Faculty and Staff are Invited to Contribute to the UST Library for Civilization Exhibit

Faculty and staff are invited to contribute to an upcoming exhibition, "Designed to Last: A Look at the Projects of the Long Now Foundation," which will run throughout the fall semester on the third floor of the new Facilities & Design Center.

The exhibit will be an interactive, interdisciplinary space that explores technology and culture. Objects from the Long Now Foundation, a nonprofit that intervenes in instant-gratification culture by fostering long-term thinking, will be on display, including The Rosetta Disk and a piece of the 10,000 Year Clock.

As part of the exhibit, staff and faculty can help create a library that represents the university community. The library is inspired by the Long Now Foundation’s own Manual for Civilization, a collection of roughly 3,500 books that Long Now members have deemed essential to sustaining or rebuilding civilization.

To contribute, answer the following question: If you were stranded on an island (or small hostile planetoid), what book would you want to have with you? Submitted titles will be assembled in a temporary library.

To submit answers, fill out this online form by Friday, Aug. 7, with the following information:

  1. The title and author of the book
  2. A short explanation of why you have chosen this book
  3. Your name
  4. Your email address

The exhibit was developed by AnnMarie Thomas, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Engineering and Schulze School of Entrepreneurship, and Alex Kermes, with support from Sam Wisneski, who are both art history graduate students.

For questions, email Thomas.