It’s National Library Week!

Celebrate National Library Week with us! Sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April, National Library Week is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians in transforming lives and strengthening communities.

At Paley, we’ll be tabling outside (if weather permits!) and there will be snacks, swag, and photo booth opportunities. Stop by and talk to us about the Libraries!

Library Table Hours at Paley:
Monday, April 8, 12:00–2:00 pm
Wednesday, April 10, 1:00–3:00 pm

We’re also teaming up with the Office of Sustainability for Campus Sustainability Week, so check out their Surplus Pop-up outside Paley on Monday.

Finally, make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to see how we are celebrating in real time. Tag us and #NationalLibraryWeek to join the conversation.

Wikipedia Edit-a-thon: Improving Content on Cis and Trans Women, the Arts, and Feminism

Did you know that, according to a Wikimedia Foundation 2011 study, less than 10% of the editors on Wikipedia are women? When women aren’t represented in the writing and editing of the stories and records of people, the stories get mistold. We lose out on the real history.

Join us next Tuesday, March 19 from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm for the sixth annual (and Temple University Libraries’ fourth!) Art+Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-thon, a global project improving content on cis and trans women, the arts, and feminism on Wikipedia.

We will provide tutorials for the beginner Wikipedian, reference materials, and refreshments, and invite people of all gender identities and expressions to participate, particularly transgender and cisgender women. We hope you’ll also join us in the evening for a panel discussion on the intersection of art, feminism, technology, and history.

We’re holding the event in the lobby of the Tyler School of Art and the schedule is outlined below:

Registration at 10:00 AM

Training sessions at 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM

Panel at 6:00 PM (in the Architecture Building, Room 104)

Registration is encouraged and please BYO laptop!

Deadline approaching! Apply for Livingstone Undergraduate Research Awards by 2/18

logo for Livingstone Undergraduate Research AwardsAttention undergrads!

Have a research project you worked on for a Temple course between spring 2018 and now? Why not turn all that hard work into a prestigious award? But don’t delay—you only have until next Monday, February 18 to apply to the Libraries’ Livingstone Undergraduate Research Awards.

These Awards honor the best in Temple undergraduate research, and categories include the humanities, social sciences, STEM disciplines, creative works and media production, diversity and social justice, and general education courses. Plus, there are cash prizes of up to $1,000 for winners in each category.

We are accepting online applications for the Awards through February 18th, 2019 at 11:59 pm. Send us your best work!

Please contact lura@temple.edu with any questions.

 

 

An Evening of Poetry at the Libraries

Join us next Wednesday, February 13 at 6:00 pm for an evening of poetry with some of Philadelphia’s most talented young voices. Members from Temple’s own Babel Poetry Collective will read original work and moderate a conversation with the current and former Philadelphia Youth Poet Laureates, Wes Matthews and Husnaa Hashim. Wes and Husnaa will also take the stage to share their poetry with us.

Wes Matthews is a Detroit-born, Philadelphia-based poet and essayist and is currently serving as the 2018-19 Philadelphia Youth Poet Laureate. He is a 2x Brave New Voices competitor, a 2016 TEDx speaker, and winner of the 2018 Philly Slam League All-Star Poetry Slam. His work has been published in the Detroit Free Press, Eunoia Review, Dreginald Magazine, and elsewhere.

Husnaa Hashim is the 2017-2018 Youth Poet Laureate of Philadelphia, and author of the poetry collection Honey Sequence. She is a first year student at the University of Pennsylvania. Husnaa has competed with the Philly Youth Poetry Movement, performed at various conferences and festivals, and received numerous Scholastic Art and Writing Awards including a National American Voices Medal awarded at Carnegie Hall. Husnaa’s work can be found in RookieMag, KidSpirit Online, the Kenyon Review Young Writers anthology, the Voices of the East Coast anthology, and APIARY 9, among others.

This program takes place in the Paley Library Lecture Hall (ground floor) at 1210 Polett Walk and is free and open to all.

A Look Back at Fall 2018 Beyond the Page Programs

Thanks to those of you who attended and participated in our Beyond the Page public programming series this semester. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in these learning experiences, and we hope to see you again in the spring as continue to explore Access & Opportunity! In the meantime, enjoy this look back at moments from our fall lineup of lectures, workshops, performances, and more.

photo of Sara Goldrick-Rab

photo courtesy Brae Howard

Professor Sara Goldrick-Rab kicks off our fall programming by discussing affordability in higher education, specifically food and housing insecurity.


Participants creating art in wheatpaste workshop

Photo courtesy Brae Howard

Participant pastes art outside Paley Library

Photo courtesy Brae Howard

Participants create and post their art outside Paley Library. The Libraries partnered with Conrad Benner of streetsdept.com and Cindy M. Ngo of Eat Up the Borders to bring local muralists and street artists to Paley Library to discuss their work, art in the public space, access to the arts and art education, and more.

 


Zach Brock performing

Photo courtesy Brae Howard

Jazz violinist, Boyer Artist-in-Resident, and Grammy winner Zach Brock performs at the Libraries as part of our Beyond the Notes concert series.


Poet Sonia Sanchez

Photo courtesy Bruce Turner

Gold medallion and diamond earring belonging to the late Tupac Shakur

Photo courtesy Bruce Turner

Sonia Sanchez, Philadelphia’s first Poet Laureate and a leader in the Black Arts Movement, reads a poem at a donor reception at the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection. The Blockson Collection received a historic donation from Goldin Auctions of memorabilia belonging to the late rapper Tupac Shakur. Read more about this important acquisition and see some of materials for yourself on Temple Now.

 

 

 

Therapy Dogs, Snacks, and Prep for Finals at Paley Library

Image

Visit the Libraries’ Crunch Time Café to relax and refuel during study days and final exams. We’re partnering this year with the Wellness Resource Center, who will be on hand throughout the week to offer guided activities and resources. And don’t worry, we’re also bringing back the ever-popular therapy dogs to help you destress! Events will take place in the Paley Library Lecture Hall, 1210 Polett Walk, Ground Floor, unless otherwise noted.


Kickoff with Coffee and Pastries
Tuesday, December 11, 7:30–10:30 AM
Start your first study day right with breakfast on us.

Gather Round the Campfire!
Wednesday, December 12, 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
On your final study day, gather in the Paley Library Lecture Hall for a digital campfire, complete with snacks and space to spread out, study, and relax.

Traveling Crunch Time Café
Thursday, December 13
Keep an eye out for friendly library staff members roving the stacks with treats! Because we care about you and want to help you succeed!

Destress with Dogs
Monday, December 17, Noon–1:30 PM
Tuesday, December 18, 10:00–11:30 AM
Cap off your exams with some furry friends. Stop by to hang out with cuddly, sweet therapy dogs and feel your stress melt away.

 


Need Research Help?
Chat, text, email, or make an appointment with a subject librarian at library.temple.edu/asktulibraries.  

And to Make Your Studying Easier
Paley Library is open 24/7 from 8:00 AM on Thursday, December 6 through Tuesday, December 18. You can also book study spaces ahead of time at paleystudy.temple.edu.

 

 

The Gender Pay Gap: Oct. 15 Author Talk with Yasemin Besen-Cassino

Cover for Yasemin Besen-Cassino's book, The Cost of Being a GirlOn Monday, October 15, Temple University Press author Yasemin Besen-Cassino will be at Temple University’s Paley Library to discuss her book, The Cost of Being a Girl: Working Teens and the Origins of the Gender Wage Gap.

According to her research, the gender pay gap starts with part-time work in the teen years and persists into adulthood.

Yasemin Besen-Cassino is a Professor of Sociology at Montclair State University. Her research focuses on work, gender, and youth and has appeared in many sociology journals such as Contexts, Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, Theory & Society, NWSAJ, and Education & Society. In addition, her work has been featured in many popular venues such as the Washington Post, the Guardian, The Atlantic, CNN, MTV, Fortune, and Ms. Magazine, and many others.

Photograph of Professor Besen-Cassion

Professor Besen-Cassino

Want to learn more about gender pay gap ahead of Monday’s program? Read about how the gender pay gap affects teens on The Lily and check out Dr. Besen-Cassino’s op-eds on equal pay in The Guardian and in Ms. Magazine.  

This program will be held at 2:00 PM in the Paley Library Lecture Hall. As always, our programs are free and open to all. Registration requested.

Speak Out During Banned Books Week, Sept. 23–29

This week is Banned Books Week, an annual American Library Association (ALA) event that celebrates the freedom to read and asks us to speak out against the tide of censorship.

Every year, books in schools and libraries are challenged, meaning a person or group has requested their removal or restriction. The reasons for these challenges range from objections to explicit content, offensive language, age-inappropriate material, and more. Yet, most challenges are unsuccessful due to the hard work of librarians, teachers, students, and community members who support and promote our freedom to openly access information and literature.

Check out our display on the first floor of Paley Library, across from the service desk. The featured books have all been challenged at some point in libraries and schools, along with many other frequently challenged books. Consider checking one out and support your freedom to seek and express ideas.


Join the Conversation for a Chance to Win Library Swag!

Tweet us your favorite passage or quote from a banned book with the hashtag #BannedBooksWeek for a chance to win one of of the Libraries’ new drawstring bags! We’ll be choosing a few lucky winners throughout the week.

 

 

 

Access and Opportunity: Recommended Reading for the Libraries’ Fall Programs

This year, the Libraries’ Beyond the Page public programming series is curated around programs exploring access and opportunity. We will consider barriers—whether cultural, financial, physical, or otherwise—that limit opportunities and how we can move toward a more accessible world.

We’ve rounded up a list of reading suggestions to introduce you to our speakers and some of the topics they’ll cover. Check out our recommendations and we hope to see you this fall!

All these programs will be held in the Paley Library Lecture Hall. As always, our programs are free and open to all.

 

Investing in Accessibility

Read about why the U.S. needs more accessible playgrounds and this augmented reality project for which Temple’s Institute on Disabilities received funding from the Knight Foundations’ art and technology Prototype Fund to make live theater more accessible for hearing impaired and non-English speakers.

 

photo of Sara Goldrick-Rab

Sara Goldrick-Rab, photo courtesy Pat Robinson

Sara Goldrick-Rab on Access and Opportunity in Higher Education

Temple Professor and nationally-recognized scholar Sara Goldrick-Rab will speak at the Libraries on Tuesday, September 11 at 6:00 PM. Check out her interview with Trevor Noah and her New York Times op-ed on college students and food insecurity. This recent Philadelphia Inquirer story highlights both Sara’s work and Cherry Pantry, Temple’s campus food pantry.

Other reads to help you prepare for Sara’s talk and conversations about the cost of higher ed include this Fortune article about women’s disproportionate share of student loan debt and the even greater financial burden placed on black women.

 

The Public Arts in Philadelphia

photo of Conrad Benner

Conrad Benner, photo courtesy Peter Murray

Conrad Benner of StreetsDept.com and Cindy M. Ngo of Eat Up The Borders are leading a series of artist talks (Thursday, September 20), artist panels (Monday, September 24), and a wheatpaste workshop (Wednesday, October 3) as part of the Philly Public Arts Forum at the Libraries.

Read about how Conrad got started in Philadelphia Weekly’s profile and in his own words at Caldera Magazine.

Learn more, too, about the local artists visiting the Libraries as part of this series. Michelle Angela Ortiz honors the immigrant experience and uses her art as activism, while Marisa Velázquez-Rivas tells her own story as an artist shining a lights on immigrants, queer communities, and feminism. Other artists include Carol Zou, part of the Michelada Think Tank team, Russell Craig, recipient of a Right of Return fellowship for formerly incarcerated artists to address prison reform, and Keir Johnston, a member of Amber Art and Design, an art collective making public art to enact change. Johnston has also worked on the Mural Arts Philadelphia project honoring late civil rights leader Octavius V. Catto.

Wheatepaste public art by Marisa Velázquez-Rivas

Public art by Marisa Velázquez-Rivas, photo courtesy Conrad Benner

 

 

cover of The Cost of Being a GirlYasemin Besen-Cassino on the Gender Pay Gap

Author Yasemin Besen-Cassino will discuss her book The Cost of Being a Girl on Monday, October 15 at 2:00 PM. Read more about how the gender pay gap affects teens and check out Dr. Besen-Cassino’s op-eds on equal pay in The Guardian and in Ms. Magazine.  

 

 

 

 

Building the 21st Century Library

The Libraries’ symposium series about our new Charles Library continues and will focus this semester on the new library’s potential to transform Temple University’s main campus. Join us Wednesday, October 10th, as we also discuss what steps have been—or could be—taken to make the building more accessible (physically and intellectually) to the campus and surrounding communities.

A rendering of Charles Library

A rendering of Charles Library, courtesy Snøhetta

Read about how Snøhetta, the internationally acclaimed architecture firm who designed the Charles, is changing the way we absorb architecture.  

 

Hey Temple Grads: Visit Us During Alumni Weekend!

Congrats to all the new Temple graduates! Did you know you still have lifelong access to the Libraries as a Temple alum? Services include borrowing privileges, entry to programs and events, Ask A Librarian reference services, use of electronic resources while on campus, and more.

Photo courtesy Ryan Brandenberg for Temple

Boathouse Row, from the Special Collections Research Center

We also want to invite all alumni back to the Libraries during Alumni Weekend (May 18–20, 2018). We are offering self-guided tours of our current exhibits, which include the Special Collections Research Center’s “Inspired by the Archives: An Exhibition of Student Work,” “Celebrating the 175th Anniversary of Russell Conwell’s Birth,” “Boathouse Row,” and “History of a City: Celebrating Fifty Years of the Urban Archives,” all in Paley Library.

from the Charles L. Blockson Collection

You can also visit the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection to view “The Music of Black Africans in Philadelphia”.

Please note that Paley Library is open all weekend long, while the Blockson Collection is only open during the week.

We can’t wait to see you!