What’s New: Interactive Group Study Rooms
Spring 2023
New technology is blooming in the Library this spring! Two new interactive group study rooms, each equipped with a 75-inch ViewSonic touch-screen 4k display, allow students to collaborate in many ways. The display features 20-point touch to allow multiple users to write or draw on the display with a stylus. The slot-in PC gives students the ability to log in to access web browsing and the webcam can be used for Zoom meetings. Screen mirroring using Ditto lets users mirror up to four personal devices to the display, with a handy user guide included.
What's New: Mergers and Moves and Renos, Oh My!
Fall 2022
In response to the University Library’s Mission, which emphasizes user-focused services and innovative physical spaces in support of student success, faculty scholarship, staff resource needs, and the greater CSUN community, projects to consolidate public services, simplify access to collections, and renovations to expand collaborative and quiet study spaces were recently completed or are nearing completion.
What’s New: Bradley Center Black Power Archives Oral History Project
Spring 2022
Dynamically produced by the Tom & Ethel Bradley Center at California State University, Northridge, the Black Power Archives Oral History Project documents the experiences of Black Power activists in Los Angeles through candid, revealing interviews.
With a dedicated Black Power Archives web page and YouTube channel, oral history interviews conducted by CSUN Africana Studies Dr. Karin Stanford and University Library archivist/historian Keith Rice are a purpose-driven showcase of personal experiences from passionate activists and freedom fighters in the Black Power movement.
What's New: Campus Unrest Process Committee Recordings Collection
Fall 2021
Contributed by David Morck
Since the days when CSUN was known as San Fernando Valley State College, the campus has been the birthplace of political movements and protest pushing toward a culture of inclusiveness and social justice for students, staff and faculty. One early flashpoint in the struggle for racial equity at CSUN has come to be known as the "November 4th Incident." Its aftermath led to the creation of new cultural studies departments, and in more recent days, to the renaming of the Oviatt Library to the University Library.
What's New: The Hidden Treasure of the AS/RS
Spring 2021
The AS/RS, an electronic bin-based storage and retrieval system, was installed in the Library as part of a building expansion in 1989. First of its kind, the AS/RS occupies a 3-story section of the Library’s east wing, and contains 13,260 steel bins moved around 6 aisles by computer-driven warehouse-style cranes.
But more than books are stored in AS/RS: a substantial number of the 800,000 items from the main collection are periodicals frequently requested by patrons at other libraries through InterLibrary Loan. Additionally, 30,000 valuable Special Collections & Archives items are kept in dedicated bins.
What's New: Documenting COVID-19 at CSUN
Fall 2020
As of October 2020, the CSUN community has been working and learning remotely for seven months, as has much of California, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Early on in this period, University Archives, a unit within the Library’s Special Collections & Archives launched the Documenting COVID-19 project in an effort to collect expressions of Matadors’ experience during this crisis and preserve them for future generations. Project Archivist April Feldman talked with us about the endeavor.
What's New: Library Events, Looking Back and Looking Forward
Spring 2020
Of our many services, one that is sorely missed are our in person events. Last year was full of a lot of highlights, whether it was guest authors, finals relaxation events, panels, or film screenings -- they garnered new experiences, mentoring, and educational opportunities, and a lot of fun along the way.
What's Up: Environmental Justice Exhibition
Fall 2019
The yearlong exhibition launched this past July, Right of Way: Justice and Equity in the Growth of Los Angeles, demonstrates the crucial role the preservation of documents of private citizens, community groups, government projects and political campaigns plays in how we remember our history. The items selected for the exhibit depict environmental justice as a dimension of the history of the Los Angeles area from the early to late 20th century, both the deleterious conditions that demanded action and the efforts to rectify them.
What's New: Students Celebrate the Creative Media Studio
Fall 2019
The Oviatt Library kicked off the fall semester with a festive celebration to honor the five year anniversary of its Creative Media Studio. Past and present CSUN students were invited to submit a project they created in the studio for a showcase competition in five categories: Videography, Photography, Audio, Graphic Design, and 3D Printing. The winners were each awarded a $75 Amazon gift card.
What's New: Alumna Julieanna Hever Brings Plant-Based Nutrition Expertise to the CSUN Community
Spring 2019
In a collaboration between the Marilyn Magaram Center and the College of Health and Human Development, the Friends of the Oviatt Library are pleased to welcome Julieanna Hever, M.S., R.D., C.P.T. back to the campus to share the essence of her bestselling book, Plant-Based Nutrition (Idiots Guide) 2nd Edition. Julieanna travels the globe to share her passion for healing and happiness through a whole food, plant-based diet.