Student Success Librarians, Abbie Brown and Jill Kline, want to thank all the volunteers who tabled and gave tours in Ellis Library from Aug. 12 – 28. We welcomed and answered questions for 759 people and gave tours for 111! Thank you!
RAIS
When You Find Your Oracle at the Library
This is a guest post written by Dr. Jessie Adolph, an instructor of English at Lincoln University.
oracle | ˈôrək(ə)l | noun 1 a priest or priestess acting as a medium through whom advice or prophecy was sought from the gods in classical antiquity. • a place at which divine advice or prophecy was sought. • a person or thing regarded as an infallible authority or guide on something: casting the attorney general as the oracle for and guardian of the public interest is simply impossible. 2 archaic a response or message given by an oracle, typically one that is ambiguous or obscure.
Dr. Paula Roper, who I affectionately call “The Oracle” served a crucial role in my development as an educator and a scholar. During our collaborations on subject topics for English 1000, she transformed the library from a center of archaic readings into a vibrant prophetic learning experience. She introduced my students to peer-reviewed sources and resource methods making my lessons on historical trauma, spoken-word poetry, and hip-hop culture relative to the lives of my students. Explicitly, she instructed my students about African and Global Studies traditions influencing popular culture in America. The undergraduates learned “Nommo,” the power of the word (an Akan word meaning “To Make One Drink), can be utilized as a form of resistance and/or healing to build community. In other words, the young scholars learned they had a voice which can create the sound of power to change their reality. This in mind, she inspired me as an academic to utilize my voice for change.
Dr. Paula Roper, the Oracle, and Mizzou library helped me to earn my Ph.D. in Africana Diaspora Studies. My dissertation entitled “Dee-Jay Drop that Deadbeat;” Hip-hop’s Remix of Fatherhood Narratives” an interdisciplinary project required a substantial amount of research. Specifically, I examined hip-hop fatherhood narratives that constructed imagery of African American fathers and Black identity formation. Dr. Roper proved instrumental to the project by assisting me to compile an eclectic reading list African diasporic, history, sociology, and psychological to complete my task. She helped me to maximize my time at the library—I could not have become Dr. Adolph without her expert-tutelage.
Cycle of Success is the idea that libraries, faculty, and students are linked; for one to truly succeed, we must all succeed. The path to success is formed by the connections between University of Missouri Libraries and faculty members, between faculty members and students, and between students and the libraries that serve them. More than just success, this is also a connection of mutual respect, support, and commitment to forward-thinking research.
If you would like to submit your own success story about how the libraries have helped your research and/or work, please use the Cycle of Success form.
Presentation by Steven Pryor, August 29
Please join me in welcoming Steven Pryor to the University of Missouri Libraries by attending his open presentation. Steven Pryor was recently hired as a Librarian II in the RAIS Division. I asked Steven to share his professional history with us and to comment on some current trends that influence his thinking about digital initiatives in libraries.
When: Wednesday, August 29th at 9:00 a.m.
Where: Ellis 114A
–Jeannette Pierce
Guest Computer Access
For over 10 years, we have offered a free computer account to guests (people who are not currently affiliated with the University of Missouri). We create accounts for guests utilizing an authentication system created and maintained by our fabulous LTS team. The current dual access configuration (allowing both students and guests to login on the same computers with different authentication systems) was becoming more difficult to maintain and causing delays in updating systems and applications. In addition, the number of guests actually using the computers has decreased. As a result, a task force was charged with reviewing the guest computer access this year. A month or so ago, LMT approved the recommendation, submitted by the task force, to reduce the number of computers available for guest login to 6 and separating them from the current grouping of Mac computers (usually referred to as “The Orchard”).
Today, LTS has installed the 6 guest computers within the James B. Nutter Family Information Commons alcove (located directly south of the Reference Desk).
Guest access on the Mac computers in the Orchard has been disconnected. Guests can only access on the computers within the alcove.
Guests can register for the free computer account at the Reference Desk. They need a current, valid government-issued photo ID. The account provides 2 hours of computer access per day. It does not work for wireless access; it will only work on the 6 computers within the alcove. The guest account is valid for 6 months.
Many thanks to the members of the task force, those in Security and Admin who moved tables and the members of LTS, especially Dustin and Ernest, for all their work in maintaining this system so that we can continue to provide guests to the libraries with access.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Rhonda Whithaus
RAIS Office Changes
RAIS finalized the room changes in West Reference that began in December. Here’s where you can find Nav, Joe, and Rhonda:
- Joseph Askins – 158 West Reference
- Navadeep Khanal – 152 West Reference
- Rhonda Whithaus – 154 West Reference
The E-learning Lab is still in 156. The Consultation Office has moved from 158 to 157. Feel free to come by and say hello to us all in our new spaces!
RAIS Office Moves
Where are Anne and Noel? Anne Barker has moved offices and can now be found in the Government Documents office area. Noel Kopriva, when she is not over at the Engineering Library, can now be found in Ellis 170 in East Reference.
Marketing Highlight: Message to Faculty
Subject Librarians are sharing a welcome message with faculty in academic programs. For those of you who have not seen it yet, please take a moment to review the message. It is a great way to learn more about the services we are promoting to academic programs.