We’re projected to raise 47 million turkeys in 2010, tops among the 50 states. So that’s 94 million drumsticks, give or take, right? Not to be outdone, our neighbors to the east lead the nation in cranberry production at 435 million pounds, more than double its closest competitor. For these and other fascinating bits of useless trivia, see the Census Bureau’s Facts for Features: Thanksgiving Day 2010.
One of the goals for the UST Libraries is to introduce students to the kinds of technology that they may encounter as they graduate to the workplace (and the world) of the 21st century – an information and technology rich environment that requires a high level of “literacy” in the use of information as employees, parents, citizens and consumers. As we evolve into a largely digital library, we are also creating spaces in our buildings for group work and collaboration, hallmarks of both learning and working in the new century.
Our latest effort in this area is to provide a new kind of workspace for the UST community. We’ve undertaken a trial installation of the “media:scape” product from Steelcase. media:scape is a combination of furniture and technology that allows easy sharing of information in a small group. Room 110 in the O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library is now (and for the next month) equipped to accommodate at least four users with laptops that can be linked to a large flat screen monitor. Users can easily plug in their computers and view what is on their monitor on the large screen. It is very easy to go from computer to computer, making the sharing of ideas very convenient.
If UST users (we invite students, faculty and staff to use the room) find this an effective solution for collaborative teaching, learning and working, we will consider equipping more group study spaces in the library in this way.
In addition, we’ve installed a “Walkstation” in the OSF Library. The Walkstation allows users to walk as they work – on a slow moving (2 mph) treadmill that allows the use of a computer at the same time. There is research (most notably from the Mayo Clinic) that suggests that movement improves brain function, ease of learning and reduces anxiety and depression in addition to providing the physical benefits associated with physical activity. Since scholarly work can be highly sedentary, we are curious to know whether providing this option in the library would be welcome as well as beneficial, both intellectually and physically. The Walkstation will be in the library for the next few weeks and we invite anyone to give it a try.
In both cases, we’ll be asking users to provide us with feedback on these new products. Thank you for helping us as we re-imagine the library of the 21st century!
(take the feedback survey if you’ve tried the product)
–Dan Gjelten, Director, UST Libraries
News & Events
Ireland Library co-sponsors Archbishop Ireland Memorial Lecture Monday, October 18 at 7:30 pm.
Dr. John Martens, theology professor and program director for the School of Divinity Master of Arts program, will deliver the fall Archbishop Ireland Memorial lecture at 7:30 pm, Monday, October 18 in the O’Shaughnessy Educational Center auditorium at the University of St. Thomas. This lecture, “The Child in the Family of God,” is co-sponsored by the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity and the Archbishop Ireland Memorial Library and all are welcome to attend. For more information please see the full article in the October 12 issue of Bulletin today.
News & Events, O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library
Vaclav Havel Civil Society Symposium events include afternoon program in library Monday Oct 11 at 3pm
One of the many Vaclav Havel Civil Society Symposium events will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11, in Room 108 of the O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library Center on the St. Thomas campus.
Dr. Lisa Schirch will lead a simulated negotiation concerning post-war policies in an international setting. In the program, “Forging 3D Security: Mock Strategy Negotiation,” student teams from the university’s Political Science, Justice and Peace Studies, and ROTC programs will represent the three “Ds” of “3D Security,” which are development, diplomacy and defense. The students have been preparing for the mock negotiation session, which will be followed by a discussion open to the audience.
Please read the complete article about Ms. Schirch’s visit and about the symposium itself, which was established in 1999, in the October 8 issue of Bulletin Today.
News & Events, O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library
ARTstor and Films on Demand: two new electronic library resources available for you
You can now experience over a million images in the arts, architecture, humanities and social sciences when you explore ARTstor online – and an exciting multidisciplinary database Films on Demand provides access to over 5,000 full length electronic (streaming) videos. For details on each of these new library resources see today’s article in Bulletin Today; contact a UST reference librarian at 651-962-5001 or 651-962-4664; and also find Films on Demand user tips at the UST Media Collections website.
When we think of 1849 (which we collectively do on a near daily basis), we think of the Gold Rush. Well, that mass migration of people into California wasn’t the only event to mark that glorious year. In 1849, James Goodhue began publishing the Minnesota Pioneer right here in St. Paul. It grew up to become the St Paul Pioneer Press.
Yes, our little local paper had humble beginnings. However, it’s hit the big time now. The Pioneer Press is now included in Proquest Newsstand. Finally, the newspaper database with over 300 newspapers includes the Pioneer Press. Of course, it only goes back to April 21, 2010. Now, I can feel the history buff among us panicking. “2010! I need the Pioneer Press back further than that!” Well, we got you covered too. We’ve got the Pioneer Press going back to 1988 through Newsbank. So if you’re looking for old St. Paul news, like from 1988, then Newsbank is where you should look. Ahhhh, 1988, that awesome year when Rain Man won best picture [never saw it] and Don’t Worry, Be Happy won song of the year. REALLY?!?!? Oh man, now that is just sad.
Now I realize there are those few people out there who will say to me, “Carolyn, gag me with a spoon! 1988 is so bogus! I need newspaper articles older than 1988.” To them I say, “Quit spazzing out!” We got tons of historic newspapers:
- New York Times 1851-2006
- Washington Post 1877-1993
- Minneapolis Tribune 1867-1922
- Irish Times 1859-2009
- The Guardian and The Observer 1821-2003 and 1791-2003
Or you could search all historic newspapers at once.
So take a chill pill. It’s under control.
If you’re really into historic newspapers, Ann created a helpful guide on Primary Sources, which includes newspapers. There’s also a guide on Minnesota History in case I’ve piqued your interest in that.
I’m sorry, I simply can’t get over the fact that Don’t Worry, Be Happy won song of the year. You do realize that GN’R’s Sweet Child o Mine came out in 1988, don’t you? I’m just saying, some guy whistling and boo booping or Slash on the electric guitar? I know what I prefer.
Business & Economics, News & Events, Recently Read
For the College Educated: Increasing Employment … Lower Unemployment …… and Higher Earnings.
An interesting report and data summary on issues relating to higher education from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
By the numbers:
- Over the 1992–2009 period, the number of college-educated workers increased from 27 million to 44 million.
- In 2009, the unemployment rate for workers with college degrees was 4.6 percent. The rate for workers without a high school diploma was 10 points higher.
- In 2009, the median weekly earnings of workers with bachelor’s degrees were $1,137. This amount is 1.8 times the average amount earned by those with only a high school diploma, and 2.5 times the earnings of high school dropouts.
These and myriad other data on degree attainment, student’s time use (1.5 hrs/day traveling? lots of commuter students I guess), degree attainment in U.S. compared to other countries, higher education workplaces, costs, etc. Includes this interesting chart on Professor pay and employment by discipline:
4:15 Project Muse was restored to working order. Now you can search the over 400 e-journals and get something instead of a blank screen. Knock yourselves out!
Project Muse, a resource that contains over 400 e-journals, is currently unavailable. No word on how long it will take to come back up but I was told the Project Muse tech team is aware of and working on the problem. If you have any questions, ask a librarian for help.
The UST Libraries will join thousands of libraries and bookstores across the nation to observe Banned Books Week from September 27th – October 1st. Since its inception in 1982, Banned Books Week promotes the idea that while not every book is intended for every reader, each person has the right to decide what to read, listen to, or view. According to Barbara Jones, director of the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom “Protecting one of our most fundamental rights – the freedom to read – means respecting each other’s differences and the right of all people to choose for themselves what they and their families read.”
Throughout the week the UST libraries will observe Banned Books Week with displays in the O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library Center and the Charles J. Keffer Library, updates on the UST Libraries Facebook page and an informative UST Banned Books Week website which will link to other libraries, articles and videos that focus on issues of intellectual freedom.
Also returning is the popular Banned Books Week trivia contest posted on the UST Banned Book page. Test your knowledge each day of the week with a new question about a famous or infamous work of literature. Each day’s lucky winner will be selected randomly from amongst the correct answer and will receive a $5 gift certificate to the UST bookstore.
You are all encouraged to learn about the most recent resource announced by the UST Libraries in its September 23 article in Bulletin Today. This comprehensive electronic showcase for the scholarly and creative works of the faculty, staff and students of the university is up and running — and departments, research centers and individual faculty members will want to investigate the advantages of this new resource and learn about all of its features.
Please contact Linda Hulbert, (lahulbert@stthomas.edu) UST Research Online administrator, if you would like to arrange a visit to your department or have any questions about this exciting resource.