The Classics Library Presents a Lecture by Professor Artemis Leontis

Professor ArtimisProfessor Leontis’ talk from October 26 can now be viewed in its entirety: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9PfWpmR570&t=2610s

The John Miller Burnam Classics Library of the University of Cincinnati presented Professor Artemis Leontis, Department of Classical Studies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, who delivered a lecture titled The Hidden Correspondence of Eva Palmer Sikelianos and Natalie Clifford Barney in Athens and Paris: Archiving the Intimate Materials of a Life on Friday, October 26 at 1:30 pm in Room 414 (Main Reading Room) of the John Miller Burnam Classics Library, the Blegen Library building.

Professor Leontis gave  the keynote speech at an international conference organized by the Classics Library. The aim of this conference was to establish a consortium of research institutions in North America and Europe to provide open access to historic journals and newspapers in all disciplines published in Greece or among Greek diaspora communities outside of Greece during the Ottoman period and after the Greek War of Independence.

 

 

 

 

 

UC Libraries Closed Thanksgiving

thanks imageUC Libraries will be closed Thursday, November 22 and Friday, November 23 for Thanksgiving, with the exception of the Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library, which will be open Friday, November 23 from noon – 5:00pm. Regular library hours will resume Saturday, November 24.

This closing includes the Langsam Library 4th floor space, which will close Wednesday, November 21 at 6pm and re-open Saturday, November 24 at 10am.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Missing Maps Mapathon held at UC Libraries

On Nov 3rd, the Red Cross and UC libraries partnered to hold a second Missing Maps Mapathon. Missing Maps is an open, collaborative project in which you can help to map areas where humanitarian organisations are trying to meet the needs of vulnerable people.

During the mapathon, participants used the Open Street Map platform to identify buildings in satellite images and place them on a regional map (georeference).  The Red Cross uses this information to set up emergency services in areas that are impacted by natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes.  The mapping will be verified by Red Cross volunteers working in the mapped country and will help prepare response teams in the area to better assist if disaster strikes.

This year’s project covered three areas in the Lake Chad region in Niger.  This region of the world is experiencing a great humanitarian crisis due to poor infrastructure, conflict, poverty, and climate change.  It has been reported that nearly 17 million people are affected by the dire situation and 10.7 million are in need of humanitarian assistance.  The International Red Cross has been working in the area for thirty years and coordinates efforts with local relief agencies.

At this year’s event, UC Geography student Rachel Byrd led UC Cincinnatus Scholar students, UC Librarian Amy Koshoffer, UC Press Director Liz Scarpelli,  and Red Cross International Services Manager Paula McIntosh through the 4 hour mapping session.  In the span of four hours, volunteers were able to map three regions around the lake and identified 6065 buildings.  Many thanks to all who participated and contributed to the mission of the Red Cross.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UC Libraries Closed Nov. 12 for Veterans’ Day. HSL to Remain Open 9am-5pm.

Veterans DayUC Libraries will be closed Monday, November 12 in observance of Veterans’ Day, except for the Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library, which will be open 9am to 5pm.

Normal hours will resume Tuesday, November 13. This closing includes the Walter C. Langsam Library 4th floor space, which will close Sunday, November 11 at 11pm and re-open Tuesday, November 13 at 8am.

Shakespeare’s Source for Romeo and Juliet

By:  Kevin Grace

“For never was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”

Romeo and Juliet illustrationThose are the final lines in Romeo and Juliet. The young lovers are dead, victims of their own passion and the enmity between the Capulets and the Montagues.  Though their story is set in Renaissance Verona, it could be a tale told in any culture around the world in any era of humankind.  For all the literary genius of William Shakespeare, scholars have long known that many of his plays were re-workings of stories he heard and historical accounts he read during his lifetime.  Whether it was for Hamlet, Macbeth, Richard III, Othello, or others, Shakespeare adapted these accounts for his stage in the late 16th and early 17th centuries that now have been performed countless times for more than 400 years, and over those centuries his own words have been adapted time and again.   To see King Lear presented in England or Ireland is not the same as seeing it performed in South Africa or India or China.  And of course, to see it once in England or America is not the same as seeing it once again on what might be the same stage in the same year.  William Shakespeare’s plays are paragons of beautiful language, infinite interpretation, and above all, compelling stories.

Shakespeare Extra Illustrated

Continue reading

Apparatus for Urine Analysis : Notes from the Oesper Collections, No. 53, November/December 2018

A circa 1900 Pilling testing kit for urine analysis

A circa 1900 Pilling testing kit for urine analysis

Issue 53 highlights antique apparatus used in physiological chemistry for the analysis of urine.

Click here for all other issues of Notes from the Oesper Collections and to explore the Jensen-Thomas Apparatus Collection.

Guggenheim Grant-Winning Essayist John Jeremiah Sullivan to Speak at UC Clermont

In collaboration with the UC Clermont English, Languages & Fine Arts Department, the Clermont College Library is proud to announce An Evening With John Jeremiah Sullivan on Wednesday, November 14.  John Jeremiah Sullivan is a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine and the southern editor of The Paris Review. He writes for GQHarper’s Magazine, and Oxford American, and is the author of Blood Horses and Pulphead.

Tickets for Sullivan’s talk are $5. Tickets to a VIP reception with the author (to include the talk, refreshments, and a signed copy of Pulphead) are also available on a limited basis. Proceeds from the event will benefit Clermont College scholarships.

Reserve your seat today and support the future of UC Clermont students: https://foundation.uc.edu/sullivan

Katie Foran-Mulcahy
Library Director

William A. Altemeier Collection Archivist, Alex Temple

Young Dr. William A. Altemeier

Hi, I’m Alex Temple, the archivist processing the William Altemeier Archival Collection thanks to a generous gift from the Altemeier family. I’m a Cincinnati native and UC graduate. After completing my BA in History here at UC, I went on to Kent State’s School of Information, where I earned a Masters in Library and Information Science with a specialization in Archives & Special Collections.

Preserving history and making it accessible has been a passion of mine, and I have been fortunate enough to work in a variety of settings and types of work. I started at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County in 2006, where I performed reference assistance and have contributed to numerous projects involving rare and fragile material. I have been a volunteer at the Preservation Lab at Langsam Library for four years, where I help to mend damaged books and other material.  For a look at the exciting work that happens there, you can visit their blog at http://thepreservationlab.org/. I have also participated in a massive digitization project on the Turks & Caicos Islands, where we digitized government and church records, such as marriage and baptisms.  I am also processing a collection for another UC notable, Benjamin Gettler, at the Archives & Rare Books Library here on campus.

While I’m just starting to scratch the surface of the William Altemeier Collection, I find myself really excited to learn about his life and work.  He contributed a great deal to the medical field in his time with hundreds of published articles, and the research, drafts, and manuscripts in the collection will be fascinating to look at. I really look forward not only to learning about his life, but also arranging and describing his collection, working to digitize select materials, and creating an online exhibit. I’ll be sharing notable pieces with you along way, so check back for updates! I’d love to hear your questions or stories, please email me at templea@mail.uc.edu.

Coming Together to Give Thanks Nov. 15

Join the University of Cincinnati Libraries for “Coming Together to Give Thanks” ~ Thursday, November 15, 3:00-4:30pm, Walter C. Langsam Library’s 4th floor.

 

giving thanks

 

In the program:

  • A brief presentation on the myths and truths associated with the first Thanksgiving
  • Thanksgiving bingo
  • Trivia contest. To participate in the trivia contest, form a group of 2-6 people. You can come with your trivia buddies or form a team on the spot. Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 teams.

And, of course, there is no Thanksgiving without food, so expect that (including pies)!

The event is free and open to all.

Mark Chalmers Joins UC Libraries as Science and Engineering Librarian

Mark Chalmers began work in UC Libraries on Oct. 22 as the science and engineering librarian where he will develop research and instructional programs for the UC STEM populations: science, technology, engineering and mathematics. His work will include research consultations, teaching and workshops, collection development and liaison responsibility for designated science and engineering disciplines (to be announced at a future date).  Mark will also support new and emerging initiatives such as Research and Data Services, repository outreach and connecting the libraries to UC’s innovation agenda.

Mark received his MLIS in May 2018 from Kent State University, and he holds a BA in astrophysics from Ohio Wesleyan University. While at Kent State, Mark worked as a graduate assistant in Dr. Emad Khazraee’s Data Science Research Lab and completed projects in text mining and the analysis of Twitter feed data. While studying for his BA, he was active in undergraduate research, conference presentations and tutoring in physics and astronomy.

Welcome, Mark, to UC Libraries!