Thomas Library Blog

We asked for your votes, and you selected the new library logo!

In total, 155 votes came in, and the laptop tiger had a total of 65. The second place was option 1, the more "serious" tiger reading.

We'll be placing the logo on our website and print-outs in the coming weeks. What swag would you like to see it on?

Newsletter Sept 2024 by librarians 

Several of our student workers recently presented at the Wittenberg Honors Undergraduate Research Symposium and the Connections Symposium. We congratulate each of them on their academic achievements.

Students Presenting at the Honors Undergraduate Symposium

Reference Department

Audrey Ishimwe Simbi presented her poster, "How You See Yourself, Social Media's Impact on the College Student."

Students Presenting at the Connections Symposium

Circulation Department

Emily Randall performed with the a cappella group, Just Eve, selections from their spring concert.

Zoe Hale presented her thesis, "Facing Trauma and Writing Alternative Endings in Margaret Cavendish's Belle in Campo (1662) and The Blazing World (1666)."

Cami Duncan presented her paper, "Traditional Women's Film Paradigms in Thelma and Louise."

Michael Vrbanac presented his research, "Factors Influencing Capture Rates of Spotted Turtles in a Southwestern Ohio Fen."

Kyngston Collins presented a poster, "Time Management Interventions for College Students" with fellow student, Angela Hong.

Brynn Cunningham presented a poster, "Reframing College Drinking Behaviors" with Daniel Patel and Kaulana Smith.

Reference Department

Abby Lanhart, Kassady Thompson, and Austin Petersen presented a poster, "Measuring Anxiety Across Mouse Handling Methods: Old vs. Refined" alongside their group members, Ethan Libby, Lexi Repp, Brooke Mullis, Izzy Thompson, and Noelle Underwood.

Audrey Ishimwe Simbi presented her poster, "Optimizing Length of Stay in Inpatient Hospital Units."

Congratulation to all who presented. We can't wait to see what you do next!

Several of our student employees were recently recognized for their academic achievements and contributions to the Wittenberg community. We joyfully congratulate these students on their accomplishments.

Circulation Department

Abby Alcorn
Sigma Tau Delta

Tori Banks
Alpha Alpha Alpha

Brynn Cunningham
University Honors
T. Edwin Boling Sociology Scholarship Award
Alpha Kappa Delta

Dimitri Gonzalez
Biology and Environmental Science Senior Fellow
Chi Alpha Sigma

Grace Koperna
Biology and Environmental Science Senior Fellow
Chi Alpha Sigma

Aleksandra Slenk
Lambda Pi Eta

Racheal Vargo
Margaret S. Ermarth Award

Michael Vrbanac
Beta Beta Beta
Emmett Bodenberg Award for Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Biology

Reference Department

Clarissa Beard
Women's Studies Writing Award -- Honorable Mention

Nicole Contenza
Lambda Pi Eta
Tau Pi Phi

Audrey Ishimwe Simbi
Sigma Theta Tau
University Honors

Everyone at Thomas Library extends our congratulations to these students and to everyone recognized at the Honors Convocation.

January 2024

Can you spot misinformation? According to an Ipsos Public Affairs survey done for Buzzfeed News, 75% of Americans surveyed struggled to spot misinformation (Silverman & Singer-Vine, 2016). ThatÕs 75% of Americans surveyed who cannot determine if the information they depend on to make critical decisions is misleading or inaccurate. With the upcoming election cycle, evolving disease epidemics, and financial concerns, it is important to develop your ability to critically evaluate a news article or video for is accuracy and intent.

Let's see if you can spot misinformation.

Instructions

Read through the following articles. Answer the guiding questions for each article, then decide if the news article is real or fake.

Guiding Questions:

• What is the news articleÕs main point?
• Does the article cite events, statistics, or other supporting evidence? How relevant is that evidence to the main point of the article?
• Does the content of the article corroborate with what you already know or what is already out there in the news?
• Determine the articleÕs purpose. Why was the article written (e.g.: to inform, to persuade, or to entertain)?

Download the attached worksheet and list of quizzes to do this activity:

Answer Key

Banned Books Week is October 1 Ð October 7 this year. Books are banned, removed, and restricted in libraries and schools because of their content, ideas, or themes. The goal of Banned Books Week is to draw attention and bring awareness to the harms of censorship. It also highlights the value of free and open access to information. Recently, more and more books have been banned. In 2020, 223 unique titles were challenged. In 2021, that number jumped to 1,858. In 2022, there were 1,269 demands to censor 2,571 different books and resources. Books are often banned because of offensive language, sexually explicit material, violence, religious or political views, and controversial themes like racism, LGBTQIA+ issues, and mental health. Specifically in Ohio, there were 34 attempts to restrict access to 79 unique titles. The most challenged book was ItÕs Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris.ÊÊ

Support local libraries by checking out a challenged book!Ê

Top 13 Most Challenged Books of 2022Ê

1. Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe 
   • Number of challenges: 151 
   • Challenged for: LQBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit 
2. All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
   • Number of challenges: 86
   • Challenged for: LQBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
3. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
   • Number of challenges: 62
   • Challenged for: LQBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
4. Flamer by Michael Curato
   • Number of challenges: 62
   • Challenged for: LQBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
5. Looking for Alaska by John Green
   • Number of challenges: 55
   • Challenged for: LQBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
   • Number of challenges: 55
   • Challenged for: depiction of sexual abuse, LGBTQIA+ content, drug use, profanity, claimed to be sexually explicit
7. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
   • Number of challenges: 55
   • Challenged for: LQBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
8. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
   • Number of challenges: 52
   • Challenged for: profanity, claimed to be sexually explicit
9. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez
   • Number of challenges: 50
   • Challenged for: depiction of abuse, claimed to be sexually explicit
10. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
    • Number of challenges: 48
    • Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit
11. Crank by Ellen Hopkins
    • Number of challenges: 48
    • Challenged for: drug use, claimed to be sexually explicit
12. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
    • Number of challenges: 48
    • Challenged for: profanity, claimed to be sexually explicit
13. This Book is Gay
    • Number of challenges: 48
    • Challenged for: LQBTQIA+ content, providing sexual education, claimed to be sexually explicit

For more information on banned and challenged books check out the following websites:

Author: Nicole Contenza, Class of 2025 and Reference Student Assistant