MSL buzz: the Michael Schwartz Library blog - Research Guides at Cleveland State University

Take Our Survey! Win a FREE Laminator!

Update May 6th, 2025:
Congratulations to Jordan Maynard, P-5 Education major, who was randomly selected as the winner of the free laminator for participating in the library’s teacher resources survey!

We’re all about making our resources better for aspiring teachers, and that’s why we’re inviting you to be part of our journey. The Michael Schwartz Library is conducting a short survey to gather your thoughts on our Curriculum and Juvenile Books Collection. We truly want to hear from you! Your feedback will help us understand what you need most, ensuring we provide the most useful materials for your teaching journey. Whether you’re currently studying, looking forward to teaching, or just checking things out, we’d love for you to take a few minutes to share your insights. Your input will play a key role in shaping our future educational offerings and creating a supportive environment for those ready to make a difference in the classroom!

Recent Posts

Library Services Platform Migration is Underway

CSU is debuting a new library platform this summer, and the transition is underway!Visit our Migration Guide for detailsAs a member of the OhioLINK consortium, the Cleveland State University Libraries is upgrading our library services platform to Ex Libris Alma/Primo VE over the summer of 2025.The new interface will replace the Scholar Catalog and OneSearch, as well as the OhioLINK Library Catalog that serves most academic libraries in the state of Ohio. However, the Libraries will be moving to a site better designed to represent today’s library collections that combine online, print and other physical resources.As part of this transition, OhioLINK requesting and borrowing is unavailable through June 13. CSU materials may not be requested/held or renewed, but can still be checked out and returned. All OhioLINK items must be returned by July 7. This upgrade is not just about technology; it's about creating a more seamless and user-friendly experience for everyone on campus. Join us as we embark on this exciting journey to elevate library services and support the academic success of our community!A new guide to help with the transitionWe know this transition might feel a little overwhelming so your librarians have put together a handy Guide to the Library Services Platform Migration to help students, faculty, and everyone else navigate these changes. Inside, you’ll find a clear project timeline, helpful pages tailored just for you, and even a chance to get an early sneak peek at the new catalog. Plus, you can share your feedback to help us make it even better!Questions?If you're curious about the new system or have any questions, feel free to reach out to us. We're here to help! PREVIOUS UPDATES:A Statewide CollaborationCSU Library staff, along with colleagues at OhioLINK and 115 member libraries across the state, have been working tirelessly since June 2023 to bring this system migration to life. The project is right on track, and we can't wait to share the benefits with our community.Enhancing User Experience"We're looking forward to streamlining library resource management and providing new features that will better serve our faculty and students," notes Marsha Miles, Interim Director of the Michael Schwartz Library. Our campus can look forward to a more intuitive interface that makes finding print and electronic articles, books, and other library materials easier than ever.What to ExpectAs we approach the "go live" date, keep an eye out here for more information about the new system and the changes it will bring. For now, there are two important dates to be aware of:From May 23 - June 13 there will be an OhioLINK Borrowing/Lending Freeze. During this time there will be no requesting, checkout, or renewal possible for OhioLINK items. As part of the transition, all OhioLINK must be returned to their home libraries before being renewed. To avoid overdue fees, please return all OhioLINK items by Monday, July 7, 2025. ...

Library Services Platform Migration Starts This Week

CSU is debuting a new library platform this summer, and the transition is underway!Visit our Migration Guide for detailsAs a member of the OhioLINK consortium, the Cleveland State University Libraries will be upgrading our library services platform to Ex Libris Alma/Primo VE in the summer of 2025.The new interface will replace the Scholar Catalog and OneSearch, as well as the OhioLINK Library Catalog that serves most academic libraries in the state of Ohio. However, the Libraries will be moving to a site better designed to represent today’s library collections that combine online, print and other physical resources.As part of this transition, OhioLINK requesting and borrowing will be unavailable starting May 23. Starting end-of-day May 26, CSU materials may not be requested/held or renewed, but can still be checked out and returned. All OhioLINK items must be returned by July 7. This upgrade is not just about technology; it's about creating a more seamless and user-friendly experience for everyone on campus. Join us as we embark on this exciting journey to elevate library services and support the academic success of our community!A new guide to help with the transitionWe know this transition might feel a little overwhelming so your librarians have put together a handy Guide to the Library Services Platform Migration to help students, faculty, and everyone else navigate these changes. Inside, you’ll find a clear project timeline, helpful pages tailored just for you, and even a chance to get an early sneak peek at the new catalog. Plus, you can share your feedback to help us make it even better!Questions?If you're curious about the new system or have any questions, feel free to reach out to us. We're here to help! PREVIOUS UPDATES:A Statewide CollaborationCSU Library staff, along with colleagues at OhioLINK and 115 member libraries across the state, have been working tirelessly since June 2023 to bring this system migration to life. The project is right on track, and we can't wait to share the benefits with our community.Enhancing User Experience"We're looking forward to streamlining library resource management and providing new features that will better serve our faculty and students," notes Marsha Miles, Interim Director of the Michael Schwartz Library. Our campus can look forward to a more intuitive interface that makes finding print and electronic articles, books, and other library materials easier than ever.What to ExpectAs we approach the "go live" date, keep an eye out here for more information about the new system and the changes it will bring. For now, there are two important dates to be aware of:From May 23 - June 13 there will be an OhioLINK Borrowing/Lending Freeze. During this time there will be no requesting, checkout, or renewal possible for OhioLINK items. As part of the transition, all OhioLINK must be returned to their home libraries before being renewed. To avoid overdue fees, please return all OhioLINK items by Monday, July 7, 2025. ...

Congratulations, class of 2025!

From Marsha Miles, Interim Director, Michael Schwartz Library —Wow. You made it. On behalf of all of us at your Michael Schwartz Library, I want to celebrate your achievement as you reach this important milestone.Your journey has been remarkable. Over the past few years, you’ve navigated change and embraced new ways of learning, connecting, and collaborating-both online and in person. We’ve enjoyed supporting you through thousands of research consultations, helping you access materials from our extensive collections, and welcoming you back each semester as you filled our study spaces with energy and ideas.We’re proud that you found your Library to be a vital resource and point of connection for your studies. Many of you worked alongside us, providing essential library services as student assistants-your dedication made a real difference, and we couldn’t have done it without you.We know the perseverance and creativity you have employed during your years here will serve you well as you step into the next chapter of your journey.Congratulations! We can’t wait to see what you’ll do next.PS: Don't be a stranger! Please remember that even though you have graduated, some library services are still available to you. CSU alumni may check out books (including OhioLINK books) with a photo ID, and may use a public access workstation for up to 4 hours per day (subject to availability). Stop in and let us know what you're up to!...

OpenCon 2025: Empowerment, Care, and Community

Our 8th Annual OpenCon Ohio 2025 Conference is slated for May 19-22, 2025The theme of our event this year is Empowerment, Care, and Community. During the week, asynchronous conversations will be held online in Discord to discuss prerecorded lightning talks. On Thursday, May 22, 2025 we will have virtual presentations, interactive conversations, and a keynote presentation delivered by Apurva Ashok, the Rebus Foundation’s Executive Director. Join us this week!If you are interested in attending a well-established open education conference that:Offers maximal flexibility for attendees to view content when it is convenientFeatures an amazing keynote speakerPrioritizes community building, both synchronous and asynchronousIs completely free and online ...... then we hope you will join us for OpenCon Ohio 2025!>> TODAY'S SCHEDULE: MAY 22, 2025 << Keynote Speaker Thursday, May 22 via ZoomApurva Ashok, Executive Director, The Rebus FoundationRebus Foundation Executive Director Apurva AshokApurva Ashok is the Executive Director for The Rebus Foundation, a global non-profit and Canadian-registered charity that envisions a liberatory future where lifelong learning is valued as a public good and communities leverage education as a catalyst for positive change. Apurva has been working in the Open Education field for nearly 9 years and brings a determination for systemic change. She brings her wide-ranging experience across publishing, program development, community building, impact-driven strategic planning, and media to help educational institutions build more equitable and responsive teaching & learning spaces. Apurva has created several professional development offerings for educators, published OER guides including the OER Starter Kit for Program Managers, and supported the creation and adaptation of over 80 OER. Apurva is the recipient of an Open Education Award for Excellence from Open Education Global in recognition of her contributions to the field. At the core, Apurva champions collaboration, human-centric approaches, and open practices in service of better futures for us all.About OpenCon OhioOpenCon Ohio is an annual event that celebrates the benefits of open education to student learning. Faculty, students, librarians, instructional designers, administrators, and others are all welcome to attend our virtual conference. This event is FREE.We're grateful to our generous sponsors, OhioLINK and Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC), for their financial support for this conference.>> VIEW THE DETAILS AND FULL SCHEDULE HERE << ...

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