End of Spring Semester 2025 Edition

From the Dean of Libraries, Kristin Hart


 

As I wrap up my first academic year as Dean of Libraries at CSU East Bay, my sense of wonderment at the beauty of this campus has only deepened. Most evenings find me at the top of University Hill watching the sun set over the Bay and then, if I'm especially lucky, the moon rise shortly afterward over the rolling hills behind. These hills can be hiked– I've learned through exploration– through many miles of undeveloped grazing land in a giant loop back to campus. The seasonal changes are more subtle here than "back east," but watching the hills slowly turn green and the plantings along the beautiful new Ohlone Walkway wake up has been a profound experience.

I want to thank everyone for the long, warm welcome to the East Bay community, and for inviting me with such open hearts into your conversations about the future of this university– which is bright. It's been an honor to come to the CORE every day and talk with everyone about what the students want and need to thrive. Next year, look for a napping lounge, a collaborative makerspace, enhanced popular reading and games collections, book clubs, and even more great exhibits and events that celebrate this amazing community. Below, you can meet Oaks, the Library's new student-designed mascot, and read about some of the past semester's events in the CORE. Good luck with finals and have a great summer!


 

Introducing Oaks!

We are delighted to introduce you to Oaks, our new Library Mascot!

Oaks was designed by Library Student Assistant, Keisha, who is currently a graduate student in the Interaction Design and Interactive Art program.

Christian, Library Student Assistant and Communications major, thought of the name Oaks, which highlights East Bay's connection to the native coastal oaks in the area.

You'll see Oaks around the Library and online, welcoming you to the Library.


 

Recap of Some Spring Events

Lots of great events and exhibits were held at the Library this Spring Semester. Below are just a few highlights.

Hackathon March 1-2

Cal State East Bay Library was pleased to host HackHayward in the CORE. The library was the perfect place for 160 young programers from across the state to come together and build with AI.

The energy and enthusiasm in the building was exhilarating. The Library congratulates Cal State East Bay students -- Yash Kumars, Ujas Goti, and Nidhi Prajapati -- who organized such a successful event. We look forward to seeing HackHayward back in the Library next year.

 

Inaugural Reading Challenge

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Inaugural Reading Challenge!

Find your next read from the list of all books submitted for the Challenge (along with East Bay Reader Commentary), on the "What is East Bay Reading?" webpage on the Reading Challenge website.

We look forward to hosting another reading challenge next year, along with more fun reading events!

 

Student Artist Books

The Library was honored to host a number of exhibits co-created by students and/or featuring student work this academic year.

It was wonderful to exhibit the artist books created by students from Bookmaking 1 & 2 this spring.

We look forward to hosting more exhibits of student work next academic year!

 

New Additions to the Library!

We're excited to share some new additions to the Library's resources and collections.

New Games!

We've added new board games to our collection. Come browse the games on the first floor of the Library. Borrow a game to take home and play. You might find a new favorite!


 

New Books!

We've added new books to our Popular Reading Collection.
Check them out on the first floor of the Library and borrow some for your next great beach read!


 

Nap Pod!

We are excited to have our nap pod on the second floor of the Library.
Come and enjoy a power nap at the Library!


 

Coming Soon!

Snooze Lounge

While we're excited that we have our nap pod already available on the second floor of the Library, we hope to have the full Snooze Lounge ready for Fall Semester.

The Snooze Lounge will be the permanent home of the nap pod, along with zero gravity chairs, and bean bag chairs.

 

Makerspace

You may have seen us getting the Makerspace ready on the second floor of the Library (right next to the nap pod).

We are excited to be opening the Makerspace in Fall Semester and will be hosting workshops and open time for everyone to come in and make something new!

 

We're Open During The Summer!

Need a great read for the summer? Want to try out a new game? Looking to get a jump start on some research?

The Library is open during the summer, 9:00am-5:00 pm Monday through Friday. So please stop by, say hi, and pick up something fun from our collections!

 

Student Assistant
Library Access Services (CORE Floor 1)

What is your major and how long have you worked in the library?
My major is Health Sciences and I've worked at the library for 3 and a half years.

What is your favorite part about the CORE library?
My favorite part about the CORE library is how inclusive it is and how there are weekly events where students can destress from their classes. I'm glad that students are able to come to the CORE and study or just take a break. I like that each department tries their best to help out students and answer their questions. I appreciate how students have the freedom to be collaborative on the first floor and eat inside the CORE as most libraries hinder students from doing such things.

What do you do throughout the week working in Access Services?
What I do throughout the week working in Access Services is check out and return books, I process books that are incoming from other CSU's and out of state libraries. I ship out books to other libraries and page books from the old library and bring them to the CORE so books can be put on hold for patrons. I answer general questions about what services are provided at the CORE library and where books can be found.

Do you have a favorite study spot at the library?
My favorite study spot at the library is on the left side of the second floor where there are desktops facing the wall, that area is usually quiet and less crowded.

When you are not working in the library or studying for classes, what do you like to do?
When I'm not working in the library or studying for classes I like to travel, spend time with my family, and go shopping.

Fifty five years ago, on April 30, 1970, President Richard Nixon addressed the nation via television and radio to announce that the United States was expanding the Vietnam War by invading Cambodia. This resulted in a nationwide outpouring of antiwar protests on school campuses. The protests began on May 1st, and three days later four students were shot and killed by Ohio National Guardsmen at a protest on the campus of Kent State University. This led to student strikes that shut down hundreds of universities, colleges, and high schools around the country, as people gathered together to protest in various ways. The shooting of Kent State students also prompted Neil Young to write the song "Ohio," which quickly became a protest anthem. On May 15th, two Black students were killed when the police opened fire on a protest at Jackson State College, an HBCU in Mississippi.

At Cal State Hayward, as it was then known, some students produced a newsletter they named Strike News, "serving the greater Cal State community." The University Archives has six issues of this newsletter, all from May of 1970, that have been digitized and can be viewed online in the Digital Archives repository (Please note that this digital repository is a shared platform that contains materials from various CSUs, and it is a work in progress.). Not much information is available about these newsletters beyond what can be gleaned from reading them, but they provide a fascinating snapshot of how some CSU Hayward students responded to troubling current events during a turbulent time at the dawn of the 1970s.

May 21 1970 issue

All 6 issues of Strike News in the Digital Archives repository

Dance, Dance...Otherwise We Are Lost

Thursday, April 24th | 4:00 - 5:40pm
CORE 301
Free, No Registration Necessary

A gathering to celebrate inclusive dance at CSU East Bay.

Please join the Wandering Ensemble, Professor Eric Kupers, and a diverse sampling of dance groups from the CSUEB community for an introduction to many of the ways that students, alumni, and community members are using dance as a vehicle for connection, expression, healing, and empowerment.

The Wandering Ensemble came together in 2020 to embark on a radically experimental creation process, set to take place over 40 years. We wanted to explore new ways of thinking about creativity, collaboration, time, performance, and community engagement in this era of rapid change.

At this gathering we will share some of what we've discovered so far (5 years into the 40-year process) as well as welcome dance groups and individual artists working in many different ways to share their approach and some of their work.

More information, please email Eric Kupers at: eric.kupers@csueastbay.edu or visit https://www.dandeliondancetheater.org/wandering-in-the-wilderness/

Preview Performance of Lost & Found

Tuesday, April 29th | 8:00-9:30 pm
CORE Mountain Lion Room Patio
Free, No Registration Necessary
6:30-7:45 pm: Community Participation Workshop

Lost & Found is the culmination of Year 5 of the Wandering in the Wilderness project.

Dandelion Dancetheater and the CSU East Bay Inclusive Interdisciplinary Ensemble joined forces in 2020 to form the Wandering Ensemble and embark on a 40-year creation journey to experiment with evolving our approaches to performance (and life itself). You are invited to join us for this community-driven, inclusive, ever-evolving, participatory dance/music/theater/ritual experience.

Community participation workshop from 6:30 - 7:45pm for anyone that would like to learn some of the songs and movement structures that make up the performance.

Lost & Found World Premiere Performances
will be presented by the 2025 SF International Arts Festival

• April 30th at El Rio Bar, SF, 8:00 pm
• May 8th at Monkey Brains, SF, 8:00 pm

Sliding Scale Tickets: $0-20
Guest Artists: Sabah Ensemble and CSUEB’s Dance Ensemble
--Community Chorus Participation Workshops each night 6:30-7:45pm--
Tickets & more info: www.dandeliondancetheater.org & www.sfiaf.org

Join us in the CORE Library on tax week for lunch and financial advice from faculty experts in April.

Join us for Money Smart Talks from April 14th to April 16th. All events are being held on the 3rd floor of the CORE Library from 12-1 pm. See schedule, with links to register below. Hope to see you there!

Wealth & Wellness
April 14th

Professor Brian Du from the Department of Accounting & Finance will teach us about strategies for building wealth and wellness throughout our lives. There's no better time to start than now.
RSVP here.

US Economy Today & Tomorrow
April 15th

Associate Professor Christian Roessler from the Department of Economics will talk about the current state of the US Economy. The more that you know, the better prepared you will be to make good financial decisions.
RSVP here.

Financial Jeopardy
April 16th

Professor Eric Fricke from the Department of Accounting & Finance will play Financial Jeopardy with us.
RSVP here.

The Information Studies department is offering General Education, Information Literacy courses in all modalities.

We are offering:

• INFO 250 Introduction to Critical Information Studies, our first course in our Critical Information Studies Minor!
• INFO 320 Through a New Looking Glass: Children's Literature (Upper Division C and Diversity Overlay) new course!
• INFO 210 (one unit) Introduction to Searching for and Evaluating Information is an excellent course to familiarize yourself with conducting research at the college level.
• INFO 230 Argumentation and Information Literacy for Sustainability Topics meets the requirements for Critical Thinking, Second Composition (B1) and Sustainability and focuses on environmental case studies in sustainability.
• INFO 310 Sustainability and Information Literacy meets upper division area D and Sustainability Overlay GE and focuses on Environmental Justice!

All of these courses are part of the Critical Information Studies Minor! For more information contact sharon.radcliff@csueastbay.edu or the faculty teaching each course.

INFO 210 - 01 Introduction to Searching for and Evaluating Information
Introduction to basic information literacy skills to assist in research processes. Issues of finding appropriate information sources, critical evaluation, and information ethics will be covered. (1 unit)
Daisy Muralles, contact: daisy.muralles@csueastbay.edu
7wk1
Modality: Hybrid: Wed: 10am-11:40am
CORE 301 
One unit, area E

INFO 210 - 02 Introduction to Searching for and Evaluating Information
Kate Pham, contact; kate.pham@csueastbay.edu
7wk2
Modality: Online ASYNC
One unit , Area E

INFO 250 - 01 Introduction to Critical Information Studies
Introduction to the Critical Information Studies Minor. Covers critical information literacy theory, basic academic research skills to assist in research processes, and issues of seeking, finding, evaluating, using, and creating sources of information on a scoped topic.
Kate Pham, contact; kate.pham@csueastbay.edu
Modality: Online ASYNC 
3 units, Area E (will be D and Diversity 26/27)

INFO 250 - 02 Introduction to Critical Information Studies
Kate Pham, contact; kate.pham@csueastbay.edu
Hybrid T/TH 11:00 am-12:15pm
CORE 306 
3 units, Area E (will be D and Diversity 26/27)

INFO 310W-01 Sustainability and Information Literacy
Catalog: This course will critically examine how culture and sociopolitical power dynamics influences the debate around sustainability, and its impact in three main areas: the environment, social equity, and the economy and develop strategies for evaluating information and producing sound arguments on sustainability topics within the context of conflicting viewpoints. 
Daisy Muralles, contact: daisy.muralles@csueastbay.edu
M/W 2-3:15pm
Modality: Online synchronous
3 units, Area D (upper division); and Sustainability Overlay; Writing Requirement.

INFO 230 - 01 Argumentation and Information Literacy for Sustainability Topics
Students analyze case studies in sustainability and environmental justice, exploring multiple perspectives and sources of evidence. Students will build coherent and cohesive arguments, using inductive and deductive reasoning, honing their argumentation skills through dialogue, outlining, and peer review of drafts.
Sharon Radcliff, sharon.radcliff@csueastbay.edu
Online Synchronous : 
T/TH 9:30-10:45 am
Areas A3, Second Comp, Sustainability, (will become area B1 under Cal-GETC)

INFO 230 - 02 Argumentation and Information Literacy for Sustainability Topics
Sharon Radcliff, sharon.radcliff@csueastbay.edu
Modality: Online ASYNC
Areas A3, Second Comp, Sustainability, (will become area B1 under Cal-GETC)

INFO 320 - 01 Through a New Looking Glass: Children's Literature
Overview of children's literature from its first recognition as a genre until today. Students will look at the ways children's literature has grown to encompass new themes and new concepts of teaching reading as a life skill. Note: Lectures will be recorded for those who cannot attend synchronously.
Linda Dobb, contact: linda.dobb@csueastbay.edu
Modality: Synchronous online 
M/W 4:00pm 4-5:15pm 
3 units, Upper division C, Diversity Overlay

Join in the fun March 24, 2025 - April 14, 2025!

Step 1: Read (or listen to) a book!
Choose fiction, nonfiction, a graphic novel/comic book, an audiobook… whatever you will enjoy!

Step 2: Tell us about it!
Fill out our Reading Challenge Google form (tinyurl.com/2sds4as9) for each book you read/listen to. Each form submission is an entry into our weekly drawing for a Cal State East Bay metal water bottle, and also for the grand prize drawing of a Cal State East Bay sweatshirt.

Step 3: Check your email to see if you’ve won!
Winners will be announced via email weekly. Prizes will be available for pick up in the CORE Library on the Hayward campus or by mail to home addresses.

Prizes!
On Mondays (3/31, 4/7, and 4/14) during the first three weeks of the challenge, a participant will be randomly selected from the Reading Challenge form submissions for the previous week to receive a Cal State East Bay metal water bottle.

The week of April 14th, a participant will be randomly selected from ALL Reading Challenge form submissions to receive a Cal State East Bay sweatshirt.

Last Friday, our Library Student Ambassadors gathered for an engaging orientation, preparing to assist you in making the most of our library's resources. Whether you need help finding information, navigating research tools, or planning your next CORE event in partnership with the Library, we're here to support you! Stop by the information desk to connect with us and get the guidance you need. Our dedicated team—America, Amisha, Aurelia, Carla, Carmen, Chanpreet, Faith, Ian, Kassie, and Noelle—is excited to assist you. We look forward to seeing you at the library soon!

Photo credit: Chanpreet

The SCAA is in the news! Check out this article in The Pioneer to learn about all of the different ways we can help you succeed in and out of the classroom.

To make an appointment, visit the SCAA Schedules webpage or visit us in CORE, Room 343 (3rd Floor). Friendly SCAA staff is waiting to help!

Did you know that you can create your individual, free account for the The New York Times via the Library? It's true! Keep up on current events (as well as access the NYT archives back to 1851). Follow this link to register for your account.

The Library offers access to many other newspaper publications via the databases. You can access these through the A-Z Databases page here. For more information about searching for newspaper articles for your assignments and research, please access our Newspaper Handout here.