Monday, October 19, 2026

Registering for Spring? Consider enrolling in MU Regionals Courses with Free or Affordable Textbooks

 Books on a library shelf



Regional students are asking about courses that have free or affordable course materials, and the Regional Libraries have assembled a list of them (now updated in Fall 2026)!

You may consult the list of Miami University Regionals courses with free or affordable textbooks as a searchable Google Sheet. There are 129 listed course sections, representing 114 courses. We estimate that Regional students are saving over $300,000 per semester due to faculty choosing these free or affordable course material options.

As you start registering for Spring courses, keep the listed options in mind as you look to save money on textbooks and other required course materials.

Thanks to the 59 Regional faculty members who responded to the survey and provided information about their course materials. And a big thank you to Melissa Carrion of TRIO, who inspired us to run the survey. 

From past surveys and many conversations, we know that Regional students are negatively impacted by textbook costs. But it is clear that many Regional faculty members have found ways to decrease or eliminate textbook costs for their students. We do recognize, though, that some course topics may not be able to be addressed using open textbooks, OER, or the use of older textbook editions.

If you are a faculty member who is:
  1. using an open textbook, 
  2. using some form of OER or instructor-supplied readings, 
  3. enabling students to buy or borrow less expensive earlier editions of textbooks, or 
  4. using another affordable option for students to access learning materials, 
and you are not included in this list, we want to hear from you. Email John Burke (burkejj@miamioh.edu) with your information and we will add you to the list!  We hope to keep updating and growing this list on an ongoing basis.

Anyone with questions or comments about the list should feel free to contact us. Thanks!

John Burke and Krista McDonald

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Middletown campus events this week! (10/14 and 10/16)

 Join GHL for 2 events this week!


Today!
You Can Make It @ the TEC Lab Makerspace!
Photograph of 3D printing designs and 3D printing pen.
Printing in Pink
Wednesday, Oct. 14
| 12:30-2 p.m. | Gardner-Harvey Library, 125 | Middletown
Learn how 3D printing works, how to have items 3D printed in the library, and how to use 3D pens! Participants will be able to make their own creations with 3D pens and will also walk away with a small 3D printed item!
Meet in the TEC Lab, 125.
No RSVP is required.

Friday!
Join the Middletown library and IT staff for a trail walk on campus!
We will be meeting in front of Johnston Hall at 11am and will head out as a group to the trailhead at 11:10 to give extra time for everyone to make it to the meeting point.
Middletown Campus Trails brochure



--
Jennifer Hicks, MLIS, MA Instructional Design & Technology

Outreach & Instruction Assistant Librarian
Gardner-Harvey Library
Miami University Middletown

Monday, October 05, 2026

Events at Middletown this week! (10/7)

 Hello!


The Gardner-Harvey Library is hosting 2 events this Wednesday!

Join us for the first of 5 trail hikes on campus! This Wednesday we will be walking the Red trail (0.4mi). Everyone is welcome to join, no registration required. Meet in front of JHN at 11am.

At 2pm we will be hosting a Zoom talk with Janelle Allen.  We hope you can make it to 1 or both events!

Trail Hike poster



Fascinating Physiological Features
Photograph of integumentary system within the human body.
Integumentary System
Wednesday, Oct. 7
| 2 p.m. | Gardner-Harvey Library | Middletown | Zoom and In-person
Important Things Everyone Should Know About How the Human Body Functions
Take a focused journey through the various organ systems of our human physiology for optimal health and wellness. The first Wednesday of each month, we will walk through a new physiological system in the human body. All are welcome!
No RSVP is required.
Visit for Zoom Link

Monday, September 21, 2026

October's Middletown Book for Discussion: A Founding Mother, Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie (October 30)

 

Statue of Abigail Adams

The MUM Book Discussion group will next meet on Friday, October 30.  Our title is A Founding Mother by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie. Here is a brief summary:

"A sweeping, intimate portrayal of Abigail Adams-wife of one president and mother to another-whose wit, willpower, and wisdom helped shape the fledgling republic. In the heart of revolutionary Boston, Abigail Adams raises her children amid riots, blockades, and the outbreak of war. While her husband, John Adams, rises from country lawyer to nation-builder, often away for years at a time, Abigail builds her own independence-managing their farm, making lucrative investments, amassing savings, battling plague and loss, and defending their home. Unafraid to speak her mind, she famously offers fearless political counsel, urging John to "remember the ladies" in the new government. From war-torn streets to the chandeliered halls of power, A Founding Mother is the unforgettable story of a woman ahead of her time-one whose voice, vision, and valor still resonate powerfully today." (publisher)

Here is where you can find the book:
  • There are copies available from Miami, OhioLINK, and SearchOhio, all searchable and requestable from the Miami University Libraries Search catalog. You may also access SearchOhio through your local public library.
  • Amazon has the paperback, Audible, and Kindle available, and Bookshop.org has links to purchase the title from independent booksellers.

Stephanie Dray will be speaking about the book on the Hamilton Campus on October 8 at 7:00pm (more details here) as part of the  MU Regionals Passport to Programming series for Fall 2026.

We will meet at 11:30am on the 30th both in Room 123 in the Library and on Zoom.  Join the Zoom here! 

Our group is always finding interesting titles to share, and we look forward to the new things you'll bring to the table. In addition to discussing Yesteryear, the group also shared these titles for consideration at their September 18 meeting:

  • Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly, Marie Bostwick
  • 11/22/63, Stephen King
  • Educated, Tara Westover
  • The Editor, Steven Rowley
  • Theo of Golden, Allen Levi
  • By Any Other Name, Erin Cotter
  • The Paris Wife, Paula McLain
  • The Last Mandarin, Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung
  • Undivided: The Quest for Racial Solidarity in an American Church, Hahrie Han
  • A Perfect Union, Catherine Allgor
  • Dickens and Prince - Nick Hornby
  • Buckeye, Patrick Ryan
  • Crook Manifesto, Colson Whitehead

Please come along to our discussions to share what you've been reading/watching/listening to/experiencing!

If you're looking for something interesting to read, check out our page of past and future reads at http://www.mid.miamioh.edu/library/bookdiscussion.htm

John


Monday, September 14, 2026

Upcoming events at Gardner-Harvey Library (Grand Teton, 9/16, Navigating AI, 9/17, Short Story Club, 9/25)

 

National Parks
Photograph of Grand Teton National Park.
Grand Teton
Wednesday, Sept. 16 | 4:30 p.m.
| Zoom only event
Tammie L. Gerke, geologist, introduces attendees to the geology of national parks and other sites. Get your geology questions answered and participate in lively discussions!
Join us for an overview of Grand Teton National Park, where mountains tower over beautiful lakes and wildlife. 
No RSVP is required.
Visit for Zoom Link

Enhance Your Education with the Library: Navigating AI in College
College student using AI.
Ethical AI Use for Academic Success
Thursday, Sept. 17 | Noon
| Zoom only event
Join us on Zoom to learn how you can incorporate AI in your study tools while keeping academic integrity intact. This workshop will discuss ethical use of AI for students, as well as AI uses to avoid.
No RSVP is required.
Visit for Zoom Link


Short Story Club- Join us for a discussion about short stories! Selected stories take 20 minutes or less to read, so you don't need much time to prepare! How do you join the club? Just stop in the Zoom for one (or more) of our meetings!

Image of short story club offerings for Fall 2026


Zoom links and links to the individual short stories can be found in our events calendar on the library website.
--
Jennifer Hicks, MLIS, MA Instructional Design & Technology

Outreach & Instruction Assistant Librarian
Gardner-Harvey Library
Miami University Middletown

Wednesday, September 09, 2026

Gardner-Harvey Library Fall Newsletter!

Cover page of GHL Fall 2026 newsletter.

Hello!


I hope your semester is off to a great start! The Gardner-Harvey Library fall newsletter is now available. This edition covers new makerspace equipment, events, and new designated spaces in the library!

--
Jennifer Hicks, MLIS, MA Instructional Design & Technology

Outreach & Instruction Assistant Librarian
Gardner-Harvey Library
Miami University Middletown

Tuesday, September 01, 2026

Upcoming events hosted by GHL! (9/2 to 9/11)

Hello!


The Gardner-Harvey Library invites you to one (or all) of our upcoming events!


Fascinating Physiological Features
Photograph of organ systems within the human body.
Introduction + Overview of Organ Systems
Wednesday, Sept. 2
| 2 p.m. | Gardner-Harvey Library | Middletown | Zoom and In-person
Important Things Everyone Should Know About How the Human Body Functions
Take a focused journey through various organ systems within our human physiology for optimal health and wellness. The first Wednesday of each month, we will walk through a new physiological system in the human body. All are welcome!
No RSVP is required.
Visit for Zoom Link

You Can Make It @ the TEC Lab Makerspace!
Photograph of stained glass.
Faux Stained Glass
Wednesday, Sept. 9
| 12:30-2 p.m. | Gardner-Harvey Library, 014 | Middletown
Give the Makerspace a try and see what wonderful creations you can make and take home. Drop in at any point during the workshop to start making your gear.
Create a faux stained glass panel to show off your Miami pride! Meet in the TEC SPACE, 014.
No RSVP is required.

Reflections on 60 years at Miami Middletown
Overview photograph of the Middletown campus.
Friday, Sept. 11 | 5:30 p.m. | Verity Lodge | Middletown
September 5, 2026, is the 60th anniversary of the first classes offered on the Middletown campus. Join a group of Middletown faculty, staff, students, and alumni to learn about the campus's founding and share memories from 1966 to the present.
RSVP to John Burke at BurkeJJ@MiamiOH.edu.
RSVP to John Burke

--
Jennifer Hicks, MLIS, MA Instructional Design & Technology

Outreach & Instruction Assistant Librarian
Gardner-Harvey Library
Miami University Middletown