2017: In the media
NOVEMBER 2017
Thanksgiving tribe reclaims language lost to colonization
ABC News
Efforts to bring back the Wampanoag language have drawn on historical documents such as MIT Libraries’ Eliot Bible from 1685.
Faculty and Archives Partner on MIT and Slavery Project
Library Journal
Library Journal features “MIT and Slavery,” an undergraduate course collaboratively taught by Craig Wilder, Barton L. Weller Professor of History, and Nora Murphy, archivist for reference, outreach, and instruction.
Remembering Christine Moulen, library systems manager at the MIT Libraries
MIT News
An MIT alumna and admired colleague, Christine leaves legacy of kindness and passionate dedication to her work and her communities.
Object Lesson: Werner Pfeiffer’s Errantry
Arts at MIT
An artist book by Werner Pfeiffer recently acquired by Rotch Library is examined in an ongoing series highlighting art, artifacts, machines, devices, books, instruments, and tools that give physical form to ideas that enhance the MIT campus and community.
OCTOBER 2017
Algorithms Supercharged Gerrymandering. We Should Use Them to
Fix It
Motherboard, Vice
Daniel Oberhaus interviews the Libraries’ Director of Research Micah Altman for his piece on open source redistricting software.
MIT Libraries launches initiative to revise government information storage laws
The Tech
Members of the MIT community gathered for a discussion Oct. 19 with the aim of publishing a manifesto on the revision of Title 44 of the US Code, which governs the dissemination of government information. The event was co-organized by MIT Libraries and Engineering Activism.
Mapathon seeks to direct humanitarian aid for Puerto Rico
MIT News
Volunteers recently gathered in MIT’s Dewey Library for a “mapathon,” contributing skills in geographic information systems (GIS) to help develop a thorough map of the island’s structures.
How Will the MIT Libraries Help to Answer Tomorrow’s Big Questions?
MIT Spectrum
Spectrum asked Director Chris Bourg to discuss how the MIT Libraries will evolve to advance the creation, dissemination, and preservation of knowledge.
Introducing the Public Library Innovation Exchange (PLIX)
ML Learning on Medium
A Knight Foundation-funded grant project aims to build collaborations between Media Lab researchers and public libraries across the U.S.
SEPTEMBER 2017
The test-free zone: An orientation guide to MIT Libraries
MIT News
A look at all the people and services at the Libraries that can help students succeed, including expert Chris Sherratt
JULY 2017
Spreading kindness far and wide
MIT News
Student-founded Random Acts of Kindness Week aims to make MIT a healthier, more welcoming place.
MIT convenes ad hoc task force on open access to Institute’s research
MIT News
Group will explore opportunities to disseminate MIT knowledge as widely as possible.
JUNE 2017
MIT Libraries staff honored with 2017 Infinite Mile Awards
MIT News
Annual celebration of excellence honors employees for exceptional contributions on behalf of library users and colleagues.
Amerikaans activisme onder Trump: BadAss Librarians en Guerrilla Archivists (American Activism under Trump: Bad-Ass Librarians and Guerrilla Archivists)
Informatie Professional (IP) (Netherlands)
A look at how activism in America has been revived under the current administration, especially among information professionals.
Habitat: Students reveal their favorite spots on campus
MIT Spectrum
Hayden, Barker, and Rotch rank among students’ favorite quiet zones on campus.
MAY 2017
Classroom Earth: Drones over Death Valley
MIT News
With the help of Senior GIS Specialist Daniel Sheehan, Professor Kristin Bergmann and her class used innovative technology to explore the sedimentary history of the Carrara Formation in California’s Death Valley.
APRIL 2017
The architecture of MIT: 10 impressive buildings on the tech university’s campus
Dezeen
A look at some of the best architecture on MIT’s campus includes Building 10’s Great Dome and the Hermann Building, home to Dewey Library.
Colleges, Libraries and Presses Team Up to Publish Open Scholarship (And Rethink Model)
EdSurge
An experiment by the MIT Press and MIT Libraries in publishing open access monographs “represents a significant shift in how libraries see their role in the scholarly publishing workflow.”
Institute announces new open access policy for all MIT authors
MIT News
Optional license allows students, researchers, and staff to make scholarly articles freely available.
Chinese students have attended MIT since the 1800s
China Daily
“China Comes to Tech: 1877-1931” commemorates the 140th anniversary of Chinese students at MIT
MARCH 2017
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Dispatches from ACRL
American Libraries
A look at how the conversation about EDI is influencing developments in academic libraries, featuring the Libraries’ Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice task force.
h+d Portraits: An interview with Ece Turnator
Hyperstudio
A new series of interviews with scholars and practitioners of the Digital Humanities kicks off with a conversation with the Libraries’ Ece Turnator.
MIT Libraries and MIT MakerWorkshop launch Equipment to Go
MIT News
Pilot program lends tools to makers across the MIT community.
FEBRUARY 2017
Hundreds turn out for first “Building 7 Block Party”
MIT News
Hundreds of people from the MIT community and public filled the hallways and galleries throughout the building to celebrate the start of the spring semester and view new exhibitions of photography, drawing, and architecture.
At DataRescue, students collaborate to protect vital government data
The Tech
Day-long hackathon focused on preserving federal data at risk of manipulation or removal by the Trump administration.
MIT remembers first Chinese scholars in exhibit
SAMPAN
Greater Boston’s bilingual Chinese-English newspaper covers the opening of “China Comes to Tech: 1877-1931.”
3 Questions: Emma Teng on “China Comes to Tech”
MIT News
Peter Dizikes talks with Emma Teng, a professor of history and global studies, who helped develop and curate the Maihaugen Gallery exhibit.
Med sikte på världsproblemen (Taking Aim at the World’s Problems)
Biblioteksbladet (Sweden)
“‘To roll up your sleeves and work to solve the problems of the world is a part of the school’s ethos,’ says MIT’s Chris Bourg.”
Is the Library the New Public Square?
Slice of MIT
The Alumni Association blog looks at MIT’s plans for more global library services that preserve Institute intellectual content.
Academic Libraries Respond to Immigration Ban
Library Journal
“‘As social institutions, libraries have always stood for freedom of expression, diversity, inclusion, openness, generosity, and social justice,’ Chris Bourg, director of MIT Libraries, told LJ.”
JANUARY 2017
What’s in store for libraries on college campuses?
WGBH
Director Chris Bourg joins On Campus to discuss how libraries are reimagining physical collections and thinking about how to make digital collections richer and more accessible.