VOLUME 1
ISSUE 8
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY
April 2008
University Libraries
Wilma Engel Messing
Saint Louis Literary Award Founder
Passes Away
It is with great sadness that the University Libraries
have learned of the passing of Wilma Engel Messing.
Mrs. Messing, an active member on the Board of
Directors of the Saint Louis University Library
Associates, passed away of congestive heart failure
at her home on March 10, 2008. She was 88 years old.
Mrs. Messing with John Updike 1987
Inside this Issue
1
Literary Award Founder Passes Away
2
New Online Resources!
2
MCL Digital Open House
3
SLU Students Best Reads
4
Upcoming Exhibits in Pius Library
5
SLU Alum Has Hit with New Novel
5
A Better Place for Your Books
6
Testing Center Available for Faculty
Mrs. Messing, and her late husband Roswell “Bud”
Messing, founded what is now known as the Saint
Louis University Literary Award. First presented as the
Wilma and Roswell Messing Jr. Award in 1967, this
prestigious award recognizes literary giants who are
writers, poets, essayists, critics, playwrights, and
novelists. Past awardees include Joyce Carol Oates,
John Updike, Saul Bellow, and Antonia Fraser.
E.L. Doctorow will receive the 2008 award at SLU on
October 23rd.
In addition to her dedication to the Library
Associates, Mrs. Messing and her husband were
notable area philanthropists. Mrs. Messing was
recognized with the Hannah G. Solomon Award for
her work on behalf of the St. Louis section of the
National Council of Jewish Women as well as
receiving the St. Louis Woman of Achievement
Award and the Nursery Woman of the Year. She also
started the Wilma Jean Messing Library at the Mary
Institute Country Day School in memory of her 14 –
year old daughter who was killed in a horseback
riding accident.
Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.
UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
PAGE 2
New Online Resources!!
by Georgia Baugh, Electronic Resources
Librarian/Associate Professor
E.L. Doctorow
Cold Spring Harbor (CSH) Protocols (Cold
Spring Harbor Laboratory Press)
This database covers new and classical research
techniques for the biomedical sciences in areas
such as cell and molecular biology, genetics,
bioinformatics, protein science, and imaging.
Entries contain background information, materials
needed, and step-by-step methods. Browse by
issue, protocol subject, or search by keyword and
more. Will be particularly useful for biology and
the medical sciences.
Wiley Missouri Journal Collection (Wiley
InterScience) During March, Wiley journals
available to Saint Louis University increased from
64 titles to over 200 titles due to the creation of the Wiley Missouri Journal Collection. This
collection includes all Wiley journal titles currently subscribed to by the SLU Libraries plus
the libraries of Missouri State University, Truman State University, Washington University,
Washington University School of Medicine, and the University of Missouri System.
Available dates depend upon journal title but are generally 1996 or 1997 to present.
Journals are available from the SLU Library Catalog, the E-Journal Portal, and the Wiley
Web site where you may search by title, keyword, author, or publication title, or browse by
publication title and subject.
Medical Center Library
Digital Open House
A Big Success!!
Over 500 students, faculty, staff, and guests
attended the Medical Center Library’s Open
House on March 4th, even with the heavy snow! The event highlighted digital
information available through MCL. Participants learned about the D3 (Digital
Document Delivery) Initiative, online course instruction, wireless access and loanable laptops, along with an overview of the new Off-site Storage Facility which will
house archival bound journals from MCL.
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UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
PAGE 3
SLU Students Select Best Reads
Katrina Becker – A freshman who
recommends A tree grows in Brooklyn by
Betty Smith. Katrina writes: “It's hard to say
why I like it so much, not least because I
read it on vacation, so it always makes me
think of summer now. Still, while the
situations in the book are utterly unique,
there is still always something to relate to.
The main character Francie Nolan is such a
strong, fun person, based on the author
Betty Smith herself. One of my favorite
scenes is near the beginning where Francie is reading a library book on her fire
escape and pretending she is in a tree. I also love that in this story, the author
wrote her own happily-ever-after of how she would have liked life to turn out.”
Dan Huebner – A senior recommends A short history of
nearly everything by Bill Bryson. Dan writes: “From far
away galaxies to sub-atomic particles, A Short History
of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson does an excellent job
of explaining how our universe and world work. Don't
worry … this is not a text book! Full of fascinating facts
and points to think about, I – as a non-science major –
really appreciate and enjoy this attempt to make the
sciences that rule our world interesting and
understandable. (It's basically a great choice for arts
or business students who want to satisfy their inner
nerd!)”
Tyler Irvine – A Micah House student suggests
Our word is our weapon by Subcomandante
Marcos. To sum it up in a few words: “Power
to the people”
See accompanying exhibit in Pius Library through April. All three books are in the
Pius Library collection. Just search the online catalog. Have any titles you would like
to recommend? Please contact Martha Allen [email protected]
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UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
PAGE 4
Upcoming Exhibits in Pius
“Relay for Life” Exhibit
April (main floor)
Student Reading Picks
April (main floor)
China Olympics
April (2nd Floor Hall)
ASPCA Day (April 10th)
April (main floor)
EXHIBITS
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EXHIBITS
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UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
PAGE 5
SLU Alum Has a Hit with First Novel
Eddie Gresham’s first novel Footfalls, is up for the
2007 ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Award
in the horror category. Graduating from SLU with a
degree in computer science in 1992, Eddie worked
for many years in the IT industry, leaving his passion
for writing untapped. That was until 2005 when he
started putting pen to paper. The result is the
suspense novel Footfalls, the story of Jimmy Culver,
the sounds he hears and where it leads him. “I read
the book over a weekend and it is truly a pageturner”, says Gail M. Staines, Ph.D., Assistant Provost
for University Libraries at SLU.
Additional information about Footfalls and about
the author can be found by visiting
http://www.eddiegresham.com/index.html
Part of the proceeds of each book sold will be sent
to support Operation Kindness, an animal shelter
located in North Texas, or to Eddie’s home town
high school Sacred Heart-Griffin High School.
Eddie with Leo
A Better Place for Your Books
It’s getting to be that time of year when faculty
clean their offices and students clean their
homes seeking to donate no longer needed
books to the libraries. This year, we highly
recommend that you donate your texts, novels,
etc. to the Greater St. Louis Book Fair. Since
both the Pius Library and the Medical Center
Library will be undergoing renovation, the
libraries are unable to store or process
donations of books. We are very appreciative
that you think of the University Libraries at this
time. However, the Book Fair is a better place
where your books will find a loving home and
where you can receive a tax deduction!
The Pius Library and Medical Center Library
thank you for your understanding as we work to
create inspiring learning spaces for our students
and faculty.
A great book goes with a great cup of
coffee! Support the University Libraries by
purchasing our new travel mug for $7.00.
Proceeds go to the University Libraries Annual
Fund, and you receive a discount on fresh
brewed coffee at Café Libros. Makes a
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great Spring gift!!
UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
PAGE 6
Don’t Forget about the
TESTING CENTER!!
As the end of the semester will be upon
us soon, this is a gentle reminder to
faculty that the Testing Center is
available for your use. Located on the
upper floor of the Anheuser Busch Tower
in Pius Library, the purpose of the Testing
Center is to provide an appropriate atmosphere for students to makeup exams for courses, require a specific environment to take exams,
or to take course exams if they have a scheduling conflict.
The Testing Center is open Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm. For
more information call 977-3838 or email Erikka Williams at
[email protected]
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