Director’s update:
Group study rooms are coming to the Mardigian Library in Fall 2013
Collaborative group work is a key factor for student engagement and the integrative learning experience. User input drives many changes at the Mardigian Library, and recent student surveys and Library Master Planning activities identified group study rooms as a missing resource in high demand. In the library’s continual efforts to support the curriculum and the needs of UM-Dearborn students, I am happy to announce the library will have group study rooms in Fall 2013.
To make these rooms a reality, the library partnered with the Academy of Retired Faculty and Staff, which generously provided office space formerly allocated for the academy’s sole use. This and a second office will be transformed into spacious 8-10 person group study rooms. The academy will provide monetary support to equip the rooms with necessary technology, such as big screen televisions for projecting presentations, class notes, and large diagrams.
Further, the library will pilot modular panel study rooms this fall. This pilot project will create study spaces that serve groups of four students and will include extra electrical outlets and whiteboards. These modular rooms are a building block for future renovation of the library. Both the group rooms and the modular study spaces will be for the exclusive use of UM-Dearborn students. In the future, we intend to establish an online reservation system that gives students the ability to schedule rooms using their UMID.
We encourage the campus community to continue providing us with valuable feedback. We are committed to identifying and addressing the needs our students and faculty, collaborating with our campus partners to tackle issues whenever possible.
See caterpillars transform into butterflies in new Library display
Library visitors will be able to watch caterpillars transform into butterflies as part of a new display on the first floor of the Mardigian Library “Believe in Butterflies.” The display features fiction and nonfiction books about butterflies from both the adult and juvenile collections of the library, along with butterfly facts and information on tagging Monarch butterflies. A trivia contest is also being held in conjunction with the display.
Live caterpillars are scheduled to arrive at the library sometime during the week of April 22, and they will be placed in a clear container inside the display case. Library visitors will be able to observe the caterpillars as they eat and grow to many times their original size, shedding their exoskeletons along the way.
After 10-12 days of eating and growth, each caterpillar will attach itself to the top of the container and pupate, meaning it changes into a chrysalis (or pupa), which is protected by the cocoon. Next, in 7-10 days, a painted lady butterfly will emerge from each chrysalis. Finally, the butterflies will be released outdoors.
While waiting for the caterpillars to arrive and develop, UM-Dearborn students may enter the butterfly trivia contest. Entry forms are available on top of the display case, and answers to all questions may be found within the display. Entries must be returned to the box at the Circulation Desk by May 30. The winner will be chosen at random from among all the entries with the most correct answers and will receive a $25 gift certificate for Club Cappuccino.
