Friends of the UNCG Libraries

Luther Hodges, Jr. has donated a painting to the University Libraries which will be displayed in the Hodges Reading Room.  The painting is "Bassin Petrolier (Oil Fields)" by the French painter Arthur Van Hecke (1924-2003).  It replaces a painting by Maud Gatewood which has been returned to the Weatherspoon Art Museum, from which it was on long-term loan. Mr. Hodges, along with his sister Betsy Bernard, provided funding to name the Martha Blakeney Hodges Reading Room after their mother, the former First Lady of North Carolina and the first chairperson of the Friends of the UNCG Libraries.

Q: You have received a $19,876 Literacy and Lifelong Learning Grant from Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds administered by the State Library of North Carolina.  Can you tell us briefly what the project is about?  GORMAN: This project represents our response to a perceived teacher need in the community.  There has been a shift in emphasis towards teaching with primary documents (letters, diaries, documents, photographs, etc.)..  New learning technology and new online digital collections makes this type of teaching possible, but it lacks the excitement of touching the real item.  In some cases, the digital copy may put some additional distance between the researcher and the actual item.  Students and teachers involved in this project will be able to see what’s in an archive.  Moreover, participants will be able to meet and work with UNCG subject experts.  These skilled professionals will offer a wonderful and unique perspective t...