Take a look at our new USCB Library Blog at guides.uscb.edu/blog !

Past Blog Posts

January 2019

USCB Library has had quite a summer and fall semester. The library on the Beaufort Campus has welcomed new and returning art students, as well as the first honors nursing and biology students. We see students walking to campus every morning from the new dorm down the street. More students are studying in the library and using the computers. We have a new color printer in the library that can print on larger paper, thanks to the Department of Visual Art & Design. 

The Bluffton Library is busy as always. Both libraries conducted tours to potential and new students over the summer and at the beginning of fall semester. Over fall break, AP students from Bluffton High School visited our library, participating in a library tour and research instruction. Mary Alpern conducted a hands-on session that introduced the students to conducting research using several of our databases. Ann Holderfield gave a presentation on the topic of finding and using images in presentations and papers.

Staff Update

At the beginning of fall semester, Jessica Dai, Reference & Instruction Librarian at Bluffton, moved to West Virginia. We have been sorry to see her go but we are excited about her new opportunity. She accepted a three-year residency for early career librarians at West Virginia University. We would also like to thank Jessica Dai for her work at USCB Library. She visited many of your classes and worked with many of your students. She worked with many of you, as well, creating instructional learning objects such as guides-on-the-side, research guides, handouts, and the OER sociology course, as well as running a Book Club and serving on committees. 

We are also sad to say that Mark Lloyd and Kelly Martin are no longer staffing the circulation desk at Bluffton. Mark moved to West Virginia with Jessica.  Kelly Martin, upon finishing her MLIS, accepted a school media specialist position in Beaufort County. She has worked at USCB Library for 15 years and we are very happy for her success.  

Last spring semester, Debbie Gray was hired as Circulation Assistant at the Beaufort Campus. Debbie retired from working in the Goddard Library at Clark University in Massachussetts, where she was most recently in charge of Reserves.  She has worked in every aspect of library services throughout her career. She is also a retired adjunct history professor from multiple institutions in Worcester, Massachusetts, with an ABD in Chinese history

New Staff Fall Semester

At the Beaufort Campus, we have welcomed Donna Humphreys as the evening Circulation Assistant. She is replacing Jeff Violette. We have really appreciated Jeff Violette’s work at the Beaufort Campus, but he decided to focus more on his wellness consulting business.  For the past year, Donna has lived in Sicily, where her husband taught at the DoD school. Donna is a USCB graduate, has worked in a variety of libraries, and is also currently a substitute teacher. 

At the Bluffton Campus, we have welcomed Moultrie Townsend as Circulation Assistant.  He has an MLIS degree from USC and spent two and a half years as Library Technician at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. His interests include music, sports and reading, and he is really glad to be back in the Lowcountry. 

We are also very happy to welcome Joshua Harris, a recent graduate of USCB, to work as a Circulation Assistant at Bluffton in the afternoons and weekends.  Joshua is also working in Student Services at the Technical College of the Lowcountry, where he creates student programming. 

Another newly hired recent USCB graduate is Emily Schettler. Many of you might remember that she was Assistant Director of the USCB Theater.  She will be working as a Circulation Assistant in Bluffton in the evenings and weekends. Emily also works as a substitute teacher. 

Spring 2019 Staff Updates

Geni Flowers will be on medical  leave beginning January 22. She is having knee replacement surgery. Although she will of the office for about 6-8 weeks, she will be working from home during her recovery and processing new book requests.  

We hope to hire a new Reference & Instruction Librarian within the next few weeks! Thank you to Dr. Erin McCoy and Dr. Rob Kilgore for serving on the search committee with Mary Alpern, Melanie Hanes, and Ann Holderfield. Stay tuned for another update…..

Helpful Library Info

Mary Alpern and Ann Holderfield, Research & Instruction Librarians, are visiting classes to talk about library resources and conducting research. Contact Mary if you teach at the Bluffton Campus and Ann if you’re teaching on the Beaufort Campus. 

If you are curious about what guides the work of the reference and instruction librarians, take a look at the Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. Almost everything that the reference librarians do is rooted in these five frames, or threshold concepts, which are:

• Authority is Constructed and Contextual
• Information Creation as a Process
• Information Has Value
• Research as Inquiry
• Scholarship as Conversation
• Searching as Strategic Exploration

Do you know what PASCAL is?

It is a consortium of academic libraries within the state of South Carolina from which you can borrow books. If the University of South Carolina system does not have the book, you can conduct a search through PASCAL from our catalog. If that search is not successful, you can order your item through Interlibrary Loan. Drop by the library if you need help or contact us. We will be happy to show you how it works.

What else does PASCAL do?

PASCAL further supports learning through the SCALE initiative. SCALE, or South Carolina Affordable Learning, seeks to reduce the overall cost of higher education for students by promoting the use of quality low-cost and no-cost learning materials. Learn more at http://pascalsc.libguides.com/scale

Recommended or New Databases

Ann recommends the use of Artstor if you are interested in incorporating more images into your teaching presentations or if you’re encouraging students to look for images (and incorporate them into their presentations or papers).  Take a look at this multi-disciplinary guide. Just a few disciplines addressed are African American Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Medieval Studies, Theater & Dance, and more. If you’re interested in reading the Visual Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education, that link is located there too (or click here: http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/visualliteracy)

3D Anatomy & Physiology Upgraded

3D Human Anatomy & Physiology is an interactive, web-based learning module that is accessible through our database by searching “STAT!Ref/3D Human Anatomy & Physiology”.  PASCAL is offering a webinar on January 30 for faculty who are interested in learning more about how to use this resource. For more info, click here. 

(Blog post contributed by Ann Holderfield)

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Fall 2018

We are pleased to announce that USCB Library is launching a new blog. Check our website for access to updates, features, and important information regarding the library.

As always, you can always connect with us on Facebook.

Position Changes

Melanie Hanes-Ramos

Melanie Hanes-Ramos is the newly appointed Interim Director of Libraries at the University of South Carolina Beaufort. Melanie has worked for the USCB Library for 20 years, 14 years as the Assistant Library Director. She received her MLIS from the University of South Carolina.

Geni Flowers served as the Interim Library Director for the last four years and will continue as the Assistant Library Director and Acquisitions Librarian. Please continue to send your acquisitions requests to Geni at meflower@uscb.edu or submit your Faculty Purchases online.

Ann Holderfield, Art/Reference and Instruction Librarian at the Beaufort Campus, is also the Gallery Director for the Sea Islands Center Gallery this academic year and working as an adjunct Instructor for Painting in the Department of Fine Arts fall semester.

Name Changes

Following the campus wide directive, we recently changed the names of our campus locations. Campus name locations are changing from Historic Beaufort (or North) to USCB Beaufort and from Hilton Head Gateway (or South) to USCB Bluffton. Please note these changes when requesting materials to be sent and picked up from USCB Beaufort Library or USCB Bluffton Library.

New Whiteboards Installed

Based on your feedback, we installed whiteboards in each study room on the Bluffton Campus. Dry erase markers and erasers are available at the circulation desk. If you have any other suggestions or feedback on how to make the library better, please take our survey.

Access to Journal of Faculty Development Added

We now have print & online access to Journal of Faculty Development.  Print just started with v.31, no. 3, 2017 issue.  We have online access from v.18, 2001/2002 to present on hardwired computers & via the proxy.

Choice Reviews Online

Faculty – If you are interested in supplementing the Choice cards you receive through your department, consider creating a Choice Reviews Online account (not a free trial). See a librarian if you need assistance. 

Child Abuse Prevention Association (CAPA) Angel Wish Tree

Curriculum Lab

The Curriculum Lab is in the process of moving out of the library. Contact the Education Department for more information.

Fall Hours

Beaufort
Mon – Th: 8 am – 8 pm
Fri: 8:30 am – 5 pm
Sun: 1 pm – 5 pm (last 6 weeks of semester)

Bluffton
Mon – Th: 7:30 am – 10 pm
Fri: 7:30 am – 5 pm
Sat: 10 pm – 5 pm
Sun: 4 pm – 10 pm