Summer break is over and the Carnegie Mellon University Libraries are thrilled to welcome all new and returning students for the 2021-2022 academic year. Though the difficulties and disruption caused by COVID-19 persist, the Libraries is committed to offering innovative, student-based programming and events to support your work in and out of the classroom and further your creative inquiry during such an unpredictable time.
We’ve listed some ongoing programs below to help you get better acquainted with what the Libraries have to offer, and make sure to stay up-to-date on workshops, library hours, and COVID-19 guidelines by visiting our service updates for the fall 2021 semester.
Libraries Student Advisory Council
The Libraries are currently seeking new members for our Student Advisory Council this semester. Fill out this brief membership form to apply. Membership is open to all graduate and undergraduate students. Enrollment ends Monday, September 13 at 5pm. Applicants will be notified on Monday, September 20. The Libraries Student Advisory Council meets three times per semester. The council will meet in the Sorrells Library, Den using a hybrid model, with students having the choice of meeting in-person or virtually via Zoom. Meeting dates are below:
- First Meeting: Thursday, September 30, 2021
- Second Meeting: Thursday, October 28, 2021
- Final Meeting: Thursday, December 2, 2021
Your voice is needed now more than ever! The Libraries Student Advisory Council gives students the opportunity to gain a unique perspective on the operations of the Libraries and obtain valuable expertise in student leadership, teamwork, and creativity. The goal of the advisory council is to gather input and feedback from council members on all aspects of the Libraries, with a specific focus on student needs, concerns, and priorities.
We hope to see you soon, and please enjoy this custom-made Libraries SAC Fall 2021 Spotify Playlist, our semi-annual tradition we use to kick off each semester.
Constitution Day 2021
Join us Wednesday, September 22 at 5:00 p.m. and welcome Professor Joe William Trotter, Jr. as featured speaker for our annual Constitution Day event.
In “African American Workers and the U.S. Constitution: Past and Present,” Professor Trotter highlights some of the most salient ways, past and present, that ordinary working people both embraced and deployed constitutional principles that not only served their own interests, but also helped to invigorate and reinvigorate American constitutionalism over nearly two and a half centuries of time.
Full program includes:
- Opening remarks by Keith Webster, Dean of University Libraries and Director of Emerging and Integrative Media.
- Short video on one of the four existing copies of the original U.S. Bill of Rights housed in Carnegie Mellon University Libraries’ Special Collections. Hosted by Dr. Samuel Lemley, Curator of Special Collections.
- Q&A session moderated by Dr. Wanda Heading-Grant, Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Chief Diversity Officer.
- Closing remarks by Gina Casalegno, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students.
Pixel Datascapes
Join Data, Gaming, and Popular Culture Librarian Dr. Hannah Gunderman for the ongoing web series Pixel Datascapes and learn more about data management through the lens of video games and gaming culture. Watch the latest episode below on building confidence in data skills through GRIS and be on the lookout for future installments.
Coffee with the Curator
The Special Collections at Carnegie Mellon University lives on the 4th floor of Hunt Library, and houses a unique blend of rare books, manuscripts, and vintage scientific devices. In Coffee with the Curator, Special Collections Curator Dr. Sam Lemley takes you through the collection with an informative look at these distinctive objects and the history that surrounds them. The most recent episode focuses on the books and artifacts surrounding the history of computing at CMU.
Cut Pathways
Hosted by Oral History Program director Katherine Barbera & Oral History Production Assistant David Bernabo, Cut Pathways is a new podcast from the Carnegie Mellon University Oral History Program that chronicles the experiences and perspectives of noted CMU alum. In the closing installment of season one, Julia Parsons recounts her time at Carnegie Mellon Institute of Technology and her work as a codebreaker during World War II.
We have more innovative programming, events, and exhibits in the works - from robotics to virtual reality - so bookmark our calendar and check back soon.