University Libraries

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]