Webcasts from the Library of Congress I

April 30, 2014. Andrea Rugh reflects on her years living and working as an anthropologist in the Middle East. Speaker Biography: Andrea Rugh is an adjunct scholar at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. She has a Ph.D. in anthropology from the American University in Washington. Between 1964 and 1995, she lived in the Middle East region, including three years in the United Arab Emirates. Her publications include four books on Arab society: "Coping with Poverty in a Cairo Community," "Family in Contemporary Egypt," "Reveal and Conceal: Dress in Egypt" and "Within the Circle: Parents and Children in a Syrian Village," plus introductions and English versions of Siham Tergeman's "Daughter of Damascus" and Samir Tahhan's "Folktales of Syria." For transcript, captions, and more information, visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=6345

Howard Wettstein speaks on his new book "The Significance of the Religious Experience." Speaker Biography: Howard Wettstein serves on the faculty of the department of philosophy at University of California, Riverside. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5945

Nigerian writer A. Igoni Barrett reads from his work and discusses the state of contemporary African literature. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5953

American poet and teacher Richard Blanco delighted readers with his work. Blanco recited his poem, "One Today" at President Obama's second inauguration. He is the first immigrant, the first Latino, the first openly gay person and the youngest person to be the U.S. poet for a presidential inauguration. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5983

A panel discussion on the advances in Raman Spectroscopy for analysis of cultural heritage materials. Speakers included Lynn Brostoff, Richard Bormett, Silvia Centeno and Marco Leona. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5949

A Nowruz lecture featuring Ulrich Marzolph speaking about a lithographed Shiite pilgrimage scroll from Qajar, Iran. Speaker Biography: Ulrich Marzolph is an author and professor of Islamic studies at the Georg-August-University in Göttingen, Germany. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5948

Judith Hornok describes a new image of the Arab world, the modern generation of Arab women. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5961

U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who was a young civil-rights leader in 1963, opened the photo exhibition "A Day Like No Other: Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington" at the Library of Congress. Speaker Biography: Rep. John Lewis has dedicated his life to protecting human rights, securing civil liberties and building what he calls "The Beloved Community" in America. His dedication to the highest ethical standards and moral principles has won him the admiration of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the U.S. Congress, where he represents Georgia's 5th District. In 1965, Lewis helped spearhead a seminal moment in the civil rights movement: Along with Hosea Williams, Lewis led more than 600 peaceful protesters across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., in a demonstration of the need for voting rights in the state. The marchers were attacked by state troopers in a brutal confrontation that became known as "Bloody Sunday." The incident helped hasten passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5960

In her book, "Becoming Frum: How Newcomers Learn the Language and Culture of Orthodox Judaism," Sarah Bunin Benor describes how newly orthodox Jews have to adopt not only the laws and customs, but also new speech patterns. Speaker Biography: Sarah Bunin Benor is associate professor of contemporary Jewish studies at Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles campus. She is a socio-linguist focusing on the spoken language of American Jews. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5965

Jennifer Tobkin discusses Muhammad ibn Dawud al-Isfahani (d. 297/909), compiler of an anthology of poetry called "Kitab al-Zahra" ("The Book of the Flower") and author of some 500 lines of poetry in it as well as commentary on poems by other poets. Ibn Dawud is arguably more famous for the legend that he died from love for a male friend than for any of his own writings. As early as the 11th century, biographical dictionaries such as "Ta'rikh Baghdad" told the story of Ibn Dawud's writing those poems of his which appear in "Kitab al-Zahra" for a man who did not reciprocate Ibn Dawud's feelings for him and eventually dying from this unrequited love. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5969

Viewshare is a free, Library of Congress-sponsored platform that empowers historians, librarians, archivists and curators to create and customize dynamic interfaces to collections of digital content. Viewshare requires no particular technical proficiency, and participants will leave ready to use the application to help understand and provide access to digital collections of cultural heritage materials. Speaker Biography: Camille Salas is a program support assistant with the Library of Congress National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program and a recent MLS graduate of the University of Maryland's iSchool. She serves as a technical writer for the Viewshare online service development project. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5970

What turns a Shakespeare scholar into a digital entrepreneur? Katherine Rowe will talk about the opportunities and challenges that led two academics to design an application for social reading: Shakespeare's The Tempest for iPad, published by Luminary Digital Media. This initiative illuminates larger transformations of reading, writing, teaching, and learning that so many of us are experiencing today. Speaker Biography: Katherine Rowe is professor of English at Bryn Mawr College. She is the author of "Dead Hands: Fictions of Agency, Renaissance to Modern" and co-author of "New Wave Shakespeare on Screen." She writes about media history (with an emphasis on performance media), Renaissance cultural history, adaptation as a cultural process, and the digital humanities. She has served on the editorial board of the Shakespeare Quarterly and is a trustee of the Shakespeare Association of America. She is also co-founder of Luminary Digital Media (luminary.co), publisher of the Luminary Folger Shakespeare Editions, available in the Apple Store. Speaker Biography: Abby Yochelson is the English and American Literature reference specialist in the Humanities and Social Sciences Division of the Library of Congress. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5973

Raouf Abujaber discusses the development of Transjordan during the 19th century. Speaker Biography: Raouf Abujaber is a historian of 19th century Transjordan. He obtained his BBA from American University in Beirut, an MA from Jordan University, and PhD. from Oxford University in 1987. He has published eleven books and is the author of over hundred articles in both English and Arabic. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5975

Avi Mandell discusses how we discover and learn about planets around other stars. Speaker Biography: Avi Mandell is a research scientist in the Planetary Systems Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. His research focuses on the formation and evolution of planetary systems and the characterization of extrasolar planets. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5976

Poets Holly Bass and Al Young celebrate the birthday of American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar by reading selections from his work and discussing his influence on their own writing. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5981

El Maratón De Poesia Del Teatro de La Luna is the only Spanish-language poetry marathon in the country gathering poets together from Latin America. This event is hosted on a yearly basis by the Teatro de la Luna in Arlington, Va., and at the Library of Congress. The poets featured in the 21st marathon included Jorge Miguel Cocom Pech (Mexico), José Eduardo Degrazia (Brazil), Ángela Hernández Núñez (Dominican Republic), Laura Hernández Muñoz (Mexico), Astrid Lander (Venezuela), Emilio Mozo (Cuba), and Nicasio Urbina (Nicaragua). Each year, this event is moderated by poet, and literary critic Rei Berroa (Dominican Republic/United States). For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5574

Finding just what you want at a large library can be daunting. Imagine how overwhelming that might be at the largest library in the world. It doesn't have to be. This tutorial video from the Library of Congress shows you how easy finding what you want can be by using subject headings and a helpful librarian. And these tips can be used in any library.

John Hessler discusses Renaissance cartographer Johannes Schöner. Speaker Biography: John W. Hessler is senior cartographic reference specialist in the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He is the author of "The Naming of America: Martin Waldseemüller's 1507 World Map and the Cosmographiae Introductio" (2008), "Thoreau on Cape Cod: His Journeys and the Lost Maps" (2011), and "Seeing the World Anew: The Radical Vision of Martin Waldseemüller's 1507 and 1516 World Maps" (2012). For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5964

Conservators highlight basic preservation measures one can do at home for long-lasting albums and scrapbooks; enumerate the pros and cons of dismantling old scrapbooks and albums in poor condition; and discuss how to address condition problems. Digital archivists cover preservation considerations for digital scrapbooks and albums. Staff from the Library's Veterans History Project share information on how to participate in the Project. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5954

"Carl Gustav Jung and the Red Book," an all day symposium, featured presentations by prominent Jungian scholars. Speaker Biography: Jung scholar Sonu Shamdasani is a London-based author, editor, and professor at the Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at University College London WIHM/UCL. Shamdasani works discuss the history of psychiatry and psychology from the mid-nineteenth century to current times. Shamdasani holds a BA from Bristol University, followed by MSc, History of Science and Medicine, University College London/Imperial College and gained his Ph.D. in History of Medicine from WIHM/UCL. Speaker Biography: James Hillman is a psychologist, scholar, international lecturer, pioneer psychologist, and the author of more than twenty books. Hillman has held teaching positions at Yale University, the University of Chicago, Syracuse University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Dallas, where he cofounded the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture. Speaker Biography: Ann Ulanov is a professor of psychiatry and religion at the Union Theological Seminary in New York City. She is the author of several books, including Religion and the Spiritual in Carl Jung and The Healing Imagination: The Meeting of Psyche and Soul. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=4909

As the Internet continues to seep into the marrow of our lives, the distinction between libraries, archives, museums, and increasingly, the digital services they seek to collect and preserve continues to blur to the point of collapse. How do we archive the invisible interaction architectures of social websites? How do we archive the relationships and permission models that people form on those websites? How do we meaningfully preserve the increasingly conceptual spaces that define the future now? What are the often overlapping responsibilities of service providers, cultural heritage institutions, and users themselves in this work? Through projects like Parallel-Flickr, Privatesquare, Parallel-o-Gram, and Artisanal Integers, we can attempt to understand these questions and try to prove or disprove theories about how we answer them. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5907

Ann Kirschner discussed her new book, "Lady at the O.K. Corral: The True Story of Josephine Marcus Earp." For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5912

John Fabian Witt signed and discussed his book, "Lincoln's Code: The Laws of War in American History," which describes Lincoln's development of a code regulating conduct in war whose articles later became the basis for a new international law of war. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5904

Poet Omékongo Dibinga, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, reads from his work and discusses the state of contemporary African literature. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5911

Jane Anderson discussed the philosophical and practical problems for intellectual property law and the protection of Indigenous/traditional knowledge resources and cultural heritage. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5920

This event highlights distinguished literary writers and writing from the South, hosted by Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry (and Mississippi Poet Laureate) Natasha Trethewey. Readers included Madison Smart Bell, Edward P. Jones, Jill McCorkle, Ron Rash and Charles Wright. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5908

Porter Olsen discussed the BitCurator Project, a system for cultural heritage professionals that incorporates the functionality of many digital forensics tools. In this presentation, he demonstrated a beta version of the BitCurator Environment and specifically showed how the digital forensics tools included in BitCurator address the needs of digital archivists. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5922

Hamid Rahmanian presented an innovative version of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh "The Epic of the Persian Kings" based on illustrations from thousands of Iranian, Mughal Indian, and Ottoman manuscripts. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5906

Daniel Stashower discussed and signed his book, "The Hour of Peril: The Secret Plot to Murder Lincoln Before the Civil War," a riveting historical narrative which delves into the "Baltimore Plot" conspiracy to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5902

Ismail Serageldin speaks on the transformation of knowledge and how it will impact the future of libraries. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5910

Renowned thinker, writer and speaker Ismail Serageldin discusses the restoration of the Library of Alexandria. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5909

In celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month, Janice Rothschild Blumberg discussed her new book "Prophet in a Time of Priests." Speaker Biography: Janice Rothschild Blumberg is a past president of the Southern Jewish Historical Society. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5918

At an evening celebration on March 19, the Library launched a website featuring 2,000 items from its Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Collection. Speaker Biography: Including: Michael Feinstein, Christopher Dodd, James Billington, Dena Kaye and Daniel Walshaw. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5913

Ecologist Peter Frumhoff discussed whether scientific findings can or should inform the public discourse on climate-change policy. Frumhoff examined results from his own ecological studies over the past several years and how this information can build an informed, pragmatic, science-based discussion. He also considered how lessons from history and the social sciences can build a more broadly shared understanding of climate risks and choices. Speaker Biography: Peter C. Frumhoff is director of science and policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and chief scientist of the UCS climate campaign. He has published and lectured widely on topics including climate change impacts, climate science and policy, tropical forest conservation and management, and biological diversity. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5921

Poets Joshua Beckman and Stanley Plumly celebrate the birthday of American poet Walt Whitman by reading selections from his work and discussing his influence on their own writing. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5759

Paul Dickson discussed and signed his book "Bill Veeck: Baseball's Great Maverick" at the Whittall Pavilion. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5675

Philip Levine, 18th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry at the Library of Congress, concludes the Library's literary spring season. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5557.

Levon Avdoyan discusses the establishment and growth of the Library's Armenian language collections. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5633.

In a new biography, author Elizabeth D. Leonard illuminates the history of this seldom-discussed but important figure in Lincoln's presidency. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5766.

Simon J. Bronner interprets the uses of play and ritual for students in different eras to work through tough issues of their age and environment. More broadly, campus traditions are shown to function centrally in the development of American culture. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5740.

Since early 2007, the Library of Congress and several partner organizations have worked to create a thesaurus of genre/form terms (MARC 21 tag 155), that describe what a work is, as opposed to what it is about. Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms for Library and Archival Materials (LCGFT) now includes over 700 terms in four disciplines; hundreds more terms, representing literature, music, religion, and non-disciplinary materials (such as dictionaries and bibliographies), are now being actively developed. The use of genre/form terms has a positive effect on both cataloging and reference services, and this effect will be magnified as terms for more disciplines are implemented throughout the Library. This presentation emphasizes the principles of LCGFT development and rules for the practical application of the terms. An update on the status of each of the projects, including tentative timelines where applicable, will also be provided. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5870

Ann Brener discusses Hebrew books from the 16th century in the collections of the Library of Congress. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5623.

Leading Yiddish language and culture experts joined media scholars and Library of Congress specialists to address Yiddish radio in America: its history and cultural impact, its continuing influence on American media, and its multifaceted legacy. (Day 1) For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5760.

Leading Yiddish language and culture experts joined media scholars and Library of Congress specialists to address Yiddish radio in America: its history and cultural impact, its continuing influence on American media, and its multifaceted legacy. (Day 2, afternoon). For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5762.

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress hosted a program in recognition of International Literacy Day that included a discussion on preparing teachers for Common Core Standards excellence in the classroom. Speakers included John Y. Cole, Carrice Cummings, Jill Lewis-Spector, Jane Hansen, Greg Mullenholz, Carol da Silva, Marcie Craig Post, Rich Carson, Adam Ray, Kathy Davin and Susan Bodenner. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5629.

Leading Yiddish language and culture experts joined media scholars and Library of Congress specialists to address Yiddish radio in America: its history and cultural impact, its continuing influence on American media, and its multifaceted legacy. (Day 2, morning). For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5761.

The Library of Congress sponsored an update forum on the Bibliographic Framework Transition Initiative in Seattle, Wash., during the midwinter meeting of the American Library Association on January 27, 2013. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5789.

Ten remarkable young poets and artists -- ranging in age from 7 to 16 -- and more than a dozen national finalists were honored at the 17th annual River of Words International Youth Creativity Awards. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5628

Sam Watters discusses the photographs of urban and suburban gardens taken by Frances Benjamin Johnston at the beginning of the 20th Century and preserved by the Library of Congress for more than 70 years. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5691

This talk explores the relationship between folklorist Archie Green's formative political experiences at home, at school, and at work during the "Age of the CIO" and his subsequent development of "laborlore" as a public-oriented interdisciplinary field. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5777

Victoria Newhouse has discussed her book "Site and Sound: The Architecture and Acoustics of New Opera Houses and Concert Halls." Newhouse argued that although exteriors of opera houses and concert halls have become more daring, the interiors have stayed the same due to acoustics. The event ws co-sponsored by the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden of the Smithsonian Institution. For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5674.