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Summer in Oxford
Jan. 13, 2010—When the Oxford rail station loudspeaker boomed out “Mind the gap, please,” I knew I was really back in England. The heads of two groups of Oxford’s University Libraries had invited me for a consultancy for the Bodleian and other libraries that make up the university’s library system.
Library loses one of its foremost friends
Jan. 13, 2010—When Chancellor Emeritus Alexander Heard passed away in July at age 92, the library lost one of its foremost friends.
Beloved library personnel officer dies
Jan. 13, 2010—Gail Ridgway Workman of Old Hickory, a much beloved library personnel officer for nearly three decades, passed away October 5. Mrs. Workman, who was 72, worked at the library from 1971 to 1999. “For 28 years, Gail Workman served the library through her work as personnel officer,” said Associate Dean Flo Wilson. “She knew everyone who worked...
Library purchases Moser collection at auction
Jan. 13, 2010—Special Collections recently purchased at auction a collection of Barry Moser’s works with funds from the Sam M. Fleming Southern Civilization Collection. Chattanooga-born Moser is best known for his award-winning work as an artist and illustrator, but he is also a printer, painter, printmaker, designer, author, essayist and teacher. Moser’s work is included in the...
Library partnership integrates iTunes U with Blackboard
Jan. 13, 2010—Vanderbilt University Libraries championed the creation of a tool that allows easy integration of the course management program Blackboard and Apple’s iTunes. Thanks to a partnership between Vanderbilt and Blackboard, the new tool is now available to all universities using Blackboard. The partnership was announced July 15 at the annual meeting of Blackboard’s user and...
Library survey early step in planning process
Jan. 13, 2010—The library recently asked students, faculty and staff to evaluate the library and share their input on the library’s services and collections as an early step in planning the expansion and renovation of the library. About 2,300 people completed the survey, with graduate students making up nearly a third of the respondents. The survey, used at...
Touring Tennessee via postcard
Jan. 13, 2010—Ridley Wills II’s recently donated his collection of Vanderbilt and Peabody postcards, including those featured here, to the library. Pictured are just a few his collection of about 26,000 Tennessee postcards.
Nashville pays tribute to Mark Twain with citywide celebration
Jan. 13, 2010—Vanderbilt’s libraries are part of a citywide, months-long artistic exploration of the lively, provoking and distinctly American writer Mark Twain. The “Twain & Twang” celebration kicked off downtown in the fall and continues through June.
Special Collections: 1955 Gator Bowl Win
Jun. 19, 2009—When Vanderbilt won the Music City Bowl on New Year’s Eve last year, it marked the university’s first bowl victory in 53 years. Special Collections yielded this photo from the Commodores’ 1955 Gator Bowl win over Auburn, showing Vanderbilt scoring a touchdown en route to its 25-13 victory. Special Collections is home to the university’s...
Champagne, poetry highlight Bandy Center 40th anniversary party
Jun. 19, 2009—Champagne flowed, French pastries were served and a sizeable audience filled every nook and cranny of the W.T. Bandy Center for Baudelaire and Modern French Studies to celebrate the center’s 40th anniversary. Flo Wilson, interim university librarian, served as the master of ceremonies and introduced Connie Vinita Dowell, the new dean of libraries at Vanderbilt...