Of the wealth of information available on the Web today, perhaps no bounty is richer than digitized artifacts from an academic library’s Special Collections Department. Many students, scholars, and history aficionados aren’t aware what treasure there is to be found on the Web. Libraries often have rare, fragile, old, expensive, or archived items which are not included in their circulating collections. In the past, these materials, which cannot be checked out and are often locked away in special collections departments, were only accessible to on-site visitors. Today many libraries are creating Web-based repositories to house digitized versions of their special collections. You may have heard recent news coverage about the library at Cambridge University’s exciting addition of nearly 20,000 papers to the library’s online collection of the works of Charles Darwin. If you haven’t had a chance to explore this rich archive, please make sure to find some time. It is chock-full of naturally selected goodness.

Thirsty? Try some of Emma Darwin’s ginger beer. Click here for this and other recipes.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

(Click image to view Catich collection homepage)

Did you know that SAU also has a database of digitized artifacts? The database provides access to the artwork of Father Edward Catich, a former SAU art professor. Catich was an accomplished calligrapher and an international authority on stone incising, topography, and the origin and history of the Roman alphabet. You can view this collection by clicking here or through the Library’s databases link on the homepage.

See for yourself! Here is Batgirl in all of her book-lovin’/crime fightin’ glory in the pilot episode of Batgirl. Then scroll down to see pictures of our Library’s own Batgirl in the previous post.

Wowee! National Library week has been a blast here at the SAU Library. We’ve had music in the atrium, paper airplanes circling the reference desk, free food & drink, trivia contests, and more! But the most fun we’ve had all week may have been Tuesday when library staff members dressed up like their librarian heroes. Here are some photos for those of you who could not join us:

The action figure likeness of Seattle Public Librarian Nancy Pearl (Cassie from Tech Sevices) shushes Batgirl (Barb from Reference).

From left to right: Susan (stereotypical shushing librarian), Kathy, Eliza (stereotypical shushing librarian), Carol Anne (Marian the Librarian from  The Musicman), Cassie (Librarian action Figure), Barb (Batgirl), Malavika (Ms. Ranganathan), Joyce, & Stella (Evie O’Connell from the movie the Mummy).

Public, school, academic and special libraries make a difference to millions of Americans, today more than ever. National Library Week is April 13 to the 19th. Celebrate today by visiting the SAU Library! Join the circle of knowledge @ your library.

–A message brought to you by the American Library Association’s Campaign for America’s Libraries and the SAU Library
 

Attend these fabulous events this week at the SAU Library!:
 

All Week: Sign up for our raffle! - drawing will be Friday, April 18th at noon. Prizes include:

• iPOD Shuffle

• SAU Tote Bag including a thesaurus and dictionary, plus other stuff

• $25 Gift Certificate to the SAU Bookstore/Coffee Shop

• $15 Gift Certificate to the Rogalski Food Court

• SAU T-Shirt donated by the SAU Bookstore

• Book/DVD combos

• AND MORE!

Monday, April 14th

COOKIE DAY– visit us anytime today and enjoy free cookies courtesy of the library staff.

JAZZ–at 4:15 pm, enjoy the smooth grooves of the SAU Jazz Band. (30 minute event)

Tuesday, April 15th

NATIONAL LIBRARY WORKERS DAY Library staff will dress as their favorite librarian.

Wednesday, April 16th

DR. TIMOTHY WALCH AWARD At 11 am - St. Ambrose University will present a special award to Dr. Timothy Walch for his continued support of the SAU library through his donation of the Walch Irish Americana collection. Reading Room area on 2nd floor - light refreshments!!

ANNUAL PAPER AIRPLANE CONTEST

At 2:30 pm - Make a paper airplane to launch from the 3rd floor balcony and compete for prizes! Added bonus this year - use leftover tax forms to make your plane!!!

Friday, April 18th

DRAWING FOR DOOR PRIZES AT NOON.

POEM IN YOUR POCKET DAY!

On April 17th, you will be encouraged to carry a copy of your favorite poem in your pocket to share with those you meet. Click here for a page of short poems already formatted to fit in your pocket. Just print them off, cut them apart and put them in your pocket. Enjoy!

The SAU Library celebrates National Poetry Month each year to increase awareness of the artistic and cultural values of poetry.  Visit our webpage each day this month to view the  Poem of the Day. If you have a poem you would like to share, please send it to Library Director, Mary Heinzman, and she will post the poems on the webpage on a rotating basis . 

Also, we invite you to stop in and browse a cart full of selected poetry books parked in the in the Library’s lobby.
 

 Film Fest: “Billy Elliot”

10:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m., Library Media Room

Against the will of his father, young Billy Elliot exchanges his boxing gloves for ballet slippers. When he gets the chance to audition for the Royal Ballet School he must decide whether or not he can defy his macho father’s wishes. This historical drama is set in England during the tumultuous miners’ strike of 1984 (111 min.). Sponsored by the SAU Library and Minority Affairs.
   

Storytelling: Beverly Heintz

4–4:30 p.m., Library Atrium

Davenport storyteller Beverly Heintz will perform a multicultural creation story about “how the earth and man came to be.” Sponsored by the SAU Library and Minority Affairs.

This should be an afternoon of cultural diversity fun for families and people of all ages. This international celebration includes: Music and dance demonstrations, food from around the world, children’s activities and crafts, martial arts, and international displays and much more. Adults $2.00, SAU Students and Children under 12 are FREE! Open to the Public. Sponsored by BeeGlobal. Please come!!

For more information about SAU’s Multicultural Week Activities click here or on the Multicultural Week Events Calendar link above.

 If you’ve visited the atrium area of the SAU Library within the last two weeks, you have probably been confronted by a  flipchart with the words “This I Believe” printed across the top. If you’ve taken the time to stop and add a sentence indicating a personal belief to our flipchart, we thank you. If you have not, we invite you to join in a community wide dialogue about what you believe by adding a short statement at the library or by posting a comment to this page.
 

To learn more about this and other This I Believe activities on campus and in the community, please see the previous post entitled What Do You Believe?