Featured Blog Post

Transcripts is a new podcast that puts the transgender movement in context. Using oral histories from the Tretter Transgender Oral History Project at the University of Minnesota Libraries, hosts Andrea Jenkins and Myrl Beam introduce listeners to the trans activists who are changing our world.

Lisa Von Drasek, Curator of the University of Minnesota Children's Literature Research Collections, was recently promoted from Associate Librarian to full Librarian. Along with her instruction at University of Minnesota classes, Von Drasek teaches at community events like the Twin Cities Book Festival, regionally at SELCO’s Camp Read-a-lot, public schools, and public libraries.

Shanda Hunt, Public Health Librarian and Data Curation Specialist, was recently promoted from assistant to associate librarian, while being awarded continuous appointment (similar to tenure). This is one of a series spotlighting the librarians who received promotions in 2020.

The May 25 death of George Floyd, 46, at 38th and Chicago in South Minneapolis, is the just the latest in a long history of racial injustice in Minneapolis. The Libraries' Mapping Prejudice project, for example, has documented how housing deeds were used to create structural barriers that stopped many people who were not white from buying property and building wealth for most of the last century

Post-Spring Semester, Annie Hoffman — the Libraries Student Journalist — has spent time drawing, watching episodes of "The West Wing," and reading "S," a book by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst.

"Slayer" and "Chosen" are the two books, by New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White, reviewed on this installment of Read This Book by Lisa Von Drasek, Curator of the  University of Minnesota Children's Literature Research Collections. 

Minnesota State History Day, usually held on campus, had its first-ever virtual event on Sunday, May 3. One of the goals of the program is to provide students access to resources they can’t get anywhere else — and we at the U of M contribute greatly to that access.

Hello! Annie Hoffman here, Student Journalist for the libraries. I am officially done with spring semester! Even though I’m finished attending class on Zoom, there is still a lot of Zooming going on around here. I have jumped on video calls for game nights, to sing Happy Birthday, and even to attend a spelling bee.

The HIV/AIDS Caregivers Oral History Project is a new digital resource, part of the Tretter Collection in GLBT Studies, includes 34 recordings and transcripts of interviews with individuals who have worked to provide services to HIV+ people and people with AIDS in Minnesota.

Annie Hoffman is working her way through a last full week of classes and is preparing for finals. She's been shooting and editing a short dance film, reviewing Portuguese grammar, writing part of a screenplay, and much more.

With less than two weeks left in Spring Semester, Annie is writing papers, doing lots of 'Zooming," and wondering what comes next. She also has tips for students for finishing strong.

Seeking a playlist for preparing for finals, but you’d like choices beyond the scope of Spotify? Want to sample Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, or other big names in classical music, yet no local orchestras are playing live concerts right now? No problem! Just open our Libraries website to the Music Library’s vast virtual musical storehouse of audio and video streaming databases.

Hello again! Annie Hoffman here, Student Journalist for the libraries. The snow this week has made it harder to get outside, but easier to cozy...

Hello again! Annie Hoffman here, Student Journalist for the Libraries. This is week four of online classes, and we’ve all gotten pretty adept at Zoom. Here’s what else I’ve been up to!

Hello again! Annie Hoffman here, Student Journalist for the libraries. As we head into April, I’m finding my footing as a Dance major in online classes. I’m also feeling really grateful for art. Here’s what I’ve been up to!

University of Minnesota Extension is helping Greater Minnesota deal with the COVID-19 pandemic by developing emergency meal plans and pickup and delivery models for rural grocery stores to deliver to their customers. And the University Libraries is an important partner in getting the word out through the University Digital Conservancy.