Ohrstrom Blog

Banned Books Week

By Lisa Laughy - Library Web Services / Archives Assistant September 27th, 2016

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Ohrstrom Library is celebrating Banned Books Week with a special display. Stop by the front desk of the library to see the “Burning Book” display created by Mrs. Kittler, designed to bring attention to the challenges to the First Amendment that censorship brings. Her book sculpture was created from a previously damaged and discarded book which she further aged and singed to create the illusion of a burning book. A sign that says “This book donated itself to Library Science” accompanies the display, as well as a cart full of books that have at one time been banned or challenged for their contents.

Banned Books Week is being celebrated across the country this week. The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom is the official organizer of Banned Books Week, and describes this annual event on its website in this way:

Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular. . .

The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted with removal or restrictions in libraries and schools. While books have been and continue to be banned, part of the Banned Books Week celebration is the fact that, in a majority of cases, the books have remained available. This happens only thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, students, and community members who stand up and speak out for the freedom to read.

Stop by Ohrstrom Library to see the display, browse the books, and stand up for your right to read! As always, we love it when you check out books on display!

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Tags: American Library Association, Banned Books Week, censorship, First Amendment, Office for Intellectual Freedom

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Ohrstrom Library on Twitter

By Lisa Laughy - Library Web Services / Archives Assistant September 19th, 2016

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Ohrstrom Library is now on Twitter! Find us there @OhrstromLibrary and follow along to see the latest in library events, news, resources and fun. We are very excited to launch this new online presence and we hope you will be too!

Tags: @OhrstromLibrary, social media, Twitter

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Hamilton: What’s Your Name?

By Lisa Laughy - Library Web Services / Archives Assistant September 16th, 2016

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If you are like almost everyone, you have become captivated by the hip-hop history lesson that is Hamilton: An American Musical. This smash musical hit won 11 Tony Awards and has become the most sought after ticket on Broadway. President Obama even describes it as “a civics lesson our kids can’t get enough of.”

The Baker Reading Room on the main level of Ohrstrom Library has become the host of an exhibit of books, music and magazines about Alexander Hamilton, including the Ron Chernow biography that inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda to create his groundbreaking musical. There are several books on Hamilton himself, plus other historical figures in the musical. As always, we love it when you check out books from our displays. If you would like to learn more about the history behind this musical phenomenon, stop by the library and visit the display. Look around, look around, we know you will enjoy what you find!

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Tags: Alexander Hamilton, book display, Broadway, Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda, musical, Tony Awards

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Summer of Construction

By Lisa Laughy - Library Web Services / Archives Assistant September 7th, 2016

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Ohrstrom Library has had a very busy summer! While you were away, the building was renovated on all three floors as well as to the exterior. Here is a list of changes and improvements made:

A new access ramp has been constructed at the front entrance
The main stairwell has been completely redesigned and a glass doorway has been added on the lower level
The Baker Reading Room will have new furniture installed by the beginning of October
Glass doors have been added to the Pillsbury and Reference room entrances on the main level and the Fine Arts Room and Shakespeare Room on the upper level
The open spaces between the Pillsbury Room ceiling and the Fine Arts Room floor have been sealed to create quieter study areas
The lower level print book collection is now installed in user-accessible compact shelving
Major renovations to the archives include the addition of compact shelving, the replacement of the “cage” with walls, and a new glass access door
The Penner CIT conference room has been converted into an office space for the newly created position of Director of Institutional Research
The lower level lobby has been renovated to extend the wood paneling from the stairwell throughout the lobby

An exhibit documenting the construction is on display at the front desk of the library, and features a slide show of photographs taken over the summer.

The slide show is also visible on the Ohrstom Library Flickr account by clicking the image on the left or the link HERE.

The final aspects of the renovations will be completed in the next few weeks, so please excuse any disruptions while the work is finishing up.

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Tags: Archives, construction, Ohrstrom Library, Penner Center for Innovative Teaching, renovation, summer school