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BETHLEHEM UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
(BUL)
CONTENT
FROM THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
Change is the word that is most descriptive of the year's
activities of the Bethlehem University Library. We welcomed Mr. George Awwad for the position of
Reference Librarian and Assistant in Arabic Technical Services. He joined the library staff with a professional background and many
years of library experience.
The University Archives has been relocated to the third
floor of the library. The Archives is now included in the structure and organization of the library. Sister Agatha Diaz has joined the staff as
Archivist.
Ireland Aid is funding the construction of the new addition to
the library building. The new addition, named Turathuna: Center for Palestinian Heritage at Bethlehem University, will open in summer
2000. The special collection - Palestiniana will be relocated in the new center. A special committee has been working to prepare for
the opening.
Ms. Rebecca Calaor has departed for a one year study leave to pursue a Master's degree at the University of San Carlos
in Cebu City, Philippines. We welcomed Mr. Wasim Zoughbi, Bethlehem University graduate 1998, to replace her in Circulation
and Periodicals.
Change has taken place in many other ways also. Hundreds of
new books have been purchased and contributed. The new books display is constantly changing. Members of the staff have been concerned with
improving themselves. Details of these changes and many others are in the pages that follow. All these changes are important in order to
provide better quality service to the library users.
Br. Dominic Smith, FSC
STUDENTS ASSISTANTS
The student assistants comprise an essential
component of the regular library staff. Every semester about thirty students are selected to work in the library
within the university work/study grant program. This program entitles a student to a reduction in the tuition fees
for an input of six hours of work per week throughout a semester. Students are selected on the basis of financial
need, good academic performance (a GPA of not less than 2.50), and willingness to work. First year students in their
first semester are not eligible to apply.
The library offers a scholarship each semester to
the two best student assistants. They receive an additional reduction
of tuition fees.
Recipients of the two best student assistants awards
are:
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Fall 1999-2000
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Rana Qa'bar (Physics III)
Hatem Manasrah (Nursing III)
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Spring 1999-2000
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Sandra Dabdoub (Education III)
Suheir Qaraqi (Education III)
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LIBRARY INSTRUCTION
Many books have been received by the library through generous donations from organizations and
individuals. Significant contributions are noteworthy additions to the library
collection.
The gift of the Everyman Millennium Library has been made possible by a Millennium
Commission grant, Everyman's Library, generous donations from various British charities, and
with the help of the British Council. The complete library comprises 250 volumes of the
world's greatest classic books written in or translated into English.
Through the efforts of Dr. Bernard Sabella the library was awarded a grant from the
German Research Foundation, DFG to purchase books in Arabic and English in politics,
political socialization, intergroup and interfaith dialogue, democracy, youth, Arab-Israeli
relations, Palestinian society, Israeli society, career and professional development.
Book Aid International through the Gaza Library Project has donated another shipment
of books for the library.
Pollen in Brussels has coordinated a project with UNESCO and Arab World Institute of
Paris in contributing books to the Palestinian society. Through the efforts of
Dr. Qustandi Shomali the library has received a donation of books in tourism, travel guides, geography,
atlases, art, cookery.
Other organizations have made contributions:
Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizens Rights,
Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco,
Jenin Centre for Strategic Studies,
Palestinian Bureau of Statistics,
Centre for Arab Unity Studies,
Ministry of Culture.
Donations from individual donors have also been received from:
Rose Adamek,
Sr. Elaine Kelley,
Dr. Jamil I. Toubbeh,
Fr. Peter Dubrul, Wael Nazal,
Rima Canawati, Tom Martin, Ghada Idnis,
Br. Thomas McPhillips, Peter & Randa Dallal,
Rose Sama'an, Laila Baddour, Dr. Jeanne Kattan.
Br. Richard Lemberg has provided the funds for the purchase of an additional
computer. Br. Jean Manuel and Br. Joseph Loewenstein have contributed countless hours in service to the library. Two volunteers,
Elena and Oksana Daboub, have generously offered their time to help in the work of preparing books for
circulation.
The contributions, both corporate and individual are a great addition to our library collection and the services provided to the users. They are all deeply appreciated. We offer a sincere thank you to each donor.
ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS
Mrs. Vera Koussa and Ms. Hala Marzouka serve on the technical committee of the Palestinian Library and Information Association.
Mr. George Awwad serves on the Committee of Academic Libraries.
Ms. Elsa Hazboun has started up and is the Director of the new Office of Personnel
Management on campus.
Mrs. Mary Morcos, Ms. Valerie Rock and Mr. Francis Sleibi from the library staff are members of the committee responsible for planning and implementing the activities of the new Center for Palestinian Heritage at Bethlehem University. Dr. Adnan Musallam is the chairman of the committee.
Mr. George Maria serves on the Bethlehem University home page committee.
Mr. Francis Sleibi is the library's representative on the university's Student Affairs Committee. He is also serving as Deputy Director temporarily.
Ms. Hala Marzouka, Ms. Valerie Rock and Mrs. Mary Claire
Habash, accompanied by teachers from various departments, attended the Book Fair in Ramallah. Nearly 2,000,000 books from 200 publishers were available for purchase. The library added more than 1,000 books to the Arabic collection primarily in Arabic literature and Humanities studies through the Book Fair.
The library has donated second copies, old and used books to the libraries at the Beit Jibrin Cultural Center, the Latin Patriarchate College, Zababdeh, and the Tequa Municipality.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Various members of the staff participated in workshops, conferences and courses throughout the year.
Ms. Hala Marzouka was Bethlehem University's representative for the ten day study trip for librarians from Palestinian libraries to Germany. The group visited many libraries and other important institutions in Berlin, Frankfurt, and Heidelberg. The program, organized by the Goethe Institute, also provided opportunities for city tours, shopping, ballet and other cultural experiences.
Mr. Francis Sleibi attended the first annual OCLC-Palestine seminar "Integrating all library services - a revolutionary change for Palestinian academic libraries." He enrolled in the
training course entitled "Introduction to Hebrew language" offered by the Business Development Center. He participated in the "Intel Training Program" in Tel Aviv. He also attended the conference at Bir Zeit University on "Information Technology in Higher Education" and the workshop for Databanks.
Mr. George Maria attended the electronic library workshop "Searching on Web SPIRS database" held at Bir Zeit University. He also attended the third conference on "Information Technology in Higher Education." He also attended a series of workshops about web design, implementation and management organized by Bethlehem University and UNESCO. He was also a participant in the BLDSC workshop sponsored by the British Council, Hebron.
Ms. Valerie Rock enrolled in the training course entitled "Ms-Excel 2000" offered by the Business Development Center.
Ms. Manal Musleh enrolled in English language courses both semesters at Bethlehem
University.
Br. Dominic Smith attended the annual ACISE (Association of Catholic Institutes of Education) Colloquium entitled "Education for Peace: the role of the Catholic University in the Millennium" hosted by Bethlehem University.
The newly established Office of Personnel Management of Bethlehem University offers programs for staff development and training:
Mrs. Gloria Handal and Mr. George Maria attended the workshop on "Stress Management" presented by Ms. Barbara Lavin.
Mrs. Gloria Handal participated in the "Switchboard Training" program.
Mrs. Gloria Handal, Mrs. Mary Morcos and Ms. Valerie Rock attended the workshop offered by Dr. Jeanne Kattan on "Taking minutes at a meeting."
Mrs. Gloria Handal was a participant in the inservice workshop "How and why to back up your files" given by Ms. Nadira Araj of the Faculty of Business Administration.
AUDIO VISUAL CENTER
In the Audio Visual Center students and teachers can access LINK, an information service created by Springer Publisher for over 400 scientific journals, on-line with full text. In addition, free access to 25 journal titles subscribed through EBSCO is available on-line. Several journals are available by direct access through the publishers.
Meetings of the staff with Br. Carl Clayton, Director of the Office of Teaching Development have discussed the promotion of multimedia technology as a tool of instruction in classrooms. One of the conclusions of a survey among teachers is an interest in the need to offer training sessions to use various technologies in instruction.
A new multimedia presentation using Power Point has been prepared to assist in the orientation of first year students to the proper use of the library. A second version is used in training the new student assistants for their duties in the library.
New computer equipment has improved the services that can be offered. Recent additions include: HP3200 scanner, HP8200 CD-writer, HP695C color ink jet printer, HP2100 laser printer, PII350 MHz computer, and PIII 500 MHz computer.
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Turathuna : Center for Palestinian Heritage at Bethlehem University.
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- Bethlehem University Library
- P.O.Box 9 Bethlehem, Palestine
- Tel: +972-2-274 1241
- Fax: +972-2-274 4440
- E-mail: dsmith@bethlehem.edu
- Website: http://www.bethlehem.edu
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