Thursday, February 23, 2012

On Display in the Library Atrium

Celebrating Black History Month

This exhibit honors the legacy of John Smith Hurt of Carroll County, Mississippi. It tells the story of Hurt’s brief musical career in the 1920s, his rediscovery by Tom Hoskins in 1963, and his influence on musicians during the folk revival of the 1960's.

The exhibit was designed by the Arts Center of Cannon County with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Many of the items depicted are on deposit in the collections of the MTSU Center for Popular Music. It is a companion to the 2011 release of the original recordings made by Tom Hoskins in Hurt’s home nearly 50 years ago. The audio CD, Discovery: the rebirth of Mississippi John Hurt, was issued by Spring Fed Records, record label of the Arts Center of Cannon County.

John Smith Hurt, better known as Mississippi John Hurt(1893-1966) was an American country blues singer and guitarist. Raised in Avalon, Mississippi, Hurt taught himself how to play the guitar around age nine. Singing in a loud whisper, to a melodious finger-picked accompaniment, he began to play local dances and parties while working as a sharecropper. He first recorded for Okeh Records in 1928, but soon drifted out of the recording scene. He continued his work as a farmer. After a man discovered a copy of one of his recordings, "Avalon Blues",

Tom Hoskins, a blues enthusiast, would be the first to locate Hurt in 1963. He convinced Hurt to relocate to Washington, D.C., where he was recorded by the Library of Congress in 1964. This rediscovery helped further the American folk music revival, which had led to the rediscovery of many other bluesmen of Hurt's era. Hurt entered the same university and coffeehouse concert circuit as his contemporaries, as well as other Delta blues musicians brought out of retirement. As well as playing concerts, he recorded several studio albums for Vanguard Records.


Come by and see this beautiful exhibit in the Walker Library atrium.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Do you know "How to Use the MTSU Library?"


If not, or if you think you might need a refresher, stop by Room 446 at 4:30 pm on Tuesday, February 21st. This free workshop is part of the Academic Success Series, sponsored by the University College and Walker Library.







You will learn:

  1. How to find the best books, articles, etc
  2. What services and equipment the library offers
  3. How to do research without pulling out your hair
  4. And more!

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Future Academic Success Series Workshops:

How to Give a Winning Presentation
March 13th at 4:30pm - Walker Library 446

This session will cover tips and tricks that will help students refine their presentation and public speaking skills.

How to Use Your Academic Advisor
March 20th at 4:30pm - Walker Library 446
This session will cover information on how to know who your advisor is, how to get the most out of your time with your advisor and what questions you should ask your advisor.

How to Set Goals and Stay Motivated
March 27th at 4:30pm - Walker Library 446
This session will cover information on how to reach your personal and professional goals through exciting motivational techniques. Students will learn how to stay motivated and positive despite the obstacles they may face.

How to Unwind, Relax, Chill and Still be a Successful Student
April 3rd at 4:30pm - Walker Library 446
Being a college student is stressful! Academics, jobs, friends, and family can pull you in many directions, and there never seems to be enough hours in a day to get everything done. This session will cover how stress can impact your academics and your health. Leave with some surefire strategies to help you de-stress your life.

How to Choose the Right Career for You
April 10th at 4:30pm - Walker Library 446
Having trouble choosing a major? This session will cover techniques on helping you find the right major and career field that best fits your personality and abilities.

How to Prepare for Final Exams
April 17th & April 24th at 4:30pm - Walker Library 446
This session will provide a helpful guide to students who are not sure how to study for final exams.NOTE: The same information will be covered in both sessions. Two dates are scheduled to accommodate more students.


Monday, February 13, 2012

Advanced MS Excel Workshop

MS Excel Workshop (Advanced)

Who: Open to all Graduate Students & Faculty members at MTSU

When: Tuesday, February 14th at 1:00pm

Where: Walker Library Room 272

The Graduate Multimedia Development Center (GMDC) offers all graduate students and faculty an advanced workshop on Microsoft Excel. The workshop is free and registration is open now!

This workshop will cover topics such as setup and editing tools, formulas and functions that cut work down to size, the power of tables, lists, and more!

Reserve your spot today by contacting the Graduate Assistant, Nathan Haynes, at nhaynes@mtsu.edu or 615.898.5445.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Art Exhibit in Special Collections

A new exhibit is now on display in the Reading Room of Special Collections called Artists' Books. The exhibit features work by students from MTSU’s Department of Art. This exhibition continues the series of juried shows hosted by Special Collections featuring the work of MTSU’s Book Arts students.





Diverse objects and forms, everything from coffee cans to computer disks, make an unexpected appearance and expand the traditional book artists’ repertoire of materials and tools. Each work displayed is a unique item and reflects the learning goals of the classroom. However, these books also convey the individual creative spirit of their makers as they reflect on family, relate personal or humorous stories, and explore the expressive power of their materials.


The show opens February 1st and runs through April 18th.


Also on display in the atrium of the Walker Library is an exhibit called "Tools of the Trade". Paper, boards, thread are just some of the traditional materials book artists use in their work. Today the artists’ repertoire has expanded beyond the usual offerings of the art supply store. Take a look at the exhibit in Special Collections on the 4th floor to see how contemporary book artists employ unconventional materials and techniques to produce some unique books.



Special Collections is located on the 4th floor of the Walker Library on the MTSU campus. Hours are 8:30 to 4:30 Monday through Friday.

Monday, February 6, 2012

100 years as a federal depository



2012 marks the 100th anniversary of MTSU having a federal depository library.

The Federal Depository Library Program, established by Congress in 1813, ensures that Americans have access to Government information. Depository libraries collect, organize, maintain, preserve, and assist users with information from the Federal Government at no cost to the libraries or it’s users.


Walker Library’s collection includes:

· Books

· Maps

· Microfiche

· Access to thousands of electronic resources

· Congressional documents

· Materials from Agriculture, Commerce, Interior & Defense departments.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Black History Month

How it got started:

We owe the celebration of Black History Month to Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Born to parents of former slaves, he went on to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard. Woodson was disturbed to find that history books largely ignored the black American population, so he established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915. In 1926, he launched Negro History Week as an initiative to bring national attention to the contributions of black people throughout American history. Woodson chose the second week of February for Negro History Week because it marks the birthdays of two men who greatly influenced the black American population, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.


The 2012 Black History Month Theme:
















Photo: 1943, During WWII a factory worker is operating a hand drill at Vultee-Nashville, in Tennessee, she is working on a "Vengeance" dive bomber. Permission: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print

On Campus:
MTSU has many events going on all across campus throughout the month of February. Click here to see a list of events.