Smithsonian Libraries

Happy Holidays!

Happy holidays in 2008!

All through 2008, the Smithsonian Libraries has been celebrating the 40th (Ruby) anniversary of the year (1968) that Smithsonian Secretary S. Dillon Ripley created the Smithsonian Institution Libraries as a separate unit with a central administration and Director. We had a party for our Smithsonian friends and colleagues in April, and Acting Secretary Cristián Samper gave us $40,000 for acquisitions, a dollar for every year.  We held a symposium about 18th century naturalist Mark Catesby with the Washington premier of the film “The Curious Mr. Catesby,” which you may see on your local PBS station in the coming year. 

With Smithsonian colleagues, we sponsored a speaker series that brought thinkers and experts from outside the Institution to talk about their views of the future of libraries, archives, and museums. We engaged a consultant to lead us through a strategic planning process that will start us off well for our next 40 years! 

On October 30, we hosted our Ruby Anniversary Gala, “Paint the Town REaD!” to raise funds to support our art libraries.  And we opened two exhibitions: Picturing Words:The Power of Book Illustration in the just re-opened National Museum of American History, and The Art of African Exploration in the National Museum of Natural History. Whew!

It has been a busy time, but now we will all stop and reflect on the needs of others and the joys of the holiday season.  We wish everyone well for the coming year.

Nancy Gwinn

Alexia MacClain Wins Gala Tickets

I am happy to announce that Alexia MacClain, SIL staff member at the National Museum of American History, was the winner of the trivia contest held at the Libraries' 40th anniversary celebration in April at the Smithsonian Castle.  Her name was drawn from among all those who had answered the questions correctly.  She won two free tickets to the SIL "Paint the Town REaD!" ruby gala, to be held on October 30 at the Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard in the Donald W. Reynolds Center.  Congratulations, Alexia!                        -- Nancy Gwinn

Mark Catesby's America

David Elliott, Nancy Gwinn, Leslie Overstreet,
and Cynthia Neal
2008-06-09-dscn4174
Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Smithsonian Libraries presented "Mark Catesby's America: Symposium and Panel Discussion" on June 9, 2008.

The symposium featured Dr. Storrs Olson (National Museum of Natural History), D. Therese O'Malley (National Gallery of Art), and Leslie Overstreet (Curator of Natural History Rare Books, Smithsonian Institution Libraries).

Dr. Alan Feduccia, professor of Biology and Department Chair at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, presented the keynote address, "Mark Catesby and his Natural History of Carolina ... : an Introduction and perspective."

The event, held at the Freer Gallery of Art, was attended by over 150 guests.

Following the symposium, the audience was treated to the Washington premier of The Curious Mr. Catesby. The documentary film, introduced by producers David J. Elliott and Cynthia Neal. The film, an excellent overview to the life and work of Catesby, features Leslie Overstreet and the Cullman Library.

A reception followed at the Freer Gallery of Art.

View images from the Smithsonian Libraries' copy of Catesby's Natural History.

ALA President delivers Fortieth Anniversary Lecture

ALA President, Loriene Roy, Ashinabe, Professor at the University of Texas Austin, iSchool, delivered the first in the Smithsonian libraries 40^th anniversary lecture series on May 12, 2008. In covering the wide topic of America'€™s Libraries: Expanding Collections, Services, and Facilities,"€ Dr. Roy began by reminding her audience that 1968 was a very different place with the Beatles balanced by social turmoil. However, for  libraries, the issues were similar and included censorship, building public involvement, and preserving budgets.

 Based on her 320 days as ALA president, Dr. Roy used her media experience to identify what issues matter most.  Reporters consistently ask about the way libraries look now, the impact of the Web, gaming, and if we are a dying profession. Loriene was able to say that more young students are entering the profession, leveling the playing field and increasing the challenges of how to make libraries inclusive as employers and as a service. ALA will offer a gaming evening at Annual conference to recognize that people don'€™t divide their lives neatly into work and home.

 Asked if she was concerned that "€œpeople would not find us,"€ Dr. Roy responded that "€œif we stay where we are, they won't find us"€ and went on to give examples of creative ways to be where the patrons live. For an academic library this might include rethinking physical space, providing roving reference staff, and offering services that promote collaboration among researchers.   

 Perhaps the most amusing reminder was Loriene's urging "€œNo one should leave before the dance,"€ a reference to the many activities that SIL will have during its anniversary year, culminating in the Ruby Gala in late October.

 

 

Symposium on noted explorer, botanist, scientist and artist Mark Catesby

When: June 9, 2008, 2:00 pm
Where: Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Auditorium at the Freer Gallery of Art, Jefferson Drive at 12th Street SW

(NOTE NEW TIME AND LOCATION!)

More Information:

The Smithsonian Institution Libraries is pleased to present Mark Catesby’s America, a symposium, followed by the Washington premiere of the film, The Curious Mister Catesby, Monday, June 9, 2008. In 1731, Englishman Mark Catesby began work on the book that would make him famous at home and abroad as an explorer, botanist, scientist and artist. The symposium, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 1:30 in the Baird Auditorium at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street and Constitution Avenue Northwest, and will be followed by the film at 4:00. For more information, contact the Libraries’ development office at 202.633.2875.

About the image:
Mark Catesby
The natural history of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama islands: containing the figures of birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, insects, and plants, 1731-43  [1729-48]
"Largest White Bill'd Woodpecker"
More information about this image

40th Anniversary Kick-off Nets $40,000 gift

On Tuesday, April 8, we kicked off our 40th anniversary year when over 200 people came to the Smithsonian Castle building to help us celebrate.  As employee recognition awards, SIL staff had been given red T-shirts to mark the "ruby" anniversary, and most wore them to the party.  When I looked out from the podium it was a sea of red, and all who came were very, very impressed!   Here's Heather Ewing, author of the new biography of James Smithson, and Shauna Collier, our Anacostia librarian, modeling the shirt.

Among the attendees were four of the Libraries' Board members, the chairman of the Smithsonian Board of Regents, the the Acting Under Secretary for Administration, several Smithsonian museum directors, and a terrific cross-section of scientists, historians, curators, and other library users and friendsof the Libraries.   Our 40th Anniversary Committee put together a trivia contest and a raffle, which made for lots of fun.  Thanks to them all for doing such a terrific job!

The fortunate attendees heard excellent remarks from Ira Rubinoff, Acting Undersecretary for Science, and Acting Secretary Cristian Samper.  Ira Rubinoff said "I think of all our colleagues, the librarians have had to adapt most rapidly to the electronic information age.  Not only have you kept up and adopted the latest resources for our scholars, but you have been innovative, as illustrated by your leadership role in the Biodiversity Heritage Library...."

Acting Secretary Samper went further and said "I know, Ira knows, we all know how indispensable the 20 libraries are to our age-old mission, "the increase and diffusion of knowledge."  They are invaluable to our Smithsonian scholars, and also the general public, offering a galaxy of resources and the help of informed staff to anyone via the Internet or in person.  And they are curators of magnificent treasures that they share online and through exhibitions....By preserving priceless works by the likes of Aristotle, Euclid or Newton -- some of which you can see here today -- our libraries are nothing short of amazing. . . .[yet] they have their eyes on the future."   He went on to give an example of that, saying "...they are helping transform the nature of biodiversity research by their leadership in developing the biodiversity Heritage Library project."

He finished by announcing that he would contribute $40,000 from the Secretary's discretionary fund to the Libraries for the purchase of library materials, "one thousand for each year."  Afterwards, we blew out the candles, cut the cake and cheered.

Many Smithsonian staff at the event made an effort to tell me how much they depend on the Libraries and how much they value the staff and what we do, even through these hard budgetary times.  The support in the room for all of us was almost palpable.  And when I told them some of the numbers that illustrate how much work staff did last year, there was great applause.   

Thanks to Martin Kalfatovic and Gil Taylor took photos--we'll have some official ones to share, eventually.

Nancy E. Gwinn