Sept. 15, 2001

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Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology Celebrates 25 Years

The Smithsonian Institution Libraries celebrates the 25th anniversary of its Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology in October. To mark this anniversary, the Libraries will host a half-day of programming at the National Museum of American History, Behring Center, with special focus on the significance of this library's collections to scholarship in the new millennium. On Oct. 3, a symposium, titled "Exploring the Past, Shaping the Future: The Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology at 25 Years," begins at 1 p.m. and continues until 4:30 p.m. in the Carmichael Auditorium (14th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W.). The Smithsonian Libraries' annual Dibner Library Lecture follows at 5:00 p.m. in the Carmichael Auditorium at the Museum of American History. A reception begins at 6:30 p.m. at the museum. All events related to the 25th anniversary celebration are free and open to the public and made possible by the generous support of The Dibner Fund.

The symposium begins with an introductory lecture, titled "From Collector to Reader: Bern Dibner and History of Science Collections," by noted British rare book dealer and scholar Roger Gaskell. Following the talk, a panel, composed of scholars and notable scientists and curators debate issues concerning the course of contemporary research in the history of science and technology and discuss the potential impact of the Smithsonian Libraries' collections on this scholarship. Participants include:

Sara Schechner, David P. Wheatland Curator of the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments, Harvard University John Rennie Short, Professor of Geography, Syracuse University Alberto Antonio Martinez, recently awarded a Ph.D. in History of Science and Technology from the University of Minnesota and Dibner Institute Postdoctoral Fellow (2001-2002) Deborah Jean Warner, Curator, Division of Science, Medicine, and Society, National Museum of American History David DeVorkin, Curator, Space History Deptartment, National Air and Space Museum

Guest speaker of this year's Dibner Library Lecture is Owen Gingerich, professor of astronomy and the history of science at Harvard University and senior astronomer emeritus at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. His lecture, titled "Icons of Understanding: Celebrating Bern Dibner's Heralds of Science," focuses on one of the gems in the Libraries' collections. The Heralds of Science is a series of 200 books, which collectively represent some of the most important contributions to the physical and biological sciences that have been issued since the dawn of printing.

Begun in 1992, the Smithsonian Libraries' Dibner Library Lecture is held annually and features a distinguished scholar, who has made significant contributions to his or her field of study. Previous lecturers include, among other notables: Steven J. Dick of the U.S. Naval Observatory, Katherine Park of Harvard University, Roald Hoffman of Cornell University and Elizabeth Eisenstein, a University of Michigan emerita. Since 2000, the Dibner Library Lecture has become available in published form. The fully illustrated lectures are also posted online at www.sil.si.edu/silpublications.

The Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology, one of the Smithsonian Libraries' 22 branches, opened in October 1976 in what was known as the Museum of History and Technology, now the National Museum of American History. The collection of 10,000 rare books and 1,600 manuscript groups came to the Smithsonian from the Burndy Library, founded by Bern Dibner, in Norwalk, Conn, at the time of America's bicentennial celebrations. The collection includes premier scientific texts spanning the 15th to the early 20th centuries and has grown to form one of the cornerstones of the Smithsonian Libraries' collections. It is also home to the Smithsonian Libraries' Resident Scholar Program, which allows researchers access to the rare books and special collections held in the Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology. For 25 years, this library has provided vital primary sources to scholars, curators and members of the scientific community.

The Smithsonian Libraries is a 22 branch system with online exhibitions, rare books, and information services online at www.sil.si.edu. The library catalog is at www.siris.si.edu. The Libraries serves the Smithsonian and the public with information and reference support. Its collections number 1.5 million volumes including 40,000 rare books, 2,000 manuscript groups, 180,000 microfilm and -fiche, and nearly 300,000 commercial trade catalogs dating back to the 1850s and representing over 30,000 companies.

Smithsonian museums on the National Mall are open 10:00 am to 5:30 pm daily (except December 25). Admission is free.

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