Year: 2021

Celebrate National Friends of the Libraries Week, October 17 – 23, 2021

Posted on by linda

Since 2005, the American Library Association has promoted National Friends of the Libraries Week during the third week of October as a time to recognize the dedication of Friends groups across the nation.

The Wright State University Friends of the Libraries were established in 1978 and is a group of Wright State faculty, staff, retirees, alumni, and community members who are committed to supporting the unique needs of the Wright State University Libraries and its patrons.

A few of the ways they support the mission of the WSU Libraries to provide quality research services, materials and library spaces for students, faculty, staff, and the Miami Valley community are:

  • The Friends support the library staff grants for research projects, new equipment and technology, staff development, and other special projects.
  • In collaboration with the Wright State University Retirees’ Association and the Wright State University Alumni Association they host a book club discussion on select Tuesday evenings at 5:30 p.m. via WebEx.
  • In April they host an annual meeting and luncheon. For April 2021 they hosted a virtual “lunch-in” featuring WSU Alumna and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley.
  • Twice per year they award $500 scholarships to library student assistants in recognition of their outstanding job performance and contributions to the work of the Libraries.
  • Annually in April, the Friends of the Libraries honor the “Top Scholars” selected by the Dean’s Office in each college and the Lake Campus.
  • And more…

If you are not already a member, please consider joining or renewing your membership today. We can’t think of a better way to celebrate National Friends of the Libraries Week than welcoming you to our membership!

University Libraries Announce New Student Advisory Board, Invite Nominations

Posted on by Mandy Shannon
bulletin board that says join us

As part of the ongoing mission of the University Libraries to support success through access to exceptional research services and resources, we are pleased to announce the creation of a Student Advisory Board. The Board’s primary purpose will be to provide students direct access to library leadership to communicate the evolving needs of Wright State’s diverse student body. Student members of the Board will advise the Libraries on issues related to library spaces, services, and resources. 

Nominations for student representatives will be solicited from offices and organizations across the University to represent a variety of student perspectives and needs. Nominations for student representatives will be solicited from the following organizations and units: 

  • Student Government Association  
  • Graduate Student Assembly  
  • Office of Disability Services 
  • Transfer Student Resource Center 
  • Commuter Student Association 
  • University Center for International Education 
  • Division of Inclusive Excellence 
  • Lake Campus 

There will also be two At-Large representatives, bringing the total number of representatives to 10. The University Libraries will be represented by the University Librarian, Associate University Librarian, Head of the Web Advisory Team, and the Lake Campus LTC Director. 

The Student Advisory Board will meet three times each academic year: once in Fall Semester, at the beginning of Spring Semester, and at the end of Spring Semester. We want to know what’s important to you, what works as it is, and what we can do to improve. 

We are now accepting nominations for student members of the Board through October 15. We anticipate finalizing board membership by November 1 and expect to have the first meeting of the University Libraries Student Advisory Board in mid-November 2021.  

Would you like to join, or do you know someone who might want to join? Click here to go directly to the application and let us know that you’re interested! 

Celebrate the Freedom to Read with Banned Books Week

Posted on by linda
Banned Books Week Banner

Join the University Libraries in celebrating the freedom to read during Banned Books Week.

What is Banned Books Week?

Banned Books Week is an annual awareness campaign promoted by the American Library Association and Amnesty International, that celebrates the freedom to read, draws attention to banned and challenged books, and highlights persecuted individuals.

When is Banned Books Week?

This year, Banned Books Week is from September 26 – October 2, 2021. It is an annual event celebrated in the last week of September.

What is a Challenged or Banned Book?

According to the American Library Association, a challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials.

What is going on at the Dunbar Library for Banned Books Week?

  • Read a “Banned Book”: Some of the books that have been challenged or banned in other libraries are available for you to read at our libraries. These challenges often occur in K-12 libraries and schools, so you’ll find many of the books are available in the Charles and Renate Frydman Educational Resource Center on the 2nd floor.
  •  Visit the 2nd or 3rd-floor book displays or the Banned Books Week LibGuide. Use your Voice: Participate with our whiteboard polls in the 2nd-floor atrium or on the LibGuide’s Jamboard!
  • Show your Support: Get your “I read banned books” button (in a basket at the 2nd and 3rd–floor book displays) and wear it to show your freedom to read.

Mandy Shannon Appointed Interim Associate University Librarian

Posted on by linda
Mandy Shannon, Interim Associate University Librarian

The University Libraries are pleased to announce that Mandy Shannon has been appointed Interim Associate University Librarian for Public Services.

Mandy has worked for the Wright State University Libraries since 2013. Mandy has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Eastern Michigan University, a master’s degree in political science from The Ohio State University, and Master of Library Science from Clarion University. During her time with WSU,  she has served as a reference and instruction librarian for social sciences, the coordinator of library instruction & assessment, and in 2016 became the Head of Instruction and Research Services.

Over the past several years, Mandy has led grant-funded research projects from the Students First Fund, Academic Library Association of Ohio (ALAO), and the Friends of the University Libraries to study the relationship between library instruction and student success, particularly with the Libraries’ Research Toolkit workshop series. In addition to her work with student success and assessment initiatives in the library and across campus, Mandy serves on the Undergraduate Student Success Committee and We Serve U. She is a past chair of the ALAO Assessment Interest Group and has presented widely on both assessment initiatives and media literacy.

When asked what she was most looking forward to in her new position, Mandy said, “There are many ways that the University Libraries support students and the entire university community. I am excited for the opportunity to work with students and campus leaders to learn more about their evolving needs, and to continue and expand conversations about the many wonderful staff, resources, services, and spaces that are here to support the people and mission of Wright State University.”   

When she is not working, Mandy enjoys hiking, traveling, community theatre, and spending time with her family.