Friends of the UNCG Libraries

Betsy Bernard and Daughter Martha Scherer The University Libraries recently had visit from Betsy Bernard and Luther Hodges, Jr., whose generosity made possible the renovation of the Special Collections Reading Room named for their mother, Martha Blakeney Hodges.  With them were Betsy's daughter Martha, and her husband Eugene, who live in Vienna, Austria and had not seen the Room previously. Martha Blakeney Hodges ('18) was the first chairperson of the Friends of the Library when the organization was founded in 1959 at what was then Woman's College.  She was also the First Lady of North Carolina at that time.  Her husband Luther Hodges, Sr. was then governor of the state.

Beth Filar-Williams Beth Ann Koelsch Congratulations to the two newly-tenured members of the library faculty at UNCG. Beth Filar-Williams and Beth Ann Koelsch have both reached that status this spring. "I am so pleased that they have received tenure," says Dean of University Libraries Rosann Bazirjian. "It is well deserved - they are both excellent librarians--innovative, dedicated  and very hardworking. They are experts in their respective areas of librarianship. Both Beth and Beth Ann are respected for their skill and knowledge both on campus and within the community." Filar-Williams is Coordinator of Library Services for Distance Learning, and is also completing a period of service as Interim Head of the Digital Media Commons.  Koelsch is Curator of the Betty H. Carter Women Veterans Historical Project.

On Tuesday May 13th,  over 100 individuals from Greensboro and the surrounding counties, converged on the Elliott University Center to take part in the first ever Triad Area Library Association (TALA) Paraprofessional Conference titled “Academic Libraries: Staying Relevant in Times of Change.”  Supported by the University Libraries at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), the Z. Smith Reynolds Library at Wake Forest University (WFU), and the Carol Grotnes Belk Library at Elon, the aim of the conference was to enhance the development of library paraprofessionals by providing workshops, presentations, discussion groups, and networking opportunities.  A total of six sessions focusing on a variety of important issues facing library staff members including customer service, emerging technologies, and disaster preparedness, were presented during the day.  In addition, the Director of UNCG’s Career Services, Patrick Madsen, gave a rousing lunchtime talk, ti...

Erin Lawrimore, photo by Franklin Graves University Archivist Erin Lawrimore has been appointed to serve a three-year term on the Society of American Archivists' newly formed Committee on Public Awareness.  According to its charge, "The Committee provides strategic information and advice to the SAA Council to enhance SAA’s capacity to promote the value of archives and archivists to institutions, communities, and society.  The Committee recommends to the SAA Council the public awareness priorities on which SAA should focus its attention and resources, within the context of the Society’s mission and strategic plan.  In addition, the Committee works with staff and outside counsel to develop programs that promote the value and role(s) of archivists and archives nationwide....COPA generally is concerned with influencing opinions about the value of archivists and archives among the general public and stakeholder groups other than legislators and regulators (e.g., archives u...

Reference Librarian and Diversity Coordinator Gerald Holmes was honored recently with a special Outstanding Service Award by the African American Studies Program at UNCG. In citing him for the award, which is not given on a regular basis, Director of African American Studies Tara Green noted that in addition to his primary responsibilities as a reference librarian and library liaison, Gerald serves on a variety of committees and organizations including the UNCG Black Faculty and Staff Association, and Chancellor Brady’s Advisory Committee on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.  Gerald served as part of the team to aid in the re-accreditation of the Department of Library and Information Studies by the American Library Association and has been cited by Dr. Perrin as a faculty member who has an “above and beyond commitment” to Student Affairs. Gerald currently serves as the advisor to Mu Iota chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, and is also a life member of the Greensboro Alumni Chapter of Ka...

John May, a member of the Jackson Society, has been a long-time supporter of the University Libraries at UNCG.   He knows their value first-hand.   Using and working in Jackson Library on a daily basis, he wrote a novel, Poe and Fanny , published to excellent reviews by Algonquin Books in 2004. Shannon Ravenel, the legendary editor at Algonquin, mentored John in the preparation of his book for publication. John later said of his experience, “I spent many happy days writing Poe and Fanny , and I did it all in the UNCG Library.   For two years, I spent my mornings reading and researching, and my afternoons writing.   I loved it.   Those were vital years.”   He continues, “I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the Jackson Library.   I was always welcomed.   I was always at home there.   I was always at my most creative there.” John, who founded Bonaventure Company, also served as Chair of the Friends of the UNCG Libraries from 200...

  More than forty UNCG faculty authors have published books in the last year, and were honored at a reception in Jackson Library’s Hodges Reading Room on April 29.  A changing exhibit of UNCG faculty authors’ books is on continuous display in the Connector between the Elliott University Center and Jackson Library, and many are also noted in the Faculty Book Blog . Congratulations to all our faculty  members who author books.  Faculty are asked to notify Christine Fischer in the Acquisitions Department when their books are published,  and are invited to consider donating a copy for the Libraries’ collection.