The Fall 2018 issue of University Libraries newsletter “The Library: The Heart of the University” has been published on the Libraries website as an accessibility-friendly PDF.

Penn State University Libraries’ Fall 2018 edition of “The Library: The Heart of the University,” highlights the theme “Encouraging Student Success” throughout its pages.

The newsletter, published twice a year, is sponsored by the Libraries’ Office of Development and Alumni Relations, with content and design provided by members of its own team as well as the Public Relations and Marketing team.

In this issue, two feature stories support the “Encouraging Student Success” theme in depth:

• “Focus on Interns” catches up with several former Bednar interns, noting where they are now are how their engaged scholarship experiences with the Libraries have benefited them.
• “Open House” is a photo essay that walks readers through a brief timeline of students’ experience at the annual University Park event, what they learn about the Libraries at multiple multiple stations along their self-guided tours, and how Libraries volunteers introduce them to the role of an academic library in supporting their learning.

A new column, “Tech Knowledge,” aims to explain to readers some of the many ways today’s Libraries’ technology-based services and resources impact students’ academic success. The inaugural edition examines the Libraries’ connections to Canvas through e-reserves, embedded librarians, and the dedicated Libraries Resources tab. It also explains the functions of online consultations and the Ask a Librarian service.

The “Facts and Figures” column complements “Tech Knowledge” in this issue with data-driven charts and graphics illustrating the success of the Ask a Librarian service.

The 16-page newsletter PDF also features the Middlemas Arts& Humanities Library, the “Press Picks” column from Penn State University Press, and more.

It is accessible by clicking on the thumbnail above or by visiting the link https://libraries.psu.edu/sites/default/files/2018/12/11/LibraryNewsletter_Fall2018.pdf. It also is in the process of being posted to the Development and Alumni Relations page and the News and Events page on the Libraries website.

The print version is scheduled to be mailed by the end of this week to friends who have supported the University Libraries with gifts of $100 or more across the last five years.

Nicole Hendrix has been named the new director of the Office of Development for Penn State University Libraries. She will lead the Libraries’ effort to raise $40 million in the For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students. To date the Libraries have raised more than $31 million in the ongoing campaign, set to end in 2014. Hendrix began her appointment January 28.
Since November 2009, Hendrix has served as the director of major gifts in the College of the Liberal Arts, where she helped her unit to achieve 84 percent of their campaign goal. Before joining Penn State, she spent eight years working in development at The University of Georgia where her duties included supporting the fundraising efforts for the university’s libraries. Prior to entering the fundraising profession, Hendrix spent four years in private industry in sales and public relations. Hendrix holds a bachelor of arts degree from The University of Georgia.

Looking forward to this next step in her career, Hendrix notes, “Fundraising for our University Libraries offers the best of all worlds–an opportunity to connect those whose education has led to success with aspiring young students. At the end of the day, I feel I have made a positive difference.”

Welcoming Hendrix to her staff, Barbara I. Dewey, dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications at Penn State, observes, “Nicki’s understanding of the research needs of students in the College of the Liberal Arts positions her perfectly to explain to alumni the evolution of library resources and the expanding horizons of digital resources.” For more information, contact 814-863-4240 or cqg3@psu.edu