But for Ohio State

But for The Ohio State University Libraries, all we know and all we are would be far less accessible.

The sum of the knowledge, inspiration, history, creativity, and achievements of the human race are contained within the world’s great libraries, and there is perhaps no more dynamic example than the libraries at Ohio State.  Since the original Thompson Library opened nearly a century ago, virtually everything about learning, accessing and storing information–and the very nature of libraries themselves–has changed.  And the Ohio State Libraries are at the forefront of that change.  They are living laboratories for the future of library resources, research and services.

Regardless of the tools, technologies or trends that shape the University Libraries, our vision remains constant: to find, share and preserve information and knowledge while offering user-centered services to the students, faculty and community of Ohio State as well as scholars around the country and around the world.

And we can do none of this without you.

See how you can support the University Libraries.

Posted in News |

October 4 Open House, Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum

Thursday, October 4
5-7 p.m.
27 West 17th Avenue Mall
Columbus, OH 43210-1343

Enjoy the Reading Room Gallery Exhibition “Line Dancing,” a survey of dance in cartoon art, along with a behind-the-scenes peek of the library stacks and a display of treasures from the collection, including original Bone art by Jeff Smith, original “Little Nemo in Slumberland” art from Winsor McCay, original “Calvin and Hobbes” art by Bill Watterson, and original art by P. Craig Russell, acclaimed illustrator of “The Sandman,” “Hellboy,” and “Coraline.”

Contact: Caitlin McGurk    (mcgurk.17@osu.edu)
Phone: (614) 292-0538

Posted in News |

Margo Jones Award Honors Tony Taccone

Tony Taccone, artistic director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre, has been named the recipient of the 2012 Margo Jones Award presented by The Ohio State University Libraries and OSU Arts and Humanities. The award honors those who have demonstrated a significant impact, understanding and affirmation of the craft of playwriting, and who have encouraged the living theatre everywhere.  The honor will be given to Taccone at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre October 12.

“All the sparkling, descriptive words and phrases we use to define the legacy of Margo Jones – impact, understanding, affirmation, encouragement, commitment to the craft of playwriting, encouragement of new writers — are woven into Tony’s inspiring and creative work at Berkeley Rep,” said Deborah Robison, a member of the awards committee. “We are happy, in Margo’s name, to be honoring and celebrating his significant contribution to the theatre.”

“I consider it a privilege to have enjoyed a long and prolific career in the theatre,” Taccone comments. “In addition to generous helpings of luck, success in this field depends on spectacular collaborators – and the archetypal collaborator for anyone in regional theatre, the standard-bearer of our movement, was Margo Jones. She was committed to creating art for her community while simultaneously crafting new work that would speak to a larger audience across the nation and across time. So it is an honor to receive this award, a compliment to be considered alongside so many other accomplished artists, and a tribute to all the collaborators who helped Berkeley Rep reach its present level of achievement.”

During Taccone’s tenure, the Tony Award-winning nonprofit has earned a reputation as an international leader in innovative theatre and an incubator of new plays.  In those 15 years, Berkeley Rep has presented more than 60 world, American, and West Coast premieres and sent 18 shows to New York, two to London, one to Hong Kong, and many more on tour.

As a director, Taccone has staged more than 35 plays at Berkeley Rep, including new work from Culture Clash, Rinde Eckert, David Edgar, Danny Hoch, Geoff Hoyle, Quincy Long, Itamar Moses, and Lemony Snicket.  In the last decade, seven shows developed in Berkeley landed on Broadway, including two that he directed: Sarah Jones’ Bridge & Tunnel and Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking.  He directed the productions that transferred to London as well: Continental Divide at the Barbican and Tiny Kushner at the Tricycle Theatre.  Taccone commissioned Tony Kushner’s legendary Angels in America, co-directed its world premiere at the Mark Taper Forum, and collaborated with Kushner on seven projects including Brundibar, which featured designs by Maurice Sendak and played off Broadway.  His regional credits include Actors Theatre of Louisville, Arena Stage, Arizona Repertory Theatre, Center Theatre Group, the Guthrie Theater, Hartford Stage, the Huntington Theatre Company, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Public Theater, San Jose Repertory Theatre, and Seattle Repertory Theatre.  In addition, Taccone served six years as artistic director at San Francisco’s Eureka Theatre, before coming to Berkeley Rep.  Last season, Taccone turned his hand to playwriting and debuted Ghost Light and Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup.

The Margo Jones Award celebrates her work in support of theatre – Jones’ pioneering efforts in the development of professional regional theatre, her tireless championing of new plays, and her nurturing of new playwrights.  Through the professional theatre that she founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1947, Jones produced new work such as William Inge’s Farther Off from Heaven, Tennessee Williams’ Summer and Smoke, and Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee’s Inherit the Wind, which later opened at the National Theatre in New York.  Although her professional accomplishments were cut short by her untimely death in 1955, the pattern Jones created for developing theatre works became a standard for producing new plays.  The award was established in 1961 by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, and has been administered by the Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute since 1993.

Additional support for the award is made possible by a bequest from Jones’ colleague J. B. (Tad) Adoue III.  Among the numerous previous recipients are Lucille Lortel, Adrian Hall, Joseph Papp, Jane Alexander, André Bishop, Al Hirschfeld, Ellen Stewart, Mel Gussow, Christopher Durang and Marsha Norman, Bill Rauch, and Anne Cattaneo.

Posted in News |

Libraries Launch Events Calendar

A calendar of events now provides information on programs, exhibits and special events at the OSU Libraries.

The calendar, available from the home page of the Libraries’ web site, also includes public events being held at the Libraries that are being sponsored by other groups and organizations.

Posted in News |

Dancing Dimensions: Movement through Time and Space

Thompson Library Gallery, 1858 Neil Avenue, Columbus OH  43210
Through December 30

Gallery hours:
Monday-Wednesday, Friday: 10 am-6 pm;
Thursday, 10 am-8 pm;
Saturday and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.

Opening reception: Monday, September 10, 5:30-7 p.m.

Dancing Dimensions: Movement through Time and Space” highlights dance and movement collections of the Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, ranging from an 18th-century French fan with dance scenes to a top hat from Chorus Line; from dance in notation to dance in 3D; costume and set designs to a costume that pirouettes and scenery. Through a variety of materials such as photographs, programs, posters, correspondence, video, and a mask, the exhibition will celebrate dance and movement artists and companies, international as well as those who have kept dance thriving in Ohio.

Contact:               Nena Couch (couch.1@osu.edu)

Phone:                 614-292-9606

Posted in Exhibits and Displays |

net.TUTOR

net.TUTOR is a free, Web-based, interactive learning program that will help you become proficient at using the Internet for academic and personal research. Sixteen short tutorials walk you through hands-on activities for:

  • Research tools including social networks, Web browsers, e-books;
  • Research techniques to quickly and efficiently find articles and books, then evaluate and use that information;
  • Special topics such as searching for information on careers and employment, history, and news sources

Each tutorial provides information in a concise format, along with opportunities to view examples or practice various tasks. You may select the activities that you find interesting and lean online at your own pace.

Posted in News |

OSUL Ranked #5 Among the Top ARL Libraries

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Investment Index ranks the OSU Libraries (OSUL) fifth among public university libraries, a jump from 12th place just one year ago.

“Our library is the physical, intellectual, and historical heart of the University,” said Ohio State President Gordon Gee.  “The naming of our library system among the top five public academic libraries in the country affirms our University’s forward momentum and the tremendous dedication of our library faculty and staff.”

The rankings also place the Ohio State Libraries at #14 among all 125 ARL member libraries, up from #23 last year.

Carol Pitts Diedrichs, Director of Libraries, echoed President Gee’s sentiments.

“The ranking demonstrates we have built a cost-effective, efficient library system that is recognized by its peer institutions as one of the best in the country,” Diedrichs said.  “I am thrilled that we continue to move in a positive direction that benefits the entire Ohio State community.”

Diedrichs credited the university’s support of the Libraries as a significant factor in the top five ranking.

“The ranking reflects, in part, the investment universities make in their libraries,” Diedrichs said.  “We are fortunate to have received the support which has made this ranking possible.”

ARL influences the changing environment of scholarly communication and the public policies that affect research libraries and the diverse communities they serve. ARL pursues this mission by advancing the goals of its member research libraries, providing leadership in public and information policy to the scholarly and higher education communities, fostering the exchange of ideas and expertise, facilitating the emergence of new roles for research libraries, and shaping a future environment that leverages its interests with those of allied organizations.

OSUL serves the university community on the main and regional campuses with a blend of physical and digital resources, unique special collections and innovative services. The Libraries are committed to providing the resources needed to support teaching, learning and research. The system includes 13 facilities on the university’s main campus and six libraries at Ohio State campuses across the state. The Libraries also include nine unique special collections for use by Ohio State University faculty, students, visiting scholars and the general public. OSUL is a member of OhioLINK, a consortium of 88 Ohio college and university libraries, and the State Library of Ohio.

Posted in News |

Welcome Faculty and Staff!

Posted in News |

Welcome Students!

Whether you’re a new or returning Ohio State student, welcome! The faculty and staff of the University Libraries are here to help you with your research. We want to help you have a successful year.

There are several libraries on central campus.  The Science and Engineering Library is open 24/7; the Thompson Library is open until midnight Sunday through Thursday. Here’s more information about all our libraries, including locations and hours of service.

The Libraries’ Special Collections include rare books, primary research materials and manuscripts for use by Ohio State University faculty and students as well as visiting scholars and the general public.

Our subject librarians can help you with research in specific areas.  Here’s a list with their names, subject areas and contact information.

Because of the switch from quarters to semesters, the loan periods for many items you can borrow from the Libraries have been extended.

We offer many services electronically.  You can ask us questions by phone or email, or make an appointment to talk with a staff member.  Many library resources, such as access to journal articles and the Libraries’ catalogs, are available 24 hours a day through the Libraries’ website.

We’ve put together this web page on services for students.  Take a quick look.

Have a great year!

 

 

Posted in News |

Exploring Consumer Roles in Digital Curation

Tuesday, September 18, 3:30 – 5 p.m.
Thompson Library, 1858 Neil Avenue, 11th floor

Speaker: Nancy McGovern

Engaging users allows us to understand who our consumers are and to better address their needs, norms, and expectations. The presentation will consider relevant trends in research libraries and incorporate information and findings from the Dissemination Information Packages (DIPS) for Information Reuse (DIPIR) project.

Nancy Y. McGovern has been the Head of Curation and Preservation Services at MIT Libraries since February 2012.  Her responsibilities include ensuring long-term access to the digital and physical assets of the Libraries and developing appropriate long-term strategies for the expanding range of social science digital content ICPSR collects. For the previous five years, she was the Digital Preservation Officer (DPO) and a Research Assistant Professor at the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), a social science data archive at the University of Michigan that was established in 1962.

Her research interests include the organizational infrastructure for life cycle management and the means for organizations and communities to continually respond to the opportunities and challenges of evolving technology. She has more than 25 years of experience with the long-term management of digital content, including a decade working on electronic records at the U.S. National Archives and five years of experience at Cornell University Library. She completed her PhD on technology responsiveness for the digital preservation community at University College London in 2009. She was designated a Fellow of the Society of American Archivists (SAA) in 2009 and a Digital Preservation Pioneer by NDIIPP in 2010.

Posted in Events |