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Featured This Issue - November 2024
Staff picks: Stretch your mind and your legs!
When you think of library resources, your mind may go to books or maybe magazines and journals. You may know that we also have technology, and bookable study rooms. Maybe you’ve even heard of our Culture Passes, tickets to area museums and gardens. But do you know that we also have the priceless resource of knowledgeable employees? We’ll be featuring employee suggestions for area hikes and adventure as well as some books on the subject!
Click on the books to see availability!
Open Educational Resources (OER) News
From the Field:
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According to the 2023 National Survey on Student Course Material Affordability, 7 out of 10 U.S. college students are worried about meeting their course material costs, and over half of students report paying $200 or more for their course materials for the term. Students comment they have to work extra jobs, forgo basic expenses, and take time away from their studies due to the cost of traditional course materials.
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Dr. Aaron Lawler, associate professor of humanities at Waubonsee Community College (Illinois) recently penned an opinion piece for Community College Daily on social justice aspects of OERs: "Higher ed’s responsibility to use OERs." Lawler argues, the goal of OERs "is not only to disseminate knowledge, but to do so in a manner that is accessible and equitable for all."
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The Chronicle of Higher Education compares the pros and cons of OER and Inclusive Access textbook programs in "Two Campaigns to Reduce Textbook Costs Are Often at Odds. Can They Co-Exist?" by Taylor Swaak. Nearly half of all degree-granting institutions have reportedly adopted some version of “inclusive access” or “equitable access” programs, according to the Association of American Publishers, while Approaching a New Normal, a recent study by Bay View Analytics, found that a quarter (26%) of faculty require an OER in their course. Both OER and Inclusive Access seek to improve the textbook experience for students, but can both programs coexist at the modern American higher education institution?
We are almost ready for you to come try out our Meta Quest 2 VR headsets at the Downtown and East Campus libraries! Keep your eyes peeled for a more formal announcement when they are ready for you to check out. The headsets have some games (like Beatsaber!), apps like YouTube, and special VR experiences for you to try out.
Have an idea about VR? Contact us and let us know!
Distance Education Library
Contributors: Keith Rocci (Distance Education Librarian) & Chelsea James (Open Educational Resources (OER) & Course Materials Director)
Discover Pima’s Own Publishing Platform: Pima Open Digital Press!
Pima Community College is excited to share Pima Open Digital Press! This resource is dedicated to making learning accessible and affordable to all. Imagine diving into free multimedia learning materials and guides designed by educators and students right here in our own community.
Pima Open Digital Press is a catalog of Open Educational Resources (OER) that have been created and compiled by Pima Faculty, Staff and Students in order to support your learning journey. The best news is that these resources are open and free for everyone to use, supporting a movement towards affordable education for all.
Explore the current collection and be on the lookout for more publications to come. Pima Open Digital Press is a commitment to bringing OER to you and your classroom, made by Pima, for Pima. You may even find yourself in class one day creating, publishing and sharing your own knowledge with the community.
So what exactly is Silent Book Club (SBC)?
(From the SBC Official Website) SBC is a meeting of readers where "there's no assigned reading. SBC members gather in bars, cafés, bookstores, libraries, and online to read together in quiet camaraderie. All readers are welcome—ebooks or audiobooks, poetry or prose, fiction or nonfiction... it's BYOBook. Welcome to introvert happy hour!"
It is the easiest group hangout - you get together, read silently for an hour, and that's it! (After the hour is up, attendees are welcome to chat about the books they are reading.) SBC is great for not only hardcore bookworms or book dragons, but great for people who want to meet other book minded people, or for the person who wants to get out of their house but doesn't want to sit alone and read. Or maybe for the person who wants to get back into reading and the group aspect will provide that encouragement to read. It's really for anyone who just wants to read!
Here are a couple of articles about SBC: NPR article and How the Silent Book Club Gave Me Back My Reading Life
Silent Book Club is now a global phenomenon with chapters literally all over the world. (On the website there is a global map where you can see an overview of all the SBC chapters.) Tucson has its own chapter that meets twice a month at local bars; thanks to some networking with the Tucson chapter organizer, PCC Libraries will now collaborate with our local chapter to be another host site (and what better place than a Library).
Our goal is to have each campus Library alternate hosting SBC events so that everyone can participate and also offer up more location options to the community (especially those who do not want to go read in a bar). This is also a great opportunity to bring awareness, welcome, and engagement into our Libraries.
Check out our next Silent Book Club meet! November 25th, from 4:30-6:30 PM in the East Campus Library in The Reading Lab, RM L146 
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Celebrate Native American Heritage Month!
All November!
Click on the books to see availability!
Cozy Seasonal Cooking
Just in time for the holidays!
Click on the books to see availability!
Programs, Events and Displays
Northwest Campus Library Events
Click images to enlarge flyers
Come find some hidden gems for just $1 each at our Northwest Campus Library's Fall Book Sale, featuring books, DVDs, and more! This semester, we’re excited to host the sale right in the NW Library. November 18th through the 21st!
Desert Vista Campus Library Happenings
Click on the images to enlarge
Share what you are thankful for on the DV Library's thankful tree
Join the Desert Vista Library for coffee, crafts, and snacks! Find some motivation by making yourself a motivational button!
Monday 12/9 through Thursday 12/12, 9am-3pm, while supplies last.
East Campus Makerspace
Click images to enlarge
Visit the Makerspace Guide for more information on technologies and events!
HEY FACULTY, STAFF, AND HARDCORE OER FANS! Check out these upcoming OER opportunities!
Nominate a colleague (or two) for the OERizona Network Awards
"The OERizona Network Awards celebrate outstanding contributions to the advancement of OER across Arizona’s higher education institutions. These awards honor the individuals and teams who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and collaboration in promoting the adoption and creation of OER materials. From faculty pioneers and dedicated librarians to instructional designers and cross-institutional teams, the OERizona Network Awards recognize those who are impacting student access, affordability, and academic success. By fostering a statewide culture of open education, these awards spotlight the transformative power of OER to create more equitable learning environments for all students."
For more information and to submit nominations, visit https://www.oerizona.org/oerizona-conference/awards
Register for the 2025 OERizona Conference hosted by Pima Community College:
"Attendees to the 7th annual OERizona Conference are invited to discover innovative teaching and learning practices, connect with like-minded educators, and explore how Open Educational Resources (OERs) and open pedagogy can enhance student success for all learners."
For more information, and to register, visit https://www.oerizona.org/oerizona-conference/about
Pumpkin Time!
Every year the libraries compete to see who has the best pumpkin carving/decorating skills. Check out this gallery of past carvings and decorations.
See who won this years competition, and admire the creative works of the libraries!
The Theme is 
Pick Your Poison
Click on the images to enlarge!
West Campus Library "The Substance" pumpkin.
Based on the newly released thriller "The Substance", where looking younger doesn't always turn out the way you want.
WINNER!!! Downtown Campus Library "Pick Your Poison...Literally!" pumpkin.
Pick your poison at your own risk! Engagement was encouraged with students risking limbs to pick their own poisons or their own prizes!
East Campus Library "Poisoned Apple + other Disney Poisons" pumpkin.
Paying homage to the Poison Apple from Snow White. Inspired by different Disney poisons, look for Kuzco's llama poison, Hercules' mortal potion, as well as the various ingestible potions from Alice & Wonderland.
Library Technical Services "Pick Your Poison" pumpkin.
Pick your poison, any poison. Inspired by the poison's we face in our daily lives!
Desert Vista Library's "Kuzco's Poison" pumpkin.
“Oh, right. The poison. The poison for Kuzco, the poison chosen especially to kill Kuzco, Kuzco's poison.”
Northwest Campus Library "Hear Me Out" pumpkin.
Check out their video for the full effect!
