At the National Library of Wales I found the goldmine of my research on 17th century poet Katherine Philips: her personal copybook. One day, needing a break from my hours in the rare book room, I decided to peruse the museum part of the library on the upper floors. I wound through rooms, gazed atContinueContinue reading “6: Pinning a Note to the Sweater of a Librarian at the National Library of Wales”
Author Archives: Sonya Schryer Norris
5: Walking in the footsteps of vacationing Romanovs: The National Library of Wales Part One
When I had finished everything I could do at the British library, it was time to move into Philips’s own backyard: Wales. I took the bus to “Aber” as it is affectionately known: Aberystwyth. It’s a good-ish long train and then bus journey from London through trees that completely cover tiny country roads. At theContinueContinue reading “5: Walking in the footsteps of vacationing Romanovs: The National Library of Wales Part One”
4: My time at the Bodleian Library, Oxford University. Harry Potter’s library!
In 1993, I had the privilege of doing research at four libraries in Great Britain. One was the Bodleian Library, Oxford University. I was geeking out on 17th century poet Katherine Philips. #englishmajor The Bodleian was used as the library set in the Harry Potter movies. I was very excited to find out that theContinueContinue reading “4: My time at the Bodleian Library, Oxford University. Harry Potter’s library!”
3: Time well spent at the British Library Reading Room, 1993
I flew to London with my class on British Airways. I had forgotten, while caught up with all of the planning, that I get motion sick on planes. It was 7 1/2 hours of hell during which I made two critical decisions: I was taking a boat home. I didn’t care how much it cost.ContinueContinue reading “3: Time well spent at the British Library Reading Room, 1993”
2: At the Library of Congress
When I began my adventure in the stateside portion of my independent study on Katherine Philips, I started out in the special collections room of my own university, Michigan State University. It had an original printing of Philips’s work from 1710. I spent hours copying out her poems in pencil, one by one. Learning herContinueContinue reading “2: At the Library of Congress”
1: Across the Pond for Poetry
I am a proud third generation Michigan library worker. I came to librarianship as an adult by way of primary source research. Do not let my sensible shoes fool you! Library research is an adventure.
Serving As an English Language Learning Buddy with the Refugee Development Center
This week I began serving again as an English Language Learning Buddy. The Lansing area is welcoming several hundred Afghan newcomers. Photo by Susanne Jutzeler on Pexels.com The Refugee Development Center employs an empathy exercise with new volunteers that contains this scenario: After anxious waiting, You are given 20 minutes to leave your home. YouContinueContinue reading “Serving As an English Language Learning Buddy with the Refugee Development Center “
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