Primary Source
FSU Campus Community Edition - December 2023
HENRY WHITTEMORE LIBRARY
On behalf of the Whittemore Library, I wish you all the best during this holiday season. May you enjoy your well-deserved time off and come back rejuvenated for the spring semester. I canโt believe the semester is almost done! These months flew by and the library was super busy as you can read in our latest newsletter. I hope you enjoy our book and music recommendations, the profiles of our students and staff, pictures of our events, and our (blast from the past) ChewyDewy cookbook! Thank you Kate for creating such an engaging newsletter.
Connect with us through our social media or stop by the library for a book, a fresh salad and coffee, a conversation with our staff, and some quiet time in any of our spaces in the building.
- Millie Gonzalez, Library Dean
* LATEST NEWS *
November was Native American Heritage Month. In 1916, the Governor of New York declared the first American Indian Day in any state. For many years, other states followed suit. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush issues a join resolution designating November as National American Indian Heritage Month. While different names have used over the years, there has been a similar proclamation issued every year since 1994.
(source: https://www.nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/about.html)
Learn more about the laws and proclamations surrounding Native American Heritage Month by visiting the Commemorative Observances Legal Research Guide from the Library of Congress.
Framingham State University is located on the homelands of the Nipmuc Nation. For more information about Native homelands in Massachusetts and around the country and the world, visit Native Land Digital. To learn more about the Nipmuc Nation, visit https://www.nipmucnation.org/.
The Library highlighted the contributions and achievements of Native Americans in STEM on our November bulletin board.
Customer Service Training
Our student workers recently participated in an annual customer service training, including a quiz to test their customer service knowledge and skill: maintenance of the stacks (i.e shelf reading, Library of Congress), emergency and conflict resolution guidelines, taking messages, etc. The assessment is an important tool for the Access Services staff to help them evaluate the progress of the student assistants in their customer service abilities. Student workers who completed the quiz were eligible to win prizes!
The winners are:
Olivia Alexander (pictured)
Ava Barenski
Mark Cote
Olivia Florestal
Maureen Haswell
Susanna Krantz
Andrea O'Brien
Destinie Russano
Diverse Scholars Program
From Lori Wolfe, Interlibrary Loan Supervisor:
Interlibrary Loan Coordinator Alex Young and I were happy to work again with the Diverse Scholars program during the Fall semester. Alex worked with Sean and I worked with Hannah. I think both of them will return next semester. Sean and Hannah do great work in the library. They check the bins in and put items on the hold shelf, put books in order on the carts, pull books for the paging list and put books away. They are fantastic help and itโs been great getting to know them and having them get to know our student assistants.
๐ New Books in our McNaughton Collection
Our McNaughton Collection is a great way to find something new and interesting to read. Read our blog to find out about some of the books weโve added recently by wonderful authors like Mitch Albom, James Patterson, Katherine Howe and many more!
(Stay connected with the Library's blog for news about upcoming events and info about new books on our shelves.)
No Homework Book Club - See You In The Spring
The Library's No Homework Book Club was so successful during the Fall semester that we're going to keep the fun going and will continue to gather in the Spring semester. Join your hosts Kathleen Barnard and Kim Carney in their book discussions on February 21, March 13 and April 10 in Room UM14 in the Library. Reserve your spot today by scanning the QR code or going to the library events calendar.
* Did You Know? *
We post a "White Board Question" each week on our whiteboard in the lobby. This semester we asked the FSU community:
If You Could Have Any Superpower, What Would It Be?
What Is Your Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Or Dessert?
If You Could Have Any Fictional Character As A Friend, Who Would It Be?
What's Your Best Study Tips For Finals?
What Have You Been Listening To Lately?
What's Your Favorite Thing About The Library?
What Is Your Favorite Halloween Candy or Treat?
Introducing The Whittemore Walk !
An indoor walking loop in the Whittemore Library!
Get ready to walk your winter blues away and lead healthier and more productive lives!
We invite everyone to join in our new initiative to promote health and wellness and encourage an active lifestyle. Click on the button below to download the simple directions on how to get started but don't be afraid to mix it up.
Some suggestions:
- Wear your headphones and listen to energetic music, an uplifting podcast or an audiobook.
- Bring a coworker and walk together.
- Create a department walking challenge.
- Set goals.
- Change up your fitness focus: number of steps? amount of time?
Grab your walking shoes and get started today.
Begin 2024 with a new focus on self-care.
See you soon!
New Arrival !
Meet Colleen Maxfield
... the newest member of our Acquisitions Department and our E-Resources and Digital Services Department. As the Acquisitions Assistant, she will assist Scholarly Resources Acquisitions and Management Librarian Jonathan Golden by ordering books for the Library collections, maintaining the McNaughton Rental Collection, and processing invoices for Library resources. As the E-Resources Assistant, she will assist Emerging Technologies and Digital Services Librarian Abe Newell with e-resource projects, data assessment and usage information analysis.
If Colleen looks familiar its because she's a FSU alum and former assistant at IAFSA. In her free time she enjoys sewing, watching movies, playing video games and reading. She loves dressing up and making her own Halloween costumes.
Welcome back to the fRAMily, Colleen!
Email: cmaxfield@framingham.edu
Phone: 508-626-4665
๐ Spotlight On...Archives & Special Collections
University Archives and Special Collections are located on the first floor of the Henry Whittemore Library. Materials in the collections are available for research use from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday, or by appointment. Materials are non-circulating. Titles in the O'Connor Collection of modern American poetry and travel are searchable through the Library's online catalog. To request titles in the other collections, please consult the Special Collections staff.
For more information or to make an appointment, please reach out to Librarian Colleen Previte.
Colleen Previte
cprevite@framingham.edu
Special Collections Librarian and Archivist
(508) 626-4648
Room: 110
Nancy Hanley
nhanley@framingham.edu
Library Assistant
(508) 626-4691
Room: 110
๐ Spotlight On ... Our Student Workers
Social Media Intern
Hi, Iโm Sarah Sagan. I grew up in Framingham. I graduated from FSU in 2022 with a degree in English (concentration in Writing) and will receive my Masters in English this semester. My dream job is to become either a Director of Information Technology or a Cybersecurity Technician. When I was an undergrad student, I was the president of the English Club and the Gaming Club. Occasionally, Iโll stop by and say hi to the Gaming Club, but since I work full-time at the FSU IT Department, itโs difficult to make time for extracurricular activities. Student-led clubs will always have a soft spot in my heart though. I met a lot of cool people by going to events and hosting my own.
In my spare time, I enjoy creating art and playing video games (both casually and competitively). I have participated in a few local Super Smash Bros Tournaments, and although I havenโt won any yet, I enjoy playing the game for the gameโs sake. In terms of art, I love designing characters and creating backstories for them. I also paint cats flying spaceships. I have a cat named Meeka! She is a brown tabby with polydactyl, which means she has thumbs. My favorite tv show is Black Mirror and my favorite movie is Coraline. As for books, right now Iโm focusing all my energy on my masterโs thesis, so a lot of my reading has been literary criticism โ not any specific book. Once Iโm done, I plan to finish reading Cosmos: Possible Worlds by Ann Druyan. My favorite genre of music is industrial metal. I also love the upbeat, quirky soundtracks featured in Nintendo games, but Iโm not sure if that counts as a genre.
If I could have dinner with 3 people, I would love to have one more dinner with my paternal grandmother and my parents. She passed away in 2011, so we would have a lot of catching up to do. Admittedly, she wasnโt the best cook (sorry grandma Lynne!), so I hope in this hypothetical situation we could go out to a restaurant.
I've worked as a social media intern in the library during the Fall semester. I have loved talking with the staff โ everyone is very down-to-earth! It's also a wonderful opportunity to display my graphic designs both online and on the tv near the libraryโs entrance. I created visual media, including graphics and videos. I designed two keychains that were given out at events. I work remotely on my own time, so my shifts are usually short bursts of 1-2 hours. I create most of my designs in Canva (super helpful for creating graphic designs because it has a huge library of pre-made assets for me to choose from). For more complicated projects (where pre-made assets might not be appropriate), I use Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Premiere Pro. When I was editing a โWelcome Backโ video, I did a quick investigation into the Minuteman Catalog/Interlibrary loan system. I was surprised to learn that you can borrow video games and board games at the library! That is the coolest thing to me.
Special Collections and Archives Intern
Hi I'm Anthony Sims. I grew up in Franklin, Massachusetts. I am an English major and will graduate in 2024. I want to be a writer or a copywriter after I graduate. I'm a member of the FSU student government, President and founder of the chess club, treasurer of the Comic Book Club, NSLS member, and MDJM member.
I enjoy playing video games, mead making, playing guitar and chess. I have a cat named Charlie. My favorite television show is Breaking Bad and my favorite movie is Sing Street. My favorite books are Berserk (again), Blood Meridian, The Hobbit, Crime and Punishment and The Art of War. I love hard rock, especially Queens of the Stone Age.
If I could have dinner with 3 people, I'd like to have dinner with Jimi Hendrix, Jesus and George Carlin.
I've worked as an intern in the Special Collections and Archives Department. I liked being able to make posts about information that people found entertaining, through books older than me. I work to create and surmise information on various people associated with the college, whether that be alumni, faculty or others. I start work in the Library around 9am-9:30am and work for 3 hours researching people, events, or miscellaneous subjects. This library houses books and articles older than I anticipated, dating back to the school's inception.
As Seen In The Library ....
The New Snack In Town
Po-Tay-Toe...Potato...
Halloween Time in the Library
The Library Holiday Elf
Elvis IS in the house
* RECENT EVENTS *
โซ...Until We Meet Again ...โซ
Librarian Hedda Monaghan has moved on to another position outside of FSU. We thank them for being such an important part of the team for more than 7 years. We are indebted to them for their contributions and devoted service to the Library and thank them for the positive impact they had on the Library and the staff, both personally and professionally. We also thank them for their dedication to the faculty and students. We wish them all the best and are very excited for the new opportunities that lie ahead for them!
Workshop Wednesdays
Once again, the Research & Learning department hosted Workshop Wednesdays. This semester the sessions featured RamSearch and Zotero. These sessions were hosted both in-person and online. Ramsearch is a tool for searching the libraryโs databases, online resources, and books. Zotero is a free citation management tool that can help organize research.
The staff plan on holding Workshop Wednesdays in the Spring semester - be on the lookout for the announcement of the topics to be featured and info on registration.
Swiacki Children's Literature Festival
From Sam Westall, Curriculum Librarian:
The 2023 Swiacki Childrenโs Literature Festival featuring Dashka Slater, a Stonewall Award winner, and Ekua Holmes, a two time Coretta Scott King Sward winner, went off with out a hitch on November 2. Both Dashka and Ekua spoke and held workshops with preselected classes on campus during the school day. In the afternoon Dashka and Ekua were available in the Mazmanian Gallery, where some of Ekuaโs original artwork were on display, to sign their books. Prior to the dinner Dr. Laura Hudock and Samantha Westall both members of the Framingham State University community gave a presentation on โWhatโs New in Childrenโs Literatureโ, entailing their top picks from board books to young adult novels for 2023. Next came the dinner portion of the evening, alumna Nora Chan, the dinner speaker, delivered an impassioned presentation on the effect of book banning on childrenโs publishing. Dashka and Ekua each spoke about their own experiences with writing and illustration as well as how the national increase in book banning has effected them. Overall the night was a great success!
Stay tuned in November 2024 when Ibi Zoboi and Duncan Tonatiuh will be visiting campus.
GenOne
The library was proud to partner with GenOne and CASA to recognize First Gen students. We created a blog post with a list of books written by First Gen authors along with info from LaDonna Bridges, Dean of Student Success and Persistence and Director of CASA, and Abbie Shore Student Success Coach, GenOne. We joined them on Wednesday, November 8 in the McCarthy Center lobby to celebrate National First Generation College Day.
Cocoa By The Fire
The Library's Student Engagement Committee organized and held the annual "Cocoa By The Fire" event. Library staff provided steaming cups of hot cocoa and tea along with yummy treats to students who welcomed a bit of good cheer and encouragement as they studied for their final exams.
in photo below, l-r:
Student assistant Olivia Alexander
Curriculum Librarian Sam Westall
Student Engagement Coordinator Kathleen Barnard
Access Services Supervisor Lori Wolfe
Special Collections Librarian & Archivist Colleen Previte
Acquisitions Assistant Colleen Maxfield
Millie, Lori, Sam, Kathleen, Colleen
Lining Up For The Cocoa
Lots of Yummy Treats
๐ Giving Tree Program ๐
In the spirit of community and the holidays, the Library staff answered the call from the Center for Student Experience and Career Development to participate in the 9th Annual Giving Tree Program, co-hosted by the United Way of Tri-Country. We were provided wish lists from two children in need.The Library staff came together and purchased the requested gifts (and much more!) for our "adopted" youngsters.
We are very grateful for the opportunity to fulfill the holiday wishes of local children during this holiday season.
๐งธ Toys For Tots ๐
The Library joined with the FSU Police Department and the FSU Veterans Center in partnering with the U.S. Marines in their holiday giving campaign, Toys for Tots, in order to bring smiles to kids in need this holiday season. From November 1 until December 13, we accepted toy donations in a large box at the entrance of the Library.
On December 13, FSU Police Sergeant Harpreet Singh and other members of the FSU police department drove a cruiser up to the front entrance of the Library. Library elves and staff from the Veterans Center stuffed the vehicle with a mountain of toys and books generously donated by the FSU community. Mission accomplished!
Thank you to everyone for your donations. We look forward to making an even bigger donation next year!
November 1
The large toy box is placed in the Library, ready for donations.
December 13
Time to collect the toys at the Library!
Packed and Ready To Go!
Stuffing the Cruiser!
Final Result
Need More Room!
No Homework Book Club - Wrap Up!
From co-host Kathleen Barnard:
The Fall 2023 semester marked the beginning of the Henry Whittemore Library's No Homework Book Club (NHBC)! The goal of the NHBC was to create a community of readers who come together to share what they have been reading lately or their favorite titles. The Club doesn't "assign" a particular book or spend their time discussing a single title each meeting. Instead, they just talk about books!
This first semester saw nearly 150 titles discussed! Check out the complete list in our blog, compiled by NHBC co-host Kim Carney! (Books discussed at multiple meetings are highlighted in yellow and are listed multiple times.)
We look forward to seeing you again in the Spring. Make sure to check out the Henry Whittemore Library Events Calendar to keep up with NHBC and our other exciting events!
* EPILOGUE *
What Iโve Been Reading (Fall/Winter 2023 Edition)
by Kathleen Barnard
Itโs that time of year again. Time to cozy up with a big blanket, a hot drink, and read! If youโre looking for a great winter read, here are some books to consider. Use the links to request these titles from the Henry Whittemore Library!
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
This book centers on the stories of Norma, a woman who grows up in small-town Maine with her strict parents, and Joe, a Miโkmaq man in Nova Scotia whose sister disappears when they are children. Both Norma and Joe tell the story of their lives, taking readers on a journey from the 1960s to the present day. The story touches on themes of belonging and family, as well as the devastating policies that separated Native and First Nations children from their families.
I love it when a place becomes a character in a story. In Daniel Masonโs North Woods, the main character is a Western Massachusetts house and all the people who live in and pass through it in its 300-year history. From the Puritan lovers who escape their restrictive community, to a spiritualist trying to contact the ghosts of long ago, the house at the center of this novel serves as both setting and character in a completely unique way.
โIn sickness and in healthโ takes on a whole new meaning in this beautiful (and very odd) love story. Lewis and Wren have just married when Lewis is diagnosed with a devasting health conditionโhe is slowly turning into a great white shark. This novel follows the couple through their early live, courtship, and how they deal with this terrifying diagnosis. While this book is a bit on the weird side, it really is the story of the power and resilience of love to overcome even the strangest of circumstances.
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
Iโm a little late in getting to this fantastic novel, now a series on Hulu. Black Cake follows siblings Benny and Byron as they come together after the death of their mother, Eleanor, to hear the reading of her will. Their mother has left a traditional black cake to share after listening to a recording she had made of her life storyโa story neither sibling had even heard. Following Eleanor from her Caribbean childhood to the streets of London and finally to sunny California, this book is about the secrets and the stories we tell.
If you are interesting in talking about books or getting more recommendations, please join us at our next No Homework Book Club Meeting! Click on the link to register and be sure to bring a friend or two! You can also see the books we recommend and talk about by checking out our previous blog posts!
โญ Coming Soon! โญ
January
- Diva: A Novel by Daisy Goodwin
- Everyone on This Train is a Suspect: A Novel by Benjamin Stevenson
- Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble
- Interesting Facts About Space: A Novel by Emily E. Austin
- The Survivors of the Clotilda: The Lost Stories of the Last Captives of the American Slave Trade by Hannah Durkin
- The Waters: A Novel by Bonnie Jo Campbell
- Wild and Distant Seas by Tara Karr Roberts
- Come and Get It by Kiley Reid
- The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins
- One If Youโre Lucky by Stacy Willingham
Februrary
- Crosshairs by James Patterson
- The Deerfield Massacre: A Surprise Attack, a Forced March, and the Fight for Survival in Early America by James L. Swanson
- The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers: A Novel by Sarah Tomlinson
- The Fox Wife: A Novel by Yangsze Choo
- My Name Was Eden: A Novel by Eleanor Barker-White
- The Rumor Game by Thomas Mullen
- The Things We Didnโt Know by Elba Iris Perez
- What Have We Here?: Portraits of a Life by Billy Dee Williams
- The Women by Kristin Hannah
March
- The Princess of Las Vegas: A Novel by Chris Bohjalian
- The Truth about the Devlins by Lisa Scottoline
Alex's Audio Lab
๐ต Listen to great songs by familiar music artists- and discover some new favs - on our Spotify.
All our music is creatively and thoughtfully curated by our own Alex Young! ๐ต
This month we're highlighting his top 10 albums of 2023
(see list below with links to Spotify and Apple Music):
Sufjan Stevens โ Javelin โ (Indie Folk, Singer-Songwriter)
https://open.spotify.com/album/2KqSL3vLfyVO7rrZJL9tUs
https://music.apple.com/us/album/javelin/1700723922
Jessie Ware โ That! Feels Good! โ (Dance Pop, Disco)
https://open.spotify.com/album/17g3sAeWfpHSJlqMHuRAr6
https://music.apple.com/us/album/that-feels-good/1668868373
George Clanton- Ooh Rap I Ya โ (Chillwave, Neo-Psychedelia)
https://open.spotify.com/album/2kvz9frUn3LUK83imD2BQS
https://music.apple.com/us/album/ooh-rap-i-ya/1698350329
Sampha โ Lahai โ (Alternative R&B)
https://open.spotify.com/album/5GuWww4OaildzkmTTlfMN3
https://music.apple.com/us/album/lahai/1702662891
McKinley Dixon โ Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? โ (Jazz Rap, Conscious Hip Hop)
https://open.spotify.com/album/79cZfoRuFR4M6y8Fcn58E3
https://music.apple.com/us/album/beloved-paradise-jazz/1670946763
HELLMODE โ Jeff Rosenstock โ (Powerpop, Indie Rock)
https://open.spotify.com/album/41Iw3adQnA88gtmJ0pjJjA
https://music.apple.com/us/album/hellmode/1690678548
yeule โ softscars โ (Dream Pop, Indietronica)
https://open.spotify.com/album/7t01lwQRDjtEvwiAm88ACH
https://music.apple.com/us/album/softscars/1692344143
ANOHNI and the Johnsons โ My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross โ (Singer-Songwriter, Soul)
https://open.spotify.com/album/4g6x7cqgxfkuqA8lfvIKMf
https://music.apple.com/us/album/my-back-was-a-bridge-for-you-to-cross/1682979289
Parannoul โ After the Magic โ (Shoegaze, Indie Rock)
https://open.spotify.com/album/1rz6c0Nm9Zo1YmgA3P521A
https://music.apple.com/us/album/after-the-magic/1668278693
Ana Frango Elรฉtrico โ Me chama de gato que eu sou sua โ (Sophisti-Pop, Funk)
https://open.spotify.com/album/6UZpK4jB5MYVYJpwwi2mbP
https://music.apple.com/us/album/me-chama-de-gato-que-eu-sou-sua/1700639465
RAMS Renew Space
FSU Students, Faculty, Staff, Maintainers - This room is for you!
Located on the Upper Mezzanine level in room Center-UM08, you'll find helpful tools to de-stress: a relaxing massage chair, yoga mat, fidget toys, coloring books, light therapy lamp, cozy blankets, and much more. Watch these videos, Part 1 video and Part 2 video, for a tour of the room.
Scan the QR code to reserve your online session today! Or go to our website to reserve a time in the space. Then stop by our front desk with your reservation email and pick up the room key (and prayer rug if needed).
(Note: One person in the room per session, no food, tidy up after your visit, use headphones, and return the key to the front desk.)
๐ช Tis the Season ... to Bake! ๐ฎ
Chewy Dewey
Did you know we have our own virtual cookbook? It's called Chewy Dewey!
The first Chewy Dewey cookbook was published by the Library in 2004. It contained pages of delicious recipes from the Library staff. It was updated and republished in 2019 for the Library's 50th Anniversary. The book features recipes from Library staff along with FSU students, staff, faculty and alumni. It is dedicated to our former Dean of the Library, Bonnie Mitchell, who retired in 2020 after 42 years at FSU.
If you need some new culinary ideas this holiday season, take a look at the book and get cooking!
โ HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE LIBRARY STAFF โ
Our Hours - 2023/2024
Library Building -
Monday - Thursday: 8:00am - 11:00pm *
Friday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday: 12:00pm - 5:00pm
Sunday: 1:00pm - 11:00pm
*Exception: On December 14, 18, 19 and 20, the Library will be open until 12:00am.
Research & Learning -
For availability of Reference Librarians, please refer to our website for days and hours.
From December 21 to January 16:
Library Building -
Monday - Friday: 8:00am - 5:00pm *
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Research & Learning -
For availability of Reference Librarians, please refer to our website for days and hours.
The Library will be closed on Monday, December 25 for the Christmas holiday.
The Library will be closed on Monday, January 1 for the New Year's Day holiday.
The Library will be closed on Monday, January 15 for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday.
- For complete listing, please see our hours page - days/hours may vary for holidays and intersessions. For contact info, please see our website.
Library Policies
Information about the Library's policies regarding access, borrowing, reference, interlibrary loan, circulation of materials, reserves, confidentiality of records, fines, public computers, diversity, and censorship can be found in this guide.
Answers to frequently asked questions are available in this guide.
We look forward to seeing you at the Library!
Follow us on social media (@WhittemoreLib) to learn more about Library events, changes to our hours of operation, and to keep up with the latest news from the Whittemore Library!
Also, check out our latest blog posts and our TikTok page.
HENRY WHITTEMORE LIBRARY
This newsletter is created by the editor, Kate Burt, and published by Library Dean Millie Gonzalez. If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions about this newsletter, please reach out to us.
Thank you.
Editor Kate Burt
Email: kburt2@framingham.edu
Website: https://www.framingham.edu/academics/henry-whittemore-library/