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Need research help? Working on a paper or project? You can ask a librarian for help using our chat service– almost 24 hours a day.
During the day you can chat with Mizzou librarians and library staff. At night, we offer access to a chat reference service called ChatStaff. They will be able to answer most research questions, except for some that are Mizzou-specific.
To access the chat service and see what hours chat reference is available, visit libraryanswers.missouri.edu.
For historian Brendon G. Floyd, Ph.D., access to Mizzou Libraries’ digital collections has transformed the way he researches the Atlantic world, opening new avenues for scholarship while bringing rare historical records directly to his desktop.
A University of Missouri DPAA Research Partner Fellow affiliated with the History Department and the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, Floyd studies the United Irishmen who participated in Ireland’s 1798 rebellion and were later imprisoned, forcibly conscripted into the British military, and dispersed throughout the Atlantic world. His work explores the human impact of state power through imprisonment, forced migration, and military service during a period of revolution and empire between 1776 and 1820.
Central to Floyd’s current and future research is the Colonial Caribbean Collection. This digital archive, which provides online access to colonial office files from the United Kingdom National Archives, covers the history of the various territories under British colonial governance from 1624 to 1870.
“My first book follows these Irish prisoners out of Ireland and through spaces of confinement and transit, including internment camps, prison ships, naval vessels, and troop transports,” Floyd said. “My second book picks up where the first ends, following these conscripted rebels into the Caribbean, where many were forced to serve for life in the British Army.”
The Colonial Caribbean Collection has made that work far more accessible.
“Rather than trying to arrange repeated trips to The National Archives in England, I have been able to download thousands of documents and work through them carefully over time,” Floyd said. “That kind of access has changed what is possible for both projects.”
The collection has also led Floyd to new research questions and discoveries. Among them is a project focused on Jean Kina, an enslaved man from Saint-Domingue who served with British forces during the Haitian Revolution, rose to the rank of colonel, and later led a mutiny in Martinique after attempts were made to re-enslave him and others serving under British rule. Floyd has also uncovered materials related to piracy in the Caribbean during the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, expanding the scope of his future scholarship.
Beyond supporting research, the collection enhances student learning. Floyd regularly incorporates primary source materials into classroom projects, giving students opportunities to engage directly with historical evidence and develop hands-on research skills.
Floyd credits Mizzou Libraries faculty and staff with making collections more accessible and helping researchers uncover new possibilities. He highlighted his collaboration with Rachel Brekhus on the Haskell Monroe Project, which focused on digitizing and organizing historical materials for research and teaching.
When asked what advice he would offer other researchers, Floyd’s answer was simple: connect with librarians and explore the library’s digital resources.
“Libraries have a deep bench of expertise, and a short conversation with a librarian can lead you to sources, collections, or search strategies you would not have found on your own,” he said.
Floyd also emphasized the often-unseen work performed by library employees.
“Researchers regularly rely on these collections and services without fully acknowledging how much labor goes into acquiring, organizing, digitizing, and maintaining them,” he said. “Much of that work happens quietly, but it makes our research and teaching possible.”
Through resources like the Colonial Caribbean Collection, Mizzou Libraries continues to support innovative scholarship, expand access to unique historical materials, and help researchers and students make discoveries that advance knowledge and learning.
Join us for Calming Crafternoons at Mizzou Libraries! This series of events features easy and creative crafts. Take a break from studying and enjoy some stress relief while crafting.
Find all Mizzou Libraries’ events on Engage – search library.
Fall 2026 Events
Calming Crafternoons: Diamond Painting
Date: 9/17
Location: Ellis Library Main Floor 1:30 – 4:30pm
Description: Get ready to turn your fridge into a sparkling art gallery! Join us for a laid-back Calming Crafternoon for Diamond Painting Fridge Magnets. Whether you’re a seasoned diamond artist or just love shiny things, this event is all about relaxing, chatting, and creating something delightfully tacky—or genuinely chic—for your kitchen. All supplies are included. Everyone is welcome!
Calming Crafternoons: Spooky Crochet Critters
Date: 10/7
Location: Ellis Library Main Floor 1:30 – 4:30pm
Description: Get ready to get your cozy craft on! Whether you’re a complete beginner who has never held a hook or a seasoned yarn enthusiast, come spend a fun, laid-back afternoon bringing a spooky-cute companion to life. You get to pick your path: crochet a giggle-worthy ghost, a friendly little spider, or a plump pumpkin! All supplies are included. Everyone is welcome!
Calming Crafternoon: Tassel & Beaded Garland/Keychain
Date: 11/5
Location: Ellis Library Main Floor 1:30 – 4:30pm
Description: Get ready to string together some serious style! Join us for a fun, fabulous, and totally tactile workshop where we’re turning colorful yarn, wooden beads, and vibrant accents into gorgeous Tassel & Beaded Garland and Beaded Keychains. All supplies are included. Everyone is welcome!
Calming Crafternoons: Gnomes and Pom-Pom Otters
Date: 12/2
Location: Ellis Library Main Floor 1:30 – 4:30pm
Description: Get ready for the ultimate showdown of cozy, whimsical crafting! Whether you’re team mystical garden creature or team fluffy aquatic cutie, this crafternoon is double the fun! Come spend a relaxing session crafting your choice of a bearded Gnome or a fuzzy Pom-Pom Otter (or stay double-focused and make both!). All supplies are included. Everyone is welcome!
“Show me stars and Tiger stripes: Photos from the Missouri State Fair”
Show Me Mizzou, August 17, 2026
Whether you want research help in person or remotely, the Mizzou Libraries will stay connected with you! To find out everything the Mizzou Libraries can do to help you, subscribe to one of our newsletters. The Mizzou Libraries want you to have a successful fall semester! You can also follow Mizzou Libraries on Engage to learn about our events and workshops.
University of Missouri students, faculty and researchers now have access to ProQuest TDM Studio, a platform that simplifies text and data mining and helps users uncover patterns, trends and insights across large collections of content. The platform provides powerful tools for computational research while making text and data mining accessible to users with diverse technical backgrounds.
Mizzou Libraries has secured a three-year subscription to TDM Studio through July 2029, with the possibility of renewal based on usage and available funding.
TDM Studio allows researchers to mine content from several ProQuest resources already available through Mizzou Libraries, including ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, U.S. Newsstream, ProQuest Historical Newspapers, ProQuest Historical Black Newspapers, and Vogue. The service does not include Factiva. The platform also enables researchers to work with large datasets and discover new relationships across scholarly, news and historical content.
Researchers can get started immediately with TDM Studio’s Visualization Dashboard, which requires no coding experience and offers an easy entry point to explore large collections of text. Users seeking more advanced analysis can use the platform’s Python-based Workbench, which includes sample projects and guided walkthroughs for beginners, as well as more sophisticated research workflows for experienced users.
In addition to supporting research, TDM Studio can be used in teaching and learning environments to help students develop data literacy and digital scholarship skills.
To learn how to create an account and begin exploring TDM Studio, visit the TDM Studio Library Guide. Researchers and students can also participate in a series of fall workshops, including a monthly Introduction to TDM Studio session designed to help new users get started.
There will be a power outage in Ellis Library next Monday, Aug. 3, from 6:00 – 7:00 am while Campus Facilities is working on equipment in the sub-basement. Please plan to come to work after 7:00 am on that day.
“Beyond the books: What Mizzou’s academic libraries have to offer”
Columbia Missourian, July, 30, 2026
“Little-known places to study across the MU campus to help you perform better”
Columbia Missourian, July 30, 2026
MULSA has an opening for Community Service Chair. The Community Service Chair organizes fundraising activities and community outreach programs. Contact Shannon Cary (carysn@misssouri.edu) if you are interested.