What's New at the Library

I love the beginning of the new school year. Students are back on campus saving us from the sometimes too-quiet summer silence. Faculty and staff adding fun activities and discussing new ways to engage their students. Let’s not even start on the rabbit holes we all go down when learning something new.

We have worked hard over the summer to revamp the library by adding new things to the collection and making sure we are fully supporting everyone on campus with our materials. If there are some titles, topics, or formats missing that you believe we should have, contact Marlene Anderson (marlene.anderson@bismarckstate.edu) or fill out the New Material Suggestion form in BSC Library- Student, a non-term course in Blackboard that is more of an information site than a true class.

Another major update this year is the library catalog. The search functions and results from the new format are much easier to filter, decipher, and see. You can access your library account in several different ways and request materials much more easily. I highly recommend playing in the catalog yourself or stopping by the library to have library staff show you the ropes. We are excited about the new look and accessibility features and hope you enjoy them too.

If you stop by in the evenings or on the weekends, you may notice there is a new face at the library desk who looks a little like Santa Claus. His name is James Schadler and, by his own admission, has leaned into the comparison he’s had all his life. James was born and raised in Bismarck and even went to BSC in 1981- although it was called Bismarck Junior College then. He is a retired US Navy Frogman (EOD) and professional jack-of-all-trades who has worked on everything from rough carpentry to nuclear weapons. He always has a good story. As the BSC Library’s new Evening & Weekend Supervisor, he is there for you if you need help troubleshooting your computer and doing research. Stop by, say ‘Hi’, and ask him questions. He loves learning something new as much as he likes teaching it.

There are so many new things to take in and explore this year. We hope you enjoy it all! Our next major library event, Banned Books Week, is October 4th – 10th, so keep an eye out for event announcements and updates. See you all soon!