University Libraries Exhibits Its "More Than Books" Collection

One of the panels at the exhibit

Samples of information sources such as maps, photos, manuscripts, newspapers on microfilm, and posters found at the University Libraries were displayed in an exhibit of Jafet Library resources from October 17 to November 24.

The exhibit highlights the variety of services offered and sources available at the University Libraries. The Information Services Department of Jafet Library organized the exhibit. "We designed the details of the actual exhibit. The Micrographics and Archives departments provided the material we needed," said Samira Rafidi Meghdessian, the Information Services Librarian.

Examples of the materials available at the Archives and Special Collections and the Micrographics Department were featured in the exhibit. "The Archives and the Special Collections not only collect archival materials and manuscripts, they collect maps and posters and much more," said Meghdessian. "This department even possesses the first MA thesis written at AUB; it was handwritten and was about the role of women in Islam… The archives are to be commended for their job of preserving all this material for decades."

As for the Micrographics, the department employs recent and sophisticated equipment "to scan and keep up-to-date editions of local daily and weekly newspapers. That way they contribute to preserving and documenting the history of Lebanon," she explained. "They are also filming the theses available at the library… So far we have a range of 6000 to 7000 theses written at AUB; these are all being filmed by micrographics and preserved at the library."

The exhibit is intended to counter the widespread view that libraries collect only books. "There is a lot more in a library than collecting books… It is rich with primary material, such as maps, posters, newspapers, manuscripts, photos, and many more items that are known as non-book materials… University Libraries also subscribe to 35,000 electronic books and 107 databases."

The display windows of the exhibit were ornamented with ceramic items of students in the Fine Arts Department. The Information Services Department hopes to hold more exhibits throughout the year. "Our next exhibit will be about the rich collections we have that pertain to the Middle East," said Meghdessian.