What's New

Wash-U Bibliophiles Win Book Collecting Essay Competition

The Washington University Libraries are delighted to announce the 2008 undergraduate and graduate winners of the annual Neureuther Student Book Collection Essay Competition.

Miniature Books Exhibition

Miniature Books: 4,000 Years of Tiny Treasures, on display in the Grand Staircase lobby and Ginkgo Reading Room in Olin Library, until June 6, 2008. It is accessible during normal Olin Library hours.

You are invited to attend a talk, part of "Our Favorite Books" Series, on Thursday, April 10, 4:15pm, in the Ginkgo Reading Room: 'The Growth of the Small' by Joseph Loewenstein. Is this remarkable collection of miniature books a set of beautiful curiosities, mere oddities, or can they be opened to afford a tiny window into a much larger past? Professor Loewenstein will situate the collection in the development of Early Modern European (and especially English) book culture.

Articles about Julian Edison and his collection of miniature books can be viewed at:

• The West End Word
• St. Louis Platform   
• Off the Shelf, a WU Libraries' publication.  Once at this site, scroll down to page 18 (page 11 of the PDF)

Film and Media Archive Essay Contests

There are two contests underway in honor of Henry Hampton, which are co-sponsored by the African and African American Studies Program. There is one for undergraduate students and the other for graduate students. Each will award a $500 prize, and the deadline is April 1, 2008.

Enter the Student Book Collecting Contest

The 21st annual Carl Neureuther Student Book Collection Competition is underway. All full time Washington University students are eligible to compete for cash prizes by submitting a short essay, a bibliography, and a few items from their private book collection by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 24, 2008. Awards will be given in two categories: graduate and undergraduate, with a first-place award of $1,000.00 and second-place award of $500.00 in each category. See the competition website for more details. More info.

Event: Celebrating Our Books, Recognizing Our Authors

Famed novelist Joyce Carol Oates will keynote "Celebrating Our Books, Recognizing Our Authors." The Center for the Humanities and University Libraries present the Sixth Annual Faculty Book Colloquium at 5:00 p.m., December 3, 2007, Holmes Lounge, Danforth Campus. Call (314) 935-5576 to RSVP. More info.

ITeach 2008

The Libraries are once again co-sponsoring ITeach with The Teaching Center and Arts & Sciences Computing.  ITeach 2008: Student Learning, Teaching and Technology will be held January 10, 2008.  Please see the ITeach 2008 website for more information and to register.

Annual Neureuther Lecture November 6

The Annual Neureuther Lecture will be given by author and activist Frances Moore Lappé on Tuesday, November 6, at 4 p.pm in Graham Chapel. Please see this announcement for more information and to reserve seating. 

Libraries Host ARL Reception

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) held its annual membership meeting May 23-25 at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel in St. Louis. The ARL’s membership includes the libraries of some 123 major North American research institutions.

As part of the conference, the Washington University Libraries hosted a reception on May 24 in Whispers Café, with approximately 150 library directors and guests attending. ARL members had an opportunity to tour the new Earth & Planetary Sciences and Art & Architecture libraries. Guests were also invited to explore the John M. Olin Library, where they could view an exhibit highlighting the Department of Special Collections. (The exhibit, titled “Celebrating Research,” features materials and artifacts from University Archives, Rare Books, Manuscripts, and the Film & Media Archive. It will run throughout the summer.) 

Several ARL members returned on May 25 for a tour of the Film & Media Archive at the West Campus Library. Shown here is a photo from the reception. (For more photos, see the webpage version of "What's New.")

It was an honor to host the ARL members and to have a chance to show off our collections, facilities, and staff!

(Above: Approximately 150 library directors and guests attended.)

National Library Week and PopLit Collection

In honor of National Library Week (April 15th-21st) the WU Libraries would like to acquaint you with or remind you about the Popular Literature (PopLit) Collections at both Olin and the West Campus Libraries. PopLit is a collection of books and audiobooks that has been assembled for your reading and listening pleasure based upon their readability and enjoyment in a traditional sense. In the PopLit Collection you'll find mystery, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, romance, comics, thrillers, non-fiction, cookbooks, and much more. If you would like to browse the Collection in Olin it's on Level 1, to the left after you enter the building and near the copiers.  Audiobooks on tape and CD are at the Check-out Desk - you'll just need to let the staff know the call number (they are listed in the catalog). Recommend a purchase for the PopLit Collection:  http://library.wustl.edu/forms/popreq.html.

arcadia id est: nature and landscape in the artist’s book

The Washington University Libraries and the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts will host a panel discussion and an opening reception for an exhibition entitled arcadia id est: nature and landscape in the artist's book, on April 5, 2007, on the Danforth Campus of Washington University. More info.