Smithsonian Libraries

In case you missed it...

L-R: Dr. William Noel, Anne Van Camp (Director, Smithsonian Institution Archives), Nancy Gwinn (Director, Smithsonian Institution Libraries), and Marcia Adams (Assistant Director for Technical Services, Smithsonian Institution Libraries)

Dr. Noel Archived!

If you missed Dr. William Noel’s June 29 lecture, “Deciphering the Archimedes Palimpsest and Creating Digital Manuscripts,” please tune in on our archived webcast! Libraries Director Nancy Gwinn introduces Noel’s lecture, which is the first segment of the Libraries’ 2009 series of speakers to address the Smithsonian Institution on the future of libraries, museums and archives in a digital world.

The lecture was attended by over 70 people, so thanks to all of you who came out to the event!

William Noel, Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books at The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, lectured on the conservation, imaging and scholarship of the Archimedes Palimpsest, a privately owned codex that has been revealed to contain unique texts not only of Archimedes of Syracuse, but also of Hyperides, an Athenian orator from the fourth century BC, and of Alexander of Aphrodisias on Aristotle’s categories. Dr. Noel discussed the history of the book and the history of the project, its digital presentation on the web, and other manuscript imaging projects currently underway at the Walters Art Museum.

Other Libraries webcasts in this series, and on diverse topics, are also available.—Liz O'Brien

Be sure to tune in to today's webcast!

Portrait of Archimedes, Scientific Identity: Portraits from the Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology, 2003

In the the first in a series of speakers to address the Institution on the future of libraries, museums and archives in a digital world, the Libraries, the Smithsonian Institution Archives and the Smithsonian Office of the Chief Information Officer present  William Noel, Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books at The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, "Deciphering Archimedes Palimpsest and Creating Digital Manuscripts."

Noel will lecture on the conservation, imaging and scholarship of the Archimedes Palimpsest, a privately owned codex that has been revealed to contain unique texts not only of Archimedes of Syracuse, but also of Hyperides, an Athenian orator from the fourth century BC, and of Alexander of Aphrodisias on Aristotle’s categories.  Dr. Noel will discuss the history of the book and the history of the project, its digital presentation on the web, and mention other manuscript imaging projects currently underway at the Walters Art Museum.—Liz O'Brien

William Noel
"Deciphering Archimedes Palimpsest and Creating Digital Manuscripts"
June 29, 2009
11:00am-12:30pm
Quad, Lecture Hall, Room 3027

live webcast

William Noel to speak in 2009 Future of Libraries, Museums and Archives Series

Don't miss this interesting lecture on Monday:

William Noel
"Deciphering Archimedes Palimpsest and Creating Digital Manuscripts"
June 29, 2009
11:00am-12:30pm
Quad, Ripley Center, Room 3111

live webcast

William Noel, Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books at The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, will lecture on the conservation, imaging and scholarship of the Archimedes Palimpsest, a privately owned codex that has been revealed to contain unique texts not only of Archimedes of Syracuse, but also of Hyperides, an Athenian orator from the fourth century BC, and of Alexander of Aphrodisias on Aristotle’s categories. Dr. Noel will discuss the history of the book and the history of the project, its digital presentation on the web, and mention other manuscript imaging projects currently underway at the Walters Art Museum.

The Libraries joins with the Smithsonian Institution Archives and the Smithsonian Office of the Chief Information Officer to present the first in a series of speakers in 2009 to address the Smithsonian Institution on the future of libraries, museums and archives in a digital world.

Singer reception

Above: The beauty of Botanica Magnifica was on display during the event

Below: Guests enjoy a rare opportunity to view an Audubon

On June 10, around 70 guests gathered for “Afternoon Tea with Audubon,” an event celebrating the gift of a double-elephant folio facsimile of John J. Audubon’s Birds of America to the Libraries.

This impressive and valuable work, published by Robert E. Abrams of Abbeville Press, and donated by Jonathan Singer, resides in the Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library of Natural History in the National Museum of Natural History. In addition to a private viewing of this rare book, guests of the tea also got an up-close glance at Jonathan Singer’s famed Botanica Magnifica and the original printed folio of Audubon’s Birds of America.

Singer, Smithsonian research scientist and botany curator John Kress, and the Libraries’ own Leslie Overstreet, Daria Wingreen-Mason and Diane Shaw were on-hand to show attendees the three double-elephant folios and answer questions. Libraries Director Nancy E. Gwinn, Associate Director of the Museum of Natural History Hans Sues, and Jonathan Singer spoke at the event.—Liz O'Brien

Picturing Words reception next week!

To celebrate the current Smithsonian Libraries exhibition Picturing Words: The Power of Book Illustration, Helena Wright, Curator of Graphic Arts at the National Museum of American History, will present “Book Illustration and Visual Culture.”

The lecture will take place in the National Museum of American History Carmichael Auditorium, located at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. next Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 5:30 pm, with a reception to follow.

If you would like to attend, please Rsvp to 202.633.1522 or SILRsvp@si.edu

SERC Open House Today!

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) is holding an open house today from 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at its location in Edgewater, MD. It is free and open to the public. Free shuttle and parking is provided at Central Middle School, 221 Central Ave. East (intersection of Mayo Rd. and Central Ave (Rt. 214)) in Edgewater, MD. Bus Transportation to and from SERC runs
continuously from 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For more information cal (301) 238.2737 or check the website.

The Libraries will have a display table at the event,  which also includes children’s games, face painting, crafts, live entertainment, boat rides, canoe trips, and hay rides, among the many activities.

The SERC Library was founded in 1977 at the Chesapeake Bay Center for Environmental Studies (CBCES) to support the Center’s research and education programs. The library is open to the public by appointment Monday-Friday, 8:00 am–4:30 p.m. and serves the staff of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, the Chesapeake Research Consortium (CRC), other Smithsonian staff, fellows, research associates, other government agencies, professional associations, students, scholars, and the general public. The SERC Library houses a collection of monographs and bound journals, microfilm, fiche, and videos. These materials support the scientific and educational research in the following broad areas: global change, landscape ecology, coastal ecosystems, and  population and community ecology, with emphasis on the Chesapeake Bay and its surroundings.—Angela Haggins

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work

Today the Smithsonian Institution is celebrating “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work,” an opportunity for staff to bring their children into the museums and research centers for hands-on learning.  I remember thinking as a child, “What do my mom and dad do all day at work?” This day combines education with fun to give children a glimpse into the mysterious working world.

Organized by Library technicians Richard Naples and Phu Pham, the Libraries participated in this event by hosting “Make Your Own Book with the Libraries.” Young boys and girls created natural history-themed books using felt paper, twigs, crayons, and an array of stickers and other materials. Not only were the children interested in making the colorful twig-bound books, but the parents seemed to get into the project as well, assembling their own book creations and asking questions about the Libraries book conservation techniques. A great time was had by the children, parents, and Smithsonian Libraries staff!—Liz O'Brien

Libraries Receives Combined Federal Campaign Merit Award

During the Fall 2008 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), many Smithsonian Institution Libraries staff members gave generously. Library staff contributed to a variety of charities via payroll deduction and one-time giving.

Because of this generosity, and because the Libraries exceeded its CFC goal, the Libraries was one of eleven Smithsonian units to be given a Merit Award at the CFC awards ceremony on March 19th. This award is given to units where there is either 50% employee participation or gifts equaling $125 per capita. The Libraries had 106 potential donors with a goal of $9,500 – and actually raised $14,689 from 21 donors. Congratulations!

The 2008 CFC coordinator for the Libraries was Alvin Hutchinson, who is seen here receiving the Merit Award from Smithsonian Secretary G. Wayne Clough.—Elizabeth Periale

Cooper-Hewitt Caldwell & Company event a huge success

On Saturday, February 28, 2009, the Cooper-Hewitt Library celebrated the release of the new online Caldwell database to feature over 35,000 photographs and drawings from the Caldwell & Company archive collection.

Margaret Caldwell, great-granddaughter of E.F. Caldwell, spoke about the firm’s origins, craftsmanship, clients and importance in the decorative arts world. She showed many photos and drawings from the collection on the screen, and there were several originals on display.

Jennifer Cohlman gave an overview of the digital project and a live demonstration of the Caldwell database. Over 100 people enjoyed the talk, viewed the displays and celebrated at a reception following the presentation.

Cooper-Hewitt Librarian Stephen Van Dyk would like to thank everyone who worked so hard on this project over the past year and helped to make it such a success! —Jennifer Cohlman

Strategic planning

What will the libraries look like in the future? Staff met this morning to take a first look at a draft strategic plan which included ideas about collaboration, new modes of connecting with users, values, and developing expertise with emerging technologies. —Elizabeth Periale