Cloud Nine

I feel like I have been neglecting this blog...but after all, I have been busy with Hermionish activities.

For the first time since 1999, I visited the Detroit Zoo last Sunday. Other than it being packed and hot as Hades, I enjoyed the visit and felt like I appreciated the exhibits more so now that I am (a) an adult, (b) formally studying librarianship, and (c) dabbling in curatorship on the side. As a result of my failed ninja moves, back in January, my ankle was giving meproblems; therefore, I didn't get to read all of the information at each exhibit, but enjoyed the "ready reference" content. My favorite exhibits: the arboretum and butterfly collection, the giraffes, the peacocks, the otters, and, of course, the penguins. Besides the obvious smell, I think I could have easily spent hours in the penguinarium.

On Monday, Memorial Day, I visited the Holocaust Memorial Center, in Farmington Hills, for the second time (a post about my first visit). Upon admission, I visited with a staff member about the museum's library and expressed my interest in conducting research there for my topic: censorship and intellectual freedom during the Third Reich. I got giddy when I found out that the librarian worked for the Library of Congress.

There is so much information offered that multiple visits are necessary. I went through every exhibit except for the art collection, which I'll save for another time, with Melanie, when my ankle is likely to be more cooperative. The museum was deeply moving and it was not uncommon for me to hobble to the next exhibit with tears in my eyes.

Beyond the obvious, studying the content, I was also surveying the construction of the various exhibits. Why? As many of you know, I have every intention of taking LIS 7990, directed study, which requires a deliverable -- usually a publication-ready research paper. In addition to the paper, I am interested in possibly, (thanks to the accessions chairwoman, Jackie), constructing an exhibit for the Sanilac County Historical Society's military room on censorship, libricide, and intellectual freedom issues which will focus on WWII / the Third Reich.
With that said, next time I visit, I certainly need to bring a notebook and, if policy permits, my digital recorder to document my thoughts and experiences.

With the holiday, and the workshop (which I will talk about in a moment), I didn't get to spend as much time as I would have liked working at the museum this past week. I am hoping to put in two days this coming week.

My "children"...books on censorship.

Friday, my friend Janet, who I met at SLIS orientation last spring, and I traveled to Lansing and attended a curatorial workshop hosted by the Historical Society of Michigan. Very interesting! Note: I am thoroughly enjoying the Michigan History magazine.

Afterwards, we explored the Library of Michigan and, of course, visited the Martha W. Griffiths Michigan Rare Book Room, where we met the conservator and cataloger, Kevin Driedger, who is an alum of the SLIS program at Wayne. He gave us a brief presentation on the subjects collected and policies/practices of the rare book reading room. (It is my sincerest hope that Carol Fink, the rare book preservation librarian, will grant my secret wish and give us a behind the scenes tour one of these days. I should probably start the process by inquiring. Hahaha.) In addition to drooling over the rare book reading room, Janet and I got lost in the Z-class for awhile. It was truly a day devoted to Hermionish activities and I was on cloud nine.

Two exhibits additional exhibits that I hope to visit:
The Lives They Left Behind -- Port Huron Museum
Description:

When Willard Psychiatric Center in New York's Finger Lakes closed in 1995, workers discovered hundreds of suitcases in the attic of an abandoned building.  Many of them appeared untouched since their owners packed them decades earlier before entering the institution.

The suitcases and their contents bear witness to the rich, complex lives their owners lived prior to being committed to Willard.  They speak about aspirations, accomplishments, community connections, but also about loss and isolation. From the clothing and personal objects left behind, we can gain some understanding of who these people were before they disappeared behind hospital walls.  We can picture their jobs and careers, see them driving cars, playing sports, studying, writing, and traveling the world.  We can imagine their families and friends.  But we can also see their lives coming apart due to unemployment, the death of a loved one, loneliness, poverty, or some other catastrophic event.

The suitcases and the life stories of the people who owned them raise questions that are difficult to confront.  Why were these people committed to this institution, and why did so many stay for so long?  How were they treated?  What was it like to spend years in a mental institution, shut away from a society that wanted to distance itself from people it considered insane?  Why did most of these suitcase owners live out their days at Willard?  What about their friends and families?  Are the circumstances today any better than they were for psychiatric patients during the first half of the 20th century?

And, Petticoat Patriots: How Michigan Women Won the Vote -- Michigan Women's Historical Center & Hall of Fame
Desciption:

In celebration of the 90th anniversary of women's suffrage, the Michigan Women's Historical Center is proud to present a new history exhibit that explores how the women's suffrage movement unfolded in Michigan and features the stories of over 20 Michigan women that became leading suffragists. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the engaging stories, images and artifacts. The exhibit also features many interactive elements, such as a voting booth and places for visitors to share their own ideas.