Happy National Wildflower Week from Gleeson Library!

Here is a guest post from Jacqueline Cao, a student assistant in the Reference Department.

Spring is here, and that means it’s time to celebrate National Wildflower Week by taking time to notice the vibrant blooms throughout the United States. National Wildflower Week is celebrated during the first full week of May.  This week commemorates the beautiful wildflowers that bring life and color to our natural landscapes. Whether they are growing on pastures, mountainsides, surfaces of the freeway, forests, or even our own backyards, wildflowers are more than the eye can see. They create habitats, help conserve water, and even reduce erosion (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center).

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas sponsors National Wildflower Week. The Center is located at The University of Texas at Austin, where they aim to “inspire the conservation of native plants…, provide habitat for wildlife, and enhance human health and happiness.” The Center uses native plants to restore and create healthy landscapes. I am sure we can all recall spotting beautiful wildflowers, from Purple Coneflowers (Echinaceas), to colorful Zinnias (Zinnia violacea), and Orange California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica), these flowers are all around us!

Courtesy of Public Domain Pictures.

Courtesy of Pixabay.

Courtesy of Flickr.

 Gleeson Library has a similar program called the Seed Library. The seed library aims to create a space where students are encouraged to try their hand at growing something. They also aim to provide opportunities for the USF community to discuss global agriculture and the economics of food, all while encouraging the sharing of local seeds. USF students, faculty, and staff can use the seed library at no cost. There are dozens of different flowers in which you can choose from. All you have to do is log your name and email address in the “My Seed Library Log” to borrow one of the many seed packets. This is a partnership program with USF’s Urban Agriculture Program. The Urban Agriculture program also hosts a community garden that all members of the local and USF community are welcome to participate in.

Poster courtesy of Seed Library Student Assistant, Sabrina

Intrigued by the beauty of these wildflowers? Are you wondering where you should go if you want to see wildflowers in your area? No matter where you are located, there are great places to view wildflowers. Check out the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website to find out where the wildflower reserves are! You can also check out the following map of wildflowers in North America on iNaturalist to spot photos of wildflower sightings throughout the nation.                           

Other ways to celebrate National Wildflower Week:

1. Take a tour around the nature conservancies located right in our backyard 
   • Conservatory of Flowers:  100 John F Kennedy Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118

2. Use the #NationalWildFlowerWeek to post on social media and see what you find!

Image courtesy of Flickr.

References

1. “Why Native Plants?” Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, The University of Texas at Austin, http://www.wildflower.org/about/why-native-plants.
2. All photos provided by Creative Commons.

The Summer of Love at the Rare Book Room

This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the “Summer of Love.” But what exactly was the Summer of Love in San Francisco? There continues to be much debate over what this time in history was and the implications of its legacy.

The De Young museum is hosting an exhibit entitled “The Summer of Love Experience: Art, Fashion, and Rock and Roll” to probe this question and to commemorate the confluence of the visual and musical aspects of the time period. This exhibit showcases rock posters, photographs, films, fashion, and light shows to celebrate and remember the way the movement disrupted culture in a time of social and political upheaval. It runs from April 8th to August 20th.

Here in the Rare Book Room we have a facsimile edition of the San Francisco Oracle (issues September 1966 through February 1968), an underground newspaper based out of Haight Ashbury at the height of the Summer of Love. In the preface, editor Allen Cohen describes the SF Oracle as a “psychedelic, multicolored tabloid… [a contemporary] version of the illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages.” The Gathering of the Tribes, a.k.a. the Human Be-In, which was  held on January 14th, 1967 at the Polo Fields in Golden Gate Park, is publicized in the fifth issue of the SF Oracle. This event is seen as the kickoff point for the Summer of Love with attendance in the tens of thousands. The Oracle describes the Be-In as a “union of love and activism previously separated by categorical dogma and label mongering.”

We also have the first issues of Rolling Stone Magazine which features news on the prominent musicians of the era and other social events related to the counter culture movement.

Stop by the Rare Book Room Monday – Friday 9am-5pm to check out these awesome sources!

Wolfgang Lederer in the Rare Book Room

Wolfgang Lederer was an influential designer, illustrator, and educator who shaped the future of design practice in the Bay Area. Gleeson’s Rare Book Room is lucky enough to hold Lederer’s personal archive and is beginning to catalog some of the items from the archive. Before the catalog records go live, I thought I’d give you some background and a sneak peak into the collection.

Lederer was born in Manneheim, Germany in 1912. He studied book design and graphic arts throughout various schools in Europe until 1939 when he was forced to flee Nazi Germany. According to a memo issued by the California College of Arts (formerly known as the California School of Arts and Crafts and the California College of Arts and Crafts), Lederer arrived in New York with only eight dollars in his pocket. In 1941 he became a professor at the California School of Arts and Crafts. He developed the design department and made it one of the major design programs in the country. He was also a book designer for the University of California Press.

Designed by Lederer

The Rare Book Room here at Gleeson Library holds Lederer’s personal archive, which features awards he received for book design, original artwork from book illustrations, copies of journals he designed, wine bottle labels, and memorabilia from the retrospective of his work held at the San Francisco Center of the Book. This collection also features various Christmas and greeting cards that Lederer designed.

We also have various books featuring Lederer’s illustrations including African Figures, The Two Islands: A Tale, and The Prisoner of Chillon: A Fable. Stop by the Rare Book Room to check out this collection! We’re open 9 am – 5 pm Monday – Friday.

Join us for coffee and donuts!

Join us for some coffee and donuts this Thursday, April 13th at 10:30 am and help us celebrate National Library Week. This year’s theme is “Libraries Transform.” National Library Week was created to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and to promote their continued use.

Spring into action for libraries!

Thursday, April 13th is also designated Take Action for Libraries Day. Take Action for Libraries Day will highlight the library community’s efforts to safeguard funding for the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which serves as a critical funding resource for every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories to support libraries and museums.

You can spring into action by advocating for full funding of IMLS which will safeguard federal funding for our nation’s libraries. The American Library Association (ALA) encourages libraries, library workers, and patrons to make at least five calls to their legislators to ask for full support of IMLS funding. Please support by urging your representative to support IMLS.

Rep for 94117:

Nancy Pelosi

(202) 225-4965

(415) 556-4862

For more information check out the display located near the atrium.

Have a happy Spring and a great Easter, Dons!

 

Spotlight on Trans Women

In honor of Women’s History Month and in light of the critiques of the exclusivity of the Women’s March, I created a display next to the Reference Desk about the experience of trans folk, with emphasis placed on trans women of color. The 2017 Women’s March focused on a genital-based feminism where womanhood was linked to possessing the right genitalia, subsequently excluding trans women. The exclusion of trans women from “women’s spaces” has been a reoccurring theme, contributing to the societal violence against trans women. It is important to maintain an intersectional approach when engaging in activism for women’s issues. It is essential to include trans women during Women’s History Month, specifically trans women of color who experience increased levels of violence against their bodies.

Swing by the display, pick up a book, or pick up a reading list.

Editor’s note: This blog post was written by Ariana Varela, a student assistant in the Reference & Research Services Department and the Rare Book Room at Gleeson Library.

 

Midterms and Sleep Awareness Week

 

This midterm season I thought I could highlight the benefits of sleep, as well as offer some tips to help you get a better night’s sleep. The National Sleep Foundation announced their annual Sleep Awareness Week which will take place from April 23 – 29, 2017, but there is no time like the present to improve your mood and ability to function!

Chart from sleepfoundation.org

An article entitled “Pilot study of a sleep health promotion program for college students” from the scholarly journal Sleep Health, which is available through the library’s database ScienceDirect, states that college students get 7 hours of sleep per night on average. That is the lowest amount of hours on the recommended scale. Many students also reported getting less than 7 hours of sleep each night. Skipping out on a few hours of sleep creates “sleep debt,” making you feel tired throughout the day and like you need to catch up on that sleep on the weekends. The college students in the study reported having symptoms of daytime sleepiness, fatigue, lack of motivation, and concentration/memory difficulties. These symptoms are associated with lower grades, falling asleep while driving, and feelings of depression. A consistent sleep schedule where individuals get enough hours of sleep each night can lead to a better mood, better academic performance, and improved mental and physical health.

Here are some tips to get a better night’s sleep from an article entitled “How do I get a great night’s sleep?” that appeared in this month’s issue of the popular magazine Harper’s Bazaar, which is available through the library’s database subscriptions.

1. Give yourself 20 minutes before your bedtime to relax.
2. Try to power down electronics at least two to three hours before bedtime.
3. Use a sleep mask.
4. Upon waking, expose yourself to light in order to tell your body it is time to wake up and reset your natural sleep cycle or circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm responds to light, which is why blue light electronics, including laptops and phones, can interfere with you ability to fall asleep. The light tells your body it is still daytime.
5. If you find yourself running through your to-do list or worrying about something as you are trying to fall asleep, try something called “constructive worrying.” Three hours before your bedtime write out a to-do list for the next day or write out the problems that are causing you to worry. Then brainstorm some solutions so that your mind can feel at ease as you are trying to fall asleep. Setting aside a “worry time” helps you to get through things that need to be done and have a restful night’s sleep.
6. Try and keep a consistent bedtime and morning schedule. This helps train your circadian rhythm.

Happy sleeping!

Editor’s note: This blog post was written by Ariana Varela, a student assistant in the Reference & Research Services Department and the Rare Book Room at Gleeson Library.

Record Setting 2017 Oscars

The 2017 Oscars aired on Sunday, February 26th, and this year’s nominations set records for Oscar history, and this year’s winners likewise set records for Oscar history. After listening to the Code Switch podcast Oscars So Black… At Least, In Documentaries, I was interested in researching the changes sparked by the #OscarsSoWhite backlash during last year’s Academy Awards.

In 2016 the announcement of the Academy’s Oscar nominees sparked the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite in response to the fact that all the actors nominated in the top four categories were white. This hashtag was meant to highlight the lack of diversity in film, along with the lack of recognition for actors, directors, and producers of color.

In response to the backlash and protests, the Academy governing board made some changes to the voting process in order to address the issue of the lack of diversity. The changes included a pledge to double female and people of color members by 2020, along with a change in the voting privilege of those who are no longer active in the industry. Members will be able to vote for 10 years and are able to renew their voting rights if they remain active in the film industry. Those who renew their membership three consecutive times will be granted lifetime voting privileges.

This year’s nominations suggest that the Academy listened to the discussions about the lack of diversity in acting nominations. In this cycle, six black actors and actresses were nominated, marking the highest number of black nominees in a single year in Oscar history. Also for the first time at least one black actor or actress is nominated in each of the four acting categories.

Also, four out of the five documentaries nominated for the category Feature Documentary were made by African American directors, featuring subject matter about African Americans. These films include 13th, I Am Not Your Negro, O.J. Made in America (which won in the category), and Life, Animated.

I set out on a mission to watch all of these documentaries before the results were announced. The most recent one I watched was I Am Not Your Negro, directed by Raoul Peck. This film completes James Baldwin’s unfinished book where Baldwin tells the story of America through three of his friends who were all assassinated due to their political beliefs and work within the black community. Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King, Jr. were all important leaders for the black community during the fight for civil rights. This film, following Baldwin’s unfinished story, explores the construction of race and “blackness” by white America. If you are curious to know more about James Baldwin’s life and works, you can view and request books about him in the library’s catalog.

If you are interested in black documentaries like I am, the library provides access to Kanopy, a database where USF students, faculty, and staff can stream films and documentaries free of charge. February features an African American History section with films of multiple genres and topics.

Here at Gleeson, we congratulate Viola Davis, Mahershala Ali, Tarell Alvin McCraney and Barry Jenkins, Ezra Edelman, and the cast of Moonlight for their Oscar wins!

Gleeson’s Newest Technological Additions

This gallery contains 6 photos.

Wednesday Wisdom

“Education is a weapon, whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed.”

-Joseph Stalin, 1953

Simpson, J. B. (1964). Contemporary quotations. New York : Crowell, [1964].

Image: Youth Theatres are a weapon of Communist education. 1933 by kitchener.lord

Library Hours – Summer 2017 Hours

Debates in the Digital Humanities Lecture

Gleeson Library Rare Book Room 3rd Floor. Feb 7th. Twitter #USFDH http://bit.ly/X9K76O

The University of San Francisco will be hosting a lecture and reception with Matthew Gold, Editor of Debates in the Digital Humanities (U of Minnesota Press, 2012).