“What is special to you?” Environmental activist and Beyond Dirty Fuels creator Bryan Parras presented this question during the final plenary at the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS) conference in New Orleans. Despite the simplicity, I felt at a loss for a response. Sure, many things are important to me—family, education, my love forContinue reading “Micaela Terronez’s RBMS Conference Report”
Category Archives: Staff News
Margaret Gamm, New Head of Special Collections
The University of Iowa Libraries is delighted to announce Margaret Gamm as the new Head of Special Collections. She replaces Greg Prickman, who leaves on July 2 to become the Eric Weinmann Librarian and Director of Collections at the Folger Shakespeare Library after serving as Head of Special Collections since 2011. Gamm joined the UI LibrariesContinue reading “Margaret Gamm, New Head of Special Collections”
Archivist Remembers Hometown Tornado
Summer for a Midwesterner means corn on the cob, days at the pool or setting up the sprinkler in the front yard, gnats galore, and humidity that makes the air feel like soup. However, summer in the Midwest also brings to mind pictures of tornadoes that swoop down from the sky and destroy so muchContinue reading “Archivist Remembers Hometown Tornado”
On to the Next Chapter
It is with a mix of sadness and joy that Special Collections bids goodbye to Colleen Theisen as she leaves to start her next big adventure. Colleen has accepted a job at Syracruse University as their Chief Curator of Exhibitions, Programs, and Education. Although we are sad to see her go, we cannot help butContinue reading “On to the Next Chapter”
David McCartney Elected President of Midwest Archives Conference
University Archivist David McCartney has been elected president of the Midwest Archives Conference for a two year term. MAC is one of the nation’s largest regional professional associations for archivists. Founded in 1972, MAC now has more than 800 individual members. MAC’s institutional members include a variety of corporate, government, religious, and university archives, asContinue reading “David McCartney Elected President of Midwest Archives Conference”
UI Special Collections claims the Iron Throne at World Con
By Hannah Hacker Last month on August 17-21, two of our very own, Peter Balestrieri and Laura Hampton, went to represent the University of Iowa Libraries at the 74th World Science Fiction Convention, Mid AmeriCon II, in Kansas City, Missouri. Some may wonder what a couple of Special Collections librarians were doing at aContinue reading “UI Special Collections claims the Iron Throne at World Con”
Special Collections & Archives staff present at the Society of American Archivists Conference
Last week, several members of Special Collections attended the Society of American Archivists (SAA) in Atlanta, Georgia. Two of our staff made professional contributions having a poster and a presentation competitively selected. Instruction Librarian Amy Chen exhibited her poster on “Twentieth Century Literary Collection Acquisition Patterns.” This poster is the result of her research on theContinue reading “Special Collections & Archives staff present at the Society of American Archivists Conference”
Saying Goodbye to Olson Graduate Assistant Kelly Grogg
Kelly Grogg has been an Olson Graduate Assistant in Special Collections for the past two years. In May she completed her Masters in Library and Information Science. Kelly completed her time with us here in Special Collections last week. Our patrons, students, and staff benefited greatly from Kelly’s cheerful dedication. Kelly embodies the philosophy ofContinue reading “Saying Goodbye to Olson Graduate Assistant Kelly Grogg”
Prickman honored with Arthur Benton University Librarian’s Award for Excellence
[Reposting from UI Libraries] Greg Prickman, head of Special Collections at the University of Iowa Libraries, was honored March 31 with the 2015 Arthur Benton University Librarian’s Award for Excellence. The Arthur Benton University Librarian’s Award for Excellence recognizes a member of the UI Libraries’ professional staff who has demonstrated outstanding commitment and leadership inContinue reading “Prickman honored with Arthur Benton University Librarian’s Award for Excellence”
Updates on History of the Book: The Game
By Amy Chen Amy Chen hosted the fifth play test for the History of the Book: The Game. Four library staff played this time: Heidi Wiren Bartlett, the Digital Scholarship and Publishing Studio Designer; Colleen Theisen, Outreach Librarian for Special Collections; Kelly Grogg, senior Olson Graduate Assistant for Special Collections; and Laura Hampton, Digital ProjectContinue reading “Updates on History of the Book: The Game”