Library Notes

The successful series of events called “What’s Brewing @ Your Library” began a few years ago in December, at the conclusion of the fall semester. “What’s Brewing” offers an opportunity for MSU faculty and staff members to socialize, unwind, sample local craft beers and mead, and listen to good local music after Commencement. This year the MSU Libraries tried adding a “What’s Brewing” event in May, after spring Commencement. It was a success, and we anticipate that it, too, will continue…

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Thanks to the generous donations of Pete and Sara Morgan, Tina Wallace, and others, the MSU Libraries owns a growing collection of trench art. According to the Wikipedia article on this type of art, “Trench art is any decorative item made by soldiers, prisoners of war, or civilians where the manufacture is directly linked to armed conflict or its consequences.” The image is of a letter opener, we think, made by Roy Wallace during World War I. The father of…

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The MSU Libraries, including the Ozarks Studies Institute, has an enduring commitment to collecting works and other information by and about Ozarks authors, past, present, and future. We make these works and documents available to researchers and members of the general public, and we celebrate Ozark authors through author talks, book signings, and other events. Recently the MSU Libraries discovered some correspondence between Almanzo Wilder, husband of the famed author who spent almost her entire adult life in the Ozarks,…

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On April 25, 2019, the MSU Libraries organized its third successful Living Stories event.  Held in conjunction with the Collaborative Diversity Conference, Living Stories: Bridging the Culture Divides was an event in which “Living Books” — real people — were able to share their cultural experiences with “readers” — other real people — who had signed up to have fifteen-minute conversations with them. Students from the English Language Institute offered their time to be Living Books and provided a wonderful opportunity for…

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Andrea Miller will present a poster at the annual Kansas Library Association: College and University Libraries Section Conference  to be held next week in Emporia, Kansas. The topic of her poster is: “Be a Warrior, Not a Worrier: Stay Prepared for Active Shooters.” The poster session will occur on Tuesday, May 21. Congratulations Andrea!

Nancy Holmer, Library Associate II in the Resource Management and Discovery area of the MSU Libraries, has announced her plan to retire at the end of July 2019, after nearly 39 years of service to the University Libraries and its users. Nancy began working for SMSU on September 2, 1980. Two years prior to that, Nancy had begun working at the Brentwood Branch of the public library as a circulation clerk. A retirement reception is being planned to be held…

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Several University Libraries faculty members were honored during the 2019 All-Faculty Recognition Reception, held on Tuesday, April 30 in the Robert W. Plaster Student Union on the Springfield campus of MSU. Jessica Bennett, Assistant Professor Certified Distance Educator Award Rachel Besara, Associate Dean Assessment Grant for Inclusion Andrea Miller, Associate Professor Service Award: 10 Years of Service Several faculty members also were acknowledged for their intellectual contributions: Rachel Besara, Associate Dean Book; Journal Article Dea Borneman, Professor Journal Article William…

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Responses from vendors to the current outstanding RFP (Request for Proposals) for a new ILS (Integrated Library System, also known as a Library Services Platform) are due by 3:00 p.m. CDT on Friday, May 31. The review of the responses to the RFP will commence during the first part of June. In addition, the responses to the RFP will be available for other employees of the MSU Libraries to review and comment on. Members of the review committee are: Tom…

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Paige Harp has accepted an offer from the MSU Libraries to serve as our Coordinator of Infant Through Grade 12 Resources. May 16th will be her first day in this new role at the MSU Libraries. This is a new position that combines the responsibilities of Emily Furtak (retired) and Marklyn Cotter (who will be retiring in December). IG12 and BRB (the Book Review Board) team members are excited to have Paige on board! In November 2018 Paige began working…

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On Monday, May 6, the MSU College of Arts & Letters held their annual Vicki Stanton Public Speaking Showcase (VSPSS); a one-day speech tournament highlighting persuasive speeches presented by COM 115 students. COM 115 is a required public speaking course at MSU, with a current enrollment of around 1,500 students. Each class chose a representative to deliver their 7-9 minute persuasive speech in the showcase. The Spring 2019 Showcase included approximately 60 students. A series of two preliminary rounds narrowed the field to 5…

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