McFarlin Memo

Wearing many hats throughout her career as a librarian, Lisa Grimes has worked her way from a dazzling Ms. Frizzle figure managing various school libraries to her newest position as McFarlin Library's Assistant Dean. Lisa is a prime example of how interdisciplinary training and unyielding determination can transfer professional skillsets into the program growth that a library needs. Read Lisa's responses to learn about her educational journey, her interesting find in the stacks, and her future plans.

How long have you been at McFarlin and what roles have you had during your tenure?

I started working at McFarlin Library on July 15, 2019 as the Student Success Librarian. In February 2024 I was promoted to Director of Instruction & Research, which established a new department for McFarlin Library. In July 2025, I am being promoted to Assistant Dean of McFarlin Library while maintaining my Director of Instruction & Research title.

Why librarianship? What made this career appealing to you?

I have worked in instruction for 25 years, but working in libraries has been the most rewarding part of my career. I get to collaborate with faculty and other librarians, connect patrons to both print and digital resources, and work with a diverse range of people every day. Helping patrons discover new resources and strategies to tackle rigorous research queries is very fulfilling.

What is your non-library training and/or degree, and how does it help you as a librarian?

My bachelor's degree is in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on teaching K-6 Science and Social Studies. I also have a Master of Business Management (MBA) from TU. Having a background in public education taught me valuable skills such as working with diverse populations, connecting lessons to different learning styles, communicating effectively, and managing multiple projects at once.

My MBA prepared me for administration by strengthening my leadership skills, sharpening my approach to outreach and marketing, equipped me with essential financial skills, and enhancing my ability to analyze data.

What’s your favorite spot in McFarlin Library and why is it your favorite?

I love visiting Special Collections! The Satin Reading Room is gorgeous, but it goes well beyond the amazing aesthetics. This unique library space is humbling, giving me the opportunity to learn about a vast array of resources, authors, and historical events. There are always opportunities to learn and discover new things.

Can you tell me about a memorable interaction you have had with a patron?  

A student came in feeling frustrated, wanting to change their research topic. During our PRA session, I was able to show them a few different databases and advanced research strategies, along with a way to expand their keyword usage. They were so surprised when the results were exactly what they had been looking for.  In fact, they were so excited that they sent a few friends to the library to get help as well.  

What is your favorite media to consume and what makes it your favorite?  

As a librarian, most people expect me to say books, but my favorite media revolves around sit-coms and video games. I am in “go-mode” most of the day, so being able to sit back and relax and be entertained is a great way for me to laugh and unwind.

What’s the best (non-human) resource at McFarlin?  

Our Databases are a great resource for students, faculty, and staff. We are fortunate to have a wide range of subscriptions to help all our researchers find valuable information and sources.  

Tell me the most bizarre thing you have seen while walking through the book stacks.

I was doing a walk-through of the stacks one day and found some contraband that led to a fun interaction with Campo.

If you could go back in time and talk to one of the designers who modified the building, which phase would you jump to and what would you tell them?

I would go back to 2007 and ask them to add some sound insulation between the floors of the library to prevent sound from travelling so well between our offices and meeting rooms.  

You’re trapped in McFarlin for the night: what do you do when no one else is around?

If I were trapped in McFarlin for the night, first I would crank up the music using our karaoke speaker, then I would make a slingshot and use it to launch bouncy balls up and down the Main Level hallway. Once I got tired of that, I would go down to the Browsing Level and use the DVDs to make a “house of cards” and see how high I could build it without everything falling over.  

What is an exciting project you are currently working on, or a future endeavor you are anticipating?

We have hosted a librarian’s conference for Tulsa Public Schools librarians for the past two years. This year we are expanding the conference to all Tulsa County school librarians! We are so excited for this opportunity and look forward to expanding it even more next year! 

The next installment in our Digital Discoveries resource overviews is our Personalized Research Assistance form. 

Although the online form is the only “digital” element of this resource, it is the crucial first step to accessing one of the most personally tailored assistance services available at McFarlin. Below are some frequently asked questions that will hopefully help you to better understand how one of these sessions can help you. 

What is a Personalized Research Assistance session?

These sessions, called PRAs for short, are research information meetings that are designed to meet the unique needs of every TU student or staff member who schedules one. Scheduling a PRA session means that you will receive a one-on-one session with a librarian focused on what you need for your research or understanding of McFarlin’s resources.  

Examples of these sessions include but are not limited to:  

• how to access, sort, and choose from the database list
• helping students find the required number of articles for a course project
• teaching students how to evaluate sources found online, through journals, or multi-media platforms
• assisting students with finding articles for literature reviews
• teaching students how to create advanced search queries and track searches
• using citation management software and organizing articles
• guiding students through ethical use of generative-AI tools

Truly, we want these sessions to reflect your needs and be a respectful use of your time. If you are not sure if a PRA is for you, just ask and we’ll help get you connected with a librarian or other campus resource.

Who can use this service?

This service was designed to help both undergraduates and graduate students but is open to professors as well! The goal is that faculty and students at TU know that the library’s resources are made available with an assumed proficiency. Sometimes you need a little guidance or redirection when you’re frustrated with research and that’s when this service can save your sanity and time.  

How long does it take?  

To schedule a session, we ask that you give us one to two business days to get back to you, but we are usually quicker than that at slower times of the semester. The sessions themselves can be as short as 15 minutes or as long as 2 hours. Again, the personalized aspect of these sessions is that you leave feeling like you were helped which can look different for everyone in terms of time.

Do I have to come to McFarlin to meet with a librarian?

While you can of course get help in-person at McFarlin, we also offer these meetings online through Teams. Online meetings do not require the students to be on camera, but we do recommend being in a somewhat quiet location and using a laptop or desktop. We often share screens during these meetings, and a phone screen is too small.  

If you choose to meet in person, it’s very helpful to bring your laptop, but we typically have an extra computer available if needed. Being able to save the articles we find or make notes on the process is incredibly valuable to your workflow after the PRA is over.

Can you only help students from any major?

YES!  We work with students from all disciplines across campus. Part of the PRA form that you fill out asks you to specify the information needs you have, and we use that section to help match you with the best librarian. 

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Where is this form you keep mentioning?

On the homepage of the library!

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Need help finding articles? Schedule a PRA!

Need someone to explain how to find, view, and use the features of an eBook? Schedule a PRA!

Not sure whether or not your sources are scholarly or peer-reviewed? Schedule a PRA!

Doing a group assignment and have multiple members who need help? Schedule a PRA!

Feeling very overwhelmed and unsure of how to navigate the research process? You guessed it – schedule a PRA! 

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If this feature didn't do enough to convince you, please read this feedback from real, live, actual TU students who have used the service.

“I was able to get all my questions answered and learned how to use multiple databases.” – Julia S., freshman 

“I was excited to figure out how much music books and scores they had in the library. And now I know where to look I need better knowledge for my research instead of just going to Google or YouTube.” – Abby S., sophomore

“I have thoroughly benefited from the time spent learning about the resources at McFarlin Library, and I always recommend to other graduate students to make time to do the same. Thank you for your hard work!” – Kenneth B., graduate student

“Fantastic session! I only wish it were longer and that I had done it sooner! IMO, this should be mandatory for all graduate students to meet with the research librarian to go over, in real time, search terms and how to navigate the databases. Otherwise, one *might* spend a solid 13 frustrating hours wading through the tar pits of these databases.” – Meagan P., DNP 

Have you ever exchanged a smile with Sergio at the circulation desk or noticed him quietly working in the library? Despite his reserved nature, Sergio is an integral  member of McFarlin Library, tirelessly updating our stacks to make them more accessible. Dive into my interview with Sergio to discover the hidden gems of McFarlin and see how his dedication to patrons creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

How long have you been at McFarlin and what roles have you had during your tenure?

I have been working with McFarlin a little over three years now. I started with my title being Library Associate, but it changed into Weekend Lead. However, the responsibilities remain relatively the same. I open and close the building where it is needed and I supervise evening operations of the library. I help in the circulation department by working the front desk and also providing assistance to patrons when they have questions. I work additional projects as needed in order to improve and maintain the library’s functionality.

Why librarianship? What made this job appealing to you?

I wanted to work in a library because I grew up surrounded by books. I loved visiting libraries as a child and could spend hours there reading or using their computers. As I got older the idea of working in a library seemed like a neat one, and when I saw an opening in McFarlin I decided to take it.

What is your dream career, or your ideal next job?

I have always wanted to be a writer. Since I was in middle school, I would write all kinds of stories and poems, and I have dreamed of making a career out of it. Reading and writing have been very important in my life, and despite all the years that have come and gone, I still want to see if I can make them into something that I can turn into a career.

What’s your favorite spot in McFarlin Library and why is it your favorite?

My favorite spots in McFarlin are the Faculty Study and Third Floor Reading Room. It can be either of these rooms because the main thing I like is looking out of the windows on the west side of the building. We get a beautiful view of the downtown area, and any time I have to work in these rooms I take a moment to stop and just look out and admire the view.

Can you tell me about a memorable interaction you have had with a patron? 

The most memorable interactions I have with patrons are those where you go beyond your normal responsibilities in order to help them. There have been a couple instances where a patron comes to the building when our browsing floor is closed but they really need to print something out. Despite being in the process of closing up the building, I have allowed students access to this floor so they can get done what they need done. The gratefulness they give you makes the interaction worth it. 

What is your favorite media to consume and what makes it your favorite?

The main media I consume nowadays is TikTok, which is not my proudest thing to say as someone who works in a library, but it is what it is.    

What’s the best (non-human) resource at McFarlin?

The best non-human resource at McFarlin would have to be our study spaces. We have many areas that can be used to study, from our quiet reading rooms to our more open browsing level where group work can be done. For those needing a more private space to study, whether individually or in a group, we also offer study rooms to check out which are very popular among our students.

Tell me the most bizarre thing you have seen while walking through the book stacks.

The most bizarre thing I have seen while walking through the book stacks is a life-size cut out of Samuel L. Jackson. I did not know it was going to be there so it scared me when I walked down the stacks and the lights turned on to reveal him glaring at me. 

If you could go back in time and talk to one of the designers who modified the building, which phase would you jump to and what would you tell them?

I would go back to when they decided to put in the windows to the reading rooms and urge them to make sure no water can come through. 

You’re trapped in McFarlin for the night: what do you do when no one else is around?

I will sleep. There are ghosts in the stacks and I do not want to be awake when they decide to walk around at night.

What is an exciting project you are currently working on, or a future endeavor you are anticipating?

Books are being shifted to different shelves that are allowing us to tidy them and organize them to make for a more spacious and appealing look to our stacks.

In this series for the McFarlin Memo, we will be highlighting new digital resources as well as offering fresh usage ideas for those long-standing resources. The goals of this series are that you learn something new, and feel more confident when navigating McFarlin's excellent databases and digital collections. 

At the beginning of this semester, the EBSCO database suite received an interface refresh which improved accessibility and expanded the capabilities for saving and searching within the databases. For the first “Digital Discovery" in this new series, I will offer guidance on these new features to help you get the most out of your time on any EBSCO database.

What is EBSCO?
This is a database hosting site that provides access to thousands of journal articles, eBooks, popular periodicals through databases. McFarlin Library currently subscribes to 64 of the EBSCO databases. EBSCO offers advanced features that allow you to search multiple databases with a single set of search terms, making it a great starting place for many students. Within the EBSCO suite, there are databases for multiple content areas. Some of those noteworthy databases are:

• Academic Search Complete – this is a general, multi-disciplinary academic database that offers coverage for many current topics in scholarly research. If you want to get a handle on database research, Academic Search Complete is an excellent place to begin.
• Business Source Complete – a great choice for researchers working in marketing, management, finance, and other disciplines of business. Not only does this database offer access to premier business journals, it also includes industry reports, country reports, company profiles, and SWOT analyses.
• CINAHL – a premier nursing resource that often has surprising interdisciplinary coverage, this database is excellent for beginning nursing/health science students, as well as those who have research that overlaps within areas of mental health and general well-being. 

• MLA International Bibliography – this database is produced by the Modern Language Association and offers electronic coverage of their extensive bibliography. Dating back to the 1920s, this database contains over 2.2 million citations from more than 4,400 journals & series, and 1,000 book publishers that cover literature, language and linguistics, folklore, literary theory & criticism, dramatic arts, as well as the historical aspects of printing and publishing.

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What’s new with EBSCO? 
In January this database suite got a facelift, which included the relocation of many features. And though the overall functionality of EBSCO has not changed, many of the shortcuts and limiting features have been relocated. 

Below is a short video that details some of the major changes.

TL;DW (too long; didn't watch) Summary:

• The advanced search is still the default.
• There are quick filters on the top of each results page that allow you do refine by full text, peer reviewed, date, and source type. 
• The all filters menu opens on the right side of the screen, and offers a fully nested list of refiners that the previous interface offered.
• Within in a record page for an article the same information is available, but is arranged differently. Notably, the abstract is now further down on the page and the links to download a copy of the text are at the top of the record.
• There is no longer a search history tab. Users will instead need to select the “recent activity” option on the left side of the screen and copy and paste the link in the URL bar. (Though the MyEBSCO account option is a better saving option.)

• MyEBSCO is a new account feature that allows users to save specific search results as well as searches with any applied filters. Additionally, if you are logged in at the beginning of your session, the MyEBSCO will track your search history in the “recent activity” section of the dashboard.

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Most helpful features of the new interface?
Truly, the MyEBSCO account feature is one of the best improvements to this database group. Setting up an account can be done with your TU email, and it allows you save searches and articles with ease. If you are gathering research on a specific topic, the account feature will also assist you in setting up alerts for new articles. 
The overall layout of the article results page is sleek and easy to navigate. The option to read articles in HTML format (though not available for all articles) offers some accessibility features like a table of contents, translation features, and the option to download an audio file of the narrated text. 
 

Tips and tricks for using EBSCO databases.

• When choosing search terms, take advantage of the autofill for term variation. This will expand the number of results you receive, ensuring that you are not missing articles that are still relevant to your concept but use a different iteration of the phrasing you intially chose. 
• When you need a term to appear in the main concepts or ideas of the article’s text, you can change the field to “subject term” to ensure that your results do not just briefly mention the term.
• Do not limit your results to full text only. As a TU student, faculty, or staff member you have access to ILL. You can use this service to get articles for free, preventing you from missing out on valuable sources. 

• If you want to get the most of your research time, begin your searches with broader, all-encompassing terms and then add in more specific terminology to additional fields as needed. Combining search terms strategically is one of the ways that databases can give you better, more reliable information than platforms like Google Scholar. The multi-term searches in combination with database filters provide a robust search with excellent results.

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Need more help?
Consider scheduling a Personalized Research Assistance session with a librarian. One of the knowledgeable staff at McFarlin can guide you through any of the EBSCO databases, or help you navigate the new interface features with ease. 
 

Unless you've worked at McFarlin, you might not realize how essential the phrase "I'll ask Amanda" is to our smooth operations. Amanda Ferguson is one of those invaluable staff members. She primarily works behind the scene to ensure our website functions flawlessly. Without its highly accessible website (among other resources), McFarlin would be just a building with books. In addition to being our webmaster, Amanda also serves as one of our ILL associate librarians and is a wizard at finding resources. Enjoy this interview where Amanda shares her favorite aspects of McFarlin and her itinerary for a perfect day.

How long have you been at McFarlin and what roles have you had during your tenure?

I did my undergrad here at TU and had a work-study at the library. One of the staff members reached out a while after I’d graduated to let me know somebody'd retired and there was an opening. I’ve worked full-time at McFarlin for thirteen years now. I started in the circulation department and moved over to interlibrary loan. I’m also one of the people that work on the library’s website.

Why librarianship? What made this career appealing to you?

I enjoy getting to interact with people and help with research. I like hearing about new and interesting topics and helping problem-solve. One of the biggest draws to working here though was the staff. I met some amazing people when working on my bachelor's and I knew that it was a team that I would enjoy working with.

What is your non-library training and/or degree, and how does it help you as a librarian?

I started as an MIS major but eventually decided to switch to a history major. It has helped me learn how to research different areas of study and showed me how there can be multiple approaches to solving a problem.

What’s your favorite spot in McFarlin Library and why is it your favorite?

There are a few spots in McFarlin that I enjoy, but my favorite at the moment is by the windows in the tech wing. It’s a cozy space to sit with lots of natural light and a great view.

Can you tell me about a memorable interaction you have had with a patron?  

I’ve had quite a few memorable interactions. It is great when you can find that one book or resource that you can tell has made someone’s day. Some of my favorites are from students that have thanked us after finishing their theses or dissertations, but I also really enjoy the look on a student’s face the first time I tell them how many things they’re allowed to check out.

What is your favorite media to consume and what makes it your favorite?

I usually have a tv on at home, but most of the time it's for the background noise. I would say that I spend most of my time reading. Mysteries of any genre, thrillers and fantasy are my favorites. I also read a lot of fanfiction. I love reading original works with new worlds and characters, but I also love the opportunity to reach beyond canon and read the what-if scenarios that can come from transformative fiction.

What’s the best (non-human) resource at McFarlin?

The website. You can find information on all our resources and services there including the best ways to reach out to the staff.

Tell me the most bizarre thing you have seen while walking through the book stacks.

I’ve found students asleep at the tables in the stacks. This wasn’t in the stacks, but I did have a couple of students give me a jump scare in their Halloween costumes back when the learning studio was still the media room.

If you could go back in time and talk to one of the designers who modified the building, which phase would you jump to and what would you tell them?

Back in time immemorial (pre-2007), we had what was called the Cyber Café. It was on the main level right where the main staircase is. It was a computer lab with a couple of vending machines, a kitchenette, and tables that you could sit and eat at. The computers and vending machines have since been moved and we have Starbucks upstairs now. (It has way better seating, atmosphere, and coffee) I do miss the little kitchenette though...and the carpet. Book carts and tile are not a good combination with the library’s acoustics.

You’re trapped in McFarlin for the night: what do you do when no one else is around?

Hang out on the browsing floor with my laptop and all the lights on. This building is creepy when it’s empty.

What is an exciting project you are currently working on, or a future endeavor you are anticipating?

I like getting to add the new library events to the website as they come up. We’re also doing an update of a lot of our written procedures since we migrated to a new system last summer.

What is your idea of THE perfect day (where you could go anywhere/meet with anyone)?

I’m a bit of a homebody so my perfect day would be at home with the windows open. I’d be playing the newest update to one of my video games or getting to read the next book in one of my favorite series with no interruptions. If I had to pick something outside of the house, then I’d visit a museum I haven’t been to yet or go to a con with some of my favorite actors. 

Did you know? Douglass Day helped give rise to Black History Month. It’s why we have Black History Month in February.

After Frederick Douglass passed away in 1895, many saw the importance of honoring his memory and activism. In Washington, D.C., a group led by Mary Church Terrell, (an important African American activist, educator, and author) observed Douglass’s birthday every February 14th as “Douglass Day.” 

Douglass Day celebrations began around the turn of the 20th century and helped inspire Black History Month. Though this day of recognition is nothing new, a group at the University of Delaware helped revive Douglass Day in 2017. This became a day when participants around the world logged into the By the People page on the Library of Congress's website to contribute to the transcription of documents. This year these documents were from the African American Perspectives in Print collection. 

Collaborating with Billy Smith, Director of Helmerich Center for American Research at Gilcrease Museum, and myself, McFarlin Library's Associate Dean, Jill Krefft, led the charge in organizing our participation in this historic event. Promotional materials were sent out, inviting any and all students, professors, and interested community members to join us in this transcribe-a-thon, a cake was ordered to celebrate Frederick Douglass and McFarlin's contribution in the preservation of history.

On Friday the 14th, Billy Smith opened our event with a talk on the Eddie Faye Gates Collection, which chronicles the stories of the Tulsa Race Massacre (see more information below), and we tuned into the livestream from the Library Congress to get us all set for a few hours of transcribing. 

What went right? Nearly 9,000 people in over 180 locations logged into the website, and began to review and transcribe the documents in the African American Perspectives collection. Documents included both print and handwritten materials from the 1700s through the mid 1900s. There were manuscripts, historic newspapers, government memos, and even sheet music. In total 8 people joined us in McFarlin's Learning Studio to hear presenters and transcribe. 

So, what went wrong? About a hour into the official transcription time, participants - including those at McFarlin - began to see this… 

With a record number of logins, the Library of Congress's website could not handle the online traffic. Though the site would intermittently come back, participants were encouraged to enlarge images of the documents in the gallery view and transcribe into a Google or Word document so we could paste into the transcription field online at a later time. 

Did this Douglass Day celebration go as planned? No. But few things do when you're making and preserving history. In the end, there was still cake. And when there are great people working towards a worthy cause and cake, that day cannot be considered awash. 

Wondering how you can connect with local Black History as well? Jana Gowan, Reference and Outreach Librarian at HCAR, invites you to “explore the Eddie Faye Gates Tulsa Race Massacre Collection at Gilcrease Museum. The Eddie Faye Gates collection is an archive of Black history - personal, familial, and communal - created and curated by local hero Eddie Faye Gates, a historian, writer, educator, and activist dedicated to preserving and sharing the truth about the past.”

When viewing the items in the collection you will see a contact us link below the description of each item. This is because HCAR relies on community input and information to make this collection more accessible and impactful. So, if you find yourself browsing the collection and see someone, a place, or an item you recognize tell HCAR! 

If Douglass Day teaches us anything it's the power of crowd-sourced archival work. 

This month McFarlin celebrates its 95th anniversary of being a partner site for the Federal Depository Library Program (aka FDLP). Unlike the general collection in McFarlin Library, the FDLP documents are publicly accessible. To better understand how the program works, I spoke with our FDLP librarian in residence, Rhoen Dellinger, who is currently responsible for helping TU and community patrons access government documents. 

Rhoen provided background on the Federal Depository Library Program, and McFarlin's role as a depository site.

Government resources provide information on health, careers, business opportunities, science, technology, the military and much more. Depository libraries provide the public access to current and historical information, assistance in locating information, educational opportunities, and help to preserve public memory. The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) was established in 1813 to ensure that government information is accessible to the American public via depository libraries throughout the U.S. and its territories. Initially the program was headed by the U.S. Secretary of State and the information was distributed through Congressional journals.  

Today, the Government Publishing Office oversees the FDLP.  The FDLP has been a part of the Government Publishing Office since 1895. McFarlin has been a partial depository since January 10, 1929. Typically, a member of Congress designates a library for entry into the FDLP. From 1979 to mid-2015, McFarlin served as a depository for publications produced by the state of Oklahoma and received via the Oklahoma Publications Clearinghouse unit of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. 

There are two types of depository libraries, regional and selective. A regional library is responsible for retaining a copy of all government publications received and provides services like interlibrary loans and reference to the selective depository libraries it serves. A selective depository library chooses to receive certain classes of documents from the government that best serve their clientele. McFarlin is a selective depository that serves Oklahoma State University’s Edmond Low Library, which is the regional depository for Oklahoma. Many depository libraries work together to provide people with a variety of resources, both current and historical.  

Currently, McFarlin is making the transition to a digital depository, which means that government documents must be accessible online. The Government Documents collection at McFarlin is built to support the curricular and research needs of the University’s undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and the greater Tulsa community. This transition ensures that our collection is accessible via several different websites, databases, and the library’s online catalog. With so many options, users can access the collection from anywhere. Changes in information seeking behaviors and the internet have changed the way the FDLP operates. The demand for physical collections is decreasing now that federal agencies are starting to publish public information online. 

Working with Federal Documents may not sound like the most exciting task for a librarian, but Rhoen does not discredit the importance of her work with the program. In fact, she sees it as a great asset to both the TU and greater Tulsa communities. One of the primary functions of Rhoen's position is to get people interested in government documents and make it easier for them to find these resources. Though many government agencies have dedicated websites to share documentation, minutes, or updates, the depository is more than that. Rhoen explained that “the FDLP makes it easier for people to discover different kinds of governmental assistance and services that are available to them. There are of course things like Congressional Bills, Presidential Papers, and other publications by government agencies as well. The FDLP informs the public while also protects public memory. Each depository has items or collections that are unique and can’t be found at every depository library. Depositories benefit local communities and the public by maintaining records whether they be published today or 100 years ago.”

Like me, you may wonder what people are looking for when they access documents from the FDLP. The most common access requests are for historical government documents, many of which are difficult to find through something like a Google search. However, users of the FDLP collections are not just looking for older iterations of a house bill or a state statute, they are also looking for documents on careers, health, and legal or regulatory information. “People can use these documents to get things like unemployment, health insurance, and other kinds of assistance programs,” Rhoen stated. With access to information that can help with research and daily living, it's surprising to me that more people are not taking advantage of this service. Though most FDLP programs are moving to online access, this format can actually present a barrier. For example, people who need information on unemployment may not have consistent internet access, and the map of FDLP locations is only found online. This means that “its entirely possible that people are just unfamiliar with the program altogether. Which is understandable because it’s not really advertised in a way that might interest people.”

How can we raise awareness about the excellent resources contained in the FDLP? Well, it starts with information like you'll find in this post. Sharing knowledge of its existence is the first step. And now that you know it exists, check out the new government documents Libguide. The best place to start is the ‘Basic Collection,’ which lists websites that are available for anyone to freely use. Or, just reach out to McFarlin. Librarians like Rhoen are here to help , and don’t want you to be afraid to ask for research assistance or give us your feedback. 

As I always try to do, I ended my chat with Rhoen by asking for something interesting she has come across while working with the FDLP collection at McFarlin. Though there are a large number of interesting finds in the collection, the most surprising has been items a person may not see as traditional “government documents.” Rhoen said the items that shocked her the most were pop culture related: coloring and activity books, comics, recipes, etc. “I came across a cartoon illustrated by Dr. Suess for the U.S. Army that’s kind of strange. It’s called ‘This is Ann… She drinks blood!’ It follows a mosquito named Ann that has Malaria and explains what can be done to prevent it from spreading.” Like any great librarian, Rhoen shared links to Ann and other interesting finds in the collection. 

The next interview in the “Staff Spotlight” series is Jenny Jones. Jenny shared her humor and insights on the importance of libraries. A dependable employee since 1999, she brings joy to the processing offices and has an unmatched ability to recall the policies and procedures of McFarlin's past. Read the full interview below to learn the strangest thing she has ever witnessed in the library stacks, and why she has chosen to spend her career working in libraries.

How long have you been at McFarlin and what roles have you had during your tenure?
I’ve been with McFarlin for 25 years. I started out as a part time employee working at what was once called the “Cyber Café” in August of 1999. A few months later I applied for an opening in the Interlibrary Loan department and was hired on as full-time staff just days before my 21st birthday.
In 2007 I shifted from ILL to running the library remote storage unit for McFarlin’s regular stacks. This involved moving materials in mass from one building to another, and then organizing the various collections at the storage site. Currently, I split my time between the Research and Circulation Departments, helping patrons with reference questions as well as managing holds.

Why librarianship? What made this career appealing to you?
I used to HATE reading when I was much younger, but a teacher in 5th grade changed my mind about books and I haven’t stopped reading since then. Although, I never imagined I’d end up working in a library, much less an academic one. 
After working in a library, I now see libraries as portals to imagination and information for any and all who seek it.  Libraries are where you go to find answers to questions. I have found, over the years, that there are some interesting questions out there to be asked, and I’ve learned some interesting things while working in this library.

What is your non-library training and/or degree, and how does it help you working at a library?
I have the distinction of being the only one on staff with just a high school diploma. I was hired at McFarlin right out of high school.  Though I do not have any college education, I was able to integrate into the Research and ILL Departments without a formal education.  Nowadays, it gives me the advantage of being on an equal footing with students just out of high school, and that helps build a rapport with some students. 

What’s your favorite spot in McFarlin Library and why is it your favorite?
Back in the day, there was a spot in the stacks with a little study nook that I would sit at when taking a break from schlepping materials to remote storage. Because there is a vent directly above the chair, I could be cooled with frigid air during the summers. 

(This is a tip to any students who find themselves in McFarlin during our hot Oklahoma summers.)

Can you tell me about a memorable interaction you have had with a patron? 
I had a patron from a few years ago that was in town from out of state and they wanted to see their thesis on the shelf with all the other thesis and dissertations on the shelf in the stacks. That was fun, they were super stoked. They took pictures of it on the shelf and everything. 

What is your favorite media to consume and what makes it your favorite?
I love to read. I want to say reading, but my first love would be the movies. I think film is my favorite medium because it continues to evolve new and spectacular special effects. These effects come from someone else’s imagination and provide incredible visuals that feed the audience’s imaginations. One of my favorite examples is the scene in the Lord of the Rings film when Arwen calls the river to surge, and it looks like horses. Yeah, it was cool in my imagination when I read the scene, but it looked even better on film.

What’s the best (non-human) resource in McFarlin?
The Writing Center. For years, no one was sure what building it was in and what exactly they could and could not help you with.  Now that they’re located in McFarlin we have a copacetic relationship with them.  McFarlin staff have a better understanding of what their operational parameters are, and it's much easier to direct patrons to them.

Tell me the most bizarre thing you have seen while walking through the book stacks.
Catching a couple in a heavy make-out session by the copy machines that used to be on the Intermediate Level. I blushed as I told them, “This didn’t count as a private room.” 

If you could go back in time and talk to one of the designers who modified the building, which phase would you jump to and what would you tell them?
That’s easy! In the last major renovation, they took out the carpet on the main level floor between the processing offices and the book stacks. Book carts full of books do not do well on tile floors – they just vibrate right off the cart. 

You’re trapped in McFarlin for the night: what do you do when no one else is around?
Hunt for the Ghost of McFarlin. They gotta be around here somewhere!  

What is an exciting project you are currently working on, or a future endeavor you are anticipating?
I’m excited to be working on new acquisitions for the Browsing Floor novels and graphic novels in the coming new year.  The various collections on that floor have not seen an update since before Covid. It will be fun to see which new and exciting titles can be added, as well as updating some of our current series. 
 

“Mr. Naipaul exempted neither colonizer nor colonized from his scrutiny. He wrote of the arrogance and self-aggrandizement of the colonizers, yet exposed the self-deception and ethical ambiguities of the liberation movements that swept across Africa and the Caribbean in their wake. He brought to his work moral urgency and a novelist’s attentiveness to individual lives and triumphs.”

Rachel Donadio, New York Times, 2018

A Nobel Prize recipient for Literature, V.S. Naipaul was a highly praised and scrutinized author. Born to parents who were indentured servants that moved from India to Trinidad, Naipaul was raised in Trinidad but left for Oxford University in 1950. After university he settled in England. However, he was a man who never remained content in one place. He travelled the world, writing more than 30 books, both fiction and nonfiction, that were inspired by his critical takes on displacement, personhood, belonging, and citizenship. Considering all this prestige, it may surprise you to learn that V.S. Naipaul’s personal collection of manuscripts, mementos, letters, and other possessions reside in McFarlin’s own Special Collections Library. 

I was able to chat with the Director of Special Collections, Melissa Kunz, and the Archival Processor for the V.S. Naipaul Collection, Elissa Howe, about the significance of Naipaul’s archival collection and some of the items it contains.

With the help of former Provost George Gilpin, the collection was originally acquired in 1993. “Naipaul himself was interested in having his collection in a university. Provost Gilpin was interested in Naipaul, and interested in bringing the collection here,” Melissa explained. After the initial acquisition Naipaul would send things to Special Collections twice a year, so that he could have some control over what went in. This transactional nature allowed Naipaul to have a say in what researchers could view. However, this also meant that at one point this was a living collection. With a constant influx of new materials, the chance to complete accurate and accessible archival processing was complicated. After Naipaul’s passing in 2018, the collection needed assessment and reorganization – a process that had to be done to ensure that researchers could use it and fully understand the importance of the artifacts contained. Special Collections needed a full-time Naipaul processor.
In 2023, McFarlin Library founded the Adrian Alexander Librarian in Residence program. This program was started thanks to a generous gift from Peggy Helmerich in Dean Emeritus of McFarlin Library Alexander’s name, upon his retirement. With this donation, Special Collections hired Elissa Howe, a graduate of the TU Museum Science Management program, as the archival processor for Naipaul’s collection. Though it may be difficult to grasp the importance of having a dedicated archival processor for a collection, Melissa recognized that it was a critical step in getting this collection ready for public viewing. Naipaul’s collection “has the importance and prestige of being the lifetime collection of a Nobel Laureate,” Melissa explained. “It’s now a fully archived, fully accessible collection. This is a big reason to celebrate in the archive’s world. Multiple attempts have been made to bring it into control.” Elissa working on this, and finishing it, is a phenomenal accomplishment.

When I asked Elissa if it was the work itself or Naipaul specifically that drew her to this position, she explained that she joined Special Collections for the chance to process a collection. Elissa stated that she knew nothing about Naipaul – “I knew some of his contemporaries, but I wanted to go in blind so I could learn about him directly from his materials.” While processing this collection, Elissa began by first using an old finding aide to assess the collection. Then she had to sort manuscripts, letters, photographs, and various other artifacts in order to establish the organizational structure. She explained that “for a few years, Naipaul had some say in how it was organized. So, I used modern day standards to make notes on the reorganization of the older processes.” If this seems overwhelming or even baffling to you, then you best believe that Elissa encountered her own share of challenges with this collection of over 30,000 items. 

As is true with many archival collections, letters are an essential element. Elissa explained “you never expect that your letter will end up in an archive. A lot of time when people sign a letter they don’t put their last name. When attributing credit, [the archivist] wants to represent everyone accurately, so they have to make some educated guesses. Fortunately, for half the correspondence from early on in his life, Naipaul made notes on who items were from. So, I can use these notes to make a match.” What happens to the correspondence that cannot be attributed? It remains in the collection in hopes that one day connections can be established.

At this point you are probably eager to know what’s in this collection. While I was not able to view the collection in person, Elissa and Melissa gave me a teaser of some of the item holdings both commonplace and unique. In addition to his own writings and correspondence, Naipaul’s wife, Patricia, also has items in this collection. Though she lived in the shadows, Patricia was more than just a wife to this Nobel Laureate, she had her own research, was involved in community politics in 1960-90s London, and even gave input on some of her husband’s writings. Elissa learned that Naipaul dictated some of his books to Patricia and she would suggest edits. There are notecards in the collection with records of these interactions. Also, there are unpublished writings and notes from Naipaul’s father who had a failed writing career. While these items may not seem out of place, this once living collection has far more than pieces of paper. 

Some of the unexpected items in this collection are…

• keys to Patricia’s mother’s house
• a random 45 vinyl
• an empty 1970s airline peanut bag
• money from various countries such as Iran, Pakistan, Canda, and Indonesia 

• all his used checkbooks, over 200, as well as over a 1000 canceled checks
• receipts (which he apparently loved) including many from American eateries like IHOP
• an invitation from Buckingham Palace for a garden party
• a fan letter from actress Miriam Margolyes

With such an array of items that might seem inconsequential to some, Melissa clarified that the variety “speaks to Naipaul’s sense of what his collection meant and its importance.” In a way, this collection is a time capsule that truly allows a life to be fully documented and examined.

In addition to the exhibit beginning in January, there will be an exhibition catalogue that will include essays from Colm Tóibín, George Gilpin and Hermione de Almeida, Bhoe Tewarie, and Lars Engle. And, in Spring 2025, a New York Times article by journalist Aatish Taseer will be published about V.S. Naipaul. Taseer was travelling the US in 2024 writing about his favorite authors who explored themes of exile. Elissa was interviewed by Taseer because of her work with the collection and developed understanding of his life. 

Be sure to look for upcoming announcements for the opening day of the exhibit “Man Without a Country” to learn more about this illustrious author. 

In this first staff interview, I reached out to the incomparable Charles Brooks to chat about his tenure at McFarlin. He shared insights on the trends he has experienced over the past 37 years at the library. Read the full interview below to learn about his opinions on the building's design and what he would do if he was trapped in McFarlin for the night. 

How long have you been at McFarlin and what roles have you had during your tenure?
I started working at McFarlin Library on August 17, 1987, just as I was beginning the master’s program at OUSLIS.  My first job was working half-time for Nancy Henry, who was then the Instruction Librarian, preparing workbooks for Writing I, II, and III as well as working on Library Research Guides and Pathfinders, among other things.  When a full-time position opened in Technical Services the following spring, I applied for it and was hired as a paraprofessional copy cataloger.  
In December 1990 I received my MLIS from OU.  At the same time, a professional position opened in McFarlin. I applied for it and got the job.  So, I began my professional career here in January 1991.  
At that time the hot concept of the moment was the “holistic librarian”, which basically meant that reference librarians were cross-trained to do cataloging and catalogers were cross-trained to work at the Reference Desk.  So, I started out working in cataloging half the time and the other half in reference and instruction.  As a cataloger, I specialized first in media, then in non-English language materials (once cataloging a book in Icelandic!) and finally as a Special Collections cataloger.  
Meanwhile, I learned the ropes at the Reference Desk, which was very busy back in those days, being double-staffed most of the time.  I also started teaching classes, working first with Nancy Henry and then with her successor as Instruction Librarian, Hildy Benham.  I got along especially well with Hildy, and we worked very closely together the two years she was here.  Like Lisa, her background was in education, and I consider her very much my mentor in instruction.  (“Charles, you must move around more!”) She and I also offered some of the first Internet training on campus, teaching workshops on using Gopher, Archie and Veronica and finally Lynx and Mosaic.
When Hildy left in the summer of 1994 (to take a job in Abu Dhabi!), I became the Instruction Librarian full time.  (No more cataloging. Yay!)  I remained in this position until 2000.  During that time the Internet really took off and the library began investing in more and more online resources.  We had been teaching LIAS-TU (the online catalog that dated back to 1984) for years, but I now found myself having to teach database searching instead of how to use a print index.  This required a few changes.  For example, in 1994 I had a classroom for “show and tell” with an overhead projector that showed transparencies.  By 2000 I had a hands-on computer classroom with an LCD projector and a computer for every student.
During the 1990s, as the Internet exploded, I became increasingly interested in how we in the library could best make use of it, both in instruction and as a way of getting information out about the library.  So, I taught myself HTML and in 1995, using only Notepad, brought up the first McFarlin Library website.   As a result, I served as the library webmaster at the same time as I oversaw Instruction.
In 2000, with the growing importance of the Internet and our website, the library hired Rita Howell as Instruction Librarian and I took on the role of “Web Services Librarian”, responsible for our online presence.  However, I continued to work the Reference Desk and assisted Rita with Instruction.  
By 2006, digitization had become the latest “hot topic”.  The library hired Tiffany Benson to take over management of the website and I became “Digitization Librarian”.  I did this for about 18 months.  My main accomplishment was to digitize and transcribe the Alice Robertson correspondence from Special Collections and put all the transcriptions into a searchable Access database (using Microsoft ASP) with the transcription of each letter linked to the original digitized image.  This was online for several years, although it no longer is.
In 2008, not long after the arrival of Adrian Alexander as our first Dean, the library underwent an organizational shake-up.  The digitization project ended, and I became “Electronic Resources Librarian”, my current position.  I’m responsible for managing the library’s online resources: databases, e-journals, e-books, etc.  In this position I have also continued to cover the Reference Desk and assist with Instruction.

Why librarianship? What made this career appealing to you?
I’ve always been a library user.  Some of my earliest memories are of visiting the public library in Lampasas, Texas, where we lived.  You walked in the door and Mrs. Dickinson, the librarian, sat at her desk.  To one side of her was the children’s section and to the other side was the adult section.  I still remember how excited I was at the age of about 9 or 10 when I got to go into the adult section for the first time to find a biography of Theodore Roosevelt. I felt so grown-up! In college I majored in history and practically lived in the library.  I’m one of those people who needs it quiet to study and nothing cuts the noise quite like the bookstacks.  However, it was only after working part-time at the public library in Stillwater that I realized I had found my calling, moved to Tulsa, and began taking classes from OUSLIS at what was then UCAT, the University Center at Tulsa (now the OSU-Tulsa campus).  The rest you can read above!

What is your non-library training and/or degree, and how does it help you as a librarian?
I have a B.A. with a history major and a political science minor and an M.A. in history, both from Midwestern State University.  (Midwestern is located in Wichita Falls, Texas.)  After finishing my M.A. I went to OSU in Stillwater to work on a PhD in history, never completed. I’m still ABD after all these years.  I think the experience of spending the better part of a decade as an undergrad then grad student/teaching assistant made me sensitive to the pressures of student life, while writing umpteen term papers and a thesis based almost entirely on original research made me appreciate the challenges and satisfactions of the scholarly process.  I hope the result is that I have a better grasp on student needs as well as a stronger feel for what the library should be doing to meet those needs.  

What’s your favorite spot in McFarlin Library and why is it your favorite?
My favorite spot isn’t in McFarlin.  It’s actually in front of McFarlin, the plaza on the west side.  When I’m feeling stressed or just need to take a break and stretch my legs I go out and walk around the Plaza, look out over the “U” (and it will always be the “U” to me!) toward downtown Tulsa.  Not sure why, but it always makes me feel better.  

Can you tell me about a memorable interaction you have had with a patron? 
I remember back in the 90s I was about to teach an education class, introducing them to our education-related resources.  As I recall, it was an evening class, with a good number of non-traditional (i.e. older) students.  One student came up to me before the class started.   “I really don’t need this.  I’m already familiar with all the education stuff.  I just don’t see the point of this.  It’s a waste of my time.”  “I’m sorry you feel that way,” I said.  “We’re mainly going to be taking about ERIC.”  “Who’s Eric?”  I kept a straight face.

What is your favorite media to consume and what makes it your favorite?
I’ve always been a reader (hard to believe, right?), so I guess books would be my favorite medium.  I remember as a kid, any spending money I had went toward books. When I was in high school we lived in Greenfield, Missouri.  Never heard of it?  Not surprised.  About 1,300 people when we lived there.  Doubt it’s any bigger now.  It was always exciting to get to go to Battlefield Mall in Springfield, about an hour away.  Why?  Because it was “bright lights, big city” or to check out the latest clothes, or something?  No.  Battlefield Mall was home to Waldenbooks and B. Dalton Bookseller.  Yeah, all I cared about was getting to a bookstore.  (The Greenfield Public Library was in a room in the basement of the courthouse and the high school library was at one end of the study hall. I’m sure you can imagine how up-to-date they both were.) When I first started buying paperbacks they were $.50.  Then they went up to $.60, then $.75, $.95, $1.25, $1.50, $1.95, $2.25 . . .  Yeah, I track inflation through the price of paperback books.
However, I’m also a movie lover.  So, movies would be a close second to books.  I started collecting my favorite films first on VHS, then DVD and now Blu-Ray.  I’m big on physical media.  Streaming you can keep.  I want my movie where I can grab it and watch it whenever I want and not be dependent on the licensing whims of some mega-corporation.  Vintage Stock rocks! (Probably not too surprising that my daughter Maggie majored in Film Studies and now has a movie collection even bigger than mine.)

What’s the best (non-human) resource at McFarlin?
Starbucks.  I mean, sure, there’s the awesome Special Collections, the beautiful reading rooms, the incredible databases (if you include the virtual McFarlin), and so on.  But get real.  Only Starbucks has coffee.

Tell me the most bizarre thing you have seen while walking through the book stacks.
Probably watching it rain in the North Main Level stacks years ago.  Just another in the unending series of leaks in this building.  Fortunately, it wasn’t a heavy rain, and we got books moved and plastic sheeting up quickly.  Not fun, though.

If you could go back in time and talk to one of the designers who modified the building, which phase would you jump to and what would you tell them?
This one is easy.  The “ramp” by the Reference Desk where the ‘79 wing meets the original building.  They couldn’t get them to meet evenly?  Seriously?  The first time I really became aware of it was a few months after starting here, when I got to it going way too fast with a truckload of books.  All I’ll say is that most of those books did not stay on the truck and leave the rest to the imagination. 

You’re trapped in McFarlin for the night: what do you do when no one else is around?
Oh, I’d do what everyone wants to do: find a way up onto the roof of the tower.  Never been up there, but I’ve always heard it’s an amazing view of campus.

What is an exciting project you are currently working on, or a future endeavor you are anticipating?
I consider myself so lucky, having spent my entire professional life working in McFarlin Library.  There’s a quote that I always remember, attributed to Albert Einstein (if he didn’t really say it, he should have): "The only thing that you absolutely have to know is the location of the library."  How true is that!  Working at McFarlin has been a genuine blessing.  My colleagues are the most wonderful and deeply committed people at TU.  We get to work with some amazing students.  And I believe we contribute more than just about any other unit on campus to the success of this university.  Truth is, even after all these years, I still look forward to coming in to work each and every day, not necessarily to any particular project.