Visiting Writers Series: Susanna Childress and Bich Minh Nguyen

On Tuesday, April 17, the 2011-2012 Jack Ridl Visiting Writers Series will welcome its last two writers of the school year, Susanna Childress and Bich Minh Nguyen.

Childress_photoSusanna Childress has released two books of poetry: Jagged with Love and Entering the House of Awe. Jagged with Love received the Brittingham Prize in Poetry and the Devil’s Kitchen Reading Award from the University of Southern Illinois-Carbondale. A few of Childress’s poems can also be found through Literature Online. Childress studied English literature and writing at Indiana Wesleyan University and holds a masters degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a PhD from Florida State University. She has taught at Valparaiso University and Hope.

nguyen_photoBich Minh Nguyen is a fiction and nonfiction writer. She won the American Book Award in fiction in 2009 for her novel Short Girls. In 2007, she released a memoir-in-essays entitled Stealing Buddha’s Dinner, which received the PEN/Jerard Award and was named one of the best books of the year by the Chicago Tribune. Her works have appeared in several publications and she has also coedited three anthologies with her husband, novelist Porter Shreve. She currently teaches creative nonfiction, fiction and Asian American literature at Purdue University.

Childress and Nguyen will present a reading a 7 p.m. on the 17th at the Knickerbocker Theatre. There will also be a question-and-answer session with the writers at 3:30 p.m. that same day in the Herrick Room of the DeWitt Center.

— Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Laptop Friendly Study Spaces

outletSeveral tables in Van Wylen were reconfigured a few weeks ago to include outlets on the table. These tabletop outlets allow you to plug in your electronic devices without having to stretch your cord across the floor, which is especially useful during high traffic times at the library such as the weeks leading up to the end of the semester. You can find these tables on the north side of the first floor, by the computers on the second floor, and near the stairs on the third floor. Not finding a large table open? All of the individual carrels have outlets as well.

— Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Course Guides

LibGuides are online research guides for general subjects and specific courses taught at Hope, and now the library home page includes a tab that makes it easy to find all of these guides.

courseguidesEach general guide contains the databases most useful for that subject as well as tips for finding books and reference sources. If you are taking a class that has its own LibGuide, a librarian has personally created this guide to fit with your course and assignments. You can browse to these by discipline or search by professor or course number.

There are also several general guides with resources on topics such as the Critical Issues Symposium, Library of Congress classification and undergraduate publishing opportunities.

— Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Googling Tips

While the library’s website provides access to many databases to help you with your research, sometimes it’s easier to begin your research on an interface you’re familiar with like Google. However, doing a standard Google search can bring back a lot of information you may not need. HackCollege.com recently published an infographic with tips on narrowing your Google searches to include just the information you’re looking for.

googlescholarThe infographic also has suggestions for searching in Google Scholar, which searches just for published materials like scholarly articles and books. Keep in mind that you can use the “Full Text Options at Hope College” links on the right hand side to see which articles the library subscribes to, as most scholarly articles are not freely available on the open web.

As you’re searching Google, don’t forget about the “You Loop,” which is going to limit what kinds of materials you see. As always, if you need help in your research, the librarians at the Research Help desk would be happy to talk with you.

— Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Manifold Greatness Lecture Series Concludes

mgprofcoxThe month long lecture series that coincided with Van Wylen’s hosting of the Manifold Greatness exhibit ended on March 29 when Dr. John Cox of the English department presented a lecture entitled “Manifold Greatness: Shakespeare and the Bible.” In this lecture, Cox talked about the various ways the Bible appears in Shakespeare’s writing. Shakespeare cites the Bible in every one of his plays for a total of 1200 separate Biblical references throughout his works. His characters also often demonstrate theological depth, which Cox argued reflects Shakespeare’s understanding of the Bible. Though Shakespeare would have had limited familiarity with the King James Bible, the English versions of the Bible he would have known influenced translators of the King James Bible. This explains why some of Shakespeare’s phrases sound similar to phrases found in the King James Bible.

Today is the last day to see the Manifold Greatness exhibit while it is at Hope. The exhibit is available for viewing during normal library hours, which are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

— Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Heideman Lecture

On Tuesday, March 20th, Dr. Eugene Heideman gave a lecture on the King James Bible and the Geneva Bible, as a part of the lecture series for the Manifold Greatness Exhibit.

During his lecture, he discussed the theological and political origins of both translations, and placed them in historical relation to the other English translations of the time. The Geneva Bible was created by the many Protestant theologians and scholars who gathered in Geneva after fleeing religious persecution in England. It rose in popularity because of its more portable printed size and the many marginalia and additions that made it more accessible to a variety of readers. These marginalia were also a major reason why King James commissioned his new translation, because he objected to certain anti-monarchy sentiments expressed there. For a variety of political and printing reasons, the King James Bible gradually became the dominant bible translation in the English speaking world.

Please join us for the final event in the Manifold Greatness programming. On Thursday, March 29th at 3:00 in Winants Auditorium, Dr. John Cox will speak on the Bible and Shakespeare.

Gruenler Lecture Explores 1 Corinthians 13:12

On March 15, Dr. Curtis Gruenler of the English department presented a lecture on the various translations of 1 Corinthians 13:12 and how particular word choices affect meaning. This lecture was the seventh event of the month-long Manifold Greatness exhibit and lecture series at Van Wylen Library.

In his lecture, Gruenler showed how the King James Bible translation of 1 Corinthians 13:12, which reads, “For now we see through a glasse, darkely: but then face to face…” both draws and differs from earlier translations, including earlier English translations. The discussion focused particularly on the Greek words that were translated into “glasse” and “darkely” and explored how they were interpreted historically and theologically to influence different translations. Gruenler used writings from Augustine and Calvin to explain how these translation changes occurred over time.

The Manifold Greatness programing will continue on March 20, when Dr. Eugene Heideman presents a lecture on the Geneva Bible and King James Bible. The lecture will take place at 1 p.m. in Winants Auditorium in Graves Hall.

— Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Rare Book Highlights: Shakespeare Folio and KJV Literary Influences

Picture 017In addition to fifteenth and sixteenth century bibles, Van Wylen Library’s Manifold Greatness exhibit also has several other rare documents on display that have been influenced by the King James Bible.

Many of Shakespeare’s works include Biblical references. Van Wylen Library has a leaf from the second folio of Love’s Labour Lost that demonstrates this. This leaf has the part of the text from Act V, Scene II of this play and includes the line “They will, they will, God knows/ And leap for joy, though they are lame with blows.” The phrase “leape ye for joy” appears in Luke 6:23 of the Bishop’s Bible, one of the versions of the Bible Shakespeare used in his references. No other version of the Bible at the time contained that phrase. The King James Bible, however, picked up the phrase from the Bishop’s Bible and made it popular after 1611.

Picture 015Shakespeare was not the only literary giant whose works show Biblical influences. In addition to the folio, Van Wylen has copies of rare editions of several classic works, including Paradise Lost by John Milton, The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, Moby Dick by Herman Melville, Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman. These books are displayed to show the ways they were influenced by the King James Bible. The Manifold Greatness website has a timeline with information on other literary works that have been influenced by the King James Bible.

— Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger

Heath Wiersma Discusses Text Image Interactions

As a part of the Manifold Greatness exhibit and programming for the month of March, Dr. Anne Heath Wiersma gave a lecture entitled “To See with a Vision Surpassing all Other Visions: the Medieval Tradition and Influence of Biblical Illustration on the King James Bible.” at Herrick Main Library on Monday, March 12th.

She began by analyzing the religious symbolism contained in the frontispieces of the first editions of the King James Bible. The majority of the lecture focused on the broader history of bible illustration and how it led up to the printing of the King James Bible, which has no substantial illustrations but drew from many traditions of imagery, layout and script in bible production. This fit in with the role of the image, not so much as a replacement for text, but as an aid to be “read” and meditated upon for better understanding of the text.

Interested in learning more about the King James Bible? Join us for Dr. Curtis Gruenler’s lecture on 1 Corinthians 13:12 on Thursday, March 15th at 3:00 in the Rare Book Room.

— Jessica Hronchek, Research Librarian

Library Replaces Security Cameras

The library is in the process of replacing and upgrading its security camera system. The old VHS-based system was installed approximately 15 years ago and has become worn out. The new digital system features motion activated HD cameras and software that allows easy browsing to specific events. The images from the HD cameras are far superior to those of the old analog cameras, and can be viewed both in the library and at Campus Safety. The new camera system is the culmination of many meetings including representatives from the library, CIT, Campus Safety, Operations, and Physical Plant. Several security companies vied for the project, with EPS Security Systems ultimately being chosen.

Even with this enhanced level of security, students should always be aware of their surroundings and use common sense. It is not unusual for students to leave laptops, cell phones, and purses unattended on tables and in study rooms. Although it rarely happens, these kinds of items have been stolen from the library in past years. Please think twice before leaving your valuables unattended.

— Dave O’Brien, Head of Access Services