An article from the online magazine Psyche, brought to my attention by Dr. Amy Muse/English, is shared above. It is particularly relevant to Information Literacy and the role it plays/should play in our lives, and society, especially now.
“Knowledge is good for us not only because we generally want to know the truth, but because knowledge dramatically affects our ability to navigate the world and accomplish our goals. Ignorance, on the other hand, is bad for us in that it prevents us from having an accurate representation of the world and stands in the way of our achieving those goals.”
Join us at one of our Library Research Help Zoom drop-in sessions. Drop in during one of these sessions to meet with a librarian and a peer research assistant to get help with any library research questions you may have. Wondering what we can help with? Here’s a few of the types of questions you can ask (but feel free to come with other questions!):
How do I start a research project?
How can I find a specific book or article?
How do I know if an article or book is a good one to use?
How do I cite a source in my bibliography?
What types of sources would be good for my project?
How do I know if an article is peer-reviewed?
I’m trying to find research on a topic and I’m just not finding any, what should I do?
I’m trying to find research on a topic and I have way too many results, what do I do?
I found an article on my topic but it’s too old, how do I find something newer?
How do I know if I’ve found enough sources for a research assignment?
Schedule of Drop-in Sessions
(click on the date for details on TommieLink – St. Thomas log-in required):
You are always welcome to Ask a Librarian at other times, too! You can chat with us or text us or make an appointment with your subject librarian for more in-depth research help.
You can connect with a librarian via the Chat tool (purple box at bottom right of the library page) or simply send a text (651-504-1324).
St. Thomas librarians will be available to answer Ask a Librarian questions
Monday-Thursday 10:00am – 10:00pm
Friday 10:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday 1:00 – 5:00 pm
What if you have questions outside those hours?
No worries! We are part of a cooperative reference service called AskMN. That means that during off-hours, our chat and text messages are answered right away by other academic librarians around the country (and in exchange, some of our librarians answer questions from students at other libraries around the country). If the other librarians can’t fully answer your question, they’ll pass it along to us and we’ll get back to you when we’re back.
You can also ask a librarian via Email.
Email a librarian anytime or use our Ask a Librarian form and we’ll answer within one business day.
Don’t forget about Research Consultations with a subject librarian!
Our subject librarians are experts in the tools and resources for their subjects. They are available to meet with you to help with in-depth questions via Zoom, phone, or email: whatever works best for you! Don’t know who your subject librarian is? Check our Subject Librarian page to find your librarian and how to contact them.
As the University re-opens and people return to campus, we wanted to give everyone some information about what’s happening at the libraries and how things are a little different this Fall.
First, what hasn’t changed: we still have a robust set of resources (books, magazines, journals, datasets, films, and more) for you to use, and library staff are available to help you navigate, find, and use them. We are still here for you!
There are some changes, though, to keep you and our community as safe as possible during this pandemic. Our short video (3 min) goes through a lot of the changes, or read on for more details.
Libraries in the time of COVID
So what changes will you see in the libraries? (Note that these may change as the situation and pandemic and Department of Health dictate. Make sure to check our website for the most up to date information).
Masks, hand sanitizing stations, and work space sanitizing stations:
Masks are required to be worn in the libraries (as they are everywhere on campus).
If you are eating or drinking in the library, we ask that you have your mask covering your face whenever you are not actively eating.
We have hand and work sanitizing stations throughout the library. Please wipe down spaces before and after using them.
Research help is available online:
Our librarians love working with you to help you find and use our resources, but because our work is often in-depth, it isn’t safe to do it in person.
What this means to you: We won’t be staffing an in-person research help desk, but we’re available via the chat widget on our website, or you can just text us: (651) 504-1324. You can also make an appointment with your subject librarian and we can meet on Zoom or discuss your question over email.
Clear markers of where to line up and stand:
Pawprints on the floor in front of Stacks Café show you where to line up
You’ll see the familiar Tommie pawprint stickers on the floor in front of our desks and the Stacks Café to help you line up at a safe distance.
Spaces and furniture:
We will notice that we have moved furniture to be in alignment with our Common Good Occupancy, please do not move furniture from where it is. Rest assured that we still have many spaces available for study:
Spaces for online class participation: You are welcome to participate in your online classes in the library on the Lower Level, Sub Level and 1st floor, or in a reserved study room. You will need to use your own headphones/microphone, and keep your voice to a low level to avoid disturbing others.
Spaces for quiet study: The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors are reserved for quiet study. Please make sure you have headphones if you are listening to audio on your computer.
Study Rooms: NOTE: Effective Monday, November 23, all study rooms in the OSF Library are closed until further notice due to continued noncompliance with the university’s face covering policy.
Our study rooms in Keffer and Ireland libraries will be available to be reserved online. We are building in a 30 minute cushion between reservations to allow the space to air out. Most rooms are now single occupancy.
The study space on 2nd floor of OSF has tables and chairs spaced out for safety.
Books, Journals, DVDs, and other materials:
You can check out our books and materials just like before. You can request books from other libraries using CLIC request and Interlibrary Loan.
We are following recommendations that come from studies done by the REALM project on safe handling of library materials. Most books and other materials are quarantined for 72 hours. Glossy materials such as magazines, coffee table books and children’s board books will be quarantined for 96 hours.
What this means to you: You may notice delays in getting materials, especially if you request them from another library or if they were recently returned or received.
Technology in the library:
ITS has removed shared computers on campus including the lab computers in the library. We do have printing available and two computers to use to print documents.
We are not circulating headphones, cords, or lockers.
What this means to you: Bring your own device and headphones (if you’ll be listening to audio). Consider setting up Follow Me printing so that you can print to any printer from your laptop.
Alumni and Guests:
Alumni and guests are welcome in the library and can use and check out materials if they have a card. Because we do not have shared computers, we are unable to offer access to our electronic resources.
For our faculty: As you work on your classes for this Fall, please consider adding the libraries as a resource for your students by adding our statement (and editing as you see fit) to your course syllabus. While our research services have gone mostly online, we are still available and look forward to helping your students in all stages of their research assignment or with any of their information needs (and yours as well!).
University of St. Thomas Libraries Syllabus Statement
Fall 2020
University of St. Thomas Libraries (O’Shaughnessy-Frey, Keffer, Ireland and Law) provide access to a broad range of information resources. Librarians support students with research assignments from the early stages to completion. https://stthomas.edu/libraries/
We can help you with your research assignments in any stage:
Navigate library resources
Familiarity with library home page; research & course guides; services; hours; contact info, etc.
Develop an effective research strategy
Research question; narrow down topic; identify keywords, concepts and terms; select relevant info; analysis & synthesis; evaluation, etc.
Identify resources for your search
Books, journals, newspapers, primary sources, social media, data, or others, depending on course /research needs
Document sources using an appropriate citation style
RefWorks (citation management tool), or other citation resources.
Make an appointment with a Librarian:
Subject librarians provide in-depth research assistance by appointment. If you would like assistance that goes beyond what is provided through regular reference services, we encourage you to contact the librarian in your subject area to make an appointment.
As part of the university’s COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, the O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library will begin to reopen this week. Taking a phased approach, the library will be following Level One reopen criteria, which consists of mask use, hand sanitization and disinfecting stations being installed, appropriate signage for physical distancing, plexiglass barriers, and card-access building control. All plans are contingent on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Minnesota Department of Health.
For the O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library, Level One means only the first floor will be open for students, faculty, and staff. Computers, printers, and copiers will not be available for use, but various study tables, reference books, reserves, and requested-item pickup will be.
At this time, we are unable to provide in-person reference or technical help. As the university transitions to Level Two criteria, we expect to open more services.
The O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information about library services during COVID-19, check out our guide here and read more about the library reopening here.
Our traditional Study Night in the Library has gone online! It’s a great night to tackle the work you may have been putting off or having trouble with. And even if you are on top of everything – this night is for you!
Athough we are spending our days apart, Study Night allows you to with others virtually on Monday, May 11 between 7 and 9pm. You’ll have the option to pop in and out of several break-out rooms including: main study rooms (both quiet and more talkative); math and writing tutors; research librarians; time planning & motivational coaching. We’ll have a game room and a meditation/wellness/relaxation room for quick breaks throughout the evening. And of course, there will be prizes!
Here’s a little about how it will work:
To join Study Night, be sure to RSVP now, and then on Monday, May 11, follow the Zoom Link to Study Night between 7 and 9 pm on Monday, May 11. When you enter the main room, you’ll be able to tell the host which rooms you’d like to visit! You can leave a room at any time, come back to the main room to be sent to a different room. Stay as little or as long as you wish, just be sure to collect the prize codes!
About those prizes: Collect a special code from each room that you visit. At the end of the night, tell us the codes you’ve collected and you’ll be entered in the drawing for prizes. The more rooms you visit, the more chances you’ll have to win!
We look forward to seeing you Monday night, May 11!
You are cordially invited to the library’s April Poetry Reading – and you may enjoy this event from the comfort of your own place! Wherever you may be, we send you our wishes that things are going well for you with this selection of favorite poems shared by members of the St. Thomas community.
For 20 years the library hosted Poetry on the Patio during April – Poetry Month – outside on the library patio in late April. Only a few times did we need to move it inside the library due to cold or rainy weather.
Now, during this time of social distancing, several members of the St. Thomas Community have recorded themselves reading their favorite poems for “Poetry On Your Patio.” Thank you very much for tuning in – the link to the event here!
The Library invites you to record yourself reading one of your favorite poems – then send it to us, and we’ll share it online in celebration of April Poetry Month!
You may be familiar with our library’s past Poetry on the Patio events – held each spring over a span of 20 years, with the final event in April, 2018. When you have a chance, take a look and you can see each of those year’s reading program and accompanying video
We’d love to hear your readings, but online this time!
If you would be willing to participate please rsvp to jakimlinger@stthomas.edu soon – she will get back to you with details on what to include in your video. You may use YouTube or Panopto to make your recording. We’re hoping to receive your readings no later than Thursday, April 23 so please get in touch with Julie asap!
It’s time to Celebrate National Library Week! You’re invited to have some fun each day from your place. You’ll find the ever-popular annual Online Trivia Contest to play each day; Jigsaw Puzzles to solve online; Historic and Artistic pages to color; a Bingo card to complete while learning about the many services offered online by the library!
Check out the latest from our Music and Media Resources Collection and how we can help you make it through these days at home – and more!
Hello St. Thomas Community!