Daily Archives: October 13, 2014

Dean’s News

By Barbara I. Dewey, dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications

Colleagues, we are getting ready for the very important associate dean candidate interviews. I know I can count on you to provide an excellent Penn State experience for each and every candidate. Thank you in advance for doing so. I also want to remind everyone that the searches are confidential and no information should be shared externally out of respect for the candidates and the process. These searches are time consuming but critical for us as we move to the next exciting era for Penn State Libraries. Let me or the search committee chairs know if you have questions at any point.

I just returned from a week of national meetings in Washington DC. Ben Goldman and I attended the APTrust Annual Meeting where work is underway to build a shared digital preservation infrastructure. I next attended the ARL Annual Meeting where I met many new directors of large research libraries. ARL is in the midst of a major turnover due to a large number of retirements. ARL is also in the process of developing a new strategic plan and a “rebranding” of the organization. Linda Friend attended the ARL Forum on monographic publishing. I also attended the first annual meeting of HathiTrust. Mike Furlough led the meeting in excellent fashion. HathiTrust now contains 12 million digital volumes. Penn State is considered a leader and important contributor in all of these organizations.

The People’s Contest praised for innovation

The September 2014 issue of the “Journal of American History”—the flagship journal of all scholars of American History in the world—gave high praise to The People’s Contest website at Penn State.

archived newspaper“The People’s Contest: A Civil War Era Digital Archive” is a collaborative project of Penn State’s University Libraries and the Richards Civil War Era Center. The project promotes research into the lived experience of Pennsylvanians between 1851 and 1874, and its website features a unique bibliographic database of hidden collections from historical societies throughout the state, digitized manuscripts, and contextual essays.

Reviewer Adam W. Dean wrote, “The People’s Contest presents an innovative model for the future of digital history, combining an archive, a gateway to primary source collections and a journal. Its mission is delightfully focused: the Web site authors seek to help scholars understand the Pennsylvania home front during the American Civil War. As the authors rightly note, most Civil War–era historians have focused on the Confederate home front, neglecting the rich political, racial, ethnic, and gender clashes that characterized Pennsylvanians’ experiences during the war.”

illustration of soldier with flagAccording to William Blair, director of the Richards Center and Liberal Arts Research Professor of U.S. History, a unique aspect of the project lies not only in the partnership with the University Libraries but also with many county historical societies across Pennsylvania. Field workers led by Project Manager Sabra Statham of the University Libraries, and assisted by Richards Center Managing Director Matthew Isham, combed the state to identify hidden treasures that tell Pennsylvania’s story during the Civil War Era. While the library has digitized select collections from this survey, the project also has generated a catalogue that directs historians and the public to letters, diaries, ledger books and other primary materials in these various repositories organized according to such categories as gender, family, politics and dissent.

“Pennsylvania,” Blair noted, “along with Ohio and New York, sent the most men to the battlefields. These states also provided the most significant support of the cause through furnishing weapons and other war material.” Yet, he added, Pennsylvania was also a highly contested state before, during, and after the war, belying the overly simplistic image of the North as a unified region.

Tim Pyatt, the Dorothy Foehr Huck Chair and head of The Eberly Family Special Collections Library, states, “The People’s Contest allows us to share the University’s rich and unique Civil War manuscript and photograph collections in the context of other important Pennsylvania Civil War collections. We are delighted that we are a partner in this important project.”

Other project partners in this collaborative project include the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; and the Senator John Heinz History Center, in association with the Smithsonian Institution.

For more information or if you anticipate needing accessibility accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, please call Public Relations and Marketing at 814-863-4240, during normal business hours.

Libraries announce 2014 scholarship winners

Each year Penn State’s University Libraries award scholarships to undergraduates. The Adma Hammam Shibley Memorial Scholarship in Library Science, the Martha Conner Memorial Award and the Ava Faltz-Miller Memorial Scholarship are for students who are considering a career in library and information science. These students realize that today’s libraries include not only books but also the latest technology and Internet resources and the opportunity to focus on a selected field of study. They also realize it is a profession that is people oriented and offers opportunities to work with individuals to inspire learning.

Three other scholarships include the Cynthia M. Joyce Trustee Scholarship, the Irene Cheng Memorial Award and the James E. Wright, Jr. Memorial Endowment in the Life Sciences Library Grant-in-Aid.

This year’s winners:

  • Matthew Barnish, a sophomore majoring in security and risk analysis with a specialization in information and cyber security, states, “I appreciate the Irene Cheng Memorial Award for its help in paying for my education, and I am honored to receive it as I enjoy every day in my job at Media Technology Support Services.”
  • Emily Holland, a senior majoring in English with a concentration in literary and cultural studies in the College of the Liberal Arts at Penn State University Park, notes, “Preservation library science is my dream career field as it perfectly blends my love of books and history. Thanks to the Ava Faltz-Miller Memorial Scholarship, I will be able to finish my undergraduate studies in English this December. Then it is onward to library school! I couldn’t be more excited. I am so grateful for and honored by this gift.”
  • Shelbie McCurdy, a senior majoring in English at Penn State Greater Allegheny, is the recipient of the Martha Conner Memorial Award and the Adma Hamman Shibley Memorial Scholarship in Library Science. She says, “Earning these awards relieve the financial burden of my last semester as an undergraduate, and it helps me to focus on saving for my masters degree. I am very appreciative of receiving these awards.”
  • Lisa Miller, a sophomore majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology at Penn State University Park, is the recipient of the James E. Wright, Jr. Memorial Endowment in the Life Sciences Library Grant-in-Aid. She states, “My goal is to get students engaged with science with the use of digital signage and social media.”
  • Mary Pillot, a sophomore majoring in sports broadcast journalism at Penn State DuBois, notes, “To be recognized and receive this Irene Cheng Memorial Award is a tremendous honor. I wish to thank all of those who were responsible for selecting me.”
  • Morgan Wald, a senior majoring in labor and employment relations and psychology in the College of the Liberal Arts at Penn State University Park, shares, “I am honored and grateful to have been chosen for the Cynthia Joyce Trustee Scholarship. This award will not only assist financially, but it is also a source of encouragement in my academics and toward achieving my career goals.”

Undergraduate students are encouraged to apply each year. The deadline for submission will be the last day of classes in 2015. Details about each award and an application form are available online at http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/scholarships.html

For more information, contact Sandy Confer at slb3@psu.edu or 814-863-3665.

ArcGIS Desktop 10.2.2 software installed in Maps Library classroom

ArcGIS Desktop 10.2.2 software has been installed on the computers in the Maps Library classroom, W13. The Maps Library is located in Central Pattee Library. This software enables researchers to use in a multidisciplinary manner to further understand problems, issues, and challenges where location, place, and spatial relationships are important. Extensions available include: 3D Analyst, Spatial Analyst, Geostatistical Analyst, Network Analyst, Publisher, and Tracking Analyst.

ArcGIS Desktop software can be also found in the Knowledge Commons and Stillwater Commons of the Pattee and Paterno Library. Additionally, GIS software is available remotely via Penn State Web Apps.

Additional locations on campus with ArcGIS software include the ITS computer labs, (Lab locations: http://clc.its.psu.edu/labs/locations) — Tara LaLonde, tll38@psu.edu

Training opportunity at Penn State Libraries

lion reading a bookA training program for all Penn State staff on library services and resources will be held on October 29, from 8:30 to 11 a.m. This is a prime opportunity for staff to learn about—and help others get the most out of—the University Libraries. The day will begin at 8:30 a.m., with refreshments in Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library. The program will start at 9 a.m., in Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, and will cover a number of “must knows,” including how to search and obtain books, journal articles and other materials and how to use the wide range of library tools available online.

Participants will learn about LionSearch (the Libraries’ powerful search engine), borrowing basics, office delivery, interlibrary loan and special resources such as research guides, course reserves, course guides and citation management tools. The program will also highlight a number of specialized services offered by the University Libraries, including an overview of equipment that can be borrowed (including laptops), where to find scanners, plotters and other hardware, Knowledge Commons resources, adaptive technology, data management help and much more.

In addition, the presenters will share some of the additional resources that Penn State staff can access, including ebooks, DVDs, world and local newspapers, leisure reading and video collections and children’s books and play kits.

The goal of the program is to help Penn State staff learn about the wealth of resources available in the University Libraries and how to use those resources, both for work and for personal enrichment.

This program is free and open to all Penn State staff. To register, email Megan Gilpin at mcg13@psu.edu. Registration is open through Friday, October 24. If you anticipate needing accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, please email Gilpin or call 814-867-0069.

Watch Lynda.com tutorials offline

By Ryan Johnson, technology training coordinator

lynda logoGood news for lynda.com fans! Now in addition to taking these top-quality video courses online, Penn State users can also watch these videos offline, making it easier than ever to use lynda whenever and wherever is easiest for you.

In order to view a video offline, install the mobile lynda.com app (for iOS or Android) and then download a course or an individual video to view with or without Internet access.

To learn more about viewing lynda.com tutorials offline, visit: http://www.lynda.com/support/faq.aspx?category=191

LHR News: October 13

Please join us in welcoming the following new hires:

Part-time:
Susan Kim, Commons Services
Mercedes Howard, Commons Services
Jeffrey Doane, Architecture and Landscape Architecture Library
Ayman Paris-Hasan, Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Wishing the following employees well as they leave us:
10/17/14 Kathy Fescemyer

Events: October 13

October 14, 7:30–8:30 p.m.: Meet Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, author of ‘Americanah,’ in an interview conducted by Ellysa Cahoy, librarian and assistant director, Pennsylvania Center for the Book. Days Inn Penn State, 240 South Pugh Street, State College. Open to the public.

October 15, 12:15 p.m.: The Price of Sand (film), EMS Museum, 18 Deike. The impact of silicon mining on the local economies of Minnesota and Wisconsin.See schedule

October 15, 1-2 p.m.: So HELP Me: Improving Customer Service workshop. Part 2. Register in TechSmart.

October 16, 9-10 a.m. and 3-4 p.m.: So HELP Me: Improving Customer Service. Part 2. Register in TechSmart.

October 16, 7 p.m.: “Walking Straight: Transcending Disability and Embracing Sexual Identity,” presented by actress Geri Jewel, Foster Auditorium.

October 16, noon–2:00 p.m.: Introduction to Digital Humanities, 23 Pattee Library (News and Microforms Library) Instructors: James O’Sullivan, Digital Humanities research designer, and Dawn Childress, Kalin Librarian for Technological Innovations in the Humanities and humanities librarian. To register, visit the Humanities Lab website.

October 21, 3 p.m.: “How to Put Your Brain on the Internet,” presentation by author Michael Chorost, Foster Auditorium.

October 22, 12:15 p.m.: Managing the 21st Century’s Sustainability Crises (Peak Moments TV episode 192) and Collapse of the Titans (Peak Moments TV episode 202), 18 Deike Bldg. EMSL Film Series. Interviews with Daniel Lerch and Dmitry Orlov about the future of America’s energy instabilities. (56 min. total)

October 23, 3-4 p.m: Getting to Know International Patrons, Mann Assembly Room and Adobe Connect. There are over 7,000 international students from around the world enrolled at Penn State. These students bring with them a broad range of cultures, languages, backgrounds, and expectations. This discussion-based workshop will present effective strategies for communicating with our international patrons.

October 23, 2014, 7:30 p.m.: The Emily Dickinson Lectureship in American Poetry presents Marilyn Nelson, Foster Auditorium. Marilyn Nelson is a three-time finalist for the National Book Award and winner of the Newbery and Coretta Scott King awards. She is the author or translator of 15 poetry books for adults and children and five chapbooks. In 2013 she published a memoir entitled “How I Discovered Poetry”—a series of 50 poems about growing up in the 1950’s in a military family. Part of the 2014-2015 Mary E. Rolling Reading Series.

October 29, 12:15 p.m.: Ocean Frontiers: The Dawn of a New Era in Ocean StewardshipSeries of three short episodes on the ocean and sustainability, 18 Deike Bldg. EMSL Film Series. Featuring:

  • Ocean Blueprint in the Florida Keys (11 min.)
  • Saving Whales at Stellwagen Bank (27 min.)
  • Iowa Farmers & Gulf of Mexico (22 min.)

October 29, 8:30 – 11 a.m.: What the Libraries Can Do for You, training for Penn State staff on essential library services and resources. Program starts at 9 a.m. in Foster Aud. following refreshments in Mann. Register by October 24. Email mcg13@psu.edu. More details next week

October 30, noon–3:00 p.m.: Digital Literary Studies Seminar Series Part I. Computational Stylistics, 23 Pattee Library (News and Microforms Library). Instructor: James O’Sullivan. To register, visit the Humanities Lab website.

October 30, 3–5 p.m.: Libraries’ Halloween Party 2014,  in Mann Assembly Room. Enjoy snacks, a costume contest, games, and prizes and have fun! Event organized by the Safety Committee and UPLEA.

November and beyond:

November 4 – 10–11 a.m. So HELP Me: Improving Customer Service. Part 1. Register in TechSmart.

November 5, 1 p.m.: Introduction to EndNote, W315 Pattee.

November 5, 12:15 p.m. : The Creek Runs Red (film) 18 Deike. How lead and zinc mining has impacted the 100-year old town of Picher, Oklahoma. See schedule

November 6, 10-11 a.m.: So HELP Me, Part 2. Register in TechSmart.

November 6, 2014, 7:30pm: 2014-2015 Mary E. Rolling Reading Series presents Chinelo Okparanta, the author of Happiness, Like Water, a 2013 New York Times Sunday Book Review Editors’ Choice. Foster Auditorium. Okparanta’s writing has appeared in GRANTA, The New Yorker, The Kenyon Review, and Tin House, among others. Her story “America” was selected as a notable story for Best American Short Stories 2013. She earned her undergraduate degree from Penn State.

November 11, 10 a.m.: Introduction to Mendeley, 302 Paterno

November 12,12:15 p.m.: Extreme by Design (film). A cross disciplinary approach to find ways to help solve health issues amongst the world’s poorest populations. 18 Deike. See schedule

November 13, 2–4 p.m.: Content Management Systems for the Humanities, 140 Pattee Library (Knowledge Commons). Instructors: Kate Miffitt, director of Digital Pedagogy and Scholarship, and James O’Sullivan. To register, visit the Humanities Lab website.

November 13 – 3–4 p.m. So HELP Me: Improving Customer Service. Part 1. Register in TechSmart.

November 19, 12:15 p.m.: Asbestos Connection (film). The discovery, production, and health effects of asbestos. 18 Deike. See schedule

November 19: GIS Day. The University Libraries is co-sponsoring an event with the Department of Geography to raise awareness of geospatial information and the many possibilities and opportunities of geographic information systems (GIS). Check out the GIS Day webpage for more information: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/researchhub/gis-day.html
Information Fair: 1-4 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, Paterno Library
Poster Display: The Atrium of Pattee Library
GIS Networking Reception: 4–5 p.m., 208 Paterno Library
Please encourage students, staff, and faculty to attend to learn about what is GIS and its many application areas. More information coming soon

November 20, noon–2 p.m.: Digital Literary Studies Seminar Series Part II. Network Analysis, 23 Pattee Library (News and Microforms Library). Instructors: Dawn Childress and James O’Sullivan. To register, visit the Humanities Lab website.

December 3 – 1–2 p.m. So HELP Me, Part 1. Register in TechSmart.

December 3, 12:15 p.m.: Mind Your Mind (film). How subliminal messages from advertising, politicians, and mass media shape the way we think. 18 Deike. See schedule

December 3, 2–4 p.m.: Introduction to Git, 140 Pattee Library (Knowledge Commons)
Instructor: Dan Coughlin, director of SaS Development. To register, visit the Humanities Lab website.

December 4, noon–2:00 p.m.: Digital Literary Studies Seminar Series Part III. Digital Scholarly Editing, 23 Pattee Library (News and Microforms Library). Instructors: Dawn Childress and James O’Sullivan. To register, visit the Humanities Lab website.

December 5, 1-2 p.m.: So HELP Me, Part 2. Register in TechSmart.

December 10, 12:15 p.m.: Truth about Exercise (film). Not all exercises “work out” equally. 18 Deike. See schedule

December 11, 3-4 p.m.: So HELP Me, Part 2. Register in TechSmart.