Daily Archives: April 9, 2018

Discovery Day Testimonials

By: Carmen Gass

Testimonials from Discovery Day 2017.

“Last year, the Life Sciences Library presented a session on the little known collections of their library, including the Audobon prints, anatomical models and a tour of the Kneebone Mushroom Reference Library. We enjoyed introducing everyone to these collections and the lively conversations that ensued.” – Amy Paster

Mushroom growing kit on display in the Kneebone Mushroom Reference Library

“The Discovery Day book binding activity run by Jose Guerrero was a fascinating look in to the similarities across book binding, regardless of complexity. Spending the day with colleagues in an informal environment helps to foster and sustain connections across the libraries.” – Torrie Raish

Torrie Raish, Carmen Cole and Heather Froehlich – Bookbinding activity

Book binding with Jose Guerrero

More than Superheroes: Comics and Graphic Novels in the Libraries, John Meier

“Every Discovery Day has been a unique experience for me, both as an attendee and a presenter. I have been on tours, learned yoga, storytelling, and many other memorable sessions.”

– John Meier

Solstice available in KC Group Study Rooms

By: Joe Fennewald

We removed pucks, cables and adapters from the group study rooms in the Knowledge Commons and have installed Solstice. By downloading the Solstice app, students can put on
the large room monitors what they see on their phone, iPad, or laptop. And, more than one can share at the same time. It will be a tremendous improvement to what we have had and increase the collaborative opportunities for our students.

Success at the Symposium: Information Literacy and Research Track at the 2018 Teaching and Learning with Technology Symposium

By: Amanda Larson

This year marks the first time that University Library hosted a track at the Teaching and Learning with Technology Symposium. Held on Mar. 17, at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, the event welcomed over 500 Penn State faculty, staff, and students
to engage in a daylong conference about the intersections between data, technology, and education. This year’s Symposium featured keynote speaker Stephen Dubner who authored Freakonomics and hosts the Freakonomics Radio podcast, four concurrent conference
sessions, the Open Innovation Challenge, and a Discovery session with an ice cream social.

The Information Literacy and Research track offered both concurrent sessions and Discovery Table sessions as a part of their participation in the event. The concurrent sessions explored a new reference model that blends instruction, reference, and outreach by holding research parties presented by Christina Riehman-Murphy and Jennifer Hunter in “Research Parties: A Social, Interdisciplinary Reference Experience”; using BIRD by Muv technology in library instruction sessions to increase student participation in one shot instruction sessions presented by Hailley Fargo, Deena Levy, and Victoria Raish in “Soaring with BIRD: Using Technology to Flip the Script on One-Shot Instruction”; enhancing student research skills by
offering them a librarian embedded in their course through the Embedded Librarian Program presented by Lisa Byrnes, Chris Cook, Emily Mross, Victoria Raish, Alexis Santos, Louise Sharrar, and Stephen Woods in “Leveling Up Student Research Skills Online Using the Library”; and how a combination of pedagogical strategies and technologies can leverage the digital humanities
as a way to increase digital fluency presented by Jamie Brenner, Reilly Ebbs, Kathy Salzer, and Dave Sandor in “1968: Promoting Digital Fluency through Student & Alumni Engagement.”

The Discovery session offered simultaneous presentations at individual tables where attendees had the opportunity to network with their colleagues and talk to presenters. Attendees learned
how to embed research resources into Canvas with Amanda Clossen; they also learned how they could use Google Chromebooks to enhance instruction with Erin Burns, Amy Deuink, Shannon Richie, and Beth Seyala; and they were introduced to a variety of web-based geospatial applications available through the library with Tara LaLonde.

Each session in the Information Literacy and Research track were well attended with an overwhelming amount of positive feedback on the session evaluations collected throughout the day. Based on our experience this year at the Symposium, we are revved up to participate as partners again next year!

Customer Service Tip: Chill out! Customer service rage accomplishes nothing

By: Jeremy Watkin (submitted by Carmen Gass)

Classic road rage story. Driver A does something out on the road to wrong Driver B— whether it’s not allowing Driver B to merge, or cutting them off, or a myriad of other possible
inconveniences. Driver B then pulls up next to Driver A and uses a variety of expletives and gestures to shame Driver A. All the while, Drivers C through Z are standing by watching the scene unfold thinking how ridiculous and childish Driver B looks and probably feeling sorry for Driver A.

I witnessed such a scene recently and was reminded me of some of my calls with customers both as a customer service representative and a manager. You know those calls you get five minutes before your shift is over that end up making you (really) late for dinner? Read more he re

Happy 60th annual National Library Week

This year’s theme is “Libraries Lead.” Today we are kicking off our social media campaign, created by PRaM interns Harrison Fetter and Colin Gallagher, with quotes from University Libraries peer research consultants as well as University leaders — students, faculty, and administrators.

We want to hear from you! Do you have a good story about how libraries have positively impacted your life, or have you or your colleague helped someone else understand the benefits of the University Libraries? Tell us in the comments below — or tweet/share it on social media and tag us @psulibs and we will retweet/re-share it!

Stand for State: Interrupting Bias and Discrimination, 4/5/18

By: Carmen Gass

What a great group of folks to complete the bystander intervention training on interrupting acts of bias and discrimination!

Penn State University Libraries (Heather Froehlich, Karen Hackett, Ally Laird) Penn State Fraternity and Sorority Life, Penn State College of Education, Penn State Alumni Association, Penn State Division of Undergraduate Studies – DUS, Penn State Office of Student Aid, Penn State World Campus, Penn State Career Services, Penn State College of Engineering

Strategic Plan Charge Update: General Education

By: Victoria Raish

The Libraries’ strategic plan reinforces our focus on programmatic and effective library instruction, which should be both intentional and able to be assessed. This programmatic and
thoughtful approach to instruction through the Libraries emphasizes the importance of strategically integrating information literacy into Penn State’s general education program.

In order to support this work, a strategic action team was charged with developing a “plan to integrate information literacy into the newly revised general education framework” (Teaching and Learning Goal 1, Objective 1). This aligns with the Penn State strategic priority of transforming education. Our charge was not to develop a completely novel approach to general
education integration, as the library is already heavily involved with many general education courses providing students with a strong background in information literacy. Rather, our group was tasked with two tangible goals:

(1) to identify the courses in which we have integrated information literacy, to describe that
integration, and to describe characteristics of courses that would make them good candidates for library integration in the future; and (2) to create a set of programmatic learning outcomes
that define the scope of our integration into general education courses. The team was also charged with developing an assessment plan for both of these components. Members of the team responsible for accomplishing this strategic action item are Rebecca Miller, Erin Burns, Kristin Green, Stephanie Diaz, and Torrie Raish.

The team’s progress for the first charge includes sending out a survey to see which general education courses we were already partnering with, classifying those integrations, and researching the University’s course catalog to see which other courses could be would be good fits for library integration. This survey helped us identify over 100 unique gen-ed courses where we have already integrated information literacy on some level. This integration ranges from creating a course guide to offering one-shot instruction to embedding to offering information
literacy digital badges. The second part of the first charge involved identifying additional existing and forthcoming general education courses that would be a good fit for library instruction. The team developed five categories of courses that may be appropriate for information literacy integration: research methods, workplace preparation, analysis of information, critical information consumption, and specialized information literacy connection.

The second charge involved compiling existing learning outcomes created by librarians at Penn State, curating them, and drafting new learning outcomes. We loosely followed an article titled “Be critical, but be flexible” by Andrea Falcone and Lyda McCartin in order to provide a framework for learning outcomes development. These were presented at the January COP conversation in which a Google Doc was shared. The goal of this Google Doc was to present
a draft of possible learning outcomes and seek feedback from colleagues as to how these learning outcomes meet our goals for general education integration. The general education team is now in the process of incorporating feedback and creating a set of more finalized learning outcomes.

Future communication on progress will take place May 9 at the Community of Practice and May 18 for the Instruction Steering Committee with a final report expected at the end of May. If you have any questions on progress and outcomes of the group, please email Rebecca Miller at rkm17@psu.edu.

Onboarding Open Forum

By: Carmen Gass

Join us 10-11 a.m. Tuesday, April 17, in the Dean’s Conference Room, 510 Paterno Library, and via Zoom at https://psu.zoom.us/j/590990487, for the Onboarding Survey results and feedback/discussion, as announced and presented by the Libraries’ Onboarding Task Force at the April 3 Dean’s Forum.

(Forum recording available via Penn State login at http://live.libraries.psu.edu/Mediasite/Play/4f68333701e04915939d0e7a250601181d?catalog=8376d4b2-4dd1-457e-a3bf-e4cf9163feda).

Penn State Sports Archives Appeal is Live

By: Sarah Bacon

The Penn State Sports Archives in the Eberly Family Special Collections Library online crowdfunding campaign has officially launched! Visit http://c-fund.us/f6n.

You have the unique opportunity to help the Sports Archives expand its collection into new areas and preserve history in the Libraries by making a gift through Penn State’s crowdfunding platform, Let’s Grow State.

The Eberly Family Special Collections Sports Archives began a concentrated effort in 1988 to locate historical materials that would document the growth of athletics and achievements, with an emphasis on the University. Now, the Sports Archives is looking outward to expand collections into the following new territories:
• Olympic Sports, such as Gymnastics, Volleyball and Lacrosse
• Outdoor Recreational Activities, such as Fly Fishing, Hiking, and Spelunking
• Diversity in Sports/Indigenous Sports
• Sport Psychology
• Sports Medicine
• Ethical and Philosophical Issues

With your gift to the Penn State Sports Archives, you will allow us to enhance the scope of our teaching and research mission at the University Libraries. You will give our expert team of archivists the funding they need to continue to collect exemplary histories to help ensure our Sports Archives remains unrivaled in its scope.

Be one of our first supporters to make a gift! Visit http://c-fund.us/f6n.

Thank you!
– University Libraries Development and Alumni Relations Department

Diversability/Disability Awareness Month

By: Dawn Amsberry

April is Diversability Awareness Month at Penn State. This month-long awareness campaign emphasizes the diverse talents and abilities of people with disabilities. The specific theme this
year is Autism Spectrum. In celebration of the theme, several campus-wide events are planned and listed on the Diversability web page. These events “promote an atmosphere where individuals are comfortable discussing and exploring questions about accessibility, equality, and inclusion for people with disabilities.”

The Libraries Accessibility Committee has compiled a list of suggested reading related to Autism Spectrum. The following titles can be found in the Libraries collections:

A History of Autism: Conversations With the Pioneers
Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Complete Guide to Understanding Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and Other ASDs
Autism, Adolescence, and Adult: Finding the Path to Independence
Best Boy: A Novel
Caring for Autism: Practical Advice from a Parent and Physician
Disability and U.S. Politics: Participation, Policy, and Controversy
Fall Down Seven Times Get up Eight: A Young Man’s Voice from the Silence of Autism
Ginny Moon Going to college with Autism: Tips and Strategies from Successful Voices
NeuroTribes: the Legacy of Autism and How to Think Smarter About People who Think Differently
Shining a Light on the Autism Spectrum: Experiences and Aspirations of Adults
The Autistic Brain: Thinking Across the Spectrum
Thinking in Pictures: And Other Reports from Life with Autism
To Siri with Love: A Mother, Her Autistic Son, and the Kindness of Machines
Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism

Tech Tip: How to know if a Website is Secure

By: Ryan Johnson

There are two ways to simple ways to ensure you are on a secure website.

1.) Look at the web address in your browser; make sure the web address starts with https://

2.) Look for a closed padlock in your web browser. When you click on the padlock you should see a message that states the name of the company and that “The connection to the server is encrypted”

Important to Remember:

Do not log into a site if it is not secure as described above.
Do not log into a site if you feel it is a fake, call the company directly.
Log out of the site when you are finished.

A secure website creates an encrypted connection between your web browser and the site company web server. This encrypted connection prevents criminals on the internet from eavesdropping on your internet traffic with the purpose of stealing your information.

Note: Different web browsers have the padlock in different locations on the screen.

Events: April 9

Spring 2018
Academic calendar information for all campuses is available online.

Jan. 16–Aug. 26, “What Big Eyes You Have! Looking at the Wolf in Fairy Tales”exhibition, Eberly Family Special Collections Library Exhibition Room, 104 Paterno Library.

Feb. 18-Aug. 13, “Depth of Field” exhibit, Diversity Studies Room, 203 Pattee Library, seeks to highlight the intersections of war in the Middle East with the history of war photograph

Mar. 27-July 31, “1968: Student Activism at Penn State and Beyond” exhibit, Highlighting archival documents, photographs, and books from The Eberly Family Special Collections, this exhibit ties into a College of the Liberal Arts project titled Moments of Change: Remembering ‘68. Learn more about this project at 1968.psu.edu. Barbara Hackman Atrium, Pattee Library.

Wednesday, Apr. 11: Software in the Humanities and Social Sciences Workshop – OpenRefine, a free and open-source resource for cleaning, regularizing, and organizing complex data, with Jose Guerrero. Bring a bag lunch; noon-1 p.m. 403 Paterno Library and via Zoom at https://psu.zoom.us/j/914950827.

Tuesday, Apr. 16: East to West, U.S.-China College Art Summit. Summit to bring scholars, artists, designers, business professionals, and policy-makers from China and from the U.S. together to share best practices in education program design, research, community development, and social impact. Panel discussions, 8:30 a.m. – 5:45 p.m. various locations in Pattee and Paterno Libraries.

Sunday, Apr. 22: International Write-In. Two sessions, 3:30-7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.-midnight. Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library. Interested writers can sign up today at: http://tinyurl.com/psuwritein

Monday, Apr. 23: Working with International Students Workshop: Resources and Inclusive Strategies, 1-4 p.m., 221 Chambers Building, Krause Learning Space.

Please submit event information — and all Library News submissions — to Public Relations and Marketing via the Library News submission form. *Please note: The content submissions process may be changing soon; please stay tuned for updates.*