As the author and designer of this web-exhibit, I’d like to tell you a little something about myself and my experience with the German-Americana collection here at The University of Cincinnati. I received my undergraduate degree in Modern Languages from Wright State University in 2007. While there, I studied German, French and Russian and have since begun independent study in Danish.
It has always been clear to me that I am at my happiest when I am either helping people learn or am surrounded by books. My natural inclination, therefore was to become a librarian and do both. I have completed my degree program, a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from Kent State University. As part of the MLIS program at Kent State, students are required either to write a research paper or complete a practicum in which the student completes a deliverable project for an organization of his or her choice to be graded by an advisor at Kent State. Being that I have no real experience to speak of in a library setting, I decided on the latter, and began searching for a library with a collection which interested me. It didn't take long after first hearing about the German-Americana collection at The University of Cincinnati, to decide that it was the place for me.
The German-Americana collection at UC is one of the premier collections of its type in the world, and combines my two greatest loves (besides my family, of course): rare books and the German language. Kevin Grace, the head of the Archives and Rare Books Library, and I quickly found that my background in Germanic Studies made me a good fit to create this exhibit.
All in all I had a fantastic experience here and I must thank Kevin Grace for giving me this opportunity, as well as Dr. Allen E. Hye and Dr. Elfe Dona for inspiring me throughout my undergraduate career and beyond, and my best friend Elizabeth and my husband Thomas for their unwavering support and infallible ability to make me smile, no matter the circumstance. I hope you’ve enjoyed the tour!
A message from Laura Laugle