Graves and Moeller Receive AI Task Force Award
Shannon Cary
Wellbeing Book Collection Now Available for Checkout in Ellis Library
A NEW Wellbeing Collection is now available for checkout in Ellis Library. The Wellbeing Collection consists of hundreds of new books for students, faculty and staff who want to focus on their mental health or just need a break from the stress of everyday life. The collection can be found on the first floor near the atrium (just ask any staff member to point you in the right direction).
The collection includes books from the following subject categories:
· General Wellbeing: sleep, yoga, movement, meditation
· College Basics: cooking, time management, laundry, dorm life
· Student Success: study tips, note-taking, first-year support, first generation student topics
· New Adulting: budgeting, personal finance, relationships, communication
· Mental Health: stress relief, anxiety and depression, happiness, neurodivergence support
· Skill Development: leadership, public speaking, self-help
· Leisure Reading: popular fiction and non-fiction titles
· Hobbies: gardening, crochet, manga drawing, gaming
This collection was made possible by Mizzou Forward Student Success Enhancement Grant.
Highlighted Posts of the Week
Pronoun Buttons Available for Library Employees
The Libraries’ IDEA Committee has made a selection of pronoun buttons. If you would like one, message Megan Ballengee with your pronouns and she’ll get one to you. You can also pick one up in the Ellis Lounge during April or while supplies last.
Gwen Gray Receives Business Librarianship Award
Gwen Gray, business, economics and entrepreneurship librarian at the University of Missouri, is the 2025 winner for the BRASS Excellence in Business Librarianship Award. BRASS is the Business Reference and Services Section of the Reference and User Services Association, a division of the American Library Association.
Jaya Ghosh, program director of the MU Coulter Biomedical Accelerator, stated in her nomination letter, “Through her contributions to MU’s translational research funding, training and mentorship programs and other entrepreneurial offerings such as the regional I-Corps Program (advisor), MU EQ
Student Accelerator (mentor), Mizzou Venture Mentoring Service (mentor) and Entrepreneurship Workshop Series (mentor), Gwen’s work significantly enhances the innovation and entrepreneurship capacity of MU, and by extension of Missouri and the U.S. at large.”
Gwen’s contributions include supporting entrepreneurial initiatives at local and national levels, fostering community partnerships, supporting student success, and providing professional mentorship to LIS students. Gwen has dedicated years of her career to develop and strengthen networks that have created long-lasting impacts on her community and the broader profession.
Gwen stated, “I am humbled to receive the BRASS Excellence in Business Librarianship Award and am deeply grateful to LSEG Data & Analytic and RUSA for this recognition. Many thanks to the committee for selecting me to receive this honor. I’ve had wonderful support throughout my career at the Mizzou Libraries and would like to especially note Rhonda Whithaus and Jeannette Pierce who (unbeknownst to me) spearheaded the nomination effort. They along with so many of my colleagues have been supportive and encouraging, giving me the freedom to explore and go in new directions. I would also like to recognize Doug Moesel, associate professor of management, who started my work in entrepreneurship by inviting me to join a campus committee on the topic in 2004. Greg Bier, executive director of Entrepreneurship Programs, has been a tireless champion of librarians, making sure the entrepreneurship ecosystem knows our value. Thank you to all the faculty, staff, students and community members not named (and there are many) who have made me better than I would be on my own. Thank you again for this honor.”
Congratulations to Gwen!
Welcome to Megan Whitt
Welcome to Megan Whitt. Megan started on March 31 as a library information specialist in Digital Initiatives.
Staff Corner: David Truesdell, 1947-2025
Sorry for the delay in posting. This was only recently brought to my attention.
Parking Shuttle Pilot Program
As we move closer to transitioning to a new parking program this fall, I am writing to kindly ask you to encourage your employees to participate in our weeklong shuttle pilot April 7-11.
For the first time in Mizzou’s history, we will have a campuswide shuttle service that is available not only to students, but also to faculty and staff. The expanded service will offer new, more frequent route options that provide service throughout campus.
Everyone — especially those who plan to use our shuttle service — is encouraged to participate in the shuttle pilot. The shuttle loops, hours and stops (and a downloadable map) are available at mizzou.us/parkingprogram. By testing the expanded shuttle service, faculty and staff will be able to determine how changing their parking locations and/or accessing our shuttle service will affect their daily commute this fall.
As we prepare to transition to this new parking program, here are some key dates to note:
• April 7-11: Shuttle pilot offered.
• April 14-18: Parking permit election period for fall 2025 for faculty and staff on a first-come, first-served basis for those who want to modify their current parking location.
• Starting April 28: Confirmation notices sent for fall 2025 to faculty and staff.
• Aug. 1: The new parking program takes effect.
Thank you for your support and for encouraging your employees to learn all they can about our new parking program and shuttle service before the fall semester begins. This will help tremendously with the transition.
Best regards,
Sarah Chinniah
Vice Chancellor for Business Operations and Strategic Initiatives
New Muse Posts
In the News
“Cuts to humanities will impact MU professors, renovation projects”
Columbia Missourian, April 3, 2025