Library Blogs

The Asia Library would like to welcome three new interns, Hao Zhang, Suparna Hande, and Jisu Han. Each of them works on one of the three main subject areas of the Asia Library (Chinese studies, Japanese studies, and Korean studies).

In June 2003, the University of Michigan Library launched the Philippines digital collection, “The United States and its Territories, 1870 - 1925: The Age of Imperialism.” Featuring over 4,000 historical texts, it has seen significant engagement from Filipino users for twenty years. Contextual inquiry interviews with Filipino researchers revealed their appreciation for the preservation and access to historical materials, their enthusiasm for being included in research and design activities and opportunities to improve usability in specific areas. Our findings show the importance of enhancing digital collections to support researchers and preserve cultural heritage, especially for communities who have experienced the loss of these materials in their country of origin.

On this #FindingAidFriday, we are highlighting the recently processed papers of Jim Cohn, poet, writer, recording artist, editor, publisher, and curator of the online Museum of American Poetics. The Jim Cohn Papers (1953-2019) were donated in 2019 and encompass approximately fifteen linear feet of material documenting Cohn’s work across his several vocations through correspondence, research files and drafts, interviews by and of Cohn, published essays and poetry, journals, photographs, and audiovisual materials.

As user experience researchers and designers, it is our job to design better solutions for complex interfaces. Read on to learn our research and design process from discovering a usability issue to proposing solutions in collaboration with developers.

U-M Seed Library's Intern, UMSI graduate student, and co-mentor of Michigan Library Scholars Borderless Seed Stories project, Krystel Anderson, reflects on The Seed Library Kickoff Event.

July is Wild About Wildlife Month! As we soak in the sun’s warmth and explore the outdoors, why not take the opportunity to expand our knowledge about the incredible natural world we live in? Whether hiking through forests of towering trees or taking a dip in ocean waters, it becomes clear how interconnected we are with the living world surrounding us. Discover captivating, and sometimes hilarious, stories of the intricate, complex relationships and behaviors that shape the natural environments we know and love.

Are you someone who enjoys horror no matter the season? Well you’re in luck - Summerween is officially upon us! Popularized by the animated show Gravity Falls, Summerween invites those brave enough to indulge in all things eerie and spooky, perfect for those hot summer nights. If you’re in the mood for a scare, be warned of these chilling reads available digitally from the Library’s OverDrive collection.

3D printing a box for a print & play card game and stick lock for an xbox/switch controller

Making a 3D object out of a 2D image

June is Pride Month! Check out some LGBTQ+ memoirs available digitally from the Library’s Overdrive collection. If you are on campus, check out physical items selected for display on the first floor of the Shapiro Library.