600 Taylor St., Joliet, IL 60435 Vol 2(1), Fall 2011

In this issue… From the Director LibGuides Spotlight on a Student Worker

Your Online Library New Resource: RefWorks Department News

Welcome !

Thank you for taking a look at our Spring Newsletter.. Happy New Year to everyone!

In this issue, we cover information about fake news and how important it is to separate fact from fiction. Do you

know how to determine if something is a credible source?

The Library Archives also has many exciting additions to its collection. The online collections are growing by

leaps and bounds. Did you know that the Library has a compilation of Broadway-related items called the

Barbara A. Cooke Musical Theater Collection? Read up on what is going on with that assortment of musical

items.

I welcome the USF community to check out the Library in person as well as online at http://library.stfrancis.edu.

I hope the spring semester goes well for you! The Library staff is always ready and willing to help you out!

Shannon N. Wenzel Director of Library Services

swenzel@stfrancis.edu / 815-740-5061

University of St. Francis, 600 Taylor St., Joliet, IL 60435 Spring 2017

Brigitte Bell Library Reference & Instruction Manager

Helping Students Identify Fake News

Libraries exist in schools and on college campuses for one sole purpose: to help students

with their research. Especially at the college level, arming students with the ability to

locate, evaluate, and effectively utilize research sources is of critical importance. Ideally, these sources should be

of scholarly quality so that students can effectively contribute to the academic discourse on their chosen topic. At

minimum, sources should contain enough factual evidence so that students can make an effective scholarly argu-

ment.

Unfortunately, our culture as a whole has shifted toward a decreased emphasis on the facts and an in-

creased emphasis on opinion. Many of us live within a sort of “information bubble” tailored to our worldview.

For years, political media pundits on both sides have dominated public discourse, and much of what we previous-

ly categorized as “news” is now either heavily biased or just plain factually inaccurate.

Social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter have played a significant role in spreading fake news.

Every day we come across articles on social media which are false, misleading, or what we call “satirical” and

“clickbait.” Fake news is created, disseminated, and spread via re-tweets, shares, and likes. Many of us share

these fake news stories without even realizing that they are fake.

As a result of this cultural shift, students now face unprecedented challenges in their daily lives which

make it even harder to find reliable information. Now more than ever, the library plays an important role in help-

ing students to locate and evaluate good quality, reliable research sources.

So, what can students do in the face of this adversity? It helps to know what types of sources to look for and what

types of sources to avoid. Below are some helpful tips for evaluating sources:

Establish credibility.

Who created this news source? Did it originate from a well-known, reputable news agency? Was it created by

an individual? If created by an individual, what are his or her credentials?

Evaluate for quality.

Is the information contained within the source reliable and accurate? Do they provide citations or footnotes?

Check the facts, and check the date.

If no citations or footnotes are provided, further investigate to establish whether or not the information is reli-

able and accurate. Pay attention to dates, and make sure this is not an old or outdated news article that has

been reposted.

Be aware of bias.

Does this news source tend to lean more liberal or more conservative? How do you think this potential bias

might affect the accuracy and quality of information?

Be aware of your own personal bias as well. Is the news source inaccurate, or do you just not agree with it? Is

this a reason not to use it?

Finally, it also helps to know where to go for help. The USF Library staff is always available to offer you as-

sistance in identifying appropriate sources for your research. Feel free to stop by the Reference Desk, or

get in touch with us via phone at (815) 740-5041, via email at refdesk@stfrancis.edu, or using the “Chat

with Us” box on the library homepage.

Have a great semester!

Gloria Hendrickson Library Archives & Catalog Manager

We’re still growing in the Archives!

There are now over 500 new images in the digital collection Sharing Our Past, A Visual History. Many of the

pictures depict USF athletics from the 1970s-1980s, which had previously been a gap in the collection. You can

download the images straight from the website in three different sizes, as well.

The Brown Library catalog now includes over 400 books from the Barbara A. Cooke Musical Theater Collec-

tion. Mostly autobiographies, biographies, and historical reference books; they are a great resource for anyone

interested in musical theater, Broadway, and famous performers of the 20th century.

In the Future

Projects I hope to accomplish this year include: creating a new digital collection for the St. Joseph College of

Nursing photographs. The collection is the most requested from researchers, faculty, and alumni. Once the col-

lection is live, I will let you know! I also plan on making the Barbara A. Cooke Musical Theater Collection

more accessible. Complete lists of books, sheet music, LPs, and other records should be available later this year.

Please be sure to check out the USF Archives blog, where I share news and events every month!

Career Corner

Have you been thinking about life after college? Have you decided what work you would like to do with your

degree or whether you want to attend graduate school? Do you need to prepare for any licenses or tests?

The library has a collection specifically geared toward helping you prepare for your future. It is located near

the reference desk, by the newspapers, magazines, and new materials. Because the books in this collection

like to stay in the library, you are welcome to have a seat in a cozy nook or make copies of any pages that

you would like to take home.

Here are some types of information that you will find:

Test prep for: CLEP, LSAT, MCAT, GMAT

Job application how to’s:

Cover letter and resume writing

Owning the interview

Working in your major: How to find a job when

you graduate

Other post-baccalaureate topics:

Graduate admissions essay writing

Teaching English abroad

Rules of business etiquette

Careers and vocational guidance

The perfect career for this time in your life

Name: Meera Chouhan

Hometown: Aurora, Illinois

Year/Major: Junior /Computer Science

Career goal: To secure a job I love in the IT field.

Favorite book: I don’t have a favor ite book in par ticular . However , I do love a lot

of books by Enid Blyton and Beatrix Potter, who are both my favorite childhood au-

thors.

Favorite movie: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Favorite band/music: The Scr ipt/ I love all kinds of music.

Favorite quote: “If we saw ourselves in the light in which others see us, or in which they would see us if they

knew all, a reformation would generally be unavoidable. We could not otherwise endure the sight”– Adam Smith

Favorite hobbies: Hiking, reading, finding new foods to try, and visiting museums.

Job duties as a student worker in the library: Answer reference and circulation questions, help patrons locate materials in the stacks.

Provide basic copy machine assistance.

Shelf-read the stacks and other collections for proper call number order.

Help troubleshoot computers.

Assist with sorting and organizing incoming books from different libraries for patrons.

Copying journal articles requested by patrons.

Gather, sort and shelve books and journals.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned at USF: A little compassion can go a long way. It’s uplifting for everyone when people are kind to each other and help

those in need.

What advice would you give to new students: Don’t be afraid to ask for help.The USF staff and faculty real-

ly care about students and create a very welcoming environment. Get to know your fellow students, your profes-

sors, the residence life staff, librarians and other staff on campus. They’re all here to help students and they’re a

great resource if you need assistance with anything.

What is a little known fact about you? I was born and raised in Zimbabwe.

Contact Us Circulation Desk 740-3690

Reference Desk 740-5041

Toll free 1-800-726-6500

Email Ask-a-Librarian:

refdesk@stfrancis.edu

Activate Your

Library Account Use the online form or

visit the circulation desk.

Hours Please visit the library

web site for our hours.

library.stfrancis.edu