"I believe that good poetry can be as ornate as a cathedral or as bare as a potting shed, as long as it confronts the self with honesty and fullness. Nobody is born with the capacity to perform this act of confrontation, in poetry or anywhere else; one's writing career is simply a continuing effort to increase one's skill at it."

-- Mona Van Duyn

In 2008, Iowa City was designated one of only five UNESCO Cities of Literature worldwide. To celebrate our rich literary culture and history, an interdisciplinary research group - The University of Iowa UNESCO City of Literature Mobile Application Development Team ["UCOL"] was formed to develop a digital library for mobile devices.

In fall 2010 UCOL launched "City of Lit," an app for Apple mobile devices - iPhones, iPod Touches, and iPads. Our research continues to expand the app and make it available on all platforms.

UCOL's researchers includes University of Iowa faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students from the School of Art and Art History, School of Library and Information Science, Computer Science and English departments, and Virtual Writing University staff. 2011 UIowa doctoral alumni now work from Monmouth College [Monmouth, Illinois], and Drew University [Madison, New Jersey.]

Our project encourages undergraduate and graduate research and teaching, with emphases on interdisciplinary and collaborative practice, and civic engagement.