Month: July 2009

2009-07-30

Wendy Allen Shelburne, electronic resources librarian, and David S. Vess, visiting IMLS Portal librarian & assistant professor of library administration, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library received the Blackwell’s Scholarship Award for 2009 for their article, “Approaches to Selection, Access, and Collection Development in the Web World: A Case Study with Fugitive Literature.”  It also won the 2009 Best of Library Resources & Technical Services Award from the American Library Association’s Association for Library Collections & Technical Services.  The article was co-authored by Karen Schmidt, formerly of the University Library and now university librarian at The Ames Library at Illinois Wesleyan University.

Do you have a story you’d like added to the Library News & Events? If so, please contact Heather Murphy ( hmurphy@illinois.edu ).

2009-07-24

The Library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has received a $15,150 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to promote and host Big Read programs between September 2009 and June 2010.

The Big Read is an initiative of NEA, designed to bring communities together to read, discuss, and celebrate one of 30 selections from U.S. and world literature. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and in cooperation with Arts Midwest.

The University Library was chosen to highlight Sun, Stone, and Shadows: 20 Great Mexican Short Stories edited by Jorge F. Hernández.  The anthology presents a selection of the finest Mexican short stories ever written, and offers a glimpse into a diverse and fascinating culture. Authors include Juan Rulfo, Octavio Paz, Rosario Castellanos, and Carlos Fuentes.

The University of Illinois Library was one of 269 communities selected for the 2009-2010 Big Read grant.  It will receive high-quality educational materials to supplement Sun, Stone, and Shadows: 20 Great Mexican Short Stories, including reader’s guides, teacher’s guides, and audio guides—free-of-charge.

“The NEA Big Read program exemplifies how literacy and reading can really bring together people in the community,” said Emily Love, outreach librarian for multicultural services and assistant professor of library administration at the University’s Undergraduate Library.  “The Maltese Falcon and The Death of Ivan Ilyich were highlighted locally in recent years.  We’re looking forward to an exciting series of public events in 2010 with Sun, Stone, and Shadows.”

The University Library will launch its program with a kick-off event on April 2, 2010.  It will partner with the University of Illinois Alumni Association, local schools and media, and many community partners, including the Champaign Public Library, the Urbana Free Library, and the Latino Partnership of Champaign.  Other Big Read programming events will include public readings, a film screening, lectures, book discussions, and a photographic exhibition, “Life in a Border Town,” on loan from South Texas College.

Contact Emily Love at elove@illinois.edu or (217) 333-3285 for information relevant to the University Library’s participation in the 2009-2010 Big Read initiative.

For more information about The Big Read, visit www.neabigread.org .

Do you have a story you’d like added to the Library News & Events? If so, please contact Heather Murphy ( hmurphy@illinois.edu ).

2009-07-21

We are in the process of remodeling the Main Stacks circulation desk in order to provide better service to our patrons.

During this time the entire front desk area will be closed and patrons may obtain circulation assistance by entering the service point just inside the security gate and proceeding to the back desk.

Since our bookdrop and most of our hold shelves are unavailable during the construction period, patrons may wish to select alternate pick-up locations and return items to other libraries whenever feasible.

Thank you for your patience during this process.

Do you have a story you’d like added to the Library News & Events? If so, please contact Heather Murphy ( hmurphy@illinois.edu ).

2009-07-16

William H. Mischo, engineering librarian and head of the Grainger Engineering Library Information Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has won the 2009 Frederick G. Kilgour Award for Research in Library and Information Technology.  The award is given for research relevant to the development of information technologies, especially work which shows promise of having a positive and substantive impact on any aspect(s) of the publication, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of information, or the processes by which information and data is manipulated and managed.

More details are located on the Library and Information Technology Association (LITA) Web site at http://www.ala.org/lita/awards/kilgour .

Do you have a story you’d like added to the Library News & Events? If so, please contact Heather Murphy ( hmurphy@illinois.edu ).

2009-07-10

Barbara J. Ford, director of the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs and Mortenson Distinguished Professor at the University Library, has been named a recipient of the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA) 2009 President’s Recognition Award.

The CALA President’s Recognition Award is intended to recognize and to honor an individual, group or organization who possesses a philosophy of dedication, quality of service, and professional integrity for his/her/their significant contributions to the library community that have shown leadership in one of the many areas of great importance to the mission and goals of CALA.

CALA is an affiliate of the American Library Association (ALA).  The news release from CALA is located online at www.cala-web.org/node/911 .

Do you have a story you’d like added to the Library News & Events? If so, please contact Heather Murphy ( hmurphy@illinois.edu ).

2009-07-02

The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems serving The Rare Book & Manuscript Library within the University Library will be replaced in the first quarter of 2010.  This is the final remediation step in response to a mold outbreak which occurred in 2008.  It is critical that the University ensure that such a disaster never occurs again.

As a result of the HVAC systems replacement, Rare Book & Manuscript Library materials will be relocated to a new section of the building where temperature and humidity can be better controlled.  The new vault area for rare material will enhance security and environmental controls.  Materials in the Main Stacks will be moved to alternate locations within the Stacks or to the Oak Street Library Facility .  The high density storage unit on Oak Street, with its compact shelving and state-of-the art climate control system, will house low-circulation materials.  Items relocated to Oak Street will have their bibliographic access enhanced.

The University Library has been working closely with subject specialists on the reorganization plan.  Relocation of materials from The Rare Book & Manuscript Library, within the Main Stacks, and to the Oak Street Library Facility will be completed by February 26, 2010.  Work on replacing the outdated HVAC systems is scheduled to begin on March 1.

University Library patrons will be directed to the new location for Rare Book & Manuscript Library items and applicable materials in the Main Stacks.

The Library apologizes for any inconvenience this reorganization causes.  The Library is committed to providing proper stewardship for its most valuable cultural collections.

For additional information, please contact Tom Teper, associate university librarian for collections & associate dean of libraries, at (217) 333-0318 or tteper@illinois.edu .

Do you have a story you’d like added to the Library News & Events? If so, please contact Heather Murphy ( hmurphy@illinois.edu ).