The University Libraries Celebrates Women’s History Month 2015

WHM Poster 2015

The University Libraries is pleased to participate in the U of M’s campus-wide celebration of Women’s History Month. See the full calendar of events here and visit the Libraries’ Women’s and Gender Studies research guide for books, articles, web sites, videos, primary documents, and other resources about women’s history and feminist issues. In addition, we have created a special research guide featuring Tennessee women who dedicated their lives to activism and service and participated in national movements for equality.

In honor of our new exhibition, “Woven Into Words: Tennessee Women Making History,” we will host a reception on Tuesday, March 3, 5:30-7:00 p.m. on the fourth floor of McWherter Library; Dr. Christine Eisel, Department of History, will share “Lessons Learned in the Archives.” Guests can explore several display cases which illustrate the impact of women like Roberta Church, Elizabeth Meriwether, Sister Hughetta Snowden, Cornelia Crenshaw, and Maxine Smith and highlight government documents relating to women’s suffrage and political history. Presented with the support of the Friends of the University Libraries.

Then, on Wednesday, March 18, 11:30 a.m., Jazmin Miller will present her original one-woman show, “The Journey of Truth,” about the life of abolitionist and activist Sojourner Truth in the rotunda of McWherter Library. Free and open to the public.

In addition to attending programs, you can participate in Women’s History Month by responding to a writing prompt and/or recognizing a woman who has helped you weave your own story (submission sheets are also available in rotunda of McWherter Library).

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A Tribute to Our Colleague and Friend Betsy Park

Betsy3Betsy Park’s colleagues and friends are saddened to hear of her death on Sunday 18 January 2015 from complications of a bone marrow transplant.

Betsy’s distinguished 32-year tenure at the University Libraries at the University of Memphis was an inspiration to the faculty, staff, and students she served enthusiastically first as a reference librarian, then as Head of Reference, and finally as Assistant to the Dean for Planning and Assessment.

Betsy modeled the characteristics she expected in other Libraries faculty: Intellectual inquisitiveness, service to others, and the drive to contribute meaningfully to the profession. In addition to her oft-cited publication, “Status of the Profession: A 1989 National Survey of Tenure and Promotion for Policies for Academic Librarians” (College and Research Libraries, May 1991, 275-289), Betsy authored a book chapter and many journal articles, regularly presented her work at state and national conferences, and was active in a variety of professional organizations.

She was a respected colleague; Libraries faculty and staff actively sought her advice and counsel. Her door was always open, and she went out of her way to welcome and mentor junior faculty members. In her role as Head of Reference, Betsy was a strong and charismatic leader; she was always available, fair, and encouraging to members of the Department. She was a dedicated chair of the Libraries Tenure and Promotion Committee and created a writing group to facilitate and support the scholarship of Libraries faculty.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERABetsy lived to teach, and in addition to her innumerable presentations in classrooms, often invited students and faculty to her office to help with research-related questions. Colleagues nearby could often hear exclamations of delight as Betsy shared with her visitors new perspectives, research skills, and ways to use technology.

Betsy never shied away from challenges, whether professional or personal. She was an innovative, insightful, and reliable collaborator. She was among the first librarians at the University to present online instruction to distance learning students and to be embedded in online classes, and became the go-to person for questions about RefWorks, the citation management software.

Her adventurous spirit led her to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in Gossas, Senegal, from 1966-1968; more recently, she and her husband reveled in the cultures of South Korea, Japan, France, and Hawaii. A fabulous chef and hostess, Betsy was known for dishes inspired by the culinary experiences she had while traveling. She threw great dinner parties, made pots of homemade applesauce with her granddaughters (one of her favorite traditions), and amassed an impressive collection of cookbooks.

Betsy routinely shared produce from her bountiful garden, was often spotted at the Symphony and the Overton Shell, and was an avid golfer at one time. The songs of love birds filled her home, and she loved–and adopted–many dogs over the years (each a character, it seemed!).

Everyone who knew her has a favorite “Betsy story.” Won’t you share yours?

Celebrating a successful semester!

The faculty and staff of the University Libraries wish you pleasant and relaxing Winter Break and a happy New Year! Congratulations to the December 2014 graduates and their families. For our interim hours, please click here. Don’t forget to visit our exhibition, “From Active Duty to Veteran: Honoring Military Service in America,” on view in the rotunda and on the fourth floor of McWherter Library until January 16.

The Libraries continues to encourage and support undergraduate research at the University of Memphis. This semester, the Libraries was part of two honors research forums taught by Dr. Pam Dennis and Cody Behles. Professor Dennis’ class, “Surviving the Research Blues: A Historical Approach,” focused on local history and civil rights issues. The students consulted the Libraries’ special collections and other primary resources to inform their final projects, which they presented at the December meeting of the West Tennessee Historical Society. Professor Behles introduced his students to issues concerning scholarly communication in the 21st century. The class spent time in the Memphis and Shelby County Room at the Memphis Public Library examining and mapping communication networks of Memphians throughout history. For more information about undergraduate research on campus, visit the web site of QuaesitUM, a peer-reviewed annual publication that showcases students’ work in all disciplines.

Dr. Dennis Class
Dr. Dennis and her UNHP 1100 students

We’re pleased to announce we have subscribed to Browzine, an app which allows users to access our paid electronic periodical content through their mobile devices in a display that emulates physical bookshelves. Thank you to all across campus who participated in the trial; your feedback was appreciated. If you have not already, download the app and follow these instructions to start browsing the Libraries’ collection of journals! Feel free to contact Cody Behles (cbehles@memphis.edu) with any questions.

Finally, the University Libraries is thrilled to welcome Athena the tigress back to her home in front of McWherter Library.  Athena had been away receiving much needed repairs, and she returns to the University of Memphis as a powerful symbol of wisdom. We thank artist Pam Cobb and the Friends of the University Libraries for their generous support of her care.

We look forward to serving our University of Memphis communities in 2015!

Athena

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Libraries Honors Veterans with Exhibition and Research Guide

Veterans Day Parade, Oct. 25, 1971, Memphis. L-R: Chester Shields, 75, WWI veteran; Bob Reese, 22; Vietnam War veteran; Fred Bauer, 87, Spanish-American War veteran
Veterans Day Parade, Oct. 25, 1971, Memphis.    L-R: Chester Shields, 75, WWI veteran; Bob Reese, 22; Vietnam War veteran; Fred Bauer, 87, Spanish-American War veteran

The University Libraries proudly presents “From Active Duty to Veteran: Honoring Military Service in America,” an exhibition of letters, maps, photographs, pamphlets, oral histories, posters, and ephemera from the Libraries’ special collections and government publications departments. Displays are located on the first and fourth floors of McWherter Library and will be on view until January 16. Click here for the Libraries’ hours.

The exhibition was the focus of a special Veterans Day lecture, “War, Peace, History, and Memory: Military Service in the American Experience,” presented by historian and cataloging librarian Dr. Mark Danley in McWherter Library. Danley, who helped choose materials from the collections to include in the displays, challenged our collective tendency to regard American military history as a narrative that merely “goes from war to war.” This simplified version of our experience, Danley argued, causes us to downplay the violence faced by our military personnel during other time periods of apparent peace (like the Cold War).  He suggested as examples the continued casualties on the Demilitarized Zone on the Korean peninsula since 1953.

To illustrate his point further, Danley (a veteran himself) referred to a Press-Scimitar photograph from the Libraries’ special collections taken during the 1971 Veterans Day Parade in Memphis. The poignant image features a Spanish War, a World War I, and Vietnam War veteran standing together, hands clasped. He remarked, however, that even though that grouping was clearly significant, the photographer would likely not think it as significant to capture a meeting between a veteran of the Vera Cruz campaign in 1914, a veteran of the U.S. garrison in Shanghai in the 1920s, and a veteran of the Berlin garrison of the 1960s. The reasons why underscore the point that the reality of American experience with military service is more variegated than common public impressions convey. A question and answer session followed the presentation, which was the final event of the daylong campus celebration of the nation’s veterans lead by the U of M Veterans Resource Center.

Check back shortly to watch a video of Dr. Mark Danley’s full lecture.

In addition to the physical displays in McWherter Library, visitors can access a comprehensive online research guide for additional resources about the time periods covered in the exhibition. We thank the Friends of the University Libraries for their continued support of our exhibitions and programs.

Pasted into a WWI scrapbook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Ways to Connect to Your Libraries’ Resources!

We hope you had a pleasant Fall Break! As the semester progresses, we continue to offer additional ways to connect students and faculty to our resources.

The University Libraries has arranged for a trial of BrowZine, a new app for mobile devices, until November 21, 2014. BrowZine allows users to access our paid electronic periodical content through their mobile devices in a display that emulates physical bookshelves.

Sample screen from BrowZine app

Here’s how to try BrowZine:

From your iPad, iPhone (please note that BrowZine works best on iPad 2 or later), or Android device, download BrowZine from the App Store, Google Play, or Kindle/Amazon store and install it.

When you open BrowZine for the first time, you will see a list of schools.  Select the University of Memphis, then enter your user ID and password (same as for other University Libraries’ resources). Choose the subject areas and start browsing! Don’t forget to let us know what you think of BrowZine by leaving a comment on the blog or e-mailing Cody Behles at cbehles@memphis.edu.

For help finding subject-specific resources, you can explore our collection of customized online research guides. Themes of recent guides include Network Science, the Sociology of Gender, and Tiger Blue Goes Green: Sustainability.

The next time you’re in McWherter Library, be sure to browse our two New Additions bookcases located on either side of the Circulation desk. Acquired titles are also posted on our Pinterest page and often highlighted on Twitter and Facebook.

Research question? Keep calm and ask a librarian!
Research question? Keep calm and ask a librarian!

Whether you are working at home or on-campus, the University Libraries’ staff is happy to help with your research. Visit our Ask a Librarian page for a list of FAQs and multiple ways to contact us including text, chat, and e-mail; there’s even a form you can submit if you’re having technical difficulties with the Libraries’ online resources. For writing help, please make an appointment with the Center for Writing and Communication located near the reference desk on the first floor of McWherter Library.

Happy researching!

Celebrate Banned Books Week with Us!

The University Libraries will celebrate national Banned Books Week and the freedom to read September 21-27, 2014. This year, we will focus on comics and graphic novels with special programs and a one-of-a-kind exhibit in McWherter Library. Remember to visit our Facebook and Twitter pages during Banned Books Week and throughout the year for event updates, new resources, research tips, and featured images from our Special Collections.

Webinar: Regional Issues on Banned Books
Wednesday, September 24, 11:00 a.m.-noon
Room 226, McWherter Library
Travel to London, South Carolina, Texas and California to learn about efforts to un-ban books. Free and open to the public.

Panel Discussion: Comics and Graphic Novels in the Academy
Wednesday, September 24, 3:00-4:30 p.m.
Room 226, McWherter Library
Dr. Stephen Tabachnick (Department of English), Dr. Linde Brocato (University Libraries), Dr. Melanie Conroy (Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures), and Esther Saltzman (Department of English) will explore the path to acceptance of the graphic novel in academe. Topics include the history of comics and caricatures, censorship, teaching graphic adaptations of literary works, and cataloging graphic formats for most effective access by all library users. Moderated by Community Engagement Librarian Jennifer Schnabel. Free and open to the public.

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Comics/Graphic Novels Meetup for U of M Students
Friday, September 26, 1:00-2:30 p.m.
The Fishbowl (first floor of McWherter Library)
Drop by and meet other students who share an interest in comics and graphic novels! Bring your own comics and novels to inspire discussion or browse the Libraries’ collections on display. Hosted by Library Assistant Casey Parkman. Free and open to all U of M students.

For more information, please contact Jennifer Schnabel at jschnbel@memphis.edu or 901.678.8210.

 

A Warm Welcome from the University Libraries!

Kayron Newman, Lucille Freeman, Bess Robinson, Dr. Sylverna Ford (Dean), Dr. Pam Dennis, and Frankie Perry
L-R: Kayron Newman, Lucille Freeman, Bess Robinson, Dr. Sylverna Ford (Dean), Dr. Pam Dennis, and Frankie Perry

The faculty and staff in the University Libraries are pleased to welcome you back to campus! We look forward to supporting your research, answering your questions, and offering you a comfortable and stimulating learning environment. Our Fall Semester hours for all branches are posted here, and we will resume online chat hours beginning September 2.

In addition to our collection of more than 1.4 million books and e-books, 10 million manuscripts, 10,000+ periodicals, more than 300 databases, and over 600,000 government documents, we are happy to announce new and upcoming programs and services. To reserve spaces and sign up for most workshops and events in the Libraries, you can now use this link! Highlights include:

RefWorks Training Workshops: Learn how to manage your citations and format your paper and bibliography. Full schedule available here.

3D Printing Lab: Students, sign up for a ten-minute training session in the library and you’ll be ready to print in 3D for free!

New Technology: Students can use the new touch-screen monitors in the Fishbowl and in the Learning Commons. Faculty members and students can reserve the Fishbowl for groups of 9-25 here. Coming soon…GoPro cameras!

The Center for Writing and Communication (CWC):  The Libraries welcomes Dr. Will Duffy and his talented team of tutors to the first floor of McWherter Library. Now, when you come to the library for research help, you can also polish your writing, editing, and oral communication skills. For more information and to schedule an appointment, please visit the CWC web site.

“From Active Duty to Veteran: Honoring Military Service in America”: The University Libraries will present an exhibition of diaries, letters, photographs, and ephemera from the Preservation and Special Collections department along with Government Publications which tell powerful stories of Americans who served in the armed forces.  Displays will be on view November 3-January 16 in the rotunda and on the fourth floor. Accompanying public programs will be announced shortly.

Grab lunch or an espresso from Einstein’s and hang out in McWherter Library. We’re here to help make your semester a success!

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest program and collection updates, awesome photos from Special Collections, helpful research tips, and more. Subscribe to the University Libraries’ blog to receive news and events information via e-mail.

Study group 3rd floor
Home away from home!

 

Julia Reed, Stanton Thomas, and Melissa Hall speaking at 2014 Delta Symposium!

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Now in its ninth year, The Delta Symposium has drawn hundreds of people for the day-long celebration of the history, culture, and life of the Delta region.  This year’s Delta is themed  “Two Sides of the River,” and will be held on Thursday, June 5, 2014, at the Fogelman Executive Center and Holiday Inn Ballroom on the University of Memphis campus.

The Delta 2014, hosted by writer and filmmaker Willy Bearden, includes an outstanding lineup of speakers and entertainment.  The morning will begin with a continental breakfast, followed by presentations by Brooks Museum of Memphis curator Dr. Stanton Thomas on “Carroll Cloar’s Delta,” renowned author Julia Reed on “A Taste of the Delta” and Southern Foodways Alliance assistant director  Melissa Hall on “Lebanese Culture in the Delta.”  The buffet luncheon at the Holiday Inn will include humorous entertainment by John Pritchard (a shuttle service will be available between Fogelman and the Holiday Inn).  The afternoon–comprised of panel sessions held in Fogelman allowing for close interaction with our speakers–will continue with presentations on the blues, genealogy, catfish farming, and more.

Every year, The Delta helps to raise funds for the University Libraries and to support our many educational exhibitions and events.  Early bird registration ($65) is available online until May 6; regular registration ($75) is available online until May 30.  Reserve your place today!

The Delta has its own Facebook page! Visit us for updated information about the symposium, videos from past conferences,  and stunning photos from the Delta region!

Celebrate “Inspiring Women of the 1960s” on March 18

Maxine Smith and Miriam DeCosta-Willis, 1969
Maxine Smith and Miriam DeCosta-Willis, 1969

Please join us on Tuesday, March 18, 11:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m. in the rotunda of McWherter Library as U of M students honor women writers, artists, and activists of the 1960s by reading aloud from speeches, letters, poems, fiction, and government documents. The event is free and open to the public.

Highlights include Betty Friedan’s “The Problem That Has No Name,” Shirley Chisholm’s “The 51% Minority,” Joan Baez’s anti-war letter to the IRS,  Nikki Giovanni’s poem “For Saundra,” and Daisy Bates’ speech during the 1963 March on Washington. The program will conclude with a tribute to this year’s MLK Human Rights Award recipient Dr. Miriam DeCosta-Willis and the late activist Mrs. Maxine Smith. Dr. Aram Goudsouzian, chair of the Department of History and author of Down to the Crossroads: Civil Rights, Black Power, and the Meredith March Against Fear (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2014), will serve as emcee.

The event is co-sponsored by the University Libraries (with support from the Friends of the University Libraries), the Department of English, the Department of History, and the Center for Research on Women (CROW). Special thank you to Dr. Beverly Bond, Dr. Peggy Caffrey, Dr. Ladrica Menson-Furr, Dr. Sarah Potter, and Dr. Lynda Sagrestano for their scholarly contributions.

“Inspiring Women of the 1960s” was created in celebration of Women’s History Month and inspired by the “The Civil Rights Act of 1964: How Far Have We Come?” exhibition on view on the first and fourth floors of McWherter Library until June 15. For more information, please visit the Libraries’ online research guide.