Library Notes

On Thursday, September 17, 2020, Tyler Drenon from the Missouri State University Libraries in Springfield, Missouri, operated Spot the robotic dog from its really remote location in Boston, Massachusetts.  Spot is a creation of Boston Dynamics. According to their website: “Boston Dynamics is a world leader in mobile robots, tackling some of the toughest robotics challenges. We combine the principles of dynamic control and balance with sophisticated mechanical designs, cutting-edge electronics, and next-generation software for high-performance robots equipped with perception,…

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The Special Collections and Archives unit of the MSU Libraries is excited to have been awarded a $2,100 grant from the Missouri Humanities Council to conduct oral history interviews with residents of Shannon County in the rural Missouri Ozarks.  “A Portrait of the Ozarks: Oral History Interviews in Shannon County, Missouri” is a one-year project beginning this fall to preserve the stories of Shannon County for current and future researchers. There is significant interest currently in the lives of Shannon…

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The Martin Family Foundation, founded by Don and Ruth Martin, has made another substantial gift to the Missouri State University Libraries. Their most-recent gift will be used to advance the years-long Ozark Jubilee Digitization Project, which now is much closer to completion, thanks to their continuing generosity and support.  A few years ago, another major gift from Don and Ruth enabled the MSU Libraries to furnish the new “Living Room” area on the Main Level of Duane G. Meyer Library,…

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The Missouri State University Libraries, which manages and operates the MSU Testing Center, located on the Lower Level of Duane G. Meyer Library, is pleased to announce that Amy Hankins and Chris Edwards are the successful applicants for the two new positions created in the Testing Center. They will begin their new jobs early next week.  These are both Administrative Specialist II positions. Specific duties include: 1. Schedules exams.2. Schedules and assigns proctors.3. Checks in examinees for assessments, verifying identities,…

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Beginning on July 1, 2020, the organizational home of the eJournal of Public Affairs, now in its ninth year of publication, has moved to the MSU Libraries cost center, after having been for eight years in the Office of the Provost.  The eJournal of Public Affairs is a peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary, open-access journal published by Missouri State University and affiliated with the American Democracy Project. By providing an academic, nationally refereed venue for such work, the eJournal aims to advance the…

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Yesterday, Wednesday, September 16, 2020, sixteen lockers were installed in the main lobby of Duane G. Meyer Library in the heart of the Springfield campus of Missouri State University. Because the library lobby is available 24/7 to BearPass holders, the lockers also are available 24/7. These lockers are intended for short-term use to either pick up or drop off many types of loaned library materials, from books to laptops. This is one small improvement that aligns with a facet of…

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The Missouri State University Libraries has renewed its annual membership in the Amigos library consortium, based in Dallas. As Amigos describes their mission, “We are a not-for-profit membership-based organization dedicated to serving libraries. At Amigos Library Services, we understand the needs and concerns faced by libraries and cultural heritage institutions. We’re librarians too. That is why we take pride in being one of the largest library service networks in the nation. Whether it’s for continuing education, member discounts, or professional advice, we…

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For several years now, the Missouri State University Libraries has managed and operated the MSU Testing Center. Sue McCrory leads this effort.  The Testing Center was busy this summer. They administered approximately 1,544 exams between June 8, 2020, the start of the MSU Summer Session, and July 31, 2020, the conclusion of the Summer Session, which this summer was conducted all online. The MSU Testing Center administered tests both in person and online via Zoom. Because the Testing Center was…

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On September 3, 2020 the REALM Project released a statement indicating “that the virus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 is still detectable after six days on four common library materials when they are stacked, which is a significantly longer attenuation period than had been detected on similar materials when they were not stacked.”  “The findings are part of the REopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM) project designed to generate scientific information to support the handling of core library, museum, and archival materials…

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Missouri State University is now in the third week of the fall semester. The Core Executive Team managing the university’s response to COVID-19 meets weekly — more often, if need be — to get updates on the effects of the pandemic on the university community, the immediate vicinity to campus, and the entire county and state. Dean Peters is a member of this team.  The leadership team of the MSU Libraries meets weekly, too, to discuss recent developments and to…

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