The Marist Environmental History Project

The Marist Environmental History Project (MEHP), started by the Archives and Special Collections in 2001, is dedicated to identifying historically significant materials concerning the Scenic Hudson Decision,promoting access to these materials for use by researchers, and most importantly preserving these materials.

The Scenic Hudson Decision was a 17-year (1963-1981) legal dispute which defeated Consolidated Edison's plan to embed the world's largest pumped storage hydroelectric plant into the face of Storm King Mountain, near Cornwall, New York. The lengthy and controversial case had an immense impact on environmental and legal issues affecting the Hudson River Valley as well as the nation. The landmark case set important precedents in environmental law including: the right of citizens to participate in environmental disputes, the emergence of environmental law as a legal specialty, ideas Congress incorporated in the country's first National Environment Policy Act (NEPA), federal and state regulation of the environment, and it is credited with launching the modern environmental movement.

In October of 2005 the Marist College Archives and Special Collections received the Debra E. Bernhardt Annual Archives Award for developing the MEHP. This project is a continuation of the work that Marist has been concerned with for the past decade. During this time the Marist College Archives and Special Collections has been awarded numerous grants to preserve and make accessible the many significant environmental collections held by the College. These important collections, combined with the efforts of Marist College to process and maintain them, have brought an increased awareness to issues that threaten our environment.

To access our Environmental History Collections, please visit the Archives and Special Collections’ webpage. Or stop by the Archives and Special Collections on the first floor of the Library (LB 134) to see them in-person!

Ask Us for a Custom Library Pathfinder for your Class

EMBED A PATHFINDER  INTO YOUR iLEARN COURSE 

Would you like to embed a librarian into your iLearn course?  The Library has the tools to create such a “virtual librarian”.  We call it a Library Pathfinder.  You know the content and research needs of your course;  working together we can create a custom Library Pathfinder for your course.

COURSE SPECIFIC PATHFINDERS

Pathfinders are attractive mini-websites written by librarians in cooperation with faculty to address the research needs of your class.  These customized web-based guides direct students to a focused subset of resources that will help them complete successfully assignments in a given course.  Pathfinders are as easy to use as Google, but guide students to resources appropriate to college level research, including:

• specific online journal and reference work articles, ebooks, evideos, online images and maps and other online documents. 
• The most recent news articles (constantly updated)
• Open source resources
• Search boxes and links to library databases
• Tips on conducting successful searches
• Library instructional videos
• Link to Ask-a-Librarian (7 days a week email reference service)

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CREATE A PATHFINDER?

If you are interested in having a Pathfinder created for your course, contact your Library Liaison and let us know what you would like. The initial discussion takes about 15 to 20 minutes.  Many faculty send a copy of the assignment, reading list and/or syllabus.  You do NOT need to provide us with URLs to anything the Library owns or subscribes to; just give us enough of a citation so we can clearly identify the resource.   Give us your thoughts on what you might like in the Pathfinder.  After two or three days we will send you a link to a draft for your critique.  We will then make revisions based on your feedback.

There is no set format for what a Pathfinder should be.  Some faculty want to use the Pathfinder as an electronic reserve reading list.  Others want a few databases highlighted with tips about how to run successful searches.  The content of your Pathfinder is completely faculty driven.

If you want additions or changes made to the Pathfinder after you start using it in class, that can happen fairly quickly.

Pathfinders can be created for classes currently underway, or they can be developed for classes being taught in future semesters.  We will work at whatever pace suits you.  We can keep the Pathfinders from being displayed publicly until the moment is right for you.

HOW WILL MY STUDENTS ACCESS THE PATHFINDER?

Each Pathfinder has a unique URL.  We (or Academic Technology) can help you embed the Pathfinder into your iLearn Course.  There is also a main page for Pathfinders, http://libguides.marist.edu/.  Students can locate the Pathfinder they need by the subject category.

SUBJECT PATHFINDERS

The Library also is creating Pathfinders for subjects that are frequently asked at the Reference Desk.  For example. we  recently published the Citation Style Pathfinder (http://libguides.marist.edu/citation) that provides links to resources about APA, MLA, CSE, Chicago/Turbian styles, as well as a page devoted to Zotero.  Even if you do not request a Pathfinder be created for your class, you may want to direct your students to a subject Pathfinder. 

FACULTY RESOURCES PAGE - "ONE-STOP SHOPPING"

The library has created a page specifically tailored to the faculty.  From this one page, you will be able to link to forms to put items on reserve; request new books, dvds and journal purchases; and submit interlibrary loan requests.

                                                      
You are also able to:

  1.  Obtain information on joining the library's iLearn site where you can obtain useful information on incorporating library resources into your courses, including links to journal articles and "how to" video tutorials.

  2.  Discover which publishers specialize in your area of research (see link to the Association of American University Presses under Acquisitions).

  3.  Contact your department's library liaison or ask for research help.

  4.  Search for online videos and book reviews.

As you will note, there is also a convenient link to this Library Faculty Blog and a "Find" frame on the right that allows you to quickly search for library resources, words in the dictionary, and subject guides by major.

We hope you will use this faculty resources page frequently and please let us know if you would like us to add any additional links or information to the page.

In Charge in the Evening!

Nancy Lewis

The James A. Cannavino Library is pleased to announce the arrival of our newest staff member: Nancy L Lewis.

Nancy's title is Library Evening Operations Manager.  Working Sunday-Thursday 4:30pm-12mid, she provides full-service library support for issues with Circulation, Reference, and the library building.

Most excitingly for us, she has a strong background in Reference Librarianship.  Her newly created African American History Research Pathfinder demonstrates her skills with technology, and her knowledge of library resources. Nancy will look to strengthen our support for faculty and researchers outside normal business hours.  We hope instructors for evening classes especially will get to know her as a colleague and partner.

Please introduce yourself to Nancy next time you're here in the evening and let her know how she can help with classes, assignments, research support or anything else in the library world.

New African American History Library Research Guide

Check out the Library’s newest Research Pathfinder: “African American History.” The Pathfinder highlights not just books, ebooks and articles, but images, videos and other less-frequented resources that may stimulate interest or support research.

 It also links to “Historical African American Newspapers Available Online” a related guide listing of over 65 newspapers of interest for African American History - organized alphabetically, chronologically and geographically.  This list - already one of the most comprehensive on the internet - is dynamic and growing.  More entries will be added as we uncover them.

Research Pathfinders guide students to library resources targeted at either a specific topic or a Marist course.   Faculty can request a Pathfinder for a specific course and research assignment or discipline specific subject, e.g. “Advertising” or “Painters of Florence”.  Click here for some recent examples.  Contact your Library liaison for more information on having one created for you, or call the Reference Desk x3292, or email us via Ask A Librarian. 

Who is Lowell Thomas? Get to Know the Man Behind the Building!

Join in the fun and become part of the Archives and Special Collections’ social media campaign to learn about Lowell Thomas. You can now follow Lowell Thomas’s exploits on Twitter @LowellJThomas, FaceBook, or the Archives and Special Collections’ website.

It is an interesting time to consider the historical memory of Lowell Thomas. He is in transition from being remembered as a celebrity to a historical figure. Thomas died in 1981, and as his fans follow him they are being replaced by researchers attempting to document his remarkable career as a journalist, entrepreneur, and adventurer.

Thomas was a pioneer journalist and developed into one of the foremost radio broadcasters during the golden age of radio. Today little is recalled of his ground breaking work as a commentator or as a world traveler. In the early 1920s he launched his career presenting lectures concerning his travels in the Middle East. A three-month stint in England turned into a 5 year world tour. During this time over 4 million people came to experience the multi-media extravaganza entitled The Lowell Thomas Travelogues. In recalling his travels and encounters in Arabia, Thomas made T.E. Lawrence known worldwide as Lawrence of Arabia and established himself as one of the great public speakers of his day. In the 1930s Thomas continued his pioneer work in the broadcasting industry. He was the first person to air a simulcast and he became the voice of Fox Movitone Newsreels. In the 1950s he co-created Cinerama and his movie “This Is Cinerama” broke every known record for income and total audience when it showed on Broadway in New York City in 1952. Later that decade he founded Capital Cities, a major broadcasting group which is now part of the Walt Disney Company. He created his very popular High Adventure television series in the 1960s, and continued his world travels. In 1977 Thomas retired from his radio news program, which had been on the air for 46 continuous years. Later that year he published Good Evening Everybody, the first volume of his autobiography, and just one of the over 50 books he authored. Thomas returned to radio in 1978. National Public Radio aired his series “The Best Years” until just before his death on August 29, 1981.

Follow @LowellJThomas on twitter today to experience it for yourself!

Quick Tips for African American History Month

Most instructors are, of course, already aware of many resources in their disciplines that are appropriate to this national period of reflection. The Library of Congress's Historic American Newspapers and the Oxford African American Studies Center are just two of hundreds of possible examples.  But here are a couple quick, less well-known tips for finding material within libraries' peculiar system of organization.

In Marist's Collections
The phrase "African Americans" is a powerful tool in the Advanced Search section of the library catalog. Most materials can be retrieved using this term, then narrowed by factors such as medium: print, video or digital - or discipline: history, literature, politics, economics, anthropology, etc.  The search below retrieves 113 audiovisual materials by or about African Americans. (By the way, our MLK Day post includes some extraordinary a/v links, just in case you missed it.)

(Click on images to enlarge)

Biology of Race
"Race and biology" as a library catalog keyword search is effective in a collection of our size (as would be "eugenics" or "phrenology"), but can be overly broad in larger databases.

In Academic Search Elite for example "race and biology" yields useful results, but with some unhelpful outliers). To clean this up, go to Advanced Search (an option in almost any database), and limit your search to Subject Terms.

More Help Available
Obviously, these tips are short and general. Give a call (x3292) for quick, more specific help, or contact your liaison or Ask A Librarian for a detailed consultation.

Library Help For The New Semester

Now, early in the semester, is an excellent time to check in with your department’s Library liaison.  S/he can deliver in-class instruction in library research or help you craft a research assignment or assessment.

If time is already pressing, bear in mind our popular tutorials on common library research topics, linkable from your iLearn course or website. Each video, such as "What is a Scholarly Journal" (2:45 min, below) is under 5 minutes and specific to the James A Cannavino Library. 

Other available titles include:

• "Finding Scholarly Articles in Databases" (2:00);
• "Is this a Scholarly Journal?" (2:00); and 
• "Library Catalog Overview Tutorial" (4:46) 

plus more on the Library's iLearn site.  (Didn't know about the Library's iLearn site?  Forgot how to get there? Call your liaision!)

Liaisons can also help with your own scholarship and departmental work. We're glad to offer brief presentations on discipline-specific resources for department meetings, manage requests for new acquisitions, answer questions about print and electronic information resources, and keep you informed about new Library resources and programs.  Schedule an appointment using our online form or just call.

Bookmark the Library Liaison listing now, so it's available when you need us, and have a great Spring semester!

Reserve and E-Reserve readings

It is the beginning of the semester and many faculty will be placing library materials of all sorts "on reserve".  These will include ejournal articles, photocopies of print article, books, ebooks, DVDs, and online videos.

Electronic Reserve (e-books, e-videos, e-articles)

Helping faculty integrate the library’s electronic resources into iLearn is a top priority.  We have written guides to linking e-resourses in iLearn in the Library iLearn Site.   If you would like personal assistance linking to periodical articles, ebooks, ebook chapters, Artstor images, or online videos, please contact Katy Silberger (Kathryn.Silberger@marist.edu or 575-3419).  We are happy to help you by email or over the telephone or in person.

Print Books / Photocopies

If you are placing print books or photocopies of journal articles on reserve, we have an online form which is submitted directly to the Library.  It is also available as a downloadable Word document.

Videos (DVD and VHS)

An online form  or a downloadable Word document are available to place DVDs and VHS tapes on reserve in the Library.  If you want to show the video in class, please remember to fill out the Media Center Equipment Reservation Form.

Martin Luther King, Jr. -- Resources in the Cannavino Library

In addition to books and videos, our Library provides access to many less-well-known sources of information on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the American civil rights movement.  As you peruse these, remember that, whatever your discipline, your library liaison can help you discover unexpected and stimulating resources to support your teaching.

Online Videos Collections

American History in Video has several  videos focusing on Dr. King. For example, there is a Universal Newsreel from August 29, 1963 reporting on the historic March on  Washington with Dr. King’s "I have a Dream" speech.

A 10 minute video tour of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institution and a 15 minute video of Professor Jonathan Bass discussing Dr. King’s "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" are among the many videos that can be found on C-Span’s American History TV.

Dr. King also can be seen in the July 2, 1964 C-Span video of President Lyndon Johnson signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He is one of the people to whom President Johnson gives a pen.

 

Photographs in Artstor

Photographs of Martin Luther King Jr. during the Selma March, the March on Washington, at an Alabama Press Conference, and upon his return from receiving the Nobel Peace Prize  are but a few of the many images of Dr. King available in Artstor.