Cheng Library Participates in University’s Homecoming Celebration Nearly one hundred alumni meet the new Dean of Library Services and watch a presentation about the Library’s Digital Archives. The Library created a display of photographs and memoribilia from the University Archives. This fall, the Cheng Library participated in the University’s Homecoming Celebration. The events in the Library took place on Sunday, September 21, 2014. The Library, in collaboration with Institutional Advancement sponsored an event for William Paterson University alumni. Nearly one hundred alumni assembled in the Library Auditorium for the afternoon festivities. The alumni were introduced to the new Dean of Library Services, Paul Glassman, and watched a presentation on the Library’s Digital Archives. Pamela Ferguson, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, introduced the new Dean of the Cheng Library, Paul Glassman, who spoke about the place of the Cheng Library in the academic enterprise, about its goal—through information literacy instruction—of cultivating a generation of life-long learners, and about the Cheng Library Digital Archives’ role in creating new content of interest to alumni/ae, students, faculty, and new audiences globally. “With the development of the Cheng Library Digital Archives, we are embracing the next phase of the digital revolution,” he said. After this overview of the Library’s services and goals, Dean Glassman introduced Kurt Wagner, Assistant Director for Library Information Systems, who unveiled the newest additions to the Library’s Digital Archives – the William Paterson College / University yearbooks. The University yearbook titled “The Kokoon” was published from 1925 to 1940. Thereafter, it is known by its current title, “The Pioneer.” One can chronicle the University’s developing record of achievements through photographs of the campus, the students and the faculty. From this collection, one can see the history of the institution and observe many changes and alterations over the years. About the new material in the Digital Archives, Kurt commented, “Alumni were enthusiastic to hear that they can search the yearbooks or campus newspapers online. It’s now possible for former students and staff to page through their own history at William Paterson via a few simple searches of the archives.” After the presentation, Pamela Ferguson spoke about the University’s Heritage Society, which was created to recognize those alumni who have contributed financially to the University for twenty or more consecutive years. A number of the alumni present were inducted into the Heritage Society and received pins to acknowledge their status. Alumni/ae at the event conversed enthusiastically about digital access to these older yearbooks and were able to reminisce with one another during the reception. Guests at the reception were also encouraged to add their favorite recollections of their time at William Paterson to the “Pioneers in Person” section of the Digital Archives. Nancy Weiner, Assistant Director for Access and Information Services, said, “The Library was pleased to have an active role during Homecoming and the Cheng Library Digital Archives Showcase and Reception was a great success. We look forward to working with other units on campus and participating in future Homecoming events.” Currently, the Digital Archives includes yearbooks from 1925, 1930, 1941, 1943, and 1945-1990, and plans are in place for more editions to be added. The Digital Archives collection also includes the Hobart Manor Papers, books relating to the history of the University, copies of older course catalogs, and back issues of the two student newspapers, The Beacon and Pioneer Times. The Library created the Lorraine Cheng Digitization Workshop with a generous gift from the Cheng family in memory of Lorraine Cheng. Work continues on several digitization projects with the yearbooks and course catalogs representing the most recent additions to the Digital Archives. The Archives can be accessed at http://www.wpunj.edu/library/cheng-archive-collections-university-history.html. October 22, 2014
