Library News

And we’re celebrating with birthday cake between 12 and 1 p.m. on Wednesday, November 28 in the North Exhibition Hall of the Main Library!

The poet, printmaker, painter, and visionary William Blake was born on November 28, 1757. This year marks the 250th anniversary of his birth.

In addition to serving birthday cake, the Libraries have installed a special exhibit (William Blake at 250) with the help of William Blake scholars from the University of Iowa Mary Lynn Johnson, John Grant, Eric Gidal and Judith Pascoe.

The University of Iowa Faculty Senate Approved the “Addendum to Publication Agreements for CIC Authors” at their October 23, 2007 meeting. This addendum is intended for authors to use to help them protect their intellectual property rights when publishing their work.

Excerpt from the “Statement on Publishing Agreements”:

Faculty authors should consider a number of factors when choosing and interacting with publishers for their works. The goal of publication should be to encourage widespread dissemination and impact; the means for accomplishing this will necessarily depend on the nature of the work in question, the author’s circumstances, available suitable outlets, and expectations in the author’s field of inquiry. In general, authors are encouraged to consider publishing strategies that will optimize short- and long-term access to their work, taking into account such factors as affordability, efficient means for distribution, a secure third-party archiving strategy, and flexible management of rights.

To read more of the statement and view the addendum, visit the full Statement and Addendum.

Are you looking for some fun and easy reading over Thanksgiving break? Try Patricia Cornwell’s newest release Book of the Dead! Follow forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta as she skillfully tries to solve the murder of a U.S. tennis star found dead in Rome.

After the break, come and join us over lunch for a book discussion as well as a visit from a local autopsy and forensic pathologist who will be on hand to provide an expert’s perspective. Cookies and drinks provided.

Copies of the book are available on loan from Hardin Library or the Patients’ library in UIHC.

When: November 30, 11:30-1:00

Location: John Colloton Pavilion, Solarium, 8th Floor

Each fall, the University of Iowa Libraries hosts research workshops in the Main Library for junior high and high school students who are preparing National History Day projects.

Library staff present online and unique library resources to these students, then students are given free research time.

• Tuesday, October 30th, students from the Linn-Mar School District will participate
• Wednesday, November 14th students from Cedar Rapids, Urbandale, Pleasant Valley and Davenport will participate.

The University of Iowa Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity has announced the recipients of the 2007 Catalyst Awards. The awards will be presented at the 2007 Catalyst Award Reception, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, in the Wayne Richey Ballroom, Iowa Memorial Union.

Outreach and Recruitment Librarian Rachel Garza Carreon will be honored as one of this year’s staff winners.

The Catalyst Awards are designed to honor individuals, departments or programs, and students or student organizations engaged in diversity initiatives during the previous academic year which have served to promote the development of an inclusive, diverse campus community. A minimum of three $500 awards, one to an individual, one to a department or program, and one to a student or student organization will be presented during a reception to which all nominees, nominators, and the campus community are invited.

Michael Wright, head of Acquisitions and Rapid Cataloging, won an at-large seat on the Iowa City council.

Mike joined the University of Iowa Libraries in 2002 after working as a consultant. He earned his Masters in Library and Information Science at the University of Minnesota.

We congratulate Mike on his hard work in the Libraries and in community.

Have you ever left the doctor’s office with questions about a condition or medication? The Internet is full of health resources, but not all information online can be trusted. At a free workshop Wednesday, Nov. 7, librarians from the Hardin Library for the Health Sciences at the University of Iowa will demonstrate some high-quality consumer health resources to help make you a better-informed patient.

The workshop begins at 7 p.m. in the Information Commons at Hardin Library for the Health Sciences. A hands-on opportunity exploring these resources will also be provided.

According to a report from the Pew Internet and American Live Project, 80 percent of American Internet users, or some 113 million adults, have searched for health information online. The report also says most Internet users start at a general search engine when researching health and medical advice online and 22 percent of these searchers feel frustrated by the lack of health information or an inability to find what they were looking for online.

This workshop is being held in conjunction with the “Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrating America’s Women Physicians” exhibit that will be on display at Hardin Library through Friday, Nov. 30. This exhibit tells the extraordinary story of how American women who wanted to practice medicine have struggled over the past two centuries to gain access to medical education and to work in the medical specialty they chose.

The National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Md., and the American Library Association in Chicago, Ill., organized the exhibition with support from the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health Office of Research on Women’s Health and the American Medical Women’s Association. The traveling exhibition is based on a larger exhibition that was displayed at the National Library of Medicine 2003-05.

For more information about the workshop or the exhibit, see http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/hardin/women or call Kristi Bontrager at 319-335-5960.