Banned Books Week 2015

Help the library celebrate Banned Books Week, 

September 28th-October 2nd!

The library's Banned Books Week theme this year highlights characters from frequently banned or challenged books.
 Hester Prynne from the Scarlet Letter is featured here. 

Stop by the library and pick up a Banned Books Week button!

Learn more about Banned Books Week by checking out our displays on all floors of the library. 

See a book you'd like to read? Check out the book with your student ID card. 

Have questions about Banned Books Week?

Contact us at (254)968-9249 or email reference@tarleton.edu 

How to Make Copies

This is our first video in our "Welcome to the Library" series, How to Make Copies.  Learn how to make copies as well as add money to your Texan Card.

 

 

 

Keep an eye out for more videos in our "Welcome to the Library" series and learn how to check out items, use the laptop vending machine, print, scan, request materials from offsite, and more.

Happy Hobbit Day



History

Hobbit Day was officially declared in 1978 in honor of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins' birthdays, two beloved characters from the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Before the official declaration there was much debate on when the observance should occur due to the differences between the Gregorian and Shire calendars. This is because Tolkien once said that the Shire calendar is ahead by about 10 days, depending on the month.

Celebration

Some Tolkien fans celebrate with having parties and feasts emulating the hobbit’s parties. Feasts can include potato-cheddar pancakes, jam "sandwiches", and dill pickle spears. For more feasts ideas checkout Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's menu ideas.

Fun games to play include a scavenger hunt, pin the ring on Bilbo, and a Hobbit trivia night. Others celebrate by simply going barefooted in honour of the hobbits, who rarely wear shoes.

How will you celebrate Hobbit Day?



The Dump

Collections Archivist Gary Spurr received a package from a woman whose mother attended Tarleton in the twenties. In the package, there was a small Tarleton pennant, a leather covered graduation invitation, Yell Book, handbill to a Cherniavsky concert, and many more interesting things from her mother's year at Tarleton (1924-1925). In the letter, the woman states that her mother lived in "the dump". The question is....WHAT WAS "THE DUMP"? Upon further investigation using the JTAC Newspaper, Grassburr archive, and the Cross Timbers Historical Images Project, we discovered that the Dump was actually the Mary Corn-Wilkerson girls dormitory.

"The dump" was built in 1910 after Mary Corn-Wilkerson responded to a call of need for a women's dormitory and deeded 370 acres of land to the university. She asked that the real estate be sold and the money used to build the first women's dorm. It was a two story high red brick building with all the "modern conveniences" of the time. Over the years, several annexes were added. Sadly, in 1955 "the dump" was demolished and 8 years late Hunewell was constructed in its place (Guthrie, 1999).

Donated items in package.

Letter accompanying donated items.

Photo taken from 1920 Grassburr

References:
 Guthrie, C. E. (1999). John Tarleton and his legacy : the history of Tarleton State University, 1899-1999. Acton, MA : Tapestry Press, [1999].

Note:  Guthrie's book is available in the Dick Smith Library on the 3rd floor in the General Stacks. It can be found with the following call number: LD5271 .T35 G88 1999.

Library Learning Commons - Still the place to be!

The Library Learning Commons (LLC) is still the place to be!  The Commons, which opened last year, is where you can enjoy a nice cup of coffee, get tech help, set up a tutoring session, use a computer, or print. The space is comfortable and inviting, with some great technologies to help you get your work completed. There are collaboration stations, KIC scanners, charging stations, even laptop vending machines. The easiest way to find out more about the LLC is to view the website.

Need assistance? Call 254-968-9249 or email reference@tarleton.edu

More NEW Furniture and Staff!

Just today, the Dick Smith Library has a new Evening Circulation Supervisor, and more new furniture on the lower level!

Pictured at left is Ginger Cousins, our new Evening Circulation Manager, who started today.  For much of the rest of this semester, she will be undergoing training and will be working Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Eventually she will be working 3 PM to midnight Sunday through Thursday, and from 5 PM to 2 AM on those days, when we have extended hours later in the semester.

Ginger is trying out one of the new lounge chairs just delivered today for the lower level of the library.  These chairs join some of the other new comfy items pictured below.

Welcome to Ginger!  And come try out some of the new furniture on the lower level!

photo by Tracy Holtman

photo by Crystal Stanley

Course Reserve Contracts

The Dick Smith Library's Course Reserve collection is located behind the Circulation Desk.  This service allows faculty members to pull our materials as well as provide their own items specifically as supplemental material for their class.  We have varying loan periods as options so that all students have access to materials.  In the past, a physical contract has always been required.  This semester, we have gone digital!

Faculty can now submit their course reserve contracts online by visiting our faculty support page on Course Reserves.  All you have to do is fill out the form's three sections and it will automatically be emailed to the library member in charge of reserves.  Then all you have to worry about is providing the materials.  If it's physical, items can be delivered through campus mail or dropped off in person.  If it's for an E-Reserve, simply email the file to Kym Schow at Schow@tarleton.edu.  E-Reserves will require a password, and one will be generated for you unless you contact Kym and ask for something specific.  Passwords cannot be submitted through the form for security reasons.

We hope this extra service makes things a little bit easier for faculty to make items accessible for their students.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact Kym Schow via email or at 254-968-9871.

New Laptop Vending Machine

We've added a second laptop vending machine on the top floor of the library. This vending machine works the same way as the machine on the main floor and has 12 laptops available for checkout, in addition to the 24 available for checkout on the main floor.

As a reminder, to use the machine:

1. Swipe your Texan Card.
2. Enter your NTNET password.
3. Agree to the terms.
4. Take the laptop that pops out of the machine.
5. Return the laptop to the machine from which you checked it out within 4 hours.

Please make sure to return your laptop from the machine you checked it out from. The machine will warn you that the laptop doesn't go in that machine, but if you miss the message and leave it in the wrong machine, you will incur late fees.

We hope you will enjoy the added laptops!