Love Conquers All

Chantelle Deserais Swaren April 16, 2021

Finding a new favorite book is a little like finding your soulmate!

Newlyweds and new graduates!

Graduating students Sydney and Casey have worked at the UTC Library throughout their undergraduate studies at UTC. As they both prepare to graduate this semester and move to Memphis to each continue their studies in graduate medical programs, they have even more to celebrate: they recently wed!

Sydney and Casey got married last month in a small, open-air ceremony in adherence with safety protocols. Planning a wedding is never simple and it was made even more complicated by incorporating new safety policies. Nevertheless, they managed to plan and host a beautiful wedding in an amazing venue conveniently located for family from East and West Tennessee – all while successfully completing their coursework and Library work responsibilities! These Mocs are an inspiration and make us all proud! They didn’t forget their UTC-family either: Sydney and Casey generously shared a wedding cake at the Library so coworker friends could celebrate their wedding and UTC Alumna Molly Bowman took the beautiful wedding photographs included here. (In-library photographs were taken by a library coworker)

Sydney and Casey found love long before UTC – they grew up in War Trace and Bell Buckle (respectively) and have been in love since their early teen years! They worked hard to follow their dreams and support each other while moving cities, pursuing degrees, and navigating the curveballs life can throw – especially in the last year.

Sydney and Casey in a pew of the wedding chapel, gazing adoringly at each other in wedding gown and tux

Best wishes and Congratulations to Sydney and Casey!

A shared love of books… and each other!

Love is always inspiring to see and Sydney and Casey’s Library friends feel fortunate for having them with us over the last few years. Congratulations Sydney and Casey – everyone at the UTC Library wishes you success in your future studies, careers, and life together! And congratulations on graduating from UTC and becoming part of the alumni family – once a Moc, always a Moc!

You can find many books in the Library… and maybe even the love of your life!

Online Author Visit with Rebecca Wells

Chantelle Deserais Swaren March 1, 2021

Cover Images of Rebecca Wells' 4 novels on a pale yellow background In honor of Women’s History Month, and in celebration of International Women’s Day, the UTC Library is thrilled to welcome #1 NY Times bestselling author, Rebecca Wells for a livestream reading and discussion.

Rebecca has written extensively about the power and magic of women. Her beloved novels, including Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Little Altars Everywhere, and Ya-Yas in Bloom, as well as The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder, showcase the enduring, beautiful, heartbreaking, and wondrous relationships between women. From family dynamics, particularly the amazing and challenging bond between mothers and daughters, to the absolute necessity of best friendships, these novels span decades and the country. But the heart and soul of these women is in the South.

Join Rebecca as she shares her thoughts on the strength of Southern women, how to realize potential through writing, and how adversities can be transformed through creativity.

This event will be livestreamed on the UTC Library’s YouTube channel to allow for maximum participation, so please feel free to share the invitation!

Monday March 8, 2021 (International Women’s Day)

4:00 – 5:30pm EST

youtube.com/utclib

Hope to see you there!

Online Visit with NY Times Bestselling Author Rebecca Wells

Chantelle Deserais Swaren February 28, 2021

Open Education Week in Tennessee

Fleming Rachel February 24, 2021

An annual celebration, Open Education Week (OE Week) is an opportunity for actively sharing and learning about the latest achievements in Open Education worldwide. Members of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission’s Textbook Affordability for Student Success Task Force have collaborated on a schedule of events celebrating Open Education Week that showcase work happening across the state. Join any of these sessions by registering using the links below.

Monday, March 1 12:00 PM EST / 11:00 AM CST
Introduction to Open Educational Resources

Come to this presentation to learn how you can innovate your classes while saving your students money with Open Educational Resources.
Ashley Sergiadis, Digital Scholarship Librarian, East Tennessee State University
Philip Smith, Teaching and Learning Specialist, East Tennessee State University
Moderated by Nancy KingSanders, Vice Provost for Student Achievement, Austin Peay State University

Tuesday, March 2 12:30 PM EST/ 11:30 AM CST
Tennessee State Universities Panel: Infusing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion into Open Educational Resources

This session will provide an overview of how locally governed institutions (LGIs) plan to implement projects that will increase equity in access to quality digital education initiatives and educational support materials. Recently awarded grants will enable institutions to enact various projects grounded across disciplines and administrative functions. Join us in this high-paced look at six different initiatives happening at Tennessee’s State Universities.

Tuesday, March 2 2:30 PM EST/ 1:30 PM CST
Adapting Open Textbooks for Tennessee Pre-Service Teachers

Join University of Tennessee at Chattanooga professor DR Meece in conversation with Scholarly Communications Librarian Rachel Fleming as they discuss the prospect, process, and potential of adapting Open Textbooks for Child Development and Early Childhood Education courses.
DR Meece, Professor of Education, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Rachel Fleming, Scholarly Communications Librarian, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Moderated by Philip Smith, Teaching and Learning Specialist, East Tennessee State University

Wednesday, March 3 9:00 AM EST / 8:00 AM CST
A Team Approach to Open Pedagogy through High Impact Practices and Experiential Learning

An overview of more than five years of collaborations between the Department of History, Special Collections, and the Library’s Research and Instruction unit at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to create open pedagogy projects for undergraduate students using high impact practices and experiential learning opportunities.
Carolyn Runyon, Director of Special Collections, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Susan Eckelmann Berghel, Associate Professor of History and Director of Africana Studies, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Dunstan McNutt, Instruction Librarian, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Wednesday, March 3 11:00 AM EST / 10:00 CST
MERLOT Higher Education OER Affordable Learning Solutions (AL$) and OER SkillsCommons Workforce Resources

MERLOT Higher Education National OER Repository for Academic Disciplines and Workforce Development and Career Training OER Resources in showcasing OER Content, search tools, content creation, and OER e-portfolios. www.merlot.org / www.skillscommons.org
Robbie K. Melton, Associate Vice President, Tennessee State University SMART Technology Innovation Center
Moderated by
Deborah M. Chisom, Ed.D., Executive Director of Online Professional Studies, Tennessee State University
Dr. Effua Ampadu, Director of Professional Development, HBCU-OER, and eSports at Tennessee State University
Dr. Tokesha Warner, Director, Professional Development, HBCU-OER, Tennessee State University

Thursday March 4 11:30 – 1:30 EST/ 10:30 – 12:30 CST
Tennessee Community College OER Projects Panel

The Tennessee Board of Regents Digital Engagement Initiative / Open Educational Resources Grant Program provides opportunities for teams of faculty and professional staff from Tennessee Community Colleges, Technical Colleges, and Universities (Locally Governed Institutions). Join us in this high-paced look at eight different initiatives happening at Tennessee’s Community Colleges.

Friday March 5 2:00 EST/ 1:00 CST
Using Data-Informed Approaches to Textbook Affordability and Open Educational Resources

In the face of rising costs, can students afford to participate in the educational process in ways that permit for their full academic success? How do educational materials fit into their already stretched budget? This webinar showcases data from two institutions who are exploring affordability initiatives, including open educational resources (OER). Results of both surveys will be reported and put into context with other initiatives and surveys of TN students in order to suggest strategic ways of addressing textbook affordability and increasing the use of OER.
Daniel A. Bureau, PhD, Assistant to the Vice President for Student Academic Success, The University of Memphis
Dr. Ryan Korstange, Assistant Professor, Middle Tennessee State University
Suzanne Mangrum, Acquisitions Librarian, Middle Tennessee State University

Join the Library Advisory Board

Chantelle Deserais Swaren January 28, 2021

The UTC Library deeply values input from students about what services, materials, spaces, and programs you want from the Library. We’re thrilled to announce a new way for you to help make the Library even better: you are invited to join the Library Advisory Board!

The Library Advisory Board gives students an active voice in library-related issues on campus. The Library Advisory Board is a forum for information exchange between students and the UTC Library with a shared goal of supporting the success of UTC’s diverse student community.

All students are welcome to join, as we want to make sure that the Library is meeting everyone’s needs. Your input will help make the Library better, which will benefit you throughout your studies at UTC and as an Alumnus. As well, we hope this experience can provide you a good introduction to serving as member of a Board and how professional Board meetings are run, which could help you in your future.

Some FAQs:

Meetings will be held monthly on Zoom throughout the Spring semester:
- February 4^th, 12:15 – 1:15pm
- March 4^th, 12:15 – 1:15pm
- April 1^st, 12:15 – 1:15pm
You can attend any meetings that fit your schedule, you are NOT obligated to attend all three.
- However, if you are able to attend all three, you will receive a certificate from the Library that you can reference on your resume when applying for jobs.
As a bonus for attending any board meeting, you will receive ThinkAchieve credit! And a small Library keepsake as a thank-you for your time!

If you’re interested, please provide your info here and we’ll send you more information and the meeting Zoom link.

If you have any questions, please use the form above or email Chantelle-Swaren@utc.edu.