Library News
Make Your First Beat: Intro to Digital Audio Workstations March 25
Posted on March 9th, 2026
Booth Library’s Center for Student Innovation invites the EIU community to attend the Introduction to Digital Audio Workstations workshop on March 25th from 4-5:30 pm.
At this beginner-friendly workshop, participants will discover the technological elements of music and audio production through instructor-led guidance. Participants will learn how to utilize digital workstations and web-based tools to create and modify audio.
The Introduction to Digital Audio Workstations workshop will be led by Dr. Bradley D. Decker, Assistant Professor of Music Composition & Technology.
This workshop will be held at the 1000 level of Booth Library in the Center for Student Innovation. Register to attend the Introduction to Digital Audio Workstations workshop through LibCal. For more information, please contact the CSI at csi@eiu.edu.
Spring into Technology: CSI Workshops This March
Posted on March 6th, 2026
Throughout March, the Center for Student Innovation at Booth Library will be hosting three workshops dedicated to helping you learn more about the evolving technological landscape! These events are open to people of all expertise; from beginners to experts, you are welcome to participate! Look through the list of workshops happening this March:
Add unique backgrounds to your photographs and videos during the Green Screen 101 workshop hosted on Tuesday, March 10th from 6-7 pm.
Learn how to independently use the equipment in the CSI’s Podcasting Studio during the Podcasting 101 workshop hosted on Wednesday, March 11th from 4-5 pm.
Turn a 3D model from a digital file into a printed 3D object during the 3D Printing 101 workshop hosted on Wednesday, March 11th from 5:30-6:30 pm.
All workshops take place at the 1000 level of Booth Library in the Center for Student Innovation. Register to attend CSI workshops and learning labs through LibCal. For more information, please contact the CSI at csi@eiu.edu.
New library acquisitions for February
Posted on March 5th, 2026
Booth Library’s collections added a multitude of new items last month! Booth Library acquired and cataloged 447 physical items (books, DVDs, government documents, archival resources, and more) and 2385 electronic resources (including ebooks, ejournals, digital audiobooks, EIU student theses, and streaming videos) in February 2026. Please find the lists of new items at the links below. Individual issues of current periodicals are excluded. All items are discoverable through the library’s online catalog.
New acquisitions include items selected for purchase by Booth’s subject librarians, donations, re-cataloged library items, freely available government publications, and consortium-wide purchases.
Please contact your subject librarian with any questions.
Public Presentations Announced for EIU Children’s Literature Symposium
Posted on February 11th, 2026
CHARLESTON – Booth Library invites the campus and community to join us Wednesday and Thursday, February 25 and 26, for two featured public talks as part of the EIU Children’s Literature Symposium.
The EIU Children’s Literature Symposium is a two-day celebration honoring the importance, craftsmanship, and rich history of literature created for children. Through partnerships between Booth Library’s Ballenger Teachers Center, the EIU College of Education and Department of English, Charleston CUSD #1 elementary schools, and St. John’s Lutheran School, the symposium exemplifies the strong and collaborative bonds between Eastern Illinois University and the surrounding community.
The talks will allow the campus and greater community to engage with two accomplished professionals in the field of children’s literature. Both presentations are free and open to the public.
Wednesday, February 25:
5:00 p.m. Reception
5:30 p.m. Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Ph.D.
Making Books for ALL Children: A Celebration of My Life’s Work
Dr. Gilchrist will join us for an Alumni edition of our speaker series, Authors@EIU. She has illustrated 109 children’s books, authored 5 children’s books and a host of academic and textbook illustrations. Dr. Gilchrist holds a B.S. degree in Art Education from EIU; an M.A. in Painting from the University of Northern Iowa; an M.F.A. from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and a Ph.D. in English from Madison University.
*The Black Student Union RSO is co-hosting a documentary screening of Colors of Love: The Jan Spivey Gilchrist Story, on Monday, February 23 at 5 p.m. in the Library’s Center for Student Innovation. The documentary illustrates Gilchrist’s triumph from the dark shadows of the civil rights era to ascend as a heralded children’s book illustrator and author.
Thursday, February 26:
5:00 p.m. Reception
5:30 p.m. Suzan Alteri, Ph.D.
Racism and Representation in Children’s Literature
Dr. Alteri is Assistant Director of the Center for Children’s Books at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. She previously served as Curator of the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature at the University of Florida, one of the world’s most significant collections documenting the history of children’s books.
Each presentation will be followed by question-and-answer sessions. Parking is free and open to the public after 5:00 p.m.
Also publicly available Thursday, February 26, at 4:00 p.m. will be Children’s Literature Research Lightning Rounds in which Faculty scholars who conduct research in the field of children’s literature will share their findings.
Community members, students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend our public events to celebrate the importance of literature for children and early learning, and to engage with leading voices in children’s literature scholarship, including a distinguished EIU alumna.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Diane Highland
Events & Exhibits Coordinator, Booth Library
dehighland@eiu.edu / 217-581-6061
Call for Student Submissions: Booth Library Awards for Excellence in Student Research & Creative Works 2026
Posted on February 9th, 2026
Booth Library at Eastern Illinois University invites students to submit their work for the 17th Annual Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Works. This program celebrates outstanding student scholarship and creativity that makes meaningful use of Booth Library’s resources, services, spaces, or expertise.
Eligibility
The competition is open to all Eastern Illinois University students (undergraduate and graduate) who are or were enrolled during the current academic year. Submissions must represent original work completed within the past 12 months.
Individual and group projects are welcome. Only one submission per person is allowed. For group projects, please clearly describe each participant’s role and contribution.
Scope of Submissions
Student research and creative works may take many forms, including but not limited to:
- Written research papers
- Artistic works or exhibits
- Musical compositions or performances
- Videos, podcasts, documentaries, or oral histories
- Data analysis or visualizations
- Performances or other creative projects
Written submissions are limited to 25 pages. Students may submit portions of a thesis, provided a summary or outline of the remaining work is included. All submissions should be presented in a way that can be understood by an interdisciplinary review panel.
Use of Booth Library Resources
A central component of this award is demonstrating how Booth Library contributed to your project’s success. Each submission must include a detailed explanation of how you used library materials, spaces, technologies, services, or staff support during your research or creative process.
Citations and Academic Integrity
All submissions that rely on the work of others must include a complete list of references following a standard citation style. Use of AI tools is permitted but must be fully disclosed and described. Plagiarism or other breaches of academic integrity will result in disqualification.
Awards
Prizes will be awarded in separate undergraduate and graduate categories:
Graduate Students
- First Place: $500
- Second Place: $400
- Third Place: $300
Undergraduate Students
- First Place: $300
- Second Place: $200
- Third Place: $100
Award recipients will also receive certificates of recognition. Winning entries will be honored during National Library Week 2026 (April 19–25), and a digital copy of each winning work will be added to EIU’s institutional repository, The Keep.
The 2025–2026 student awards are funded by gifts from the friends of Carl Lorber, Jr., Professor Emeritus, former longtime head of Reference Services at Booth Library, and through the philanthropic support of the Coles County Zythological Society.
Important Dates
- Submission Deadline: March 6, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. CST
- Notification of Winners: By April 1, 2026
- Awards Celebration: National Library Week, April 19–25, 2026
Incomplete submissions will not receive full consideration.
Questions?
For more information, please contact:
Brian W. Keith
Dean of Booth Library
(217) 581-6061
bwkeith@eiu.edu
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Diane Highland, Booth Library
dehighland@eiu.edu
217-581-6061
Thousands of new resources were added to Booth’s collections in January
Posted on February 6th, 2026
Booth Library’s collections added a multitude of new items last month! During January 2026, Booth Library acquired and cataloged 376 physical items (books, DVDs, government documents, archival resources, and more) and over 14,400 electronic resources (including ebooks, ejournals, digital audiobooks, EIU student theses, and streaming videos). Please find the lists of new items at the links below. Individual issues of current periodicals are excluded. All items are discoverable through the library’s online catalog.
New acquisitions include items selected for purchase by Booth’s subject librarians, donations, re-cataloged library items, freely available government publications, and consortium-wide purchases.
Please contact your subject librarian with any questions.
EIU to Celebrate Faculty Authors at Spring 2026 Authors@EIU Events at Booth Library
Posted on February 5th, 2026
(Charleston, IL) – Eastern Illinois University’s Mary J. Booth Library invites the campus and community to participate in the Spring 2026 installment of Booth Library’s annual speaker series, Authors@EIU. Through this series, the library will recognize and celebrate EIU’s intellectually vibrant community and its contributions to discovery, knowledge, creation, and public learning.
During the Spring 2026 semester, six authors will be featured across three Authors@EIU events, celebrating the research, scholarship, and creative achievements of Eastern Illinois University faculty and alumni. Booth Library staff looks forward to hosting these free events and facilitating engaging dialogue as EIU and its local communities celebrate the important scholarly and creative accomplishments of these authors.
Each event will include a shared reception beginning at 5 p.m., followed by author presentations and Q&A sessions starting at 5:30 p.m. Campus parking and admission to these events are free.
Additional details for the Spring 2026 Authors@EIU events include:
- Wednesday, February 25:
- Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Ph.D.
Spivey Gilchrist (’73) is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books, an EIU Art Education alumna, a 1992 EIU Distinguished Alumna Award recipient, and former member of the EIU Board of Trustees (2013-2019). Her presentation will serve as a capstone event for the 2026 Children’s Literature Symposium, which will be held on EIU’s campus February 25 and 26 of this year.
- Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Ph.D.
- Thursday, April 9:
- Alan Pocaro, Associate Professor, Art + Design, Printmaking and Foundations
Pocaro is associated with the New Aesthetics movement, an informal group of artists and writers who emphasize the physical and material nature of art. His writing focuses on art criticism, creative scholarship, exhibition reviews, and critical essays. His pieces have been featured in Chicago’s New City magazine, as well as The New Criterion, New American Paintings, artcritical, AbstractCritical, ART PAPERS, and CityBeat. Prior to joining EIU’s faculty, Porcaro taught at the Art Academy of Cincinnati and Miami University (Ohio). - Gary Canivez, Ph.D., Professor, Psychology
Canivez served as editor of a recently published 2025 textbook he will discuss, titled Assessing Psychometric Fitness of Intelligence Tests: Toward Evidence-based Interpretation Practices by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. The textbook, intended for graduate students and professionals in psychology and related fields, covers the intersection of ethics, test standards, and psychometric properties while focusing on the ethical and scientific interpretation of intelligence tests and emphasizing the need for advanced psychometric knowledge for appropriate clinical and research use.
- Alan Pocaro, Associate Professor, Art + Design, Printmaking and Foundations
- Wednesday, April 15:
- Danelle Larson, Ph.D., Professor, Music Education and Director of the Music Education Division
Larson will engage in a discussion revolving around topics in her co-edited 2026 academic anthology Music Teaching and Learning in America’s Public Normal Schools by Bloomsbury Publishing. The book shares the histories of public normal schools and how American music-teacher education evolved from teacher education in those early institutions during a time when many eventually became state universities. - Robin Murray, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of English and Joseph K. Heumann, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Communication Studies
Murray and Heumann will discuss their 2024 co-authored book Eco-Teen Films (Routledge), emphasizing the juxtaposition of teen activism, international settings and filmmakers, and marginalized perspectives to focus on teens on film who are struggling with present and future, everyday eco-disasters amplified by climate change.
- Danelle Larson, Ph.D., Professor, Music Education and Director of the Music Education Division
The featured publications are available for loan to the public through Booth Library. For more information, visit go.eiu.edu/FacultyPubs.
All members of the EIU and local communities are welcome, including students.
Since opening as a dedicated library in 1950, Eastern Illinois University’s Booth Library has become a cornerstone of academic research and community engagement, serving not only EIU but also students, educators, and residents throughout Central Illinois. For more information about Booth Library or EIU’s Spring 2026 Authors@EIU series, contact Booth Library Exhibits & Events Coordinator Diane Highland at dehighland@eiu.edu or call (217) 581-6061.
EIU prepares students to accomplish their life goals through a combination of quality academics, personal relationships, and both on-campus and online learning opportunities. For more information about Eastern Illinois University, including its broad array of academic and career readiness programs, or any of EIU’s other community-based services and opportunities, visit eiu.edu or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.
Hands-On Tech Experience: Center for Student Innovation Workshops in February
Posted on January 30th, 2026
Throughout February, the Center for Student Innovation at Booth Library will be hosting four events dedicated to helping you learn more about the growing world of technology! These events are open to people of all expertise; from beginners to experts, you are welcome to participate! Look through the list of events happening this February:
- Stressed out? Learn how to print fidget toys and other gadgets during the 3D Printing 101 workshop hosted on Wednesday, February 11th from 4-5 p.m.
- Up your photography game during the Green Screen 101 workshop hosted on Wednesday, February 11th from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- Learn about the CSI’s Podcasting Studio in the Podcasting 101 workshop hosted on Tuesday, February 17th from 6-7 p.m.
- Design your own 3D models from 2D images during the Basic 3D Design learning lab hosted on Wednesday, February 18th from 4-5:30 p.m.
All events take place at the 1000 level of Booth Library in the Center for Student Innovation. Register to attend CSI workshops and learning labs through LibCal. For more information, please contact the CSI at csi@eiu.edu.
Eastern Illinois University Announces Shakir Islamic Perspectives Initiative at Booth Library
Posted on January 21st, 2026
Gift honors family legacy while expanding student learning, academic inquiry, and community dialogue.
Charleston, Ill. — Eastern Illinois University’s Mary J. Booth Library has announced the Shakir Islamic Perspectives Initiative, a new academic and cultural initiative made possible through a generous gift from Dr. Abdur Rahman Shakir. The initiative honors the legacy of his parents, Dr. Hassan and Zahida Shakir, by creating enduring opportunities for students, faculty, and the broader community to learn about Muslim communities and histories, while exploring shared values and common ground across cultures and religious traditions.
Centered in Booth Library, the Shakir Islamic Perspectives Initiative brings together a curated collection, visiting scholars, curricular partnerships, student events, and public programs that support understanding and student learning and faculty scholarship across disciplines.
“This initiative honors my parents’ lifelong commitment to education, service, and understanding across difference,” said Dr. Abdur Shakir. “By placing these resources within the library, we are creating a living space for learning one that invites students to explore Islamic perspectives thoughtfully, ask meaningful questions, and engage with ideas that connect cultures rather than divide them.”
A Living Learning Resource
At the heart of the initiative is the Dr. Hassan and Zahida Shakir Collection, a growing library collection developed collaboratively with faculty, students, and librarians. The collection supports teaching and research in religious studies, history, philosophy, and related fields, while its bibliographic focus is designed to evolve over time to include additional perspectives on the roles and contributions of Islam and Muslim communities, including areas such as art, science, and family life. Intentionally, the collection invites exploration by students and community members beyond the classroom.
The initiative has been shaped intentionally through a participatory and interdisciplinary approach, incorporating input from the Muslim Student Association and faculty in multiple departments. This collaborative model reflects the initiative’s broader goal: to foster learning grounded in dialogue, curiosity, and shared inquiry.
“Abdur Shakir’s vision-driven gift has allowed us to think not only about what we acquire, but also about how we steward ideas, relationships, and opportunities for learning,” said Brian W. Keith, Dean of Booth Library. “The library is always delighted to connect students and faculty through scholarship and shared contributions to community and belonging, and this initiative exemplifies that role.”
Visiting Scholars and Campus Engagement
A key component of the Shakir Islamic Perspectives Initiative is a visiting scholar program designed to bring leading voices in Islamic studies and public scholarship to campus. The inaugural visiting scholar, Dr. Mohammad Hassan Khalil, Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Muslim Studies Program at Michigan State University, will visit EIU during the Spring semester.
Dr. Khalil’s visit will include a public lecture hosted at Booth Library, classroom engagement with students, and conversations with faculty and student organizations. His scholarship and public-facing work reflect the initiative’s emphasis on connecting academic study with lived experience and contemporary dialogue. His talk will focus on the long and rich history of Muslim people in the Midwest.
Mariam Nizami, Secretary of EIU’s Muslim Student Association, said, “having the opportunity for other professors to come to EIU gives a great reputation for small RSOs that are not well-known, like the Muslim Student Association. It is great that more Muslim professors from big colleges who have done amazing things related to our culture can come here and give other students an opportunity to be exposed to the Islamic culture.”
In addition to the visiting scholar program, Spring programming associated with the initiative includes a film screening, interfaith discussions, and hands-on learning opportunities developed in collaboration with campus partners. While these events mark an important moment for the initiative, they are part of a broader, evolving framework that will continue to grow in future years.
Looking Ahead
The Shakir Islamic Perspectives Initiative is envisioned as a sustained investment in education, dialogue, and community engagement. Future programming will explore additional themes and scholarly perspectives, building on the foundation established through the collection and early collaborations.
Jay Gatrell, President of Eastern Illinois University, noted, “The support of amazing donors makes it possible for our students and community to have access to world class scholars and resources at EIU and Booth Library. I am truly grateful to Dr. Shakir’s leadership and commitment to our community.”
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Diane Highland, Booth Library
dehighland@eiu.edu
217-581-6061
Eastern Illinois University to Host Traveling Holocaust Exhibit in Honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Posted on January 14th, 2026
News originally submitted by the Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation, dated December 30, 2025
*NOTE UPDATED TIMES BELOW AS OF JANUARY 9, 2026*
(Champaign, IL) — The Auschwitz Experience in the Art of Prisoners, a traveling exhibit about the Holocaust, will be displayed in the West Reading Room at the iconic Booth Library on the Eastern Illinois Campus, located at 600 Lincoln Ave in Charleston, IL from January 11th to January 29th, 2026.
The exhibit, created by the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Poland, features artwork by 12 Holocaust survivors who documented their experiences in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp, the largest German Concentration and extermination camp during WWII. Visitors will be able to see these profound pieces of art, which include 60 paintings and drawings displayed thematically on 24-panels, in docent-led small groups or independently.
This will mark the second year that the Booth Library has partnered with the CUJF Holocaust Education Center to host a traveling Holocaust exhibit surrounding International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27th. The two organizations hope to continue this partnership as an annual tradition, seeking to expand Holocaust education opportunities and develop an atmosphere of tolerance and community amongst Central Illinois students.
Students have the amazing opportunity to serve as volunteer docents at the exhibit – no prior experience is needed! This experience gives students a chance to complete service hours while sharing deeply meaningful content with the community. Volunteer docent training will be held virtually prior to the exhibit. Click HERE for the docent sign up link.
The exhibit will be open to the public during the following days and times:
- Sunday: 2 to 6 p.m.
- Monday through Thursday: Noon to 6 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday: Noon to 5 p.m.
We invite you to attend these accompanying events, with more events to be announced next month.
- Sunday, January 11th at 2 p.m. – Exhibit officially opens to the public with Dr. Brian Kahn.
- Tuesday, January 27th, 2026 at 1:00 PM – International Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony with remarks from EIU President Jay Gatrell. Press are encouraged to attend.
This exhibition is in partnership with the CUJF Holocaust Education Center (HEC) and the Booth Library at Eastern Illinois University. Group and classroom tours may be arranged by contacting the HEC by email at hec@cujf.org or by phone at 217-367-9872. For more information, visit www.cujf.org/hec
