Category Archives: Uncategorized

Summer Reading

Looking for Something to Read this Summer? Try one of these books from the library’s collection.         Alice I Have Been, by Melanie Benjamin Now in her twilight years, Alice Liddell looks back on a remarkable life. From a pampered childhood in Oxford to difficult years as a widowed mother, Alice examines how she became who she is–and how she became immortalized as Alice in Wonderland.     At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me...

In Memory of Derick Nelson

Normally, the Research Blog describes library resources that might be useful to students and faculty. However, today we are departing from that mission to recognize Betty Nelson’s son Derick who was killed two years ago today. Today’s blog is a reprise of a blog posted that summer.   It happens everyday. Everyday you watch the news and there is another story about a senseless shooting in some part of Detroit. If you pay any attention at all, it’s only to...

Ta-Nehisi Coates – Between the World and Me

Ta-Nehisi Coates will be delivering the keynote presentation, “Between the World and Me” at 6:30 pm on April 4th, at Calihan Hall. Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to be in the presence of, and listen to one of the most thoughtful and challenging voices speaking and writing today. In a recent piece in The Atlantic Tressie McMillan Cottom writes, “in The Atlantic, Coates is a cross between a public historian and a public sociologist.” Ta-Nehisi Coates is a...

The Libraries Thanksgiving List

This week some of the library staff took some time out to pause and consider what we are thankful for: Jennifer Dean, Dean of University Libraries and Instructional Technology: I am grateful to be here at Detroit Mercy and with everyone in Libraries/IDS. Sara Armstrong, Associate Dean for Technical Services and Library Systems: I’m grateful for all the people I work with. Not only do we get awesome things done. You’re all fun to work with. Marilyn Dow, Director of...

Government Documents and Government Information at UDM

The University of Detroit Mercy houses a collection of federal government documents in print, microfiche, and tangible electronic format (CD-ROMs and DVDs). It also provides access to titles available online through the Government Printing Office (GPO). These resources are available not only to students, faculty, staff, and administrators of the University, but also by federal law to anyone else who may wish to consult them. The University has the distinction of having been a selective depository library since 1884. A...

The Value and Fun of Graphic Novels

Do you know an non-reader, a struggling reader, or a reluctant reader? Do you have children, grandchildren, neighbors, nieces or nephews learning how to read? Turn them on to graphic novels. Scholarly studies are showing that the combination of pictures and words aids comprehension and vocabulary for struggling readers. With their clever and entertaining illustrations, condensed text, and unique formats, graphic novels can effectively communicate complex ideas. The University of Detroit Mercy Libraries has been collecting graphic novels for several...

Chapters in the History of the Book–Hidden Treasures

Pal·imp·sest ˈ/paləm(p)ˌsest/ From the Greek “palímpsestos,” to scrape again. This was the ultimate in recycling. Roman writers Catullus, Cicero, and Plutarch all told of the practice of making palimpsesti  on papyrus and wax tablets. (Avrin. p. 168)  After the fall of the Roman Empire the practice continued, manuscripts which were no longer useful or contained material considered pagan would have their pages cleaned so they could be reused. This would save time and money since parchment was expensive. Why is...

Two Incredible Databases You Might Not Have Heard About

I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight two very important and very interesting databases from Alexander Street Press. Black Thought and Culture, and Black Women Writers. These two databases represent the very best from this publisher and offer a deep and wide expanse of non-fiction and fiction literature from Africans, and the African Diaspora. In Black Thought and Culture there are over 1,300 sources including ebooks, interviews, journal articles, speeches, essays, pamphlets, and letters from more than 1,200 authors....

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