Donna Savage - Quality Service Award

University Librarian Donna Savage was recently awarded the 2012 Quality Service Award which recognizes a staff member who “goes the extra mile,” exhibiting outstanding dedication to Tarleton and one's position, all while maintaining a positive attitude and demonstrating exemplary service. 

All of us on the library staff are so excited that she won this much deserved award!   Donna was also recognized as Tarleton's Employee of the Year for 2004-2005.  Yeah Donna!

Read more about it here - https://www.tarleton.edu/scripts/press/display.asp?id=3742

Never be bored in the summer.

Need something to do in the summer?
Read a book that someone has recommended that you normally wouldn't choose. You may be surprised.
Look up urban legends, and/or ghost stories in your town. Investigate!
Hang out with old people. They usually have a good story to tell.
Start a blog.
Play a game.
Go to an art gallery.
Browse the library.
Have a coffee in a bookstore, sit a while and read one of their books.
Visit a museum.
Research your family tree.

http://www.lists-galore.com/2008/06/101-things-to-do-when-youre-bored.html

How books are made

This is kind of mesmerizing to watch. The bottom more recent video doesn't show quite the same stages, but there's still enough overlap to see some of the ways the process has remained the same or changed. 

Try Our New Mobile Whiteboards!

Currently available on the lower level and the upper level of the library, near the elevators, you can move these mobile whiteboards to wherever you or your group need them for your study sessions - just put them back when you are done.  Markers and erasers can be checked out at the Circulation Desk on the main floor.

Thank You to Our Armed Forces

National Military Appreciation Month started as a way " to gather America around its military family to honor, remember, recognize and appreciate those who serve and those now serving and to know the history behind it all." In 1999, legislation designated May as NMAM. This month was chosen because of the many days already set aside to celebrate and commemorate military history: Loyalty Day, VE Day, Armed Forces Day, Military Spouse Appreciation Day, and MEMORIAL DAY (May 28, 2012) . Please take the time to show your appreciation to our Armed Forces. The simple act of saying "Thank You" is the best form of flattery.
www.military.com/military-appreciation-month

Texas Miner Now Online

The Dick Smith Library was awarded a Texas Cultures Online grant through The Portal to Texas History to digitize the Texas Miner newspaper. The project has been completed and the newspaper is now available online. The Portal to Texas History is a project of the University of North Texas Libraries to provide a gateway to Texas history materials. The Portal features unique collections from Texas libraries, museums, archives, historical societies, genealogical societies, and private family collections.  

The Texas Miner was the company newspaper of the Texas & Pacific Coal Company located in Thurber, Texas. The newspaper began publication in 1894 as The Texas Miner in 1897 the title changed to The Texas Mining and Trade Journal. The Dick Smith Library’s collection of the newspaper consists of 99 issues that run from 1894 to 1900. This is the only online collection of the newspaper and is also one of the largest and most complete collections of the paper. The Texas Newspaper Collection at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at UT-Austin does have a collection of its successor the Thurber Journal.

Thurber was a community of 10,000 residents at its peak and was the site of a coalmine and a brick plant. The majority of the miners were from Europe. Ethnic groups represented in Thurber were Italians, Poles, Hispanics, African Americans, and Anglos. These newspapers recount life in the company town of Thurber. The papers featured a section in Italian and occasionally public notices published in Spanish, Italian, and Polish. While the majority of the newspaper is in English, they clearly illustrate how life was in a town as diverse as Thurber. Published weekly the papers detail events such as meetings of fraternal organizations, donations to African American schools, and company promotions.

Order was maintained in the town at times by keeping the different groups apart at celebrations. This is illustrated by on article in the July 7, 1894 issue recounting a Fourth of July celebration. The article states that a good time was had by all with minimal conflicts. The article makes it clear that each ethnic group held its own celebration, instead of a community wide celebration. The September 1, 1894 issue has an account of a shooting that took place in Thurber and an account of the capture of the assailant. While reading the newspapers it should be remembered that this was the company paper of the coal company and the paper often reflected political views of the company. The paper did report on international and national news as well as the events in Thurber and Erath County. These newspapers provide a wealth of information about what was happening in this area. The newspaper also featured several pages of ads for goods that could be purchased at the company store.

The Texas Miner can be found on the Portal to Texas History at: http://texashistory.unt.edu/explore/partners/TSU/browse/?fq=str_title_serial%3AThe+Texas+Miner

The Texas Mining and Trade Journal can be found at: http://texashistory.unt.edu/explore/partners/TSU/browse/?fq=str_title_serial%3ATexas+Mining+and+Trade+Journal

Both newspapers are full text searchable to aid researchers. If you would like to know more about Thurber, The Texas & Pacific Coal Company, and the brick plant visit the W. K.Gordon Center for  Industrial History of Texas located in Thurber, Texas.

50 Years Ago

The Year in Review

1961/62

The May 8, 1962 JTAC devoted a long column to the “Year in Review”!   It reported that the Fall 1961 enrollment was Tarleton’s 2^nd largest in the history of the school, with 1389 students, of which 633 were freshmen!  Wow!

Probably the most significant event that changed the history of the school also occurred in the fall of 1961 – the name of the football team was changed from Plowboys to Texans!  It was the biggest change since Tarleton became a four year institution.  An election was held on October 4, 1961 to change the name to something “more fitting for a four year liberal arts college”.  It became a heated election between the “old school” and the “younger generation”.  The next week the students voted to change the name to the Texans over five other names on the ballot, in the largest recorded vote ever.   In addition, the 10 pm pep rallies “bit the dust”, and the students realized they needed a new fight song rather than using the A & M fight song. 

The band director, Hilmer Wagner, wrote a “snappy new fight song” which was catching on!  In fact, the 1961/62 Grassburr was dedicated to Hilmer Wagner “because of his boundless energy and enthusiasm and his devotion to the students”.   In addition, the citizens of Stephenville donated $5000 for new band uniforms!

Plans were also being made for a new student center and construction began on a new women’s dorm!  Two long time faculty members retired – Miss Lillie Lillard and E.A. “Doc” Blanchard.  Miss Lillard, associate professor of speech, had taught at Tarleton 39 years!  “Doc” Blanchard, professor of mechanic arts, retired after 36 years!  If you go into the Thompson Student Center be sure to look at the red fire truck that belonged to Mr. Blanchard!

Lots of significant changes occurred in 1961/62, but I have to add this lighter note from the same JTAC……..”Tarleton Males Stage Unsuccessful Panty Raid!”……approximately 200 male students attempted a panty raid……but were broken up by college officials……before the raiding actually started!

It was easy to see why the 1961-62 school year was deemed the year of change!  The story ended by anticipating an “even bigger and more exciting year of change and new activity”.   May your 2012/13 year be even bigger and more exciting!

Have a Great Summer!!

Library Comics

When I was a kid I regularly read the comics in the newspaper. I spent part of Sunday afternoon lying on the floor with the colorful Sunday Comics spread out in front of me absorbing all the “funnies-ness”.  Today, I think that if the Star-Telegram didn’t have daily comics, I might not subscribe.

Whenever I find a comic strip that includes references to libraries or books I get out my scissors and clip it. One Big Happy by Rick Detorie uses a child character, Ruthie, to show her penchant for libraries.  I agree with Ruthie’s enthusiasm for reading.

 Truths are often comically revealed as in this strip playing on patrons’ confusion with the meaning of the word “periodical”: 

I have a personal kinship with this mom in this Baby Blues strip by Rick Kirkman & Jerry Scott who's book distraction gives a comic result:

Recently I came across Rex-Libris by James Turner which features a thick-glasses-wearing, dark-suited, skinny-tied librarian as the superhero.  Imagine – a superhero LIBRARIAN! 

 

Finally, we learn through Luann’s wisdom why, in this age of the Internet, we should still have libraries:

 I’ll draw this entry to a close with a commonly used phrase from the 1920’s through 40’s that indicated that the speaker had enjoyed the evening and wished their friend a pleasant night: 

                                                        “See you in the funny papers!”