Library Notes

On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 the Chronicle of Higher Education held a Virtual Forum on the topic “In Defense of Libraries.” The event announcement noted: “Libraries are no longer dusty, dimly lit spaces reserved for quiet research and solitary study. Today college and university libraries are striving to become vibrant centers of student connection and creativity. How can they overcome outdated notions and reassert their relevance in a time of competing expenses and priorities?” The three panelists were: Todd Carpenter,…

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Susanna Reichling, who serves as the library liaison to MSU’s Music, Theatre, and Dance Departments, recently attended the combined Music Library Association/Theatre Library Association National Conference in St. Louis. The conference offered the opportunity to talk with vendors and view new scholarly publications/streaming media services, attend a variety of presentations on all aspects of performing arts librarianship, and share ideas within smaller interest group and regional chapter meetings. Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion was voted the #1 area of interest among…

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Special Collections and Archives, a part of the Missouri State University Libraries, hosted a special potluck dinner for a local men’s group on March 5, 2023 to introduce them to OLGA — the Ozarks Lesbian and Gay Archives. The group holds a potluck in a different location the first Sunday of each month and requested a visit to Special Collections and Archives for their March dinner. Library Associate Jeffrey Lawson hosted the group of over twenty-five guests, who came from…

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Special Collections and Archives, part of the Missouri State University Libraries, recently unveiled a new exhibit in the lobby of Craig Hall at the entrance to Coger Theatre. The exhibit features Theatre and Dance programs and promotional items from the Leslie Irene Coger Collection. The exhibit is free and open to the public. It will be on display through the summer months.  Library Associate Jeffrey Lawson chose items from Dr. Coger’s collection and, with assistance from intern Ashley Morrill (pictured…

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Missouri State University’s Giving Day, held over a 36-hour period on March 1st and 2nd, was a resounding success. Nearly 2,200 donors gave over $1.6 million to support all facets of MSU endeavors on all campuses, including Springfield and West Plains.  The MSU Libraries’ facet of Giving Day was very successful, too, with 54 donors contributing $4,470. When the Library Donor Challenge sponsored by Library Dean Emeritus Karen Horny is factored in, nearly $10,000 was raised to support our ongoing…

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The Missouri State University Libraries collects and provides access to many types of content, both print and electronic. For many subjects and areas of inquiry, the growth of digital content was strong before the COVID pandemic, accelerated during COVID, and continues to be very strong at present. Many students, faculty, staff, and members of the general public have shown a strong preference, as evidenced by usage patterns, for digital content that can be accessed anywhere, anytime.  Here are few instances…

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A massive, multi-year study of the information-seeking habits and preferences of faculty members at Missouri State University has concluded. The third and final section of the study was recently completed. The official title of this study is “The Scholarly Information Discovery Processes of Missouri State University (MSU) Faculty.” Some of the findings and reports from earlier phases of this study are available in BearWorks, the institutional repository of Missouri State University.  Among the findings of Section 3, the final phase…

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A touring exhibit from Missouri Humanities about Ulysses S. Grant, a military officer and politician who served as the 18th U.S. President from 1869 to 1877, will be on display April 3rd through 25th on the main level of Duane G. Meyer Library on the main Springfield campus of Missouri State University. The exhibit is free and open to the public whenever the library is open. The display will be located on the main level in the center of the…

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Derek Moser, Assistant Professor of Library Science at Missouri State University, and the Director of Resource Management and Discovery at the MSU Libraries, is the principal author of an article that has been published in volume 49 of The Journal of Academic Librarianship. The title of the article is “How Six Religious Pedagogies Can Inform ACRL Threshold Concepts for IL Instruction Training.”  Abstract: Due to a lack of formal pedagogical training in Library Science graduate programs, early career librarians are…

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The Smithsonian Institution is looking for college student interns from Missouri State University and other colleges and universities in the Ozarks to help with the Ozarks Program on the National Mall in DC.   Details are below. Please note that the deadline to apply is Wed. March 15, 2023. There will be an information session via Zoom on Wed. March 8th, beginning at 11 a.m. Central Time.   PAID INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES   The Smithsonian Folklife Festival will feature the Ozarks…

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