2012 Library Research Prize Winners

The Library is pleased to announce our two winners of the 2nd Annual Library Research Prize competition, one in the Undergraduate category and one in the Graduate category.

Congratulations to Stephanie A. Pisko, a senior double major in History and Women’s Studies, whose submission, “Murder and Turmoil: Honor and Crimes of Passion in Two Nineteenth-Century Murder Trials,” was selected as this year’s winner of the prize in the Undergraduate category. Stephanie’s supporting faculty member was Dr. Susan L. Poulson in the History Department.

Stephanie wrote in her essay describing her research process:

Throughout the entire process, the library and the librarians helped me with all my questions, and there were many. […] As an undergraduate I had never taken on extensive research like this before and their guidance was invaluable. From learning to use the microfilm machine to locating articles in a bound journal, the library was there every step of the way. The research skills I gained are as sophisticated and as numerous as those of a graduate student. I feel confident of how to research, how to evaluate scholarly sources, and how to integrate the sources. This research project would not have been of the same quality without the librarians’ extensive knowledge and constant assistance.

Congratulations as well to Colleen Achatz, a student in our Graduate Program in Occupational Therapy, whose submission, Part I: “Evolution of Sensory Integration with Children” and Part II: “Jean Ayres’ Impact on the Past, Present, and Future of Sensory Integration,” was selected as this year’s  winner of the prize in the Graduate category. Colleen’s supporting faculty member was Dr. Rita Fleming-Castaldy in the Occupational Therapy Department.

Colleen wrote in her essay describing her research process:

The resource in the library that most surprised me was the microfilm; I had no idea about it until I learned about it for this assignment. I did not know what the microfilm section of the library even was and I wound up using microfilm for a key portion of my research. The journals in the library were also very helpful. In the past I had only used the databases on the library website to retrieve articles from the American Journal of Occupational Therapy and other journals but it only goes so many years back. I was surprised to see how many years’ worth of journals were physically in the library. I never realized how extensive the resources, tools, and services the library had to offer until this assignment. […] Through this assignment and the research process with the use of Weinberg Library’s resources and services, I learned a significant amount of knowledge in the methods and process of research as well as the importance of research in the profession of occupational therapy. This experience also helped me with my ability to more competently participate in my faculty mentored research course.

The Weinberg Memorial Library inaugurated the prize to recognize excellence in research projects that show evidence of significant knowledge in the methods of research and the information gathering process, and use of library resources, tools, and services. The prize is in the amount of $500 for the winning submission in each category: Undergraduate and Graduate.

In addition to our winners, two students were selected to receive Honorable Mentions in the Undergraduate category: Allison Carey for her submission, “Dynamics of Recent Trade Relationships with China,” and Ryan P. Pipan for his submission, “Much Ado about the Archer-Shee’s: Shakespearean Signatures in Terence Rattigan’s The Winslow Boy.”

Winners will be honored at a reception and awards ceremony on Thursday, May 10, 2012 in the Library’s 5th floor Heritage Room.

Book, Plant, & Tag Sale This Weekend

The Friends of the Library are sponsoring a Book & Plant Sale this weekend!
The sale will include used non-fiction and fiction hardcover and paperback books, plants, tag sale items, and jewelry. The sale takes place in the Heritage Room on the fifth floor of the Library, with all proceeds benefiting the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library Endowment.
The sale will be open Saturday, April 28, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, April 29, from noon until 4 p.m.

Digital Collections, New and Improved

We’ve just put a shiny, new interface on our digital collections, and we’d love for you to take a look!  Some of the new features we’re excited about:

  • A new homepage for Digital Collections
  • A new University History page where you can cross-search all of our University-related collections
  • Improved browsing, searching, and viewing
  • Easier ways to download and print photos and documents from our collections
  • Tagging, commenting, and sharing

Take our new collections for a test drive, and then let us know what you think! There are still a few quirks we’re working out, so if you run into any problems, just let us know at digitalcollections@scranton.edu.

King of Devil’s Island

Photo courtesy of Film Movement

Join us for a presentation of the Norwegian thriller King of Devil’s Island at 7 p.m. Friday May 4, 2012 in Room 305 of the Weinberg Memorial Library.  Dr. Kathryn Meier and Professor Mark Meier will lead a discussion following the film.

Described by Film Movement as the true story of the infamous Bastøy Boys Home correctional facility in Norway, the movie begins with the arrival of seventeen-year-old Erling, a rumored murderer.  He clashes with the island facility’s governor (Stellan Skarsgård), who believes manual labor, rigid discipline, and harsh punishment are the only methods that can turn the boys into honorable members of society. Erling slowly rouses the rest of the boys out of their resigned existence, and encourages them to fight to lift their spirits. When tragedy falls at the hand of the cruel dorm master, Erling leads his comrades in a courageous and vicious rebellion that will bring them head to head with the Norwegian Army.

Directed by Marius Holst King of Devil’s Island is in Norwegian with English subtitles.

This free event is open to faculty, staff, students and the public. Seating is limited so please contact Sharon Finnerty at (570) 941-6330 or finnertys2@scranton.edu for reservations.

Student Volunteers needed for Earth Week Trail Cleanup!

Section of the LHVA Heritage Trail. Photo by Owen Worozbyt, LHVA Volunteer Coordinator
Section of the LHVA Heritage Trail. Photo by Owen Worozbyt, LHVA Volunteer Coordinator
There will be a volunteer opportunity for students interested in supporting the environment and the local community. The Library Green Team and Campus Ministries will be hosting a trail cleanup along the Lackawanna County Heritage Trail. The 1 mile long trail borders the University of Scranton’s South Side baseball field. All interested students should meet outside the library on Saturday April 21st at 9:30AM, the van will be leaving at about 9:45AM.
The cleanup will go from 10am to approximately 1pm, gloves and trash bags will be provided. For more information contact either George Aulisio at George.Aulisio@scranton.edu or Fr. Rick Malloy at Richard.Malloy@scranton.edu.

McHugh Named Northeast Woman

The Weinberg Library’s very own Cataloging Librarian, Michelle (Sheli) McHugh,  has been named the Northeast Woman by the Sunday Scranton Times newspaper.  Please offer your congratulations to her and read the full story here.

 

Earth Week 2012

U of S Earth Day Fair 2010

Earth Day 2012: Sunday, April 22nd

Earth Day is only about a week away!  This list of U of S Earth Week events at https://foursquare.com/univofscranton/list/earth-week-events makes it easy to learn what environmentally themed activities are happening on campus starting with tomorrow’s annual Street Sweep.

Included in the list are Library activities like the opening reception for the Environmental Art Show, which will take place Monday at 7pm in the Heritage Room.  As part of this year’s Foursquare Frenzy,  there will be a special prize for the first students who check-in during the reception, and it’s not too late to submit artwork! Just bring in your submissions to the Library by Monday morning.

Want to learn more about how you can go green? Check out resources on sustainability in the Library Catalog or Research Guides.

You can also visit the Media Resources Center to watch one of the top sustainability themed films available at the Library:

  1. The Age of Stupid– DVD- feature film
  2. The Day After Tomorrow –DVD- feature film
  3. Eating Alaska– DVD- documentary/educational film
  4. King Corn-DVD- documentary/educational film
  5. An Inconvenient Truth –DVD- documentary/educational film
  6. No Impact Man-DVD- documentary/educational film
  7. Flow: For Love of Water-DVD – documentary/educational film
  8. Food, Inc. –DVD- documentary/educational film
  9. The 11th Hour– DVD- documentary/educational film
  10. The Great Warming -3 parts VHS- documentary/educational film
  11. Warnings from the Ice VHS- documentary/educational film

Foursquare Frenzy At the Library!

The Foursquare Frenzy 2012 is in full effect! If you’re a Foursquare user and check-in to various venues on campus, be sure to upload a picture and you’ll be entered to win special prizes! The Frenzy runs from April 10-23rd. To learn more about the prizes, venues and rules head on over to this site.

The Library is participating in several ways. Simply by checking in to the Library, with a photo of the inside or outside of the building, after midnight you can earn the Bookworm Bender Badge!

Are you the mayor of the Library? We are giving away the “Save Our World” water bottles to anyone who earns mayor status of the Library. There will also be a special prize for the first several people to check-in during the Environmental Art Show opening night reception!

Check-in! Play! Win!

Good luck Foursquarers!

Seniors: Vote for Teacher of the Year

Our colleagues over in the Center for Teaching & Learning Excellence asked us to share this announcement:

VOTE FOR:

 TEACHER OF THE YEAR

ATTENTION:  GRADUATING SENIORS

2012 University of Scranton

Teacher of the Year Award

Each year the Graduating Senior Class selects its “Teacher of the Year.” Beginning Monday, April 16th, please vote for the faculty member who you believe best exhibits the following characteristics:

  • Maintains the highest standards of academic excellence and fairness.
  • Inspires interest in the discipline through personal enthusiasm and dedication.
  • Is consistently effective in communication.
  • Is available outside of the classroom.

The award will be presented during Class Night on Friday, May 25th, 2012.

HOW TO VOTE:  To cast your electronic ballot, access www.scranton.edu/toy

WHEN TO VOTEMonday, April 16th, 9:00 a.m. – Friday, April 20th 5:00 p.m.

Remember a Faculty Member Whose Teaching Has Inspired You!  Your Vote Counts!