MussGettInfo!

2009-07-08T14:13:00.000-05:00

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Introducing Katie

2009-06-29T15:13:00.001-05:00

Our newest librarian is here: Katie Dover-Taylor.

Bird’s Eye View – Musselman Library

2009-06-29T15:05:00.000-05:00

I’m taking a few minutes to play with software. It’s pretty easy to use Windows Live Writer to insert maps into blog posts. Here’s Musselman Library from above. This shot must have been taken in a dryer time – our grass today is much greener than what you see here.

Discover Other Worlds in Musselman Library

2009-05-21T13:45:00.006-05:00

Alumni Weekend is just a week away! If you’re planning on visiting campus that weekend, make sure you stop by the library and check out the many exhibits that are on display. The current exhibit series is titled Discover Other Worlds and includes photographs, maps, wood carvings, and more.

On the Main Floor you will find:

Life in Miniature: Wood Carvings from Brienz – Wood carvings depicting daily life in nineteenth century Switzerland from the collection of Reverend Frederick S. Weiser, Class of 1957.

Literature of the Telescope – Browse 400 years of books about the telescope, and check out a replica of Galileo’s first modern telescope, all from the collection of Professor Larry Marschall.

11 Days in Asia – Photographs of Gettysburg College Students from China, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand, India, and the Philippines.

Images of Italy – A photography exhibit by Professor Dan DeNicola, party of the Library’s “Hidden Talents” series highlighting the artistic talents of the Gettysburg College community. Located in the Browsing Room.

Buddhism in the Modern World: Quest for Social and Religious Identity in Southwest China – Photographs by Professor Deborah Sommer. Located in the Apse.

In the Main Stairwell you will find:

Rediscovering My Country – Images of Kathmandu by Anukul Gurung, Class of 2009, documenting the dramatic rise in poverty and homelessness in his native Nepal.

In Special Collections you will find:

Mapping Other Worlds – Selections from the Stuckenberg Map Collection.

For those who are not able to visit campus, please check out the web versions of these exhibits available on the Library’s website. Enjoy!

Summertime Reference

2009-05-11T12:22:00.002-05:00

The semester is officially over and the Musselman Library Reference Desk is closed ... but that doesn't mean reference librarians aren't still here, ready and available to assist with your research!

If you would like to consult with a librarian, feel free to contact us using the Ask a Reference Librarian web form - one of us will respond to you during business hours. If you need help after hours, try using the Ask Here PA 24/7 reference service - friendly librarians from other colleges and universities are standing by ready to help.

If you're in town, Musselman Library is generally open 8:00-4:30 on weekdays during the summer. Ask for a reference librarian at the main desk, or visit us in suite 102 on the main floor - someone is bound to be around on most days. The Library is open additional hours for special occasions (like Alumni Weekend) - check the official calendar to find out if we're open on weekends.

Have a great summer. We'll see you again when classes resume on August 31, 2009!

You’ve gotta read this summer!

2009-05-06T17:37:00.007-05:00

Finals aren’t over yet, but the library staff know that you’re dreaming about the summer. Many of you will be busy during the break with jobs, internships, travel, and catching up with friends and family. However, that doesn’t mean you should give up books! You wouldn’t want your mind to turn to mush, right?

To help you all relax and keep your brains in working order, we encourage you to take full advantage of Musselman Library’s summer reading list. The list is easy to find on the library homepage, or you can link to it directly at http://www.gettysburg.edu/dotAsset/2535704.pdf.
Books and films have been selected by faculty, staff, and your fellow students, so you know they’ve got to be good.

Have a spectacular summer! For those of you who are graduating, we’ve loved working with you for the past four years – may you be successful in your future endeavors. As for the rest of you, we’ll see you in the fall!

Finals Hours and Study Break

2009-04-30T19:05:00.003-05:00

Finals are almost here! The library is getting busier and students are hard at work throughout the library. Musselman Library will be trying to help ease finals anxiety by extending hours and holding a finals study break.

Can't wait till May 5th to celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Come to the library on the 4th for a Cinco de Mayo study break!
When: May 4th 8:00pm - 10:00pm
Where: Library, back patio
*Rain location: Library Media Theater (Room 18)
Take a break from studying and de-stress for a while while enjoying some free ice cream and snacks, playing some games and listening to music! Bring your friends!

Library Finals Week Hours
Friday, May 1st, Close at 11pm
Saturday, May 2nd, Open at 10am and begin 24 hour access
The library won't close again until Saturday, May 9th at 5pm
Sunday, May 10th, Closed
Monday, May 11th, Open 8am - 4:30pm

Research Help - 911!!

2009-04-22T13:49:00.002-05:00

The semester may be coming to a close, but we know students are just gearing up for end-of-year papers and exams. Here are some quick survival tips!

Need help with your research during the wee hours of the night? Musselman Library now has access to "Ask Here PA," a state-wide reference service that provides users with access to a librarian 24/7. What does this mean for you? It's simple! If you have a burning research question when the reference desk is not staffed (10:00pm-9:00am), simply connect to Ask Here PA from the "Ask a Librarian" link off the library website and a helpful librarian from somewhere in the region or across the country who is staffing the 24 hour service will be able to help.

Citations, citations, citations! If you need help formatting citations for a paper, check out the Musselman Library "Citation Guide." This guide provides helpful links to several online citation manuals for commonly used styles (MLA, Turabian, APA, etc.). Students also love using SourceAid which builds citations for you. Give it a try!

2009-04-15T21:16:00.004-05:00

It’s National Library Week!

That’s right, April 12 – 19 is a week designated specifically to celebrate libraries and all they have to offer! Stop by Musselman Library to check out the display behind the reference desk featuring books, CDs and DVDs that relate to this year’s National Library Week theme: Worlds Connect at Your Library. Captain Picard will also be on hand with a few new facts about the library every day.

We will continue our observance of National Library Week with a Cake Break on Thursday, April 16 at 3:00pm. Everyone is invited to take a break, relax and enjoy some cake in the library.

Celebrate National Library Week with your library!

Read/Meet Bill McKibben

2009-04-06T14:03:00.003-05:00

The final two events of the Read Green environmental series involve Bill McKibben and his work. Join us for a discussion of Deep Economy, facilitated by Environmental Studies professor Randy Wilson, tonight at 7:00 pm (Penn Hall Lyceum). Then, plan to attend a public talk by Bill McKibben himself next week on Thursday, April 16, 7:30 pm (College Union Building Ballroom). McKibben wrote his book in 1997, and a lot has happened with the U.S. and global economies since then. How does it affect you, and what can you do to help? This is a talk you won't want to miss!

Do-it-yourself book check out!

2009-04-01T17:23:00.002-05:00

For those of you who dream of working in a library, now you can pretend you do! The library has recently installed a self-checkout machine that will allow you to check out books on your own without having to wait in line. Grab a library book, your ID card, and you’re ready to begin checking out books as fast and furiously as you can. It’s easy and convenient, and if you have problems, you can still get help from the friendly folks over at the Circulation Desk. Note that it can only be used for book check out; DVDs, videos, and CDs still need to be checked to you by a human at the Circ Desk.

The machine is located in the lobby of the library, right near the Circulation and Reference Desks. It looks like something out of Star Trek—very space age. Check it out! (Excuse the pun.)

Images of Italy

2009-03-18T08:15:00.003-05:00

Come take in the breathtaking views of Italy in Musselman Library's Browsing Room! This semester's featured "Hidden Talents" exhibit includes striking photographs of a sojourn in Italy by Dan DeNicola, professor of philosophy.

When DeNicola first traveled to Italy in 2006, he found "a photographer's dream." In both his first trip to Tuscany and Umbria and his second to Venice, the Dolomites, the "Northern Arc," and Lake Como, he "loved the diverse landscapes with marvelous colors and wondrous light."

Colorful and vibrant, the exhibit includes images of water taxis and gondolas, richly painted homes and climbing wisteria, and gorgeous vistas. When asked why he selected these particular photographs, DeNicola explains that these pictures "invite the viewer to enter into the landscape, to become the subject, to stay awhile, to take an Italian sabbatical."

How can one refuse? Come take your sabbatical in the library's main floor browsing room. The exhibit will be on display through the summer.

Make a date with a librarian!

2009-03-03T11:25:00.002-05:00

This time of year, research really begins to heat up. For anyone who is feeling discouraged or has been searching everywhere and can’t find the information needed for a project, a Research Appointment with a librarian can be very helpful.

Scheduling an appointment is easy – all you have to do is fill out a form on our website and submit your request (go to http://www.gettysburg.edu/library/services/forms/rpc_request.dot). On the form, tell us about your project and what you have accomplished so far. We will contact you to schedule a meeting at a time that is convenient for you. Usually, we need at least 48 hours advanced noticed. Not that we like keeping you waiting, but we need time to prepare so we can provide you with the best possible service! Depending on the complexity of your research question and your experience, the meeting might last from 15-60 minutes.

Of course, if you’re also welcome to drop by the reference desk, e-mail us, or chat with a librarian using your instant messenger account. We even offer 24/7 help through AskHerePA, a service that allows you to get help from librarians in other parts of the country when we’re not available (yes, even at 2:00 a.m.!)

To learn more about Research Appointments and other ways that you can get help research help, click on the orange Ask a Librarian button on the library homepage.

Read Green - we're just getting started!

2009-03-03T09:03:00.005-05:00

Read Green: A Gettysburg Environmental Series is in full swing! This semester, the Library is sponsoring a series of three book discussions (facilitated by local subject specialists), two film screenings (introduced by an environmental film expert), and one lecture by environmental activist author Bill McKibben.

Our February 3 discussion of Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle was attended by 75 enthusiastic readers. People yearn to talk about food - the industrial food system, local alternatives, how to grow food, where to acquire it... Audrey Hess, coordinator of the Adams County Local Foods Network, and Elaine Lemmon, founder of Everblossom Farm, facilitated this discussion.

A few weeks later, an even larger crowd gathered to hear Salma Monani (Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies) introduce King Corn and watch the film. A lively discussion followed the show.

Tonight, we'll gather to discuss Elizabeth Kolbert's Field Notes from a Catastrophe, a book about climate change. Environmental Studies professors Rutherford (Rud) Platt and Sarah Principato will guide us through this material.

Other upcoming events include:

Film screening: The End of Suburbia. Wednesday, March 25, 7:00 pm, Joseph Theater
Book discussion: Deep Economy by Bill McKibben. Monday, April 6, 7:00 pm, Lyceum (Penn Hall 3rd floor)
Author visit: Bill McKibben. Thursday, April 16, 7:30 pm, CUB Ballroom.

This series has a lot of momentum, and it's not too late to join the fun. Grab a book and join us to talk about the environment, sustainability, and how it affects us here in Adams County, PA. See you there!

Calling All Future Librarians!

2009-02-06T14:24:00.002-05:00

Musselman Library is searching for a motivated and responsible individual to serve as its Barbara Holley Library Intern. This one year, paid position with benefits allows the Intern to work closely with several Library Departments and gain valuable experience in many aspects of library operations, procedures, and management.

The internship is intended for a recent college graduate (or one who will graduate this spring) interested in pursuing a career in information science, librarianship, or archives and records management. Previous interns have gone on to complete graduate degrees in library and information studies and are now working as information professionals.

The full job description and instructions for applying are available on the Musselman Library Web site at http://www.gettysburg.edu/library/information/general/internships/holley.dot.

Deadline for application is Monday, March 2.

Book cart drill team documentary

2009-01-22T11:28:00.002-05:00

Practicing the Hand Jive
Originally uploaded by muss_lib

Please join us for the premiere public screening of the feel-good documentary of the year! The fun will begin at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, January 28, in Library 018.

Film Studies students Anskar Fosse, ’11, and Patricia Veasey, ’11, created a documentary about Musselman Library’s book cart drill team for their final project in FILM 220. Running time is 15 minutes. Q&A with the directors will follow.

As this is a serious film event, there will be popcorn.

We would love to see you there!

Icy day

2009-01-07T11:05:00.000-05:00

Today, the Gettysburg College campus is a winter wonderland!

Recycle at Musselman Library

2008-12-15T11:18:00.002-05:00

Recycle at Musselman Library
Originally uploaded by muss_lib

By now, you've probably noticed the shiny new recycling bins here at Musselman Library. You'll see the same set of three bins at nine locations around the building. Please sort your trash and recycling properly, so we can improve the overall recycling rate in our library. If recycling bins are contaminated with trash, the whole bag goes into the trash truck. There is no human sorting of our waste after you toss it into a bin!

Cans and bottles - we recycle #1 and #2 plastic (NOT the other numbers!), glass, and aluminum. Lids are okay. Please empty all containers.

Paper - we recycle office paper, newspaper, and glossy inserts. Colored paper is okay.

Waste - anything that doesn't fit in the other bins goes here. This includes plastic cups from the Bullethole and plastic containers marked #1 and #2 that are not bottles.

Reminder - don't throw used batteries away! Drop them into the bin in the CUB (near the mail window). We will have a battery recycling bin here in the library soon, as well.

Finals study break returns!

2008-12-12T10:46:00.000-05:00

Anxiety is on the rise in the library as finals approach—you can almost smell it in the air! Computers are packed, chairs are full, groups of students huddle around laptops.

If you need a reprieve from the intensity of finals week, the library will be serving up cookies and fun at the annual holiday study break. Nibble on cupcakes, play games, and even better, get creative and participate in the 2nd annual “Trick My Book Truck” competition.

Last year, five junky old book trucks were transformed into works of art during this finals week de-stress-fest. (Check out some of the more wonderful creations that emerged from the event!)

If you are interested in participating or just want to kick back, relax, and sip a hot cocoa in the library for a few minutes, come by and visit.

When: Monday, December 15 (the first Monday of finals!) from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Where: Room 18 on the ground floor of the library.

Food and beverages will be served until our supply is depleted!

A Reading for Lincoln

2008-11-17T09:07:00.001-05:00

Join us for the final Notes at Noon concert of the fall semester! On Tuesday, November 18th Musselman Library presents a special dramatic and musical tribute to Lincoln, as part of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial celebration. Richard Sautter will appear as James Murdoch, one of the most well-known actors in mid-19th century America. During the Civil War, Murdoch gave benefit readings in order to raise money for soldiers and also performed for Lincoln and other members of his administration.

In addition to Sautter’s dramatic reading, traditional music will be presented by the local group Tin Kettle. So, bring your lunch and a friend to the Library Apse at noon on the 18th, for a one-of-a-kind performance.

For those of you who cannot make it to the lunchtime concert, there will be a second performance Tuesday night in the Majestic Theatre (Cinema 1) at 8:00pm. The evening performance is co-sponsored by the Friends of Musselman Library, Adams County Library System, The Sunderman Conservatory of Music and Civil War Era Studies. Both events are free and open to the public.

You're the One That I Want! Ooo-oo-ooooo

2008-11-11T11:35:00.002-05:00

Musselman Library is proud to announce that its very own book cart drill team, Gett Down With Your Funky Shelf, took 1st place in its category in the 2008 Gettysburg Halloween Parade. Team members include Ronalee Ciocco, Katherine Downton, Kayla Lenkner, Kerri Odess-Harnish, Susan Roach, Meggan Smith, Denise Weldon-Sivy, and Janelle Wertzberger, all of Musselman Library.

The defining characteristic of any book cart drill team is its moves, and this is where Gett Down With Your Funky Shelf stole the show. Katy Mattson (Office of Career Development) choreographed the 60-second routine scored by parade judges in Lincoln Square, as well as the marching routine performed continuously along the parade route. Team members dance through town to popular Grease songs “We Go Together”, “Grease is the Word”, “Summer Loving”, “Born to Hand Jive”, and “You’re the One That I Want.” The team won first place in its category (“marching groups”), finishing ahead of Franklin Township Elementary and Brownie Troop 894.

The team had assistance from other Gettysburians, as well. Travis Mathna (IT Audio-Visual Systems Integration & Support) provided the team’s music, which he projected from the Blue Bullet electric vehicle familiar to everyone on campus. Sharon Birch (IT Instructional Technologist) designed the 1950s car decorations on the book carts. Professors John Kovaleski (Visual Arts) and Jocelyn Swigger (Sunderman Conservatory of Music) carried the team banner with grace and style, adding a bit of their own fancy footwork to the mix.

Due to popular demand, an encore performance was held two days after the parade for members of the Gettysburg College community who missed the parade. The team marched around Stine Lake and reenacted their winning performance in front of the Library (video here). Curious faculty, staff and students (and even some preschoolers from the campus child care center) showed up to watch the event.

Check out more photos on the library’s Flickr page.

Stay tuned for an announcement about the documentary film! That's right, the library book cart drill team is the subject of a documentary film created by film studies students Anskar Fosse and Patricia Veasey. We plan to host a premiere showing (complete with director interviews) sometime this fall or in January. Anyone up for a red carpet event?

Getting political at the library

2008-11-05T20:57:00.001-05:00

After what seems like years (in fact, it was years) of campaigning, it’s hard to believe that the 2008 election has finally come to a close! Regardless of your joy or grief at the outcome, no one can deny that it has been quite an extraordinary race.

Palpable excitement and anticipation was more evident in the library and on campus than in past elections, and the library made a point of not letting students forget the importance of voting and voicing opinions about political issues.

The “graffiti board” where students scribbled their thoughts about the candidates started as a single panel, but expanded quickly to three. Lengthy, intelligent analyses were scrawled alongside comic quips (some a bit tasteless, but that’s part of the fun!). It was impossible to pass by without stopping to browse.

The library made voter registration forms available to students and built a website focused on the election. Decked out in election season décor—including bunting and our 2-D candidates dressed in elephant and donkey garb--the main floor of the library maintained a lighthearted tone, while never failing to remind us of our civic duty.

Thanks for participation and enthusiasm! If you have creative ideas for future election activities, please let us know.

Wanted: Library Interns!

2008-10-21T09:13:00.001-05:00

The searches for Fortenbaugh Interns are in full swing! If you (or someone you know) are considering a career in libraries, archives, or information science and want to gain some experience, then you should consider applying for one of several Esther Kenyon Fortenbaugh Internships at Musselman Library. Positions are available in Special Collections, Reference, and Music Librarianship for students who are interested in exploring careers in these fields.

The internships are for the Spring Semester 2009 (6-8 hours/week, $8.00/hour). For full job descriptions and application information, please see http://www.gettysburg.edu/library/information/general/internships/students/index.dot.

Application deadlines is Monday, Nov. 10!

For more information, contact Kerri Odess-Harnish at 337-7018 or kodessha@gettysburg.edu (Reference), Karen Drickamer at 337-7015 or kdrickam@gettysburg.edu (Special Collections), or Tim Sestrick at 337-7045 or tsestric@gettysburg.edu (Music).

Ask Here PA, 24/7 research help

2008-10-13T15:18:00.002-05:00

Did you ever notice that Musselman Library is open all night long, but the reference desk closes at 10 pm? All that is about to change!

No, we didn't hire a 10 pm - 8 am reference librarian... We joined an international network of reference librarians who help people find answers online. The service is called AskHerePA, and Gettysburg College students can use it whenever they like. If our local reference desk is closed, another college or university reference librarian will help you find what you need. You can chat with the librarian in the IM window, and the librarian can "show" you webpages with resources that will help you.

Gettysburg College librarians will help staff the network, too. Maybe we'll help someone you know who attends another college or university!

Please feel free to try AskHerePA anytime you have a research question, and do let us know what you think. Happy researching!

A Kayak in the Library?!

2008-10-09T09:10:00.003-05:00

If you have spent any time on Musselman Library’s main floor this fall, you may have noticed an interesting sight: a full-sized wooden kayak in the Browsing Room!

The kayak, which was hand-made by Gettysburg College’s own John Regentin, is part of this semester’s Hidden Talents exhibit. Through posters, tools, drawings, and the kayak itself, the exhibit lays out how Regentin completed this exciting woodworking project.

Regentin, assistant dean of college life and director of experiential education, is no stranger to the outdoors. Now, after a year’s worth of hard work, he can paddle around various bodies of water in his very own vessel.

Come check out John Regentin’s kayak exhibit in Musselman Library’s Browsing Room today!