Kirstin VanRenselaar ’22 (Education, History, Theater major and Scholes Library student employee) was chosen to compete in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre (KCACTF) Festival Irene Ryan Auditions, performing two monologues on Zoom for the national selection team.
She was part of a group of 16 actors screened from an original pool of 220 actors from the seven states that make up KCACTF Region 2.
VanRenselaar was nominated for her work in UnBound: A Loose-Leaf Theater project on Racial and Social Justice, produced at Alfred University Nov. 6, 7, 8 via Zoom, guided by Alfred University Performing Arts faculty Becky Prophet, Maureen Weiss, Zachary Hamm, and Debra MacCrea.
Unbound was a first for the Performing Arts Division at Alfred University. The entire creative process was engaged to stream the live performance. Every actor, designer, crew member, as well as faculty and staff engaged in Unbound seized the opportunity to tackle a new means of performance by learning the Zoom platform and experimenting with the ever-increasing options of digital theater, which became a major medium for Alfred University in March when classes moved on-online.
In addition to her role in Unbound, VanRenselaar also performed multiple roles in Annie Jump in the Library of Heaven. Both plays were produced the fall in Alfred University’s Fall semester.
Kirstin VanRenselaar has been acting since the third grade and has played many roles over the years, her favorite being Polonious from Hamlet. Since coming to Alfred she has played Orgon in Tartuffe, Mrs. Gomez in Annie Jump and the Library of Heaven, and participated in the most recent production- Unbound. She is currently working on preparing for her future role of high school teacher, in which she hopes to inspire her students as she has been inspired by those who have taught her.
Herrick and Scholes Libraries are here to support the campus with remote services and limited onsite services under COVID safety protocols.
See the Herrick and Scholes Library websites for current hours.
What’s Available?
-Library books and media are circulated through contactless pick up via a request system. Requests can be picked up at either Herrick or Scholes Library. Instructions can be found under the “Request Materials for Pickup” tab found through this link.
-PCs, printers, and scanners are available in both libraries to current AU students, faculty, and staff. The set up includes reduced seating capacity to support distancing.
-Article databases, Kanopy, and ebooks.
-Interlibrary Loan.
-Research assistance with Librarians and Archivists by video conferencing such as Zoom, or email. To check the availability of in-person appointments please contact a Librarian or Archivist directly, or contact libraries@alfred.edu.
-Library Instruction for classes.
-Study rooms can be reserved by commuters and other students who need a dedicated space to participate in online classes. Reservable space is limited. For more information, email: libraries@alfred.edu.
What’s Not Available?
-Shelf browsing materials in the stacks.
-Study rooms and conference rooms for groups.
-24-hour study rooms.
-Reserve Books (email libraries@alfred.edu and we will assist you via scanning or other alternatives).
-Shareable items like headphones, laptops, chargers, and markers.
Engineering and Scholarly Communication Librarian, Samantha Dannick authors jocose essay in a national library science publication.
“The Invertebrates Scale of Librarianship”, published in the January issue of College & Research Libraries News (C&RL News) , is a playful and “irreverent” guide to finding your niche in librarianship. C&RL News is the official newsmagazine of the Association of College & Research Libraries.
Nudibranch Berghia coerulescens. Photo credit: Parent Gery, Public Domain.
Dannick encourages library professionals to establish their own personal “policies” and “professional value system” by way of behavior analogies between librarians and jellyfish, nudibranch, and octopus. Dannick writes, “The Invertebrates Scale of Librarianship is intended to help librarians recognize and name their own professional tendencies… There will be times to be an Octopus, a Nudibranch, and a Jellyfish. Most of us will have a form that is more comfortable than the others. What’s appropriate is to recognize what that form is, how it helps and hinders, and whether a different form would be more suitable for a given situation.” What’s a nudibranch? Learn more here.
Scholes Library will be open Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm. Herrick Library will be open by appointment only.
Library materials from both Herrick and Scholes are available for pick up via the item request system. Directions on how to use the item request system can be found here.
All requested library materials, including interlibrary loans, will be made available for pick up in Scholes Library.
Printers, scanners and computers are available to current AU students, staff, and faculty in Scholes Library. No appointment is needed.
Services such as Archives and research consultations will be available by appointment in Herrick and Scholes. Please contact directly, the staff or librarian you wish to meet with to make arrangements. Contact information can be found here: Herrick Library; Scholes Library.
The entrances will remain locked and instructions for entry upon arrival will be posted on the doors.
Both book drops will remain available for returns.
After 29 years at the Samuel R. Scholes Library of Ceramics and the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Mark Smith will be retiring at the end of this year, signaling the end of an era for the Alfred University Libraries.
For nearly three decades, Mark has been recognized, appreciated, and widely beloved across campus for his passionate advocacy for and devotion to the College of Ceramics, his boisterous laughter, and his dynamic and all-encompassing fervency in everything he does. After obtaining his Master of Library Science degree from the University at Buffalo, he has served the Alfred University Libraries, and Scholes Library in particular, in a variety of positions, including Reference Librarian, Information Systems Librarian & Head of Technical Services, Collection Management Librarian, and, most notably, Director of Scholes Library & Associate Dean of Libraries.
During his extensive career, he has shepherded Scholes Library with his characteristic nurturing style and roll-with-the-punches attitude, through all of the tremendous computing and technological shifts of the past few decades, including the implementation of numerous digital systems, tools, and resources. In addition, he led several strategic planning processes, directed multiple library space redesign initiatives, and helped to establish lasting cross-library partnerships while tirelessly championing the unique and specialized mission of Scholes Library. Mark served on myriad College and University committees including Middle States Steering Committees, Promotion and Tenure Committees, Search Committees, the College of Ceramics Faculty Council, Faculty Senate, and the Advisory Council on Technology.
Mark came to librarianship as a second career after a decade of teaching music and theater in Canisteo, NY. He has continued to share these gifts with the community though his leadership and involvement with The Orpheus Chorale, the Hornell Area Community Cantata Choir, the Hornell Community Theatre, and as a board member of the Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes, from which he received the Arts Partnership Award in 2013.
As a leader and mentor, Mark has consistently modeled how to lead with empathy, using the heart as well as the mind. Colleagues through the years could tell stories of times they brought Mark an idea and watched him immediately light up with excitement and enthusiastic support in direct proportion to their own excitement and enthusiasm. Mark has always been a master at nurturing the seed of an idea and ensuring it has ample opportunity to thrive. His approach to the cultivation of people has been similar, providing just the right mix of encouragement, direction, and space for each person to soar as their best self.
Throughout his career, Mark has drawn energy and inspiration from the relationships he created through his professional involvement in groups outside of Alfred. For instance, he has been the president and executive board member of the SUNY Librarians Association, the Chair of the SUNY Council of Library Directors, a member of the SUNY Provost’s Faculty Advisory Council on Teaching & Technology, a board member of the South Central Regional Library Council, and a contributor to the New Media Consortium’s highly influential Horizon Report. He received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Librarianship in 2004 and the Friend of SUNY Librarians Association Award in 2012.
Mark’s colleagues throughout the years are grateful that he answered the call to forge a new vocational path into the world of librarianship. His second act has inspired, uplifted, and left us smiling a little bit more than before we heard and joined in his song.
Thank you for all of the laughter, support, and creativity you have given us, Mark. We wish you all good things in the next act of your life’s adventure.
In order to support students in their preparations for final exams, Alfred University Libraries announce extended hours for Herrick Memorial Library and Samuel R. Scholes Library. For more information on AU Library Services during COVID-19 go to: https://libguides.alfred.edu/COVID
Alfred University Libraries is pleased to welcome the newest member of our team, Kevin Adams. As the Information Literacy Librarian, Kevin is here to help students navigate the deluge of content available to researchers in the information age. Whether you need help starting a paper or research project, evaluating the quality of your search results or creating citations for a bibliography Kevin is here to help.
Kevin will also be reinvigorating our Library Liaison program which connects our AU Librarians to each of the University’s majors and minors in order to provide content specific research support, instruction and library collection development. For more information about this program or to schedule an appointment with Kevin email: adamska@alfred.edu
Q&A with Kevin:
What was your background before Alfred University? Education: I studied History and Philosophy at Purdue University, then I got my MS in Library and Information Science and the University of Illinois in Urbana Champaign. Work: I have mostly worked in restaurants and libraries. To name a few positions, I have worked as a delivery biker, delivery driver, server, kitchen prep, line cook, archivist, reference librarian, and a comic book cataloger. What interests you about your current position? I am excited to engage with the students and find creative ways to center them as we explore information literacy concepts! Favorite social media platform? Twitter! What are you reading or listening to? As I write this, I am listening to Charles Mingus. The book I most recently picked up is Black Skin, White Masks by Frantz Fanon. What do you like to do to for fun? I like to read, hike, fish (very amateurly), play video games, and cook. What is something would you like to learn? I would like to learn to play an instrument! What has gotten you through quarantine and pandemic times? Hunkering down with my fiancée Sara Kramer and my two cats and dog. Is there anything about you that others would be surprised to know? I love punk music. Before quarantine I would frequently go to basement shows and start the occasional mosh pit.
Alfred University Libraries will reopen to students, faculty and staff on Sunday, August 23rd, 2020
The best source of up-to-date information, including the complete reopening plan, is the AU Libraries Services for Fall 2020 Guide (https://libguides.alfred.edu/covid).
Both Herrick Library and Scholes Library will reopen on Sunday, August 23, at 2pm. Complete building hours for Fall 2020 are listed below.
At this time, due to the unique demands of this coming semester, our reduced building services will initially be directed toward the academic support of AU students, faculty and staff. Community members are valued library patrons and we look forward to welcoming the community for item pickup and appointments as early as Monday, September 7th, 2020. Watch for separate announcements regarding these services.
Here are a few highlights of what to expect this semester: What’s available?
Library books and media for pick up via an online request system (coming soon!)
Research assistance with Librarians by Zoom or email
PCs, printers and scanners, but with reduced seats and capacity to support distancing
Article databases, Kanopy (video streaming) and ebooks
Interlibrary Loan (Electronic requests available now, print material returning soon!)
Scanning pages from Library periodicals or books (amount may be limited due to copyright restrictions)
What’s not available?
Shelf browsing
Study rooms and conference rooms
The 24 hour study rooms
Reserve Books (email libraries@alfred.edu and we will assist you via scanning or locating electronic alternatives)
Shareable items like headphones, laptops, chargers, and markers
Programming and events
Please email us any questions you have at libraries@alfred.edu.
We look forward to seeing you soon. Let us know how we can help make this semester a success for you and your students!
Fiat Bibliotheca!
The Alfred University Libraries have a long tradition of sponsoring a variety of activities to help relieve finals week stress. This year we’ve adjusted to remote delivery.
In the past, the Libraries have provided coloring pages and puzzles, a Lego table, massage night, and therapy dogs, in addition to free cookies and coffee.
Although we are all spread far and wide right now, we can still enjoy some free, virtual finals week study breaks together. Here is a collection of some stress-busting ideas:
Remember, Librarians and staff are still reachable at libraries@alfred.edu for questions if you need help during finals week. You can also follow AU Libraries on Instagram or Facebook.
