Bookmarks is a new periodic newsletter available from Mercyhurst University libraries to keep the campus community up to date on services offered by Hammermill and Ridge Libraries.

Bookmarks will be used to report on university library resources, services, facilities, changes and more.

The idea was put forward by Darci Jones, director of University Libraries and Online Learning. While an email newsletter was originally planned, that idea grew and it has now been decided that the newsletter will be available to all, through the Mercyhurst Hammermill and Ridge Libraries website. This will create a central place to store every issue, making it easy to retrieve information and allowing the newsletter to be easily shared between people using the URL.

Previously, the online library news page and social media accounts logged various events in a shortened form, but only for very brief announcements. Bookmarks will create a newsletter format with a regular schedule, allowing for far more in-depth pieces, updates and organized prose.

Angela Okey, Public Services Librarian at Hammermill Library, is excited about the new opportunity to keep the Mercyhurst community informed about library services.

“Bookmarks is a great way to keep everyone at Mercyhurst in the loop on what is going on at their library, whether it be the Hammermill Library or the Ridge Library in North East,” said Okey. “Bookmarks allows people to see all the exciting resources the library has to offer, from new databases to services such as research, writing, tutoring and IT help.”

Readers can expect to see announcements such as the Work Study Employee of the Month, as well as news from Mercyhurst North East about activities, resources and services on that campus.

The current issue of Bookmarks highlights employee Grace Sloop, a junior Accounting and Economics double major.

There is also news regarding the search for a new library archivist, and the ongoing construction at Hammermill Library, as well as the trials of free databases.

The database trials will be ending soon, with the option for students to give feedback on each trial.

Karen Niemla, Reference and Research Librarian at Hammermill, is excited to be able to better inform patrons of the available services.

“Bookmarks will inform library patrons of a variety of important and useful things,” said Niemla. “The greatest purpose is to tell our users about what is available to them. Not everyone is aware of all the resources we have, or the ways in which librarians can help you with research. The newsletter is a reminder that we are here to serve you.”