Access from Off-Campus

Make sure your record is active by using "My Library Account" from the library website. If you are unable to gain access you will need your patron record updated. Email library@gustavus.edu. We will be able to assist you if you find yourself itching to do research while on break! Happy Thanksgiving!

Model of the Swedish Warship Vasa of 1628 on display

There is now a miniature representation (1:50 scale) of the Vasa built from scratch by Clayton Johnson from Albert Lea, MN on display in the library.  As Clayton made many trips to Sweden conducting research at the Vasa Museum, this model is the most accurate replica of the original.  

The Vasa was one of the large warships built for King Gustav II Adolf (King Gustavus Adolphus). It took over two years to build with an unplanned addition of a second gun deck upon the King’s orders.  It sank on its maiden voyage on August 10^th 1628. When the ship left the shelter of the inner harbor of Stockholm, it approached the island of Beckholmen where it was struck by a powerful gust of wind.  The ship capsized and sank after a voyage of only 1300 meters (.8 mile). The Vasa carried a crew of 200, about 50 drowned.  

In 1961, this ship was salvaged with a largely intact hull and is now housed in the Vasa Museum in Stockholm. 

We are thankful to Clayton Johnson for sharing his model temporarily with us here at Gustavus.   

To learn more about this model visit:

https://sites.google.com/site/clayton707/swedishwarshipwasa

To learn more about the Vasa visit:

http://www.vasamuseet.se/en/The-Ship/

Stellar students!

Congratulations to Josh Syzpulski (AV), Libby Larson (Archives), and Molly Schroeder (Processing/Stacks) for being chosen as Star Students for fall semester!

Star Students are library student employees who have demonstrated superior performance in their departments. The library depends heavily on student workers and wishes to recognize those that go above and beyond the call of duty.

A big round of applause for Josh, Libby & Molly!

Changes on the first floor

Looking for a comfy place to study? Try the first floor of the library!  We have taken out some of the study carrels and replaced them with comfy furniture.  There is also more room for group studying at the tables or if you’re somebody who likes to spread your stuff out then this is a place for you!

Elections at Gustavus

Students are often passionate about political causes and especially so during presidential election years.  In the modern era, as evidenced by results of a student preference survey in the most recent issue of the Gustavian Weekly, Gustavus students prefer more liberal candidates.  In decades and centuries past, Gusties favored the more conservative contenders.  Although the following link will take you to images of electioneering at Gustavus from years past, these few images document only a sampling of political activity and student election activism.  To learn more about former elections at Gustavus, please visit the College and Lutheran Church Archives.

Images: Election Images

Spring Courses @ the Library

Once again, we're offering two courses in the spring, ones small enough to fit into even a fairly busy schedule.


NDL 301: Information Fluency is a .5 credit discussion-based and hands-on course that gives students a chance to dig into the tools for the literature of their major field and discuss the social and ethical dimensions of research. It meets weekly on Tuesday afternoons - but if that schedule doesn't work, we can talk about setting up an alternate time by arrangement. This course was designed for students who are planning to go on to graduate school, but it's also open to anyone interested in learning more about research. Last year's syllabus can be found here.

NDL 201: Reading Workshop is a pass/fail .25 credit course that meets Wednesday afternoons for just the first half of the spring term. We're going to read and discuss a novel by Sherman Alexie, Reservation Blues, and students will also have a chance to read and review a book of their own choosing. Basically, this course is about exploring your personal reading tastes, developing your own reading list, and having a chance to read for fun. Last year's syllabus is here.


Questions about these courses? Contact Barbara Fister - fister @ gustavus.edu.

photo courtesy of juggzy malone

Because My Heart

has always belonged in a library, come find a book
 you just may fall in love with.