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University of Pennsylvania Libraries Announces Brian Vivier as Inaugural Director of the Center for Global Collections

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Brian Vivier

In his new role, he will provide strategic vision, leadership, and oversight for the Center in building world-class distinctive global collections and engaging programming. 

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Summer Featured Books and DVDs: For the Love of Food

Posted on by Amanda Alexander
DVDs lined up in a row with "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" in the front

Some of us eat to live, and some of us live to eat. For some of us, making and eating food can also be a rich source for cultural analysis and storytelling. This month’s featured materials show some of the many ideas and values food can represent. 

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June Featured Books and DVDs: Pride Month

Posted on by Amanda Alexander
DVDs in top row are Moonlight, The Celluloid Closet, Ammonite, and Pariah. Bottom row is Rock Hudson's home movies, The Signifyin' Works of Marlon Riggs, A Fantastic Woman, and Welcome to Chechnya.

Penn’s LGBT Center will be kicking off their Pride activities with a Queer Dance Class on Friday, June 3 , and will be hosting special events throughout the month. In the meantime, LGBT Center staff provided the Penn Libraries with the following recommendations, each of which offers an an inspiring and enriching reading or watching experience

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More to Explore on Women in the American Wilderness

Posted on by Amanda Alexander
A page of a folio shows a frog in different stages of life.

Schimmel has donated the nonfiction portion from her “OK” exhibit to the Libraries in celebration of the appointment of Sean Quimby as Director of the Jay I. Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books, and Manuscripts. The new donation is diverse, comprising books, letters, photos, and unique items such as Dale Evans’ cowgirl boots and Annie Oakley’s trunk.

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May Featured Books and DVDs: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 

Posted on by Amanda Alexander
A selection of featured books lay on a backpack in the grass.

The Penn Libraries’ recommendations for books and DVDs to celebrate AAPI heritage reflect the diversity of populations comprised in this group.  

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April Featured Books and DVDs: National Poetry Month

Posted on by Amanda Alexander
A selection of featured DVDs shows the films Cyrano de Bergerac, Sylvia, Neruda, The Treasure, Howl, Paterson, Roxanne, and Slam.

Not sure where to begin in your exploration of poetry? Try easing in with a book of lyrics from a beloved musician, a nonfiction book about a poet, or a poetic film. 

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From a Barn on Cape Cod to the Penn Libraries: An Interview with Stephan Loewentheil on the Path of a Special Collection

Posted on by Amanda Alexander
Sepia portrait of Edward Curtiss

Recently, Loewentheil bestowed a collection of 17 photographic plates by photographer Edward S. Curtis (1868–1952), as well as the related proof sheets, manuscripts, and ephemera, on the Penn Libraries. The Penn Libraries recently had the opportunity to talk with Loewentheil about his intention behind the gift, the importance of Curtis’ work, and his process for creating artistically and historically significant collections. 

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Penn Libraries Unearths Dissertation of Trailblazing 19th Century Physician M. Alice Bennett

Posted on by Amanda Alexander
Black and white photo showing M. Alice Bennett in a cap and gown overlaid over a sepia document

The dissertation of the first woman to received a degree from Penn is now available in the Penn Libraries’ digital repository for anyone to view,

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Penn Libraries Releases Digital Strategy 2022-2024

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A person wearing a face mask turns the page in a manuscript while streaming on a laptop.

The strategy presents a broad vision to plan, implement, scale, and sustain digital technologies and practices that enable Penn students, researchers, scholars, and their collaborators to function skillfully and competitively in a digital world.

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Featured Books and DVDs: Women’s History Month

Posted on by Amanda Alexander
Stack of books and movies featuring stories about women

For more than 30 years, Women’s History Month (and its former iteration, Women’s History Week) has celebrated the essential contributions of women to U.S. history and to the world. This year, the theme “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” offers a salute to today’s frontline workers and caregivers and recognizes a storied history of women around the world practicing as healers.

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