Towers Newsletter of the Library Associates of the University of Idaho Library Winter 2010
Inside this issue:
Why Do People Burn Books?
Why Do People Burn Books ?......................1
Every year the American Library Association and libraries all over the country celebrate Banned Books Week. This year the celebration of intellectual freedom was especially appropriate because it followed the media ruckus of “International Burn a Quran Day” initiated by Pastor Terry Jones in Gainesville, FL. This type of symbolic protest has been occurring for centuries throughout the world. Although there are specific circumstances regarding each historical event of book burning, what is the underlying theory of biblioclasm that generalizes the book burning phenomenon? How does the burning of books transcend time and culture? Currently, there are two main theories describing the meaning behind biblioclasm, one by Fernando Baez and another by Rebecca Knuth, who
From the Dean’s Desk....................................2 Special Collections Department.................2 Digital Initiatives Department.................... 3 New Employees............................................. 3 Ways to Give.................................................. 4 Thank You Donors......................................... 4
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Volume 13, Issue 1
is a leading researcher in the field of biblioclasm. Baez and Knuth have flushed out the basic premise of burning books for power into more encompassing theories. Knuth, the author of “Burning Books and Leveling Libraries”, aligns biblioclasm as a form of vandalism. In “A Universal History of the Destruction of Books,” Baez embeds the meaning of biblioclasm into destruction and creation mythology. continued on page 3
From the Dean’s Desk As you can see in this issue of Towers, the Library has been actively engaged in personnel searches for a number of months. We are delighted to have such talented individuals join our staff and I hope you will have opportunities to benefit from their varied contributions in coming months. The Library continues to be a vibrant place for learning as students and faculty make use of our facility as well as our electronic spaces. We have made some small improvements (to be featured in upcoming issues of Towers) and realigned some work processes to permit us to grow our digital presence.
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We appreciate your patience as there has been a long silence between issues of Towers. Our new design is a feature of the University’s Communication and Marketing unit and the energy behind this effort has been supplied by Breanna Weston, who has exercised her right to be invisible in the list of hires. Look forward to more of her work in the coming months! Thank you for supporting the University of Idaho Library. You help us achieve excellence. – Lynn N. Baird, Ph.D., Dean of Library Services
Special Collections & Archives Department Although I haven’t even been in place two months, things started strong and continue to stay impressively busy in Special Collections & Archives. In terms of collections, we’ve taken in a variety of different types of materials – including aerial photos of the Moscow area from the 1930s and 40s courtesy of the City of Lewiston; a collection of USGS, Forest Service, and BLM maps from a retired faculty member of the College of Natural Resources; and the library of the late Rev. Dr. Silas Raynor Smith, former pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Moscow; to name a few. We’ve added two part time staff members, Deb Green and Andy Wesolek (shared with Digital Initiatives), and are in the process of adding another full time staff member who will help process gifts and over-see the Reading Room. – Garth Reese, Special Collections & Archives Librarian
Collection: Craig Mountain Lumber Company Records (MG 12), Special Collections.
“We’ve taken in a variety of different types of materials
Bureau of Soils (USDA) map (1917) covering area on which some of the Craig Mountain Lumber Company buildings were located.
– including aerial photos of the Moscow area from the 1930s and 40s courtesy of the City of Lewiston”
Burning Books continued from page 1
Rebecca Knuth describes book burners as vandals, however does concede that the act is their way of making a point. Knuth describes book burners as marginalized members of society who choose to destroy books due to their symbolism and to increase their feelings of power and control. She states that these vandals show little remorse for their acts, however recognizes that current theory states rule-breakers are trying to engage in the conversation via their destructive acts. Alternately, Baez indicates that book burning is the reenactment of apocalyptic myths. Every culture throughout time has creation and destruction myths. Since books represent memory and is a chronology of time, by destroying it the society must start over from scratch. “By destroying, we ratify this ritual of permanence, purification, and consecration;
by destroying, we bring to the surface a behavior originating in the depths of personality, in a search for the restitution of an archetype of equilibrium, power, or transcendence.” pg9 Baez argues that this theory is further solidified by the fact that book burners choose fire as their method of destruction. Fire is a basic element that is crucial to humanity, has purifying characteristics and almost always associated with a religions God(s). Books symbolically represent knowledge, history and culture as well as have a physical manifestation that is easy to destroy. These facts combined create a perfect storm scenario for people who want to wield their power and feel in control. Baez’s myth theory and Knuth’s vandal theory give people a better understanding as to why people burn books.
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References Baez, F. (2008). A Universal History of the Destruction of Books: From Ancient Sumer to Modern Iraq. New York: Atlas & Co. Knuth, R. (2006). Burning Books and Leveling Libraries: Extremist Violence and Cultural Destruction. Westport Conn.: Praeger.
Further Reading Bosmajian, H. (2006). Burning Books. Jefferson N.C.: McFarland. Gillett, C. (1964). Burned Books Neglected Chapters in British History and Literature. Port Washington N.Y.: Kennikat Press. Jackson, H. (1932). The Fear of Books. New York: Soncino Press. Knuth, R. (2003). Libricide: The RegimeSponsored Destruction of Books and Libraries in the Twentieth Century. Westport Conn.: Praeger. Polastron, L. (2007). Books on Fire: The Destruction of Libraries Throughout History. Rochester Vt.: Inner Traditions.
– Breanna Weston, Reference & Instruction Librarian
Digital Initiatives Department The Digital Collections at the University of Idaho are expanding and transforming. We are currently working to digitize the rest of our Lionel Hampton photographs, selected negatives and photographs from the Barnard Stockbridge Collection, over 100 years of UI Extension Bulletins from the College of Agriculture, Aerial photos from around the Palouse, and diaries from the Taylor Ranch Field Station. We added a new collection this past August – The Columbia River Basin Project (thanks to new IH, Andrew Wesolek), which consists of almost 500 photographs depicting dam and canal construction in the Inland
Northwest. We are also looking forward to a new look and new responsibilities this year, as we are beginning to redesign the Digital Collections websites and we are anticipating the beginnings of an Institutional Repository that will one day serve as an archive and online access point for the research of faculty and students. – Devin Becker, Digital Initiatives & Scholarly Communications Librarian Bureau workmen stretch bolts on the scrollcase in east powerhouse at Grand Coulee dam as part of the turbine installation process. The Columbia River Basin Project (www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/crbp/)
Fall 2010 New Employees Garth Reese is the new Special Collections & Archives Librarian. He comes to us from the Morgan Library in downtown Manhattan, but grew up in Southern California. His first job was at University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK. Garth will be working with Trevor Bond from WSU Archives on some online exhibits. They will be working with a group of students to outline a large project for Special Collections. Devin Becker, Digital Initiatives Librarian
Devin Becker is the new Digital Initiatives & Scholarly Communications Librarian. He has taken a meandering route towards libraries. While working on his bachelor’s degree in religion, he worked as a paralegal. Then, he changed directions and received his Master of Fine Arts in 2007, where he then started working on his Master of Library Science. The position is keeping Devin busy and he is excited about the institutional repository project.
Rozanna Schultz has taken the Library Assistant position in Interlibrary Loan. She was a student worker here in the library until 2008 when she graduated. As a student, she worked in Cataloging & Collections and at the circulation desk. Although she didn’t work in ILL, she is now enjoying the fast-paced environment and working with the students.
Joe Evavold has been hired as the new Library Assistant 2 in Interlibrary Loan. Previously, Joe worked in the College of Natural Resources as a staff member. In 1985, Joe attended the University of Idaho where he received his degree in wildlife. Rozanna Schutlz, Interlibrary Loan
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