Guest post by Karen Kohn, collections analysis librarian, with the Open Education Group 

The problem with textbook costs 

Textbook costs have long been a concern for students, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated that problem. In the summer of 2020, a nationwide study found that 20% of students had lost their jobs due to the pandemic and 16% were either furloughed or had hours cut. This meant that even though textbook prices had actually fallen from 2018 to 2020, students had just as much difficulty buying textbooks as they had in past years. U.S. PIRG found that 65% of students skipped buying a required textbook due to cost. In a recent survey of faculty and administrators by Bay View Analytics, 86% of administrators and 64% of faculty agreed with the statement that “the cost of the course materials is a serious problem for my students.”  

Recent guidance from the federal Department of Education on meeting students’ basics needs notes that increasing free access to textbooks can be a way to support students. 

Library copies of course texts 

One way to increase free access is to assign an electronic book found in the library collection or that can be purchased, and then direct students to the library copy. 

Since 2017, Temple University Libraries has been purchasing ebook copies of course texts whenever possible. In the 2021-22 academic year the Libraries offered electronic access to 32% of course texts, saving students an estimated $450,000. These books are all available via our catalog or our Etextbook Database. The database is updated near the beginning of every semester. 

The Libraries are not always able to purchase ebooks, as many textbook publishers do not make their titles available to libraries electronically. When a book is available to us, we prefer to purchase a multi-user license for something we know will be used in a class, though we will buy a single-user license if that is the only option. 

How faculty can help 

Let your subject librarian know what books you will be using so that the Libraries can look into buying them! Then let your students know that the Libraries have their books. When you submit your textbook adoptions to the bookstore, you can add a note to the submission form indicating that students will have access to a free digital copy from the library, and you can also mention the library copy on your syllabus. 

You can also check out the Affordable Course Materials page on our website for other ways to offer zero-cost to your students. Please speak with your subject librarian if you want to know if the Libraries can purchase a book for your class, if you need help determining what is already available, or if you want instruction on linking to an ebook in Canvas. 

Guest post by Will Dean, research and data services librarian

On January 25, 2023 the NIH is implementing a new policy that will require researchers to include additional documentation with their grant applications. New and competing renewal grant applications for ALL research projects that generate scientific data will now need to include a robust and detailed plan for how you will manage and share data during the entire funded period. This Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMSP)—similar to what other funders call a Data Management Plan (DMP)—should be two pages or less and include these sections:

• Data type
• Related tools, software, and/or code
• Standards
• Data preservation, access, and associated timelines
• Access, distribution, or reuse considerations
• Oversight of data management and sharing

Library resources, education, and tools

If you’re unfamiliar with what a DMSP or DMP is, don’t worry, the Libraries have you covered! We have a guide to the NIH’s guidance changes, a guide to DMPs, and the NIH has also launched a site with information on data sharing. These guides will give you more detail on the sections of a plan and answers to questions like, When do I submit my DMSP? (Answer: for extramural grants, as part of the Budget Justification section of the application.) 

To learn more, attend one of our fall workshops related to the policy: Writing a DMP for the New 2023 NIH Guidelines on October 19 at 12pm, and 2023 NIH Policy Changes on October 26 at 12pm (register at the links). We will also be hosting a panel discussion on November 2 at 12pm with Temple researchers to discuss what the policy changes mean to our research community.

To help you write your plan, we support an online tool that guides you through writing a DMP: the DMPTool. Check out our how to video on the DMPTool and our interactive online tutorial. 

In addition, the Libraries’ Research Data Services team can meet with you, your lab, or your department to present on these guidance changes and resources, and answer any questions. If your department is having a Research Day or other research-related event, we would be happy to present or table with information on this new guidance.

If you have any questions about the NIH changes, DMPs, and scheduling consultations and events please contact Research and Data Services Librarian Will Dean (will.dean@temple.edu) or the Libraries’ Research Data Services team at tul-rds@temple.edu.

Summer sessions at Temple are upon us, and whether you are on campus or relaxing at home, the Libraries are here to support you with a variety of resources, services, and collections. 

A good place to start is our website—here you can browse materials, access resources, or contact us with questions. Read on for a few more ways to take advantage of library offerings this summer. 

Summer hours

Come on down! Our hours page has the latest information on opening and closing hours for each of our library locations over the summer.

Books, DVDs, journals, archives, oh my!

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.

For those doing archival research this summer, our special collections are housed in the Special Collections Research Center and the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection.

And if you happen to have some extra time on your hands, head over to Charles Library and browse our leisure reading collection, located on the first floor. We also have a juvenile literature collection on the fourth floor and a variety of DVDs and other media in the Bookbot. At Ginsburg Library, the leisure reading collection is shelved in the low bookcase to the left of the Patron Services desk, and leisure books can be sent between any location for easy pickup! Just click the “How to get this” button in the library catalog and select the pickup location where you want the book sent.

Need some research help?

Whether you are taking summer courses or working on academic or personal projects, librarians can offer you personalized assistance. 

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

Grab a seat

Looking for a place to study, work on a project, or just cool off in the summer heat? We offer a variety of open study seating options, and you can book study rooms at Charles Library and the Ginsburg Health Sciences Library ahead of time.

But I just graduated!

No worries! As a Temple alumni, you can still access a wide range of library resources. Learn more about alumni services. 

Keeping up with the Libraries

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for library news and updates over the summer and throughout the academic year. 

What else should I know?

Here are a few more tips for making the most out of your visit to one of our library locations or our website:

• For those taking summer courses: once you’ve scoped out your syllabi, head over to our comprehensive Research Guides for each of your course subjects, as well as our How Do I…? guides for help with basic tasks and services. 
• Each semester, we also compile a list of digitally available textbooks and reading materials, based on information Temple faculty provide to the bookstore. Check out if your etextbook is on the list, and come back as more items are often added! [Note: this list is typically updated for each new semester within the first or second week of the semester.]
• Want to get creative? Make use of the Libraries’ advanced equipment and technology in the Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars Studio in Charles Library and the Innovation Space at Ginsburg Health Sciences Library.
• Take advantage of the Libraries’ laptop lending program and charging options, and look into Temple’s Print on the Go service for all your printing needs. 
• More questions? Start with our library tutorials, undergraduate user guide, and graduate user guide.

Editorial note: this post was published in 2022. In 2023, Temple Made Days fall from Monday, March 27 through Sunday, April 2.

We invite all Temple alumni to celebrate Temple Made Days with us. Running from Monday, April 25–Saturday, April 30, Temple Made Days is a new initiative this year, blending several of Temple’s signature spring events (Global Days of Service, Temple Toast, and Alumni Weekend) into one weeklong celebration of Temple pride. 

Here at Temple University Libraries, we want to shine a light on how the Libraries support our alumni long after they leave the Owl nest (so to speak). 

Visit and borrow

Even after you graduate, you can continue to access library resources, including our buildings, collections, technology, and more! Check out our library website to learn more about alumni services. 

Attend events, workshops, and exhibits

Every semester, the Libraries present our Beyond the Page public programming series. These free events and workshops are open to all, and we record most of them for future viewing.

The Libraries also offer a variety of exhibits each year, often featuring the materials in our special collections: the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection and the Special Collections Research Center.

Explore Digital Collections

Our Digital Collections offer free worldwide access to the Libraries’ unique primary historical and cultural resources and to selected scholarly works and other publications produced at Temple.

As a Temple alum, you might take a special interest in the following collections: 

• Ambler Campus History in Photographs 
• Temple History in Photographs 
• Temple University Yearbooks
• Temple University News

Read up on the latest scholarship

As part of the library enterprise, Temple University Press has invested in publishing socially engaged scholarship for over 50 years. The Press is best known as a publisher of books in the social sciences and the humanities, as well as books about Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley region. You can browse the catalog and order directly from the Press website. And as part of our commitment to open access, a number of Press labor studies books and titles under our joint Press and Libraries imprint, North Broad Press, are available freely online.  

#TempleToast: Support the Libraries

One additional way to join in the festivities is through taking part in Temple Toast and choosing to support the Libraries. April 28 marks #TempleToast, our annual celebration of community and philanthropy, where generations of Owls come together to invest in opportunity and advance our institution! Consider making a donation now.

National Library Week (April 3–9) is upon us and this year the theme is “Connect With Your Library,” with a specific emphasis on technology and digital ways we connect. We’re here to share with you a few of the many technological resources you have access to at the Libraries.

Assistive technology

At Temple Libraries, we offer assistive technology software and devices available at Charles Library and Ginsburg Library and are constantly working on expanding and updating our offerings. Examples include:

• JAWS (Job Access with Speech): a screen reading software installed on all public desktops and loaner laptops
• Ubi Duos 2: a face-to-face communication assistive device with two separate keyboards and screens that convey messages between two people in real time letter for letter (helpful for non-verbal or hearing impaired)
• Optelec ClearView Speech Reader: a sight amplifying device that increases size and contrast of text and can read aloud to you

BookBot

The groundbreaking technology used in our Automatic Storage and Retrieval System in Charles Library has freed up space for dozens of study rooms (many of which have monitors and presentation technology), other types of collaborative space, and specialized research equipment (see Duckworth Scholars Studio below). When a book or bound journal is requested via our online catalog, the BookBot initiates the request and the material is delivered to a processing station to be readied for patron pick up. Check out our Instagram story takeover on Tuesday, April 5 for a behind-the-scenes look at the BookBot and the staff that make it work. 

Battery banks and laptops

In Charles Library, portable battery banks and laptops are available for Temple affiliates to check out. The banks operate as portable outlets, allowing you to charge your devices anywhere in the library. The laptops can be checked out for a few hours and can even be taken outside the building and returned to any kiosk on campus.

Innovation Space and Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars Studio

The Innovation Space in Ginsburg Library and Duckworth Scholars Studio in Charles Library are hubs of creativity and technology that offer equipment such as VR headsets, 3D printers, laser cutters, sticker/button makers, and digital software for any Temple affiliates to use. Upcoming events include a digital humanities symposium on Afrofuturism, workshops on VR and video equipment, and a digital innovation showcase.

Community Computer Lab and WiFi

Anyone can come into Charles Library and use our Community Computer Lab to connect with job resources, people, or just browse the web. And, as long as you are utilizing the WiFi in our building, you have access to all our databases, journals, articles, and ebooks! There are also charging lockers available to secure and charge phones while in Charles Library.

Ambler Library in the Technology Center

Our Ambler Campus Library is open in a scaled-down capacity in the Ambler Technology Center (inside the Ambler Campus Learning Center). With computers readily available, you can receive in-person reference help while immersed in online work. Stop by to check out the new spot and say hello!

Digital collections from the Special Collections Research Center

In addition to the reading room on the first floor of Charles Library and the amazing materials you can view and touch, the Special Collections Research Center has an enormous online repository of digital collections including scans of documents, photographs, video, and audio content.

Black Lives Always Mattered! (BLAM!) virtual exhibit

The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection launched an online exhibit showcasing the stories and art that went into the BLAM! graphic novel, produced with the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.

Ebooks and open publishing

Our in-house publisher, Temple University Press, offers ebooks for sale for most of their publications. In addition, North Broad Press, the open publishing arm of Temple University Press and Temple University Libraries, produces open textbooks, freely available online for anyone to access.

Check out this North Philly Notes blog post highlighting the Press’ open access books, journals, and collaborations in celebration of National Library Week.

Equipment for use

Technical equipment available for check out from Charles Library includes portable DVD players, calculators, cameras, and a Raspberry Pi. Ginsburg Library offers noise canceling headphones, calculators, laptop stands, power strips, and chargers. 

There are dozens of ways to connect with the Libraries and our technology. We hope you will join us in celebrating National Library Week by checking out some of these resources.

In case you missed it, the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection created and recently published the graphic novel, Black Lives Always Mattered! (BLAM!), which was made possible by a grant from the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage.

Photo by Joseph V. Labolito, Temple University

BLAM! has been in the making since 2016. The project’s curator and art director Eric Battle illustrated three of the stories himself and selected and coordinated with other artists for the rest. Dr. Sheena Howard joined the project as the writer. In all, the novel features stories and illustrations of 14 prominent African American Philadelphians from the 20th century. 

Photo by Joseph V. Labolito, Temple University

Recently, the Blockson Collection donated 5,000 copies of BLAM! to the School District of Philadelphia. Eventually, the public will have access to the graphic novel as well. Find out more about how the novel will be part of the curriculum in Philadelphia from the Philadelphia Tribune article published in February.

News roundup

Photo by Joseph V. Labolito, Temple University

It’s no surprise that this project has generated buzz in the media. Below is a roundup of just a few news stories to catch you up on the project:

“A new graphic novel brings African American history in Philadelphia to life,” March 2020,  Temple News

“’Black Lives Always Mattered!’ invites all to see Philadelphia history in living color,” January 2022, Temple News

“Artist and Art Director Eric Battle talks about ‘BLAM!’, A graphic novel profiling fourteen Black historic Philadelphians,” January 2022, Artblog

“Temple’s Blockson collection publishes graphic novel to encourage youth,” February 2022, The Philadelphia Tribune

“Philly district will get 5,000 copies of a book celebrating Black Philadelphians,” February 2022, Chalkbeat Philadelphia

“After 30 years, African American Children’s Book Fair expands to the Convention Center,” February 2022, WHYY

BLAM! exhibits and programs

Photo by Ryan S. Brandenberg, Temple University

Through the process of creating the graphic novel, the Blockson Collection spearheaded an in-person exhibit that was on view first at  Charles Library and then at the Blockson Collection from March 2020–August 2021 and an accompanying virtual exhibit still available to viewers. 

We also offered a series of freely available virtual programs, a few of which we’ll highlight and link to the recordings below.

In September 2020, BLAM! curators, historians, artists, web designers, and others involved in the project spoke about the creative process, sharing details about how the project evolved.

Photo by Ryan S. Brandenberg, Temple University

A month later, in October 2020, Eric Battle led a conversation with amazing fellow illustrators Micheline Hess, Jamar Nicholas, Dwayne Turner and Christine Kerrick. They discussed their visions and artistic processes while creating the illustrated stories for the novel.

Fast forward to April 2021, we unveiled the novel cover along with some of the illustration profiles. Dr. Diane D. Turner, curator of the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection and Dr. Carol D. Lee, assessment and learning consultant to the project, discussed plans for the graphic novel.

Special thanks

We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has contributed to this project:

Blockson Collection staff
Dr. Diane D. Turner, project director
Aslaku Berhanu, associate director
Leslie Willis Lowry, archivist
Serkaddis Alemayehu, instructional design and technology specialist

Project curator/art director
Eric Battle 

Author
Sheena C. Howard

Graphic designer
Julius Harmon 

Artists/illustrators
Eric Battle
Damali Beatty 
Akinseye Brown 
Andrew Dalhouse
Nancy Devard 
Micheline Hess 
Mike Leeke 
Nile Livingston  
Christine Kerrick 
Jamar Nicholas 
Will Rosado 
Dwayne Turner

Stay tuned for announcements on when the graphic novel will be available to the public!

Guest post by Will Dean, research and data services librarian

Every February, Temple University Libraries takes part in Love Data Week, an annual celebration of data, learning data skills, and the people who work to understand data all year long. Temple Libraries’  Research Data Services team is proud to present this week of virtual workshops and events that teach data skills and showcase the research and work of our academic community.

Love Data Week speakers

Rates of gun violence have spiked in Philly (and around the country) in the past two years, and Temple researchers are working to understand why. On Monday, 2/14 at 10am, join Dr. Jessica Beard, Dr. Iman Afif, and Dr. Christopher Morrison to learn about their research into COVID-19 and the Epidemiology of Firearm Violence in Philadelphia.

Understanding how to communicate effectively, and honestly, with data is an important skill for both researchers and anyone who wants to understand the world. Learn the Basics of Effective Data Visualization with Dr. Cory Ng on Wednesday 2/16 at 11am and get started with Tableau, a popular data visualization platform.

Love Data Week workshops

REDCap plot example, courtesy Will Dean

This year’s Love Data Week workshops will teach data skills applicable to a wide array of disciplines including clinical statistics, digital mapping, social network analysis, text mining, and writing data management plans. 

Join Drs. Daohai Yu and Huaqing Zhao of the Department of Clinical Sciences at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine to learn, or refresh, about basic clinical statistics. The Basic Clinical Statistics workshop on Monday, 2/14 at 12pm will cover statistical methods important for clinical research, and at Basic Statistical Methods with JMP on Tuesday, 2/15 at 12pm you’ll get a hands-on opportunity to put those statistical methods to use with the JMP software (available free to Temple users at https://download.temple.edu/).

To build up your digital humanities, data mining, and visualization skills we are partnering with the Duckworth Scholars Studio to offer three workshops digging into data skills with broad applications. 

At Introduction to Digital Mapping on Wednesday 2/16 at 12pm with Victoria Sarmiento, you’ll learn how to use QGIS, an open-source mapping program, to create maps that synthesize data with the physical world in new and interesting ways. Get more out of the research databases that house academic articles by attending Text Mining Databases on Thursday 2/17 at 12pm with Dr. Alex Wermer-Colan, and learn the basics of bringing data science methods to a large corpus of documents. Join Dr. Marcus Bingenheimer to learn how to create network graphs that illuminate hidden connections in Basics of Social Network Analysis with Gephi on Thursday 2/17 at 2pm.

Network map, courtesy Will Dean

If you’re applying for a grant to support your research or want to plan your data management process better, you should check out Writing a Data Management Plan with Olivia Given Castello on Friday, 2/18 at 12pm. This workshop covers what goes into a Data Management Plan (DMP), what information funders want to know, and library resources that can help.

All Love Data Week events and workshops are open to all. 

While the spring 2022 semester at Temple is beginning primarily online in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19’s latest variant, the Libraries are still here for you. So no matter where you are, we have the services, resources, materials, and expertise to help you succeed.

Outside Charles Library, photo by Heidi Roland Photography

Most of our locations remain open, but our hours page has the latest information on any closures. 

Check out our website to browse materials, access resources, or to contact us with questions. Below, we offer a refresher on the services, collections, and opportunities you can make use of, as well as some of our top tips to start the new year off right. 

Tap into fully online support

As the semester begins online for the majority of students and faculty, read up on how you can make the most of library resources and services remotely. 

Help with research

Librarians 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 librarian who specializes in your field. 

Getting in touch with your librarian 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 information Temple faculty provide to the bookstore. Check out if your etextbook is on the list! [Note: this list is typically updated for each new semester within the first or second week of the semester.]

And for those doing archival research this semester, our special collections are housed in the Special Collections Research Center and the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection.

Apply for research and creative writing awards

Through February 28, 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.

The Libraries are also participating in Short Édition’s annual inter-university writing contest for students this spring. Hopefully, you’ve seen the Short Édition short story dispenser we have here on the third floor of Charles Library (if not, make sure you do next time you are on campus!). All submissions will be considered for international publication in 300+ dispensers worldwide, including our dispenser at Temple. There are also cash prizes!

Attend free workshops and events

We have a full slate of virtual workshops scheduled for the spring on everything from editing artwork in Photoshop 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!

And check out our Beyond the Page public programming series. This semester’s theme is What Comes Next?, and we’ll be offering a variety of virtual and in-person events.

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

Even more tips!

• Once you’ve scoped out your syllabi, head over to our comprehensive Research Guides for each of your course subjects, as well as our How Do I…? guides for help with basic tasks and services. 
• Looking for a place to study? We offer a variety of open study seating options, and you can book study rooms at Charles Library and the Ginsburg Health Sciences Library ahead of time.
• Make use of the Libraries’ advanced equipment and technology in the Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars Studio in Charles Library and the Innovation Space at Ginsburg Health Sciences Library.
• Take advantage of the Libraries’ laptop lending program and charging options, and look into Temple’s Print on the Go service for all your printing needs. 
• More questions? Start with our library tutorials, undergraduate user guide, and graduate user guide.
• Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for even more library news and updates.

The end of the semester is around the corner. If you are ready to step away from your coursework and into another world, library staff have you covered with these reading recommendations—many of which you can even check out from the Libraries! 

Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good nonfiction read. Part biography, part history, part scientific exploration, Longitude relates the quest for an accurate way to determine longitude. At first, this book came across as a technical topic, however, when diving in and dedicating my spare time to read this, it quickly became very interesting. I now take GPS for granted after reading this. Hope you all enjoy! I certainly did. 

—Jim Boyce, Charles Library evening building supervisor

A Children’s Bible: A Novel by Lydia Millet

This story about the end of the world as we know it— brought about by climate change—may feel a little too real. But it comes from the perspective of the children, which felt fresh to me and particularly poignant. The writing is beautiful, and I’m still thinking about this book months after I put it down. 

—Beckie Dashiell, editor

The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson

I thought I had paid attention in science classes over the years until I read this book. I learned so much about the human body, especially how the human body has so many constantly moving parts and yet it operates without you realizing it. Spoiler alert: you’ll pick up a few tips on how to live and breathe a little easier.

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

If you’re looking for an eerie mystery set during the winter, look no further than The Winter People. The past to present flashbacks and small-town charm kept me captivated.

—Jess Martin, library depository building supervisor

Game Wizards by Jon Peterson

Game Wizards details the first few years of the creation of Dungeons & Dragons, the company TSR that published the game, and the struggles between the games co-creators Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The book is a wonderful example of art turning into business and all of the pitfalls that can come with it. If you have any interest in the history of games or the history of Dungeons & Dragons, creative disputes, and the pitfalls of starting a business that ends up being successful, this is the book for you.

—Matt Shoemaker, head of the Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars Studio

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

I recently listened to Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. Trevor’s life story was surreal and exciting! Throughout the entire book, he was relatable and humorous, which made deep concepts about his life feel light-hearted and easy to understand.

—Joi Waller, web/graphic designer

Need even more recs? 

• Lauri Fennell, public health and social sciences librarian, suggests The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman and The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia. 
• Margery Sly, director of the Special Collections Research Center, recommends John Kerry’s autobiography, Every Day is Extra. 
• Karen Kohn, collections analysis librarian, urges you to check out Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid and Leaving Isn’t the Hardest Thing by Lauren Hough.

Guest post by Sandi Thompson, head of Ambler Campus Library

Editor’s note: On September 1, 2021, the remnants of Hurricane Ida swept through the Greater Philadelphia region. During the storm, an EF2-level tornado caused serious damage to Temple’s Ambler Campus, including the Ambler Campus Library.

We are happy to report that as of Monday, November 8, the Ambler Campus Library is open in a scaled-down capacity in the Ambler Technology Center (inside the Ambler Learning Center) from 8:30 am–5:00 pm, Monday–Friday.

While rebuilding efforts are underway, Ambler Campus is forever altered by September’s storm.  With 510 trees down and gone, the skyline has been changed for future generations. I’ve even heard that some people who travel here on Route 309 say they don’t recognize the exit or the area. Homes close by also received major damage, and some are still uninhabitable. Thankfully, even though people were on campus, tornado warnings were sent out and no one was hurt. Of course, many people were scared and shaken. And it’s the people who are most important here—those who work here, those who take classes here, and the locals who use our services and spaces for leisure and contemplation.

At the Ambler Campus Library, ten windows were blown in, allowing 130 mile per hour winds and hard rain into the library proper. Windows in offices were also blown in. In all, we lost approximately 17,000 books, including all of our oversize books.  

On the day after the tornado, three staff members worked quickly to save archival material by moving it out of wet conditions into dry spaces. (Would you believe the only “dry” spaces in the building were the restrooms?) Even the fire marshal, who was on campus taking inventory, pitched in and helped us move those materials to the dry space!

Within a short time, all our archival materials were sent down to Charles Library and Kardon (our remote storage facility on Main Campus) in two trucks, and now reside there in a safe, dry, environmentally-controlled environment. The rest of our collections were packed and delivered  to Charles Library on Friday, November 5. In total, we sent 2,358 crates of Ambler material (or close to 57 tons)!

Ambler Campus Library staff, from left: Andrea Goldstein, Darryl Sanford, Sandi Thompson; not pictured: Joanne Rempfer (who was present the night of the storm!)

On Monday, November 8, we are opening our scaled-down library in a space graciously shared with us by the ITS department in the Ambler Technology Center, which is inside the Ambler Learning Center. Our hours will be 8:30 am–5:00 pm, Monday–Friday. There, we’ll have approximately 4,900 books, including an additional 110 titles from the general stacks, 160 items for reference, 101 items for leisure reading, 195 DVDs, and—just for fun—five VHS tapes! These items were all handpicked by staff, and we hope we have picked some that people actually want and need! If not, our delivery service will be moving lots of material between locations, so let us know if you have any requests. 

There is no way I can thank all the people who have helped us make this possible—from departments here on Ambler’s campus to so many departments and people from Charles Library who have come up with ways and means to make this move and this library happen. So, a simple thank you to everyone for your support and help in this situation. See you in the library!