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Find Your Next Summer Read at Olin Library

Summer is the perfect time to pick up a new book. What better place to find your next literary adventure than at the library! 

At Olin Library, our New & Noteworthy collection features a curated selection of recently published titles that are sure to pique your interest and keep you turning pages all summer long. If you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for in our collection, you can also order books for free through interlibrary loan. 

To give you a few ideas, we’ve asked our library staff to share what they’re reading this Summer.

Here are a few of their top picks: 

Hannah’s Pick: A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher 

 ” I’m a huge horror fan and I love super spooky stories, but when I’m in the mood for something that’s a little less intense, I like reading horror authors who also write stories with a little humor and fun stuff thrown in the mix! One of my favorite contemporary horror authors, T. Kingfisher, has a perfect summer book that fits this vibe! A House with Good Bones is a Southern Gothic novel about a young woman named Sam (a researcher who studies bugs at archaeology sites, very cool and random) who returns to the NC town where she grew up to check in with her mom, who seems to be acting “off.” During her stay, Sam begins to discover something is seriously amiss in the house where she grew up, and some bad vibes, dark family history, and WITCH stuff slowly starts to unfold! The story also has a lot of humor, excellent character development, and is the perfect atmospheric summer book to read on a hot day, sitting on the front porch or in a hammock in the backyard! We have a copy in Olin Library, and the audio book is available on Libby at TCPL!” 

Emma’s Pick: The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros 

 “I read this last summer with a friend for our book club, and I thought it was beautifully written and does a great job at examining race, gender, and the pains of growing up — all in the form of vignettes. Because it’s a short book, it’s also easier to get into if you’re someone who has trouble reading physical books! Patrons can get a copy at the Flower-Sprecher Veterinary Library, or through interlibrary loan.” 

Jess’s Pick: Mother Tongue: The Surprising History of Women’s Words by Jenni Nuttall  

“Written by a professor who taught the history of the English language at Oxford University, this book is a fascinating, historical investigation of feminist language and thought, spanning from the inception of Old English to contemporary times. I haven’t been able to put it down! You can get this gem at Olin Library or through interlibrary loan.” 

Leah’s Pick: Funny Story by Emily Henry 

“Funny Story is available in both ebook and downloadable audiobook formats through Cornell’s Libby collection. What’s not to love in this funny romance featuring a librarian in a wine country near the Great Lakes?” 

Lynn’s Pick: In Ascension by Martin MacInnes 

“If you like Science Fiction and, really, even if you don’t, this book is amazing. On the New & Noteworthy shelves.” 

Virginia’s Pick: The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra by Vaseem Khan 

“Charming, entertaining mystery set in contemporary Mumbai with a baby elephant.” 

Visit Olin Library today and let us help you find your next favorite book. Happy reading! 

5/28 Olin Basement Restroom Closure

Reposted from the Cornell University Library Space Projects blog.

Beginning Tuesday, May 28, the large multi-user and single-user restrooms in the Olin Library basement will be taken offline for a much-needed renewal. This work will happen over the summer, and all 3 restrooms are anticipated to reopen by the beginning of the fall semester.

Please note that there are accessible public restrooms available on the adjacent Olin Library 2nd floor, Kroch Library 1st floor, and Uris Library 1st floor.

Late Night Pizza at Olin Library & Fuel Your Finals Prep

Join us on Sunday, May 12th at 10 pm for our biannual Late Night Pizza Study Break in Olin Library. The event will take place in the Olin Library Lobby until all the slices are gone.

On Tuesday, May 14th library staff will be on Ho Plaza between Olin & Uris Libraries handing out granola bars & fruit snacks from 8:30 am until 10:00 am.   In the event of rain, we will hand the snacks out in the Olin Lobby and Uris Library Tower Room.

Stop by on your way to your exam or study space and pick up a free treat!

 

 

Slope Day 2024 and Olin & Uris Libraries

Slope Day is Wednesday, May 8th.

Uris Library, including the Cocktail Lounge, will close at 8:00 am on May 8 and will reopen at 8:00 am on Thursday, May 9.  Contactless pickup at the Tower Entrance will remain open 24/7 with your Cornell ID.

Olin Library will be open from 8:00 am-6:00 pm but will be exit only from 12pm-6pm. If you are studying in Olin Library prior to 12:00 pm, you will be able to remain as late as 6:00 pm, but if you leave after noon on Slope Day, you will be unable to re-enter. 

The Amit Bhatia Libe Café will be open from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm on Slope Day.

We hope you will be outside enjoying the concert and taking a break before finals, but if study space is what you need, other campus libraries farther away from Libe Slope will have quiet space for you.

 

Right to Read Readathon Schedule

Right to Read: Readathon – Friday, April 26, 2024

A readathon—from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Mann Library—kicks off the “Right to Read” daylong celebration, with excerpts from banned and challenged books read aloud by students, staff, and faculty members. 

Come join us! You’re welcome to sit and listen to the whole readathon or to come and go as you please. We’ll also have free copies of a few banned and challenged books for you to take home!

Here are the list of readers and their chosen books:

9:00-9:15 AM Marla Love, Dean of Students

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

9:15-9:30 AM Ryan Lombardi, Vice President for Student & Campus Life

9:30-9:45 AM Alexander Colvin, Dean, ILR School; Professor of Conflict Resolution

Nickel and Dimed: on (not) Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich

9:45-10:00 AM Kendra Bischoff, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson

10:00-10:10 AM Elizabeth Hays, Executive Assistant to the Provost

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

10:10-10:15 AM Amy Escalante, Undergraduate, Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management

The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas

10:15-10:30 AM Mary Pat Brady, Professor, Department of Literatures of English

Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera

10:30-10:45 AM Steven Jackson, Vice Provost for Academic Innovation; Professor, Information Science & Science & Technology Studies

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

10:45-11:00 AM Monica Yant Kinney, Associate Vice President for Communications

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

11:00-11:15 AM Sofia Gil, Undergraduate, Computer Science

Looking for Alaska by John Green

11:15-11:25 AM Caroline Apodaca, Undergraduate, ILR School

Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

11:25-11:30 AM Lucia Caravella, Undergraduate, ILR School

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

11:30-11:45 AM Mike Kotlikoff, Provost; Professor of Molecular Physiology

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

11:45 AM-Noon Rachel Dunifon, Dean, College of Human Ecology; Professor, Department of Psychology & School of Public Policy

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

Noon-12:15 PM Kathryn Boor, Dean, Graduate School; Professor, Food Science & Department of Global Development

Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

12:15-12:30 PM Matthew Kibbee, Evidence Synthesis Coordinator, Cornell University Library

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

12:30-12:45 PM Poppy McLeod, Professor, Department of Communication

The Holy Bible

12:45-1:00 PM Colleen Barry, Dean, Brooks School of Public Policy

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

1:00-1:15 PM Patricia Abraham, Africana Librarian

Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane

1:15-1:30 PM Ravi Ramakrishna, Professor, Department of Mathematics

Savage Inqualities by Jonathan Kozol

1:30-1:45 PM Brian Arnold, Indonesian Cataloger, Cornell University Library

Beloved by Toni Morrison

1:45-2:00 PM Kofi Acree, Director, Clarke Africana Library; Curator, Africana Collections

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

2:00-2:15 PM Willow Lewis, Undergraduate, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences

The Giver by Lois Lowry

2:15-2:30 PM Elaine Westbrooks, Carl A. Kroch University Librarian, Cornell University Library

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Right to Read Day of Celebration

Readathon
Over the past year, the number of challenged library books has surged across the United States. Cornell University Library invites the campus community to special events on April 26, titled “Right to Read,” to honor and promote diversity of thought and expression found in books of all kinds.

A readathon—from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Mann Library—kicks off the “Right to Read” daylong celebration, featuring excerpts from banned and challenged books, selected and read aloud by students, staff, and faculty members. Audience members are welcome to sit and listen to the whole readathon or to come and go as they please. A selection of banned books will be on hand for attendees to take home for free.

A Conversation and Reception
Books of all kinds stimulate the imagination, enrich the mind, and provide insights into our complex world. And yet, there is a growing list of books continually being challenged and banned in schools and libraries across the U.S. In addition, nowhere is censorship more restrictive than in prisons, where books and other educational resources are direly needed for building meaningful lives and preparing for re-entry into civic life. As PEN America stated in a recent report, “carceral censorship is the most pervasive form of censorship in the United States.”

Join us from 3-4 p.m. in Mann Library 160, for this conversation about how schools, libraries, and prisons are affected by censorship and how these institutions are providing access to books as wellsprings of knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Our guest speakers include:

  • Rob Scott, executive director of the Cornell Prison Education Program and an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Global Development, Cornell University
  • Leslie Tabor, director of Tompkins County Public Library
  • Elaine L. Westbrooks, Carl A. Kroch University Librarian, Cornell University

A reception from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. in the Mann Library Gallery immediately follows this conversation.

Please contact Wendy Wilcox at [email protected] if you would like to participate in the Readathon.

Unwind with the Cornell Companions at Uris Library!

Feeling stressed about prelims? Take a study break and join us in the Uris Library Dean Room on Tuesday, March 12th, from 12-1 pm, as the Cornell Companions make a special visit. Swing by, say hello to our four-legged friends, and let the wagging tails and happy faces melt your stress away.

If dogs aren’t your thing, consider joining a guided meditation in Room 703 at 12:15 pm, instead. Let’s Meditate offers free guided meditations in Olin Library every other Tuesday! You can find the full schedule here.

Special Building Hours at Olin & Uris Libraries During February Break

 Hello, students!

As February Break approaches, we want to ensure you have all the information you need for your library visits. Here are our special building hours during the break:

Olin Library

Friday, 2/23: 8 am – 6 pm

Saturday, 2/24, and Sunday, 2/25: 10 am – 6 pm

Monday, 2/26: 8 am – 9 pm

Uris Library closes one hour earlier, but the Cocktail Lounge and Tower Book Pickup location will still be open 24/7.

We’ll be back to our regular hours on Tuesday, 2/27 (8 am – midnight).

Whether you’re staying in Ithaca, or traveling somewhere exciting, why not browse our selection of New and Noteworthy books? Find something fun to read and make the most of your break! 

Or use Cornell University Library’s Overdrive collection through the Libby app to listen to audiobooks while you travel.

We look forward to seeing you at Olin & Uris and hope you have a restful break.

1/18 Olin Reopening

Courtesy of the Cornell University Library Space Projects Blog

The temporary Olin Library closure has been extended through January 17. The library’s services will continue uninterrupted: https://olinuris.library.cornell.edu/services In Kroch Library, the Asia Collections will be accessible to users by appointment only, and the Rare and Manuscript Collections will be accessible only to researchers with appointments. Items from Olin and Kroch Asia’s circulating collections can be requested at the Uris Library service desk near the McGraw Tower entrance. These materials can also be requested for pickup at other library locations on campus via the online catalog. We look forward to welcoming patrons back on January 18.

Subscribe to the Cornell University Library Space Projects Blog for the latest news about the Olin Library Renovation Project (and other Cornell University Library space projects.)   The subscription form is on the right-hand side of the blog’s home page.

Olin Library Services During Winter Construction

The Arts Quad is covered in fresh snow for the first week of classes.

Olin Library will be closed to the public from December 18 to January 12 as construction on the basement and first floor begins. Although the building will be closed, many library services are still available during this time. You’ll find our updated hours here.

Borrowing and delivery services will be available in Uris Library near the McGraw Tower entrance, and research help will be offered remotely by chat, email, phone, and Zoom.

All campus libraries will be closed for the campus winter break from December 23 through January 1.  We are closed, but our chat partners are not.

Library services will resume on January 2, and we anticipate returning to regular building hours on January 13.

For regular updates on the Olin renovation project, please follow the Cornell University Library’s Space Projects blog.

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