Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Spring/Summer 2016 (No. 51), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

One of my most enjoyable "duties" as Director of Libraries over the past 12 years has been to participate in our annual spring commencement ceremonies. It is always heart-warming to see the exhilaration of the students and the pride of their families as the graduates cross the stage and being a new chapter of their lives.

This year, Commencement held a special meaning for me as I retire after 23 years as a professional librarian. Just as with each of those newly graduated students, I am beginning a new chapter in my life. Like them, I am excited by the …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Spring/Summer 2015 (No. 49), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

Only time will tell if 3D printing is really the next industrial revolution; all indications are that it is indeed a transformative technology. UMass Amherst Libraries, with the support of the Friends of the Libraries, are providing our students and faculty with the opportunity to experiment and engage with this new technology through the creation of the MakerBot Innovation Center. The first such center in New England and the first located in a university library, the Innovation Center provides access to over 50 3D printers, 3D scanners, and an innovative 3D printing software platform that links the printers together, providing …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Fall/Winter 2015 (No. 50), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

If you have been following the Libraries’ newsletter closely over the years, you might have noticed that the space for my message has gone from a whole page to half a page to, now, a little more than a quarter page. I can assure you it is not because I have less to say. Rather, it is because there are so many exciting “happenings” in the Libraries – from raptors to international visitors to digital media and 3D printing services to sustainability to jazz to new collections and finally to new staff and upcoming events. Why take up space with …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Spring/Summer 2014 (No. 47), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

In this edition of the News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries, you will notice an unusually large number of new staff and staff promotions. Over the past year, the Libraries have had an accelerated rate of retirements. This is both a challenge and an opportunity for the organization. It is always challenging to lose staff that have been with us for many years. Their institutional memory and connection to the campus community is priceless and something that cannot easily be replaced.

UMass Amherst Libraries and all research libraries (as I have mentioned so many times before) are …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Fall/Winter 2014 (No. 48), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

The Libraries recently celebrated the seventh annual Open Access Week. This global event is an opportunity for the academic and research community to learn about the potential benefits of open access – the free, immediate, online access to the peer-reviewed results of scholarly research, and the right to use and re-use those results.

This year Peter Suber, Director of the Harvard Office for Scholarly Communication and Faculty Fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society, was the Library’s keynote speaker. Author of the book, Open Access, published by MIT Press in 2012 and now available openly online, Dr. Suber …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Fall/Winter 2013 (No. 46), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

As I promised in the Spring “News,” 2013 has been jam-packed with events and celebrations. The Sesquicentennial Celebration has been a focus both for the campus and the Libraries. Our Department of Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) has provided historical documentation of the past 150 years, including a rich collection of photographs and memorabilia, that appears at almost every event related to the celebration. Rob Cox, Head of SCUA, and his staff are due special commendation for their extraordinary dedication in working with such a broad community of constituents to make campus history come alive. We are also celebrating …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Spring/Summer 2013 (No.45), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

A Year to Remember and Celebrate

2013 is the Sesquicentennial Celebration of the founding of our land-grant institution. The Libraries take the land-grant mission very seriously as we preserve and present the history of the Commonwealth through digitization projects and as we offer access to the print collections of the Commonwealth’s largest public academic research library to all residents. 2013 is the Sesquicentennial Celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 50th anniversary of the death of W.E.B. Du Bois. Du Bois, born in 1868 (only five years after the Emancipation Proclamation), died the day before Martin Luther King gave his …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Fall/Winter 2012 (No. 44), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

The Story of the $60 Gift

On the following pages, you will see and read about the transformative renovations in the W.E.B. Du Bois Library and the Science & Engineering Library that were completed over the summer. An important part of the story that the photos don’t tell is how these projects have been funded. Unlike major infrastructure improvement projects (including the new elevators and the electrical upgrades), the renovation of interior library space is not directly funded by the state or the campus. The success of the Procrastination Station café over the past several years encouraged our Campus Auxiliary …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Spring/Summer 2012 (No. 43), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

While climatologically our New England winter and spring have been unusual, the academic calendar continues on at a steady pace. February was again the time to celebrate the birthday of W.E.B. Du Bois with the 18th Annual Du Bois Lecture. We shared this lecture with the Springfield community and then also participated in the second annual tribute to Du Bois at the St. John’s Congregational Church in Springfield.

The 10th Annual Dinner with Friends recognized a new collaboration between Yankee Publishing and the Libraries. We are especially proud that this generations-old New England publishing icon has entrusted its archives to …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Spring/Summer 2011 (No. 41), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

Message from Jay:

At social events when people learn I am the Director of Libraries at UMass Amherst, the most frequently asked question is “Why do we need a library since everything is now digitized?” It is impossible to deny that networked computing has changed libraries, academia, and our society over the past twenty years. Google, Wikipedia, Facebook, and Twitter are just a few examples. The importance of social networking in the recent political unrest in Egypt and other middle eastern countries is further evidence ofthe global impact networked computing is having. These changes make libraries more important than ever; …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Fall/Winter 2011 (No. 42), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

Message from Jay:

“The Digital Revolution [is] ripping through our lives like the meteor that extinguished the dinosaurs” – so writes Louis Rossetto, founding editor of Wired (June 2008). He goes on to say,“Practically every institution that our society is based on, from the local to the supranational, is being rendered obsolete. That is the world you [his children] are inheriting. ”I often think of this quote when people ask me “What is the future of libraries?” And, I think of another quote attributed to Charles Darwin, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Spring/Summer 2010 (No. 39), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

Message from Jay:

Recently I was asked what my proudest momentshave been since becoming Director of Libraries. Twoof those moments are documented in this newsletter: the expansion of the Learning Commons and theinaugural symposium of the W.E.B. Du Bois Center. I note these two events because they are symbolic ofthe dedication, hard work, and collaboration of many individuals in the Libraries and across the campus who have come together to make a positive impacton the lives of our students and the reputation of the university. At the ribbon-cutting for the Learning Commonsexpansion, Ngozi Mbawuike ’11 made the following remarks: I …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Fall/Winter 2010 (No. 40), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

Message from Jay:

Over the summer, Emily Silverman, our longtime Director of Library Development and Communication, left us to move to North Carolina with her husband Mike Milewski, who recently retired from Special Collections and University Archives. To fill behind Emily, we conducted a national search. In reading the numerous applications we received from professionals across the country, it was obvious that many were specifically interested in joining UMass Amherst Libraries to be a part of the excellent work being done here – the work you have been reading about in past issues of this newsletter. After an extensive interview …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Spring/Summer 2009 (No. 37), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

Message from Jay:

Since Issue 36 (Fall/Winter 2008) of News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries, we have endured what seemed to be an exceptionally long and sun-less winter in Amherst. Or, maybe the economic news just made it feel exceptionally long and sun-less. With the flowers beginning to blossom in the Du Bois Library Courtyard, I am encouraged by this quotation from Bo Bennett (author of the 2004 book entitled Year to Success): “As sure as the spring will follow the winter, prosperity and economic growth will follow recession.” This spring has been exceptional as you will …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Fall/Winter 2009 (No. 38), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

Message from Jay:

In the last issue of this newsletter, we announced, with the support of Chancellor Robert C. and Sabine Holub, the beginning of the History of the Book Teaching Collection. The idea originated from a real need to support faculty in English, Art, History, and other fields who teach courses related to the history of the book. I appealed to you to “write a check” or “get that Gutenberg Bible out of the attic.” Not surprisingly, many of you did “write a check” – and we greatly appreciate that. Barbara Parker, on the other hand, got the proverbial …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Spring/Summer 2008 (No. 35), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

Message from Jay:

Anticipating the campus ten-year New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) institutional reaccreditationprocess in 2009 (originally scheduled for 2008 but postponed for a year due to campus circumstances), UMass AmherstLibraries initiated a “self-study” process to assess our progress since the 1997 review. The final Self Study Report included the usual documentation of goals, accomplishments, and statistical comparisons. Unique to our Report were two exceptional vision statements created in a collaborative process by Library staff – “Focusing on Undergraduates” and“Serving the Graduate and Research Mission.” In December 2007, a team of four distinguished library professionals visited the …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Fall/Winter 2008 (No. 36), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

Message from Jay:

There is no question – UMass Amherst librarians and staff are world class. Featured in this Newsletter are photos taken during “First Week” and other occasions. You will notice a common theme of the “question mark.” What symbol better characterizes the mission of UMass Amherst? Higher education is all about the pursuit ofknowledge and the creation of new knowledge through the research process. Libraries and librarians are an essential component in this process. I am extremely proud of the achievements of our librarians and staff – some of which are clearly described in this Newsletter. When I’m …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Spring/Summer 2007 (No. 33), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

Message from Jay:

Telling our story – the story of UMass Amherst Libraries – is essential to building a community of support among students, parents, alumni, and corporate sponsors. The story is a simple one. UMass Amherst Libraries exist to support students andfaculty; teaching and research. Funding from the Commonwealth provides baseline support for the library. Excellence is possible only with contributions from those of you who share our vision of providing outstanding library and informationresources, facilities, and services to outstanding students and faculty. How do we tell the story of UMass Amherst Libraries? Sometimes friends like Governor Deval Patrick, …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Fall/Winter 2007 (No. 34), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

Message from Jay:

Here’s a twist on the traditional conversation. “Libraries aren’t just about coffee.” With the success of the LearningCommons and our emphasis on the “non-traditional” aspects of service at UMass Amherst Libraries, it is important to tell both sides of the story. Yes, in fiscal year 2007, we did sell over 75,000 cups of coffee at Procrastination Station in the Du Bois Library. Yes, this is the most coffee sold at any place on campus. Nearly 1.1 million people came to theLibraries in 2006-07, but not just for coffee. Inside the doors we offer a rich mix of …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Spring/Summer 2006 (No. 31), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

Message from Jay:

When I saw the cover of this newsletter in draft, my initial reaction was that champagne is not an image traditionally associated with research libraries. Where are the books? Where are the computers? Where are the smiling faces of our generous Friends? Then I rattled my chains of “Librarian Past” and realized that as “Librarian Future” champagne is the perfect symbol to celebrate the recent successes of the UMass Amherst Libraries. And success is the word that captures the events of the past several months. In a very short time, the Learning Commons has transformed the image, …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Fall/Winter 2006 (No. 32), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

Message from Jay:

Honoring the generosity of library donors has traditionally been a function of the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries newsletter. Last year this listing of some 5,000 donors required twenty pages with five columns of small print. This year we have even more names – 6,344 to be exact (and we are always in danger of omitting at least one person’s name in a list this long). To list or not to list, that is the question. Most donors enjoy seeing their names in print and we love to provide a documented list of our Friends, both …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Spring/Summer 2005 (No. 29), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

Message from Jay:

The "Library as Place" might be a good subtitle for this issue of the Friends of the Library Newsletter. The UMass Amherst Libraries are an important center on campus, not only for accessing the resources and services traditionally offered to students and faculty, but also as a welcoming place for collaborative study, campus support services, and socialization. The renovation of the Integrated Sciences and Engineering Library was our first experience with this at the UMass Amherst Libraries. The new facility offers comfortable seating, wireless internet access, and areas where students can work together in a collaborative environment. …

Umass Amherst Friends Of The Library Newsletter - Fall/Winter 2005 (No. 30), Jay Schafer

Library News for the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries

Message from Jay:

"If we build it, they will come.” This paraphrased quotation from the movie “Field of Dreams” is often heard in the new Learning Commons. The transformation of approximately 23,000 square feet of the Main Floor of the W.E.B Du Bois Library over the summer months is like a dream come true for the many individuals on campus who worked to make the project successful. The heartfelt reward for us all is not the jubilant ceremony of the dedication, but seeing hundreds of students using this 21st century reading room on a daily basis. Engaging, renovated facilities are …