Harvard College Library News

Six More HCL Units Go Green

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:36:14 GMT

Following last year’s successful effort to achieve at minimum Green Leaf One certification for all staff workspaces in Widener, Houghton, Lamont, Pusey, and Tozzer libraries, six additional Harvard College Library (HCL) units have been recognized by Harvard’s Office of Sustainability for Green Leaf Four, the program’s highest level.

Houghton Explores the Many Sides of Thackeray

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 19:32:58 GMT

Though his popularity once rivaled that of Charles Dickens, William Makepeace Thackeray is today largely remembered as the author of Vanity Fair. A new exhibition, “The Adventures of Thackeray In His Way Through the World: His Fortunes and Misfortunes, His Friends and His Family,” opening July 18 at Houghton Library, hopes to reintroduce viewers to Thackeray’s varied work as both a writer and artist, while offering a more in-depth view of the author’s life beyond his literary celebrity.

Unique Bradstreet Manuscript Preserved

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:47:51 GMT

For students and scholars studying early American literature, Anne Bradstreet, is a hugely important figure, considered by many to be the first American poet, and the first woman to publish a book in America. Following the digitization of the only substantial surviving Bradstreet manuscript, scholars around the world will now have the opportunity to study her work in greater detail than ever before.

QR Codes Reveal Hidden Messages in Maps

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:03:48 GMT

Though it explores the myriad techniques that cartographers have employed for centuries to encode messages into maps, Going for Baroque: The Iconography of the Ornamental Map, the current exhibition at the Harvard Map Collection also employs new technology. It is the first Harvard College Library exhibition to use QR codes, a type of two-dimensional barcode that links visitors to additional information.

Khemraj Completes Administrative Fellowship

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:02:14 GMT

When he discusses his experience as a Harvard Administrative Fellow, Ramsahoye Khemraj mentions the program’s professional development classes, presentations and discussion groups. One aspect of the program, however, comes up again and again – networking. Participating in the year-long program, he said, afforded him the opportunity to meet some of the highest-ranking Harvard administrators, from Provost Steven Hyman to Harvard Vice President for Policy Clayton Spencer, and to discover that many had, at one time, faced the same challenges he has over the years.

Nancy Cline Retires to Accolades

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:51:42 GMT

When she retires from her post as the Roy E. Larsen Librarian of Harvard College next month, efforts to sum up the career of Nancy Cline will invariably point to the massive, multi-year renovation of Widener Library as one of her greatest accomplishments. Such efforts, however, only scratch the surface of a career that has spanned dramatic change for Harvard’s libraries. In her 15-year tenure, Cline changed not just the physical appearance of the libraries, but the very nature of how patrons – whether students, faculty or researchers – interact with them.

Virginia Danielson Departs HCL for NYU Abu Dhabi

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:51:19 GMT

After 12 years as the Richard F. French Librarian of the Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library, Virginia Danielson will step down in June to take a position as the Associate Librarian for Collections and Public Services at New York University’s new Abu Dhabi campus. In her new position, Danielson will provide leadership in the planning and implementation of innovative reference, instruction, and access services and work to develop on-site collections appropriate to the new campus’ academic programs.

Changes at Widener Library Billing Office

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:49:52 GMT

Starting June 1, the Widener Library Billing Office will accept Visa and MasterCard for the payment of Widener and Lamont fines and fees. Payments must be made at the Widener Library Billing Office, located on the first floor of Widener Library - payment will no longer be accepted at the Widener or Lamont Circulation desks.

Solti Archive Goes to Harvard's Loeb Music Library

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:50:46 GMT

The archive of Sir Georg Solti, a body of work of significance to musical scholars and musicians worldwide, has come to Harvard’s Loeb Music Library. The collection includes hundreds of scores heavily marked for performance and annotated by Solti, one of the 20th century’s most renowned conductors of opera and symphony and winner of more Grammy Awards than any other recording artist in any category.

Staff Train for “Wet Book” Rescue

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:47:05 GMT

Rapid response to water emergencies is essential to minimize damage to library materials. To ensure Harvard staff members are prepared in the event of an emergency, more than 30 library staff recently took part in a training session, co-sponsored by Harvard College Library and the Weissman Preservation Center, on how to salvage water-soaked materials in an array of formats.

Open Session Focuses on Research, Teaching and Learning

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:46:30 GMT

Susan Fliss, Associate Librarian for Research, Teaching, and Learning recently updated staff on the work of Research, Teaching and Learning (RTL) units at an open session sponsored by the Harvard College Library (HCL) Joint Council. The session was one of several meetings designed to give staff a chance to learn about and discuss the library’s ongoing planning efforts.

Best American Picks Harvard Review Selections

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:46:01 GMT

For the ninth time in the last decade, works first published in Harvard Review have been chosen for inclusion in the highly-selective Best American series.

HCL staff recognized at Green Carpet Awards

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:47:39 GMT

Harvard College Library’s sustainability efforts received special recognition earlier this week at the Green Carpet Awards. Members of the HCL Green Team were named a finalist in the project team category for their efforts to get Green Leaf certification for all staff workspaces in the libraries, while HCL Assistant Director for Project/Building Systems Management and Green Team chair Andy Laplume was recognized for his individual efforts throughout the libraries.