The Library is Looking For

New Laptops for the Media Commons

Laptops for the Library’s loanable technology program are essential resources students across campus rely on to succeed. Through the Media Commons, demand is so high that laptops are often reserved up to two weeks in advance. We’re seeking support to fund 20 new laptops, and Library Friends are invited to contribute the cost of one—or more!—to help ensure all students, regardless of major, have access to the technology they need to thrive at Illinois.

Open Educational Resources Support for Scholarly Communications & Publishing

NEW! Help students succeed by giving any dollar amount up to $10,000 to develop OER providing textbooks at no cost to students. Funding supports the Library’s incentive program for Illinois faculty to create these works by offering assistance such as faculty stipends, hourly support, copy editing, and publication through Scholarly Communications & Publishing.

Antonio Stradivari: The Complete Works [Library Edition] for the Music and Performing Arts Library

NEW! This is an unprecedented compilation of curated provenances for nearly 850 Stradivari creations—including violins, violas, cellos, guitars, lutes, and even a harp. The six volumes comprise the most comprehensive collection of information on these prized instruments and will prove an invaluable resource for Stradivari scholars, including those at the Music and Performing Arts Library.

Personnel to help integrate donations for the International and Area Studies Library

NEW! Any dollar amount up to $5,000 for personnel to help integrate donations made to the International and Area Studies Library. The wide-ranging items—many of them out of print and held by only a few North American and Western European libraries—cover a multitude of languages, including Polish, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Slovak, Hungarian, and others.

Personnel to process 20th century Romanian monographs for the International and Area Studies Library

NEW! Any dollar amount up to $5,000 for personnel to process a significant number of 20th century Romanian monographs acquired by the International and Area Studies Library. These books—once they are made accessible to scholars—would significantly enhance the Library’s excellent collections on the history, literature, culture, and politics of southeastern Europe.

The Book of the Tailor for the Classics Library Collection

NEW! This is a facsimile of a 1540 manuscript containing detailed water-color drawings of the era’s clothing style. With book in hand, tailors could show illustrated examples of outfits to their customers, along with images of emperors and kings. This rare piece of fashion literature, produced in northern Italy, would beautifully dress up the Classics Library Collection.

Die Zerstückelung Deutschlands! for the Map Library

NEW! This is a propaganda map (circa 1919) wanted by the Map Library indicating Germany’s scathing reaction to the Treaty of Versailles at World War I’s end. Headlined “The Dismemberment of Germany,” the item details the loss of territory and addition of occupational forces the nation would have to endure under the terms of the treaty. These resentments laid the groundwork for the rise of the “stabbed in the back” myth and Adolph Hitler’s ascent to power.

Convoy routes–Palestine for the Map Library

NEW! This is a 1946 map displaying such routes used by the British Army to maintain control of British Mandatory Palestine as Zionist insurgencies flared. The name “Captain H. Hamersley” appears handwritten at the top of this singular item of interest to the Map Library.

Merkblätter zum Weltkrieg Die Erobergun Serbiens. 7. Oktober – Dezember 1915 for the Map Library

NEW! This is a broadside map printed in 1918 as success waned for the Central Powers in World War I. Designed to buttress German national pride, the rare propaganda item, sought by the Map Library, highlights the Serbia Campaign. Blue and red arrows indicate movements by opposing forces; a narrative text lies below.

Microfilm Reader for the History, Philosophy, and Newspaper Library

A new microfilm reader will assist the Illinois Newspaper Project, a digitization initiative of the History, Philosophy, and Newspaper Library and the Preservation Services Unit. Using a microfilm reader to perform pre-digitization “collation” of each newspaper issue results in accurate digital surrogates and their metadata files. Digitized newspapers will be freely available in the Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections (idnc.library.illinois.edu).

Long Reading Room Tables for the Literatures and Languages Library

Two tables are still needed to be added to the Shebik Family Reading Room in the Main Library. The 4’x14’ white oak tables, to be built by the university’s Facilities & Services woodshop, would grace the north end of the room. The Literatures and Languages Library would be able to get an F&S bargain ($3,900 each for four tables) if funding were available.

One-Year Subscription to F.A.Z. 49-92 for the Literatures and Languages Library

This digital archive of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung is considered one of the most important daily German newspapers. The archive contains more than 2.8 million text-searchable articles from 1949, the year of the publication’s founding, to 1992, covering a wide range of domestic and international topics. A two-year subscription at $4,000 would also be of great use to
the Literatures and Languages Library.

Galena and Chicago Union Rail Road The Only Rail-Road Route From Chicago Through Northern Illinois To Wisconsin Iowa and Wisconsin (1854) for the Map Library

A critical piece of regional history. Help us add it to our Railroad Maps digital collection for all to see! From the map seller: One of the First Maps Printed In Chicago. Rare early map of the lines of the Galena and Chicago Union Rail Road, published by Acheson in Chicago.

New Map Briton or Boer Compiled from Best Available Sources Carefully Revised by Wood & Ortlepp (1900) for the Map Library

Help expand our growing digital collection of Maps of Africa. From the map seller: Important map of South Africa, published for a general audience, and showing the Boer region as it stood at the end of the first year of the Second Boer War (1899-1902). The map is interesting for differentiating between Boer and British lands using different colors, hence the title. The map was published by Wood & Ortlepp in South Africa.

Das Geographische Cubus Spiel = The Geographic Cube Play for the Map Library

Help us add this to our growing collection of geographic and cartographic games. From the map seller: 19th-Century Geographic “Rubik’s Cube” A puzzle in the form of 16 wooden cube blocks that can be assembled to make any of 6 maps (5 1/2 inches square). The original color lithograph guide sheet housed in the box with the cubes illustrates the six maps.

Never Never Island (1952) for the Map Library

The Map Library is about more than reality! Help us add this first printed map, printed before the Disney movie release, to our growing collection of maps of imaginary places. Make sure that this charming, of-its-time map is available for future film scholars.

Cauldron of war (Vietnam) (1966) for the Map Library

Honor a friend or relative who served in Vietnam by supporting the purchase of this Sundberg newspaper map of Vietnam. Sundberg’s maps appeared for decades in the New York Sunday News, keeping readers “at home” informed of developments overseas. His work is important for understanding how newspapers included maps and other graphics in descriptions of current affairs.

Panorama del Canale di Panama (1880) for the Map Library

Aid researchers in understanding the development of the Panama Canal and its importance in world commerce by sponsoring this map’s acquisition. From the map seller: This is Giosellino Peverelli’s bird’s eye view of the Panama isthmus, with major sections of the new Panama Canal. The view was likely compiled and issued to coincide with the commencement of the first French Panama Canal project sometime in the early 1880s. The perspective looks from the Pacific towards the Atlantic, and in the lower left corner, we find a small colored vignette depicting a Panamanian landscape.

Map of Ancient Sites of Iraq (1929) for the Map Library

This unique 1929 map of Iraq will be prized as a key resource by Middle Eastern historians and historiographers. It clearly displays the state of discovery and knowledge at the end of the 1920s. Many of the sites included potentially no longer exist.

Travelers own map of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad: Burlington route, from Chicago to Omaha (1876) for the Map Library

From the map seller: Uncolored strip map of the route from Chicago to Omaha. Very good condition, with on hole in left panel, with loss of several words of text with data about Nebraska. The recto is advertising for the Burlington Route, promoting the Pullman Sleeping Cars and Palace Dining Cars, including a detailed menu listing almost 50 different main and side dishes which were “served in the best of style, for 75 cents.” The map is a stylized, diagramatic strip map. It was also used, without change, by the Burlington as the bottom third of a 3-tier strip map from Chicago to San Francisco. This piece is unusual, though, as it does not have a timetable on the other side, but is purely an advertisement. As such, it was much less likely to survive than a timetable which might have been retained. The map was engraved by Fisk & Russell of New York. Printed by Cameron, Amberg & Co. of Chicago. See Modelski 356 for the 3-tier map.

Guide map of Ise Shrines (1928) for the Map Library

This map uniquely combines birds-eye and plain view mapping techniques to build an image of Ise, the central place for Japan’s State Shinto religion. Adding this map to the Map Library’s collection will support studies in Japanese history and religion. This edition of the map is not available in any other collection.

AppleVision Pro XR Headset for the IDEA Lab housed in the Grainger Engineering Library Information Center

Adding this headset to its loanable technology collection will break down barriers to Virtual Reality and Augmented reality technologies, offering invaluable opportunities for research, education, and innovation on campus.

Usul-i sotiyye tertibinde qazaqça alfabe [The Kazakh Alphabet as Organized via the Phonetic Method] (1910) for the International and Area Studies Library (330275)

This is an extremely rare manual for writing the Kazakh language in Arabic script. Published in the Russian Empire prior to World War I, the item was intended for use by Kazakhs studying abroad in Istanbul and other centers of Islamic learning. One of the earliest such works on the subject, the book is one of hundreds published in the early 20th century by the famous Tatar printing house Karimov, Khusainov & Co. As almost none of these publications are held in the United States, the International and Area Studies Library would like to add this item to its holdings.

Revised Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud (2024) for the Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library (332417)

This is a long-awaited publication that includes both Freud’s texts and editorial commentary. Sought by the Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library, the publication was described by Salman Akhtar, a professor of psychiatry at Jefferson Medical College, as an opportunity for readers to engage in “meticulous scholarship” and “an unfailing, tender devotion to truth.”

Outreach Materials Support for the Music and Performing Arts Library (332482)

This is for outreach materials support produced by MPAL. Such items include its popular instrument bookmarks (plus ones for dance and theater!) that assist students browsing for printed music and books in the library’s collection of nearly 300,000 circulating items.

The Republic of Plato in Ten Books (1763) for the Classics Library Collection (334733)

This is the first English translation of Plato’s masterpiece. As just eight copies of this work exist in institutional libraries, the Classics Library Collection would find this a valuable addition in expanding its tradition of Plato works. Librarian Elias Petrou sees classics academia trending toward Plato and believes the university has the potential “to become one of the leading ‘platonic epicenters’ in this field.”

Birds Eye View of the Seat of War . . . (1861) for the Map Library (338911)

This is a very rare map encompassing Chesapeake Bay, central Maryland, eastern Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The hand-colored, topographical depiction, created at the very beginning of the Civil War, includes both Washington, D.C., and the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, as well as Baltimore, Harpers Ferry, Manassas Junction, and Fort Monroe. This item would complement similar elements from the same time period in the Map Library’s collection.

International Encyclopedia of Education, Fourth Edition, (2023 ebook edition) For the Social Studies, Health, and Education Library (332417)

Comprising 14 volumes filled with reviews, illustrations, and examples from across the globe, the set offers a thorough look at what lies on the forefront of research, theory, and practice in the field of education.

Support personnel in improving access to Uyghur-language publications For the International and Area Studies Library (330275)

These funds would allow the International and Area Studies Library to hire staff to help transliterate the Uyghur Arabic script, easing the way for researchers to locate Uyghur-language items in the Library’s collections.

Uyghur-language publications For the International and Area Studies Library (330275)

Since the establishment of “re-education camps” for this population in northwest China, publications produced by this ethnic minority in that region have fallen precipitously, but members of the Uyghur diaspora have remained active. The library would like to add to the more than 250 such books it has acquired in recent years via a vendor in Istanbul, Turkey.

Research Travel Grant For the History, Philosophy, and Newspaper Library (334376)

A gift of $2,500 will directly impact graduate and post-doctoral scholars, enabling them to travel to Urbana-Champaign and access the rich collections held by the Library. The Research Travel Grant, a collaborative initiative by the History, Philosophy, and Newspaper Library and the Department of History, has thrived since 2019 through generous donor support. Grants create new opportunities for scholarly collaboration—applicants are asked to identify an Illinois faculty member as a sponsor and to present their research on campus—as well as increasing national and international awareness of the Library’s unique collections. Travel grant recipients will also have access to the Library’s digital collections (including journal subscriptions and licensed databases) during their stay. Four $2,500 grants are needed.

Mobile Bookcase For the Grainger Engineering Library Information Center (333685)

The library is looking for a mobile bookcase for patrons of the Grainger Engineering Library Information Center. The item would showcase books that students may be unaware the unit holds—such as fiction, cooking, and foreign-language books—as well as encourage non-required reading and boost mental health.

Image of Research Competitions Support hosted by the Scholarly Commons (332260)

The annual multidisciplinary event, open to graduate and undergraduate students, showcases images that represent the entrants’ research in concrete or abstract form. This year is the 11th anniversary of the Image of Research. Contributions of any amount are welcome and would provide funding for cash prizes and reception costs. Please visit grad.illinois.edu/news/congratulations-2023-image-research-winners to view stunning imagery from the 2023 Image of Research.

Stress-Free Finals Week Support for the Communications Library (332415)

In the past, our Stress-Free Finals Week event has become very popular with students who use the Communications Library. From 10-3 during finals week, the Library provides, cookies, tea, and coffee for students. For approximately $200/semester, the Library is able to make a warm and caring connection with students at a time during the semester when their lives can be extremely stressful.

Educational Foundations (2023) for the Social Sciences, Health and Education Library (332417)

This six-volume item is an authoritative state-of-the-field mapping of the foundational disciplines—philosophical, historical, sociological, policy, economic, and legal—detailing the ideas, methods, theories, and approaches that each contributes to the field of education.

Chess Board and Puzzles for the Communications Library (332415)

Students use libraries for a variety of reasons. In an effort to create a welcoming and relaxing environment for patrons, the Communications Library wants to set up a chessboard and provide jigsaw puzzles of media/educational themes (e.g., Star Wars films, Marvel Comics, Superheroes, world flags, map of the world, historical films, etc.). Jigsaw puzzles have become very popular with Communication Library patrons (most 1000-piece puzzles are completed within a week!) with patrons requesting more puzzles and access to a chessboard.

Oxford Encyclopedia of Educational Administration, 2021 for the Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library (332417)

This encyclopedia will benefit users of the Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library by offering a global view of research in educational administration and leadership. To effectively guide schools, leaders must consider topics such as government mandates, community members, educators, unions, students, and others

Chairs for the Communication Library (332415)

$1,700 to $8,500 is needed to replace decades-old chairs in the Communication Library’s International News Lounge. The library seeks up to six such chairs (at $1,700 apiece) to expand the inviting atmosphere of the lounge, where students collaborate, study, and watch news feeds from around the world.

New tables for public computer workstations for the Music and Performing Arts Library (332482)

While the technology at the Music and Performing Arts Library has continued to evolve, its furniture remains somewhat archaic. These funds would help create flexible space for patrons as they write papers, scan scores, or watch DVDs at the library’s computers and scanners.

Communications Library Stress Free Finals Week Fund for the Communications Library (332415)

Gifts to this fund support student-related library activities that reduce Finals Week stress. The Communications Library is a very popular place during Finals Week and a great place to help them when their stress is greatest. The Library provides healthy snacks and a sympathetic ear for an environment that really makes a difference.

Communications Library Tech Fund for the Communications Library (332415)

Gifts to this fund help the Communications Library provide much-needed technology support for students. Library users own cell phones, laptops, music players, and more that require regular charging and security. This Fund enables the purchase of equipment like charging stations, cables, and secure lockers that make students’ lives easier.

Communications Library PR/Promotion Internship for the Communications Library (332415)

This paid internship is for an undergraduate student to put their public relations classroom skills to use while promoting the Communications Library. The student manages this library’s Twitter and Facebook accounts, creates content for digital signage, and creates handouts and brochures for New Student Week events and library tours in an effort to help students learn about the Communications Library.

“Don Balon” for the International and Area Studies Library (334319)

Don Balón was a prominent sport magazine published in Chile during the 1990s. Originally published in Spain, the magazine currently has online editions throughout Latin America and has become a hallmark of Ibero-American soccer. The Library is interested in acquiring a collection of 477 issues from its founding in 1992 to 2000. This time period is particularly important for Chile as it covers their re-democratization process after August Pinochet’s dictatorship. No other sport magazine existed in Chile during this entire period, making Don Balón a unique source to study Chilean soccer. The acquisition of Don Balón would be the first Chilean sport magazine in a growing and unique Latin American and Caribbean Sport Collection.

Charging Station/Locker for the Communications Library (332415)

To purchase a secure charging station/locker to revitalize devices carried by tech-savvy users. While current students are positively aglow with electric possibility, they do need a boost now and then. “Our students are immersed in the greatest flood of information any generation has ever experienced,” says Head Librarian Lisa Romero, who adds that the library and its staff are “all about service. We try to keep up with all our students’ needs. Every student has mobile devices and laptops that need to be recharged. Making it easier for students to rely on technology is one way the library can contribute to the student experience. The charging station/locker enables us to meet a very real need.”

Digitizing “The Alumni Quarterly and Fortnightly News” for the University Archives (330274)

Transfer and Digitize Photographs for the University Archives (330274)

To transfer and digitize thousands of hard-copy photographs painstakingly accumulated by the University of Illinois Alumni Association communications department in its 100+ years of coverage of campus, students, and alumni. Containing items not previously seen by Library staff, the collection will find a new home in the Archives, where it will be scanned and tagged for use by students, researchers, and the public. Funding would support additional personnel to digitize materials, create records, and organize metadata.