Author: Sharon A. Finnerty

February is Black History Month which offers us a chance to reflect on the contributions African Americans have made to the United States and the history of our country. Here is a short list of films from some of the Library’s streaming media collections that are available to current University of Scranton students, staff and faculty.

The Souls of Black Girls  is an award-winning news documentary that raises the question of whether women of color may be suffering from a self-image disorder as a result of trying to attain the standards of beauty that are celebrated in media images. It features interviews with young women and social commentary on the disconnect between the people in control of mainstream media and the lives of Black girls and women.

I Am Not Your Negro

I Am Not Your Negro is an examination of racism in America through the lens of James Baldwin’s unfinished book, Remember This House. Intended as an account of the lives of Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King, Jr., each of whom James Baldwin personally knew, only a 30-page manuscript of the book was ever completed. Combining Baldwin’s manuscript with footage of depictions of African-Americans throughout American history, I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO uses Baldwins words to illuminate the pervasiveness of American racism and the efforts to curtail it, from the civil rights movement to #BlackLivesMatter.

Description from Kino Lorber.

Boss: The Black Experience in Business

From award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson comes a film that examines more than 150 years of African American men and women who have embodied the qualities that are at the heart of the American entrepreneurial spirit.

John Lewis: Good Trouble

A fascinating look at the life and times of U.S. representative and activist, John Lewis. Using interviews and archival footage, the film delivers an intimate account of Lewis’s legacy and contribution to the Civil Rights Movement.

Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom

Go beyond the legend and meet the woman who repeatedly risked her life and freedom to liberate others from slavery. One of the greatest freedom fighters in U.S. history, Tubman was an Underground Railroad conductor, a Civil War scout, nurse, and spy. Directed by Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Stanley Nelson and Nicole London, the film is narrated by Emmy® Award-winner Alfre Woodard.

Description from PBS.

 

 

 

We invite applicants to apply for the part-time Media Resources Clerk. To apply and see the full job description visit: https://universityofscrantonjobs.com/postings/5462

Position Title: Media Resources Clerk – Part Time, Evenings/Weekends

Job Purpose

The Media Resources Evening/Weekend Clerk is a part time position which works under the supervision of the Media Resources Coordinator to provide services for the Media and Ed Lab Collections during the weekend and evening hours of the Center’s operation.

Essential Duties

– Supervises work-study students in the absence of the Media Resources Coordinator.

– Conducts circulation transactions (check in, check out, search, renew, change due date, course reserves) for Media and Ed Lab materials.

– Processes faculty requests for classroom and non-classroom use of media.

– Participates in the evaluation of and recommendation for purchase of equipment and media.

– Assists in the preparation of monthly and annual statistical reports. Also assists with analysis of statistics, and makes policy and procedure recommendations as warranted.

– Maintains the security and copyright integrity of the Media Resources Center equipment and collections.

– Sends overdue notices.

-Previews media for quality and informs Media Resources Coordinator of any problems.

– Compiles monthly list of new materials by title, department and format.

– Notifies faculty members that media they have requested have been received.

– Transfers media to more current formats as needed.

– Advises patrons of the availability of streaming media and can advise them of the existing features. Provides faculty and students with share link.

– Places material on Course Reserve and removes them as needed.

– Re-shelves materials, and maintains good order in the stacks.

Additional Skills Required:

– Ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of users – students, faculty, administration, and public patrons, and to handle communications with tact, courtesy and discretion.

– Ability to instruct/direct student work.

– Excellent organizational/record-keeping skills.

– Must be able to respect, support and contribute to the University’s Catholic and Jesuit mission. 

Minimum Education Requirements:

High school diploma or equivalent

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree

Minimum Job Experience Requirements:

One year customer service experience, including policy interpretation and enforcement. Experience with Microsoft Office.

Preferred Qualifications:

– Library work experience with training in Library circulation systems, on-line catalog searching, Internet searching.

– Experience working with/supervising college age students.

– Familiarity with online meeting platforms.

Schedule/Work Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 4:30-10 p.m.; Sunday Noon – 7 p.m. (17.5 hours per week), with some fluctuations in the summer and at exam times.

 

Looking for a movie to enhance your learning experience? Try Feature Films for Education, our newest video streaming database.

The Feature Films for Education Collection offers hundreds of full-length feature films from 20^th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight for educational instructional purposes. Brought to you in partnership with Infobase and Global Eagle, this outstanding collection focuses on both current and hard-to-find titles, including dramas, literary adaptations, blockbusters, classics, science fiction, environmental titles, foreign films, social issues, animation studies, and Academy Award® winners.

A link to this resource can be found by logging into the My.Scranton portal and clicking on the “Library” link and clicking on the “Databases” link under “Library Resources” and finding Feature Films for Education under the letter “F” in the A-Z database list. Individual titles may be accessed by searching the Library’s catalog. Access is limited to current students, staff and faculty of The University of Scranton.

Some Feature Films titles contain mature themes or content; viewer discretion is advised.

With the season of Advent upon us it’s a good time to take a look at the new streaming media subscription to FORMED On Demand. The Augustine Institute partnering with Ignatius Press launched FORMED as an online service designed to help users explore the Catholic faith.  FORMED provides access to Catholic movies, audio talks, e-books, and video-based studies from the Augustine Institute, Ignatius Press, Catholic Answers and more.

FORMED was designed with Catholic parishes in mind as a way for parishioners to learn and grow in their faith. Much of the content is available in English and Spanish. Students, faculty and staff will need to register on the platform to access the material.

FORMED on Demand may be accessed from the A-Z list of databases and from the Theology/Religious Studies and Streaming Media databases by subject.

POV is a free resource for documentary films that have been shown on PBS. Every year POV premiers 14 to 16 new and innovative programs. POV (a cinema term for “point of view”) is television’s longest-running showcase for independent non-fiction films. POV films are known for their intimacy, their unforgettable storytelling and their timeliness.

POV is now offering free resources for educators, including 200+ online film clips connected to 100+ standards-aligned lesson plans, discussion guides and reading lists. The lesson plan themes include Documentaries & Media Literacy, Women’s History, Environmental Issues and the Politics of Elections. To use this resource, you will need to create an account with POV. Registered educators may borrow DVDs from their lending library to host free community and classroom screenings, staff trainings and workshops. If you’d like to try this great source, visit the POV website for more information.