St. Thomas Libraries Blog - News, Events and Musings from the UST Libraries - Page 9

St. Thomas Libraries Blog

News & Events, Services

Ask a Librarian – anytime and from anywhere

Ask a Librarian is a vital service available to anyone at St. Thomas to get help with many different questions about the library and research.

Wondering what kinds of questions to ask a librarian?  Here are a few examples:

  • 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?
  • I want to look through a specific journal, do you have it?
  • I have an interview with a company, how can I find out more information about that company?

To get answers to these and other library questions, use our Ask a Librarian Service.

Connect with a St. Thomas librarian!

ask a librarian: research help online via chat, text, email, or zoomYou 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.

October 13, 2020 by
Libraries, Media/Music Collections

Welcome to the Music and Media Collections

Welcome to the Music and Media Collections of O’Shaughnessy Frey Library! Whether you are new to our campus or a returning member of our community, the Collections are open and available to all.

Our physical collections offer a variety of films. For casual viewing we have everything from Dead Poets Society to Sleepy Hollow, Madmen to Parasite. If you are searching for a film for class, we have many documentaries and educational films that covers the arts, sciences, and humanities.

If you have a specific film in mind, you can reserve it through CLICsearch to pick up at your convenience. You can also check out DVD drives to watch the film on your laptop! Of course, you are still free to browse physically, as long as you follow our COVID-19 policies, posted at the door to the Collections.

If you feel more comfortable with our online options, check out our Popular Movie Collections guide. This online source gives a brief explanation of some of our more popular online collections. With more than 16 streaming databases, there will always be something for you to watch! Our databases can be found on the library’s Film page, where you will find a description of what each database has to offer.

Of course we also provide music services here at the Collections, both physically and online. The library’s Music page lists all our audio resources, where you can find Music Research Databases, as well as streaming platforms for a range of genres.

Feel free to stop by whenever you have the chance. We are open every day of the week. To view the Collection’s hours, you can view the Library Hours and Information Page. You can also reach us by email at libmedia@stthomas.edu, or by phone at 651-962-5447. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

By Tessa Keefe

October 13, 2020 by
Archbishop Ireland Library, Charles J. Keffer Library, Libraries, News & Events, O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library

Welcome back to the Library!

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.

Clear markers of where to line up and stand:

photo in front of Stacks Cafe showing stickers on the floor indicating where to 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.

    photo of study area on 2nd floor of OSF library. Tables and chairs are spaced out for safety

    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.

 

 

September 1, 2020 by
Keep calm and read the syllabus
News & Events

The library as a resource for your students (library syllabus statement)

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!).

You can download a MS Word version of the statement (UST only) or copy and paste from the statement text below:

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/

Connect with us:

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.

August 27, 2020 by
Circulation, Services

Physical Course Reserves COVID-19 Policy

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused changes which affect our physical course reserves services as on campus classes resume. To keep library patrons and staff safe, the Libraries’ policy is to quarantine all materials that have been used for 72 hours, as recommended by the CDC and IMLS, who are performing studies determining how long the virus is detectable on various library materials. We will still offer a physical reserves option, but the quick turnaround of one copy for multiple users will no longer be possible, and therefore reduce the benefit of using physical Course Reserves.

All physical Course Reserves materials will be quarantined after each use for 72 hours with no exceptions.

Some strategies faculty and the Libraries should use to mitigate the need for physical Course Reserves during the pandemic are included below. For help with any of these services, find contact info for course materials staff at our different libraries.

  1. Choose an alternative reading or video from our electronic and streaming collections. Your subject liaison librarian can help.
  2. If we can buy an electronic version of the title requested, we will and will offer that instead of the physical version.
  3. For books, if only a fair use portion of the work would suffice, we will digitize that portion instead of checking out the material. This will not apply to videos or audio. Contact the Head of the Music & Media Collections for help cbadillame@sthomas.edu with questions about media.
  4. If the material is in print and available for purchase, students should be encouraged to purchase their own copy.
  5. Instructor personal copies can be added as additional copies available for checkout.
  6. Our Course Materials staff are available to work with you to create a Resource List with electronic materials and make it available in your Canvas course.
August 5, 2020 by
Tommie Mascot reading a book in the O'Shaughnessy-Room
News & Events, O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library

Library Reopening: What you need to know

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.

June 24, 2020 by
Student on blanket reading a book in the grass in front of O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library
Just for Fun

Summer Reading: 2020

St. Thomas Libraries has again compiled its annual list of summer reading as recommended by library staff.

Fiction, non-fiction, thriller, wellness, social justice–check out this summer’s recommendations, or recommendations from the past 13 years, and discover a good read to relax and pass the time. There are also links to other lists from local libraries.

Summer Reading 2020 from University of St. Thomas Libraries

 

June 10, 2020 by
CLICsearch, Libraries

EBooks, newspapers, journals, video, and audio available online through St. Thomas Libraries

Whether you are doing research for a class or just want to pass the time, you should reference one of the 300 databases that the library subscribes to. Within these databases, you have the choice between nearly 400,000 online books, 58,000 online journals, and more than 77,000 streaming audio and video titles. As a member of the St. Thomas community, you have access to all of these databases from home.

CLICsearch is the quickest way to search through most of our databases to find exactly what you are looking for. After searching for a title or topic, you can refine the results to show only online sources by checking “Available Online” on the left under “Show Only.”

If you know the database you are looking for, use the alphabetical list of our subscription databases. This list includes descriptions of the databases and lets you narrow down by subject or type of database using the drop-down list along the top of the list.

Read more about our online databases here.

An infographic describing the types of online resources such as ebooks, newspapers, journals, and streaming media

There are many online resources available to the St. Thomas community. (Infographic by Angie Vognild)

eBooks – 400,000 titles

We have a large collection of Ebooks that you can find through CLICsearch. Most of those books can be read in your browser without requiring you to install any software or sign up for any accounts.

Journals, Magazines, and Newspapers – 58,000 titles

To find a specific journal or magazine title, use our Journal Search in CLICsearch. After searching for the title, you will be shown a list of the different ways to access that title, most of which will be online.

Streaming Audio and Video – 77,000 titles

The Music & Media Collections house more than 70 thousand titles in streaming audio and video. Visit libguides.stthomas.edu to see all the databases you have access to.

CLICsearch

The quickest way to search through most of our collection is with CLICsearch, our one-stop discovery tool that searches for books (including e-books), articles, videos, and more.

(Article and infographic by Angie Vognild)

May 20, 2020 by
A library staff member wearing a mask gives a patron a book via a cart during COVID-19
Circulation, CLICsearch

Circulation Procedures During Library Building Closure

The library buildings are closed due to COVID-19 safety precautions, but we can still loan you physical materials if you are able to come to the library to pick them up. Here is what you need to know:

  1. Place hold request(s) for St. Thomas items in CLICsearch. If the item has no request option, it cannot be requested. Call if you’d like assistance: (651) 962-5494. Sorry, no walk-up requests can be accepted. Only library staff may be in the library buildings at this time.
  2. Wait to receive an email in your St. Thomas email inbox letting you know your request is ready to be scheduled for pickup. The email will include instructions about the pickup location and how to arrange a pickup time. * Note that we currently have no courier service to deliver books between the different libraries, so you will have to pick up items from their home library location.
  3. Call to schedule a pickup time between 10 AM and 2 PM Monday through Friday. It may take up to 2 business days to process your request. Same-day service is unlikely.
  4. Come to the library location to pickup materials, and follow the instructions you’ve been provided via email to let staff know you are here to pickup your materials. Procedures may vary depending on pickup location.
  5. Follow instructions to return materials. Books can be deposited in the book drops at the OSF and Ireland Libraries. Keffer Library items can be returned where they were picked up. Do not deposit media items like DVDs and CDs in the book drops as they can be damaged or destroyed. To return media items, come to the library between 10-2 Monday through Friday and call the number listed on the front door to return items. We will open the door for you to drop them off.

Please note:

  • We are following CDC guidelines on quarantining and disinfecting materials, but the ultimate responsibility for your personal safety lies with you. Books and media cases can be wiped down with disinfectant wipes. However, do not use disinfectant wipes on CDs and DVDs.
  • It is recommended to quarantine your items for 24 hours before using.
  • CLIC items are not available for request.
  • Circulation is currently only available for current St. Thomas Faculty, Staff, and Students.
May 9, 2020 by
Libraries, Media/Music Collections

Explore Digitalia Film Library


It’s a great time to explore Digitalia Film Library, a streaming video database that offers a wide selection of multilingual and multi-national titles!
This collection of films and documentaries from Europe, North America, and Latin America features diverse subject areas in the arts, history, anthropology, nature, health, and so much more! Search by feature films and documentaries, check out new content, or search by genre from comedy and musicals, to drama and action. In addition to films, Digitalia also offers television shows and silent films. Try out one of these exciting selections!

Tercer Mundo (Third World) is a Chilean film from director César Caro Cruz. Part comedy, part science fiction, this film follows three twenty-somethings, discontented with their lives, who encounter a mystifying eclipse, a beautiful amulet, and maybe the end of the world.

Chagall – Malevich is a partly fictional biography of the Russian painter Marc Chagall told in the style of a folklore ballad. The colorful story depicts Chagall’s time in Vitebskin (Vitebsk, Russia) from 1917-18 when he formed the Academy of Modern Art and often clashed artistically with avant-garde artist and teacher Kazimir Malevich.

Witty and fast-paced, Carmo, Hit the Road is a drama and romance that tells the story a young woman tired of being stuck in the same old town. After rescuing a handicapped Spanish smuggler, she joins him on a reckless journey through Brazil.

Tuaregs: The Warriors of the Dunes is a fascinating documentary about a group of nomadic people lead by women who brave a treacherous life in the Sahara desert. Often referred to as the “Blue Men”, this term is derived from the indigo they use to dye their veils, which also stains their skin. They live lives without borders, governed by values of honor and hospitality, and lead their salt caravans through the Tenere, also called the “Anvil of the Sun”.

Galicia and Portugal are two territories with a common goal: to utilize the communal, uncultivated woodland to generate economic, environmental, and social wealth for their villages. Using luminous footage of the landscape, En todas as mans (In Everyone’s Hands) is a documentary that examines the real struggle the inhabitants of these territories face.

The eclectic documentary Cravan vs Cravan tells the story of Oscar Wilde’s nephew Arthur Cravan who disappeared in 1918 without a trace. Director Frank Nicotra, also a boxer and artist like Cravan himself, investigates the poet’s mysterious disappearance. He travels to Switzerland, Mexico, Paris, London, and Barcelona, visiting the worlds of boxing, art, and society intrigue to discover more about who Arthur Cravan was.

By Sarah Pavey

May 5, 2020 by