New PBS Site for Educators

PBS has launched PBS LearningMedia™ an exciting website for educators.  After agreeing to the terms of use, educators may register to use a collection of digital resources on subjects such as science, social studies and language arts free of charge.  There are videos clips, images and audio recordings available for classroom use.  The content can be filtered by grade level, subject, and media type.  Sources for the video clips include the PBS programs American Experience , NOVA and POV.   Many images are from the National Archives.

A link to the site has been added to the Library’s Streaming Media web page.

The Swing Set, a New York-Based Trio, is Set to Perform Thursday Evening

Benny Goodman and his Band. Courtesy of the Library of Congress
Benny Goodman’s band popularized many tunes from the “American Songbook,” including Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies,” and “I Got Rhythm” by George and Ira Gershwin. Goodman integrated the big band era when he invited black musicians to join his group starting in 1936. Courtesy of the Library of Congress

The Swing Set, a New York-based trio, will perform selected favorites by songwriters featured in the library’s current exhibit, “A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs, 1910-1965.”

Thursday, September 22, 6-7:30 P.M.

Heritage Room– 5th floor of the library

The event is free and open to the public.


Visit Current Exhibits at the Library to find out more.

To RSVP and for further information, contact Michael Knies at 570-941-6341 or kniesm2@scranton.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

“A Fine Romance” is visiting 55 sites throughout the U.S. in 2011-2012.  It was curated by David Lehman and developed by Nextbook, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Jewish literature, culture, and ideas, and the American Library Association Public Programs Office.  The national tour of the exhibit has been made possible by the Charles H. Revson Foundation, the Righteous Persons Foundation, the David Berg Foundation, an anonymous donor, and Tablet: A New Read on Jewish Life.  A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs  is also a book by David Lehman, published by Nextbook/Schocken.

Changes in Media Resources

Changes are happening rapidly in the Media Resources Department.  While the  DVD is currently the favorite media format, media streaming is becoming increasingly popular for academic use.

Streaming media are compressed audio and video files that allow the viewer to listen to or watch media in real time.   Some popular sites that feature streaming  media are  Hulu, YouTube and Google Videos.

 
In the spring of 2011 the Library initiated a Streaming Media Page as an offshoot of the Media Resources/Edlab web page. The site currently contains Licensed Streaming Media from Films on Demand about a variety of subjects including Biology, Health and Medicine and Education.  Students, faculty and staff have access to this material.  Links to outside websites hosting lectures, documentaries and archival newsreels are available on the web page too.

Streaming Media has many benefits.  It can be accessed from classrooms, dorms, or homes and multiple users can access it at the same time.  If you’re off campus, log in to my.scranton and use the Library tab so that you’ll be authenticated as a University of Scranton user.

View the  Licensed Streaming Media Tutorial  found under Programs and Services on the Library  Home Page for more information or use this link to connect to the page http://matrix.scranton.edu/academics/wml/media/streaming.shtml.

 

Presidential Inaugurations through the Years

Walking around campus, you can see preparations are in full swing for tomorrow’s inauguration of the twenty-fifth president of the University of Scranton, Reverend Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., J.D., Ph.D.  As part of the festivities welcoming Fr. Quinn to the university community, we’d like to share a few images from some of the past presidential inaugurations.

Recently appointed as the eleventh university president, Bro. Eliseus Leonard, F.S.C. (1940-42), shakes hands with his predecessor, Bro. Denis Edward F.S.C. (1931-40).

At his inauguration ceremony, Rev. J. Eugene Gallery, S.J. (1947-53), fourteenth university president, receives a copy of the university’s original charter from Rev. Edward G. Jacklin, vice president of the university and dean of students.  Seated at the far left is Orphans’ Court Judge, James F. Brady.

Diamond anniversary convocation and inauguration of the sixteenth university president, Rev. Edward J. Sponga, S.J. (1963-56). He stands with Rev. William G. Kelly, S.J. (right).

The seventeenth university president, Rev. Aloysius C. Galvin, S.J. (1965-70) along with family members present at his inauguration. From left to right, John T. Galvin (brother), Sister Helen Mercedes, SND (sister), Fr. Galvin, and Mrs. Herbert O’Connor, Jr. (sister).

Inauguration of Rev. William J. Byron, S.J. (right), twenty-first university president (1975-82).  He shakes hands with Rev. Edwin A. Quain, S.J., who served as acting president in 1975.

Rev. J.A. Panuska, S.J. (1982-98) (right), twenty-second university president, receives the University Mace, a symbol of educational authority and institutional identity, from Fr. Byron.

“A Fine Romance” Exhibit on Display

The library invites you to view the traveling exhibit “A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs” on display in the Heritage Room until October 21st.  “A Fine Romance” tells the story of the many Jewish composers, such as Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, and George Gershwin, who helped create the great American songbook from 1910-1965.

The best composers of this period combined a genius for melody, a talent for finding the perfect words, and an ability to connect with a wide audience. A large number of them were Jewish—from families that had immigrated to America in the 1800s or had fled persecution in Europe. “A Fine Romance” tells their story.

The exhibit was developed by Nextbook, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Jewish literature, culture, and ideas, and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The national tour of the exhibit has been made possible by grants from the Charles H. Revson Foundation, the Righteous Persons Foundation, the David Berg Foundation, and an anonymous donor, with additional support from Tablet Magazine: A New Read on Jewish Life.

Poster for Swing Time. Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures Inc./Photofest ©RKO Radio Pictures Inc. Photographer: John Miehle

Two programs/receptions will be free and open to the public:

Thursday, September 22, 6 to 7:30 pm

The Swing Set, a New York-based trio, will perform selected favorites by songwriters in the exhibit

Heritage Room —Weinberg Memorial Library

Tuesday, October 11, 6 to 7:30 pm

Ricky Ritzel, internationally renowned raconteur and cabaret artist will tell tales of the songwriters from his perch at the keyboard

Heritage Room —Weinberg Memorial Library

To RSVP or for further information, please contact Michael Knies at 570-941-6341 or visit http://matrix.scranton.edu/academics/wml/spcollections/exhibits.shtml for details.

  

Ask-A-Librarian Instant Messaging

The Ask-A-Librarian instant messaging service, widgets on our websites, and text messaging services are currently having technical difficulty. Our provider’s servers are currently down, but they are working on restoring the services.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

For the meantime please call the Reference Desk if you need any help (570 – 941 – 4000) OR use the 24/7 Chat service  to get help from a librarian at another Jesuit University.

Science and Nature – Full Text Online

   

For all the scientists, aspiring scientists, and just plain curious folk on our campus, the Weinberg Memorial Library now offers full text, online access to Science and Nature, two well-known and frequently cited interdisciplinary scientific journals.

To use either journal, just use our Periodical Search to search for either Science or Nature, and then click through to their respective websites. If you’re off campus, don’t forget to log in to my.scranton and use the Library tab so that you’ll be authenticated as a University of Scranton user.

If you have any trouble accessing either journal, please let us know!

The Secret of Kells Kicks off the Foreign Film Series

Image courtesy of Flickr user Miss a Liss

The Foreign Film Series is happy to present the Irish animated film The Secret of Kells on Friday September 23, 2011 at 7:00 P.M. in Room 305 of the Weinberg Memorial Library.  Dr. Stephen Whittaker will lead a discussion following the film.

Described by USA Today as “dazzling” and “captivating” The Secret of Kells was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2010.  It tells the story of a sheltered boy named Brendan who begins an adventure when a master illuminator arrives from foreign lands with an ancient but unfinished book of secret wisdom.  Brendan wants to help complete the exceptional book, but there is danger along the way….

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

Doors open at 6:30 P.M.; the film begins at 7:00 P.M.  Light refreshments will be served.

Distance Education Students

When filling out the ILLiad – ILL request form, please list your status as Distance Education not Graduate or Undergraduate.  This will speed up the process of sending things we own at the Weinberg Library to you.

Thank you,

Interlibrary Loan

JSTOR Service Alert – September 9-10

On Friday, September 9 and Saturday, September 10, JSTOR will be performing site maintenance that requires a “read-only” period for these two days. During this scheduled maintenance, users will be able to search, browse, and access and download PDF files for content in JSTOR. They will not be able to save citations, reset passwords, create or update MyJSTOR accounts, or purchase articles.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.