Greetings from the Dean

On behalf of the staff of Raynor Memorial Libraries, I want to welcome all of you to a new year at Marquette University. I especially want to reach out to those who are new to the university, whether you are new to the student body, faculty, or staff at Marquette. As you will read elsewhere in this newsletter, this is an exciting season for the Libraries—celebrating The Hobbit's anniversary, hosting events in the Freedom Project, and welcoming four new librarians to our staff. If you are new to campus, we hope that you will find that the qualities that are Marquette are reflected in our mission, services, and resources that support the academic experience in teaching, learning, and scholarship.

Our statistics only tell part of the story, but they reflect the synergy that we believe is crucial to learning outside of the classroom. Almost 76,000 items were checked out last year by the Marquette community, plus an additional 75,000 class reserves. More than 19,000 questions were answered by staff at the Information Desk.• More than 16,000 users accessed materials in our special collections and archives. More than 5,600 people—mostly students—attended 316 instruction and orientation sessions presented by librarians. Five hundred and fifty individual research consultations were conducted by librarians. More...

NEW STAFF APPOINTMENTS/RETIREMENT

Four new librarian appointments have been announced recently. Congratulations go to Heather James, who began July 1 in Research and Instructional Services; Heather has responsibilities in instruction and serves as the Libraries' liaison to Biology, Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences, and Math-Statistics-Computer Science. Heather previously served as Instruction and Access Services Libraries at the University of Minnesota, Morris. Rose Fortier has been appointed as coordinator of digital programs effective August 20. Rose joins the staff following 7 years at Milwaukee Public Library, most recently as digital projects librarian. Amy Cooper Cary is the new head of archives and special collections effective August 27. Amy most recently served as senior lecturer and director of the archival studies program at the UW-Milwaukee School of Information Studies. Finally, effective Sept. 24 Leatha Miles-Edmonson will begin a two-year residency appointment, an opportunity for new librarians to work in their chosen field. Leatha is a 2011 master's graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and she has worked in the libraries at Bennett College (Greensboro, NC) and Savannah (GA) State University.

Farewell, Susan Hopwood! Susan retires at the end of September following 32 years and several positions in the Marquette University Libraries: director of the Funding Information Center; head of reference in Memorial Library; and most recently, Outreach Librarian. She has served as the library liaison for women's studies, journalism, advertising and public relations, performing arts, and English.

DIGITAL MEDIA STUDIO

Students, interested in creating a multimedia project? Faculty, considering assigning a multimedia project? Look no further than the Digital Media Studio. Located on the first floor of Raynor Library, the Digital Media Studio provides the tools and resources to help students create a custom soundtrack, edit videos, publish podcasts, develop animations and graphics and make presentations come to life! In addition, iPads, digital cameras, audio recorders, and video cameras are available for check out. Ten additional HD digital video cameras have been added to the collection since last semester, bringing the total amount of HD cameras for checkout to twenty. Six iMac computers have been relocated to the Digital Media Studio area; these machines include the latest Lion OS software, enabling students to create multimedia projects. This brings the total number of iMacs in the DMS area to ten. Eight new Macbook Pro notebooks are available for checkout from the Information Desk in addition to PC laptops. The Digital Media Studio can be reserved for two-hour blocks by stopping in at the Raynor Information Desk or by calling 414-288-7556. To set up a one-on-one consultation, or learn More...

Collection News

Since January, the Libraries have added more than forty online databases/e-collections. Highlights include: Foreign Broadcast Information Service, the United States' principal record of political and historical open source intelligence containing daily reports from 1941-1996 and Annexes from 1974-1996; Nineteenth Century Collections Online, a multi-year global digitization and publishing program focusing on primary source collections from that century; Making of the Modern World, which tracks the development of the modern, western world and features primary sources in the areas of history, political science, social conditions, technology/industry, economics, area studies and more; finally, Los Angeles Times 1881-1988, offers full-text historical issues of this major news publication. The Libraries also acquired Popular Literature in Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Britain, a microfilm collection comprised of almost 200 reels: more than 1,500 rare chapbooks, bloods, penny dreadfuls, and early comics. This collection should be especially valuable to our English graduate students and dissertators. More...

DITTMAN 2012 WINNERS

The Libraries' newest READ poster features this year's winners of the Dittman Library Research Competition: Katie Sass (Freshman/Sophomore), Anne Richmond (Junior/Senior), and Kathryn Jackan (Graduate/Professional). More...

QUIET STUDY SPACES

Looking for a quiet place to read and work? To respond to student requests for quiet spaces, new signs have been posted in Memorial Library locations: 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors. Look for these signs and please, show courtesy for those around you. Also a reminder for those who wish to work with a group, the south side of Raynor's 2nd floor is designated for collaborative work, plus Raynor has 15 group study rooms, many with video display panels, and several of which may be reserved ahead. More...

 

A new 3-minute video tour of the Libraries is available. Learn about the library and all the services that support academic endeavors. Take the tour here, or use your mobile device to take a self-guided tour next time you stop by the library.

 

Upcoming events

Workshops: September 10 (12 noon), 13 (4:30 p.m.), 18 (12 noon), 19 (4 p.m.) Open to all! No advance registration. Create an account and practice downloading citations to build your bibliography. Times, Location, and More...

Celebrating 75 years of The Hobbit. To mark the anniversary, the Libraries are featuring two speaking events this semester, three open house viewings of original manuscripts, plus an exhibit (below). Full details and More...

View a selection of manuscript originals from the Tolkien collection on Friday afternoons at 2:30--Sept. 21, Oct. 26, and Nov. 16. No registration; walk-ins welcome; presentations will run about 45 minutes. Questions? E-mail William Fliss, interim curator of the Tolkien Collection.

Oct. 3 (Wednesday), 4:30 p.m., Dr. John Rateliff (right), "How The Hobbit Came to Milwaukee." Hear the fascinating story of how the Tolkien manuscripts came to Marquette University, told by an MU alumnus (Grad '90) and foremost expert on Tolkien.

Nov. 8 (Thursday), 4:30 p.m., Dr. Christina Scull and Dr. Wayne Hammond, "J.R.R.Tolkien and the Art of Middle-Earth." Tolkien was a talented artist who illustrated his literary creations, including the original edition of The Hobbit.

Freedom Project Events

Banned Books Week: Sept. 30—Oct. 6, 2012. In conjunction with the university-wide Freedom Project, the Libraries invite you to join them in celebrating the freedom to read and the freedom to access information.

Oct. 4 (Thurs.), 1:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. “Forbidden Film Festival: Four Films Based on Banned Books.” Stop in for just one or all four of these entertaining flicks: Lord of the Flies (1:00 p.m.), Howl (3:00 p.m.), Twilight (5:00 p.m.), and The Hunger Games (7:30 p.m.). Enjoy free popcorn and brief film introductions by library staff members. Location: Raynor Conference Center Beaumier Suites B/C

Oct. 4 (Thurs.) 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. “Live Virtual Read-Out.”  Bring your own banned or challenged book to a 2nd floor Raynor group study room (R215). Video-record yourself reading a short excerpt from your favorite passage and upload the video to You Tube. A MacBook Pro and library staff will be available to assist. Can’t make it to the live event? Stop by our Banned Books Week virtual exhibit where you can upload your own virtual-read out video.

exhibits

"The Hobbit at 75" August 20 through March 8, 2013. An exhibit, located near the Raynor Library turnstiles, has been prepared by the Department of Special Collections to celebrate the publication and film history of J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved 1937 classic, which has been translated into more than 40 languages. The exhibit is accessible for viewing during all library hours.

Banned Books Week exhibit Sept. 24 (Mon.) - Oct. 8 (Mon.) located on the Raynor Bridge entryway. Highlights include: banned classics and the top 10 most frequently challenged books of 2011.

“Defining Freedom at Marquette in the 1960s and 1970s,” exhibit Oct. 15—Jan. 28. In addition to Banned books week and also in conjunction with the Freedom Project, this exhibits will be mounted on the second floor of Raynor Library based on holdings in Special Collections and University Archives.

ATTENTION FACULTY

Just for you—a new subject listing for our popular Research Guides, “Faculty Resources.” Now faculty can easily locate guides of special interest. Among the newest guides is “Links That Last to Readings for Your Courses,” which helps faculty locate durable or persistent links to journal articles for D2L, wikis, and other online listings. The guide also shows how to make online articles accessible from off-campus via the proxy server. Another new guide of interest to faculty, especially those engaged in tenure review, is “Cited Reference Searching and Journal Rankings.” More...

FOUNDATIONS IN WISCONSIN

Raynor Memorial Libraries has released its 2012 Foundations in Wisconsin directory. The 31st edition documents 1,301 foundations responsible for more than $490 million in grants. The unique tool, available in both print and online formats, is designed to help grantseekers as part of the outreach efforts of the Libraries' Funding Information Center. The online database, updated monthly, is accessible free of charge to members of the Marquette community. Questions or requests for an orientation to the Center should be directed to the Funding Information Center at 288-1515 or e-mail librarian Mary Frenn.

TEKAKWITHA CANONIZATION AND MARQUETTE

Marquette University will be represented in several ways at the Oct. 21st canonization of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680), an Algonquin-Mohawk Indian who will be the first Native North American to be canonized by the Catholic Church. Archivist Mark Thiel will be attending the canonization in Rome. Raynor Memorial Libraries' Department of Special Collections has supplied photos for an exhibit about Native Catholics at the Vatican. Native Footsteps Along the Path of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, edited by Christopher Vecsey and Mark Thiel, will be released in October by Marquette University Press. Marquette's Department of Special Collections holds the archives for the Tekakwitha Conference since 1939, including correspondence, meetings, publications, photography, recordings, and financial records. (Photo by Anne Scheuerman, taken at the Shrine of the Jesuit North American Martyrs, near Auriesville, New York)

CONFERENCE CENTER MAKEOVER

The Beaumier Suites (Raynor 060A,B,C) had a facelift this summer! All equipment in the facility has been upgraded and the new projectors and screens meet widescreen digital standards. The microphone system in the three rooms now meets FCC standards. The new podium in 060C now includes a Blu-ray player, and videoconferencing equipment for the center has been upgraded to HD quality. Finally, a team of professionals cleaned the wallcoverings, then artwork was added from university collections. Admire the all-new facility at your next meeting.

 

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Managing Editor Susan Hopwood
Co-Editors William Gagliani & Leslie Quade

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