Year: 2020

Library Budget Reductions Lead to the Cancellation of Resources

Posted on by Sue Polanka

The University Libraries’ budget has been reduced by 15% for fiscal year 2021.

The Libraries cannot absorb a cut of this magnitude without reductions in the materials budget. In making these reductions, our priorities are to maintain our OhioLINK commitments and to preserve resources that are geared toward student learning and instructional support. With those priorities in mind, we plan to make the reductions outlined below:

  • Reduce the funds allocated for books and audiovisual materials and buying books and AV materials only on faculty request
  • Reduce the funds allocated for binding, materials preparation, and postage
  • Cancel selected journal and database subscriptions

Unfortunately, database subscriptions must be cancelled immediately because the subscriptions typically run on a fiscal year and providers require a thirty day notice of cancellation.  We have cancelled or will cancel the following databases:

  • Access Medicine
  • ATLA Religion Index
  • BCC Research
  • Birds of North America
  • Cochrane Library
  • CRSP
  • GeoRef
  • Mental Measurements Yearbook
  • OECD iLibrary
  • Refworks
  • RILM
  • UlrichsWeb

Journal cancellation decisions will be made later in August and September. We will attempt to consult with faculty on the journals to be cancelled; however, the magnitude of the cuts to be made this year when combined with the drastic cuts that have already been made due to earlier budget cuts gives us very little room for negotiation. We will increase funding for ILL to help us handle increased requests for articles from cancelled journals.

Jane Wildermuth New Head, Special Collections and Archives

Posted on by Sue Polanka
Jane Wildermuth

We are pleased to announce that Jane Wildermuth will be the new Head of the Special Collections and Archives Department in the University Libraries. 

Jane has worked at the University Libraries for 22 years.   Her first seven years were as an Archivist in the Special Collections and Archives Department, providing reference and outreach services, teaching classes in the Public History program, and processing collections.  In 2006 she created and became the Department Head of the brand new Digital Initiatives and Repository Services Department, responsible for maintaining CORE Scholar, the Libraries’ institutional repository (archives for collecting, preserving, and disseminating digital materials) and digitizing our historical collections.  In her new role, Jane will combine her experience in both areas as the talented staff and outstanding services of both departments merge under her leadership.

Speaking about this opportunity, Jane said, “I look forward to leading this new department for the University Libraries.  I have been afforded a wonderful opportunity to work with a hardworking and knowledgeable staff.  I am also excited to return to my roots and work with the archival and aviation communities.”

During her tenure at Wright State, Jane has been active in both the archives and the institutional repository communities.  She has served as both President and Treasurer of the Society of Ohio Archivists and currently serves on the Society’s nominating and marketing and communications committees. Since 2014, she has organized Ohio Institutional Repository Day, a semiannual event in Columbus for information professionals who manage online collections of digital material. As the first chair of the OhioLINK Digital Resource Management Committee in 2008, she worked with library professionals throughout the state to develop standards and practices for institutional repositories.  She also implemented the OhioLINK Digital Resource Commons and the Digital Commons from bepress at Wright State.

In 2019 Jane was honored for distinguished service by the Academic Library Association of Ohio (ALAO).  She received a TEDDY Award from ALAO’s Technical Electronic and Digital Services Interest Group. The TEDDY Award recognizes significant contributions to the technical, electronic or digital services fields.

University Libraries Offers Anti-Racism Resources and Book Discussions

Posted on by Sue Polanka
MLK in Boston
Martin Luther King in Boston, April 23, 1965, image from WSUL Special Collections and Archives

Wright State University has an unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion. In support of President Edwards’ encouragement to “take advantage of campus resources to find compassion, support, and understanding,” and in response to student requests for reading lists and suggestions, the University Libraries staff have prepared a guide of anti-racism resources, organized a book discussion, and are participating in a community-wide book discussion on racism.  Highlights of each of these activities is below. 

Anti-Racism Resource Guide

This guide organizes a variety of resources in one place.  Resources include: research databases focused on anti-racism and criminal justice;  fiction and non-fiction books in the Libraries’ collection about racism and white supremacy (request these for curbside pickup); media and videos from the Libraries’ Kanopy collection and YouTube selections; campus resources for health, wellness and support; and links to additional reading lists and recommended resources from national organizations.  If you have suggestions for other resources to add, you may direct those to [email protected].

Book Discussion:  An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

Book cover image

Join us on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. via WebEx for a book discussion on Tayari Jones’ award-winning novel, An American Marriage. Dr. Lynette Jones, Professor in the Department of English Language and Literature will provide an introduction for our discussion, moderated by Dr. Sarah Twill, Professor in the Department of Social Work.  Copies of An American Marriage are available at the Dunbar Library and local public libraries.  Registration is available and is optional. Please join us!

The Big Read: Anti-Racism, Justice, and Equity – Dayton Metro Library Program

book cover image

Dayton Metro Library invites you to participate in a special community-wide Big Read project, centered on the book Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla Saad. This book takes readers on a 28-day journey to dismantle the privilege within themselves so that they can stop (often unconsciously) inflicting damage on people of color, and in turn, help other white people to do better, too. A live streamed panel discussion will take place on Wednesday, July 8th from 5 – 6 p.m. on Facebook.

Panelists Include:

  • Amelia Robinson, Community Impact Editor, DDN (Moderator)
  • Debbie Feldman, President and CEO, Dayton Children’s Hospital
  • Shannon Isom, President & CEO, YWCA Dayton
  • Kevin M. Kelly, Executive Director, Dayton International Peace Museum
  • Brian O. Martin, Executive Director, Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission

More information is available from the Dayton Metro Library.

Returning, Requesting and Picking-Up Items from Dunbar Library

Posted on by Sue Polanka

The change of academic terms is a busy time for returning and picking-up materials at the Dunbar Library.  We would like to make that easier for you this term.  

Book Drop
Book Drop

Returning Items:  If you would like to return your items, our book drop is located under the overhang.  You may place your items in the drop any day, any time.   

Renewing items:  All materials currently checked out have automatic renewals.  We will continue to renew your materials until the library reopens. 

Requesting and Picking-Up items:  The “request” feature is on in the WSU library catalog.  You may place requests for items in the Dunbar Library only.  Librarians can help you identify needed items via our Ask A Librarian service. Our staff will pull the physical materials, check them out for you, and put them outside the library for pick-up.  Designated pick-up hours are Tuesday from 10 – 12 and Friday from 1 – 3. Please bring your Wright1 ID to show staff through the window.  Unfortunately, OhioLINK borrowing remains suspended.

Interlibrary Loan:  We continue to process requests for your materials available in electronic format.  We are unable to receive physical items.