Did you notice that 2023 was the year of physical media? It seems like almost overnight everyone was talking about the importance of having access to physical media. This conversation was mostly started when our favorite shows and films started leaving streaming platforms. At Pitts, we’ve always known that physical media was important. In fact, that’s why we work not only to provide access to our collections, but maintain them too (check out the latest issue of Reformation Notes to read about how we partner with Emory’s Conservation department to do this!).
During the 2023-2024 academic year, though, Pitts librarians who work in Reference, Instruction, Outreach, and Digital Initiatives took the commitment to physical media to a new level. First we produced the inaugural (as far as we know) Pitts Zine to share with incoming students. For a long time, zines have been an important form of informal and self-published knowledge. You can learn more about the history of zines and even see examples in the Barnard Zine Library. We hope that our zine will inspire patrons to think differently about how they use the library!
Our second physical media project was to send out custom-made cards to all enrolled hybrid MDiv students. Hybrid MDiv students also received a special edition “hybrid student only” sticker. We hope that these cards and stickers remind you that the library is here for you even if you can’t walk through the doors!
Some of our favorite physical media from the last year include books (obviously), but also films and music and even street art. Check out the library staff recommendations below.
- 4K restoration of The Trial available in the Criterion Collection.
- Midnights by Taylor Swift on vinyl
- Chokepoint Capitalism: How Big Tech and Big Content Captured Creative Labor Markets and How We’ll Win Them Back by Rebecca Giblin and Cory Doctorow
- 4K restoration of The Prince of Egypt
- The Krog Street Tunnel in Atlanta
- Wasteland, Baby! by Hozier on vinyl
We love the digital here at Pitts, but we’re not leaving physical media behind!
By Brady Beard, Reference and Instruction Librarian
