Converting to a Digital Age

We live in an age where technology abounds and new innovations are sprouting up daily. The OSU Library has evolved alongside this rapid growth in tech and made strides in the digitization of resources and the adoption of new technology.

But while much of the physical technology is only accessible if you’re on campus, the library’s digital resources are available anywhere. One of the most interesting and unique digital resources is the library’s Digital Collections.

The Digital Collections house a cornucopia of historical information that one may not be able to find elsewhere. The information in these collections range from political buttons to stories of Oklahoma’s farming history.

These collections are incredibly important because they shed light on artifacts that otherwise may only be seen by a few eyes. For example, had the Dr. Bill F. & Jean Kelso Collection of Ancient Coins not been photographed and archived in the Digital Collections, the ancient coins could have remained tucked away in a case in the library, rarely seen except for those who could travel to view them in person.

Another benefit to digitizing these archival materials is that it prevents further wear and tear on the original materials. Preserving them digitally allows more people to explore the documents, photos or objects without the risk of harm that comes from handling the physical item.

“One of our primary goals is to retain the original as long as possible,” OSU archivist David Peters said. “The less use you have, the longer it will last. Digital copies make it easier for the patron to use and require less wear and tear on the original."

I recently had the opportunity to explore the Secrets of the Century collection with David and multimedia producer Nina Thornton. This collection contains letters written in 1941 during the Oklahoma A&M 50^th anniversary celebration. The letters, written by students, faculty and staff, were placed in a time capsule that was buried in the south wall of the Edmon Low Library. After the capsule was opened in 1991, the handwritten letters were scanned and transcribed. Now anyone can get online and check out this slice of history in the Digital Collections!

While the letters themselves are interesting, what I found more compelling were the feelings behind the letters. They were written as the United States was on the cusp of World War II, just days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and many of the letters convey messages of hope for the future. These letters taught me something I could never learn in a history textbook. They provide readers with a window into the thoughts and feelings of people who lived through one of the most notable events of history.

Yet these letters are just one of the dozens of unique collections through which readers may browse. A wealth of knowledge awaits anyone who sits down for even 30 minutes with this resource.

If you ever have questions about the material found in a particular collection or just want to dig a little deeper into a topic, the knowledgeable staff in the Oklahoma State University Archives are available to answer your questions.

There is so much history to explore in the Digital Collections. I encourage anyone and everyone to check them out. See what you can discover today!

Posted by Jenny Berry, electronic communications intern

Available Online

With the craziness of school, work and daily life, finding time to get to the library can be tough.

Luckily, the OSU Library knows this and has created several ways for students to continue learning and using the library without walking through Edmon Low’s big brass doors.

The library provides an abundance of online services and resources to students at Oklahoma State. Anywhere Library Access allows students who are off campus to simply log on using their OSU email and password. They can then access thousands of databases, articles, books and journals that are online or can be requested and picked up at the library.

Teryn Moorman, the OSU Library event communications intern, said she is thankful for the library’s online access, especially during her busy pre-finals and finals weeks.

“I can complete assignments from the comfort of my own home,” Teryn said. “I can also keep learning over breaks!”

Document Delivery is another favorite among students. The library is home to millions of books, and I feel extremely fortunate to have this resource at the tips of my fingers. However, while books are a resource that we have tons of, time is not. Document Delivery makes the potentially time-intensive task of finding a book stress-free. Students can go to the library’s website and request the book they need. The book will be retrieved and placed at the Circulation Desk for students to grab on the way to the next activity in their hectic schedules.

Even with the plethora of books at the library, sometimes it just doesn’t have the book you’re looking for. Not to worry, the library planned for this too. Interlibrary Services allows students to go online and request books, articles, journals and more! If available, ILS simply borrows the requested material from another library or institution and, when it arrives, places it at the Circulation Desk to be picked up.

Alex Cooper, a graduate student at OSU, uses Document Delivery and ILS regularly.

“ILS and Doc Delivery are great, especially when I’m in a hurry,” Alex said. “I like being able to just go pick the book up. It saves me a lot of time.”

But it doesn’t stop there. Students can go online to book study rooms, browse the library’s digital collections and even renew books. Citation and research guides, digital maps, databases and more are also available online.

Personally, I use the study room reservation and book renewal services the most. I find the online study room reservation system particularly convenient because when it comes to group projects, finding somewhere on campus to get together is tough. Reserving a room online ensures that my group will have a quiet place to work, and it only takes about 30 seconds to make the reservation! It couldn’t be easier.

The services I’ve mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg. They are there to facilitate learning and make students’ lives just a bit simpler. I’m incredibly thankful to have these services available to me, and I know my experience at OSU would have been a lot different without the Edmon Low Library and its resources.

If you ever have questions about the online services and resources the library offers, you can always chat with someone at the library. Don’t worry, you can do that online too.

Posted by Jenny Berry, electronic communications intern

Introducing Kay Bjornen: The New Research Data Initiatives Librarian

A Library Future Series post from February 13, 2017, highlighted the work done to establish data management services on the Oklahoma State campus. The post explained the survey and data collection process that was used to identify needs and target services that were most needed by researchers here at OSU. Since then there have been several important developments.

One of them is that I was hired to serve as a full-time data services librarian. My name is Kay Bjornen, and I joined the library as a Research Data Initiatives Librarian in February. I bring a Ph.D. in chemistry and a long career in research and data management with me. Since research support and data management are my sole responsibilities (at least for now), I have had the opportunity to knock on doors and introduce myself to many of the departments on campus that carry on data intensive research. I want to make sure that faculty and students know I am here, and I am anxious to assist with any needs they may have. If I haven’t made it to your department yet, feel free to reach out. Or just hold tight, I plan to get there as soon as possible.

One of the questions I have been asked is "Why is the library doing this?" The answer is research is changing and so are libraries. Researchers have access to a wealth of information resources and need less assistance to conduct their literature searches, chase down interlibrary loan items and answer reference questions. Information is increasingly online and digital so librarians are comfortable with electronic information sources of all kinds. It is also true that in the era of "Big Data," there are more and more challenges in managing research outputs. These include describing, storing, securing, organizing and sharing data. The library is a natural partner in these things. That’s why we are working to get the word out about the services we offer.

I am excited to be here at OSU and anxious to contribute to the research community. Do you have any questions about how the library can help you with your research? Feel free to post them here or check out the research data services we offer on the library website. My contact information is there and so is a consultation form you can fill out with the information I need to help you with your research data dilemma.

Post by Kay Bjornen, Research Data Initiatives Librarian

Let's Get Social!

It may come as a surprise to some that the OSU Library, as well as other university libraries, are on social media. You may ask “What could a library tweet/post/share that is interesting to followers?”

The answer is more complex than you’d think. Because the young people of today would rather search for information online than approach a help desk, it is essential for institutions of higher education to maintain a helpful and informative online presence.

OSU Library implements social media in its everyday communications by producing content and engaging with followers on multiple platforms, including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Let's discuss how other university libraries are doing the same.

Harvard University Library works splendidly as an ambassador for other university accounts. Retweets and shares on social platforms, like Twitter, show endorsement of others and provide the author and sharer with a public partnership. This is a way to create long-term supporters within the university community. OSU Library is regularly endorsed by Oklahoma State University, the OSU Alumni Association and Pete’s Pet Posse, which provides opportunities for library content to reach social media users beyond its own followers.

The University of Illinois Library is swift with student engagement, responding to #AskALibrarian inquiries with answers and suggestions as well as requesting student opinion through online polls. This gives users a way to reach out to knowledgeable library staff for information they may not know how to find. OSU Library also works to respond to questions swiftly to provide students with necessary information and suggestions for finding resources in the future.

Kansas University Library regularly uses YouTube to share helpful videos with its followers. These mainly include coverage of events and how-tos, which use motion and info graphics to apply knowledge more quickly than traditional means. This is vital when publishing for a young audience who is less likely to spend time watching a video. Studies on viewership show that 20% of viewers will click away after just 10 seconds, and 45% will be long gone by the one minute mark. Therefore, short, informative clips are most effective for gaining and holding attention. OSU Library uses this tactic when publishing content geared toward students.

In keeping with the digital age, OSU Library strives to reach, interest and engage the students of OSU through the means discussed as well as others. By answering student inquiries, posting about library services and promoting events on multiple platforms, OSU Library is working to attract followers to the building as well as create brand ambassadors for the future.

See how OSU library is using social media to reach our audience. Find us through the links above or search for our accounts listed below:

Facebook: Edmon Low Library
Twitter: @OkstateLibrary
Instagram: @OkstateLibrary
YouTube: @OkstateLibrary

Post by Jennifer Barnett, E-Communications intern for OSU Library Communications