Harry Potter’s World at UT Libraries

The University of Toledo Libraries, along with our partners Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, are proud to announce the exhibit Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance Science, Magic and Medicine. The exhibit, which was created by the National Library of Medicine, consists of six banners that explore the link between Harry Potter and the history of science. Visitors may view the exhibition at the Carlson Library on UT’s Main Campus from March 12 to 29 and at the Mulford Library on the Health Science Campus from April 3 to 20 during library hours.

Illustration of an owl

Illustration of an owl from Konrad Gesner, Historiae Animalium, 1551

In celebration of the exhibit the Carlson Library will host Lightning Strikes, a wicked-fun event for all ages on March 16, from 4-6pm. The event is free and open to the public and will feature Potter-themed games, activities, prize drawings and refreshments.

A lecture series, also open to the public, will be held on both the Main and Health Science campuses. These one-hour talks given by UT professors from the fields of medicine, law, literature and philosophy will discuss some of the themes found in the Harry Potter novels.

For lecture series dates, calendar of events and more information about the exhibit (including directions and parking), please visit http://libguides.utoledo.edu/harry. Questions can be directed to Bridget Faricy-Beredo at 419-383-4214 or bridget.faricy@utoledo.edu.

Urban Fiction: It’s new, it’s popular, and it’s here!

Urban fiction is a fairly recent literary phenomenon which has been termed hip-hop, gangster, street fiction or ghetto lit as well. With urban areas as the setting, this literature is especially popular with younger African-Americans as the demand for novels authentically conveying the urban experience increased. For example, crime stories generally revolve around the often tragic choices and journeys some young men and women make into the less savory side of life. Yet, reading about the tragic lives of others can be a cautionary tale to those who wish to avoid suffering the same fate, and there are sub-genres such as Urban Christian fiction.

Many titles are controversial and considered risqué for younger readers.   Decide for yourself!   Experience the rich and diverse lives of friends and families, even strangers, as they struggle and thrive in the urban environment.  A full list of titles available through the University Libraries can be found by searching for the subject “Urban Fiction” in our library catalog.

The University Libraries will feature a display on Urban fiction during the first few weeks of Fall semester.  Please stop by the Carlson Library Information Commons to see what we have.  The Urban Fiction Brochure from the display has more information about the genre.   Books in the display may be checked out.

UT Authors & Artist Exhibit: March 29 – April 30

The 2010 University of Toledo Authors and Artists Exhibit will be displayed March 29 through April 30 in the Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections on the fifth floor of Carlson Library.

The exhibit will feature the works of nearly 200 UT faculty who have published books, journal articles or conference papers or have produced creative works in the past two years.   Begun in the 1950s, this annual exhibit allows the community a chance to see a large portion of the scholarly and creative output of our university faculty in one place.

photo courtesy of UTNews

History of Disability Exhibit now online

The award-winning exhibit, “From Institutions to Independence: A History of People with Disabilities in Northwest Ohio” is now available for viewing online.  This 2008-2009 exhibit explored the local history of persons with disabilities and the organizations that were formed to serve them.

Panoramic View of Exhibit

Panoramic View of Exhibit

The exhibit and related events won several awards for both the quality of the scholarship and the educational content of the work.  Among its awards were: