Common Read 2012

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is SDSU’s Common Read book for 2012.  The choice was revealed during a special party at the library on May 1st. Attendees enjoyed refreshments and received free copies of the book courtesy of the library.

This is the fourth year for SDSU’s Common Read.  Previous selections were Outcasts United, Mountains Beyond Mountains, and Three Cups of Tea.  Many students enrolled in First Year Seminar courses will be reading and discussing the current selection this fall.   A slate of activities centered on the book and its subject matter will be announced later.

Linda Kott
Information Services Librarian

Common Read – Outcasts United

Outcasts United by Warren St. John is this year’s Common Read selection. Fall 2011 marks the third year of SDSU’s common reading program.  Previous Common Reads were Mountains Beyond Mountains and Three Cups of Tea.

The campus effort will target freshmen seminar courses, but all SDSU faculty, staff and students are welcome to read the text and to integrate it in their courses and campus activities next fall.

The author, Warren St. John will be on campus on October 26th and the coach of the team, Luma Mufleh, will be here on November 9th.

More information about campus activities can be found on the SDSU Common Read website. Additional information on Outcasts can be found at the Outcasts United website.

Constitution Day/Congress Week

This year is the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  It’s an appropriate time to revisit the documents and institutions that sustain our country in the wake of a national tragedy like 9/11 and other challenges.  Constitution Day, September 17, and Congress Week, September 12-16, provide us with that opportunity.

Constitution Day celebrates the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787.  Established by Congress in 2004, Constitution Day stresses the importance of the Constitution as a document that guides our government and protects citizens’ rights.  You can read the Constitution online or come in to the Government Documents office on the lower level of the library for a free copy.

The Association of Centers for the Study of Congress (ACSC) created Congress Week to coincide with Constitution Day.  ACSC encourages the study of Congress and its key role in the government as established by the Constitution.  Our own Thomas A. Daschle Congressional Research Study, located within the Special Collections area of Briggs Library, provides a unique resource for the study of Congress.  Here the public can access papers from Daschle’s twenty-six years in Congress.

The staff at Briggs Library encourages you to explore our resources and learn more about the U.S. Constitution and Congress.  The library is a member of the Federal Depository Library Program, and has been since 1889, so we provide free access to congressional, executive, and judicial publications.  For more information on this program connect to our Government Documents Web page. 

You can also come to the library to see displays on the lower and main levels.  Access our History and Political Science Research Guides.  Search library resources such as our online catalog and databases to get more information.  Also, feel free to contact a librarian about the Constitution, Congress, or any other research interests.

 Linda Kott
Information Services Librarian

Dean of Briggs Library Retires in June

A retirement reception will be held for Dr. David Gleim, Dean of Libraies, on Wednesday, June 15, 2:30 – 4:00 pm. Please join us in the Recent Fiction area on the main level of Briggs Library for toasting, roasting and refreshments.

Dr. Gleim has been the Dean of Libraries since July 2007 and will retire in June. He will be the last head of Briggs Library to hold the title of Dean. He will be followed by a Chief University Librarian. During his tenure at SDSU, the library has seen some exciting changes and some long-overdue changes, as well. Among these changes, the library

• Moved to a single service desk for its reference, circulation, reserve, and interlibrary loan operations
• Added a coffee and sandwich shop
• Welcomed the Honors College into the building
• Welcomed the campus Teaching/Learning Center into its midst
• Replaced bright orange carpet on the lower level
• Installed compact shelving on the lower level
• Constructed a beautiful new Archives area that houses the Sen. Daschle Congressional Research Study Room

Dr. Gleim has been active in the South Dakota Library Association and currently serves on the SDLN Executive Committee. He also sits on the Friends of the Brookings Public Library Board and on the Board of the Wegner Health Sciences Information Center. When not sitting on a board or standing at his desk in the dean’s office, he is a running enthusiast who has competed in local and regional marathons and half-marathons. He also spends time in the classroom at SDSU improving the Spanish skills he needs when traveling in Mexico where he and his wife plan to live following their retirements. His staff and colleagues at SDSU are grateful that he chose Briggs Library as the place to end his long and productive library career.

We hope to see you in the library for this celebration on June 15th!

Susan Schleicher
Information Services

Study Break Treats

Morning Study Break Beverages

These appealing beverages were available in the library’s lobby this morning.  Check out the post below for details about morning and evening study breaks during finals week.

 Good luck to everyone on their final exams!

 Linda Kott
Information Services Librarian

Study Breaks During Finals Week

Watch A YouTube Video About  Briggs Library Study Breaks

It’s become a tradition for Briggs Library staff members to host evening study breaks during finals week.  This semester, Briggs Library will hold morning study breaks as well.

 Evening Breaks

 Enjoy coffee, cookies, and lemonade to help keep you going.

 Refreshments will be offered Sunday, Monday, & Tuesday, May 1-3, starting around 7 p.m. in Room 105 of the library.

 Morning Breaks

 Enjoy a morning pick-me-up of coffee or juice on Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday mornings, May 2-4, starting at 8 a.m. in the library’s lobby.

 Linda Kott
Information Service Librarian

Thermos Winners

During National Library Week Briggs Library users entered daily raffles for a themos.  Congratulation to the winners:

Monday – Yeshitila Belayneh
Tuesday – Kyle Avocato
Wednesday – Cassandra Lukkes
Thursday – Kayla Wieskus
Friday – Alex Hoffman

Linda Kott, Information Services Librarian

Celebrate Your Library

 

Students & Staff Celebrate National Library Week with Ice Cream

Alas!  National Library Week ends on Saturday 16 April.  We don’t have ice cream every week, but you can celebrate your library every week by using its resources and services. 

 For example, remember the library is a great place for studying.  We have extended hours during finals week.  Connect to our Library Hours page for details.  Also, as you work on your last research projects of the semester, remember you can ask librarians questions.  Click on the Ask Us link on the library’s homepage for information about contacting a librarian in person, by phone, or via e-mail or chat.

 Linda Kott
Information Services Librarian

Ice Cream for National Library Week

Help us celebrate National Library Week.  Come to the library’s lobby on Wednesday 13 April at 2 p.m. and enjoy SDSU ice cream.  You may also enter a raffle to win one of five thermoses.

Started in 1958, National Library Week celebrates the contributions of libraries and librarians and promotes library use and support. 

Linda Kott, Information Services Librarian

Festival of Cultures

Librarian Mary Kraljic at Past Festival of Cultures / Photo by Patty Vick

Briggs Library staff members will be hosting a booth at SDSU’s 29^th Annual Festival of Cultures.  We hope you will join us in Frost Arena on Friday 1 April anytime from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Our booth will highlight library resources related to culture.  You can explore world cultures in more depth by visiting the library in-person or online.  Following are just a few ways to dive into the topic.

• Peruse the library’s collection of local, regional, and world newspapers found on the main level of the library.
• Use the library’s catalog to find records for books, government documents, DVD’s, and electronic books.
• Consult resources in the library’s Reference Collection on the library’s main level, including multivolume works on Culture and Customs organized by country and Food Culture organized by country or region.
• Use one of our many databases to find articles in magazines, journals, or newspapers.
• Explore Government Information, including international information.
• Ask a librarian to help with your research.  Consult with a librarian in person at the Information Services Desk or click on the Ask Us link on the library’s homepage for information on connecting by phone, e-mail or instant messaging. 

 Linda Kott
Information Service Librarian