The University of Iowa Libraries

Oct 27 2014

Ghosts in the Stacks (and free popcorn)!

Posted on October 27, 2014December 2, 2016 by The University of Iowa Libraries

Looking for a spooky way to start off your Halloween weekend? Craving some free, freshly popped popcorn? Stop by the Main Library Learning Commons for a look at some of the scariest items housed in the Special Collections and University Archives department.

With items ranging from truly disturbing illustrations, to stories of local hauntings, there’s something to startle everyone. Special Collections and University Archives will have a selection of items available for browsing to help you get your Halloween weekend off to a historic start.

Thursday, October 30, 12pm-4pm
Main Library Learning Commons, Group Area D (across from Food for Thought)

For a preview of some of our spooky items, check out our tumblr page!

Oct 01 2014

Footprints of Our International Students: Why Should We Care?

Posted on October 1, 2014December 2, 2016 by The University of Iowa Libraries

University Libraries welcomes Dr. Camile Alire, past president of America Library Association for Ada Stoflet lecture

Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 3:00 p.m., Old Capitol Senate Chamber

Who are our international students? What are some of the challenges they face studying in the U.S.? How can we best serve them? Dr. Camila Alire responds to these questions; shares other thoughts about/experiences with international students; the footprints they leave; and why we should care.

The University of Iowa Libraries has invited Dr. Camila Alire to give the Ada Stoflet lecture on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. in the Old Capitol Senate Chamber. A reception in the rotunda immediately follows the presentation.

Dr. Camila Alire is the past-president of the American Library Association and Dean Emerita at the University of New Mexico and Colorado State University. Camila received her doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Northern Colorado and an MLS from the University of Denver.

The Ada M. Stoflet Lectureship is established in memory of Ada M. Stoflet, an exceptionally skilled and dedicated member of the University of Iowa Libraries staff for three decades. The lecture is presented on a topic of interest in the field of librarianship.

Dr. Alire maintains an outstanding record of professional service. She is also past-president the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL 2006), and as REFORMA past-president (1994). Alire served on the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) board and chaired several committees. She speaks and consults internationally on leadership development, academic library trends, strategic planning as well as on the other topics.

Dr. Alire was honored with the following recognitions: the ALA/Lippincott Award for Distinguished Service; the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA) Presidential Recognition Award, and the ALA Achievement in Library Diversity Research Award. She was awarded the first ALA Elizabeth Futas’ Catalyst for Change award and National REFORMA’s Librarian of the Year award. One year, she was named by Hispanic Business Magazine as one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in the country. Alire was recently appointed by U.S. President Barrack Obama to serve on the National Council on the Humanities.

Sep 18 2014

Collect all seven prize buttons during our Library Crawl!

Posted on September 18, 2014December 2, 2016 by The University of Iowa Libraries

The University Libraries’ will be holding a Library Crawl from September 22nd through October 6th.

Visit any library locations on campus during the crawl to receive a collectable prize button and participate in a library challenge. Buttons are available at these locations: Art Library, Pomerantz Business Library, Lichtenberger Engineering Library, Music Library, Hardin Library for the Health Sciences, Main Library & Learning Commons, and the Sciences Library. Collect all seven and prove yourself a bibliomaniac!

Map to campus library locations.

Sep 17 2014

Celebrate Constitution Day with your own pocket copy

Posted on September 17, 2014December 2, 2016 by The University of Iowa Libraries

September 17, 2014 marks the 227th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution. In honor of this occasion, at 12:20pm in front of the Old Capitol, U.S. Army Cadets will be doing a reading of the U.S. Constitution, with a rain location of the Hubbard Commons located inside of the IMU.

With thanks to United States Representative Dave Loebsack, free pocket-sized copies of the U.S. Constitution will be available while supplies last on September 17 at the following locations: the Main Library Service Desk near the East entrance, Java House 211 E. Washington St., and T-Spoons Coffee Shop, located on the first floor of the University Capitol Center.

Sep 16 2014

Open Access and the Public Good, Sept 26 at 2pm Old Capitol Senate Chamber

Posted on September 16, 2014December 2, 2016 by The University of Iowa Libraries

Each fall the University of Iowa Libraries organizes events to spread awareness of open access and related issues regarding publishing and the free availability of information. Our first event this year is a panel discussion on the topic of “Open Access and the Public Good,” during which Professor Russell Ganim (Division of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures) will moderate a conversation between the Honorable James Leach (Law), Professor Christina Bohannan (Law), and Professor Bernd Fritzsch (Biology). Among the topics will be how research in the Humanities and Sciences is financed and conducted and who has the right to access its results. This panel discussion will occur Friday, September 26th at 2 pm in the Old Capitol Senate Chamber.

This event is free and open to the public, and we hope you’ll come join the conversation about open access. To learn more about open access at the University of Iowa, visit http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/openaccess/ and read the University Libraries’ Scholarly Publishing blog, Transitions.

And our second event is a Free Screening of THE INTERNET’S OWN BOY at FILMSCENE Saturday, September 27^th, 2:30 pm, with a Q & A to follow.

Complementing the faculty panel discussion on open access that will occur next week, FilmScene will host a free screening of the Aaron Swartz documentary The Internet’s Own Boy on Saturday, September 27^th at 2:30 pm, followed by a Q & A with University of Iowa professors Kembrew McLeod (Communications) and Stephen Voyce (English). The film “follows the story of programming prodigy and information activist Aaron Swartz. From Swartz’s help in the development of the basic internet protocol RSS to his co-founding of Reddit, his fingerprints are all over the internet. But it was Swartz’s groundbreaking work in social justice and political organizing combined with his aggressive approach to information access that ensnared him in a two-year legal nightmare. It was a battle that ended with the taking of his own life at the age of 26. . . This film is a personal story about what we lose when we are tone deaf about technology and its relationship to our civil liberties.” The screening is free and open to the public.

POST-SCREENING Q & A WITH KEMBREW MCLEOD AND STEPHEN VOYCE

And stick around after the film to talk about open access, copyright, intellectual property, and other issues related to the free access of information with two local scholars in the fields of digital scholarship and internet-based creativity:

Kembrew McLeod is a Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Iowa, independent documentary filmmaker, and music critic. His book Freedom of Expression®: Overzealous Copyright Bozos and Other Enemies of Creativity (2nd ed., University of Minnesota Press, 2007) received the American Libraries Association Oboler Award for Best Scholarship in the Area of Intellectual Freedom. He is also the author of Pranksters: Making Mischief in the Modern World (NYU Press, 2014); with Peter DiCola, of Creative License: the Law and Culture of Digital Sampling (Duke University Press, 2011); and the editor, with Rudolf Kuenzli, of Cutting Across Media: Appropriation Art, Interventionist Collage, and Copyright Law (Duke University Press, 2011). Follow him on twitter: https://twitter.com/kembrew

Stephen Voyce is an Assistant Professor in the English department at the University of Iowa. His recent book, Poetic Community: Avant-Garde Activism and Cold War Culture (University of Toronto Press, Spring 2013), addresses several key poetic groups collaborating after World War II. He is currently working on a book project titled Open Source Culture: Literature, Appropriation, and the Public Domain, which investigates how late-twentieth-century poets, fiction writers, and artists creatively subvert intellectual property law and the regimes that enforce these policies. He is a member of the University of Iowa’s Digital Studio for Public Arts & Humanities and the director of the Fluxus Digital Archive.

Sep 02 2014

Nominate your favorite librarian for Benton Award

Posted on September 2, 2014December 2, 2016 by The University of Iowa Libraries

The University Libraries is seeking nominations for the Arthur Benton University Librarian’s Award for Excellence. Funded by a generous endowment, this prestigious award acknowledges a library staff member’s professional contributions in the practice of librarianship, service to the profession, scholarship, or leadership which has had a significant impact or innovation to the operations of the Libraries or the University of Iowa. The library staff member will receive $1,500 to be used for professional development activities.

Criteria for the award and the nomination form are available at: http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/admin/bentonaward/

Nominations are due by Friday, September 26. Please forward this message to faculty and graduate assistants in your department and encourage them to submit nominations. Thank you for your assistance.

*The University Libraries includes the Main Library, Hardin Library for the Health Sciences, and the Art, Sciences, Business, Engineering, and Music libraries. (Professional staff in the Law Library and other campus departmental library staff are not eligible.)

Aug 27 2014

University of Iowa Libraries names Carmelita Pickett Associate University Librarian

Posted on August 27, 2014December 2, 2016 by The University of Iowa Libraries

Carmelita Pickett, collection development officer at Texas A&M University Libraries, has been named associate university librarian for the University of Iowa, effective October 13.

Pickett joined the university libraries at TAMU in 2003 as an Africana studies librarian. In 2009, she became the director of collection development operations and acquisitions services, where she provides leadership to the collection management team with a budget of over $15 million. Responsible for all aspects of the libraries’ collection development strategy, she was instrumental for developing a value statement that is used as an advocacy tool when negotiating with publishers.

Her national service includes elected positions in the Association of College and Research Libraries African American Studies Librarians Section and the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services as well as her appointment to the ACRL Dr. E.J. Josey Spectrum Scholar Mentor Committee and as an ALA Spectrum Scholarship Juror.

“The University of Iowa Libraries is a great library and I’m humbled to be a part of such a dynamic group of professionals,” said Pickett. “It’s an exciting time for research libraries as we position ourselves to better understand and engage the people we serve. The focus of 21st century collections, spaces and services should be to meet the needs and wants of users rather than maintaining old systems and structures that inhibit the academic enterprise in its core mission: research, teaching, and learning.”

“Building a research library for the 21^st century requires an innovative approach to building a highly relevant and useful collection that both students and scholars need,” said John Culshaw, University Librarian. “Carmelita has spearheaded projects that have balanced research demands as well as budget priorities. We are excited to have her as part of the Libraries’ senior leadership team as we move forward.”

Pickett will succeed Edward Shreeves who had served as associate university librarian for nearly 25 years until his retirement in 2012. Michael Wright has served as interim associate university librarian since Shreeves’ retirement.

As associate university librarian, Pickett will be an integral part of the Libraries’ administrative team and provide leadership to a group of subject specialist librarians who represent every discipline at the University of Iowa.

Aug 13 2014

Art Library Open

Posted on August 13, 2014December 2, 2016 by The University of Iowa Libraries

The Art Library is again open in Art Building West.

Interim hours (Aug 11-22) are 8:30a – 12:00p and 1:00p – 5:00 p M-F (closed Sat and Sun).

For more information, please check the library’s website or call (319)335-3089.

Jul 08 2014

Art Library materials usage during flood.

Posted on July 8, 2014December 2, 2016 by The University of Iowa Libraries

As a result of the closing of Art Building West (ABW), the staff of the Art Library have made arrangements to provide resources for art faculty and students.

Art Library books checked out by UI graduate students and faculty will be automatically renewed.
Materials on Reserve will be placed at Main Library Reserve.
Materials currently on hold at the Art Library will be at the Service Desk in the Main Library.
Materials may be returned to the Main Library.

Please use Interlibrary Loan for all needed materials (library staff will not have access to ABW).

Please contact the Art Library staff (lib-art@uiowa.edu) or Main Library Circulation staff (lib-maincirc@uiowa.edu) with any questions.

Mar 12 2014

Check out books and eat them too… Edible Books Festival, April 1

Posted on March 12, 2014December 2, 2016 by The University of Iowa Libraries

The University of Iowa Libraries invites faculty, staff, students, and the community to celebrate the annual International Edible Books Festival April 1 by crafting a delicious book to share and, of course, eat.

To participate, follow two simple rules: entries must be edible, and they must have something to do with books as shapes and/or content. Edible books will be displayed on April 1 in the Main Library Learning Commons, Group Study Rooms1103 and 1105 in the South Lobby from 3:00-4:30 p.m., followed by a book tasting.

Prizes will be awarded in multiple categories including Best Book Structure, Best Literary Allusion, Judge’s Favorite, Audience Favorite, and Best Tasting. Entries will be judged by the Iowa City Press-Citizen’s Michael Knock, University of Iowa Center for the Book’s Emily Martin, and University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections Librarian Colleen Theisen.

For more information or to submit an entry, please contact Brett Cloyd via email at brett-cloyd@uiowa.edu or by telephone at (319) 335-5743, and bring your entry to Room 1103 between 2:00-2:45 p.m. on April 1.

The International Edible Books Festival is an annual event held on April 1 around the world. The event unites bibliophiles, book artists, and food lovers to celebrate the ingestion of culture and its fulfilling nourishment. Participants create edible books that are exhibited, photographed, and then consumed. Information and inspiration can be found at www.Books2Eat.com.