Library Notes

With the start of a new academic year always is hectic, but especially so this year because Missouri State University is now in the early adopter stage of implementing Brightspace from D2L, the new Learning Management System (LMS) for MSU, succeeding BlackBoard. The migration period is scheduled to conclude next spring. Jessica Bennett, a member of the Library Science faculty, is one of the approximately fifty early adopters of Brightspace at MSU. Jessica provided the following progress report: Introducing Brightspace…

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Last week Deb Burling, the widow of Bill Burling, a professor of English at Missouri State University, donated dozens of book about London theatre and literature of the late 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries to the MSU Libraries.  Burling died in March 2009 at the age of 60 from melanoma cancer, which he had battled for years. According to his daughter, quoted in a March 12, 2009 article in The Standard, “Bill was an avid gardener, astronomer, chef, wine taster, crossword-puzzler, interior…

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The renovation of the Third Level of Duane G. Meyer Library on the main campus of Missouri State University continues in stages.  Last spring the Student Government Association (SGA) worked with staff of Meyer Library to select new furnishings for the soon-to-be-renovated west side of the floor. This set of furnishings has been funded by SGA. The new furnishings should arrive this academic year and be deployed.  This summer most of the carpeting on the Third Level was replaced.  Just…

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Chris Craig from the MSU College of Education and Tracy Stout from the MSU Libraries made an excellent presentation yesterday about Open Educational Resources (OER) at the annual MSU Showcase on Teaching and Learning. Approximately 20 people attended. Craig and Stout addressed some of the basic questions related to the OER movement, such as definitions and measures of the quality of educational resources, accessibility, and affordability.  They emphasized that the OER movement is not asking classroom instructors to change their…

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The Missouri State University Libraries had not one, but two information tables at the annual Showcase on Teaching and Learning one-day symposium held on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 in the Plaster Student Union on the main Springfield campus of MSU.  Holly Kouns and Ethan Danner staffed the main information table. Kouns reported that there was good traffic mid-morning of MSU faculty members, both new and returning, who stopped by the table.  Kevin Wilson staffed the table focused on the MSU…

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A small fabric study yurt is being assembled at the bottom of the main stairwell in Duane G. Meyer Library on the main Springfield campus of Missouri State University. The yurt, which eventually will accommodate one or two people, has been donated by the Springfield office of Scott Rice Office Works.  One essential part is on order. We hope to have the yurt ready for use soon. 

On Friday and Saturday (August 11 and 12), the Missouri State University Libraries will have an information table at the big Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in Downtown Springfield. We have been doing this for several years now as a way to connect with “roadies” and to promote the collections and research materials related to Route 66 available through the MSU Libraries.  Authors, artists, collectors, associations, societies, tourist bureaus, and others will gather in the Old Glass Place on East…

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Although it’s still summertime and the start of the fall semester is over a week away, several employees of the Missouri State University Libraries are making plans to attend professional meetings and conferences this fall. For instance: Nathan Neuschwander plans to attend — virtually– the 2023 WOLFcon Conference. Quoting from the conference website, “WOLFcon 2023 brings together members of the Open Library Foundation’s project member communities as well as users of their products. Participants will attend presentations, community sharing conversations,…

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Next Tuesday morning, August 15th, from 8:30 to 9:30 in Meyer Library room 107, all full-time and part-time employees of the Missouri State Libraries are invited to attend an all-library meeting. Staff members should confer with their supervisors before finalizing plans to attend.  During the first half of the meeting, President Smart and Provost Jasinski will provide overviews and updates about several key university initiatives, including: 2022-23 key accomplishments at MSU 2023-24 Academic Affairs CAP (Continuous Agility Process) Inclusivity principles …

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