The Quest for Citizenship in the Americas -  this year’s theme for Black History Month -  is the inspiration for a book display now on view in the Baker Reading Room.  Library Assistant Meredith MacLeod has assembled a wide range of books that inform and illuminate this powerful and resonant theme.

Each year, The Association for the Study of African American Life and History chooses a theme for Black History Month. This year’s theme celebrates the 100th anniversary of the founding of the NAACP.  The ASALH website offers this description of the theme:

A century ago, an interracial group of Americans joined together and formed the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).  Two generations after emancipation, a tide of racism had betrayed the promise of first-class citizenship. In the South, whites had stripped Blacks of the right to vote and constructed a society based on racial segregation.  In the North, African Americans confronted myriad forms of discrimination that thwarted their aspirations.  The Supreme Court turned a blind eye to the denigration of American citizenship taking place across the land and in the government itself.

The story of the NAACP is the story of struggle to create and maintain equal citizenship for all Americans.  Through exposing the horrors of lynching, keeping the issue of equality before the courts, and organizing branches throughout the country, the NAACP drew a national following and inspired others to form organizations for racial change.  The NAACP’s work gave hope not only to blacks in the North, but to men and women in the South like Rosa Parks and Medgar Evers.

The centennial of the NAACP is an occasion to highlight the problem of race and citizenship in American history, from the experiences of free Blacks in a land of slavery to the political aspirations of African Americans today. The centennial also provides an opportunity to explore the history of other nation’s in the Americas, where former slaves also sought the fruits of citizenship.

The books assembled cover a wide range of subjects around the theme, and make for a rich exploration of what it means to strive for equal citizenship – throughout the history of America as well as today.  Take time to browse through the books and consider reading one of these titles in celebration of Black History Month this year.

Related posts:

1. New Reference Book: Encyclopedia of African American History
2. New Book Display: Inauguration 2009
3. New Reference Book: The African American Almanac

Lisa Laughy -Archives Assistant

In response to growing student interest, Ohrstrom Library is expanding its collection of graphic novels. The library staff is celebrating the influx of these engaging new books with a colorful display in the Baker Reading Room featuring over 20 new graphic novels.  They represent a mixture of artistic styles and genres including biographies, autobiographies, fantasy, and literature.  Here are the highlights of a few of the titles:

• Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi – her award winning memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution
• Beowulf adapted and illustrated by Gareth Hinds – a visually compelling graphic novel of the ancient classic.
• Three Shadows by Cyril Pedrosa – an original fairy tale / fantasy story about a father’s quest to protect his young son from his fate.
• Laika by Nick Abadzis – a fictionalized account of the first dog sent into orbit as part of the Soviet space program.
• We Are on Our Own: A Memoir by Miriam Katin – the story of the author’s and her mother’s escape from the Nazi invasion of Budapest.

This book display is great for browsing so be sure to take a few minutes to stop by Ohrstrom to look it over.  If you have never read a graphic novel before, or only associate the genre with super-heroes in tights and capes, you will be surprised by the range of subjects and marvel at the variety of original visual styles represented.

This display will be available in the Baker Reading Room through the end of term, so if you would like some recreational reading over the holiday break just request a special due date when checking the item out at the Circulation Desk.

Related posts:

1. New Book Display: Black History Month 2009
2. New Library Display: The Berlin Wall
3. New Book Display: Inauguration 2009

Guest bloggers Mary Schone ‘10 and Grier Stockman ‘09 worked with Library Assistant Ms. MacLeod to put together a special book display now on view in the Baker Reading Room.  Both Mary and Grier attended the The Independent School Gender Project Conference 2008: Sowing the Seeds of Change: Women and Girls Making a Difference in the World held at the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, CT.  Here’s what they have to say:

Earlier this year, Third Formers, Sixth Formers and faculty were invited to take a survey regarding their experiences studying and working at an independent school.  The Independent School Gender Project seeks to gather data that will help to facilitate discussion about gender equity in independent schools.  Some of these books on display were included in a book list at the ISGP conference this past summer in Lakeville, CT.  Three faculty members and two students attended the three-day event.

During this conference, faculty and students from many different schools from the United States and Canada talked about the discoveries made by the ISGP and about issues that face students and faculty today.  We hope this list offers an array of books on many different topics that will enlighten readers about the various issues discussed at the conference.

- Mary Schone ‘10
- Grier Stockman ‘09

Stop by Ohrstrom today to see this very interesting selection of books.

You can read more about the ISGP conference HERE.

Related posts:

1. New Book Display: Black History Month 2009
2. Martin Luther King, Jr. Display at Ohrstrom Library
3. New Book Display: Graphic Novels

Lisa Laughy – Archives Assistant

Heading into Thanksgiving break you may be craving the luxury of escaping into a good book. Sure, you read all the time for school and cracking the covers of a book may be the farthest thing from how you plan to relax over the break. Consider taking the time to do some recreational reading during your down time, it may be just the thing you need to unwind.

With that in mind Ohrstrom Library staff has put together a special display in the Baker Reading Room of recommended recreational reading. Stop by Ohrstrom before heading out on your break and pick up something fun and distracting to read while away.

Image courtesy of MorBCN under this Creative Common license.

Related posts:

1. New Book Display: Graphic Novels
2. Holiday Greetings From Ohrstrom Library
3. Holiday Greetings From Ohrstrom Library