- Pioneering female physican Aletta Jacobs | Notes from the John Martin Rare Book Roomby Damien Ihrig on March 27, 2025
This Women’s History Month, the John Martin Rare Book Room highlights a book from the pioneering 19th-century Dutch physician and activist Aletta Jacobs. Born in 1854 in the Netherlands, Jacobs chafed at the status quo and the limited educational opportunities for women in the Netherlands. […]
- Student employee spotlight: Eleanor Ballby Krista Hershberger on March 25, 2025
The University of Iowa Libraries offers students from the School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) a unique opportunity to develop their skills and passion through student employment and practicums. Eleanor Ball is one of these students and she stands out through her many positive […]
- Remembering Pam Spitzmuellerby Anne Bassett on March 24, 2025
We are saddened by the news of Pamela Spitzmueller passing on March 13, 2025. Pam was the University of Iowa Libraries’ second conservator, serving from 1989–1999. After leaving Iowa, Pam was the chief conservator for Special Collections in the Harvard University and College Libraries where she […]
- Beware of marginal monstersby Elizabeth Riordan on March 12, 2025
The following is written by Museum Studies Intern Joy Curry. This 14th-century book of hours may be tiny, but it is jam-packed with beasts, ranging from fish to lions to feathered dragons. It’s a marvel that so much of the art has survived, especially since the book is missing 19 miniatures. […]
- Engineering Open 2025 winners by Amanda Gunnink on March 4, 2025
This year’s Engineering Open was our biggest yet. There were14 fairways, 83 people on participating build teams, and over 200 attendees! 2025 Winners Grand Prize: Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty/Graduate Students 2nd Place: Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Undergraduates […]
- Welcome Isabel Cazaresby Elizabeth Riordan on March 3, 2025
We are happy to welcome Isabel Cazares as our new instruction and outreach librarian. In this position, Isabel will be working with both the University of Iowa Libraries and the Stanley Museum of Art to increase visibility and usability of our deep and distinctive art collections through […]
- Notes on Johann Christian Reil, the first psychiatrist, from the John Martin Rare Book Roomby Damien Ihrig on February 25, 2025
Reil, was an 18th-century medical multihyphenate: physician-anatomist-physiologist. He was also the first true psychiatrist by virtue of coining the term “psychiatry” (or “psychiatrie” in German). His contributions to anatomy include the first description of the arcuate fasciculus in […]
- Voices from the stacks: Corita Kentby Elizabeth Riordan on February 24, 2025
The following is written by Olson Graduate Research Assistant, Kaylee Swinford. Corita Kent was an American artist, educator, activist, and former religious sister. With a rebellious spirit, Corita was a pioneering designer, who produced a body of work for over three decades combining themes of […]
- Inside the UI Libraries with Christine Bellomyby Krista Hershberger on February 24, 2025
Inside the University of Iowa Libraries is your look behind-the-scenes to meet the people and discover the stories making our organization unique and valuable. From cutting-edge databases to rare books, join us to explore a world of research, preservation, and discovery that fosters student success […]
- Remembering Frank Palukaby Elizabeth Riordan on February 20, 2025
We are saddened to announce the Feb. 15, 2025, passing of Frank Paluka, former director of Special Collections at the University of Iowa Libraries. Frank joined Special Collections in 1961, becoming the head of the department in 1962. He remained in this position until March of 1986. Under […]
- Language of flowers speaks volumesby Elizabeth Riordan on February 19, 2025
The following is written by museum intern student Joy Curry. Valentine’s Day is, among other things, a common time to give and receive flowers. If you visited a florist this last holiday, you might have seen some explanations on what flowers mean. You may have heard of the symbolism attached to […]
- Apply for OpenHawks grant funding to develop cost-saving Open Educational Resourcesby Mahrya Burnett on February 18, 2025
Are you concerned about lowering students’ textbook costs? Do you wish you could develop your own course resources to enhance your teaching? If so, you might consider applying for the OpenHawks grant program at the University of Iowa. Over the last several years, OpenHawks has funded over […]
- Save the date for the John Martin Rare Book Room open house on April 24by Sarah Andrews on February 13, 2025
The annual John Martin Rare Book Room (JMRBR) open house will be on Thursday, April 24, 2025. All are invited to drop in from 5:30 to 8 p.m. to tour the space and explore staples of the JMRBR collection. There will also be special materials on display, such as John Gerard’s The herball and […]
- Six Hardin librarians listed as co-authors in 2024by Sarah Andrews on February 13, 2025
In 2024, six of the librarians on staff at the Hardin Library for the Health Sciences have been listed as co-authors of published research. We’re always excited to collaborate with our library users, whose important work energizes all of us. Further information is listed below, and academic […]
- Voices from the Stacks: Phillip G. Hubbardby Elizabeth Riordan on February 12, 2025
The following is written by Olson Graduate Research Assistant Anne Moore. Phillip G. Hubbard was an engineering professor, administrator, civil rights champion, and distinguished member of the University of Iowa community. He was the first Black professor at the university and spent more than 40 […]
- Insights on data sharing and reuse from Andres Martinez, research engineer by Qianjin Zhang on February 12, 2025
To celebrate the International Love Data Week (Feb.10–14, 2025), Marina Zhang, engineering and information librarian at the University of Iowa Lichtenberger Engineering Library, spoke to Andres Martinez about his experience in data sharing and reuse; what suggestions he has for those who may own, […]
- For UI Libraries student employees, groundwork for success and epiphanies come with the jobby Natalee Dawson on February 10, 2025
When the University of Iowa Libraries was established in 1855, its collection consisted of 50 books shelved in a room no larger than a broom closet. Over the past 170 years, the Libraries has developed into its current incarnation: a world-class system with seven campus libraries; a […]
- New acquisition, Neue Jugend, imparts Dada historyby Elizabeth Riordan on February 7, 2025
The following is written by curator Timothy Shipe Among the International Dada Archive’s latest acquisitions are several issues of the Berlin journal Neue Jugend, founded in early 1914 by two student poets, Heinz Barger and Friedrich Hollaender. Neue Jugend is a telling example of how the Berlin […]
- Celebrating Love Data Week 2025 with data curationby Amanda O'Brien on February 6, 2025
Monday, Feb. 10, marks the start of International Love Data Week 2025! Love Data Week (Feb. 10–14) is a celebration of data, including data science and data management, held around Valentine’s Day every year. This year’s theme “Whose Data Is It, Anyway?” asks us to examine who owns data […]
- Hiring for Maps Collection Graduate Assistantby Elizabeth Riordan on February 4, 2025
Calling graduate students looking to chart their next year! Applications are open for two graduate assistantships for hands on work in the University of Iowa Special Collections and Archives. In addition to the Olson Graduate Research Assistant search, we are seeking a graduate student to help […]