Solar Eclipse Unifies OkState Campus

The first day of school. It's a day that is usually pretty hectic as students, faculty and staff adjust to their new schedules. OSU resembles a beehive on this day, as all the busy students buzz around campus buying books, socializing with friends and figuring out what building their next class is in. It's a day of excitement and adventure, two things most students embrace fully as the typically uneventful summer months come to a close.

August 21, 2017, proved to be even more exciting than any other first day of school, well, ever. For the first time in over 20 years, a solar eclipse was set to take place that afternoon. 

The frenzy surrounding the eclipse was astounding. All over the country, people were eager to view this fascinating astronomical event. However, there were many experts who expressed that looking directly at the eclipse, similar to looking directly at the sun, would cause eye damage. NASA warned that the eclipse should only be viewed through solar filters or hand-held eclipse viewers.

Students were eager to view the eclipse but had concerns about where to watch it and how to view it correctly. Luckily the OSU Library offered three safe ways of witnessing the eclipse. A viewing party took place that Monday afternoon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Beverly Clerico Plaza, where students could view the eclipse through filtered glasses or with a larger projection. And for people who may have had class during that time, the event was livestreamed on OState.TV as well as the OSU Facebook page.

The Library passed out the 200 pairs of eclipse glasses at 11:30 a.m. However, students began lining up outside hours before the event was set to start, eager to get one of the 200 pairs of glasses. Quickly it became apparent that 200 pairs of glasses would not be a sufficient amount, as the expected 400 people tripled to well over 1,200 attendees. The growing crowd was no problem for the OSU Cowboys, as many people began showcasing the friendly Cowboy spirit by sharing glasses with those around them. The 360 view of the Beverly Clerico Plaza during the eclipse provides a firsthand look at the amount of people out and about that afternoon.

In addition to eclipse glasses, OSU Library used one of its telescopes during the viewing party. The telescope was a great way to look at the eclipse in a public way, as opposed to personal glasses. Students surrounded the telescope to get an enlarged view of the eclipse as it was projected on to a shaded flat surface.

There are four types of telescopes offered at the library's Creative Studios, as well as astronomical binoculars. Students are welcome to check any of the telescopes out for up to three days at a time. Telescopes are one of many categories of tech gear available at the Edmon Low Creative Studios. 

The solar eclipse was also livestreamed on OState.TV and the OSU Facebook page for those unable to see it in person. Within 24 hours, the Facebook livestream reached nearly 70,000 people around the world. Viewers from Australia, Ecuador, Spain and Botswana tuned in to watch the event in realtime. OState.TV uploaded the rebroadcast of the solar eclipse to their website. 

The eclipse peaked at 1:06 p.m. in Stillwater. On any ordinary day, campus is usually quiet around that time. People are either briskly walking to class or hiding indoors to escape the summer heat. However, a rare solar eclipse was more than enough reason for people to migrate outside. Students and faculty members could be seen sharing viewing glasses and discussing the eclipse with one another, bonding over shared interest and curiosity.

With every new year comes new supplies, a new workload and a new routine. It's not every day that a first day of school includes a rare solar eclipse, though. On this day, the hustle and bustle of the first day seemed to come to a halt as members of the OSU family found common ground through knowledge and innovation.

What did you think of the event? Comment below to share your solar eclipse experience.

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

Facilitating Finals

How does the OSU Library keep students engaged and in good spirits during finals week?

The answer is more elaborate than one might think. The OSU Library does many things to help and encourage its visiting students during the most stressful and busiest time of the semester. Here are a few of notable efforts by the library and its faculty.

1) 24-Hour Access

The first promotion the OSU Library used was 24-hour access from the Sunday of pre-finals week to the Friday of finals week. During the year, the building would close at 2 a.m. most nights, so 24/7 access during finals was readily welcomed by students. It meant they wouldn’t have to worry about finding a new spot for their all-night study sessions. Due to the overwhelmingly positive response to this promotion, the Library has since expanded its normal operating hours to 24 hours five days a week, but the tradition of 24/7 access during finals continues.

2) Pete’s Pet Posse

The OSU Library has several long-standing appointments with Pete’s Pets. Members of the Posse visit the library each week for designated pet therapy sessions. These times include Muttday Monday from 12-1 p.m., Yappy Hour on Tuesdays from 6-7 p.m. and Waggin’ Wednesday from 2-3 p.m.

Because finals week brings added tension, Pete’s Pet Posse adds one more visit to their usual lineup: Finals Fuzzies. This event occurs Monday through Thursday during the week of finals. The pups visit the OSU Library from 4-5 p.m. and help students briefly step away from their books and computer screens. Students can sit with the pups and chat with their handlers to destress and unwind from the stress of final exams and projects. Pet therapy is proven to help people with stress and anxiety, so this program especially benefits students in times like finals week.

3) Caffeine

One of the more regular promotions is the free coffee the OSU Library offers to its students each day of finals week. Tables with coffee dispensers, creams and sugars are placed in the open areas of the library and available to students who want or, more likely, need a caffeine kick to keep going. This helps students save time and money that would be spent getting coffee elsewhere so that they can dedicate more time to studying for exams and finishing projects without having to leave the building. In addition to the free coffee, Cafe Libro extends its hours of operation to facilitate the larger than average numbers of library visitors during this time. The Cafe provides other beverage options as well as snacks and light meals.  

4) Food, Food, Food

At various points throughout the week, the library provides free food for the students using the facilities. This can include pizza, tacos, hamburgers, donuts and more from local restaurants as well as pre-packaged items like cookies and crackers. This is a way for the library to show appreciation to the students who use the facility and to encourage them to persevere through their most trying moments of the year.

5) Relaxation Station

The Relaxation Station, one of the newer promotions, is a designated spot in the library where students can unwind their minds with fun activities such as coloring and solving puzzles. Coloring has been shown to help people deal with stressful situations by narrowing focus to a simple task and using parts of the brain otherwise turned off during cram study sessions. This gives students an outlet for creativity and leisure as an alternative to the tense period of finals week.

The OSU Library also continues its regular operations, such as study rooms, express printing and laptop checkout, to help students have everything they need in order to be successful at the conclusion of the semester.

As the central academic hub on the Oklahoma State University campus, the OSU Library acts as the steward between students and success. As such, the finals week promotions enacted by it are a programmed effort to benefit hard-working students and reward their pursuit of higher education.

Do you have a great idea for how the library can further help students during finals week? Comment your thoughts below.

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

Going Green for Academics

When constructing a library of the future, minor changes to the interior can have a major effect on the atmosphere. Adjusting wall colors and seating arrangements can help boost productivity, but there is another option less frequently considered in university libraries. This is integrating plant life into the interior of the building.

Studies conducted on the effect of plants on learning and work environments have shown a positive correlation between the presence of natural elements and the productivity of students and workers. A study at a Taiwanese junior high school in 2008 showed plants affecting the work environment through subtle plant placement. Students in the work areas containing plants showed stronger feelings of comfort and friendliness as opposed to when no plants were present. This resulted in fewer reports of sick leave and more positive behavior patterns.

According to an additional study on a Texas university campus in 2009, “interior plants can reduce eye irritation and stress, motivate employees, improve concentration, and even reduce air impurities.” It also proved plants could be a reasonable alternative to windows in some cases.

The University of Cambridge has recently taken this plant life discovery into consideration and placed plants in their library in 2016 to assist students with idea generation, problem-solving skills and overall wellness. The plants placed in Cambridge’s Betty & Gordon Moore Library are shown below.

As demonstrated by the Home and Garden TV network, there are many low-maintenance plants that are perfect for indoors. Large plants, such as the Rubber Plant and Snake Plant, could be placed in pots in areas where exterior windows are not visible to students. For example, they could live in the Math Learning & Success Center on the fifth floor and by Quiet Study tables on the third floor. Smaller selections like Umbrella Trees and Philodendrons could live near areas with higher traffic like the computer stations on the first floor.

While the addition of plants would take space that would otherwise be clear, it could provide health and wellness benefits to OSU students while simultaneously boosting morale and productivity in the OSU Library. When students are feeling overwhelmed with schoolwork, a bit of green may be exactly what they need in order to flourish.

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

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

Library Creativity Award

This month, the OSU Library will be selecting five individuals as winners of the 2017 Library Creativity Awards. This is the second year the library has offered the competition, so the process is still relatively new to all. In short, students submit creative projects they have completed within the last school year to be judged by a panel. The projects are sorted into designated categories, and winners are chosen.

The five creative categories are Two Dimensional, Three Dimensional, Motion Animation, Wild Card and Best in Show. The grand prize winner, Best in Show, receives $1000 for their creative efforts; the category winners each take home $300.

Fortunately, the OSU Library’s technologies have made many forms of creativity possible for students who may not have access to certain programs on their own. For example, the OSU Library computers are loaded with popular Adobe programs that allow students creative freedom without having to pay for a subscription.

The Edmon Low Creative Studios are a hub for these services. Inside Room 105, there is a 3D studio with modelling software and printers; Mac and Windows suites with design programs and recording devices; and a presentation studio with a green screen. The Tech to Go desk offers several types of digital cameras, microphones and corresponding audio/video editing programs as well as subscriptions to Lynda.com, where students can find tutorials on all things inventive.

Last year’s “Best in Show” winner Christian Coletti, aerospace and mechanical engineering major, wanted to learn more about minimal surfaces, so he found relevant research materials in the basement. He then created designs using Blender software and built prototypes of his designs using the library’s 3D printers.

As in Christian’s case, this competition gives students the opportunity to show off their abilities and be recognized for their work. It also allows the OSU Library to indirectly promote helpful library services; however, applicants are not required to use library resources in their works. Submissions can be projects the students completed for a class or simply for their own entertainment.

By offering prizes to students who produce innovative and fascinating work, the Library Creativity Award acts as an incentive for students to use the products and services made available by the OSU Library. The winners show other students what is possible with the library. The OSU Library's technologies make it possible for students like Coletti to put their creativity to work. This brings new ideas to life and maximizes potential in students throughout their time at Oklahoma State.

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

Amplified Oklahoma

This year, we have delved into technologies that can produce new learning and research experiences for the future-focused library, but we haven’t yet included the integration of history in this innovation dialogue.

A prime example of how the OSU Library is taking on the task of combining past and future is the "Amplified Oklahoma" podcast.

"Amplified Oklahoma", which was launched in May 2016, is an academic podcast produced by students and faculty members in the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program. It tells stories of Oklahoma people, places and cultures. The production of interviews and videos over these topics is an innovative way of spreading information about Oklahoma history using modern methods of distribution.

"Amplified Oklahoma" is largely student-involved in its operations. The library interns develop content for the podcasts based on what the OOHRP collections have to offer on the designated topic. Once a topic has been selected, they audit related interviews, write the script and edit the audio selections to make the final podcast.

Themes for the podcast generally follow topics that are prominent at the time they are published. For instance, a podcast about tornadoes and their effect on Oklahoma was sent out in May, the month when the state’s most notable storms have taken place. This method allows the library to participate in pertinent dialogue and present interesting, relevant material that will pull the audience back to the OSU Library collections.

By making material interactive and digestible, the OSU Library aspires to increase student engagement in the OOHRP department. They have found the most successful way to connect students with historic information is to place it in front of them and make it easily accessible through digital collections.

It is important for libraries of the future to have a program like the "Amplified Oklahoma" podcast because historians have the difficult task of keeping historical topics relevant in the fast-paced, futuristic conversations of the 21st century. It is uncommon for today’s students to actively search for history, so "Amplified Oklahoma" makes learning easier by allowing effortless listening of podcasts on interesting topics.

"Amplified Oklahoma" podcasts can currently be found on SoundCloud, Itunes and Stitcher.

Secrets of the Century

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Oklahoma A&M College, a time capsule was created that would hold the Secrets of the Century. Messages and University documents from 1941 were placed in a secure location and rediscovered at OSU’s centennial celebration.

The Secrets of the Century were gathered during a weekend jubilee lasting from Dec.13-15, which was less than a week after the tragic events at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. A large portion of the capsule’s contents were notes, letters and memorabilia that related to the times; 527 note cards were written by those who attended the 50th anniversary dinner hosted by OAMC President Henry G, Bennett.

Many of the hand-written submissions reflect the air of uneasiness in which the country stood. With World War II looming overhead, there was not much hope for students to cling to.

Velma Ellene Henricks wrote, “none of us know what the future holds in store for us, and in the crisis of a war-torn world, we only hope and pray that God Almighty will carry us through.”

However, David Peters, assistant professor of the University Archives, felt that despite the disparaging mood of that time, some notes held a positive light.

“It's nice because people wrote these notes with the belief that the world would go on, and they would be read, despite the uncertainty of that time,” David said.

Heartfelt notes, like the one from Eleanore Kieffer, wish their successors well and display their hope of a more steady future for the country.

“Dear Aggies, I have no idea to whom this will be. May you have as much fun and as many troubles as we are. I hope one of your troubles isn’t a war as we have just entered our second world war. Wishing you the best of luck. Eleanore Kieffer, Stillwater, 131 N Husband,” she wrote.

The time capsule containing the stories of the '40s was implanted into the south wall of Edmon Low Library. Fifty years later, the class of 1991 would have the pleasure of opening the capsule and finding what their predecessors left for the world of the future.

They could discover the secrets from people of the past and determine the accuracy of their predictions for the future, such as those of Olan H. Hamilton.

He wrote, “To Mr. Walter Clark Hamilton, I hope you have had a nice half century. I predict you have made a success in some branch of science. I also predict 1. The present war ended in 1943. 2. A world state organized after the war has prevented any war since 1943! 3. Atomic energy has not been released in large quantities ever. 4. No one has been to the moon.”

In the coming year, Spears School of Business will be creating a 50-year time capsule for the dedication of its new Business Building. In 2067, Oklahoma State University will be able to see how the world looks through the eyes of current students. They may even discover the secrets of our century.

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