November is Native American Heritage Heritage Month. National institutions such as the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join together in November to pay tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans.

Check out the Kalamazoo College Library online book display of Native American Heritage Resources. The National Museum of the American Indian also has online exhibits and collections for you to browse!

Blanket image by Navajo artist, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Librarians can help your with your research — both in person and online!

Research Librarians (also known as Reference Librarians) are available for individual consultations in person or via Microsoft Teams. Make a Research Rescue Appointment, Ask a Librarian using this online form, or email us at reference@kzoo.edu!

Find out more about our Research Help.

The Library’s lobby book display centers on readings on water and public health. Check out our display in person in the Library, or virtually here:

Water and Public Health

You can learn more about water and public health through the World Health Organization, Michigan.gov, the CDC and more!

Did you know that you can request a book or article that the Kalamazoo College Library does not have in our collection? It’s easy!

Just go to the My Interlibrary Loan link on the Library Website. Log in with your Kalamazoo College username and password, enter the information about the item, and it will be delivered to the Library for you! You will receive an email when the item arrives, so be sure you select to receive notifications via email.

In some instances, a Michigan library may own a book. In that case, you can request it from MeLCat. MeLCat only delivers books, not articles or microfilm.

If you have questions, you can read all about Interlibrary Loan. You can also contact the Interlibrary Loan Department by email at ill@kzoo.edu or by phone at (269) 337-7148.

If you need research help, contact our Research Librarians, who are available for individual consultations in person or via Microsoft Teams. Make a Research Rescue Appointment, Ask a Librarian using this online form, or email us at reference@kzoo.edu!

Do you know about MeLCat?

MeLCat is a system that allows you to request books from other Michigan libraries. When you request a book through MeLCat, it arrives for you at the Kalamazoo College Library, and you get an email that it’s here. Then just come to the Library circulation desk to pick it up. It’s that easy!

To use MeLCat, just search the MeLCat catalog for your book. When you find what you want, click “Get this from MeLCat,” choose Kalamazoo College Library from the drop down list, enter your name and barcode number (the 14 digit number on your ID that starts with 25017…), and that’s it! You will receive an email when it arrives.

You can check out a MeLCat book for three weeks, and renew through MeLCat for another three. The system includes academic and public libraries, so it’s great for fun reading as well!

October 1 – 7 is Banned Books Week! This week draws attention to the harms of censorship and the recent significant increase in state and local book challenges in the U.S. The top 13 most challenged books of 2022 are:

1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
2. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
3. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Reasons: depiction of sexual abuse, claimed to be sexually explicit, EDI content
4. Flamer by Mike Curato Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
5. (TIE) Looking for Alaska by John Green Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content
6. (TIE) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content, depiction of sexual abuse, drugs, profanity
7. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
8. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity
9. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit
10. (TIE) A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit
11. (TIE) Crank by Ellen Hopkins Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, drugs
12. (TIE) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity
13. (TIE) This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, sex education, claimed to be sexually explicit

You can find these titles in the Kalamazoo College Library (because we hope you read them). Some of these titles (and more!) are on display on the first floor library display table. If they are checked out, you can also find them on MeLCat.

According to the American Library Association, a record 2,571 unique titles were targeted for censorship in 2022, a 38% increase over the 1,858 unique titles targeted for censorship in 2021. Challenged books often contain content relating to race, LGBTQ issues, sexuality, and other themes important to social justice. Recent challenges have attempted to criminalize teachers and librarians for including these titles in library collections.

While most book challenges take place in public and school libraries, the Kalamazoo College Library recognizes that today’s elementary and secondary school students are tomorrow’s college students, and they need access to these titles. We also support our own students and faculty in researching these issues. This is why we have intentionally purchased some of the most challenged books. You can find them through Library OneSearch or through our Display of Banned Books.

These books are also accessible through MeLCat and Interlibrary Loan for readers in Michigan and around the country. By purchasing these titles, we express our support for librarians and teachers who are dealing with censorship while trying to support their students.