GIA and CSUSM Libraries to Share Resources
By
Tiffany Moore , Tuesday, May 08, 2007
From
GIA, Carlsbad, Calif. - The libraries at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) have announced the two libraries are extending borrowing privileges to each other’s students and faculty.
The Richard T. Liddicoat Gemological Library and Information Center (GIA Library), located on the Robert Mouawad campus of GIA in Carlsbad, Calif., will loan materials to non-GIA students and staff for the first time.
In return, GIA students and faculty will have access to CSUSM’s Library of more than 260,000 book volumes, as well as sound, film and video recordings.
Left to Right…Mink Stavenga, GIA dean of the School of Business; Paula Rucinski, GIA library manager; Rose Tozer, GIA senior research librarian; Mark Stengel, CSUSM library associate dean; Ann Manning Fiegen, CSUSM business and economics librarian; Dona Mary Dirlam, GIA director of the R.T. Liddicoat Gemological Library and Information Center; Jacqueline M. Borin, CSUSM’s librarian, coordinator, and public services; and Marion T. Reid, dean of the CSUSM Library.
In addition to the mutual borrowing privileges, the GIA Library is providing the CSUSM Library a subscription to GIA’s quarterly, scientific, award-winning journal Gems & Gemology, as well as G&G back issues from 1981 to date. Issues from 1934-1980 are available for free download on GIA’s website (http://www.gia.edu/). The GIA Library will also give GIA Museum exhibition catalogs to the CSUSM Library as they become available.
CSUSM students and faculty can take advantage of the world’s largest gemological library and GIA's expert library staff. GIA librarians will answer “ready reference” questions in the fields of gemology and jewelry received via e-mail, telephone or fax, as they do for other members of the public.
Mink Stavenga, Dean of the School of Business at GIA commented that “Access to the CSUSM Library will be especially helpful to the GIA School of Business students who are attending GIA to acquire a four-year Bachelor of Business degree, with an emphasis in jewelry.”
The sharing of resources will offer a more extensive collection for students at both schools. The agreement between the two organizations began in late 2006 when, Dean Stavenga along with Dona Dirlam, Director of the Richard T. Liddicoat Gemological Library and Information Center approached Marion Reid, Dean of the Library, CSUSM, about a reciprocal agreement.
“The GIA Library collection is the world’s leading research collection on gems and gemology. We are delighted that our students and faculty now have access to its treasures. We welcome GIA students and faculty to our Library,” said Reid.
An independent nonprofit organization, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is recognized as the world's foremost authority in gemology. Established in 1931, GIA has translated its expert knowledge into the most respected gemological education available. In 1953, the Institute created the International Diamond Grading System™ which, today, is recognized by virtually every professional jeweler in the world. Through research, education, gemological laboratory services, and instrument development, the Institute is dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gems and jewelry by upholding the highest standards of integrity, academics, science, and professionalism. GIA’s website address is http://www.gia.edu/. Media queries contact: Laura Simanton, 760-603-4112.