USA Libraries Newsletter

August 2024

Week of Welcome

On Monday, August 26th from 12 PM to 2 PM, the USA Marx Library hosted Coffee, Crafts & Connection during USA’s campus-wide Week of Welcome. This year, the Marx Library Student Engagement Committee (led by STEM Librarian, Sonja Sheffield) invited the USA community to enjoy coffee (courtesy of Starbucks), snacks, and games while learning about

library resources and the student organizations that meet in our spaces.

Coffee, friendship bracelets, and representatives from the the Gulf Scholars Program and the Innovation in Learning Center were on the 1st floor of the Marx Library. Snacks, Jenga, Cornhole, Giant Connect 4, and representatives from the Tabletop and Hobby Club, the Baugh Biomedical Library, the Meditation Club, Kappa Pi International Art Honor Society, South CARES (Jag Pantry), Yarn Quest, Mega Musical Chairs, and the Center for Academic Excellence were on the 2nd floor, South Side of Marx Library.


Welcome, Jags!

 International Students Outreach Fall 2024


On August 15th, Jia He, Liaison Librarian for International Students, and Liz Finamore, USA Libraries Student Engagement Committee Member, attended "Passport to South," the Fall 2024 international student orientation. Collaborating with the USA International Admissions & Student Programs, Jia and Liz reached out to over 100 new international students. At the event, they distributed USA libraries information handouts and liaison librarians' business cards to help the students feel welcome and supported as they began their studies at the University of South Alabama. By establishing these connections early on, they create a welcoming and inclusive environment where students feel comfortable seeking help whenever needed.

Wait, What? You haven’t tried Kanopy?

Kanopy, a streaming service (FREE for South students and employees), keeps the site fresh with fun movie campaigns like “Noirvember” and offers a simple click of a button for selecting materials with public performance rights should you want to use a film as a teaching tool or watch in class. In addition, new materials are added often to keep your film watching experience engaging. 


So grab your popcorn and Milk Duds, your front row seat, and your J# and let’s get to watching some Kanopy! Thank you USA Libraries for making this resource available.

Learn More

 “Transforming Library Catalogs: Addressing Diversity and Inclusion One Subject Heading at a Time”


Muriel Nero, the AUL for Collections, and Jia He, the Cataloging Electronic Resources Librarian, presented

“Transforming Library Catalogs: Addressing Diversity and Inclusion One Subject Heading at a Time” at the 12th National Conference of African American Librarians (NCAAL) in New Orleans, Louisiana on Thursday, July 25, 2024. This conference is held every 5 years by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. Their presentation addressed the need for the library’s collections and resources to encompass and reflect the diversity of its users as well as how subject headings have the potential to negatively affect users, particularly when they contain descriptors that are biased, offensive, or derogatory in reference to individuals or groups. The presentation also included their current best practices for updating subject headings and the lessons they learned throughout this process.

Mary Shelley Visits the USA Libraries


On Wednesday, August 21, 2024 the USA Libraries hosted Megan Wells, an award-winning and nationally recognized storyteller and historical impersonator to present Mary Shelley: My Monster. Ms. Wells’ performance was the kick-off event associated with the National Library of Medicine’s traveling exhibit, Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature that is currently on display in the Marx Library lobby. Ms. Wells engaged the audience with details of Mary Shelley’s life and upbringing, and painted the picture of how her life experiences set the stage for her to write Frankenstein at age 19. 


Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature will be on display through September 20, 2024. There are several other events planned in association with the exhibit.


Details about the exhibit and all associated events can be found here:

Frankenstein events

Library Happenings

McCall Library William C. Shrout Exhibit


Please join us to celebrate the William C. Shrout Photographic Collection on Thursday, September 19th. The opening reception for the exhibit takes place from 4-5:30pm at the Marx Library Rodning Gallery: 5901 USA North Drive, 3rd floor. Light refreshments will be served.



Marx Art Exhibits

Join us for a panel discussion featuring Rev. Herbert A. Brisbon, III, University Chaplain and Director (Dillard University).


The event will take place on Thursday, September 5th, 2024

at The Historic Avenue Cultural Center

564 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. Mobile, Alabama 36603.

"Did you know?


The Marx Library owns books written by your English professors!"


Checkout novels, poems, and stories by Professor Caleb Johnson, Dr. Charlotte Pence, and Dr. Adam Prince!   

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