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Year: 2022

Mann Library Tours & New Student Welcome

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Mann Library Tour & New Student Welcome

Monday, August 15 – Wednesday, August 17, 12-2pm

Tours depart from the Mann Lobby every 30 minutes

 

Why do our students tell us that Albert R. Mann Library is their home away from home? Come to our tour to find out! Explore one of the country’s best library collections in life sciences, human ecology, and other related disciplines, and discover all the tools we offer. And don’t miss our door prizes—they’ll be fun and have good info for you too! Families are welcome. Tours run approx. 30 minutes and include a Q&A.

 

Didn’t register for a tour? No problem! Feel free to join us during any time slot that works for you. We look forward to meeting you!

Threading the Needle: Call for Fiber & Fashion Art

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The exhibit, Threading the Needle: Weaving Traditions into Contemporary Textile Art at Mann Library’s Gallery will present artists that blur the line between craft and art and turn traditionally feminine arts into visual storytelling by using combinations of stitching, quilting, embroidery, mending, remaking, refashioning, upcycling and other textile crafts.

 

Threading the Needle features pieces that draw on these traditional textile techniques, with a particular focus on the work of artists incorporating ideas of social and/or environmental sustainability and inclusive practices or themes. These contemporary pieces will be exhibited alongside selections from Cornell University Library’s Home Economics Archive: Research, Traditions, History (HEARTH) database as a means to connect current artwork to historical sources while reimagining those sources for the future.

 

Application Requirements

  • 2-5 example images of work and an accompanying one paragraph long statement about each piece. Submit at least one image for each piece, and not more than two. Images should be labeled as LastName_FirstName_Title.jpeg. (e.g. Smith_John_seaming.jpeg). Statements should be labeled LastName_FirstName_Title_Statement.jpeg.

If you are submitting one piece for consideration, two of the images should be of the piece you are submitting, others can reflect your overall work. Submit one statement.

 

If you are submitting multiple pieces for consideration, images should be of each piece you are submitting, and one statement should accompany each piece. Make clear which piece goes with which statement.

 

If you are submitting a series of work, images should be of all the pieces in that series. Submit one statement for the series.

 

NOTE: Depending on space availability and a desire to represent different artists it’s possible only one piece may be selected for display even when multiple pieces or a series are submitted.

 

  • Bio or CV
  • Submissions should be sent to: mann-public-ed-prog@cornell.edu
  • Artists who submit an entry and images to Cornell University Library agree to have images of their work appear on the website for the exhibit and programming materials.

Timeline

  • Application Deadline: September 30, 2022
  • Artist Notification: November 15, 2022
  • Submission must be received by January 6, 2023

Exhibit opening: March 2023

Data Literacy: Cultivating Skills to Engage with Data

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The ability to find, analyze and utilize existing data helps us interpret, engage with and critique the world around us. We are living in a time when our behaviors and actions are increasingly viewed as data points, and when recent court rulings and laws have ignited larger conversations about the ways in which the most personal of data might be utilized for prosecution. Data is valuable, and profitable, and can be illuminating. But data is also imperfect, and can be biased, and used as a weapon against vulnerable populations.

 

In this class, we will take a critical approach to learning about data literacy. Data literacy refers to the skills needed to find, read, curate, analyze, and communicate with data. This includes self-reported data (like demographics, hate crime statistics and responses within focus group), observational and trace data (like web searches and street traffic patterns), and experimental data (like health outcomes in vaccine clinical trials).

 

This 1-credit class aims to equip students from a variety of non-technical backgrounds with the necessary skills to think critically about quantitative and qualitative data. The class approaches data literacy as part of a broader process of inquiry into the world – not from a math or statistics-centric point of view. Students in this course will end the semester with a better understanding of the various ways that data is used- and perhaps in some cases, shouldn’t be used- to inform advocacy, science, civics, and policy.

 

Upon completing the course, students will be able to:

  1. Describe the strengths and limitations of the following data types: 1) self-reported data, 2) observational or trace data, and 3) experimental data.
  2. List at least two real-world examples that demonstrate the harmful consequences of “data-driven decision-making” and describe solutions to mitigate bias and harm within such decision-making.
  3. Identify three sources for locating open and reusable datasets and locate one dataset based on student interest.
  4. Apply FAIR data principles to evaluate a dataset.
  5. Utilize open-source, web-based tools for simple data cleanup & analysis.

ALS 1210 information and registration: bit.ly/als1210dataliteracy

Final Reminder! Submit your course reserves for the Fall 2022 semester

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Faculty and instructors, please submit your fall semester course reserves requests by Friday, August 5. Please see instructions for submitting requests: https://www.library.cornell.edu/services/reserves.      

 

Mann’s physical course reserves will again be held in a self-service model. Students can use materials in the library without checking them out. If desired, they may check out materials overnight. Multi-function printers/scanners are available in the library for scanning chapters at no charge.

 

Note that per our Copyright Office, if you are using streaming media for your course (films, tv shows, or music) the Media Digitization Request Form at olinuris.library.cornell.edu/digitization must be submitted or resubmitted each semester for each item and course, even if the form has been sent for an item/course in a previous semester. Due to ongoing high volume of submissions, we currently process media according to the “needed by” dates shown on the form.

 

We are also in the process of contacting departments to retrieve their personal/dept. copies of textbooks from the last few semesters. If you will be needing the materials to go on reserve again for fall, we can hold the books. Otherwise, we greatly appreciate your cooperation in returning your valuable books.

 

If you have any questions, please contact our course reserves coordinator, Wendy Thompson, at mann_reserve@cornell.edu or by phone at (607) 255-3296.

Summer Workshops @ the Library

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The hazy days of summer are upon us, and we hope everyone is able to enjoy some fun in the sun in the coming months! It’s also a great time to grow those valuable organizational and citation management skills with our Library summer workshops:

 

For the full listing of Cornell University Library workshops, visit: bit.ly/cul-workshops-summer22

 

Don’t see something you need? Complete our workshop request form to let us know if you need a specialized instruction session on additional topics such as business research (e.g. Bloomberg), specific databases (e.g. PubMed), data management tools (e.g. Open Science Framework, Excel), or design (e.g. Adobe products, poster design).

Reunion 2022: Mann Library Open House

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In November 1952 a new library opened its Art Deco doors on Cornell’s upper campus, and the Ag Quad has never been the same since. We warmly invite Cornell alumni and their families to drop by Mann Library’s Open House to help us celebrate our 70th anniversary and all the ways this library has grown, thrived, and yet stayed true to its classic roots through the big changes of the digital age. Sun-dappled study corners, flexible hi-tech collaborative spaces, rich collections, rare book treasures, engaging exhibits featuring soil bioart and a look at soil as living treasure–you’ll find it all here, along with an early birthday cake and other treats, served for this special occasion at our circulation desk! Family-friendly—all are welcome.

 

Activities include:

The Good Old (& New) Books

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As classes wrapped up for the spring 2022 semester and students hit the books, class notes, and computers in the library for their home stretch through final exams, Mann’s spring 2022 stressbuster raffle challenged them to name three books or book series they loved reading as children. Over three hundred responses later, we have a sweet view of both the common threads and special experiences that made up the literary landscape of childhood for the 2021/2022 crop of Cornell students who’ve spent time in our library spaces this year. Below we’ve put together a little summary to describe some of the fun features of this wonderfully lettered terrain—a nice insight into some of the important influences shaping the minds of our rising generation of engaged thinkers, impassioned doers, wickedly good-humored adventure lovers, and future leaders of the world. Thanks for participating, students–we love what you shared with us!

 

Five most cited books:

  • The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein (1964)
  • Winnie the Pooh, by A. A. Milne; illustrated by E. H. Shepard (1926)
  • Good Night Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown; illustrated by Clement Hurd (1947)
  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle (1969)
  • Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak (1963)

Five most cited series:

  • The Magic Treehouse, by Mary Pope Osborne
  • Harry Potter, by J. K. Rowling
  • Percy Jackson and the Olympians, by Rick Riordan
  • Junie B. Jones, by Barbara Park
  • A Series of Unfortunate Events, by Lemony Snicket (pen name of Daniel Handler)

Most common author cited:

  • Dr. Seuss (pen name of Theodore Seuss Geisel)

International titles:

  • Swami and Friends, by R.K. Narayan (author of Indian literature in English, 1906-2001)
  • The Story of the Root Children, by Sybille von Olfers (German language author, 1881-1916)
  • The Adventures of Tintin, by Belgian cartoonist Hergé Georges Remi (1907-1983)
  • Rodhatten og ulven (Red Hat and the Wolf), by Fam Ekman (Norwegian, 1946-)

Honorable mention: Rin Rin the tripping Tadpole, aka Rin Rin Renacuajo, a well-known character appearing in Colombian children’s stories and nursery rhymes created by poet Rafael Pombo (1833-1912).

 

Books of poetry:

  • Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstein
  • Where the Sidewalk Ends, also by Shel Silverstein

Five oldest books cited:

  • Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carol; illustrated by John Tenniel (1865)
  • Heidi, by Johanna Spyri (1880)
  • Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up (also known as Peter and Wendy), by J. M. Barrie; illustrated by Francis Donkin Bedford (1911)
  • The Velveteen Rabbit, or, How Toys Became Real., by Margery Williams; illustrated by William Nicholson (1922)
  • Blueberries for Sal, by Robert McCloskey (1948)

Other frequently cited popular classics (cited multiple times):

  • Curious George series, by Hans Augusto (H. A.) Rey and Margret Rey (launched 1941)
  • The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943)
  • The Snow Day, by Ezra Jack Keats (1962)
  • Berenstain Bears series, by Stan, Jan, and Mike Berenstain (launched 1962)
  • Frog and Toad series, by Arnold Lobel (launched 1970)

Five newest books/series cited:

  • The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt; illustrated by Oliver Jeffers (picture book, 2013)
  • Shadow and Bone, by Leigh Bardugo (teen/young adult fantasy/fairy tale series launched 2012)
  • The Familiars, by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson (children’s fantasy & magic chapter book series launched 2010)
  • Jane in Bloom, by Deborah Lytton (teen/young adult fiction, 2009)
  • Dork Diaries, by Rachel Renée Russell (illustrated children’s chapter book series launched 2009)

Other cited new books that Mann staff members wish had been around when they were young:

  • Chasing Vermeer, by Blue Balliett and illustrated by Brett Helquist (children’s art mystery novel, 2004)
  • Mysterious Benedict Society series (children’s mystery/detective series launched 2007)
  • Sheep, by Valerie Hobbs (children’s book about a dog, 2006)
  • The Sisters Grimm series, by Michael Buckley; illustrated by Peter Ferguson (children’s fantasy series launched 2005)
  • The Miraculous Journal of Eduard Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo (2006)

Congratulations to our 2022 Elevator Art Contest Winners!

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Our annual Elevator Art Contest gives Cornell undergraduate, graduate, or professional school students the chance to showcase their creative talents, win a Cornell Store prize, and inspire others along the way!

 

Prompted by our 2022 theme, contestants were invited to interpret what “connection” meant to them and submit a piece of artwork of their authorship to be featured on the elevators in both Mann and Olin Libraries. The students were also asked to describe how the art related to the proposed theme and to include a paragraph with some basic information about themselves.

 

The entries received were stunning and after some careful debate, we have selected our winners! Read on to learn more about these talented students and their submissions, and don’t forget to stop by and admire these wonderful creations in person! For the full article on all the winners, visit: www.library.cornell.edu/about/news/archive/congratulations-our-2022-elevator-art-contest-winners

Student artist Wenjia Zong standing in front of elevator design

Wenjia Zong MA ’22, College of Human Ecology

Wenjia is a graduate student in Apparel Design with research focused on body shapes, style, and fit in virtual technologies. With years of professional working experience, she is well experienced with fashion production, design, and retail management. Wenjia was born and raised in Yunnan, China, and attended California State University, Long Beach, as an undergraduate major in fashion merchandising and design.

 

“This photo was taken in Huntington Beach Central Park in the spring of 2021, one year from when the first pandemic hit the US. Family, friends, and colleagues have been physically separated since then. Spring is here again—just like this bee—with the sunshine and water from winter. Everything will bloom again, and he can collect pollen like in all other springs. With hope, we will get over the pandemic soon and be able to connect, reunite, and live/travel like before.”

Student artist Elizabeth Hughes standing in front of elevator design

Elizabeth Hughes ’25, College of Arts and Sciences

Elizabeth is a freshman studying Environment & Sustainability with a concentration in Environmental Biology and Applied Ecology. She is originally from Texas, but now lives in Annapolis, Maryland and will be spending this upcoming summer working on a small, organic farm in northern New Hampshire. Elizabeth currently works in a plant pathology lab on campus but is excited to expand her understanding of sustainable agriculture and soil science over the coming years.

 

“Grief can be an overwhelming thing to handle. The thoughts and emotions that come with it seem to span all aspects of our lives at times, knotting everything within us together. Over the past few years, I have been learning to slowly come to terms with my grief and grow from it, finally loosening and untying the knots while connecting with myself on a much deeper level than I ever have before. While the piece represents the struggles I have processed and the understanding I finally have of myself and my place within the world, I chose to depict this through symbols rather than being completely straightforward. I would like the viewer to take what they want from the piece, while at the same time coming out with a sense of the importance of understanding and connecting with oneself.”

May Stressbusters @ Mann

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Feeling stressed? Mann Library has extended hours during study week, as well as a wide assortment of events and activities planned to help you rest and refocus!

 

Hortus Forum Spring Plant Sale  

Friday, May 6, 9am to 3pm

Tsujimoto Family Plaza

Love plants? So do we! Join us for a Hortus Forum Spring Plant Sale on the Tsujimoto Family Plaza (outside the Mann Library entrance on the Ag Quad).

 

Stressbuster Raffle

Keep an eye out for the Mann end-of-semester raffle! Starting this Friday, May 6, stop by the library and share your most beloved children’s book with us and be entered into a raffle for fun library and campus prizes. The drawing will be on May 13th, and you’ll be notified if you’re one of our lucky winners!

 

Snacks in the Stacks

Friday, May 13, noon to 2pm

Tsujimoto Family Plaza

Mann Library will be giving out free snacks on the Ag Quad during study week! Take a study break and join us for treats, button-making, lawn games, and pep talks! You’ve got this, and we’ve got your back 🙂

 

Late-night hours

Mann Library has extended hours during study week and finals. From Wednesday, May 11 through Thursday, May 19, Mann Library will have the following hours:

  • Monday – Thursday, 8am to midnight
  • Friday, 8am to 8pm
  • Saturday, 11am to 7pm
  • Sunday, Noon to midnight

Night owls – don’t forget that about our new(ish) 24/7 study space in Mann 112, off the lobby! We’ll be putting out some fun, stressbusting activities in this space throughout the week.

 

See our full hours online: mann.library.cornell.edu/full-hours. You can find the hours for the Mann Café, or order online, via the Cornell Dining website.

If you create it, we’ll elevate it! Elevator art contest at Mann & Olin Libraries

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Cornell students, enter our elevator art contest for a chance to showcase your creativity for a chance to win a Cornell Store prize, valued at $100 (with gift receipt)! The winning entries will be displayed on the 1st floor elevator doors in both Mann Library and Olin Library and will be judged both by visual appeal and by how well they fit our theme for 2022: “Connection.” You must be a currently enrolled undergraduate, graduate, or professional school student at Cornell.

 

Use the submission form (Cornell login required) to provide basic information about you and a paragraph describing how your entry supports the theme. Upload a high-resolution, digital file of your artwork. You must also attest that your work (including all images contained in it) is original and solely made and owned by you. Any inaccurate information could disqualify your submission. Multiple submissions are allowed.

 

Deadline: April 11, 2022. The winners will be chosen by April 18. 

 

Image file requirements and recommendations

  • File name must include your net ID, for example “cd58_TitleOfWork.jpg”.
  • Final size of decal is 88 inches high x 42 inches wide (split down the middle to allow doors to open).
  • Portrait orientation works best.
  • File format must be vector (e.g. PDF, EPS, AI or SVG), or high-resolution raster, larger than 20MB (e.g. JPEG, TIFF, PSD).

If your image is a photograph, please provide the location where your photograph was taken (city, country, and landmark). Consideration will be given, in part, to the location where the photograph was taken and any legal restrictions on the use of images of individuals from that location.