BINDINGS - University of Iowa Libraries Magazine - Winter 2022

UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES MAGAZINE

WINTER 2022

Our mission to

PROVIDE STABILITY While uncertainty has become a common trope in these times, the Libraries continues to deliver crucial academic resources to our campus community. This is the hallmark of librarianship: to be a steady-state presence in society, maintaining and promoting free access to reliable information that can shed light on human realities and allow thinkers, researchers, and creatives to transform our perspectives and contribute innovations.

My conversations with students help me understand the profound challenges they see, as well as the substantial changes they are poised to make in our world. The scholarships the Libraries provides for our student employees (page 4) help ensure the time and support they need to succeed.

Partnerships with faculty to provide programs like the Conversation Center (page 10) create a cohesive sense of community while offering important cultural and academic learning opportunities. Our staff continually advocate for programs like these, resulting in a more thorough integration between the Libraries and the campus community.

With our librarians embedded into research grants such as the Iowa Superfund Research Program (page 22), we are able to bolster campus research efforts with services such as data management.

The Libraries continues to be committed to the university's creative programs. Our Art Library is pleased to welcome a new director (page 26) to lead those efforts. The Main Library Gallery's most recent exhibition highlights the illustrious career of Dostoevsky (page 30), providing curricular enrichment for our students.

We look forward to continuing to serve this campus, with plans to modernize the Main Library (page 43). I invite you to follow our progress on this project, which promises to provide improved services for our campus. Thank you for helping the Libraries in our efforts to enrich the academic endeavors of our university.

John Culshaw Jack B. King University Librarian

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Connect with us UofIowaLibraries

@UILibraries

University of Iowa Libraries

INSIDE THE LIBRARIES 2

From the University Librarian

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Student Employee Scholarship Winners

Our mission to ensure access to reliable, timely, and relevant information is more pressing than ever.

Meet the most recent winners of the Libraries’ student employee scholarships.

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Leveraging Library Spaces

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Staff Features

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20

Partnership with faculty from the Rhetoric Department connects members of our community.

Meet two of our staff members who contribute to the success of Iowa's students and faculty.

FEATURES 22

Data-driven Research

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COVER STORY

UI's Art Library Welcomes New Director

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Main Library Gallery

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Ellen Day Hale

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New Acquisitions in the Libraries

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Libraries Development

Annual Anthony Lecture Guest speaker Peter D. Verheyen presents to a virtual audience on research, binding practice, and publishing.

Librarians assist with data management for grant studying toxic sites and buildings.

Gimenez joins the University Libraries staff.

Not Done A gift from Jean Lloyd-Jones supports the Iowa Women’s Archives efforts to document the history of Iowa women in politics.

UIowaLibraries

From Dostoevsky to our Hawkeye history, the Main Library Gallery enriches campus and community with engaging exhibitions.

David McCartney writes about new discoveries that uncover the identity of the artist who painted the portrait of a UI president.

The Libraries' new curator of rare books, Eric Ensley, who writes about recent acquisitions.

A time of transition for our development efforts.

ON THE COVER: The University of Iowa's

Art Library, located in Art Building

West, sits in the cantilevered portion of the building overlooking a pond, offering a beautiful setting for study and research.

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2021-2022 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Jared Bock

Naudya Chhuon

Jared Bock is the recipient of a UI Libraries

Naudya Chhuon is the recipient of the Judy

Student Employee Scholarship.

and Mike Greer Scholarship in Memory of

Psychology and Political Science major Mason City, IA

“Employment at the Business Library has helped

Global Health Studies major Des Moines, IA

Mary E. Greer.

me foster time management skills in addition to

“Working at the library taught me efficient

honing interpersonal skills that I can take into

listening and communicating while I helped

my future career and endeavors.

people at the desk and answer any question that

I never realized all of the work that goes on behind the scenes at the libraries. All of the daily ins and outs tend to fly under the radar, but there are a lot of people working hard to provide

came my way. These two skills will benefit me a lot in my future career because I need to ensure people are heard. These are also great social skills for everyday life.

a wide array of resources and services

The biggest surprise for me is the amount of

to students.

material we have in the library. The stacks go

This scholarship will help make my undergraduate educational goals more attainable

on and on and on! There is definitely a book for everything and anything.

and help reduce the long term financial burden

This scholarship will help me tremendously.

of pursuing a degree.”

There have been semesters where I almost could not attend because of the lack of funds. That is the main reason why I obtained a job. This scholarship has taken a weight off my shoulder and off my family’s shoulder too. I am forever grateful for the library offering this.”

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Scholarships for Undergraduate Student Employees of the Libraries

Sarah Dodd

Steven Garcia

Sarah Dodd is the recipient of the Dale M. and

Steven Garcia is the recipient of a Benton

Mary Gail Bentz Libraries Student Employee

Family Music Library Employee Scholarship.

English & Creative Writing/History double major Mason City, IA

Scholarship.

Computer Science & Journalism and Mass Communication major — Ottumwa, IA

“I would say that one of the main things I've

“I was surprised by the amount of material in

learned from working at the Libraries would be

Special Collections and I was surprised how

how to communicate better. My employment

much information students have access to

at the Rita Benton Music Library is the first

through the resources in the library.

job I've ever had, so it has shown me how to

I knew it was a wide variety, but Special Collections has so many unique materials that I never thought I would have encountered as a student doing specific research.

This scholarship will help me greatly by offsetting my last semester of tuition as I prepare for graduate school and the next step of my education.”

report to someone and communicate whatever is necessary. I feel like this is one of the fundamental skills I will need for my future career.

I was surprised by how things work behind the desk; I've been going to libraries my whole life, and it's been a really interesting experience to see the whole process of making sure everything operates efficiently so patrons can get the materials they need.

This award will help go toward my tuition next semester, and anything that remains will be used toward savings for when I graduate.” continued on page 6

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2021-2022 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Emma Kohlenberg

Elizabeth Lovell

Emma Kohlenberg is the recipient of a Benton

Elizabeth Lovell is the recipient of the

Family Music Library Employee Scholarship.

Dale M. and Mary Gail Bentz Libraries

Theatre Arts major Bloomington, IL

“I started working at the Rita Benton Music

Sociology major, with track in Family and Health Services Peoria, IA

Student Employee Scholarship.

Library the first semester of my freshman year.

“My work at Hardin Library has taught me many

As finals approached, something clicked in

things about libraries! I have gained a lot of

my brain about how much I like working for

experience working with LibGuides, using Excel,

the library. It clicked when I realized I genuinely

and getting to know the library world. I have also

enjoy work that serves other people.

gotten to know many of the wonderful librarians

When I returned to the Music Library in the fall after quarantine, I figured out I love the curiosity for knowledge. It took working at the library for

at Hardin and learned about their own paths to librarianship. They have all given me advice as I start my own journey.

me to figure out that what I love is how people

The thing that surprised me the most was how

are curious and then watching them—helping

much support we provide to everyone, not

them—find the answers. Even if I did not know a

just students. People come in with all sorts of

thing about that topic or, better yet, if I thought

questions, and those of us who work in a library

I never would know a thing about the topic, I got

are ready for anything.

to see the seeds of someone else figuring it out.

This scholarship will help me immensely. It will

Knowing how much I love that very specific thing

let me cut down on the hours I work to pay for

gives me joy and also gives me much more of an

school and help me begin paying off my loans. I

idea of what I am meant to do after I graduate.”

will have more time to focus on my research, my studies, and applying for graduate school!”

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Scholarships for Undergraduate Student Employees of the Libraries

Kelsey Lyons

Alexis Redshaw

Kelsey Lyons is the recipient of the

Alexis Redshaw is the recipient of the

Dale M. and Mary Gail Bentz Libraries

Dale M. and Mary Gail Bentz Libraries

Student Employee Scholarship.

Student Employee Scholarship.

“Working at the Lichtenberger Engineering

“My work at the Hardin Library has helped

Library has helped me refine my customer

me to develop important professional skills

service skills. I have learned the importance of

through the leadership skills I have gained in

asking patrons specific and direct questions to

guiding new employees, as well as becoming

help them find what they are looking for, which

more detail-oriented through the work I do

will be relevant in conducting patient interviews.

with the book collections. I hope to utilize

Biomedical Engineering major (pre-med), Spanish minor — Ankeny, IA

I have been surprised by the extensive library resources. My knowledge of these resources has been an unexpected yet extremely valuable

Ethics & Public Policy major (pre-law), Art History & Philosophy minor — Underwood, IA

these skills as an attorney through the work I do in guiding clients, as well as preparing cases.

aspect of my undergraduate education, and

I was not expecting to gain the many

the connections I've made through the library

friendships I have with my fellow

have been an invaluable component to feeling

staff members!

welcomed by the UI community.

This scholarship will help to financially

This award will help me to pay for medical

support me in my ongoing journey of

school applications. I chose to spend many hours

becoming an art law attorney.”

volunteering to help marginalized communities in Iowa City, and this award alleviates some of the financial burden I took on as a result.”

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2021-2022 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Amalia Sandoval

Graciela Vebi

Amalia Sandoval is the recipient of a UI Libraries

Graciela Vebi is the recipient of a UI Libraries

Student Employee Scholarship.

Student Employee Scholarship.

“Working in Special Collections at the

“Working at the Library has improved my time

Main Library has helped me develop many

management skills as well as shaping the work

transferrable skills, including Excel and

environment that I would thrive in.

Interdepartmental Studies in Health Sciences (predentistry), Global Health Studies minor — Silvis, IL

communication and organizational skills. My job at the library is helping me gain experience and improve the skills that aren't taught in dental school.

It was super surprising to see all of the different materials and artifacts that have been donated to or collected by Special Collections. I also was surprised to see all of the work that goes into preserving the material and keeping them in the best condition possible.

I am paying for school on my own, so this scholarship relieves some of the stress I have about the high cost of a college education. I work two jobs in order to pay for school, so this scholarship will make it easier and less stressful in the coming semester.”

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Microbiology major (pre-med) Jakarta, Indonesia

As a very indecisive person, working at the library helped me realize that even though directions are nice to follow, autonomy is also nice, especially once you already know what you're doing.

This scholarship has greatly reduced the financial burden of my higher education as well as providing better opportunities for my little sister to go to a university.”

Scholarships for Undergraduate Student Employees of the Libraries

ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIPS The UI Libraries offers four types of scholarships for undergraduate student employees. We are grateful to our donors, including many Libraries staff members, for their generous support for this program.

Student employees at the University Libraries provide critical staffing and services that benefit the entire UI community. Generally, four UI Libraries Student Employee Scholarships of $2,500 each are available each year.

Abigail Whitford

Ancient Civilizations major, Medieval Studies & Museum Studies certificates, Art History minor — Stevens Point, WI

Abigail Whitford is the recipient of a UI Libraries Student Employee Scholarship.

“Working for the Libraries has taught me endurance. As a student, having the consistency of a student job is invaluable.

When student life gets difficult, I can count on my job to be steady. No matter what my semester looks like, I know I will work for the Libraries.

I am surprised by the endless amounts of projects and tasks there are to do! I feel that libraries can be seen as stagnant, but they are always in flux. It is a joy to come into work and discover new things to be improved upon.

This scholarship will allow me to continue my undergraduate studies with confidence.

Funding provided to me from the Libraries defrays the cost of loan repayment. I am grateful that I feel so supported by my place of employment.”

The family of Arthur and Rita Benton established the Benton Family Music Library Student Employee Scholarship, awarded to University Libraries’ student employees who work in the Rita Benton Music Library. Hired in 1952 to catalog music holdings, Rita Benton was head of the Music Library from 1957 until her death in 1980. Later that year, the UI dedicated the Rita Benton Music Library in recognition of her service to the University and her contributions to music librarianship and musicology. Two scholarships of $2,500 are available each year to qualified applicants.

The children of Dale M. and Mary Gail Bentz established the Dale M. and Mary Gail Bentz Libraries Student Employee Scholarship in memory of their parents. Dale came to Iowa in 1953 and served the UI Libraries for 36 years.

From 1981 until his retirement in 1986, Dale led the organization as University Librarian.

Active in his profession, Dale made numerous contributions to the librarianship over his 45-year career. Four scholarships of $2,500 are available each year.

Judy and Mike Greer established the Judy and Mike Greer Scholarship in Memory of Mary E. Greer to honor the memory of Mike’s mother, who worked for 25 years in the Main Library Circulation Department. The scholarship is awarded to University Libraries’ student employees who work in the Main Library. One scholarship of $2,500 is available each year.

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partnerships with

FACULTY 10

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Leveraging library spaces Faculty offer the Conversation Center to enrich students

BY MICHELLE MILLDYKE

Many of us remember the first awkward days of college— trying to find the right building, deciding where to sit in class, scanning the crowd for a potential friend.

Imagine, though, going through that same

“Even though it’s called the Conversation

discomfort—that same anxiety—in a foreign

Center, there is no actual room or fixed

country where you do not speak the language

location for the Conversation Center—it’s

fluently or know the cultural norms and

an idea,” says Benjamin Hassman, associate

expectations. Everything is different, from

professor of instruction in the Rhetoric

the food in the cafeteria to fellow students’

Department and the Center’s current

perspectives on higher education’s role in

director. The Conversation Practicum is co-

society. Thanks to the Conversation Center,

taught by Sonja Mayrhofer, lecturer in the

international students at the University of

Rhetoric Department and assistant director

Iowa can overcome some of the challenges

of the Conversation Center.

intrinsic to being international while simultaneously building their informal and intercultural communication skills with trained conversation partners.

The Conversation Center’s flexible location concept has led to multiple semesters in the UI’s Main Library (working with Cathy Cranston, director of undergraduate

In the fall of 2014, students in a President’s

engagement at the UI Libraries, Rhetoric

Leadership Class noted a social divide

liaison, and an instructor for ESL and Iowa

between international and domestic students

Intensive English Program classes), Hardin

and wanted to help international students

Health Library for the Health Sciences

feel confident in fully participating in campus

(working with Janna Lawrence, director

and community life. Their initiative put

of the Hardin Library), and the Marvin A.

the wheels in motion, and two years later,

Pomerantz Business Library (with

staffed by undergraduates enrolled in the

Willow Fuchs, business reference &

Conversation Practicum training course, the

instruction librarian).

Conversation Center debuted.

continued on page 12

OPPOSITE PAGE: This year, Benjamin Hassman was honored with the UI's International Engagement Teaching Award for his years of work with the Conversation Center, a program that pairs native English speakers with international students seeking to practice their English skills.

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Hassman sees libraries as an ideal meeting

The conversations moved fully online throughout

place. “Libraries are community spaces,” he

the bulk of the pandemic. International students

says. “Part of what a library should be is a public

joined from their home countries or wherever

communication space where people can expand

they were during the lockdown. Staying

their social networks.”

connected helped the international students

Hassman credits librarians’ deep commitment to helping others for being part of the success of the Conversation Practicum class and the Conversation Center.

Based in the Rhetoric Department, the Conversation Practicum class enrolls approximately 30 students per semester.

About one-third of participants are Rhetoric minors, but during its five-year run, students representing more than fifty majors have taken the class and held conversations with international students and scholars interested in practicing their English and making personal connections. These conversations are mutually beneficial, as student-staff learn cultural competency and humility and develop their own

added element of the chat feature in the online platform, as they could type parts of their conversations to clarify meaning and enhance mutual understanding.

There are no guidelines for the conversations, and topics range from the mundane to the profound. “The conversations open reflection on common understandings and misunderstandings. We all make assumptions about education and society, about family,” Hassman says. “Sometimes, the conversations take emotional effort. There are linguistic boundaries and cultural contexts to work through—for example, feeling like you’re burdening the other person.”

sense of agency from their interactions with

The Conversation Practicum class regularly

international students.

offers new opportunities. For example,

For the first three weeks, students study informal communication and talk with campus experts, like Melissa Meisterheim and Amy Chastain from English as a Second Language (ESL), and Brandon Paulson and Rudia Kihura from International Students and Scholar Services (ISSS). Training also incorporates discussions

Undergraduate Engagement Librarian and Rhetoric liaison Katie Hassman helped develop the Intercultural Book Group, led by Conversation Center peer leader Alexa Oleson, who is now a graduate student in the Iowa State Educator Preparation Program, focusing on international education.

about First Generation student issues and access

In 2017, then-student and Fulbright recipient

to campus resources.

Sylvia Dean’s familial connection with the

During the middle 10 weeks of the class, students spend at least three hours per week with “conversation seekers,” meeting mostly in campus libraries—locations they’re excited to return to alongside online conversations.

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feel less isolated, and some appreciated the

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Friendship Community Project, a nonprofit that works with adult immigrants in the Iowa City area, led to a series of community conversation events in the Iowa City Public Library, including visits and support from UI librarian Brett Cloyd.

ABOVE: A conversation in the Main Library Learning Commons helps students learn and make social connections.

Cloyd is the social science and public policy

space where international students already are,

librarian, English as a Second Language (ESL)

already feel at home,” Hassman says.

specialist, international liaison, and Fulbright librarian at the UI.

“Students in the Conversation Center program are not tutors; they’re just willing to talk

The public library conversations allowed

and learn. Libraries afford a sense of equal

students to experience the difference between

ownership in the conversation.”

communicating with fellow students from an international background and with community members from an international background.

Additionally, holding the conversations in the UI Libraries offers visibility. Not only other students, but parents, community members,

Benjamin Hassman thanks the UI’s digital

alumni, and tour groups appreciate seeing

literacy librarian and former Main Library

multicultural conversations and the outwardly

Learning Commons coordinator Brittney

valued connections among people from

Thomas and Circulation and User Services

diverse backgrounds. “The visual aspect of

librarian Constance Wade for welcoming the

the Conversation Center is a symbol of the

Conversation Center participants over the years.

relationships that are possible on the UI

“Libraries are a space for everyone—a natural

campus,” Hassman says.

For more info...

GET INVOLVED—UI students, faculty, and staff can make an appointment by visiting the

Conversation Center web site.

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STAFF FEATURES

BY JENNIFER MASADA

Rita Soenksen In 2020, Rita officially joined the Libraries as the English and Communication Studies Librarian after working here on an interim basis. She is active in the classroom and guides the development of our research collections in English and Communication Studies. Rita is an early-career librarian.

She is passionate about diversity in libraries and on campus and coordinates the Libraries' Anti-Racism subject guide.

The guide provides general information about anti-oppression, racism, privilege, and inclusion, as well as information and resources for the social justice issues key to current dialogues within the University of Iowa community and beyond. It has been referred to widely as a resource with nearly 3,200 views this year.

Recently, the Libraries appointed Rita as the interim director of Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI). She will be working with members of our staff to form a DEAI council and forge campus partnerships while we launch a national search for the permanent director’s position.

For more info...

DEI GUIDE—In partnership with the university's Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), the University Libraries hosts a DEI subject guide to provide resources and a connection hub for those interested in engaging in DEI work. Anyone can access the guide, which is useful for those who are new to DEI as well as those who are experienced in it.

Acknowledging that there are many different perspectives and resources about DEI, the guide offers suggestions not as a definitive list but as jumping off points for further reading, study, and dialogue.

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AS ACADEMIC PARTNERS IN THE CLASSROOM AND IN RESEARCH, librarians often straddle the worlds of faculty and staff. Rita and Sara represent the finest of early- and mid-career librarians, who, like their colleagues across the entire Libraries staff, play an important role in aiding scholarship, research, and instruction across campus. This is the first in a series of Bindings articles in which we plan to highlight the work of individual Libraries’ staff.

Sara Scheib Sara, a mid-career librarian, is adjunct faculty in the School of Library and Information Science and is also engaged in the campus’ Informatics initiatives.

Three years ago, the Libraries called upon Sara to help launch a new unit: the Scholarly Impact Department. The Scholarly Impact Department supports UI faculty, graduate students, and other researchers and scholars in maximizing the impact of their research and creative works. Sara and her small team of librarians partner with faculty across campus on copyright and fair use, data management, as well as researcher profiles and measuring impact. Her team also coordinates our OpenHawks open educational resources program to reduce the cost of textbooks and course materials for students.

This year, Sara’s team is partnering with the libraries at Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa to establish a joint funding opportunity for the creation of the Regents Open Educational Resources (OER) grant program. Funded by the CARES Act, this program will fund small teams of faculty, graduate students, and staff at any of the three Board of Regents State of Iowa public universities to support the growing use of sustainable, affordable course materials. According to the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition, (SPARC), OER provide teaching, learning, and research resources that are free of cost and access barriers and licenses for open use.

For more info...

SCHOLARLY PUBLISHING—Find resources and workshops online at lib.uiowa.edu/scholarly-impact BINDINGS

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NOT DONE

Former Iowa legislator Jean Lloyd-Jones helps tell the stories of women in politics with a gift to the UI Libraries' Iowa Women’s Archives.

BY BEN FROTSCHER

Jean Lloyd-Jones (71MA) spent 16 years as an Iowa legislator and has spent much of her life advocating for women—from all backgrounds and political affiliations—to pursue careers in politics.

“I found that trying to unearth information

Lloyd-Jones’ latest venture aimed to

King University Librarian at the University of

commemorate the centennial of the 19th amendment in 2020 and pay tribute to Iowa women who served in statewide or national public office.

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about Iowa women and what they did during suffrage—as well as the 100 years since—was a monumental task,” says Lloyd-Jones. “Most women did not keep good records or did not make them accessible.”

John Culshaw, who holds the title of Jack B. Iowa, told Lloyd-Jones that his team of librarians, information specialists, and individuals within the Digital Scholarship and Publishing Studio could help bring her vision to life.

ABOVE: Photo of the dome at the Iowa Capitol, where Lloyd-Jones spent her political career. Photo by John Pemble.

“As a research library, we preserve information

While Lloyd-Jones was thrilled to see the site go

and make it discoverable thus enabling the

live, she knew it could be much more. “The Hard

creation of knowledge, an integral part of the

Won, Not Done website has all of the women who

university experience,” says Culshaw. “Jean had

have ever served in the Iowa legislature,” she says,

this great idea, and we wanted to help save and

“but if it’s going to be any sort of research tool for

tell the stories of Iowa women in politics while

future generations, it needs to be more robust.”

creating a dynamic tool that could be updated over time.”

That’s why Lloyd-Jones, of Iowa City, recently made a $2 million gift to support the Iowa Women’s

In 2020, the Hard Won, Not Done—A Salute to

Archives—which is housed with the UI Libraries’

Iowa Women Politicians site was launched on

Special Collections & Archives—to create a position

the UI Libraries website. More than 50 of Iowa’s

dedicated to their expansive political collection,

current and former female politicians took part

including to the new Women in Politics website.

in the initiative, and tributes were included on former politicians who have since died.

continued on page 18

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This new position will be called the Jean Lloyd-

An experience shortly thereafter led to a

Jones and Michal Eynon-Lynch Iowa Women’s

new challenge.

Archives Women in Politics Archivist—the second named position within the UI Libraries.

at the time, convinced me to come and be her

“My goal has been to raise the awareness of

clerk in Des Moines for a few weeks,” says Lloyd-

needing to have more women in politics,” says

Jones. “That was a fabulous education. Even

Lloyd-Jones. “By funding a position within the

though I had lobbied before, there was nothing

Iowa Women’s Archives, I hope to help continue

like being backstage and seeing how politics

to update, maintain, and expand upon the Women

really worked. After three days, I told Minnette

in Politics website, as well as to tell the stories of

that I wanted to run for political office.”

Iowa women yet to come and make that content accessible to all.”

From New Mexico Childhood to Influential Iowan Jean Lloyd-Jones was born in Washington, DC, and grew up in Carrizozo, New Mexico, where her father was a state legislator. During her

In 1979, Lloyd-Jones was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives—serving four terms— before serving two more terms in the Iowa Senate. As a state legislator, she helped form a support group for women pages—which later became the Legislative Women’s Caucus—and managed several bills, including the “Buckle up

childhood, her hometown of 2,000 residents built

Baby” bill.

a town library, and Lloyd-Jones became a lover of

Her political influence went far beyond the

libraries from then on.

“I loved to go to the library as a kid,” says LloydJones, whose favorite childhood book was the fictional classic Heidi, authored by Johanna

capital, though, working toward equality for women in politics. She conceived the idea for the Iowa Peace Institute, worked to build and fund that organization, and served as its chair for the

Spyri. “I read lots of books, and that was an early

first eight years.

introduction to the importance of libraries

In 2010, Lloyd-Jones and former Iowa state

for me.”

Lloyd-Jones eventually attended the University of New Mexico, where she met her late husband, Richard Lloyd-Jones (56PhD), who would become a long-time faculty member in the University of Iowa Department of English. After transferring to Northwestern University, she earned an English literature degree and began her career

senator Maggie Tinsman (74MSW) launched 50-50 in 2020, a bipartisan, issue-neutral organization that assisted women in running for office. While not every goal was reached, the state of Iowa has since had women holding the governor’s office, one U.S. Senate seat, and three U.S. Representative seats, and the number of women in the Iowa Legislature has increased

as a volunteer in local peace and civic activities.

from 23% to 30%.

After a move to Iowa City, Lloyd-Jones eventually

“She brings such intentionality and

pursued a master’s degree in history from the University of Iowa and took a leadership position with the League of Women Voters.

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“Minnette Doderer (48BA), an Iowa state senator

WINTER 2022

thoughtfulness to everything—whether it’s trying to save the Rock Island rail line so that we can have rail travel in the future to figuring out how

to have equitable engagement as we work toward

“The Iowa Women’s Archives has been supported

gender parity in our state legislature,” says her

with philanthropy from the beginning; it started

granddaughter, Michal Eynon-Lynch (03MA),

with a gift 30 years ago,” says Culshaw. “We’ve

of Iowa City. “I've always been impressed by my

always had a dream to grow the staff, and

grandmother, not only what she's accomplished

Jean’s generosity and foresight of making this

but how she's accomplished it, and I'm grateful to

an endowed gift is building possibilities and

have learned so much from her.”

sustainability for the future.”

A Lifetime of Volunteering, Giving Back

Janet Weaver, assistant curator for the Iowa

Throughout most of her life, Lloyd-Jones has been an active volunteer—including serving on the Iowa City Public Library board and the University of Iowa’s Friends of the Libraries committee. She has also given back to the University of Iowa for 50 years, in part, because of all that the state of Iowa and the university has given to her.

“I can’t imagine what my life would have been if I had not lived in Iowa,” says Lloyd-Jones. “My husband grew up in Mason City, and his salary as a faculty member at the University of Iowa allowed us to rear our four children here. They benefitted from Iowa’s excellent public education system. I was active in nonprofit organizations where I met incredible people—intelligent, committed Iowans who took their work and their politics seriously. I’ve learned so much from them. Now, with a 91-year-old’s perspective, I marvel at the many benefits I enjoyed and opportunities that have come to me only because I am an Iowan.” Lloyd-Jones’ recent gift to the Iowa Women’s Archives will help share stories, in perpetuity, of Iowa women who pursue politics.

Culshaw also sees this person who holds the title

Women’s Archives, says the political collection is home to a wide range of topics—whether it’s the papers of more than 25 women who served in the Iowa state legislature, the papers of numerous political activists, or the records of Iowa women’s political organizations.

“Politics has been richly entwined in the daily lives of so many Iowa women, and their records in the Iowa Women’s Archives reflect that,” says Weaver. “In fact, our co-founder, Mary Louise Smith (35BA), was the first woman to chair the Republican National Committee in the 1970s.”

For Michal, a former world history teacher who co-founded an educational startup, Pear Deck, she’s excited to see women’s history being brought alive thanks to her grandmother.

“We know that women—whether it’s running for and holding political office, supporting campaigns, or marching in the streets—have played an incredibly important role in progressing this state’s and country’s policies,” says Michal. “Having the funding behind a project like this means that these stories actually have a chance to be told.”

working to bring new collections to the Iowa Women’s Archives, teaching classes involving women in Iowa politics, and helping K–12 teachers around the state to share the stories of Iowa women in politics.

Learn more about Iowa women and their impact on politics at local, state, and national levels on the Hard Won website.

BINDINGS

19

the Libraries' annual

ANTHONY LECTURE for book and paper conservators & bookbinders

BY GISELLE SIMÓN, UI LIBRARIES UNIVERSITY CONSERVATOR

Last fall, the University of Iowa Libraries’ Conservation and Collections Care Department presented the 2021 William Anthony Conservation Lecture, "Down the Rabbit Hole: Embracing Experience and Serendipity in a Life of Research, Binding Practice, and Publishing," with Peter D. Verheyen.

The lecture, hosted on Zoom this year, featured

About the speaker

Verheyen’s reflections on how he came to

Peter D. Verheyen started down his path as

discover bookbinding and conservation.

a work-study student in the Department of

During the session, Verheyen discussed the

Conservation and Preservation at the Milton

relationships he formed and experiences he

S. Eisenhower Library of The Johns Hopkins

gathered along the way, and the ways in which

University, followed by a museum internship

these encounters intersected in his ongoing and

and formal apprenticeship in Germany

ever-morphing research interests.

and Switzerland.

The lecture highlighted the synergy of his varied

Returning to the U.S., he worked as a

experiences, including a bio/bibliographic work

conservator in private practice and academic

on Ernst Collin's Pressbengel, experiments using

libraries and also worked as a librarian.

fish skin in bookbinding, and investigations into the German binding tradition.

20

His research interests focus on the German tradition in bookbinding. He is the translator of

In conjunction with the lecture, Verheyen also

Ernst Collin's Der Pressbengel and completed

offered a specialized workshop on the history

a bilingual history and bibliography titled

and construction of the German case binding,

The Collins: W. Collin, Court Bookbinders &

titled "The Bradel Binding and Its Illustrious

Ernst Collin, the Author of the Pressbengel. He

History," for students at the University of

shares research via his Pressbengel Project

Iowa Center for the Book and the Libraries’

blog and in other publications. He founded the

conservation staff. The Nadia Sophie Seiler Fund

Book_Arts-L listserv in 1994 and the Bonefolder

made the workshop possible.

e-journal in 2004.

WINTER 2022

ABOVE: Verheyen preparing a fish skin for use in book bindings.

About the lecture series

The lecture series began in 2013. Visit our

The William Anthony Conservation Lecture

website for descriptions of past lectures.

Series, hosted by the University of Iowa Libraries Conservation and Collections Care, invites book and paper conservators and bookbinders to share their experience and work with the UI book arts community and beyond.

Funded by a generous gift that established the William Anthony Conservation Fund, the

William Anthony Conservation Fund The William Anthony Conservation Fund is an endowment established in 1989 through the perceptive and generous support of Julie Scott and James Fluck to honor the legacy of Bill Anthony, the first conservator of the UI Libraries.

Gifts to the William Anthony Conservation Fund

lecture series honors the University of Iowa

help support ongoing conservation activities

Libraries’ first Library Conservator and the first

and special projects. Gifts help fund non-

bookbinding instructor at University of Iowa

budgeted priorities that strengthen library

Center for the Book.

resources and services for students and faculty.

Learn more READ—A biography of Anthony.

WATCH—A video showing Anthony in the UI Libraries' Conservation Lab. (Advance to 4:35 to view footage featuring the work of master bookbinder and conservator of books, William Anthony.)

BINDINGS

21

DATA-DRIVEN

22

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N RESEARCH

Librarians assist with data management for grant studying toxic sites and buildings

BY MICHELLE MILLDYKE

Two UI librarians are currently embedded in a large, multi-year grant, and assisting with data management. Qianjin (Marina) Zhang, engineering and informatics librarian at the Lichtenberger Engineering Library, and Brian Westra, data services librarian in the Libraries’ Scholarly Impact Department, are part of the Iowa Superfund Research Program (ISRP), a multi-project center grant.

The grant, which is under the direction of

The ISRP conducts collaborative research

the UI College of Engineering, is funded

on sources, exposures, toxicities, and

by the National Institute of Environmental

remediation of polychlorinated biphenyls

Health Services (NIEHS). The Libraries

(PCBs), including possible PCB sources

serves as one of many campus partners

in schools, homes, and areas near highly

assisting with the grant.

contaminated waterways.

Learn more about the ISRP online.

continued on page 24

BINDINGS

23

continued from page 23

Zhang and Westra participated in the ISRP

department and, in the spring of 2021, cross-listed

grant-proposal process, contributing to the

with the College of Public Health’s Occupational

Data Management and Analysis Core (DMAC)

and Environmental Health department. The

section and providing a data-management plan

course covers essential practices in research

template for the data-sharing statements required

data management and sharing, including file

for several components of the proposal. Zhang

organization, data documentation, lab notebook

also helped format bibliographies for the entire

best practices, tabular data structure, and data

proposal. The NIEHS accepted the proposal for

curation.

funding starting in April of 2020 and extending to 2025, with both librarians funded at 10% of their time as members of the DMAC. The NIEHS required the DMAC to: 1. Facilitate data management, integration, sharing, and interoperability of data assets in alignment with FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data principles.

2. Coordinate and manage data analysis and data quality throughout the lifecycle of data products.

take the course become advocates for it,” Zhang says.

“They recommend it to first-year doctoral students to develop best practices in data management at the beginning of their careers.”

Because the ISRP is a multidisciplinary program

To that end, Westra and Zhang have built

composed of faculty, staff, and students from

relationships with researchers, staff, and

civil and environmental engineering, biomedical

undergraduate and graduate students,

engineering, microbiology and immunology,

collaborating to identify and define opportunities

medicinal and natural products chemistry, urban

and needs, providing workshops on research data

planning, human toxicology, and occupational

topics, offering data-management assistance, and

and environmental health, Westra and Zhang

curating data published through the University

have been able to showcase the capabilities of a

of Iowa’s research repository, Iowa Research

responsive and engaged data services program to

Online. Prior to the grant, they participated in

a wide range of academics.

weekly research group meetings to learn about the projects, gather information about the data management and share practices of the program, and provide guidance and resources.

24

“Students who

“We teach researchers best practices for managing data, which makes their workflow easier and makes their data easier to find, reuse, and integrate,” Zhang says. “At first, some researchers

Their presentations and discussions became

are skeptical, not sure what we can do for them.

the basis for a one-credit, graduate-level

Data management is relatively new, and they

Research Data Management Seminar for ISRP

come in with their own way of managing and

trainees, initially offered through the College of

naming data. But as we present workshops and

Engineering’s Civil and Environmental Engineering

show them how data management will help them

WINTER 2022

in their careers, we build up trust. We provide

The key points in their presentation emphasize

services beyond data management, too, such as

the benefits of an embedded-librarian approach:

comprehensive literature review and access to

opportunity to develop relationships with

subscriptions to high-quality resources,” she says.

researchers, increased awareness of librarians’

“Research funders, researchers, publishers, and others are increasingly emphasizing or even requiring that the data from research be preserved and made accessible to others and the public,” Westra says. “Surveys show that the public is more supportive of research that shares the underlying data. NIEHS was very up front about that expectation, and ISRP supports the goals of data sharing and integration.”

“Our data services include curating data and providing a repository where the materials are preserved, described with robust metadata, discoverable, and linked to publications,” Westra continues. “This project has provided opportunities to develop and refine these services, which are available to all University of Iowa researchers.”

This past July, Zhang and Westra presented their paper, “Embedded Librarians to Support Data Management Needs of a Multidisciplinary Research Program,” at the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference, describing the partnership between the UI Libraries and the multidisciplinary research program and highlighting the activities of the first year of the 2020-2025 grant.

services, and enhanced visibility to researchers beyond this program. Westra and Zhang believe the embedded-librarian approach is effective.

“It’s been a good learning process,” Zhang says. “It shows that liaison librarians and data librarians can collaborate to provide services for researchers in an effective, timely manner. Responsiveness is key when researchers need to publish or present their data quickly.”

Zhang and Westra revise the Research Data Management Seminar regularly based on student feedback. Westra is collaborating with other data librarians to share instructional curricula and materials among the superfund programs. His curation work is aligned with the philosophy of the Data Curation Network (DCN)—a network of curators who are striving to make data more ethical, reusable, and understandable. Because some of the data the ISRP produces is mass spectrometry data, Westra proposed working with the DCN to create a guide for curating data of this type. The DCN accepted his proposal, and he is collaborating on the guide with chemistry librarians from several institutions. The guide will be useful for other Superfund programs and other curators of this chemical data.

Both librarians enjoy being part of the ISRP and are thankful for the Libraries’ administrative support that allows them to continue. “This program broadens students’ perspectives on how their research connects with the public. I appreciate the researchers’ passion and that they want to do something good for the people of the world,” Zhang says.

BINDINGS

25

cover

STORY

ART

26

WINTER 2022

LIBRARY

Welcomes Gimenez as its new director

BY JENNIFER MASADA

The University Libraries is pleased to announce the arrival of a new director for the Art Library, Patricia Gimenez. She began her new role at the University of Iowa Libraries in August 2021.

Gimenez directs library services that support students, faculty, and staff in the School of Art and Art History, providing resources for creative work and research. The Art Library aids academic success in art history and fuels creative endeavors in the studio arts, including 3D design, ceramics, graphic design, jewelry and metal arts, painting and drawing, photography, printmaking, and sculpture and intermedia.

In the following interview, Gimenez shares additional details about her career as well as her enthusiasm for her new position at the UI's Art Library. continued on page 28

BINDINGS

27

continued from page 27

Q A

Please tell us a bit about your background.

I recently moved to Iowa from Savannah, Georgia, where I was

Q

What plans do you have for

A

It’s such a great collection, but it’s

working as an instruction librarian

shelving. I hope to invite students

Design. I have an undergraduate

and faculty to curate small book

degree in Religion from Vassar

displays to encourage circulation and

College, and I attended Kent State

new creative ideas. I’d also love to

University in Ohio for my master’s

get feedback from the library users,

degree in library and information

perhaps through a student advisory

science and an MA in Art History.

folk and self-taught artists in America,

board.

Q

specifically Linda Anderson, who paints both biblical scenes and scenes from her own life in rural Georgia. My research areas within librarianship include the research practices of artists and utilizing design thinking in

Q

difficult to browse the materials or to find inspiration with the compact

at the Savannah College of Art and

My art history research focused on

the Art Library?

In your view, what are some of the best services, resources, and library expertise the Art Library offers?

A

I am still learning about all that the Art Library has to offer, but so far, I’m very impressed with the physical space. We have so much natural light

information literacy instruction.

coming in through our windows,

What excites you about this

studying at desks and in the cozy

new position?

I’m excited for the responsibility of managing a small branch specifically related to art, while also being a part of the much larger library team.

It’s also great to be physically located in the School of Art and Art History, where I can be close to the classrooms, studios, and galleries and, hopefully, observe the research needs and trends firsthand.

and I’ve seen many students quietly library nooks.

However, I would love for the students and faculty of the School of Art and Art History to know that I can be a great resource. I am available to help students meet their research objectives and would be happy to have a one-on-one consultation to discuss their areas of interest. I don’t have all the answers, but as an expert researcher, I know where to start looking.

For more info...

EXPLORE THE ART LIBRARY—Find resources and services through the Art Library web site.

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WINTER 2022

Serving campus & community The University of Iowa boasts seven campus libraries, each serving specific disciplines with research resources and expert library staff.

All campus libraries are open to the public.

ART

BUSINESS

ENGINEERING

SCIENCES

HEALTH SCIENCES MUSIC

MAIN LIBRARY

Visit

online to plan your in-person visit. Get info about hours, exhibits, and special events.

BINDINGS

29

ABOVE: The exhibition's front window display set the tone for visitors seeking to learn more about Dostoevsky's life and noted career as a writer.

BY SARA PINKHAM, EXHIBITION & ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR, MAIN LIBRARY GALLERY

A birch forest, the imagined crunch of vibrant fallen leaves underfoot, pedestals draped with colorful Russian shawls, a delicate Imperial Porcelain tea setting, a brass samovar, faux blini . . .

This fairy tale scene in the front display case welcomed students and community guests as they approached the Fall 2021 Main Library Gallery exhibition, From Revolutionary Outcast to a Man of God: Dostoevsky at 200.

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WINTER 2022

past exhibit

MAIN LIBRARY GALLERY ANNA BARKER, AN ADJUNCT ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN THE ASIAN AND SLAVIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, CURATED THE EXHIBITION. Her selections and research, coupled with University of Iowa Libraries Creative Coordinator Kalmia Strong’s bold exhibit design, made the life and acclaimed works of Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky both tangible and approachable.

The exhibition contained many items from the University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections & Archives, including several special editions of Dostoevsky’s novels with striking illustrations by Fritz Eichenberg; 19th century books about travel; classic novels by Oscar Wilde, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Charles Dickens; and a rare 19th century Russian psalter. In addition to Special Collections holdings, the exhibition included related books from the circulating collection and Barker’s own private collection.

A storied literary giant, Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821–1881) authored many undisputed classic novels, writing at the same time as Charles Dickens, Leo Tolstoy, Samuel Clemens, and others. The exhibition examined his inspirations and influence in the world of literature, but it also shared the odyssey of his personal life.

continued on page 32

ABOVE: The curator writes, "This book appears in the exhibition because it is representative of Dostoevsky’s deep appreciation of his copy of the New Testament. The New Testament was the only book the prisoners in Omsk were allowed to keep, and it was Dostoevsky’s only book companion for the four years his spent in the labor camp." To learn more, read the full text online.

BINDINGS

31

continued from page 31

In his earlier years, Dostoevsky was a daydreaming youth, an aspiring translator, and a champion of freedom and progress.

His involvement in the radical Petrashevsky Circle landed him in a Siberian hard labor camp, a difficult circumstance that was the catalyst for many more years of personal struggle and commercial success.

Among other things, the exhibition briefly chronicled his marriages, affair, family relationships, gambling addiction, European travels, and his spiritual journey alongside publication of his major works.

In his later years, Dostoevsky received recognition for his wisdom and literary achievements, hailed as the conscience of the nation. Still celebrated in Russia, his works remain popular worldwide.

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WINTER 2022

ABOVE: Notes from the curator—"Fine porcelain, tea rituals, Russian scarves, and birch forests are symbolic of Russian culture and history. This exhibition combined them all in the Main Library Gallery’s front display case to bring a taste of Russian tradition to Iowa." Caption written by the curator.

To learn more, read the full text online.

BELOW: Notes from the Dead House was Dostoevsky's first complete book after his time in a Siberian labor camp.

To learn more, read the full text online.

“My students find Dostoevsky’s novels eerily relatable precisely because Dostoevsky, with uncanny and unflinching insight, managed to depict the totality of humanity, never shying away from the horror concealed in the human soul, but always keeping faith in the light,” says Barker. “I hope those who visited the exhibit gained a greater appreciation of not only the works of Dostoevsky but of his art in the context of both Russian culture and Western civilization.” The exhibit referenced film adaptations and two operas Dostoevsky’s novels inspired, in addition to sharing his life’s tragedies and successes.

“If I could sum up Dostoevsky in one statement,” says Barker, “it would be through the words of one of my favorite Dostoevsky characters, Grushenka, in The Brothers Karamazov: ‘The world is a good place. We may be bad, but the world is a good place. We are bad and good, both bad and good…’”

ABOVE: Cover detail of Travels through Part of the Russian Empire and the Country of Poland; along the Southern Shores of the Baltic by Robert Johnston.

The oldest item in the exhibit, this volume allowed visitors a glimpse of Russia in the years just prior to Dostoevsky's birth.

LEFT: An illustration by Fritz Eihenberg depicting the parable of the Grand Inquisitor in Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov. Notes from the curator—"The parable serves as an overarching philosophical statement that bridges the works of Dostoevsky: human suffering is unavoidable and destructive, but without self-conscious realization of the nature and implications of our freedom, we cannot fulfill our potential as human beings." To learn more, read the full text online.

For more info...

EXPLORE THE EXHIBIT ONLINE—Browse images and the exhibition guide at the Gallery's web site.

TOUR THE EXHIBIT—Take a 360-degree tour.

BINDINGS

33

We Are

ABOVE: A.O. [Alpha Omega] Spring party, May 1926. Patrobas Cassius Robinson Papers, University Archives, University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections & Archives.

Up next in the Main Library Gallery...

FALL 2022—55 Years of the World's Literatures at the Writing University SPRING 2023—Queer in Every Sphere 34

WINTER 2022

current exhibit

MAIN LIBRARY GALLERY

Hawkeyes Celebrating 175 Years of Student Life at the University of Iowa

BY SARA PINKHAM, EXHIBITION & ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR, MAIN LIBRARY GALLERY

In February 2022, the University of Iowa commemorates 175 years of academic excellence. As part of the celebration, the Main Library Gallery offers an exhibition, "We Are Hawkeyes—Celebrating 175 Years of Student Life and the University of Iowa."

The exhibition features student publications from the late 19th century to today, Hawkeye sports history, dorm life, scholarship, protest on campus, social activities, and much more. From such papers as Frivol and Pooh, Pooh-Hooey of the 1920s to The Daily Iowan, Nahuatzen, and The Muslim Review of later years, the exhibit will represent a vast number and variety of student-led publications.

Sports memorabilia, journals from research expeditions, blood petitions protesting the Vietnam War, flyers from past theatre productions, and unique dance cards will also make an appearance. The exhibit will include film clips from student life on campus and a representation of a 1960s dorm room.

Materials for this exhibit are drawn from the University Archives' rich collection of photographs, documents, publications, and artifacts that help tell the story of student life on campus. See our Main Library Gallery website to plan your visit.

BINDINGS

35

ELLEN

paints her way

ABOVE: Self portrait by Ellen Day Hale, oil on canvas, 1885.

BY DAVID MCCARTNEY, UNIVERSITY ARCHIVIST, SPECIAL COLLECTIONS & ARCHIVES

WHEN THE UI PRESIDENTIAL PORTRAIT GALLERY was formally dedicated in 2019, staff in Special Collections responsible for this display knew that there were still some gaps in some of the portraits’ stories. For example, labels accompanying some of the displayed portraits note that the artist is unknown. But as we continue to learn more of the history of this collection and how it came into being, we update and correct our records— and labels—as needed.

The George Thacher portrait is a case in point.

Thacher (1817-1878) was the university’s fifth president, serving from 1871 to 1877. His portrait is oil on canvas, dark in tone, and realistic, a style appropriate for the late nineteenth century. The artist’s name was somehow lost in the records as the portrait, along with others in the collection,

36

WINTER 2022

moved from one campus location to another for nearly a century until settling in the Main Library.

Well, now we can fill in this gap. Recently, a closer examination of the portrait revealed a nearly obscured name in the lower-left corner: E.D. Hale. The signature is difficult but not impossible to ascertain. From this, we were able to confirm via an internet search that Ellen Day Hale (18551940) was the artist. Our sources for this include the Smithsonian Archives of American Art and an entry on American Gallery online.

According to the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Ellen Day Hale was “among the wave of American artists, both men and women, who traveled to Europe for training in the last quarter of the 19th century. She is best known for her Impressionist figure studies.

DAY HALE

into UI history

Through ongoing research, University Archivist David McCartney discovers details about a portrait featured in the UI Presidential Portrait Gallery in the Main Library.

"Hale, the only daughter of the noted orator and author Edward Everett Hale and Emily Baldwin Perkins, came from a family filled with notable figures. Her great-great uncle Nathan Hale was a Revolutionary War patriot; her greataunt Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin; and her brother Philip and his wife Lilian Westcott Hale were also professional painters.”

The Boston Art Club was the setting for the first exhibition of her work, in 1876. Because both she and George Thacher were from New England, we can speculate that Hale completed the portrait during the last one or two years of Thacher’s life, after he left Iowa to return to the northeast to be close to family due to illness.

Hale was perhaps in her early twenties when she completed the portrait, likely one of the first works of a long and distinguished career.

She was also the first woman to produce a presidential portrait for the university.

ABOVE: Portrait of George Thacher by Ellen Day Hale, oil on canvas, n.d..

In the next issue...

VIDEO OF PORTRAIT CONSERVATION The Thacher portrait is undergoing specialized restoration work. Read about the project and get a link to the video in the next BINDINGS. In the meantime, view this and other UI presidential portraits online.

BINDINGS

37

38

WINTER 2022

new

ACQUISITIONS

A SURPRISING VARIETY Ensley selects miniature, hand-lettered, and beautifully bound books to enrich our collections for students and researchers

BY JENNIFER MASADA AND ERIC ENSLEY

Eric Ensley recently joined the Libraries’ staff as curator of rare books and maps in the Special Collections & Archives Department of the UI Libraries. He is also an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of English.

A specialist in book history, particularly in

first-year seminar for freshmen here at Iowa in

early periods, Ensley holds a PhD in English

the fall semester of 2021.

from Yale University in addition to an MLS from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MA in English from North Carolina State University.

For the nearly six years Ensley was at Yale, he worked in the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a curatorial assistant to Curator for Early Books and Manuscripts Ray Clemens and

Ensley’s research and teaching have

as a cataloging assistant to Archivist Diane

focused on examining the way people

Ducharme. He looks forward to bringing his

interact with books as text and objects

work on book history and his experience in

across periods. While at Yale, he designed a

working in special collections libraries to the

course for first-year students called "What

University of Iowa.

is a book?”—a course he taught as a

continued on page 40

BINDINGS

39

continued from page 39

“I’ve loved getting to know Iowa over the past

as a curator of book history, and I’ve enjoyed

several months, and every day is an adventure

the opportunity to get to think about books and

in our department,” says Ensley. “I might be

how we use them, from our manuscripts on up

purchasing a medieval manuscript, working with

to artist books created this year,” he says.

the public at the front desk, and teaching a class on book construction all in the same day.”

“When I was brought on, I was told that my

“I’d like to share three items with you that show the range of materials I’ve been selecting for special collections since my arrival.”

position as curator of rare books was imagined

A Poissy Processional The diminutive book pictured below could fit in the palm of your hand and could almost be a candidate for our Charlotte Smith Miniature Books Collection. However, I selected this book for our collection as it tells a part of the story of women’s use of books in the late medieval and early modern periods. This tiny manuscript hails from early sixteenth-century Poissy, France, where it belonged to a nun who would have used it during the Mass for prayers and music. Only around thirty Poissy Processionals are known to exist.

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Ida Bogue’s The Loiterers Older narratives of book history sometimes asserted that the printing press supplanted manuscript production completely.

This is, of course, false since many forms of writing and literary production are done by hand still today. At first glance, The Loiterers (shown in the photo to the left), may appear to be a printed book, but upon closer examination, we see that Ida Bogue, the author of this early twentieth-century children’s book, handcrafted every part of it, from writing the words in calligraphy to painting the watercolors and filling the pages with trinkets like flowers, feathers, and the business cards of characters. Sadly, Bogue is largely forgotten today, though one of the handful of manuscripts she created did appear on the UK version of Antiques Roadshow. We’re happy that Bogue’s book came to us where we can showcase it as an expert example of bookmaking and children’s storytelling.

A Familial Siddur This Siddur, or Hebrew prayerbook (shown in the photo to the right), was recently purchased for our collection for its interesting familial history.

The book’s printer, Leon ben Solomon Raphael Judah Leon Templo, was a prolific printer of Hebrew works in Amsterdam.

This 1725/26 Siddur belonged to Leon’s father, Solomon, who was a rabbi, author, and press corrector for his son.

The elaborate binding shows the publication date of the book and Solomon’s name in gilt lettering.

BINDINGS

41

a time of

TRANSITION

BY KATHARINE LASANSKY

MANY OF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY to become acquainted with Mary Rettig, Assistant University Librarian for Advancement, over the past eleven years as she served the University of Iowa.

We look forward to introducing you to Mary’s replacement in the coming months.

I will continue to work with the UI Libraries and hope to see many of you in our campus libraries,

It is with deep gratitude that we wish Mary

at a football or basketball game, or in your

farewell. In September, she left the University of

hometown on my travels.

Iowa to join the development office at her alma mater, Luther College. Mary will serve Luther as their Senior Development Officer.

We continue to plan the next phase of renovation of the Main Library and look forward to having partial construction documents

We are deeply appreciative of Mary and her

completed in 2022. We will share those plans

service to the University of Iowa Libraries over

and drawings with you as they become finalized,

the years and will miss her greatly. She and her

and I look forward to talking with many of you

husband, David, will continue to reside in Amana

about becoming involved in this important

and we know we’ll see them at UI Libraries and

modernization of the UI Main Library. If you have

other campus events.

questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

contact us For more information about how to become involved as a Friend of the University of Iowa Libraries, please contact Katharine Lasansky (katharine.lasansky@foriowa.org 800-648-6973).

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Main Library

UPDATE

BINDINGS is the University of Iowa Libraries’ magazine, published twice annually to highlight the efforts of its librarians who work to support the successes of students, faculty, staff, and community members.

ADMINISTRATION John Culshaw

Jack B. King University Librarian john-culshaw@uiowa.edu

Paul Soderdahl

Associate University Librarian paul-soderdahl@uiowa.edu

Linda Walton

Associate University Librarian linda-walton@uiowa.edu

Jennifer Masada

Editor & Designer jennifer-masada@uiowa.edu

Heather Healy

Editing & Proofreading heather-healy@uiowa.edu

IN THE PREVIOUS ISSUE OF BINDINGS, WE ANNOUNCED PLANS TO MODERNIZE THE MAIN LIBRARY. Since then, library administrators, a team of library staff, and campus partners have met on a regular basis to move forward with the project.

The team selected an architect for the project, and early planning is underway. Priorities include modernizing heating and cooling systems, creating climate controls for rare and valuable materials in Special Collections, and reorganizing office and service spaces to improve service to undergraduate students.

The Main Library is a central hub for students, faculty, staff, and community members and holds crucial resources for academic, research, and creative work. Investing in this important infrastructure is an investment in the university's future as a research institution.

We look forward to sharing plans, drawings, and details about the modernization project as they become available.

Please look for an update in the next issue of BINDINGS.

ABOVE: A 1951 photo of a study area in the Main Library, which has remained mostly unchanged and is in need of modernization to improve service to campus.

Michelle Milldyke

Writing & Editing mmmilldyke@gmail.com

DEVELOPMENT Katharine Lasansky

Associate Director of Development, Regional Gifts and Libraries katharine.lasansky@foriowa.org

The University of Iowa prohibits discrimination in employment, educational programs, and activities on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, gender identity, associational preferences, or any other classification that deprives the person of consideration as an individual. The university also affirms its commitment to providing equal opportunities and equal access to university facilities. For additional information on nondiscrimination policies, contact the Director, Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, the University of Iowa, 202 Jessup Hall, Iowa City, IA, 522421316, 319-335-0705 (voice), 319-335-0697 (TDD), diversity@uiowa.edu.

BINDINGS

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125 W. Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52242 lib.uiowa.edu

Main Library Gallery January 18–July 3, 2022 The Spring 2022 Main Library Gallery exhibition, We Are Hawkeyes, celebrates 175 years of student life at Iowa with student

Thank you for helping to boost our students’ success through the UI Libraries!

publications from the late 19th century to today, Hawkeye sports history, dorm life, scholarship, protest on campus, social activities, and much more. The exhibition is among the official events commemorating

the University of Iowa's 175th anniversary.

See page 34 for details.

Exhibitions in the Main Library Gallery are open to all and free of charge. Location, hours, and exhibition information at lib.uiowa.edu/gallery 44

WINTER 2022

GIVE TO THE UI LIBRARIES www.givetoiowa.org/libraries