Let's Do This: The Fall 2014 Finish Line

The Fall 2014 finish line is in sight, and as a TWU student you're no doubt in full prep mode for final exams.  Remember--the TWU Libraries will be right there with you to help.

The Blagg-Huey Library on the Denton campus of TWU is open extended hours for final exams beginning Friday, December 5, 2014--and coffee break preparations are in full swing for the Blagg-Huey Library, Dallas Center Library and Houston ARC.  

In other words, more library time to study plus free coffee and snacks to help TWU students power through the final stretch of the Fall 2014 semester (extended hours info is available here; coffee break info is available here.)  

You're welcome.  

Let's do this.

~Sandy Cochran 

Happy Thanksgiving

Texas Woman's University (including the libraries in Denton and Dallas, as well as the Houston ARC) will be closed Wednesday, November 26th through Friday, November 28th in observance of the Thanksgiving Day holiday.  

The Blagg-Huey Library in Denton will resume regular Fall semester hours on Saturday, November 29th (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.); and the Dallas Center Library and Houston ARC will resume regular hours on Monday, December 1st.

The TWU Libraries family wishes you and yours a holiday filled with peace, joy and gratitude. 

Happy Thanksgiving.

~Sandy Cochran  

Thankful

Colleague to colleague  Staff members of the Blagg-Huey Library on the Denton campus of TWU hold up a banner containing expressions of gratitude between library colleagues.  The chance to acknowledge each other in this season of thanks, the brainchild of staff luncheon organizers, afforded library staff members the chance to express appreciation for--and to be appreciated by--the people they spend their days with.  Photograph by Kristin Wolski.  November 22, 2014.

One of the best things that can happen to us is remembering to be thankful; another is feeling appreciated.  On a recent afternoon the staff of the Blagg-Huey Library on the Denton campus was fortunate to experience both of these, as its members got together to enjoy each other's company and express the many ways they are thankful--for each other.   

Taking a break from our full schedules, staff members connected with colleagues over lunch and dessert.  The high point of the luncheon for many was the opportunity staff members had to thank our library colleagues, in writing, for all that they do. Despite the filling lunch everyone walked a little lighter that day, knowing that not only do we belong to a great team, but our efforts are appreciated by our colleagues. 

In this season of gratitude, the TWU Libraries family has much to be thankful for. 

For you and yours, we wish the same.

~Sandy Cochran

Coming Soon: Fall 2014 Coffee Breaks

Time and caffeine.  With these two things you can conquer the world—or at least your final exams. 

    

A time-honored tradition at TWU continues in December with finals-week coffee breaks at the Blagg-Huey Library on the Denton campus; the TWU T. Boone Pickens Institute of Health Sciences-Dallas Center Library; and the Houston ARC.  The Denton campus library is also extending its operating hours before and during finals week.  All TWU students are welcome and encouraged to use the libraries’ facilities--and enjoy the free refreshments provided--as you prepare to wrap up the Fall 2014 semester.                               

BLAGG-HUEY LIBRARY (DENTON)                      

Extended library hours as listed.  Coffee breaks, sponsored by the TWU Division of Student Life and the TWU Libraries, feature free coffee, tea, bottled water and healthy snacks in the library’s first-floor lecture hall (room 101).  Giveaways and a photo op.  Student organizations participating on select nights with treats and other giveaways for students. 

Friday, December 5^th   Open 7 a.m.-midnight
Saturday, December 6^th   Open 9 a.m.-midnight ● Coffee breaks at 7:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 7^th   Open 10 a.m.-midnight ● Coffee breaks at 6 p.m. & 9 p.m.
Monday, December 8^th   Open 7 a.m.-2 a.m. ● Coffee breaks at 6 p.m. & 9 p.m.
Tuesday, December 9^th   Open 7 a.m.-2 a.m. ● Coffee breaks at 6 p.m. & 9 p.m.
Wednesday, December 10^th   Open 7:30 a.m.-midnight ● Coffee break at 5 p.m.
Thursday, December 11^th   Open 7:30 a.m.-midnight 

TWU T. BOONE PICKENS INSTITUTE OF HEALTH SCIENCES-DALLAS CENTER LIBRARY
Coffee breaks, sponsored by the TWU Division of Student Life and the TWU Libraries, feature free coffee, tea, hot chocolate, bottled water and healthy snacks near the library’s front door during regular operating hours  Monday-Thursday, December 8^th-11^th.  Select snacks also available Saturday, December 6^th during regular operating hours.

HOUSTON ARC
Free homemade cookies and Cajun coffee with chicory available for all students, faculty and staff during regular operating hours Monday-Thursday, December 8^th-11^th. 

For more as finals week nears—including details about an exciting new button contest in the works--check this blog; like the TWU Libraries on Facebook; or follow us on Twitter.

~Sandy Cochran; Graphic design by Kristin Wolski

Cruisin' With The Chancellor

Showing us how it's done, Texas Woman's University Chancellor and President Dr. Carine Feyten checks out the Blagg-Huey Library, the Pioneer Center for Student Excellence and other spots on and near the Denton campus of TWU.

Love the car, Dr. Feyten.
 
TWU New Music Update from Denise Spranger on Vimeo.

~Sandy Cochran 

A Tribute to the First Americans

Giving Thanks for Native Americans  Native American Heritage Month was established to pay tribute to the contribu-
tions and rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans.  Image courtesy of the Native American Heritage Month page of 
the Library of Congress.

In recognition of the first Americans and their significant contributions to the establishment and growth of the United States, November is Native American Heritage Month.  Sponsored by the Library of Congress; the National Archives and Records Administration; the National Endowment for the Humanities; the National Gallery of Art; the National Park Service; the Smithsonian Institution; and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Native American Heritage Month was established to pay tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans.

Annie  Annie "Walk Aslant" Cheyenne maiden. 

Photograph by L.A. Huffman.  Copyright The 

Newberry.  Part of an extensive collection of 

materials on American Indian history and cul-

ture accessible in the database American Indian 

Histories and Cultures.   

The TWU Libraries are honored to join this monthlong tribute, and recommend to Pioneers a visit to a database of unique materials from one of the finest archival collections available on American Indian history and culture.

American Indian Histories and Cultures, one of over 200 databases made available by the libraries to current TWU students and faculty and staff members, contains materials spanning four centuries of North and Central American Indian history and culture.  This extensive collection includes manuscripts (treaties, speeches, petitions, diaries, travel journals and ledger books); artwork (illustrations, sketches, watercolors, oil paintings and American Indian art); American Indian newspapers from the 1960s to the 1990s; rare printed books; photographs; and maps (navigating through this much material can be overwhelming; look for Not Sure Where to Start? on the homepage for an introduction to the database, complete with guided tour.)  Rare and diverse, the materials contained in American Indian Histories and Cultures provide unique insights into the history and culture of Native Americans for scholars, educators and students.  

Access American Indian Histories and Cultures, with current Pioneer Portal login information, from the TWU Libraries homepage (see Databases A-Z List under the heading Research.)  For assistance please contact us. 

~Sandy Cochran with Jimmie Lyn Harris

When Quitting Is Cool: The Great American Smokeout

If ever there is a time when it's cool to be a quitter, The Great American Smokeout is it.

According to the American Cancer Society, smoking is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 American deaths--all preventable.  The Great American Smokeout (November 20th, 2014) is a great time for tobacco users in the TWU community and everywhere else to either quit or make a plan to quit, while friends and family members of smokers can learn how to be a good resource for their loved ones.  By quitting--even for one day--smokers take an important step toward a healthier life, one that can lead to a reduced risk of cancer. 

Our friends at Student Health Services (SHS), your campus healthcare provider and resource, will mark The Great American Smokeout on Wednesday, November 19th from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the 2^nd floor of the Student Union.  All TWU students and staff and faculty members who want information about smoking/tobacco cessation--for themselves or someone else they care about--can get it by visiting the SHS table they will find there.  "Quit kits" will be handed out, and while supplies last tobacco non-users who make a pledge will receive a free t-shirt.  

For more information on being a quitter, like TWU Student Health Services on Facebook and follow @HealthyTWU on Twitter.

Join The Great American Smokeout--when quitting is cool.

~Sandy Cochran

Supporting the Scrubs

The TWU Libraries would like to offer our full support to the TWU faculty members, students and preceptors working on the front lines in hospitals and clinical settings in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.  

Events over the past month related to the spread and containment of Ebola virus disease have caused anxiety in some members of the public and the health sciences community.  Knowing the facts and being mindful of new developments can help alleviate some of that anxiety.  

Toward that end, The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) website is dedicated to presenting up-to-date research as it becomes available.  Some of the research is available free of charge; full access to the NEJM is available, with Pioneer Portal login information, through the TWU Libraries (from the libraries' homepage, do a catalog search for the journal title.)  A collection of NEJM articles and other resources on the Ebola outbreak is available here.

Another useful resource for valid medical information and research is the Emergency Access Initiative (EAI), an online portal created by the National Library of Medicine's Disaster Information Management Research Center.  Through this initiative, publishers provide open access to full-text articles and books for healthcare workers, clinicians and researchers in places affected by disasters or epidemics.  Activated for a limited time, this service is useful for students and others working in settings with limited-to-no on-site access to medical research.  The Ebola outbreak is an EAI active event; the free access period ends November 14, 2014. 

Sometimes information overload can contribute to anxiety levels.  The TWU Libraries can help with that too.  The libraries in Dallas and Denton feature study rooms and lounge spaces that can serve as “soft places to land,” allowing students to take a break from it all.  Place a reservation for a study room here. 

Once again, the TWU Libraries salute the efforts of our TWU family of healthcare students and faculty members, as well as the medical community at large.  

Please let us know how we may be of service.

~Kimberly Richardson

New Releases: Nutrition & Public Health E-Books

They may be of significance for research purposes, or matters of personal interest. Whatever your level of interest or expertise, nutrition and public health are subjects that pertain to each of us, every day.  The TWU Libraries are pleased to now provide access, with Pioneer Portal login information, to two important online resources you can turn to--whatever the reason--for current, thorough and authoritative information on nutrition and public health topics.

NEW!   ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HUMAN NUTRITION (3RD EDITION)

What It Is   The role of nutrition in combating disease, and otherwise improving quality of life, is undeniable.  This 4-volume revision of an award-winning work reflects scientific advances in the field of human nutrition and presents the latest understanding on a wide range of nutrition-related topics--including food safety, weight management, vitamins, bioengineering of foods, plant-based diet, raw foods, organic food, biofortification, nutritional labeling and the effect of religious customs on diet.  This new edition also features broader cross-referencing of emerging opportunities for the potential prevention and treatment of diseases.

Format   E-Book

NOW ONLINE!   INTERNATIONAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PUBLIC HEALTH

What It Is   An authoritative and comprehensive guide to the major issues, challenges, methods and approaches of global public health.  Covers all dimensions of the field, from details of specific diseases to the organization of social insurance agencies.  Includes articles on public health aspects of diseases and conditions, aging, diet, injuries, ethics and the law, measurement and modeling, consumerism, anthropology and sociology, economics, public health history and global issues.

Formats  E-Book, Print

~Sandy Cochran with Kris Reed

You Are Invited to the Dallas Center Library

Nursing Excellence at the Dallas Center  Celebrating 60 Years of Nursing Excellence at TWU, an exhibit
commemorating a milestone year in the history of the TWU College of Nursing, is currently on display at the
Dallas Center Library on the sixth floor of the TWU T. Boone Pickens Institute of Health Sciences-Dallas Center. 

In Dallas, just off of I-35E at Inwood Road, is an eight-story building with TWU in really big letters on its sides.  What is this place, you wonder, as you fly/crawl down the freeway?  We are the TWU T. Boone Pickens Institute of Health Sciences-Dallas Center, and we invite you to visit.  

You may have heard of the Dallas Center, but did you know that all TWU students and faculty and staff members have full access to Dallas Center services?  Your parking pass works in our parking garage, and with your current TWU ID you have access to the Dallas Center fitness center, Office of Student Life, computer lab and library.

The Dallas Center Library, on the center's sixth floor, features a physical collection focused on the health sciences.  Dallas Center Library patrons, regardless of TWU campus home or field of study, also enjoy full access to high speed internet, TWU Libraries online resources, Wi-Fi, free printing and the Interlibrary loan services of the TWU Libraries. Whether students attend classes in person or online, they are invited and welcome to make use of the Dallas Center Library's resources.

Welcome  The staff of the Dallas Center Library, located on the sixth floor of the TWU T. Boone Pickens Insti-

tute of Health Sciences-Dallas Center, has created a warm and inviting space to enrich the library experience 
of all Dallas Center Library patrons.  Here, the front desk of the Dallas Center Library in the Halloween spirit.   

In town?  Stop by and visit.  The Dallas Center Library shines especially bright during the holiday season.  In October, for example, Halloween decorations of all kinds--including a variety of pumpkins, a witch, Frankenstein’s monster and more--filled the library with the Halloween spirit.  Currently, the library is the site of Celebrating 60 Years of Nursing Excellence at TWU, an exhibit curated by Woman's Collection staff members to commemorate a milestone in the history of the TWU College of Nursing. Containing photographs, historical nursing uniforms and nursing faculty publications, Celebrating 60 Years will be available for viewing through November, 2014.  

The staff of the Dallas Center Library has dedicated itself to creating a space that enriches the library experience of every TWU student and faculty and staff member who visits.  We hope you are one of them.

Happy holidays!

~Ellen Hamlett

Psst!  It is also a "well-guarded" secret that we have chocolate.  ;)     

The WASP and the Archive: A Veteran's Day Salute

Flying High  Holly Hollinger Grasso, 44-W-5, completing advanced 
flight training at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. Grasso was a 
member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII (WASP), volun-
teer civilian pilots and the first women in history to fly for the U.S. 

military. The official WASP archive is housed in the Woman's Collection 
of the Blagg-Huey Library on the Denton campus of TWU. Cover image
courtesy of the Women Airforce Service Pilots Archive, Texas Woman's
University, Denton, Texas.   

A Veteran's Day salute to the Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII (WASP), the first women in history to fly for the U.S. military, for their dedicated service.  The Women Airforce Service Pilots Archive, the group's official archive housed in the Woman's Collection of the Blagg-Huey Library on the Denton campus of TWU, is the subject of a cover feature in the official newsmagazine and publication of record of the Association of College & Research Libraries.  

College & Research Libraries News selected the archive as the cover feature for its November 2014 issue (left).  Featured in the cover image is Holly Hollinger Grasso, 44-W-5, a graduate of the first women's flying training detachment for the U.S. Army.  Grasso is pictured completing advanced flight training at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas.  

Between 1942 and 1944, at the height of WWII, more than a thousand women left homes and jobs for the opportunity of a lifetime--to become the first in history to fly for the U.S. military. Volunteering as civilian pilots, they relieved men for overseas duty and became the Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII, better known as the WASP.  Under the leadership of Jacqueline Cochran, Nancy Harkness Love and General Henry “Hap” Arnold, the WASP trained and went on to soar beyond all expectations of the Army Air Corps.

The Women Airforce Service Pilots Archive, the official archive for the Women Airforce Service Pilots, is the largest repository of WASP materials in the United States.  The collection includes over 1 million pieces of paper, over 25,000 photographs, over 700 oral histories, nearly 1,300 biographical files and 500 individual WASP collections.

Researchers from around the world--including historians, scholars, filmmakers, documentarians, publishers, journalists and the media--use the Women Airforce Service Pilots Archive at Texas Woman's University to advance their research and learn about a group of brave and determined women who flew into action, as none had before them, in their country's hour of need.

~Sandy Cochran with Kimberly Johnson

Mims’ The Word: November and the Face of Men’s Health

Halloween 2014 is over and November is upon us--Daylight Saving Time, cold weather and all.  Yes, we have fully stepped into fall, and into Men’s Health Month.  

Often dubbed No Shave November or Movember, this month traditionally sees men everywhere letting the face fuzz flourish to raise awareness for men’s health issues, most notably prostate and testicular cancer and mental health.  

How is TWU--the largest state university for women in the United States--observing Men's Health Month?  The big ticket item is the Men’s Health November Q&A Lunch sponsored by Student Health Services.  Taking place on November 17, 2014, this lunch is open to any and all who have questions about men’s health issues who plan to eat that day.  RSVP by November 13 to ensure you get a plate.  For more information about this event make your way over to the Healthy TWU blog.

As far as officially-sanctioned university events, the Men's Health Q&A Lunch is the only Men's Health Month item on the agenda.  Unofficially, you might notice the men in the Blagg-Huey Library (on the Denton campus) looking a little hairier in November.  A few of us are participating wholeheartedly in No Shave November, growing out our beards for 30 days and (hopefully) in the process raising awareness of men's health issues.  At the end of the month the TWU community will be asked to vote for the most epic beard in the library, so watch for updates on the Blagg-Huey Beard Off (catchy, right?).

We Mustache You a Question, But We'll Shave It For 
Later.  Jason Mims, Stacks Manager at the Blagg-Huey Library 
on the Denton campus, will be observing No Shave November by
participating with colleagues in the Blagg-Huey Beard Off to raise 
awareness of men's health issues, including prostate and testicular 
cancer.  The TWU community will be asked to vote at the end of the 
month for the "most epic beard in the library."  Photograph by 
Kristin Wolski.  

Fun aside, there is a serious aspect to all the beard-growing and mustache-wearing this month.  No Shave November has become an international event aimed at "growing" awareness of men's health issues by embracing hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free.  Participants are encouraged to donate the money they would  usually spend on shaving and grooming for education about cancer prevention, saving lives, and aiding those fighting a men's health battle.  No Shave November   

Movember, started in Australia in 1999, is observed by growing a mustache and donating for prostate cancer and depression research (fun fact:  mo is Australian slang for mustache).  Movember and No Shave November, while both fun, were designed primarily to help those suffering from cancer and other illnesses, and to encourage related awareness, education and research.  We mustache you--how about that for a worthy cause?  To participate, just stop shaving (that goes for all you guys and gals.)  If you feel like donating money or time, follow the Movember or No Shave November links provided above.    

Men’s health issues affect all of us, not just men (in the same way that women’s health issues affect all of us, not just women.) Whether you’re growing one gnarly beard or walking several gnarly miles, awareness of cancer (and other health issues) is a worthy goal all Pioneers can share.   If you choose to participate--just get growing.

Alright, T Dub, that’s it for this one.  Catch you on the other side of Movember.

~Jason Mims

Professor's Corner: The Arabian Nights in Contemporary Culture

The next session of Professor's Corner, a free discussion group devoted to quality presentations on literary topics, is just around the . . . corner.  Join us on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 for Scheherazade's Charms: The Arabian Nights in Contemporary Culture.  Refreshments will be served.  Admission is free and open to all.  

THIS SESSION

Scheherazade’s Charms: The Arabian Nights in Contemporary Culture

ABOUT THIS SESSION
The frame-tale collection of stories known as The Arabian Nights, or One Thousand and One Nights, has been one of the most popular and most frequently-adapted texts of world literature for three centuries.  Since its introduction in the West through the 18th-century translations of Antoine Galland, this medieval collection of ancient Arabic, Persian, Egyptian and Indian tales has captured the imaginations of audiences worldwide.  What makes this text so compelling, especially to modern readers?  This Professor’s Corner session will explore retellings of The Arabian Nights--including the Disney film Aladdin; the graphic novel series Fables; and contemporary novels from Egypt, Algeria and the U.S.--alongside the original in order to understand what continues to draw us to these stories. We’ll also discuss what makes the storyteller Scheherazade such a great role model.  A brief suggested reading, including the frame tale of Scheherazade and King Sharyar, and the story of the Trader and the Jinni, is available here.

WHEN & WHERE

Wednesday, November 12, 2014
7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Denton Public Library, South Branch (3228 Teasley, Denton, Texas, 76210.  Just south of the Teasley/Lillian Miller intersection.  A MapQuest map and directions are available here.)

COST
This program is free and open to the public.  Refreshments will be served.

SPEAKER
This session's presenter is Dr. Gretchen Busl, Assistant Professor of English at Texas Woman's University.    

READ FOR THIS SESSION (OPTIONAL) 
Readings are available here.  Background of The Arabian Nights is available here.

THE PROFESSOR'S CORNER SERIES

The purpose of this free series is to meet a public need for high-quality presentations on literary topics by featuring local English professors who talk about their special interests.  The presentations are aimed at the general public and allow for discussion. Readings of modest length are usually available in advance.  Gatherings are usually on the second Wednesday of specified months from 7:00 p.m. to about 8:30 p.m.  Monthly announcements are available by e-mail; to get on the mailing list send a request by e-mail to Fred Kamman, Denton Public Library (Fred.Kamman@cityofdenton.com; 940-349-8752.)

AROUND THE CORNER AT PROFESSOR'S CORNER 2014-15
December 10, 2014:  Finding Fairies in Greek Myths (Dr. Chera Cole, Speaker)
January 14, 2015:  Beckett at Play (Dr. Patrick Bynane, Speaker)
February 11, 2015:  Fire in the Sky: The Frightful Appearance of Comets in Literature (Dr. Brian Fehler, Speaker)
March 11, 2015:  Shakespeare's King Lear in Adaptation (Dr. Ashley Bender, Speaker)
April 8, 2015:  The Legends of King Arthur (Dr. Matthew Brown, Speaker)
May 13, 2015:  It's Epic! Derek Walcott’s Omeros (Dr. Carl Smeller, Speaker)

SERIES PRODUCER
Dr. Stephen Souris, Texas Woman’s University (SSouris@twu.edu; 940-898-2343)

THANK YOU TO THESE SUPPORTERS OF THE PROFESSOR'S CORNER SERIES
Many thanks to Denton Public Library, Voertman's, Recycled Books Records CDs, and Cooper’s Copies and Printing.  This program was also made possible in part with a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Please join us.

~Dr. Stephen Souris

Art Works: The Little Chapel

The Little Chapel at the Library  Little Chapel, Oil by R. Carter.  1979.  The Little Chapel is on display behind 

the Information Desk on the first floor of the Blagg-Huey Library on the Denton campus.  Photograph by Kristin 

Wolski.  November 5, 2014.

Editor's Note:  Today's post is part of a series on the artwork on display in the TWU Libraries.  You may also enjoy Art Works: Out of the Blue and Art Works: Family Preserve.  

Art works to awaken the senses.  It fuels the imagination, encourages creativity, and clears the mind.  It relaxes us.  It can make us laugh. It provides a respite, however brief, from our tasks.  Art works to inspire our inner artists, helping us to improve our own works of art--whatever forms those may take.  It raises our quality of life.  Art just makes us feel good.

Between classes, between projects, between chapters--whenever the impulse strikes--look up and take in some of the creative works around you, including those at the Blagg-Huey Library on the Denton campus of TWU.  Because art works.

As the Little Chapel in the Woods turns 75 we thought we would share one of the many images of the chapel on the walls and in the collections of the TWU Libraries.  

Photographs of the chapel under construction, and its artwork in progress, can be found in the University Archives Digital Archive.  For assistance with the University Archives or other special collections please contact the Woman's Collection of the TWU Libraries at 940-898-3751, or Ask an Archivist.   

To see photographs taken at a reception at the Blagg-Huey Library celebrating the chapel's milestone anniversary, see the TWU Libraries' flickr page.

Finally, an exhibit of wedding gowns, memorabilia, books, artwork, photographs and ephemera related to every Pioneer's favorite little chapel is on display in the first-floor lobby of the Blagg-Huey Library on the Denton campus.  Curated by Woman's Collection staff members, Celebrating 75 Years: The Little Chapel-in-the-Woods will be available for viewing during regular library hours through November, 2014.  

Enjoy.

~Sandy Cochran  

Kudos: Marilyn Goff Earns Distinguished AHIP Certification

Kudos  Marilyn Goff, Health Sciences Librarian at
the TWU Houston Center's Academic Resource Center, 
has earned the Distinguished AHIP certification from 
the Academy of Health Information Professionals.  

Kudos to TWU Health Sciences Librarian Marilyn Goff, newly recertified by the Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP).  The TWU Libraries are proud to announce that Marilyn has been certified by the Academy for the period September 1, 2014 through August 31, 2019.

Initially certified in 1978, Goff intently pursues continuing education opportunities such as classes, seminars and webinars to keep her knowledge in her field current.  This pursuit of cutting-edge medical library information has earned Marilyn a Distinguished AHIP certification.  In addition to keeping her skills up to date, Marilyn believes in being of service to others.  She is an AHIP Mentor and has helped many library professionals become AHIP certified over the years.

Like many professionals, librarians specialize and can be certified in their field. Civil engineers are certified differently from mechanical engineers; physicians can certify in pediatrics or other areas.  For health sciences librarians, certification is by the AHIP of the Medical Library Association.

Congratulations, Marilyn!

~Sandy Cochran with Marilyn Goff

Inauguration Day Hours of the Denton Campus Library

The TWU community is abuzz with anticipation as the inauguration of Dr. Carine M. Feyten approaches.  Scheduled for Monday, November 10, 2014 at 2 p.m. in the Margo Jones Performance Hall on the Denton campus, the inauguration of Dr. Feyten as the 11th President and 2nd Chancellor of TWU promises to be a festive and uplifting experience.

While some adjustments to regular campus life can be expected (detailed information about the event and the day's activities are available here), please note that for the convenience of our patrons the Blagg-Huey Library on the Denton campus will be observing normal operating hours (7:30 a.m. to midnight) on Inauguration Day.

~Sandy Cochran 

Welcome to the Team, Susan Whitmer!

The TWU Libraries are proud to announce 
that Susan Whitmer has joined our team as 
the Humanities Librarian in the Reference 
Department.  Based at the Blagg-Huey 
Library on the Denton campus, Susan wel-
comes the opportunity to assist TWU stu-
dents and faculty members with their re-
search and other information needs.  

Please join us as we welcome a new member of the TWU Libraries team.

Susan Whitmer is now the Humanities Librarian in the libraries' Reference Department. Based at the Blagg-Huey Library on the Denton campus, she is the Subject Librarian to contact for a research consultation or class instruction session in Criminal Justice, Government & Political Science, History, Law or Literature & Language.  Also a member of the libraries'  F.I.R.S.T. program, Susan welcomes the opportunity to support faculty members in these subject areas with their research, curriculum development and professional development.  She can be reached at swhitmer@twu.edu or 940-898-3739.

A longtime Denton resident, Susan is an artist, avid bicyclist and self-described foodie. We are thrilled she has joined us, and hope you will help us welcome her to her new professional home.

~Sandy Cochran    

Elaine Cox Receives Elizabeth Snapp Award for Excellence in Librarianship

Elaine Cox, Health Sciences Librarian at the Blagg-Huey Library 

on the Denton campus, has been named the recipient of the 2014-15 
Elizabeth Snapp Award for Excellence in Librarianship.  Photograph
by Kristin Wolski.  October 20, 2014.

Citing her "dedication and passion for librarianship" and her "positive attitude and exuberance for helping students, faculty and staff of TWU," the Texas Woman's University Foundation has announced that Elaine Cox, Health Sciences Librarian at the Blagg-Huey Library on the Denton campus, is the 2014-15 recipient of the Elizabeth Snapp Award for Excellence in Librarianship.  As one nominator puts it, "Elaine helps fulfill the mission of Texas Woman's University as one who 'ignites' potential and purpose in students."  

As a Health Sciences Librarian and valued member of the TWU Libraries Reference Department team, Elaine specializes in giving subject-specific research guidance in the fields of Dental Hygiene, Consumer Health and Evidence-Based Practice.  She teaches, volunteers for projects, attends conferences, and is a dedicated member of the Faculty Senate and various professional medical organizations.  "My favorite part of the job is the constant state of change," says Elaine.  "It's never boring!"  

With over 11 years of experience as a librarian at TWU, Elaine is admired by her peers as well as the students she serves.  "Elaine Cox is the librarian every institution of higher education wishes they had," says one colleague.  "She goes above and beyond the call of duty to assist all of the students, staff and faculty who seek her assistance."  "Elaine is a real treasure to have at TWU," says another.  "When I see Elaine teach library skills to students, it motivates me to do better at my own job and to be a better person.  She is the real deal."

Although Elaine's professional skills are unquestionably first-rate, to those who know her it is Elaine's kindness and giving spirit which distinguish her most.  "Students have a beaten path to Elaine's office door, and she is never too busy to stop her work and give them her undivided attention," reads one colleague's letter of nomination.  "Elaine's insight and guidance have been so helpful," adds another coworker.  "She is an asset not only to students and faculty, but to her colleagues as well."

The Elizabeth Snapp Award for Excellence in Librarianship was established in 2011 and named in honor of TWU Libraries Director Emeritus Elizabeth Snapp, who served at TWU for 33 years.  Each recipient of this annual award receives a cash prize and commemorative plaque presented at a ceremony held in her or his honor.  

From all of us in the TWU Libraries family, Elaine, congratulations for receiving this much-deserved honor. 

And thanks--for being the real deal.

~Sandy Cochran