The Archives: A Summary

October is American Archives Month, a time dedicated to showcasing archived collections of valuable historical documents around the country. While researching for American Archives Month, I quickly realized how unaware I was of the usefulness and thoroughness of OSU's archives. That being said, I figured I was not the only person on campus who could benefit from a quick review of the archival units at Oklahoma State.

Government Documents:

This department is, you guessed it, a depository of government documents! Various materials including agricultural statistics and presidential economic reports can be found in Government Documents. The department also contains state, national and international government publications.

Government Documents is a useful resource for any Oklahoma State student or faculty member looking to delve deeper into the history of the world's governments. In addition to documenting the past, the Government Documents department sheds light on current government events on the Gov Docs blog. As a student, I enjoy the department's blogposts because they simplify current government activities and relate them back to past archived material. The blog is a great way to engage readers. In fact, I registered to vote shortly after reading the National Voter Registration Day post this past September!

Maps & Spatial Data:

With over 150,000 sheet maps, 80,000 aerial photographs and hundred of atlases, Maps & Spatial Data is a vast resource for all things maps. The majority of the collected maps focus on Oklahoma, but there are also maps of neighboring states, the nation and the world as a whole.

Maps & Spatial Data also offers workshops that teach people how to make, manipulate and understand maps. The department not only houses thousands of tangible maps, but is also currently digitizing many documents in order to make them more accessible through online research. Head to the basement of Edmon Low to visit the department and expand your knowledge of maps.

Oklahoma Oral History Research Program:

Otherwise known as OOHRP, the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program documents history through oral interviews. By interviewing people who were a part of past historical events, OOHRP is able to fill the gaps of history that are often forgotten in written testimonies.

The program was founded in 2007 and since then has made history accessible to students and faculty of Oklahoma State through interviews. OOHRP is an innovative tool that teaches people about the value of interview-based research, something that can be easier to absorb compared to written materials. OOHRP also has a twitter account and podcast that makes the oral research as readily available as possible.

The Archives:

The Archives is a vast collection of historical documents that detail the history of the university, the state and the nation. The Archives contains rare manuscripts, photographs and more that are excellent research materials for Oklahoma State students and faculty.

The Archives aims to make history both accessible and user-friendly for all members of the OSU family. Any historical document related to the management, operations and mission of OSU can be found in The Archives. You can access archived documents in The Archives office on the second floor of Edmon Low, as well as on the departmental page of the Library website.

If you're anything like me, you've probably realized that the archived material at OSU is larger you initially thought. It blew me way to discover the various archive departments and the resources that each branch offers. From historical maps to interviews with past Pistol Petes, Oklahoma State University Libraries provides the Cowboy community with a look into the past.


Posted by Tatum Wallace, Electronic Communications Intern for OSU Library Communications

Rooms of Purpose: MLSC

The Library is home to countless resources designed to help students achieve their full learning potential. Located inside Edmon Low, the Mathematics Learning Success Center in no exception. The MLSC supports the Library's mission to be a hub for learning and innovation. Our educational reach spans far beyond checking out books. The Library is a one stop shop for all types of scholastic resources, from 3D printing to mathematics tutoring. There are hardly any limitations to what a student can achieve inside the Edmon Low Library.

Established in 1985, the math facility fosters a learning environment for students looking to complete class assignments and advance their mathematics skills. The MLSC was built as part of the Success in Undergraduate Mathematics initiative, an OSU program dedicated to the enhancement of student learning and success in undergraduate mathematics. All undergraduate students looking to complete a degree are required to earn a math credit, meaning that student success in mathematics is not only encouraged but also necessary at OSU. The need for mathematics spans far beyond majors pertaining to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Other majors, including strategic communications and graphic design, require mathematics as part of the degree plan.

The MLSC has been housed in the Library since the center's relocation in 2013. The MLSC's new home is an 8,000 square-foot area on the fifth floor of Edmon Low. The center is composed of small study rooms, one large study room and a massive computer room that is stocked with 126 laptops. The MLSC has 15 laptops separate from the lab that students may check out to use in other areas of the facility as well. Lastly, the MLSC has calculators and mathematics textbooks for students to borrow while they work.

Prior to the move, the MLSC was located in Classroom Building. The small area where the center was housed was no match for the demand from students needing mathematics tutoring. There was often a 45 minutes wait just for students to enter the MLSC. Luckily, the insufficient resources and lack of space were both addressed when the tutoring center moved to a spacious portion of the Library's fifth floor.

The Library was eager to open its doors to the MLSC, knowing that the center would motivate students to enter Edmon Low and travel through the building. Many freshman take classes that require tutoring hours at the MLSC, which means that new OSU students must enter into the Library in order to complete their course assignments. The MLSC's location inside Edmon Low is mutually beneficial for both the mathematics department and the Library. The MLSC prompts students to enter the Library and witness all that the building has to offer while the Library provides the MLSC with enough space to handle the large influx of students who need mathematics tutoring.

The MLSC has a diverse tutoring system for a wide range of class levels. Services are offered for classes such as College Algebra, Calculus III and Differential Equations. There is also a designated schedule when instructors will come tutor at the MLSC in specific courses. The instructor tutoring schedule is on the MLSC website so students can look up their desired course, find the specific professor and attend the tutoring session at the designated date and time. MLSC tutoring is a way for students to get help in a personalized and focused setting.

Public review sessions are also held on a weekly basis at the MLSC. There are about 10 to 15 sessions available each week, with more sessions during test weeks. Exam reviews are livestreamed to the MLSC Youtube channel for students unable to attend the sessions in person.

From the laptops and calculators to the extensive tutoring and review schedule, the MLSC equips students with the resources to succeed. The influence of the MLSC spans farther than meets the eye, past the initial success of completing a challenging homework assignment or acing an intimidating exam. It's a way for students to interact with their peers and fellow classmates, as well as with professors and faculty.

There are also over 30 student employee opportunities at the MLSC, including desk jobs and tutoring positions. On-campus jobs are an excellent way for students to learn how to balance multiple responsibilities, function in a professional environment and sharpen communication skills. The partnership with the MLSC is a testament to the Library's dedication to student success and academic excellence, both in the classroom and in the workplace.

Posted by Tatum Wallace, Electronic Communications Intern for OSU Library Communications