PSU Special Collections Reference Desk

A blog for the PSU Special Collections reference desk for notices and messages.

Moses Thompson

A PorVF for Moses Thompson is on the shelf in back of
the reference desk, in case Jonathan Ziegler needs it.

Jenna

posted by: spcols at 15:51 | link | comments |

Nittany Lion Inn photo's

Rick Villastrigo, from University Publications, will be coming in on Monday,  March 27th to look through our collection of photographs of the Nittany Lion Inn.  The photo's will be in the map room, in the PVF/Physical Plant boxes, number 82 and 83.  Thanks, Paul K.

posted by: spcols at 18:54 | link | comments |

Envelope at Front Desk

I've placed an envelope at the front desk for Emily Rimland to pick up.

Thank you,

Meredith

posted by: spcols at 19:15 | link | comments |

Sanborn maps

Kari Rushe has two folders of Sanborn maps (Philadelphia, 1916, vol. 1-2) on hold in the map room. She will be in on Wednesday to take digital pictures of some of these maps.

April

posted by: spcols at 18:29 | link | comments |

Date Correction

Mr. Brougher will actually be here March 22-23 to research the Jay Ruby Collection....thanks, Jeanette

posted by: spcols at 19:39 | link | comments |

H. Edward Wagner ABVF

Jonathan from the Penn Stater will be coming in this afternoon (3/20) to look at the ABVF for Harry Edward Wagner. I have put the file on hold for him on the shelves behind the reference desk.

Thanks,

Angela

posted by: spcols at 15:28 | link | comments |

Penna. county histories

I had a student in this morning who was interested in a Pennsylvania county history, but didn't realize she had to read the book here, didn't have time, etc., etc.  What to do?

They're pretty much all available on microfilm (atlases too),  but an increasing  number of county histories are available on-line in full text.  Eric Novotny's very useful Pennsylvania History subject guide

http://www.libraries.psu.edu/artshumanities/history/pahistory.htm

includes two references to possible sources for county histories.   One is the US Genweb's

Pennsylvania County Histories and Pennsylvania Biographies listing located at

http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/pahist.htm

The other is the libraries' own PA's PAST: DIGITAL BOOKSHELF, located at

http://apps.libraries.psu.edu/digitalbookshelf/

I was able to give the student the url for a Bucks County history and she left very satisfied.  Lee Stout

posted by: scadmin at 16:28 | link | comments |

Public Spirit Newspaper on hold

Sue Kellerman and Eric Novotny have a patron who is interested in seeing the Publc Spirit newspaper.  The box with the paper is in the hold room with their names on it.  It is a large flat gray box on the table at the back of the room.  These papers are very fragile.

 

 

posted by: spcols at 14:28 | link | comments |

Materials on Hold for Mary Kay Royer

A box of materials is on the shelves of the Holds Room for Mary Kay Royer who will be in on Tuesday, March 14 at approximately 10:00 a.m.  The box is PAT/GST/E/01.04.

Meredith

posted by: spcols at 12:57 | link | comments |

Jay Ruby Patron

The Ruby Collection is being used by a class, but all boxes are located in the hallway outside of the reference area on a cart. Conditions for use issues/fees should be addressed with Jim.

Thanks, Jeanette

Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2006 20:53:00 -0500 (EST)
From: FarronB@aol.com
Subject: Research in Special Collections
To: jce@psulias.psu.edu

I am a freelance writer, and I plan to visit the Paterno Library Special Collections to do research for some article ideas that I am exploring. I am interested in the following materials:

 

Jay Ruby Collection on the Photographic Representation of Death, 1840-1993

Accession number: 1998-0080-H

 

I'm planning to drive up from the Harrisburg area on Wednesday, March 23 and also work in the library on the following day. Please let me know if there are any special requirements for accessing the Ruby  materials.  Thanks for your help.

 

Farron D. Brougher

Anaheim Hills, CA

714-974-1120

 

posted by: spcols at 12:46 | link | comments |
reference queries

FYI- Faculty Salary Survey data

We routinely have questions on faculty and staff salaries. 

According to University policy, the salaries of individuals are confidential and are not made available.  We do not have listings of individual's salaries -- that is of current folks, historically one can find salaries of deceased faculty and notable staff members in the deceased faculty files collection in University Archives and also in some volumes of the Board of Trustees minutes or the board's  Executive Committee minutes.

The best we can do for information on recent years up to current is through the salary reports regularly issued by the University Faculty Senate.  The agenda for the upcoming March Senate meeting carries this info:

Faculty Benefits will present their annual faculty salary report comparing salaries across campuses and colleges broken down by rank and gender.  This report has grown to over fifty tables of data, thus the link to the actual report in the Senate Agenda (http://senate.psu.edu/agenda/2005-2006/mar14-06agn/appk.pdf) includes an additional link to a further set of complete data tables (http://www.senate.psu.edu/agenda/2005-2006/mar14-06agn/salarytables.pdf.)  Senators will have an opportunity to discuss the patterns they find in this data at the Senate meeting, and offer advice as to any focus the University should take to ensure salaries are equitable.

Agendas and minutes (which are called the "Senate Record") can be found on the University Faculty Senate home page  <http://www.senate.psu.edu/index.html> and click on "Publications and Resources: Senate Agenda and Senate Record":

Previous reports in Senate Agendas:

The 2004-2005 report  <http://www.senate.psu.edu/agenda/mar15-05agn/app_l.pdf>
The 2003-2004 report  <http://www.senate.psu.edu/agenda/apr27-04agn/Apr2704agn.htm#appendixg>
The 2002-2003 report  <http://www.psu.edu/ufs/agenda/mar25-03agn/mar25-03agn.html#AppendixJ>

Lee S.

posted by: scadmin at 14:10 | link | comments |
reference queries

Compact Shelving Downstairs working

Len White came over yesterday afternoon and showed me what to do if the compact shelving stops working.  The first thing to do is to go down the isle that is open near the problem range and kick the bottom strip the whole way down the isle.   This is the strip that is red and white.  He said sometimes the micro chips gets stuck and the range thinks it is next to something when it isn't and that is why it won't move.  He said this has happened quite often to the compact shelving and he just discovered this trick recently.

If that doesn't work, then try the battery or key.

After Len kicked the bottom the range worked fine.

Thanks,

Robyn

 

posted by: spcols at 13:57 | link | comments |
troubleshooting

Dickinson School of Law Boxes

Tomorrow morning there is a small crew that is going to drop off 15 boxes of Dickinson School of Law records.  I have everything all arranged.  Tom from Receiving is going to take care of this for me since I do not work on Wednesdays.  Alston is down as another contact.  I just wanted to let everyone know about this.  The boxes will be stacked in the back hallway and I will take care of them when I come back on Thursday.

Thanks,

Robyn

 

posted by: spcols at 13:53 | link | comments |

Compact Shelving downstairs

I posted this helpdesk message:  The compact shelving is not working properly.  The shelf ranges are BJ and BK.  I used the key and battery back and couldn't get them to move.  If you work on it for a while the range will move but it will get stuck.  It beeps then doesn't do anything.  I checked the tracks and nothing seemed to be in them to be causing this.  However, the BK range I couldn't check because it wouldn't open.  This is urgent because we need to access our books all of the time for our patrons.

I wanted everyone to be aware of this.  Hopefully, this will get resolved quickly.

If anyone needs any assitance with these shelves while we are waiting on them to get fixed let me know and I will help to try to move them.  I was able to move them a few times, but then it started happening again.

 

Thanks,

Robyn

 

posted by: spcols at 16:34 | link | comments |
troubleshooting

Patron

Hyunsu Kim will be visiting either this afternoon or tomorrow to view Art Education videotapes.  I have placed the cart with about 30 tapes in the hallway with her name on it.  If I am not here, Paul K. can show her how to run the U-matic machine.

Thanks, Paul D.

posted by: spcols at 16:33 | link | comments |

CD Pick up

I have a CD in the Rare Books blue "copies ready" box on the shelves behind the Reference Desk waiting for Alissa Walls Mazow to pick up. The bill is clipped to the CD, and I've told her to paid with exact cash or with a check. She can be billed too of course. Thanks, Lee G--

posted by: spcols at 14:53 | link | comments |
materials ready, money due