Printer Problems?

The computers in the Library are networked using a system called UniPrint. Sometimes UniPrint goes down. The Library now has a backup plan in place for students when this happens which uses a “crash cart” with a stand-alone computer and printer.  The “crash cart” will be located in the alcove adjacent to the Reference Desk on the 2nd floor of the Library. If this happens, you’ll need to save the document you want to print to a flash/thumb drive or e-mail the document to yourself. If you need any help, you can ask one of the Reference Librarians.

University of Scranton Course Catalogs 1926-2008, now Online

Digitization of special collections is ongoing at the Weinberg Memorial Library, and as a result we’re happy to have one more digital collection available for public use this Spring.

Now online and fully searchable is the University of Scranton Course Catalogs collection, which includes 123 St. Thomas College and University of Scranton undergraduate and graduate course catalogs from 1926 through 2008.  These catalogs will be useful not only for former students seeking course descriptions, but also for local historians and genealogists interested in the University’s history.

University course catalogs from 2007 and earlier were digitized in 2009 by Internet Archive as part of the Lyrasis Mass Digitization Collaborative, a group effort to digitize cultural heritage materials in which the Weinberg Memorial Library has participated since the Fall of 2008.  Each catalog was digitized in full color at 400 dpi, and each image was preserved in JPEG2000 format.  In order to save on server space and make the catalog images faster to download, we’ve uploaded PDF derivatives of those master JPEG2000s into our CONTENTdm collection.  As a result, some of the photographs in the catalogs may appear blurred.  If you’d like a higher resolution copy of a catalog, you can download the original JPEG2000s from Internet Archive by clicking on the Internet Archive URL, stored in each catalog’s “document description.”  And of course, the original printed catalogs are still available in the Library’s University Archives and can be viewed by appointment.

Catalogs from after 2007 are born digital documents, which we’ve downloaded for preservation from University Catalogs web site.

If you have questions about the course catalog collection or about the digitization process, please contact the Digital Services department.  And don’t forget to take a look at our other recent digital collections!

Text UofSLibrary!

Photo courtesy of isla_yelo under a Creative Commons license

Starting today, you can now send text messages to the UofS Library Reference Desk at:

570-687-8787

Send us your library-related questions via text message, and we’ll text you back an answer shortly, if you send the text during normal library hours.

If you text us when we’re closed, we’ll receive your text when we open up the next day, and text you back as soon as we get the question.

Please remember that your cell phone carrier may charge you for each text message sent and received. The library is not responsible for these charges.

More to come on this, but in the meantime, tell your friends! Happy texting!

CNN’s Jill Dougherty Speaks at Schemel Forum

Sondra Myers, director of the University of Scranton’s Schemel Forum, with CNN foreign affairs correspondent Jill Dougherty

CNN foreign affairs correspondent (and Dunmore native!) Jill Dougherty came to campus today to speak to University and local community members on the topic “Who Runs Russia? Deciphering Moscow’s Centers of Power.”

Formerly CNN’s Moscow bureau chief, Dougherty described her experiences as a journalist in Russia, providing character sketches of former President of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin, former President and current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, and current President Dmitry Medvedev.  She also discussed the evolving nature of Russian democracy and provided insight on demographic changes, Russia’s relationship to China, the reliance on an oil and gas economy, and the importance of civic society.

Dougherty’s talk was the second of this Spring’s Schemel Forum Insights Luncheons, a series focused on discussions of world affairs.  Next in the series will be Alex Thier of the United States Institute of Peace, who will present on “Enigma and Dilemma: Our Fraught Relationship with Afghanistan and Pakistan” on March 19th at 12pm in the Weinberg Memorial Library’s Heritage Room.

Jill Dougherty speaks in Brennan Hall

Oscar-Scranton-Schemel Connection: Jay Parini’s The Last Station

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTh-vQho7UU]

Now that the Olympics are over, it’s time to start preparing for the next big event – the Academy Awards are this Sunday!  And this year, there’s a Scranton connection.

West Scranton native Jay Parini is the author of The Last Station, a novel about the last year of Tolstoy’s life – and the film adaptation of the novel has received two Oscar nominations.  Helen Mirren (who plays Sofya Tolstoy) and Christopher Plummer (Leo Tolstoy) are up for Best Supporting Actor and Best Actress, respectively.   The Last Station was also nominated for five awards (including Best Feature) at Friday’s Film Independent Spirit Awards.  For more details about the film and Parini’s work, see this article from the February 5 Scranton Times-Tribune.

This Spring, Mr. Parini will be making a special appearance on campus to discuss his book and the film at one of our Schemel Forum “Insights” luncheons.  The luncheon will be held Friday, April 9 from 12pm-1:30pm in Room 509 Brennan Hall.   Registration fees are $20 per person or $30 per couple for the luncheon – and Schemel Forum members get in free. To register, please contact Kym Fetsko at fetskok2 (at) scranton (dot) edu.

Library Love on Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras at the Library!

Thank you all for making our first gaming night at the library a big success! Last night, at least 65 students came by the 5th floor Heritage Room to eat wings and pizza, and get their game on.

Super Smash Brothers was a big hit.

Games that got the most play include Super Smash Brothers and the Wii Fit — even the classic game Scattegories got in on the action.

There was also a raffle, which 67 students entered. There were three $10 Amazon gift cards awarded as prizes. The winners of the raffle drawing are:

Dan Parisi (Senior)

Devin Patel (Junior)

James Costello (Senior)

Winners will be notified via email of how and where to pick up your prizes.

We got enough positive feedback to know that gaming night is something we should do on a regular basis. So, we can all look forward to another gaming night in the library, since this one was such a hit.

But, by far, the best part of Mardi Gras at the Library was all of the *library love* we got from everyone who participated. Thanks for the great feedback guys, and we can’t wait for the next one!

Library Love (aw shucks :) )

(A special shout-out to the Center for Health and Education Wellness for lending us the games, and to our very own Bonnie Oldham and George Aulisio for planning this awesome event. For more coverage of Mardi Gras at the Library, including photos, check out our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/UofSLibrary.)

Mardi Gras!

Just a reminder…

Mardi Gras at the Library is Tonight!

Come to the Heritage Room between 8-11 to enjoy Wii games, Board Games, Pizza, Wings, Chips, Pretzels, Donuts, Soda, M&M’s, Free Beads, and Prizes!!

See you there!

Share those photos!

Good news – we still have seats left for this Friday’s Technology on Your Own Terms workshop on photo sharing.

This time, Library systems staff member and computer training coordinator Vince Yanusauskas will present “Can You See Me Now?: Creating Digital Web Albums to Share with Family and Friends.”  Vince will demonstrate Google’s free Picasa service, which gives users 1 GB of free storage space to save, organize, describe, and share their favorite photos with their favorite people.

The workshop will be held on Friday, February 19th from 12pm-1pm in Weinberg Memorial Library Room 306.  If interested, be sure to register for a seat at www.scranton.edu/ctleregistration, under Special Events.  All University faculty and staff are welcome.

Photo collage (made using Picasa) is courtesy of Flickr user Burnt Pixel, under a Creative Commons license.

Mardi Gras at the Library!

This Tuesday night (Feb 16) from 8pm to 11pm the Library will be hosting a gaming night for Scranton students.

"Come enjoy yourself at the Library on Tuesday Night, with me, Mario!"

Students will have the entire Heritage Room to themselves to kick back, socialize, eat, and play some games!

There will be three Wii consoles on three different televisions and students will have the option to play Mario Kart, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games, Wii Fit, Wii Sports, and Rock Band. For those students who prefer classic gaming over video gaming there will also be various board games set up along the room.

Not yet intrigued?

What if the Library throws in Pizza, Wings, Soda, Chips, and Candy in the mix for you!

Still not enough?

OK, OK. How about three $10 Amazon gift cards that every student who shows up has a chance of winning regardless of one’s gaming skills?

We figured that would get your attention! See you at the Library!

The Ritsuko Sato Exhibit

Artwork of Ritsuko Sato The Weinberg Memorial Library is featuring the artwork of Ritsuko Sato of Kurashiki City Japan. Curator Kazuaki Kishimoto of the Nagi Museum of Contemporary Art stated “Sato’s work is by no means subtle or predictable. Her often deformed motifs dynamically combine chaotic and random strokes with bright vibrant colors. The effects are almost childlike in their innocence, revealing Sato’s unique impressions and interpretations of the world around her.” The exhibit will run from February 8 through April 25.