Information Update, Fall 2022

A Newsletter from The Weinberg Memorial Library

FALL 2022

Library

Please join me in wishing the Library a happy 30th anniversary! It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years, but it’s true—the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Memorial Library was dedicated on Friday, Sept. 25, 1992. We are planning a yearlong celebration that you can read about in this issue.

I am excited about the 30th anniversary and for the opportunity to lead the Library through this next phase. I am honored to have been selected as the Dean of the Weinberg Memorial Library and recognize the responsibility of ensuring the Library’s longstanding tradition of excellence. The key, I believe, is to ensure that the Library plays as prominent a role on campus as possible by focusing on the continuing and emerging needs of our community. To do this, the librarians and I must conscientiously seek input from our various constituents and strive to enhance our collections, services, and spaces so that we meet our community where they are in their journeys, whether they be students, professors, or lifelong learners.

It seems like with every new issue I am announcing a change in the Library’s personnel. In this issue, I welcome and bid farewell to members of our faculty and staff. I am pleased to share that Kate Cummings has joined us as Assistant Professor and Research & Instruction Librarian for Business. Kate was most recently serving as Library Director at Luzerne County Community College. Kate has a background in accounting and will be an invaluable knowledge partner to the Kania School of Management’s faculty and students. Kate joins the Library’s Research Services department at a time of considerable transition. Kelly Banyas left her position in May 2022, and Professor Donna Witek has stepped in to serve as the Research & Scholarly Services Coordinator. We are also pleased to welcome Mary Beth Roche as Research & Instruction Librarian (part-time). Mary Beth was most recently Library Director at Lackawanna College and brings years of experience working one-on-one and in small groups with students.

I am also pleased to share that Bridget Conlogue will be joining us full-time as Special Collections & Research Services Assistant. Bridget was most recently serving as a part-time Research & Instruction Librarian for the 2021-22 school year. Her background working in Research Services and experience with Special Collections makes her a great addition to our team. The Archives, Digital Services, and McHugh Family Special Collections team is also welcoming a longserving part-time staff member and University of Scranton alumnus to a full-time role. I am thrilled to share that David Hunisch is now serving as full-time Digital Services Assistant. David has been a loyal and hardworking member of the staff and has demonstrated both a passion and talent for work in Digital Services.

With all of the new and returning faces, there are also departures. We remain saddened by the sudden death of Christian

Scipioni, who you can read about in this issue. On a more bittersweet note, part-time Research & Instruction Librarian Molly Abdalla has accepted a position at Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Scranton as the Student Engagement and Outreach Librarian. We are sad to see Molly go, but the move is a great opportunity for her to exercise her abilities to the fullest.

Starting in May and continuing over the summer, the Library underwent several construction and remodeling projects. In May, we celebrated a rededication of the Heritage Room. The Library’s crown jewel is now the Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room. The room recognizes the contributions of the Scranton family and area to the community and having Charles Kratz’s name appended to the room reveals how Charles’ legacy positively impacted the University and the Library. To honor the occasion, the Friends of the Library gifted $75,000 toward updating the space, and work is underway to improve student seating and tables, flooring, and presentation space. I am looking forward to the finished product, and know that students and visitors will also be impressed with the room updates.

The defunct Java City café in the Pro Deo Room underwent a total overhaul to become the new Scranton Market. At the time of this writing, construction is ongoing but beginning to resemble its final form. I am impressed with the layout and excited to see the new self-service market in operation. The Scranton Market will be the University’s first self-service and 24/7 accessible student dining and convenience store option on campus. I am glad the Library could support this innovative idea that will ultimately improve the student experience.

A small but notable change is also occurring on the second floor of the Library. We were able to add two new student study areas to the floor by moving the faculty librarians into new offices and dismantling the Research Services Desk. Moving forward, the Library will employ a new service model which will direct students, staff, and faculty to the first-floor desk, which has been rebranded as the Library Services Desk. Having one main service point will simplify operations and make it as straightforward as possible to know where to get help. The Library Services desk will also be the gateway to research services consultations, technology help, and borrowing materials. Though the construction footprint is small, the change is major, but it is one the Library administration, faculty, and staff jointly felt we should make to enable us to better serve our community and to allow us to enhance our services in new ways.

Thank you for being a reader and supporter of the Library, and I look forward to seeing you in the Library or at one or more of our events.

UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON

Weinberg Memorial

Sincerely, George J. Aulisio, DeanoftheWeinbergMemorialLibrary

The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Memorial Library was dedicated on Sept. 25, 1992, which makes 2022 our 30th Anniversary! Over the past 30 years, the Library has held a special place in the heart of The University of Scranton and area community. In fact, the Library is both at the literal and figurative heart of campus, located centrally and serving all academic programs, students, faculty, staff, and community guests. Though it feels like we just celebrated our 20th anniversary, the truth is the changes have been substantial this past decade. I see this 30th milestone as an opportunity to reflect on the past and renew all the good that we do, while also an opportunity to look toward the future by leveraging our current personnel’s talents and abilities, and seeing how we need to evolve to meet the changing needs of our diverse community. As such, the 30th anniversary is an inflection point, and throughout the yearlong celebration, I hope to hear from the Library’s various constituents so that I can be sure we are heading in the right direction.

A prelude to the 30th anniversary occurred in May when we celebrated the rededication of the Heritage Room as the Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room. The rededication recognizes the legacy of Charles Kratz, Dean Emeritus of the Library and Information Fluency. Among Charles’ many contributions include setting the culture of the Library. To me, that culture includes being entrepreneurial and innovative, seeking regular feedback, and focusing on meeting the needs of the community we serve. In recognition of Charles’ service, the Library advocacy group that Charles founded in 1994, the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library, gifted $75,000 toward updating the features and student spaces in the room. The Friends’ gift

will go a long way toward making the Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room a comfortable place where students will want to spend many hours studying. The gift will also support transforming the room into a flexible event space. Having a functional event space will allow us to better showcase our fabulous Special Collections and our proud University history, while also being able to invite speakers, host the Environmental Art Show, and celebrate our students at events such as the Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize ceremony.

As you can imagine, there is more we would like to do in the Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room that exceeds the $75,000 gift, including securing funding for new museumquality exhibit cases for The University of Scranton Archives and McHugh Family Special Collections. There are also four other floors of the library that need to adapt to meet the needs of today’s students. As everyone knows, the students of the 2020s learn, study, and research differently than the students of the 1990s. We continue to make incremental improvements to the building, services, and collections. Students have shared their wish lists and upgrade requests with us in our last two joint Library and IT surveys, and also through regular meetings with Student Government and meetings with representatives of special student populations. To help turn that student wish list into a reality, fundraising letters were sent to targeted groups and a website was created to help grow the Library’s 30th Anniversary Enhancement Fund. The website mentions a number of larger naming projects that we would like to do, but every donation will help us to achieve our aspirations of enhancing the Library and transforming it into the teaching, learning, and research space that our community needs. If you are able, I invite you to support our fundraising goals at www.scranton.edu/WML30.

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Please consider joining us at an event or stopping by the Library to utilize our collections and services.

Throughout the year, we will host several events to help us celebrate our 30th anniversary.

In the fall, The University of Scranton Archives and McHugh Family Special Collections will host an exhibit on the history of the Library in the Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room.

In the spring, we will host an exhibit on Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., and his legacy as both the 24th and 27th President of The University of Scranton. Father Pilarz’s first inauguration was in 2003, making 2023 the 20th anniversary of his joining the Scranton community.

On Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, we are honored to have Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony Award-nominated author and playwright

Ayad Akhtar with us to receive the Royden B. Davis, S.J., Distinguished Author Award. Ayad joins a long list of accomplished authors that have received the award from the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library. We expect the evening gala and talk by Ayad to be a cannot miss event. For more information on the event and for sponsorship and ticket information, please visit our website at: www.scranton.edu/authaward.

Throughout the yearlong celebration, we will have a mix of events that showcase not only our history but also how we see ourselves evolving. Please consider joining us at an event or stopping by the Library to utilize our collections and services.

—George Aulisio, Dean of the Library

Rededication of the Heritage Room

On Friday, May 13, 2022, the Library kicked off its celebration of the Library’s 30th anniversary. In recognition of his years of service and dedication to the Library, University, and the greater Scranton community, Charles Kratz, Dean of Library & Information Fluency from 1991-2019, was acknowledged with the rededication of the fifth floor Heritage Room as the Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room. The rededication ceremony included an invocation by the Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., and remarks from Provost Jeff Gingerich, Library

Following the rededication ceremony, there was a cocktail reception in the newly named Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room, where Friends of the Library, the family of Charles Kratz, and the University community, including current and former Library faculty and staff, celebrated this momentous occasion.

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Dean George Aulisio, and Dean Emeritus Charles Kratz.

Charles Kratz with Friends of the Library Board Members. From left to right front row: Denise Gilroy, Mary McDonald, Phyllis Reinhardt, Carol Maculloch, Marian Farrell, Ph.D., Charles Kratz, Betsey Moylan, Bonnie Strohl, and Sheli Pratt-McHugh. From left to right back row: George Aulisio, Kym Fetsko, Roy Domenico, Ph.D., Rosemary Shaver, Narda Tafuri, and Peter Tafuri

Charles Kratz addresses the assembled reception guests.

In Memoriam: Christian Scipioni

The faculty and staff of the Weinberg Memorial Library sadly share news of the passing of our dear colleague and friend Christian Scipioni, Special Collections Assistant. He died at his home on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022.

Christian joined the staff of the University in 2018. He cherished his role in preserving and sharing the treasured documents, manuscripts, and texts of the Library’s McHugh Family Special Collections and The University of Scranton Archives. He was an active participant in the Library’s Communication and Outreach Committee. In this role, he regularly used the McHugh Family Special Collections and The University of Scranton Archives to publish on the Library’s various social media accounts and to create the Library’s annual Christmas card.

Christian was proud of his work assisting with Special Collections exhibits in the

Work Study Celebration

Library’s Heritage Room. He also helped to promote these exhibits by creating posters and other graphic designs that utilized images from rare documents.

Christian was a magna cum laude graduate of St. Joseph’s College, Patchogue, New York, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English. He also earned a Master of Library and Information Science from St. John’s University. Before joining the University community, he worked as a Cataloging Technician for the New-York Historical Society.

Christian is survived by his parents, Robert and Camille Scipioni of Northport, New York. Christian’s family asks that donations in his memory be given to the McHugh Family Special Collections via the Weinberg Memorial Library Fund at www.scranton. edu/WML30.

—George Aulisio, Dean of the Library

Although the sixth of May was a rainy, gloomy day, spirits were bright in the Library’s Scranton Heritage Room, where we held our end-of-the-year celebration for our work study students. This event was the first time since 2019 that Library faculty, staff, and students were able to gather as a community to honor and show our appreciation for our student workers, in a convivial atmosphere complete with good food and one another’s company. Following remarks from Dean Aulisio and the various department supervisors, each graduate received a certificate of appreciation, a Library pin, and a gift card.

Photo

Photo 1: Sharon Finnerty with Media Services work study students Jacob Becker and James Peracchio

Photo 2: Library Dean George Aulisio with Dean’s Office work study students Ashley Kizis, Julia Klotz, and Riya Patel

3: Kelly Banyas with Research Services work study students Sinal Patel, Christopher Tamburri, and Riya Patel

Photo 4: Patricia Savitts with Circulation Services work study students Augustine Brapoh, Bibi Bacchus, Megan Vecere, Sarah Ferraro, and Jennifer Relovsky

SharonFinnerty,MediaResourcesCoordinator

Honorees: Amanda Lauren Serafin, honorable mention; Corinne Rose Smith, winner; Gabrielle Allen, winner; and Alexis Angstadt, honorable mention

Library Announces Research Prize Winners

George Aulisio, Dean of the Library at The University of Scranton, awarded the 2022 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize in the Undergraduate Foundational category to nursing major Corinne Rose Smith; the 2022 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize in the Undergraduate Upper-level category to Gabrielle Allen, a junior occupational therapy major; and the 2022 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize in the Graduate category to Doctor of Physical Therapy students Colleen Berry, Jamie Hreniuk, Bryan Gorczyca, and Nicholas Capobianco.

Currently celebrating its 11th year, the Weinberg Memorial Library inaugurated the Library Research Prize in 2011 to recognize excellence in research projects that show evidence of significant knowledge of the methods of research and the information-gathering process, and use of library resources, tools, and services. In 2017, the prize was named for Professor Emerita Bonnie W. Oldham, who founded the prize at the University in 2011. The Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize was fully endowed in 2019 and consists of a prize of $500 awarded to winning projects in each of the three categories: Undergraduate Foundational (100-level projects), Undergraduate Upper-level (200- to 400-level projects), and Graduate.

During an information literacy class taught by a faculty librarian, Smith learned to combine brainstormed keywords in her database searches; apply search filters to limit the source criteria to scholarly, peerreviewed articles published in the last eight years; and critically evaluate the sources she found. In her description of research, Smith explains in doing this she “decided what the purpose of each source was, where it was published, and why it was useful.” She then created a source log, in which she documented the information she learned from each source and which precise portions of the source gave her that information.

Donna Witek, Information Literacy Coordinator; Corinne Rose Smith, Research Prize winner; and George Aulisio, Dean of the Library

Smith, winner in the Undergraduate Foundational category, submitted to the competition her paper, “Aspirin: Your Body’s Best Friend or Enemy?,” completed in Professor Dawn D’Aries Zera’s WRTG 107: Composition course. Tasked with researching an argumentative contemporary issue related to her major, Smith chose the topic of aspirin and the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

These demonstrated methods of research and the information-gathering process led Smith to meaningful insights into the role of research in writing and her wider academic career. In her description of research, she shares: “I have learned a stronger researcher makes a stronger writer. … While I initially felt overwhelmed at the start of my research process, I found the Library’s extensive resources, tools, and services eased the process tremendously.” She offers the metaphor of a traveler to describe the research process, describing “a traveler who journeys from source to source to discover new insights.” She notes the role of curiosity in the research process when she admits, “The more information I found, the more intrigued I became with the topic.” And she shares how work on this paper will extend to her further academic research pursuits when she says, “I believe my ability to write a strong paper has improved tremendously,” where for her the research process is like “taking part in an adventure that could potentially change the face of the future.”

Sponsoring faculty Professor Dawn D’Aries Zera comments on Smith’s project and shares, “As Corinne accumulated knowledge during her research process, she also became more conscientious of the importance of knowing the entirety of an issue … Corinne’s dedication

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Weinberg Memorial Library

2022 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize

to applying lessons learned throughout her first year at the University has resulted in a well-researched, timely paper which appeals to a general audience.”

An Honorable Mention award in the Undergraduate Foundational category was presented to Sarah Boyle, a counseling and human services and accounting major, for her paper, “The Population Below the Poverty Line” completed in her CHS 111: Intro to Human Adjustment course for Dr. Paul Datti.

Allen, winner in the Undergraduate Upper-level category, submitted to the competition her paper, “The Effects of Exercise on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: An Evidence Review,” completed in the course OT 350: Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods, taught by Dr. Ann Romanosky. For her research, Allen relied on what she had learned about database research starting in her first year at the University. She needed to consult 50 primary research studies, scholarly articles, or peer-reviewed papers about her topic on the effect of exercise on attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder; to do this, she identified three sub-topical areas of research which she could target in her searches. She also tracked her research using a spreadsheet designed to organize where she found the source, topical keywords for the source, inclusion and exclusion criteria, the APA citation for the source, and any directly quoted evidence she identified as useful to her review.

Through the research process, Allen discovered new insights into her topic, as well as the related research in her field. In her description of research, she shares: “I soon realized that there is not a lot of research [about this topic] authored by occupational therapists.” Rather than this being a deterrent to gathering evidence on the topic she identified, Allen demonstrated persistence and saw it as an opportunity to further understand the ways her topic is researched in the field. She notes, “I learned that it is common for research teams to be interdisciplinary, rather than just focusing on one aspect of the team.” Allen comments on her “trial-and-error mindset” as a researcher when “figuring out what method of research” worked for her, demonstrating flexibility and an open mind when researching. She concludes her

description of research with her plans to design a research study on this topic, and when she does she “plan[s] to utilize the Library’s resources to ensure [her] success in future research.”

Sponsoring faculty Dr. Ann Romanosky comments on Allen’s work on the assignment: “This [Evidence Based Research] paper was labor-intensive and required an understanding of research-level quantitative statistics.” She goes on to share, “Gabrielle’s writing was clear and focused, [she] selected appropriate and current research, [and she] demonstrated great personal growth through this project.”

Honorable Mention awards in the Undergraduate Upper-level category were presented to Alexis Angstadt, a junior in the Occupational Therapy program, for her paper titled “The Efficacy of Combined Mirror Therapy and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Amputees with Phantom Limb Pain: An Evidence Review,” completed in the course OT 350: Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods for Dr. Carol Coté; and to Amanda Lauren Serafin, a senior accounting and business analytics double major, who submitted her honors project titled “Integrating ESG into the Accounting Curriculum: Insights from Accounting Educators,” completed in the course ACC 489H: ESG/CSR Reporting Research for Professor Ashley Stampone.

Graduate category winners Berry, Hreniuk, Gorczyca, and Capobianco submitted to the competition their project titled “The Effectiveness of Complementary/Alternative Medicine for Pain Management in Postpartum Women: A Systematic Review,” completed in the course PT 773: Scientific Inquiry III for PT, taught by Dr. Renée Hakim. The group members used the Library’s resources to explore topics related to vulnerable populations and landed on the use of complementary/alternative medicine for pain management in postpartum women. They met with a faculty librarian to develop a search string that would capture the research they were interested in, which they used to search in the Library databases in their (continued on next page)

Donna Witek, Information Literacy Coordinator; Ann Romanosky, Occupational Therapy department; Gabrielle Allen, Research Prize winner; Victoria Castellanos, Dean of the Panuska College of Professional Studies; and George Aulisio, Dean of the Library

Hreniuk, Bryan Gorczyca, and Nicholas Capobianco; and George Aulisio, Dean of the Library

Lori Walton, Physical Therapy department, who accepted the Graduate level Research Prize on behalf of winners Colleen Berry, Jamie

Clipping from the Nov. 11, 1980, issue of the student newspaper TheAquinas

field, identifying 483 possible articles to review. The Library’s efficient Interlibrary Loan service was critical to their success in accessing and reviewing the articles they identified. Using the citation management platform Zotero and related strategies they also learned in their meeting with a librarian, the researchers narrowed to 22 articles which they proceeded to include in their qualitative analysis of the topic.

This group of researchers went on to have an abstract accepted for presentation at the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Combined Sections Meeting. In their description of research, they share the centrality of the Library in the success of their research: “The resources available through the Weinberg Memorial Library made it possible to conduct thorough research with clinically relevant applications that physical therapists may share with their patients, community, friends, and family,” and that “the process of preliminary literature review, article searching and accessing, and compilation of findings would not be possible without the robust resources available

through the Weinberg Memorial Library.”

Sponsoring faculty Dr. Renée Hakim commends the student researchers who produced this project and shares, “All group members mastered the methodology through a series of progress reports and revisions which occurred over three consecutive semesters. Their work was very high quality as confirmed by the peer-review process which resulted in acceptance to a national scientific meeting. I am very proud of their accomplishments.”

Prize winners were honored at the Awards Ceremony & Reception held on Thursday, May 12, 2022 in the Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room of the Weinberg Memorial Library.

Information about the Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize can be found at: http:// www.scranton.edu/libraryresearchprize.

For more information about the Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize, contact Professor Donna Witek, Information Literacy Coordinator at The University of Scranton’s Weinberg Memorial Library, at donna.witek@ scranton.edu.

—Professor Donna Witek, Information Literacy Coordinator

Library Develops Digital Archive on the University’s Black History

During the Spring 2022 semester, Library faculty and staff continued their support of campus research into the University’s Black history through the development of a digital archive. Re-membering Blackness at The University of Scranton: History as a Call to Action (www.scranton.edu/rememberingblackness) shares the University’s racial story through a collection of archival records from the University Archives. Led by the Institutional Black History Subcommittee of the University’s Council for Diversity and Inclusion, the project seeks to examine the University’s historical relationships with Black faculty, staff, students, and the broader community as

part of campus efforts to address anti-Black racism and foster greater diversity, equity and inclusion. Grounded in the University’s Jesuit and Catholic mission, these efforts draw on notions of “moral memory” – the collective and moral act of remembering –and “metanoia” – a process of individual and community-based change, spiritual transformation, and renewal.

Assistant Professor and Digital Services Librarian Colleen Farry serves on the Subcommittee on Institutional Black History and led a team within the Library to discover resources from the University Archives and develop the online archive. Research conducted by Digital Services Assistant David Hunisch uncovered nearly 600 items to date

Weinberg Memorial Library

related to the University’s Black history and made these resources publicly available in the digital archive. Historical documents include newspaper clippings, records related to student activities, faculty writings, University reports, photographs, and more. The documents cover topics ranging from discussions of the Black experience, the civil rights movement, and affirmative action, as well as documentation of episodes of racism on campus. Library Systems Specialist and Digital Services Web Developer Jennifer Galas led the design and development of the archive website as well as its complementary site dedicated to undergraduate student research using the archive (digitalprojects.scranton.edu/s/hist190).

In addition to historical records, the Library is working to document contemporary activities and resources for the collection. For example, the archive includes the recent May 2022 issue of CCG News, a publication of Peace and Justice Studies in collaboration with Christians for the Common Good. This issue includes the essay, “We have the Blueprint: Pastness and Moral Memory in Black Studies and Christian Practice,” by Assistant Professor Nicole Hoskins, Ph.D., originally presented during the Office of Equity and Diversity’s Lunch & Learn Series on April 28, 2022. The issue also shares an exit interview with graduating students Tiannah Adams and Koebe Diaz, founding members of the Louis Stanley Brown Black Student Union. A recording of the Lunch & Learn presentation by the Institutional Black History Subcommittee is also available in the collection.

Primary resources from the archive will continue to be connected to teaching and learning at the University, and the Library continues to support undergraduate

research projects that explore our racial history. The digital archive does not capture a comprehensive history of the Black experience at the University due to lost, uncollected, or not-yet-discovered records and narratives. Records that document the legacy of the University’s Black community are still being discovered, and the Library is actively seeking materials to extend our research and expand the archival collection. The University Archives will accept any material that may be relevant to the University’s Black history from faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the wider community. To learn how to contribute, visit www.scranton.edu/rememberingblackness/ contribute or contact Colleen Farry at colleen. farry@scranton.edu.

—Assistant Professor Colleen Farry, Digital Services Librarian Jennifer Galas, Systems Specialist III and Digital Services Web Developer David Hunisch, Digital Services Assistant

Louis Stanley Brown Black Student Union

In 2021, the Louis Stanley Brown Black Student Union (BSU) was formed to advocate for the needs of Black students, provide a safe space to engage in conversation about the Black experience, and provide leadership to foster community. The BSU is named in honor of Louis Stanley Brown, the first African American graduate of The University of Scranton (then St. Thomas College), who earned his commercial degree in 1919. In 2016, the University dedicated the building at 600 Linden St. as Louis Stanley Brown Hall in his honor.

Louis D. Mitchell, Ph.D., 1974 Dr. Mitchell, the University’s first African American tenured faculty member, taught in the English department from 1961 until his death in 1989.

Dr. Mitchell, who was also blind and a gifted musician, had a prestigious career in education after earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Fordham University and Ph.D. from New York University. His scholarship covered such topics as African American literature and 18th century literature, and he received numerous accolades including being named to the 1976 edition of “Who’s Who Among Black Americans.”

Article from the Spring 1967 issue of Esprit by undergraduate student Rhett Jenkins, titled “On Being an American Negro.”

Retired Lt. Col. Everett “Rhett” Jenkins received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University in 1967. He was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army, through the University’s ROTC program, and went on to serve 22 years in the infantry. While at the University, Col. Jenkins, also known as Rhett “the Jet,” studied education, with membership in the philosophy and history clubs, and played basketball; he was the only player to reach the 1,000-point club in two years. During the 1966-67 season, he received numerous awards, including the Les Dickman Award. He was twice named to the Middle Atlantic Conference All-Star First Team and was inducted into the University’s Wall of Fame in 1978.

Article from the May 1969 issue of Esprit discussing the Black experience in Scranton titled “Scranton –Short View, A Microcosm,” by Louis D. Mitchell, Ph.D.

Title page from Natalis’ EvangelicaeHistoriaImages

Edward R. Leahy ‘68 donates rare book to Hill-Davis Jesuit Collection

Edward R. Leahy ’68 has donated his copy of Hieronymous Natalis, S.J., Evangelicae Historia Images, printed in Antwerp by the press of Christopher Plantin in 1593, to the Weinberg Memorial Library’s Hill-Davis Jesuit Collection. Vicar Hieronymous Natalis, S.J. (known as Jerome Nadal), was commissioned by Ignatius Loyola to create an illustrated book of Gospel stories which served as the inspiration for subsequent illustrated versions of the Spiritual Exercises. The book had tremendous importance for the Jesuits and for the Catholic Reformation. It presented new techniques for interpreting Gospel images utilizing contemporary Renaissance artistic techniques which influenced Catholic art around the world.

Nadal (1507-1580) had known Ignatius at the University of Alcala and at the University of Paris but did not join Ignatius’ circle at that time. A few years later, as a priest in Spain, he read St. Francis Xavier’s letters from India

and discovered that Ignatius had formed the Jesuits. He traveled to Rome and joined the order in 1545 and became Ignatius’ secretary. He founded the first Jesuit college in Messina and coined the phrase “contemplative in action.” In 1554, Ignatius appointed Nadal Vicar General of the Society. Ignatius asked Nadal to produce the book. He worked with the prominent Antwerp printer, Christopher Plantin, and Plantin’s successor, Martin Nutius, to recruit artists and create the work. The images were based primarily on pen and wash drawings by Livio Agresti, which were turned into drawings, primarily by Bernardo Passeri, that could be used by engravers. It took 40 years between Loyola’s initial commission and the publication of the work. The book’s imagery influenced Catholic art within Europe and in the Americas and Asia. The annotated illustrations also served as a model for future Jesuit meditative manuals. This very rare book is in fine condition and is bound in red morocco leather with gilt-decorations.

—Professor Michael Knies, Special Collections Librarian and University Archivist

(far right) Annunciation illustration from Natalis’ Evangelicae HistoriaImages

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(right) Transfiguration illustration from Evangelicae HistoriaImages

Ayad Akhtar to receive 2022 Royden B. Davis, S.J. Distinguished Author Award

The University of Scranton’s Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library has selected Ayad Akhtar to receive the 2022 Royden B. Davis, S.J., Distinguished Author Award. Mr. Akhtar is a novelist and playwright whose works have been published in over two dozen languages. His play, Disgraced, was the winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. His first novel, American Dervish, was named a best book of the year by various media outlets including Kirkus Reviews, and his most recent novel, Homeland Elegies, was named as one of the 10 best books of 2020 by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NPR. Additionally, he has been awarded an Edith Wharton Citation of Merit for Fiction and an Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Mr. Akhtar’s most recent novel, Homeland Elegies, is told as a fictionalized memoir in the form of a series of personal essays contemplating identity and belonging as a Muslim American in a post-9/11 America. Both the author and the novel’s narrator share some similarities. They are both Pulitzer Prizewinning playwrights named Ayad Akhtar. They have both been shaped by their experiences growing up in the suburban Midwest, the American-born children of Pakistani immigrants. Beyond that, the events that transpire throughout the book may or may not have actually happened, but to focus on that is to miss the point entirely. It does not matter if the author really earned financial success through a friend’s shady business venture or if the author really fell victim to an unscrupulous Scranton mechanic when his car broke down far from home. Whether or not the events of the narrative unfolded as written is not important because each contains some kernel of truth about what it means to live in a country whose American Dream is built on and fueled by debt and a country where racism and antiIslamic sentiments have turned its citizens into outsiders in their own homeland.

The story unfolds following Ayad as he makes his way as a writer and playwright. Deeply embedded in the narrative is his relationship with his parents, who both emigrated from Pakistan before he was born. Though his father Sikander fully embraces American life and is enamored of all the opportunities for financial success, his mother Fatima longs to return home to Pakistan and cannot identify with American culture and ideologies. Even Sikander, for all his enthusiasm, is never able to feel fully at home. At one point, he tells his son that if he had been born here, he might actually have been happy. However, even though Ayad is Americanborn, his identity as a Muslim (even though he is non-practicing) leaves him feeling less and less at home as the world grows increasingly hostile after the events of 9/11. He sums up the feeling by quoting Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself.” “My tongue, every atom of my blood, form’d from this soil, this air.” Yet though Ayad’s tongue is also homegrown, he cannot truly be at home. Homeland Elegies is a somber, yet eloquent lament for a home that one can no longer return to because it no longer exists.

The Distinguished Author event will be held on Friday, Nov. 18, with a book signing from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. that will be free and open to the public. The Evening Gala is a ticketed event that includes the award presentation followed by the author’s remarks. Please consider honoring Ayad Akhtar’s literary achievements and supporting the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library by attending or sponsoring the event. For event pricing and additional information, visit www.scranton.edu/authaward.

—Assistant Professor Sylvia Orner, Collections and Resource Management Librarian

Ayad Akhtar

Introducing Our Staff: Melisa Gallo

Melisa joined the Interlibrary Loan department in February of 2022 as the Interlibrary Loan and Collections Assistant. Marleen Cloutier (MC), co-editor of Information Update, recently interviewed Melisa (MG).

MC: Please tell us a little about the work you do as the Interlibrary Loan and Collections Assistant at the Library.

MG: As the Interlibrary Loan and Collections Assistant, I assist the Interlibrary Loan Coordinator with filling interlibrary loan requests by finding and retrieving books, journals, or searching microfiche in the Library’s collection. These interlibrary loan requests can be scanned, e-mailed, or shipped out to public and academic libraries, which can span across the globe. I handle the mail delivery within the library and prepare USPS and UPS shipments for Interlibrary Loan and PALCI. In addition, I also manage the Library book sale.

Staff Changes

Melisa Gallo joined the Library staff as the Interlibrary Loan and Collections Assistant on Feb. 13, 2022.

Mary Beth Roche joined the Library staff as a part-time evening/weekend Research & Instruction Librarian on Feb. 28, 2022.

George Aulisio became Dean of the Weinberg Memorial Library on Feb. 26, 2022. Dean Aulisio had been serving as the Interim Dean since July 1, 2021.

Kelly Banyas resigned from the Library faculty as Research & Instruction Librarian for Student Success as of May 27, 2022.

Kate Cummings joined the Library faculty as the Research & Instruction Librarian for Business on July 11, 2022.

Molly Abdalla resigned from the Library staff as a part-time Research & Instruction Librarian on July 31, 2022.

Bridget Conlogue joined the Library staff as full-time Special Collections & Research Services Assistant on Aug. 15, 2022.

David Hunisch transitioned from part-time Digital Services Clerk to fulltime Digital Services Assistant on Aug. 15, 2022.

MC: Can you tell us about the work you do with the Friends of the Library Book Sale?

MG: For the Library book sale, I am the point of contact for donations. I receive, sort, and prep materials going into the annual sale and pop-up sales. I also coordinate the volunteer schedule for these sales. There are a lot of volunteers needed to run the book sale. The final push before the annual book sale is an extremely busy week to get the materials prepared and the space set up. On the day of the sale, I assist the volunteers with processing the sales and stocking of items for the event. It was incredible to see the book purchasers and patrons lining up before the sale opened.

MC: You previously worked in libraries. What were your past roles? What brought you to the Weinberg Memorial Library?

MG: I was working part-time at the Abington Community Library and did not want to give up working in libraries after I finished my graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling. During my undergraduate degree, I was also a work-study student in Circulation Services at the Weinberg Memorial Library. When the position for the Interlibrary Loan and Collections Assistant opened here, I felt it would be a great fit.

MC: As a graduate of The University of Scranton, what was it about the University that interested you?

MG: I am a local to the area and I grew up in Scranton. I was part of the High School Scholars program at the University in which I took a college course while still in high school. I completed my Bachelor of Science in psychology and my Master of Science in clinical mental health counseling at The University of Scranton. I knew that there was a tight-knit community at the University. The

THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON

Weinberg Memorial Library

Melisa Gallo

Jesuit values and concepts of magis, which means striving for more, and cura personalis, or care of the whole person, resonated with me. I have continued to feel like the faculty and staff really care about the students here. I specifically remember a letter I received from Dr. Domenico after having attended one of the University open houses. That letter made me feel like the professors did truly care; I was more than just another student.

MC: What do you enjoy the most about your new role so far?

MG: I love finding articles and searching microfiche. At times, I feel like a detective, almost like being in a Nancy Drew mystery. It is amazing and meaningful to be able to share information with others and that some of these materials are sent all over the world. I recently sent materials to Great Britain and as far as South Africa. Additionally, working with everyone at the library is an intellectually enriching experience. I love what I do, and I get to laugh every day.

MC: Do you have any professional plans for the future?

MG: I am hopeful that I will be able to attain a Master of Library and Information Science degree at some point in the future. I would also like to become involved more with committees within the Library and outside of the Library. I am a member of the Northeast Chapter of the Pennsylvania Library Association and hope to participate more with the association in the future to enhance the relationships within the library community I have already made. I would also like to participate in research.

MC: What kinds of research?

MG: As a student at the University, I had participated in research work as part of the Scranton Biopsychology lab. Being a research assistant in that lab deepened and fostered my interest in research. I enjoy research and would like to pursue research related to libraries.

MC: What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working at the Library?

MG: I thoroughly enjoy reading, watching movies, and gaining cooking skills. I also like spending time with my family and friends. I miss being able to travel and hope to travel more in the future. I appreciate being able to see and experience new places. I have been interested in crafting lately and have attended numerous crafting programs at the public library. My mom also likes crafting, so this is time we get to spend together. We recently worked on writing Pysanky eggs.

MC: Do you have a favorite book or author?

MG: My favorite book is The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. My favorite author is Stephen King.

Affordable Learning Implementation Grant Update

The Weinberg Memorial Library continues to award Affordable Learning Implementation Grants in an effort to encourage faculty to adopt Open Educational Resources (OER) and library-licensed materials in their courses.

In Spring 2022, an interdisciplinary judging panel comprised of volunteers from the Library Advisory Committee selected five outstanding applicants to receive Affordable Learning Implementation Grants for courses that will be taught in the Fall 2022 semester.

The grant recipients for Fall 2022 are:

• Professor Nancy (Ann) Cummings, Faculty Specialist in Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship

• Dr. Gerard Dumancas, Associate Professor of Chemistry

• Professor Colleen Farry, Assistant Professor and Digital Services Librarian

• Professor Rachel Frissell, Faculty Specialist in Physics and Engineering

• Dr. Patricia Wright, Professor of Nursing Adoption of OER and other no-cost resources in these courses is expected to save an estimated total of $21,460 for approximately 140 students.

The next round of Affordable Learning Implementation Grants will be for courses taught in the Spring or Summer 2023 terms.

AssistantProfessorSylviaOrner, CollectionsandResourceManagementLibrarian

Welcome to the Newest Friends of the Library

We would like to thank the newest members of the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library for their contributions:

Mark DeCelles

Paul & Theresa Lanunziata

Pauline Lutostanski

Virginia Morrison

Jack Prior & Paula Roe-Prior Marian Shambe & Joel Shambe Eliza Shreve Gayle Vanac

Leaves of Class XXIII Winners

January

Congratulations to John Norcross of Clarks Summit, PA, who won the following prizes: Grand Prize: Kalahari Resorts & Conventions (four all-day waterpark admission tickets)

Culinary Delights: Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar ($25 gift certificate); Café Rinaldi ($25 gift certificate – courtesy of George & Lindsay Aulisio); The New Café ($50 gift card – courtesy of Joseph Cimini); Stirna’s Restaurant ($25 gift certificate); Wegmans ($100 gift card – courtesy of Sid Prejean)

Entertainment: Actor’s Circle (two flex tickets); Dietrich Theater (movie gift bag); Everhart Museum (family membership); NEPA Philharmonic (two tickets to the 4/8/22 PNC Pops Jerry Herman Concert); The President’s Daughter by Bill Clinton & James Patterson (courtesy of Charles Kratz & William Varady)

Tres Chic: Liztech Necklace and Pin (courtesy of Charles Kratz & William Varady); Wonderstone Gallery ($25 gift card – courtesy of Peter V. & Narda Tafuri)

Wellness: Crunch Fitness (one 3-month membership with two personal training sessions & t-shirt)

And More!: Amazon (two $25 gift cards –courtesy of Sondra Myers); American Candle (sugar cookie scented candle); $250 Cash (courtesy of Charles Kratz & William Varady); Hand­knit Shawl (courtesy of Bonnie Strohl); Hand­made Fleece Throw (courtesy of Annette Kalwaytis); Library Express (composition book gift bag); Mastercard ($50 gift card –courtesy of Letha Reinheimer); One Point (office supply basket); Target ($50 gift card – courtesy of Marian Farrell) March

Congratulations to Philip Condron of Scranton, PA, who won the following prizes: Grand Prize: The University of Scranton, IT Division (silver iPad, 32GB, Wi-Fi only)

Culinary Delights: Adezzo ($25 gift certificate – courtesy of Rosemary Shaver); Bar Pazzo ($40 gift card – courtesy of George & Lindsay Aulisio); Bella Faccias ($50 gift certificate); Café Rinaldi ($25 gift certificate); Dunkin’ ($25 gift card – courtesy of Charles Kratz & William Varady); Fine Wine & Good Spirits ($100 gift card – courtesy of Charles Kratz & William Varady); Gerrity’s ($50 gift card –courtesy of Peter & Narda Tafuri); Gertrude Hawk Chocolates ($25 gift card); Nibbles & Bits ($50 gift certificate); Ruth’s Chris Steak House ($50 gift card – courtesy of Metz Culinary Management); Stirna’s Restaurant ($25 gift certificate); Thai Rak Thai ($60 gift card); The New Café ($50 gift card – courtesy of Joseph Cimini); Twigs Café ($25 gift certificate – courtesy of Charles Kratz & William Varady); Wegmans ($100 gift card); Zummo’s ($25 gift certificate – courtesy of Rosemary Shaver)

Entertainment: Actor’s Circle (two flex tickets); Anthracite Heritage Museum (four admission tickets and a copy of Keystone of Democracy); Barnes & Noble Booksellers – Allentown (Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick & The Splendid and the Vile); Dietrich Theater (two movie passes – courtesy of Charles Kratz & William Varady); Electric City Trolley Station & Museum (two admission tickets)

Tres Chic: Lease Dry Cleaners ($25 gift card); Liztech Pin (courtesy of Charles Kratz & William Varady); Nada & Co. ($50 gift certificate); Nautica Wallet (in wooden case); Pop It! Jackets & Accessories ($25 gift certificate); William Morris Mugs (two – courtesy of Charles Kratz & William Varady)

Wellness: Corky’s Garden Path Greenhouse ($50 gift card – courtesy of Charles Kratz and William Varady)

And More!: Amazon (two $25 gift cards –courtesy of Sondra Myers); American Candle (snickerdoodle scented candle); Hand­knit Shawl (courtesy of Bonnie Strohl); Mastercard ($50 gift card – courtesy of Letha Reinheimer); Notre Dame Cutting Board (courtesy of Charles Kratz & William Varady); Stately Pet

Weinberg Memorial Library

June

Congratulations to Debbie Pann of Scranton, PA, who won the following prizes:

Grand Prize: The Settlers Inn (gift certificate for a one-night mid-week stay, including breakfast)

Culinary Delights: Café Classico ($25 gift certificate); Cooper’s Seafood House ($50 gift card); Gerrity’s ($25 gift card); Gertrude Hawk Chocolates ($25 gift card); Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar ($50 gift card –courtesy of Charles Kratz & William Varady); Northern Light ($25 gift certificate – courtesy of Rosemary Shaver); Olde Brook Inn ($30 gift card – courtesy of Charles Kratz & William Varady); Olive Garden ($50 gift card – courtesy of Nana Flanagan); PJ Scanlan’s ($25 gift card – courtesy of Betsey Moylan); Ragnacci’s ($50 gift certificate); Ruth’s Chris Steak House ($50 gift card – courtesy of Metz Culinary Management); Stirna’s Restaurant ($25 gift certificate); TGIF ($25 gift card –courtesy of Metz Culinary Management); The Gourmet Slice ($25 gift certificate – courtesy of George & Lindsay Aulisio)

Entertainment: Comics on the Green ($25 gift card); Dietrich Theater (two movie passes – courtesy of Charles Kratz & William Varady); Electric City Trolley Station & Museum (two admission tickets); Kalahari Resorts & Conventions ($100 gift card); Lackawanna Heritage Valley (gift basket)

Tres Chic: Liztech Pin (courtesy of Charles Kratz & William Varady); Longaberger Basket (courtesy of Charles Kratz & William Varady); N.B. Levy’s ($50 gift certificate); Trojan Horse Painting (courtesy of Kym Fetsko)

Wellness: Medicus Express Care (first aid kit)

And More!: Amazon (two $25 gift cards –courtesy of Sherman Wooden); Amazon ($50 gift card – courtesy of Charles Kratz & William Varady); Hand­knit Shawl (courtesy of Bonnie Strohl); Mastercard ($50 gift card – courtesy of Letha Reinheimer); Target ($50 gift card –courtesy of Marian Farrell); The University of Scranton, Advancement (gift basket)

Friends of the Library Booksale

The University of Scranton Weinberg Memorial Library held its first in-person Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library Annual Book Sale since 2019. This much anticipated event was well received by both University of Scranton and community members. The proceeds from the book sale directly support the Weinberg Memorial Library through the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library fund. The Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library fund assists the Library in numerous ways, such as by enhancing the collection and funding renovations to the Library. Many volunteers assisted in bringing the book sale to fruition after the two-year hiatus. These volunteers for the Library book sale comprised of members of the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library, library employees, community members, and student volunteers. The book sale spanned three days and the books available for purchase encompassed various genres. The Weinberg Memorial Library looks forward to continuing to put on this staple event by providing a wide array of book sale items to our patrons.

—MelisaGallo,InterlibraryLoan and Collections Assistant

Supply ($25 gift card – courtesy of Peter V. & Narda Tafuri)

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Memorial Library Scranton, Pennsylvania 18510-4634

update

A Newsletter from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Memorial Library Scranton, Pa 18510-4634

Co-Editors: Sheli Pratt-McHugh and Marleen Cloutier

Dean of the Library: George J. Aulisio Phone: 570-941-7816

The University of Scranton is committed to providing a safe and nondiscriminatory employment and educational environment. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other status protected by law. Sexual harassment, including sexual violence, is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational, extracurricular, athletic, or other programs or in the context of employment. Inquiries regarding nondiscrimination and sexual harassment and sexual misconduct policies may be directed to Elizabeth M. Garcia, J.D., Executive Director and Title IX Coordinator, Office of Equity and Diversity, (570) 941-6645.