Foreign Language Research and Teaching Press of Beijing Visits O'Toole Library

A delegation of representatives from the Foreign Language Research and Teaching Press of Beijing, China, visited Saint Peter's College on Tuesday, May 17 to discuss the teaching of Chinese in the United States and here at the College. The delegation was met by Lan Jiang, Ph.D., adjunct professor of Chinese, Rev. Mark DeStephano, S.J., chairman of the department of modern & classical languages and literatures, and David Ornstein, Ph.D., director of the O'Toole Library. Dr. Ornstein spoke to the group about the innovations that have been made in the College's library, giving particular attention to new research and archival facilities, as well as about the opportunities available to conducting research online.

The delegation made a donation to the College library through a variety of Chinese-language teaching materials, including books and computer programs, which will be incorporated both into the book collection and the data section of the new language laboratory that is being constructed through the College's Title V grant. The College's relationship with the Foreign Language Research and Teaching Press will be ongoing, as part of the expansion of the Asian Studies program.

Six Iconic Crimes: Violence through the Decades and War in Print

From April 4-30, the O'Toole Library offers a special exhibit: "Six Iconic Crimes: Violence through the Decades and War in Print: Books and Images from the O'Toole Library Collection." The exhibit focuses on Jack the Ripper, Lizzie Borden, Leopold and Loeb, Charles Manson, Aileen Wuornos and the Columbine Massacres with a separate display spotlighting books on war reporting. This presentation is held in conjunction with the annual Saint Peter's College Media and History Conference, which this year has the theme of If It Bleeds, It Leads: Reporting on War and Crime. The conference will be held on Thursday, April 7. Co-Curators: Daisy DeCoster, MLIS, Assistant Librarian, Reference and Ilona MacNamara, Associate Librarian, MLS, MA, Reference and Exhibits Coordinator. Special thanks to Mary Kinahan-Ockay, B.A,, Dip. Anglo-Irish Lit., College Archivist.

Irish Literature Exhibit

For the rest of March, the O'Toole Library features an exhibit on the Irish Renaissance and the works of Lady Augusta Gregory, James Joyce, Sean O’Casey, John Millington Synge, Oscar Wilde and William Butler Yeats. This exhibition in offered in conjunction with the English department’s symposium held on March 30. Co-Curators: Daisy DeCoster, MLIS, Assistant Librarian, Reference and Ilona MacNamara, Associate Librarian, MLS, MA, Reference and Exhibits Coordinator. Supported by David Orenstein, Ph.D., Director of Library Services.

Women’s History Month: The Feminist Movement

The O'Toole Library at Saint Peter's College is offering a special exhibit to celebrate Women's History Month. During March, stop by any time during library hours to view a collage and timeline of the women’s movement created by the Saint Peter’s College members of Females on Campus United in Solidarity (F.O.C.U.S.), with 30 books from the O’Toole Library collection on display. Designed by: Marilyn Cohen, Ph.D., director of women’s studies; the members of F.O.C.U.S., Chelci Bidos, Fiorella Cacho, and Karla Mendez; and Ilona MacNamara, associate librarian and exhibits coordinator. The exhibit is supported by David Orenstein, Ph.D., director of library services.

Italian American Devotion to the Black Madonna

The Saint Peter's College O’Toole Library shares plans for a special event on Wednesday, November 17. The exhibit and lecture, “Evviva La Madonna Nera!: The Italian American Devotion to the Black Madonna,” explores the devotion to the Black Madonna (Madonna Nera) in Italy and among Sicilian Immigrants in the early twentieth century. Dr. Joseph Sciorra from the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute of Queens College/The City University of New York, will present his research. The lecture begins at 12:00 p.m.

Saint Peter's College Library Databases Just Got Better!

From November 4—11, you can “Test Drive” the new library databases.

These new databases will further meet the academic and research needs of the College community, including PQ Central, Project Muse, CQ Researcher, Opposing Viewpoints, Oxford English Dictionary and article access to the science directory.