Library Notes

Large rubbings from English Monumental Brasses make up the June Runk Brass Rubbings Collection (M 45).  MSU alum June Runk, who lived in Suffolk County, England, from 1972-1976 while her husband served in the U.S. Air Force, created the rubbings.  Along with other military wives, she would approach a church vicar and secure permission to make a rubbing of the brasses in a church, sometimes paying a small fee.  Mrs. Runk used velveteen paper and a silver or gold wax…

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What the 2020 Plan States: “Digitization Lab: Develop a full-scale, full-time Digitization Lab, in which library personnel digitize materials and objects on a daily basis, and also offer high-end digitization services to users and allied groups.” What’s Happening: The Digitization Lab is now fully in operation with two oversize scanners (one of which can also scan transparencies up to 12.2” x 16.5”), one full-size scanner that can also scan transparencies, a document scanner, a 360-degree photo capture unit, a station for audio…

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The Testing Center is pleased to announce the following additional testing opportunities for Missouri State University students and members of the Missouri State community – as of June, 2017, the Testing Center is a “fully funded” DSST (DANTES) testing center, which means we can offer DSST exams to military members and their spouses at no cost to them.  In addition, we have added Kryterion and the University of London as exam clients.  This increases testing opportunities by at least 300…

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Abbey Waterworth, a student assistant in Special Collections and Archives, had an article published in the Spring 2017 issue of OzarksWatch Magazine, a publication of the Ozarks Studies Institute at MSU. The article is about Nick Sibley and Ruell Chappell, two long-time icons of the Springfield music scene. Abbey often performs with Nick and Ruell as, you guessed it, Nick, Ruell, and Abbey. Tom Peters, Dean of Library Services, had two articles published in the Spring 2017 issue of OzarksWatch…

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The May 2017 issue of American Libraries contained an interesting article about “Top Library Tech Trends” that libraries of all types may want to consider implementing for users. Some of these trends the MSU Libraries already is embracing, such as the inexpensive Google Cardboard virtual reality viewers, available through Music and Media on the Second Level of Duane G. Meyer Library. Others, such as creating a virtual tour of the physical library, using a 360-degree camera, are currently possible here,…

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Produced by the Philosopher’s Information Center, which was founded in 1967 by Dr. Richard Lineback and is headquartered in Bowling Green, Ohio, the Philosopher’s Index is a both current and retrospective (to the early 20th century) comprehensive bibliographic database covering scholarly research and thought in all major fields of philosophy, from aesthetics to the philosophy of technology. Considered the most thorough index of journal literature on the subject, Philosopher’s Index, provided to the MSU community via EBSCO Discovery Services, features…

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The MSU Libraries has begun a multi-year process to develop a new space and service that will enable members of the MSU higher learning community to use cutting edge technologies to fuel interdisciplinary teaching, learning, research, and service.   Two years ago the Provost provided funding for a 3D printer and scanner.  Jan Johnson and other library faculty and staff members began exploring other newer technologies.  Last year, an HTC Vive virtual reality headset was introduced. This summer, the library…

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MSU Library’s Amy Hankins is hosting another Reptile Day at the Fairbanks (1126 N. Broadway Ave. in Springfield). The event happens on Saturday, August 12th. This will be the second Reptile Day, and the only event of its kind held in the city of Springfield. Admission is free. All are welcome. Featured will be live reptiles and amphibians of all kinds for people to get up close and personal with. Knowledgeable herpetology enthusiasts will provide the animals and answer any…

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Folklore permeates the everyday lives of people around the world. We inherit a rich tradition of holidays, festivals, language, stories and fairy tales, proverbs, foodways, and folk remedies that define our society and our place within it. World Folklore and Folklife provides an exciting and accessible way to explore this vast and growing treasury of knowledge. Subjects covered in this database include: celebrations and rituals, food and drink, holidays and festivals, music and dance, religion and belief, tales, myths, urban legends, and traditional…

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A group of information science researchers here at the Missouri State University Libraries has undertaken a major study of the information needs and habits of MSU faculty members. As we all know, information technologies, resources, behaviors, needs, and expectations have changed significantly in recent years. The “Meeting Faculty Where They Start” study, begun in January of 2015, is using survey and interviewing methodologies to gain knowledge about the current scholarly information seeking and behavior habits of 24 faculty members from…

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