Library Notes

Because of the pandemic, in-person use of Duane G. Meyer Library on the main Springfield campus of Missouri State University came to a complete halt in March 2020 and has been rebounding slowly but surely ever since. Building usage has now completely rebounded, and then some.  In August of 2022, usage of Meyer Library surpassed the number of visitors to the building back in August 2019, before COVID-19 became a global health challenge. This complete rebound is doubly impressive, because…

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Anne Marie Baker and Tom Peters, two members of the Library Science faculty at Missouri State University, plan to attend — virtually — a two-day symposium on “Historic Roads in the Context of Cultural Routes” to be held September 15-16, 2022.  The Missouri State University Libraries is a member of the Research Route 66 consortium coordinated by the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program of the U.S. National Park Service. At least one organization from each of the eight states through…

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The Missouri State University Libraries is looking for a Distributed User Support Specialist (DUSS).   In this position, you’ll install, maintain and resolve problems with computers, software and other equipment.   If you’re a user-focused, customer-service professional with a talent for all things tech, please apply:   jobs.missouristate.edu/postings/65099

Local children’s book author David Harrison is working with the Ozarks Studies Institute, an ongoing initiative of the Missouri State University Libraries, to publish his autobiography, tentatively titled There Once Was A Boy. This week, he met with the new OSI managing editor, Elaina Kersey, to discuss his hopes for the book and ideas for cover design, distribution, and more.    Harrison, a Springfield native, is in his mid-eighties and has had a long and successful career, publishing books as…

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Clif Smart, President of Missouri State University, addressed the full-time employees of the MSU Libraries during an all-library meeting held on Wednesday, April 24, 2022.  He began his remarks by noting that the university had a very good year during Academic Year 2021/22, despite the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The university now had the authority to add new doctoral programs following normal regulatory processes, and we have $80 million in capital improvements funding for the Temple Hall expansion…

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The Missouri State University Libraries is excited to have the annual conference of the Missouri Library Association come to Springfield next month. Katie Hopkins and Jesse East from the Springfield-Greene County Library District are serving as the coordinators of this conference, which will be held September 28-30, 2022 at the Oasis Hotel and Conference Center.  Several members of the MSU Library Science faculty will be presenting at this conference, and other faculty and staff will be attending to learn from…

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Tracy Stout, a member of the MSU Library Science Faculty, gave an excellent presentation on Open Educational Resources (OER) on Wednesday morning, August 17, 2022 at the 37th MSU Showcase on Teaching and Learning.  Tracy provided a general overview of the fast-growing and ever-changing OER universe. She discussed the benefits of and ability to customize course content, innovate teaching practices, expand selection of teaching materials, provide equitable access to learning resources, and reduce the cost of student materials in an…

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The 2023 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will be held on the National Mall in Washington DC from Wednesday, June 28th through Sunday, July 9th.  Two main programs are being planned for the 2023 Festival: Creative Encounters: Living Religions in the U.S. The Ozarks: Faces and Facets of a Region The Ozarks Program is being organized around four basic themes: Celebrations and Gatherings  Stories, Sounds, and Show Business  Migrations, Movements, and Pathways   Connections to Land and Place  Here are some updates on…

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The 2022 Missouri Library Association Conference will be held in Springfield on September 28-30, 2022. This is a great opportunity for local librarians to learn and network. As part of the conference this year, Joshua Lambert, associate professor and Missouri State University Libraries faculty, will give a lightning round presentation about converting Greene County election information into usable data.

Derek Moser has accepted the offer from the Missouri State University Libraries to serve as Director of Resource Management and Discovery.  This is a 12-month, tenure-track position at the initial rank of Assistant Professor. Derek’s first day will be Monday, August 15. His office will be located in the Room 007 workspace on the Lower Level of Duane G. Meyer Library on the main Springfield campus of Missouri State University.  Derek is at the ABD stage (All-But-Dissertation) of his doctoral…

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