February

Magazines in the Bookmark Cafe

February 25, 2011
Did you know that there are a bunch of magazines in the Bookmark Cafe that you can take home and keep? Well there are. Please take them! If you're looking for some diverting reading during the long lead up to finals, why not grab a magazine from the Cafe? It's free and you don't have to bring it back. When you're done, just pass it on to a friend.
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The Triangle: Past Letters to Presidents displayed in Library

February 25, 2011
Correspondence between presidents, faculty and students change through years By: Samuel Davidson Posted: 2/25/11 A reception was held in Hagerty Library Feb. 22 for a new exhibit that will display archived letters to Drexel's presidents, in order to showcase the shared concerns and thoughts of over 100 years of presidents, students, parents and alumni. The letters cover a wide variety of topics - some modern, and many now quaintly archaic. Viewing the display, one finds a wide spectrum of letters, from modern crisp printouts and blurred faxes to the ornate script of handwritten letters and the uniform type of typewriters. The entertainment of the exhibit is most often found in the latter most of these documents. President James MacAlister (1840-1913) complained in a note to one of his professors: 'The students of your department seem to be falling into the habit of finding relief for their hard work by whistling. I have no doubt that they get lots of pleasure out of it, but it will not do. I presume it is done after you leave; but I think you had better say to them they must refrain from whistling until they are out of the building.' For all the nuisances of texting during classes, professors of this era are surely grateful that their classes are unlikely to be disturbed by uproarious whistling. There are also letters of scandal. A young lady was reprimanded not just for missing her classes, but even more for that fact that she was seen 'in the habit of engaging in conversation with young men.' The faculty at the time found this unacceptable. Three young women obtained the use of a lodge on the Drexel Estate for a weekend party, and successfully schemed to have gentleman callers with no chaperone present. They were promptly suspended for an egregious breach of discipline.Not every letter relates such sordid matters, though. Many letters reveal the common sentiments collegiate students and their supervisors have felt at Drexel for over a century. These provide an example of some of the immutable features of college. On display is a letter from a prospective student in 1940 who shares any modern student's desire to impress. He related, 'I have a special aptitude in science and am good in higher mathematics ... I am a boy of good habit and fond of outdoor sports such as hunting and fishing. I am on the track team at school. I am a Christian boy and active in Y.M.C.A. I will be eighteen years of age on June twenty-eighth, if God spares my life.' He closes the letter by signing himself as 'a boy who wishes to succeed.' In another letter, dated 1925, a father icily leveled an accusation of anti-southern bigotry regarding his daughter's probation for poor academic performance. President Kenneth G. Matheson (who served from 1921-1931) gracefully replied that the probation was in and of itself giving the student an additional opportunity, and that he was born and attended college in the south himself. Holly Mengel, a visiting archivist, found particular humor in one letter regarding the quality of the 1992 graduation. She noted the contents with a laugh: 'Despite being bad, it was significantly better than the previous three!' According to Robert Sieczkiewicz, Drexel archivist and proprietor of the exhibition, the exhibit does have a scholarly intent: 'The continuity of student concerns ... [The fact] that students are still concerned with the issues back then as the parents were, that the administration was the same: designing a good educational program, getting students to conform to standards of behavior - even though today we don't care about folks whistling in the Main Building.' Sieczkiewicz believes students should be aware of the ways in which using the archives can enrich their projects and research. Nothing could evidence this more than his display itself - the past is that much more vivid for being told in the voices of those who lived it. Visit The Triangle online. Davidson, Samuel. 'Past Letters to Presidents Displayed in Library.' The Triangle. Philadelphia, PA. 2/25/11. Web. 2/25/11.
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Presidential Party

February 22, 2011
Raise a glass to the Drexel's presidents past at Hagerty Library, today from 4-6p.m. Drexel University Archives will be celebrating the opening of its most recent exhibit: 'Dear Mr. President: Letters to and from the Drexel Presidents.' Find the party and the exhibit this afternoon from 4-6p.m. near the stair well on Hagerty's first floor. The exhibit includes correspondence to and from students, parents, faculty, alumni and the public, and demonstrates the changing role of academic leaders since the founding of the Drexel Institute 120 years ago.
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Lose your mittens?

February 18, 2011
Poor little kitten! They're probably shelved in the 'Lost and Found' section at Hagerty library. This is a special collection that our crafty librarians keep behind the circulation desk by the front door. Other items of interest in our Lost and Found collection:
- gloves
- hats
- scarves
Probably the last thing on your mind today, but winter's not over yet, and you're probably going to wish you hadn't lost those things next week.
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Stairs Temporarily Closed

February 14, 2011
The stairwell between Hagerty's first and second floors is temporarily closed for reflooring. Please use the elevators to get between floors. We expect the stairs to reopen for use on Thursday the 17th. Thanks for your patience while we beautify!
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3/29/11 - Electronic Resources Fair

February 12, 2011

Visit W.W. Hagerty Library on Tuesday, March 29th to experience the second Annual Electronic Resources fair. Not sure what the Libraries have to offer? This is your chance to learn about all of the resources available to you as a Drexel Student or Faculty member!

While you are learning about these invaluable electronic resources you will enjoy food, giveaways and door prizes.

Tuesday, March 29th 10 AM - 2 PM W. W. Hagerty Library Atrium

...and did we mention you could win an iPad just for stopping by? Courtesy of Thomson Reuters.

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The Triangle: Class Explores Campus History

February 11, 2011

Archives present student work
By: David Stephenson Although thousands pass him by each day, few actually know of the all-star alumnus for whom who Mario the Dragon is named. Even fewer students know the story of a long lost chandelier that once hung in the Great Court of Main but disappeared after a massive explosion rocked the campus and damaged buildings along Market Street. But these stories from Drexel's past, and more, and now being unveiled by a group of inquisitive students from professor Sheryl P. Simons's fall 2010 English 101 course. The Drexel Archives have been presenting works from Drexel students in Simon's class about the history of their school. Although many of the posts have already been published, all of the essays are available on the Drexel University Libraries website. 'I think what we're trying to do is get students excited about the history of their school,' Robert Sieczkiewicz, University Archivist, said. Essays that are already available on the site cover the mystery surrounding the chandelier from the Great Hall, the story behind the financier who founded the University and the history of women in Drexel sports. The posts are slated to run through March, with students delving into new topics on the Wednesday of each week. For students interested in the history of their school, the University archives have a wide selection of primary sources covering the development of the University. Sieczkiewicz said that the Archives department supported many other projects around the University. He also said that this was not the first time that student works were selected to be featured on the Archives blog. In fact, if students are interesting in doing research with the Drexel archives and then have their works published on the blog, Sieczkiewicz said he would be willing to work with those students to develop their blog posts. Sieczkiewicz also said that Simon's spring class will be doing a second series of posts, this time on historical and current research innovations developed at Drexel, that will be publish as the spring term comes to a close. Visit The Triangle online. Stephenson, David. 'Class Explores Campus History.' The Triangle. Philadelphia, PA. 11 Feb 2011. Web. 11 Feb 2011.
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Reserve your time on MediaScape

February 10, 2011
Have you been eyeballing the new MediaScape work station near Hagerty's front door? Drooling over the cool collaborative tools that allow multiple users to plug into one screen? Can't get your turn at the table because it's just too crowded? We understand your dilemma, and that's why we've added MediaScape to the room reservation system. If you want to use the MediaScape with your project mates, just log in and enter your reservation information. The MediaScape will be yours for the using until your time's up and the next lucky group gets to collaborate in style.
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More Recycling

February 10, 2011
There should be more paper recycling bins! Good point. You can never have too much of a good thing. I've made some calls around the library, and we're on the case. Thanks for the good idea.
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Fine tune your research skills

February 10, 2011
The Drexel Writing Center will host 'Research Skills and Database Searching for Graduate and Advanced Undergraduate Projects' on Saturday, February 12, 2011 from 3 to 4 p.m. at the W.W. Hagerty Library, room L33 (33rd and Market Streets). This workshop will be run by a reference librarian who will focus on methods to make researching topics efficient and effective. This event is free and open to all students, but please register.
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New Leisure Books @ Hagerty

February 8, 2011
Hagerty's leisure book collection has just gotten a big injection of new stuff. We ordered lots of books on the 'best of 2010' lists, and they're starting to arrive in droves. Miss a buzz worthy book during the year? Find it in Hagerty's leisure collection. All our new books are displayed on the first two shelves, so come on down and take a look at what's new. Don't have time to browse? Get a quick online glance at what's new, and then stop by to pick up just what you need. And if you don't see what you want, just wait, because there's more coming soon.
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Vote for New DVDs

February 4, 2011
There are a lot of new DVDs on their way into Hagerty's leisure collection, but we're still planning on adding more. Take a look at our latest ballot of new DVD releases for the month of February. Make it known which ones you want to see added to the collection. DVDs with the most votes will be added to the next order. Vote here. Polling ends Thursday, February 17th. Want to see what we've got right now? Take a look! Still not sure what you want to see? Come on down to Hagerty and look at our new display area. We're showing off our new DVDs along with this month's theme: romance. Our new DVD display area is right by the doors to the Bookmark Cafe. Check it out whenever you're in the library. We'll be updating the display every few weeks.
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Third Floor Stairs

February 4, 2011
Workers are currently repairing and reflooring the stairs between Hagerty's second and third floors. This means that the steps are covered with smelly, sticky glue. Please be sure to observe the barriers to these steps so as to avoid undoing the careful work that's being done there, and also to avoid getting glue on the bottom of your shoes and tracking it through the library. If you need to get to the third floor, please use the elevator, which is now open to all levels of the Hagerty building. Thanks for your cooperation and patience.
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February

Archives present student work