January 2008 State Library Update
January 2008
Vol. 6, no. 1
In this issue:
*Check out the new DVDs in the State Library's collection.
*What is State Library staff doing to promote Black History Month? Find out here.
*Come to the State Library in the beautiful Miller Building to see an exhibit of art by students at the Iowa Juvenile Home. The works are part of art therapy and are a visual depiction of various emotions of the students.
*The State Law Library has a wealth of legislative information available for its patrons.
*Free training will be offered by the State Library during National Library Week, April 14-18, 2008.
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The State Library has added a number of new DVDs to its collection on a variety of management topics, and one DVD showing a historical overview of social issues in American Film. State employees may request any of these items be sent to them; non-state employees with a State Library card may check out DVDs in person or request them through their local public libraries. Check out what's new at www.statelibraryofiowa.org/services/newbks.
To sign up for a State Library card go to our Web site at www.statelibraryofiowa.org and click on 'State Library Card' on the left sidebar.
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The State Data Center has compiled a data profile of African Americans in Iowa to help celebrate Black History Month in February. The profile is located at www.iowadatacenter.org/Publications/aaprofile2007 and contains demographic data about African Americans in Iowa such as the total number, percent, average income and education level, etc.
The State Library's Patent and Trademarks Library has put together brief biographies of a few African American inventors from Iowa. The biographies show a wide variety of inventions including a flying machine, a can opener and a button punch for buttons made from clam shells. Check it out at www.statelibraryofiowa.org/services/patents-trademark/blkinvetors.
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The State Library will host an art exhibit titled Trauma Reflected in Art.
Art work created by students from the Iowa Juvenile Home will be on exhibit at the State Library. All the students with work in this exhibition suffered some form of major trauma during childhood or adolescence. All were unsuccessful in coping with their circumstances. Unable to resolve feelings of fear, rejection, betrayal, anger, shame, and hopelessness, they felt powerless to lead normal lives and kept attempting to bury these debilitating feelings.
But negative emotions do not remain buried. In efforts to evade anxieties, these young people succumbed to sub-conscious, often destructive urges such as rage and aggression, suicidal ideation, sexual promiscuity, drug and alcohol abuse, learned helplessness, and self-mutilation. Consequently, all have required out-of-home treatment including institutionalized placement.
This exhibit is a result of the emotional process of creating individual pieces of art. Art therapy techniques assisted the students in gaining insights into buried experiences. In some cases, the creative process itself—the act of making images—helped students to exorcise some of the destructive emotions and to realize the value of self-expression.
The students’ comments, which accompany their art, provide some insights into their individual problems. Valuable as therapy, the works are also impressive, authentic pieces of art.
The art will be on exhibit from January 28th through February 28th at the Ola Babcock Miller Building on the corner of E. 12th and Grand in Des Moines. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. For information call 800-248-4483, 515-281-4102 or e-mail is@lib.state.ia.us.
For more information about this project, go to www.statelibraryofiowa.org/services/juvart.
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The State Law Library of Iowa, located on the second floor of the state capitol (between the House and Senate chambers) is an invaluable resource for legislative information.
Confused and overwhelmed trying to wade through legislative data? Contact us for facts about bills, legislators, lobbyists, legislative directories, committees, fiscal notes and budgets, legislative publications, House and Senate schedules, legislative archives, statutes, rules and regulations, state agency annual reports, and connections to state government officials, departments and resources. Find many helpful links to legislative information at the State Law Library's Web site www.statelibraryofiowa.org/services/law-library. Can't find what you're looking for? Click on the Ask a Law Librarian button!
Call the Law Library at 515-281-5124, 800-248-4483, fax us at 515-281-5405, or e-mail us at law@lib.state.ia.us for all your legal, legislative and judicial information needs.
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The State Library again offers its popular series of free classes during National Library Week, April 14-18. Class topics focus on finding the information you need to do your job well. Each class is 50 to 60 minutes long and is held in the computer lab on the third floor of the Ola Babcock Miller Building in Des Moines.
Classes will teach you how to find statistics, use Westlaw for legal research, improve your internet searching skills, use databases to find thousands of full-text journal and research articles, find reliable health information on the Web, and more.
Watch for the next State Library Update for details on the classes and registration.
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SERVICES that the State Library offers free of charge are:
*The State Library's online catalog http://catalog.lib.state.ia.us gives you instant access to thousands of resources. If you find something you want, request it with a click of your mouse.
*Finding answers to tough questions is quick and easy using the State Library's Ask A Librarian service. Go to our Web site at www.statelibraryofiowa.org and click on Ask a Librarian in the top right hand corner. Questions are answered quickly and reliably by State Library staff in the Miller Building and at the Law Library in the Capitol.
Barbara Corson
Program Director for Library Services
State Library of Iowa
E. 12th & Grand
Des Moines, IA 50319
515-281-4352
800-248-4483
barb.corson@lib.state.ia.us
