APRIL 2001 Freedom @ Your Library April 1-7

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Freedom @ Your Library: CUL Celebrates National Library Week
During National Library Week, April 1-7, 2001, CUL is presenting a series of programs on the theme "Freedom @ Your Library." Programs include a poetry picnic, a lecture on the freedom of public information, and screenings of two controversial films. Briefly, the programs are:

• 2^nd Annual Poetry Picnic: Monday April 2, 3:30 – 5:00 pm. Hughes-Trigg, The Varsity.
• Lecture by Stephen Short: "Information Oligarchy: Democracy, Government Information, and the Information Age." Tuesday April 3, 2:00 – 3:15 pm. DeGolyer Library, Texana Room.
• Life is Beautiful. (film). Wednesday April 4, 7 – 9 pm. Meadows Bldg., Greer Garson Theater.
• The Last Temptation of Christ. (film). Thursday April 5, 7 – 9 pm. Meadows Bldg., Greer Garson Theater.

For more information on these programs please see our web site.

In addition, we have prepared a selection of banned & challenged books, "Free People Read Freely," on display at the Fondren Reference Desk now through April 16. Feel free to browse and borrow these books.

Second Annual Faculty Recognition Day
The Faculty Senate, Central University Libraries, and the Friends of the SMU Libraries are happy to announce the Second Annual Recognition Day for Faculty Authorship, Editorship, and Artistic Works on Wednesday, April 25 at 3:00 p.m. Fondren Library Center. Provost Ross Murfin will offer his remarks and congratulations to the Faculty for its achievements and contributions to the University through written and creative works. This event is held in conjunction with Honors Week. (On Monday, April 23 the University honors students for their academic achievements.)

DeGolyer Library Exhibit Opening & Reception
Destination México - 'A Foreign Land a Step Away' - U.S. Tourism to Mexico, 1880-1952.
Thursday, April 19, 6:30 p.m. in the DeGolyer Library
DAVID FARMER, Director of SMU’s DeGolyer Library and Head of Special Collections for Central University Libraries makes remarks at the opening of the exhibit "Destination México - 'A Foreign Land a Step Away' - U.S. Tourism to Mexico, 1880-1952." This exhibition, exploring the rise of organized tourism from the U.S. to Mexico, features vintage brochures, posters, photographs, post cards, and scrapbooks from DeGolyer Library, as well as items on loan from private collectors. The exhibit is divided into sections that tell the story of border crossings, the curio trade, professional photographers, the rise of automobile travel, and the many ways Mexico and U.S. tour companies have promoted tourism from the United States. The illustrated catalogue has been written by Andrea Boardman, a recent M.A. graduate from SMU specializing in U.S. / Mexico history. Dr. David J. Weber and Dr. Hal Williams of SMU, and Dr. William Taylor of UC-Berkeley have consulted on the project.

To help open the exhibit a public lecture by Marguerite Shaffer is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the University Ballroom on the first floor of Umphrey Lee Center, with the reception following at DeGolyer Library. Dr. Shaffer's lecture is titled "Sombreros, Serapes, and Señoritas: The American Attraction to Things Mexican," and she will speak directly to many of the items featured in the exhibit. 

Tables of Content: An Evening of Dinner and Conversation.
Saturday, April 21, 6 pm, new Meadows Museum
Ruth Sharp Altshuler, honorary chairperson, will serve as one of the table hosts. There will be approximately twelve tables hosted by notable Dallas and SMU leaders facilitating the dinner discussions at each. Guests indicate at whose table they wish to sit when they make their reservations. The event is a fundraiser for the Friends of the SMU Libraries. and the cost is $100 per person. Reservations required. If you would like to receive an invitation, call Judy Searles at exr. 83225

Call for Proposals: Friends of the Libraries Grants
It's that time of year when the Friends ask for grant proposals from all the libraries. Traditionally, grants are awarded to purchase materials and/or to fund services or projects that are not within the usual library operating budgets. This year, we are earmarking $15,000 toward this project. Please note that we usually receive requests that total more than the funds we have available. Therefore, it is possible that some requests may not be granted or that some may be partially funded. The Grants Committee of the Friends will meet at the end of April to discuss distribution of funds to the SMU libraries. They will present their recommendations to the Friends board at the May 2000 board meeting. After discussions with your staff, please submit your requests to Judy Searles by April 27, 2000. Indicate the dollar amount of your proposal and submit the written requests through the Friends Office.

Call for Applications: Friends of the Libraries Scholarships
The Friends of the SMU Libraries/Colophon has established an annual scholarship of $500 for SMU library full time staff members and student library employees who wish to become librarians. The Friends established this scholarship in the fall of 1998 and awarded the first scholarship in May 1999. Eligible individuals should be accepted in or enrolled in an American Library accredited library and information science degree program. Applicants should have contributed to the goals of the SMU Libraries and shall have a strong record of performance and have demonstrated interest and capability in providing excellent services to the SMU community. Applications are available in the administration offices of Fondren, Hamon, Underwood and Bridwell. Send your application to Judy Searles, Room 300, Fondren Library. Deadline to apply is April 16.

Birthdays

Service Awards
Congratulations! to the following people were recognized March 29th for reaching milestones in their years of service at SMU.

Geailya Armour - 20 year
David Farmer - 15 years
Ellen Buie-Niewyk - 10 years
Joel Eatmon - 10 years
Cindy Olson - 10 years
Margie Steele-Fuller - 10 years
Senta McClafferty - 5 years
Hank Young - 3 years
Barbara Stockton - 3 years
Amy Collins - 3 years
Theresa Van Goethem Meyers - 3 years

James Splond has been hired as the new evening and weekend circulation supervisor for the Hamon Library. James has a Master's degree in Vocal Performance from SMU and worked at the Hamon Library as a Graduate Student Assistant. James is also a music instructor for Richardson I.S.D., and, before moving to Dallas, he sang with the Monterrey Opera Company. We are thrilled to welcome such a talented addition to the CUL staff.

Kris Reed (CIP) attended the 10th National Conference of ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries) in Denver from March 15-18, 2001. The theme was: "Crossing the Divide". She says it was an excellent conference and had nearly 3,000 in attendance -- the highest ever. Sessions were full and the issues discussed were information literacy, digital reference, scholarly communication, emerging technologies, student assessment, recruitment, partnerships, to name a few.

This from Barbara Stockton (CIP): Spring break in Italy was a first for our family. We flew into Roma, took the train to Firenze, rented a car and drove to Lastra a Signa about 20 minutes west of the city. We shared a villa with friends and ventured out each day to a new destination. We spent time in Pisa, Venice, Sienna, San Gimignano, & Monteriggioni, as well as Firenze & Roma. We look forward to another trip when the grapes are on the vine and the countryside is in bloom!

Maria Bellavance (CIP) is in the process of implementing automation (cataloging, circulation, etc.) in her library at All Saints Catholic Church with Athena/Sagebrush. "It's nothing as sophisticated as Voyager, but quite a step forward for a small parish community library."

Dave Aponte (CIP) left his position as CUL courier March 9th to pursue a course of study in the business of music production at Columbia in Chicago. This was a wonderful opportunity for Dave to pursue his love of music but is sad for CUL and CIP. Dave was a joy to work with and we shall miss him, and we wish him all the success he so richly deserves.

Troy Sherrod (FLC Periodicals)  was interviewed by SMU Media Grad student Michelle Pace, for her upcoming documentary on the history of Spencer Williams and the African-American films of the 1930s and 1940s. She said that the information I gave her on black theatres and films in Dallas was "unbelievable," and that she and her advisor, Professor Rick Worland, would have had to "reinvent the wheel" without it! The documentary is almost complete and will probably be entered in the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.

Brandon Pope (Hamon) will be in Los Angeles from March 31 through April 4 for the Art Reference Librarian Services of North America annual conference.

Hawn Gallery Exhibit: Mexican Dances
March 12-May 25, Hawn Gallery 
This exhibit features selections from Mexican Dances, a portfolio of illustrations depicting dances and indigenous dance costumes from the regions of Mexico; the portfolio also contains examples of musical accompaniments for the dances. The portfolio was published by Mexico City's Riveroll's Art Gallery in 1947. This exhibition is one of the events of SMU's "Spanish Academic Year," held in conjunction with the opening of the University's new facility for the Meadows Museum.

Ongoing
Bridwell Library, Bridwell at 50: Books, Benefactors, and Bibliophiles, through June 2

Feeling funny?... April is NATIONAL HUMOR MONTH
Feel like a nut?.... April is NATIONAL PECAN MONTH
Feeling smart? ... April 1st is NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE TESTING DAY. Test your IQ here.
Feel like goofing off? ... April 5th is NATIONAL FUN AT WORK DAY
Feel like singing?.... April 22nd-28th is NATIONAL KARAOKE WEEK
Feeling frank?... April 30th is NATIONAL HONESTY DAY

(Feel like a fool? April 1st was really APRIL FOOL'S DAY!)

Page author:  Michelle Gonzales
Last updated: 3/29/2001
Page URL: http://www.smu.edu/cul/news/april2001.html