Archived News (2009 – 2010)
Nisei Diploma Project: Stories from California Polytechnic State University
June 8 through July 5, 2010. Kennedy Library is presenting an exhibition highlighting Cal Poly Japanese American students who were unable to complete their education due to their forced relocation and internment during World War II.
» More details about the Nisei Diploma Project Exhibition
Special closure and Memorial Day Holiday hours
While the 24-hour rooms (regular study, quiet study, and computer lab) will be open this weekend, the main library will be closed on Friday, May 28th during the Memorial Day holiday weekend because of unpaid furloughs of all Library staff. The Library will operate under reduced hours for the rest of the weekend.
» View the full Memorial Day Weekend library schedule
Science Café: Ethics of Human Enhancement
May 12, 2010. Some view human enhancement as the natural course of our evolution; others see it as a threat to the idea of "being human" and a path toward creating a Frankenstein's monster. This presentation will survey the ethical and practical issues in this important debate.
» More details about Ethics of Human Enhancement
Take our survey: Student Information Skills
Kennedy Library would like undergrads to take this ten-minute survey to help us improve our instruction programs. In appreciation for their help, students will have an opportunity to enter a drawing for $100, $50 or $25 gift certificate to El Corral Book Store or Julian's Café.
» Find out how
Wireless printing from laptops comes to Kennedy Library
Laptops can now print directly to the Polycard Printers throughout the library.
» Learn more about how to wirelessly print from your laptop.
Science Café: The Science and Art of Taking a Risk
April 28, 2010. The economic problems of recent years came about, in part, because we didn't understand the risks we, as a society, were collectively taking. Explore what it means to take individual and societal risks, how to measure those risks, and how economics, engineering and psychology envision risk differently.
» More details about The Science and Art of Taking a Risk
Science Café: The Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch
Open House Weekend: April 16, 2010 — 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. The debris at the center of the North Pacific Ocean has the potential to damage one of the largest ecosystems on Earth. This is the story, shared by a scientist and a teacher who recently traveled to the Garbage Patch as part of a graduate-student led scientific research expedition, SEAPLEX.
» Find out more about this event
Tim Strawn Joins Kennedy Library as Director of Information Resources
Timothy Strawn joined the Kennedy Library as the Director of Information Resources and Archives on March 23rd.
» Read more about Tim and the Information Resources and Archives division
reKinetic: An exhibition exploring kinetic themes in architecture and art
reKinetic is a group installation featuring Cal Poly students, faculty, and community members with works incorporating reclaimed materials. The result is a dynamic exhibition of innovative installations and sculptures, which respond to their environment either by human interaction, internal mechanism, or natural elements.
» Get more information about reKinetic
Book burning, checkout fees, coffee bans and more. If you missed Kennedy Library's April Fools shenanigans for 2010, you can still find them online.
» Read our April 1st news stories
New College Librarian for CAED, Cal Poly
Jesse Vestermark joined Cal Poly on February 24 as College Librarian for the College of Architecture and Environmental Design. Jesse's experience and training as an artist and educator, his work with visual resource collections, and his love of architecture, all make him a great match for meeting the information needs of the faculty and students of CAED.
» Read more about Jesse
Early birds, meet night owls! Library expands 24-hour study space
Starting spring quarter 2010, the PolyConnect Lab on the first floor of the Kennedy Library will stay open 24 hours, providing access to computers and printers for Cal Poly's night owls and early birds.
» Learn more about the expansion
Faculty Endorse Sharing Research through DigitalCommons@CalPoly
The Cal Poly Faculty Academic Senate passed a resolution endorsing campus-wide faculty participation in the DigitalCommons@CalPoly to enhance global access and availability or research, scholarship and creative activities (RSCA).
» Read the press release
Second Annual Student Video Competition
OCOB and Kennedy Library join forces to sponsor the second annual Student Video Competition. Grand prize is $1000. Show us the hidden treasures within Kennedy Library!
» Find out more about the competition
Student Library Advisory Council Seeks Student Members
The Kennedy Library is forming a council of 5-10 students from different colleges to provide direct student input on Library issues.
» Learn more about the new council
Special Library Closure on Presidents' Day Weekend
The main library will be closed on Friday, February 12th during the Presidents' Day holiday weekend because of unpaid furloughs of all Library staff. The Library will operate under reduced hours for the rest of the weekend.
» View the full Presidents' Day Weekend library schedule
Science Café: Jurassic Beer: the making of a 45 million year old brew
While searching in amber for bacterium to be screened for pharmaceutical properties, Dr. Cano discovered live yeast, which was ultimately used to brew beer. Dr. Cano tells the story of this accidental discovery, the surprising way he became a partner in beer-making, and the future of his Environmental Biotechnology Institute.
» View the event page for Jurassic Beer
Celebrating Black History Month: Snapshots of Equality
In honor of Black History Month, the Cal Poly Kennedy Library is presenting the photographic exhibition "Snapshots of Equality." The exhibition features snapshots from the 1949 NAACP National Convention in Los Angeles as well as highlights from the personal papers of Alice Martin, a civic-minded woman known for her community service to nonprofit organizations on the Central Coast.
» Get more information about this exhibit
Special Library Closure on MLK Holiday Weekend
The main library will be closed on Friday, January 15th during the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday weekend because of unpaid furloughs of all Library staff. The Library will operate under reduced hours for the rest of the weekend.
» View the full MLK Holiday Weekend library schedule
Read our 2009-2010 Annual Publication
This year's Annual Publication celebrates the legacy of Dr. Robert E. Kennedy and his wife, Mary. Photos and stories of library events and happenings.
» Read the web version of the publication.
New AV checkout service coming to PolyConnect
The laptop and headphone checkout service located in the 1st floor PolyConnect Lab will be growing.
» Find out more about the expanded service.
Science Café: Community-Supported Agriculture, Education, and Intellectual Freedom
Cindy Douglas, from Cal Poly Organic Farm, explores how community supports education in other ways, and assess what intellectual freedom means for our learning process during an interdisciplinary conversation for students, faculty, staff and all campus constituents.
» View the event page for Community-Supported Agriculture
Science Café: Is It Still a Book
This informal discussion focused on what makes a book a book. Participants can cozy up and test drive a new Kindle or handle beautiful bound books to compare and contrast this idea.
» View the event page for Is It Still a Book
Upcoming Exhibit: The Migrant Project
A bilingual traveling exhibition to promote diversity awareness and education. The Migrant Project details the lives and struggles of today's California migrant farm workers.
» Get more information about this exhibit and reception
DigitalCommons@CalPoly Reaches 100,000 Downloads
Robert E. Kennedy Library congratulates Computer Science Assistant Professor Christopher Clark, for being the 100,000th download from the DigitalCommons@CalPoly. Get more information about and links to Professor Clark's lucky article and about the DigitalCommons@CalPoly initiative.
Media Available Through Link+ Pilot Project
On July 1, 2009, the Kennedy Library began a six-month pilot project that will expand LINK+ to include the circulation of media items, including DVD's, CD's, and audio books. Twenty-two public, private and academic libraries, including Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, will participate in this pilot project.
» Read more about the pilot project.
Research Planning 101: A New Library Tutorial for Fall
Starting this fall, Cal Poly faculty can use a new online tutorial to help introduce students to the research process. "Research Planning 101" was created by Cal Poly librarians to help students become aware of the major steps involved in research.
» Read more about the new tutorial.
New College Librarians for CLA, CAFES, Join Cal Poly
Two new College Librarians have joined the Kennedy Library staff this summer. Brett Bodemer is the new College of Liberal Arts Librarian, joining from the University of Hawaii. The new College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences is Katherine O'Clair, who joins from Arizona State.
» Read more about the new librarians.
Special closures due to CSU staff furloughs
Library staff and faculty at Cal Poly have begun taking 24 mandatory furlough days. The Library is committed to maintaining its current library hours, and has developed a plan to minimize the impact on students and faculty of this major loss of Library staff time.
» Read more to see a list of special closure days
New for Fall: First Floor Transformations Underway Now
Kennedy Library expands 24-7 access with new Quiet Study Room and Computer Lab. Improvements to Reading and Reference Room and more.
» See pictures and read more about the renovations
Employment: Architecture Librarian
Kennedy Library is seeking a Librarian to work as the Library's primary liaison to Cal Poly's College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED), the Architecture Librarian will work closely with CAED faculty to develop strategies and learning resources that will help CAED students acquire the information, media, and digital literacy skills critical to their lifelong professional success.
» Read more about the position
New Librarian for College of Liberal Arts
Kennedy Library says aloha to Brett Bodemer, straight from Hawaii to the Central Coast of California. A published author with two graduate degrees and a broad range of interests, we are excited to welcome him to the library.
» Read more about Brett.
