The Lollipops are Out!


We’ve all been studying very hard and doing a lot of work as the semester wraps up. Late night hours and lack of sleep can be very stressful, so why not enjoy a nice lollipop as you do your work?  Our trusty librarian friends have supplied the students with lollipops at the reference desk for finals week. As you study all week, feel free to grab one!

Also, note the bookmarks advertising the library’s first annual Library Research Prize–a new program where you could win $500 for the research you are already doing for your classes. Click on the link for details on how to enter.

And remember, we’re open until 2 am tonight, tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday this week. Happy studying!

Student Work featured in Photography Club Gallery

If you’re either a student here at the  U or a regular reader of Infospot, you know all about our new 1st floor 24-hour study space.  Starting today, that new space has one less blank wall.

This fall, the Weinberg Memorial Library partnered with the University’s Photography Club on a collaborative project to market our text messaging reference service.  Members of the Club took photographs of fellow University of Scranton students text messaging and then submitted them to us for review.  We chose our five favorite photographs to use for our marketing campaign – but since there were so many other great photographs, we decided to host a Photography Club gallery here at the Library.

So the next time you’re in the building, stop by the 1st floor group study rooms to find 9 gorgeous photographs celebrating text messaging, all thanks to our Photography Club contributors: James Benfante, Anna Heckman, Sarah Prandy, Aimee Miller, Gillian Naro, and Jon Danforth.  We’d also like to extend an extra thank you to Jon, who is both the Vice President of the Photography Club and one of our Library TechCons, for coordinating the gallery.

Student photographs, like this one by James Benfante, will be used to market the Library’s text messaging reference service

Your Library Account

Attention Students:

Please return or renew your library materials before you leave for the Holiday Break.  Library materials left behind in your dorms will become delinquent over the break if forgotten and you will return to some hefty fines.

If you need to bring items home with you over the break, just let us know that so that we can adjust your due dates.

You may contact the Circulation Desk at 570-941-7524.

Thank you and have a great Holiday!

Clarks Summit Celebrates 100 Years

Clarks Summit is turning 100 and will be celebrating its centennial all throughout the 2011 year, beginning in January.  The Abington Journal featured an article last week by Joan Mead-Matsui about the event, describing some of the activities that are planned to take place throughout the year, including a kickoff 10 a.m. January 15th and a Christmas tree bonfire later that day.

The official birthday of the Borough is August 30th, 2011, and will include a weekend of special activities August 26 to 28.

Two of the library’s staff, Barb Evans of Circulation/Access Services and Annette Barosi Kalwaytis of Special Collections/University Archives, are even part of the planning committee, as is a former U of Scranton professor, Vice Chair Dennis Martin.

Annette Barosi Kalwaytis, Sponsor Chair, discusses their work in the article:  “We sent more than 600 letters to various businesses and individuals, asking for support and we’ve had a response to our mailing. But in order for us to do what the committee has proposed for the centennial, we will need the support of the community. In my mind, I’m looking at one large birthday party. There is no age barrier to this centennial and we want everyone to have a great time.”

Centennial Committee Preps for Year of Events
Centennial planners shown at a Nov. 9 meeting include, from row, from left: Linda Besten, Liana Smith, Gerrie Carey, Annette Barosi Kalwaytis and Dennis Martin. Back row: Julia Munley, Jane Preate, Jacquelyn Preate, James Roland, Barb Evans, Charles Kumpas, Ellen Beechko and Kathy Drake.

For more information about the event or to read the full article check out The Abington Journal

Extended Library Hours for Finals 2010

Extended Hours

Wednesday-Thursday, December 1-2………….8:00a.m.- Midnight

Friday, December 3…………8:00a.m- 10:00p.m.

Saturday, December 4…………9:00 a.m.- 9:00p.m.

Sunday, December 5…………Noon – Midnight

Monday-Thursday, December 6-9………..7:00a.m.- 2:00a.m.

Friday, December 10…………8:00a.m.- Midnight

Saturday, December 11………..8:00a.m.- 5:00p.m.

Sunday, December 12…………Closed

Library Research Prize

Do you want to win $500? Are you doing a research project for one of your courses here at The University of Scranton? Are you an undergraduate student?

If you answered yes to all three of those questions, then you should submit an application for the Weinberg Memorial Library’s Library Research Prize.  The prize is a new initiative by the library designed 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.

Your research project must be one that you completed for a credit bearing course that you took (or will take) at The University of Scranton during the following semesters:
Summer 2010, Fall 2010, Intersession 2011, or Spring 2011

For more information: www.scranton.edu/libraryresearchprize

Library Hours for Thanksgiving Break

The library will be opening and closing on a holiday schedule for Thanksgiving Break.

Tuesday 11/23  8AM to 10PM

Wednesday 11/24 — 8AM to 4:30PM

Thursday 11/25 — Closed

Friday 11/26 — Closed

Saturday 11/27 — Closed

Sunday 11/28 — Noon to 11:30PM

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Holiday

Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, there is no technical support for printers or computers from

4 p.m. Wednesday, November 24 until 3:30 p.m. Sunday, November 23, 2010.

Edelstein on Shakespeare

One of the reasons why I love working at Weinberg Library is because it gives me the opportunity to hear some of the great speakers the University attracts. On Wednesday, November 17th, Barry Edelstein spoke about his Broadway production of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice starring Al Pacino as Shylock. Edelstein discussed whether or not the play is antisemitic. He claimed that it depends on the context and the interpreter; and he highly recommended two books which are in the Weinberg Library collection: Shakespeare and the Jews by James Shapiro (PR2825 .S44 1996) and John Gross’ Shylock : a legend and its legacy (PR2825 .G76 1992) . His hopeful conclusion was that time passes, and that human society grows, “we know what hatred costs and we can put an end to it”, and “hatred destroys; staging it-heals.”

Kathy Rinaggio, quoted in the New York Times

Taking the extra time to be courteous, Kathleen Rinaggio,  ambassador for the University of Scranton and Weinberg Library Circulation Clerk, changed an ordinary day for a visiting New York Times writer into an  “unexpected little moment” that “was the high point of my staycation”,  said Joe Queenan in a recent essay.  A discussion of “That Championship Season”, a play written by Jason Miller, started Kathy’s trip down memory lane. Reminiscing about Robert Mitchum, Martin Sheen and Paul Sorvino, Kathy – an extra in the 1982 film version of Miller’s play – shared her experiences with Queenan.  Kathy then suggested The Piazza dell’Arte as  Queenan’s next stop in downtown Scranton.  Commenting on the bust of Jason Miller there, Queenan stated that “Putting up a statue honoring a writer that hailed from Scranton shows more imagination and class.”

Queenan’s essay ” Post Cards From My Literary Staycation” in the New York Times can be found at:  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/books/review/Queenan-t.html