{"word_count": 556, "character_count": 3769}
Summer Research Lab in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignMay 19 – August 8, 2014with workshops on Ibadi Islam: History and Bibliography (July 14, 2014)and The Arab Spring (Al-Rabīʻ al-‘Arabī) (July 16, 2014)The Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and the International and Area Studies Library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are pleased to announce a Summer Research Lab in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, to offer scholars an opportunity to utilize the Library’s extensive collection on the Middle East and Islam.The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has the largest public university library and the second-largest university library in North America, with 13.3 million volumes, 135,389 serial titles, 645,398 e-books, more than 400 electronic databases, and 26 service locations.  As of December, the Library had 56,395 books in Arabic and 3,599 Arabic serials. The Library has 30,341 books and 2,776 serials on Islamic studies. The Library also features the Sultan Qaboos Collection on Oman and Ibadi Islam, thanks to a grant from the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center.The Library has a strong collection of classical Islamic books and modern Arabic books from Egypt, Lebanon, Iran and other Middle Eastern countries and reference works written in Arabic, Persian, English, French and German, including bibliographies, dictionaries and encyclopedias. The collection has Arabic novels from every Arab country, especially Egypt and Lebanon, and carries novels written in minority languages such as Berber or Kurdish. In addition the Library has newspapers from 1890, such as Al-Mu'ayyad and Al-Ahram. The Library also houses Arabic manuscripts from Mauritania and a collection of Albert H. Lybyer Papers, 1876-1949.The library has electronic databases, including:Encyclopedia of Islam (Brill)Oxford Islamic StudiesEncyclopedia IslamicaEncyclopedia IranicaBrockelmann OnlineResearchers are invited to conduct research at the University of Illinois any time from May 19 to August 8, 2014. The Summer Research Lab will include two full-day workshops:“Ibadi Islam: History and Bibliography” (July 14) will be taught by University of Illinois professor Valerie Hoffman and Florida State University professor Adam Gaiser.  This workshop will introduce scholars to the doctrines, terminology, history and major sources on Ibadi Islam, utilizing sources in the Sultan Qaboos Collection.“The Arab Spring (al-Rabīʻ al-‘Arabī)” (July 16) will be taught by Laila Hussein Moustafa, University of Illinois Librarian for the Middle East and North Africa. This workshop will introduce scholars to Arabic sources on the Arab uprisings and will help them learn how to search and find books, articles and films on this topic.Scholars at both workshops will be provided with lists of relevant sources.  The University of Illinois Librarian for the Middle East and North Africa and the staff of the International and Area Studies Library will be available to assist scholars to find materials appropriate to their research.The cost of registration for the Summer Research Lab is $50.  Housing will be provided at a cost of $46 per night at Presby Hall, on the campus of the University of Illinois (http://www.presbyhall.com/?gclid=CNemyJPwtbwCFcVFMgod-DoAbw).  Breakfast will be provided free of charge during the workshops, and each workshop will conclude with a group dinner. Graduate students and others who do not have research funds from their home institution may apply for travel grants of $300 each and up to five nights of free housing.  Application Deadline: April 15, 2014For more information, contact Angela Williams at aswillms@illinois.edu.  Click here for online registration form.