Extended Library Hours April 30 to May 11

The library's extended hours are in effect now through May 11th.

The library will be open until until 11pm on Friday, 9pm on Saturday, and until 1:00am Sunday through Thursday of Finals week!

Sometimes it's hard to stay inside and focus when it's so nice out (yay for the rain?) but remember the library has quiet study on the upper level and group study areas on the main and lower levels. Study hard! You've Almost Made It!

#TBT in the Archives 4/27/17: Rail Trail

Throughout this academic year, a lot of construction has happened on the south end of campus. However, in contrast to other recent campus construction, this earth-moving hasn't involved new buildings. Instead, crews are blazing new trails - by extending the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail.


The Cumberland Valley Rail Trail stretches 11 miles from Shippensburg to Newville along a right-of-way previously used by the Cumberland Valley Railroad. It's a multi-use trail open to all ages, and accommodates pedestrians, cyclists, and horses on a route that traverses beautiful rural Cumberland County. Volunteer organization Cumberland Valley Rails-to-Trails has been working for 20 years to establish, maintain and expand the trail, which is free to use.

A CVRR train passes south of Old Main. The steam plant is pictured at left.

On the Shippensburg University campus, recent construction on the trail includes extending the route from Fogelsanger Road to North Earl Street, as well as a new pedestrian bridge stretching over Fogelsanger Road connecting campus to Britton Park. But why has the university gotten involved in this project?

This image from the 1900-1901 CVSNS catalog shows the Cumberland Valley Railroad crossing what is now Prince Street.

When Cumberland Valley State Normal School opened in 1873, Shippensburg was served by three railroads - the Cumberland Valley Railroad, the Western Maryland Railroad, and Philadelphia & Reading Railroad. Chartered in 1837, the Cumberland Valley Railroad ran from Harrisburg to Chambersburg, passing through Shippensburg. Tracks ran adjacent to campus - following the route traced by the new rail trail extension - before continuing south on Earl Street to a station that was located in the area of what is now the Shippensburg Beverage Center.


Western Maryland Railroad and the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad had an agreement to share a station located in the vicinity of the 7-11 on West King Street, as well as tracks. Western Maryland ran south to Chambersburg and Maryland, while P&R traveled north towards Harrisburg.


Passengers wishing to ride CVRR and transfer to another line had to walk several blocks between stations to switch trains. But Shippensburg students riding CVRR at the beginning and end of each term had the benefit of being dropped off on campus because the line ran along the south edge of school property. A stone kiosk stood in front of Old Main near what is now Prince Street to handle students and their baggage.

This kiosk stood on the CVRR at Cumberland Valley State Normal School for use by students at the beginning and end of each term.

Look closely at this image of campus and you'll see the kiosk in front of Old Main, roughly in the middle of the frame.

The special station must have been invaluable to students in an era where cars did not exist and it would have been foolish and expensive to take a horse away from family to keep on campus for months at a time. It was so important to student life that railroad information was featured in the CVSNS catalog from the 1880s until the first decade of the 1900s.

CVSNS Catalog, 1899-1900, page 8.

SU Archives & Special Collections has a variety of photos that show the railroad on campus, including photos in historic catalogs and images on display. To check out those images, make an appointment at specialcollections@ship.edu.


Sources:
Charles Pague, Burkhart Collection, Shippensburg Historical Society, Shippensburg, PA.
Cumberland Valley Rails-to-Trails homepage, http://www.cvrtc.org/index.php (Accessed April 24, 2017).
Cumberland Valley State Normal School Catalog, 1899-1900, 8.
Cumberland Valley State Normal School Catalog, 1900-1901, 25.
Cumberland Valley State Normal School Catalog, 1901-1902, 16.
Cumberland Valley State Normal School Catalog, 1902-1903, 1.
Cumberland Valley State Normal School Catalog, 1903-1904, 1.

New Library Catalog Interface, April 28

#TBT in the Archives 4/20/17: Herbaria

The warmer weather of spring brings picnics, baseball and frisbee games, and studying with friends outdoors to the Shippensburg campus. In the 1890s, spring also brought much-anticipated adventures in botany for Cumberland Valley State Normal School seniors. 

As a requirement of graduation, students in the elementary course had to take one term of botany under the guidance of Professor Joseph F. Barton. At the end of the class, they had to produce an herbarium of at least 40 species of plants. Shippensburg University Archives & Special Collections has six herbaria produced by Dr. Barton's students.

An herbarium by R.H. Cunningham includes an ornate cover lettered in gold ink.

What's an herbarium? In the case of CVSNS, it was a scrapbook of dried plants and specimens, and their descriptions. Descriptions included common and botanical names, and in some cases, where and when the students collected the plants. The projects were small-scale siblings to larger herbaria collected by scientists and large universities.

In this herbarium Dill Stevens, Class of 1899, arrayed Judas Tree specimens in the shape of a cross.

According to the CVSNS catalog, botany students were tasked with learning how to observe plant life in order to make identification on sight. To do this, botany classes took at least one exploratory excursion a week for field work. 

Mary Kerr Hays Main's herbarium includes botanical information about the blood root.

Several of the herbaria in the archives include listings of where the students found the plants. Locations listed include "Old Main Veranda," "C.V.R.R. tracks" or local farm fields identified by farmer. 

Wild carrot specimens included in Fannie Geiger's herbarium include the name of the field where she collected the specimen and the date of the collection.

Other herbaria include general habitat information where plants could be found. Although students were only required to include 40 specimens in their books, the Class of 1897 was reported to include between 60 and 70 in their collections.

Pampas Grass collected by Nellie Geiger specified the plant could be found in lowlands.

Each of the books is tied together with ribbon or cord, and includes dried, pressed specimens mounted on thick pages. The six books in the archives date from 1892 to 1899 and at 120-125 years old, many of them are in great shape, offering a fascinating look at class projects in the 1890s. In 2017, scientists are using historic herbaria to study the history of plants and how ecosystems have evolved or survived over time.

You can see herbaria as well as other scrapbooks from students of the past at Archives & Special Collections. Just make an appointment by emailing specialcollections@ship.edu.

Sources:
Cumberland Valley Normal School Catalog, 1888-1889.
Cumberland Valley Normal School Catalog, 1893-1894, 41.
Normal School Herald, Shippensburg, PA, July 1897, 28-29.

National Library Week Wrapup: Why We Love the Library

To celebrate National Library Week, April 9-15, we put a poster board in the Reference area and invited anyone to take a paper heart, write a response to the prompt “Tell Us Why You Love Your Library!” and post it on the display.

We also offered Hershey’s Kisses on April 10 and cookies on April 11. We had a very positive response. Here's a breakout of response themes:

Tell Us Why You Love Your Library
Theme	Hearts	%
Positive Learning/Study Environment	19	18%
Staff/Librarians/Service	16	16%
Student Workers	13	13%
Learning Center	11	11%
Computers/Scanners/Printing	9	9%
Social Environment	8	8%
Quiet Areas	7	7%
Cookies/Cookies with President	7	7%
Books/Reading	7	7%
Tech Help	3	3%
Starbucks	3	3%

#TBT in the Archives 4/13/17: CVSNS Historic District

Shippensburg University is fortunate to retain its five original academic buildings, which are still used today by students, administrators and faculty as offices and classrooms and in the case of one building, a residence.

Built between 1873 and 1915, Old Main, Stewart Hall, Horton Hall, Martin House, and Gilbert Hall comprise the Cumberland Valley State Normal School Historic District. The district was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 11, 1985.

Old Main renovations in 1983. The university began work to include the building in the Cumberland Valley State Normal School Historic District during the project.

Finished in 1873, Old Main is the original college building and originally hosted all school facilities until the 1890s. Designed by Samuel Sloan, the Classical Revival building was renovated in 1983-1984. The university nominated Old Main and the other four buildings for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places based on their architectural styles and preservation.

Stewart Hall in the late 1930s.

Stewart Hall, designed by Arthur P. Rosser, was constructed between 1893 and 1895 in the Romanesque Revival style. Originally the school gymnasium, Stewart Hall was later home to the Communications Journalism Department before its current role hosting Theatre Department labs and art studios.

Horton Hall in the 1970s.

Also built in the 1890s, Horton Hall was the second building constructed in the Romanesque Revival style. The building, connected to Old Main by a second-floor bridge, was the CVSNS women's dorm before being converted to offices and the Women's Center.

Martin House in the early 1990s, when it was the home of President Anthony Ceddia.

Martin House was completed in 1908. Designed by Maurice R. Rhoads, the classical-style house is named after its first resident, Principal Samuel Martin and is today the university president's house.

A 1920s postcard showing Gilbert Hall when it was the model school at CVSNS.

Gilbert Hall was the last building to be completed in the historic district. Constructed as the model school in the second decade of the 1900s, it was also designed by Rhoads in the Renaissance Revival style. Today the building is home to classrooms and Multicultural Student Affairs.

The university's application to establish the historic district was signed by the state historic preservation officer on April 19, 1984. This officer, from the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission, certified the five buildings were important architectural remnants from their period and confirmed the historic district has state significance because of its history as a state normal school. The National Register, a component of the National Park Service, approved the district eight months later.

SU Archives & Special Collections has a copy of the original application to the National Register of Historic Preservation as well as historic photos of these and many other buildings on campus at various times throughout the university's history. To learn more, email specialcollections@ship.edu


Sources:
National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form, Record Group 24, Subgroup 24.8, Box 1, Folder 15. Shippensburg University Archives & Special Collections, Shippensburg, PA.
Photographs: Buildings and Structures on Campus, Record Group 30, Box 1 and Box 1a. Shippensburg University Archives & Special Collections, Shippensburg, PA.

National Library Week: Take Action for Libraries

Image courtesy of American Library Association

Take Action for Libraries Day
Join with libraries and communities to safeguard funding for the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which serves as a critical funding resource for libraries and museums in every state. IMLS funding supports literacy programs for youth, small business service centers, services for veterans, and much more.

During Take Action for Libraries Day, the American Library Association (ALA) encourages communities, library employees, and library patrons to advocate for full funding of IMLS to safeguard federal funding for our nation’s libraries. Please fight for libraries by making at least five calls to your federal legislators to ask for full support of IMLS funding.

“We must stand-up and voice our support for libraries to legislators and local, state and federal leaders,” said ALA President Julie Todaro. “Librarians and library workers transform lives every day though educational resources and expert guidance. While many value the contributions of libraries, libraries can’t live on love alone. The loss of crucial federal funding will have a profound impact on library service and the more than 1. 5 billion who rely on them.

In Philadelphia, IMLS and other federal funding is used to support print and digital collections, databases and business resources. Cuts at the federal level will negatively impact library job training. Literacy services that are available to the city’s most vulnerable and marginalized members will be reduced or eliminated. Philadelphia’s unemployed, low literacy, and immigrant populations will have fewer resources to choose from, and the thousands of citizens that rely on the library for internet access will experience a deeper digital divide.

Shippensburg-area federal legislators include:
Senator Toomey, Senator Casey
Representative Perry (4th District), Representative Shuster (9th District), Representative Marino (10th District), Representative Barletta (11th district)
Map of PA Congressional Districts

National Library Week: Top 10 Banned books

Courtesy of ALA OIF

Top Ten Challenged Books of 2016

Out of 323 challenges reported to the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2016 are

1. This One Summer written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
   This young adult graphic novel, winner of both a Printz and a Caldecott Honor Award, was restricted, relocated, and banned because it includes LGBT characters, drug use, and profanity, and it was considered sexually explicit with mature themes.


2. Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
   Parents, librarians, and administrators banned this Stonewall Honor Award-winning graphic novel for young adults because it includes LGBT characters, was deemed sexually explicit, and was considered to have an offensive political viewpoint.


3. George written by Alex Gino
   Despite winning a Stonewall Award and a Lambda Literary Award, administrators removed this children’s novel because it includes a transgender child, and the “sexuality was not appropriate at elementary levels.”


4. I Am Jazz written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
   This children’s picture book memoir was challenged and removed because it portrays a transgender child and because of language, sex education, and offensive viewpoints.


5. Two Boys Kissing written by David Levithan
   Included on the National Book Award longlist and designated a Stonewall Honor Book, this young adult novel was challenged because its cover has an image of two boys kissing, and it was considered to include sexually explicit LGBT content.


6. Looking for Alaska written by John Green
   This 2006 Printz Award winner is a young adult novel that was challenged and restricted for a sexually explicit scene that may lead a student to “sexual experimentation.”


7. Big Hard Sex Criminals written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Chip Zdarsky
   Considered to be sexually explicit by library staff and administrators, this compilation of adult comic books by two prolific award-winning artists was banned and challenged.


8. Make Something Up: Stories You Can’t Unread written by Chuck Palahniuk
   This collection of adult short stories, which received positive reviews from Newsweek and the New York Times, was challenged for profanity, sexual explicitness, and being “disgusting and all around offensive.”


9. Little Bill (series) written by Bill Cosby and illustrated by Varnette P. Honeywood
   This children’s book series was challenged because of criminal sexual allegations against the author.


10. Eleanor & Park written by Rainbow Rowell
    One of seven New York Times Notable Children’s Books and a Printz Honor recipient, this young adult novel was challenged for offensive language.

National Library Week: April 9-15, 2017

#NLW17 image courtesy of American library Association

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. All types of libraries - school, public, academic, and special libraries - participate.
National Library Week celebrations include the release of the American Library Association’s 2017 “State of America’s Libraries Report” on Monday, April 10; National Library Workers Day, April 11; and National Bookmobile Day on Wednesday, April 12.
April is also School Library Month, which is sponsored by the American Association of School Librarians.

During the 2017 National Library Week, April 9 – 15, The American Library Association (ALA) will launch Take Action for Libraries Day, a national library advocacy effort which will be observed for the first time on Thursday of National Library Week, April 13.

During Take Action for Libraries Day ALA encourages everyone who uses libraries to advocate for full funding of IMLS to safeguard federal funding for our nation’s libraries. Please fight for libraries by making at least five calls to your legislators to ask for full support of IMLS funding.Take Action for Libraries Day will highlight the library community’s efforts to safeguard funding for the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) which serves as a critical funding resource for libraries and museums in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories.

Libraries of all types are part of a delicate ecosystem that supports the transformation of communities and lives through education and lifelong learning. From the cradle to the grave, libraries provide invaluable resources that serve as a lifeline for billions of users for access to technology, early and digital literacy instruction, job-seeking resources, social services and small business tools.

#TBT in the Archives 4/6/17: Literary Societies

Today's Shippensburg University students have a lot of options for extracurricular activities. From sports to music, to politics and activism, or Greek life, the ways in which students can fill their time outside of class and studies are nearly boundless. These activities help people form friendships, build new skills, make achievements, and prepare for life after college. The options for early Shippensburg students were much different, but no less important in forming a complete college experience.

Founded in the first decade of CVSNS, the Normal Literary Society and Philomathean Literary Society provided students and faculty with a weekly opportunity to share their views and opinions, debate issues of the day, practice public speaking, and write and read on issues that interested them outside of class assignments and recitations.

A Normal Literary Society membership certificate issued to Ira H. Zimmerman on March 31, 1893.

The Normal Literary Society was founded on April 23, 1873, just days after CVSNS admitted its first class of aspiring teachers. The group was named the Wickersham Literary Society after then state superintendent of Pennsylvania schools. The new literary society called itself an "association for mutual literary improvement and social culture" and took as its motto "Science, Friendship and Virtue."

Any student was allowed to join provided they agreed to the constitution and bylaws and paid a $1 fee. The society changed its name to Normal Literary Society in September 1876.

Other changes came within the next few weeks when officers were elected. With a tie for president, a second ballot was held. The losing candidate resigned from the society taking several other members with him. On November 11, 1876, the Philomathean Literary Society was established. Also known as 'Philo', the group was "established for mutual improvement in elocution, composition, debate, and for enlarging our fund of general info," and took as its motto "Excelsior." Like Normal, society membership was open to any member of the campus community, excluding members of Normal, and provided the person hadn't been kicked out of a Normal or Philo event.

A Philo membership certificate issued to Harvey M. Foglesonger on January 13, 1899.

Both groups met weekly on Fridays until the early 1930s. These meetings featured debate, speeches, and poems shared with the assembly. The majority of the student body participated in the societies.

Each year, both societies held an anniversary program open to anyone as well as alumni of the societies. These took different forms over the years but usually included speeches, plays, and songs.

Normal Literary Society anniversary program from 1929.

Philomathean Literary Society anniversary program from 1930.

Both Normal and Philo appear for the final time in the Cumberland yearbook in 1932, after which they disappear from the historical record. For nearly 60 years however, the societies were an important activity for Shippensburg students.

The Normal and Philomathean literary societies appear for the last time in the 1932 Cumberland. They enjoyed great support from the student body.

SU Archives & Special Collections holds a number of society handbooks and programs in addition to membership certificates and yearbooks depicting Normal and Philo. To learn more about literary societies at Shippensburg, email specialcollections@ship.edu


Sources:
Cumberland 1932, 122-123.
Normal Literary Society bylaws, Record Group 6, Box 2, File 2. Shippensburg University Archives & Special Collections, Shippensburg, PA.
Philomathean Literary Society handbook, Class Files 1926 (1), Shippensburg University Archives & Special Collections, Shippensburg, PA.