1. LIBRARY SERVICES: SUPPORTING LEARNING AND TEACHING
As the center of our University’s intellectual community, the Libraries offers a welcoming environment along with our commitment to simple, efficient access to research information in support of learning, teaching, and research for faculty, students, and staff. This is offered through:
Academic assistance
A variety of options are available, including: a one-stop search tool called Find It! (A “Google-like” search option), in-person assistance, calling the research help desk in Bartle Library, or contacting the virtual reference services by text, e-mail, chat or Skype. Also available: online subject guides, time management tools, and tutorials.
Dedicated subject librarians
Subject librarians collaborate with faculty and instructors to support learning and teaching. They design and teach course-specific and general library instructional sessions, as well as offer personal research consultations. Subject librarians also create web tutorials to demonstrate specific resources or to teach research skills.
Scholarly communications
This program facilitates discussion of emerging publication and scholarship models. Libraries’ staff can provide assistance with copyright law and issues, data management plans, open-access publishing information, and compliance with the National Institutes of Health Public Access Policy requirements.
Digital preservation services
The Libraries utilize a state-of-the-art digital preservation system called Rosetta, which enables faculty, students, and researchers to preserve and provide access to digital collections and research data. Items in Rosetta can be searched via Find It! ■
More at: Binghamton University Libraries
2. NEW STUDY SPACES
South Reading Room (2nd Floor of Bartle) and Science Library (SL) Group Study, with the latter project made possible thanks to donor support to the Binghamton Fund.
More at: Study Spaces
3. ONLINE GROUP STUDY RESERVATION SYSTEM
There was surprisingly little need to promote this new service, which became popular simply through word of mouth!
More at: Group Study Reservation System
4. 2014 EXHIBITS
Showcases included:
- Inspired by Nature: literary selections and alumni photography
- King of Slapstick: the comedy of Mark Sennett
- A View into Residence Hall Life at Binghamton University: a glimpse back in time
- The Art Within Science: explores the integral role of one subject with the other
More at: Exhibits
5. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES
Highlights of events and activities included:
- The Tilly Losch collection and the exploration of her link to the PBS series “Downton Abbey”
- Vera Beaudin Saeedpour collection, displaying more than 3,000 Kurdish books, journals, costumes, and other items
- Prop support from our collections for use in the new public relations TV spot, promoting our University
- Development of an “Occasional Series,” including discussions and talks in the Huppe Room
More at: Special Collections
6. LIBRARIES’ EVENTS
Welcome Weekend: Incoming students enjoyed a fun and informative introduction to the Libraries staff and services. This 2014 event also marked the first official Libraries’ visit from our beloved mascot, Baxter!
Scholarly Resources Orientation: Focusing on the research needs of graduate students, subject librarians provided an overview of library resources and services.
Halloween Story Time: Librarians infuse campus preschoolers with the joy of reading!
What is a Picaresque Novel? A student poster presentation in Bartle Library was offered by the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures.
FYI: The picaresque genre is a series of novels that narrate the fictional adventures of a roguish hero of low social class in first person. This style had a great influence on the Miguel de Cervantes masterpiece, Don Quixote.
De-Stress December: In support of the agenda organized by the Dean of Students office, the Libraries offered hardworking students some well-deserved respite from, ironically…books! Aside from snacks, activities included chair massages, yoga, and some welcome therapy dog interaction.
7. NEW STEM TUTORIALS
Three science subject librarians, and a dedicated graduate student, collaborated closely with course instructors to create three new online tutorials for the University’s new Freshman Research Immersion (FRI) program. The new programs join an existing library of eight tutorials and address the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The tutorials also serve as an instructional guide for students in the navigation of available library research resources.
Five librarians have begun work on tutorials for the fall 2015 FRI program. These will focus on biomedical biochemistry, molecular and biomedical anthropology, image and acoustic signal analysis, biogeochemistry and biomedical engineering.
8. ANNUAL BOOK SALE
Not only one of our most successful financial endeavors of the year, one of the most enjoyed by members of both the campus and greater community!
9. DONATION FROM THE CLASS OF 2014
Represented by members of the Senior Class Council, the Class of 2014 generously donated a map of the world to the University Libraries. This gift commemorates the students’ time on campus, as well as their intent of making a mark on the greater world they are about to enter. The map is also symbolic of the University’s dedication to global learning, teaching, and diversity. The map is displayed on the second floor landing of Bartle Library.
10. RESIDENCE HALL OUTREACH PROGRAM: STRENGTHENING STUDENTS’ RESEARCH SKILLS
Students are sometimes weak in essential research skills and knowledge of library services. To address this, two Faculty librarians organized a new program to provide library outreach to the University residential communities. The program is conducted in a comfortable, low-pressure setting and has been well-received, with an attendance average of 15 students per 15-20 minute presentation.
11. STUDENT WORKERS VITAL TO OPERATIONS
The value of their contributions cannot be overstated, but just how many student employees help keep the Libraries running? That number and the proportion of student workers to other employees may surprise you! (Thank you to our Student Employees!)
12. CONGRATULATIONS TO LIBRARIES’ FACULTY MEMBER, JULIE WANG!
Julie is the winner of the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Librarianship, an award recognizing consistently superior professional achievement in the field of librarianship.
13. ENHANCED COMMUNICATIONS
A decision was made to enhance the focus on Libraries’ events, activities, and accomplishments through the addition of a dedication communications position. In addition to an increase in communications via Dateline, B-Line, social media, Parent Connects (Dean of Students publication), other highlights from this initiative include:
- The publication of an annual News Magazine,“Inside the Libraries.” More at: Inside the Libraries
- Collaboration with University’s Communication & Marketing Department on a blog piece: 20 Things You Might Not Know About Bartle Library. More at: 20 Things You Might Not Know About Bartle Library
- Consistent participation on a variety of committees that are dedicated to the promotion of events and activities. This frequent interaction helps builds awareness, and relationships, with other communications professionals throughout campus.
14. SEARCH UNDERWAY FOR NEW DEAN OF LIBRARIES
Susannah Gal
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Donald Nieman has convened a committee to lead the search for a new dean of libraries. Susannah Gal, professor of biological sciences, has been serving as interim dean since June. It is expected that a permanent appointment will be announced in April 2015.
More at: Inside
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” —Helen Keller
Best wishes from the Libraries for a healthy and prosperous 2015!
More at: Binghamton University Libraries
