Library Notes

For several years now, the Missouri State University Libraries has offered a chat reference service, enabling users to ask questions and receive prompt responses right online, while they seek, use, and create information. This service became very popular when the physical libraries closed briefly last year. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, you could find the chat service embedded under the Ask a Librarian page and in select subject guides. Now, the chat service is featured on the main MSU Libraries…

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In December the FOLIO Open Source Community issued its latest named release as the platform continues to add features and functionality to this important new library services platform (LSP). The Honeysuckle Release includes platform updates and integration improvements in addition to user experience (UX) improvements and accessibility features. The MSU Libraries implemented the Honeysuckle Release last week. There are a few minor bugs, but overall the new software release is performing well.  Here’s a look under the hood: New App:…

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In late February Brooks Travis, the Information Technology Coordinator for the Missouri State University Libraries, was a member of a panel discussion held as part of the NISO Plus 2021 global virtual event. The panel, comprised of Erik Radio (Metadata Librarian at the U. of Colorado at Boulder Libraries), Bohyun Kim (Chief Technology Officer at the U. of Rhode Island Libraries), Leslie Johnson (Director of Digital Preservation at the National Archives), Russell Palmer (Assistant Director for GALILEO Support Services at…

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Volume 10 Issue 1 of the eJournal of Public Affairs soon will be published digitally, free to all. It represents our tenth anniversary publishing this scholarly online journal. The eJournal evolved from Missouri State University’s print journal, published from 1997 to 2006. Due to the efforts of Dr. Rachelle Darabi, in collaboration with the American Democracy Project, the journal restarted as an online EJOPA publication in 2012. With a shared intention for excellence, the eJournal has met its ambitious goal…

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Missouri State University has become an Assisting Partner in the FOLIO SMLLC global community of organizations and individuals who are working to make FOLIO an outstanding open-source library services platform (LSP).  “FOLIO is a collaboration of libraries, developers and vendors building an open source library services platform. It supports traditional resource management functionality and can be extended into other institutional areas.” The Missouri State University Libraries implemented the FOLIO LSP during the first half of calendar year 2020, in the…

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Special Collections and University Archives, part of the Missouri State University Libraries, is pleased to make available fourteen episodes of “Land and Life in the Ozarks.” This pioneering telecourse was offered by then–SMSU on KOZK Channel 21 (now Ozarks Public Television) where it premiered in January 1976. The course was taught by Dr. Milton Rafferty, who was Department Head of Geography, Geology and Planning at SMSU for 24 years. Rafferty developed the course as a first draft for his 1980 work Ozarks Land and Life, which has since been described…

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Allen Eskens, author of Nothing More Dangerous, gives online talk Tuesday, February 23, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. Sponsored by Duane G. Meyer LibraryHosted by the Ozarks Studies Institute Crime novelist Allen Eskens will be a featured guest author through a Zoom webinar hosted by the Ozarks Studies Institute, an initiative of the MSU Libraries, on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 beginning at 7:00 p.m. Central Time.  Eskens will be reading from his own work and talking about the craft of writing. He also will answer questions from participants.  All are welcome to…

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On Friday, February 5, 2021 the Missouri State University Libraries launched a search to fill a new position: Marketing and Communications Specialist. This is a full-time, exempt, staff position at the grade of 44. First date of consideration is Friday, March 5, 2021. Open until filled.  General Function of this Position: The Marketing and Communications Specialist develops and manages an annual marketing and communication plan for University Libraries that includes the implementation of marketing, advertising, promotional, and public relations efforts in…

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Recently the Ozarks region, along with other regions to our south and west, have experienced extremely cold temperatures and heavier than normal snowfalls. This has caused numerous schools, colleges, and universities to cancel classes and close offices. MSU is no exception. In Greene County and beyond, rolling power outages and frozen pipes have been common. Texas has been especially hard hit.  Monday was a University holiday, but on Tuesday and Wednesday the MSU Libraries was able to offer limited hours…

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Since the year 2000, the Duane G. Meyer Library has been a United Nations (UN) depository library. As a result, we have many physical and digital resources about the UN and its work in history. Each year, the UN publishes a vast range of valuable and reliable information. The UN stopped printing books in 2014, but now creates digital books, articles, and media and makes them available in a database called the UN iLibrary.  The UN iLibrary contains approximately 9,000 titles and adds around 500 more each year. These documents range from articles, manuals, papers, journals,…

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