Borrowing from Laidlaw Library in the summer

For the most part Laidlaw Library does not lend books during the summer because the library is closed. But there are two exceptions:

1. University College faculty & appointed staff: You are welcome to borrow any of our books during the summer. Just e-mail or call us with your request, and we will check the book(s) out to you and deliver them to your UC mailbox or UC office, usually within a couple of days.
2. Other borrowers: Although we are closed, if there’s a book you need and we have the only available library copy on the St. George campus, please e-mail us or call, as we may be able to make a special exception and lend the book to you at a mutually convenient time.

We have a book return box just outside the library doors.

Baxter and MacLeod

This Tuesday evening, May 5, artist Iain Baxter and writer Alastair MacLeod (author of the wonderful novel No Great Mischief) will be appearing at the U of T Art Centre, in a discussion facilitated by Nino Ricci (whose novel The Origin of Species won this year’s Governor General’s award).

Women in Canadian politics

Sylvia Bashevkin (Principal of University College) has not one but two new books out! — one which she wrote, and one which she edited (and wrote parts of):

• Women, Power, Politics: The Hidden Story of Canada’s Unfinished Democracy
• Opening Doors Wider: Women’s Political Engagement in Canada

In Women, Power, Politics she talks, among other things, about the fact that when the media write about women politicians, they tend to focus not on their policies but on things like appearance, dress, and style of speaking (which is usually judged to be either too aggressive or too passive).  She writes about lots of Canadian politicians including Sheila Copps, Belinda Stronach, Audrey McLaughlin, and of course Kim Campbell (who was interviewed on TV Ontario tonight — I’m sure she’d find the book fascinating!).

The Uses and Abuses of Reviewing

Linda Hutcheon will be giving this year’s Alexander Lectures, beginning March 23. Her intriguing title is “The Uses and Abuses of Reviewing.” Professor Hutcheon is the author of A Theory of Adaptation (among many other books).

Emotions in turmoil

Next week, March 10-12, Ruth Leys (from Johns Hopkins University) will give a series of lectures at University College, on “Emotions in Turmoil: Genealogy and Critique.”

In honour of these lectures, Laidlaw Library has acquired two books by Ruth Leys:

• From guilt to shame : Auschwitz and after
• Trauma : a genealogy

Attempts on Her Life

The University College drama program is currently putting on Attempts on Her Life, by British playwright Martin Crimp, at the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse:

• info about the production
• the published play (in a book of four Crimp plays, recently purchased by Laidlaw Library)

Unlikely Soldiers

There’s a new book out about two University College alumni, Ken Macalister and Frank Pickersgill. It’s called Unlikely Soldiers: How Two Canadians Fought the Secret War against Nazi Occupation, and it’s available at Laidlaw Library.

In the 1930s, Macalister was a UC undergrad, and Pickersgill did his M.A at UC. Macalister’s experiences at UC and U of T are described on pages 39-45. To find out more about the book, see the Harper Collins description.

University College Book Sale

The annual U.C. Book Sale (whose proceeds benefit Laidlaw Library) started today and runs until Tuesday Oct. 21. What an amazing operation! I helped out this afternoon at the cashier’s desk and met some wonderful U.C. alumni and friends who volunteer at the Book Sale every year.

Queer CanLit

The Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library has an exhibition running until August 29th which I highly recommend: “Queer CanLit: Canadian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Literature in English.” At yesterday’s reception to celebrate the exhibition, three of the featured authors read from their work: Shyam Selvadurai, Shani Mootoo, and Wayson Choy. The exhibition is co-sponsored by U.C.’s Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies and curated by Maureen FitzGerald, Don McLeod, and Scott Rayter.

Famous art critic speaking at U.C.

This week Michael Fried is giving the annual Alexander Lectures at University College. His topic is “Form and Pressure: Four Artists of Today.”

If you’d like to read some of his art criticism, Laidlaw Library has just purchased a collection of his essays and reviews, Art and Objecthood.