EIU Booth Library

Spring into Technology: CSI Workshops This March

Posted on March 6th, 2026

Throughout March, the Center for Student Innovation at Booth Library will be hosting three workshops dedicated to helping you learn more about the evolving technological landscape! These events are open to people of all expertise; from beginners to experts, you are welcome to participate! Look through the list of workshops happening this March: 

Add unique backgrounds to your photographs and videos during the Green Screen 101 workshop hosted on Tuesday, March 10^th from 6-7 pm. 

Learn how to independently use the equipment in the CSI’s Podcasting Studio during the Podcasting 101 workshop hosted on Wednesday, March 11^th from 4-5 pm. 

Turn a 3D model from a digital file into a printed 3D object during the 3D Printing 101 workshop hosted on Wednesday, March 11^th from 5:30-6:30 pm.  

All workshops take place at the 1000 level of Booth Library in the Center for Student Innovation. Register to attend CSI workshops and learning labs through LibCal. For more information, please contact the CSI at csi@eiu.edu. 

New library acquisitions for February

Posted on March 5th, 2026

Booth Library’s collections added a multitude of new items last month!   Booth Library acquired and cataloged 447 physical items (books, DVDs, government documents, archival resources, and more) and 2385 electronic resources (including ebooks, ejournals, digital audiobooks, EIU student theses, and streaming videos) in February 2026. Please find the lists of new items at the links below. Individual issues of current periodicals are excluded. All items are discoverable through the library’s online catalog.

New acquisitions include items selected for purchase by Booth’s subject librarians, donations, re-cataloged library items, freely available government publications, and consortium-wide purchases.

Please contact your subject librarian with any questions.

Call for Student Submissions: Booth Library Awards for Excellence in Student Research & Creative Works 2026

Posted on February 9th, 2026

Booth Library at Eastern Illinois University invites students to submit their work for the 17th Annual Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Works. This program celebrates outstanding student scholarship and creativity that makes meaningful use of Booth Library’s resources, services, spaces, or expertise.

Eligibility

The competition is open to all Eastern Illinois University students (undergraduate and graduate) who are or were enrolled during the current academic year. Submissions must represent original work completed within the past 12 months.

Individual and group projects are welcome. Only one submission per person is allowed. For group projects, please clearly describe each participant’s role and contribution.

Scope of Submissions

Student research and creative works may take many forms, including but not limited to:

• Written research papers
• Artistic works or exhibits
• Musical compositions or performances
• Videos, podcasts, documentaries, or oral histories
• Data analysis or visualizations
• Performances or other creative projects

Written submissions are limited to 25 pages. Students may submit portions of a thesis, provided a summary or outline of the remaining work is included. All submissions should be presented in a way that can be understood by an interdisciplinary review panel.

Use of Booth Library Resources

A central component of this award is demonstrating how Booth Library contributed to your project’s success. Each submission must include a detailed explanation of how you used library materials, spaces, technologies, services, or staff support during your research or creative process.

Citations and Academic Integrity

All submissions that rely on the work of others must include a complete list of references following a standard citation style. Use of AI tools is permitted but must be fully disclosed and described. Plagiarism or other breaches of academic integrity will result in disqualification.

Awards

Prizes will be awarded in separate undergraduate and graduate categories:

Graduate Students

• First Place: $500
• Second Place: $400
• Third Place: $300

Undergraduate Students

• First Place: $300
• Second Place: $200
• Third Place: $100

Award recipients will also receive certificates of recognition. Winning entries will be honored during National Library Week 2026 (April 19–25), and a digital copy of each winning work will be added to EIU’s institutional repository, The Keep.

The 2025–2026 student awards are funded by gifts from the friends of Carl Lorber, Jr., Professor Emeritus, former longtime head of Reference Services at Booth Library, and through the philanthropic support of the Coles County Zythological Society.

Important Dates

• Submission Deadline: March 6, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. CST
• Notification of Winners: By April 1, 2026
• Awards Celebration: National Library Week, April 19–25, 2026

Incomplete submissions will not receive full consideration.

Questions?

For more information, please contact:
Brian W. Keith
Dean of Booth Library
(217) 581-6061
bwkeith@eiu.edu

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Diane Highland, Booth Library
dehighland@eiu.edu
217-581-6061

EIU to Celebrate Faculty Authors at Spring 2026 Authors@EIU Events at Booth Library 

Posted on February 5th, 2026

(Charleston, IL) – Eastern Illinois University’s Mary J. Booth Library invites the campus and community to participate in the Spring 2026 installment of Booth Library’s annual speaker series, Authors@EIU. Through this series, the library will recognize and celebrate EIU’s intellectually vibrant community and its contributions to discovery, knowledge, creation, and public learning. 

During the Spring 2026 semester, six authors will be featured across three Authors@EIU events, celebrating the research, scholarship, and creative achievements of Eastern Illinois University faculty and alumni. Booth Library staff looks forward to hosting these free events and facilitating engaging dialogue as EIU and its local communities celebrate the important scholarly and creative accomplishments of these authors. 

Each event will include a shared reception beginning at 5 p.m., followed by author presentations and Q&A sessions starting at 5:30 p.m. Campus parking and admission to these events are free. 

Additional details for the Spring 2026 Authors@EIU events include: 

• Wednesday, February 25: 
  • Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Ph.D. 
    Spivey Gilchrist (’73) is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books, an EIU Art Education alumna, a 1992 EIU Distinguished Alumna Award recipient, and former member of the EIU Board of Trustees (2013-2019). Her presentation will serve as a capstone event for the 2026 Children’s Literature Symposium, which will be held on EIU’s campus February 25 and 26 of this year. 
• Thursday, April 9: 
  • Alan Pocaro, Associate Professor, Art + Design, Printmaking and Foundations 
    Pocaro is associated with the New Aesthetics movement, an informal group of artists and writers who emphasize the physical and material nature of art. His writing focuses on art criticism, creative scholarship, exhibition reviews, and critical essays. His pieces have been featured in Chicago’s New City magazine, as well as The New Criterion, New American Paintings, artcritical, AbstractCritical, ART PAPERS, and CityBeat. Prior to joining EIU’s faculty, Porcaro taught at the Art Academy of Cincinnati and Miami University (Ohio). 
  • Gary Canivez, Ph.D., Professor, Psychology 
    Canivez served as editor of a recently published 2025 textbook he will discuss, titled Assessing Psychometric Fitness of Intelligence Tests: Toward Evidence-based Interpretation Practices by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. The textbook, intended for graduate students and professionals in psychology and related fields, covers the intersection of ethics, test standards, and psychometric properties while focusing on the ethical and scientific interpretation of intelligence tests and emphasizing the need for advanced psychometric knowledge for appropriate clinical and research use. 
• Wednesday, April 15:
  • Danelle Larson, Ph.D., Professor, Music Education and Director of the Music Education Division 
    Larson will engage in a discussion revolving around topics in her co-edited 2026 academic anthology Music Teaching and Learning in America’s Public Normal Schools by Bloomsbury Publishing. The book shares the histories of public normal schools and how American music-teacher education evolved from teacher education in those early institutions during a time when many eventually became state universities. 
  • Robin Murray, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of English and Joseph K. Heumann, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Communication Studies 
    Murray and Heumann will discuss their 2024 co-authored book Eco-Teen Films (Routledge), emphasizing the juxtaposition of teen activism, international settings and filmmakers, and marginalized perspectives to focus on teens on film who are struggling with present and future, everyday eco-disasters amplified by climate change. 

The featured publications are available for loan to the public through Booth Library. For more information, visit go.eiu.edu/FacultyPubs. 

All members of the EIU and local communities are welcome, including students. 

Since opening as a dedicated library in 1950, Eastern Illinois University’s Booth Library has become a cornerstone of academic research and community engagement, serving not only EIU but also students, educators, and residents throughout Central Illinois. For more information about Booth Library or EIU’s Spring 2026 Authors@EIU series, contact Booth Library Exhibits & Events Coordinator Diane Highland at dehighland@eiu.edu or call (217) 581-6061.

EIU prepares students to accomplish their life goals through a combination of quality academics, personal relationships, and both on-campus and online learning opportunities. For more information about Eastern Illinois University, including its broad array of academic and career readiness programs, or any of EIU’s other community-based services and opportunities, visit eiu.edu or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400. 

Eastern Illinois University Announces Shakir Islamic Perspectives Initiative at Booth Library

Posted on January 21st, 2026

Gift honors family legacy while expanding student learning, academic inquiry, and community dialogue.

Centered in Booth Library, the Shakir Islamic Perspectives Initiative brings together a curated collection, visiting scholars, curricular partnerships, student events, and public programs that support understanding and student learning and faculty scholarship across disciplines.

“This initiative honors my parents’ lifelong commitment to education, service, and understanding across difference,” said Dr. Abdur Shakir. “By placing these resources within the library, we are creating a living space for learning one that invites students to explore Islamic perspectives thoughtfully, ask meaningful questions, and engage with ideas that connect cultures rather than divide them.” 

A Living Learning Resource

At the heart of the initiative is the Dr. Hassan and Zahida Shakir Collection, a growing library collection developed collaboratively with faculty, students, and librarians. The collection supports teaching and research in religious studies, history, philosophy, and related fields, while its bibliographic focus is designed to evolve over time to include additional perspectives on the roles and contributions of Islam and Muslim communities, including areas such as art, science, and family life. Intentionally, the collection invites exploration by students and community members beyond the classroom.

The initiative has been shaped intentionally through a participatory and interdisciplinary approach, incorporating input from the Muslim Student Association and faculty in multiple departments. This collaborative model reflects the initiative’s broader goal: to foster learning grounded in dialogue, curiosity, and shared inquiry.

“Abdur Shakir’s vision-driven gift has allowed us to think not only about what we acquire, but also about how we steward ideas, relationships, and opportunities for learning,” said Brian W. Keith, Dean of Booth Library. “The library is always delighted to connect students and faculty through scholarship and shared contributions to community and belonging, and this initiative exemplifies that role.”

Visiting Scholars and Campus Engagement

A key component of the Shakir Islamic Perspectives Initiative is a visiting scholar program designed to bring leading voices in Islamic studies and public scholarship to campus. The inaugural visiting scholar, Dr. Mohammad Hassan Khalil, Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Muslim Studies Program at Michigan State University, will visit EIU during the Spring semester.

Dr. Khalil’s visit will include a public lecture hosted at Booth Library, classroom engagement with students, and conversations with faculty and student organizations. His scholarship and public-facing work reflect the initiative’s emphasis on connecting academic study with lived experience and contemporary dialogue. His talk will focus on the long and rich history of Muslim people in the Midwest.

Mariam Nizami, Secretary of EIU’s Muslim Student Association, said, “having the opportunity for other professors to come to EIU gives a great reputation for small RSOs that are not well-known, like the Muslim Student Association. It is great that more Muslim professors from big colleges who have done amazing things related to our culture can come here and give other students an opportunity to be exposed to the Islamic culture.”

In addition to the visiting scholar program, Spring programming associated with the initiative includes a film screening, interfaith discussions, and hands-on learning opportunities developed in collaboration with campus partners. While these events mark an important moment for the initiative, they are part of a broader, evolving framework that will continue to grow in future years.

Looking Ahead

The Shakir Islamic Perspectives Initiative is envisioned as a sustained investment in education, dialogue, and community engagement. Future programming will explore additional themes and scholarly perspectives, building on the foundation established through the collection and early collaborations.

Jay Gatrell, President of Eastern Illinois University, noted, “The support of amazing donors makes it possible for our students and community to have access to world class scholars and resources at EIU and Booth Library. I am truly grateful to Dr. Shakir’s leadership and commitment to our community.” 

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MEDIA CONTACT: 
Diane Highland, Booth Library 
dehighland@eiu.edu 
217-581-6061 

2025 Periodical and Standing Order Review

Posted on April 16th, 2025

Booth Library’s annual Periodical and Standing Order Review has been completed. The lists of periodicals and standing orders selected for cancellation have been posted. This annual exercise is designed to allocate the library’s materials budget so that library collections best meet the needs of library users. Titles are added or canceled with input from the relevant academic departments.

Questions about the review can be addressed by individual subject librarians.

Booth Library’s new Open Access agreement with Cambridge University Press

Posted on March 14th, 2025

Thanks to Booth Library’s new Read & Publish agreement with Cambridge University Press, EIU faculty and other campus authors can publish articles Open Access (OA), if accepted, in hundreds of Cambridge’s journals at no charge.  Please see more details on our agreement at the Cambridge website and their step-by-step guide for authors, and visit their Eligibility Checker tool to see the list of journals available for free OA publishing.  As an added benefit of this agreement, everyone at EIU now has access to the Cambridge University Press 2025 full collection of over 400 journals, including leading titles across the humanities, social sciences, and science, technology, and medicine.

Open Access (OA) is a set of principles and practices designed to make scholarly materials freely available.  OA publishing allows for greater visibility and accessibility, allowing scholars worldwide to discover relevant articles and read them without paywalls.  Academic libraries promote OA to ensure equitable access to scholarly research, breaking down financial and legal barriers that restrict knowledge sharing.  For additional OA publishing opportunities for EIU researchers through Booth Library’s agreements, and other information on how Booth is supporting publishers’ OA initiatives, see our LibGuide.

For questions, please contact your subject librarian or Sarah Johnson, Head of Collection Management (sljohnson2@eiu.edu).

Celebrate Women’s History Month: Booth Library Presents Jane Addams & Hull House Exhibit Launch

Posted on March 6th, 2025

Booth Library invites the EIU campus and greater community to celebrate Women’s History Month through the launch of a new exhibit: Jane Addams and Hull House. Join us on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 5 p.m. in the library’s West Reading Room for light refreshments and discussion by the students who curated the exhibit, followed by a documentary screening.

This exhibit is a collaboration project as part of Killeen Reidy and Lauren Clark’s internship for professional writing at Booth Library. Reidy and Clark will explain their research and design process to curate the Jane Addams and Hull House displays, followed by a documentary screening of Jane Addams: Together We Rise — A Chicago Stories Documentary from a PBS affiliate in Chicago, also in the West Reading Room. Reidy and Clark’s exhibits are featured in the Reference Hallway adjacent to the Marvin Foyer, with a book display of Jane Addams’ written works that are available for checkout.

Reidy and Clark are both English majors: Reidy with an emphasis in Literary Studies and Clark with an emphasis in Professional Writing.

Light refreshments will be served. The exhibit will continue until the end of Women’s History Month (March 31).

Research and Communication Support Services at Booth

Posted on January 29th, 2025

Booth Library, the Writing Center, and the speech program are excited to announce a new partnership offering coordinated research and communication support—both oral presentations and writing—across all disciplines at the university.

In addition to Booth Library’s expert research consultations, we will now offer consultations for presentation and writing assignments on a walk-up basis at Booth Library every Monday and Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Simply visit the Research Help desk (on the main floor) for directions. These tutors can assist with assignments from any course, including ENG 1001 and CMN 1310.

As part of this program, speech consultations will be held in the NEW Creative Reality Studio, part of the Center for Student Innovation. The studio offers state-of-the-art resources, including virtual reality equipment, green screens, and on-the-spot technical support, to enhance creative opportunities for students. Find more info here.

This partnership supports student success by helping develop the essential communication skills needed for academic achievement, professional growth, and personal development. Whether you need help articulating your ideas clearly, persuasively, or effectively in written or spoken form, we’re here to help!

 Questions? Visit: https://www.eiu.edu/booth/requests/asklibr.html

Upgrade your searching with JSTOR’s interactive research tool

Posted on January 23rd, 2025

Booth Library now has early access to JSTOR’s cutting-edge interactive research tool.  This new JSTOR feature uses advanced technologies, including AI, to help you expand your research within JSTOR’s large collection of journal articles and ebooks.  It helps you find relevant materials faster by surfacing key points and arguments from the text you want to read, discover new topics and results within JSTOR, engage conversationally by asking questions about the text, and search more effectively using everyday language queries.

The interactive research tool is available on content pages for journal articles, book chapters, and research reports, and as an alternative to JSTOR’s standard keyword search.

Here’s how to get started:

1.            Go to jstor.org.

2.            Create a JSTOR personal account or sign in to your existing personal account.

3.            Ensure you have institutional access through EIU (look for the banner at the top of your JSTOR screen).

4.            Run a search and open any journal article, book chapter, or research report to start using the tool.

Get involved!  As an early user, you’ll have the opportunity to provide valuable feedback that will help shape the tool’s development. Remember, it’s a work in progress and will evolve. Because the tool is still in rapid development, JSTOR is requesting feedback, either in the tool via prompts to give interactions thumbs-up or thumbs-down ratings, or you can email JSTOR’s beta team. Your insights will play a key role in refining this exciting new feature!

Explore the interactive research tool today and take your research to the next level!  Please ask a librarian if you have any questions.