Friends of the UNCG Libraries

Mitch Capel "Gran'daddy Junebug" Mitch Capel “Gran’daddy Junebug”  is a storyteller, recording artist, poet, actor and author. He was born in Southern Pines, North Carolina and has been delighting audiences nationally with his warmth, wit and compelling style since 1985. He refers to  his style of storytelling as “sto’etry” (stories recited poetically) and has been described as a “word magician,” “national treasure,” “unexpectedly powerful” and a “transformer of lives." He has been featured at numerous festivals and has performed his character education programs in more than 2,000 schools. Additionally, Capel has received numerous awards from local, state and national organizations for his work as a storyteller.  He won the the Zora Neal Hurston Award from the National Association of Black Storytellers and co-founded the African American Storytellers’ Retreat in 1990 held annually in North Carolina.  The University Libraries at UNC Greensboro, with the help of ...

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...

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.

All of the following events are free and open to the public: Thursday, September 4: Poetry Reading by David Roderick from his new book, The Americans (co-sponsored with MFA Writing Program). 8 p.m. Faculty Center, UNCG Monday, September 8: Author and Storyteller Doug Elliott . 7 p.m. EUC Auditorium, UNCG Monday, September 15: Friends of the UNCG Libraries Book Discussion - The Rise of the Creative Class, Revisited by Richard Florida, led by Keith Debbage of the Department of Geography & the Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Hospitality and Tourism.  4 p.m. Hodges Reading Room, Jackson Library 2nd floor, UNCG.  Thursday, September 18: Reading by Lee Zacharias from her book, The Only Sounds We Make (co-sponsored with MFA Writing Program). 7 p.m. Faculty Center, UNCG Wednesday, October 8: Presentation by Dr. Joy Kasson about author and illustrator Lois Lenski . 4 p.m. Hodges Reading Room Jackson Library 2nd floor, UNCG Thursday, October...

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...

Children’s book author, storyteller, and musical artist John McCutcheon will appear at UNCG on Monday, September 10, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. in the Elliott University Center Auditorium on the UNCG campus.  The program is free and open to the public.  NOTE: John will also appear at the BOOK MARKS Festival in Winston-Salem’s downtown arts district on Saturday, September 8, 2012.  His Triad appearances are being sponsored by the University Libraries at UNCG through the generosity of the Pam and David Sprinkle Children’s Book Author and Storyteller Series Fund, with additional support from the  O. Henry Hotel and the Green Valley Grill.  “He has an uncanny ability to breathe new life into the familiar. His storytelling has the richness of fine literature.” — Washington Post No one remembers when their neighbors started calling the McCutcheons to complain about the loud singing from young John’s bedroom. It didn’t seem to do much good, though, because after...

Each year for the past five years, the University Libraries have hosted a nationally known children's book author and storyteller, and invited the community to campus for free performances. How did this relatively new tradition come to be? More information (pdf format).

Stories are powerful. A well-told story even more so. Five years ago, the University Libraries began a series that brings children’s book authors and storytellers to campus. The goal? To reach out to area school children and to teach future educators about using stories in the classroom. This year, Bobby Norfolk, co-author of “Anansi and the Pot of Beans,” “The Moral of the Story: Folktales for Character Development” and “Anansi Goes to Lunch,” will share his tales with area school children and the public Sept. 12. The event is made possible by the Pam and David Sprinkle Children's Author and Storyteller's Series Fund. Norfolk, who began his career as a stand-up comedian and actor, discovered storytelling in 1979. Since then he has performed living history programs that highlight the African-American experience as well as musical shows that feature live musicians. His stories promote character education traits (such as respect and responsibility), cultural diversi...

When Bobby Norfolk began reading bedtime stories for his seven year old, he found he had a slight problem. Instead of putting his son to sleep, the boy was so engaged by his father’s energetic style that he was ready for popcorn, soda, and more entertainment instead of rest. Norfolk realized that he should channel his efforts into storytelling, and he has become one of America’s best practitioners of the storytelling art. From traditional Anansi folk tales to a rap of the Three Billy Goats Gruff, historical themes to poetry, the St. Louis-based Norfolk now performs around the world and is a recipient of the prestigious Circle of Excellence Award from the National Storytelling Network. On September 12, the University Libraries at UNCG will host performances by Norfolk for the children and adults of the Triad. Norfolk will perform for invited schools and UNCG students during the day, and for the general public that evening at 7 p.m. in a free performance in the Elliott University Cen...

Monday, September 14, 2009, 7 p.m. Elliott University Center Auditorium, UNCG Campus Free and Open to the Public Have you ever engaged in quadrapedagogy with a shaggy ruminant whose life’s work is preserving traditional moose tales? Learned to use your voice in myriad different ways to tell the story of Little Red Riding Hood? Sung traditional folksongs with a master collector of the genre? If not, acclaimed storyteller, children’s book author, and folk-singer Willy Claflin and his sidekick Maynard Moose are coming to UNC Greensboro on Monday, September 14, concluding with a public performance at 7 p.m. in the Elliott University Center Auditorium. Sponsored by the University Libraries, the event is free and open to the public. Earlier in the day, Claflin will perform at UNCG for elementary schoolchildren in area schools in cooperation with the UNCG School of Education, then speak to UNCG students in K-6 methods classes in the School of Education. Claflin will also appear at BOOKMARKS: ...

You are invited to this free event. For more information about Willy Claflin, see http://www.willyclaflin.com/ For more information about the BOOKMARKS Festival, see http://www.bookmarksbookfestival.org/