Constitution Week

The signing of the Declaration of Independence, which preceded the Constitution by 11 years.

September 17th marks the beginning of Constitution Week, which is hosted by the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

On September 17th, 1787, the Constitution of the United States was signed at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.  From Credo Reference:

"...the Constitution was signed on Sept. 17, 1787, and ratified by the required number of states (nine) by June 21, 1788. It superseded the original charter of the United States in force since 1781 and established the system of federal government that began to function in 1789. The Constitution is concise, and its very brevity and its general statement of principles have, by accident more than by design, made possible the extension of meaning that has fostered growth. There are seven articles and a preamble; 27 amendments have been adopted."

You can find the entire text of the Constitution via Credo Reference here:  Text of the Constitution of the United States.

Credo Reference is an excellent resource and a great alternative to non-scholarly general knowledge websites that is available to all Samford students.  Use Credo to find scholarly articles, images, and other verified media for use in projects and presentations.

Need help with your research?  Ask us!

Be Mindful of Personal Belongings in the Library

As the 2013 Fall Semester gets underway here at Samford University, we ask all students who use the library as a study and work space to be mindful of their belongings.

The Davis Library is not only open to Samford students and faculty, but also to visiting scholars and members of the public from the Birmingham area.  Many different people take advantage of the great resources we have here at Samford.  

Please do not leave books, computers, or other personal belongings unattended or out of your sight for any length of time in the library.  

Questions about using the library?  Find out more about our policies here.

Samford University wasn’t always named Samford University

In 1841, Samford University was founded as Howard College. Originally located in Marion, Alabama, Rev. James Harvey DeVotie advocated naming the college after the 18th century philanthropist and English prison reformer, John Howard.

To a modern audience, John Howard seems a strange choice for a small Baptist college in Alabama. He was not Baptist, nor was he heavily involved in church matters. Rather, John Howard was a member of the merchant class of Britain and attributed for being the first English prison reformer. He traveled across Europe documenting the deplorable conditions of prison.

As for his dedication as a prison reformer, Howard viewed his work as humanitarian. In the 19th century, prison reform was a topic of heavy debate which is perhaps why DeVotie chose to name the school after the renowned John Howard. He was widely revered as a model of Christian compassion.

 If you’d like to read more about John Howard, check out Dean Chapman’s article for Season’s magazine in Spring 2005 or come visit the Special Collection. The Special Collection in the University Library holds a first edition, 1777, of John Howard’s book on English prisons and a second edition, 1791, of his book on European prisons, as well as a letter by Howard and several other items of interest, all thanks to the generosity of a donor.

So, why aren’t we still Howard?  In part because when Howard College became a university in 1965 there already was a Howard University. The name was changed to Samford University in honor of Frank Park Samford and the Samford family’s contribution to the university. The Howard College of Arts and Sciences retained both the name and the legacy of this great humanitarian.

On Tuesday, September 3rd, the University Library will celebrate John Howard’s 287th Birthday with cake and coffee at 10:00  am.   Come Join the Celebration!

University Library 101

Welcome new students! Have you been in the University Library yet? We want you to spend many hours studying & using our resources while you're a SU student. We realize you might have some questions so here's a list of places to find answers:

• Hours
• FAQs
• Floor Maps
• Readings on Reserve
• Circulation FAQs
• Wireless Info
• Local Libraries (Public & University)

Questions? Use Ask Us! to find more answers & all the different ways to contact us.

The Story Continues...Librarians on the Move!

Adding to our theme of Librarians on the Move: Here, There, Everywhere, we have enhanced our support for traditional and online education with a new Research Guide and by adding the option of online library instruction. In addition to in-person instruction, and other services (see our à la carte menu), you can now request this new online service. Librarians can also create videos on how to use the library and help you embed ASK US! (A live chat and e-mail feature where students can get help) inside Moodle or on other online sites.

To request this new online service or traditional in-person library instruction, click here. From there, click on Library Instruction Request form.

Questions? Please contact Dr. Stephanie Rollins.

What happens in the library when the students aren't around?

Lots of things! We're busy planning for the future, taking care of projects that need to be completed before fall semester begins, & trying out new ideas to see what works.

Here are just a few of the things we do during the summer:

• Attend virtual webinars
• Move collections
• Process new collections & manuscripts
• Upgrade computers & software
• Implement new programs
• Order, process, & catalog materials
• Make sure books & materials are shelved properly
• Count everything that doesn't move
• Order supplies
• Ponder a lot
• Schedule future displays & exhibits,
• Handle ILL requests
• & so much more

What? You thought we read all day? Sorry to disappoint you!