When most of us returned to the library this academic year we saw a change in the alcove next to the reference room. It went from being an index room with tables along the walls that were never used to two tables in the middle with a mess all around. Now we have two large round tables, five computer stations, four reading chairs with laptop tables and comfortable desk chairs. A few librarians and I scrounged up some photos of this amazing change. Below you can see this transformation.
What is use to be:
Here are several that I took in its intermediate stage:
What it looks like today after the hard work of three women; a librarian, a electrician and a painter:
Today the alcove is a popular spot because of the lighting, privacy and because it is comfortable.
Working
If you are like me and several of my friends you live off campus with no internet. Sometimes they texted me to ask me what time the library opens or closes because they know that I am always here. But what if you do not know me or do not have my number! Well you are in luck because your library has a new service!
Now you can send a text message to 265010 to the reference librarian screen name psuiref. You can ask what are the hours for the day and the librarian will text you back. You could ask what time the librarian will be on the desk that day so that you can catch them instead of arriving only to find out that they have already left for the day! This text service is available during the regular hours and that your regular text-messaging rates will apply.
This is a great service that is keeping `up with our ever growing tech. age! In fact several of our librarians have facebook’s and iphones! I don’t even have an iphone! Lol. Hope the semester is going well and you are getting your work done. You can tell that we are nearing the end because the reference room is steadily becoming more busy! Happy reading and studying!
Jennie
A few of my friends have suggested that instead of writing a blog about an author we have because it is their birthday that maybe I should do a few posts about books we have that I recommend. So here it is. I was rather difficult to choice a book I like to recommend because it might be the only time I will do this. This book I actually thought of first but went through my list anyways.
I had to read this book for one of my history classes and was excited about the message she conveys within the relatively short book. I actually plan on re-reading it when I return back to Massachusetts after graduation and before I move one to the next phase of my life. I think everyone should read this book at some point. I also think women should read this book and consider the author’s message and the implications for her own life.
A Room of One’s Ownwas written by the one of the foremost modernist authors of her time and the twentieth century; Virginia Woolf. This extended essay was written during the inter-war period just before the stock market crashed during a time when Europe was trying to figure out what really happened in World War I and why it happened.
In this book Woolf creates a fictional character Judith Shakespeare’s, the sister of William Shakespeare. Woolf is exploring whether women could produce quality writing like William Shakespeare. Virginia Woolf concludes that women have this ability but have not had the opportunities because women are busy working overtime. This idea ties in with what occurred during WWI. Men went to fight in a war that no one understands for what reason while women went into the work force to take the jobs men left while still doing her duty of taking care of her family. What Woolf is saying if women had the same opportunities as men such as money and her own room she too could write fiction. For me this is an important message and I still think this is applicable today. I think if women allow themselves time to develop themselves they too may have something profound to say to and about the world.
Let me know what you think. Do you think this is an important message? Have you read this book? Is there something else you find important in this book? Let me know. Also check out the poll I have on the side of this page.
The call number to this book is: PN471.W66
Jennie
