Skip to content

The University of Iowa Libraries

Skip to content
Go to
InfoHawk+
University of Iowa Libraries University of Iowa Libraries The University of Iowa The University of Iowa Libraries

Library News

Go to the University of Iowa Libraries home page

Category: Special Collections

Main Library Stacks
Jan 17 2023

Meet the 9 Student Library Workers Awarded Scholarships for 2022-2023

Posted on January 17, 2023January 20, 2023 by Natalee Dawson

We’re grateful every day for our student workers, whose contributions are foundational to the University of Iowa Libraries. They’re the vital engine behind everything we do, from the front desk at the Lichtenberger Engineering Library to the stacks at the Main Library. These dedicated students make time alongside their classes to create friendly, helpful environments where library users can focus and explore.

For the 2022-2023 academic year, nine student employees have been awarded scholarships in recognition of their work in the UI Libraries. We’re proud to celebrate each of them, as they share how their time in the UI Libraries has impacted their studies, their confidence, and their plans for the future.

Elizabeth (Lizzi) Ayers has been awarded the Judy and Mike Greer Scholarship in Memory of Mary E. Greer. She is an English major and French minor from Iowa City, Iowa. Through a summer project maintaining 18th-century Belgian political pamphlets in Conservation & Collections Care, Lizzi discovered a love of antique materials—and found the inspiration to begin her own career in librarianship.

“Working at the Libraries has helped me strengthen my professional communication skills (both verbal and written), as well as giving me a chance to pick up a variety of collections care/management-specific skills such as database navigation and caring for fragile items. [There is] variety in my work, day to day. Working in Collections Care has reassured me that libraries are anything but boring.”

Skylar Halley, a mechanical engineering student from Fairfield, Iowa, was awarded the Dale M. and Mary Gail Bentz Libraries Student Employee Scholarship. Skylar works in the Lichtenberger Engineering Library, where his encounters with visitors and library co-workers exposed him to new fields of study within engineering. Meaningful discussions with one PhD student even encouraged him to reincorporate music into his life. 

“I have learned both how to think on my feet, as well as the right questions and people to ask when I am not sure what to do. Working at the Libraries has provided me with the opportunity to interact with many fellow engineering students, which has shown me the range of people in the field with a multitude of different personalities and approaches towards engineering.”

Emiline Heimos was awarded a UI Libraries Student Employee Scholarship for her work at in the bookstacks at the Main Library. Originally from Labadie, Missouri, Emiline studies linguistics (teaching English as a second language) and translation for global literacy. She has come to love the quiet and calm of the stacks, finding a meditative sense of wellbeing among the books. This tranquility has served her in the classroom, where she’s noted a sense of increased confidence.

“Working at the library had helped me in many aspects, and developing professional skills is definitely one of them. I have learned patience, how to be organized and precise with my work, and how to think critically when going about my organization. I hope to be an ESL teacher in the near future, and I believe that all of these skills will apply there… as a library patron, you see a cart of books being shelved, and that might be all. Working here, I realized that there is so much more to accomplish, and I am happy to be a part of that.”

Cara Heuer is a third-year student from Ames, Iowa studying human physiology. She received a UI Libraries Student Employee Scholarship for her work at the Sciences Library. During her time at the library, Cara has come to appreciate the sense of connection and shared motivation that naturally grows within the space. She loves to help “set the tone” for each person’s library visit by making sure to greet them with positivity and enthusiasm.

 “I have had the chance to interact with so many students and professors that I may not have otherwise met. During my time here I have been able to share so many small moments with those in the library and a part of the university community. These experiences have given me confidence in my ability to connect with others and communicate to solve problems. I hope to translate these skills into my connections with my patients and colleagues as a future healthcare provider!”

Adam Holmes is studying mechanical engineering with minors in art and mathematics. An Iowa City native, Adam was awarded a UI Libraries Student Employee Scholarship in connection with his work at the Lichtenberger Engineering Library. He was surprised to discover that library users often recognize him from the front desk when they cross paths elsewhere on campus; this made him realize that his work has an impact on each person’s experience.

“In the Engineering Library alone, it’s been fascinating to learn about our extensive tool collection, which has things that I hadn’t even heard of before this job. I also frequently have students working on research papers that come to me looking for books on a certain topic. I love seeing their surprised reaction when I show them our catalog, which usually has dozens of books, journals, and other media on their topic.”

Abigail Kellis is studying English & Creative Writing and History, with a Certificate in Museum Studies. She was awarded a Dale M. and Mary Gail Bentz Scholarship for her work in Circulation Services at the Main Library. The spirit of collaboration and mentorship she feels with her fellow library workers has inspired Abigail to seek a future career in libraries, museums, and archives.

“The library has helped strengthen my ability to adapt and solve many different types of problems. All jobs and careers have issues that arise that need to be solved, and being able to solve them or contact the people with more expertise who can solve them is an important skill to have.”

Ana Koch was selected for a Dale M. and Mary Gail Bentz Scholarship. Ana is a nursing student with a minor in music and works at the Pomerantz Business Library, where her experience at the main desk has bolstered her skill in communicating with patrons. Ana believes that her time spent in a people-oriented role will strengthen her interpersonal skills in her future career as a healthcare provider.

“Working at the Business Library has helped me improve my time management and communication skills. Having a concise working schedule helps me to remain organized. An organized schedule encourages me to stay on top of my assignments while properly managing my time. I also communicate with people on a regular basis as I work. I help them with directions, solving problems, and checking out materials. Communicating with people in a respectful fashion is a huge part of nursing.”

Alyssa Lemay, a statistics and mathematics major from Sussex, Wisconsin, has been awarded a UI Libraries Student Employee Scholarship in connection with her work in Circulation Services at the Main Library. Alyssa says that helping library users locate resources and navigate a vast collection has made her a flexible communicator and revealed her love of customer service—traits she looks forward to using in the future.

“
Working at the library, I have learned to communicate with people of all backgrounds effectively. Interacting with coworkers and patrons can sometimes be interesting or difficult because of these backgrounds! Learning to navigate these obstacles will for sure be helpful in my future career path. Part of being a statistician is working with groups of people, all of which have different educational backgrounds, to come to a conclusion. I need to be able to effectively communicate my ideas in order to achieve this goal.”

LilliAnna Scott is majoring in environmental policy and planning, with a certificate in sustainability. Lilli received a Dale M. and Mary Gail Bentz Scholarship in recognition for her three years of work at the UI Libraries, in both the Main Library and the Art Library. As a first-generation student, Lilli found that working at the Libraries gave her an immediate chance to familiarize herself with the academic resources available at a large research university.

 “I have been surprised by the deep connections that the Libraries have with the community of Iowa City outside of campus and beyond. In my time working at the Art Library, I have had the pleasure of assisting many different patrons with a range of interests. I love to see the variety of topics of books that the graduate students check out for research or the many books we send and receive through the Interlibrary Loan. This has truly shown me the powerful connections of libraries and how they enrich our communities.”

You can learn more about UI Libraries student scholarships here.

Posted in Art Library, Business, Employment, Main Library, Music, Special Collections, Uncategorized
Nov 07 2022

UI Libraries recognizes first-generation staff and student workers

Posted on November 7, 2022November 7, 2022 by Anne Bassett

The University of Iowa Libraries is celebrating its student workers and staff who identify as first-generation students with opportunities to enjoy snacks, coffee, and other refreshments at the Main Library.

It’s part of the university’s National First-Generation College Celebration held from Monday, Nov. 7 through Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. At Iowa, first-generation college students are students who do not have a parent(s) or legal guardian(s) who completed a four-year degree. Approximately one in five UI students identify as first-generation.

The campus community is welcome to stop by and grab a snack or drink in the Main Library (125 W. Washington St.) to recognize first-generation college students and staff at Iowa and the UI Libraires.

Monday, Nov. 7 – Hot chocolate and donuts in the Learning Commons
Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 9 a.m. – Breakfast and coffee in the Learning Commons near the Food for Thought Café
Wednesday, Nov. 9 – Cookies in the Learning Commons
Thursday, Nov. 10 – Assorted snacks in the Learning Commons
Friday, Nov. 11 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. – Popcorn in Learning Commons, Group Area D

Monday, Nov. 7 – Wednesday, Nov. 9, from 5 to 9 p.m. – Game night in The SEAM (room 2013)

Meet some of our student workers and staff who shared they identify as a first-generation student:

Kai Ayala
Jessi Beck
Cassidy Hibbert
Ryan Kangali
María Leonor Márquez Ponce
Lilli Scott
Ali Slowiak
Tim Arnold, information literacy librarian
John Culshaw
John Culshaw, Jack B. King university librarian
Eric Ensley, curator of rare books and maps in Special Collections and Archives
Heather Healy, clinical education librarian
Rita Soenksen, interim director of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion and English and American Literature librarian

Learn more about Iowa’s many initiatives to support first-gen students at https://firstgen.uiowa.edu.

Posted in Art Library, Business, Did You Know, Learning Commons, Main Library, News, Sciences, Special Collections, University Librarian, What's new
Leonard Nimoy and Nicholas Meyer
Sep 27 2022

Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Nicholas Meyer to share storytelling journey

Posted on September 27, 2022October 7, 2022 by Anne Bassett

From Sherlock Holmes to Star Trek, Nicholas Meyer’s celebrated career has spanned decades and different genres. Now, he’s making another trip back to where his storytelling journey began—the University of Iowa.

The University Libraries is hosting “Writing for Screens: A Conversation with Nicholas Meyer” on Thursday, Oct. 13, from 7 to 8:15 p.m. in Shambaugh Auditorium at the Main Library.

Leonard Nimoy and Nicholas Meyer on set during the shooting of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
Leonard Nimoy and Nicholas Meyer on set during the shooting of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. The photo is archived in the UI Libraries Special Collections & Archives’ Nicholas Meyer Papers.

The director, screenwriter, producer, and best-selling author graduated from Iowa in 1968 with a Bachelor of Arts in speech and dramatic art. He also wrote film reviews for The Daily Iowan.

Meyer is known for his involvement in the Star Trek film series, writing or directing its second, fourth, and sixth films. His many other credits include authoring the best-selling novel The Seven-Per-Cent Solution: Being a Reprint from the Reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D. and receiving an Oscar nomination for his screenplay of the story. He also has donated his papers, which include script drafts, memos, photographs, and more to the University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections and Archives.

Meyer has shared before that “coming back to Iowa City is like coming back home” and “this is the place you go to learn to be a writer.” This time, he’s coming back home to the place that tied with Yale as the No. 2 university in the country for writing, according to the latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report—and the place that first gave him the tools to cultivate his craft.

Here are recommended viewings from Peter Balestrieri, curator of science fiction and popular culture collections at UI Special Collections:

  • Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan – Meyer directed and contributed to the shooting script for the film (uncredited), which is considered the best Star Trek film by legions of Trekkers.
  • Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home – Meyer wrote portions of the screenplay that features fun with aliens, time travel, hippies, and cosmic whales.
  • The Day After – Meyer directed this television film that changed history, leading directly to U.S./Soviet nuclear disarmament(directed by Meyer)
  • The Seven-Per-Cent Solution – Meyer received an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for the film. The source material? His best-selling novel of the same name which has Sherlock Holmes joining forces with Sigmund Freud.
  • Medici: Masters of Florence – A historical drama television series co-created by Meyer that exquisitely reproduces Renaissance Florence and the banking giants that ruled it.

You can also read more about Meyer, his career, and time at Iowa here.  

Posted in Event, Main Library, News, Special Collections, Uncategorized
Aug 16 2022

We have books and so much more… 10 ways your Libraries can help you

Posted on August 16, 2022August 22, 2022 by Anne Bassett

The University of Iowa Libraries are here to help. We provide vital opportunities for engaging in critical learning, research, creative work, and clinical care through staff expertise and exceptional collections.

Here are 10 convenient services we provide to support your success. Students working together in the Main Library We look forward to assisting you!

1) There are seven University Libraries on campus.* 

  • Art Library 
  • Hardin Library for the Health Sciences
  • Litchenberger Engineering Library
  • Main Library 
  • Marvin A. Pomerantz Business Library 
  • Rita Benton Music Library 
  • Sciences Library 
  • *Law Library (a separate entity from the University Libraries) 

2) Specialist librarians for every major and subject.    

3) Access 1000+ research databases with a HawkID. 

4) Get quick answers from librarians through the library chat website and text a librarian for help at 319-313-2395.  

5) Have library materials delivered and receive scans of articles and chapters via email.  You can also borrow items not owned  by the Libraries through Interlibrary Loan.  

6) Four rare book rooms and five archives provide access to unique resources. 

  Rare Book Rooms 

  • Arthur and Miriam Canter Rare Book Room 
  • DeCaso Room 
  • John Martin Rare Book Room 
  • Special Collections and Archives 

  Archives 

  • International Dada Archive 
  • Iowa Women’s Archives 
  • Ruth and Marvin Sackner Archive of Concrete and Visual Poetry 
  • Special Collections 
  • University Archives 

7) Receive evening research and library help online and in person Sunday – Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. at The SEAM (Student Assistance at Main).  

8) There are many places to study in every library, including 24 group spaces in the Main Library’s Learning Commons (which also has the Food for Thought café).  

  • https://www.lib.uiowa.edu/commons/  
  • https://www.lib.uiowa.edu/biz/group-rooms/  
  • https://www.lib.uiowa.edu/eng/group-study-rooms/  
  • https://www.lib.uiowa.edu/hardin/information/spaces-at-hardin/ 

9) Need a calculator, caliper, or colorimeter? 275+ tools are available at the Lichtenberger Engineering Library.

10) Laptops, chargers, and more are on hand to check out. Just ask. 

LEARN MORE

lib.uiowa.edu 

Posted in Art Library, Business, Did You Know, Digital Scholarship & Publishing Studio, Engineering, Hardin, IWA, Main Library, Music, News, Sciences, Special Collections
Tom Phillips painting from the Sackner Archive
Apr 13 2022

UI Libraries Receives NEH Grant to Increase Access to World-Renowned Sackner Archive

Posted on April 13, 2022April 27, 2022 by Anne Bassett

Special Collections and Archives at the University of Iowa Libraries was awarded a prestigious $350,000 grant supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The funding will be used to make the Ruth and Marvin Sackner Archive of Concrete and Visual Poetry—the largest collection of its kind in the world—more accessible.

The Sackner Archive currently includes more than 75,000 items documenting the international avant-garde movement of artists and writers who combined words and visual elements to create a new category of artwork. The three-year Humanities Collections and Reference Resources program grant will provide resources for Special Collections and Archives such as a full-time staff member and a part-time graduate student to focus on continuing to organize, catalog, describe, and preserve materials.

“The University Libraries is committed to promoting accessibility to our collections in as many ways as possible to foster teaching, research, and engagement,” says John Culshaw, Jack B. King university librarian. “We are grateful to the NEH for this opportunity because despite the availability of some data created by the Sackners, the archive remains largely hidden due to the enormous amount of work needed to make materials available to the public.”

The Sackner family chose the University Libraries as the home for the archive due to its reputation as a center for the study of Dadaism, with its substantial holdings in the International Dada Archive. The Libraries’ world-class conservation program, the UI’s nationally recognized Center for the Book and Iowa Writers’ Workshop, collections in the Stanley Museum of Art, and location in Iowa City (a UNESCO City of Literature) were also factors influencing their decision.

“We are thrilled the NEH recognized the importance of continuing to expand the Sackner Archive’s reach and are eager to begin these next stages of work,” says Margaret Gamm, director of Special Collections and Archives. “It’s a privilege for us to be home to this world-renowned archive and stewards for students, researchers, and others to discover and use its unique resources.”

You can learn more about the Sackner Archive, which is not open to the public, here. Students, scholars, and the public can make an appointment to view materials by emailing lib-spec@uiowa.edu.

Posted in News, Special Collections, What's new1 Comment
University Libraries - IOWA
Mar 28 2022

NEW: Three Women for Equality: Christine Grant, Peggy Burke, and Bonnie Slatton Fund

Posted on March 28, 2022March 28, 2022 by Anne Bassett

Three trailblazers who led the national effort for gender equality in athletics are being honored through a new fund dedicated to collecting, archiving, and highlighting their achievements and the efforts of other women.

The Three Women for Equality: Christine Grant, Peggy Burke, and Bonnie Slatton Fund is made possible by a generous gift from Lark Birdsong, Iowa’s first women’s basketball coach, and a gift from Grant’s estate. The fund provides support for the Iowa Women’s Archives at the University of Iowa Libraries, which houses a number of collections featuring women’s and girls’ sports, including Grant’s papers. The IWA is one of the few archives of its kind embedded within a higher education academic research library in the United States.

Grant’s many accomplishments include being a key figure in implementing Title IX, the federal law passed in 1972 that requires equal opportunity in sports and education. Burke and Slatton joined Grant in being fierce advocates for that right and each served as president of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women. The close friends all made a long-lasting mark on history with their many contributions, which include being mentors and role models for numerous people throughout the university, country, and beyond.

A photo of Peggy Burke, Bonnie Slatton, and Christine Grant
Peggy Burke, Bonnie Slatton, and Christine Grant
Courtesy: Lark Birdsong

“This is my way to celebrate these three remarkable women, in addition to other brave women, that did the impossible against insurmountable odds—and I hope it inspires others,” says Birdsong. “Christine, Bonnie, and Peggy led a national effort to ensure equal opportunities for women. What we see in intercollegiate athletics today is testimony to their immense effectiveness. And what they created at Iowa is reflected in loyal Hawkeye pride in today’s teams.”

“We are grateful for this opportunity and to Lark for coming to us with the idea,” says John Culshaw, Jack. B. King university librarian. “It’s a testament to the impact Christine, Bonnie, and Peggy had on her and countless others, and now the IWA will be able to shine an even brighter light on women’s and girls’ sports for generations to come.”

“We’re proud of our collections that chronicle the lives and important work of Iowa women,” adds Janet Weaver, curator of the IWA. “This fund will allow us to expand the size and scope of our holdings in this area and engage an even broader audience through programs, exhibits, and online resources.”

You can learn more about the legacy of Grant, Burke, and Slatton here.

Sadly, Grant passed away on Dec. 31, 2021. Birdsong shared a wonderful tribute in The Gazette. You can also read more tributes to Grant here and here.

You can donate to the Three Women for Equality: Christine Grant, Peggy Burke, and Bonnie Slatton Fund here.

Photo of Christine Grant
Christine Grant, UI women’s athletics director (1973-2000) Courtesy: Iowa Women’s Archives
Photo of Peggy Burke
Peggy Burke, chair of the UI Department of Physical Education for Women (1978-1987) Courtesy: Iowa Women’s Archives
Photo of Bonnie Slatton
Bonnie Slatton, chair of the UI Department of Physical Education for Women (1987-2000) Courtesy: Iowa Women’s Archives
Posted in IWA, Main Library, News, Special Collections, What's new
Aug 21 2020

First Annual Ray Bradbury Read-A-Thon

Posted on August 21, 2020August 21, 2020 by The University of Iowa Libraries
Ray Bradbury Readathon
Ray Bradbury Readathon

On Saturday, August 22, 2020, the University of Iowa Libraries will partner with national organizations to present the first annual Ray Bradbury Read-A-Thon. During this four-hour online event, a diverse group of celebrities and Bradbury experts, including Peter Balestrieri, curator of science fiction and popular culture collections at the University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections & Archives, will present a virtual reading of Bradbury’s classic novel Fahrenheit 451 streamed over YouTube beginning at 3:30 pm CDT.

The read-a-thon, which celebrates the centennial of Bradbury’s birth, is hosted by the Library of Congress, the Los Angeles Public Library, and the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers (presenter of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards). Event partners are public and university libraries nationwide, including the University of Iowa Libraries, with its robust collections of primary source materials on science fiction writers, including Ray Bradbury.

The Read-A-Thon’s on-camera readers will be as diverse as America itself. Some 40 people, including Balestrieri, will pre-record a short segment of Fahrenheit 451. Those segments, and a few from celebrity guests, will be edited into one continuous reading of the entire book, creating four hours of thought-provoking entertainment.

Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress, will provide the introduction to the reading. Additional introductions and readings will be given by John Szabo (Los Angeles Public Library), General Charles Bolden, Jr. (NASA), Ann Druyan (writer/producer/director), William Shatner (actor), Neil Gaiman (author), Marlon James (author), Marjorie Liu (author), P. Djèlí Clark (author), Brenda Greene (author), Alley Mills Bean (actress), James Reynolds (actor), Tananarive Due (author), Steven Barnes (author), and Rachel Bloom (actress).

Some readers, like Balestrieri, will record from their homes, others from their hometown libraries—or from the places where Bradbury himself lived, worked, and explored. Locations will include the historic rooms of the Los Angeles Public Library, the Library of Congress, and the former Carnegie Library building in Waukegan where Bradbury spent much of his childhood lost in books.

Ray Bradbury’s contribution to the literary landscape and our collective imagination made him one of the best-known writers of our time. His books now sit on library shelves alongside the works of authors he read in his youth at the Carnegie Library in Waukegan, Illinois. After his family moved to Los Angeles during the Great Depression, he discovered the stacks of the Venice library and many others: no matter where he lived, the library was his school. As Bradbury would later say: “I’m completely library educated. Libraries are absolutely at the center of my life. Since I couldn’t afford to go to college, I attended the library three or four days a week from the age of eighteen on, and graduated from the library when I was twenty-eight.”

Fahrenheit 451, a cautionary dystopian tale about the cost of apathy and the power of curiosity, is one of the most checked-out books at libraries throughout the United States. Viewers of the Read-A-Thon will discover–or rediscover–this redemptive story that is as powerful today as it was when it was first written. www.raybradbury.com

After the initial broadcast, the Read-A-Thon will be available until September 5, 2020.

The Participating Partners: Library of Congress, Los Angeles Public Library, and Alliance for Young Artists & Writers and the Contributing Libraries and Institutions are: Anchorage Public Library (Alaska), Athens Regional Library System (Georgia), Boston Public Library (Massachusetts), Broward County Library (Florida), Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College, CUNY (New York), Center for Ray Bradbury Studies (Indiana), Central Arkansas Library System (Arkansas), Charlotte Mecklenburg Library (North Carolina), Columbus Metropolitan Library (Ohio), Cushing Memorial Library & Archives, Texas A&M University (Texas), Des Moines Public Library and Library Foundation (Ohio), Indian Valley Public Library (Pennsylvania), Pima County Public Library (Arizona), San Francisco Public Library (California), South Pasadena Library (California), The Friends of the Venice Library (California), The Seattle Public Library (Washington), University of Alaska Anchorage Consortium Library (Alaska), University of Iowa Libraries (Iowa), University of Kansas Libraries (Kansas), University of Pittsburgh Library System (Pennsylvania), and the Waukegan Parks District and Library (Illinois) 

RAY BRADBURY 
In a career that spanned more than seventy years, Ray Bradbury inspired generations of readers in a wide variety of genres to dream, think, and create. A prolific author of more than four hundred published short stories and close to fifty books, as well as numerous essays, plays, operas, teleplays, and screenplays, Bradbury is one of the most widely translated authors in the world and one of the most celebrated writers of our time. His enduring novels and short story collections include The Martian Chronicles, The Illustrated Man, The Golden Apples of the Sun, Fahrenheit 451, The October Country, Dandelion Wine, A Medicine for Melancholy, and Something Wicked This Way Comes. RayBradbury.com

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States — and extensive materials from around the world — both on- site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.

LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Los Angeles Public Library system, with 72 branches, serves the residents of the City of Los Angeles. The system holds more than six million volumes, and with over 18 million residents in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area, it serves the largest population of any publicly funded library system in the United States. lapl.org

THE ALLIANCE FOR YOUNG ARTISTS AND WRITERS
The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, presenter of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, identifies teenagers with exceptional artistic and literary talent and brings their remarkable work to a national audience. Established in 1923 by Maurice R. Robinson, the founder of Scholastic Inc., the Awards are the longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teenagers across America and one of the largest sources of scholarships for young artists and writers. The Awards have an impressive roster of notable Alumni, including Tshabalala Self, Stephen King, Kay Walking Stick, Charles White, Joyce Carol Oates, and Andy Warhol. This past year, the Alliance received 320,000 submissions from 112,000 students, grades 7-12 (ages 13 and up) from across the nation. The Alliance is proud to partner with the Ray Bradbury Foundation to launch the Ray Bradbury Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy as part of its 2021 Awards offerings. artandwriting.org

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA LIBRARIES
The University of Iowa Libraries’ Special Collections and Archives holds a wealth of rare and unique materials related to Ray Bradbury—from amateur writing and artwork found in science fiction fanzines to his first professional work that appeared in pulp magazines. Our collections include special editions of his books, early photographs, an anti-fascism statement he signed as a teenager, and much more. For more information, please visit www.lib.uiowa.edu/sc, email lib-spec@uiowa.edu, or contact Peter Balestrieri, curator of science fiction and popular culture, at peter-balestrieri@uiowa.edu.

Ray Bradbury
An example from the collections at the University of Iowa Libraries: above is an image of Ray Bradbury (right in glasses) at the age of 19 at the First World Science Fiction Convention in New York, New York, 1939. This image is found in the 1942 “Nycon Report” fanzine, edited by Julius Unger and found in the Hevelin Collection of Science Fiction Materials (MsC0936). See the complete fanzine in the Iowa Digital Library: https://digital.lib.uiowa.edu
Posted in Special Collections, Uncategorized
Mar 23 2020

Virtual Hours for UI Libraries

Posted on March 23, 2020March 31, 2020 by The University of Iowa Libraries

UI Libraries open online & ready to help

Click here to see our VIRTUAL HOURS during the time of COVID-19.

Posted in Art Library, Business, Engineering, Faculty News, Hardin, Main Library, Music, News, Sciences, Special Collections, Uncategorized, University Librarian
Tom Phillips' A Humument
May 31 2019

Sackner Archive of Concrete and Visual Poetry moves to the University of Iowa Libraries

Posted on May 31, 2019December 16, 2019 by The University of Iowa Libraries
Tom Phillips' A Humument
A Humument Fourth Revision Page 366 by Tom Phillips, 1997. The drawing depicts a varicolored stone mosaic, which, based on the content of the poem on this page, may be an abstraction of the facade of Morro Castle that opens James Joyce’s “Ulysses.” The poem adapts Molly Bloom’s closing soliloquy that ends the book: “Oh, Ah, And I said — yes yes – I will yes – end.”

The University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections is the new home of the renowned Sackner Archive of Concrete and Visual Poetry. Founded by Ruth and Marvin Sackner in 1979 in Miami Beach, Florida, the Sackner Archive currently holds the largest collection of concrete and visual poetry in the world.

The archive includes over 75,000 items that document the concrete poetry movement. Annotated books, periodicals, typewritings, drawings, letters, print portfolios, ephemera, and rare and out-of-print artists’ books and manuscripts represent 20th-century art movements such as Italian Futurism, Russian and Eastern European Avant Garde, Dada, Surrealism, Bauhaus, De Stijl, Ultra, Tabu-Dada, Lettrisme, and Ultra-Lettrisme.

Among many notable items, the collection includes materials by and about the founders of the contemporary concrete poetry movement, such as Haroldo de Campos, Augusto de Campos, Eugen Gomringer, Öyvind Fahlström, Décio Pignatari, and Ian Hamilton Finlay. Also among the richly varied cross section of artists and poets represented in the archive are Dom Sylvester Houédard, Henri Chopin, John Cage, Johanna Drucker, Yoko Ono, and Nam June Paik.

“It’s a great honor for the UI Libraries to become the new home for the Sackner Archive, which will enrich scholarship, inspire generations of students, and draw visitors from around the world,” says John Culshaw, the Jack B. King university librarian at the UI.

Margaret Gamm, head of UI Libraries Special Collections, says the Sackners’ extensive work with item descriptions makes the archive of even greater value to scholars.

“We will soon be able to make a truly remarkable assortment of materials available, thanks to the dedication of Ruth and Marvin Sackner, their love of collecting, and their determination to create a complete archive by creating descriptive item records for each piece,” Gamm says. “I cannot wait to see how our students, faculty, and community use these materials in their research and classes.”

The entire archive has been moved to the UI Libraries, where it will be housed and maintained. The Sackner family has arranged for a scheduled donation of materials to be transferred to the UI Libraries’ ownership. The archive will be open by appointment to students, scholars, and the general public starting January 2020.

The Sackner family chose the University of Iowa Libraries as the new home for the archive due to the Libraries’ reputation as a center for the study of Dadaism, with its substantial holdings in the International Dada Archive. In addition, the Libraries’ world-class conservation program, the UI’s nationally recognized Center for the Book and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, collections in the University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art, and location in Iowa City (a UNESCO City of Literature) were also factors influencing their decision. The Sackners’ first encounter with Iowa was to loan work for the 1983 UI exhibition Lettrisme: Into the Present, not knowing that those items would eventually find their way back to the Midwest.

“My beloved wife, Ruth, and I had a dream that one day our efforts to build our collection into one that would reside in a world-class educational institution like the University of Iowa would come true,” Dr. Marvin Sackner says. “Our dream has finally become a reality. I am just sorry that Ruth is no longer with us to witness this monumental moment.”

In addition to housing the archive in Special Collections, the UI Libraries will maintain the condition of archive items, including fragile materials and rare or one-of-a-kind items. The Libraries Preservation and Conservation department has begun repairs on items damaged during Hurricane Irma in 2017.

In its new home, the Sackner Archive will continue to function as a living record of the concrete poetry movement, as new works are accepted into the collections. The UI Libraries will house new items as they come in and work to make the material available to all.

“It’s a pleasure to collaborate with the University of Iowa Libraries staff to ensure the safety of the collection during the move and into the future,” says Amanda Keeley, who has served as associate curator of the Sackner Archive for three years. “Margaret [Gamm] has been a particularly helpful partner, allowing a smooth process for moving this substantial archive to Iowa City.”

The University of Iowa Libraries plans to host a celebration of the Sackner Archive in the near future. At a later date, UI Libraries staff will mount an exhibition of select archive items in the Main Library Gallery. The exhibition dates will be announced at lib.uiowa.edu/gallery.

Contact

Margaret Gamm, head, Special Collections, University of Iowa Libraries margaret-gamm@uiowa.edu

Tim Shipe, curator, International Dada Archive, University of Iowa Libraries timothy-shipe@uiowa.edu

 

Images from the collection

The Sackner Archive of Visual and Concrete Poetry includes items created in a wide variety of styles and media. Initially, the Sackners collected examples of artists who started the concrete poetry movement, but the archive has since expanded in scope and now includes a broad array of works that integrate text and image. Examples include experimental typography, experimental calligraphy, correspondence art, stamp art, sound poetry, performance poetry, micrography, ‘zines,’ graphic design, and artist magazines.

The images below show a variety of materials and techniques such as calligraphy on an ostrich egg, a “handmade” leather book cover, pressed leaves, lithograph, embossed paper, tea bags encased in paper, one-of-a-kind artist’s book in a round box, carved/painted wood, and an altered book page on which poetry was created through a technique called “erasure.”

 

Couve le Feu, part of a series published by Atelier des Grames, 2000. The egg is engraved with the title and embellished with an original engraving enclosed with a text by Michael Gluck. This book object was delivered with rolled, uncrumpled pages within the shell. Their removal caused them to crumple. The texts are egg-shaped and printed on Tibetan paper with a gilded initial on each page.

 

Couve le Feu, part of a series published by Atelier des Grames, 2000.
Couve le Feu, part of a series published by Atelier des Grames, 2000.

 

Kyoto Grids by Margaret Ahrens Sahlstrand, 1984. Unique artist’s book, which captures the grids of Kyoto’s streets in original drawings contained within an unusual circular shape.

 

Les Clés de la Tombe
Les Clés de la Tombe, conceived and realized by Émile Bernard Souchière for Christian Gabriel/le Guez-Ricord. Atelier des Grames, 1987.

 

Guez Ricord by Christian Gabrielle, a series by Atelier des Grames, 1982.

 

Print by Albert Dupont
Engraving by Albert Dupont, from Isidore Isou’s Concerto pour œil et oreille (Paris: Atelier Dupont-Visat, 1984).
Posted in Art Library, Faculty News, History, Main Library, News, Special Collections, Uncategorized, What's new
Rusty Hevelin (photo by Keith Stokes)
Oct 10 2017

Launched: the Hevelin Collection online

Posted on October 10, 2017October 12, 2017 by The University of Iowa Libraries

Fanzines of science fiction, fantasy and horror available to read and transcribe

What would you do with thousands of fragile leaflets, known as fanzines, that chronicle the history of science fiction? Such fanzines hold rich information too valuable to sit untouched, yet the materials cannot be handled without risking destruction.

At the University of Iowa Libraries, a digitization project is underway to save a large, notable zine collection.

The James L. “Rusty” Hevelin Collection contains over 10,000 science fiction (SF), fantasy, and horror fanzines collected by Rusty Hevelin, famous science fiction fan, collector, dealer, and zine editor.

The Hevelin collection spans decades of science fiction writing and fandom and holds examples of early writing by sci fi greats such as Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Ray Bradbury, and George R.R. Martin. With documents dating as early as the 1930s, the collection also reveals exchanges between writers and fans.

Enthusiasts and scholars will have online access to the Hevelin collection to study histories of fandom, trace our views of science and technology over decades, and examine fundamental shifts in our ideas of human progress.

Rusty Hevelin (photo by Keith Stokes)
Rusty Hevelin (photo by Keith Stokes)

Staff at the University of Iowa Libraries digitize each page of each publication through high-resolution photography. As the fanzines become available online, volunteers can transcribe them through the DIY History participatory archives platform. Once transcribed, the zines are fully searchable online, increasing their value to researchers.

The zines are also accessible in the Iowa Digital Library. As work is completed, more scans will be added to the existing online collections. News about the collection and further information on selected items is available on the Hevelin tumblr.

The term “zine” (derived from the word “fanzine”) refers generally to a small, informal, non-commercial publication. Because zines vary widely in style, they defy singular definition. However, most publications in this unique, often handmade print genre have a small, niche following. Some are circulated  via subscription, but they are often distributed informally among interested parties. Zine publishers express a raison d’être driven by a desire to uphold principles of free expression rather than a desire for monetary profit.

With the exception of late 19th century amateur press hobbyists, zines entered the cultural milieu as a specific and noticeable phenomenon in the 1930s, when the emerging science fiction fan community began to create “fanzines” as forums for their own stories and opinions on published SF writing and films.

 

Posted in Special Collections

Posts navigation

Older posts

Categories

  • Anti-racism
  • Art Library
  • Business
  • Collection Connection
  • Cultural Center Liasions
  • Did You Know
  • Digital Scholarship & Publishing Studio
  • DVD Display
  • Employment
  • Engineering
  • Event
  • Faculty News
  • Hardin
  • History
  • ICBF
  • ICBF2010
  • Iowa Digital Library
  • IWA
  • Learning Commons
  • Main Library
  • Music
  • New Books
  • News
  • Preservation
  • Research Data
  • Scholarly Communication
  • Scholarly Impact
  • Sciences
  • Special Collections
  • Transitions
  • Uncategorized
  • University Librarian
  • What's new

Archives

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Stories about the Libraries published in the University of Iowa's Iowa Now

Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: Zoia by Automattic.
University of Iowa Libraries University of Iowa Libraries The University of Iowa The University of Iowa Libraries
  • Contact the Libraries
  • Library locations & hours
  • News & Events
  • Help using the Libraries
  • Assistance for people with disabilities
  • Our diversity statement
  • Thank a Librarian
  • Web site/page feedback OR general suggestions
  • UI Libraries other links UI Libraries in the Internet Archive Use and reuse of UI Libraries web content - Creative Commons Staff SharePoint (authentication required)
  • UI Libraries on social media UI Libraries on Instagram UI Libraries on Facebook UI Libraries on Twitter UI Libraries on Pinterest UI Libraries on Tumblr UI Libraries on YouTube UI Libraries on Flickr UI Libraries blogs
  • 100 Main Library (LIB)
  • 125 West Washington St.
  • Iowa City, IA 52242-1420
  • 319-335-5299 (Service Desk)
  • ©2019 The University of Iowa
  • Give a gift to the Libraries!