Celebrate National Library Week with the DePaul University Library!
Join the DePaul University Library as we celebrate National Library Week, April 23-29, 2023. Founded in 1958, National Library Week is an opportunity to celebrate our nation’s libraries, honor the contributions of library workers to our communities, encourage everyone to visit and advocate for their local library.
The theme for National Library Week 2023 is “There’s More to the Story,” illustrating the fact that in addition to the books in library collections, available in a variety of formats, libraries offer so much more. We’re taking this opportunity to highlight some of the unique resources offered here at the DePaul University Library, as presented by the library staff.
Zine Collection
Derek Potts, Instruction and Outreach Archivist
How can students access the Zine Collection in SPCA? What can they expect to find there?
Students and community members can access zine collections by visiting the Special Collections and Archives on the third floor of the John T. Richardson Library during our reading room’s open hours. Our zine collections contain more than 6,500 zines from the 1980s-present, most of which were created or collected in the Midwest. Learn more about the collection here.
Why is this collection significant or important? How does it support the Library’s mission?
Zines are usually self-published and therefore represent a wide variety of lived experiences, interests, and points of view. Zines can also be tools for information sharing and used to support or promote social justice objectives. Our zine collections are ultimately part of the Library’s mission “to advance the goals of a more just, ethical, and diverse global society.”
What is one thing about the Zine Collection that you wish more people knew about?
That the zine collection is open to anyone in the community – not just those affiliated with DePaul.
Do you have a favorite zine or creator in the collection?
Difficult question – I really enjoy zines showing the artwork of incarcerated artist Todd (Hyung-Rae) Tarselli, part of the Anthony Rayson Zine Collection.
Voices Collections
April Hummons, Information Technology Librarian
What are the Voices Collections? What kinds of materials can they find inside each collection?
The Voices Collections are a series of librarian-curated collections featuring materials created by authors with specific marginalized identities, including African American Voices, LGBTQIA+ Voices, Disabled and Neurodiverse authors, Latinx Voices, Indigenous Voices, and more.
The collections can be browsed online and the physical materials are located in the stacks at the Law, Loop, and John T. Richardson libraries. Students can use the request function in LibrarySearch to get materials from the other campus libraries.
Why are these collec
tions significant or important? How do they support the Library’s mission?
These collections are significant because they provide the DePaul community with access to library resources created by members of marginalized communities. These collections support the library mission by exposing our users to perspectives outside of their own culture and identity.
What is one thing about the Voices Collections that you wish more people knew about?
New titles are being added regularly to these collections. Our hope is that faculty began to use these collections as recommended resources in the syllabi and instructional materials.
Do you have a favorite book or author that is included in the collections?
I do not have a favorite book or author, but I can say that I have discovered more than 800 BIPOC, queer and disabled authors while reaching and curating materials for these collections.
Graphic Novel Collection
Wendall Sullivan, Digital Initiatives Librarian
How can students access the Graphic Novel collection? What can they expect to find there?
The graphic novel collection at DePaul includes over 1,200 titles representing a variety of genres and subject matter. Browse the collection on the first floor of the John T. Richardson Library or online.
Why is this collection significant or important? How does it support the Library’s mission?
Graphic novels can be useful as a type of literature — you can see different types of storytelling with different authors and formats, especially with international titles and formats, such as manga (Japan) and man-hwa (Korea), or something like titles out of Humanoids and Cinebook (European publishers). And, of course, people use them for leisure reading. The art department can use them to study art styles and techniques as well. Graphic novels in general are useful to help teach reading, as research indicates that a combination of pictures and words makes it easier to comprehend both.
Do you have a favorite graphic novel or creator in the collection?
For a different sort of art style and story, I would recommend Aya of Yop City by Marguerite Abouet, which is basically a sort of “days in the life” story of a teenage girl in Cote d’Ivoire.
Wendall recently donated over 900 graphic novels from his personal collection to the Library. Read more about the Sullivan Graphic Novel Collection and check out some additional recommended titles.
Streaming Video Collections
Audra Deemer, Head of Acquisitions & Collections
What is the approximate size and scope of the Library’s streaming video collections? How can our users access these materials?
We currently provide access to over 25 streaming video collections. This adds up to well over 100,000 videos. We have a wide range of content covered in the various collections including documentaries, interviews, musical performances, plays, news programs and newsreels, field recordings, commercials, raw footage, professionally filmed videos with patients and therapists, award-winning films, indie films, and more. Most of the individual titles can be found by using LibrarySearch as well. We have also started purchasing individual streaming video titles that we host ourselves and those can also be found through LibrarySearch.
The collections are accessible whether you are on or off campus and you don’t need special equipment like a dvd player, just your computer and internet access. Most platforms are optimized for viewing on mobile devices as well.
Why is this collection significant or important? How does it support the Library’s mission?
These collections not only support teaching and learning at DePaul. They also offer an opportunity for students to hear and view the stories and experiences of people from marginalized groups and from cultures and geographical places different from their own.
What is one thing about this collection that you wish more people knew about?
Our collection is more than just documentaries and academic titles. We have a lot of very unique content like the HistoryMakers Digital Archive which is the nation’s largest African American video oral history collection, the ICE Learning Center which has professionally filmed videos with actual patients and therapists in treatment settings demonstrating medical conditions and therapeutic interventions in occupational and physical therapy, and Silent Film Online which covers silent features, serials, and shorts from the 1890s to the 1930s. There are also a lot of great feature films (over 400) available from Sony Pictures Classics on Academic Video Online.
Do you have any favorite films or other materials available through the streaming video collection?
From our newest collection kweli.tv, I really enjoyed It’s Different in Chicago which documents the House music and hip hop culture in Chicago. Another Chicago-related film I love is Finding Vivian Maier you can watch on Filmakers Library Online. And I always appreciate Sister Wendy’s Story of Painting videos (maybe because I remember watching them when I was an undergrad in college).
Music Collection
Jill King, Music Librarian
What kinds of resources can students find in the Music Collection? What are the opening hours?
The Library’s music collections support DePaul’s School of Music and are also open for all students, faculty and staff to enjoy. In addition to books, journals, and articles about music and databases for music research, the collection includes:
Music scores
Find music scores on the 4th floor of the Richardson Library. Some strengths of the collection are chamber music, study scores, and contemporary composers from all parts of the world.
CDs and DVDs
Opera performance is a particular strength. No way to playback these formats? Use our media room to listen or view at the Library.
Streaming audio databases
Between Naxos Music Library (best for classical music) and Music Online: Listening (best for classical music, jazz, world music and more), more than 1 million albums are available to stream from your computer.
What is one thing about the Music Collection that more people ought to know about?
To support leisure listening, we are now adding new albums to our legacy LP collection. Borrow an LP (and an LP player!) to listen at home, or use our equipment in the Library. If you want to hear how a favorite artist sounds on LP or discover some new music, this collection can be found on the 2nd floor of the Richardson Library. Here are a few newly added albums:
- Soundtrack to the documentary Summer of Soul directed by Questlove
- Bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding’s Songwrights Apothecary Lab
- Lizzo’s Special
- Grammy award-winning artist Arooj Aftab’s Vulture Prince
- Pow Wow singer Joe Rainey’s Niineta
- Kelela’s second album Raven
- Malian guitarist and songwriter Vieux Farka Touré’s Les Racines
Maker Hub
April Hummons, Information Technology Librarian
What kinds of resources can students access at the Maker Hub? What are the opening hours?
Students have access to 3D printers, a laser cutter, a sewing machine, a vinyl cutter, a Cricut, 3D scanners and the ability to use our PlayStation VR. The hours vary by quarter because the space is staffed by students.
How does the Maker Hub support the Library’s mission?
The Maker Hub supports the Library’s mission by inspiring and providing a means for students to explore their creativity.
What is one thing about the Maker Hub that you wish more people knew about?
The Maker Hub operates on a concierge’s model which means that anyone with any (or no skill level) can utilize the equipment. The Maker Hub is staffed by DePaul students and can provide that peer-to-peer training experience that is less intimidating than the instructor-student relationship. The Maker Hub staff can help and inform you on the possibilities of your creative process.
Do you have any favorite projects that students have worked on in the Maker Hub?
Before the pandemic we had an alumni that was printing out table top game pieces for his students at a CPS elementary school. I think that is the true spirit of the mission and we were happy to be a part of making these objects to allow the student to experience an activity they may otherwise not be exposed to.
Celebrate with Us!
Learn more about these collections and join us for a celebration in Kelly Hall in the John T. Richardson Library on Wednesday, April 26th from 11:00am – 1:30pm. We’ll have buttons, raffle prizes, and more.
You can learn more about National Library Week and ways you can support libraries nationwide here. Also take this opportunity to stop by your local public library and explore what it has to offer. There are few things more special than places dedicated to the free pursuit of learning and self-expression for all and that’s truly something worth celebrating.