Booknote: A Perfect Red

I just finished reading Amy Butler Greenfield's book A Perfect Red: Empire, Espionage, and the Color of Desire. This book had been on my "to be read" (TBR) list for a while. I added it to the list when I was in Houston, but it was one of those things I never quite had the time. Not that I have that much time now, but when I opened my ILLiad account here, I decided to start ordering some of those books on the TBR list. Yes, there are a good number of books on the TBR list that my library does not carry, but thanks to InterLibrary Loan I can order them from other places. Anyhow, let's go on and talk about the book.

For those who like microhistories, this will be a good book. In a nutshell, this is a history of red color dyes. Most of the book deals with cochineal, a little insect which is used to get the dye. We go from the Renaissance and the conquest of the Americas to the modern day where synthetic dyes emerge, relegating cochineal as a dye to almost extinction. It is a story that involves spies, colonial adventure and enterprise, and learning about how dyes are made. This is the kind of topic that we often take for granted; we know we can buy clothes in colors or get food coloring, but how often do we think about where those colors come from? Then there is all the symbolism behind the color red.

The prose is a bit slow. Unlike other microhistories, this is more of a straight historical narrative, but there are some interesting moments, usually involving the spies trying to learn the secrets of the dyes from the nations owning them. What I mean is this is not a book like, for example, Kyle Jarrard's Cognac: the Seductive Saga of the World's Most Coveted Spirit. Jarrard has a much more personal style in the prose, which draws the reader in. Here is my blog post on Jarrard's book if anyone is interested. I am not saying the difference is a bad thing, just that the books have a different style. I also found interesting the little details about the cochineal, and how over time many different people speculated about its nature: was it an insect? was it a plant? was it something else entirely?

Overall, I think readers of the microhistory genre will enjoy this, but I also think any history reader in general will find it interesting as well. For me, having read and studied the history of Latin America and its relation to Spain, this book provided a different perspective. I mean, for example, I did not know that after silver, cochineal was actually the second biggest and most valuable product shipped from the Americas to Spain during the colonial time. No one ever mentioned this to me in classes I took, nor did I see it in other history books. So this book fills a significant gap in the history, which makes it a valuable one to read.


Other books with similar appeal (that I have read and can recall quickly now):

Tom Standage, The Victorian Internet, The Turk, and A History of the World in Six Glasses (Note on this one here).
Maureen Ogle, Ambitious Brew: The Story of American Beer. My blog post on this one here.

March is National Women's History Month: Some links

One of my tasks as Outreach Librarian is to put up various displays and exhibits throughout the year. I have already put up some things for National Women's History Month, which is celebrated in March, and I am still gathering items for a book list and to complete a display. Below are some links to various resources of interest. I may use some of them for my library, but I am putting them here so I can keep track of them. Also, if anyone out there finds them useful, feel free to use and pass them around. This post is a work in progress, and I may add more links as I find them.

And by the way, as of this writing, Obama has not signed any presidential proclamation for the month. Hey, you are running behind dude.


The links:

• National Women's History Project. A nonprofit organization with mission "to recognize and celebrate the diverse and historic accomplishments of women by providing information and educational materials and programs."
• Feature on Women's History from Infoplease.com. They have all sorts of timelines, trivia, biographies, and some quizzes to test your knowledge.
• Gale, the reference books publisher, has a small section on Women's History. They do put out a nice calendar for the month that can be printed out.
  
• The History Channel has a site for Women's History Month too.
  
• The Library of Congress has a Women's History site as well.
• The Feminist Majority Foundation has Women's History Month section on their website. It will feature a daily trivia question during the month of March.
• The Department of Defense has a website for the month as well. Not as up-to-date, but they do have historical items of interest.
• And here is the site from the Smithsonian.
• The FREE (Federal Resources for Educational Excellence) website has a site for Women's History. Good resource for teachers.
• Julie Foudy, ESPN's Soccer Analyst and Olympian, discusses women in soccer and sports (video clip).
  
• Site of the National Women's History Museum. Right now, they are looking for a permanent site in D.C. You can visit the site, see virtual exhibits, and learn about their campaign to have a presence in the nation's capital.
  
• The 2009 U.S. Census Bureau Facts for Figures Release for Women's History Month.
• The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is featuring a virtual exhibit on Julia Child, where you can explore her kitchen, which she donated to the Smithsonian.

Update Note (3/4/09):

Some Organizations with resources:

• The ACLU has a section for Women's History Month. I remembered to go check them out when I found the nice Timeline of Major Supreme Court decisions on Women's Rights, which I got last year and used on a display; apparently, they have it as an interactive feature now as well. They also have a Women's Rights Project and other useful resources on this and other topics.
• In 1909, Alice Ramsey became the first woman to drive across the United States from New York to California. Now a group is preparing to do the drive once more in 2009. Learn about it at their site, Alice's Drive.
• And the United Nations has a feature on International Women's Day, which is on March 8.
• You can also learn more about women's rights around the world from Amnesty International USA (page on Violence Against Women) and Human Rights Watch (page on Women's Rights). In other words, be informed about the issues and keep up the fight for women's rights.
  
• And since I am including various organizations, I would be remiss if I did not link to the National Organization for Women (NOW).
  

Various virtual exhibits on Women's History:

• The American Antiquarian Society has a small virtual exhibition on "A Woman's Work is Never Done."
• From Yale University's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, a virtual exhibit on "Intimate Circles: Women in the Arts."
• The University of Nottingham has a virtual exhibit on "War, Women & Survival."
• The American Foundation for the Blind has a virtual exhibit on Anne Sullivan Macy, Helen Keller's teacher.
• Purdue University Libraries' Archives and Special Collections, my alma mater, has an online collection of Amelia Earhart papers and materials.
• The Getty Museum has an online exhibit on Maria Sybilla Merian and her daughters, German artists and naturalists.
• Case Western University's Dittrick Medical History Center has an online exhibit on "Women Graduates of the Cleveland Medical College, 1852-1856." Did you know that in the 18th century women were banned from medical schools because they were considered too frail for it?
• And you can learn about Women in Science at the Marine Biological Laboratory (Woods Hole).
• Smith College's Sophia Smith Collection has a "Voices of Feminism Oral History Project." You can view some of the transcripts online. From the site, "documents the persistence and diversity of organizing for women in the United States in the latter half of the 20th century. Narrators include labor, peace, and anti-racism activists; artists and writers; lesbian rights advocates; grassroots anti-violence and anti-poverty organizers; and women of color reproductive justice leaders. Interviews average 5-6 hours and cover childhood, personal life, and political work."
  
• The University of Michigan's William L. Clements Library has a virtual exhibit on "Women's Education Evolves, 1790-1890." From the site, "This exhibit presents digitized selections of key primary source materials, such as letters from students and women teachers, diaries of missionary teachers, various schoolbooks, sermons, and catalogs."

Update note (3/7/09):

• The International Women's Day is on March 8. Here is a website for the observance (a hat tip to the Information Literacy Weblog).

Article Note: On wikis for library instruction, plus a bit more.

Citation for the article:


Allan, Charles, "Using a Wiki to Manage a Library Instruction Program." C&RL News April 2007: 242-244.

Read via WilsonWeb (Library Lit. and Information Science)


This is a very short piece that is basically a "call for action" article. It was written in 2007, which in Internet time can be an eternity. For example, it mentions Jotspot as one of the options for a free wiki, and since then Google acquired Jotspot, then proceeding to shut it down; if you look for Jotspot online, here is what you find, which goes to point you to Google Sites. You tend to notice little things like that when you read the library science literature. When it comes to online resources, the traditional journal literature simply is not swift enough. But I have other things in mind at this point.

One of the things I would like to develop at my library, or rather an idea I am toying with, is making a reference wiki. One of the uses for that wiki would be to keep track of rare and unique reference questions (you know the ones) as well as some of the assignments that students bring in. While I could later on expand on the idea and use the wiki to keep reference procedures and policies as well, the reference service angle, i.e. tracking questions and sources, is what really interests me. As precedent, when I was instruction librarian at former MPOW, I had a small reference/instruction blog. Basically, I used it to keep track of classes I taught, provided resources and research tips for students, and used it as a tool for me as well as the students. Shortly after I changed jobs, since I was not updating it (not to mention that my duties have changed, and I do very little instruction), and it was an experiment, I shut that blog down. I did back it up, so the content still exists on a disk. I was using Vox for that, the same platform I use for my scratch pad blog, Alchemical Thoughts. I did learn a few things from that experience including the value of having a tool to keep track of resources and specific reference and instruction questions. Using the tags, I was able to label posts for later reference. Only feature I dislike about Vox, and I do so even with the blog I do keep there now, is that it requires commenters to register. There is no way out of it. Sure, they can e-mail me, and some people have done that, but no outside comments. It's a remnant of the walled garden approach basically, and one not conducive to good online conversations.

The article made me think about some of these things. Some notes, with my remarks:

• "Contributors to a library instruction wiki can edit and store insightful comments into class needs, work together in the creation of subject resource guides, and update outdated material" (242).
  

We could edit and store comments on specific reference transactions in a reference wiki, which would then be searchable. Subject guides we do not have to worry as much since we bought and implemented LibGuides (see our LibGuides here). Although there are certain library and reference handouts that could more efficiently go into a wiki. Something to think about. In terms of instruction, that is the domain of our instruction librarian, who keeps the necessary handouts updated as needed. When we teach in our subject areas, she gives us the basic handout package we hand to every class regardless of subject or level. It's just the way things are done here; she handles the freshman classes; any advanced (by that I mean subject area) is handled by the subject liaisons with minimal input from the instruction librarian. That is a bit of a complicated tale for another time. Could we put some of the information from specific subject classes on some kind of instruction wiki in order to compare notes, for example? Probably, but given other more urgent needs, not as likely to happen. Reference service is the area I have some control over, thus I find myself bouncing around the wiki idea.

• "Wikis are used by librarians to manage public services information, collaborate on and keep track of reference questions, and assess databases" (242-243).
  

I have to admit that the part about databases did not occur to me, but given that we do get database trials once in a while, keeping notes on assessments of those trials in a central and accessible location would be helpful. The rest of the stuff outlined in the quote above is what I had in mind. As the article points out, there is a lot of uncoordinated information out there, and in my case, I would like to bring that uncoordinated information closer to home. In the longer term, such a wiki could serve as a tool in case we get around to doing an information audit. That is another idea I am bouncing around for reference to see if I can get a bigger picture of how things operate. It could provide some solid evidence instead of having to go with just anecdotes and gut reactions. But that is another post for another time.

Anyhow, if you need a quick article to learn about what a wiki can do for your library instruction program, this is pretty good.

Small display on the books that inspired Obama

In the fine librarian tradition of borrowing ideas liberally from other place, I have replicated the McNally Jackson list of Books that Obama has read. I pulled the books from our shelves, and I put a small shelf in our reading room with the books for patrons to peruse, and hopefully, check out. I also made a small brochure with the complete list. I like the idea that we have a president who seems to have done some reading and gotten something out of it. Plus, I think the display works nicely for Presidents' Day, though I did not plan it on that basis at the time. I wish some of the books were not so worn, but one works with what one gets. Maybe we can get them to circulate some more and get some more requests in the process.

My two readers can find the official write up in the library's blog.

Anyhow, just one of the little things that keeps this Outreach Librarian off the streets.

A hat tip to LIS News.

Celebrating Darwin Day 2009

Last night we had our celebration of Darwin Day. It featured a showing of the PBS NOVA documentary Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial. We were fortunate to have two of our scholars come and speak to put the film in context and answer questions from the audience. This was definitely a treat as both professors were knowledgeable, insightful, and engaging. I opened the event with some short remarks about Darwin Day and the purpose of our event: to recognize the achievements and legacy of Charles Darwin and to promote public understanding of evolutionary sciences. With almost 30 people, we had a pretty good audience, and I feel encouraged that we can do more events like this one here.

I did not take great notes on the professors' remarks as I was just really caught into listening. But I did manage to catch a few lines:

From Dr. Don Killebrew's remarks (Professor and Head of Biology Department):

• took some time to explain how science works using rational processes. He used examples of how we make decisions to illustrate the point, showing how we do research and test choices before making a big decision, like buying a hybrid car.
  
• On the idea that evolution is "just a theory," he explained that in science, a theory is a powerful thing, more so than the mere facts. This is so because a theory is a powerful documented explanation of a process.
  
• In science, God is not part of the process because his presence cannot be tested. It does not mean God or miracles do not exist; it means they are not testable.
  
• Dr. Killebrew also pointed out that most scientists are actually religious; he mentioned there are surveys and polls that show that (I may need to look some up for linking).
  
• Science deals with natural phenomena. A theory is tentative precisely because it is testable. The theory of evolution continues to explain biological processes today.
  
• Biology classes have become the ground zero as creationists try to discredit science teachers or science itself. A second tactic creationists use against science is their push for intelligent design.
  
• After the film, he told us of one student who chose to drop his class. The reason the student gave was: "I cannot learn something I don't believe in." Personally, I find that to be a very sad answer, refusing to learn something and close yourself to other ideas because you yourself may not believe in it.
  
• Intelligent design may try to poke holes into evolutionary theory. However, evolutionary biologists constantly try to poke holes in their own theories as well, including evolution. They are trying to learn what they don't know.
  
• Science is not a democratic process; it is evidence-based.
  

From Dr. Wesley Hickey's remarks (Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Superintendent Program):

• Told us that the documentary will look at the Kitzmiller case, which was decided in 2005.
  
• He began his remarks with some context and case history, starting with the Scopes Trial.
• Noted that Texas is a strong anti-evolution state, which can be seen in some of the recent actions of the State Board of Education.
  
• ID is invoking the supernatural, which is meaningless to science.
  
• The Constitution does require that our public institutions stay out of religion. Therefore, Americans need to be proud of two things: science and the Constitution (as in these are two great American achievements).
  
• The Kitzmiller case is likely to go to the Supreme Court some day in some form given the persistence of the ID groups.
  
• After the film, Dr. Hickey mentioned that science is about looking for a natural explanation. Religion deals with the supernatural, seeking to make the supernatural legitimate.

About the film, I have to say that it was excellent. After the showing, audience members expressed that they liked it as well and found it to be well made. I will say that it does provide a very good overview of the case but also of the issues surrounding the debate between evolution and intelligent design. PBS NOVA clearly tried to make a very balanced presentation, and it shows. I highly recommend this film, and for our locals, the library does own it, so feel free to go check it out. And I would like to take a moment to thank our professors who gave of their time to give us a great educational experience. And I would like to thank those who came as well for participating and for their questions.

Finally, I would like to provide some additional links in honor of Darwin Day for my two readers:

• Learn more about Darwin Day at their official website.
  
• 2009 is the Year of Science, from the Coalition on the Public Understanding of Science.
  
• Professor P.Z. Myers's blog, Pharyngula, is very popular. He is an assistant professor of biology at U. of Minnesota-Morris. When not writing about biology and evolution, he does blog about ID and other issues of science and society.
  
• Panda's Thumb is another excellent blog on evolution and biology.
  
• Nature has some podcasts on Darwin today. After today, you can probably find the podcasts on the site's archive.
  
• The National Center for Science Education was mentioned in the film. They are a great resource for science education and the defense of science.
  
• The Humanist Community sponsors the event. Here is their observance site.
• And though it pains me personally to link to it, in the interest of showing the ID side, this is the link to the ID think tank Discovery Institute. For a quick overview of the think tank, here is their Wikipedia entry.