Wessels Library Newsletter
Volume I, Issue I : Oct/Nov 2021
About Wessels Library
Wessels Library is the focal point at Newberry College for accessing, evaluating, and using research materials that support learning and teaching. Wessels Library, through its services, collections, and staff, enhances the student learning experience at Newberry College by providing a welcoming, inclusive environment that promotes lifelong learning and fosters equity and diversity.
Wessels Library is committed to the American Library Association (ALA) Library Bill of Rights and the core values of the ALA and the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL).
Wessels Library will provide:
- Current, relevant print and electronic resources that support the curriculum of the College and the research interests of the faculty
- Recreational reading that fosters intellectual growth and lifelong learning
- Assistance in accessing, evaluating, and using provided materials
- Access to materials for online and commuting students utilizing current technology
- Information Literacy instruction through classroom visits, online tutorials, and one-on-one interactions
- Access to materials at other colleges via the Partnership Among South Carolina Academic Libraries (PASCAL) and other avenues
- A staff that meets ACRL standards, in number and qualifications, to fulfill these obligations
Wessels' Top Three Checkouts So Far This Semester:
World History, Volume II Since 1500 11 checkouts
Out of the Shadows: Women and Politics in the French Revolution 9 checkouts
Basic Business Law 7 checkouts
Wessels' Library Recent Statistics
Russ Conrath, Wessels' New OutReach Librarian
Russ Conrath is the new OutReach Librarian for Wessels Library. He comes to Newberry College with a little over 28 years of experience in education from the public school system to the higher education environment.
In connection with teaching, he has taught secondary English, undergraduate English classes, curriculum theory classes for masters and doctoral students, and undergraduate and graduate library classes for over 12 years. As a librarian, he has worked as a middle school librarian, a high school librarian, and as a school district chairperson for 10 years. He holds a bachelor's degree in English with a minor in communications from The College of Charleston, a Master of Arts in Teaching with an emphasis in English from The Citadel, a Master of Library and Information Science from The University of South Carolina, and an Educational Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with a cognate in Higher Education Administration.
On a personal level, Russ Conrath likes spending family time with his daughter who is a sophomore at The College of Charleston. He has two cats and a loyal 19-year-old Shih Tzu named Potter. As for hobbies, he enjoys photography, classic vinyl records, and writing.
As Wessels' Outreach Librarian, he is looking forward to working with his fellow librarians and faculty members as well as serving Newberry College's students and community constituents.
Lindsay, Russ Conrath's Daughter
Russ and Lindsay Visiting in Laurens
Potter and GG
DISCUS, S.C.'s Online Library From S.C.'s State Library
What does Discus provide?
Discus provides a variety of organized resources, called databases, for individuals of all ages, educational levels and interests. The databases include:
- magazines
- professional journals
- newspapers
- encyclopedias
- e-books
- reference material
- student and teacher resources
- maps
- pictures
- recommended Web links
- multimedia
- and much more!
For the username and password to access DISCUS, please contact the Wessels Library. DISCUS is free for all residents and students in South Carolina.
Recreational Reads & More!
Wessels Library offers a great selection of Recreational Reads. On your next visit to Wessels, be sure to check it out!
Plenty of great reads are waiting, including:
· The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, a Good Morning America Book Club Pick, USA Today Bestseller and Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller
· New York Times Bestsellers Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
· USA Today Bestseller The Boy, The Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
· USA Today Bestseller We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
· Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller Anxious People by Frederik Bachman
· …And many more!
***When entering Wessels, look for the shelf to the right of the front desk.***
Other Related Links To Check Out:
Paperback Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Books (nytimes.com)
USA TODAY's Best-Selling Books List
One of Our Many Very Neat Resources: "Pascal Delivers"
Our DEI Book Club News
New to Wessels's library as of Spring 2020, the DEI Book Club is meeting once every few weeks virtually or in-person to discuss books of a diverse nature. The Fall title we are discussing is No Time Like the Future by Michael J. Fox. A virtual discussion board is available to add thoughts to periodically as well. We are in the process of choosing Spring's choice, so be on the lookout for that announcement and feel free to join us!
For more information on how to join and participate, please contact either Steffie Hiltgen or Reid Austin.
Trivia Question and Prize
Newberry College’s Diversity Reading Challenge
By Steffi Hiltgen
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are noteworthy buzzwords these days. As such, many libraries are offering reading challenges around these hot-button topics. For example, the University of Wisconsin Eu Clair has created a DEI recommended Readings List and Brandeis University a Diverse Voices Book Challenge. Newberry College’s Diversity Reading Challenge is one such example.
Newberry College’s collection, located in the lobby on the main floor of Wessels Library, began seeing use almost immediately and gets the most use from faculty and staff though titles are available to students to check out and use for civic engagement projects as well.
The idea was presented and well received by the head Librarian, Reid Austin, who later emailed, ‘For my part, I would like to divert $5,000 of the materials budget for the coming fiscal year to seed a fund that would support this initiative going forward to fund student selections. It is my hopes that Dr. Dufford or another generous donor might match that sum.’
Members of the college community are challenged to buy and read a title from the aforementioned list (located on the Library’s website). Suggestions and donations of resources beyond the list on other diverse topics from other locations are also accepted to help build the DEI collection. Further details along with a list of donated titles complete with links to Goodreads write-ups and book art can also be found on Wessels’ website.
It is our hope that this initiative catches on with other SC academic libraries allowing faculty, staff, and students all over the state access to a wide variety of books on such a popular and necessary topic in this day and time. Such a reading challenge provides a wonderful opportunity for partnership between departments and for everyone to keep reading and educating themselves on these important issues.
Wessels Library Staff
Wessels Library Staff:
- Reid Austin, Library Director
- Steffi Hiltgen, Public Services Librarian
- Dr. Russ Conrath, Outreach Librarian
- Carl Lominick, Circulation Manager
- Janice Hudson, Technical Services Specialist
- Brooke Berry, Library Intern
Email: Reid.Austin@newberry.edu
Website: https://newberry.libguides.com/wesselslibrary
Location: 2100 College Street, Newberry, SC, USA
Phone: 803-321-5229