Library Hours for Christmas Break

During the Holiday season, the Library will observe the following hours:

Monday, December 22: 8:30AM-6:00PM;

Tuesday, December 23: 8:30AM-3:00PM;

Wednesday, December 24 - Sunday, January 4: CLOSED

Monday, January 5 - Friday, January 9: 8:30AM-6:00PM;

Saturday, January 10 - Sunday January 11: CLOSED

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from everyone at Gertrude Kistler Memorial Library!

Library Hours for Finals

The Library's expanded hours during Finals are as follows:

Monday, December 8 - Friday, December 12: 8:30 AM - 2:00 AM;
Saturday, December 13: 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM;
Sunday, December 14: 1:00 PM - 10:00 PM.

Congratulations to the Winners of the Favorite Book Contest

The Friends of the Library are proud to announce the winners of the Fall 2014 Name Your Favorite Book Contest:

• 1st Place: Quentin Murphy
• 2nd Place: Eric Schaefer
• 3rd Place: Tiffany Curtis

We also congratulate our Honorable Mentions: Emily Kammerer, Carlos Aguilo, and Jeel Rao!

Thank you to all who participated and we encourage all undergraduates to enter the next  competition.

Library Closing at 11:00PM Tuesday, December 2

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Library will be closing at 11:00PM on Tuesday, December 2, 2014, rather than at the usual time of 2:00AM. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Enter the Name Your Favorite Book Contest, Win $200!

Everybody has a favorite book. One that has entertained them, touched them, changed the way they look at the world. Share yours with us in the Name Your Favorite Book Contest sponsored by the Friends of the Gertrude Kistler Memorial Library. The contest is open to all current Rosemont undergraduates. The rules are simple:

• Submit a 150 word essay on your favorite book.
• Place your essay in an envelope addressed to Mrs. Janine Surrichio, President of the Friends of the Library. Deliver it to the Information Desk in the Library by November 17, 2014.
• Judging will take place on December 3. You will be contacted if your essay is selected and asked to come to the Library to share your collection with the judges. You will be contacted in advance of the judging to set up a convenient time for your presentation. Each participant will be given 15 minutes.
• First Prize: $200
• Second Prize: $100
• Third Prize: $50

Questions? Contact Cathy Fennell at fennel@rosemont.edu

Sign Up for INT-0150: Library & Information Research Strategies

Do you find libraries to be intimidating? Would you like to navigate the research process more smoothly? Undergraduate students should consider signing up for INT-0150: Library & Information Research Strategies before Preregistration ends on November 19. In this course taught by Assistant Director of Library Services Joseph Tresnan, you will learn how to develop a strategy to tackle research projects; how to identify, find, and evaluate information in print and online; and how to document sources properly. INT-0150 is a 3-credit course meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 to 3:00. This class can be used to fulfill the Problem Solving and Critical Thinking requirement of the Undergraduate College's General Education program.

Who was Gertrude Kistler?

By Emily Siegel '14

Take a break from the onslaught of new information to familiarize yourself with the Gertrude Kistler Memorial Library and consider some less serious information.  Get to know the girl for whom this building was named.

Gertrude Kistler was the daughter of Bertha and Sedgwick Kistler, two Pennsylvania natives. Born in 1908, Gertrude lived with her parents in Philadelphia while she attended St. Leonard’s Academy, a Holy Child school once located in West Philadelphia. During the summer of 1920, the family was struck with tragedy while on vacation sightseeing in the West. On July 7, 1920, the 12 year old Gertrude drowned in the fast flowing Merced River that runs through the valley of Yosemite National Park. H.J. Pink, the Los Angeles chauffer who was with her at the time, also lost his life in an attempt at her rescue.

                Less than 5 years after Gertrude’s death, Mr. and Mrs. Kistler reached out to Rosemont's president at the time, Mother Mary Ignatius Carroll, SHCJ, and shared their interest in memorializing their lost daughter by providing the campus with a new building. Their offer fit the campus’ growing need for an actual library facility, as the one located in Main Building was no longer large enough for the college’s growing collection. That same year the family announced their gift, a number of Gertrude’s St. Leonard’s classmates entered the college as freshman. The Kistlers turned personal tragedy into a gift for future generations. Remnants of Gertrude’s life can still be found around the library; her portrait and personal desk can be found in and near the Front Reading Room.

New Journal Content Added to Project MUSE

Project MUSE has been expanding in recent months to bring you even more reliable, scholarly journals. Twenty-eight journals have been added to the collection over the past year, including:

• Anthropologica, Vol. 56 (2014) through current issue;
• Islamic Africa, Vol. 5 (2014) through current issue;
• Journal of Ayn Rand Studies, Vol 14 (2014) through current issue;
• Journal of Individual Psychology, Vol. 70 (2014) through current issue;
• Keats-Shelley Journal, Vol 62 (2013) through current issue;
• The Mark Twain Annual, Vol. 11 (2013) through current issue;
• QED: A Journal in GLBTQ Worldmaking, Inaugural issue (2013) through current issue;
• Seoul Journal of Korean Studies, Vol. 26 (2013) through current issue;
• Theoretical & Applied Ethics, Vol. 2 (2013) through current issue;
• U.S.-Japan Women's Journal, No. 43 (2013) through current issue.

Project MUSE has also added archival issues for several additional journals, with 5 of those titles now having their complete runs available in the database. These expanded titles include:

• Appalachian Heritage, Vol. 1 (1973) through current issue;
• Arizona Quarterly: A Journal of American Literature, Culture, and Theory, Vol. 34, No. 3 (1988) through current issue;
• Bulletin of the Comediantes, Vol. 1 (1949) through current issue;
• Franciscan Studies, Vol. 50 (1990) through current issue;
• Journal of the Southwest, Vol. 49 (2007) through current issue;
• Leviathan, Vol. 1 (1999) through current issue;
• Modern Drama, Vol. 1 (1958) through current issue;
• Southeastern Geographer, Vol. 1 (1961) through current issue.

Project MUSE is a full-text collection of nearly 600 scholarly, peer reviewed journals in the arts, humanities, and social sciences from over 120 university presses and scholarly societies.

Summer Hours at the Library

The Library's hours during the summer months will be as follows:

•  Sunday, June 8, through Saturday, August 9:
• Monday-Thursday: 8:30AM - 6:00PM;
• Friday - Sunday: CLOSED
• Independence Day 
• Friday, July 4, through Sunday, July 6: CLOSED
• Sunday, August 10, through Saturday, August 16:
• Monday-Friday: 8:30AM - 6:00PM;
• Saturday-Sunday: CLOSED

Library Hours for Finals

The Library's hours during Finals and up to Commencement are as follows:

Tuesday, April 29 - Friday, May 2: 8:30 AM - 2:00 AM;
Saturday, May 3: 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM;
Sunday, May 4: 1:00 PM - 10:00 PM;
Monday, May 5 - Friday, May 9: 8:30 AM-6:00 PM;
Saturday, May 10: 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM;
Sunday, May 11: CLOSED

Library Hours for Easter

In observance of the Easter holiday, the Library hours will be adjusted as follows:

Wednesday, April 16 - Thursday, April 17: 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday, April 18 - Monday, April 21: CLOSED
Tuesday, April 22: 8:30 AM - 2:00 AM

On Display: Kistler Family Serving Ware

The College has collected an assortment of serving ware over the years, including several tea sets, dishes, flatware, and serving pieces. The Kistler family donated many of their beautiful serving sets and other items to the College posthumously. The Kistler items are usually monogrammed with the initials "K" for Kistler or "BKK" for Bertha Kaul Kistler. A selection of items from this collection from the College Archives are currently on display on the first floor of Gertrude Kistler Memorial Library. Please stop by to see these beautiful pieces in person.

Art of Reading Photo Contest Extended to April 16

John Molocznik's winning photo from the Fall 2013 contest

Good news! The submission deadline for the Art of Reading Photo Contest has been extended to April 16. The contest is open to all current Rosemont students. Submit photos of yourself or others reading around campus. Be creative! Winning images will be displayed at the Library. All submissions will be added to the Rosemont College Archives digital photograph collection for posterity. Official rules and guidelines are listed below and are available at the Information Desk in the Library upon request.

Spring contest is open February 3 through April 16.

First Prize: $100

Second Prize: $25

Email high resolution .jpg images to gkml19010@gmail.com. Multiple entries are encouraged!

Questions? Contact Cathy Fennell fennell@rosemont.edu or Kathleen Deeming kdeeming@rosemont.edu

Follow us @kistlerlibrary or like us on Facebook.

Rules and Guidelines

Bi-Annual Photo Contest. Students are encouraged to submit images of themselves or others reading around campus. Prizes for Fall/Spring editions of the Photo Contest are $100 for 1st prize and $25 for 2nd prize. Contest open to all students. All submissions will be added to the Rosemont College Archive Digital Photograph Collection for posterity.

1. Eligibility:  All current students of Rosemont College are invited to participate in the Art of Reading Photo Contest
2. Dates:  The Art of Reading Photo Contest will be held once a semester during the 2013-2014 academic year. The Fall portion of the contest opens on September 19 and ends November 26. The Spring portion of the contest begins on February 3 and ends April 16. Late entries will not be considered eligible for awards.
3. Judging:  Submissions will be judged based on style, execution, and relevance to the topic of literacy on campus. Judging is anonymous. The judging panel will consist of three library staff members.
4. Awards:  First prize: $100. Runner up: $25. Winners will be notified via email. Winning images will be displayed in the library and on the library's website. All submissions will be admitted to the Rosemont College Archive Digital Photograph Collection.
5. Conditions of Participation:  All submissions must be original content. By entering the contest you agree that the submitted photograph is of your creation and no other party can claim ownership. In addition to displaying the winning photographs, all entries may be posted on the library's webpage, social media sites (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc.) and subsequent material. By entering the contest you agree that the library has unlimited use of your submission.

Kistler Library's Hidden Nooks and Crannies

By Emily Siegel '14

Some days you need to find an hour of peace and serenity. Maybe the dorms are too loud or your roommate cannot stop playing your least favorite song. Your brain is calling out for a break. The Gertrude Kistler Memorial Library offers a number of serene nooks and crannies that can separate you from the madness on campus. Whether you are looking for a desk to work at or just need the space to decompress, we have a spot for you. Scattered on each of the three floors of the Library are a number of secure spots that offer some much needed tranquility.

On your way to the Reading Room you can find three desks nestled among the stacks on both sides:

In the basement you will find two desks along the moving stacks that are ideal and peaceful work spaces:

You can also find multiple personal desks scattered throughout the periodicals room:

Moving up to the third floor, among the HG and HN stacks, sits a desk overlooking the beautiful and ever-changing foliage outside:

 At the end of the third floor stacks, on either side, sit another two desks that shield their occupants from everything going on in the rest of the building:

Finally, if you are ever looking for a nook to accommodate more than one person, the room for the Institute for Ethical Leadership and Social Responsibility Research Collection offers a round table with numerous seats and is ideal for a group that needs a little bit of silence:


No matter what floor you are on, the Gertrude Kistler Memorial Library has the nooks and crannies for you to find some serenity and a conducive work environment.

On Display: Ireland, Early 1900's

The Rosemont College Archives will be celebrating Saint Patrick's Day throughout the month of March with a vintage postcard collection. The display features postcards from eleven counties in Ireland from the early 1900's. The collection itself houses hundreds of postcards. Rumor has it that Mother Mary Ignatius (President of Rosemont College 1924-1939) collected the postcards on a trip home for the SHCJ. The collection also includes postcards from England, Scotland, and France.

For more information please visit the Archives display case on the first floor of the Gertrude Kistler Memorial Library.

On Display: Ethics in The Lord of the Rings

A new and interesting display is now available in the Upper Reading Room of the library. Learn about J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth and the ethical themes within “The Hobbit” and “Lord of the Rings.” Tolkien’s major works are also on display and are available for check out. 

New and Updated Credo Reference Content Available

Credo Reference recently added several new titles, making their already expansive collection of encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other resources, even more helpful. The new additions cover areas including History, Language, Science, and Technology, and increases the size of the Credo Reference collection to 644 books. The new titles are:

• 2012-2013 Occupational Outlook Handbook;
• 3D A-to-Z: An Encyclopedic Dictionary;
• Cambridge Encyclopedia of Darwin and Evolutionary Thought;
• Cambridge Encyclopedia of the Language Sciences;
• Cambridge Handbook of Second Language Acquisition;
• Every Day of the Civil War: A Chronological Encyclopedia;
• SAGE Key Concepts Series: Key Concepts in Healthcare Education;
• The Tourism Society's Dictionary for the Tourism Industry.

The following titles were updated to provide the latest edition:

• American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language;
• Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable;
• Debrett's People of Today 2014;
• Marquis Who Was Who in America 1985-Present;
• Marquis Who's Who in America;
• Marquis Who's Who in the World;
• Mosby's Dental Dictionary, 2013.

Library Hours for Spring Break

During the Undergraduate College's Spring Break, the Library's hours will be adjusted as follows:

Sunday, March 2: CLOSED
Monday, March 3-Friday, March 7: 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday, March 8: 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Sunday, March 9: 1:00 PM - 10:00 PM

DVD Suggestion Box at the Library

Submit your DVD suggestions throughout the month of February. The Library staff welcomes all suggestions for our growing DVD collection. Submit in person at the Library or tweet us @kistlerlibrary #newdvds.

Questions? Contact Kathleen Deeming at kdeeming@rosemont.edu

Enter the Art of Reading Photo Contest. Win $100!

Gertrude Kistler Memorial Library announces the Spring edition of the Art of Reading Photo Contest. The contest is open to all current Rosemont students. Submit photos of yourself or others reading around campus. Be creative! Winning images will be displayed at the Library. All submissions will be added to the Rosemont College Archives digital photograph collection for posterity. Official rules and guidelines are listed below and are available at the Information Desk in the Library upon request.

Spring contest is open February 3 through April 7.

First Prize: $100

Second Prize: $25

Email high resolution .jpg images to gkml19010@gmail.com. Multiple entries are encouraged!

Questions? Contact Cathy Fennell fennell@rosemont.edu or Kathleen Deeming kdeeming@rosemont.edu

Follow us @kistlerlibrary or like us on Facebook.

Rules and Guidelines

Bi-Annual Photo Contest. Students are encouraged to submit images of themselves or others reading around campus. Prizes for Fall/Spring editions of the Photo Contest are $100 for 1st prize and $25 for 2nd prize. Contest open to all students. All submissions will be added to the Rosemont College Archive Digital Photograph Collection for posterity.

1. Eligibility:  All current students of Rosemont College are invited to participate in the Art of Reading Photo Contest
2. Dates:  The Art of Reading Photo Contest will be held once a semester during the 2013-2014 academic year. The Fall portion of the contest opens on September 19 and ends November 26. The Spring portion of the contest begins on February 3 and ends April 7. Late entries will not be considered eligible for awards.
3. Judging:  Submissions will be judged based on style, execution, and relevance to the topic of literacy on campus. Judging is anonymous. The judging panel will consist of three library staff members.
4. Awards:  First prize: $100. Runner up: $25. Winners will be notified via email. Winning images will be displayed in the library and on the library's website. All submissions will be admitted to the Rosemont College Archive Digital Photograph Collection.
5. Conditions of Participation:  All submissions must be original content. By entering the contest you agree that the submitted photograph is of your creation and no other party can claim ownership. In addition to displaying the winning photographs, all entries may be posted on the library's webpage, social media sites (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc.) and subsequent material. By entering the contest you agree that the library has unlimited use of your submission.