On April 24, members of t
he Omega Phi Alpha National Service Sorority surprised Dean Connie Foster with a handmade thank you card. The Rho Chapter at WKU was founded in 1993 and is dedicated to serving the world around us, developing leadership skills, and building lifelong friendships. It was significant that a campus service group was honoring the Libraries for all that the Libraries offers the students. More than twenty members signed the card, and the three ladies who gave it to the Dean were gracious as they thanked Dean Foster and her faculty, students, and staff for their service to the university.
Author Archives: Susan Broady
Thank you card presented to WKU Libraries
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WKU celebrates 80 years as Federal Depository Library
WKU Libraries celebrates its 80th anniversary as a United States Federal Depository Library this year. “Your long-term commitment to making Federal Government information available to the public is greatly appreciated,” said Mary Alice Baishe, Superintendent of Documents for the U.S. Government Printing Office. “Your partnership with the U.S. Government Printing Office helps accomplish a Government mission as well as meet your constituent service objectives. We look forward to working with you (WKU Libraries) and your staff for years to come as we all strive to provide the American public with free, easily accessible Government information.” WKU Libraries has been a designated Federal Depository Library since 1934. Go to http://wku.edu/library/dlps/gov_law/index.php for more information on the program.
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SOKY Book Fest attracts hundreds of eager readers and writers
More than 140 authors charmed thousands of eager readers—young and old—at the 2014 Southern Kentucky Book Fest on Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26. On Friday, the Children’s Day event brought in over 800 students, and the Kentucky Writers Conference had record-breaking numbers. Both were held at the Knicely Conference Center. On Saturday, bestselling author Charlaine Harris, well-known for her Sookie Stackhouse series which was the inspiration for the HBO series True Blood, filled a room of Sookie fans.
Book Fest volunteer Amy Hardin has been attending for years. “I love that you can interact with your favorite authors, sit in on entertaining panels, and be introduced to new authors–all in one weekend! Our community is blessed beyond measure to have such a world class event in its own back yard year after year,” said Hardin.
“When I saw Charlaine Harris was headlining Book Fest, I about fell out of my chair,” said Corie Martin, Manager of WKU Creative Web Services. “She is one of my favorites and I’ve been trying to get to one of her signings for years.”
In addition to the long line of urban fantasy enthusiasts eagerly waiting for Ms. Harris to sign their books, scores of people attended panel discussions and presentations from as far away as Michigan, Georgia, and South Carolina, and thousands visited the author signing area throughout the day.
When asked what she looks for when inviting authors to Book Fest, Kristie Lowry, Literary Outreach Coordinator for WKU Libraries and Book Fest organizer, says variety is key. “We want to bring an eclectic mixture of genres to meet the needs of all the different readers out there,” said Lowry. “We always welcome suggestions, and I am willingcontact the big name authors that might not venture to book festivals much anymore. You never know when Stephen King will decide that we are his one event for that year.”
Children’s Day featured author and illustrator Chris Raschka along with more than thirty other children’s and young adult authors. In conjunction with Children’s Day, the Kentucky Writers Conference (KWC) offered free writing workshops presented by Book Fest authors who came in a day early to teach a wide range of classes.
According to Lowry, numbers at the Writers Conference were the highest ever with more than 225 people in attendance. “This was the first year for an online registration process. We were so glad we had a count on each presentation as many of the classes filled up early,” said Lowry. “Filling your seats is always a great problem to have; the registration allowed us to better accommodate the larger group sizes.”
To see highlights and pictures from the weekend, go to sokybookfest.org or wku.edu/library.
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Student Appreciation Day
WKU Libraries’ Educational Resources Center faculty, staff, and student workers participated in Student Appreciation Day at the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences on Wednesday, May 7. A steady flow of students visited the tables in front of Gary A. Ransdell Hall. In addition to samples of ERC materials that can be checked out, the Libraries table offered “Read” bracelets, candy, and a chance to win t-shirts, red towels, and book lights. Students also enjoyed using the Ellison Die Cuts to make bookmarks.
Paganelli offers Music Makerspace to Elementary Ed students
On May 1, WKU Libraries Assistant Professor Anthony Paganelli presented “Future Music Makerspace” for an Elementary Education Course at Elizabethtown.
The makerspace was a new concept to the students who enjoyed the presentation and were impressed with the possibilities of implementing the educational tool in their curriculum.
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Preservation workshop proves successful
Special Collections Librarians Nancy Richey and Allison Day offered a workshop “Fading Away: Preserving Your Treasures” to the community Monday, April 28 from 5-7 pm.
Several people braved the storms to hear how to protect old photographs and paper-based materials. Richey and Day offered helpful tips on how to preserve, store, and restore damaged items.
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SOKY Book Fest partners award Holly Goddard Jones the 2014 Kentucky Literary Award
Southern Kentucky Book Fest partners announced Holly Goddard Jones as the winner of this year’s Kentucky Literary Award for her book The Next Time You See Me. First awarded in 2003 and reintroduced in 2012 after a brief hiatus, the Kentucky Literary Award is given to an author from Kentucky or one whose book has a strong Kentucky theme. Fiction and non-fiction books are recognized in alternating years.
Born and raised in Russellville, Kentucky, Jones attended Western Kentucky University before completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Kentucky and an MFA in creative writing at Ohio State University. Jones has taught at Denison University, Murray State University, and most recently the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she is Assistant Professor of English.
Holly’s first book, Girl Trouble, was published in 2009 by Harper Perennial. The book was featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, People, New York Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, and elsewhere. It has been translated into Italian (Fazi Editore, 2010) and French (Albin Michele, 2013). The Next Time You See Me, Holly’s debut novel, was published in 2013 by Touchstone, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.
“Holly Goddard Jones’ debut novel is peopled with sensitively drawn, lonely characters we all recognize; the small Kentucky town they inhabit is so true to life that it feels like we have just driven down Main Street,” said Libby Davies, chair of the Kentucky Literary Award Selection Committee.
The award announcement was made at the Knicely Conference Center in Bowling Green at an authors’ reception on Friday, April 25–the night before the main Book Fest event. Jones was recognized with a commemorative certificate and a monetary gift.
The Southern Kentucky Book Fest partners include Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Warren County Public Library, and the Western Kentucky University Libraries. For more information about SOKY Book Fest, go to sokybookfest.org.
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Sookie Stackhouse series author Charlaine Harris and two-time Caldecott Medal winner Chris Raschka to headline Southern Kentucky Book Fest this month
New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris will headline the Southern Kentucky (SOKY) Book Fest on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at the Knicely Conference Center. With more than thirty years of writing experience, Harris is best known for her Sookie Stackhouse series. The series was so well-received, it was the inspiration for the HBO series“True Blood.” Harris will be one of the featured speakers in the morning and available for book signings after her program. Chris Raschka, a two-time Caldecott Medal winner and author and illustrator of A Ball for Daisy, will be headlining Children’s Day on Friday, April 25. Raschka will be presenting on Friday and signing books on both Friday and Saturday.
“We are very excited about the upcoming SOKY Book Fest,” said Kristie Lowry, Coordinator for SOKY Book Fest and Literary Outreach Coordinator for WKU Libraries. “We have over 140 authors and illustrators participating this year from a full slate of genres. Lots of Harris fans along with many other book lovers have been inquiring about the day.”
For individuals eager to talk to their favorite authors, there is a ticketed “Meet the Authors” event scheduled for Friday, April 25. For ticket information, contact Kristie Lowry at 270-745-4502 or email kristie.lowry@wku.edu.
In addition to Children’s Day, the Kentucky Writers Conference will be held at the Knicely Conference Center on Friday, April 25 from 9 am – 3:30 pm. Children’s Day is from 9 am-2 pm and the Kentucky Writers Conference is from 9 am-3:30 pm. There is no charge for either event; however, registration is recommended for the Kentucky Writers Conference. Visit sokybookfest.org to register online.
The Southern Kentucky Book Fest is made possible through its partners, including WKU Libraries, Warren County Public Library, and Barnes & Noble Booksellers. For detailed listing of the authors, presentations, and programs, go to sokybookfest.org.
WKU Libraries participates in World Book Night; Friends membership donates books to Warren Regional Juvenile Detention Center
In celebration of World Book Night, WKU Libraries—a designated giver for the program–will be giving 30 copies of 100 Best Loved Poems to the Warren Regional Juvenile Detention Center on Wednesday, April 23. To allow every student in the Center to have a book, twenty books will be donated by World Book Night and ten will be donated by the Friends of WKU Libraries.
World Book Night U.S. (WBN) is an ambitious campaign to give thousands of free, specially-printed paperbacks to light or non-readers. Collectively, there will be half a million free books in more than 6,000 towns and cities across America given away in an effort to spark an interest in reading.
“We are excited to have been selected as a World Book Night giver this year,” said Kristie Lowry, Literary Outreach Coordinator for WKU Libraries. “WKU Libraries is committed to spreading the love of reading through its many community projects, and working with the staff and kids at the detention center is always a pleasure.”
In conjunction with the donated poetry books, there will also be a poetry workshop for the Center’s students, made possible by the support of Friends of WKU Libraries, led by WKU upperclassman Joshua Johnston. Graduating this May with a degree in Creative Writing, Johnston has been accepted and plans to participate in the MFA graduate program at Indiana University this fall.
“We are very pleased to be a part of this great opportunity. Several of our students have become disillusioned with school and anything that is connected to education. Through the support of our community and WKU, our students are learning to appreciate the written word and to enjoy reading good literature. ” said Dr. Becky Painter, Programming Coordinator at the Warren Regional Juvenile Detention Center.
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Fading Away: How to Preserve Your Treasures
In conjunction with National Preservation Week, WKU Library Special Collections faculty Nancy Richey and Allison Day will be holding a workshop titled “Fading Away: How to Preserve Your Treasures” on Monday, April 28 from 5-7 pm in the Western Room of the Kentucky Building on Western Kentucky University’s campus.
According to Nancy Richey, WKU Visual Resources Librarian, several topics will be covered, including storage supplies, best locations for storage, dealing with damaged materials, how to prevent deterioration, and simple scanning and digitization steps.
“This workshop caters to anyone in the community interested in preserving old pictures and keepsakes,” said Richey. “Individuals are welcome to bring samples of materials that they may have concerns or questions about.”
The Department of Library Special Collections houses and archives primary research materials containing pertinent historical, cultural, university, and general materials from local, national, and international resources.
“We are happy to bring our faculty’s preservation expertise to the community,” said Jack Montgomery, Interim Department Head for Library Special Collections. “This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in maintaining family or an organization’s materials for future generations.”
For more information on the workshop, contact Nancy Richey at 270-745-6092.
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