September Library Events and Programs

September 11, 2008 | Book Talk and Reception | Dr. Qanta Ahmed reading from her new book In the Land of Invisible Women | Robert Scott Small Building, Admissions Information Center | 6pm

In the Land of Invisible Women is the story of a western-trained Muslim female doctor (Ahmed) who spent two years working in the top hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Her considerable intellect, burgeoning achievements and unique multi-cultural perspective were tested and refined when she was invited to practice intensive care medicine in Saudi Arabia. Dr. Ahmed’s memoir is a fascinating and revelatory window into an enigmatic world. Like Azar Nafisi’s Reading Lolita in Tehran, Dr. Ahmed provides a telling picture of what daily life is truly like in the Saudi Kingdom. The reading is sponsored by the College of Charleston Friends of the Library and the Center for Women. Admission is free and open to the public. Reception and book signing to follow the reading and discussion.

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Preservation Series: Part I
"Protecting the Past and Planning the Future"

September 16, 2008 | 6pm

Robert Scott Small Building, Admissions Information Center

The Charleston area is growing at rapid rates and has for decades. How is this tremendous growth affecting the historic and environmental preservation of the Lowcountry? This panel will address the current state of housing/landscape development in the area, the anticipated growth and the effects of this growth will have on our historical community.

Panel Members:

Winslow Hastie - Historic Charleston Foundation - proposed preservation plan

Vince Graham - I'on Group - new urbanism and sustainable living

Jim Ward - College of Charleston professor - Historic Preservation and Community Planning, landscape historian

Tim Keane - former Director of City Planning for the City of Charleston

 

Exhibit: Rare Maps from the Collection of Mitchell King

August 19, 2008- September 19, 2008

Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library Rotunda and Third Floor Special Collections

The Library is pleased to showcase a beautifully illustrated collection of late 17th century maps of the world by noted cartographers Visscher, Schagen, Overton, Ram, Blaeu, Broen, and Borgonio and published by the Danckerts family of Amsterdam. These stunningly designed and beautifully detailed antique maps are embellished with scientific diagrams, elaborate cartouches and mythological art.

The maps are part of the collection of Mitchell King who bequeathed his library to the College of Charleston upon his death in 1862. Mitchell King who was born in Scotland in 1782, traveled extensively in Prussia, Malta and Sicily before arriving in Charleston in 1805. Mitchell King was a scholar of Latin, French, Spanish, astronomy and mathematics, an attorney and a probrate judge. He also taught at the College of Charleston and served as president of the Board of Trustees at the College and at teh Medical University of South Carolina.

In addition to the map display on the first floor, a display case in Special Collections (third floor) contains diagrams by John Harrison from his 1767 book on how to build the chronometer that solved the problem, illustrations of early navigational instruments, tables and computations for determine longitude by using the alternative method of astronomical observations, and maps showing the dramatic differences that Harrison's method facilitated.