Friends of the UNCG Libraries

“Stories are how we make sense of our lives...  Stories are at the very center of what it means to be human.” – Bill Harley Two-time Grammy Award Winner, NPR commentator and acclaimed storyteller/musician/author Bill Harley will perform free family concerts in the Triad on Saturday, September 7 and Monday, September 9, as well as for schoolchildren in Greensboro and Winston-Salem at other times during his visit. Bill uses song and story to paint a vibrant picture of growing up, parenting and family life. Poignant and hilarious, his work spans the generation gap, reminds us of our common humanity and challenges us to be our very best selves. A prolific author and recording artist, Bill is also a regular commentator for NPR’s “All Things Considered” and has been featured on PBS.  His thoughtful remarks at a Ted Conference about the importance of storytelling are moving and inspiring.  Bill is a long-time audience favorite at the National Storytelling Festival in Jone...

Friday, September 6 at UNCG & Saturday, September 7 at BOOKMARKS— A Visit with Historian James McPherson 9/6 Jackson Library Reading Room. UNCG, 1st Floor. 4 pm. 9/7 BOOKMARKS Festival, Winston-Salem  Times TBA Saturday, September 7 at BOOKMARKS & Monday, September 9 at UNCG—Storyteller, Author and Musical Artist Bill Harley 9/7 - BOOKMARKS Festival, Winston-Salem. 12:30 and 4 pm. 9/9- Elliott University Center Auditorium UNCG, 7 pm. Monday, October 21 —”Loving Jane” a public discussion led by Dr. Hephzibah Roskelly about Jane Austen and why she is so popular 200 years after Pride and Prejudice was first published (part of a series still being developed to celebrate Austen).  Virginia Dare Room, Alumni House, 7 pm. Tuesday, October 29 —Author Jill McCorkle reading from her new book Life After Life and signing copies of her books, Virginia Dare Room, Alumni House, 4 pm.  Saturday, November 9—Women Veterans Historical Project Luncheon and Panel Discu...

Visitors to Jackson Library from the College Avenue side of the building through the portico entrance will notice some changes this summer.  Installation of the new landscaping is to begin Friday, July 19, and is expected to be largely completed by the end of July.   The Board of Directors of the Friends of the UNCG Libraries announced a special initiative at the annual dinner in the spring to revitalize that landscaping. "The Library has traditionally been a photogenic centerpiece, and we want to return it to that status," said board member Laura Tew.   With Board approval and financial support, award winning UNCG Grounds Manager Chris Fay commissioned Christine Russell of New Earth Design to craft the proposed landscape design to incorporate sustainability principles, including:   * minimal demands for water and fertilization;   * food and protection for local songbirds; and   * minimal upkeep requirements.      The Jac...

www.aserl.org/bbq Summer time, and the living is easy.  In North Carolina, where barbecue is a near religion for some, we know our ‘cue.  Apparently our library colleagues in other southern states think they do too.  Rather than fighting about it, we’ve joined together for the benefit of all. With tongue firmly planted in cheek the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL), representing libraries at 40 research institutions across 11 states, has officially launched its own “Guide to Southern Barbecue,” a listing of recommended barbecue joints near ASERL campuses across the Southeast.  The ASERL Guide to Southern Barbecue is published as a freely-available, open-access guide to good eating in the region. UNCG is a member of ASERL and contributed to the Guide.  “After years of good-natured in-fighting about where to get the best barbecue in the South,” says ASERL President Lynn Sutton of Wake Forest University, “we decided to publish our own ...

Beth Bernhardt has been appointed Assistant Dean for Collection Management and Scholarly Communications for the University Libraries at UNCG.  She was previously Electronic Resources Librarian at UNCG, and has consulted with a number of other libraries and organizations.  Prior to coming to UNCG in 2000, she was Associate Director of Library Services at Greensboro College.   In her new position, Bernhardt will lead, administer, and coordinate collection development, technical services and scholarly communications. She will serve as the primary spokesperson for the University Libraries regarding collections to faculty, students and administrators and will forge collaborations with academic departments and programs.  She will also provide campus-wide leadership in a collaborative environment to chart a sustainable future for scholarly communication. Bernhardt will also be explaining alternative publishing models and consulting on author's rights while acting as...

Author Jill McCorkle, courtesy of Algonquin Books We have confirmed that author Jill McCorkle will be with us on Tuesday, October 29 at 4 pm in the Virginia Dare Room of the Alumni House on the UNCG campus.  She will read from her new book Life After Life and will sign copies afterward.  Sponsored by the Friends of the UNCG Libraries, the event will be free and open to the public. For more about Jill McCorkle, see http://jillmccorkle.com/ . For more about Life After Life , her first novel in some time, see http://www.lifeafterlifebook.net/ .

  Do you like Jane? Are you a Janeite? Thousands of fans of Jane Austen are celebrating this year, marking the 200th anniversary of the publication of her novel, Pride and Prejudice.  Two hundred years later, it seems that Jane Austen is a "rock star" of literary publishing, and her influence on popular culture continues to soar.  Please join the University Libraries, the English Department, the Theatre Department, the Greensboro Public Library, and other interested parties in the celebration.  A fuller schedule and event details will be released soon, but among the events confirmed are: Hepsie Roskelly will lead a public discussion on Monday, October 21 at 7 p.m. in the Virginia Dare Room in the Alumni House on the UNCG campus entitled "Loving Jane"  about how participants are drawn to Austen, and what aspects of popular culture have attracted them, ranging from film and TV adaptations to parodies to zombie movies.  Dr. Roskelly will...