Library News Archive

Have you ever wanted to try writing a novel?  Bowman Library will be participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) from November 1 to November 30.  This is a fun, free event that takes place both online and IRL.  NaNoWriMo invites anyone, all ages, all experience levels, to try writing a novel during November.  A whole community of writers will be working along side you towards the same goal!  You can write with people online or at in-person Write-Ins scheduled all month at the Library.   Check out our guide to the NaNoWriMo Bowman Library events here.   Bowman Library is inviting the whole Menlo community to come by the library and discover their inner novelist!                                                                                    

Visit the Spaces and Technology section of the library website for more information about how to reserve Scrub Oak or Live Oak rooms and recording tech. 

Interested in collaborating with the library? Check out our new events and library space use policy.

Have you ever thought about writing a novel?  This year Bowman Library is hosting events for National Novel Writing Month.  For over 20 years NaNoWriMo has created a community for new and seasoned writers to connect with each other for a 30 day communal writing experience.  This project is a fun way to get past the fear of writing and try a big writing goal.  Bowman library will be offering NaNoWriMo write-ins for the Menlo community between Nov 1st and 30th.  Find out more about NaNoWriMo at https://nanowrimo.org/ .  Next week the library will send out a schedule of write-ins and more info about participating.  We can't wait to see the amazing novel-writing energy in November!

The Library successfully conducted information literacy placement tests for the first year class. Thanks to a collaboration with Student Affairs and the Menlo 101 classes, we were able to reach all first year students and had a impressive 87% participation rate (149 completed tests).

The Library is using the Threshold Achievement Test for Information Literacy (TATIL), administered by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), to assess students' research and critical thinking skills as they enter Menlo College. This helps us identify what students have already learned in high school and what skills they have yet to learn in the next four years of college to be successful consumers and producers of information in the digital age. The results will also help the library and College better understand how students place nationwide. ACRL is the professional organization of academic libraries in the U.S and a division of the American Libraries Association.

Learning assessment is a key part of the Library’s Information Literacy program. The TATIL assessment instrument forms part of the innovative practices being developed by the Library to better address student education needs. Data analysis is underway this fall and will inform areas of emphasis in the future.

We are excited to use the results from this year's TATIL assessment to create more targeted library teaching methods and tools. Librarians teach research and critical thinking skills across the curriculum and throughout a student's years at Menlo College. The better we do this, the better prepared students will be for their future professions and graduate programs!

Bowman Library wishes Emily Stambaugh, Dean of Library Services, a fond farewell as she embarks on a new career adventure in K-12 librarianship. Dean Stambaugh has served on Menlo College’s leadership team bringing energy and new directions in information literacy, student-led library services, collection development and information technologies. She is grateful to have been a part of the College and to create opportunities for our small, bold, diverse community of students. 

Dean Stambaugh looks forward to working with a similarly very diverse community in the Bay Area to manage a school district library. As Madeleine Albright once said, "women's careers come in phases and stages" and Dean Stambaugh is grateful for the opportunity to bring her considerable expertise to K-12 to work with the Covid-19 pandemic generation(s), including her sons, as they make their ways through a disrupted education into college. She, among many working women worldwide, were called to extraordinary service during the pandemic. She is glad for this rare K-12 opportunity to contribute to the upcoming generation and their courageous teachers. 

Dean Stambaugh is also seriously excited to reduce her carbon footprint. Her commute will be a ten minute walk! She will miss the books on tape and podcasts during her commute to Menlo College. And she will miss the fantastic, engaged students, faculty, staff and librarians at Menlo College. 

Dean Stambaugh leaves the library with very skilled and promising librarians: Randi Proescholdt, Jennifer Pesek and Amy Lee. They will see to the daily operations of the library, student services, classroom instruction, collection management, technical services and publisher relations until a replacement can be found. 

On Sept 29th, Bowman Library hosted its first Open Mic Night. Led by Library Student Specialist and Residence Assistant, Melisa Ibrahimovic,  and Residence Assistant, Sophia Umanzor, the Open Mic night was attended by 30 students who created a super-enthusiastic audience for the performers.

Students performed poetry, spoken word pieces, magic tricks, instrumental songs, karaoke and singing duets. Jonathan Armer kindly volunteered his expertise and equipment so that we had microphones and an amplifier.

The night was designed by Melisa and Sophia who transformed the library space into a cozy café, complete with popcorn and drinks, mood lighting and performance sound.

Many thanks to Melisa and Sophia for creating an awesome evening, and to all the talented performers and supportive audience.

By popular demand the Library will host another student-led Open Mic Night or a Poetry Slam in the Spring. Keep writing, crafting and practicing, Oaks! 

Bowman Library adds a new free research database covering issues related to race in society today. Essays, articles, reports and other reliable sources provide an in-depth look at the history of race and provide critical context for learning more about topics associated with race, ethnicity, diversity and inclusiveness. 

The database is accessible to all Menlo College students, faculty and staff through Bowman Library's A-Z list of electronic resources. 

  Midterms are here!

We got you!

Come study or work on assignments and projects at Study Slam, with  free pizza  to fuel your study sesh!

Tuesday 10/3, 7-9pm at BOWMAN LIBRARY

 

What is Study Slam?

Study Slam is a group-study session where students come together to complete coursework and prepare for quizzes/exams. Faculty and peer tutors are available to help with a variety of subjects including writing, math, finance, and more!

 

Come by Study Slam to hang out, get work done, and ask for help if you need it.

 

Presented by Academic Support Services

Hosted by the Bowman Library

 

We hope to see you there!

 

 

Did you know...

Tutoring appointments are also available in the Academic Success Center and the Writing and Oral Communication Center for many courses offered at Menlo College and for writing and oral comm help across the curriculum.