Library News
Local history oral interviews to be digitized
Posted on May 24th, 2018
Booth Library is happy to announce that it has been awarded a grant from the Illinois State Library to digitize oral interviews that are key to local history. More than 100 cassettes containing audio interviews have been stored in EIU’s University Archives and Special Collections (located in Booth Library) for many years. This grant funding will allow library staff members to transfer these interviews from cassette tapes to digital files, making them accessible to the general public.
Local historians will be excited by the results of this project. The oral interviews were recorded in the late 1970s through the mid-1990s and cover topics such as the Civilian Conservation Corps, Lincoln Log Cabin, Farming in Coles County in the 1920s, Girl Scouts of Coles County during World War II, Railroading in Coles County, the 1917 tornado and many, many more.
Campus topics include the Greenwood School, Coaches at EIU, Life at EIU as a Student (from various time periods), Eastern Illinois State Normal School, Past EIU Presidents, EIU Athletics, Unionization of EIU Faculty, and many other stories from former EIU students, faculty members and administrators.
University Archives and Special Collections staff members have done a great job at preserving these cassettes, but we all know that degradation will naturally occur over time. It is critical that these recordings be digitized for the purpose of accessibility as well as preservation. Bill Schultz, cataloging librarian and interim head of University Archives/Special Collections, will oversee this digitization process over the next year.
Once completed, the content created through this project will be accessible freely to all via the Illinois Digital Archives and the Digital Public Library of America.
Career and Resume resources
Posted on May 22nd, 2018
Booth offers many Career and Resume resources to help you figure out what you want to do, and help you put your best foot forward. In addition to these books, make sure to sign up with the “Testing & Education Reference Center” (TERC) booth.eiu.edu/terc . We also have curated several library and campus resources for career exploration at our Testing, Exam Prep and Careers guide.
Veterans exhibit visiting area libraries
Posted on May 10th, 2018
“Designs of Duty,” an exhibit featuring East Central Illinois veterans and their service-related tattoos, is visiting libraries throughout the region through Dec. 3, 2018.
“Designs of Duty” was curated by staff members at Booth Library. It tells the stories of seven military veterans who served our country over a 45-year period throughout Asia and Europe. Veterans featured in the exhibit are Eric Hiltner and Wilson Reynolds of Charleston, Ken Fernandes of Newman, Random Clavin of Nokomis, Adam Griffy of Olney, Shane Wright of Shelbyville and Lyle Gordon of Towanda.
Tattoos are a common symbol among the military, and this exhibit aims to explore the inspiration and meanings behind them, as well as the stories of the veterans themselves. Pride, patriotism and honor are common themes in the artwork chosen by the veterans showcased in “Designs of Duty.”
The exhibit was on display at Booth Library from Jan. 22-May 11. Following is the traveling exhibit schedule:
May 14-June 4, 2018 – Nokomis Public Library
June 4-July 2, 2018 – Charleston Public Library
July 2-Aug. 6, 2018 – Mattoon Public Library
Aug. 6-31, 2018 – Newton Public Library
Aug. 31-Sept. 28, 2018 – Olney Public Library
Sept. 28-Oct. 31, 2018 – Effingham Public Library
Oct. 31-Dec. 3, 2018 – Lake Land College Library
Dec. 3, 2018-Jan. 3, 2019 — Newman Regional Library
“Designs of Duty” is free and open to the public. For more information click here.
