Library Notes

On Friday, June 7, 2024 and Saturday, June 8, 2024, the Ozarks Studies Institute, an ongoing initiative of the Missouri State University Libraries, will serve as a vendor at the 30th annual Old-Time Music, Ozark Heritage Festival in West Plains, MO. The OSI booth will have books and magazines for sale at a table underneath a canopy. Funded partially by the Missouri Arts Council and the Missouri Folk Arts Program, the festival, which began in 1994, exists to acknowledge talented…

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A recently completed collaborative project is “Our Food: Our Stories,” an oral history series containing sixteen interviews that seeks to preserve experiences of Ozarks farmers and the rich Ozarks agricultural heritage. Interviews have been collected from a diverse group of farmers across the region with particular emphasis on the stories of indigenous people, as well as immigrants, veterans, those who are underserved, the socially disadvantaged, individuals of color, as well as beginning and seasoned farmers. This project is a collaboration…

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The Kentwood Series of talks and presentations about various facets of Ozarks history and life will continue on Thursday, July 11th, beginning at 7:00 p.m., when the renowned author, educator, and historian Steve Wiegenstein will speak. His talk will focus on utopian communities in Missouri, past and present. Nineteenth-century Missouri was home to several alternative communities, often termed “utopian communities” for their emphasis on social betterment and a different way of life. But although their neighbors sometimes considered these utopians…

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The Spring/Summer 2024 edition of OzarksWatch Magazine is fresh off the press! This volume’s theme is Ozark Treasures. This unique issue is a smorgasbord of stories. Inside, you’ll find articles on everything from music to visual art, sports, photography, history, and much more. The issue is complete with 7 book reviews in the back.  “All this, and more are just out there waiting, and we’re not sure that everyone knows that. So we decided  to give you a sample of…

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Special Collections and Archives, part of the Missouri State University Libraries, is excited to share a new display with the community! Water Sources in the Ozarks: Protecting, Improving, and Promoting Awareness features selected items from archival collections documenting the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks, the James River Basin Partnership, and historic photographs featuring streams and rivers in the Ozarks Region. This exhibit focuses on two organizations working to protect the region’s watershed: the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks and the…

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The full-time staff in the Meyer Testing Center (Sue McCrory, Kevin Wilson, Amy Hankins, and Scott Fischer) all recently completed and passed the National College Testing Association (NCTA) Proctor Certification exam.   Attaining the NCTA Proctor Certification furthers the professional development of testing staff working in educational institutions and the private sector, helps to ensure the preservation and relevance of exam content for all stakeholders including test vendors, sponsors, and examinees, provides opportunities for new proctoring training that is non-specific…

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Decades of dedication to documenting the Ozarks region led Gordon McCann to Columbia on May 19, where he was recognized as a Living Traditions Sustainer Fellow by the Missouri Folk Arts Program.    The award, now in only its second year, honors individuals “and their deep-rooted contributions to traditional arts within their vibrant Missouri communities,” notes information on the MFAP’s website.    Gordon McCann has long lived this reality. McCann, nearly 93, has spent much of his life working to…

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Karen Durden, a Library Associate I in the Missouri State University Libraries, has completed MSU’s University Staff Ambassadors (USA) program as a valued member of the 2024 cohort. As Karen reflects on the experience: “Being part of the USA Program has been a wonderful experience. I have always been curious to understand what happens in other areas of the University and see behind the scenes. It has been good to meet staff from other areas and catch a glimpse of…

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This month, Ozarks Public Television’s Gregory Holman sat down with Bob Kipfer, one of the authors of Saving Bull Creek, to discuss the newest book from the Ozarks Studies Institute at Missouri State University. The 25-minute segment aired on OPT’s Sense of Community on May 16. Kipfer talked with the host about several topics ranging from his collaboration with co-author Loring Bullard to his property on the creek, conservation of the environment, the history of the peoples, flora, and fauna…

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The Missouri State University Libraries joined academic colleges and university organizations on Saturday, April 6th for the Spring Showcase. The event, organized by the Office of Admissions, gave students an opportunity to meet faculty, tour campus, and learn more about the application process, financial aid, and scholarships. We enjoyed talking to participants and other academic colleges and departments about the different resources available in the Library. Special Collections and Archives were excited to share examples of primary resources, the Rare…

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