Author Archives: Sara Wilson

Charles Library Hosts IASSIST 2023 Pre-Conference Workshops 

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Guest post by Olivia Given Castello, Head of Business, Social Sciences, and Education 

Poster for workshops of IASSIST conference

On May 30, 2023, Charles Library buzzed with activity as it hosted a day of pre-conference workshops for the 48th Annual Conference of IASSIST (International Association for Social Science Information Service and Technology), which took place in downtown Philadelphia May 31–June 2. 

IASSIST is a global organization of social science information and data professionals from various sectors who advocate for responsible data management and use, open science, and excellence in social science data service delivery. 

The pre-conference workshops attracted 53 librarians and data specialists representing 37 different organizations from 11 countries, highlighting the international reach and significance of IASSIST. 

This diverse group came together at Charles Library to explore a range of topics related to data literacy, management, and archiving. Staff members from Temple Libraries’ social science unit and research data services team worked with colleagues from library facilities, technology, and access services to organize logistics for the event. 

The day started with a warm welcome as Olivia Given Castello, head of Temple Libraries’ social science unit, and IASSIST 2023 Workshops Committee Chair Deb Wiltshire, of GESIS Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences, staffed a welcome table with information on the event, the new library building, and the local neighborhood. 

Welcome desk in Charles Library, staffed by three people
Welcoming IASSIST attendees to Charles Library

In the morning session, attendees had the opportunity to participate in two workshops. “A Friendly Introduction to Python for Absolute Beginners,” presented by Kara Handren and Kelly Schultz from the University of Toronto, provided a hands-on introduction to Python programming, equipping participants with essential concepts and practical skills. Simultaneously, Kristi Thompson from Western University conducted a workshop on “Understanding Data Anonymization,” shedding light on the mathematical foundations and practical techniques of ensuring data privacy. 

The afternoon session continued with three more engaging workshops. Ericka Menchen-Trevino from American University led a workshop on “Analyzing Donations of Digital Trace Data,” which explored how researchers can collect and analyze individual digital trace data for both quantitative and qualitative research projects. Sonia Barbosa from Harvard University facilitated hands-on training in managing and sharing research data using Dataverse repository software. Subhanya Sivajothy from McMaster University delved into data visualization pedagogy, showing participants how to incorporate data justice, ethics, and accessibility into their teaching practice to educate students on approaching visualizations with a critical lens. 

Operations Specialist John Pyle and volunteer workshop assistants Adam Shambaugh, Fred Rowland, Van Tran, and Will Dean made sure the workshops ran smoothly in Charles Library’s instruction rooms. To enrich the experience further, staff members led tours of the state-of-the-art Charles Library and John Oram revved up live demonstrations of the BookBot. 

Workshop participants expressed their appreciation for a well-organized pre-conference event and the opportunity to tour our amazing building. 

This year’s conference in Philadelphia was organized by local partners University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and Rutgers University, and Temple Libraries was a co-sponsor. Temple Libraries and all those who contributed to the success of the pre-conference were recognized and thanked during the conference’s closing ceremony. 

See Temple Libraries’ Support for Researchers page to learn about library services for finding, analyzing, managing, and sharing data. Submit an Instruction Request to schedule an educational session on data literacy or other data-related topic for a Temple class or research group. 

Thanks to the dedicated Temple Libraries staff members who helped make the day a success. It was a phenomenal team effort: 

  • Olivia Anton, Library Technology student staff member 
  • Steven Bell, Associate University Librarian 
  • Olivia Given Castello, Head of Business, Social Sciences and Education 
  • Will Dean, Research and Data Services Librarian  
  • John Oram, ASRS/Stacks Supervisor 
  • John Pyle, Senior Operations Specialist 
  • Fred Rowland, Arts, Humanities & Media Librarian 
  • Cynthia Schwartz, Assistant Director for Library Technology, and the Library Technology Services team 
  • Adam Shambaugh, Business Librarian 
  • Van Bich Tran, Public Health and Social Sciences Librarian 
  • Stuart Whisnant, Event and Tour Coordinator, and the Charles Rooms team 

Celebrating This Year’s Livingstone Undergraduate Research Award Winners 

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Award winners pose with sponsor Jack Livingstone
From left to right: Brianna Kline-Costa; Allyson Grace Yu; Jack Livingstone, SBM ’49; Samantha Marie Padilla; Angela Cirelli; and Jenna Zenouzi. Award winner John L. Nori is not pictured. All photos by Heidi Roland Photography.

In April, we held a luncheon to celebrate the winners of this year’s Livingstone Undergraduate Research Awards. The Awards celebrate excellence in undergraduate work and recognize outstanding achievement in a wide range of subjects and disciplines, highlighting the importance of undergraduate research at Temple and the way the Libraries support that process. 

It was the first time since the spring of 2019 that we were able to meet to celebrate the winners in person—and the first time ever celebrating the Awards in Charles Library. It was wonderful to gather together in the Charles Library first floor event space to mark the occasion and celebrate the achievements of this year’s recipients. 

Photo of sponsors
From left to right: Bob Livingstone; Jack Livingstone, SBM ’49; Theresa Danks, Senior Account Executive at Gale, a Cengage Company; Daniel Berman, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies

The event began with a welcome from Joe Lucia, Dean of University Libraries. Lucia spoke about the history of the Awards and acknowledged the many people that play a role in their success. We also heard from sponsors John H. Livingstone, SBM ’49, who has generously supported the awards for almost two decades, and Theresa Danks, Senior Account Executive at Gale, a Cengage Company. Gale sponsors the Awards in Diversity and Social Justice and General Education and the luncheon. Daniel Berman, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies, then spoke about undergraduate research at Temple. 

During the luncheon, the attendees had the opportunity to talk to the winners about their projects. This year’s winners were Angela Cirelli (Creative Works and Media Production), Brianna Kline-Costa (Social Sciences), John L. Nori (STEM Disciplines), Samantha Marie Padilla (General Education Courses), Allyson Grace Yu (Diversity and Social Justice), and Jenna Zenouzi (Humanities). You can learn more about the winners and their projects on our Livingstone Undergraduate Research Awards website. 

Photo of attendees enjoying luncheon
Attendees enjoy luncheon

Congratulations to this year’s Livingstone Undergraduate Research Award recipients as well as all our past recipients. We look forward to continuing to support undergraduate research and to celebrating the achievements of future recipients of this signature award. 

Photo of laser cut award
Giveaways created in the Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars Studio

New Exhibit on Display in Ginsburg Library: “The History of Temple’s Health Sciences Schools”

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Guest post by Janeen Lamontagne, Ginsburg Reference Librarian 

Come check out the new exhibit “The History of Temple’s Health Sciences Schools,” on display in the Ginsburg Library. The exhibit—immediately to your left when you walk in the library’s doors—contains photographs, yearbooks, and artifacts representing all of Temple’s Health Sciences Schools from the late 19th century until recent years. Some highlights from the collection include an antique compounding scale lent from the School of Pharmacy, photos from the early 1900s of medical students at work, and a page from a mock medical journal titled “The North Philly Journal of Medicine” found in a 1978 yearbook.

Compounding scale lent from the School of Pharmacy with other exhibit items 

All of the photos on display in the exhibit were found in our Special Collections Research Center, either through the digital collections or in the physical collections during on-site research in the archives. Accompanying the exhibit is a survey where students can vote for their favorite photo in the exhibit, which can be accessed through a QR code posted on the main display case.   

Playbill for “The Fantasticks”-put on by the School of Pharmacy, 1969, from the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 

Gateway to the Chiropody School (now the Podiatry School), 1948, from the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 

Physical therapy student Dorothy Johnson works with her patient Joy McHenry, date unknown, from the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 

It is my hope that when students view the exhibit they will feel a sense of camaraderie with Temple’s history and the Health Sciences students of the past, which will in turn ease some of the stress brought on by the intensity of their studies. Special thanks to Dr. Susan Dickey from the school of nursing for lending the exhibit some of her personal artifacts and to Margery Sly from the Special Collections Research Center for her research advice.

New Semester, New You 

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Welcome back for the spring 2023 semester! No matter what this semester brings, the Libraries have the services, resources, materials, and expertise to help you succeed. 

Check out our website to browse materials, access resources, or to contact us with questions, and review our hours page if you’re planning to visit us in person. And read on for a refresher on our services, collections, and opportunities, as well as some of our top tips to start the new year off right. 

Photo of Charles Library exterior
Charles Library photo by Betsy Manning, Temple University

Help with research 

Our friendly staff members are here to offer personalized assistance as you work on your research papers and projects. No matter what you are studying or what major you pursue, we have a subject specialist in your field. 

Getting in touch with your subject specialist is easy: you can chat 24/7, email, or schedule an appointment. For more ways to get in touch, visit our Contact Us page. 

Access books, journals, archives, and more 

We provide access to a broad range of physical and online materials—from books, databases, and journals to ebooks, archival materials, and movies—all searchable through our website: library.temple.edu. 

Each semester, we also compile a list of digitally available textbooks and reading materials, based on Temple bookstore information. Check out if your etextbook is on the list! 

Interested in doing archival research this semester, or just curious what we have to offer? Learn more about our special collections housed in the Special Collections Research Center and the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection. 

Apply for research and creative writing awards 

Through February 27, we will be accepting applications for the Livingstone Undergraduate Research Awards, in which we recognize the best scholarly and creative work produced by Temple undergrads. There are cash prizes for the winners, and you can view past winning projects on our awards website. 

Learn more and apply now at guides.temple.edu/livingstone. 

Photo of audience at library event
Audience photo by Ryan S. Brandenberg, Temple University

Attend free workshops and events 

Do you know the Libraries host a range of free workshops and events? Our offerings include readings, concerts, workshops, our beloved Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection series, and more, and are always open to everyone.  

In the spring, our Beyond the Page public programming series explores the experience of making a home in a new place. We’ll look at the stories of immigrants, refugees, and others who have left one home for another, and consider what it means to belong—and to be welcomed into new spaces. 

We also have a full slate of virtual workshops scheduled for the spring on everything from video recording and editing to using citation managers to getting started with 3D scanning and printing. We hope you’ll join us for any or all of these specialized online learning opportunities! 

Even more tips!