Today marks the beginning of National Library Week, a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. This year’s theme is Libraries Transform, which asks us all to think about the evolving role of libraries, as well as our own unique experiences with our libraries.

Here are some ways Temple University Libraries are celebrating:

• Stop by our table near the leisure reading section in Paley Library for more information about library resources and services, as well as some fun stress-relief activities, giveaways, and candy. The table will be staffed on Tuesday, April 12 and Thursday, April 14 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM.
• Check out our trivia questions about library facts and figures on Twitter and give us your best guesses!
• Our Question of the Week board on the first floor of Paley Library asks how the Libraries have transformed YOU—what will you say?

In honor of National Library Week, we also asked what books or library resources Temple University Libraries’ staff members love. Here are some of their favorites—Enjoy!

“My favorite library resource is our amazing Media Services collection.” –Kathy Lehman, Supervisor, Access Services

“Perhaps my favorite book is Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude. I used to re-read it every year or so, just to re-enter the magical-realist world of the Buendia family and the town of Macondo.” –Gary Kramer, Publicity Manager, Temple University Press

“One from my childhood comes to mind, and has stayed there through many decades: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. This was the only book my mother saved from her childhood, and it still sits safely on my bookshelf behind glass doors and surrounded by as many versions as I have been able to buy!” –Sandi Thompson, Head, Ambler Campus Library

“Naxos Music Library is a music streaming service, mostly classical music. I’ve used it since I was in undergrad, and there are recordings of lots of my favorite hard-to-find pieces in there. Another is Underground and Independent Comics, Comix, and Graphic Novels. It has both primary-source content (digitized comic book issues), and scholarly articles and interviews about them. Plus, it lets you search by character and genre, which is pretty neat.” –Anastasia Chiu, Resident Librarian

“I suggest two films by Bob Fosse—Cabaret and All That Jazz. Media Services holds these films in their collections, as they are absolute classics of both cinema and performance. ” –Nicole Restaino, Manager for Library Communications and Public Programming

“Some of my favorite books are The Bell Jar, The Secret Garden, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy.” –Fobazi Ettarh, Resident Librarian

This April marks the twentieth anniversary of National Poetry Month, which gives us the occasion to infuse more poetry into our lives! Established by the Academy of American Poets, this month celebrates the enduring legacy and ongoing work of American poets each year.

How can you join in? Sign up for Poem-a-Day at poets.org, and you will receive a brand new poem in your inbox every day! Check out today’s poem, “There Is No Name Yet” by Dorothea Lasky.

The week of March 7th is Open Education Week, a global event coordinated by the Open Education Consortium to raise awareness around free and open sharing in education. This movement advocates for free and open access for learners and teachers to a variety of resources, including platforms, course and learning materials, and textbooks.

Temple University Libraries is joining the conversation around textbook access and affordability by hosting an Open Education Week event titled “Ditch the Textbook: Exploring Options for Textbook Affordability” on Wednesday, March 9 from 12:00 – 1:30 PM in the Paley Library Lecture Hall. The panel will feature students and faculty advocates (listed below) for open educational resources and will be moderated by Annie Johnson, Library Publishing and Scholarly Communications Specialist at Temple Libraries. The event will also provide information about Temple Libraries’ Alternate Textbook Project, which will soon be open to proposals.

Panelists for the Libraries’ March 9th event include:

Eitan Laurence is a Temple University student who is an advocate for Open Educational Resources (OER). He is currently a member of the Provost’s Task Force on Textbook Affordability.

Gerard Brown, Associate Professor, Tyler School of Art, is the Chair of the school’s Foundations Department. His senior Visual Studies seminar students are currently engaged in a project looking at the way textbooks affect learning.

Wesley Roehl is a Professor in the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management. He is a recent participant in Temple Libraries’ Alternate Textbook Project.

Kristine Weatherston is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Media Studies and Production. She is a two-time recipient of the Alternate Textbook Project award. Kristine utilizes web-based and open source textbooks, software, and videos in her scriptwriting, documentary production, and media courses.

We invite you to join us! Please contact Annie Johnson (annie.johnson@temple.edu) with questions.

The Libraries are hosting a faculty and graduate teaching assistant workshop—“How to Use Wikipedia as a Teaching Tool”—next Monday, February 15.

We know that students use Wikipedia, but how can instructors use this same resource to engage students with media literacy, fact-based writing, research, collaboration, and critical thinking? At this workshop, staff from the Wiki Education Foundation will be on hand to discuss how students can improve existing articles through a classroom assignment, best practices for using Wikipedia as a teaching tool, and how Wiki Ed can support faculty and students.

In addition, 2016 is the Wikipedia Year of Science, so all faculty, particularly those in the sciences, will have the opportunity to speak with staff about how to participate in this exciting initiative.

Please join us February 15 at the Paley Library Lecture Hall, 1210 Polett Walk, Ground Floor for what is sure to be an informative, engaging session. No RSVP is necessary, and please feel free to contact Steven Bell at bells@temple.edu with any questions.