Lynn Gurganus and Family Get Caught Reading

Lynn Gurganus and his son and two daughters read Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, retold and illustrated by Eileen Christelow. Lynn and his family like to check out books from Carmichael Library's Young People Collection and videos from our DVD Collection.

Montevallo Arts Fest Begins Wednesday

The Montevallo Arts Fest kicks off today at 4:00 p.m. in the newly-opened Parnell Memorial Library Theatre. A full slate of events including book talks, art showings and musical performances will continue through Sunday. For a complete schedule of events check out the City of Montevallo website.

Echizen Togei Daiko Drummers Next Tuesday

Next week will mark an exciting event on the UM campus. From a recent university press release:

The University of Montevallo will play host to visitors from the Far East when "Echizen Togei Daiko" drummers present a concert that will bring this ancient art form to the UM stage.

The free performance, sponsored in part by the UM Concert and Lecture Series, will be held Tuesday, May 1, at 7 p.m. in LeBaron Recital Hall in the Davis Music Building.

Echizen Togei Daiko will present a unique drumming method called "Daizuri-Daiko,” which has been practiced in the Ota area of Japan since about 1600. However, the number of drum players has been decreasing from generation to generation. In 1972, the Association for the Preservation of Echizen Togei Daiko was established to preserve the long-standing tradition.

The program May 1 will include “Katsugi-Daiko,” in which the drummers place their drums on their shoulders; “Ho-nen Daiko,” which is taiko drumming for a fruitful year; “Gekiryu,” which means “torrent,” and features a strong, wide drum cadence; “Togei Bayashi,” swinging, lively festival music; “Amano-gawa Daiko,” which describes the flow of a river; and “Fu,” energetic music played on exceptionally large drums. The group also will present “Chigo-Zakura Daiko,” a representative program of the group. In 1997, “Chigo-Zakura Daiko” was officially designated as an intangible cultural asset of Miyazaki village, which is now part of the city of Echizen.

UM art professor Ted Metz, who is coordinating the visit, said a number of organizations have provided support for the Echizen Togei Daiko drummers. They include the City of Echizen in Japan, the Nozomi Daiko Drum Group from the Capstone International Program at the University of Alabama for the loan of instruments and the Japanese American Society of Alabama.

Planning has begun to form a “sister-city” relationship between Echizen and Montevallo. The May 1 performance is yet another link in the relationship between the two cities.

In 2003, Metz was instrumental in bringing a 19-member Gagaku troupe to Montevallo. Gagaku, which is Japanese Imperial Court music, was performed before a standing-room-only audience in LeBaron Recital Hall.

This is yet another terrific cultural opportunity for the UM community! We hope to give the Echizen performers a rousing Montevallo welcome.

Employment Resources for Students

With some of our students busily preparing for graduation, I know that a number of you will soon be hitting the pavement to look for a job. Yahoo has a service called Yahoo! Hotjobs that has a number of helpful resources. Hotjobs has dozens of articles, including "Four Cover Letter Flubs to Avoid".

One of my favorite career-related blogs is The Monster Blog, which is produced by the job supersite Monster.com. You may also be interested in the Shelby County Libraries Reference Links page. You'll find a handful of well-chosen employment links at the top of that page, including the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Best wishes to our graduating seniors!

Ethnic NewsWatch

The databases pages have been updated, and the links to Ethnic NewsWatch have been fixed. If you see any problems, please let us know.

Problems with Ethnic NewsWatch Database

Our link to Ethnic NewsWatch isn't working right now. We've contacted ProQuest in effort to fix the problem, but if you need to access this database, there's an alternate route that you can use:

You can get to Ethnic NewsWatch by going to to ProQuest Newspapers. Once you're there, look to the upper left and click on “Databases selected” Then select Ethnic NewsWatch and then scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the "Continue" button.

Sorry for any inconvenience. Hopefully, we'll get this fixed soon.

Photos from Prints and Poems

Yesterday marked the third time in four years we've held our popular Prints and Poems program. This collaboration between Montevallo's English department and art department gives students a chance to display their work and to talk about some of the choices they made in the creation of their pieces.

This year's event was again led by Scott Stephens of the art department and Jim Murphy of English. Students were given the chance to read their poems. The artists were then asked to provide some insight as to how they chose to respond to the poem through the medium of printmaking.

Here are a few scenes from last night's event:



Here's a shout out to all of UM's talented artists and poets!

Prints and Poems This Thursday in the Library

This Thursday, April 19^th will see the return of our Prints and Poems program at Carmichael Library. This collaboration between UM's student writers and artists has always been a popular event and we hope to see you here.

This year's Prints and Poems will take place on the second floor at 7:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

New Stuff on the Internet

The following resources from the Internet Scout Project might be of interest to a few UM students and faculty:

Yiddish Sheet Music

and Two on Virginia Woolf:

The International Virginia Woolf Society [pdf]
http://www.utoronto.ca/IVWS/

BBC Four: Virginia Woolf [Real Player]
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/audiointerviews/profilepages/woolfv1.shtml

ACS Publications Database

Access to ACS Publications Database has been restored. Please email or call us if you have any further problems.

Brandt Montgomery Gets Caught Reading

We recently caught Brandt Montgomery, Student Body President, reading Alabama in the Twentieth Century, by Wayne Flynt.


Carmichael Library: Why are you reading this book?

Brandt Montgomery: Even though I am a musician, history has always been one of my favorite interests. This past fall semester, I was fortunate to take a class entitled "History of Alabama" from UM history professor Ruth Truss. The course enhanced my interest in the history of our state, making this book the perfect choice. It is a great read for anyone wanting to pass the time.

Carmichael Library: How do you use your campus library?

Brandt Montgomery: I use the University library in a variety of ways. During my four years at Montevallo, I have come to the library primarily to study and to conduct research, mainly in the areas of history and music. I have also made use of the library by spending a considerable amount of time in the music section, looking over the countless scores that were once part of the Benejam Music Library in Davis Hall. I could live in a library for the rest of my life and not get bored one bit.

Stay tuned for the next episode of get caught reading. Btw, we're still taking nominations for faculty you'd like to see Get Caught Reading.

Planning Session Sheduled for Tomorrow

News from President Williams office:

The second in a series of town-hall/ focus-group sessions will be held on the University of Montevallo campus Tuesday, April 17. Registration will begin at 3:15 p.m. in Harman Hall. (Please look for directional signs in the lobby).

Participants will be assigned to random focus groups located in various classrooms nearby to discuss 13 questions.

Work in the focus groups will begin promptly at 3:45 p.m. Dress will be casual. Snacks will be provided.

These sessions are for everyone, including faculty, staff, students, alumni and any member of the general public who has an interest in the future of the University of Montevallo.

“Answers to questions should assume that money is no object,” said Dr. Philip C. Williams, Montevallo’s president. “We want to hear the immediate and obvious, but also the dreams, and even the wilder and crazier ideas. The more we talk, the more we listen to each other, the more likely we will hear everything we need to help us shape an exciting community vision.”

Sessions are expected to conclude by 6:45 p.m.

Several of us from the library were on hand for the first of these sessions last weekend and I know that I can speak for all of us when I write that this is a very worthy effort, one that is very important to the future of UM. The list of questions that will be discussed is available on the university's web site.

Cynthia Shackelford Gets Caught Reading

We recently caught Cynthia Shackelford, UM's Director of Public Relations, in the 2nd floor reading area of the library. We asked her the following questions:

Carmichael Library: What are you reading?

Cynthia Shackelford: Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee, by Charles Shields

Carmichael Library: Why?

Cynthia Shackelford: A friend let me borrow this book because she said she thought I would like it . . .and I do. Some critics have said there is really “nothing new” in this book, but since I admittedly do not know a great deal about Harper Lee’s life, I found something “new” on virtually every page. Shields didn’t interview Harper Lee for this book --she wouldn’t allow it—but I think he did a better than average job in using secondary sources to tell a pretty good story. He documents almost everything in this book with copious notes and bibliographic entries.

Harper Lee’s mother and aunt went to school here, and Shields used one of our early bulletins as a reference on a couple of pages. He listed the types of courses that were available to students then, and I’ll bet he used this library to obtain that information.

Carmichael Library: How do you use your campus library?

Cynthia Shackelford: I like to think of the library as a “Go-To” place, and that comforts me, especially when I am doing research for projects or for Montevallo Today. I have used the archives on many occasions . . . virtually every day during the University’s centennial celebration in 1996. I also spend time in the Children’s Literature section reading the Curious George series to my favorite seven-year-old.

Stay tuned for the next episode of get caught reading. Btw, we're still taking nominations for faculty you'd like to see Get Caught Reading.

Tiffany Walker Gets Caught Reading

Carmichael Library caught up with Tiffany Walker on UM's lovely quad. Following our usual modus operandi, we asked Tiffany a few questions...

Carmichael Library: What are you reading?

Tiffany Walker: America's Women: 400 Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines, by Gail Collins.

Carmichael Library: Why did you choose America’s Women... ?

Tiffany Walker: The title intrigued me. I wanted to know more about the trials and accomplishments of women throughout American History.

Carmichael Library: How do you use your campus Library?

Tiffany Walker: I like using the computer lab, and, for me, the library is a place to study and unwind after a long day at school.

Problems with ACS Publications Database

Someone called today to say that she was having trouble downloading fulltext pdf documents in ACS Publications. As it turns out, no one--on campus or off--can access these documents. We think we've figured out the problem but we can't resolve the issue at present because ACS's server is down. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Hopefully, we'll get this fixed soon.

Keep Up with What's New in Our Browsing Collection

We've launched a new feature on the blog and website to keep you in the know on our popular Browsing Collection. This collection is located on the main floor, just inside the front doors and on the other side of the reading area.

One of the purposes of the Browsing Collection is to support our annual book review competition, which the library sponsors annually. We take recommendations from all corners of the UM community and stock the browsing shelves with the latest fiction and non-fiction, including a number of regional and national bestsellers.

We're now putting our most recent acquisitions into an RSS feed that you can check out in our blog sidebar. You can use the feed to track our Browsing books in your favorite feed reader. You can also point your browser to our New Browsing Books page on the library's website. That page will show the 50 latest books we've added to the Browsing Collection.

Happy reading!

Vacca Lecture Today: "The Golden Age of Russian Culture"

Tonight's second Vacca Lecture of the spring promises to be interesting. Dmitri Goncharov will speak on the "Golden Age of Russian Culture: 19^th Century." From the program description...

The extended nineteenth century (1800-1917) became a golden age of Russian culture. During this time Russia developed a reputation as a country capable of making an important and creative contribution to modern civilization, a major source of Russian national pride. The presentation will address generally the history of cultural and social development in nineteenth century Russia with the focus on its most significant achievements: literature and classical music.

This is another opportunity to hear an accomplished scholar and expert in Russian history speak, especially for those of us not fortunate enough to be taking one of Dr. Goncharov's classes this year. Tonight's lecture will be delivered in Hill House classroom at 7:00 PM with a reception to follow.

Kathy King Gets Caught Reading

Kathy King, UM Professor of English, was kind enough to visit Carmichael Library Staff at the Ask Here desk in the Library. We asked her the following:

Carmichael Library: What are you reading?

Kathy King: Atonement, by Ian McEwan.

Carmichael Library: Why?

Kathy King: This is the book, in the last year, that I’ve found most compelling. It shows the power of the imagination, its needs as well as its capacity to destroy.

Carmichael Library: How do you use your campus library?

Kathy King: I like to hang out with the fun-loving, sexy librarians of Carmichael Library.

And we like hanging out with Kathy. Stay tuned for the next episode of get caught reading. Btw, we're still taking nominations for faculty you'd like to see Get Caught Reading.

New to the Library Blog: Link to Other Libraries

At Carmichael Library we're always looking for new ways to help you find the information you need, including resources at other libraries. Now on our blog sidebar you can check out what other libraries in the Birmingham area are up to. UM students have access to the collections at all of the libraries in the Birmingham Area Consortium for Higher Education. Two of the other BACHE schools have blogs, including Samford University and the Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences at UAB. In addition to area university blogs, you'll also find Birmingham Public Library's blog linked from our sidebar.

President Williams Gets Caught Reading

Dr. Philip C. Williams was recently inaugurated as UM’s 14^th President. Carmichael Library staff caught up with Dr. Williams in his Calkins Hall office, and we asked him a few questions:

Carmichael Library: What are you reading?

Dr. Williams: Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't, by Jim Collins.

Carmichael Library: Why?

Dr. Williams: Because it informs the strategic planning process we will be following at UM over the next 1 ½ years.

Carmichael Library: How do you use your campus library?

Dr. Williams: There’s no one answer to that question. Librarians bring a perspective that no one else brings. I use the librarians to assist me in a number of efforts. For example, Kathy Lowe volunteered to help moderate our planning sessions. I use the Archives to learn about the history of the university. The library’s such an important place: in many ways it’s the heart and soul of the liberal arts university.

The hedgehog in the picture is Dr. William's new toy. The principle behind Good to Great is the Hedgehog Concept, in which organizations focus on the intersection of the following three qualities:

1) the product or service that leads the organization to outshine its competitors,

2) that which drives the organization's economic engine, and

3) that which the organization is passionate about.

Good to Great highlights companies that did this better than their competitors, making the leap from being good companies to being great companies.

Stay tuned for the next episode of get caught reading. BTW, we're still taking nominations for faculty you'd like to see Get Caught Reading.

Get Caught Reading!--Nominate Your Favorite Prof.

Carmichael Library will soon kick off it's Get Caught Reading Campaign. So far, we're working on posters for SGA President Brandt Montgomery and UM President Philip C. Williams.

Call for Nominations:

We're also opening up nominations for our campaign. Have a favorite professor you'd like to see reading his/her favorite book? If so, please send your nomination to Jason Cooper. The professors who get the most nominations will be asked to appear on a Get Caught Reading poster.