Friends of the UNCG Libraries

  Happy holidays to all.  See you in 2015.

photo by Carly Glazier Photography A conference room in UNCG’s Jackson Library has been named for retiring U.S. Representative Howard Coble.  The J. Howard Coble Conference Room is located on the third floor of Jackson Library, where the Congressman’s papers reside in the Special Collections and University Archives.  “We are thrilled and honored to have Congressman Coble's archive at the UNCG libraries,” says Dean of University Libraries Rosann Bazirjian. “Researchers, faculty and students will make wonderful use of his valuable papers and we are so proud that we can provide access to and preserve his collection for generations to come.” "We are so honored by this very generous donation," says Keith Gorman, Head of the Special Collections and University Archives. " This gift helps to support our efforts in collection development, research support, and the use of archival materials in instruction.  Moreover, the newly named conference room will provide us with ...

Students in third cohort of ACE Scholars Program at UNCG with Michael Crumpton and Nora Bird The December 11 UNCG commencement exercises marked the graduations of the third cohort of students finishing UNCG’s ACE Scholars program, through which eleven students earned their Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degrees.  Altogether, 50 students completed LIS degrees from UNCG as a result of the program.  Like those of their predecessors, the educations of these most recent graduates were funded through the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program administered by IMLS, the Institute of Museum and Library Services.    Throughout its existence, the ACE Scholars program was intended to broaden the level of diversity within the library profession and was the result of close collaboration and planning between the University Libraries and the Library and Information Studies program, with significant aid from the University Libraries' Diversity Coordin...

Sarah Caudle , the Weekend Evening Manager in Access Services, received her MLIS degree from Valdosta State at their December 2014 commencement. Congratulations to Sarah !

Archivist Sean Mulligan of the University Libraries' Special Collections and University Archives Department received his MBA degree from UNCG on Thursday, December 11 at the University's commencement exercises. Congratulations, Sean !

Mr. Gerald Holmes, Reference Librarian and Diversity Coordinator, University Libraries, University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), has been named the 2014 Achievement in Library Diversity Research Honoree. As part of its ongoing support of the propagation of library-based diversity research, the ALA Council Committee on Diversity and the ALA Office for Diversity are pleased to recognize Mr. Holmes for his contributions to the profession and his promotion of diversity within it. The Office for Diversity began designating this honor in 2004. Mr. Holmes’ career has focused on the development of early career librarians, and through that work he has consistently encouraged individuals from underrepresented backgrounds to choose the library profession. He serves as a mentor for many in the profession, and is sought after for guidance on diversity issues. In his role as Diversity Coordinator, he works directly with Library Administration on university priorities, grants, fund rais...

Bibliophile and best-selling author Charlie Lovett will visit and talk about his books in the Hodges Reading Room of Jackson Library on Thursday, February 5 at 7 pm.  The event is free and open to the public. Copies of his books will be available for sale and signing. It is appropriate that the talk be in the Library’s Special Collections Reading Room for a number of reasons. Lovett is a former antiquarian bookseller, and remains an avid collector, especially of books by and about Lewis Carroll.  Attendees will also be able to view a new exhibit about William Shakespeare, marking the campus celebration of Globe & Cosmos: Celebrating 450 Years of Shakespeare and Galileo.  Not only is Lovett knowledgeable about the subject, the Bard and his work are important elements of his first novel, the best-selling The Bookman’s Tale , which introduced scores of readers to the meaning of the word bibliophile. In his second novel, First Impressions: A Novel of Old Books, Unex...

 For those inclined to look back on the past year, here's a review of Friends of the UNCG Libraries events and celebrations. Throughout the year, Friends members enjoy •    Access to a book collection of more than 1 million volumes •    A DVD collection of more 5000 items •    Current literature and paperback collections of popular titles for year-round reading •    Beautifully furnished libraries full of comfortable seating •    A helpful and professional group of library employees dedicated to helping patrons find the information they need when they need it January Kathy and David Crowe create endowments to support the University Libraries through planned gifts. Others wishing to make major gifts through planned giving or other means should contact Director of Development Linda Burr at lgburr@uncg.edu or by phone at 336-256-0184. February Ron Cassell leads a book discussion of Robert G...

Monday, February 9: Friends of the UNCG Libraries Book Discussion - Regeneration by Pat Barker, led by Keith Gorman of the University Libraries . 4 p.m. Hodges Reading Room, Jackson Library 2nd floor, UNCG.   Monday, April 20:  Friends of the UNCG Libraries Book Discussion - O rdinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland  by Christopher Browning, led by Karl Schleunes of the History Department. 4 p.m. Hodges Reading Room, Jackson Library 2nd floor, UNCG.  The backdrops of World War I and World War II figure prominently in the provocative Friends of the UNCG Libraries book discussions scheduled for Spring 2015. The first book discussion of the Spring Semester will be led by Dr. Keith Gorman of the University Libraries, Head of the Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives Department.  Keith will lead our discussion of Regeneration  by Pat Barker, which was published in 1991 and was a Booke...

All of the following events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Thursday, February 5 : Charlie Lovett, author of First Impressions: A Novel of Old Books, Unexpected Love, and Jane Austen . 7 p.m.  Hodges Reading Room, second floor Jackson Library   Monday, February 9 : Friends of the UNCG Libraries Book Discussion - Regeneration by Pat Barker, led by Keith Gorman of the University Libraries . 4 p.m. Hodges Reading Room, Jackson Library 2nd floor, UNCG. Wednesday, February 25 : Presentation by journalist Jim Schlosser, “Greensboro at the Beginning of World War I.” 4 p.m. Hodges Reading Room, Jackson Library 2nd floor, UNCG. Thursday, February 26 : Presentation by Greg Grieve of the Religious Studies Department, "Playing with Religion and Digital Games in the Library." 3 p.m. Hodges Reading Room, Jackson Library 2nd floor, UNCG. Thursday, March 26 : Screening and discussion of "Ivory Tower" documentary film 3:30 p.m.  Elliott Uni...

Best-selling author and forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs will be the guest speaker at the Friends of the UNCG Libraries 56th Annual Dinner the night of April 8, 2015.  Tickets go on sale December 10 from Triad Stage, and may be obtained by calling 336-272-0160.  Invitations will go out to current Friends members around February 15, but you may wish to purchase some for holiday gifts and may do so by calling Triad Stage.  Kathy Reichs is the author of sixteen New York Times bestselling novels featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. Like her protagonist, Reichs is a forensic anthropologist—one of only about a hundred ever certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology. A professor in the department of anthropology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, she is the former vice president of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and serves on the National Police Services Advisory Council in Canada. Reichs’ own life, as much as her ...

produced by Shawn Delgado for the UNCG Center for Creative Writing in the Arts: UNCG Literary Events: “Monsters of Unicorn” Poetry Reading with Martin Arnold, Julie Funderburk, and Ross White —Sunday, November 9 th , 3:00 PM Scuppernong Books, 304 South Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27401 Free and open to the public      Please come out to support three of the newest authors to join the Unicorn Press family. Unicorn Press was originally founded by Glenwood Books and Coffee owner Al Brilliant and is currently being run by UNCG MFA alum and poet Andrew Saulters. These books are beautifully hand-made, and the personalized effort put into the physical books is a reflection of the investment in these fine poems they hold. Will Read for Food Reading —Thursday, November 20 th , 7:00 PM Weatherspoon Art Museum, UNCG Donations suggested; Raffle tickets for sale for books from the English Department faculty      This annual charity reading will...

The Greensboro Public Library is proud to announce that Sarah Dorsey is the winner of the 2014 Thomas Berry Award. The Thomas Berry Award recognizes an individual or organization that has demonstrated a sustained effort to implement environmental programs that advance a mutually enhancing human/earth relationship based on the philosophies and writings of Greensboro native, Thomas Berry, or has engaged in re-imagining the human-earth relationship through scholarship, writing, poetry or the arts. This award, presented by the Greensboro Public Library, honors the legacy of one of Greensboro’s most influential authors whose works have notably influenced the intellectual/spiritual history of the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries . This year’s award is being presented as part of the series of events commemorating the Centennial Anniversary of the birth of Thomas Berry (1914-2009). Sarah Dorsey, music librarian at UNC Greensboro, initiated a highly successful envi...

Preserving Photograph Collections Sponsored by the North Carolina Preservation Consortium (NCPC) Walter Clinton Jackson Library, UNC Greensboro November 24, 2014 ~ 9 AM - 4:00 PM Historical and fine art photographs can be found in many libraries, archives, museums, and historic sites.  Preserving these collections requires a deep knowledge of the various types of photographic media, chemical photographic processes, causes of deterioration of photographic materials, and photograph conservation science.  This workshop is an introduction to identifying and preserving 19th and 20th century photographs: daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes, hand-colored silver gelatin prints, contemporary color, and digital photographs.  Strategies for preservation and best practices for proper handling, exhibition, and storage will be presented.  Participants are encouraged to bring photographic items of interest. Who Should Attend This workshop is designed for staff and voluntee...

 (click image to enlarge) We invite you to attend the upcoming Faculty Senate Scholarly Communications Forum, which will address to the topic: "Solving the Textbook Cost Crisis with Open Educational Resources." October 23rd 3:30 - 5:00 EUC Kirkland Introduction by UNCG Provost and Vice Chancellor Dana Dunn Speaker - Nicole Allen - Director of Open Education for the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC) Panel discussion to follow.

The University Libraries and the Provost's Office are pleased to begin a series of programs on the subject What is College For? based on the recommendation of our new Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Dana Dunn to read a book of the same name when she interviewed at UNCG for the position last spring.  University Libraries Director of Communications and External Relations Barry Miller took the idea to heart and proposed a series of programs which were endorsed by Dean of University Libraries Rosann Bazirjian and Dunn.  The project was accelerated to further inform the strategic planning process currently being undertaken by UNCG. To begin the series, we have invited Richard A. DeMillo of Georgia Tech to speak on the topic, "New Ecosystems for Higher Education: The Road Ahead."  DeMillo is the author of the book Abelard to Apple: The Fate of American Colleges and Universities, and is Director of the Center for 21st Century Universities and Chair of Computer Science a...

On Monday, November 3 at 7 pm in the Hodges Reading Room on the second floor of Jackson Library, the Friends of the UNCG Libraries will conduct a discussion of the play "The Member of the Wedding" by Carson McCullers.  The discussion will be led by Keith Cushman of the English Department, who will be joined by Bryan Conger, artistic associate of Triad Stage.  Triad Stage is presenting the play in Greensboro from October 19-November 9.  Tickets for the production are available from Triad Stage . The book discussion is free and open to the public. 

Click to enlarge. This graphic represents the responses of students taking a Spring 2014 survey of  student use of the University Libraries at UNCG.  The larger the type, the more the topic was mentioned by the students in response to the question: "How often do you perform the following activities in the Libraries?"

Beth Macy and John D. Bassett III are on a roll. The runaway success of Macy’s book Factory Man: How One Furniture Maker Battled Offshoring, Stayed Local — and Helped Save an American Town has brought both into the limelight.   At the invitation of the Friends of the UNCG Libraries, Macy is coming to UNCG to talk about and sign copies of her book on November 6 at 7 pm in the Virginia Dare Room of the Alumni House.  Books will be for sale at the event , which is free.  The public is welcome.  No reservations are necessary.  Fred Starr, long-time furniture industry executive in the Triad, and UNCG documentary film-maker Matt Barr will offer reactions to the book following Macy's talk.  A week later, Bassett will be in Greensboro to receive UNCG’s 3rd Annual Entrepreneur Extraordinaire Award from the Bryan School on Wednesday, November 12, in the Bryan Building, Room 160 Auditorium  Published in July, the book has been very po...