Launch of Digital Public Library of America brings greater access to local treasures

The Nicollet County Historical Society in south central Minnesota sits on the site of the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux, signed between the United States and the Dakota nation in 1851. Eleven years later, following several treaty violations by the U.S. government, war broke out in the region, which resulted in the execution of 38 Dakota - to this day the largest mass execution in American history.

St. Peter, Minnesota - a mile down the road from the treaty site - might have been the capital of Minnesota, if not for the trickery of Joe Rolette, a legislator from Pembina. In 1857, the Minnesota territorial legislature passed a law to move the capital from St. Paul to St. Peter. But Rolette - with the bill in his possession - disappeared long enough to ensure that the governor could not sign the law before the end of the legislative session.

This place is truly historic. And that history will now become much easier for the public across the nation and the world to learn about and access thanks to the recent launch of the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA).

Digital Public Library of America aggregates millions of digital artifacts

The DPLA is a groundbreaking project that, for the first time, will make many of our nation's significant digital collections searchable and accessible to the public from a single site. It will aggregate millions of digital artifacts from local archives, libraries, museums, and cultural heritage institutions across America and deliver them to students, teachers, scholars, and the public via a powerful search interface.

Continue reading "American history at your fingertips " »

Posted by Mark Engebretson at 3:24 PM | Permalink

The 10th Annual Science Quiz Bowl is April 14

More than 100 students will be sweating it out this Sunday to come up with the right answer to such questions as "What do you call the spherical molecule with 60 carbon atoms?"

One of those students will be Scott Miller, a senior at the University of Minnesota College of Science & Engineering. It will be Miller's third year as a participant in the Science Quiz Bowl, an annual event sponsored by the University of Minnesota Libraries for students at the College of Science & Engineering. But Miller sees it as more than a "nerd food fight" with questions limited to quarks and the periodic table.

"I've witnessed teams being appraised of their knowledge from 50 Cent to the human tooth to the Legend of Zelda," said Miller, whose team won the competition in 2011. "Yes, this is Science Quiz Bowl, but we dorks know how to have a fun competition."

Championship round is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The 10th Annual Science Quiz Bowl takes place Sunday, April 14, from 1 to 8 p.m., at Walter Library and kicks off CSE Week, a week of events organized by science and engineering students. The tournament features 32 teams - four students per team, undergraduates and grad students - who compete for fun, prizes, and the coveted 1st place championship. The championship round is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Room 101.

"The Science Quiz Bowl is unique because it's a fun extracurricular activity that still focuses on the essence of CSE students, letting them show how smart they are and how much they know," said Kristine Fowler, Mathematics Librarian and Interim Director, Physical Sciences & Engineering Library. "We love being part of CSE Week."

"It's a great event. It definitely brought out a sense of community," recalled Ryan Peterson, who captained the first championship team in 2004 as a junior with his brother, Grant Peterson, and two friends, Kevin Schmitz and Adam Jungkunz. "People in science and engineering wanted to show off their knowledge and it really struck a chord."

Event builds community among CSE students

Peterson graduated from CSE, but not before winning the Science Quiz Bowl again in 2005. He went on to the University of Minnesota Medical School, earning his M.D. He's now psychiatry resident at Boston University.

The Science Quiz Bowl experience, he said, was a highlight of his years at Minnesota. "I thought it was one of the most successful events of my college career," he said.

Though having fun and building community are key elements of the event, Miller nevertheless compares the intensity of the contest to playing 10 consecutive games of Jeopardy. "These teams pour the insides of their craniums into the event."

"Given the Libraries' role in the campus's intellectual life, hosting an event that celebrates knowledge is a perfect fit," Fowler said. "It's part of the Libraries' outreach to provide positive student experiences, and they obviously enjoy playing in the tournament, which is why it's grown so much over the years."

Posted by Mark Engebretson at 8:56 AM | Permalink

And celebrates 50 years of the Guthrie Theater

Now is your chance, thanks to the thoughtful stewardship of the Performing Arts Archives at the University of Minnesota Libraries. The Libraries is hosting "Behind the Scenes: Twin Cities Performing Arts and 50 years of the Guthrie Theater" April 1 through June 28, 2013. Visitors to this exhibit will get a backstage look at the Twin Cities performing arts community, said Cecily Marcus, Curator, Performing Arts Archives, University of Minnesota Libraries.

She said that the exhibit demonstrates how much energy goes into "hiding the gears, logistics, and stagehands" as in showing audiences a well-set world, wondrously brought to life by actors, dancers, and musicians.

Take a peek behind the curtain

50 years of the Guthrie

As the theater world commemorates 50 years of the Guthrie Theater, this exhibit offers the public a tremendous opportunity to pore through the extensive Guthrie Archives, which have been housed at the University of Minnesota since 1967. Marcus said that the archives offer a beautiful legacy, one still being built with each season of plays and programming.

The exhibit explores much more than the Guthrie, however, offering materials from the collections of the Minnesota Orchestra, the James Sewell Ballet, Theatre de Jeune Lune, the St. Paul Philharmonic, the Minnesota Dance Alliance, the Penumbra Theatre, and the personal papers of composers.

"With the close of every season and each production, sets are struck and works of art are dismantled, but there are traces left to be preserved, studied, and displayed," Marcus said. "The Performing Arts Archives sustains these stories, many more than ever graced our stages."

Many local performing arts leaders contributed to this exhibit through commentary. They include: Philip Brunelle, Leah Cooper, Jon R. Cranney, Joe Dowling, Barbara Field, Nancy Mason Hauser, Michael Lupu, Emily Mann, Jack Reuler, and Sally Wingert.

"Behind the Scenes: Twin Cities Performing Arts and 50 Years of the Guthrie Theater" celebrates the work, and the enduring magic, of our extraordinary performing arts community, on and off the stage.

Posted by Mark Engebretson at 1:49 PM | Permalink

The association used these in education messages, along with research, undercover investigations, and civic action in an effort to eradicate prostitution and human trafficking, while promoting the prevention and proper treatment of STDs.

"One of the things that the American Social Health Association believed in strongly was bringing prostitution, human trafficking, and STDs to light," said Linnea Anderson, a curator with the Social Welfare and History Archives at the University of Minnesota Libraries. "They believed that if you swept it under the rug, kept it secret, that it allowed them to flourish. It's one of the reasons we selected the cartoon, 'If we can get the beast out of his lair...' for the theme of the exhibit."

Today, these terms are outdated, humorous, even offensive. But, in some respects, that makes for a great teaching tool.

"We use this collection to teach classes to graduate students and undergraduates," Anderson said. "And when the student reacts strongly to a document - they think it's hysterical, they think it's ridiculous, they think it's outrageous, or it makes them angry, or it makes them laugh - that's the moment when you're really experiencing the difference between the past and the present."

"It's really a great history lesson when it comes to sexual health," said Darren Terpstra, the exhibit designer. "You're able to see how this all started and where we've come today, because it's very relevant today. But what you get to see is not only how far we've come, but how we actually haven't come very far at all, in some respects."

Continue reading "Exhibit looks at the quirkiness of historical sexual health campaigns" »

Posted by Mark Engebretson at 2:19 PM | Permalink

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (Nov. 26, 2012) -- The Minnesota Digital Library, a state-wide collaboration consisting of Minitex, the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota Historical Society, and other key institutions, was chosen to be a key early contributor to the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA). The groundbreaking project aims to make our nation's collections of significance to the study of American life digital, searchable, and accessible to the public.

With $2.8 million in funding, the DPLA will launch pilot projects in several states. Minnesota and state libraries and regional digital library collaboratives in Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Oregon, South Carolina, and Utah will participate as "service" hubs in the pilot effort.

Continue reading "Minnesota chosen for national digital library project" »

Posted by Mark Engebretson at 8:43 AM | Permalink

The Land Grant Agricultural College Act — known as the Morrill Act and signed by President Lincoln in 1862 — set aside public lands, the sale of which were used to fund public colleges to "promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes."

"The Morrill Act came at a time when the University [of Minnesota] was in dire straits," said University Archivist Erik Moore, co-curator of the exhibit, "For the Common Good," now on display at the U's Elmer L. Andersen Library. "The University had closed after a short opening as a preparatory department."

Moore added that the University was hit hard by the 1857 financial panic and was in debt after the construction of its first building, then called the Main Building.

Morrill Act, Legislature helped save the U

Soon, however, the Morrill Act, coupled with action by the Minnesota Legislature, helped save the University.

"The state Legislature, in 1864, brought together a three-member Board of Regents," said Assistant Archivist Erin George, co-curator of the exhibit. "And their task was to get the University out of its deep indebtedness."

Led by John Sargent Pillsbury, the Board completed its work, and the University, by the late 1860s, prepared to re-open, with the land-grant mission prominent in its plans. By 1869, the University's first president, William Watts Folwell, had been hired, the preparatory department was re-opened, and plans were underway to open University colleges with those in agriculture and mechanic arts garnering special attention along with instruction in military tactics.

This early and turbulent time is documented in the exhibit, "For the Common Good." The exhibit is based on material from the collections of the University of Minnesota Archives, and it examines the ongoing question: How has the University sought to fulfill its role as a "land grant" university.

More information

"For the Common Good" is on display at the Andersen Library's Atrium Gallery through Nov. 30, 2012. For more information, contact the University of Minnesota Archives at 612-624-0562.

View a map of Andersen location

U of M Archives and Special Collections

Posted by Mark Engebretson at 10:45 AM | Permalink

Wendy Pradt Lougee, University Librarian and McKnight Presidential Professor at the University of Minnesota, began a one-year term as president of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) on Oct. 11, during the ARL Membership Meeting in Washington, D.C.

The University of Minnesota Libraries system encompasses 14 libraries on the Twin Cities campus, historically rich collections, and nationally recognized model programs in technology development, information literacy, and new models for scholarly communication.

Lougee succeeds Winston Tabb, Sheridan Dean of University Libraries and Museums, Johns Hopkins University. Tabb continues to serve as a member of both the ARL Board of Directors and the ARL Executive Committee as Past President.

Also on Oct. 11, the ARL membership ratified the Board's election of Carol Pitts Diedrichs, Director of University Libraries, Ohio State University, as ARL Vice President/President-Elect.

Three new Board members were elected by the membership to serve three-year terms: Larry Alford, Chief Librarian, University of Toronto; Thomas Hickerson, Vice Provost and University Librarian, University of Calgary; and Olivia M. A. Madison, Professor and Dean of the Library, Iowa State University. And one new Board member was elected to serve a two-year term: Connie Vinita Dowell, Dean of Libraries, Vanderbilt University.

Continuing elected members of the Board are: Deborah A. Carver, Philip H. Knight Dean of Libraries, University of Oregon; Ernie Ingles, Vice-Provost, University of Alberta; Anne R. Kenney, Carl A. Kroch University Librarian, Cornell University; Judith C. Russell, Dean of University Libraries, University of Florida; and Jay Schafer, Director of Libraries, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Also serving on the Board in ex officio capacities are: Carton Rogers, Vice Provost and Director of Libraries, University of Pennsylvania; James F. Williams II, Dean of Libraries University of Colorado Boulder; and Charles B. Lowry, Executive Director, ARL.

The Board is the governing body of the Association and represents the interests of ARL member libraries in directing the business of the Association, including establishing operating policies, budgets, and fiscal control; modifying the ARL mission and objectives; and representing ARL to the community.

• More about Lougee


• View a photo roster of the ARL Board of Directors

Posted by Mark Engebretson at 1:34 PM | Permalink

The new Natural Resources Library, which opened in June, celebrated Oct. 10 with a grand opening event. The new librarysaves $130,000 annually in operating costs through consolidating collections in the former Forestry and Entomology, Fisheries, and Wildlife libraries.

The project also responded to changes in how scholars use library resources by tapping digital technologies to enhance the on-site collection and through the popular Get It delivery system. The Natural Resources Library, located in Hodson Hall on the St. Paul campus, also better supports interdisciplinary efforts and meets the demand for more study space on campus through the re-use of the former Forestry Library.

New library a hit with students

"It fits in well with my program," said Gretchen Wilbrandt, a Ph.D. student in the entomology program. "It has all of the necessary resources, as well as inter-library loan to get everything I need."

"The staff are really helpful," said Hannah Specht, a graduate student in the fisheries, wildlife, and conservation biology program. Specht said she often checks out master's and Ph.D. theses related to her area of study. "I'm in this library a few times a week. I really enjoy having big windows to work next to."

Budget cuts and changes in library use prompted consolidation

Philip Herold, the research and learning director for agricultural, biological, and environmental sciences at the University of Minnesota, said that the new library represents a consolidation of the Forestry Library and the Entomology, Fisheries, and Wildlife Library.

"One of the main drivers was budgetary," Herold said. "We looked at different areas where we could make reductions. [And] the nature of the use of the library was changing over time. Fewer people were coming in to use the collections. And many of the collections were being made available electronically."

The new Natural Resources Library houses high-use materials from the Forestry and Entomology, Fisheries, and Wildlife collections. Low-use print materials (many of which are available electronically) were transferred to the Magrath Library or other Libraries' facilities. Students and faculty will continue to have access to the same breadth and depth of content as before, either by visiting Magrath Library or using the Get It delivery service.

Herold said that he believes the new library is generating increased use.

"I guess the general word on the street is that it's a nice place to come and to work and to study."

More about the Natural Resources Library

About Operational Excellence
Colleges, departments, and units around the University are working to reduce costs while enhancing services as part of the U's commitment to Operational Excellence.

Learn more and contribute your ideas at Excellence.umn.edu

Posted by Mark Engebretson at 8:36 AM | Permalink

Founded in 1851, the University of Minnesota was forced to close a few years later, hit hard by the financial panic of 1857 and saddled with debt after constructing its first building.

It reopened in 1867, after passage of the Land Grant Agricultural College Act, which was signed into law by President Lincoln in 1862.

That bit of history and much more related to the University's role as a land grant institution were discussed Oct. 5 by University archivists Erik Moore and Erin George at "First Fridays." The monthly event, held at Elmer L. Andersen Library, highlights exhibits and special collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries.

The topic that Moore and George discussed is also part of a current exhibit, "For the Common Good," which is on display at the Andersen Library's Atrium Gallery through Nov. 30.

Also called the Morrill Act, the Land Grant legislation set aside public lands, the sale of which were used to fund public colleges to "promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes."

The bill provided much needed financial support for the University of Minnesota, then a fledgling and struggling institution.

The exhibit runs through Nov. 30. For more information, contact the University of Minnesota Archives at 612-624-0562.

Posted by Mark Engebretson at 4:25 PM | Permalink

The University of Minnesota Libraries celebrated the anniversary of Dr. Irvin Kerlan's 100th birthday on Sept. 18, 2012, by hosting a reception and welcoming friends to tour the Kerlan Collection of children's books in the Andersen Library.

At the Sept. 18 celebration, noted Minnesota children's book author/illustrator Nancy Carlson spoke, as did Jean Stevenson, assistant professor and elementary education program director at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Carlson is a Kerlan Award winner.

Also attending was Lisa Von Drasek, the new Kerlan Collection curator, who begins her duties on Nov. 1.

The Kerlan exhibit continues through Sept. 26 at the Elmer L. Andersen Library

Posted by Mark Engebretson at 10:58 AM | Permalink

What: The Play Within a Play: Saving the Story of Your Theater's Productions
When: Thursday-Friday, September 20-21, 2012
Where: Elmer L. Andersen Library, University of Minnesota

Minneapolis/St. Paul (9/13/2012) Representatives from 34 local and national theater companies will convene at the University of Minnesota Sept. 20-21 to explore the value, impact and practice of artistic preservation. This is the second such forum that looks at enhancing current archival practices in theaters, with a special focus on theaters of color.

Read more about this initiative on Minnesota Public Radio.

Continue reading "U of M Libraries convenes national discussion on theater archives" »

Posted by Mark Engebretson at 9:37 AM | Permalink

Exhibit marks the 150th anniversary of the Land Grant Agricultural College Act

The University of Minnesota Libraries' Eric Moore told MinnPost that the 1862 act, also known as the Morrill Act, helped the University of Minnesota survive.

"The university was closed, it was deeply in debt, and its one building was only partially completed," Moore told MinnPost. "The act was a lifeline that helped the university survive those difficult times."

Read more in MinnPost

"For the Common Good" is on display at the Elmer L. Andersen Library's Atrium Gallery through Nov. 30. For more information, contact the University of Minnesota Archives at (612) 624-0562.

Posted by Mark Engebretson at 8:42 AM | Permalink

Here are a few things to get the semester started right:

1.) Check out our Top Tips for New Students(with QR codes)

2.) Check the Libraries for your textbooks and course readings

3.) Find us on Facebook:

• Friends of the University of Minnesota Libraries
  
• Walter Library on East Bank
  
• Magrath Library in St. Paul
  
• Bio-Medical Library on East Bank
  
• James Ford Bell Library in Wilson Library on West Bank
  
• Mathematics Library on East Bank
  
• YMCA Archives on West Bank
  

OR

Twitter:

• umnlib
  
• UGrad Libraries
  

Posted by katep at 7:40 PM | Permalink

University Libraries can assist instructors in providing ebooks, online articles, streaming videos, images, primary sources, tutorials, and other course materials to students online and/or in the libraries.

All materials are accessible from Moodle, via the Library Course Pages on the Libraries homepage, and through the "My Courses" tab in myU.

In addition to course reserves, the Library Course Pages bring together academic research tools tailored to an instructor's course.

We offer a variety of support for instructors including:

• Arrange for a customized library workshop designed with your particular assignment or course in mind.


• Subject librarians can customize a web page of library resources to support an assignment, course or program.


• Engage your students with our Archives and Special Collections. You can arrange a customized presentation, based on your course topics and on original primary sources (artifacts, letters, images, personal papers, etc.),


• We can help with integrating media into your course including reserving a video or consultant on assignment or projects and support students in creating media such as videos (equipment check out, production software, etc.)

For more information, see instructor support or contact your departmental or subject librarian.

Posted by katep at 12:44 PM | Permalink

Nineteenth Century Collections Online provides searchable content from a wide range of primary sources for the "long" 19th century.

Give it a try (select "N" under "Databases by Title" on the Articles and Databases tab on the homepage) or go directly to https://www.lib.umn.edu/indexes/moreinfo?id=18326

Nineteenth Century Collections Online unites multiple, distinct archives into a single resource a wide variety of previously unavailable primary sources, including:

• Books and monographs
  
• Newspapers and periodicals
  
• Diaries and Personal Letters
  
• Manuscripts
  
• Photographs
  
• Pamphlets
  
• Maps and more
  

Archives now available (collection will grow over time):

1.) British Politics and Society includes tens of thousands of primary sources related to the political climate in Great Britain during the "long" nineteenth century.

2.) European Literature, 1790-1840: The Corvey Collection includes full-text of more than 9,500 English, French and German titles. The collection is sourced from the remarkable library of Victor Amadeus, whose Castle Corvey collection was one of the most spectacular discoveries of the late 1970s. The Corvey Collection comprises one of the most important collections of Romantic era writing in existence anywhere - including fiction, short prose, dramatic works, poetry and more - with a focus on especially difficult-to-find works by lesser-known, historically neglected writers.

3.) Asia and the West: Diplomacy and Cultural Exchange will enable students and scholars to examine a selection of records that constitute a political and social history of Western interaction with a number of Asian countries during the nineteenth century. Most of the manuscript collections in this archive consist of the British Foreign Office and United States consular and diplomatic records.
Sample of materials:

• Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Padang, Sumatra, Netherlands East Indies, 1853-1898
  
• Records Relating to the United States Surveying Expedition to the North Pacific Ocean, 1852-1863.
  
• Notes from the Chinese Legation in the United States to the Department of State, 1868-1906
  
• Despatches from U.S. Ministers to Korea, 1883-1905
  
• Despatches from US Consuls in Antung, Manchuria, China, 1904-1906
  
• British Foreign Office: Japan Correspondence, 1914-1923: Emergence of Japan as a Pacific Power
  
• Missionary and Socio-Economic Journals
  

4.) British Theatre, Music, and Literature: High and Popular Culture features a wide range of primary sources related to the arts in the Victorian era, from playbills and scripts to operas and complete scores. Sample of materials:

• Archives of the Royal Literary Fund
  
• Drury Lane under Sheridan, 1776-1812: Manuscript Plays and Correspondence
  
• English Stage after the Restoration, 1733-1822
  
• Popular Literature in 18th and 19th Century Britain, Parts Three-Ten: The Barry Ono Collection of Bloods and Penny Dreadfuls
  
• Popular Literature in 18th and 19th Century Britain, Part Two: The Sabine Baring-Gould and Thomas Crampton Collections
  

Additional Features:

Textual Analysis Tools
Identify and visualize patterns, trends and relationships with these unique tools that allow users to explore the content in completely original ways. In addition to providing new avenues for searching, underlying data and text is exportable for further analysis.

Zotero Compatible (zotero.org)
Nineteenth Century Collections Online is optimized for use with this very popular and robust browser-base bibliography tool.

Posted by katep at 8:28 AM | Permalink

Using a source in an unusual way can be the spark or inspiration for your next great research paper. The Libraries now have access to the Vogue Archive with every story, every dress, every advertisement from 1892 to today.

Vogue magazine? I am not a Design student, so how can I use that in a paper? There are many ways to use an extensive archive like Vogue. A few ideas:

• Interpret the style of a given decade or time period


• Analyze the advertisements from a specific time period like 1920


• Discuss the effect of events like the Great Depression or World War II on mainstream media


• Examine gender stereotypes


• Analyze the style of specific journalists


• Compare and contrast designers


• Critique a marketing campaign for a given product


• Discuss the changes of race in stories or ads


• Assess the effectiveness of public health campaigns

Give it a try today!

Posted by Marlo Welshons at 11:31 AM | Permalink

Calling faculty, scholars, instructors and students....

We have now have access to the Paley Center for Media, iCollection! The iCollection provides access to over 18,000 digitized, streaming television and radio programs and commercials curated from the Paley Center's archive of over 140,000 titles spanning several decades to present.

Explore the Paley iCollection here: https://www.lib.umn.edu/indexes/moreinfo?id=18316

"The collection has been curated to capture the most artistically and culturally significant examples in each program genre, including news, public affairs, documentaries, performing arts, children's programming, sports, comedy and variety shows, and commercial advertising."

• Includes material from over 70 countries
  
• Spanning almost 100 years
  
• Documents much of modern life, capturing many of the world's leaders, artists, performers, writers, and philosophers, as well as the otherwise fleeting moments that have shaped society and history.
  
• The collection is articularly compelling source material for the study of twentieth century history and culture
  
• Captures the national dialogue on such subjects as World War II, McCarthyism, immigration, the Cold War, civil rights, the space race, Vietnam, the women's movement, and the environment.
  

Examples include rare cultural gems, such as:

• An in‐depth interview with Dr. Martin Luther King on David Susskind's Open Mind
  
• Jackie Gleason's first Honeymooners sketch for the DuMont series Cavalcade of Stars
  
• Radio coverage of Don Larsen's Perfect game in the 1956 World Series
  
• Humphrey Bogart's television debut in The Petrified Forest
  
• Tapes of American Musical Theatre, a series that provided insight into the creative processes of Broadway greats Stephen Sondheim, Richard Rodgers, and others
  
• Rare radio coverage of the 1935 Lindbergh "Trial of the Century"
  
• The only performance by the Rat Pack caught on film
  
• The landmark 1954 television drama Twelve Angry Men and much more
  

Please contact Scott Spicer (spic0016@umn.edu) with any questions or your subject librarian.

Posted by katep at 11:48 AM | Permalink

Saint Paul native Doris Schechter Kirschner received her first cookbook when she was 17 years old, which sparked a lifelong interest in cooking and recipes. Years later, Kirschner would seek the help of her then-dressmaker and future culinary entrepreneur Leeann Chin to locate hard-to-find ingredients for Chinese dishes.

The 1957 University of Minnesota graduate donated her vast collection of cookbooks, pamphlets, and recipes to the University's Magrath Library in 1985, but now foodies from all over the world can get a glimpse into this special collection, thanks to the new Kirschner Collection blog. One especially poignant post highlights the nearly forty years' worth of Kirschner's menu calendars. About the May 1970 calendar, librarian Megan Kocher writes, "I love the level of activity in this calendar with the arrows pointing all over, the way that May 27th couldn't be contained in one block (looks like there was a party), and that on the 29th 'Jello?' is listed with a question mark and followed by 'Ha.' This is such a fun way to view the life of a family."

Read more at http://blog.lib.umn.edu/mkocher/kirschner/

Posted by Marlo Welshons at 3:58 PM | Permalink

Need more time and space to study as the semester winds down? Select library locations will have extended hours. Details are listed below.

Bio-Med
Where: 2nd floor of the Bio-Medical Library in Diehl Hall
When: Open 24/7 from April 27 until 6:00 p.m. on May 12 (UCard required.)
What's Available: study tables, group study rooms, public computers, wireless for laptops, self-service printer, self-service photocopier, print Reference collection, online chat reference
What's Not Available: circulation, reserve, in-person reference, or IT support
Don't Miss: Stress Buster Station at the 2nd floor tunnel entrance to the library. Wednesday, May 3 & Thursday, May 4:
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Cookies and beverages
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Pet Therapy with Gabe the therapy dog
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Chair Massage

Magrath
Where: Study area adjacent to the main Magrath entrance
When: Extended hours from May 8 through May 12: 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. Monday - Thursday; 7:00 a.m. - midnight Friday; 10:00 a.m. - midnight on Saturday, May 5; and noon - 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 6.
What's Available: study space, group study rooms, wireless for laptops, online chat reference
What's Not Available: circulation, reserve, in-person reference, or IT support

Walter
Where: 2nd floor Great Hall
When: Open 24/7 from May 4 until 6:00 p.m. on May 12
What's Available: study space, online chat reference, the copy machines, and Value Port
What's Not Available: access to collections, services or Library workstations

Wilson
Where: Basement level
When: Open 24/7 from 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 28 through 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 12
What's Available: public computers, self-service printing and copying, microfilm scanners, group study rooms, individual study tables, online chat reference; limited access to collections between midnight and 8:00 a.m.
What's Not Available: circulation, reserve, in-person reference, or IT support

Posted by Marlo Welshons at 9:20 AM | Permalink

Do research on the bus! Do research waiting in line! Do research anywhere, anytime with our new mobile site.

• Search for books, videos, maps, and music, and more using the library catalog


• Find magazine and journal articles using library databases.


• Email citations of the resources you find.


• Browse for article databases that have mobile interfaces.


• Check library building and collection hours.


• Contact librarians by email or phone.


• Look up when your checked out items are due.


• Check availability in library computer labs.

Posted by Marlo Welshons at 1:12 PM | Permalink

Minnesota middle and high school students preparing History Day projects will attend the second annual Gopherbaloo at Wilson Library on Saturday, January 14, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Last year more than 300 students, parents, and teachers came to campus to experience Minnesota's largest research library while studious Gophers are still on break (view the photo album).

Like History Day Hullabaloo events held at Hennepin County Library, students who attend the Wilson Library Gopherbaloo will have access to:

• One-on-one support from University of Minnesota graduate students.


• Mini lessons offered by Minnesota Historical Society program staff and others on various History Day topics.


• Enhanced research support from librarians--staff will help students navigate the the largest collection of print and electronic resources in the state of Minnesota.


• Lessons on using primary sources offered by Government Publications Librarian Kirsten Clark.


• Sample projects so students can learn how to create a winning video, poster, written paper, and more.

Other amenities for young researchers and their families include:

• Inexpensive, convenient parking in the 21st Avenue Ramp;


• Free copies & printing;


• A parent lounge with refreshments; and


• Research fun and raffle drawings!

Learn more about History Day or browse the Libraries' student and teacher resource pages.

This event is sponsored in collaboration with the Minnesota Historical Society, University of Minnesota History Department History Day program, Minitex, and the University of Minnesota Libraries. As with other History Day school visits, Legacy Fund dollars support youth and teacher participation in the Gopherbaloo.

Posted by Marlo Welshons at 8:42 AM | Permalink

We can help with your multimedia projects

Libraries staff are helping instructors develop student media assignments and can support students through project support in the classroom, equipment loans, and professional production support in the Wilson and Walter SMART Learning Commons.

Instructors from electrical engineering to zoology are integrating innovative forms of student-produced media into their teaching. From video and audio podcasts to voice-enhanced Power Points, these projects offer students new ways to engage with the course topics while developing critical skills in effective communication, media production, media literacy, and group collaboration.

For more information, see Library Media Services or email Scott Spicer.

Posted by Marlo Welshons at 11:32 AM | Permalink

It's Open Access Week, and the University of Minnesota Libraries are celebrating! Events and workshops on open publishing and scholarship are happening all over campus this week—check them out, and find other information on Open Access at the University of Minnesota, at z.umn.edu/oaweek.

Your research data are valuable—and issues of access, preservation, and citation of research data are increasingly gaining attention among scholars. Several federal funding agencies, including the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, require researchers to describe how they will share their data. Learn more about funding agency guidelines.

Making your data open access is one way to manage and share your data! Sharing data can:

• further research and discovery in new ways (e.g., interdisciplinary research),
• increase the impact of your work (e.g., more citations),
• and, if shared in data repositories, preserve and safeguard data for long-term.

Top Ten Ways to Make Your Research Data Open

10. Make data available upon request (e.g., by email).
9. Publish data as a supplement to your journal article in journals that support data supplements.
8. Post data sets to your project web site like the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve.
7. Publish in a data repository for your discipline, e.g. arXiv, ICPSR and others.
6. Publish in the University's Digital Conservancy like the Department of Aerospace Engineering & Mechanics.
5. Ensure the openness of your shared data with a Creative Commons Zero license.
4. Use proper citation techniques for the data you reference in journal articles.
3. Don't limit data sets to short-term, proprietary formats like Microsoft Excel: Learn more about file formats for long-term access.
2. For private data, use anonymization techniques before sharing.
1. Manage your data throughout the research process.

Open Access Week October 24-30, 2011
http://www.openaccessweek.org/

Our Open Access Week events are free and open to the public. Visit our Events Blog for listings.

Posted by Marlo Welshons at 2:42 PM | Permalink

Whatever your needs, we have a study space for you

Although some students come to the Libraries to catch a nap between classes, most rely us to work on a group project, study for a midterm, write a research paper, work on a problem set, or one of the other thousand things on busy students' to-do lists. The University Libraries, with 14 buildings spread across the East Bank, West Bank, and St. Paul campuses, are a great place to find the study space you need, including:

• Deep quiet study areas


• Coffee shops in Walter Library (basement) and Wilson Library (basement)


• Group study rooms with whiteboards


• Wireless access, printers, and more


• Media Viewing Room in Walter Library


• SMART Learning Commons in Walter, Wilson and Magrath


• and much more

Find out more:

University Libraries: http://www.lib.umn.edu/instruction/studentsupport/studyspaces
Office of Classroom Management study spaces: http://www.classroom.umn.edu/studySpace/FindStudySpace.html

Posted by Marlo Welshons at 3:56 PM | Permalink

This month, eleven area high school sophomores and juniors will be participating in the Summer History Immersion Program, an in-depth historical research and college immersion experience at the University of Minnesota. The students are delving into the history of the YMCA, whose archives are housed in Andersen Library.

At the conclusion of the two week program, the young scholars will present posters based on their original research at a showcase scheduled for Monday, June 27, 2011 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in 120 Andersen Library.

Modeled after National History Day, the program aims to cultivate an interest in history by engaging students in college-level work while also introducing them to life on a university campus. Along with the Minnesota Historical Society and the University Libraries' Archives and Special Collections unit, staff at Wilson Library, Minitex, the Immigration History Research Center, the University YMCA, One Stop, are contributing to the project for its pilot year.

Posted by Marlo Welshons at 4:30 PM | Permalink

The history of what was once the University Gallery and is now the internationally known, Frank Gehry-designed Weisman Art Museum; the papers of renowned plant pathologist and humanitarian Norman Borlaug; archival materials documenting the history of agriculture in Minnesota; the development of health sciences education and research at the University of Minnesota. Researchers interested in these topics will soon have improved access to primary sources thanks to a flurry of projects in University Archives this past year.

Since October 2010, the Weisman Art Museum has been closed to the public while a $14 million expansion is completed. In the meantime, another construction project has been underway: "The WAM Files" blog highlights the treasures uncovered as the Weisman Archives are being processed by two graduate student interns.

"Five students were hit by autos, six were bitten by squirrels on campus last year" are two highlights from a 1971 report from the Students' Health Service, one of thousands of items digitized for the Academic Health Center History Project.

The "Planting the Seeds of the Green Revolution" project aims to digitize fifty-eight boxes of material including those donated by Borlaug, who won the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for his development of the high-yield, disease-resistant wheat credited with saving billions of people from starvation. "Harvesting Minnesota's Agricultural History" will create online finding aids to help researchers locate and access the previously unprocessed agricultural collections held by University Archives from 1871 to the present.

Learn more about each project on the University Archives website.

Posted by Marlo Welshons at 11:20 AM | Permalink

The Andersen Horticultural Library collection is a rich resource for everyone from the weekend gardener planning a perennial border to the professional horticulturist. Its vast collection of nearly 20,000 books and 300 subscriptions to magazines, newsletters, and scientific journals provides information and inspiration--from the literature of horticulture, botany, landscape architecture, and local natural history to children's books and specialized horticultural research.

Tucked within the grounds of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, a visit to the Library is an experience all its own. The high ceilings, large bay windows, and wood paneled walls of Minnesota architect Edwin Lundie's design provide a fitting surrounding for the custom-built furnishings of renowned American woodworker George Nakashima--making it an inviting and comfortable retreat for reading, reflection, and research.

Learn more and plan your visit at www.arboretum.umn.edu/library.aspx.

Posted by Marlo Welshons at 3:53 PM | Permalink

Online all the time from school, home, work, or at your library!

Did you know that any Minnesota resident can get 24/7 online access to thousands of magazines, journals, newspapers, and e-books on a vast array of topics with just their public library card?

The Electronic Library of Minnesota (ELM) is a virtual library administered by Minitex, an information and resource sharing program of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) and the University of Minnesota Libraries.

ELM is funded by the state legislature through the OHE and the Minnesota Department of Education. The investment is well worth it: the estimated cost for all Minnesota public, K-12, and higher education libraries to individually subscribe to the resources contained in ELM is over $75 million. The cost for Minitex to license ELM resources for statewide access? Just over $2 million.

This makes ELM heavily relied on by many public and academic librarians across the state, who use ELM to provide their patrons with resources most local libraries and schools cannot afford on their own. And use it they do. The 17.7 million ELM searches in fiscal year 2010 was a 61% increase since fiscal year 2006.

A recent effort to solicit feedback on how ELM was used across the state generated a 60-page collection of over 200 stories, including one from a high school librarian who said ELM "is like an Emergency Room of knowledge. Without ELM resources, we would struggle mightily to provide accurate, timely and reliable resources for our students." One middle school student even reported that ELM "saved my school career and kept me from detention about 9000 times."

Learn more about ELM and read more stories like these at elm4you.org.

Posted by Marlo Welshons at 4:31 PM | Permalink