Library resources in celebration of National Arab American Heritage Month

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April is National Arab American Heritage Month. Below is a list of library resources for further exploration of Arab cultural and history.

Online

UC librarians Olga Hart and Sally Moffitt created two research guides with links to information related to the Arab world. The Arabic Languages and Cultures guide provides an overview of Arabic language, literature and culture resources at the University of Cincinnati. The Middle Eastern Studies guide offers suggestions for conducting cross-disciplinary research into the history, politics, culture and social structures in the modern Middle East. The guide focuses on the Middle East after the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the First World War. With the exception of Egypt, North Africa is included only when that region is part of a more comprehensive survey of the Muslim Mediterranean world. Continue reading →

Read Source for the news, events, people and happenings in UC Libraries

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source image

Read Source, the online newsletter, to learn about the news, events, people and happenings in UC Libraries.

In this issue of Source, we announce our updated Strategic Framework – NEXT Directions. We celebrate Mikaila Corday receiving the 2022 Marian Spencer Ambassador Award for Staff and meet OhioLINK Luminaries intern Marvin Jones. We look back at three recent big events – the Oesper Musuem’s receipt of National Landmark designation, the six-part lecture series The Illustrated Human: The Impact of Andreas Vesalius and the ever-popular International Edible Books Festival. Finally, we look forward to Preservation Week with a sneak peek of The Preservation Lab.

Read these articles, as well as past issues, on the website. To receive Source via e-mail, contact melissa.norris@uc.edu to be added to the mailing list.

CECH Spotlight: Black Fairy Tales

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CECH Spotlight highlights recommended books in the the UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) Library.

Black Fairy Tales / written by Terry Berger / 1969
The People Could Fly / told by Virginia Hamilton / 1985
The Six Fools / collected by Zora Neale Hurston / 2006

The stories we tell our children are possibly the most important in our entire fictional memory, and foremost among these stories are fairy tales and folktales. Harkening back to the legends and myths of old, fairy and folk tales expand children’s imaginations, teach lessons, and reveal the reality in which they live. This is not more apparent than in Black Fairy Tales by Terry Berger, The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton, and The Six Fools by Zora Neale Hurston.

Coming from a wide variety of sources, origins, and peoples, these three books represent different oral traditions collected and written by a variety of authors. While storytelling traditions are much more expansive than what is contained within these books, they serve as an amazing introduction to fairy tales and folktales from African and African American cultures. Not only do they stand alone as great examples of children’s literature, but they serve as greater tools for change in the diversity they provide, as well as the history they present. “This book was done especially for the Black children who have never read Black fairy tales,” Terry Berger wrote in the dedication of his book.

These books present culture and stories which have long been ignored, and each provide unique perspectives to life, virtue, and our potential. Be it trying to catch sunshine in a wheelbarrow, marrying a great serpent king, or the fables of Bruh Rabbit, these books expand our imagination and deepen our appreciation.  .

All three titles are available from the CECH Library, as well as the OhioLINK and Search Ohio lending networks.

Review by Linus Sinnard, CECH Library Student Assistant | Secondary Education, CECH 2025

April is National Minority Health Month- HSL Promotes “Give Your Community A Boost!”

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The Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library of the University of Cincinnati is promoting the National Institute of Health’s Minority Health Month.

2022’s theme is “Give Your Community a Boost.”

Give your Community a Boost

NIH Promotional poster of healthy looking people from various minority groups, one with a band-aid and one with a mask, and one working with an immunocompromised child to communicate the importance of receiving a booster shot for Covid-19.

For information on Covid-19 vaccines in our community, please visit:

For members of the University of Cincinnati:

https://med.uc.edu/landing-pages/university-health/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine-update

For citizens of Cincinnati, OH:

https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/health/covid-19/vaccine-information-sign-up/

For anyone: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html

For more information on how Covid-19 affects minority communities:

https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/programs/covid-19/index.html

For more information on programs related to Minority Health Month, please visit: https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/programs/edu-training/nmhm/

Please take care of yourselves and stay healthy through the Pandemic! Although numbers are currently down in the USA, the Covid-19 Pandemic is not over.

Keep track of numbers around the world here: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

 

Celebrate Preservation Week with a Sneak Peek into the Preservation Lab

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In celebration of the American Library Association’s Preservation Week, join Preservation Lab staff as they chat about preservation, conservation and what the Lab does for the libraries. There will be materials and models on hand.

Thursday, April 21, 10-11am & 2-3pm, Walter C. Langsam Library 4th floor, next to the Desk@Langsam.

preservation lab

Connecting with UCBA Library Over the Years: Slideshow

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National Library Week Theme graphic

The American Library Association theme for National Library Week 2022, “Connect with Your Library,” promotes the idea that libraries are places to get connected to technology, books and other resources. Libraries also offer opportunities to connect with people and ideas. Most importantly libraries also connect communities to each other. Overall, the theme is an explicit call to action—an invitation for communities to visit, engage with or advocate for their libraries.

The UCBA Library is a vital part of the UC Blue Ash and greater UC community. We take pride in the services we offer in the areas of research and teaching support and access to resources. We also enjoy working together alongside our UCBA faculty, staff and students for both work and play. This slideshow highlights the various ways the UCBA Library connects with our community.

Connect with the UCBA Library as we celebrate this week! Here are a few activities you can engage in, at the UCBA Library and online:

Spring Book Blooms: A good book can help you escape to another world or connect to this one in new ways. Find recently published novels, short stories, biographies, and more at this UCBA Library pop-up event in the hallway across from our entrance. We’ll supply the books and a few delicious sweets to help you finish this semester strong!  Note: UC ID is required to borrow books.

#UniteAgainstBookBans: Participate in the campaign to support diverse materials in public, school and university libraries. The American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked an unprecedented number of book challenges in 2021 (the highest number since they began tracking over two decades ago), and many of these challenged books were by or about Black or LGBTQIA+ persons.

Show Your Library Love for a Chance to Win $100: Post to Instagram, Twitter, or on the I Love Libraries Facebook page. Use the hashtag #MyLibrary.  All the entries will be gathered and one randomly selected winner will receive a $100 Visa gift card.  The promotion ends on Saturday, April 9 at noon CT. Don’t forget to tag or name your local (academic, public or school) library!

Subscribe to New Children’s Books at CECH Library

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The CECH Library has a collection unlike any other at UC Libraries, including thousands of children’s and young adult books. Now you can subscribe to keep up with the latest additions to our library!

From the Children’s and Young Adult Literature LibGuide, visit our new books blogs based on the category you’re interested in. The blogs are updated each time CECH Library gets new books. By subscribing to updates, you’ll get an email every time we add new books in the following categories: picturebooks, juvenile fiction, YA fiction, informational, and Native American authors and illustrators. Subscribe today so you’ll never miss a new addition to the collection.

Written by Madeleine Gaiser, Online Learning and Instruction Specialist | CECH Library

CECH Spotlight: The Legend of Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching

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CECH Spotlight highlights recommended books in the the UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) Library.

The Legend of Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching / written by Demi / 2007

According to legend, more than 2000 years ago, a man known as the Old Master, or Lao Tzu in Chinese, would compile 81 verses into one of the prolific books of all time, and in turn create a philosophy which has endured for generations. This philosophy, known as Taoism, or “Way”, places emphasis on accepting reality for what it is, as well as peaceful inaction and a life of virtue.

In her book, Demi details the legend of Lao Tzu and the creation of his book, the Tao Te Ching, in great detail. She also includes many excerpts from the Tao Te Ching, accompanied by beautiful illustrations of Chinese mountains, animals, and architecture which fits perfectly with the themes discuss within their lines. Her book serves as a way to engage both kids and adults alike about the beliefs of Taoism. It also provides a unique outlook on life which few other books can, with advice and concepts that can be endlessly debated and ruminated on. The Legend of Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching is a must read for anyone intrigued by Taoist philosophy, or for anyone who simply wants a new outlook on life.

The Legend of Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching is available from CECH Library, as well as the OhioLINK and Search Ohio lending networks.

Review by Linus Sinnard, CECH Library Student Assistant | Secondary Education, CECH 2025

And the winners are…Results of the 2022 UC Libraries International Edible Books Festival

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Rebecca Tabaja – Fairy the Farting Unicorn – Best Overall

The University of Cincinnati Libraries celebrated the International Edible Books Festival on Friday, April 1, 2022.

Sixteen edible books were created by students, faculty, staff, librarians, friends and family. The entries ranged from children’s books to literary classics to popular fiction and nonfiction books. The edible books were made of cakes, cookies, Rice Krispie Treats, candy, Peeps, olives and even carrots. Each entry was judged by our esteemed judges Rachel Hoople and Imani Coleman and awarded a bookmark.

Created by librarian Judith A. Hoffberg and artist Béatrice Coron, the International Edible Books Festival is held worldwide annually on or around April 1st to mark the birthday of Jean Brillat-Savarin, author of The Physiology of Taste.  The global event has been celebrated since 2000 in various parts of the world, including in Australia, Brazil, India, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Morocco, The Netherlands and Hong Kong.

Milly Diaz Perez – To the Boy Who Lived – Best Student Entry

UC Libraries has participated in the International Edible Books Festival since 2001. The 2022 winners ares:

  • Luahna Winningham Carter – The Dark Tower – Most Checked Out
  • Holly Prochaska – One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest – Most Imaginative
  • Debbie Weinstein – The Girl Who Drew Butterflies – Most Whimsical
  • Olga Hart – The Vanishing Half – Most Literary
  • Melissa Cox Norris – A Cast of Literary Birds – Most Clever
  • Natalie Rogers – If You Give a Moose a Muffin – Most Delicious
  • Jessica Ebert – Crazy Plant Lady – Most Creative
  • Ben Kline and Aaron Libby – The Secret Lives of Color – Most Fun
  • Jenny Mackiewicz – Should I Share My Ice Cream? – Most Adorable
  • Debbie Tenofsky – Olive Kitteridge & Olive, Again – Most Taboo
  • Sam Norris – Batman: The Court of Owls -Scariest
  • Steve Norris – Death and the Penguin – Most Deadly
  • Jack Norris – Too Many Carrots – Silliest
  • Rebecca Tabaja – Fairy the Farting Unicorn – Best Overall
  • Milly Diaz Perez – To the Boy Who Lived – Best Student Entry
  • The Little Prince by Emma Duhamel and Eli Seidman-Deutsch

Congratulations to all the edible books creators! View the entries and the winners on the UC Libraries Facebook page. See you next year for Edible Books 2023!