News from the Mudd

It’s Not Just For Academics Anymore

phone talkersAppleton. England. Not the same. This was proven by a little item in Monday’s New York Times. The main reading room of the British Library, formerly a stodgy bastion of serious researchers, relaxed its admission policy in 1998 when it moved into a new building. Now the tweedy, suede-patched-elbows set must rub shoulders with “anyone who has a relevant research need,” which includes college undergraduates. Here, we LOVE college undergraduates.

One regular user complained of the raucous behavior he witnessed:

“The worst is that they actually answer their phones…The phone vibrates and they go, ‘Hold on a minute, Nigel,’ and then they run out of the reading room and take the call.”

For the record:

1. Setting you phone to vibrate is a lovely and wondrous thing

2. Answering it and saying only “hold on” will endear you to us forever

3. And finally, walking outside to carry on a conversation makes our hearts go pitter-patter with delight

The Mudd: We’re Not the British Library

Suggestions for a greener Mudd

Green Mudd!

For Earth Day 2008. we asked visitors to suggest ways to make the Mudd Library more environmentally friendly. As usual, we got a bunch of good suggestions (the number of times something was mentioned is in parentheses):

  • Make all student/faculty printers double sided and make this the default setting. (3)
  • Make the urinals flush themselves less often.
  • Turn down the heat. (3)
  • Motion sensor lights in the bathrooms. (3)
  • Turn off the lights at night. (2)
  • Turn off the computers at night. (2)
  • Use energy efficient light bulbs… the lighting is horrible here.
  • Bring your own thermos/coffee mug to go at Lucy’s Breakfast.
  • Solar panels and/or gardens on the roof.
  • Charge for printing (or give each student a quota). 3 agreed, 5 disagreed to the idea of charging directly.
  • Replace bathroom fixtures/toilets with more water efficient models.
  • Get a copier that works. (2)
  • ID swipes for elevator use – encourage students to take the stairs for less than two floors. (2)

Do you have other ideas? Post them in the comments!

Faculty Award Citations

Citations for awards given to faculty members at Commencement each June are now available on the Archives website. Citations for honorary degrees awarded to retiring faculty are located at

http://www.lawrence.edu/library/archives/honfac.shtml

Citations for the Excellence in Teaching Award are located at

http://www.lawrence.edu/library/archives/univaward.shtml

And citations for the Young Teacher Award can be found at

http://www.lawrence.edu/library/archives/youngteacher.shtml

Citations go from 1978 to the present year, and additional years will be added in the future. For questions or information, visit or e-mail the University Archives.

Artist Series performers, 1908-2008

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Conservatory of Music Artist Series. The program was started in 1908 by William Harper, Dean of the Conservatory at the time. The series consists of outside performers of national and international acclaim coming to campus and giving concerts.

In honor of the centennial, a list of the performers from the last 100 years is now on the Archives’ website at

http://www.lawrence.edu/library/archives/artistseries.shtml

Throughout 2008, a digital collection and exhibit will also be done on the history of the Artist Series. For further information on the history of the Series, visit or e-mail the University Archives.

What’s In a Name?

skatersEveryone knows and loves Click & Clack, who are, thankfully, alive and well. But one of those who may have been an inspiration for their names is no longer with us. It was announced today that Werner Groebli, “Frick” of the comedy ice-skating team, Frick & Frack passed away on April 14 at the age of 92. The original Frack died in 1979, so the current Frack made the announcement.

The Mudd can help you repair your pre-1974 engine or learn how to figure skate, 1939-style.

Neither Shaken Nor Stirred

Mudd quakeAfter surviving a flood that ravaged the 4th floor, the Mudd narrowly escaped being flattened into heaping piles of concrete and fine Corinthian leather bindings by an earthquake that hit the Midwest early this morning . The Mudd’s solid 1974 construction made it impervious to Mother Nature’s puny swaggering, plus the fact that we’re approximately 475 miles from the epicenter may have been a contributing factor.

We can hardly wait until locust season.