Fall 2014

Oklahoma State University will award an honorary doctorate to long-time Friends of the OSU Library Board member and former OSU Regent L. E. "Dean" Stringer during its undergraduate commencement ceremonies on Dec. 13 at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater.

David Peters, Head of University Archives, received the 2014 Award for Excellence in Advancement of the Land-Grant Mission. David was nominated by Dean Sheila Johnson and Associate Dean Mary Larson. The award was established by former provost Robert Sternberg and his wife, Karin, and it recognizes OSU employees who have made exemplary contributions to the land-grant mission. David received the award, along with a $500 stipend, during the University Awards Convocation.

The Dust Bowl devastated portions of Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma, leaving families with desolate land and no place to escape harsh conditions. Could this natural disaster happen again? Join Dr. Jason Warren, OSU associate professor of soil and water, and Mr. Al Sutherland, OSU Mesonet Agricultural Coodinatot at the National Weather Center, as they discuss the likelihood of a second dust bowl occurring in the United States. The discussion will take place Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the Peggy V. Helmerich Browsing Room.

The oral history project, "Dust, Drought and Dreams Gone Dry" chronicles more than 100 firsthand accounts from women who lived through the Oklahoma Dust Bowl. On Nov. 10, Jennifer Paustenbaugh, who led the research project while on faculty at OSU will discuss the establishment of this collection in her lecture, "Voices from the Dust: Oklahoma Women Tell Their Stories." The free public event will be held at 3:30 p.m. in the Peggy V. Helmerich Browsing Room.

Ken Burns' "The Dust Bowl" will be shown at a free screening as part of a series of programs supporting the national traveling exhibit "Dust, Drought and Dreams Gone Dry." The documentary will be shown in two parts: Part I on Nov. 2, part II on Nov. 9, both at 2 p.m. at the Stillwater Public Library.

OSU students have a chance to win free tickets to “An Evening with Scott Turow” on Nov. 14. Author and attorney, Scott Turow is the author of 11 books, including “Presumed Innocent” and “One L.” Each year, donors sponsor the attendance of students for this dinner, lecture and book signing. To enter to win one of these sponsored tickets, students must email lib-pub@okstate.edu with their name, birth date, email address, phone number and 100 words or less about why they want to attend.

Dr. Alvin Turner will discuss his research for and involvement with editing Caroline Henderson’s “Letters from the Dust Bowl” at the opening reception for “Dust, Drought, and Dreams Gone Dry,” a traveling exhibit on display at the Edmon Low Library Oct. 22 through Dec. 12.

Smartie Pants Trivia Night invites eight-person teams to compete in a game of trivia Nov. 6 at 5:30 p.m. in the Anne Morris Greenwood Reading Room, Edmon Low Library. Prizes, trophies and bragging rights will be awarded to the winning team. Anyone can participate. Single participants or partial teams will be placed on an eight-person team. The cost is $10 per person. Hideaway pizza, drinks and desserts will be available for purchase. All proceeds benefit the Stillwater Area United Way.

Digital Services Librarian, Roy Degler, was awarded Mountain Plains Library Association's Unsung Hero Award. Degler was nominated by co-worker Dan Chaney who commended his service and dedication to the organization. Degler serves as MPLA's System Administrator and was instrumental in the recent rebuid of MPLA's website.

This annual event has become a Homecoming tradition at the OSU Library. Join us as we share some favorite memories from the OSU Library’s oral history collection. Speakers include Tanya Finchum, Juliana Nykolaiszyn and Julie Pearson-Little Thunder.

The OSU Library is now accepting applications for a new Undergraduates Library Research Award. The winners of underclassmen and upperclassmen categories will be awarded $1,500 and honorable mentions will receive $750. Applications, which include a 750 word reflective essay, a faculty reference form, the research project and its bibliography and a scanned official transcript, are due Nov. 3, at 5 p.m. at http://bit.ly/applyULRA.

Belmonte will discuss the major events, conflicts and causes of the war. She will cover the global impact the war had on each country involved. As the series continues, the speakers will discuss the war’s ramifications on topics ranging from literature and fashion to technology and medicine.

Master of the legal thriller, Scott Turow, is the keynote speaker for the 2014 Friends of the OSU Library fundraiser on Nov. 14. The event begins at 6 p.m. in the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center and includes a dinner, keynote and book signing.

"The decision to digitize our map collection tied directly to our land grant mission," Johnson explains. "The project extends open and free access to this rich source of Oklahoma history to all Oklahoma citizens and to scholars worldwide."

What do Williamsburg, Powell's Books in Portland,and the Smithsonian have in common? They are among Larson's favorite historical finds. Larson, Associate Dean of Special Collections, discussed her career and her love of history with the online source.

The latest Noon Concert Series begins Tuesday, Sept. 23 with the performance of Sun Min Kim, Piano and Saxophone Quartet. In addition to the September concert, three others will be put on, including: Woodwind and String Music; Trumpet, Saxophone, and Horn Ensembles; and "Meet the Composer: The Music of Joseph Spaniola." All performances take place in the Peggy V. Helmerich Browsing Room.

OSU will honor Constitution Day on Sept. 17. The OSU Library and OSU Department of Political Science will host a presentation by Professor of History, Richard Rohrs at 3:30 p.m. in the Peggy V. Helmerich Browsing Room, Edmon Low Library.

The first Science Cafe of fall 2014 will take place Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the Peggy V. Helmerich Browsing Room. Drs. Jamey Jacob and Girish Chowdhary, professors of mechanical & aerospace enginnering, will lead the discussion about the rising demand for unmanned aircraft.

The OSU Library has added video and studio-quality audio equipment to its growing technology checkout program. Room 105 is now home to four Hero 3+ Black Edition GoPros, four ZoomH2n recorders, two Canon VIXIA HFR400 HD camcorders, three Atlas Sound tabletop microphones and two camera tripods. The new equipment can be checked out for a three-day period.