Your source for what's new at Mizzou Libraries
An interfaith meditation and prayer space is designated for use at the southeast corner of the first floor that offers a secluded space in Ellis library.
We’ve placed signage in the area that requests respect for those engaged in meditation or prayer. In less busy times, you might be able to reserve an open study room for a more private space.
The Division of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity maintains a list of spaces on campus that can be used for meditation and prayer.
Mizzou began a tradition of celebrating Disability Culture Month, formerly Celebrate Ability Week, every September! Learn about Mizzou events happening the month of September to celebrate Disability Culture Month.
Below are a few we have available for check out. You can view the whole list of recommendations here.
Have a purchase recommendation? Use our book recommendation form
Being Heumann recounts Judy Heumann’s lifelong battle to achieve respect, acceptance, and inclusion in society. Paralyzed from polio at eighteen months, Judy’s struggle for equality began early in life. From fighting to attend grade school after being described as a “fire hazard” to later winning a lawsuit against the New York City school system for denying her a teacher’s license because of her paralysis, Judy’s actions set a precedent that fundamentally improved rights for disabled people.
Blackness and disability : critical examinations and cultural interventions by Christopher Bell
“Disability Studies diverge from the medical model of disability (which argues that disabled subjects can and should be “fixed”) to view disability as socially constructed, much in the same way other identities are. The work of reading black and disabled bodies is not only recovery work, but work that requires a willingness to deconstruct the systems that would keep those bodies in separate spheres. This pivotal volume uncovers the misrepresentations of black disabled bodies and demonstrates how those bodies transform systems and culture. Drawing on key themes in Disability Studies and African American Studies, these collected essays complement one another in interesting and dynamic ways, to forge connections across genres and chronotopes, an invitation to keep blackness and disability in conversation.
Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
In this collection of essays, Lambda Literary Award–winning writer and longtime activist and performance artist Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha explores the politics and realities of disability justice, a movement that centers the lives and leadership of sick and disabled queer, trans, Black, and brown people, with knowledge and gifts for all. Care Work is a mapping of access as radical love, a celebration of the work that sick and disabled queer/people of color are doing to find each other and to build power and community, and a tool kit for everyone who wants to build radically resilient, sustainable communities of liberation where no one is left behind. Powerful and passionate, Care Work is a crucial and necessary call to arms.
Defying Disability : The Lives and Legacies of Nine Disabled Leaders by Mary Wilkinson
This book tells the stories of nine disabled leaders who, by force of personality and concrete achievement, have made us think differently about disability. Whatever direction they have come from, they share a common will to change society so that disabled people get a fair deal.
Demystifying Disability : What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally by Emily Landau
People with disabilities are the world’s largest minority, an estimated 15 percent of the global population. But many of us—disabled and nondisabled alike—don’t know how to act, what to say, or how to be an ally to the disability community. Demystifying Disability is a friendly handbook on the important disability issues you need to know about
Disfigured : on fairy tales, disability, and making space by Amanda Leduc
Fairy tales shape how we see the world, so what happens when you identify more with the Beast than Beauty? If every disabled character is mocked and mistreated, how does the Beast ever imagine a happily-ever-after? Amanda Leduc looks at fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm to Disney, showing us how they influence our expectations and behaviour and linking the quest for disability rights to new kinds of stories that celebrate difference.
Disability aesthetics by Tobin Siebers
Disability Aesthetics is the first attempt to theorize the representation of disability in modern art and visual culture. It claims that the modern in art is perceived as disability, and that disability is evolving into an aesthetic value in itself. It argues that the essential arguments at the heart of the American culture wars in the late twentieth century involved the rejection of disability both by targeting certain artworks as “sick” and by characterizing these artworks as representative of a sick culture
Women, Disability, and Culture by Anna Siri
Women and girls with disabilities find themselves constantly having to deal with multiple, intersectional discrimination due to both their gender and their disability, as well as social conditioning. Indeed, the intersection made up of factors such as race, ethnic origin, social background, cultural substrate, age, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, gender, disability, status as refugee or migrant and others besides, has a multiplying effect that increases discrimination yet further. The book seeks to pay the right attention to the condition of women with disabilities, offering points for reflection, also on the different, often invisible, cultural and social undertones that continue today to feed into prejudicial stereotypes.
We asked Mizzou Librarians to tell us what their favorite read of the summer was and asked them to explain why it was their favorite. They could:
The books could be published in any year and any genre as long as they were available at Mizzou Libraries or in Mobius.
We know it’s hard to pick a favorite book, but we have some great selections to add to your tbr.
Heartstopper Vol. 3 by Alice Oseman
“The Heartstopper graphic novel series is A+. It’s about young love and finding yourself. My jaw hurt from smiling the entire time reading this,” -Taira M.
The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin
“Truman Capote spills the tea on New York socialites,”- Diane
Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum
“A woman reinvents herself and her life by starting a bookshop in her beloved local community. A lovely, heartwarming read about identity, goals, dreams as well as finding community,” Stara H.
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
“Hopeful, a new way to think about loss and death,” – Megan
Goodbye Hello: Processing Grief and Understanding Death Through the Paranormal by Adam Berry
“This is not a self-help book. It is Adam’s personal take on grief and dying from both a supernatural and psychological standpoint, peppered with stories and interviews from his career in the paranormal. You might find out you’re not crazy/it’s not just you after all.” – Mara, your morbidly curious librarian
A Pirate’s Life for Tea: a Cozy Fantasy with Ships Abound by Rebecca Thorne
“I just discovered the cozy fantasy subgenre, which this novel falls into. It also has many of my favorite things: tea, adventure, good people, and a little romance.” – Noel K.
Fall 2024 required and optional textbooks for classes are now available!
Pick your school/college, then your program, and finally the course. It’s as easy as that. Access textbook copies at the Health Sciences Library here.
Note: Paper copies will be available at Ellis Library for 24 hour checkout time during the Health Sciences Library Renovation. Any duplicate copies of textbooks are available and subject to regular check out times.
Some ebooks are limited to one viewer at a time, so please close your browser window when you are finished so that the book will be available to others.
Unfortunately, we don’t have all the books required for every class. If we don’t have your textbook, there are several avenues you can use to find a copy, which are all clearly labeled on each class page.
You can also recommend the Health Sciences Library purchase an online copy here. Please provide what course the textbook is for and the name of your instructor.
It’s officially Pride Month and to help celebrate this month of love and acceptance, we asked our Mizzou Librarians what stories they’d like to celebrate.
Below are just a few of the recommendations that tell stories of triumphs and struggles of the LGBTQ community, all of which are available to request. You can view the whole list of recommended reads here.
Be sure to search the library catalog to see what else we have.
Have book recommendation? Let us know here.
Eric and Morgan decided they were best friends for life. They’ve stuck by each other’s side as Morgan’s mom died, as he moved across town, as Eric joined the football team, as his parents started fighting. But Morgan feels trapped in a mixed-up body, in a wrong life, in Nowheresville, Tennessee, on repeat. With a dad who cares about his football team more than his son, and a best friend who can never know his biggest secret. Six years of birthdays reveal Eric and Morgan’s destiny as they come together, drift apart, fall in love, and discover who they’re meant to be– and if they’re meant to be together.
The Walker family is good at keeping secrets from the world. They are even better at keeping them from each other. Max Walker is a golden boy, with a secret that the world may not be ready for. This novel is a riveting tale of a family in crisis, a fascinating exploration of identity, and a coming-of-age story like no other.
I am Your Sister: Collected and Unpublished Writings of Audre Lorde
I Am Your Sister is a collection of Lorde’s non-fiction prose, written between 1976 and 1990, and it introduces new perspectives on the depth and range of Lorde’s intellectual interests and her commitments to progressive social change. Presented here, for the first time in print, is a major body of Lorde’s speeches and essays, along with the complete text of A Burst of Light and Lorde’s landmark prose works Sister Outsider and The Cancer Journals. Together, these writings reveal Lorde’s commitment to a radical course of thought and action, situating her works within the women’s, gay and lesbian, and African American Civil Rights movements.
After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time. The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success — not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is. If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won’t be able to go it alone. But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed.
Out at the Movies: A history of Gay Cinema
Over the decades, gay cinema has reflected the community’s journey from persecution to emancipation to acceptance. Politicised dramas like Victim in the 60s, The Naked Civil Servant in the 70s, and the AIDS cinema of the 80s have given way in recent years to films which celebrate a vast array of gay life-styles. Gay films have undergone a major shift, from the fringe to the mainstream and 2005s Academy Awards were dubbed the Gay Oscars with gongs going to Brokeback Mountain, Capote and Transamerica. Producers began clamouring to back gay-themed movies and the most high profile of these is Gus Van Sant’s MILK, starring Sean Penn as Harvey Milk, the first prominent American political figure to be elected to office on an openly gay ticket back in the 70s. The book also includes information on gay filmmakers and actors and their influence within the industry. Interspersed throughout the book are some of the most iconic scenes from gay cinema and the most memorable dialogue from key films.
Stella’s class is having a Mother’s Day celebration, but what’s a girl with two daddies to do? It’s not that she doesn’t have someone who helps her with her homework, or tucks her in at night. Stella has her Papa and Daddy who take care of her, and a whole gaggle of other loved ones who make her feel special and supported every day. She just doesn’t have a mom to invite to the party. Fortunately, Stella finds a unique solution to her party problem in this sweet story about love, acceptance, and the true meaning of family.
Summer 2024 required and optional textbooks for classes are now available!
Pick your school/college, then your program, and finally the course. It’s as easy as that. Access textbook copies at the Health Sciences Library here.
Note: Paper copies will be available at Ellis Library for 24 hour checkout time during the Health Sciences Library Renovation. Any duplicate copies of textbooks are available and subject to regular check out times.
Some ebooks are limited to one viewer at a time, so please close your browser window when you are finished so that the book will be available to others.
Unfortunately, we don’t have all the books required for every class. If we don’t have your textbook, there are several avenues you can use to find a copy, which are all clearly labeled on each class page.
You can also recommend the Health Sciences Library purchase an online copy here. Please provide what course the textbook is for and the name of your instructor.
Last fall, Gabriela Ionita, a former student worker in the MU Libraries’ Digital Media and Innovation Lab (DMiL), received a Lee Henson Access Mizzou award for the work she did on making the library’s web maps more accessible. The Lee Henson Access Mizzou Awards, named after a former Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator at MU, honor students, faculty and staff who work to make the university a more inclusive place for people with disabilities.
Her supervisor Nav Khanal, MU Libraries head of teaching and learning, stated, “I am very proud of Gabriela’s initiative and her dedication and attention to detail to make the maps Color Accessible for our users.”
Gabriela, a biological sciences major, was recognized for her map of the seating arrangements in Ellis Library. While the original map had similar shades of green, blue, orange and pink, Ionita’s revised map uses shades of brown, yellow, blue and black so that people who are colorblind or visually impaired can more easily distinguish between the colors.
“Maps are meant to guide you, not confuse you,” Ionita said. “I wanted to create something that would make people smile and ease their everyday lives. I am grateful I was given the opportunity to express my ideas and make Mizzou a better place for everyone. I also want to thank Nav Khanal, Joey Sabo and Guilherme Ferreira for always supporting and giving me feedback. They deserve recognition for their continuous work in the accessibility world.”
The Digital Media and Innovation Lab in Ellis Library provides innovative technology and resources for creative projects.
If you need journal articles, book chapters, proceedings, technical reports, government documents, and any part of other printed publications found within the libraries, simply request that the item be scanned and delivered to you via email. This includes items in any library building, and our off-site depository.
There are many ways you can request items from the libraries:
There is no charge for MU Faculty, Staff, and Students. For more information on our Scan & Deliver service, please visit our Scan & Deliver page.
Happy March and early happy International Women’s Day (March 8th)! This month, our recommendations are books by women and about women. We hope you enjoy. Happy Reading!
Ellis Library is full of study spaces from quiet study to tables in the thick of activity on the first floor. We have the perfect study space for everyone.
One of our favorites, since it was renovated in 2014, is the study nook on the 4th floor of Ellis Library. It’s tucked on the northeast corner of Ellis Library.
You can make use of the smaller cafe type tables, study in one of comfy chairs, or sit at the high top table to look out onto Lowry mall. The view from the windows gives you a nice break from studying if you are a fan of people watching too. And offers plenty of natural light to keep away those winter blues.
Not only do you have access to plenty of study tables, you can make use of the computers in the computer lab and send whatever you need to the printer.
Looking for other study spaces in the library? Make sure you check out our sensory maps to find the best study space for you.
