The Library’s Blog

Thursday, May 15th, Tredway Library (2nd floor, south end)

3:45-5:00 p.m.

“A Vibration in the Soul” - The Ernest and Mary Belle Espelie Collection of Children’s Books

Book collecting, as famously defined by A.W. Pollard, is “the bringing together of books which in their contents, their form or the history of the individual copy posses some element of permanent interest, and either actually or prospectively are rare, in the sense of being difficult to procure.” 

The Ernest and Mary Belle Espelie collection of children’s books, held in Augustana’s Special Collections, contains 109 titles, most of which were published between 1930 and 1950.  A somewhat unusual and pioneering collection based mainly on individual taste and interest, it provides an in-depth look at the types of illustrated children’s books published over the time period it covers. 

Please join Special Collections Librarian Sarah Horowitz on Thursday, May 15th for a discussion of Espelie’s collection in the context of the history of children’s book collecting and the rare book market during Espelie’s time, as well as various unique aspects of the collection, including letters to Espelie from some of the authors and illustrators whose works he purchased.

Refreshments and conversation will begin at 3:45. 

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This is the eighth and final presentation in the year-long “Book Studies” lecture series, part of “From Parchment to Pixels: The Year of the Book.”  Many thanks to all who have shared their ideas with the Augustana community through these talks, and also to those who have attended the presentations and shared in the discussions!

Suffering from end-of-term stress? Wishing for the “good-ol’-days?” Come to the library on Monday, May 12 at 4:00 p.m. to listen to stories for your inner-child presented by your friends in ENGL 331: Children’s Literature. In addition to bright, colorful, creative displays of selected children’s books, there will be readings, puppetry, performances, even a craft booth! Come take a break from studying and snack on popcorn and apple juice. We look forward to seeing you! Children are welcome to attend!

It’s April, spring, and National Poetry Month when all good souls turn to thoughts of love, birdsong, and writing. Channel your springtime impulse to write, if not the great American novel, a few words of poetry or just words that sound nice, that record your thoughts, feelings, appreciation, wonder, etc. and write those words on catalog cards. Yes, catalog cards. The old, beautiful, weathered wooden card catalog is going to rest at Augustana and the cards are going to be recycled. Well, let’s honor the cards by writing/drawing/glueing on them. We have loads of them in the library–on the puzzle table. Pick up one or two and let your imagination go to work. We’ll be displaying the cards in the library during the month. Happy writing!!

Wednesday, April 16th, Tredway Library (2nd floor, south end)

3:45-5:00 p.m.

Long-time Quad Cities resident, artist, and teacher Bill Hannan has been designing, lettering, illustrating, and making books for much of his career, and he is still discovering new ways to make them. About twenty of those books, from papyrus scrolls to accordion folds, are now on display at the Thomas Tredway Library at

Augustana College in the exhibit “Bill Hannan: Maker of Books.”“In some ways, the whole package of a book could be considered to be a kind of sculpture,” Bill says, “a workable and working sculpture, to be seen, but also used and manipulated.” Indeed. These book sculptures beckon the viewer in so many ways, you don’t know what to look at first— gorgeous and colorful covers, boldly elegant lettering, textured creamy paper, or luminous illustrations. You want simultaneously to read the books, revel in the drawings and letterings, touch the paper, and turn the pages. Behind glass as the books are, however, you can only look and dream about holding one in your lap.  

There is a feast for contemplation on display. “The Green Book,” for example, with text by Annie Dillard, consists of brightly stained green pages that fold out in surprising ways. A magisterial  Psalter presents the psalms in red and black letters on papyrus mounted on large black pages. An accordion book illustrating the Twelve Days of Christmas becomes a Christmas card. Take a look at those ten lords a-leaping. Each one is distinct in expression and dress, and the twelve drummers look like they stepped out of the Revolutionary War. 

As Bill says, “Each book is a new and exciting adventure, and no two books are the same.” 

“Bill Hannan: Maker of Books” is on display at the Thomas Tredway Library at Augustana College through May 25 during normal Library hours. The display is part of the year-long celebration “From Parchment to Pixels: The Year of the Book.”