Category: News

The 2025 Bike Lackawanna Season has ended today. We were happy to be participants in this green initiative again this year.

The Heritage Room will feature an exhibit of the medieval material from the McHugh Family Special Collections. The Library has long held a collection of three complete manuscripts and seven books printed before 1500. These were traditionally called incunables, which translates loosely from Latin as books from the cradle of printing. During the past 25 years, Special Collections has added a few dozen manuscript leaves and fragments as well as facsimiles of medieval manuscripts. This exhibit will showcase the oldest and rarest material owned by the Library. The exhibit will run through December 12. On November 13 at 5:30 Prof. Michael Knies will speak on the production and use of medieval manuscripts and early printed books in the Heritage Room. Please contact Special Collections Librarian, Prof. Michael Knies at Michael.Knies@Scranton.edu or (570) 941-6341 for more information.

Monday, October 5^th marks the beginning of Banned Books Week.  During this week, librarians and educators aim to raise awareness about efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to certain books. With challenges reaching all-time highs and disproportionately affecting members of already marginalized communities, it’s more important than ever that we advocate for our freedom to access all stories and ideas, even when they differ from our own.

Here at the Weinberg Memorial Library, we believe that everyone should have the freedom to explore and express their ideas and should have access to books that not only affirm their worldview but also challenge it.  We believe that books are not only windows to other worlds and experiences but mirrors that affirm our lived experiences and how we fit into the world at large.  We believe that by providing access to these books, we help create a richer, more inclusive, and more empathetic world.

We invite you to learn more by visiting our Banned Books Week display on the 2^nd floor of the Library from Monday, October 5^th through Friday, October 10^th. Stop by to find out about some frequently challenged titles, and let us know what books you’re glad to have the freedom to read!

 

Rebecca Dzikowski, Cataloging Assistant, earned the Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) Certificate of Merit. This recognition is well deserved and reflects both her leadership in the Weinberg Memorial Library and her contributions to the broader library community.

Rebecca serves as chair of PaLA’s Mentorship Program where she has strengthened and expanded opportunities for library professionals across Pennsylvania. The Mentorship Program matches seasons librarians and library workers with new or mid-career librarians who are hoping to expand their knowledge and careers. In the library, Rebecca also serves as a vital member of the Support Staff Meeting Planning Committee.

Please join me in congratulating Rebecca on this well-earned accomplishment!

The University of Scranton invites applications for a full-time, 12-month, tenure-track Research & Instruction Librarian for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The regularly scheduled hours for this position will be primarily Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm, with occasional hourly adjustments as needed. The successful candidate will be appointed to the rank of Assistant Professor and will be compensated according to the collective bargaining agreement, see https://www.scranton.edu/academics/provost/FAC/fac_contract.shtml. A generous benefits package is offered, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, retirement plan, paid vacations, holidays, research leave, and tuition remission. All full-time faculty members also have the opportunity to join our faculty union which serves as the local chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP).

The Research & Instruction Librarian for STEM contributes to the Library’s campus-wide focus on transformative teaching and learning in the Ignatian tradition. In addition to regular faculty responsibilities, the Research & Instruction Librarian for STEM engages in information literacy instruction, research support, and collection development.

Essential Duties:

• Teaches in support of the Library’s Information Literacy Curriculum, which includes information literacy instruction in core general education courses as well as upper-level disciplinary courses
• Provides research services and scholarly assistance to members of the University community both in-person and online
• Serves as subject liaison to academic departments supporting the natural sciences and mathematics (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Engineering, etc.), a role that includes providing course-integrated information literacy instruction and collection development. May be assigned to additional departments and programs as dictated by department needs and expertise developed after hire
• Develops and delivers instruction and professional development opportunities that focus on AI and the research process, both in and out of the Library

 Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with subject areas in the natural sciences and mathematics (e.g., biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, physics, etc.)
• Knowledge of current trends in academic librarianship related to research and instruction, such as knowledge of the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education and connections between AI and information literacy concepts in the research process
• Experience creating engaging learning opportunities for student, faculty, or community audiences
• Proficiency in the use of technology, such as social media and other emerging technologies and platforms, for the delivery of library services
• Strong desire to explore pedagogical approaches and learning theories that can enrich teaching practice
• Familiarity with assessment methods and techniques
• Coursework or experience in instructional design

 Additional Skills Required:

• Willingness to develop the knowledge required to provide information literacy instruction for the natural sciences and mathematics
• Ability to deal well with members of the public
• Excellent interpersonal skills, oral and written communication skills, and presentation skills
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work effectively both as a team member and independently
• Ability to work creatively and collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, and community-at-large
• Professional commitment to user-focused library services
• Professional commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility
• Ability to engage in scholarship and service in order to meet qualifications for reappointment and tenure, as defined in the Faculty Handbook
• Ability to attain a second Master’s degree in a subject field, or the completion of thirty graduate credits in a discipline that improves professional competence, as a requirement for tenure (if not already accomplished at the time of hire)

Minimum Education Requirements: Possession of an American Library Association (ALA) accredited Master’s degree at time of appointment.

Preferred Education: Additional graduate level degree or subject expertise in a STEM field preferred

Minimum Job Experience Requirements:

• Experience working in a library or archives
• Experience working collaboratively with others to pursue, manage, and complete projects

Schedule/Work Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., with occasional adjustments as needed.

Salary: Appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor as outlined in the current collective bargaining agreement, see: https://www.scranton.edu/academics/provost/FAC/fac_contract.shtml.

About the Library and University

The Weinberg Memorial Library actively engages in the life of the University to meet the community’s scholarly, academic, social, and cultural needs. We achieve this through mindful curation of and investment in resources, collections, services, and programs that support and empower a diverse community of scholars and learners.

We value teaching, research, and lifelong learning, and we are committed to intellectual freedom, preservation, accessibility, and sustainability. Our work environment is forward-looking and participatory, with an emphasis on transparency and faculty/staff development.

The University of Scranton is a regional institution of more than 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students located in northeast Pennsylvania near the Pocono Mountains. Recognized nationally for the quality of its education, Scranton is one of the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States. It is committed to providing liberal arts education and strong professional and pre-professional programs in the context of Ignatian educational principles, especially the care and development of the whole person. Drawing on the strengths that have made it a recognized leader in the Northeast, Scranton is committed to a culture of scholarship and excellence in teaching and is moving into the front ranks of America’s comprehensive universities.

Official University of Scranton Non-Discrimination Statement

The University is committed to providing an educational, residential, and working environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Members of the University community, applicants for employment or admissions, guests and visitors have the right to be free from harassment or discrimination based on race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sex, pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sex characteristics, sex stereotypes, age, disability, genetic information, national origin, ethnicity, family responsibilities, marital status, veteran or military status, citizenship status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Sexual harassment, including sexual violence, is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The University prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in its educational, extracurricular, athletic, or other programs or in the context of employment.

To Apply

Applicants must apply online at https://universityofscrantonjobs.com and include a cover letter summarizing qualifications and strengths, a curriculum vitae (or résumé), and contact information for three references. Review of applications will begin immediately with a start date in August 2026. See a direct link to the job posting here: https://universityofscrantonjobs.com/postings/8306. Prof. Kate Cummings, Research & Instruction Librarian for Business, serves as the Search Committee Chair.

The project to remove the compact shelving from the Media Resources Center has been completed. The room is now open for use, and EdLab Materials are directly available again. The remaining construction is not scheduled to begin until after the Fall Semester is over.

On Monday 9/15/25 removal of the compact shelving in the Media Resources Center will begin. Work is expected to continue all week. This means that EdLab Materials will not be available. We will assess the state of the room at the end of next week, and post further information at that time.

As we start the new semester, the Library is excited to introduce two new electronic resources designed to support your academic and professional research.

HeinOnline Academic
This comprehensive database offers access to a rich collection of journals, government documents, and primary sources across disciplines such as history, political science, criminal justice, and more. It also includes Fastcase Premium, a powerful legal research tool that enables quick and intuitive searching of federal and state case law.

Dynamic Health: CDS and Skills
Tailored for nurses and other health professionals, this evidence-based resource provides training materials, patient education handouts, lab and test demonstrations, and skill-building exercises. Developed by the same expert team behind the CINAHL database, Dynamic Health is an invaluable tool for students and faculty in the health sciences.

Important Update
Please note that Dynamic Health: CDS and Skills will be replacing Nursing Reference Center Plus, which is being discontinued by the vendor at the end of the semester.