Spotlight on Student Worker – Brianna Blozen

Brianna Blozen of Nutley, New Jersey has been a student worker in the Library since the Fall of 2013. You’ll find her most evenings, working at the Circulation Desk where she loves the atmosphere and seeing her friends and professors moving through. She enjoys helping other students and advises them to save money by looking in the Library first before spending too much money on required readings.

Bri is a Counseling and Human Services major who is planning a career as a parole/probation officer after graduation in May. She is an active member of the Counseling and Human Services Association. The club’s moderator, Dr. Paul Datti is her favorite professor.

When Bri is not studying or working, she volunteers her time in the community whenever possible. In her spare time, she enjoys watching television and hanging out with her friends. Her favorite movie is West Side Story.

A fun fact about Bri is that she loves cats! She loved her cat Sheena so much that her face is tattooed across her back. In warmer months to come, you just might see Sheena peeking out over the edge of a tank top!

Thank you Bri!

New Streaming Video Trial from Swank Digital Campus

The Weinberg Memorial Library is pleased to announce a trial of Swank Digital Campus streaming service. This pilot is made available through our membership in PALCI, the Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium, Inc., and offers streaming access to 300 feature films for academic use.  List of titles

Swank Digital Campus allows students, faculty and staff to view licensed content on an individual basis using personal computers and mobile devices (iOS and Android). Browsers may require a plugin installation. For mobile devices, download the Swank Media Player App. Students, faculty and staff may access the films by searching under “S” in the library’s A-Z database.  

Faculty and staff can show content in a secured classroom setting to registered students for specific course support or clearly defined academic purpose. Any cross-campus promotion for classroom viewings, large screen event showings or availability of individual titles is strictly prohibited.

The trial runs through June 30, 2016.

For more information about this trial, please contact sharon.finnerty@scranton.edu.

Win $500 for Describing Your Research Process in 500 Words

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Image by Flickr user ocean_of_stars via CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 license (a human-readable summary of this license may be found here)

Are you working on a research project this semester? Did you use the library’s resources, services, collections, or spaces in order to complete your research? Then you should consider submitting your project for a chance to win the Weinberg Memorial Library Research Prize.

Two prizes of $500 each are awarded every year to the winning Undergraduate and the winning Graduate submission. All you need to do is write a 500-word essay describing your research process and how you used the library in completing the project. Click here for some tips on how to craft the best 500-word essay you can about your research.

Then, submit the application materials for your project through the Library Research Prize website by the Fall 2015 deadline: Friday, December 4, 2015 by 4:00 pm. This deadline is for projects completed in Summer 2015 or Fall 2015. There will be another deadline for Spring 2016 research projects. Winners are announced at the end of the Spring 2016 semester.

Research projects can be individual or group projects, though winning group projects will receive one $500 prize for the group.

A statement of faculty support from the instructor who assigned the research project is also required for each submission, so be sure to let your course instructor know you will be submitting your project for consideration for the prize.

Details on how to apply, what to include in a completed application, and what the selection criteria are, can be found at the Library Research Prize website. Any additional questions can be sent to Prof. Bonnie Oldham, Information Literacy Coordinator (bonnie.oldham@scranton.edu).

We look forward to hearing about your research!

Spotlight on Student Worker Kerry Callahan

Kerry Callahan is in the student worker spotlight this week. A native of Garden City, New York Kerry graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science in May 2013 and is currently pursuing her doctorate in Physical Therapy. Kerry has been at The University for seven years and has worked in Media Resources/EdLab for the last three. During those three years Kerry has demonstrated a professional attitude, willingness to take on new projects and exceptional organizational skills. She has assisted patrons, and taken inventory of materials, but she most enjoys choosing films for the display table and previewing new films.

The set hours at the Library help Kerry organize her busy schedule, which includes being a full-time student and also working for the Catering Department. She enjoys reading and her favorite books are the Harry Potter series. Her favorite movie is Lord of the Rings. Always active, Kerry participates in several Intramural sports including Kickball, Ultimate Frisbee and Flag Football. She is a member of the Physical Therapy Club and the Journal Club where members go over a primary research or review paper. The goal of the club is to help students with reading, writing and presenting scientific literature.

Kerry has learned a great deal about the Library’s resources over the years and her advice to other students is that they should ask for assistance and not make assumptions about what is or is not available.

In the spring semester Kerry will be traveling. In February she’ll go to California to present research about cardiac surgery and depression and after that she’s off to Albuquerque, New Mexico and Washington, D.C. to complete her clinical internships.

Thank you, Kerry, for all you hard work for the Library. We wish you all the best!

Spotlight on Student Worker Farishta Abdullahi

Farishta- Special Collections-3The Library is proud to spotlight one of its hardworking student workers, Farishta Abdullahi. This is Farishta’s fourth year in the McHugh Special Collections & University Archives, and her primary work includes processing negatives from the Terry and Paula Connors Photograph Collection and accessioning records from the Office of the Provost into the University Archives.  Every spring Farishta also volunteers at the Friends of the Weinberg Library Annual Book Sale.

Although much of Farishta’s work takes place behind the scenes, she always maintains a high work ethic, and she says that she enjoys the quiet satisfaction of processing and organizing the archival records. She says that she even finds it relaxing!

Farishta is an Accounting major with a minor in Arabic, and she is actually fluent in four languages, including Urdu and Hindi! She plans to graduate in May 2016 and become a Certified Public Accountant.

This past summer Farishta was a marketing intern in the Women’s Entrepreneurship Center and Small Business Development Center at the University of Scranton. Throughout the summer she promoted the Center’s activities and provided individual assistance to women who were interested in exploring the possibility of starting their own business. She also wrote informational blog posts on a variety of business topics, including Sustainable Product Ideas, Challenges of Owning a Seasonal Business, and Improving Credit When Starting a Small Business.

This semester, along with balancing her course work and work-study hours, she is interning at Tatulli & Associates, an accounting, tax, and financial consulting firm in Dunmore.

When Farishta finally has some down time, she enjoys watching Asian dramas and playing with her 6 month old niece.

Farishta’s advice to other University of Scranton students is that the Library has a lot to offer – take advantage of it!

Thank you, Farishta, for all of your support to the Library!

The International Film Series Presents: “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”

 

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Photo courtesy of Film Movement.

 

Please join us on Wednesday November 18, 2015 at 7 p.m. in Room 305 of the Weinberg Memorial Library for a free presentation of the Taiwanese comedy “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”

Film Movement describes the film as a lighthearted comedic romp, where introvert Weichung begins to question his marriage to Feng when she signals she’s ready to have another baby, and an unexpected encounter with a friend from his past awakens long-dormant emotions. It all sets him off on a quest for true romance and desire.

Directed by Arvin Chen “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” is in Mandarin with English subtitles. Dr. Ann Pang-White will lead a discussion following the film.

This film is open to faculty, staff, students, and the public. Please email sharon.finnerty@scranton.edu for more information.

The Weinberg Memorial Library and Scranton Reads Present: “Rebel Without a Cause”

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Image courtesy of Warner Bros.

 

The Weinberg Memorial Library and Scranton Reads: One City, One Book Initiative present a free screening of  “Rebel Without a Cause”. This landmark film about alienated youth follows the tormented central characters during a single tumultuous night. James Dean, Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo star as the angst-filled teens.

Join us for this classic film on Friday October 9, 2015 at 7 p.m. in Room 305 of the Weinberg Memorial Library. Kevin Norris will lead a discussion following the film and refreshments will be provided.

This screening is held in conjunction with the Albright Memorial Library and is open to the public.

Contact sharon.finnerty@scranton.edu for reservations or information.

The International Film Series Presents:”Like Water for Chocolate”

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Image courtesy of Miramax.

“Like Water for Chocolate” (Como Agua para Chocolate) is an internationally popular Mexican film that focuses on Tita, a young woman who discovers that her cooking has magical effects on others. Tita is the youngest of three daughters who is bound by tradition to remain unmarried so she can cook and care for her aging mother. When Tita falls in love with the handsome Pedro, her mother forbids their marriage. To remain close to Tita, Pedro agrees to marry her sister, Rosaura. This, of course, complicates life for everyone and Tita’s feelings are transferred to the delicious meals she creates.

Directed by Alfonso Arau this award-winning Mexican film is in Spanish with English subtitles.

Please join us on Thursday October 1st at 7 p.m. in Room 305 of the Weinberg Memorial Library for this free event. Dr. Ileana Szymanski will lead a discussion following the film.

Please note: This film portrays adult situations and language.

This event is open to faculty, staff, students, and the public. Please email Sharon.finnerty@scranton.edu for more information.

 

The International Film Series Presents “Lucky”

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Photo courtesy of Film Movement.

How could a recently orphaned, 10-year old homeless South African boy ever be called Lucky? Over the grave of his dead mother, Lucky makes a promise to make something of himself. Leaving the security of his remote Zulu village for the big city with the hope of going to school, he arrives on the doorstep of an uncle who has no use for him. Lucky then falls in with Padme, a formidable Indian woman with an inherent fear of Africans, who takes him in as she would a stray dog. Together, unable to speak each other’s language, they develop an unlikely bond. Through an odyssey marked by greed, violence, and ultimately belonging, Lucky shows how a child’s spirit can bring out decency, humility and even love in adults struggling to survive in the new South Africa.

Directed by Avie Luthra this award-winning South African film is in Zulu, Hindi and English with English subtitles.

Please join us on Tuesday September 22nd at 7pm in Room 305 of the Weinberg Memorial Library for this free event. Jean Lenville, Assistant dean of the Library, will lead a discussion after the film.

This film is open to faculty, staff, students, and the public. Please email Sharon.finnerty@scranton.edu for more information.

Personal Property Lost and Found in the Library

As the new academic year begins, it’s time for a reminder about the Library’s policy on personal property. The University of Scranton assumes no responsibility or liability for personal property lost or stolen on The Weinberg Memorial Library premises. Library users and guests are urged not to leave personal property unattended in the Library.

Items found by Library staff or Library users should be turned in to Library Lost and Found at the Library’s Circulation Desk on the Library’s first floor. Library Circulation staff will make an effort to contact the owners of Royal Cards to return the cards. At the beginning of each weekday, Royal Cards not picked up and other found items are turned over to University Lost and Found in the Parking Pavilion. The Library will not mail lost items to owners. Personal property not recovered from the Library staff will be located at University Police, Lost and Found, located in the Parking Pavilion.