (1935-1992) selected from his impressive library, which cover various topics, e.g. international politics; the Arab-Israeli conflict; politics and diplomacy in the Arab world (Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria); Arab and Islamic studies.
October 2012
Bibliotheque Nationale de France visit to Jafet Library
On Friday October 19th, Mr. Bruno Racine, Director of the Bibliotheque Nationale de France (BNF), visited Jafet Library, and met with the University Librarian, Dr. Lokman Meho. Mr. Racine was accompanied by Mr. Gerald Grunberg, International Relations Delegate at BNF. The visit was an occasion to discuss possibilities of collaboration between the two institutions, exchange ideas, tour the Library’s facilities and showcase some of AUB's Archives and Special Collections treasures. Some of the ideas discussed include: training with conservation and restoration for paper, manuscripts, books and photos; training in database design for newspaper and periodical collections to be digitized at AUB Libraries; and training with digital humanities tools currently used at BNF, including mounting virtual exhibitions. Mr. Racine and Mr. Grunberg enjoyed looking at Jafet's collection of Arabic historical newspapers and leafed through a couple of rare books (e.g., Description de L'Egypte) and manuscripts (e.g., The Beirut Codex Syriac Bible).
BRILL Workshop
On September 25, 2012, AUB Jafet Library held a workshop on how to efficiently search Index Islamicus, the Encyclopedia of Islam, Encyclopedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics and many more Brill scholarly e-resources related to Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies.
Thank You All For Joining Us at the Library Open Day
The Open Day event at Jafet Library on October 16 2012, was a day of fun, learning and winning. Hundreds of students showed up to join the Treasure Hunt, attend the Library tours, take RefWorks sessions and give video interviews. To Library staff it was a blast interacting with so many enthusiastic students.
Congratulations to the winners and good luck to all next time.
Enjoy the event in photos. Go to the AUB University Libraries facebook page.
Library Open Day
Jafeting to New Horizons: Join us at the Library Open Day on Tuesday, October 16th.
You are invited to the Open Day at Jafet Library: come discover our services and collections; have fun, answer questions and win prizes; meet and talk to our librarians and staff; waive your library fines!...
July 2012
Al Qanun fil Tibb is now at Jafet!
A copy of Ibn Sina's al Qanun fil Tibb (Canon of Medicine) publish in Rome 1593, one of the oldest printed copies available worldwide, has found a new home in Jafet Library, at the Archives and Special Collections: al Qanun Fil Tibb, 1593, was transferred from SML by Ms. Hilda Nassar to the Archives and Special Collections, Jafet Library, where it will be housed in a climate controlled setting. Al Qanun fil Tibb has been digitized by SML and can be consulted online. A helpful index in both English and Arabic for the names of main drugs appearing in Book II is added.
- English index
- Arabic index
May 2012
Romanian Embassy visit
On May 2, 2012, Mr. Daniel Tanase, the Romanian Ambassador in Lebanon, visited the American University of Beirut Libraries and met with the University Librarian, Dr. Lokman Meho, the Head of Archives and Special Collections Department, Dr. Kaoukab Chebaro, and the Head of Access Services Unit, Mr. Ibrahim Farah. During his visit, Mr. Tanase donated 89 books related to the rich and multi-faceted Romanian heritage and culture. This collection was considered a valuable addition to the library’s holdings and a great opportunity for collaboration and cultural exchange between AUB Libraries and European cultural agencies.
March 2012
SearchALL
UL are pleased to announce a new search engine:
SearchALL a One-Stop Search solution for all resources at AUB libraries and selected open access academic publications: articles, books, e-books, book chapters, journals and newspapers, theses and dissertations, conference proceedings, trade publications, and more…
SearchALL is accessible from the University Libraries home page. For more information and tips use SearchAll Guide
For comments or assistance, contact jfref@aub.edu.lb or x2620/21, 2659, 2629
February 2012
NOTICE
The Libraries System will be down for maintenance on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, and will resume the next day. The services affected are:
- Library Catalog search
- My Library Account
- Borrow/renew/return items (no fines will be charged for overdue items on that date)
- Order New Title 5. Course Reserves
We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding,
January 2012
"Arab Uprisings" Guide
Since early 2011, several Arab countries have been, almost simultaneously, subject to unparalleled revolutions called "Arab Spring". These extraordinary events, which constitute a major turning point for the region, have attracted the attention of scholars from around the globe.
The University Libraries are pleased to publish an "Arab Uprisings Guide", which provides users with scholarly resources, news sites, and web archives as well as other useful internet sources related to these historic events.
The Guide can be accessed using the following link: http://aub.edu.lb.libguides.com/content.php?pid=261362
Research Assistance @ Jafet Library
Start your research at the library. Librarians will assist you in searching for available materials on your topic, as well as locating resources in AUB libraries, in libraries in the U.S., or on the Internet.
You are welcome to walk in to the reference desk in Jafet Library, call us at 2659/2620-21, or e-mail us using the Ask a Librarian form or directly at jftref@aub.edu.lb
December 2011
Archives & Special Collections Webpage
The Libraries' Archives and Special Collections Department launches its new web page: please come and visit us!
November 2011
Archives and Special Collections Exhibit
The Archives and Special Collections in Jafet Library is pleased to present an exhibit of items from its Special Collections: powerful unpublished photographs from a World War I album; stunning black-and-white silver gelatin photographs of AUB from the Moore Collection; and early AUB postcards dating back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries (some of the earliest postcards on display demonstrate how writing was allowed only on the front of the postcard, perhaps to avoid embarrassment to post office workers!).
The exhibit is now on display in the Jafet Library Gallery (right next to Archives and Special Collections). Please pass by and enjoy these rich and evocative materials!
Reference Area Renovation
The renovation of the reference area at Jafet Library came to fulfill our ever changing community needs. Some of the modifications include individualized tables to satisfy the demand over quiet study area. Yet with the emergence of this digital revolution we’ve added more electrical outlets to increase the students’ access to laptops, Ipads and other electronic devices.
More in Outlook article:
http://www.aub.edu.lb/sao/activities/outlook/archive/volume_44/issue_4/Pages/view.aspx
October 2011
Library Tours and Instruction Sessions
The University Libraries are offering a variety of workshops and tours. Request a library instruction session, or sign up your class for a library tour.
Library Tour
A general library tour which introduces users to the services we offer, point out the location of basic services and provide some basic information on how to use the library.
Reserve online, call 2659/2620-21, or e-mail jftref@aub.edu.lb
Library Instruction Class
Librarians can organize research workshops designed to meet the needs of a specific course or assignment. Workshops could include topics such as Library Research, Web Research, Citing Sources, RefWorks, Google, Newspapers, and much more.
Reserve online, call 2629, or e-mail libinfo@aub.edu.lb
Appointment of Dr. Kaoukab Chebaro
The Library welcomes Dr. Kaoukab Chebaro, who has been recently appointed as a Special Collections Librarian and Project Manager. In this position, she will serve as head of the Archives and Special Collections Department and will monitor special digitization projects.
Dr. Chebaro earned her MA in Library and Information Science (MLIS) from the University of Pittsburgh in 2007, a Doctorate in Philosophy from Columbia University in 2001, and a BA in Philosophy from the American University of Beirut in1987.
Dr. Chebaro joined the library after three years as Middle East and Islamic Studies Librarian at the University Libraries at Columbia University, where she was responsible for the Middle East and Islamic Studies Collection development and maintenance. Previously and since 2001, she served as Bibliographic Assistant at Butler Library at Columbia University.
She has contributed to service on numerous committees, e.g. the Executive Committee of the Center for Research Studies Librarian, Middle East Microfilm Project; the Middle East Librarian Association George N. Atiyeh Award Committee, and many internal ones.
Dr. Chebaro has a wide range of experience and expertise, we are happy to have her on our team.
June 2011
Exciting changes at the University Libraries!
The University Libraries’ webpage has undergone several changes, making it more appealing to the users. The sections were revised and several features introduced such as “Journal/eBook Finder”, services for alumni, visitors, and staff. The research guides were totally revamped and customized to include pertinent library sources and services, RSS feeds, as well as links to valuable open access sources. New additions and search options were also introduced under the Databases section.
AUB Libraries are also pleased to launch the recently acquired Integrated Library System Millennium. Through the new Library Catalog (AUBCAT), users can now search the University Libraries’ and Saab Medical Library’s Catalogs simultaneously.
AUBCAT has a wide array of user-empowerment features (such as an integrated and advanced view of the Course Reserves, a simple interface for online renewals, saving and emailing search results, and much more!)
Please feel free to call us (extension 2604) or email us your comments at library@aub.edu.lb
Enjoy browsing our new webpage and using our new library system,
We look forward to hearing from you!