Mullen Library will now be closed on Sunday, March 15th. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Author: Stephen Connaghan
Steve currently leads the University Libraries at the Catholic University of America. He began working in the CUA Libraries as a part-time assistant while an undergraduate student and has been enjoying new, challenging opportunities ever since.
COVID-19 Update: Mullen Library Hours March 15-17
As we prepare to support the move of classes online, we are adjusting our schedule of operations. Mullen Library will be open:
- Sunday, March 15:
11am–5pmClosed - Monday, March 16: 9am-5pm
- Tuesday, March 17: 9am-5pm
Further adjustments to our schedule for the duration of online instruction are likely.
The New 222: Expanded Group Study
At the heart of Mullen Library, room 222 has been improved to restore original continuity, both visual and circulatory, between the front of the building and the Stacks. With views of the Stacks and both courtyards, this re-unified room provides a unique intellectually inspiring and flexible group work space.
Looking for the carrels? We’ve moved the carrels down to the first floor Reference Room. You can also find many more carrels on the third floor in the Greek & Latin and Religious Studies/Philosophy reading rooms.
Kevin Gunn named 2019 Belanger awardee
Kevin Gunn, the Libraries’ Coordinator of Digital Scholarship, has been selected as the recipient of the Edward J. Belanger Jr. Staff Award for Excellence in Service for 2019.
One of his nominations cited his accomplishments and collegiality:
During the Fall 2019 semester, he planned and carried out a successful series of workshops on data science, visualization of data and GIS storymapping. He also hosted and moderated a panel discussion on open access journals and the business of scholarship following a film on the topic. His cheerful, positive nature makes it easy to learn from him. He has taken on multiple responsibilities over the years, most recently as Coordinator of Digital Scholarship. He is currently co-editor for the journal College and Undergraduate Libraries, and has been a peer reviewer for several years. He has continued to maintain his scholarship by reading professional literature on his own time, and willingly provides advice to his colleagues on their own scholarship.
Ed Belanger worked for the university for over 40 years before retiring in 2002 as the Libraries’ business manager. His service and dedication to his fellow staff was extraordinary, and he is one of the most positive, up-beat, and good natured people you will ever meet. After his retirement, his children made a donation to the Libraries for the creation of an award in his honor. Each year the Libraries select a staff member of the year who not only contributes outstanding service to the library but also shares Ed’s good nature. Past honorees serve as the award committee, selecting from among nominations submitted by library staff.
Coming Soon: Increased Group Study
During the Christmas break work will begin to create a larger group study space by merging the study rooms adjacent to Stacks 2 Center.
At the heart of Mullen Library, this area will be improved to restore original continuity, both visual and circulatory, between the front of the building and the Stacks. With views of the Stacks and both courtyards, this re-unified room will provide a unique intellectually inspiring group work space.
Unfortunately we will no longer offer a dedicated graduate study space. However, silent study space can be found in the third floor reading rooms where fifty-nine new carrels were installed last year.
The work to be done includes:
- Interior partitions removed between the graduate study room, the group study room and the Stacks;
- New lighting and relocation of electric outlets;
- Carrels to the first floor Reference Room;
- Group study tables from the Reference Room to the new space;
- New carpeting; and
- Wall repairs and painting.
We expect the room to re-open shortly after the start of the Spring semester.
New appointments in Special Collections
The University Libraries is pleased to announce new appointments in our Special Collections. John Shepherd has been named as the new University Archivist and Head of Special Collections at the Catholic University of America. Dr. Maria Mazzenga has been named as the new Curator for the American Catholic History Research Center at the Catholic University of America. Shane MacDonald will also officially take on expanded responsibilities as our Special Collections Archivist.
Mr. Shepherd earned his MA in History in 1986 from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He has been employed at Catholic University since 1989, most recently serving as the Associate Archivist since 2002 and Acting University Archivist since April 2018. He is the creator, editor, and a principal writer for the blog, The Archivist’s Nook. He has served as a panel grant reviewer for The National Endowment for the Humanities. He has contributed to numerous books and authored many articles on military, Mid-Atlantic, and U.S. Catholic histories.
Dr. Mazzenga has served as Education Archivist at Catholic University since 2005. She has taught in the Departments of History and of Library and Information Science. She received her Ph.D. in U.S. History from Catholic University in 2000 and has presented and published in the field of American Catholic history and Archival Education and Outreach for more than a decade.
The Special Collections unit of the University Libraries oversees: the University Archives, the American Catholic History Research Center, the Museum collection, and the Rare Books collections. The mission of Special Collections is to collect, organize, preserve, make accessible, and promote scholarly and public understanding of the records of The Catholic University of America and the unique books and materials which document our Catholic intellectual and cultural heritage.
Kristen Fredericksen named 2018 Belanger awardee
Kristen Fredericksen, Information Processing Librarian, has been selected as the recipient of the Edward J. Belanger Jr. Staff Award for Excellence in Service for 2018.
One colleague nominated Kristen saying:
Kristen single handedly shepherded us through the Alma transition. She became one of the most knowledgeable people within WRLC regarding this new next generation system. She keeps a very calm and even keel as she approaches often very frustrating and unknown situations. Kristen has a keen ability to problem solve.
Another wrote:
I … have always found her dependable, efficient, and hard working. Her skills do not end with her work. She also projects a warm, cheerful attitude to all. I can think of no one more deserving of this award than Kristen.
Ed Belanger worked for the university for over 40 years before retiring in 2002 as the Libraries’ business manager. His service and dedication to his fellow staff was extraordinary, and he is one of the most positive, up-beat, and good natured people you will ever meet. After his retirement, his children made a donation to the Libraries for the creation of an award in his honor. Each year the Libraries select a staff member of the year who not only contributes outstanding service to the library but also shares Ed’s good nature. Past honorees serve as the award committee, selecting from among nominations submitted by library staff.
Shane MacDonald named 2017 Belanger awardee
Shane MacDonald, Archives Technician, has been selected as the recipient of the Edward J. Belanger Jr. Staff Award for Excellence in Service for 2017.
One colleague nominated Shane saying:
He is a primary asset in the Archives serving the library, the university campus, and the broader research community. He is a dynamo of energy as he amiably performs multi task service ranging from answering reference questions, arranging researcher visits, managing museum objects, directing student workers, organizing archival collections, and writing thoughtfully funny blog posts. He often begins work early and stays late as he is a dedicated,dependable, and intelligent library professional more than deserving of this award.
Ed Belanger worked for the university for over 40 years before retiring in 2002 as the Libraries’ business manager. His service and dedication to his fellow staff was extraordinary, and he is one of the most positive, up-beat, and good natured people you will ever meet. After his retirement, his children made a donation to the Libraries for the creation of an award in his honor. Each year the Libraries select a staff member of the year who not only contributes outstanding service to the library but also shares Ed’s good nature. Past honorees serve as the award committee, selecting from among nominations submitted by library staff.
Music collections moving this summer
During the summer, the collections and services of the Music Library located in Ward Hall will be consolidated into Mullen Library as those of the other branch libraries have been during the past year.
If you need help locating specific scores or books during the relocation of the collections please contact Access Services staff in Mullen Library at lib-circulation@cua.edu. Faculty needing to place items on course reserve should write lib-reserves@cua.edu. Students and faculty are encouraged to arrange for research consultations through the Meet With A Librarian service, http://cua.libcal.com, or by contacting Thad Garrett directly, garrettt@cua.edu.
Charito-Grace Antiporda named 2016 Belanger awardee
Charito-Grace Antiporda, Collection Management Assistant, has been selected as the recipient of the Edward J. Belanger Jr. Staff Award for Excellence in Service for 2016.
One colleague nominated Charito saying:
… outside of being a dedicated and hard-working employee, [she] is a wonderful person. She never fails to come to work with a smile and good attitude. She remembers every birthday, every anniversary, and every happy occasion and will, unfailing, congratulate you on any good news in your life.
Another said:
I have worked with [her] for more than 25 years. She is a pleasure to work with and has a positive attitude at all times. I have seen her so many days working late, and when I ask her why she was still there, she would reply to me that she had to finish what she was doing. …
I have seen her taking so many responsibilities within her department [as times change]… and she is an expert in all of them….
[She is ] the one person who remembers pretty much every library staff’s birthday…. There were days that I forgot my own birthday and she had to remind me.
Ed Belanger worked for the university for over 40 years before retiring in 2002 as the Libraries’ business manager. His service and dedication to his fellow staff was extraordinary, and he is one of the most positive, up-beat, and good natured people you will ever meet. After his retirement, his children made a donation to the Libraries for the creation of an award in his honor. Each year the Libraries select a staff member of the year who not only contributes outstanding service to the library but also shares Ed’s good nature. Past honorees serve as the award committee, selecting from among nominations submitted by library staff.