University Library News

Join librarians Traci Mays and Kim Reycraft on Tuesday, April 8, from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. for “The Work BEFORE a Systematic Review: What is it and why it matters” workshop.  This workshop will discuss the pre-work (a shallow dive into the literature) conducted by researchers designed to determine the feasibility and value of a review before beginning the Systematic Review or evidence synthesis journey. 

Participants will identify the proper review type for their research question; determine the scope of the review; examine and synthesize topic-related reviews to assess their question, the current state of affairs, and where they want to take the conversation; and use the concepts associated with the TREAD acronym.  

Your scholarship will have an impact not only on your discipline but also on you as an individual. Mays and Reycraft are available to help you be successful in your development as professionals and experts in your field. 

The workshop will be held in person in LIB 222. Registration is required. Please secure your in-person seat on the library’s calendar by clicking HERE.            

25 in-person seats and 50 online seats are available.  

Join University Archives and Special Collections as we partner with Dr. Jordan Von Cannon and Dr. Melodie Eichbauer on Tuesday, April 8 from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. to teach and practice reading cursive.  

This workshop is open to readers of all skill levels. We plan to discuss the importance of reading cursive in the 21st century and provide useful tips to get started or improve. 

Dr. Jordan Von Cannon is an associate professor in the Department of Language & Literature. Her research and teaching interests range from early American literature, 19th century American literature, U.S. women writers, feminist theory and more. 

Dr. Melodie Eichbauer is a professor in the Department of Political Science, Public Administration & History. Her research specializes in legal and ecclesiastical history from c.1000 to c.1500. 

This workshop will take place on the first floor of Library West by the Data Viz Wall. We hope to see you there! 

To RSVP for this event, please go to Eagle Link by clicking HERE.

Help support the University Library on Give Day 2025! Beginning at noon Wednesday, March 26, through noon Thursday, March 27, you can give to the library to help us continue to support academic success. 

Your donation is invaluable to us because it allows our more than 16,000 students, faculty, staff, and community members increased access to technology, teaching, high-quality resources, collections, research, and more. We’re more than just books! 

Please make your gift today by clicking HERE.  Please spread the word and help us reach more people to achieve our goal. Every donation counts and we can’t do it without your support. 

Join us on Wednesday, March 12, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. for our third Scholar Series: Student Edition. 

Grace Gentle, a graduate student in history and Betul Guner, a graduate student in curriculum and instruction, will present their talk, “The Life and Legacy of Ellen Peterson: A Teacher's Journey to Establishing an Environmentally Conscious Community in Southwest Florida.” 

Ellen Peterson (1923-2011) was a community leader and activist. She dedicated her life to environmental conservation in Southwest Florida. In 2006, Peterson created the non-profit organization, Happehatchee Center Inc., on her property. Still serving the community today, the center is dedicated to environmental education and spirituality. As a champion of social causes, Peterson left a lasting impact on Southwest Florida.  

The talk will take place on the first floor of Library West, by the Data Visualization Wall area. Snacks will be provided. Registration is encouraged but not required. Click HERE to register.

Join us on Monday, March 10, from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. for a virtual workshop that will help you enhance your Google Scholar skills. 

Google Scholar, a subset of Google Web Search, is a search engine that helps users find scholarly literature such as articles, books, and theses. Google Scholar gets its information from academic publishers, professional societies, online repositories, universities, and other websites. Many students and faculty use Google Scholar, but are you getting as much out of it as you can? 

In this virtual workshop you will learn the following: 

Register on the library’s calendar page to get our link to this virtual workshop. CLICK HERE.

By Emily Murray, Archives Coordinator 

Happy Presidents Day! To celebrate, the University Archives and Special Collections looks back at the visionary leaders who have shaped Florida Gulf Coast University. From its founding to today, FGCU’s presidents have guided the university’s growth, innovation, and commitment to excellence. Join us as we honor their contributions and the lasting impact they’ve made on our students, faculty, community, and future generations to come. 

First President:

In April 1993, Dr. Roy E. McTarnaghan was appointed as the founding university president, and shortly thereafter, the Florida Legislature named the institution “Florida Gulf Coast University.” On November 28, 1995, more than 600 people gathered for the university’s groundbreaking ceremony. However, it wasn’t until August 1997 that FGCU welcomed students. Approximately 2,584 students started that semester. Dr. McTarnaghan served as president for six years, playing a pivotal role in planning, shaping, and launching Florida’s 10th public university before retiring in May 1999.

Second President:

William C. Merwin served as Florida Gulf Coast University’s second president from July 1999 until his resignation in January 2007. Under his leadership, FGCU saw significant growth, including the development of its athletics program, an increase in enrollment to over 8,300 students, the expansion of campus housing, and the successful raising of more than $175 million in private gifts and donations. 

Third President:

In August 2007, Scott Lutgert, chair of the FGCU Board of Trustees, announced that Dr. Wilson G. Bradshaw would be the University’s third president. During his tenure, enrollment increased by 60% to nearly 15,000 students, the number of degrees granted annually doubled, several new campus buildings were constructed and he helped launch FGCU’s first doctoral program. Dr. Bradshaw served as president until his retirement in 2017.  

Fourth President:

Dr. Michael V. Martin served as the fourth President of Florida Gulf Coast University from 2017 to 2023. During his presidency, he secured over 23.7 million dollars in funding for FGCU, led the institution through a global pandemic, increased four-year graduation rates to 19%, increased six-year graduation rates by 4.6%, and officially launched the Water School in 2019.  

Fifth President:

Dr. Aysegul Timur was selected to become Florida Gulf Coast University's fifth president on May 4, 2023. Prior to serving as president, she was the Assistant Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Strategy, and Program Innovation. Overall, she’s been a part of the FGCU community since 2019. Dr. Timur is widely known for building collaborative teams of university and community stakeholders to implement strategic initiatives, including workforce alignments.

Find out more information about the past Florida Gulf Coast University Presidents in their collections: 

Are you interested in learning about the ins and outs of copyright? Join Dr. Robert N. Diotalevi on Monday, February 10, from 11 a.m. to noon for a virtual session that will provide an overview of important laws involving copyright. This session will include a PowerPoint presentation, a Q&A period and a demonstration of the Library’s Reading List tool. 

Our presenter, Dr. Robert N. Diotalevi, is an Associate Professor and Founding Program Coordinator of Legal Studies here at FGCU. He brings an array of experience to the table having been a lawyer for 39 years and a member of the Massachusetts and Florida bars. In addition to law, he possesses degrees in accounting, communication and taxation. Dr. Diotalevi’s work has also been published in several journals worldwide. 

Register on the library’s calendar page to get our link to this virtual workshop (https://fgcu.libcal.com/event/13690337).  

Before we begin discussing tips for using archives, it is important to understand what archives are. One definition for archives is, “collections of records which have been selected for permanent preservation because of their historical value.” We use the word record as a catch-all term to describe all the different types of materials that archives may house like letters, books, cassette tapes, film, maps, film, etc.  

Archival research can be a fun and rewarding process. Here are five tips for beginners just getting started: 

1.  Preparing for a Visit

The best place to begin your archives research journey is our website! Unlike libraries, materials in archives are not openly available in the stacks. Instead, they are held in secure locations and brought to researchers upon request. That means that visitors need to have an idea of what they would like to see before they visit. Researchers can use the archives’ website to access our digital primary sources, our collection guide, and our finding aids. 

2.  Handling Archival Material

The first time that a researcher handles archival material can be nerve-wracking. Records housed in archives are rare and unique and patrons often share that they are worried about damaging the items. To prevent the likelihood of that happening, users can expect to follow these guidelines in the Reading Room: 

• Go slow and use items one at a time in order to keep records in the correct order. 

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3. Take Good Notes

Since archives material cannot be checked out, taking good notes can make or break a visit to the archives. As you go through your material make sure to write down interesting quotes and questions that you have. Also, make sure that you take note of the citation information – the collection, box, and folder number – so you can remember where you got your information.  

4. Ask Questions

Never be afraid to ask questions! Archival collections can be difficult to fully understand, but archivists are accustomed to the organization of the materials. Researchers should feel comfortable using archives staff as a resource. Ask us questions about specific materials or collections. We are always happy to help! You can ask questions by calling us at 239-745-4476, emailing us at libarchives@fgcu.edu , or scheduling a research consultation.  

5. Attend Archives Workshops

Archives research gets easier and better with practice! One way to improve your primary source research skills is to attend Archives Workshop. We offer a session that focuses on a specific skill or tool related to archives each month. This semester, we will offer four workshops. This month’s workshop, Treasure Maps of the Archives: Learn to Navigate Finding Aids, will teach attendees how to navigate finding aids to locate primary sources. It will be held on Tuesday, January 21, at 3 p.m. in the University Archives and Special Collections on the third floor. Keep up to date with our monthly workshops on the Library Calendar. 

Archives research shouldn’t be intimidating. It can be a fun and illuminating process, but the most important part is getting started. We hope to see you as you perfect your practice and work towards becoming an expert archives researcher!