Welcome back!

No matter how many years we may have been working here at the library, the first day of Fall Semester always has an excitement in the air that you just don't get any other time of the year -- even when the air is as wet as it is today -- so we're thrilled as always to see so many returning faces along with bright-eyed new ones getting their first taste of the Samford experience.  To all our returning students, welcome back!  To all our new students, welcome HOME!

With the start of the new academic year, the library has resumed its normal operating hours.  Please note however that the library will be closing at 8:00pm on Sunday, September 1st and will be CLOSED Monday, September 2nd in observance of Labor Day.  We will re-open at 7:30am on Tuesday, September 3rd.

For more information about our hours of operation, please click here.

The BIG news, however, is that thanks to the generosity from those who contributed to the library's project during Samford's BIG GIVE event in the spring we are able to offer charging lockers to our students!  These charging lockers provide a safe and secure charging options for laptops, tablets, phones, and other portable electronic devices.  These 5-bay lockers are located on the first and second floors next to the copiers, and each bay is equipped with both 110V and USB charging options.  Each bay also features a keypad lock that works just like a hotel safe with user-generated codes.  We're excited to be able to offer this resource to our students and we anticipate many dead batteries brought back to life throughout the year!

2019 Samford "BIG GIVE" -- Help the Library Help Students!

The Samford "BIG GIVE" is an annual 36-hour event where you can help make a difference by supporting a variety of projects sponsored by organizations across campus.  This year, we need your help in bringing charging options for students' electronic devices here in the library.

Source: kwikboost.com

These charging lockers provide a safe and secure charging option for students' laptops, tables, phones, and other electronic devices.  The large bays are equipped with 110V power outlets and USB ports for charging options and feature keypad locks that work just like a hotel safe with user generated codes.

The more you help, the more lockers we can provide to students -- so CLICK HERE to give to the "BIG GIVE" today!

Throwback Thursday - 1898 Student Body

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection

This week's "Throwback Thursday" takes us all the way back to 1898, where we see the entire Howard College student body.  It was an all-boys school at the time and there weren't many students.  They also wore woolen cadet uniforms -- which sounds downright awful in the Alabama heat!

Thowback Thursday - 1973 Religious Activities Council

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection.

No, this week's "Throwback Thursday" isn't a pyramid scheme in action -- it's the Samford Religious Activities Council back in 1973.  Since this photo was published in the Entre Nous yearbook we actually know who everyone in it is (which is pretty uncommon).

Row 1: Ricky Godwon, Allen Murphy, Jim Ailor

Row 2: Beth Williams, Paul Duke, Ricky Dill, Lynn Hazelgrove

Row 3: James Wade

Throwback Thursday - 1928 Biology Class

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection

Today's "Throwback Thursday" goes back to the East Lake campus in 1928 where biology students are taking part in a group lab dissection (some clearly more happily than others).  This image was originally published in the "Yea Howard!" special issue of the Howard College Bulletin from July of that year.

Throwback Thursday - Student Reading on Campus

Photo courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection.

Photo of a female student reading outside in the grass on the Homewood campus circa 1960-1979.  Unfortunately, we don't know anything more about her than that.

Throwback Thursday - Relaxing on the Lawn in 1945

Photo courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection

This photograph shows Howard College students sitting out on the East Lake campus lawn socializing. Pictured are Orwin Petty, Virginia Ingram, Margaret Ann Miller, and Dot Fuller.

This was published in "Educational Opportunities Offered to Veterans at Howard College" Pictorial Bulletin 4, November 1945, page 17.  The caption read, "A Veteran Back 'In Pleasant Surroundings.'"

Throwback Thursday - 1970 Samford Students

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection.

Campus feels so empty during the summer, so here's an image of students crossing the quad from 1970 to remind us what it feels like during the regular school year.  It also reminds us that the large trees in front of the library weren't always so large.

Throwback Thursday - Howard Students, 1895

Image courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection.

Back in 1895, all Howard College students wore military style uniforms.  While we don't know exactly how hot it was at the time -- the record high temperature for Birmingham on this date was 101 °F in 2010 -- it's probably safe to assume that none of these students felt cold in this picture.