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Hot Summer News: Updates on Services at Mann

Original artwork by Daisy Wiley
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A hot summer is underway on the Cornell campus, but cool Mann Library is open! Here is an overview of our summer services, including important information about service interruptions with Cornell University Library’s transition to a new platform for online library services (including the library catalog, equipment loans, and new acquisitions). 

Borrowing from our stacks

  • BorrowDirect and Interlibrary Loan are now officially paused until July 1.

  • The request service for contactless pick-up of books from Mann (and all Cornell libraries) will pause from June 17 until July 1.

  • Various circulation services such as on-site checkouts, new requests for contactless pickup, retrieval from the Annex, and library-to-library delivery will be unavailable from June 21 until July 1.

  • For up-to-date information about these interruptions, please see cornell.edu/pause

Equipment loans at Mann

  • Again, because of the Library’s transition to a new catalog, equipment loans at Mann are unavailable until July 1.

Study spaces and lockers

  • Individual and group study rooms are available to book via our website, but as a reminder, rooms are limited to grads and undergrads.

  • Use of all other study spaces in the library building no longer requires a reservation, and our doors are open to all who wish to enter during our normal hours of operation (no card swipe access required). For Mann’s summer hours, check out our hours page.

  • Fully vaccinated students, faculty and staff are no longer required to wear masks in campus buildings or social distance.

  • Unvaccinated Cornellians and all non-Cornell visitors must continue to wear masks and follow Cornell’s social distancing requirements when in Mann Library spaces. We are following Cornell University-wide rules in this regard; to see those, we encourage you to visit Cornell’s Public Health Requirements pages at https://covid.cornell.edu/students/public-health-requirements/.

  • Public computers are being re-installed in our spaces shortly. We will update this page when they are available for use.

  • Lockers are currently not available for use.

As the summer proceeds and Mann continues to get reset for a normal fall semester at Cornell, we’ll be posting updates about our spaces and services. So check back often for the skinny. And stay cool and hydrated in the meantime. It’s been a sizzler of a summer so far—and July is still ahead!

Ag Quad Quest 2021

Image by Eveline Ferretti
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ALL THE TOKENS HAVE NOW BEEN CLAIMED AND THE SCAVENGER HUNT IS NOW OVER. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO PLAYED!

 

Game’s on for the last few weeks of the spring 2021 semester on the Cornell campus. All you crazy-busy students out there, we know what a stressful stretch it is for you. While the social distancing requirements of the pandemic year are still crimping our style for planning good stress-busters, we do have one trick up our sleeves—an actual scavenger hunt on the Ag Quad.

 

Some of you may be thinking: no way can I add one more thing to my plate right now! To you we say, please know we are taking this slow (as in totally at your own pace) and easy (as in, we’re not in this to stump you, but to make the finding fun and fast).

 

Clues for different treasures will be posted every few days here on this page (starting with the first two for this week below); join in at any point whenever you find yourself wanting to take a break from the books, computer screens, lab assignments or whatever else may be paining your petuzzi right now. We’ll be clueing you into about 6 different hiding spots over the next two weeks; find one treasure, or find them all. Our biggest hope with this is to give you more good reason to hope outside for some quick, spirit-uplifting, mind-refreshing, idea-boosting, treasure-rewarding fun.

 

Any questions, give us a shout at mann_outreach@cornell.edu. And check this page again often—new clues posted every few days. Lots of prizes to go with them—from highlighters to mugs. We hope you enjoy, and we wish you the very best of luck, with the scavenger hunt, your finals, and everything!

 

Treasure 1

You’ll find this cache on the Ag Quad when you find the European cousin of a tall American beauty that was once abundantly present from Maine to Mississippi—until a nasty, early 19th century blight brought her to functional extinction in her original range in the eastern U.S.

Additional hints: This tall leafy specimen is about to bloom and provides cool shade for enjoying your lunch on the Ag Quad, if you don’ t mind stone-hard seats.   Be sure to look up to find a tag in memory of a beloved former Mann Library Director. Still stumped? We’re pretty sure this nifty cartographic tool will give you what you need to find the spot: http://bit.ly/ag-quad-treasure1 Update: All the tokens for Treasure 1 have been found!

 

Treasure 2

To find our 2nd prize for Mann’s Ag Quad Quest 2021, get to spot that’s on higher plane on the Ag Quad (as, you’ll need to climb some outdoor stairs!). You’ll know you’re close when you see the name of a former CALS Dean. But you’ll be nearer still when you turn around and get close enough to almost touch a couple of Mann Library windows. 
Additional hints: This evergreen woody producer (names rhymes with Jupiter) makes a great but prickly hiding spot. Update: All the tokens for Treasure 2 have been found!

 

Treasure 3

Find the Excelsior seal on the Mann Library building. The younger of the two elms* standing guard beneath this lofty architectural touch harbors the cache. (*Email us the scientific name of the tree for a bonus prize!) Update: All the tokens for Treasure 3 have been found!

 

Treasure 4

Take a break at this private little spot close to Mann Library and you’ll learn a little about the SITES Accredited Garden that it’s part of. Enjoy a moment on the comfortable bench, and before you leave, be sure to check the boxwood behind you for your next treasure! Update: All the tokens for Treasure 4 have been found!

 

Treasure 5

The Ag Quad is graced by the presence of some towering older oak trees—with a  few smaller teenagers coming into their own as well.  Find the young white oak tree that’s tagged in honor of Mann Library special projects librarian Wallace Olsen, whose early work at Mann helped develop our Core Historical Literature of Agriculture, and you’ll have snagged your next treasure. Update: All the tokens for Treasure 5 have been found!

 

For these final two quests, you’ll need to leave the Ag Quad proper, but not by much. We suggest you maybe look for these as you head up behind Bradfield Hall to the Dairy Bar for some Cornell ice cream—you deserve the treat!

 

Treasure 6

Honey locust trees are frequent favorites in urban landscapes—and the leafy giants that are guarding this next treasure spot have helped turn what would be a very hot outdoor corner of the Mann building into a cool oasis. While you enjoy the dappled shade, look around for an inspiring word that rhymes with “respect” and it won’t take you long to find the cache!

Additional hint: Find the right honey locusts using the mapping tool on this page of our Trees of Cornell exhibit. Update: All the tokens for Treasure 6 have been found!

 

Treasure 7

The sign by this next treasure spot may have you thinking of lunch, but really it’s all about sustainable landscaping. Find the bioswale in question, and you’ll be very close. Look around to find the thing that pill bugs, worms, salamanders and other delightful  (hey, we’re into the life sciences!) creepy crawlies like to hide under and you’ll find your cache.

Additional hint: Visit this page to find out Cornell’s bioswales (what they are, what they do, where they’re located) and other campus features on the Sustainable Landscapes Trail. Update: All the tokens for Treasure 7 have been found!

Manndible Café closing

Photo by Jenny Leijonhufvud
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It is with sadness but also with great appreciation that we share the news of Manndible Café’s closing at the end of this spring 2021 semester. Their last day of service will be May 21st.

 

Located just off the Mann lobby, Manndible Café has been the Cornell Ag Quad’s landmark hub for healthy food since the reopening of the fully renovated Mann Library building in 2007. For the past fourteen years, owners Kathleen Pasetty and Pam Gueldner have worked alongside their legendary friendly staff to offer fresh, locally sourced and sustainably produced foods. Their signature burritos, poquitos, Friday curries, and creative coffee/chai beverages will be sorely missed by the Cornell and Ithaca community.

 

The Manndible staff have valued the opportunity to be part of the Cornell Ag Quad. In the words of Pasetty and Gueldner: “We are so grateful for the time we have spent on Cornell campus and at Mann Library. Our mission has been to make a welcoming space for everyone while supporting local producers, offering healthy food and drinks, and collaborating with members of the Cornell community. We are proud of what we’ve accomplished. You, our wonderful customers, along with our fabulous staff have made Manndible a special place, and we will cherish the relationships and memories we will carry with us.  We are moving on to other careers after twenty-five years in business together, and we thank you for all of your support over the years and for contributing to our success.”

 

Manndible + Mann Library collaborations have been many over the years—including “Snacks in the Stacks” giveaways during finals weeks, lively Earth Week campaigns promoting re-useable mugs & cutlery, and voter registration/Election Day celebrations to name just a few—and we have loved each and every one of them. Notes Mann’s Interim Director Sara E. Wright: “Manndible Café’s delicious food and coffee have been beloved staples for the hard-working students, faculty and staff around the Ag Quad, and the café has served as a hub for countless conversations and collaborations throughout the years. This has been a cherished partnership and we wish Kathleen, Pam, and their staff continued success in their future pursuits.”

 

In appreciation of Manndible Café’s many contributions to sustainable food culture and community on the Cornell Ag Quad, Mann Library will be holding a fire sale of our “Where minds (and friends) meet” mugs ($5 per mug) on the first day of study week on the Ag Quad plaza in front of the Mann building. Manndible will be offering free Manndible water bottles too, for as long as supplies last.  Mark your calendars for May 17, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. and drop by to give the Manndible team a most heartfelt thank you and farewell!

 

Questions about planning for a new Ag Quad café may be directed to Samara Sit, CALS Associate Dean for Marketing & Communications.

Library Workshops in April

Check out our April workshop line-up
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April is the cruelest month? We beg to differ, Mr. Eliot. Join us for any of our workshops and we’ll help you put the muddy, rainy early spring in a whole new light. Plus, Earth Day! Some highlights:

And of course, rain or shine, questions big or small, we’re here for you–just ask a librarian!

Bear and Owl Say: “Get the Most Out of Your Library”

Original artwork by Daisy Wiley
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Hey students, what can the Library help you with during a hybrid semester at Cornell? A lot! Just take it from the bear and the owl—who’ve stepped us as stars of our comic strip series, created to fill you in on all the ways you can make the Library work for you.

Our newest installment outlines all the goodies (books, study spaces, printing services, loaner laptops and other equipment) that on-campus students and researchers can find at the Library. We present it side-by-side with our earlier issue—also not to be missed!—featuring tips on getting the most out of the library from a distance—whether with a device (computer, tablet or mobile phone) located here in Ithaca or from a perch anywhere else in the world. One way or the other, virtual or in-person, the Library is here for you when and where you need us. Bear and owl are here to tell you exactly how that works.

Chats in the Stacks Spring 2021

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The Cornell University Library Chats in the Stacks is a series of book talks featuring recent publications by Cornell authors. This semester, all the book talks will be virtual, so you can enjoy them wherever you are! See the schedule below for Mann Library.

 

January 29, 2021 4pm

Fault Lines: Fractured Families and How to Mend Them by Karl Pillemer

What makes family estrangement so painful? Why do these rifts arise in the first place, and how can we overcome them? Based largely on Pillemer’s groundbreaking, ten-year Cornell Reconciliation Project—the first national survey on estrangement—Fault Lines (Avery, 2020) combines science-based repair tools with the personal experiences of hundreds of people who have mended family rifts. 

 

April 2, 2021 4pm

The Constants of Motion with Roald Hoffman

In his poetry, chemist Roald Hoffmann explores philosophy and science, weaving worlds of sound and meaning from the simple building blocks of words. In his latest book of poetry, Constants of the Motion (Dos Madres Press, 2020), Hoffmann delves into personal experiences, including a desperate childhood shaped by the Holocaust and a search for consilience in the tranquil beauty of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

 

April 15, 2021 4pm

Our Changing Menu: Climate Change and the Foods We Love and Need by Michael Hoffmann, Carrie Koplinka-Loehr, and Danielle Eiseman

Climate change is a recipe for disaster. Whether you’re a home cook or a master chef, backyard gardener or professional grower, the yields, flavors, nutritional content, and cost of what you eat are already being impacted, according to Our Changing Menu: Climate Change and the Foods We Love and Need (Cornell University Press, 2021), a book that celebrates the power of food and tackles what is arguably the greatest challenge of our time.

An Extraordinary Year in Review

Photo by Jason Koski, University Photography
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As the Cornell campus begins to move out of a restful winter break and stretch towards the start of a new semester, we’re pleased to bring our friends some of the highlights of the past year at Mann Library. It has been a year like no other—and yet, a look back shows some remarkable accomplishments. We know we are not alone there. We salute the resilience and dedication that has been so abundantly evident at Cornell and the world beyond as we have all faced an extraordinary year. The year ahead promises its own challenges. As we lean in with our patrons, colleagues and friends, all that we’ve managed so far provides inspiration for the future: 2021, we’re ready!

Cornell University Library’s Evidence Synthesis Service: Innovative Collaborations Amidst a Global Pandemic

Evidence Synthesis Service team members (l to r) Kelly Johnson, Kate Ghezzi-Kopel, Jim Morris-Knower, Erin Eldermire, and Chris Fournier. (Not pictured: Chris Miller, who joined in late 2020, and Amelia Kallaher, who is a former team member). Photo by Jenny Leijonhufvud
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2020 has been a year of exciting growth for Cornell University Library’s Evidence Synthesis Service Team. Evidence syntheses, such as systematic reviews, scoping reviews, and other forms of literature synthesis, have emerged as an attractive research alternative to in-person lab and fieldwork for many Cornellians during the pandemic. Working remotely, researchers sought out the expertise of the CUL Evidence Synthesis Team’s six librarians, all trained to provide in-depth guidance and instruction on evidence synthesis methods and their application across disciplines. The era of COVID-19 has also led to new opportunities for our librarians to collaborate on cutting-edge projects, and two major long-term global projects for our team have reached pivotal new phases. We are pleased to share an overview of our accomplishments this year, and to highlight the critical role that librarians play in evidence synthesis work.

This summer, members of Cornell University administration engaged the library’s Evidence Synthesis Team to perform a series of rapid evidence reviews to inform campus reactivation decisions. Drawing from our knowledge of rapid research synthesis methods, we developed eight protocols to outline our approach to search the literature and address research questions identified by Cornell administrators on COVID-19 transmission, surveillance testing and contact tracing. All eight protocols are publicly available on The Open Science Framework in accordance with the defining characteristics of high-quality evidence synthesis: reduced bias, transparency, and reproducibility. This project displays the value that librarians bring to the process of rapid evidence-based decision-making.

 

Many new studies on COVID-19 are published every day, and researchers are turning to librarians for guidance on methods for effectively synthesizing it. This year, Division of Nutritional Sciences researchers brought on a librarian co-author to their recently published article, Transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 through breast milk and breastfeeding: a living systematic review. Living systematic review guidelines recommend searching sources at least monthly and making the results of these searches visible to end users within another month. This continuous and consistent approach to literature searching allows for rapid synthesis of fast-publishing studies.

 

Another exciting project that came to fruition this year is Ceres2030: Sustainable Solutions to End Hunger. Ceres2030 is an international project of 78 researchers from 23 countries that sought the expertise of a global team of librarians who served as co-authors and methodology developers on eight evidence syntheses on topics pertaining to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger. The evidence syntheses have recently been published in Nature Research as a special collection, and each one features a librarian co-author. Kate Ghezzi-Kopel, Coordinator of the CUL Evidence Synthesis Team, led the global team of 12 librarians involved in this effort. The Ceres2030 librarian team also includes Erin Eldermire, Head of the Flower Sprecher Veterinary library and member of the CUL Evidence Synthesis Service team. Librarian collaboration with researchers on Ceres2030 was critical to the success and eventual publication of this collection of articles that will ultimately influence policy-making decisions.

 

Although training for medical librarians to support systematic reviews is common, the CUL Evidence Synthesis team has worked over the past few years to expand training opportunities for librarians working on evidence syntheses outside of the health sciences. In partnership with colleagues at the University of Minnesota and Carnegie Mellon University, we received an IMLS grant to provide multiple online trainings for librarians over the next three years. In August 2020, we conducted a pilot of this training to a group of 50 librarian participants who work in fields like life sciences, agriculture, education, business, and others. Recordings from this pilot are freely available, and we look forward to expanding our reach by continuing to train librarians on evidence synthesis methods.

We exist in a world of ever expanding scholarly resources, and librarians are uniquely suited to serve as teachers and research partners when it comes to applying new methods to navigate and synthesize evidence. This year has presented new challenges to researchers, disrupting their usual workflows and forcing them to synthesize rapidly growing bodies of literature quickly. Evidence synthesis is coming into the forefront as an integral library research service during these times, and the CUL Evidence Synthesis Team looks forward to continued engagement with researchers across disciplines to inform high-quality evidence-based decision making in a changing world.

On the home stretch—Mann spaces and services are here for you!

Photo by Jenny Leijonhufvud
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It’s home stretch time—and we want to be sure that all Cornell students and researchers know that Mann Library spaces an services are here for you as you need them. Specific updates to keep top of mind:

  • Mann Library hours of operation through December 21 are: Monday – Thursday 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m., Friday 10:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m.; closed Saturday; Sunday 12:00 p.m. through 5:00 p.m. For full hours info see: bit.ly/mann-hours 
  • Looking for a warm study spot on campus during off-hours? The Mann Library lobby, Room 102 and the Stone Classroom are all accessible 24/7 via card swipe access. But remember!  Before you come to campus please complete your Daily Check-in and while here, please follow all Cornell COVID safety requirements: bit.ly/cornell-covid-safety
  • Contactless pick-up of books paged from our stacks also continues to be available 24/7 in Room 112 via card swipe. For full info on requesting books from the library stacks: bit.ly/getbooks-cul
  • And, for any question big or small, librarians are here for you remotely all the time! Just hit the “Chat with us” button you see on the right of this or any page on our website; or visit library.cornell.edu/ask for more options on contacting us.

Be well and best wishes to you all for a successful end of semester!

The Bear Says “Get the Most Out of Your Library!”

Original artwork by Daisy Wiley
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Hey students, what can the Library help you with this hybrid fall 2020 semester? A lot! Just take it from the bear—who’s stepping up as the star of our new comic book series, created to fill you in on all the ways you can make the Library work for you. Our first installment comes with tips on getting the most out of the library as many students head off campus to finish their semester at home.  Wishing you all a successful close to a (rather historic!) fall 2020 semester, wherever your perch!