Category Archives: Library Events

Library staff member promoted to administrative faculty

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ginger It is our pleasure to announce the promotion of Ginger Dillon to full-time professional status on the staff of the Milligan College Library, effective January 1, 2009. Ginger will carry the title of Archives and Technical Services Librarian, with the rank of administrative faculty. Ginger is a Milligan College alumnus (Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, 2002). She received a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, Archives Concentration from East Tennessee State University in 2005.

Ginger worked in the Library and the Milligan College Archives both as a student and casual part-time employee from 1998 to 2005. She was formally hired as archivist of the Milligan College Archives (half-time) in December 2005. In August 2007, Ginger was hired for an additional 20 hours per week as a paraprofessional in our Technical Services Department, ordering new materials and assisting with cataloging. Ginger has worked hard to enhance the professionalism and visibility of the Archives, and she brings a modern attitude, keen thinking, and technical savvy to her work in Technical Services.

The expectations and information seeking behaviors of library users are changing, facilitated by the rapid evolution of the World Wide Web, new electronic resource access models, and remarkable developments in mobile communication technology. The Library and its staff is committed to responding to these changes with creativity and innovation, resulting in superior service to the Milligan College learning community. Ginger’s promotion, and the flexibility it provides, is a further reflection of this commitment. Please join us in extending congratulations.

1st Annual Homecoming Library Book Sale a success!

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booksaleThe P.H. Welshimer Memorial Library teamed-up with the Phi Alpha Theta history honor society on October 23-25 to put on the 1st Annual Homecoming Weekend Library Book Sale. The sale got off to a wonderful start with a two hour faculty preview on Thursday afternoon that raised over $350. (What college professor can resist buying more books?!) Continuing all day Friday, and concluding at noon on Saturday, the sale raised over $960. A quarter of the proceeds was given to Phi Alpha Theta for their assistance with the sale, and the balance of the money goes back into the Acquisitions budget for the purchase of new books and media for the Library.

books5The books and media collected for the sale over the course of several months came from duplicates and other titles “weeded” from the Library collection, and titles donated by individuals that did not fit Library collection guidelines. Old Milligan College yearbooks that had been stored in the Library over the years were also offered for sale.

Library Director Gary Daught hailed the sale a success, with special thanks offered to Public Services Librarian Jeff Harbin, several Library student workers, and members of Phi Alpha Theta (including our Archivist Ginger Dillon) for helping with organizing, setup, and manning the cash box. “This was a fun event,” said Daught. “It connected the Library to the Homecoming Weekend activities and gave us some visibility. It was a great opportunity to meet people, and raise a little money for the Library and Phi Alpha Theta. We look forward to putting on a sale again next year!”

Photos from the Phoenix Release Party!

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Photos from the Phoenix release party have been posted to Milligan Library’s brand new Flickr photostream! Take a look and leave some comments!

The party was a blast–more than 35 students, faculty, and staff showed up to hear their fellow Milliganites read original works, to eat tasty food, and to get a copy of this year’s literary and arts journal.

If you missed the party and would like to get a copy of the Phoenix, the Library has several dozen copies in the coffee room near the front entrance. Hope to see you soon!

Phoenix Release Party!

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Join us @ the Library Monday, April 28th at 6:00 pm for the Phoenix release party!  Come get a free copy of this year’s literary and art journal, featuring contributions from your fellow Milliganites.  Be sure to stick around to hear the original artists read selections of their work.  Light refreshments will be served.  And don’t worry, you’ll be done in time to catch the Milligan Jazz Ensemble Concert in Seeger at 7:30!  Hope to see you there!

Milligan Grad Joins Library Staff

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After a seven month search the Library has a new Public Services Librarian. His name is Jeff Harbin, and he is a graduate of Milligan College.

Jeff Harbin enrolled at Milligan College in 1999 and graduated in 2003 with a degree in English. He began working in the P. H. Welshimer Memorial Library as a work-study student his sophomore year, and his experiences in the library inspired him to pursue a career as an academic librarian. Jeff completed his master’s degree in library science from the Catholic University of America in 2006, and has worked in a number of libraries in the Washington, D.C. area. Jeff is excited by the opportunity to return to Milligan, and he is confident his knowledge of the college and the library will enable him to promote the library’s services to the Milligan community. Jeff also hopes not to bore current students with aimless yarns that begin, “Well, when I was a student here…” He is married to Debbie Harbin, whom he met during the Spring 2002 semester at the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies in Oxford, England.

Jeff fills the position vacated by Tami Pettit, who resigned in July 2007. Being short-staffed has been a bit of a challenge for the Library, though essential public services tasks (e.g., supervision of student workers, and circulation issues) have been handled admirably by Jan Ricker, our Interlibrary Loans Manager.

“Although we have been short-handed for almost an entire academic year, the opening of the Public Services Librarian position has really proven to be a blessing in disguise,” or so says Gary Daught, Director of Library Services. “This opening has given us the opportunity to rethink the nature and delivery of public services at the Milligan College Library. ‘Traditional’ administrative, technical, and relational tasks relating to circulation of library resources, maintenance of library patron records, and the supervision of our student workers will continue to be important tasks of the Public Services Librarian. However, as the ways in which students and faculty access and use information resources continues to change, the academic library needs to change accordingly. We need to apply new energy, imagination, and creative thinking to reach out and promote library resources, library services, and library spaces to the Milligan College learning community. We are envisioning the Library as a destination for our students and faculty–a learning destination, a cultural activities destination, and a social destination. Jeff is energized by our vision, and I am very excited that he is coming to help us bring this vision into reality.”

Jeff will start on April 1. Be on the lookout for an invitation to a reception planned for before the end of the semester, where you will have an opportunity to meet Jeff and welcome him back to the Milligan College community.