Indiana State University Newsroom

A new integrated catalog system will be showcased during this year's Library Extravaganza at Cunningham Memorial Library.

The eighth annual event is scheduled from10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 16 and gives library staff an opportunity to introduce new technologies and library services to students.

This summer, ISU collaborated with the Vigo County Public Library and the libraries at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods College to combine catalog resources. Known as Fusion, the system allows patrons to search for materials located at all Vigo County libraries, said Alberta Comer, dean of library services.

Fusion introduces "new ways of searching," Comer said, similar to popular search engine websites.

"We're very, very excited about it," she said.Other campus offices - including Financial Aid, Career Center and Recycling Center - will offer information about their services.

Students, faculty and staff can also register to win various prizes. Only students are eligible for $500 cash, two gift certificates valued at $250 for textbooks from the ISU Bookstore and a parking hangtag.

Free pizza and popcorn will also be served throughout the day while a DJ provides music.

Last year, 5,000 people attended the extravaganza, Comer said. With this fall's record enrollment increases, she said she hoped even more people would attend.

"This is a great way to introduce people to the library," she said.

Contact: Alberta Comer, dean of library services, Cunningham Memorial Library, 812-237-2649 or Alberta.Comer@indstate.edu

Writer: Nick Hedrick, media relations assistant, Indiana State University, Communications and Marketing, 812-237-3773 or nhedrick2@indstate.edu