2024 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize Award Winners Announced

Charles Cavin Sylvester is the winner of the 2024 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize in the Undergraduate Upper-level category

Charles Cavin Sylvester is the winner of the 2024 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize in the Undergraduate Upper-level category. This prize is awarded to the winning project completed in a 200- to 400-level course.

Charles is a senior Environmental Science major, he submitted to the competition the paper titled “Environmental Review of CFCs and their Replacements; the Montreal Protocol Plan” completed in the course CHEM 390: Chemical Literature and Writing, taught by Dr. Michael Fennie.

For research purposes, Charles relied on a number of library databases such as Academic Search Elite, ProQuest Central, and the American Chemical Society publications in order to identify pertinent peer-reviewed primary source literature. Charles utilized a wide range of sources including secondary sources such as textbooks and white papers to ascertain governmental information regarding the Montreal Protocol. In his description of research he also mentions obtaining access to three crucial papers for his research through the Library’s Interlibrary loan system. Charles used the citation management software Zotero to manage and organize his large number of sources, and adds that as a first-time user of Zotero, he was amazed at how this tool streamlined his research process. 

In choosing this research topic, Charles mentions; “I wanted to choose something that affects everyone, something that is applicable to everyone’s daily life, something that would help better the lives of all. Pope Francis calls us to be stewards of the Earth. Most recently in his “Laudato Deum,” he specifically called out the United States for not being good enough. Therefore, embracing my Jesuit values, I wanted to write an impactful paper on the Montreal Protocol Plan to assess if were we doing enough to protect ourselves from the tragedy of ozone depletion by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).” 

Through the research process, Charles mentions, “I have done many research projects throughout my time at the University, but this one truly taught me the notion of not giving up before I found the right data. My strive for Magis drove me. To write a fair and accurate paper, I needed specific data for CFCs and their three replacements concerning ozone depletion potentials, pathways for tropospheric sinks, radiative efficiencies, lifetimes, and global warming potentials. It was not an easy task, but I am extremely satisfied that I was successful in doing so. It made my paper so much more complete. The accomplishment will stick with me, and it taught me a lasting lesson about researching.” His research is timely and describes high-level scientific processes in a readable and straightforward manner. His work details a truly successful application of Science as a change agent for improvement in environmental policy. 

Honorable Mention awards in the 2024 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize in the Undergraduate Upper-level category were presented to Gabrielle Bingener, a third-year Neuroscience major, for her project titled “Transposing The Wounded Storyteller,” completed in the course ENLT 224: Perspectives in Literature about Illness taught by Dr. Billie Tadros; and to Occupational Therapy major Victoria Smulowitz for her paper titled “The Impact of Breast Cancer Survivors’ Participation in Society Due to a Loss of Occupational Engagement,” completed in the course OT 250: Scientific Writing and Information Literacy taught by Dr. Carol Coté.

Gabrielle Allen and Julianna Lunt are the winners of the 2024 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize in the Graduate category.

Gabrielle Allen and Julianna Lunt are the winners of the 2024 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize in the Graduate category.

Gabrielle and Julianna are in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program.  They submitted to the competition their project titled “The Changing Role of Occupational Therapy in Neonatal Care” completed in the course OT 544: Leadership Principles, Ethics, and Pragmatics, taught by Dr. Marlene Morgan.

When Gabrielle and Julianna set off on their Historical Analysis of Occupational Therapy assignment, they wanted to choose a topic that would be beneficial for the occupational therapy profession and focused specifically on vulnerable populations, whose lives have been impacted by advancements in OT. They ultimately landed on neonatal care. 

For this difficult historical analysis, they used a multitude of Library resources, from print to digital, and archival. They also sought assistance from the librarians who guided them through how to begin finding and evaluating relevant information. While at first intimidated by the research process, they began to feel “a bit like detectives” as they went about their information seeking.  In true Jesuit tradition, they were pushed to become better researchers while tasked with taking time to be reflective of their findings. 

In their description of research, they summarize the ways their research process reflected Ignatian characteristics when they say, “Whether it was the discernment of choosing a research topic that would benefit the future of OT and help advocate for the infants in the NICU, or learning how to navigate new equipment to access archival journals on microfilm, this project fostered growth in many different ways.” 

They go on: “We found ourselves discussing our gratitude to receive a Jesuit education while completing this research project,” and furthermore apply the Jesuit concept of “Contemplatio ad amorem” to their work on this project when they say:“The research process incorporated active parts and also included reflection of the findings. It was in these moments of reflection that we were able to uncover themes throughout history and have “breakthrough moments”. Most importantly, our research was driven by the love of God because we sought to choose a topic that would improve the quality of life for His most vulnerable creations.”

In this way, Gabrielle and Julianna illustrate how the research process can transform both the researcher and those whom the research will serve.

Honorable Mention awards in the 2024 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize Graduate category were presented to Master of Occupational Therapy students Catherine Casola and Kiera Harvey, their project titled “The History of Occupational Therapy in Neurological Conditions,” completed in the course OT 544: Leadership Principles, Ethics, and Pragmatics, taught by Dr. Marlene Morgan; and to Doctor of Physical Therapy students Lauren Colella, Erin O’Shaughnessy, Michele Felice Rovaris, and Sydney Walters, for their project titled “Mental Health Factors and Exercise Adherence in Women with Breast Cancer Interventions: A Systematic Review,” completed in the course PT 773: Scientific Inquiry III for PT, taught by Dr. Anthony Carusotto.

Emma Torok is the winner of the 2024 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize Undergraduate Foundational category. This prize category is designed to recognize research excellence and learning in the first year. It is awarded to the winning project completed in a 100-level course.*

Emma is a first-year Early Education Major who submitted her paper titled “Analyzing the Effectiveness of In-Person Learning vs. Online Learning” completed in Prof. Dawn D’Aries Zera’s Writing 107: Composition course. 

Tasked with researching an argumentative contemporary issue related to her major, Emma began her research in class and an information literacy session with a faculty librarian where she learned about different types of resources available including books, videos, online journals, Interlibrary Loan, and more. In her description of research, Emma discussed using the Library’s main search tool, Royal Search, to find peer reviewed articles through the use of limiters and Boolean logic. She shared how adding a variety of sources, like scholarly research articles, but also news articles from the New York Times and NPR, helped balance her argument and solidify her findings. 

Emma also discussed the importance of keeping an open mind while conducting research as to avoid confirmation bias. In her application she states, “There have been times when I began my research specifically looking for articles that agreed with my predetermined thoughts. However, for this project, I deliberately searched for articles that stated the benefits of both online and in-person learning. I am so thankful for all that I learned in the library program and on the library website because, without learning other perspectives, my paper would not have been formulated fairly.”

Emma went on to discuss how through the research process she embodied the Ignatian characteristic of Cura Personalis. She states, “My research paper demonstrated this in two main ways: my open perspective to research and my personal connection to my topic. Before conducting any research, and even before finalizing my topic, I ensured that I educated myself on both sides of the debate. Just like St. Ignatius would do, I appreciated and thought critically about both perspectives before deciding my opinion.” 

The 2024 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize Undergraduate Foundational category Honorable Mention award was presented to first-year Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology major Andrew Mauriello, for his project titled “Gene Therapy: An Effective Treatment for Some of the World’s Deadliest Diseases” completed in his WRITING 107: Composition course taught by Prof. Dawn D’Aries Zera.

Currently celebrating its 13th year, the Weinberg Memorial Library inaugurated the Library Research Prize in 2011 to recognize excellence in research projects that show evidence of significant knowledge of the methods of research and the information gathering process, and use of library resources, tools, and services. In 2017, the prize was named for Professor Emerita Bonnie W. Oldham, who founded the prize at the University in 2011. The Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize was fully endowed in 2019 and consists of a prize of $500 awarded to winning projects in each of the three categories: Undergraduate Foundational (100-level projects), Undergraduate Upper-level (200- to 400-level projects), and Graduate.

 Prize winners were honored at an Awards Ceremony & Reception on Friday 5/17 at 1:00 pm in the Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room of the Weinberg Memorial Library.

 Information about the Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize can be found on the website: http://www.scranton.edu/libraryresearchprize

Congratulations to all of our honorees!

*Emma Torok was unable to attend the awards ceremony and is therefore not pictured along with the other winners.

Accessing your Library Account from Royal Search

The Library’s recent migration to our new Library Service Platform, FOLIO, included changes to accessing your Library Account and access to user tools within Royal Search.

If you are a Student, Faculty, or Staff member, the following visual guide at the link below will assist you with logging into your account:

Accessing your Library Account from Royal Search

Or, you can follow the steps below:

In the upper right corner of the Royal Search webpage you will see an icon and the words MyEBSCO.

Click on the icon and select Sign in to my EBSCO at the bottom of the box. You will then be asked to authenticate using your Royal ID number if you are not already signed in.

If this is your first time logging into MyEBSCO after May 29, 2024, you will be asked to personalize your account. Click on the blue button that says Continue personalized, this will connect your MyEBSCO account to your Royal ID number and give you access to the My dashboard tools. While you can search Royal Search without logging in or personalizing your account, you will need to sign in and personalize your account if you wish to place holds on materials or view database articles. Once you personalize your account you will not see that pop up window again, you would only receive prompts to sign in and authenticate.

On the left side menu My dashboard has tools you can use to save and organize your research and to see your holds and checked-out Materials. The Overview link will provide a dashboard for you of all links on the left side menu.

If you click on Holds & checkouts, you can review specific titles you have on hold or have checked out to your account. Under the Checkouts tab you can request a renewal by clicking on Renew.

Troubleshooting

If you are having an issue signing in to MyEBSCO or connecting to resources in Royal Search we recommend the following:

  • Use Google Chrome as your browser if you are unable to connect with another browser.
  • Perform a hard refresh of your browser and clear your cache.
    • If you are using Google Chrome, Firefox or Edge for Windows press Ctrl + F5.
    • If you are using Google Chrome or Firefox for Mac press Command + Shift + R .
    • You can find additional instructions for clearing your cache in Google Chrome here.

If you created a MyEBSCO account with your University email address and it does not merge when you personalize, see the following instructions to merge accounts:

How to Merge Personal Accounts

If you require additional assistance, please reach out to Ask a Librarian.

FOLIO Migration Date Change – Tuesday May 28th – Go Live Wednesday May 29th

There has been a change in date to our FOLIO migration window. Initially the Library catalog access disruption was to occur on May 20th with Go-Live occurring on May 21st. The new date for catalog migration downtime has changed to Tuesday, May 28th with operations resuming online on May 29th.

Cataloging Downtime

  • Hold on processing of new materials until after May 28.
  • This will NOT affect the circulation of existing materials – you can continue to borrow materials from the Library at the Library Services Desk and at Media Resource Center.

On May 28th

Work stops in our current Library Service Platform and final data is migrated to FOLIO.

As the previous catalog is taken offline there will be some disruption in access to our catalog and Royal Search.

Services AFFECTED by the transition:

  • Royal Search may be temporarily unavailable.
  • Holds will not be able to be placed through Royal Search.
  • Access to My Library Accounts will be offline.
  • Search for Print and Media Reserves will be offline.
  • Lib Guides will still be accessible through our website though some links may not be available.

Services NOT affected by the transition:

  • Library Materials and Course Reserves can still be borrowed from the Library Services Desk and Media Resource Center.
  • Databases will still be accessible through our A-Z list.
  • Illiad will be available for interlibrary loan.
  • Advanced eReserves search will still be available.
  • Cloudsource OA will still be online and available for searching.
  • Digital Services will still be online and available for searching.

May 29th

GO-LIVE DAY!

First working day on FOLIO. All operations, with the exception of EZBorrow, should be back online.

Part of this transition will upgrade our patron empowerment tools in Royal Search. If you are University Student, Faculty, or Staff member, when you log in for the first time and go to place a hold or access an article post transition you will be prompted to personalize your My EBSCO account. This will connect you to your Royal Search dashboard where you can view your requests and loans through the library as well as save and organize your research.

As we transition, more information about new services and features will be provided, as well as training opportunities.

Thank you again for your patience and understanding as we migrate to our new system.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Cataloging and Metadata Librarian Marleen Cloutier at marleen.cloutier@scranton.edu

Weinberg Memorial Library migrating to FOLIO – Important Service Notice

FOLIO logo with beeThe Weinberg Memorial Library (WML) is very excited to announce that on May 20, 2024, the Library will move to a new open-source Library Services Platform (LSP) called FOLIO. FOLIO enables us to acquire and manage our collections, print and digital. WML will be replacing our current Integrated Library System (ILS) Sierra, the system which the Royal Search Discovery Layer interface currently overlays.

As we move into the final stages of the migration, there are dates the Library wants to make the University Community aware of as there will be some disruption to our regular services. The Library asks for your patience and understanding as we make the transition to our new system. We will be putting out messaging on our blog and website as these various outages and changes occur.

Important Dates and Information

May 10th

PALCI EZBorrow Downtime

  • Access to PALCI EZBorrow will be temporarily shut down. All Interlibrary loan services will be provided through Illiad until our EZBorrow catalog is reindexed. This process can take a few weeks.
  • Alerts will be posted when the service comes down and when the service is reinstated.
  • You can access Illiad here : https://illiad.scranton.edu/illiad/illiad.dll
    • You will be asked to sign on with your RNumber, and set up an account if you do not already have one

Cataloging Downtime

  • Hold on processing of new materials until after May 21.
  • This will NOT affect the circulation of existing materials – you can continue to borrow materials from the Library at the Library Services Desk and at Media Resource Center.

May 20th

Work stops in Sierra and final data is migrated to FOLIO.

As Sierra is taken offline there will be some disruption in access to our catalog and Royal Search.

Services AFFECTED by the transition:

  • Royal Search may be temporarily unavailable.
  • Holds will not be able to be placed through Royal Search.
  • Access to My Library Accounts will be offline.
  • Search for Print and Media Reserves will be offline.
  • Lib Guides will still be accessible though our website though some links may not be available.

Services NOT affected by the transition:

  • Library Materials and Course Reserves can still be borrowed from the Library Services Desk and Media Resource Center.
  • Databases will still be accessible through our A-Z list.
  • Illiad will be available for interlibrary loan.
  • Advanced eReserves search will still be available.
  • Cloudsource OA will still be online and available for searching.
  • Digital Services will still be online and available for searching.

May 21st

GO-LIVE DAY!

First working day on FOLIO. All operations, with the exception of EZBorrow, should be back online.

Part of this transition will upgrade our patron empowerment tools in Royal Search. If you are University Student, Faculty, or Staff member, when you log in for the first time and go to place a hold or access an article post transition you will be prompted to personalize your My EBSCO account. This will connect you to your Royal Search dashboard where you can view your requests and loans through the library as well as save and organize your research.

As we transition, more information about new services and features will be provided, as well as training opportunities. Thank you again for your patience and understanding as we migrate to our new system.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Cataloging and Metadata Librarian Marleen Cloutier at marleen.cloutier@scranton.edu

 

Additional Group Study Room Available

An additional Group Study Room on the 4th Floor (Rm.419) is now available for student use. Please note the guidelines posted. Good luck preparing for your exams!

One Week Left! – Application Deadline for Library Research Prize is Tuesday, May 7, 2024

The Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize

There is one week left to apply for the Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize! Project submissions from Intersession and Spring 2024 courses are due Tuesday, May 7, 2024 by 4:00 pm.

Are you working on a research project in a course this semester? Did you use the library’s resources, services, collections, or spaces in order to complete your research? Then the Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize is for you!

The Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize recognizes excellence in research projects that show evidence of significant knowledge in the methods of research and the information gathering process and use of library resources, tools, and services.

Three prizes of $500.00 each will be awarded to the winning individual student or group in the following categories: Undergraduate Foundational (100-level courses), Undergraduate Upper-level (200- to 400-level courses), and Graduate. If won by a group, the award will be split equally among the group members. All you need to do is write a 500- to 700-word essay describing your research process and how you used the Library in completing the project. Check out our Tips web page for updated advice on how to craft the best 500- to 700-word essay you can about your research. 

A statement of faculty support from the instructor who assigned the research project is also required for each submission.

For additional information on how to apply, what to include in a completed application, and to access the application, visit the Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize page: www.scranton.edu/libraryresearchprize

Bikes Ready to Borrow!

Bike Lackawanna is back! For the 2024 season the library has 3 bikes of different sizes to lend to anyone age 18 or over. Bikes may be borrowed whenever the library is open, and all bikes must be returned before the library closes that same day. There is no charge for borrowing bikes. Stop by the Library Services Desk and borrow a bike soon!

2024 Weinberg Memorial Library Book Sale

Join us at the Weinberg Memorial Library’s book sale this weekend! The University of Scranton’s Weinberg Memorial Library will hold its annual book sale on Saturday, April 27th from 9:00AM to 8:00PM and Sunday, April 28th from 12:00PM to 4:00PM. A special preview sale will be held on Friday, April 26th for current University of Scranton students, current (2023-2024) Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library members, and current Schemel Forum members. Interested in becoming a member of the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library? Information for membership can be found at Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library. To check the status of your Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library and Schemel Forum memberships, please contact Kym Fetsko at kym.fetsko@scranton.edu or (570) 941-7816.

The book sale will have a variety of hardcover and paperback books including non-fiction books, fiction books, cookbooks, young adult books, and children’s books. In addition, the book sale will have DVDs and CDs.

Any questions about the book sale? Please reach out to Melisa Gallo at melisa.gallo@scranton.edu or (570) 941-6195.

We look forward to seeing you this weekend at the Weinberg Memorial Library’s annual book sale!

 

Trail Cleanup–Volunteer Opportunity

The Library will be holding its annual Spring Trail Cleanup on Wednesday, May 1st at 2:30-4:30pm. We’ll meet at the Broadway St. Trailhead, 300 Broadway St. Scranton, 18505, next to the University’s Quinn Athletic Complex. To RSVP, visit RoyalSync.

This is a great volunteer opportunity! If you have questions or need transportation, contact Sheli Pratt-McHugh at sheli.pratt-mchugh [at] scranton [dot] edu.

Alumnus Author: Brendan Deneen, “Alien Uncivil War”, Reading and Q & A

Alumni author Brendan Deneen will be visiting campus Thursday, April 18th at 5:30pm in the Weinberg Memorial Library, Heritage Room.  He will read from his latest book “Alien Uncivil War”, followed by a Q & A!

ABOUT BRENDAN DENEEN

Brendan Deneen is the author of the award-winning coming-of-age novel THE NINTH CIRCLE, the horror novel THE CHRYSALIS, and MORBIUS: BLOOD TIES, an original novel set in the Spider-Man universe for Marvel/Titan. He’s also the author of the bestselling four volume NIGHT NIGHT GROOT picture book series for Marvel; the original middle grade graphic novel GREEN ARROW: STRANDED for DC Comics; the upcoming novel GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: ANNIHILATION for Marvel/Titan; and the upcoming sci-fi romance novel TRACER for Blackstone Publishing. His other graphic novel work includes multiple volumes of FLASH GORDON, an original ISLAND OF MISFIT TOYS book, a CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST reboot, PHOENIX (with Jim Krueger), SOLARMAN (a reboot of a Marvel/Stan Lee series), SCATTERBRAIN, and two upcoming graphic novels, THE BONES OF THE GODS and MORTIMER THE LAZY BIRD. His short stories and essays have been published by St. Martin’s Press, Reader’s Digest Books, 13Thirty Press, and Necro Publications.
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