More than just a translation tool or a dictionary, the Ojibwe People's Dictionary provides context. Within the Ojibwe dictionary, objects "are in conversation with the language..."

Minneapolis-St. Paul (February 29, 2012)--The University of Minnesota Libraries, in partnership with the University's Department of American Indian Studies and the Minnesota Historical Society, have launched a ground-breaking online Ojibwe-English dictionary, The Ojibwe People's Dictionary, at http://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/.

The Ojibwe People's Dictionary was conceived as a logical expansion of "A Concise Dictionary of Minnesota Ojibwe," published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press and co-authored by John D. Nichols, professor in the American Indian Studies department and one of the foremost Algonquian language experts.

Nichols approached Jason Roy, director of Digital Library Services, to move the print dictionary into a dynamic, online environment, which allowed for many more entries: the printed dictionary contained 7,000 words, but the new online version has 30,000 and is growing.

The Libraries were honored to lead the software and interface development for the dictionary," said Associate University Librarian John Butler. "The project uniquely demonstrates how the Libraries work with faculty and researchers to support new forms of scholarship."

More than just a translation tool or a dictionary, the Ojibwe People's Dictionary provides context. The entry for wild rice, for example, includes audio clips of 4 Ojibwe elders speaking the word manoomin, photos from the collections of the Minnesota Historical Society and Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, and snippets from texts including meeting minutes, reports and research manuscripts dating from 1922.

Within the Ojibwe dictionary, objects "are in conversation with the language," said Brenda Child, chair of the Department of American Indian studies at the University. It's a way of establishing cultural context through language. By merging the academic expertise of University scholars like Professor Nichols with the visual resources of the Historical Society and others, the site is both casual and scholarly, cutting edge and useful to Native people who speak the language.

Significant funding for the Ojibwe People's Dictionary came from the State of Minnesota through the Minnesota Historical Society from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. The project has just been awarded another grant to support phase 2 of the dictionary, which will incorporate feedback from users, enhance the virtual museum and add youth-friendly features.

Posted by Marlo Welshons at 1:47 PM | Permalink

Driven to Discover? Discover it Here.

Lights, Camera, Libraries! Channel your inner Spielberg and win an iPad! Just make a video that shows what you've discovered at the Libraries. Visit the contest website for more details.

Posted by Marlo Welshons at 3:03 PM | Permalink

Do research on the bus! Do research waiting in line! Do research anywhere, anytime with our new mobile site.

• Search for books, videos, maps, and music, and more using the library catalog


• Find magazine and journal articles using library databases.


• Email citations of the resources you find.


• Browse for article databases that have mobile interfaces.


• Check library building and collection hours.


• Contact librarians by email or phone.


• Look up when your checked out items are due.


• Check availability in library computer labs.

Posted by Marlo Welshons at 1:12 PM | Permalink

Who: Poet Elizabeth Alexander
What: Eighth Annual NOMMO African American Authors Series
When: Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Cowles Auditorium, Hubert H. Humphrey Center, University of Minnesota West Bank campus, 301 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis
Tickets: $15. Complimentary tickets available to U of M students and Friends of the University of Minnesota Libraries. Call 612-624-2345 or visit www.tickets.umn.edu
Contacts: Marlo Welshons, University of Minnesota Libraries, welsh066@umn.edu, (612) 625-9148
Kristin Anderson, University News Service, kma@umn.edu, (612) 625-0552

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL ( 2/2/2012 ) -- Best known for composing and delivering President Barack Obama's inaugural poem "Praise Song for the Day," poet, essayist, playwright, and teacher Elizabeth Alexander will read from and discuss her work on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. in Cowles Auditorium, Hubert H. Humphrey Center, 301 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, on the University's West Bank.

Alexander is appearing as part of the Eighth Annual NOMMO African American Authors Series, co-sponsored by the Givens Foundation for African American Literature and the Friends of the University of Minnesota Libraries, and hosted by Alexs Pate, U of M professor and author of the novel "Amistad."

Alexander has published five books of poems, including "American Sublime," which was listed on the American Library Association's 2006 "Notable Books of the Year" and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize that same year. Her first young adult collection (co-authored with Marilyn Nelson), "Miss Crandall's School for Young Ladies and Little Misses of Color," received the 2008 Connecticut Book Award. Her two collections of essays are "The Black Interior" and "Power and Possibility," and her play "Diva Studies" was produced at the Yale School of Drama. She has also composed words for musical projects with composers Elana Ruehr and Lewis Spratlan.

More about the NOMMO African American Authors Series
Presented annually since 2004 by the Givens Foundation for African American Literature, the series provides rare opportunities to publicly define the state of the art of African American literature and to locate the work and contributions of national as well as Twin Cities African American writers within the present authoring of our literary tradition.

A Dogon word meaning "the magic power of the word," NOMMO has been co-sponsored since 2007 by the Friends of the University of Minnesota Libraries. This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the State's general fund and its arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008. Additional sponsors include the University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement Center and the Minnesota Humanities Center.

Posted by Marlo Welshons at 10:09 AM | Permalink