A Newsletter Spring 2015, Issue No. 52 of the Library Library Perspectives

ALAN BOYD TO SERVE AS INTERIM stanley king donates jazz collection DIRECTOR tanley King of New York City has donated a rich collection of jazz Smaterials to the Conservatory Library’s special collections. Included are magazines (with many rare French jazz magazines from the 1930s), correspondence, financial records for various touring bands in the 1940s, autographed playbills, jazz and blues sheet music, photographs, posters, concert programs, and various audio and video items as well as approximately 350 books on various jazz and blues topics. The collection is especially strong in objects related to Louis Armstrong, reflecting King’s fondness for early Dixieland jazz. Among its gems are a letter ALAN BOYD, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF from Armstrong to his first wife in the Sheet music from the King Collection LIBRARIES, will serve as Interim Director 1940s, years after they had divorced; a during the 2015-16 academic year, letter from Armstrong to Mezz Mezzrow a VHS copy of Satchmo the Great—a film following the retirement of Ray English discreetly asking him to bring marijuana on not commercially released that documents (see Perspectives, Fall 2014). Boyd joined the an upcoming European tour; an original Armstrong’s tours for the State Department library staff in 1981 as Senior Cataloger. He concert program for John Hammond’s in the 1950s. became Head of Cataloging and Library groundbreaking “Spirituals to Swing” The first portion of the King Systems in 1987 and Associate Director in concert at Carnegie Hall in the 1930s; and Collection was received in December 2014, 1992. continued on page 3 Because of the variety and scope of his current duties, which include library endowed fund honors ray english technical services and systems, digital riends of the Library President to enhance library programming, acquire initiatives, and budget management, Boyd Robert Longsworth announced at resources, and improve facilities and services. will delegate some of his responsibilities Fthe organization’s annual dinner in During English’s 25-year tenure as when he assumes the director’s role. November that the Friends Council had Director of Libraries Reference and Instruction Librarian voted unanimously to establish the Friends (1990-2015) he often used discretionary Megan Mitchell, who has extensive of the Library/Ray English Endowed funds provided by individual donors to experience with library web technologies, Library Discretionary Fund. The fund subsidize important new initiatives and will take on the role of Digital Initiatives honors English for his outstanding efforts projects and to address the library’s highest- Coordinator. She will work with library in founding and promoting the Friends priority needs. Examples include start-up staff, faculty, and students on a wide range organization and will provide future library funding for integrating the library into of digital collections and projects, including directors with “no strings attached” income the college’s First Year Seminar Program, continued on page 13 continued on page 12 1 RECENT GIFTS friends of the library THE LIBRARY gratefully acknowledges the spring 2015 programs following significant planned gifts, monetary gifts, and gifts-in-kind. Exhibitions: • Norman ’56 and Barbro ’56 Jung have included the library in their estate plan. Princehorn: Oberlin’s Pioneer Photographer. An Emblematic Record of the Sioux at Glen Major monetary gifts have been received Island from: Monday, March 2–Sunday, March 22, Academic Commons, Mudd Center • Mimi Halpern ’60 for the Ray English Endowed Library Fund. An Exercise in Freedom: The Mail Art of Edgardo Antonio Vigo Monday, March 30–Friday, June 5, Academic Commons, Mudd Center • Lloyd Frank ’47 for an endowed library fund. Books by Reunion Class Authors • Donald Oresman ’46 for the Ray English Tuesday, May 19–Tuesday, May 26, Academic Commons, Mudd Center Endowed Library Fund. • Clyde Owan ’79 for the George A. and Lectures and Other Events: Susan P. Lanyi Endowed Library Book “Racial Reckoning: Prosecuting America’s Civil Rights Murders,” Talk by Renee Romano, Fund. Professor of History • Lucy Marks ’73 and Scott Sprinzen for Tuesday, February 24, 4:30 p.m., Moffett Auditorium, Mudd 050 the Friends of the Library and the Lucy Marks Endowed English and Classics Book “‘To Be And/Or Realized:’ Edgardo Antonio Vigo’s Artistic Practice,” Talk by Vanessa Fund. Davidson, Curator of Latin American Art, Phoenix Art Museum Wednesday, April 1, 4:30 p.m., Moffett Auditorium, Mudd 050 • Marjorie Henderson MAT ’70, retired Library Administrative Assistant, and “Imagined Empires: A History of Revolt in Egypt,” Talk by Zeinab Abul-Magd, Associate Norman Henderson, Emeritus Professor Professor of History of Psychology, for the Ray English Endowed Thursday, April 16, 4:30 p.m., Moffett Auditorium, Mudd 050 Library Fund and for the Frank Laycock Endowed Library Fund. “Visible Wars and the Ambivalences of Witnessing,” Talk by Wendy Kozol, Professor of • Theresa Brown ’78 and Bruce Regal Comparative American Studies ’78 for the Friends of the Library and the Monday, April 27, 4:30 p.m., Moffett Auditorium, Mudd 050 Archivist’s Gift Fund. Retirement Reception for Ray English • Robert Taylor and Ted Nowick, for the Wednesday, May 13, 4:30 p.m., Root Room, Carnegie purchase of a rare architectural history title for the Art Library’s special collections. Commencement/Reunion reception for Friends of the Library, alumni authors, former • Linda Grimm, Emerita Professor of library student assistants, alumni librarians, and anyone else who loves libraries and books Anthropology, and Robert Grimm, Saturday, May 23, 4:30–6:00 p.m., Azariah’s Café, Mudd Center Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, for the continued on page 12 friends council highlights THE FOLLOWING ARE HIGHLIGHTS of the the curriculum (see article on page 4). Library Perspectives Friends of the Library Council meeting held The Membership Committee reported Ray English Saturday, November 1, 2014. that regular Friends members (those who Cynthia Comer The financial report indicated that contribute directly to the Friends) as well Megan Mitchell 2013-14 membership contributions to the as total Friends members (which includes Alison Ricker Friends totaled $58,406, slightly above the all donors to the library) remained at high Editors average of recent years. Income included a levels. The Program Committee reported on planned gift in the amount of $46,000. The notable 2013-14 programs, plans for the fall A newsletter for users and Friends of ending fund balance was $78,786. 2014 semester, and possible annual dinner the , Library The Council approved the Acquisitions speakers. Perspectives is issued two times a year. Committee’s recommendation to spend The Council approved Friends graduate Printed from an endowed fund estab- $42,215 for new resources for special library school scholarships in the amount of lished by Benjamin and Emiko Custer. collections and to support subjects across $3,500 each for Charlotte Beers Plank ’11 continued on page 12 2 new friends life members 2014-2015 Friends Council THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY awarded life memberships to Tracy Officers: Chevalier ’84 and Myrlin von Robert Longsworth, President Glahn ’48 at the organization’s Maxine Houck, Vice President annual dinner on November 1, Eric Carpenter, Secretary 2014. Members: Chevalier has pledged to John Elder '53 Sebastiaan Faber donate her papers related to Jack Glazier all of her published novels (see Herb Henke '53 Perspectives, Fall 2014). She is the Nick Jones author of seven historical novels, Stephanie Davis-Kahl ’94 including her modern classic Girl Gary Kornblith with a Pearl Earring. Her most Thelma Morris 54 ' recent work, The Last Runaway, Ray English, Robert Longsworth, Myrlin von Glahn, Anne McFarland '62 is set in pre-Civil War Ohio near and Alan Boyd Robert Taylor Oberlin. Ex-Officio and Appointed Members: The papers consist of hand- Perspectives, Fall 2014). The collection Scott Smith '79, Acquisitions written and computer-printed drafts, features her own original artworks and those Committee Chair research notebooks, print and electronic by leading calligraphers in the United States, Janice Zinser, Nominations correspondence, and wide-ranging research Britain, and Europe. Her gift also includes Committee Chair materials, such as photographs, illustrations, her personal library of books and periodicals Daniel Goulding, Program physical objects, articles, documents, and on calligraphy as well as archival materials Committee Chair maps. Papers related to Girl with a Pearl Ray English, Director of Libraries related to her compositions and her long and were Jessica Grim, Collection Earring Remarkable Creatures career as a calligrapher. Development Librarian received by the library in January 2015. The von Glahn collection is a superb Ed Vermue, Special Collections Von Glahn has given the library a addition to the library’s holdings related to Librarian valuable collection of calligraphic art (see the history and art of the book. • Sage Mitchell-Sparke, Student Representative friends research awards double degree student and Stanley King, continued from page 1 Bluford is a college senior. and additional shipments are expected in Achtenberg was nominated spring 2015. Jeremy Smith, Conservatory by James O’Leary, Frederick Special Collections Librarian and Curator R. Selch Assistant Professor of the James and Susan Neumann Jazz of Musicology, for her work Collection, hopes to have the collection “Firth, Hall, Pond & (Their processed, described in a finding guide, and Many) Co(mpanies),” a paper available for use by fall semester 2015. He written for Music History 337: also plans to exhibit some of the collection’s Introduction to Organology. highlights in the Conservatory Library and The goal of the assignment was on the digital exhibit monitors in the Kohl to provide a rich cultural context Building by that time. for a musical instrument—in Rebecca Achtenberg and Zachary Bluford King, now retired, was a textile designer this case a somewhat mysterious and manufacturer by profession. He has clarinet. Achtenberg’s been an avid collector of memorabilia REBECCA ACHTENBERG AND ZACHARY research involved looking at objects and related to a number of interests besides (ZAKK) BLUFORD were selected as winners of archival materials in the Frederick R. Selch American jazz, including George the Friends of the Library Research Awards Collection of American Music History, as Washington and Charles Lindbergh. • for 2013-14. Achtenberg is a fifth-year well as scholarly literature. Although she was continued on page 13 3 DAVIDSON TO LECTURE ON ARGENTINIAN ARTIST edison sound in a suitcase he Conservatory Library’s special collections now house a rare Thomas T Edison Suitcase Phonograph that was donated by professional trumpet player David Kuehn. His gift was made in honor of Paul Eachus, Director of Conservatory Audio Services. Edison invented the phonograph in 1877 and commercial production made the device broadly available beginning in Edison Suitcase Phonograph the 1890s. Models of the Edison Home (36 inches long and 16 inches in diameter Phonograph were manufactured between at the bell) that it is not self-supporting, VANESSA DAVIDSON, the Shawn and Joe 1896 and 1913. The phonograph donated requiring a tripod crane and a connector to Lampe Curator of Latin American Art at by Kuehn is an early version of the Model attach the horn to the body. the Phoenix Art Museum, will present on A, dating from 1898-1901. It is known as Jeremy Smith, Conservatory Special April 1 a lecture on the Argentinian artist a Suitcase Model because of the clips (two Collections Librarian and Curator of the Edgardo Antonio Vigo. Entitled “‘To Be front and two rear) that attach the cover to James and Susan Neumann Jazz Collection, And/Or Realized:’ Edgardo Antonio Vigo’s the case. plans to demonstrate the phonograph Artistic Practice,” her presentation The phonograph has the capacity both for Oberlin classes and groups of school will explore the artist’s multifaceted to record sound and to play two-minute children learning about the history of career, which included mail art, text- wax cylinders. Its wooden case is in excellent recording technologies. In recent years he based conceptualism, visual poetry, and condition with just a few spots of paint loss. has given similar demonstrations with a performances he called “signalings.” The phonograph’s straight horn is so large later and less rare 1908 Edison Standard Vigo (1927-1997) was a pioneer of continued on page 13 the mail art movement, which involves transforming everyday materials such as friends of the library purchases paper, postcards, and rubber stamps into t its annual meeting on November 1, 2014, the Friends of the Library Council works of art that are distributed directly approved spending $42,215 of Friends funds to purchase the following materials in through correspondence rather than Asupport of teaching, research, and learning. Special Collections The Ladies Complete Pocket-Book for the Year of Our Lord 1760. This compendium covers a host of topics to help the cultured 18th-century Englishwoman manage her daily affairs. Serving as almanac, diary, ledger, cookbook, and calendar, it includes everything from a chronology of historical events to recipes, popular songs and dances, astronomical information, forms for financial recordkeeping, an appointment book, and instructions on how to set a table properly. Oberlin’s copy, which includes several diary entries and notes about deaths, engagements, debts, and purchases, is of strong interest to faculty in the English conventional channels such as galleries. Department. A politically engaged artist, he was active Abbrégé de l’Art des Accouchemens, 1835. during Argentina’s Dirty War, when the For 30 years during the 18th century, Parisian country’s military junta “disappeared” midwife Angélique Le Boursier du Coudray suspected opponents, including Vigo’s son traveled throughout France, teaching Palomo. childbirth techniques to illiterate peasant An exhibition of Vigo’s mail art, women to try to lower the rural mortality entitled An Exercise in Freedom: The rate. Her lessons are collected in this textbook Mail Art of Edgardo Antonio Vigo, will be that features illustrations using the newly displayed in the Academic Commons in invented four-color printing method. The the Main Library from March 30 through book will be featured in Assistant Professor of June 5. The exhibition is drawn from the Art History Christina Neilson’s spring 2016 continued on page 9 continued on page 10 4 WINTER TERM AND INTERN PROJECTS IN abromeit publishes spirituals reference THE LIBRARY THE LIBRARY hosted in January a number athleen Abromeit, Conservatory of students who undertook projects for Public Services Librarian, has written Oberlin’s winter term or to earn practicum Ka major reference work entitled credit at the Kent State University Graduate Spirituals: A Multidisciplinary Bibliography School of Library and Information Science. for Research and Performance recently co- Projects ranged from the technical aspects published by the Music Library Association of library cataloging and metadata to online and A-R Editions. The book has been exhibitions and creative engagement with over 10 years in the making and reflects the book arts. Abromeit’s two-decades-long engagement Sophomore Kate Diamond worked with the subject. with Collection Development Librarian Abromeit’s interest in spirituals dates Jessica Grim on a project to increase to a 1993 reference question that led to a awareness of diversity in science fiction protracted search for the song “Hear de and fantasy literature. She developed a Angels Singin’.” That investigation led her database, called All Our Worlds: Diverse to see a need to update the Index to Negro Fantastic Fiction, of over 800 books with Spirituals published by the Cleveland Public A visiting scholar who consulted Library in 1937. Abromeit embarked on Abromeit’s index inspired her to research what she calls a “little database project” the literature written about spirituals as that resulted in publication of An Index well as references to spirituals in American to African-American Spirituals for the Solo literature. Her research led her to produce summaries for each title and the aspects of Voice (Greenwood Press, 1999). an interdisciplinary work that covers diversity represented in each book’s content. continued on page 13 The library purchased approximately 100 titles that she selected. The database, at new digital resources allourworlds.com/aow/homepage.php, THE LIBRARY recently acquired the following new resources to support curricular programs includes links to related resources and a and research. list of the many sites that have featured her Arts & Humanities Full Text includes both scholarly, peer-reviewed journals and database. selected trade and consumer publications. It covers many disciplines, such as art, architecture The letterpress studio was again the site and design; classics, archaeology, and anthropology; literature, theatre, and film; philosophy of a group project (see Perspectives, Spring and religion; music; and history. 2014). Seven students, working with graphic Design and Applied Arts Index covers both contemporary and historical topics in design designer and printer Robert Kelemen, and applied arts periodicals from 1973 onwards. It indexes articles, news items, and reviews. All types of materials are covered, from textiles and ceramics to glass, wood, and metal. Topics include jewelry, furniture, fashion, typography, and landscape architecture, as well as business-oriented subjects such as advertising, packaging, and industrial design. Also included are web and computer-aided design, computer graphics, and animation. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, a new journal from the American Chemical Society, is now available to all OhioLINK libraries. It reports on all aspects of environmental science, both pure and applied. Areas covered include natural and affected environments, energy,

Students in letterpress studio; Yunjie Zhu, environmental measurement methods, and remediation and control technologies. Sierra Maniates-Selvin, and Carolyn Holt Handbook of the Birds of the World: Alive contains the full content of the acclaimed 17-volume series of the same name. Though Oberlin has long held wrote, designed, and printed an illustrated the print version, the online resource adds useful new elements, booklet entitled H is for History: Ohio from including 50,000 videos, photographs, and sounds. Content is A to Z that will be used by the Oberlin updated continuously by professional editors and by moderated continued on page 11 continued on page 9 5

interview with retiring director ray english

head of reference at Duke, was an early especially gratifying. I was involved role model for me. She had extraordinary with SPARC from its inception and knowledge, a wonderful way of engaging chaired its steering committee for library users, and an unforgettably several years. SPARC has grown into optimistic and enthusiastic orientation to an extraordinarily effective advocacy life. organization and I often find myself What advice would you give young people smiling with each announcement of contemplating a career in librarianship? SPARC’s latest achievement. It’s largely I would offer several suggestions about because of SPARC that our country— how to enhance their career prospects. But and indeed the world—is where it is above all I’d ask them to think about what’s today with open access to scholarship involved in librarianship and whether the and public access to government- work is a good match for their interests. funded research. If it is, I’d tell them to go for it. It’s a great What’s your favorite RAE Board profession. question? What are some highlights of your time at For those who don’t know, the LIBRARY PERSPECTIVES spoke recently Oberlin? RAE Board is what students call the with Ray English about his career in I think we’ve built a terrific library suggestion board near the entrance librarianship, his time at Oberlin, and his staff over the years. We know—based to the Main Library. It has that name future plans. on faculty and student surveys—that because I answer most of the questions What prompted you to consider a they’re highly respected for their and sign responses with my initials— career in librarianship? professionalism, service orientation, and RAE. It’s a tradition that was started Librarianship for me was a second focus on Oberlin’s academic mission. by my predecessor, Bill (William career choice. I attended graduate school I’m very proud of the partnerships that A.) Moffett, so it was known as the with the intention of teaching German our staff have built with faculty in the WAM Board in the 1980s. My favorite literature at the college level. Alas, the areas of collection development, student question came up not long after I job market for foreign language teachers research skills, special collections, and digital became director. A student who was no tanked as I was finishing my PhD. I collections and scholarship. We’ve also seen doubt trying to stump me asked, “What knew several people who were working major improvements in library facilities, is the meaning of life?” Rather than in libraries, so I decided to give library including the new Science Library in 2001, answer with a standard reply (“I reserve school a try. I wasn’t sure if it would the Academic Commons in 2007, and the right not to respond to a question work out until I got my first position as the recent renovation of our Main Library if I am unable to invent a connection a reference intern at Duke University. I special collections area. I also have many between it and the library”), I decided absolutely loved working with students fond memories of the development of the to do a short riff in response. Basically and faculty, and from that time on I Friends of the Library and especially the I said that, though it may be hard to never regretted my decision to switch annual dinner speakers we’ve had over the figure out “the meaning of life,” with careers. years. Finally, joining OhioLINK in the thought, reflection, and engagement it’s Who were your most important mid-1990s has been crucial in maintaining possible to discover “meaning in life.” I mentors early in your library career? our status as a first-rate college library. went on to mention some of my favorite Lester Asheim was my favorite professor What stands out most about your library authors and books—such as Buber, in library school at the University of work at the national level? Emerson, and early Platonic dialogues— North Carolina. I didn’t realize at the I really enjoyed my involvement in the that I’ve found important in my own time that he was something of a legend Association of College and Research development. in library circles. He was a wonderfully Libraries and I think I made important Tell us about your role in capturing the friendly man and also one of the clearest contributions. I found my work with infamous book thief James Shinn. thinkers and communicators I’ve ever SPARC (the Scholarly Publishing and I played a bit part in that episode. known. Florence Blakely, who was Academic Resources Coalition) to be Shinn was apprehended in Oberlin

continued on page 7 6

reflections on four decades in librarianship in 1981 and had in his possession north out of town. We quickly chased it and also my graduate study in German in the Oberlin Inn about $30,000 down. The students explained that, even literature. Over the years I’ve read in rare and valuable books that he though it looked like they were making off extensively in related areas, particularly had taken from our library and a few with the womb chair, they’d heard about psychology. More recently I’ve gotten others. Bill Moffett, who was library it from other students, took it in order to interested in such fields as evolutionary director then, had been tipped off by pull off a prank on top of a prank, and were psychology and in neuroscience as a student who had noticed Shinn just driving around while they figured out it relates to human emotional and behaving suspiciously. Bill enlisted where to stash it. Their plan was to leave it mental states. I want to write a work of me one evening in observing Shinn in original philosophy that takes a broad the stacks. I confronted Shinn when interdisciplinary perspective and is I saw him moving a metal object accessible to a general audience. The through the crease of several books topic I want to tackle is both very old and and he immediately tried to leave the very current. For lack of a better way of library. Bill stopped him at the exit and describing it at this point, let’s call it “the managed to escort him to a private area art of being human.” where he was questioned by security If you could arrange a private dinner and then the local police. There was party with a small number of guests enough evidence for a warrant to search from history, who would join you at the his room at the Oberlin Inn. The credit table and what would be the main topics for apprehending him belongs to Bill, of conversation? who orchestrated his arrest and was Interviewing Tracy Chevalier ’84, It’s a shame it could never happen, but instrumental in his capture after Shinn Commencement/Reunion Weekend 2013 I’d love to have dinner with some of the jumped bail in Oberlin and resumed greats of the Axial Age—Siddhartha stealing valuable books in library open on Wilder Bowl or early on Gautama, Jesus of Nazareth, Lao Tse, and stacks, a trade he had learned in prison. Commencement morning. That episode Socrates—since their lives and thought Bill was also instrumental in bringing actually had a happy ending. One of the have great influence to this day, yet so the problem of library book theft to the students was quite a gifted artist and I much of what they actually said and did attention of both the library profession wound up buying one of his pieces for the remains hidden. I would also like to invite and rare book dealers. library, a beautiful work of abstract art. someone more recent who represents a Is it true that Disney owns the rights He recently gave the library an interesting scientific worldview, probably Einstein. for The Great Womb Chair Caper? photographic artwork made by his brother- I would start the conversation, which No, those belong to Steven Spielberg. in-law. This won’t make for a movie script, I would fuel with abundant wine, with Seriously, and for those who don’t but it’s not a bad story. some age-old questions: What is the good know, we’ve had two episodes of What made this the right time for you to human life? Can one know what is right vanishing womb chairs. One was an retire? (morally good)? If so, how? actual theft where a chair disappeared There are many factors that go into a How do you plan to stay connected to for months before a police tip led to decision to retire, but what most comes to libraries in retirement? its return. The other was a prank. A mind is the advice that a good friend—a I expect mainly to be connected as a still-unknown party (yes, I have my fellow library director—gave me several library user. A fact of life in librarianship suspicions) managed to move one years ago. He had just decided to retire and is that we learn about so many books of the chairs out of the library to the I asked him the same question. He said, and other materials that we simply don’t off-campus room of a student who “When it’s time, you’ll know it.” I reached have time to read, listen to, or watch. awoke one morning to find it beside that point early in 2014 when everything I’m looking forward to a time when I her bed. She called security and several coalesced and the decision felt right. can freely engage library resources while of us rushed over in my car to get it, What are your plans for retirement? pursuing my interests. I can’t think of a only to see the chair leaving the house I have a long-standing interest in philosophy better place to do that than right here in in the back of a van that was headed going back to my undergraduate days Oberlin. •

7 A CELEBRATION OF OBERLIN new center for emeriti faculty SCHOLARSHIP ideal location for a number THE FRIENDS of the Library sponsored a of reasons, including its well-attended reception on December 5 to central location on campus honor Oberlin faculty and staff authors and and proximity to research creators of books and other major works. resources and social spaces, such Azariah’s Café. Zagarell and Hogan hope that the center will facilitate integration of retired faculty into college life by providing opportunities for scholarship, intellectual exchange, new work and social center for retired and camaraderie as well as planned and faculty has been created on the serendipitous encounters among emeriti Thirty-five authors and creators of Alower level of Mudd Center through and current faculty and students. They note books, artist exhibition catalogs, recordings, renovation of a former study lounge. Sean that many of Oberlin’s peer institutions and major articles made submissions for Decatur, former Dean of the College of Arts already have such spaces for retired faculty. the event, which was held in Azariah’s Café and Sciences, initiated the new space, which The new center was celebrated at in Mudd Center. Works published/issued is adjacent to the Moffett Auditorium. a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, during calendar years 2012, 2013, and 2014 Constructed in January 2015, it includes February 20. • were eligible for recognition. conference tables, lounge furniture, As was the case when the library last and several desks that will be assigned hosted this event in 2011, every division to selected emeriti who receive Senior of the college and conservatory was Research Scholar status. represented. Authors included tenured, Sandra Zagarell, Donald R. Longman visiting, and emeriti faculty as well as college Professor of English, and Professor of staff. The works represented a wide diversity History Heather Hogan, in her former of scholarship and creativity, from poetry capacity as Associate Dean of the to physics, Korea to Morocco, real numbers College of Arts and Sciences for Faculty to the body politic, and viols and ancient Development, helped plan the center. life forms witnessed through photography. They considered the library to be an Over two dozen of the featured works were on display for perusal and discussion with benzing and lorandeau retire the authors, and most of these titles are now cataloged for the library’s collection. TWO LIBRARY STAFF MEMBERS have recently years in the position. She supervised student retired. Lizette Benzing, a member of assistants and was responsible for billing the Cataloging and Metadata Services for lost and missing items. In addition to Department, retired in August 2014 after her library job, she has served as Director 40 years of dedicated service to the library. of the Office of Aging in Amherst, Ohio She joined the staff in June 1975 and had and has generously shared her expertise an ongoing passion for her work. Lizette with Oberlin colleagues dealing with aging cataloged tens of thousands of books for parents. Renowned for her homemade the Art Library during her career, including cookies, Nina served unofficially as the many unique acquisitions in the artists’ Circulation Department baker, delighting All of the submitted works will be books collection. She also served on the student assistants with cookies at exam time included in Oberlin SHARES (www. board of OCOPE (Oberlin College Office and even after her retirement was effective. oberlin.edu/shares), and a copy of the and Professional Employees). Nina’s plans for the future include spending brochure created for the event, listing all of Nina Lorandeau retired as Weekend time with her grandchildren, traveling with the submitted entries, is available from the Supervisor in the Main Library Circulation her husband, and reading. • library administrative office. • Department in September 2014 after 14

8 MICHAEL ROY AND JAMES MICHALKO TO Digital Resources, continued from page 5 DISCUSS LIBRARY FUTURES user participation, making it one of the most comprehensive resources available for all bird ichael Roy, Dean of the Library at species of the world. Middlebury College, and James Hollywood, Censorship, and the Motion Picture Production Code, 1927-1968 covers MMichalko, Vice President for the 500 of the best-known films from the period, documenting 40 years of self-regulation Research Library Partnership at OCLC, and censorship in the motion picture industry. Enforced by the precursor of today’s will visit Oberlin on March 30 and April Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the Production Code presented 22 respectively to discuss issues related guidelines governing American movie production. In its glory days, the Production Code to academic library futures. During their Administration vetted, censored, and sealed virtually every Hollywood movie released in the informal visits to campus they will meet American marketplace. The code was replaced in 1968 by the current film ratings system. with library and educational technology Independent Voices: An Open Access staff, faculty, and administrators. Their visits Collection of an Alternative Press, the inaugural will inform library planning and the search product of Reveal Digital, is a multi-year project for a new director of libraries that will take to digitize over place during the 2015-16 academic year. one million pages from magazines, journals, newsletters, and Roy has an extensive background in newspapers drawn from the widely scattered alternative press libraries and information technology. He archives of leading academic libraries, including Oberlin’s. is currently responsible for both the library With resources spanning the 1960s through the 1980s, the and educational technology at Middlebury project introduces a platform for libraries to collaborate and and previously had responsibility at create unique digital collections, offering an alternative to mass both Middlebury and Kenyon College digitization projects of mainstream publications. Starting with for integrated library and information publications by feminists, the GI press, small literary magazines, technology divisions. He served earlier in his and LGBT periodicals, the collection will grow to include career as director of academic computing additional untapped content such as campus underground and digital library projects at Wesleyan newspapers, the minority press (Latino, Black, and Native University. American), and extreme right-wing publications. Oberlin has made a one-time contribution Michalko directs OCLC’s Research to help fund this openly accessible resource. Library Partnership within OCLC medici.tv is the world’s leading classical music digital video channel, offering 1,400 high- Research. OCLC is a nonprofit research and definition webcasts and 100 live concerts each year. Programs library service organization headquartered include concerts, music festivals, operas, ballets, documentaries, in Dublin, Ohio that manages WorldCat, master classes, educational films, and artist profiles. A selection the world’s largest shared library cataloging of archival films dates back to the 1940s. Users can stream database. He was previously president and performances from some of the greatest orchestras and concert halls in the world on their CEO of the Research Libraries Group, a desktop computer, mobile device, or Internet-connected TV. consortium of major research libraries that Middle Eastern & Central Asian Studies indexes research, policy, and scholarly merged into OCLC in 2006. • publications on the countries and peoples of the Middle East, Central Asia, and North Africa. Subject coverage includes political and economic affairs, law, international relations, business, the arts, society, anthropology, religion, and history. Davidson, continued from page 4 PhilPapers: Philosophical Research Online is a collaboratively maintained site designed Art Library’s extensive collection of mail art, to facilitate the exchange and development of which represents nearly 1,800 artists and philosophical research. Using advanced trawling includes more than 25,000 pieces. techniques and crowdsourcing, the service A magna cum laude graduate of monitors journals, books, open access archives, Harvard, Davidson received a Ph.D. in and personal pages maintained by academics. Oberlin recently became an institutional Latin American art history from New York subscriber, helping to enable the PhilPapers Foundation to continue hosting the largest open University’s Institute of Fine Arts. Her access archive in philosophy, with free access for home users and other online services such as lecture, which is free and open to the public, PhilJobs and PhilEvents. will be Wednesday, April 1 at 4:30 p.m. in Urban Studies Abstracts indexes publications covering key areas of relevance to urban the Moffett Auditorium (Mudd 050). • studies, including city and regional planning, urban affairs, community development, urban history, architecture, and more from 1973 to the present. •

9 JUSTIN LONG JOINS STAFF Purchases, continued from page 4 exhibition on art and healing at the Allen Memorial Art Museum. American slave trader’s seizure on Saint Helena, 1840 [manuscripts]. This collection of six original documents relates to the seizure of the American barque Jones in 1840 by the brig H.M. Dolphin at Saint Helena, a remote South Atlantic island under British rule. The ship, which was under suspicion of involvement in the slave trade, was convoyed to Sierra Leone, where a session of the Vice Admiralty Court took place in October 1840. The allegations were found to be true and the barque was confiscated, causing an argument between U.S. and British officials that continued for over 10 years. This resource will serve courses in Africana studies and history. Multidisciplinary Resources Romantic Women Writers Reviewed, 2011-2013. This nine-volume collection offers the first comprehensive compilation of contemporary reviews of the work of approximately 300 JUSTIN LONG joined the Library’s Cataloging women writers of the Romantic period. More than 1,200 articles are reprinted from over 100 and Metadata Services Department in periodicals from the era. February as a part-time Library Technician. Food History: Critical and Primary Sources, 2014. This Long’s responsibilities include cataloging four-volume collection comprises over 80 historical and both print and non-print materials acquired contemporary sources on food throughout history. This topic is for the Art Library. He will also coordinate of increasing curricular and co-curricular interest, serving faculty various Art Library metadata projects. and students in anthropology, biology, classics, and history. Long brings substantial library World Englishes, 2013. This planned 12-volume set, experience to the position that includes which presents a comprehensive, detailed survey of English as it is spoken all over the world, familiarity with online library systems, supports study of the history and structure of the English language. Currently available cataloging, preservation, and processing. He volumes cover the British Isles, North America, and Central America. graduated with a B.A. in organ performance Congressional Research Digital Collection: Part B, 2004-2010 [electronic resource]. Oberlin already owns Congressional Research Digital Collection Part A, 1830-2003, which continued on page 12 the Friends helped support in 2007-2009. As with the earlier file, the new collection includes RECENT LIBRARY STAFF PUBLICATIONS committee prints and Congressional Research Service reports. It will be useful for research across the social sciences. REFERENCE AND INSTRUCTION LIBRARIAN Congressional Hearings: Part D, 2011-forward [electronic resource]. This file Jennifer Starkey has co-authored a chapter complements the historical congressional hearings collection from 1824-2010, which entitled “Google Drive for Library Oberlin already owns. Access to the full run of hearings on a single platform, where it is Productivity” in The Complete Guide to cross-searchable with other congressional publications, is critical for both ease of use and Using Google in Libraries: Instruction, discoverability. Administration, and Staff Productivity The Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Technology, 2014. This is the first definitive (Rowman and Littlefield, 2015). encyclopedia for the field of computer-assisted translation, an increasingly significant area of East Asian Librarian Xi Chen’s article study. It covers history, international developments in translation technology, and specialized “Hidden Gems Uncovered—Discovering topics such as online translation, subtitling, and translation management systems. It supports China Studies Special Collections in work in English, creative writing, and comparative literature. Liberal Arts Colleges in the U.S.” was JSTOR Arts & Sciences XIII Collection, and Ecology & Botany II Collection [electronic published in the February 2015 issue of resource]. The newest JSTOR collections add an increasingly Journal of East Asian Libraries. Her article international set of journals in a range of liberal arts disciplines. When “Web-based Subject Guides for East Asian complete, Arts & Sciences XIII will contain at least 125 journals; Studies: Current Status, Challenges, and Ecology & Botany II, which broadens JSTOR’s scope in the areas of Recommendations” will be published in biological and plant sciences, will include a minimum of 80 journals. a forthcoming issue of Reference Services Together these collections support multiple disciplines, including Quarterly. art, Asian studies, history, English, music, philosophy, biology, and Conservatory Librarian Deborah environmental studies. Campana has been named the new editor Art of Notes: The Quarterly Journal of the Music Two Years in Reverse, 2013 [artist’s book]. Chicago artist Melissa Jay Craig’s works Library Association, effective July 1.• embody an autobiographical element, serving as a type of journal in addition to their purpose continued on page 11 10 Winter Term, continued from page 5 Purchases, continued from page 10 Heritage Center to illustrate Ohio history as artworks. This book is an example of how artists use art to engage with illness and disability in its education programs. (in Craig’s case, her deafness). It emphasizes Craig’s tactile experience of nature. Eight students worked once again Chronicles, 2002 [artist’s book]. Professor of Studio Art Nanette with Aimee Lee ’99 to learn the craft of Yannuzzi-Macias’ book illuminates how the unpaid labor of the papermaking in both Eastern and Western home opens a space for creativity, much as the unpaid labor of the styles (see Perspectives, Spring 2014). They artist does. The quotidian, domesticity, and labor are all part of the also learned how to decorate papers and visual narrative of Chronicles, created over many years as the artist create books with bindings appropriate to collected and assembled the visual history of her home. the cultural tradition of the paper. Special Spring, 1993 [artist’s book]. Known more for her best-selling Collections Librarian Ed Vermue sponsored novels (The Time Traveler’s Wife, Her Fearful Symmetry), Audrey both the letterpress and papermaking Niffenegger is first an artist and printmaker, whose graphic novels and projects and worked closely with the artists’ books are less widely known. This is an early example of her work, created before she students in each group. began publishing novels. East Asian Librarian Xi Chen The Madrid Codices, 1974 [facsimile]. This is a five-volume facsimile edition with sponsored Kent State student Keiko commentary, transcription, and English translation of Leonardo da Vinci’s two Madrid Hill, who analyzed metadata of the Mary Codices manuscripts, which were only discovered in 1966 in the Biblioteca Nacional de A. Ainsworth Japanese Artists’ Books España in Madrid. It supports a new art history seminar which Collection. Hill used the CONTENTdm explores the significance of materials in the early modern period in system to input metadata in an ongoing Europe. project that supports Professor of Japanese Medieval and Renaissance Sculpture: A Catalogue of the Ann Sherif’s course entitled Book History Collection in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 2014. The Ashmolean in East Asia. Museum has one of the finest collections of medieval and Renaissance sculpture in the world. This important new three- volume catalog of its holdings covers sculptures in metal, stone, clay, ivory, bone, and wood. Science Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition, 2013 [e-book]. The third edition of this award- winning work reflects recent scientific advances in the field of human nutrition. It covers many topics currently in the news, such as food safety, vitamins, genetically modified foods, plant-based diets, raw and organic foods, nutritional labeling, and potential treatment and prevention of diseases. Keiko Hill Treatise on Geomorphology, 2013 [e-book]. Providing a useful synthesis of the current state of the discipline, this work highlights historical developments, future challenges, Junior Eva Fineberg completed a laboratory experiments, and numerical simulations, along with discussion of research winter term project under College Archivist strategies, equipment, and field methods that reflect multiple approaches to understanding Ken Grossi with assistance from Associate Earth’s surfaces. Archivist Anne Salsich and Xi Chen. She Climate Vulnerability: Understanding and Addressing Threats to used the Omeka online exhibition software Essential Resources, 2014 [e-book]. This work assesses from a scientific to re-conceptualize the Oberlin Illustrated perspective a broad range of threats to our five most critical resources: Building Guide and make it available in a water, food, ecosystems, energy, and human health. It goes beyond new online format. the role of carbon dioxide emissions in global warming to include Senior Lemley Mullett worked with other threats, such as population growth and the stress placed on Selina Wang, Head of Cataloging and energy sources due to emerging global affluence. Metadata Services, to acquire hands-on Music experience in library cataloging. Her project Autograph manuscript on the Conservatoire Américain de Fontainebleau, 1920 included learning cataloging concepts for [manuscript]. In this letter, Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937), prominent organist, all formats of materials and gaining an composer, and secretary to the Académie des Beaux-Arts, offers detailed commentary on the understanding of authority data, balancing establishment of the well-known Fontainbleau School, which had its roots in the United theory with practice in order to better serve States’ involvement in World War I.

continued on page 14 continued on page 13 11 English, continued from page 1 Recent Gifts, continued from page 2 planning and construction of the Academic Ray English Endowed Library Fund. • Nancy ’63 and David Finke ’64 have Commons in Mudd Center, support for • Sharon Sutherland ’87 for the Friends of donated a collection of small press lesbian students to travel to South Africa for winter the Library. literature and related materials. term projects in libraries, cleaning of the • Avonelle Walker ’53 for the Friends of • Joseph Sanders has given additional books Reading Girl statue, and transportation and the Library and the Conservatory Library for the Joseph Sanders Science Fiction setup of equipment donated to establish the Special Book Fund. Collection. letterpress printing studio. • • Edwin Dugger ’62 for the Conservatory • Gene Woodling, has contributed Library Special Book Fund for the purchase additional books and DVDs for the Gene of scores. Woodling Collection of Gay Fiction. Friends Highlights, continued from page 2 Generous monetary gifts have been • Don Harvey, Visiting Assistant Professor and Adekemi Lolade Gbadebo ’11. It also received from: of Studio Art, has donated several artists’ approved Life Memberships for Myrlin • Susan Phillips ’76 for the Friends of the books for the Art Library’s artists’ book von Glahn ’48 and Tracy Chevalier ’84 (see Library. collection. article on page 3). It had approved via e-mail • William Friedman ’81 for the Friends of • Avi Brisman ’96 has given a photographic prior to the meeting the establishment of the Library. work by artist Gregory Vershbow. an endowed fund honoring Ray English for • Maxine Houck ’58 for the Ray English • Harlan Wilson, Emeritus Professor of his years of service as library director and his Endowed Library Fund. Politics, has given a large number of political support for the Friends organization (see • Lawrence Galdieux ’65 for the George A. science books. article on page 1). and Susan P. Lanyi Endowed Library Book • Sarah Epstein ’48 continues to donate The Council elected officers for Fund. books for the Art Library, including many 2014-15 (Robert Longsworth, President; • Cynthia Grubb ’54 for the Friends of the related to Edvard Munch. Maxine Houck, Vice President; Eric Library. • Janice Zinser, Emerita Professor of Carpenter, Secretary) and it also elected • Joseph Hickerson ’57 for the Friends of French, has donated a Balinese/Javanese two incumbent members (Jack Glazier and the Library. shadow puppet for the library’s special Anne McFarland ’62) to second terms and • Norman ’56 and Barbro ’56 Jung for the collections. two new members (Gary Kornblith and Friends of the Library. • Norman Craig ’53, Emeritus Professor Stephanie Davis-Kahl ’94) to first terms. • Kahle Austin Foundation for the of Chemistry, has contributed books on It approved an expenditure of $10,000 Friends of the Library and jazz collection chemistry and general science. to support development of a collection of digitization. • Michael Rosen, Professor of Percussion, pre-cinematic artifacts requested by faculty • Sarah Lawall ’56 for the Librarian’s continues to donate scores and recordings members from three different departments. Discretionary Fund for collection for the Conservatory Library. • It also approved a total expenditure digitization. of $1,000 to support two winter term • Emily McClintock ’76 for the Friends of projects—one on letterpress printing and the Library. Long, continued from page 10 one on papermaking (see article on page 5). • William Pollak ’58 for the Kenneth from Wheaton College and stayed on to Sophomore Sage Mitchell-Sparke, Roose Endowed Memorial Book Fund. work for six years as Wheaton’s interlibrary Coordinator of the Student Friends of the • Andrew Stone ’80 for the George A. and loan coordinator. As a student at Wheaton Library, presented the 2013-14 Student Susan P. Lanyi Endowed Library Book he took a number of courses in art history, Friends report prepared by her predecessor Fund. which will prove useful in his new job. Jesse Gamoran, and she summarized the Significant gifts-in-kind include the He also worked as an office manager for a group’s current and planned activities. following: Borders bookstore. The Council had a lively discussion of • Stanley King has donated an extensive Long also holds a Master of Theological a report on the 2014 library self-study and collection of materials related to jazz (see Studies degree from Nashotah House external review, including major challenges article on page 1). Theological Seminary in Wisconsin. In his facing the library. • Tracy Chevalier ’84 has donated papers spare time, he enjoys cooking, gardening, Detailed minutes of the Council related to her novels Girl with a Pearl and running. Originally from Brunswick, meeting are available on the Friends of the Earring and Remarkable Creatures. Ohio, he is pleased to return to northeast Library webpages at www.oberlin.edu/ • John and Susan Harvith have given Ohio. • library/friends/minutes/. • numerous scores and recordings as well as books on film and photography.

12 Research Awards, continued from page 3 Boyd, continued from page 1 not able to definitively name the maker of those funded under the Five Colleges of Ohio Mellon Foundation digital collections and the clarinet, O’Leary had high praise for her scholarship grant (see Perspectives, Fall 2013). A temporary Reference and Instruction research journey and intriguing narrative. Librarian will be hired to take over some of Mitchell’s reference duties. Bluford was nominated by Anuradha Allison Gallaher, Head of Circulation, will assume expanded responsibilities in the areas Needham, Donald R. Longman Professor of library systems, building management, and statistics gathering and analysis. Adjustments of English, for his paper “Gibreel’s in other library staff responsibilities for the interim period are still under discussion. Inadvertent Conversations: ‘extending his Boyd holds both B.A. in Russian and M.A.L.S. degrees from the University of Iowa. internal repertory,’” written for English 388: Before coming to Oberlin he was a foreign languages cataloger at Virginia Tech. He Selected Authors: Salman Rushdie. In her previously served for a semester as acting library director in 1998 when English was on nomination, Needham noted the challenges sabbatical. He looks forward to 2015-16 as a period of stability, but also as a time for library inherent in researching and writing about staff to grow and experiment as the college conducts a national search to fill the director’s The Satanic Verses, a work known more for position. • the controversy surrounding its reception than its literary merit. She found Bluford’s Abromeit, continued from page 5 essay “polished and compelling” for the way references in music, theology, literature, history, society, and education, providing a unique he skillfully blended his own close reading of perspective on the interaction of spirituals with American culture. the novel with the insights of scholars. After six years of research and nearing the completion of her manuscript, Abromeit Friends President Robert Longsworth was contacted by a scholar for assistance in identifying spirituals based on psalm texts. This presented the awards to Achtenberg and new demand led to adding an appendix of spirituals linked to Biblical passages and scriptural Bluford at a luncheon in December 2014. references in spirituals. The Research Awards Committee members Abromeit notes that the “pluralism and diversity along with the complexity of the were Megan Mitchell, chair; Kathleen subject makes a multidisciplinary work like this both a joy and a challenge to tackle.” She Abromeit, Conservatory Public Services acknowledges the rich collections of the library as indispensible for her research and is Librarian; Alison Ricker, Science Librarian; grateful to many colleagues past and present for their support and assistance. and Ann Sherif, Professor of Japanese. • The publication of Abromeit’s book was celebrated at an event in the Conservatory Lounge featuring solo voice performances of six spirituals by sophomores Ryan Dearon and Amber Monroe. Abromeit’s work will have enduring value for musicians, musicologists, and Edison, continued from page 4 spirituals enthusiasts. • Phonograph Model D that is also part of the Purchases, continued from page 11 Conservatory Library’s special collections. According to Smith, “These items A New and Complete System of Music, or General Instructions for the Piano Forte, Organ, help bring to life the sound world of the Pedal Harp, etc., ca. 1814. This extremely rare publication, a first edition tutor for keyboard early 20th century—the fragility of the instrument instruction, reflects author Joseph Davis’ experiments in music theory, including cylinders, the labor involved in changing an explanation of his “Union Cliff” invention, which consisted of placing the G-clef on the them out every two or four minutes, the first line of the staff. inability to control volume, the poor Méthode Raisonnée pour Apprendre à Jouer du Violon, ca. 1783. Leopold Mozart’s sound fidelity. Students not only gain a Violinschule, a comprehensive treatise on violin playing, was translated into multiple greater appreciation of modern recording languages and is widely recognized as the most important violin tutor of its time, offering standards, but they leave with a tactile insight into the musical and aesthetic education of Leopold’s son Wolfgang Amadeus. understanding of how technological Though considered an “inauthentic abridgment” of the German original, the French edition developments have impacted both the illuminates violin methods contemporary with Mozart and complements other editions and creation and the experience of recorded translations held in Oberlin’s special collections. sound over time.” Metodo pel Clavicembalo, ca. 1811. This rare first edition of a popular early Italian The Edison Suitcase Phonograph piano method book stands out from other treatises of the period for the attention its author, will be on display at the entrance to the Francesco Pollini, pays to the relationship between technique and sound quality. This work Conservatory Library during the spring serves the study of historical performance practice by documenting the early Italian school of 2015 semester. • teaching and complements related holdings in the Frederick R. Selch Collection. •

13 Oberlin College Library NONPROFIT ORG. 148 West College St. U.S. POSTAGE Oberlin, OH 44074-1545 PAID OBERLIN COLLEGE PERMIT NO. 8

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Winter Term, continued from page 11 The Friends of the Oberlin College Library provide signifcant support for special acquisitions and programs that help the library fulfill its fundamental role in the academic life of the college. user needs. Reference and Instruction Members receive the Library Perspectives newsletter, invitations to Friends programs, Librarian Cynthia Comer also worked and other privileges. Most of all, Friends have the satisfaction of supporting Oberlin’s with Mullett, to demonstrate use of outstanding library. cataloging records from the public view. Art Librarian Barbara Prior Annual Membership Categories: sponsored two students during o $2 Student o $5 Recent Graduate winter term: senior Annabella o $30 Friend o $40 Couple o $50 Associate Irvine and junior Dylan Goodman. o $100 Sponsor o $500 Patron o $1,000 Benefactor Irvine created a zine from discarded objects she collected in libraries on Please return this form with your membership contribution to: Friends of the Oberlin campus, including doodles, lists, College Library, Mudd Center, 148 W. College St., Oberlin, Ohio 44074-1545. Please and photographs. She designed, make checks payable to Oberlin College. Friends contributions are tax-deductible. printed, bound, and distributed 100 ______copies, including one for the library’s Name collection. Goodman worked on ______the mail art collection, archiving and Street processing materials and learning ______about the mail art movement in order City, State, Zip to understand more fully the policies, ______E-mail Address procedures, and development of the collection. • 14