Heatherly, Hanbury Interviewed for Shelby County Reporter Story

With less than three and a half hours until our Spooks in the Stacks event tonight, what better time to read a story about UM's ghosts? Amy Gordon of the Shelby County Reporter interviewed Carmichael Archivist and Reference Librarian Carey Heatherly for a timely feature story. Also quoted is our Archives student assistant Dallas Hanbury.

This story appeared in the Reporter on October 29, 2008.

Access to The Chronicle of Higher Education

We just recently noticed that it's not clear in the catalog how to access the most current content in The Chronicle.

The following link should work:

The Chronicle of Higher Education

If you are a student or faculty, you should be able to get the most current content by clicking on the above link and entering your university ID.

Spooks in the Stacks Is Almost Here!

If you've been following our blog this week you may have seen our Spooks in the Stacks countdown clock in the sidebar. Soon it will be less than 24 hours before the haunting begins!

Don't miss us tomorrow night starting at 7:30. Witness the thrills of Carmichael Hall and enjoy our new take on one of UM's longest running traditions: the retelling of ghost stories. Also happening tomorrow night:

- Meet members of Birmingham Paranormal, who will be on hand to play sound clips of the spooky activity that they've recorded in UM's King House.

- Observe the work of Dr. Eric Vaccarella's Spanish students in the library foyer. Ten ceremonial altars are now on display as part of the library's annual Day of the Dead celebration.

- Watch an episode of "Real Scary Stories" that aired in the year 2000. The show was taped in Main Hall and other campus locales and later aired on cable television.

- Peruse original documents that our librarians have located in the University Archives, including some of the papers that concern Montevallo's legendary ghost stories. You'll be able to look at these real relics on the library's Ground Floor.

Lastly, be warned that we've got a couple of surprises that we're not going to reveal until you walk through the doors of Carmichael Hall. Tomorrow night, enter the library at your own risk!

Day of the Dead Setup Shots

Here are just a few shots from today's action on the Main Floor of the library. The setup for our annual Day of the Dead event is always a flurry of activity, and it's also a lot of fun. These pictures give you an idea of what it's like to watch our students exercise their creativity and apply what they've learned about other cultures.


Stay tuned to this blog next week for pictures of our students' completed altars, and don't forget to mark your calendar for next Friday when Dr. Vaccarella's students return to the library to present their work. We will also be joined by visiting students from Montevallo High School and from Alabaster's Thompson Middle School.

Charlie Conway Interviewed for UM Theatre Website

Carmichael Library's own Charlie Conway was recently interviewed for UM's Theatre website:

On the verge of his graduation from UM, Music major and philosophy student Charlie Conway reflected on his time and work with UM Theatre as he prepared to open his third original performance piece at the university. Conway also performed in UM Theatre productions of The American Clock and The Normal Heart; created the sound score and played multiple instruments for The Serpent; played guitar for Godspell; and was co-sound designer and stage manager/assistant director on Molly Sweeney (while also taking a variety of acting and academic theatre classes)...

You may know that Charlie will soon be leaving us for New York City. You can read the full text of his interview at the Division of Theatre website.

Robert L. Robinson Gets Caught Reading

Photo Credit: Joel Bullock

For our latest installment of Get Caught Reading, we asked Robert L. Robinson, UM Coordinator of Multicultural Student Affairs, the following:

1) What are you reading?

The Autobiography of Medgar Evers, with commentaries by Myrlie Evers-Willams and Manning Marable. I also just finished The Shack by William P. Young. I would highly recommend both books.

2) Why did you choose this book?

Medgar Evers has been a hero of mine since I was a child. I was born and raised in Mississippi and learned about the courage of Medgar Evers and other civil leaders at a very early age. I have always felt that "history" has never given him the recognition he deserves. The Shack was a recommendation from my wife.

3) How do you use your campus library?

I often go there to gather information on or research a specific topic and end up leaving having learned something on multiple topics. The librarians are some of the friendliest and smartest people on campus. It is just a great environment in which to learn.

Voter Registration Deadline This Friday, October 24th

Alabama voters have until this Friday, October 24th, to register for the November 4th general election. If you're a UM student remember that you have the right to vote in Montevallo even if your permanent address is different than your current address (although you may need to update your registration.) To check your registration status use the Alabama Secretary of State's Alabama Votes website. To find registrars for other states, or to pick up a registration form, visit us here in the library.

The Alabama Votes website also has sample ballots, information on absentee ballots, and a number of other resources for voters. You can also reach the Secretary of State's Elections Division toll free at (800) 274-8683.

Día de los Muertos, October 31st

For the seventh consecutive year, Carmichael Library celebrates Día de los Muertos (or Day of the Dead in English.) Día de los Muertos is a holiday celebrated mainly in Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage living in the United States and Canada. The holiday is dedicated to the remembrance of friends and relatives who have died.

Following the customs of this tradition, the library's foyer will contain ceremonial altars built by students of Dr. Eric Vaccarella's Spanish classes. The altars will be constructed on the morning of Friday, October the 24th, and will be on display through the first days of November.

The library invites all members of the UM community to meet Dr. Vaccarella's students when they present their work at 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on Friday, October 31st. Refreshments will be served.

You may RSVP for Día de los Muertos or see photos from last year's event on Facebook.

Spooks in the Stacks, October 30th

On the night before Halloween, Carmichael Library and the University Program Council (UPC) will bring you plenty of spooks! We'll have readings of Montevallo's legendary ghost stories and we'll show a Real Scary Stories episode that was filmed on the UM campus and later aired on national television. The Birmingham Paranormal group will be on hand to demonstrate the paranormal sounds and activity they've documented in King House. Our annual Day of the Dead display will be visible in the library foyer. Refreshments will be served. On Thursday, October 30^th at 7:30 pm join us at the library, if you dare!

Special thanks to the UPC for co-sponsoring this event! If you'd like, you can RSVP for Spooks in the Stacks on Facebook.

Photo by Joel Bullock

Rolling Stone Gets New Look

The Associated Press reports that Rolling Stone magazine is making the move to a standard size for the first time in over 40 years:

Rolling Stone magazine is shrinking with the times.

After more than four decades of standing out with a larger format than other magazines, it will step back and look like everyone else starting with the Oct. 30 issue, due out this week.

The adoption of a standard format could boost single-copy sales and reduce production costs for advertising inserts such as scent strips and tear-out postcards. The magazine says any cost savings, though, will be offset by the inclusion of more pages and the shift to thicker, glossier paper... (read on)

You'll be able to see the new-look Rolling Stone later this week in the library's Browsing area, which immediately to your left as your enter the library on the Main Level.

Find Carmichael Library on Facebook!

We first announced our Facebook Fan Page back in the spring. Since then, we've found dozens of fans among Montevallo students, staff, and faculty, as well as a few others who are following us in the popular social networking site. Join us today! Here's some of what you'll find on Carmichael Library's Facebook page:

• The library's Flickr photo collection
• Information on schedule changes and upcoming library events
• The newest additions to the library's Browsing book collection
• Headlines from this blog, and more!
  

If you're a Facebook user, let your friends and contacts know that you're a fan of Carmichael Library. Just click on the Find us... button below to get started.