INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Archive Renovation Fundraiser
LSP Migration
New Art Gallery Pieces
Otterbein Singers
Spring Library Events
Common Book 2025
Officers:
Margaret DoonePresident
Mary Pat KnightVice President
Rebecca O'NeilSecretary
Tiffany LipstreuTreasurer
The FOL Newsletter is a bi-annual publication with issues in the Winter and Summer/Fall
Friends of the Otterbein University Courtright Memorial Library
VOLUME 25, ISSUE 1
WINTER 2025
The architect’s proposal for compact shelving in the Otterbein University Archives
After the success of the Textbook Affordability and the Belonging endowments, The Friends of the Courtright Memorial Library have chosen the Otterbein University Archive as the next focus of their fundraising.
The Archive is home to all of the historical documents, photographs, recordings, and artifacts that tell the history of this school, from its founding in 1847 to the present day. The Archive was opened in 1954, and since then has grown to hold approximately 2,000 linear feet of materials, including over 5,000 catalogued items. Since 2008 it has been located in the lower level of the Courtright Memorial Library, but since 2015 it has been running out of space to house all of these treasures.
When a Preservation Survey was made of the Archive in 2018, it ,
was recommended that compact shelving, a new HVAC system and a fire suppression system be installed in the main stacks area of the Archive to properly accommodate the current holdings, allow for continued growth of the collection, and to provide a safe and stable environment for the preservation of these historical treasures.
Between October 2023 and September 2024, Archivist Stephen D. Grinch led a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant-funded project to plan for the purchase and installation of these systems. The total cost for this project is estimated to be just shy of $1,000,000. Thanks to the Office of Sponsored Grants and Programs, the Archive has just applied for a $350,000 implementation grant from the NEH. In addition, the library has committed approximately $70,000 from one of its endowments to go towards this work. Further, Tim Priest, Director of Otterbein’s Facility Services, is searching for ways to bring down the cost of the project by repurposing unused equipment already owned by the University to help bring down the cost of the project.
Over the years the Friends of the Courtright Memorial Library has been incredibly generous to the University Archive, funding temporary staff and purchasing a new digital camera in 2017. After reviewing the plans for the Archive, the board unanimously voted to turn their fundraising efforts towards the support of this endeavor. Stay tuned for more updates as this project moves forward!
“Before” shot, pre-renovation and current setup in main stacks of the Archive Department
Big changes are coming to the Courtright Memorial Library this spring! We will be introducing a new library management system, Alma, and a new discovery layer, Primo, which will replace our current systems, Sierra and the EbscoHost discovery layer, known commonly as “OneSearch”. These updates couldn't come a moment too soon - our beloved Sierra is more than 30 years old! Alma and Primo will refresh how library users interact with our collection so please bear with us as we take this big step towards improving how we serve you and the Otterbein community. Both systems are features of the Ex Libris platform and are brought to us by the company Clarivate.
Logo of our new Library Services Platform
We'll be keeping our social media, blog, website, and New Library System Libguide (https://otterbein.libguides.com/ne wlibrarysystem) updated with important dates and information throughout the spring semester. Cheers everyone and please join
Estimated User Impact Timeline us in welcoming in this new era of Courtright Memorial Library history!
March 12th In-person training for library staff. Library hours will be altered, exact times To Be Decided.
May 23rd INN-Reach freeze. OPAL/OhioLINK/SearchOhio requests can no longer be processed. Recommendations for users to renew currently checked out items before this date. Physical items can still be requested through InterLibrary Loan.
June 4th thru 18th Sierra offline - all circulation done manually. Items checked out/in during this time will not be reflected in your virtual library account. Library staff will be using offline functions to check out/in items during this time.
June 18th Go live with Alma and Primo
June 27th Go live with Rapido. OPAL/OhioLINK requests reopen
In early January we welcomed a new artist to the Becker Gallery, Adam Kolp. Working primarily with acrylic on reclaimed wood, Adam’s art is a beautiful mix of natural inspiration given subtly surreal elements which make the subjects really pop. While we are privileged to have some of his pieces on loan, you can also find Adam’s work at the Haley Gallery in New Albany. See his artist statement below.
“Coming to terms with the fact that I was losing my eyesight was actually when I first began to see the world much more clearly. We often spend our days over scheduled with things to do and places to be. Consumed by brief memories of what something was or the thought of what it could have been, we then quickly move on to the next pressing moment. We can easily get caught up living in this rapid paced blur, and unknowingly are missing out on the incredible beauty that surrounds us in any given moment. I realize that losing my eyesight was a
Passion with Purpose Size: 21" x 29”
Acrylic on Reclaimed Wood wakeup call. I needed to take the time to see the world we live in. It is such a beautiful and inspiring gift to have the opportunity to slow down and appreciate every moment and each amazing experience. This was the turning point for who I am now and the artist that I have become.” Adam’s artwork is inspired by life and everything that we can potentially experience in our daily lives.
To celebrate the International Transgender Day of Visibility, the Courtright Memorial Library will be hosting an exhibit by photographer Emma Parker all March long. The exhibit will be on the 2nd Floor of the library and features portraits of trans and LGBTQIA+ community members in accompaniment with “love notes” to them written by previous gallery viewers. In addition, we will be hosting a Q&A panel reception event on the evening of March 20th led by a mixture of Otterbein students, library staff, the subjects of Emma Parker’s art pieces, and members of our local Central Ohio community. See their artist statement below:
This is all about #TransVisibility. #TransRights are so much more than bathrooms and pronouns, they are human rights. It’s so important that they represent themselves telling their story and that we listen. In a year where we’ve seen a lot of growth socially, it’s my hope we can keep moving forward and affect more meaningful change each and every day.
The Friends of the Courtright Memorial Library will present a concert by the Otterbein Singers on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at 7:30pm. at the Battelle Fine Arts Center of Otterbein University (170 W. Park Street). The Otterbein Singers are mixed choir of Musical Theatre and Acting majors. Under the direction of Jeremy Alfera, the concert will feature songs from Broadway, past and present. Admission is FREE, though a goodwill offering will be taken after the concert to benefit the Friends of the Courtright Memorial Library. We hope you will come out to enjoy an evening of phenomenal singing!
With the challenge of the upcoming library management system looming ever nearer, the Courtright Memorial Library has chosen to keep our events for spring semester 2025 on the lighter side. See our social media for more information. We look forward to seeing you!
Library Event List:
Button Making
Tattoos & Copyright
Welcome ALMA
Emma Parker Gallery Reception
Otterbein Singers
National Library Week
Spring Doggy Destressor
Feb. 11th @ 5:30-7p
Feb. 26th @ 12:40-1:40p
March 17th – April 28th
March 20th @ 6:15p
March 23rd @ 7:30p
April 6th – 12th
April 24th @ 12-1p
Welcome to another spring of Common Book-related news and readings! The Common Book committee and our amazing fall reading volunteers have narrowed the list of titles from several dozen down to 11. The shortlist of titles under consideration for the 2026-2027 school year are:
Everything I Learned, I Learned at a Chinese Restaurant, by Curtis Chin
Influencing Machine, by Brook Gladstone
Driving the Green Book, by Alvin Hall
Rough Sleepers, by Tracy Kidder
Why We Need to be Wild, by Jessica Carew Kraft
Biting the Hand: Growing Up Asian in Black and White America, by Julia Lee
By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land, by Rebecca Nagle
Paradise Falls, by Keith O’Brien
Noor, by Nnedi Okorafor
You Look Like a Thing and I Love You, by Janelle Shane
I’m Possible: A Story of Survival, a Tuba, and the Small Miracle of a Big Dream, by Richard Antoine White
If you are interested in reading them and providing feedback, the Common Book committee would welcome your thoughts and opinions! Copies of each of these are available for checkout in the library. While you are doing your reading, please keep these criteria in mind as you evaluate the book: It encourages scholastic intellectual development for new students.
It is compatible with Otterbein's mission.
It is appropriate for a wide variety of disciplines and classes.
It is by a significant contemporary author who can visit campus.
It is not a book read in high school.
It is challenging but not overwhelming to entering first-year students.
It provides potential for hands-on experiences or service learning. It will sustain discussion for a year.
Feedback can be given either to Katie Albright (albright2@otterbein.edu), the library’s representative on the Common Book Committee, or to Jen Bechtold (jbechtold@otterbein.edu), the Director of the Common Book program.
Friends with library borrowing privileges enjoy many benefits. Listed below are a complete list of benefits afforded to members.
BORROWING PRIVILEGES AT THE COURTRIGHT MEMORIAL LIBRARYYou may opt in to receive a Courtright Memorial Library card, providing you the ability to check out library materials
ACCESS TO MATERIALS BORROWED THROUGH OUR CONSORTIUMS, OPAL AND OHIOLINK - This gives you the ability to request materials from academic libraries throughout the state of Ohio.
ACCESS TO INTERLIBRARY LOAN SERVICE - You will be able to request materials that are not held by the Courtright Memorial Library or any of our consortium member libraries.
SUBSCRIPTION TO THE BI-ANNUAL NEWSLETTER, FRIENDLY CORRESPONDENCE - The newsletter will keep you up-to-date on events and news pertaining to the Friends and the Courtright Memorial Library.
SPECIAL INVITATIONS TO FRIENDS-SPONSORED EVENTS - Be the first to know about author talks, musical events, and other special occasions sponsored by the Friends.
VOTING RIGHTS AT THE ANY FRIENDS BUSINESS MEETING AND THE ABILITY TO SERVE ON THE FRIENDS BOARD OF TRUSTEES - You will have a say in what the Friends of the Library do to help promote and support Otterbein's Courtright Memorial Library, students, and the Otterbein community.
... More Benefits To Come
Renewal
Renewal Bullet pointNew Membership
Complete information below
New Member Gift Membership
Bullet point Gift Recipient
Name
Address
City State Zip Code
Email Address
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One benefit to being a Friend is access to limited borrowing privileges at the library.
Are you interested in receiving borrowing privileges? No, I do not need borrowing privileges Yes, I would like to have borrowing privileges
If yes, please provide your drivers license number above (required)
By signing (below) I agree that I will abide by the policies of the Courtright Memorial Library as stated here, http:// www.otterbein.edu/Library/about. I understand that the Courtright Memorial Library reserves the right to take collection actions if my account is over 60 days past-due.
Member signature ______________
Date _____________
Giving Friends as a gift?Complete YOUR information below and it will be sent to Gift Recipient with the welcome packet
Dotted outline of a text box. Congratulations, you've been gifted!
Dotted outline of a text box You're receiving the gift of an Otterbein
Dotted outline of a text box Edge of Courtright Memorial Library crest Friends of the Courtright Memorial Library
Dotted outline of a text boxmembership from:
NAME ____________________
Choose the donation category most appropriate for you:
Square box. Check to select following option. Imaginative Friend: Generous donation of your choice, including special purpose or non-financial
Square box. Check to select following option. Philanthropist ($5oo+ )
D Benefactor ($100-$499)
Square box. Check to select following option. Contributor ($50-$99)
D Family: 2 + people in same household ($35)
D Individual Friend ($20)
Square box. Check to select following option. Otterbein Student/Lifelong Learning Community ($5) * *If not alr eady a Fri end of t h e Library
To insure proper gift credit, please make CHECKS PAYABLE TO OTTERBEIN UNIVERSITY. Contributions are tax deductible in accordance with Internal Revenue Service rules.
PLEASE COMPLETE THIS SIDE
Date : ________ Amount donated: $____ Method of payment:
Date ___ THIS SIDE FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
CVV _________
Card# _____ Barcode# 777 8888 Added to Sierra : Yes No
Date Added: Staff Initials: PLEASE RETURN FORM TO CIRCULATION DESK OR MAIL
University
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ADDRESS
Dotted outline of a text box CITY STATE Fill in the blank for a patron to add the City
Dotted outline of a text box ZIP CODE ______ PHONE (__J_______
Thank you for your continued support!
1 S. Grove Street
Westerville, OH 43081
Your membership is important! Renew today and make a world of difference!
Membership form enclosed for mail-in membership renewal. You can also renew online by visiting the Friends website!
otterbein.libguides.com/friends
Prepared by Kirsten Peninger & Hannah Moore-Chalko