Royden B. Davis Distinguished Author Award

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August 26, 2010

10:55 am

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Events, Friends, News

Steve Berry

Did any of the children survive the execution of the Romanovs?

How can Alexander the Great be connected with modern medicine?

Each of these fascinating figures from history are tied to intrigues in the novels of New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry who will be the recipient of the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library Royden B. Davis Distinguished Author Award on March 19, 2011.  Berry’s works combine historical fact with action adventure.  For a complete list of his works, see http://www.steveberry.org/

With his wife Elizabeth, Steve launched History Matters to assist communities, around the world, with restoration and preservation.  In each of his works, an artifact from the past plays a vital role.  The Library has the complete collection of Berry’s works.  Borrow one to read and plan on coming to the event to hear how an author combines fact and fiction.

Meet Sheli, Our New Cataloger!

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August 24, 2010

4:22 pm

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News

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We’d like to introduce the Weinberg’s newest faculty member: Sheli McHugh, our Cataloging/Metadata Librarian!  Sheli joined us in June 2010, having previously served as the Scranton Public Library‘s Head Cataloger.  Sheli has a B.A. from Penn State and earned her M.L.S. at Clarion University in 2005.  She’s a native of Northeastern Pennsylvania and is an active member of the Pennsylvania Library Association.

The next time you visit the Library, stop by the cataloging room on the first floor and say hi!  In the meantime, to help you get to know Sheli, we asked her a few questions:

What made you decide to be a librarian?
After I finished my undergrad degree, I was working full time for my parents.  Lots of people had advice on what I should do for the rest of my life…then my high school principal’s wife suggested I look into library science.  I did a little bit of research (I Googled it!) and the first thing I read was about the librarian at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and how they talk to major film directors and writers every day.  Since my undergrad degree was in film studies, I was sold! 

What do you like most about cataloging?
I like finding a place for things to fit in – like doing a crossword puzzle and figuring out what goes where for each clue.

What’s the strangest item you’ve ever cataloged?
I once cataloged a Gerry McNamara bobble head.

What are you reading now?
I just bought my copy of Mockingjay, the third book in the Hunger Games Trilogy.  I wish I was reading it RIGHT NOW! It’s taunting me from my purse! I’m also reading Wuthering Heights for a book club I belong to at Anthology…but I’m shelving that till I finish Mockingjay.

Where’s the best place to get coffee in NEPA?
My favorite coffee shop is Northern Light Espresso Bar on Spruce St.  But, I also love Zummo’s and Mansour’s.  I definitely go to NLEB the most, so I’ll go with that.

What else should the University community know about you?
I’m the co-chair for the Scranton Reads committee.  We try and get everyone in the community to read the same book and talk about it each October.  This is my second year as co-chair and I’ve been a member of the committee for several years.

Does the Weinberg Library have my textbook?

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August 24, 2010

11:21 am

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Resources & Technology

Does the Weinberg Library have my textbook?

No, The Weinberg Library does not purchase textbooks.  Textbooks are  updated much more frequently than  the traditional library book, thus making them difficult to keep up-to-date.  On the slim chance that we may have acquired the textbook for your class, it would be listed in the Online Catalog.  To check, simply access the “Our Catalog” link from the Library’s homepage and type in the exact title of the textbook (editor or author is helpful, since most textbooks have generic names such as Fundamentals of Psychology, Microeconomics, etc.)  Supplemental reading, such as a short story or essay may be found in collections of typical library books.  Use the procedure  listed above to see if the book is here.

Length of loan can also be problematic, since books circulate for one month, and you need your textbook for an entire semester.

You may also try E-Z Borrow (PALCI), a direct borrowing service found as a link from the Library’s Homepage.  Your Royal Number is your login for this service.  Check the holdings information on this search, since many libraries may have the book, but it could be already checked out.

Library Fall 2010 Hours

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August 23, 2010

9:09 am

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Hours, News

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Photo courtesy of Flickr user macgodbrad, who takes gorgeous photos of Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, under a Creative Commons license

Welcome home to Scranton, Royals! We’re back to our regularly scheduled hours for Fall 2010:

Monday – Thursday: 8:00am – 11:30pm

Friday: 8:00am – 10:00pm

Saturday: 12:00pm – 8:00pm

Sunday: 12:00pm – 11:30pm

We’ll also be open on Labor Day (Monday, September 6) from 12:00pm – 11:30pm.

Students, don’t forget that we now have two 24 hour study spaces on the first floor – just swipe in with your Royal Card after regular Library hours.

New 24 Hour Study Space is Open!

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August 20, 2010

11:29 am

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Learning Commons, News

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It’s finally done!
Our new 24-hour study space is open,* just in time for fall semester.

We have lots of comfy seating for late night studying…

… a new UniPrint station…

… and group study rooms complete with computers and whiteboards.

Big, big thank yous to all of the Physical Plant staff who worked on the renovations, and thanks also to our patrons for pardoning our dust all summer during the construction.

*By open, we mean you can come check it out during the Library’s hours today (until 4:30pm), Saturday (12pm-6pm), and Sunday (12pm-11:30pm).  The new space won’t be open 24/7 until Monday.

New Library Website

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August 19, 2010

1:00 am

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News, Systems

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Exciting news for our Library website users (which, considering our online catalog and databases, must be all of you):

The Library’s entire website has undergone a redesign, with an official launch date of Monday, August 23rd.

It has been a busy summer here in the Library, spent revising and redesigning how we offer our services via the Library website. We believe the new website meets all of our goals for functionality and service. All of the functionality you are used to is still available and clearly named, it just may be in a new location. The new website should also be easier to navigate, so we expect this transition to be a helpful one for the entire University community.

In the meantime, it is possible that when you visit our website this weekend, you will begin to see our new web pages as we roll them out.

A sneak peak of what to expect when you visit our Library home page on the first day of Fall classes. Click to enlarge.

For those of you more accustomed to accessing our resources via the Library tab in My.Scranton.edu, the layout of that page remains the same.

If you have any questions, or wish to provide feedback or suggestions about the new Library website (And please do–we welcome it!), please email us at askalibrarian@scranton.edu or leave us a comment here.

Thank you for your cooperation and support during this important transition!

The Weinberg’s on the Map… as in Google Maps

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August 18, 2010

3:29 pm

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News, Systems

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The Weinberg Memorial Library has had a customized Google Places listing for over a year now. But we just recently got our own Places QR code!  If you have a smartphone with a QR code reader app installed, take a picture of our code above to go directly to our Google Places page on Google Maps.

Shiny and New for Fall 2010

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August 18, 2010

10:33 am

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Learning Commons, News

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Our new study space is… almost done.

If you’ve been off campus since May, you might notice that there have been quite a few changes happening at the Weinberg Memorial Library.  Our Library faculty and staff were working hard over the summer to bring you a laundry list of new services and improved facilities.  Take a look!

  1. New Library website – librarian Donna Mazziotti led a team in redesigning our Library home page to match the rest of the University’s web presence.  We’ll be unveiling the new site on Monday, August 23rd in time for the start of classes.  This is a big transition for us, so please be patient as we make the switch, and let us know if you find any broken links!
  2. New 24-Hour Study Space – our Physical Plant staff renovated our 1st floor periodical room to create a new 24-hour study space for students.  You’ll be able to swipe in using your Royal Card, even after the rest of the Library has closed.  And just like the Pro Deo room, we’ll have a small set of computers for students to use – along with a brand new, high capacity printer.  The room will be open as of Monday!
  3. Rock Band and Wii – our game nights were so popular last Spring that we decided to buy our own gaming equipment.  The Library staff has already tested it out, so it’s ready to go for our first game night of Fall 2010 – August 26 at 10pm!
  4. Digital Signs – We always have a lot of news to share about Library events and services. Now you’ll be able to catch up while waiting in line at Java City or the circulation desk, just by glancing at our shiny new digital signage.
  5. Text Messaging Reference – Okay, so technically we started offering text messaging reference last spring.  But we’re so excited about it that we’ll be promoting it like crazy this semester.  Text us at 570-687-8787 to get help from a librarian, anytime the Library’s open.
  6. Recycling Bins – our new Library green team is off and running, and our first major initiative is to reduce the amount of trash the Library puts out.  Make sure you keep an eye out for our new recycling bins and sort your bottles, cans, and paper recycling appropriately.
  7. New Staff – Last but certainly not least, we’re proud to welcome Sheli McHugh as our new cataloging librarian!  You might also notice that former cataloging clerk Sharon Finnerty has moved upstairs to serve as our new Media Resources Coordinator.  We’ll be posting introductions to Sheli and Sharon here on Infospot in the next week.

As usual, your feedback is important to us – so let us know what you think about everything that’s new!

Student TechCon Position Open

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August 17, 2010

10:39 am

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News

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Interested in working at the library? At the Weinberg Memorial Library you can earn valuable work experience and enhance your skills in a variety of different ways.

Weinberg Memorial Library

Currently, the Weinberg Memorial Library currently has an open Student TechCon position:

Library Outreach TechCon

This TechCon supports the Library’s Public Services initiatives and reports to the Library’s Evening Public Services Librarian, George Aulisio.

Afternoon, evening, and some weekend hours available.

Job responsibilities for this position include:

  • Publicizing Library events and services using the Library’s social media presence (with regular postings to the Library’s blog, Flickr, Facebook, and Twitter accounts).
  • Researching the usage of social media tools at other libraries.
  • Preparing informational slides, images, and video for the Library’s new television displays.
  • Photographing Library events and activities.
  • Assisting the Public Services Librarians in planning outreach activities.
    • Potential projects include gaming events and Earth Week.
    • Assisting the Digital Services Librarian and Digitization TechCon in promoting digital collections.
    • Assisting with other special projects as needed.

Preferred qualifications for this position include:

  • Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, and Powerpoint
  • Familiarity with Mac operating system and software
  • Experience with audio/video editing and graphic design
  • Excellent written communication skills
  • Familiarity with social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter, and with current social media trends and culture

Students interested should send an email to george.aulisio@scranton.edu with information on their interest in this position. Please address any qualifications or interests you have that match-up with the description. Also, if you feel that you skills that you believe would be relevant to this position, but are not addressed in the description please elaborate on them.

Helen Suzman Exhibit comes to the Heritage Room

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August 13, 2010

2:29 pm

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Events, Exhibits, Friends

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Helen Suzman: Fighter for Human Rights Exhibition
The University of Scranton Weinberg Library Heritage Room
August 31 to October 25, 2010

A traveling exhibit on Suzman’s four decade political career as one of South Africa’s most vociferous and energetic opponents of apartheid.

You are invited to the Opening Reception at 5:30 PM on Wednesday September 15 in The University of Scranton Weinberg Library Heritage Room (5th Floor) featuring a lecture by George Washington University Assistant Professor of Sociology Fran Buntman.   Reception to follow lecture.

Professor Buntman is the author of Robben Island and Prisoner Resistance to Apartheid.  She will be speaking on “Suzman the Pioneer.” The reception is free and open to the public.

Sponsored by The University of Scranton Schemel Forum, the Office of Equity and Diversity, and the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library.  For more information, please contact Professor Michael Knies at (570) 941- 6341.