Library Services will be closed today, Sunday, Feb. 22, due to winter weather. Need a quiet spot? You can still access the Library with your Royal Card. Stay warm, Royals!
Please participate in our survey!
Information Technology and the Library are jointly conducting the national Measuring Information Service Outcomes (MISO) survey over the next two weeks. You should receive an email from me today with more details and a link to the survey.
Please respond to this survey to provide us with feedback on your experiences and satisfaction with the services we provide, so that we may better serve your needs.
Thank you!
In Memory of Charles Kratz, Dean Emeritus of the Library & Information Fluency
It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Charles Kratz, Dean Emeritus of the Library & Information Fluency. Charles passed away on Saturday following a week-long hospitalization due to illness. He was 74 years old.
Charles served The University of Scranton with distinction during his tenure as Dean of the Library, helping to shape the institution we know today. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Maryland, he joined the University in 1991 as Director and was instrumental in the final completion and opening of Weinberg Memorial Library the following year.
Under his leadership, the Library underwent the transformative renovation of the Reilly Learning Commons, creating a dynamic learning space that continues to serve our students today. Charles also founded the Friends of the Library, establishing a vital bridge between the University and the broader community. In addition to launching the Royden B. Davis, S.J., Distinguished Author Award, he played a key role in the expansion of the University’s Special Collections and their dedication as the McHugh Family Special Collections.
His leadership extended well beyond the Library. Charles was integral to the then-Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence’s expansion of support services, the Writing Center, and faculty development programs. He regularly taught writing and remained deeply engaged in the university’s academic life.
Charles retired in December 2019, but his service to the University continued. In 2022, the University dedicated the Library’s Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room in his honor. He continued to serve the Library and the University as a member of the Friends of the Library Advisory Board and as chair of the 2024 Royden B. Davis, S.J., Distinguished Author Award.
His dedication to supporting student and faculty research, his commitment to accessible and innovative learning environments, and his vision for the Library’s role in the academic life of the University left a lasting impact on our community. Those of us who had the privilege of serving alongside him understand full well the strong foundation he helped build here.
As University President Fr. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., noted in his message to the campus community, “Charles’ influence on The University of Scranton is woven into our very fabric. Those who had the pleasure of knowing and working alongside him know how much of our progress was supported by his work. His legacy will benefit students, faculty, researchers, and the broader community for generations to come.”
This loss is felt deeply by all who knew Charles and worked alongside him. We join many friends and family members, including Charles’s beloved husband, Bill, in mourning. He was a valued colleague, and his contributions to our library and university will be remembered with gratitude.
A memorial service will be held in the Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18. Refreshments will follow the service.
Charles’s obituary can be read here.
Environmental Art Show – Informational Session at the IDEA Center
Want to learn how you can utilize the IDEA Center to create art you can submit to the Environmental Art Show?
Join Tom Bryan, Director of the IDEA Center, and Marleen Cloutier, coordinator of the Environmental Art Show for the Weinberg Memorial Library, for an informational session on Environmental Art, working on art projects at The IDEA Center, and how you can submit art to the Environmental Art Show. Light refreshment will be provided.
Please RSVP by February 27, 2026
For more information about the Environmental Art Show see our Call for Art on the WML blog
If you have questions or need assistance with your registration for this event or submitting art for the Environmental Art Show, please contact Marleen Cloutier at marleen.cloutier@scranton.edu.
New at the Library – Standardized Test Preparation with Mometrix
The Weinberg Memorial Library is excited to announce a new resource for students preparing to take any number of standardized exams. Mometrix e-Library contains prep material for over 1000 standardized tests from admissions exams like MCATs and LSATs to certification exams like the Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests (PECT), you will find comprehensive study guides, practice test, and flashcards to help you meet all your study goals.
Click here to check it out today! You can also find Mometrix e-Library in our A-Z Database list.
Happy studying!
Environmental Art Show – Call for Art!
The Weinberg Memorial Library is seeking submissions for our annual exhibit of Environmental Art.
The Environmental Art Show theme for 2026 is Nature Reimagined.
The 2026 Environmental Art Show will be held from April 13-22, 2026 in the Charles Kratz Heritage Room, 5th Floor, Weinberg Memorial Library. The virtual exhibit held in conjunction with the exhibit will go live on April 13th.
Environmental Art promotes the natural beauty of our environment and the ideal practice of sustainable living through artworks of all types, including painting, photography, repurposed goods, sculpture, video and more. Artists are encouraged to consider their engagement with nature or a sustainable practice and develop artwork around this year’s theme.Submissions are open to all and we encourage submissions by University of Scranton students, staff, faculty, and alumni.
Apply and submit digital art at https://form.jotform.com/wml_admin/environmental-art-show
Deadline for digital submissions will be April 2, 2026.
Physical artwork drop off will be from April 7-10, 2026. Artwork can be dropped off at the Library Services Desk during Library Operational Hours. Participants dropping off artwork will need to provide a release form with their artwork. Release forms can be downloaded through the digital application form and hard copies of blank forms will be available at the Library Services Desk on the first floor of the Library. All artwork is returned after the art show ends.
If you would like to submit but have questions or need assistance with your submission, please contact Marleen Cloutier at marleen.cloutier@scranton.edu.
Welcome new and returning students! Library updates for Spring 2026
As we begin the 2026 spring semester, the Weinberg Memorial Library sends a warm welcome new and returning students!
The Weinberg Memorial Library (WML) has five floors and offers a variety of spaces to support your study and research needs including computer workstations, individual study space, group study rooms, quiet study areas, and the Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room.
The Library is open 7 days a week (see our hours) and the Library’s Pro Deo Room, Reilly Learning Commons, 2nd floor, and 3rd floor remain accessible to students 24 hours a day when campus is open and include printing stations, group study rooms, and lab computers.
Watch our welcome video to see our spaces and learn more about the Weinberg Memorial Library.
You can consult with a University of Scranton Librarian during our service hours by asking for research assistance at the first floor Library Services Desk, by calling 570-941-4000, or by using the Ask a Librarian chat boxes on our website which are available 24/7.
The Library’s Research & Scholarly Services department, located on the second floor, can assist you with research, such as finding, evaluating, and citing information. Look for the purple “Research Librarian on call” signs to locate a librarian available for drop-in research assistance. Research consultations can be scheduled by using the Ask a Librarian chat box or by contacting your subject liaison librarian directly by email.
To find resources, such as books, journals, and media, use Royal Search on the Library’s home page. The Library’s large collection of eBooks, electronic journals, and streaming media is available 24/7. To access the Library’s online content, you must first authenticate through my.scranton.edu.
The Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service is available for requesting books and articles not currently accessible at our Library. For ILL questions or concerns, please email interlibrary-loan@scranton.edu.
The staff at the Library Services Desk on the first floor can help you borrow and return print materials and laptops. You can also pick up items on reserve, books placed on hold, and interlibrary loan materials. In the lobby area in front of the Library Services Desk you will find New Books recently added to our collection, our Recreational Reading Collection which offers a variety of new and popular fiction and nonfiction, our new Graphic Novels collection, and our Featured Media Collection that contains recently acquired and popular DVDs.
The Reilly Learning Commons (RLC), located on the first floor, is a collaborative space with access to computers, video and audio recording rooms, and reservable group study rooms equipped with whiteboards and monitors.
The Media Resources Collection on the third floor includes media items in a variety of formats which are available for borrowing. The EdLab Collection, located within the Media Resources space, consists of children’s literature, K-12 textbooks, and materials useful for student teaching. Media Resources is currently undergoing renovations. The Media Resources DVD Collection will be back and available for borrowing in a newly renovated space beginning the first week February! Check out our Featured Media Collection on the first floor or our streaming media collections online.
The University of Scranton Archives and McHugh Family Special Collections, located on the fourth floor, collects, preserves, and provides access to rare materials and historical records on the University’s history and the greater Scranton community. Appointments are recommended.
Want to keep up to date on Library activities and events, subscribe to this blog or follow us on social media @UofSlibrary.
Have a great semester and stop by to visit us!
Library Closed on Sunday, January 25, 2026
The Library will be closed today, Sunday, January 25, 2026, due to travel advisories. Students on campus may access the 24 hour spaces by swiping in with their Royal Cards.
Jane Austen @ 250
Just want to note the 250th Birthday of a favorite author.
Many of us met Miss Austen as teenagers, and as the years pass I find her voice does not dim. I hope her works have touched you as they have me. Happy Birthday (and thanks) to one of the best!
More Library Study Space Available
The Library’s Collaborative Teaching Room (Rm.202) and an additional Group Study Room on the 4th Floor (Rm.419) are now available for student use. Please note the guidelines posted at each room, and good luck preparing for your exams!