Winter 2011
Library Renovation
Mar. 25, 2011—
The Sixties at 50
Mar. 22, 2011—The Sixties at 50 exhibit looks back at one of the most important decades in U.S. history through the rich collections of Vanderbilt’s libraries.
2009-2010 Annual Report of Donors
Mar. 21, 2011—The Jean and Alexander Heard Library thanks and recognizes the many supporters who gave generously to the library during the past fiscal year (July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010). Please contact Katie Robinson at (615) 343-3113 or katie.robinson@vanderbilt.edu to learn more about supporting the library, to let us know about any omissions or errors on this donor list, or to request removal of your name from this and all future online donor rolls.
In remembrance of Jean Heard: First Friend of the Library
Mar. 21, 2011—We note with sadness the January 2 passing of Jean Keller Heard, widow of former Vanderbilt University Chancellor Alexander Heard and a great friend of the Jean and Alexander Heard Library system.
NASA veterans’ papers give boost to Vanderbilt Special Collections
Mar. 21, 2011—The space race was built on the names of myth and legend—Saturn, Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. But the real-life discoveries made through the study of outer space have changed life on Earth.
What is a library?
Mar. 21, 2011—Students in Vesna Pavlovic’s photography class enjoyed a project that answered the question “what is a library?” in a number of forms. Starting with written statements of their ideas about libraries, students then explored the Peabody library to find answers in terms of architecture, knowledge, sound, silence and performance. The resulting work, exhibited last spring...
Flood of 1937
Mar. 11, 2011—On the first Saturday in May 2010, the rain began to fall. It kept on falling through Sunday, and when it finally stopped, Nashville was hit by a thousand-year flood. The Cumberland River rose to 51.86 feet, a level not seen since 1937. This photo shows two WSM reporters working from a boat to cover...
Can you hear me now? Exploring noise in libraries
Mar. 11, 2011—What is a library? A place for quiet reflection or a place to exchange ideas—or everything in between? Mel Ziegler’s art installation class pondered that question recently as part of a project called “Can You Hear Me Now?” exploring noise in libraries. A recent library survey showed that noise was a topic that needed further...
Student workers celebrated with special day
Mar. 11, 2011—Staff-made desserts, gift bags and thank yous took the place of shelving books and helping with research for student library workers at the first Student Library Worker Appreciation day this spring. The nearly 170 student library employees who work at the nine libraries on campus were thanked by Dean Connie Vinita Dowell and leaders from...
Michael Aurbach’s termites
Mar. 11, 2011—A small swarm of cardboard termites staged a stealth assault on the “Tree of Learning” on the Library Lawn earlier this year. Students of Professor Michael Aurbach fashioned the swarm, dubbed “bronze-eating termites made by ACME Art and Termite,” during their spring assemblage class. The three-hour attack, which left the tree unscathed, is the third...