By Ethan Shea

On September 8, 2022, the world learned Queen Elizabeth II had passed away at the age of 96. The death of the Queen marks the end of a 70-year reign that stretched from the era of Winston Churchill to Liz Truss, two British Prime Ministers who were born over 100 years apart.

Here at Falvey Library, there are countless resources that contain an abundance of information on the life of Queen Elizabeth II, and there are a lot more than just dates and statistics.

For example, here are a few interesting facts about the Queen that I was able to find through a quick online search…

• Did you know that Queen Elizabeth II was actually never expected to become the Queen of England? When Elizabeth was ten years old, her grandfather King George V passed away, leaving the throne to her uncle, Edward VIII. While he was King, Edward fell in love with an American woman named Wallis Simpson, who had already been married twice. As the King of England, Edward was also the head of the Church of England, which did not approve of remarriage. Edward chose Simpson over the crown and abdicated as King of England, handing the title to King George VI, Elizabeth’s father. Suddenly, Elizabeth was next in line to become Queen, and sixteen years later, she ascended to the throne.

• Queen Elizabeth II was the only head of state to serve during the Second World War. At the age of eighteen she worked as a mechanic for the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service.

• Elizabeth received an honorary award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) for her role in a short film created for the 2012 Summer Olympic opening ceremonies in London. In the film, Elizabeth plays herself alongside Daniel Craig, who takes on the role of James Bond. Elizabeth (definitely not a stunt double…) even skydives out of a helicopter in this action packed scene!

• It is a well-known fact that Queen Elizabeth was fond of corgis. In fact, she had over 30 of them during her reign. This New York Times article reports that the royal pups will remain in the family.

Here are a few of the resources on Queen Elizabeth II you can find at Falvey!

• Fifty Years the Queen: A Tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Her Golden Jubilee (Bousfield) *eBook
• Queen Elizabeth II (Academic Video Online)
• Queen Elizabeth II: Modern Monarch (Doeden, 2020) *eBook
• Queen Elizabeth II: The World’s Longest-Reigning Monarch (Hansen, 2017) *eBook
• Queen Elizabeth II: The Silver Jubilee book 1952-1977 (Brown, 1977)
• Queen Elizabeth II: Diamond Jubilee: 60 Years a Queen (Arscott, 2012)
• The Queen’s Coronation: Behind Palace Doors (Academic Video Online)
• Queen Elizabeth’s death and funeral (CNN) *Live updates
• For many people, Queen Elizabeth was the face of a historically oppressive empire (NPR)

Ethan Shea is a graduate student in the English Department at Villanova University and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Memorial Library.

Falvey Memorial Library is proud to announce the opening of a brand new Digital Scholarship Lab on Wednesday, September 14, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The lab is located on the second floor of the library in Room 218A. Stop by to learn more about the Digital Scholarship Lab and our services, or visit our website at https://library.villanova.edu/digital-scholarship.

Designed to support Villanova faculty, students, and staff who are working on creating digital projects and/or are experimenting with digital media, digital humanities, and data-intensive research and teaching, the Digital Scholarship Lab offers an expanded range of software covering a variety of digital methods and tasks, including but not limited to geospatial mapping, data visualization, text and data mining, and multimodal publishing.

The Digital Scholarship Lab is equipped with 4 PC workstations, 1 high-performance Mac Pro workstation, 1 large Epson flatbed scanner, 2 display monitors, 1 meeting table, and 3 Mac and 3 PC laptops that can be connected to docking stations and monitors in the Lab.

Additionally, the Digital Scholarship Lab will offer a new digital media technology loan program, where Villanova faculty, students, and staff will be able to check out DSLR cameras, 360-degree cameras, and podcasting equipment from the Digital Scholarship Lab for up to 1-week with no renewals, and can be picked up at the first floor service desk. Please see our full list of available software and our digital media technology loans for more information.

The Digital Scholarship Lab is open by reservation-only during the following days and times, except for Villanova Holidays and closures:

• Wednesdays: 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Thursdays: 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Fridays: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Specific workstations, laptops, and the Epson flatbed scanner are reservable and may only be used in the Digital Scholarship Lab. Please see our booking reservations or contact us at digitalscholarship@villanova.edu for more information. The space may be used for digital scholarship sponsored events and workshops, but may not be used for regular class meetings.

Sunday, Sept. 11, is the 21st anniversary of 9/11, the morning terrorists hijacked four American airplanes resulting in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people. Villanova University lost fifteen alumni that day. Falvey Memorial Library honors the Villanovans and all those who lost their lives, displaying a tribute each year to mark the tragic anniversary. The display, located in Access Services, lists the names of the Villanovans killed on 9/11 and is juxtaposed against flag designs and vases containing red, white, and blue flowers.

Photo courtesy of Joanne Quinn, Director of Communication and Marketing. Display curated by Anna Jankowski ’23 CLAS.

Group study rooms are available for booking after being closed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Reserve Falvey Library group study rooms online with LibCal. Study rooms can be reserved up to seven days in advance. Rooms are only available during Library Service Hours. Study rooms are available for groups of two or more Villanova students. Rooms are for study use only (club meetings, classes, individual study, and interviews not permitted).

After your reservation is booked online, please visit the Library Service Desk first to check in for your reservation before proceeding to the study room. Two group members must be present for check in at the service desk. Failure to check in 15 minutes after the start of the reservation will result in automatic cancellation. Please keep these usage policies in mind when studying. Rooms must be kept clean: All trash and personal items should be removed and disposed of upon departure. Rooms should not be left unattended during use: Unattended personal items are subject to removal by library staff. Study Rooms are not soundproof: Please keep group discussion to a reasonable noise level.

All group study rooms are equipped with: TV monitor, HDMI connector cable, table, chairs, dry erase board, and wireless internet access. Dry erase markers, laptops, power cords, and additional equipment may be checked out from the Service Desk. See full list of available equipment here.

Questions? Contact the service desk on Falvey’s first floor! Phone 610-519-4270; Email circ@villanova.edu. Have a great semester, Wildcats!

By Ethan Shea

Falvey Memorial Library’s Dig Deeper series explores topics of importance in our society and the news. It connects these subjects with resources available through the Library, so our faculty, students, and staff can explore and learn more, potentially sparking new research and scholarship.

Salman Rushdie, author of award-winning literature such as Midnight’s Children (1981) and The Satanic Verses (1988), has been the subject of intense controversy for more than three decades.

The most notable conflict began after the publication of The Satanic Verses when the former Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini, issued a fatwa, or ruling on Islamic law, against against Rushdie, ordering his execution.

Hostility toward The Satanic Verses stems from Rushdie’s magical realist depictions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, representations many influential Muslims found offensive.

In addition to violence against Rushdie, hatred for The Satanic Verses has caused a few people connected to the text, such has translators, to be injured or killed in attacks. Not to mention that several people have died during protests against the book’s publication.

As a result of this violent opposition, Rushdie was forced to go into hiding for over a decade. During this time, he lived in a guarded safe house in London and was granted protection by the British police.

In recent years, Rushdie has enjoyed a more public life and even made public appearances with minimal security on occasion. However, the fatwa (officially or unofficially) still remains.

Flash forward to last month, and Rushdie’s worst fears were realized. On Aug. 12, 2022, before giving a lecture at Chautauqua Institution in New York, Rushdie was stabbed multiple times. He remains alive but will most likely suffer long-term, serious injuries, such as the loss of an eye.

The attack on Rushdie has sparked new debates over freedom of expression and the role of artists.

From book to Twitter bans, this is not a new topic, but seeing actual violence carried out against a prominent writer on American soil is undoubtedly reason for concern. However, this does not mean authors have been silenced by the attack. Rather, writers are expressing the urgency of making their voices heard more than ever before.

In an interview with The Guardian, outspoken French-Moroccan writer Leïla Slimani says that cowering away from the spotlight after the attack is akin to letting terrorism win. As an artist, Slimani feels obligated to continue to use her voice despite any potential consequences, and she is not alone.

To learn more about Salman Rushdie and his work, dig deeper into the resources below.

Find Salman Rushdie’s books at Falvey:

Salman Rushdie’s memoir, “Joseph Anton”

• The Satanic Verses
• Midnight’s Children
• Grimus
• Shame
• The Wizard of Oz
• Joseph Anton: A Memoir

Check out the full Guardian interview with Leïla Slimani here.

Several texts criticizing and interpreting Rushdie’s work can be found here.

This article references Rushdie’s cameo on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Rushdie was also mentioned in the plot of the Seinfeld episode “The Implant.”

Ethan Shea is a graduate student in the English Department at Villanova University and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Memorial Library.

By Ethan Shea

Nearly a year ago I wrote a “Cat in the Stax” blog titled “What are you listening to?”. At the risk of recycling old ideas one too many times, I’ve decided to bring the topic back for a “What are you listening 2?” if you will. 

This blog is especially fit for this week because nothing pairs with music like dance, and in a matter of days, Villanova will be welcoming a highly acclaimed dance company to our campus. Specifically, on Tuesday, September 13, the Liz Roche Company will put on the first professional dance performance in the John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts. 

Photo Credit: José Miguel Jiménez

This performance, titled “Yes and Yes” celebrates the centennial of James Joyce’s Ulysses. The performance will lead the audience through the eighteen episodes of Ulysses, which are based upon Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey.  You can learn more about Joyce’s Ulysses from this blog. 

On another tangentially related note, at the beginning of the year, it’s important to get acquainted with Falvey’s subject guides, so I recommend any and all audiophiles check out the guide dedicated to music. Here, you’ll find contact information for Falvey’s Subject Librarian, Robert LeBlanc, our First-Year Experience and Music Liaison Librarian. Especially if you’re interested in researching music in a more academic sense, Falvey has your back. 

However, at its core, this blog isn’t exactly academic. It’s a brief reflection on the music I’ve been enjoying lately, so without further delay, here are a few recently released albums I’ve been listening to! Don’t be shy, and share your favorite 2022 releases in the comments below!

Gemini Rights – Steve Lacy 

Alternative R&B and pop artist Steve Lacy is a multi-talented musician who got his start as a high schooler by producing viral hits on his iPhone. This sophomore solo album from Lacy is indicative of his eclectic taste. From the latin influence that drives the song “Mercury,” to the lovable, boyish hit “Bad Habit,” Lacy has a little bit of something for everyone. A personal highlight is the song “Amber,” which delivers Lacy’s storytelling skills over a charming piano medley. A crescendo occurs throughout the entirety of the track, culminating in a wailing guitar solo that cries in unison with Lacy’s falsetto ad-libs, perfectly encapsulating the regret this song portrays.

RENAISSANCE – Beyoncé

I don’t think anyone saw this stylistic shift coming, but per usual, Beyoncé delivered with her latest release “RENAISSANCE.” Almost every song has an irresistible groove, and the transitions from track to track are incredibly smooth, so the party never stops during the album’s 62-minute runtime. In addition to the record’s electronic and funk influences, Beyoncé’s vocal performances, especially on the song “PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA” are top-notch. In spite of what might seem like a chaotic groove, you can tell this album was meticulously crafted, and each vocal inflection is calculated. If you’re looking for music to play at the gym or something to give you an energy boost in the middle of a long work day, I recommend giving this album a listen!

Upstate – Almeda 

I’d like to introduce everyone to Almeda, a band formed five years ago by a group who were undergraduates at Georgetown University at the time. Since then, the band’s members have gone their separate ways, but the music they recorded during their time together has been thoroughly mixed and mastered over the past few years. It wasn’t until recently that Almeda’s debut album, “Upstate,” was finally released after five years in the making. This R&B rock band features Adaeze Eze, an incredibly talented vocalist with a silky voice that glides over a range of catchy tunes. Danny O’Brien is both a guitarist and keyboard player for the band, and Dan Sheehan is featured on the drums.

One of my favorite songs, “Artificial Wings,” is one of the project’s jazzier cuts. It features a groovy bassline performed by bassist Nick Quirk and an impressive tempo change that highlights the band’s ability to perform complex rhythms in unison. If you’re into alternative rock and R&B, or even if you’re a fan of cover music (this album features a jazzy cover of Kendrick Lamar’s hit “Swimming Pools”), check this record out!

Ethan Shea is a graduate student in the English Department at Villanova University and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Memorial Library

By Merrill Stein

If you are seeking policy, legal and historical information about immigration, trial access is now available to the Immigration Law & Policy in the U.S. database, included within the already subscribed to HeinOnline database, a subscription courtesy of the Charles Widger School of Law Library.

The database brings together a comprehensive collection of sixteen subcollections about immigration. Select features include scholarly articles focused on immigration law from the HeinOnline law journal library, congressional hearings, Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports, Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Board of Immigration Appeals Precedent Decisions and several immigration-related acts and legislative histories and relevant Supreme Court briefs in 750,000 pages of material. While the database is meant to be a unique set of resources within HeinOnline, some information can also be found elsewhere and within other scholarly resources.

The trial ends September 26, 2022. More information is available at the HeinOnline’s Immigration Law & Policy guide. The immigration database can be accessed in the Falvey Library Databases A-Z list or from within the HeinOnline database, a subscription courtesy of the Charles Widger School of Law Library.

Merrill Stein is Political Science Librarian at Falvey Memorial Library.

We hope this little glimmer of color is a hopeful sign that a wonderful fall is on its way.

Falvey Memorial Library will be closed on Monday, Sept. 5, in observance of Labor Day. Villanova students, faculty, and staff may enter the Library building 24/7 with a valid Wildcard. Enjoy the holiday, ‘Cats!

Photo courtesy of Shawn Proctor, Communication and Marketing Program Manager.

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.

Photo courtesy of the Villanova University Digital Library.

This week’s Throwback Thursday (TBT) features the Villanova Theatre production The Higher You Climb. The caption for the photo above, featured in the 1960 Belle Air reads, “Leander (Raymond Kantra) attempts to woo the fair Silvia (Carole Miceli)” (p. 167). Browse the full yearbook here.

View the 2022-2023 Villanova Theatre Season here. Tickets for the first performance, “Men on Boats,” (Sept. 22-Oct. 2) are available at this link. 

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.

Looking for policy documents and researchers mentioned in them?

Image from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policy

Overton reports to be the world’s largest collection of policy documents, parliamentary transcripts, government guidance, and think tank research. The web-based application allows researchers to search and browse policy documents and the researchers and institutions to which they are linked. Overton collects data from 180+ countries and indexes over six million documents from 31,018 organizations in 1,593 policy sources to help users find documents and researchers and measure their influence on government policy.

The search interface offers three ways to find policy data:

• Policy documents – search over 6 million policy documents by topic and keyword
• People – search over 7 million people cited by policy
• Scholarly articles – search over 4 million books and articles cited in policy

For trial access until Sept. 30: Register at Overton using your Villanova email and pick a password. All search features in the trial are active but access to full results is limited.

Search choices include keyword, phrase, Boolean, and proximity searches. Results can be filtered by funder, country, publication, institution, and other criteria. Policy searches can be saved and exported to MS Excel & MS PowerPoint. Author and Scholarly Article results can be exported to CSV. Search alert set up is also available. Search shortcuts linked to Villanova University can also be customized for an organization.

Overton organizes documents into categories and analyzes them to extract key terms and topics and then maps connections within them. Fullest coverage is provided from 2015 to present. Coverage is less comprehensive from 2000 to 2015, due to the nature and prevalence of policy documents over time.

For more information visit https://help.overton.io/article/video-getting-started-with-overton/ and https://help.overton.io/article/what-is-overton/.

A link to the collection is also available on the Falvey Library Databases A-Z list.

Merrill Stein is Political Science Librarian at Falvey Memorial Library.