The MacPhaidin Library Blog

Expand your own mind into the furthest regions of space while supporting our students right here on terra-firma:

November 13:

• Interstellar visitors 
• The search for planet nine
• Life on Mars
• Sending humans to Mars

November 20:

• Water on the Moon
• Terraforming Mars
• Star formation
• Exoplanet atmospheres

Januário's journey through Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil and Lisbon reveals the social, secular, and religious fissures of colonial society which enabled unscrupulous men like him to dupe both the ignorant and the learned in colonial Brazil. 

It also allows us to question the strategies used by imposters and analyze why they could be initially successful only to later fall from grace. 

Presented by MacPháidín Library Staff

Monday, May 19th

Join us if you want to make:

• your life easier
• your students more scholar/less googler
• your scholarship more noticeable

10:00am – 10:15 am     Introduction to new open-source Catalog in DigiLab (107) with Heather

10:30am – 11:00pm      Disperse in small groups and rotate to the following 10-minute stations:

• Front Desk for ILL and Reserves with Marcie and Amy
• DigiLab for digital humanity resources – podcasting, virtual reality, gaming, films with Garrett
• DisCo for Class Instructions and One-on-one with student resources with Trish and Lindsay
• Ace’s Place for ways to make your scholarship more visible with Uma.

TRISH INTERVIEW

by

Jennifer Bradford,‘25

1. Why did you choose Stonehill? - After getting my master’s in library science from Simmons, I wanted to move into academic librarianship. I had worked at school and public libraries while in grad school and wanted a change. I saw the advertisement for the Stonehill job and immediately applied. I was familiar with the school as my husband is an alum. After coming up for the interview, seeing the beautiful campus and meeting the people who would become my colleagues, it was an easy choice. 
2. What made you choose a career as a reference librarian? - Before becoming a librarian, I worked as a newspaper reporter for more than 15 years. I became disenchanted with that profession and the relentless stream of bad/tragic stories that I had to deal with. I still, however, loved research and asking questions. As a lifelong library-lover, a career in librarianship seemed like a natural progression. You’d be surprised how many librarians are former journalists! 
3. What’s your favorite book or genre? - My favorite book is Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre and for many years, I read it at the start of every summer. I read a lot of different genres and suppose my favorite could be broadly described as literary fiction. Right now, I’m on an uplifting stories kick, and I am enjoying reading Japanese translated feel-good fiction. I recommend What You’re Looking for is in the Library by  Michiko Aoyama.   
4. Do you have a favorite Stonehill moment? There are so very many, but I have to say I really love the memories of our lunchtime pickleball matches. The faculty, staff, and students who participated have brought me a lot of joy and friendship. 
5. Any plans after “retirement?” I’ll spend much of the summer in Western Maine hiking, swimming, and gardening. In August, my husband and I are taking a two-week trip to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc in France, Italy and Switzerland. He hates the term “bucket list”, but this is one of my bucket list trips. When we return, I’ll consider whether I want to return to public libraries on a part time basis. 
6. Any advice for those in a similar career path? No advice. Librarianship is a great career, and librarians are so very critically needed – now more than ever. 
7. How long have you been at Stonehill? - 19 years. 
8. What did you do before Stonehill? - Newspaper reporter. 
9. If you could change anything, what would it be - either job or campus wise? I don’t think I’d change anything, although I’d urge everyone on campus - administrators, faculty and staff - to pay a visit to the library some Monday through Wednesday evening between around 6 or 8 or so. During our busiest times, it does feel like the library is the center of our academic universe. 
10. What was your favorite library event? I enjoy our fall and spring semester De-Stress events. The students seem especially appreciative of the free coffee and donuts! 
11. What are you going to miss the most about Stonehill and/or the library? My friends. I am so fortunate to count former students, library co-workers, and college staff members among my dear friends. We've been through a lot together, and I'm grateful for the kind support they've given me over the years. I look forward to staying in touch, and I hope I’ll see some of them at future pickleball games.

In October of 2024, we joined the FLO (Fenway Libraries Organization) consortium. As part of the consortium, we are migrating from Innovative Interfaces’ Sierra to an open-source product known as FOLIO that will be managed by FLO. 

This change will impact the back-end system that we use to catalog, inventory and circulate our resources and will also impact the public-facing catalog known as HillSearch so it looks different. For our public-facing catalog, we will be using EBSCO’s Discovery Service (EDS), which will integrate electronic and physical resources more seamlessly, so your searches are more comprehensive.

To help facilitate this change, we are asking everyone to return all physical library materials, except interlibrary loans, to the library by May 9th.  Please note, this change will not impact our current interlibrary loan system. 

Our new catalog will be live in early May. Stay tuned to this space for more details as we get closer to the date. Library staff will be available to help students and faculty navigate the new system. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at librarydeskgroup@stonehill.edu.  

In Fall 2024, President John Denning and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Peter Ubertaccio visualized a space dedicated to celebrate Stonehill scholarship. The historic Irish Studies Library at Donahue Hall, now empty of its original collection, offered an ideal option. Enter Stella Henderson, Class of 2026.

Hauling the first 20 boxes of books published by past and present faculty, Stella and Professor Ubertaccio began the ongoing process of creating an immersive Stonehill research experience. This is only the start. What’s New, Donahue? will give you a monthly snapshot of this developing space.

This month, YOU can help by sticking spine labels on each of the books in the collection. 10 stickers gets you a slice of pizza, loads of fun, and a satisfying sense of having contributed to a bit of timeless Stonehill history. Grab a friend and come on over.

JENNIFER CONNELLY!!

Front Row (l-r): Lindsay Boezi, Heather O'Leary, Jen Connelly, Jennifer Macaulay, Marcie Walsh-O'Connor

Back Row (l-r): Garrett McComas, Amy Francis, Trish McPherson, Seamus Farrelly, Uma Hiremath

2024 Richard "Dick" Grant Staff Award for Jennifer Connelly 

December 2024 / Employee Christmas Party 

Every year, a staff member who has gone above and beyond their role at Stonehill College is recognized at the annual Employee Christmas party. Named in honor of the former Associate Dean of Academic Achievement, library staff were overjoyed to hear that the prestigious Richard “Dick” Grant Award for 2024 was awarded to our very own Jennifer Connelly!  

Jen, a graduate of the Class of 1994, is one of our Access Services Associate & Interlibrary Loan staff. She has been a library staff member for the past 27 years! As the face of MacPhaidin Library's main desk, her exemplary service, proactive temperament, and buoyant personality has benefited each and every student, faculty, custodian, colleague, and visitor to the library.  Please join us in recognizing and lauding her achievements over the past two decades!