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Leigh Hunt Online Gets a Nod

This week the “Internet Scout Report” noted the UI Libraries Leigh Hunt Online: The Letters.

Not familiar with British Romantic writer Leigh Hunt? After going through the University of Iowa Library’s collection of his letters online, visitors will know Hunt intimately. For those visitors who don’t have the stamina to pore over the more than 1600 letters that have been digitized thus far, an excellent history of him can be found by clicking “Who is Leigh Hunt?” in the “About the Project” link. The link “About the Brewer-Hunt Collection” reveals that Brewer, an Iowa native of modest means, began collecting Hunt’s work in the last 13 years of his life and amassed such a collection, that it was purchased by the University of Iowa Libraries in 1934. The link also mentions the correspondence in the collection that Hunt had with many other noted authors. Visitors should click on “Digitized Letters” to view the thumbnail gallery of Highlights of the Collection and see a host of Sample Searches. “Search Hints” are given in a link on the left hand side of the page, right above “NINES Collaboration”.

The Scout Report is the flagship publication of the Internet Scout Project. Published every Friday both on the web and by email, it provides a fast, convenient way to stay informed of valuable resources on the Internet. Our team of professional librarians and subject matter experts select, research, and annotate each resource.

Published continuously since 1994, the Scout Report is one of the Internet’s oldest and most respected publications. Organizations are encouraged to link to this page from their own Web pages, or to receive the HTML version of the Report each week via email for local posting at their site.

UI Libraries’ Artists’ Books Exhibited at Drake University

A group of more than 30 artists’ books from The University of Iowa Libraries’ collection will be exhibited from September 11th through October 9th in the Anderson Gallery at Drake University, Des Moines.  The exhibition, “The Book in Time & Place,” was curated by alumnus Sarah McCoy and Julie Leonard from the staff of The University of Iowa Center for the Book will offer a guest lecture in the Fine Art Center at Drake on September 9th.

Most of the loaned books were displayed in Old Cap during this past January, but several additional books were included in the loan, notably several items from the Charlotte M. Smith Collection of Miniature Books.  Included in the exhibit are books printed on hand-set type and printed by hand on fine papers.  Some are illustrated with images created in various techniques, including etchings, engravings, woodblocks, and lithographs. Apart from their artistic quality, many of the books look like conventional books, albeit more carefully made, but others play with the idea of “bookness” and have been created to express an artist’s statement.  One small “book,” for example, collects images of belly buttons from well-known classical paintings; it is, course, bound in a pair of buttons.  Another, a meditation on make-up and self-image, is printed on accordion-folded paper and bound into a cheap plastic compact which in turn resides in a glittering purse.

“Artists’ books are typically produced in only a few copies – even 50 copies is a large edition,” said Sid Huttner, head of Special Collections & University Archives at The University of Iowa, “and consequently few people have experienced them.  It also takes considerable effort to select and mount an exhibition, so we were delighted to have Drake propose a display of books in Des Moines that could build on one earlier seen in Iowa City.”

The University of Iowa has a long tradition of teaching and supporting fine printing and book arts, and the Libraries has assembled over many years a collection that documents books design and construction from the 15th century to the present in great depth.  Artists’ books are a fairly new genre, developing largely in the 1970s, and the Libraries collects examples of current work that support academic programs in Art & Art History, Art Education, and The Center for the Book.

“As Google digitizes its way through libraries here and abroad, and the Kindle is said to be about to replace paper and ink entirely, it is perhaps surprising how many artists are finding they can best communicate their artistic vision via book formats,“ said Huttner. “But this is a vigorous, lively, enchanting corner of the contemporary art community.”

ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Full Text Now Available Online

UI researchers and scholars now have full text (PDF) access to over 1 million titles in the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. This database also includes 2.4 million dissertation and theses citations from around the world from 1861 to the present day. Additionally, you have access to the full-text coverage of CIC and UI dissertations and theses.  http://guides.lib.uiowa.edu/dissertations

You can find further details at ProQuest’s site:  http://www.proquest.com/en-US/catalogs/databases/detail/pqdt.shtml.

Iowa Women’s Archives Needs Your Vote: Sept 1-15 (links updated)

The Iowa Women’s Archives at The University of Iowa Libraries has been nominated for an Iowa Women’s Foundation 2009 50% Solution Award in the nonprofit category.

Vote Here!

The 50% Solution Awards began in 2006 as a way to recognize and reinforce positive contributions made to open doors and advance Iowa women and girls. Previous award winners have been honored for going above and beyond to offer professional development for women, enhanced leadership opportunities in fields where women are traditionally underrepresented and for changing the social framework in which we see women’s roles defined.

Iowa Women’s Foundation will hold a public vote September 1 – 15 for nominees. To support the Iowa Women’s Archives, please logon to www.iawf.org and cast your vote.

Download Main Library Audio Tour

Learn your way around the library on your own time and at your own pace. Use the libraries’ downloadable mp3 audio tours of all 5 floors of the Main Library.

Each tour lasts 2-4 minutes, and you should be able to complete the whole tour in under 30 minutes. Knowing where the good stuff is in the library will save you time and effort when you need it.

Download tours at http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/ref/librarytour.html and take them when you have the time.

For more personalized information about the library, doing research or finding the right information, Ask a Librarian!

Your Librarian at the University of Iowa

With over 100,000 books, 45,000 newspapers, and 100,000 government documents published in the US each year, in addition to the 27 million sites on the Internet, you know the information you need has to be out there.

Now, if you only knew where to start. How about with your librarian? Every student at the University of Iowa has a Subject Specialist Librarian.

Always in the know with the most current information, librarians at the University of Iowa can help you find the latest research in your field, help you evaluate information resources you find on the web and help you locate the best answers to your questions.

With graduate degrees in library and information studies, librarians are highly qualified information specialists, using technology, such as databases and the Internet, as just some of the tools of their trade.

With five million volumes, the University of Iowa Libraries may be the largest library you’ve ever used. And it is easy to be unsure of where to start, librarians help you find it. Our librarians help to ensure all people have access to information and the skills to effectively access, use and evaluate information in all formats.

If you are overwhelmed by the avalanche of information, your librarian can help you find it. Your search is easy. You’ll find their unparalleled expertise @ your library.

Need a Job? Find it at the Libraries

Each semester hundreds of students work at the University of Iowa Libraries, and you can too.

  • Flexible Schedules. You can work 7 to 20 hours a week from early morning shifts to late night.
  • Multiple Locations. The UI Libraries has 9 convenient locations across campus, both the east side and west side of the river.
  • Variety of Jobs. There are all kinds of things to do to keep the library running: customer service, clerical, re-shelving or security.
  • Pay. We offer a competitive $7.25/hour wage.
  • Learn about Library Resources. You’ll become familiar with the information resources the library offers students, which can give you an advantage when it comes time for your next paper.

Come check out all the student job opportunities at the UI Libraries during the Job Fair on Thursday, August 27, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the IMU.

The University of Iowa prohibits discrimination in employment, educational programs, and activities on the basis of race, national origin, color, creed, religion, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preference. The University also affirms its commitment to providing equal opportunities and equal access to University facilities. For additional information on nondiscrimination policies, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, (319) 335-0705 (voice) and (319) 335-0697 (text), 202 Jessup Hall, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1316.

Media Collection Available at Main Library South Circulation Desk

Now you can check out books, journals AND media materials from one location in the Main Library – the South Circulation Desk. All materials held and equipment available in the former Media Services are available in the new renovated space at the South Circulation Desk, located in the southwest corner of the Main Library’s 1st floor.

Media materials (videos) placed on course reserve will now be available at the South Circulation Desk with other course reserves.

Videos placed on hold are available for pick-up at the North Circulation Desk with the other library materials placed on hold, which is available all hours that the Main Library is open.

Staff at the South Circulation Desk can retrieve materials and assist you with any questions about the media collection. Contact them directly at lib-media-services@uiowa.edu or 319-335-5912.