Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Diarna : The Geo-Museum of North African and Middle Eastern Jewish Life


 Diarna : The Geo-Museum of North African and Middle Eastern Jewish Life

"Diarna (דיארנא ديارنا “Our homes” in Judeo-Arabic): The Geo-Museum of North African and Middle Eastern Jewish Life is working to digitally preserve the physical remnants of Jewish history throughout the region. We are in a race against time to capture site data and record place-based oral histories before even the memories of these communities are lost.

Diarna pioneers the synthesis of digital mapping technology, traditional scholarship, and field research, as well as a trove of multimedia documentation. All of these combine to lend a virtual presence and guarantee untrammeled access to Jewish historical sites lest they be forgotten or erased."

Formerly known as: Diarna: Mapping Mizrahi Heritage


Sunday, December 5, 2021

Open Access Manuscripts Collection: Manuscripta Islamica Rossica


Manuscripta Islamica Rossica

The created portal already functions as a unique library resource and access point to information about Arabic, Persian and Turkic manuscripts and old printed books in Russian collections in the Internet. Currently a free access to digitized copies of the eleven copies of the Qur'an (the full manuscripts and as well as its sections-juz) of the 17‒19 centuries and about a dozen manuscripts of commentaries (tafsirs), prayer books, theological works, collections of poems is provided. The participants of the project who provided the manuscripts, are the Archive of Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oriental studies of the RAS, Scientific library, MGIMO(University) of the MFA of the Russian Federation, All-Russia State library for foreign literature, State Public Scientific-technological library of the Siberian branch of the RAS in Novosibirsk, Astrakhan regional scientific library, and other.

See also: Alphabetical list of Open Access Islamic Manuscripts Collections


Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Careers in Middle East Librarianship: MELA Workshop

Middle East Library Association(MELA,) Education Committee welcomes all to attend:

Careers in Middle East Librarianship

Friday, Dec 10, 2021 at 12:00pm EST

Are you graduating soon with an M.A. or Ph.D. degree in Middle East studies, and curious about librarianship as a professional option for using your academic research skills? Have you been adjunct instructing for a while and wondering how to turn your experience and subject knowledge to a rewarding alternative academic career? You may have been wondering, What exactly does a subject-specialist librarian do? Do you need to have an MLIS to get a job as a subject librarian? How do you gain experience in cataloging? Will you get to read books all day?

This workshop, sponsored by the Middle East Librarians Association (MELA), will consist of three parts: part one will feature brief presentations by professional librarians who have come to the profession via different pathways, and working at public or private institutions. Participants will learn more about the work librarians do, how they participate in the intellectual work of the institutions they are associated with–in fact as partners contributing to research and teaching–and how the profession of Middle East librarianship is moving to address profound changes in technology, publishing, and society.  In part two, the workshop will offer practical tips on applying to library school, how to gain related experience, and how previous experience can be highlighted on your c.v. The third part of the workshop will be reserved for your questions and discussion.  https://www.mela.us/

Please register for the virtual workshop:   https://tinyurl.com/MELALibrary

Panelist and Chair:

  • Dale Correa, University of Texas, Austin, Chair
  • Sarah DeMott, Harvard University , Head of Education Committee
  • Emily Witsell, Wofford College
  • Mohamed Hamed, University of California, Berkeley
  • Salma Abumeeiz, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
  • Amanda Hannoosh Steinberg, Harvard University
  • William Kopycki, Library of Congress, Cairo Overseas Office

Please contact me directly if you have any questions regarding registration or accessibility needs.  This event will be conducted in English and recorded with an edited version available on the MELA YouTube Channel.

Sincerest regards,
Sarah

Sarah DeMott, PhD, MLS
Middle East Library Association
MELA, Education Committee, head
MELA, Mentorship Program, head
https://www.mela.us/committees/education/

https://www.mela.us/2021/11/30/careers-in-middle-east-librarianship-workshop/


Sarah DeMott, PhD, MLS

Faculty Librarian for Freshman Seminars
Library Liaison for Judaica, Near East, and Middle East Studies
Harvard College Library

sarah_demott@harvard.edu

https://library.harvard.edu/staff/sarah-demott

pronouns: she, her, hers