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Library FYI

• Landscape Architecture students help Library envision role on campus
• I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!
• Need ideas on a post-graduation career or finding a job?
• Justice Sotomayor speaks on Auraria Campus
• New location for microform scanner
• Governor Hickenlooper visits Auraria Library after signing Long Bill
• Architecture firm named for Library upgrades
• Need to create a citation? Try our Citation Builder tool.
• New digital collections from the Times and NBC Learn K-12
• Faculty Connections: ICPSR Database Orientation, April 3

Landscape Architecture students help Library envision role on campus

Auraria Library teamed up with Lori Catalano, senior instructor of landscape architecture in the College of Architecture and Planning, for a second project after a successful partnership last summer where upgrades were made to the landscaping in Auraria Library’s south courtyard.

For this spring’s project, Auraria Library worked with Catalano’s Landscape Architecture Design Studio to concept and envision new approaches to its outdoor space.

In their designs, students were charged with analyzing the larger context of Auraria Library’s role on campus, taking into consideration the original architecture of the building, the changing role of academic libraries in general, and the larger phased renovation taking place within the library. Students were asked to develop a strong philosophical and conceptual position to their projects, which were later articulated in their designs and final presentations.

In the studio, each student created drawings, collages, models, studies, and diagrams for their work, which culminated in a presentation to Auraria Library constituents, who evaluated and reviewed the students’ work.

“I am very pleased with the results of the class,” Catalano said. “It's a great opportunity for students to learn from a project close by and to interact with an engaged client.”

While the projects are only theoretical and won’t be implemented, the students’ innovative and creative designs sparked some great ideas and brainstorming among the Auraria Library participants.

Mary Somerville, university librarian and director, was pleased to continue the partnership on a number of levels. “'Library as laboratory' reflects our signature approach to improving services and facilities with and for our campus users,” she said. “As we proceed with facilities improvements, we benefit greatly from continuing to receive student viewpoints.”

Catalano said she enjoys incorporating Auraria Library in her classwork. “Mary Somerville and the library team… have a sincere interest and passion in what they do and how the experience of the library users can be enhanced.”

“In working with landscape architecture students, I have learned that the library extends well beyond its walls–to the outdoors,” said Somerville.

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!

Refresh Before FInals at Auraria Library

During finals week, librarians and staff from Auraria Library handed out free ice cream bars, popsicles, and ice cream sandwiches to students who were in the midst of cramming for exams and final projects. It was a success with students rushing to the center of the library when the ice cream truck music warbled gleefully over the loud speakers announcing that the “Refresh Break” had begun.

Students were delighted to learn that Auraria Library was providing care and support during finals. One student asked as he was making his ice cream choice, “Why are you doing this?” Mary Dodge, research and instruction specialist who conceived the idea, replied, “Because we love our students!” 

Going forward, students can look forward to more Auraria Library-sponsored study breaks during final exam study periods.

Need ideas on a post-graduation career or finding a job?

Check out the Library's Career, Resume, and Employment  guide which points to resources and information on-campus and beyond.

Justice Sotomayor speaks on Auraria Campus

United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor spoke to an audience of enthusiastic and supportive faculty, staff, students, and community members on Thursday, May 2 at the Auraria Event Center. Co-sponsored by Center for Colorado & the West at Auraria Library (CC&W) and Metropolitan State University of Denver, the talk focused on Sotomayor’s recently released autobiography, “My Beloved World,” which documents her life’s struggles and accomplishments.

The conversation was moderated by Polly Baca, longtime friend of Sotomayor and board member of CC&W, and MSU Denver’s Deputy Provost Luis Torres, PhD. Baca was the first woman to chair the Democratic caucus of the Colorado House of Representatives and the first Hispanic woman elected to the Colorado State Senate.

A humble and inspirational speaker, Sotomayor began and closed the conversation by saying she isn’t special and in the end is no different than anyone else. She wrote the book to share her story so every child who reads it can say to him or herself, “If she can do it, so can I.”

She credits love from her family for her success. It helped her transcend poverty, adolescent diabetes, language barriers, racism, among various other struggles, including the death of her brother to AIDS and her father to alcoholism. 

Speaking about the power of people and their civic involvement, Sotomayor believes real change in society comes from individual involvement.  

“Integration didn’t happen because the court said it would happen; it happened because of leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Cesar Chavez who led the charge of civil rights bills,” she explained.

She said, “It happened because people became involved in taking charge of our society.”

She urged the audience to consider how they are participating in making their community a better place. “Change doesn’t just come from the law—it comes from being a citizen.”

She encouraged the audience to join school boards, participate in local civic activities, and volunteer for various community organizations. In every way you give to your community, you better your community.

“It’s your obligation; your civic responsibility” she said. “If you want to live in this society, you have to be a part of it.”

It was a wonderful opportunity for CC&W to co-sponsor the first Latina and third female Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on the Auraria Campus, furthering the center's mission to "preserve history and create knowledge." 

New location for microform scanner

The microform scanner has been relocated to the second floor to be more conveniently positioned closer to the microform collection. It can now be found by the Special Collections office space.

Previously, the microform scanner was located on the first floor by the periodicals.

Haven’t used the scanner?  It allows users to digitize articles and other materials still available only on microfilm or microfiche formats within the library. The created files can be saved or e-mailed.

Instructions on how to use the scanner can be found attached to the machine. However, if you have questions, please feel free to ask the Tech Help desk, located on the first floor, for assistance.

Governor Hickenlooper visits Auraria Library after signing Long Bill

Auraria Library is pleased to announce it will be awarded $4 million by the State of Colorado Long Bill. The Long Bill funding will cover overall building design costs, in addition to helping finance a number of renovation projects. The Colorado State House and Senate voted in favor of the renovation plans, and Governor Hickenlooper signed the bill on Monday, Apr. 29, 2013.

After signing the bill, Governor Hickenlooper toured Auraria Library to view first hand where the necessary renovations will occur.

The Long Bill funding enables the Library to move forward on the following important projects:

·      Second floor restroom remodel

·      A portion of the “Main Street” project, including addressing ADA and accessibility needs

·      Relocation of Special Collections

·      Way-finding signage on the first floor

·      A portion of new shelving

These projects will allow Auraria Library to meet the current and changing needs of the faculty and students on the Auraria Campus, while continuing on the path to being a 21st century academic library.

Architecture firm named for Library upgrades

Auraria Library is pleased to announce the selection of architecture and design firm studiotrope to re-envision the library space for improved patron usability.

The updates will take place in phases. In the first phase beginning this summer, library users can look forward to significant enhancements on the first-floor, including:

• Additional collaborative study spaces
• Improved computing spaces
• Installation of the Discovery Wall, a large-scale interactive video display wall
• New furniture and shade structures in the South Courtyard
• Dedicated space with a research portal for Center for Colorado and the West

Of special interest in this first phase of construction is the installation of the Discovery Wall. A collaborative endeavor with tri-institutional campus partners, the Discovery Wall is a large-scale, interactive video display wall that will allow faculty and students to work with and explore a variety of topics and subject areas in a fully immersive manner. Initial capabilities and content will focus on learning outcomes associated with sustainability; software will include Google Earth and streaming videos from the library’s collection. 

We invite you to stop by over the summer to watch the progress.

Need to create a citation? Try our Citation Builder tool.

Looking for an easy way to cite your sources? Try Auraria Library’s new Citation Builder. Citation Builder lets you fill in all the information you have about your source, then creates a citation in either APA 6 or MLA 7 format.

Citation Builder will cite the following types of sources:

• Book
• Book chapter or essay
• Magazine article
• Newspaper article
• Scholarly journal article
• Website

Still have citation questions after using Citation Builder? Ask a Librarian or visit your school’s Writing Center.

New digital collections from the Times and NBC Learn K-12

The Library has purchased two archival newspaper collections and now subscribes to a K-12 edition of NBC Learn.  Those collections are described below.

Times Digital Archive (TDA)   (Gale Cengage) The Times of London is the oldest daily newspaper in continuous publication, first printed in London in 1785 under the name The Daily Universal. Read about such events as the French Revolution as written by those who experienced it first-hand. Contents of the Times Digital Archive (TDA) include articles in history, literature, culture, business, art, architecture, and more. Every page of every issue is full-text searchable, including every headline, article, editorial, classified ad, announcement, obituary, image, and advertisement. Each scanned article appears as it did in the original paper format.

Coverage: Full text from the first issue to six years before the current year.

TLS Historical Archive (Gale Cengage)

This is a fully searchable archive of the full-text of TLS (Times Literary Supplement) from the first issue to five years before the current year. Founded in 1902, TLS has a reputation for fine writing, literary discoveries, and insightful literary and cultural debate. Influential writers and critics of the 20th and 21st centuries have contributed to TLS ranging from T.S. Eliot, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf to A.N. Wilson, Seamus Heaney, and Christopher Hitchens. TLS encompasses all areas of the humanities and social sciences. In addition to reviews of worldwide writings, films, and theatre and music performances, it includes letters, poems and articles.

NBC Learn K-12 (NBC Universal Media)

The majority of the content in this collection is identical to the NBC Learn Higher Ed version. However, the content is vetted to assure appropriate viewing for younger audiences and so some content in the Higher Ed collection is not in the K-12 collection. To assist K-12 teachers, the K-12 collection may be searched by State and Common Core educational standards.

Faculty Connections: ICPSR Database Orientation, April 3

Faculty Connections Seminar Series: Seminars Linking Teaching and Research at Auraria Library

Auraria Library will host University of Colorado Denver Department of Sociology Assistant Professor Paula Fomby, PhD, with Joshua Goode, sociology graduate student, for an orientation on using the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research database.  

Wednesday, April 3
10:00-11:00 a.m.
Auraria Library, Jackson Enhanced Learning Center (first floor)

Refreshments will be served

Learn:

• What’s available in the world’s largest archive of digital social science data

• How to effectively search, download, and begin analysis of datasets

• How to use ICPSR’s web-based tools and resources

• About ICPSR's growing resources for quantitative social science instruction

More information on ICPSR>>

RSVP for this seminar: Mary K. Dodge, Research and Instruction Specialist

Connections is a faculty seminar series that presents programming on relevant, fast-changing research and teaching resources available through the Auraria Library. For information on Connections and upcoming seminars, please contact Katy Brown, 303.556.5808.