Hardin Library’s newest exhibit traces the history of the dubious attempts to divine personality characteristics by analyzing the size, shape, structure, and composition of the human head.  It was Aristotle who coined the term, “physiognomy” to support his own writings and inclinations on the subject. Since that time the notion that character and personality are somehow imprinted in facial features has received considerable attention through a variety of approaches, nearly all of them unsupported by empirical evidence of any kind and many of them used for such nefarious purposes as racial stereotyping and the outright support of bigotry.  The exhibit is located near the 3rd floor entrance to the library.

The colorful display highlights the revolution taking place in villages and towns around the world as scientists, advocates, governments, and international organizations, take up the challenge to prevent disease and improve quality of life for people in every continent.  For more information, including podcasts, quizzes, and opportunities for involvement in this important enterprise, visit the “Against the Odds” web site at:  http://apps.nlm.nih.gov/againsttheodds

Two new exhibits on two very different subjects have been installed near the Hardin Library main entrance.  “His Wound is Mortal – Trauma Care, April 14, 1865” offers a look at the medical measure taken after the shooting of Abraham Lincoln, including excerpts from first-hand reports of the assassination and its aftermath.  The exhibit also raises the issue of whether or not the advances of present day trauma care might have saved the president’s life.

“Book Conservation—A Healing Art” is an introduction to book repair and preservation couched in medical terms.  Organized under categories such as, “anatomy,” “disability,” “therapy,” and “pandemic,” University of Iowa Conservator, Gary Frost provides descriptions and examples of books that need special care and protection to recover from various “illnesses.”  The display includes a cutaway model showing the structure of a book and several real-life examples of works that have been “rehabilitated” after various kinds of trauma.

The First Event exhibit, Opening Doors: Contemporary African American Surgeons, will be held April 1st- May 15th.

The second exhibit, Against the odds: Global Public Health, will be April 15th-24th.

Don’t forget to checkout both exhibits!

Community, Education, Family, Tradition: Latinos in Iowa.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

12:30-2:30pm

Main Library

North Exhibition Hall

Don’t forget to check out the latest exhibit posted near the 3rd floor entrance! It’s the history of Smallpox, and is quite informative!

Smallpox has claimed more lives than any other disease in history, ravaging humankind for thousands of years. During the 18th century, smallpox killed an estimated 400,000 Europeans every year. Even those who were fortunate enough to survive (the mortality rate for the most virulent form ranged from 20 to 60 percent) were usually scarred or deformed in some way for the remainder of their lives.

Following the advent of Jenner’s cowpox vaccine at the beginning of the 19th century, the number of cases declined significantly but as late as 1967, The World Health Organization estimated that two million died from smallpox that year, mostly in underdeveloped countries.

Finally, in 1980, Following a mass vaccination, surveillance and containment effort, The World Health Assembly announced the global eradication of smallpox, the only naturally occurring disease to be eliminated by humans.

Iowa Go Local is being exhibited at the Johnson County Fair from July 21st-July 24th. Look for booth #38 next to the Iowa City Public Library. Stop by for a demonstration of Iowa Go Local and MedlinePlus or contact lib-hardin@uiowa.edu if you would like us to make a presentation in your area.

Iowa Go Local is produced by the University of Iowa Hardin Library for the Health Sciences in partnership with the University of Iowa College of Public Health and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Patients’ Library with funding from the National Library of Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Visit Iowa Go Local on the web at http://medlineplus.gov/iowa.

The exhibit, “’No Small Presumption’–Surgical Works From Six Centuries,” will feature rare books from the earliest days of surgery through the twentieth century. Although chloroform and ether were not widely used before the second half of the 19th century, a surprising number of surgical procedures were employed hundreds and even thousands of years ago, including operations for cataracts, bullet removal, hernias, club foot, and bladder stones. The open house will allow visitors to view and page through the early texts and illustrations used by surgeons for instruction and guidance.

Of special interest are the woodcuts and engravings of the elaborate and sometimes quite modern instruments developed over the centuries for specific tasks, including drills, scalpels, and saws designed with speed and efficiency in mind. Important early works in anesthetics and antisepsis will also be featured.

The exhibit is part of a series of public lectures and presentation sponsored by the University of Iowa History of Medicine Society.

The John Martin Rare Book Room is located on the fourth floor of the Hardin Library for the Health Sciences. For additional information, please contact Ed Holtum, Curator at 335-9154.

*This event is open to the public.