Peter Gilbert

Author: Peter Gilbert

World Digital Library

The World Digital Library offers significant primary materials (books, photos, maps, manuscripts, video and sound recordings) from countries and cultures around the world. WDL is a new resource from our friends at the Library of Congress, with contributions by partner institutions in many countries; and the support of the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

You can browse by place, time, topic, type of item, and contributing institution, or you can do a keyword search. WDL includes many full-text books, some classic images, and a lot of just really interesting stuff. Take a look!

Celebrate National Library Week, April 12th-18th!

Participate in a week of festivities in celebration of National Library Week at the Seeley G. Mudd Library. While you’re here, take a look at some of our new acquisitions, browse our electronic resources, or learn about our services from one of our friendly librarians. All activities will take place on the first floor of the library unless otherwise specified.

Monday

Stairway of Reading

Share some fun information on one of our book cut-outs and add it to our poster on the stairway. See what you and other Lawrentians have in common!

Tuesday

Library Staff Baby Photos

See if you can match the library staff with their baby pictures. Prizes will be awarded for the most correct matches.

Wednesday

Visit the Reference Desk- Get a Cookie 12:00-4:00 pm

Get a cookie when you ask a question at the reference desk and see just how sweet the Mudd librarians can be!

Tropos Open Poetry Reading 8:00 pm, Milwaukee-Downer Room

Listen to Lawrence’s talented poets and writers and have the opportunity to share your favorite poetry. Celebrate National Library Week and National Poetry Month simultaneously!

Thursday

“The College Library at the Turn of the (20th) Century”

Presentation by Peter Gilbert 2:00 pm, south end of the reference section

The library: “Arranged with taste, preserved with neatness, and classified with order.”

The librarian: “Affable, accommodating and possessed of all knowledge.”

The students: “have access to the Library, once a week, either on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays.”

Sounds like it could be today – but it’s actually 1890.

Harken back to the turn of an altogether different century with a fascinating look at the library of the past with our University Librarian.

Friday

Interlibrary Loan Lenders Appreciation

Are you an ILL user? Help us appreciate the libraries that send us the books and articles you request by signing a thank you card.

Saturday

Video Game Tournament & Game Day 1:00-4:00 pm

Participate in a /Super Smash Brothers Brawl /tournament or play one of our fun board games in the Mudd. Sign up for the tournament by 3 pm on Friday at the Interlibrary Loan Office. All skill levels invited, prizes will be awarded.

Harper’s Index

For many of us, the best part of Harper’s Magazine is the Harper’s Index, that monthly collection of quirky facts and stats. In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Index, all 12,058 lines are free for searching and browsing. What is the minimum number of books in Harvard’s libraries that are bound in human flesh?

And, of course, the Mudd has issues of Harper’s going back into the mists of time…

Edith Widder comes to Lawrence

Edith Widder, Senior Scientist at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution and co-founder of the Ocean Research and Conservation Association (ORCA) in Fort Pierce, FL, will deliver a convocation address entitled “Eye in the Sea: What Does Deep Sea Exploration Tell Us About Marine Conservation.” Widder’s expertise in oceanographic research and technological innovation was recognized in 2006 with a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship.

As usual, the librarians at the Mudd have created a physical display in one of the display cases on the first floor of the Mudd, and a webpage linking to resources about Dr. Widder and her work. Enjoy!

Stanley Fish ’04, on the best American movies

In his New York Times blog for January 4, Stanley Fish (Lawrence class of 2004 honorary Doctor of Humane Letters) proposed his list of the 10 Best American Movies.

The Mudd has almost all of them:

What do you think? Are these the best American movies?