Welcome Class of 2028 to the Weinberg Memorial Library!

The Weinberg Memorial Library is pleased to welcome the Class of 2028 to The University of Scranton!

Sign up for the Heritage Hunt, the interactive introduction to the Library and its resources for first-year students!

Watch our welcome video to learn more about the Weinberg Memorial Library.

To consult with a University of Scranton Librarian during our service hours, you can ask for research assistance at the first floor Library Services Desk, call 570-941-4000, or use the Ask a Librarian chat boxes on our website. Assistance is available 24/7 through the chat box, which is covered by librarians not affiliated with the University of Scranton outside service hours.

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, periodicals, and media, use Royal Search located on the Library’s home page. The Library’s large collection of e-books, e-journals, and streaming media are 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 articles not currently accessible at our library. For ILL questions/concerns, please email interlibrary-loan@scranton.edu.

Circulation Services, located at the first floor Library Services Desk, 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 Weinberg Memorial Library 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’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.

The Reilly Learning Commons (RLC), located on the first floor, is a collaborative space with access to high-powered computers, video and audio recording rooms, and reservable group study rooms equipped with white boards and monitors.

The Media Resources Collection (MRC), located on the third floor, provides media materials for instructional support and student learning. Students can borrow films on DVD or Blu-ray, music on CDs or LP records, and audiobooks. The EdLab collection, found within the Media Resources Collection, consists of children’s literature and K-12 textbooks.

University of Scranton Archives and McHugh Family Special Collections, located on the fourth floor, collects, preserves, and provides access to historical materials including medieval manuscripts, rare books, American penmanship and local and University history. Appointments are recommended.

The Digital Services Department provides access to digital content related to University Archives and Special Collections. You can search our digital collections online at https://digitalservices.scranton.edu/.

2024 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize Award Winners Announced

Charles Cavin Sylvester is the winner of the 2024 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize in the Undergraduate Upper-level category

Charles Cavin Sylvester is the winner of the 2024 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize in the Undergraduate Upper-level category. This prize is awarded to the winning project completed in a 200- to 400-level course.

Charles is a senior Environmental Science major, he submitted to the competition the paper titled “Environmental Review of CFCs and their Replacements; the Montreal Protocol Plan” completed in the course CHEM 390: Chemical Literature and Writing, taught by Dr. Michael Fennie.

For research purposes, Charles relied on a number of library databases such as Academic Search Elite, ProQuest Central, and the American Chemical Society publications in order to identify pertinent peer-reviewed primary source literature. Charles utilized a wide range of sources including secondary sources such as textbooks and white papers to ascertain governmental information regarding the Montreal Protocol. In his description of research he also mentions obtaining access to three crucial papers for his research through the Library’s Interlibrary loan system. Charles used the citation management software Zotero to manage and organize his large number of sources, and adds that as a first-time user of Zotero, he was amazed at how this tool streamlined his research process. 

In choosing this research topic, Charles mentions; “I wanted to choose something that affects everyone, something that is applicable to everyone’s daily life, something that would help better the lives of all. Pope Francis calls us to be stewards of the Earth. Most recently in his “Laudato Deum,” he specifically called out the United States for not being good enough. Therefore, embracing my Jesuit values, I wanted to write an impactful paper on the Montreal Protocol Plan to assess if were we doing enough to protect ourselves from the tragedy of ozone depletion by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).” 

Through the research process, Charles mentions, “I have done many research projects throughout my time at the University, but this one truly taught me the notion of not giving up before I found the right data. My strive for Magis drove me. To write a fair and accurate paper, I needed specific data for CFCs and their three replacements concerning ozone depletion potentials, pathways for tropospheric sinks, radiative efficiencies, lifetimes, and global warming potentials. It was not an easy task, but I am extremely satisfied that I was successful in doing so. It made my paper so much more complete. The accomplishment will stick with me, and it taught me a lasting lesson about researching.” His research is timely and describes high-level scientific processes in a readable and straightforward manner. His work details a truly successful application of Science as a change agent for improvement in environmental policy. 

Honorable Mention awards in the 2024 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize in the Undergraduate Upper-level category were presented to Gabrielle Bingener, a third-year Neuroscience major, for her project titled “Transposing The Wounded Storyteller,” completed in the course ENLT 224: Perspectives in Literature about Illness taught by Dr. Billie Tadros; and to Occupational Therapy major Victoria Smulowitz for her paper titled “The Impact of Breast Cancer Survivors’ Participation in Society Due to a Loss of Occupational Engagement,” completed in the course OT 250: Scientific Writing and Information Literacy taught by Dr. Carol Coté.

Gabrielle Allen and Julianna Lunt are the winners of the 2024 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize in the Graduate category.

Gabrielle Allen and Julianna Lunt are the winners of the 2024 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize in the Graduate category.

Gabrielle and Julianna are in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program.  They submitted to the competition their project titled “The Changing Role of Occupational Therapy in Neonatal Care” completed in the course OT 544: Leadership Principles, Ethics, and Pragmatics, taught by Dr. Marlene Morgan.

When Gabrielle and Julianna set off on their Historical Analysis of Occupational Therapy assignment, they wanted to choose a topic that would be beneficial for the occupational therapy profession and focused specifically on vulnerable populations, whose lives have been impacted by advancements in OT. They ultimately landed on neonatal care. 

For this difficult historical analysis, they used a multitude of Library resources, from print to digital, and archival. They also sought assistance from the librarians who guided them through how to begin finding and evaluating relevant information. While at first intimidated by the research process, they began to feel “a bit like detectives” as they went about their information seeking.  In true Jesuit tradition, they were pushed to become better researchers while tasked with taking time to be reflective of their findings. 

In their description of research, they summarize the ways their research process reflected Ignatian characteristics when they say, “Whether it was the discernment of choosing a research topic that would benefit the future of OT and help advocate for the infants in the NICU, or learning how to navigate new equipment to access archival journals on microfilm, this project fostered growth in many different ways.” 

They go on: “We found ourselves discussing our gratitude to receive a Jesuit education while completing this research project,” and furthermore apply the Jesuit concept of “Contemplatio ad amorem” to their work on this project when they say:“The research process incorporated active parts and also included reflection of the findings. It was in these moments of reflection that we were able to uncover themes throughout history and have “breakthrough moments”. Most importantly, our research was driven by the love of God because we sought to choose a topic that would improve the quality of life for His most vulnerable creations.”

In this way, Gabrielle and Julianna illustrate how the research process can transform both the researcher and those whom the research will serve.

Honorable Mention awards in the 2024 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize Graduate category were presented to Master of Occupational Therapy students Catherine Casola and Kiera Harvey, their project titled “The History of Occupational Therapy in Neurological Conditions,” completed in the course OT 544: Leadership Principles, Ethics, and Pragmatics, taught by Dr. Marlene Morgan; and to Doctor of Physical Therapy students Lauren Colella, Erin O’Shaughnessy, Michele Felice Rovaris, and Sydney Walters, for their project titled “Mental Health Factors and Exercise Adherence in Women with Breast Cancer Interventions: A Systematic Review,” completed in the course PT 773: Scientific Inquiry III for PT, taught by Dr. Anthony Carusotto.

Emma Torok is the winner of the 2024 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize Undergraduate Foundational category. This prize category is designed to recognize research excellence and learning in the first year. It is awarded to the winning project completed in a 100-level course.*

Emma is a first-year Early Education Major who submitted her paper titled “Analyzing the Effectiveness of In-Person Learning vs. Online Learning” completed in Prof. Dawn D’Aries Zera’s Writing 107: Composition course. 

Tasked with researching an argumentative contemporary issue related to her major, Emma began her research in class and an information literacy session with a faculty librarian where she learned about different types of resources available including books, videos, online journals, Interlibrary Loan, and more. In her description of research, Emma discussed using the Library’s main search tool, Royal Search, to find peer reviewed articles through the use of limiters and Boolean logic. She shared how adding a variety of sources, like scholarly research articles, but also news articles from the New York Times and NPR, helped balance her argument and solidify her findings. 

Emma also discussed the importance of keeping an open mind while conducting research as to avoid confirmation bias. In her application she states, “There have been times when I began my research specifically looking for articles that agreed with my predetermined thoughts. However, for this project, I deliberately searched for articles that stated the benefits of both online and in-person learning. I am so thankful for all that I learned in the library program and on the library website because, without learning other perspectives, my paper would not have been formulated fairly.”

Emma went on to discuss how through the research process she embodied the Ignatian characteristic of Cura Personalis. She states, “My research paper demonstrated this in two main ways: my open perspective to research and my personal connection to my topic. Before conducting any research, and even before finalizing my topic, I ensured that I educated myself on both sides of the debate. Just like St. Ignatius would do, I appreciated and thought critically about both perspectives before deciding my opinion.” 

The 2024 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize Undergraduate Foundational category Honorable Mention award was presented to first-year Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology major Andrew Mauriello, for his project titled “Gene Therapy: An Effective Treatment for Some of the World’s Deadliest Diseases” completed in his WRITING 107: Composition course taught by Prof. Dawn D’Aries Zera.

Currently celebrating its 13th year, the Weinberg Memorial Library inaugurated the Library Research Prize in 2011 to recognize excellence in research projects that show evidence of significant knowledge of the methods of research and the information gathering process, and use of library resources, tools, and services. In 2017, the prize was named for Professor Emerita Bonnie W. Oldham, who founded the prize at the University in 2011. The Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize was fully endowed in 2019 and consists of a prize of $500 awarded to winning projects in each of the three categories: Undergraduate Foundational (100-level projects), Undergraduate Upper-level (200- to 400-level projects), and Graduate.

 Prize winners were honored at an Awards Ceremony & Reception on Friday 5/17 at 1:00 pm in the Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room of the Weinberg Memorial Library.

 Information about the Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize can be found on the website: http://www.scranton.edu/libraryresearchprize

Congratulations to all of our honorees!

*Emma Torok was unable to attend the awards ceremony and is therefore not pictured along with the other winners.

2024 Weinberg Memorial Library Book Sale

Join us at the Weinberg Memorial Library’s book sale this weekend! The University of Scranton’s Weinberg Memorial Library will hold its annual book sale on Saturday, April 27th from 9:00AM to 8:00PM and Sunday, April 28th from 12:00PM to 4:00PM. A special preview sale will be held on Friday, April 26th for current University of Scranton students, current (2023-2024) Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library members, and current Schemel Forum members. Interested in becoming a member of the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library? Information for membership can be found at Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library. To check the status of your Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library and Schemel Forum memberships, please contact Kym Fetsko at kym.fetsko@scranton.edu or (570) 941-7816.

The book sale will have a variety of hardcover and paperback books including non-fiction books, fiction books, cookbooks, young adult books, and children’s books. In addition, the book sale will have DVDs and CDs.

Any questions about the book sale? Please reach out to Melisa Gallo at melisa.gallo@scranton.edu or (570) 941-6195.

We look forward to seeing you this weekend at the Weinberg Memorial Library’s annual book sale!

 

Trail Cleanup–Volunteer Opportunity

The Library will be holding its annual Spring Trail Cleanup on Wednesday, May 1st at 2:30-4:30pm. We’ll meet at the Broadway St. Trailhead, 300 Broadway St. Scranton, 18505, next to the University’s Quinn Athletic Complex. To RSVP, visit RoyalSync.

This is a great volunteer opportunity! If you have questions or need transportation, contact Sheli Pratt-McHugh at sheli.pratt-mchugh [at] scranton [dot] edu.

The 2024 Environmental Art Show is now open!

The 2024 Environmental Art Show: Creating Connections is now open!

Stop by or view it online!

The exhibit can be viewed in the Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room of the Weinberg Memorial Library from April 15-24, 2024.

You can view the virtual exhibit at:

https://digitalprojects.scranton.edu/s/environmental-art-exhibit/

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, and more.

Join us tonight April 15th at 5pm for an Artist Talk with Theresa O’Connor.

If you have questions about this event, please contact Marleen Cloutier at marleen.cloutier@scranton.edu

Volunteers and Donations for the 2024 Weinberg Memorial Library’s Annual Book Sale

The University of Scranton’s Weinberg Memorial Library is accepting book, DVD, and CD donations for its annual book sale occurring on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28. A special preview sale will be held on Friday, April 26 for current (2023-2024) Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library members, current Schemel Forum members, and current University of Scranton students.

The Weinberg Memorial Library is accepting hardcover and paperback books in good condition, such as fiction and non-fiction books, cookbooks, young adult books, and children’s books. The Library is also accepting unscratched DVDs and CDs. Donation appointments are needed. There will be a hiatus for accepting donations starting on Saturday, April 13 until the completion of the annual book sale on Sunday, April 28. Donations will be welcomed again following this pause. In addition, the Weinberg Memorial Library is welcoming volunteers to help with the book sale. Volunteer shifts for the book sale are flexible.

To schedule an appointment to donate books and/or DVDs and CDs, obtain clarification on accepted items, or to volunteer, please contact Melisa Gallo at melisa.gallo@scranton.edu or (570) 941-6195. To check the status of your Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library and Schemel Forum memberships, please contact Kym Fetsko at kym.fetsko@scranton.edu or (570) 941-7816.

Environmental Art Show – Call for Art – Deadline for Submissions EXTENDED to Thursday, April 4th

The Weinberg Memorial Library is seeking submissions for our annual exhibit of Environmental Art.

The deadline for submissions has been extended to Thursday April 4th. All physical works of art can be dropped off at the Library Services Desk on the 1st floor of the Library. All artwork is returned after the art show ends.

In addition to the physical exhibit, we are offering the option to exhibit virtually. The virtual exhibit will debut during Earth Week on April 15, 2024. If you are submitting digital artwork, you can submit your artwork at the following link:

https://form.jotform.com/wml_admin/environmental-art-show

The art show theme for 2024 is Creating Connections. Artists are encouraged  to develop artwork around this year’s theme, sharing their connection with nature or a sustainable practice.Submissions are open to all and we encourage submissions by University of Scranton students, staff, faculty, and alumni.

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.

The art show will be held in the Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room on the 5th floor of the Weinberg Memorial Library April 15-24, 2024. The exhibit opening event, An Artist Talk with Theresa O’Connor, will be held on April 15th at 5pm. More details to follow.

You can view our 2023 virtual exhibit and photos of some of our previous in-person exhibits at:

https://digitalprojects.scranton.edu/s/environmental-art-exhibit/page/exhibit-home

If you would like to submit but have questions or need assistance with your submission, please contact Marleen Cloutier at marleen.cloutier@scranton.edu.

Environmental Art Show – Call for Art – Deadline for Submissions March 28th

The Weinberg Memorial Library is seeking submissions for our annual exhibit of Environmental Art.

The art show theme for 2024 is Creating Connections. Artists are encouraged  to develop artwork around this year’s theme, sharing their connection with nature or a sustainable practice.Submissions are open to all and we encourage submissions by University of Scranton students, staff, faculty, and alumni.

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.

The deadline for submissions is set for Wednesday, March 28th, 2024. All physical works of art can be dropped off at the Library Services Desk on the 1st floor of the Library. All artwork is returned after the art show ends.

The art show will be held in the Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room on the 5th floor of the Weinberg Memorial Library April 15-24, 2024. The exhibit opening event, An Artist Talk with Theresa O’Connor, will be held on April 15th at 5pm. More details to follow.

In addition to the physical exhibit, we are offering the option to exhibit virtually. The virtual exhibit will debut during Earth Week on April 15, 2024. If you are submitting digital artwork, you can submit your artwork at the following link:

https://form.jotform.com/wml_admin/environmental-art-show

You can view our 2023 virtual exhibit and photos of some of our previous in-person exhibits at:

https://digitalprojects.scranton.edu/s/environmental-art-exhibit/page/exhibit-home

If you would like to submit but have questions or need assistance with your submission, please contact Marleen Cloutier at marleen.cloutier@scranton.edu.

Lightning Talks: Open Educational Resources

The Weinberg Memorial Library invites University Faculty to “Lightning Talks: Open Educational Resources” on February 27th at noon in our Heritage Room. The Affordable Learning Committee is excited to welcome faculty members: Colleen Farry, Art History, Mike Fennie, Chemistry, Jason Graham, Mathematics, and Adam Pratt, History to discuss the use of OER in their courses.

For more information on OER on campus and how to apply for the Library’s Affordable Learning Implementation Grant, visit the link below.

https://www.scranton.edu/academics/wml/infolit/oer-grants.shtml

Environmental Art Show – Call For Art – 2024

The Weinberg Memorial Library is seeking submissions for our annual exhibit of Environmental Art.

The art show theme for 2024 is Creating Connections. Artists are encouraged  to develop artwork around this year’s theme, sharing their connection with nature or a sustainable practice.Submissions are open to all and we encourage submissions by University of Scranton students, staff, faculty, and alumni.

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.

The deadline for submissions is set for Wednesday, March 28th, 2024. All physical works of art can be dropped off at the Library Services Desk on the 1st floor of the Library. All artwork is returned after the art show ends.

The art show will be held in the Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room on the 5th floor of the Weinberg Memorial Library April 15-24, 2024. The exhibit opening event, An Artist Talk with Theresa O’Connor, will be held on April 15th at 5pm. More details to follow.

In addition to the physical exhibit, we are offering the option to exhibit virtually. The virtual exhibit will debut during Earth Week on April 15, 2024. If you are submitting digital artwork, you can submit your artwork at the following link:

https://form.jotform.com/wml_admin/environmental-art-show

You can view our 2023 virtual exhibit and photos of some of our previous in-person exhibits at:

https://digitalprojects.scranton.edu/s/environmental-art-exhibit/page/exhibit-home

If you would like to submit but have questions or need assistance with your submission, please contact Marleen Cloutier at marleen.cloutier@scranton.edu.