Monday, May 21, 2007

News from ACRL

A few tidbits from the latest issue of College & Research Libraries News:

- The University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science and the Rare Book & Manuscript Library of Illinois have combined to create the Midwest Book & Manuscript Studies (MBMS) program. "Courses include the history of the book, special collections librarianship, archival studies, and printing history." Graduates will receive a certificate of special collections librarianship; MBMS will also comprise the Soybean Press, and several lecture series.

- Florida Atlantic University has opened the Arthur and Mata Jaffe Center for Book Arts; the 4,800-square-foot center will house "prominent collections of books handmade by artists." The Center "will offer exhibitions, lectures, workshops, films, performances, and classes in letterpress printing, bookbinding, handmade paper making, and box making."

- The Kelley College of Business at Hardin Simmons University has been given a 17th-18th century Torah scroll produced at a South Arabian Jewish scriptorium (probably in Yemen). The scroll, on vellum, is notable for its height, 27 inches.

- The archives of the JC Penney company have been acquired by the DeGolyer Library at Southern Methodist University. The collection includes more than 1,500 linear feet of business records, 20,000 photographs, and the personal papers of James Cash Penney and his third wife, Caroline.