Merrill Library Newsletter

March 25, 2025

NEWS

Stay updated on events, resources, and projects at Merrill Library and across UMaine Libraries. Discover what’s new and exciting in our library community!

University of Maine Press announces publication of "Piecework/Travail à la pièce"

The University of Maine Press is excited to announce the publication of Piecework/Travail à la pièce, a bilingual collection of two plays by Vermont playwright and performer Abby Paige. This landmark publication of Paige's solo works and their French translations offers unique insight into the Franco American experience and the long, often-invisible history of the borderlands between francophone Canada and northern New England.

The University of Maine Press and the Franco American Center will celebrate this milestone publication on Saturday, April 5, 6:30 p.m. at the Blackbox Theater, Class of 1944 Hall, University of Maine. Everyone is invited to come and enjoy an evening of entertainment hosted by Abby Paige, including music, readings, performances, and conversation! Free admission. Click here for additional information.

Graphic thanking UMaine Police Department

Thank You to the UMaine Police Department!

UMaine Libraries would like to extend our thanks to the University of Maine Police Department for conducting their recent Critical Incident Response Training at Fogler Library earlier this week. We truly appreciate the important role UMPD plays in keeping our campus and community safe. Their dedication to safety and preparedness is vital in ensuring a secure environment for all.

Special Collections and Projects archivists host multiple class visits

Special Collections and Projects provides a unique opportunity on campus to view rare books and records regarding Maine's history. Archivists Herb Dittersdorf and Matthew Revitt have hosted several class visits this academic year, including:

If you would like to arrange a class visit to Special Collections and Projects, please contact Fogler Library's Special Collections Department at um.library.spc@maine.edu.

Historical map of the Penobscot River, one of the documents students researched in Prof. Mary Freeman's HTY 210: History of Maine class.

Professor Mary Freeman's "HTY 415: African-American History," during which students examined books and historical documents highlighting African-American history in Maine and nationally. The resources included speeches by Hannibal Hamlin, volumes from the O'Brien Book Collection, and much more.
Professor Kathleen Gillon's "HED 580: History of Higher Education," where students heard about archiving material and being good keepers of data/material as it relates to their jobs as campus professionals.
In Professor Mary Freeman's "HTY 210: History of Maine," students investigated diverse resources such as maps, yearbooks, political records, and 19th Century Newspapers to explore Maine's history.

Photo of students doing research in library

Members of Prof. Liam Riordan's HTY 199: Public History class research the founding of the University of Maine.

Professor Frédéric Rondeau and Matthew Revitt's "RLE 150: Fight the Power: Exploring the History of Student Activism at UMaine Through Archives," in which students researched primary sources related to student activism at UMaine.
Professor Liam Riordan's "HTY 498: Senior Capstone,” where students visited Special Collections to discuss their project rehabbing the Kenduskeag Stream Trail located in Downtown Bangor, evaluating resources which discussed the trail itself as well as the context of Bangor's growth and development throughout history.
Professor Micah Pawling's "HTY222: Maine Indian History in the 20th Century," during which students reviewed documents that illuminate themes in the history of Maine's indigenous people in the 20th Century. Special Collection's deep collection of Maine Maps played a particularly critical role.
Professor Zach Luddington's "SPA 308: Readings in Hispanic Literature," in which students were introduced to rare books from Special Collections. The publication dates of these books ranged from the 15th Century into the 19th Century. The books were used to prompt discussion on the history of printing, literature, and information after the invention of the printing press.
Professor Liam Riordan's "HTY 199: Public History,"where students got hands-on experience processing archiving records and researched the founding of the University of Maine through newspapers, photographs, meeting minutes, correspondence, ledgers, and maps. The students are working on an exhibit intended for a wider audience showcasing the founding of the University of Maine to be displayed in Fogler Library.
In Professor Benjamin Friedlander's "ENG 363: Literature of the Cold War," students discussed rare books and chapbooks by pioneering Maine artist and poet Bern Porter.

An image of an antique newspaper on a table

A historic newspaper, one of the objects that students interacted with in Dr. Liam Riordan's HTY 199: Public History class visit

MERRILL LIBRARY EVENTS

You are invited to Merrill Library's events! Stay up-to-date by following our social media accounts listed at the bottom of this email, and check out our website for a complete list of upcoming events.

Breakfast in the Library – Friday, March 28, 9-10 AM at Merrill Library

Start the day with a light breakfast and an opportunity to connect with the UMM community. On March 28, from 9-10 AM, students, faculty, and staff are invited to join us at Merrill Library for breakfast.

While at the library, attendees are encouraged to explore the various resources Merrill Library offers or schedule a one-on-one research assistance session with a librarian.

This event is sponsored by the Office of Student Life. We look forward to welcoming all who can attend.

*A previous version of this newsletter incorrectly listed the Breakfast in the Library event as happening on March 25th. We apologize for any confusion. The correct date is this Friday, March 28th, from 9-10 AM in Merrill Library. We hope to see you there!*

UMAINE LIBRARIES EVENTS

You are invited to Fogler Library's public events! Stay up-to-date by following our social media accounts listed at the bottom of this email, and check out our website for a complete list of upcoming events.

(Hybrid) Tea with the Dean and Open Access Publishing Resources Showcase

UMM students, faculty, staff, and community are invited to UMaine Libraries’ Hybrid Tea with the Dean and Open Access Publishing Resources Showcase with Head of Collection Services Deb Rollins and Open Scholarship Librarian Casey Koons will take place on Thursday, March 27, at 3 p.m. in the Salon, Fogler Library, and online via Zoom.

Deborah Rollins will talk about open access collections and costs, as well as library support of University of Maine authors through open access publishing fee waivers.

Casey Koons will discuss key aspects of his role in advancing open access publication. He will outline the introduction of a new DOI-minting service, designed to provide persistent identifiers that enhance the accessibility and discoverability of scholarly and creative work. Koons will also highlight the role of institutional repositories in supporting Open Access initiatives, ensuring broader dissemination and long-term preservation of research outputs. Additionally, he will share updates on efforts to improve the functionality and usability of repository platforms, focusing on transitioning to more automated, modern systems that are intuitive and easy to navigate for both researchers and administrators.

Zoom Link

UMM students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend two online Fogler Workshops for Maine Impact Week

Fogler Library will host two online workshops, both led by Patent and Trademark Resource Center librarian John Hutchinson:

Trademarks 101: Protecting Your Brand

In this workshop, you’ll learn about the essentials of trademarks; what they are, why they matter, and how to register one. We’ll cover the trademark application process, how to conduct a basic trademark search, and common pitfalls to avoid. If you’re an entrepreneur, small business owner, or just curious about intellectual property, this session will provide a valuable introduction to the world of trademarks. The workshop will take place on Tuesday, April 8 at 11 a.m. in Library Classroom 1 and on Zoom. You can attend the workshop in person or via Zoom. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link.

Patents 101: Protecting Your Invention

This workshop covers the basics of patents — what they are, why they matter, and how to navigate the patent process. You'll discover how to determine if your invention is patentable, conduct a basic patent search, and understand the steps to filing a patent application. Whether you're an entrepreneur, inventor, or just interested in intellectual property, this session will give you the knowledge to safeguard your innovations. The workshop will take place on Thursday, April 10 at 11a.m. in Library Classroom 1 and on Zoom. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link.

Recording of Salon event now available

If you missed UMaine Libraries' recent Salon event, “Partnering with Students to (re)Claim the Joy of Teaching and Facilitate Culture Change,” please visit Fogler Library's website for a link to a recording of the event and other past events in our Salon Series, and for information about our upcoming events.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Find unique databases and online resources available through the UMaine Catalog to enhance your research, teaching, and learning. Explore something new each week!

GeoRef

Produced by the American Geological Institute, GeoRef covers a number of areas of geology and related disciplines including geochemistry, geophysics, hydrology, mineralogy, and paleontology. It indexes over 3,500 journals as well as books, reports, theses and dissertations, maps, and conference proceedings. GeoRef in Process records are also indexed. GeoRef includes the content of the print indexes Bibliography and Index of North American Geology, Bibliography of Theses in Geology, Geophysical Abstracts, Bibliography and Index of Geology Exclusive of North America, and the Bibliography and Index of Geology. Updated biweekly.

BioMed Central is an independent publishing house committed to providing immediate open access to peer-reviewed biomedical research. Original research articles from over 170 BMC journals are freely available. However, BioMed Central also provides access to various additional products and services, including some affiliated with these journals, that require a subscription. For example, certain BioMed Central journals such as Genome Biology publish commissioned review content available only to subscribers. Fogler Library subscribes to the following BMC journal: Genome Biology.

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UMaine Libraries is composed of Raymond H. Fogler Library, Merrill Library in Machias, Maine InfoNet, and the University of Maine Press.

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