Rob LeBlanc, first-year experience/humanities librarian, and Barbara Quintiliano, nursing/life sciences and instructional services librarian, recently published an article, “Recycling C.R.A.P.: Reframing a Popular Mnemonic for Library Instruction,” in Pennsylvania Libraries: Research and Practice, volume 3, number 2 (Fall 2015).

Librarians Barbara Quintiliano and Rob LeBlanc, with their manuscript

Quintiliano and LeBlanc were interested in applying the new Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education that was adopted by the ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries) in 2015. This Framework replaced the previous Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education. The two librarians were reshaping their information literacy programs to incorporate the new Framework.

Quintiliano explains, “Rob and I were tossing around ideas one day about how the new Framework could be applied, and we thought of the C.R.A.P. acronym which had been used by instruction librarians … to teach students how to evaluate information, especially information that they find on the web. With a bit of imagination and prestidigitation, we were able to transform the acronym into a concise, snappy way of conveying the Framework concepts to first-year students. As first-year librarian, Rob immediately started to put it into practice.”

Quintiliano and LeBlanc originally hoped to present a session on the topic at the fall 2015 Pennsylvania Libraries Association conference. That conference, however, already had more proposals than time slots available, so the organizers suggested the topic would make an interesting article for Pennsylvania Libraries: Research and Practice.  Consequently, the two collaborated on the article, which was accepted for publication.

What is C.R.A.P. in the context of library instruction? According to LeBlanc and Quintiliano it stands for “Conversation, Revision, Authority and Property.” These concepts are taught by the authors so that students can properly evaluate information needed to write college-level research papers. The full article can be accessed here.

This week, the Curious ‘Cat asks Villanova students, “After your final final, what’s the first thing you want to do for fun?”

Nina Rossiello—“Nap!” 

Gracie Kim—“Probably go out after finals to eat with some friends”

Timothy Chobot—“Watch Monday Night Football”

Taylor Wright—“I’ll probably watch about six hours of Netflix in a row.” 

Sarah DeAngelis—“I’ll probably go out to dinner with my roommates as a little celebration, and eat good off-campus food. Then probably pack up because I’m going abroad next semester so I’ll say goodbye to all my friends. I’m going to Dublin; I’m super excited.”

Robert Hurlbut—“play NHL with my roommate—it’s an Xbox game.”

This week, the Curious ‘Cat asks Villanova students, “Which Star Wars character would make an ideal study partner?”

Gianna Perez—“I would say Yoda. I think Yoda would be very supportive and wise when studying.”

Christine Graziano—“I’d say Yoda.”

Dillon McCourt—“C3PO ‘cause he’s a droid”

Daniel Glazewski—“I’d say Yoda ‘cause he’s wise and would give good advice.”

Bridget Black, student moderator; Brighid Dwyer, PhD, director, Program on Intergroup Relations, Multicultural Affairs; Katrina Sawyer, assistant professor, Dept. of Psychology; and Camille Burge, PhD, assistant professor, Dept. of Political Science

Camille Burge, PhD

Katrina Sawyer, PhD

Photographs by Alice Bampton

This week, the Curious ‘Cat asks Villanova students, “With about two weeks of classes left, what strategy would you recommend to prepare for finals?”

Kelsey Hanson—“Since I’m in the middle of that right now, I think spacing your work out so that you’re not doing everything all at once is really important and also taking a big project every day. So I have a paper that I’m working on today and then tomorrow I’m working on my statistics homework and then the day after I’m doing another thing—so one big project per day.”

Kate Dolan—“Organization: planning ahead and making a structured schedule to get all the work done ahead of time.”

Tope Abu—“Make a list. That’s the thing that helps me.”

Andrew Lynch—“I try to get as much sleep as I can ‘cause I work every hour that I’m awake … spending no downtime at all.”

Hayden Vines—“During the day I go up to the third floor of the Library and study till 7:00 or dinner and then not study at night that much until it’s finals week. Then I’ll study a lot. But I’m going to try to get as much sleep as possible.”

Timothy Signorile—“At this point just prioritize: figure out which classes you need to study the most for. Structure your time as best as you can. And make it to the Library as often as you can.”

The following article was written by Kallie Stahl, graduate assistant on the Library Events & Outreach team. She is currently pursuing her MA in communication at Villanova University.

Welcome to the weeks after fall break, the point in the semester where warm weather nostalgia is a constant daydream. Even though your favorite television shows are finally back with new seasons, you still can’t shake those thrilling summer memories. Whether you worked, bravely endured summer courses, or explored new places, your summer experiences allowed you the opportunity for personal growth and reflection.

Use the skills you’ve learned these past few months to make this academic year your best one yet. If you still can’t seem to shake your need for adventure, don’t try! Continue to fuel your desire to leave no stone unturned. While the Office of Education Abroad can supply you with helpful information and support, the world-traveling staff at Falvey can be another resource to help you plan the trip of your dreams!

“In undergrad I did a study abroad in London, which included an internship with a West End production company. I ended up returning to the UK for graduate school where I did my M.A. in English at the University of Birmingham’s Shakespeare Institute located in Stratford upon Avon. I was also fortunate enough to be able to take time to travel during both my study abroad and my graduate degree and visit places like Scotland, Ireland; Wales; Nice and Cannes in France, as well as Monaco; Florence and Venice, Italy; Saville, Spain; Heidelberg and Munich, Germany, and Prague in the Czech Republic to name a few.”

“While I did not study abroad there, I recently took an amazing trip to Iceland. We hiked in cloud-shrouded mountains, climbed a glacier, dodged free-roaming sheep, and learned a great deal about the fascinating history of this Viking-settled country. We traveled the Route 1 ‘ring road’ around the entire country so we were able to experience the full diversity of this unique geothermal island. It was so wild, bucolic, and beautiful that I’m glad I took pictures, otherwise I’d wonder if I’d dreamt the whole thing.”

“I got the travel bug at a young age, or maybe I was just born with it. I enjoy meeting people, experiencing diverse cultures and seeing different cities, states, countries… the world! I decided during my freshman year of college that I was definitely going to study abroad. It was an opportunity that I couldn’t miss. I studied abroad during my sophomore year of college for an entire semester. At the time, a younger and more timid me wanted to stay somewhat close to home and wanted to be in a predominantly English-speaking country. England was the popular choice for students who were in the same requirement boat as me. I also like to be different. Why go to England when that is where most students seem to be going? Alas, I chose Scotland! My university didn’t have an exchange program with a university in Scotland so I applied directly to the university that I wanted to attend. I was accepted and spent the spring of 2007 at University of Stirling in Stirling, Scotland. To say it was the best semester of my college experience would be a complete understatement; it was so much more. I met lifelong friends, people with the same desires, life views, and perspectives as me – how awesome is that?! I highly suggest you take advantage of any opportunity that may arise to study abroad. Guaranteed, it will change your life.”

Last spring, Dave and his wife traveled throughout Eastern Europe last spring visiting Romania, Eastern Slovakia, Krakow and Berlin. “Specifically, the picture above was taken in Maramureș County, in northern Romania along the border with Ukraine, which is one of the last places in Europe that has kept its rural traditions. The people are exceptionally friendly, and wherever we went, we were invited into their house. I was offered fresh cream at one random woman’s house. Again, not tourists stops – actual homes.”

As a current graduate student in the Department of Communication, I had the opportunity to take part in the Shanghai Business and Communication Internship Program. I spent six weeks abroad, five weeks in Shanghai and one week in Beijing. Working for an international fashion company, I was able to enhance my intercultural communication skills and build upon current marketing and public relations credentials. During the program, I was able to see a multitude of amazing sites including: The Bund, Jade Budda Temple, Yuyuan Garden, People’s Square, Jing’ an Temple, Zhouzhuang, the Temple of Heaven, Huangpu River, Oriental Pearl Tower, the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Great Wall of China. I highly recommend this program to anyone interested in interning abroad. Experiencing Asian culture firsthand was a wonderful occasion, and I’m grateful to Villanova for providing this life changing learning adventure.

The best way to learn about places unbeknownst to you is to listen to those that have traveled there. So, whether you’re planning on studying abroad or just looking to book a fun getaway, the Villanova community can be your guide. Bon Voyage!

Article by Kallie Stahl, Graduate Assistant on the Library Events & Outreach team. She is currently pursuing her MA in Communication at Villanova University.

On Thursday, November 12, Villanova University Community members and friends gathered to honor James Murphy, PhD, founder and former director of Villanova’s Irish Studies program and his wife, Kathryn Murphy.

A reception and poetry reading event was held in order to highlight the couple’s recent donation of 300 signed, first-edition Irish poetry books to Villanova University’s Falvey Memorial Library.

Craig Bailey, PhD, associate professor of history and interim director of the Irish Studies program, planned the reception along with the help of Joyce Harden, administrative/events assistant for interdisciplinary and area studies programs, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

(From left to right) Dr. Craig Bailey, Dr. James Murphy and Kathryn Murphy were all smiles at the event.

The reception opened with a festive set of live tunes from musicians (from left to right) Darin Kelly, Siobhan Murray, and Tomás O Cathail.

Award-winning poet and former 2011 Heimbold Chair, Moya Cannon, reads selections of poetry.

The crowd listens attentively as Moya Cannon reads poetry selections. It was a packed house!

At the event’s close, Dr. Murphy acknowledged the crowd and thanked his wife Kathy for her support.

In addition to the generous donation of books, the Murphy’s have contributed greatly to the Irish Studies program since its inception in 1979. See here for a timeline of noteworthy dates for the Irish Studies Program.

The ‘Cats who worked on The Villanovan newspaper filled the November 1916 issue primarily with their Thanksgiving-themed original stories and poetry, including the hymn below by Gerard F. Hart, class of 1919. Their works were especially poignant as one of the worst moments of World War I, the Battle of the Somme, took place that year.

May all Villanovans enjoy Thanksgiving with their family and friends. Amen.

Images from the Villanova University Digital Library.

‘Caturday post by Luisa Cywinski, writer for the Communication and Service Promotion team and team leader of Access Services.

It’s Thanksgiving week and to celebrate the holiday, this article was written by Kallie Stahl, graduate assistant on the Library Events & Outreach team. She is currently pursuing her MA in communication at Villanova University.

Happy Thanksgiving! It’s that time of year again, the day we all take a moment to appreciate the blessings in our lives: family, friends, the ability to pursue dreams at Villanova and much more! As you reflect during this day of thanks (while watching football and eating pumpkin pie), don’t forget about the little things, those small everyday moments that are easy to take for granted. That being said, keep in mind the hardworking staff at Falvey Memorial Library who are here to assist you during your academic journey.

Give thanks to the Library for providing these helpful resources!

24 Hour Study Lounge and Reading Room

Are you a night owl or an early riser? Do you enjoy studying in calming silence or amongst the conversations of others? Have no fear – whatever your study habits, the Library has a space for you. The first floor lounge (perfect for studying with a group of friends) and the reading room (great for reflection and concentration) are open 24 hours for your convenience. Whether you’re finishing a research paper or studying for finals, be sure to take advantage of these locations!

Research Assistance

No matter what stage you’re at in the research process, the librarians at Falvey are here to help. Have a question? Stop by the Library! Your subject librarian can assist you in accruing the right sources for any assignment. If you prefer working from your dorm, visit the library’s website to live chat with a librarian. There are many helpful tips and tools available through Falvey, many of which are accessible online.

Holy Grounds

You never know when hunger will strike (and it usually does at the most inconvenient times … i.e. when you have no food). Rushing to get to class? Forgot to go grocery shopping? Have no fear, Holy Grounds is open all day. During a study session, grab yourself a bagel, sandwich, pretzel or salad and keep working! The greatest gift of all is the distribution of that marvelous caffeinated beverage. Coffee is brewed fresh all day – need I say more?

Free Printing

You can print for “free” at the Library with a valid Wildcard (if you stay under your VPrint limit, as determined by your college). Don’t waste unnecessary funds on printer ink and paper. Save yourself time and effort, exploit the library’s printing (and scanning) resources.

Movies

Everyone needs a study break, and while Netflix is pretty awesome, the website may not provide the movie(s) you are searching for. Call me old fashioned, but there’s something nice about watching a DVD, plus who doesn’t enjoy the special features? But when you finish watching a movie on DVD, it sadly does not suggest and provide similar movies to view. Some might view this as unfortunate, but a DVD may help you stick to your study schedule. Drop by the Library in your free time to check out a variety of novels, films and music.

Be thankful for your collegiate adventure and those that are helping you achieve your goals. Happy Thanksgiving, Wildcats!

This week the Curious ‘Cat asks Villanova students, “With Thanksgiving coming up, what are you thankful for?”

Alexandra Golia—“I’m thankful for being here ‘cause I love this school and the community. And I’m obviously thankful to go home; I haven’t seen my family in a while. So I’m really excited for that and that they sent me here to such a good school. That’s what I’m thankful for.”

Alexandra Linn—“I’m thankful for the opportunity to go to college, to be at Villanova, and for my family supporting me through it.”

Nicodemo Bruzzese—“I’m always thankful for my family, my extended family, blessing me every day with paying for me to come to Villanova University—such a great campus, such great people—and for instilling such hard work and dedication in me. I thank them every day even though I can be a little bit of a pain towards them, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I thank them for pushing me to be the best.”

Mary Rugolo—“My family, definitely”

Jarrid Thelen—“Family and friends.”

Brendan Weston—“I’m really thankful for my education—being able to see the world from an expanded point of view and to come to a better understanding of the world around me.”