Weekly Gazette, April 16, 2021 Issue
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Volume 32, No. 15 LIBRARY April 16, 2021 GAZETTEOF CONGRESS A weekly publication for staff INSIDE Calligraphy Released Online The African and Middle Eastern Divi- sion has made rare Arabic, Persian and Ottoman calligraphy available on the website. PAGE 3 Preservation Week Shawn Miller Miller Shawn The Preservation Directorate is host- Fenella France explains the work of the Preservation Research and Testing Division ing a webinar series during the week during a Feb. 18, 2020, event marking the division’s 50th anniversary. of April 25–May 1 to highlight the role of libraries in preserving collections of all kinds. PAGE 4 Reopening Safely Based on Preservation Science Staff are participating in a study to determine best practices for handling collections. BY WENDI A. MALONEY affected, too? It turns out they are — or at least some of them. For more than a year, hand sanitiz- ers have been big news. “The Best This month, the Preservation Research and Testing Division Q&A: Andrew Davis Hand Sanitizers to Buy Right Now,” “You Might Be Buying a Hand San- (PRTD) released preliminary The Preservation Research and Testing itizer That Won’t Work for Corona- results from its ongoing study on Division chemist discusses his scientific virus” and “11 Best Hand Sanitizer the effects of hand sanitizers on background and his projects outside Products” — these are just a few library papers and parchment. the lab during the pandemic. of the anxiety-producing head- After eight weeks of accelerated PAGE 5 lines touting sanitizers as a remedy aging, the study found, discolor- against the virus that causes ation and fluorescent residue were COVID-19. visible on papers and parchment On Tap touched using hand sanitizer. So, by now, we’re all well versed in View upcoming virtual lectures, con- their protective properties as well “Based on these initial findings, certs, classes and other events at the the use of hand sanitizers before Library of Congress. as their downside for our hands: dry, itchy skin. But what about handling collection materials does WWW.LOC.GOV/EVENTS all the things we touch? Are they PRESERVATION, CONTINUED ON 6 NOTICES DONATED TIME LIBRARY The following employees have satisfied eligibility requirements to receive leave GAZETTEOF CONGRESS donations from other staff members. Contact Lisa Davis at [email protected]. loc.gov/staff/gazette Lynette Brown William Mahannah APRIL SLAYTON Bailey Cahall Eric Wolfson Executive Editor MARK HARTSELL Publications Editor WENDI A. MALONEY COVID-19 UPDATE Writer-Editor The Health Services Division (HSD) recognizes that some employees have CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Deanna McCray-James, calendar received COVID-19 vaccines. However, the Library is not modifying its on-site Kia Campbell, Moving On health and safety protocols based on the vaccination status of employees. Lisa Davis, donated leave Library staff are required to wear masks when they are in shared workspaces PROOFREADER where at least six feet of distance cannot be maintained and in common George Thuronyi areas, hallways and restrooms. DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Ashley Jones HSD continues to monitor Library staff members with symptoms, clinical diagnoses or positive test results associated with COVID-19. On April 8, HSD MISSION OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS announced that it had received eight new reports of symptoms of COVID-19 The Library’s central mission is to engage, or confirmed cases since its previous COVID-19 announcement on March 25. inspire and inform Congress and the American people with a universal and enduring source of Most employees reporting symptoms are not diagnosed with COVID-19, but, knowledge and creativity. out of caution, the Library is monitoring all reports of symptoms. ABOUT THE GAZETTE More information on the Library’s pandemic response: https://go.usa.gov/ An official publication of the Library of Congress, xdtV5 (intranet) or https://go.usa.gov/xdtVQ (public-facing staff webpage) The Gazette encourages Library managers and staff to submit articles and photographs of general interest. Submissions will be edited to convey the most necessary information. Back issues of The Gazette in print are available UPDATED EMERGENCY GUIDANCE in the Communications Office, LM 143. Electronic archived issues and a color PDF file of the current With enhanced security measures still in place on Capitol Hill, the Security issue are available online at loc.gov/staff/gazette. and Emergency Preparedness Directorate has made available phase 2.2 of GAZETTE WELCOMES LETTERS FROM STAFF its protective action guidance for responding to building emergencies. Now Staff members are invited to use the Gazette for that perimeter fencing around the Library has been removed, the updated lively and thoughtful debate relevant to Library guidance includes detailed information about social distancing during emer- issues. Letters must be signed by the author, whose place of work and telephone extension gencies, evacuation assembly areas and best ways to contact emergency should be included so we can verify authorship. services. If a letter calls for management response, an explanation of a policy or actions or clarification Staff are encouraged to download the Joint Emergency Mass Notification of fact, we will ask for management response.— System (JEMNS) mobile app on their personal devices and register to receive Ed. text alerts. For instructions and more information, go to https://go.usa.gov/ Library of Congress Gazette xs5mR. Learn more about the Library’s emergency guidance: https://go.usa. Washington, DC 20540-1620 gov/xs5mQ. Editorial: Mark Hartsell, 7-9194, [email protected], or Wendi Maloney, 7-0979, [email protected] Questions? Call (202) 707-8708 or send an email message to [email protected]. Design and production: Ashley Jones, 7-9193, [email protected] ISSN 1049-8184 Printed by the Printing Management Section REMINDER: SEXUAL HARASSMENT SURVEY GAZETTE DEADLINES The deadline for editorial copy for the April 30 The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is conducting a survey on sexual Gazette is Wednesday, April 21. harassment at the Library and encourages all staff to participate. The OIG emailed a link to the survey to each Library employee on April 7. The dead- Email editorial copy and letters to the editor to [email protected] and [email protected]. line to complete the survey is April 21. It seeks to understand how well sexual harassment and other related unwelcome behaviors are prevented and To promote events through the Library’s online calendar (www.loc.gov/loc/events) and the addressed. Survey responses are anonymous. Gazette Calendar, email event and contact Questions? Contact the OIG at [email protected]. information to [email protected] by 9 a.m. Monday of the week of publication. Boxed announcements should be submitted electronically (text files) by 9 a.m. Monday the week of publication to [email protected] and [email protected]. 2 APRIL 16, 2021 NEWS Centuries-Old Calligraphy Added to Digital Collections Scholars everywhere can now study one-of- a-kind resources from the Library. BY ANCHI HOH The African and Middle Eastern Division (AMED) has released rare handwritten treasures from its collections online. “Selections of Arabic, Persian and Ottoman Cal- ligraphy” (https://go.usa.gov/xszPE) launched on the Library’s website in February. African and Middle Eastern Division and Middle Eastern African Calligraphy is both an exqui- These Qur’anic verses created between the 11th and 13th centuries are a highlight site art and a practical skill that of the newly launched collection. requires years of training. Closely associated with the Islamic faith belonging to a Pakistani citizen. legacy Global Gateway portal, an and used heavily in Qur’an man- Other disparate pieces came to initiative to present international uscripts, calligraphy is a tradition the Library from various sources cultures and civilizations digi- in Arabic-, Persian- and Turk- throughout the 20th century. tally. The newly launched collec- ish-speaking lands, where a vari- Written in Arabic, Persian and tion is part of the Library’s effort ety of writing styles developed and Ottoman Turkish on parchment, to extract contents from legacy evolved over centuries. It is also an paper and papyri, AMED’s Ara- portals for use in a modern digital integral part of the Arab, Persian bic-script calligraphy consists environment that promotes broad and Turkish cultures and civiliza- of approximately 355 items, the content sharing. tions and is manifested through oldest dating back to the 9th and In collaboration with the Digital art, architecture, literature, culture 10th centuries. The digital collec- Content Management and Services and education. tion highlights 273 items, most of Division, which is charged with this “Through exquisitely illuminated which were executed on paper endeavor, AMED’s Near East Sec- panels, albums and poems, this with some Qur’anic fragments on tion worked on metadata and con- collection speaks to a thousand parchment. version issues, enhanced images years of the Arabic-script cal- The collection reflects a number of the calligraphy sheets, edited ligraphic tradition,” Lanisa Kitch- of unique calligraphic traditions, the essays and improved subject iner, AMED’s chief, said. “We invite including Safavid (1501–1722) headings and language coding for everyone to come and discover, practices of divination by the items, said Joan Weeks, the sec- study and understand more about Qur’an, calligraphic gifts related tion’s head. this unique collection and use it in to the Persian New Year and Qajar With these enhancements, the creative ways to bring to life this (1785–1925) monochromatic fin- new presentation enables displays precious art form.” gernail calligraphy. These traditions of items by location of origina- The Library’s calligraphy collec- remain poorly understood accord- tion, name of calligrapher, year tion was developed through two ing to Islamic art professor Chris- and other filters. Expert resources sources. The vast majority of tiane Gruber, who researched and and essays explore Ottoman and sheets were acquired during the wrote the essays and entries for Persian calligraphic styles, Qur’anic late 1920s and early 1930s, mainly the online collection.