Author: holmesj

Library Feature – Nina Simone

In 1999, VH1 debuted a five-hour television special, “The 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll“. An interesting facet of this survey was the latitude contemporary artists took in crediting women outside the genre for their impact and influence – Billie Holiday #6, Ella Fitzgerald #13, Bessie Smith #26. However, there was one most egregious and incongruous oversight – no mention of Eunice Kathleen Waymon, aka Nina Simone, The High Priestess of Soul, musical voice of the civil rights movement, piano virtuoso, and singer-songwriter of over 40 albums. In some ways, this trivial lapse mirrors a pattern that the iconic female tenor faced her entire life, beloved by critics and fans but never fully embraced by pop culture. For those unfamiliar with the music, life and times of Nina Simone, let the following resources be your guide. For long-time fans, revisit the classics and feel free to suggest additions to the collection!
Jim Holmes – IMC

Nina Simone – music, videos, books, and more

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Returning and requesting materials over winter break

The library will be closed from 12/19-1/24. Current students, staff, and faculty will have swipe access to the lobby during that time. Those patrons can return library materials to the lobby bookdrop. Materials can also be mailed to the library at –

Reed Library Circulation
3203 SE Woodstock Blvd.
Portland, OR 97202

Reed library, Summit, and ILL requests will continue to be filled over break, available for pick up from the lobby holdshelf. Please note, requests will not be processed from 12/23-1/3.
Questions? Email library-circ@reed.edu.

Requesting books remotely

Students leaving Reed to finish the semester remotely can request books be delivered by mail.  When making a request for a Reed or Summit book, choose the “Ship to – provide address in comment” option. 

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Please make sure to provide a complete address and any other special instructions in the comment box.  Books will be sent to you via media mail and checked out until January 25.  For ILL books, you will get an email about preferred delivery options – library lobby or mail.  ILL books will need to be returned by the lending library’s assigned due date.  Please mail back ILL materials at least a week ahead of time to

Reed Library ILL Returns
3203 SE Woodstock Blvd.
Portland, OR   97202

If you need a mailer to return ILL items, email Interlibrary-Loan@reed.edu with the weight of the book(s) rounded up to the nearest ounce and shipping address.

Questions? Email library-circ@reed.edu

Seniors – get shelf space for your books

In lieu of thesis desks, Reed Library is offering shelf space to store your library books. You are welcome to use any desk in the library to study, keeping in mind proper social distancing. Please return all books to your assigned shelf space when leaving the library or take them with you. Books left on desks will be checked into the book quarantine and reshelved after 72 hours. To request shelf space, use this form. You will immediately be designated a number corresponding to (3) – 35″ shelves. Thesis shelves are located in the south stacks in lower level one of the library. Questions? Email library-circ@reed.edu

Digitization requests

Need a PDF of an article or book chapter from the library? Reed students, faculty, and staff can request scans of Reed materials through InterLibrary Loan (ILL).

How to make a request

  • Go to your ILL account (Illiad), and login with your Reed username and password.
  • If you’ve never used ILL before, you’ll be prompted to fill out some contact information first.
  • Under New Request, select “Article” or “Book Chapter”.
  • Fill out information about your request. The more info the better!
  • Submit your request.

You will get an email notice when your request is ready as a PDF. Please allow 4-5 business days. The library cannot scan an entire book or multiple chapters due to copyright law.

Requests for non-Reed materials

Need access to a book chapter or journal article that Reed doesn’t have? Follow the same steps as for Reed requests. ILL staff will connect with libraries across the world to find the resource and deliver it to you as a PDF.

Questions? Contact interlibrary-loan@reed.edu

Library holdshelf is in the lobby

The library holdshelf is now in the lobby to facilitate no-contact pickup. When materials are requested for pickup location “Reed Library” they will be checked out to you, put in envelopes, and placed in the cubbies by the east lobby doors. You will receive and email with this information 1 hour before the items are available.

For students and faculty outside the Portland metro area use the “Ship to – provide address in comment”. Please enter a full address in the comment box and we will ship you those materials via USPS media mail within 24 hours. For international deliveries email library-circ@reed.edu.

IMC and PARC pickup locations are open Monday-Thursday, 10a-4p.

Streaming video through Reed Library

Reed College Library provides access to streaming video databases with content varying by platform. Please note Kanopy and Swank require apps to play on mobile devices.

  • Academic Video Online A comprehensive streaming video database of 67,000+ titles with subject areas including social sciences, film, history, music, news, and more. Featuring content from Sony Classic Pictures, PBS, CBS news, CNN, BBC Landmark, and several documentaries.
  • Kanopy Streaming video platform with varying content as licenses are added for course reserves. Includes films from the Criterion collection, Kino Lorber, and several documentaries.
  • Swank Streaming video platform with varying content as licenses are added for course reserves. Includes a small collection of feature films.
  • Digital Theatre+ Theatre productions from the world’s leading arts organizations. They also provide educational resources such as interviews, essays, lectures, and study guides.
  • Drama Online Provides access to dramatic texts from a wide variety of playwrights, selected critical texts, audio recordings, and several Royal Shakespeare Company productions.
  • Medici tv A variety of musical productions including ballet, opera, concerts, and documentaries.
  • Met Opera on Demand Full-length performances from the Metropolitan Opera, including the Met’s Live in HD series of movie theater transmissions.
  • ontheboards.tv Streaming video of full-length performances from On the Boards, a Seattle-based center for contemporary performance.

Thesis desk lottery

Random numbers for the Senior thesis desk lottery will be drawn from the official 470 list.  If you are a senior, but are not yet registered for 470, and want to be included in the drawing, please come to the circulation desk and have your name added to the lottery list by Monday, February 10.  Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Studio Art, and Psychology majors are not eligible for thesis desks in the Library. 

The list of numbers will be posted Tuesday, February 11 along with a map of thesis desk locations, so that you can have preferences in mind before the actual selection.

The choosing of desks will begin at noon on Wednesday, February 12 in L17.  You or your proxy must be present when your name is called.  Lottery numbers are not transferable.

Click here for more information on thesis desks. Any questions contact Brian Kelley

IMC Feature – Happy Holidays!?

This holiday season IMC feature comes with help from guest annotator Robin Tovey ’97.  In addition to classics of the Christmas variety, the Reed College library has quite the collection of odds and ends, documenting the multifaceted holiday season.  Some of these are musical selections, which are housed in the PARC (the branch library in the Performing Arts Building).  If you notice any glaring omissions from this list, please email me your suggestions.  Enjoy!
Jim Holmes

Annotated List – Holiday Movies, Music & More