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Rare Books Room Home to Ancient Texts

Posted by Monte Maxwell.
January 28th, 2008

The Daily Athenaeum, January 24, 2008

By Kathryn Gregory
Managing Editor

Harold M. Forbes slowly puts on a pair of pristine white gloves and reaches onto a dusty shelf to grab a treasure from a collection that dates back hundreds of years. He turns the treasure over in his hand and slowly opens the binding to reveal the intricate details of the pages within.

The book, which is part of Dennis Diderot’s Dictionary, is just one of the many rare finds that have a safe and well-maintained home at West Virginia University’s Downtown Library Complex.

The gloves are worn to protect the books from oils that might transfer from hands to pages, which can speed along the process of a book’s deterioration.

Forbes is the curator of rare books at WVU libraries and has been working on collecting and preserving the books since 1989.

Books are donated to the Rare Books Room, and the curator’s job is to preserve the books and hunt for any books that might be missing from a particular collection.

Stewart
Stewart Plein, assistant West Virginia rare books curator, holds open “Hortus Indicus Malabaricus.” This botanical
book dates back to 1700 and is translated in four languages.

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WVU Libraries Asimov Collection Recognized by American Library Association

Posted by Monte Maxwell.
September 12th, 2007

WVU Today, September 12, 2007

Science fiction fans will be delighted to know the West Virginia University Libraries features a nationally recognized Isaac Asimov Collection.

The American Library Association (ALA) recently named the WVU Libraries’ ensemble of Asimov books and items its Digital Collection of the Week. The ALA spotlights the collection in the current issue of AL Direct, its online newsletter.

An exciting exhibit of the collection, put together by Libraries staff, is available at http://www.libraries.wvu.edu/exhibits/asimov/

Harold and Beth
Rare Books curator Harold M. Forbes and Web Services librarian Beth Toren show some of the more than 600 books, games, audio recordings, videos and wall charts included in the WVU Libraries’ Isaac Asimov Collection. The collection and its digital exhibit was recently recognized by the American Library Association.

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WVU Libraries undergo changes for fall semester; open 24 hours during finals

Posted by Monte Maxwell.
August 21st, 2007

The Daily Athenaeum, August 21, 2007

By Tricia Fulks, News Editor

West Virginia University Libraries are undergoing major changes for the fall semester.

Student government representatives met with Dean of WVU Libraries Frances O’Brien in June to discuss further improving campus libraries. One change SGA Governor Leslie Saunders wanted to see was 24-hour access to libraries during the last two weeks of the semester.

O’Brien said that 24-hour access during those weeks are now in place at the Downtown Campus and Evansdale libraries. She said that now there is adequate staffing during the extended hours. However, not all library services will be available for students during the period.

“What students tell us they want is a place to study,” O’Brien said about the extension of hours.

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W.Va. Collection Exhibits Lincoln Links

Posted by Monte Maxwell.
August 7th, 2007

The Dominion Post, August 6, 2007

By J. Miles Layton

Attention Civil War buffs.

An exhibit in the West Virginia and Regional History Collection at WVU offers visitors an engaging glimpse of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War era in which he lived.

“For people looking for a historical experience in Morgantown, we have a great deal to offer here at the West Virginia Collection,” said John Cuthbert, the collection’s curator.

The exhibit, “Abraham Lincoln and West Virginia: Selections from the West Virginia and Regional History Collection,” will be open for the next several months at WVU. The exhibit is located in the James Horner Davis Family Gallery (No. 1) on the sixth floor of the Wise Library on the Downtown Campus.  It is free and open to the public from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues-Saturday, and until 9 p.m. Tuesdays, according to the WVU Web site.

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WVU Libraries Historical Database Surpasses 21,000 Images

Posted by Monte Maxwell.
July 9th, 2007

The Dominion Post, July 5, 2007

Looking for a hard-to-find photograph from West Virginia’s past – a picture of basketball legend Jerry West, the last game at the Field House or perhaps construction of the old Mountaineer Stadium?

Try the WVU Libraries online database, West Virginia History OnView (go to the WVU Libraries home page at www.libraries.wvu.edu, and click on the West Virginia History OnView link at the bottom right of the page).

OnView, which provides Web-based access to digital versions of historical photos housed in the West Virginia and Regional History Collection, recently topped 21,000 digital images.  The database continues to grow in popularity, WVU Libraries officials said. It’s even caught the attention of bloggers.

“People are finding out about us because we’ve been discovered by the blogs,” said Dennis Newborn, head of systems for the WVU Libraries.

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Changes Being Made at Libraries

Posted by Monte Maxwell.
June 20th, 2007

The Daily Athenaeum, June 20, 2007 

By Tricia Fulks, Staff Writer

Student Government representatives met with Dean of Libraries Frances O’Brien on June 15 to discuss improvements to campus libraries.

Leslie Saunders, SGA governor, said in an e-mail interview that since the meeting the SGA has sent a formal request for the libraries to stay open 24 hours during the last two weeks of the semester.

“I think this is a monumental step toward the advancement of student academic performances at West Virginia University,” Saunders said in the interview.

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WVU Librarians Named Co-Recipients of 2007 Outstanding Librarian Award

Posted by Monte Maxwell.
June 14th, 2007

WVU Today, June 7, 2007

West Virginia University’s Library Faculty Assembly has named Penny Lee Pugh and Carroll Wetzel Wilkinson as co-recipients of the 2007 Outstanding Librarian Award.

The award is given every three years to a current or retired library faculty member who has exemplified extraordinary leadership, initiative, creativity and dedication in supporting the mission and goals of WVU Libraries.

“The selection process was especially difficult this year,” said Susan Arnold, chair of the awards committee. “We had several outstanding nominees. Penny and Carroll both have long careers with the WVU Libraries and have been impressive role models and innovators both on campus and in our field.”

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WVU Libraries, Department of History Establish Internships

Posted by Monte Maxwell.
March 27th, 2007

WVU Intranet, March 23, 2007

The West Virginia and Regional History Collection (WVRHC) of the West Virginia University Libraries has teamed with the Department of History in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences to add two new internships to their longstanding instructional partnership.

The internships are being offered through the Department of History’s Public History and Cultural Resource Management (CRM) programs. Graduate students will have the opportunity to intern with the WVRHC’s printed ephemera and archives and manuscripts collections.

“I am delighted we have this new partnership with the West Virginia and Regional History Collection,” said Barbara Rasmussen, director of the Public History and CRM programs. “It allows for training in library and archive management and practices.”

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WVU Health Sciences Library Interim Director Recognized by National Association

Posted by Monte Maxwell.
March 26th, 2007

WVU Intranet, March 16, 2007

Susan Arnold, interim director of West Virginia University’s Health Sciences Library, was recently named to the Medical Library Association’s prestigious Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP).

 Susan Arnold

The honor recognizes medical librarians based on their involvement in the field and in professional organizations, as well as their efforts in continuing education.

“It’s a sense of accomplishment,” Arnold said of the recognition. “I think it lends a sense of credibility to my work as a medical librarian.”

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WVU Libraries receives Don Knotts memorabilia from actors widow

Posted by Monte Maxwell.
March 6th, 2007

WVU Intranet, March 5, 2007

The West Virginia and Regional History Collection at West Virginia University Libraries recently received some unique memorabilia from a famous alumnus – the late actor and Morgantown native Don Knotts.

The Collection, housed on the sixth floor of the Wise Library on WVU’s Downtown Campus, is now home to television scripts, awards, an original poem and the manuscript and cassette recordings from the actor’s autobiography — from his wife of many years, Francey Yarborough.

scripts

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Library computers always busy at West Virginia University

Posted by Monte Maxwell.
March 1st, 2007

The Daily Athenaeum, February 28, 2007
Angela Moscaritolo Staff Writer

Mike Spinello, a sophomore political science major, entered the downtown library around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in hopes of quickly printing out a paper before class. He slowly walked around the main level looking to his left and right. No luck. Then he circled the reference desk, still no luck. After a few minutes, Spinello hit the jackpot — a computer opened up. 

computer photo
KENDAL MONTGOMERY/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM

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Don Knotts scripts coming to Morgantown

Posted by Monte Maxwell.
February 28th, 2007

The Dominion Post, February 27, 2007

 

By Michelle Wolford
The Dominion Post

Don Knotts’ alma mater may soon be the home of much of the actor’s memorabilia.

Francey Yarborough, Knotts’ widow, is donating her husband’s scripts from his movies and some TV shows to WVU.

Yarborough plans to send all “the stuff” from Don’s career—including radio, movies and some of his TV work, to Morgantown.

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WVU, Marshall Libraries Host Author Lunch Oct. 27

Posted by Monte Maxwell.
October 18th, 2006

WVU Intranet, October 16, 2006 

West Virginia University and Marshall meet again this fall. However, this time there won’t be a football.

Instead, the excitement is all part of the third author’s luncheon for supporters of the libraries at WVU and Marshall. The event kicks off at noon, Friday, Oct. 27 at the Embassy Suites in Charleston.

“We are truly grateful for all of our wonderful supporters, and this luncheon is our way of showing them our appreciation,” WVU Libraries Dean Frances O’Brien said.

“We expect that everyone will have a great time. Past luncheons show us that people enjoy meeting writers and hearing them talk about their craft.”

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Wise Library Named Literary Landmark as Keeper of Poet Laureate Work

Posted by Monte Maxwell.
October 9th, 2006

WVU Intranet, October 9, 2006

plaque

 

 

LITERARY LANDMARK — WVU’s Charles C. Wise, Jr. Library was designated as a literary landmark during the West Virginia Library Association Annual Conference recently held in Huntington. Receiving a plaque that notes the designation are, from left, Martha Yancey, head of circulation at the Evansdale Library and WVLA president; Frances O’Brien, dean of the WVU Libraries; Penny Pugh, head of reference for the Downtown Campus Library; and Harold M. Forbes, curator of rare books.

Celebrate Banned Books Week

Posted by Monte Maxwell.
September 28th, 2006

 The Daily Athenaeum, Editorial, September 27, 2006

The Daily Athenaeum reported Monday that this week marks the 25th anniversary of the American Library Association Banned Books Week, which runs through this Saturday.

To promote awareness of challenged and banned books, WVU Libraries is running a booth in the Mountainlair from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. throughout the remainder of the school week.

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WVU Libraries celebrates 25th anniversary of Banned Books Week

Posted by Monte Maxwell.
September 27th, 2006

The Daily Athenaeum, September 26, 2006 

By Kathryn Gregory
Senior Staff Writer

The topic of controversial books in history usually brings to mind authors like J.K Rowling, J.D Salinger and William Shakespeare. Sometimes, books can even be banned from libraries because they are deemed too offensive.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the American Library Association’s Banned Books Week. Banned Books Week was created to celebrate readers’ freedom to read, said Sherry Steadman, library associate at West Virginia University.

“Harry Potter always gets challenged. Even the Bible, the dictionary and encyclopedia get challenged because people take offense to the language,” Steadman said.

To promote awareness of challenged and banned books, WVU Libraries have set up a booth in the Mountainlair this week from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. through Sept. 29. It’s designed to encourage people to read the banned books, Steadman said.

“We are here to let people be aware that people are trying to restrict your right to what you can read,” she said.

WVU does not have banned books. Books are typically not challenged in an University setting. According to Steadman, banning mostly takes place at public libraries and in school systems.

“A balanced, non-biased library collection is the building block of empirical research and academic teaching,” said Sophie Bogdanski, a librarian at WVU. “Books represent our history and culture through the ages. It reflects our story as human beings.”

In many cases, books are banned for offensive content relating to sex, profanity and racism, Steadman said.

Monongalia County’s last book banning was in 1977 for “Our Bodies, Ourselves” by Boston Women’s Health Book Collection.

“It was challenged because someone thought it was pornographic, encouraged homosexuality and was filthy,” Steadman said.

Google has joined Banned Books Week with an addition to its Web site. Web surfers can read about classic books which are continually challenged in the United States.

The Web site lists 42 of 100 classic books that are recognized by the Radcliffe Publishing Course as some of the best novels of the 20th century, but are still challenged.

“It all comes down to a good author. The authors of books challenge us through their experiences, opinions and views,” Bogdanski said.

A library is there to provide, collect and preserve all books, regardless of their viewpoints and opinions, Bogdanski said.

“An author does their job by challenging us through the written word,” she said.

For more information about banned books, visit the Mountainlair booth or the ALA Web site at www.ala.org/bbooks.

Banned Books Week; Unique prestige bestowed on many well-known authors

Posted by Monte Maxwell.
September 25th, 2006

The Dominion Post, September 25, 2006

 

By Evelyn Ryan

The Dominion Post

Some of the best-known and popular books on library and bookstore shelves also hold the unique honor of being on the list of books some people want censored.

The list ranges from “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain to J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” stories to the popular juvenile series “Captain Underpants” by Dav Pilkey.

Area residents have a chance to learn more about censorship this week at WVU, where librarians are focusing on freedom to read as part of Banned Books Week.

“Banned Books Week holds a great deal of significance for academic and research libraries,” said Sophie Bogdanski, monographs cataloging unit librarian for the WVU Libraries.

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WVU Library installs self-checkout system to ease the strain of manual checkout

Posted by Monte Maxwell.
August 22nd, 2006

The Daily Athenaeum, August 22, 2006

The Downtown and Evansdale libraries have recently installed a new checkout system that will enable students to get their books in a timelier manner.

The new system, called 3M’s SelfCheck, is very similar to what students run across when doing a self-check out at the grocery store.

self-check
Billy Wolfe/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Senior chemistry major Emily Perteete attempts to use the new self-check out counter at the downtown library, but has problems with the scanner. According to librarians, not all books have barcodes placed on them properly and oversized books will not work at the new station.

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WVU Libraries Celebrate WV Day

Posted by Monte Maxwell.
June 21st, 2006

Birthday cake
Sewit Araia, a senior, enjoys a piece of cake while chatting with Sudiksha Joshi, a graduate student, during the West Virginia Day celebration

WV Poster
Anna Schien, a WVU librarian, hands the first commemorative poster to Sylvia Bolyard, of Preston County.

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W.Va. Day Events Set at Library

Posted by Monte Maxwell.
June 19th, 2006

The Dominion Post, June 18, 2006

By Melanie Moroz
Campus Buzz

West Virginia’s 143rd birthday on Tuesday will be celebrated throughout the Mountain State, with WVU’s downtown library hosting several commemorative activities open to the public.

Beginning at noon Tuesday, the activities will kick off at Eliza’s coffee shop on the fourth floor of the downtown library. A birthday cake and the return of the library’s renowned West Virginia Day poster will be included in the celebration, as well as a launch of a new digital resource that will benefit both students and residents.

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