Students from Professor Garth Bond’s fall-term English 527: History of the Book class will be exhibiting their term projects in the Mudd Library. The exhibit opens Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 4:30pm. Come join us for refreshments and interesting conversation about the research the students have done on books housed right here in the Mudd.
IPA, With a Twist
You say “IPA” to most people around here and they think “India Pale Ale.” Mmmmm. Beer. But singers are different. Their IPA is the International Phonetic Alphabet, that mysterious combination of other-worldly symbols that only singers can decipher. It’s their secret handshake. Now the Mudd has access to IPA Source, a database of phonetic translations of songs and arias. And with 24/7 access on and off campus, sopranos in their kerchiefs and tenors in their jammies can just settle down to O! ne finis jamais.
Into The Woods
The Visual Resources Library just added 36 images for the Department of Theatre Arts Fall 2010 performance of Into The Woods. You can find them in the Lawrence University Department of Theatre Arts Productions digital image collection. Select the production name from the drop down. You may find other productions that you are interested in looking at while you’re at it! 
Founders Day at the Library!
There’s been a library at Lawrence since its founding lo, these many years ago. The first Lawrence catalog from 1850-51 says this:
“A commencement for a good Library and Cabinet has been made, and 250 volumes or more secured for the former. Additions will continue to be made and the friends of the institution are hereby requested to make donations to the Library and Cabinet that they may speedily take rank with those which grace and benefit similar institutions in the East.”
In 1854, Amos Lawrence’s uncle-in-law, Samuel Appleton died and left $10,000 in his will for the “the increase of the Library” at Lawrence. In Uncle Sam’s honor, the library was called the “Appleton Library of Lawrence University.”
Before 1906, the library was in Main Hall. 
According to the 1855 catalog, access to the library was limited to one visit and one book per week, but by 1859, the Faculty Library Committee voted that “no students except those of the Senior Class shall be allowed to go into the Library to consult books.”
The library catalog was handwritten and listed books as they were added to the collection. To check out a book,
“On a slip of paper write the title of the book desired, the letters and number, according to the Catalogue, together with the name of the person drawing, and hand it to the Librarian, or his assistant. It would be well to put down several, in the same way, so that if the 1st be not in, the 2nd, or if the second be not there, the third may be drawn, and so on.”
Zelia Anne Smith, class of 1882, was Lawrence’s first full-time librarian and she served in that role from 1883 to 1924. This painting of her (to the right), commissioned by alumni on her death, hangs in the University Librarian’s office.
In 1905, Lawrence received a donation from Andrew Carnegie for the construction of a new library building. That building, located on the site of the current library, was torn down in 1974 to make way for the Mudd.
Free Books!
The Seeley G Mudd is having a book give-away. Feel free to peruse the shelves which are located on the second floor of the library. Follow the signs to the north wall where you can select as many books as you want for your reading pleasure.
Winter shenanigans
Winter term got you down? Perhaps a tricycle race is in order. This photograph from the University Archives shows LU students and Appleton children facing off in a tricycle race during Winter Carnival, circa 1977. The Winter Carnival was a tradition that began at Lawrence in the 1930s and continued off and on for decades. Visit the Archives for more information (and check out our exhibit on curling at LU on the first floor of the library).
Image stabilization is old technology. Just ask a chicken…
Disappointed with the results you get when you use your iPod or smartphone to videotape your latest escapades? We have found the perfect solution: the “Do It Yourself Steadicam Using A Chicken.” Here in the library we are always keeping an eye out for the latest technology.
(Chicken by Rob Neilson)
Welcome back! We have what you are looking for
Did you know that you can get a student office in the library? The library accepts applications for the nine offices we have available during the first week of class. Click here for more information and a link to the online form.
Need a good way to manage your bibliography? You can use RefWorks. It’s a web-based citation manager provided by the library. You can draft your bibliography using the entries in your RefWorks account in AAA, ACS, APA, Chicago, and MLA style, plus dozens of formats for publication in specific journals.
Don’t forget to vote!
It’s that time of year when we are all looking forward to seeing our distant relatives. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite photo at the Little Fockers Holiday Photo Contest before you hit the road!
The Great Wall of Reference
Steve and Tim were at it again today… Who knows what tomorrow will hold?
