Library Notes

The Ron Seney USO Collection (M 69) in Meyer Library’s Special Collections and Archives contains items from Missouri State University alum, Ron Seney, documenting his participation in two USO tours with MSU’s Theatre and Dance Department (Wonderful Town for five weeks in 1968 in southeast Asia, and the “Happy Hour ’69” variety show for nineteen weeks in 1969 in Alaska and southeast Asia).  Mr. Seney had actually graduated by the fall of 1968, but he re-registered for a semester in order to participate in…

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The Ozarks Labor Union Archives Memorabilia Collection (LA 31) in Meyer Library’s Special Collections and Archives includes three cubic feet of pins, buttons, ribbons, banners, and bumper stickers from conventions and campaigns of various area labor unions between the years of 1902 and 1994.  Examples of some of the labor unions represented are the International Moulders Union; the Carpenters Union; the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE); the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW); the Union of Needletrades, Industrial, and Textile…

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The fall of 2018 will mark the bicentennial of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft’s exploration of the Ozarks region, which began in Potosi (now in the state of Missouri) on Thursday, November 18, 1818, and culminated January 1-5, 1819 at the site of a lead mine near the mouth of Pierson Creek, where it flows into the James River, just southeast of present-day Springfield. This is the reason why Highway 65 on the east side of the Springfield metro area is called…

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There is no telling what awaits Interlibrary Loan (ILL) personnel as the patron requests roll in. While the Missouri State University Libraries tries to make resources as readily available as they can, there are still many physical and digital items that the library cannot immediately provide. Those requests often require the intervention of Interlibrary loan to fulfill patron information needs. Dr. William Meadows, an MSU professor from the Sociology-Anthropology Department, is a frequent recipient of ILL services. One area of my research is…

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Containing resources that present multiple sides of an issue, this database provides rich content that can help students assess and develop persuasive arguments and essays, better understand controversial issues, and develop analytical thinking skills. Points of View Reference Center contains 400 topics (with more than 1,900 essays), each with an overview (objective background / description), point (argument) and counterpoint (opposing argument). Each topic features a Guide to Critical Analysis which helps the reader evaluate the controversy and enhances students’ ability to read critically, develop their…

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On Friday, October 27, 2017 in James C. Kirkpatrick Library on the campus of the University of Central Missouri (UCM) in Warrensburg, there will be a meeting of Missouri 4-Year Public Higher Education Library Deans and Directors. While Presidents, Chief Academic Officers, and other key university officials of Missouri’s thirteen 4-Year Universities meet regularly, this is the first such meeting of Library Deans/Directors in recent memory. Gail Staines, Dean of University Library Services at UCM, is organizing this fall get-together,…

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Meet MSU Libraries’ Student Employee of the Month, Chris Bono! Works in: Meyer Library’s Special Collections and Archives Major: History Favorite Book: There Will Come Soft Rains by Ray Bradbury Something students should know about the libraries: “The Bear C.L.A.W. will be your best friend when writing anything for class. Use them as much as possible!”

Marilyn McCroskey, Head of the Cataloging Unit at the MSU Libraries, is one of six co-authors of an article that recently was published in Cataloging & Classification Quarterly. Marilyn explains, “This was part of my work with the Library of Congress CIP [Cataloging-in-Publication] Advisory Group’s CIP Data Block Committee. I have represented AASL on the CIP Advisory Group since 2000. Cataloging-in-Publication (found on title page verso) had remained a “catalog card” format since 1971. Since libraries don’t use catalog cards any…

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SIRS Researcher is a highly-acclaimed general reference database containing thousands of full-text articles exploring social, scientific, health, historic, business, economic, political and global issues. Articles and graphics are carefully selected from 2,000 domestic and international publications according to strict criteria with regard to content and age appropriateness. Thousands of hand-selected, authoritative newspaper and magazine articles, graphics, charts, maps, primary sources, government documents, websites, multimedia, as well as critical thinking questions, and timelines help broaden student comprehension of each topic. Users…

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The MSU Libraries and the Springfield-Greene County Library District are collaborating to help citizens fight fake news. A hands-on class to help people to hone their skills to evaluate news stories and to protect themselves against fake news will be offered twice by Tracy Stout and Jessica Bennett, library science faculty members at MSU. Tracy is Head of the Research and Instructional Services (RIS) Unit, and Jessica is a reference and e-learning library faculty member in RIS. They will provide…

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