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Archbishop Ireland Library, Kudos, News & Events, Theological Libraries Month

Book Spine Poetry Grand Prize Winner!

Ireland Library is pleased to announce “With Roots and Wings” as the Grand Prize Winner of the Theological Libraries Month Book Spine Poetry Contest!  Sean Goossens & Andrea Bettschen teamed together to create the simple and evocative poem.  They will receive a box (30 pieces) of the Queen’s Assortment from Regina’s Chocolates.

The 2013 Winners of Ireland Library's Book Spine Poetry Contest:  Andrea Bettschen and Sean Goossens!  Congrats!

The 2013 Winners of Ireland Library’s Book Spine Poetry Contest: Andrea Bettschen and Sean Goossens! Congrats!

The staff of Ireland Library thanks the following folks who made Theological Libraries Month special:  our Book Spine Poetry contestants, all you who voted for your favorite Book Spine Poetry, all the student staff at Ireland who created sample book spine poetry, and especially Sarah P whose enthusiasm for social media made this contest possible.

Archbishop Ireland Library, News & Events, Theological Libraries Month, Theology

Vote for Staff Book Spine Poetry!

No one sent us any book spine poetry last week.  We are sad, but know you are hitting the books hard*, so it’s okay.  In a couple of weeks we know you’ll be looking for a study break preparing for mid-terms and this will be the perfect little distraction.

In lieu of announcing a winner from last week, we are inviting YOU to judge the book spine poetry that our student staff created last week.   The entries are below.  Vote early and often at our Doodle polling site.

* Or perhaps you are not digitally inclined?  Or maybe you’re on a break from social media?  Good news!  You can still participate in the Book Spine Poetry Contest!  Swing by the library and put together a few books into a winning poetic combination.  Then bring it up to the circulation desk — we’ll take the picture and post it for you!

Archbishop Ireland Library, Kudos, News & Events, Science, Special Collections and Archives

Chemistry Department & Libraries Work Together to Preserve Books

More Books with Spew

We all know that UST Libraries have a wonderful collection of rare and archival materials. Sometimes, however, taking care of so many old books can be a challenge, especially when they are discovered to be growing things they’re not supposed to. Who knew that we had a real-world chemistry problem sitting right here on campus!? 

Books with SpewBooks with SpewWhen Mr Curt Le May, Director of the Archbishop Ireland Memorial Library, approached the Chemistry department for help in identifying white film forming on the surface of leather bound 300-year-old books, Meghan Talbot, chemistry major and a research student under Dr. Marites Guino-o, was glad to help.

Meghan Talbot

Meghan collected the white film/powder by using a spatula and carefully scraping off the residue found on the surface of the leather bound book, “Histoire des variations des églises protestantes.”  Through a combination of three characterization techniques (FTIR, Mass and NMR spectroscopy), she deduced that the white film/powder is a spew (or speu). A spew is a combination of carboxylic acids that originated from the leather itself, and leather dressing used to increase the leather’s preservation and flexibility.

“Being able to work on a project such as this was a great honor. It was a very interesting experience to be able to work with a book that was evidence of a time in which I had learned about in previous history classes. I am glad that the work that I was able to do has the ability to help the library preserve books, such as this one, as they are such a crucial connection to our past.” ~Meghan Talbot

We at the library are grateful to Meghan for helping us find out what the white substance was, so we could find a way to safely remove it and keep these books for future Tommies. Cooperation across the campus can certainly be a great thing!  

Archbishop Ireland Library, Circulation, News & Events

It’s time to get rollin’!

Dear Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity faculty and staff — DueDatesAreComing

UST Libraries are changing the lending policy that governs how long you may borrow items from the circulating collection.  On Monday, July 15, 2013 the fixed end-of-term due date is changing to a rolling due date of 120 days.  We are pleased to make this change that ensures you and your colleagues will always have library materials for at least 4 months before needing to return or renew them.  For more details about the change and its restrictions, please read the footnotes below*. 

If you have any questions or concerns about this change, please contact us at IrelandLibrary@stthomas.edu.

* The library reserves the right to recall library materials when they are needed for course reserves.  If there are no other users waiting for the item, you can renew the item for another 120 days.  The overdue fine and lost book fee structure remains the same.  Overdue fines do not accrue on a daily basis.  Items are considered lost when they are not returned within a month.  A charge of $65 per item is applied to your library account for lost materials.  The library reserves the right to charge a higher fee when the cost to replace an item exceeds $65.  Loans from other collections (CLIC, MTLA, or ILL) have loan lengths of varying lengths; please check your online library account or contact library staff to confirm when your items are due.

Archbishop Ireland Library, Circulation, News & Events

Answer to Grad Student Prayer: Longer Loan Periods

Dear Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity Graduate Students, lay and seminarians —

Have you ever requested the intersession of Saint Jerome, patron saint of libraries, for more time with library materials?  Struggled with the moral dilemma of whether to return library books with maxed out renewals even though you know you cannot check it out right away because someone else is waiting for it … you need it just a little while longer?  Your Master’s thesis is so close to being done!SuccessKid_LongerLoans

The libraries have heard your cries, graduate students.  Your due dates are getting longer! 

Hallelujah!

Starting Monday, July 15, 2013, all graduate students will be able to borrow library books from UST’s circulating collections* for 120 days with an additional 120 day renewal if no other requests are waiting.**

That’s a whopping total of 240 days!  It’s more than double the time of the previous total of 98 days (42 day initial loan + 28 day renewal period + another 28 day renewal period).  Instead of having a book for only one semester, you can have it for two terms!

The overdue fine and lost book fee structure remains the same.  Overdue fines do not accrue on a daily basis.  Items are considered lost when they are note returned within a month.  A charge of $65 per item is applied to your library account for lost materials.  The library reserves the right to charge a higher fee when the cost to replace an item exceeds $65.  

If you have any comments or questions about this change in borrowing policy or how Ireland Library can serve you, please contact us at IrelandLibrary@stthomas.edu

* Loans from other library collections (CLIC, MTLA, ILL) have loan periods of varying lengths; please check your online library account or contact library staff to confirm when your items are due.
** The library reserves the right to recall at any time for items needed for course reserve lists.

Archbishop Ireland Library, Circulation, Kudos, News & Events, O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library

UST Libraries Food for Fines (2013 Results)

The O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library and the Archbishop Ireland Memorial Library wrapped up their annual Food for Fines drive this past week.

2013_FoodForFines

UST Library patrons donated a total of 699 lbs. of canned food. Donations will go to the Emergency Food Shelf at the Saint Paul Area Council of Churches.

Library patrons were able to donate canned food in exchange for the waiving of overdue fines (1 can = $2).

Over the past 4 years we have donated a total of 2,417 lbs. of food.

Previous recipients were the Franciscan Brothers of Peace and Francis Basket Food Shelf.

Thank you to all who participated in this semester’s drive!