Friends of the UNCG Libraries

Joe Bruchac Joe Bruchac is a storyteller, an author, a poet, a musician, a teacher and professor, a publisher and  editor, a mentor, a father, and a grandfather, among other things.   His work spans the past fifty years, and he remains one of this country’s great resources bringing an appreciation of Native American values and perspectives to his readers and listeners. Joe was raised, in large measure, by his grandmother and grandfather in the house in which he still lives In Greenfield Center near Saratoga Springs, NY.  Intrigued and drawn to his Abenaki heritage on his mother’s side of the family, Joe changed his college major at Cornell from Wildlife Conservation to English and Creative Writing, and later earned a Ph.D.  When he finished college, and wanting to do something meaningful with his life, he and his wife Carol went to West Africa for three years to live, teach and work in a school library and bookstore.  Perhaps known first as a poet, th...

If you haven't done so, check out, purchase, or pull out a copy of Kwame Alexander's novel, The Crossover .  Alexander will visit UNC Greensboro and Bookmarks in September, and some of you will get to meet him.  You might think the book, which won the Newbery Award as the best in children's literature this past year, is a novel in verse for young people about basketball, but it's a lot more than that. As one observer writes, "You don't have to be a basketball fan to feel the exhilaration of a game well played in Kwame Alexander's novel.  You don't have to be a poetry fan either to appreciate the verve and variety of his verse, but chances are, after reading this book, you'll become one." As fellow author Ashley Bryan writes " The Crossover crosses over as gift to all ages." A sample of the poetry of The Crossover (click on the image to enlarge it) Don't miss the opportunity. Experience The Crossover and meet Kwame Ale...

There’s a certain sublime beauty one sometimes encounters in the course of reading or doing research.   Scholars know the feeling of immersion into a pool of sources so deep that one cannot dive deep enough to find all of that is in the pool, yet the diving itself takes on a certain special joy. This happened to me this week, as a circle completed itself.   I was taking the opportunity to read Kwame Alexander’s novel in verse, The Crossover , which won the Newbery Award for the best in children’s literature this past year.   Mr. Alexander is visiting UNCG and Bookmarks in September, a visit I am pleased to recommend and coordinate.   Our Libraries’ annual children’s book author and storyteller series is near and dear to my heart, and I always enjoy putting it together.    When I finished The Crossover , which is a superb book for readers of any age to dive into, I read a blurb at the end from Ashley Bryan, two-time winner of the Coretta Scott K...

When and Where: In Greensboro at UNCG, 7 p.m. September 14 in the Elliott University Center Auditorium In Winston-Salem at the Bookmarks Festival , Saturday, September 12   (10:15 a.m. Winston Square Park) Both free and open to the public. Kwame Alexander is a poet and author of eighteen books, including The Crossover, which received the 2015 John Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The Crossover is a novel in verse for young people. Other works include Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band (the 2014 Michigan Reads One Book Selection), and the young adult novel He Said, She Said (a Junior Library Guild Selection). He is the founder of Book-in-a-Day, a student-run publishing program that has created more than 3000 student authors; and LEAP for Ghana, an international literacy project that builds libraries, trains teachers, and empowers children through literature. He visits schools and libraries, has owned...

Want to get a sense of what woodsman Doug Elliott is like? Check out this video profile from Our State TV. The storyteller and author is coming to UNCG on Monday, September 8 at 7 pm.  The event is free and open to the public.  He will also be at Bookmarks in Winston-Salem on Saturday, September 6.

Who: Doug Elliott When and Where: Monday, September 8, 2014 7-9 p.m. UNC Greensboro – Elliott University Center Auditorium (Free and open to the public)   Saturday, September 6, 2014  12:00-12:45 pm and 4:30-5:30 pm , Bookmarks Festival, Winston-Salem (Free and open to the public) Whether he's singing about catfish, pontificating on possums, extolling the virtues of dandelions, telling wild snake tales or wailing out a jivey harmonica tune -- internationally-known storyteller and author Doug Elliott will take you on an unforgettable, multifaceted cultural tour of North America's back country. Elliott will appear at several free events in Greensboro and Winston-Salem in September, sponsored by the University Libraries at UNCG with support from the Pam and David Sprinkle Children’s Book Author and Storyteller Fund. Doug's stories derive from his unique lifestyle, as well as his deep interest in plants, animals and people. Since humanity's beginnings our connec...

Pam Sprinkle is a person who makes things happen. During her term on the Friends of the UNCG Libraries Board of Directors, financial cutbacks threatened the continuation of the Children’s Book Author and Storyteller Series that brings prominent author/storytellers to the UNCG campus each fall.  The Series has three components: 1) to perform at UNCG for nearly 1000 fourth graders in area schools; 2) to conduct a master storyteller Q&A session with UNCG students studying to become elementary school teachers; and 3) to appear at both UNCG and the area Bookmarks Festival under UNCG sponsorship.  Without even being asked for her support, Pam determined that she wanted to see the series continue, and worked out a plan with husband David to do so, committing to fund it for five years.  The Sprinkles’ generosity not only saved the series, it allowed it to thrive, and with their ongoing commitment top author/storytellers could be booked a year or more in advance, som...

“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...