Library News & Announcements

Featured Library Resource: Sanborn Insurance Maps

11/18/2024

Brian Richards

Do you live in a city in Ohio? Are you curious about its history? Have you ever wondered what was located in a city neighborhood before the box stores and skyscrapers were built? If so, then you may be interested in this week's featured database.

History

Featured Library Resource: JSTOR

10/04/2024

Brian Richards

Our library offers access to JSTOR, JSTOR provides access to journal articles, books and images for 75 different disciplines including Arts, Business, History, Humanities, Social Sciences and Sciences.

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Recent Posts

Poisoned books in the library??

The Library had the pleasure of hosting Janet Wittine a senior from Lake Erie College and Walsh's own Brianna Birkle on May 24th to come to the library and test some of our older books for arsenic. Janet's capstone for Erie College, was Examining and pinpointing books that contain arsenic, as part of the Poison Book Project led by the University of Delaware/Winterthur Museum. To read more about the Poison Book Project, check out the University of Delaware and Winterthur Museum website https://sites.udel.edu/poisonbookproject/ Why is there arsenic in books?Brianna using the X-ray fluoroscopyDuring the 19th century, arsenic-based pigments were commonly used in book bindings, with Scheele’s Green and Paris Green being particularly popular for their vibrant color. How do you test for Arsenic?Brianna and Janet used x-ray fluoroscopy, A non-destructive analytical device designed to be gently placed on the book’s cover to examine its composition. What happens to the arsenic books?If testing reveals the presence of arsenic in the books, the University of Delaware and Winterthur Museum recommend sealing them in clearly labeled zip-top polyethylene bags. Are there really poisoned books in the Br. Edmond Drouin Library?Of the 55 books tested, Brianna and Janet detected no traces of arsenic; however, elevated levels of lead were present. The graph below shows x-ray fluorescence data from the analysis of one of the books. While these findings do not pose an immediate threat to the collection, the majority of these books will be moved to Special Collections due to their age. Graph from the x-ray fluoroscopy indicating no traces of arsenic For more information on Janet and Brianna's previous collaboration please check out a recent article published by Walsh: https://www.walsh.edu/news/2025/03/brianna-birkle-artifact-conservation.html Janet Wittine and Brianna Birkle Want to learn more about the danger of arsenic in books? Check out this page from the University of Delaware and Winterthur Museum. https://sites.udel.edu/poisonbookproject/in-the-news/ ...

CavsSEARCH AI Research Assistant, Focused, Reliable, and Library-Centered

The Brother Edmond Drouin Library is proud to offer Primo Research Assistant, an AI-powered tool designed to make academic research more intuitive and accessible. Embedded directly in the Primo Library Search interface, it helps users ask research questions in natural language, refine search strategies, and understand academic content—all while staying grounded in the library’s trusted resources.How It Works: Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)Primo Research Assistant uses Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), a method that combines:Retrieval: Searching the library’s curated collection in real time.Generation: Summarizing and explaining the retrieved content using AI.This ensures that responses are both accurate and grounded in real sources—not speculative or web-based.What’s Included—and What’s NotPrimo Research Assistant is limited to the Brother Edmond Drouin Library’s collection, which means:Included:Peer-reviewed journal articlesE-books and digital reference worksLicensed databases and academic repositoriesNot Included:Open web content (e.g., Wikipedia, blogs)AI-generated text without source backingCommercial or non-academic websitesThis focus keeps your research credible, citable, and aligned with academic standards.Why It MattersBy narrowing results to the library’s holdings, Primo Research Assistant supports:Students seeking trustworthy sourcesFaculty guiding research assignmentsStaff helping patrons navigate scholarly databasesTry it today in CavsSEARCH and experience a more focused, reliable way to explore your library....

Brother Edmond Drouin Library: CavsSEARCH Tips and Tricks

Explore two key tips for using CavsSEARCH: Tip #1 shows how your library card helps you stay organized. Tip #2 highlights Citation Search (Fetch), a fast way to find articles or books from citations. These tools streamline your research....

Welcome Back from the Brother Edmond Drouin Library!

Welcome to a new academic year at Walsh University! The Brother Edmond Drouin Library is excited to support your teaching, learning, and research goals this semester. ...