Virtual Lectures

Introduction

The philosophy behind the Rare Books Department has long emphasized the importance of the book as a physical object. Some of the most meaningful interactions with our collections occur in the classroom, where students are able to hold history in their hands. We extend our reach with a series of virtual lectures — part of our commitment to provide reference, research, and educational access for students, faculty, and community members. 

Text slide titled "What is a Book?" featuring a presentation by Lyuba Basin from the Rare Books Collection at the University of Utah Library.

What is a Book?

An exploration of the object we call the "book" that answers questions you never knew you had. What is a book? Where did it come from? Why does it look the way it does? And finally, what will happen to the book when we all go digital?

A promotional graphic for a presentation titled "What Makes a Book Rare?" featuring details about the speaker and library.

What Makes Books Rare?

A look into some of the criteria that determine what makes a book rare and how the Marriott Library gets its rare books – featuring examples  from our strongest collections.

Text graphic titled "A History of Special Collections," detailing a presentation by library staff at the University of Utah.

A History of Special Collections

From the early antecedents in the Utah Room to the most contemporary iteration, this virtual lecture traces the trajectory and evolution of the Special Collections Division at the Marriott Library over the last seven decades. Join us in exploring the unique holdings from each of the departments. What’s revealed is a story of dedication, scholarship, and commitment to research and access.

Text graphic for "A Look Into the Vault" presentation by Lyuba Basin showcasing rare books at the J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah.

A Look Into the Vault

Learn how you can take advantage of the rare books collections for research and reference. Whether you’re exploring new digital resources — or you’re still interested in good, old fashioned books — we have something for you, regardless of what you’re studying.

Text graphic announcing "A Network of Lacunae," featuring rare book selections presented by Lyuba Basin at the University of Utah.

A Network Of Lacunae

A brief history of the book which explores how literary networks can spread across time and space — from early Babylonian writing systems to 21st century artists books.

Text graphic for a presentation titled "Getting a Word In," showcasing rare books from the University of Utah's Marriott Library.

Getting a Word In

An introduction to "Social Media." From 4000-year-old receipts on clay to handmade personal prayer books to lavish scientific game-changers to travel guides published on fragile paper — the written word and the physical form in which words are stored are social constructs creating relationships between writers, makers, readers, space and time. 

Text graphic promoting a rare books exhibition titled "Novel, but not New," presented by Lyuba Basin at the University of Utah Library.

Novel, But Not New

From the ancient Greek novel to the chivalric romance and the emergence of the picaresque, the novel has relied on a multitude of writers, interactions, initiatives, and innovations. The history of the novel was never arbitrary, but rather has been dependent on expressing the ever-evolving human experience.

Text graphic titled "The Historyes of English," featuring details about a presentation by Lyuba Basin at the J. Willard Marriott Library.

The Historyes of English

Trace the history and evolution of the English language with examples from early illuminated manuscripts to twenty-first century artists' books. Learn about the integration of Irish, Anglo-Saxon, and Germanic cultures and gain insight into the linguistic diversity of English in the United States. How will our English histories evolve?

Text on a dark background titled "A Living and Intense Intimacy," featuring details about a rare books collection presentation at the University of Utah.

A Living and Intense Intimacy

An exploration of early manuscript book design and its lasting influence on printed books, which continues to this day. Although new technology changed the way books were produced, the general purpose of books remained the same: a conscientious determination that the written word was accessible.

Title card for a presentation titled "World Without End: Selections from the Rare Books Collection" at the University of Utah.

World Without End

A literary journey through the early Middle Ages to the early modern era looking at the revolutionary changes in the way the universe was understood and the intense debate that took place about the nature of God and the nature of man.

Text on a dark background displaying "A Drop in the Ocean" and "Selections from the Rare Books Collection" presented by Lyuba Basin, University of Utah.

A Drop in the Ocean

Learn about the literature of oceanic exploration — from books about maritime laws, scientific observations, and harrowing narratives of adventures, to pirates, polar expeditions and privateers. These books have traveled by hand, and across the seven seas!

A dark-themed graphic featuring the title "Invisible Mother" and details of a rare books collection presentation by Luise Poulton.

Invisible Mother

Women have found a diversity of ways to engage in the production of knowledge. Women have been both subjects and practitioners of science for centuries, although recognition of their influence in these spheres has been limited. Their particular experiences have shaped and improved scientific practices and outcomes. The books we consider in this lecture, from the 16th to the 21st centuries, belie the belief that science was outside of the social norms of womanhood.

Text header "Inheritance" above "Selections from the Rare Books Collection," presented by Luise Poulton at the University of Utah library.

Inheritance

Discover thirteen books from the seventeenth through the early twentieth centuries representing European scientific, political and literary attempts to understand the universe and humanity's place within it.

Text on a black background announces "Radical!" with details about a rare books presentation by Lyuba Basin at the University of Utah.

Radical!

Discover what it means to be "radical" through a retrospective of twentieth century dissent and the literature of politics — from poetry to pamphlets and novels to newscasts.

Title slide for a presentation titled "Armchair Indigeneity," featuring rare book selections from the J. Willard Marriott Library.

Armchair Idigeneity

A look at writings by and about indigenous peoples in Mexico, reflecting on some of the consequences of conquest, and attempts to recover an identity lost and then reimagined.

Text-based image announcing "What You See With Your Eyes: Selections from the Rare Books Collection" at the University of Utah.

What You See With Your Eyes

Explore early books in Nahuatl and Spanish and develop a sense of studying past texts in their physical form as a way to enhance textual anaysis.  

Text graphic titled "Cuentos de Materiales" with subtitle "Selections from the Rare Books Collection" by Luise Poulton, University of Utah.

Cuentos De Materiales

An introduction to artists’ books celebrating the Spanish language and Hispanic, or Latinx, and Chicanx culture.

Text graphic titled "Fiber /// Liber" featuring details about a rare books collection presentation by Lyuba Basin at the University of Utah.

Fiber /// Liber

There is a clear etymological root between the words text and textile. We can trace it back to the Latin verb, texere — meaning "to weave." From handmade papers to sewn bindings and cloth covers, the book is the perfect example of the interwoven industry of textiles and text.

Text graphic announcing "These Four Walls: Selections from the Rare Books Collection," presented by Lyuba Basin, University of Utah.

These Four Walls 

A selection of works that highlight the book as architectural object — from the construction of the page and the scaffolding of language, to the use of type, furniture, rules, bars, and bullets. For a book architect, the pages of a book are empty rooms to build out and furnish, and inside these four walls there exists a limitless space across various axes.  

Title slide for "The New Art of Making Books," featuring selections from the rare books collection at the University of Utah library.

The New Art of Making Books

Definitions and descriptions about the artists book, its structure, and other components related to its production. This lecture uses book terms found on the website Opening Artists Books, a collaborative project established by the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Book Arts Program. 

Text on a dark background displays "Artists' Books in Practice" and details about a presentation by Lyuba Basin at the University of Utah.

The Artists' Book in Practice

A simple, step-by-step guide to help transform your creative writing into an artist’s book, featuring examples of artists’ books found in the rare books collection... [References]