Guest post by Steven Bell, Associate University Librarian, and Natalie Flynn, Associate Professor of Instruction in Earth and Environment Sciences

Temple University Libraries is partnering with faculty member Natalie Flynn to ignite more faculty engagement in textbook affordability initiatives by recruiting them as peer advisors, creating a vibrant community focused on accessible education materials and resources. 

Temple University Libraries is committed to achieving affordable and equitable access to learning materials for our students. In support of that goal, we engage in multiple initiatives designed to support faculty who seek to lower or eliminate the cost of course materials for their classes. Faculty typically accomplish this by adopting zero-cost materials in lieu of traditional, costly commercial textbooks. Zero-cost content can include sources such as open educational materials, library ebooks, free web content, etc. 

One of our most enduring and successful programs is the Textbook Affordability Project (TAP), an annual invitation to faculty to submit proposals for an award that supports their effort to transition from commercial textbooks and other potentially expensive course materials to those available at no cost to students. Since 2011, approximately 10 faculty members are selected each year to receive this award. Our latest cohort includes 8 faculty representing CLA, Law, CPH, Social Work, CST, CEHD and TUJ. 

Natalie Flynn, Associate Professor of Instruction in Earth and Environment Sciences (EES), is a past TAP participant. Flynn, honored with awards in 2016 and 2018, is dedicated to course materials affordability for Temple students. After learning that a significant number of students in her courses neglected to purchase the textbook, Flynn surveyed students and found that many simply could not afford it and chose to participate without the textbook. That lack of equitable access drove Flynn to work with Temple Libraries, using TAP awards to identify learning materials that would be free and accessible to all students on the first day of class. 

Observing the positive impact this change had for her students’ engagement with the course materials, Flynn began to adopt Open Educational Resources (OER) in her other courses. Flynn has been a pioneering advocate for textbook affordability, strategically eliminating high-cost textbooks from her courses and collaborating with Temple’s North Broad Press to develop two open geology lab manuals. Her efforts extend beyond personal course design, as she actively works to promote zero-cost materials adoption throughout her entire department. In time, more courses in EES transitioned to zero-cost learning materials for students, especially in the GenEd science courses and several courses that appeal to non-Earth Science majors.      

Flynn, a member of Temple University’s Textbook Task Force, came to the group in spring 2024 with an idea to expand what was accomplished in EES across all schools and colleges. That led to the formation of a new initiative, the Faculty Peer-to-Peer OER Advisors. To find and assemble the first cohort of advisors, Flynn reached out to all the prior TAP recipients, those who volunteer to serve as peer advisors are prepared to assist other faculty with textbook affordability strategies. As needed, advisors can also call on Temple Libraries’ subject specialist librarians for additional support and assistance.  

Members of the peer faculty group are supportive of all types of course materials. Since acceptable OER materials are not yet available for all courses, advisors can point their academic colleagues to library-licensed resources such as ebooks and articles and can communicate with librarians about possible purchases. In cases where it is not possible to eliminate all costs for course materials, peer advisors can help decrease these costs by recommending a mix of cost and zero-cost content. 

According to Flynn, the goal is to connect individual faculty, departments and colleges with library specialists who have considerable knowledge of OER. Peer advisors also work with the campus store to ensure students are aware of course material costs to ensure students have accurate information about the cost of course materials at the time of registration. The sense of community built through peer collaboration often leads to increased participation in textbook affordability initiatives, creating a ripple effect that can drive broader adoption and improvement of zero-cost materials across disciplines. 

“The peer advisors met as a group for the first time in November,” Flynn said. “And I was excited by their enthusiasm for this project and their eagerness to start engaging with their colleagues in the spring 2025 semester to create awareness about OER and other no-cost course material options”. 

We asked the advisors why they chose to join and support their fellow faculty in this capacity. Several peer advisors have commented on the cost burden to their students, the inequity of some students doing without learning materials and a strong commitment to quality learning materials. Many of the peer advisors are aware that they and their colleagues would like to explore lowering the cost of learning materials but are unsure of where to start. The peer advisor group is determined to provide the link between the highly trained library specialists and each college and department faculty looking for that support.  

Peer advisors are available to present at faculty meetings on course material affordability issues and strategies, can provide one-on-one consultations, assist with identifying and locating no-cost materials. To be paired with a peer advisor or to learn more about becoming one, contact Natalie Flynn or Steven Bell. 

Resources to help you

It’s that point in the semester when research papers are due, exams are approaching, and you’re busy finalizing your projects. We want to remind you that the Libraries offer a wealth of resources to support you in finishing the semester on a high note! 

A good place to start is our website or the library section on the TU Mobile App, where you can use Library Search for all your questions. You can also see our hours (including extended hours) for all library locations. Or you can go directly to our undergraduate and graduate user guides containing details of library resources tailored for you! 

Ways to Destress

We are hosting a few opportunities for you to take a break from the busyness of this time of year that we hope you’ll take advantage of!  

On Wednesday, December 4, from 2 to 3:30 PM stop by the Makerspace for our Holiday Décor Workshop. Make gifts and décor for the holidays with help from staff on the laser cutter and 3D printers. Some ideas include 3D-printed trinkets, custom greeting cards, 3D-printed cookie cutters, laser-cut ornaments, and more.  

Or join fellow peers on Wednesday, December 11, from 2 to 3:30 PM for an Open Craft Day. Come and create with community and destress from final projects and exams.  

Calling all gamers…digital and board! On December 11 starting at 11 AM and wrapping up around 1 PM, we’ll have our Virtual Reality Lab open and ready for video gaming on the consoles and PC, as well as some tables set aside for playing board games. Bring your study group for a much-needed break or play some library staff and fellow students. You can see some of the games we have available to play and check out in the library’s online catalog. 

On Friday December 13 from 12 to 3:30 PM Charles Library will be hosting therapy dogs in the 1^st Floor Event Space. Spend time petting, cuddling, and interacting with these gentle companions, who are here to provide comfort and support during this hectic season. Whether you’re looking for a brief escape from studying or a calming presence these furry friends are ready to lend a paw. No registration required.  

24/7 Live Online Chat 

Want to get online help right now…anytime on any day? You can contact us 24/7 via chat to get answers to your questions. 

Find Your Study Space

Both Charles Library and Ginsburg Library have rooms that you can book for those times when you need a quiet space to study.  

Snack cart 

During the week of December 9, be on the lookout for the snack cart at Charles Library. We’ll be giving out free goodies to help you stay fueled and focused. We will also be available to answer questions and point you in the right direction regarding library resources.  

Wellness Resource Center 

Our friends at the Wellness Resource Center have several offerings to help you through this time of the semester. You can get details on their various activities planned for the week of December 9. Be sure to also look into other campus resources designed to help students de-stress and take preventive measures to avoid end-of-the-semester burnout.  

You can do this! 

We know this time of year can be difficult. We hope this roundup of library assistance gives you some relief. And if not, just know that soon you’ll be heading into your well-deserved winter break. Even then, the Libraries will be here for you during break and when we return for the spring.  

Guest Post by Caleigh Clarke, Interpersonal Violence Prevention Coordinator, at the Wellness Resource Center, and Ella Lathan, Assistant Director for Editorial, at Temple University Libraries

Machismo is defined as “a strong or exaggerated sense of manliness.”. It is derived from the Spanish word “macho” and can convey positive characteristics of masculinity such as bravery and honor. However, it can also enforce negative behaviors like aggression, dominance, and rejecting vulnerability.  

Men being raised with machismo culture are sometimes taught to constantly assert dominance in ways such as verbal abuse, physical abuse, blackmailing, and more when their power is “threatened.” There are a multitude of situations that women can challenge male dominance, i.e. women having better jobs and incomes, or being more educated. What does that mean for the women who embark in an intimate relationship with them? 

Machismo can create a culture in which violence toward women and LGBTQIA+ people is deemed excusable. In recent years, machismo has been heavily linked to femicide (the murder of women because they are women), homophobia, and domestic violence issues that are spreading across Latin America and traditional LatinX communities. 

Addressing the issue of machismo culture is essential not only for Latin men but also for women within these communities. Women are often raised to internalize this culture, which can perpetuate misogyny and hinder progress toward gender equality. Many women come to believe that seeking empowerment or holding men accountable for harmful actions is rebellious or attention-seeking, which reinforces traditional gender roles. 

This internalization has serious consequences, particularly in cases of interpersonal violence. Many incidents go unreported because women fear losing their primary provider or bringing social shame to their families. The pressure to conform to societal expectations can silence victims and perpetuate cycles of abuse. To foster a healthier environment, it is crucial to challenge these beliefs and promote open dialogue about the negative impacts of machismo culture, empowering women and encouraging accountability among men. 

Research in this Subject Area

Research indicates that Latino men often experience exposure to familial violence during their formative years, which can significantly influence their conflict resolution strategies in adolescence and beyond. This early exposure to violence as a normative behavior has been correlated with an increased likelihood of perpetrating intimate partner violence in early adulthood.  

• About 1 in 3 Latinas (34.4 %) will experience IPV during her lifetime and 1 in 12 Latinas (8.6%) has experienced IPV in the previous 12 months (Esperanza United)  

• Latinas are less likely to seek mental health services compared to their White counterparts (Esperanza United) 

• Nearly half of Latinas in one study in New Jersey did not report abuse to authorities. Reasons for underreporting may include fear and lack of confidence in the police, shame, guilt, loyalty and/or fear of partners, fear of deportation, and previous experience with childhood victimization. (Zarza & Adler, 2008)  

The Relationship with Religion

Religious beliefs may stop some Latinas seeking external help as they believe that preserving the “sanctity of marriage” overtakes their taking steps that could result in divorce or separation. Religious leaders can also contribute to this lack of disclosure as their negative and/or misinformed responses to IPV often cause Latina survivors to maintain their marriage regardless of the violence they are experiencing. 

Educate Yourself and Others

Engage in moments of reflection and empathy to combat the conditioning to exert power and control over others:  

• How do I want someone to feel after interacting with me? 

• What am I doing to ensure someone else’s safety? 

• What does it mean to be a (wo)/man? Does that idea align with my intended feelings when I interact with someone?  

• How do I express / navigate difficult feelings like anger, sadness, or disappointment? 

Temple is committed to cultivating safe and compassionate spaces for all students. If you, or someone you know, have experienced any form of intimate partner, domestic, or dating violence or abuse, help and support are available.  

Access Support 

Student Health Services | temple.edu/studenthealth | (215) 204-7500 

Tuttleman Counseling Services | counseling.temple.edu | (215) 204-7276 

• Has specially trained therapists and support groups for students who have experienced different forms of interpersonal violence 

Wellness Resource Center | wellness.temple.edu | (215) 204-8436 

• Can provide brief wellness consultations with pro staff for students who seek guidance related to IPV, mental health, alcohol and other drugs, and sexual health 

Title IX | diversity.temple.edu/titleix | (215) 204-3283 

Looking to Engage in Advocacy? Check out these Student Organizations/Opportunities: 

Students Activists Against Sexual Assault  

Diversity Peer Educators 

WRC Peer Educators  

With love from our campus partners: 

WOAR | Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence 

Women Against Abuse  

Lutheran Settlement House  

Upcoming Events: 

Join the WRC in our annual Clothesline Project! On October 24^th from 12 – 3 PM, we will have a visual display of support at Ritter Quad for folks who have experienced harm. Come learn of more resources in our community and make a T-shirt for a survivor. 

Temple books to continue the discussion: 

The bear and his sons : masculinity in Spanish and Mexican folktales 

Beyond machismo : intersectional Latino masculinities 

The origins of macho : men and masculinity in colonial Mexico 

The image of man : the creation of modern masculinity 

Against machismo : young adult voices in Mexico City 

Hombres y machos : masculinity and Latino culture 

The meanings of macho : being a man in Mexico City 

Muy macho : Latino men confront their manhood 

Need to speak with someone immediately? Call the Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-866-723-3014. 

Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline connects folks with multiple organizations in the area for crisis intervention, safety planning, resources, and referrals. All conversations are free, confidential and anonymous. 

Guest post by Rebecca Lloyd, Subject Librarian of History, Latin American Studies, Portuguese, and Spanish

Temple Libraries is excited to be a part of Temple University’s celebration of Latinx/Hispanic history, communities, and cultures from September 16 – October 15, 2024. Temple is hosting a wide range of speakers, performers, and events over the course of the month, and Charles Library is hosting several engaging programs. 

The library will be hosting a program on indigenous Latin American culture on October 11 at 11:00 AM, Shaping knowledge: Exploring Maya Ways of Knowing and Their Place In the World in the Charles Event Space. Anthropologist Francsico Diaz will lead this lecture and participatory workshop on indigenous ways of knowing. This event will also be livestreamed via Zoom. This program was coordinated by the Intellectual Heritage Department with additional sponsorship from the College of Liberal Arts, Charles Library, and Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses. 

On October 15 at 12:30 PM, Charles Library will host the closing event of this year’s Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month, Pat Boy Live! Pat Boy is an internationally acclaimed Yucatec Maya rapper whose music was featured in the recent Marvel film Wakanda Forever. Pat Boy will perform, and answer questions about how he is using music to fight prejudice, celebrate Indigenous identity, and promote the Mayan language. The program will be held in the Charles Event Space and will also be livestreamed via Zoom. This program is a true collaborative effort led by the Intellectual Heritage Department with additional sponsorship from the College of Liberal Arts, Charles Library, the College of Science and Technology, and Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses. 

In conjunction with the two programs on indigenous identity, Charles Library is also hosting a display on the first floor of the library entitled, Latinx Indigenisms: Past, Present, and Future Modes of Existence and Resistance. This exhibit features materials from Charles Library, Temple’s Special Collections Research Center, and the Temple Anthropology Laboratory and Museum. It highlights the various ways that Indigeneity overlaps, confronts, and undergirds Latinx identities. The display is on top of the bookshelves to the right of the 13th Street entrance to Charles Library and continues inside the Special Collections Research Center. The display runs until October 15th. 

And Charles Library has already hosted one excellent Latinx/Hispanic Heritage month program. On September 25, the library hosted a musical performance, Hispanic Heritage in Song, as part of our Beyond the Notes concert series. The program featured music from the Spanish zarzuela tradition, a style of musical theater dating back to the Baroque era featuring song, spoken word, and dance by composers from Spain, Mexico, and Argentina. Temple students Paulina Cevallos, Evgeniya Khomutova, and Roberto Guevara gave wonderful performances. The program was curated by Christine Anderson, Boyer College of Music and Dance, and organized by Becca Fulop, Performing Arts Librarian. It was co-sponsored by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese.  

Imagine if you were the next writer published in over 500 Short Story Dispensers worldwide. Starting on October 8, 2024, you could be!

What is it?

The Long Story Short Award is an annual writing competition organized by Short Édition, featuring participation from over 15 universities globally this year. Temple University Libraries is proud to join in, and we eagerly await your submissions. Read on to discover more about the contest, application process, submission guidelines, and the selection criteria for winners.

Stay Tuned for October Updates!

Mark your calendars for October 8th when we will unveil the theme on our website.

The Short Story Award Competition is now open for submissions! The theme for this year’s contest is “Once in a blue moon,” encourages students to explore fresh ideas and unique perspectives that are often overlooked, creating a vibrant tapestry of voices in all their glorious diversity. 

Contest Duration

The Contest opens on Tuesday, October 8th, 2024 (09:00 a.m. EST) and will remain open until Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 (11:59 p.m. EST). All submitted works will be published on Tuesday, November 12th, 2024. The Organizer’s editorial team review of the Submissions and the Online Community voting will begin on Tuesday, November 12th, 2024 (09:00 a.m. EST) and run through Tuesday, November 26th, 2024 (9:00 a.m. EST). All Winners and Coup de cœur will be announced on Wednesday, November 27th, 2024.

General Submission Conditions

No purchase is required to submit or to win the Contest. All the Submissions will be reviewed by the Organizer’s editorial team to ensure they comply with the Contest Official Rules. Each Submission can be disqualified if it does not comply with the Contest Official Rules. Each Submission must be new, unpublished, original and written by the submitting Author and shall be written in English.

The submission process is entirely electronic via the contest website. No paper manuscripts will be accepted. The submission form is copy/paste format.

Specific Submission Conditions

Author Eligibility

All Authors must create their author account online and submit their Submission using a valid university email address, for example Charles.Library@temple.edu.

Authors shall choose their own username while creating their author account — this username will therefore be associated with their Submission when published on the Contest website — and shall also provide their full name and contact information to the Organizer via their online account profile. The Organizer must be able to easily get in touch with each Author for any reason.

After Submission, each Author will be emailed a confirmation of receipt. Authors will receive an email if there is a change in status of their Submission.

Publication

All submitted works will be published on the contest webpage on November 12th, 2024.

Winners

Once the works are published on the Contest website, the Online Community will have two weeks to vote for their favorite story. Members of the Online Community can vote for as many stories as they wish, but only vote once for each story. Members of the Online Community can comment on as many stories as they wish.

The Organizer’s editorial team will select amongst the submissions one winner and one Coup de cœur. There will also be an Online Community winner (hereinafter referred to as “Public Winner”), which will be the story who receives the most Online Community votes.

The Prizes

• For the Jury’s Winner: a monetary prize of $550 USD
• For the Jury’s Coup de cœur: a monetary prize $400 USD
• For the Public Winner: a monetary prize of $550 USD

Monetary prizes will be paid to the recipients via Paypal or a wire-transfer by the Organizer. Jury Winner, Public Winner and Coup de cœur are each solely responsible for any applicable taxes on their prize money.

The universities of the public and jury-chosen winners will be awarded free Short Story Discs and eco-friendly paper rolls.

Voting Conditions

The offering of incentives or any other counterpart in exchange for votes or comments is strictly prohibited. The use of bots and/or robotic submissions is prohibited. The Organizer has the right to delete any vote, at any time, where it suspects that such vote violated at least one of the previously mentioned Contest Official Rules, without any liability towards the member of the Online Community or the Author.

Members of the Online Community can vote for as many Qualifying Submissions as they wish, but only vote once for each Qualifying Submission. Members of the Online Community may comment on as many Qualifying Submissions as they wish.

Check back in with us in October!

The theme will be posted on our website on October 8th, be sure to check back in with us then to find out how you can become the next writer published in over 500 Short Story Dispensers worldwide.

Guest post by Leslie Willis-Lowry, Associate Archivist at the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection

Temple University Libraries is proud to announce that the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the Getty Foundation. Grant funding will support the preservation of the John W. Mosley Photograph Collection, documenting Black life in Philadelphia from the mid-1930s through the late 1960s, and launch of VIRTUAL BLOCKSON | The Pyramid Club: Black Leisure and Cultural Empowerment, a digital humanities project in partnership with Temple Libraries’ Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars Studio. This honor will have a profound impact on the Blockson Collection’s ability to increase public and scholarly accessibility to this important photographic collection while encouraging new ways of engaging with it.

Because only a small portion of an estimated 300,000 negatives have been digitized and are accessible through multiple access points on the internet, the Blockson Collection has experienced an increase in research requests. Digital preservation of the whole collection will open doors to greater collaboration, aiding in teaching, research, audience building, new scholarship, and broader communication and access across physical and geographical boundaries.  

Virtual Blockson, a seminal virtual reality game, will use the John W. Mosley Photograph Collection and ephemera, housed in the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection, to build a portal that will create a virtual reality environment for university/high school students and educators to become familiar with the work of African American artists and to explore the preeminent annual art exhibitions they participated in at Philadelphia’s African American cultural legacy, the Pyramid Club. The virtual reality game presents social and cultural history of the Black experience through the impact of two prominent African American artists, such as Dox Thrash and Laura Wheeler Waring, whose works were exhibited at the Pyramid Club, once located at 1512 Girard Avenue in North Philadelphia. Mosley was the photographer and Art Director for the Pyramid Club. He published an annual album of photographs for the club. The inaugural issue was published in 1941. An accompanying teaching toolkit, consisting of teaching materials and onboarding documentation for educators, will also be produced. Accessibility testing (for disability), documenting accessibility approaches, general user testing for gameplay, assessment of the pedagogical efficacy of the game, and assessment of the sufficiency of the teaching toolkit will also take place.

The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection is one of the nation’s leading research facilities for the study of the history and culture of people of African descent. This collection of over 700,000 items has materials on the global black experience in all formats: books, manuscripts, sheet music, pamphlets, journals, newspapers, broadsides, posters, photographs, and rare ephemera. Temple Libraries’ Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars Studio (LCDSS) serves as a space for student and faculty consultations, workshops, and collaborative research in digital humanities, digital arts, cultural analytics, and critical making. It offers a wide range of technical equipment, software, and support for scholarly practices involving digital methods for interdisciplinary research and pedagogy, including text mining and analysis, working in, and creating 3D spaces, using geospatial technology, incorporating games into education, and much more. Both the LCDSS and Blockson Collection are units of Temple University Libraries. 

The Getty Foundation fulfills the philanthropic mission of the Getty Trust by supporting individuals and institutions committed to advancing the greater understanding and preservation of the visual arts in Los Angeles and throughout the world. Through strategic grant initiatives, it strengthens art history as a global discipline, promotes the interdisciplinary practice of conservation, increases access to museum and archival collections, and develops current and future leaders in the visual arts. It carries out its work in collaboration with the other Getty Programs to ensure that they individually and collectively achieve maximum effect.

Guest post by Olivia Given Castello

Calling all Temple researchers! Mark your calendars for Research Resources Day, Tuesday October 1st, 2024, from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM, in the Howard Gittis Student Center, Room 200. 

This event will showcase the vast array of resources and tools available to support your research journey, from conception to publication. 

Meet the New Leadership 

This semester’s event features exciting updates. Meet the newly appointed Associate Vice Presidents for Research Administration, Dennis Paffrath, and Research Compliance, Maria Palazuelos Jorganes, who will share insights into their respective divisions. 

Vice President for Research Josh Gladden, Dean of Libraries Joe Lucia, and Vice President for IT Larry Brandolph will also be in attendance to share their perspectives on the research landscape. 

Connect with Experts 

Explore interactive resource tables staffed by experts across campus. Learn about the latest resources and services available to support your research and get personalized guidance on a wide range of topics, including: 

• OVPR Resources: Pivot, SciENcv, Grants Administration, Research Compliance, Innovation Nest, and ERA 

• Library Resources: Research data management, planning and sharing, DMPTool, federal public access mandate compliance, LabArchives, ORCID, TUScholarShare and data repositories, GIS & mapping, publishing support, qualitative data support, evidence synthesis & systematic reviews service  

• ITS Resources: Microsoft Teams, data storage solutions, HIPAA compliance, and secure data sharing with external collaborators 

• CFR Resources: Get help pursuing corporate and foundation support 

Network with your Colleagues 

Connect with fellow researchers, share experiences, and build valuable collaborations across disciplines. 

Light refreshments will be served. 

Register here (registration is encouraged but not required) 

Spotlight on Library Resources  

These services are available year-round. Email asktulibrary@temple.edu or reach out to your subject librarian if you have specific questions. 

Data Management – Our Research Data Services team can help you with your research data management-related questions and needs.  

Data Management Planning – Learn about Data Mangement Plans and the DMPTool.  

Data Sharing – Share your data with one of the Temple Libraries-supported data repositories, including our institutional repository, TUScholarShare.  

Evidence synthesis & systematic reviews service – Learn about reviews, and get help designing and carrying out evidence synthesis reviews. 

Federal Public Access Mandates – Learn about upcoming public access requirements for federally funded research and library resources and services that help with compliance.  

GIS & mapping – Get help with mapping and GIS data and tools from our GIS specialist. 

LabArchives and OSF – Organize and track your research project with these free electronic lab notebook and project management platforms.  

ORCID – Get credit for your work, connect your publications and datasets, and more with a free ORCID.  

Publishing support – Get help with publishing your scholarly work, including open access publishing. 

Qualitative data support – Our qualitative data service can help you with collecting, finding, and sharing qualitative data.  

Research impact – Get help with demonstrating the reach and impact of your research outputs. 

Dive into the fall 2024 semester at Temple University with Temple Libraries by your side! Our extensive resources, knowledgeable staff, and tailored services are here to propel your academic success. Let us be your partner in unlocking new possibilities and achieving your goals. 

In this post you’ll learn ways to use the Libraries to your advantage this academic year. Be sure to check out our website for more resources, and ways to connect with us! 

Find what you need to succeed  

The Libraries provide access to a broad range of physical and online materials—including books, journals, articles, music, and movies—all discoverable through Library Search.  

If it’s rare or unique archival materials you’re after, learn more about the Special Collections Research Center and the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection and or peruse our digital collections.  

Each semester the Libraries compile a list of digitally available textbooks that may substitute for required or recommended course textbooks. They are available to students at no cost. 

Personalized Research Support at Your Fingertips 

Embarking on a research project or paper? Our dedicated team of subject librarians and specialists are here to guide you every step of the way. No matter your field of study or academic pursuit, we have an expert librarian or specialist well-versed in your discipline, ready to provide tailored assistance. 

Connecting with your personal research guru is a breeze. Simply choose the mode that suits you best: 

• Chat: Our 24/7 chat service ensures you’ll always have a knowledgeable librarian or specialist at your disposal, no matter when inspiration strikes. 

• Email: Prefer the written word? Fire off an email, and your librarian or specialist will respond promptly with insightful guidance. 

• Appointments: For in-depth consultations, schedule a virtual or in-person appointment at your convenience. Your librarian or specialist will be fully dedicated to your research needs. 

With our comprehensive support services, you’ll quickly find your way to the best academic resources for your project. Embrace the power of personalized research assistance and elevate your scholarly endeavors to new heights. 

Research at your own pace 

Once you’ve reviewed your syllabi, explore our curated Research Guides for subjects, courses, and research skill development expertly assembled by subject librarians and specialists. 

Develop your research skills through self-paced tutorials. We also offer tailored undergraduate and graduate user guides to kickstart your library journey seamlessly. 

Access tech! 

Need to print or photocopy something? Or just need a computer? Take advantage of the laptop lending program and charging options and investigate Temple’s Print on the Go service for all your printing needs! 

Explore spaces to study! 

We offer a variety of open seating options to satisfy student needs for individual and group study. Students can book study rooms ahead of time at Charles Library and the Ginsburg Health Sciences Library.  

If you are interested in making use of the Libraries’ advanced equipment and technology, visit the Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars Studio in Charles Library and the Innovation Space at Ginsburg Health Sciences Library. 

The Scholars Studio has many spaces to create in, such as the Tech Sandbox, the Makerspace, and the Media Production Studio. The media production studio is a room designed for individuals and groups to record and edit audio for podcasts, music, and more! It contains a PC and Mac setup as well as professional recording equipment, so no matter what you’re used to working with, we’ve got you covered. It can be reserved from Monday-Friday between the hours of 9AM and 5PM and is open to students, faculty, and staff of Temple University. 

Attend our free events and workshops! 

We host various events and workshops throughout the academic year. In addition, we’ll be offering a lineup of concerts, conversations, and specialized workshops, on everything from CV writing to graphic design for visual abstracts to 3D printing.  

As always, our events and workshops are free and open to all. 

Stay up to date! 

Follow us on social media and sign up for our mailing list to get future updates from the Libraries, including upcoming events and exhibits, featured resources, and more.  

Guest post by Noa Kaumeheiwa, Karen Kohn, and Jenny Pierce

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion sub-committee of the Collections Strategic Steering Team (CSST) aims to identify and implement collections practices that ensure Temple Libraries proactively acquire materials by and about under-represented groups and support the publication activities of these groups. While we did not initially have data to show that our collections were inadequately representing marginalized people, this was a safe assumption. After talking to staff at ProQuest and Lehigh University about their processes of purchasing from independent, BIPOC-owned booksellers, the DEI sub-committee decided to pursue a similar project.  

The choice to work with a local, independent seller was to benefit from their expertise in identifying works centering BIPOC and other marginalized groups and to support them financially by making purchases there. In the spring of 2023, Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books in Germantown became the first bookseller identified for the project. Described by the Philadelphia Bookstore Map as selling “Books that highlight & celebrate authors & voices from the Black community & other marginalized peoples,” Uncle Bobbie’s is an independent and BIPOC-owned bookstore. Our expectation was that the books purchased through this initiative would be those we might not discover through standard collection development methods and vendor systems, particularly if they came from independent publishers. 

Many staff have been involved in making this initiative work. Brian Schoolar, Head, Acquisitions & Collection Development, allocated a modest amount of money annually to this program. Every few weeks, Tom Davis, Bibliographic Assistant II, Acquisitions & Collection Development, checks Uncle Bobbie’s website for updates to their list of new releases and copies information to a spreadsheet. Each quarter, a pair of volunteers choose approximately thirty books to purchase. Lori Bradley, Bibliographic Assistant III, Acquisitions & Collection Development, then places the orders on Bookshop.org, which directs profits to Uncle Bobbie’s. 

With the first year of the project ending, the DEI committee wanted to review our purchases to better understand how the initiative affected our collections. We also solicited feedback from those involved in the project to assess the processes. 

There were 112 books ordered in FY2023-24. About half of these, 55 books, had call numbers in Literature. There were 18 books in Social Sciences, on topics ranging from police and prisons to transgender people to interracial adoption. Twelve books were in History mostly focused on African American History. There were 4 music books, relating to punk, jazz, and hip hop, and 3 books on education. The remaining 20 were scattered across subject areas. 

The many literature books include 10 books of poetry. Biography was another popular genre, with 24 books purchased. Slightly more than half the books (63) have a subject heading relating to African American or Black people, while 12 relate to LGBTQ people. 

One of the strengths of independent bookstores is their ability to promote independent publishers not owned by one of the major companies such as Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, or HarperCollins. We were happy to find that 40% of the books we purchased were from independent publishers, as our usual methods of purchasing can miss these. 

Although this initiative brought in some books that may not be considered traditional academic literature, selectors chose books they thought would be relevant to research or to students’ personal lives. Examples include: Rikers: An Oral History; Historically Black phrases : from “I ain’t one of your lil’ friends” to “Who all gon’ be there?”; Biting the Hand: Growing up Asian in Black and White America; and Am I Trans Enough? : How to Overcome Your Doubts and Find Your Authentic Self. While there is not enough circulation data to evaluate yet, the project has been successful in acquiring books about marginalized people covering a variety of subject areas, including many we would not have discovered through our approval plans. 

For our second year of ordering from Uncle Bobbie’s, we opened our call for volunteer selectors to all of Temple University Libraries and University Press. More than half of last year’s selectors have expressed interest in participating again, and nine new people have volunteered. Acquisitions staff member Tom Davis says that compiling the lists for selectors to choose from is one of the most meaningful parts of his job. The DEI group is pleased with the project and appreciates everyone who continues to help make it run smoothly. 

The rapid advancement of computer-generated content, exemplified by products like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard, has ignited a veritable investment arms race within the technology sector. Universities, in turn, find themselves grappling with the momentous task of integrating these tools into their teaching and learning environments, catering to the evolving needs of students, instructors, and researchers alike. 

However, this phenomenon is not new to us. When the personal computer first became popular in the early 80s it was accompanied by rumors of widespread job displacement. Although, the past three decades have demonstrated that the true challenge lies not in the technology itself, but in the ability to adapt and harness its potential.  

Recognizing the urgency of this paradigm shift, Temple University Libraries has taken proactive steps to stay ahead of the curve. In a bid to initiate the much-needed discussion with faculty, the Libraries hosted a “Grand Challenges” Faculty Conversation on March 20, 2024. This forum brought together seven esteemed faculty members, who shared their insights on the use of AI within their respective industries and classrooms. 

As Dr. Christine Cleaver, associate professor in the School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management, aptly observed, “You are not going to lose your job to AI, rather you will lose your job to someone who knows how to use AI.” 

Dr. Cleaver underscores the critical importance of understanding the power of AI technologies and how they might best be used in our educational and professional landscapes.  

The panel was moderated by Associate Professor of Philosophy Brian Hutler from the College and Liberal Arts, and it consisted of:  

After the panel, three professors sat down with the Libraries to further discuss the hot topic: AI. 

AI in the Arts 

Abby Guido, associate professor in the Tyler School of Art and Architecture: Graphic and Interactive Design is optimistic about AI entering the design landscape. She explained that she is excited about this new tool and how it will likely minimize the time designers spend on tedious tasks that no one really enjoys doing because the tasks usually lack creativity.  

Guido reminisced about the early days of premade icons and when they first became popular in design, and she felt as if it was cheating to use someone else’s icon. She described that this is very similar to how people are reacting to AI in graphic design now, and that there will likely be an attitude shift in the coming years.  

“I had mentioned in my class this semester, let’s try to see what AI can do for us and honestly, it hasn’t been that much,” said Guido, “there’s still a long way for the visual side of AI to grow, but it’s going to happen fast. I think folks very quickly realize like having a tool doesn’t make you anything, right? It’s knowing how to use that tool.”

Although she admits that we don’t know what the jobs are going to look like for designers with this big of a technological change. Which is possibly the biggest change to technology that most of us will see in our lifetime. There is still a lot of gray area. 

“It means that our voices could be heard and explaining the power of creative work and the power of strong branding and being able to be on the level of the C-Suite position. We’ve been fighting for many years to show our value,” said Guido. 

AI in Management – Project Spark 

Dr. Christine Cleaver is also confident about the use of AI in her field, but she wants to remind students that AI can be helpful, but it can also be harmful.  

“This is not a perfection tool; this is a tool to assist you,” said Dr. Cleaver, “you can’t expect it to be perfect. It’s not going to be––humans aren’t perfect. This language model is also not perfect, but this gives you a starting point.”

Dr. Cleaver has started to use Project Spark in her classrooms which is an industry-specific generative AI tool that the Professional Convention Management Association created. 

She mentioned that this tool will streamline certain objectives for her students, such as:

“If you are a sophomore and you’re working on an operations plan for an event and you have to do a timeline, that may be something you’ve never done before, and this product assists you with putting that together so you can actually see a starting point. It’s very helpful and creates some synergy, you can foster more ideas, more collaboration, and more higher-level thinking,” said Dr. Cleaver. 

She mentioned that she is implementing reflections throughout the semester to ensure that her students are critically thinking about their use of AI and how it affects their work.  

“You need to remind the students this is not the cure. That’s why I want to put this in as a tool that they have to use all semester long, so that before they use this, they need to go through these following checkpoints so that it’s where it needs to be. I want to show the students how to use the tool in the most ethical manner,” said Dr. Cleaver.  

Communicating about AI 

Dr. Bruce Hardy, associate professor in the Lew Klein College of Media and Communication: Communication and Social Influence has mixed feelings when it comes to generative AI.  

“At least in the classroom, I can’t even imagine how much of a positive impact is going to have on our research on thinking through ways in which at least coming up with computations that we wouldn’t be able to do as human,” said Dr. Hardy, “so, I think as a tool for research and teaching, it’s going to be really important. But I know there’s a lot of concerns around other aspects, particularly like cheating.” 

Dr. Hardy underscores that many people don’t have a lot of knowledge of what AI is and most of their understanding of it comes from movies or content that they see on social media. He further went on to explain that there is a lack of equity when it comes to the actual use of AI. One must have a certain level of understanding to filter through the results similar to the analogous of the internet.  

Dr. Hardy gives an example of an app that uses AI technology to diagnose cancer earlier than doctors can. Some people who understand what AI is will see that app as a useful tool, whereas other communities who already have distrust in doctors, the media, and this kind of technology will widen that gap of distrust.  

“The thing that we have to remember is that it is still humans training machines and whatever those humans are doing that will show up in the outcome. That said, it’s a garbage-in garbage-out model. So if you put in garbage, you’re going to get garbage out,” explained Dr. Hardy, “I hope we can integrate it in ways that it really advances us and gives us more time to do other things. And hopefully by work at Temple, we can be at the cutting edge of making sure that there is equitable access to AI for everyone.”