Library Notes

Retired Springfield biologist Loring Bullard takes on the many environmental threats and missteps he has witnessed in Missouri, and offers a path to protecting the land and waters in his new book, An Environmental Journey: Tales of Tragedy and Hope from the Heartland, published in April by the Ozarks Studies Institute. It follows the success of Living Waters: Springs of Missouri and Saving Bull Creek. The 73-year-old author writes how the impacts of nuclear testing in the 50s, Missouri’s production of Agent Orange and Dioxin,…

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Celebrate ALA’s Preservation Week from April 27 – May 3, 2025! This year’s theme is Preserve the Past, Shape the Future: Inspiring the Next Generation. Events will focus on celebrating the importance of preserving personal, family, community, library, museum, and archival collections while discussing ways to encourage future generations of conservators and preservation practitioners. Learn how Balboa Art Conservation Center inspires 5th graders to see the world as art conservators on April 29th, discover exciting programs available through the Atlanta…

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The Innovation Lab in Duane G. Meyer Library is available to assist students with their creative projects. This semester, a representative from one student group spent a few weeks in the Innovation Lab on a project to share with other students. On March 28, local sorority Xi Omicron Iota hosted a co-sisterhood event called We’re Not Really Strangers, and offered free crewnecks to the first 30 people in line. When it came time to deliver these crewnecks, Charley Bennight, VP…

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On Tuesday, April 10, the Reference Committee for the Springfield-Greene County Library visited MSU’s Duane G. Meyer Library from 9 to 10:30 a.m. During their time on campus, they learned about the adult student services offered by the university. “We like to use our meeting every other month to tour places in our community so we can become more comfortable when referring people there,” said Krystal Smith, manager of the reference department. 

EBSCO Discovery Services is leading the rollout of a modern search interface and MSU Library is one of many institutions implementing this update. The new search interface features a refreshed appearance as well as AI tools to optimize the process of selecting, accessing, and using library materials.  The library’s implementation team has created a LibGuide for users to explore the new search functions. There is also access to FAQs and a space to share any feedback on the new system,…

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This Friday, April 11, MSU’s Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning (FCTL) will host its inaugural Spring Scholarship Summit. It will be a drop-in event in Meyer Library room 107 between 3:30-5:00 pm. The Summit is open to the public, and it will feature posters on research and other scholarly projects by MSU faculty. Two research poster sessions will be presented about projects pursued by Meyer Library employees. Andrea Miller, Professor/Metadata and Cataloging Librarian; Lynn Cline, Emeritus Professor; and Scott…

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On Tuesday, April 8 from 11 am to 1 pm, Kayla Stehr and Gabi Martin, marketing and communications student assistants, hosted Pop Into a Good Book in the foyer of the Duane G. Meyer Library. “It’s national library week, and we wanted to give back to the students and include faculty and staff in our event by letting them share their book recommendations,” Martin said. The event featured faculty and staff book recommendations, buttons and notepad giveaways, and of course…

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We are happy to share that David Richards has been appointed the next dean of Missouri State University Libraries, effective July 14, 2025. Richards formerly served as head of Meyer Library’s Special Collections and Archives from 1997 to 2016. During that time, he launched the library’s annual “Rare Wine, Rare Books” event. For almost a decade since departing MSU, he has served as the dean of library services at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Criss Library. “He brings great…

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Missouri State University’s Meyer Library is one of two institutions of higher learning and one of two libraries that is partnering with Missouri Humanities to bring LeVar Burton to their 8th annual Springfield Symposium. The sold-out event will occur on April 3, 2025 at 7 pm in the Gillioz Theatre. This year’s theme is Ozarks Engaged: Citizenry and the Future of Our Communities. In conversation with Greg Burris, the founder and Executive Director of the United Way of the Ozarks’…

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Missouri State Libraries wishes to extend heartfelt gratitude to everyone who donated for Giving Day 2025. We’ve reached our donor goal, unlocking a $14,000 donation from Karen Horny! Pending verification, the library looks to be in good shape to announce additional awards from giving challenges. Stay tuned to find out just how much the library has raised this year. And thank you, again, to everyone who has donated to the institution.