Well, either way you spell it, Catsup or Ketchup, June 5th is the official day of ketchup. That trusty companion of fries, the hero of hot dogs, and the magical ingredient can transform a bland burger into a masterpiece. I have a very early memory of hot fries and ketchup. I was a kid at a burger joint, you know the one, with the Golden Arches, sitting there with hot, salty fries, and my mom passed me the ketchup bottle. I am old enough to remember the glass bottle and the cruel anticipation of the “ketchup wait”. Anyway, I dipped my fries and BOOM, that hot fry was transformed into a hot, salty, sweet, and tangy punch!
It’s not new, it may not be flashy or trendy, but ketchup is a trusty sidekick to many foods. Kind of like our library, your sidekick for your educational journey, and a trusted source of information that can transform your research into a wonderland of discovery. So give me a minute, and I will ketch you up (pausing for the groans) on a few punches your library has to offer.
KETCHUP on current events
We know life gets busy, and we offer a variety of daily newspapers at your fingertips - newspapers like The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. We also have a collection of international newspapers, including The Times London, The Bangkok Post, Financial Times, The Guardian, Jerusalem Post, The Times of India, and The Asian Wall Street Journal. All of these can be accessed from our ProQuest News and Newspapers and from our Publication link on the library’s home page.
KETCHUP on your industry
We have several resources available for you to stay updated on your industry. These resources will show you trends, outlooks, industry performance, financials, and lists of major companies in each sector. By the way, Kraft Heinz Company is the single largest U.S. provider in the 33.3 billion dollar “Seasoning, Sauce, and Condiment Production” sector. Go Heinz Ketchup! Want to know how to research your industry? Start with our How Do I Get Started with Industry Research Guide or check out our IBISWorld Toolkit.
KETCHUP on writing
Academic writing can at times feel daunting, but the library has a guide you can dip into to support your writing. The APA toolkit consolidates a collection of writing tools and resources you can use for your papers (including a couple of virtual escape rooms to help make understanding APA style just a little more digestible). Our Center for Writing Excellence (CWE) deep-dives into the writing process, ethics, and expectations for writing at the university.
KETCHUP on research skills
Improve your research skills by using our Toolkits and How Do I guides. Your librarians have created many helpful guides to complement your research journey. They offer step-by-step instructions to walk you through specific research tasks, as well as tips and videos on how to use our databases more effectively. These guides pack a powerful punch and will help you step up your research and save you time.
KETCHUP with your librarians
Need help navigating databases? Struggling with research? Just Ask Us! Librarians are standing by to ketch you up quickly with helpful tips and guidance. We also have webinars each month on various research topics. Sign up and join us!
But back to the condiment de jour, ketchup. For those of you intrigued by the fascinating journey of ketchup from fermented fish sauce in ancient Asia called "kê-tsiap" (pronounced: “bless-you” if you sneeze while saying it) to today’s best condiment, I highly recommend heading to the library. Check out this video on the history of ketchup that will enlighten and entertain you with quirky facts and trivia. Oh, and don’t forget National French Fry Day is July 11th!
PJ Purchase is the library director and oversees everything library-land related. She has one teenager and a Goldendoodle who will always be a giant baby.