Uncommon connections broaden library knowledge

“For Halloween, I created an exhibit based on a copyright lawsuit filed by Florence Stoker, the widow of Dracula author, Bram Stoker, against a German film studio,” says Tringali. “It’s a fascinating case that both perfectly marries my interest in popular culture scholarship and my passion for helping people gain literacy on copyright basics such as fair use.”

In spring 1922, Prana Films had just premiered its first film, the horror classic Nosferatu. The studio asserted it had “freely adapted” Dracula, but Florence Stoker, and eventually the German legal system, disagreed in a ruling that ordered every physical copy of Nosferatu destroyed.

“One of the best things that came out of research for this display was the opportunity to really engage with patrons on topics they might not otherwise be interested in discussing,” Tringali explains. “The Nosferatu case still brings up questions today on a really timely topic. The film was absolutely not fair use, but how do you make a fair use assessment? And what kinds of public domain resources are available — things you don’t even need to cite because they are owned by everyone?” Tringali adds through laughter, “Though you should cite them, just as good scholarship.”

Tringali’s passion for popular culture as a scholarly pursuit has forged numerous uncommon connections, not only in broadening knowledge among students, staff, and faculty utilizing the law library, but also in fostering cross-departmental relationships. “Popular culture scholarship allows me to build bridges with people I wouldn’t otherwise meet,” Tringali states. “I was able to connect with Emory’s copyright and outreach librarians, along with reaching out to the Emory University TechLab to get their help in producing some open-access 3D-printed Dracula models, which then turned into a mutual partnership at the library’s next Stress Busters event.”

Stress Busters is an award-winning outreach event hosted biannually during finals week and provides library staff the opportunity to showcase the many resources available to the student body. “We worked with the TechLab to bring in button making for students and a virtual reality experience — which was a huge success — and the Emory University Office of Health Promotion was brought in to promote wellness resources.”

“Everything I do for patrons has the opportunity to build some semblance of literacy,” Tringali enthuses. “With the Nosferatu display, I was able to build copyright literacy and public domain resource literacy. For Stress Busters, our goal was to promote relaxation and health literacy, so students were exposed to resources on stress management, mental health, and prescription addiction.

“I love that these opportunities create connections between MacMillan Library and those who use our services, giving users valuable education through fun events, that will help them succeed after the event is over.” The same thorough academic approach Tringali applies to his work at Emory he also infuses into another area of niche scholarship as the founder and editor-in-chief of the first open-access anime and manga studies journal. “The peer-reviewed Journal of Anime and Manga Studies has been a lot of fun, but it is also the product of rigorous scholarship involving well-respected academics in this field, including Frenchy Lunning, who sits on our editorial board and is the founder of the academic journal Mechademia.”

“I have found that if you ask someone if you can talk with them about public domain resources, they’re going to find somewhere else to be,” smiles Tringali. “But if you look at these issues through the lens of popular culture, you’re much more likely to get their attention. And that attention gives me an opening to build connections, educate patrons on finding and applying the resources available to them, and introduce students to our databases, catalog, and the experts on staff here.”