Jane Olmsted kicked off this season of WKU Libraries’ Kentucky Live! with a presentation of her book of poems Seeking the Other Side. The event took place in the Western Room of the Kentucky Building on WKU Campus on the evening of September 17, 2015. It concluded with Jane Olmsted signing her books.
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Filed under Events, General, Kentucky Live, Latest News, New Stuff, Stuff, Uncategorized
On August 22, 2015 at the Cave City Convention Center, Katherine Pennavaria and Sue Lynn McDaniel presented a total of four of the ten sessions aimed assisting genealogists in their research at “Finding Your Family Story: Genealogy Symposium.” In the morning, McDaniel presented Beginning Genealogy 101-Part I and Beginning Genealogy 101-Part II, while that afternoon Pennavaria presented “Dancing with your skeltons” and “What else does the census say?” All four sessions were well attended and received positive feedback from participants.
Informing local historians and genealogists about Library Special Collections is a constant goal.
Library Special Collections also had a table informing the public about one of the best genealogical libraries in the state of Kentucky. Available for pickup were Special Collections rack cards, WKU Libraries: Your Research Partner, McDaniel’s business card, WKU Libraries pens and candy. McDaniel plans to have a table at the upcoming Louisville Genealogical Society’s Annual Seminar on October 17th. Working with the LGS Seminar Chairman 2014 and 2015 Donald C. Howell, McDaniel will plan a Louisville Genealogical Society field trip to Library Special Collections to learn more about unique resources in our collection.
Dean Connie Foster announced Library Faculty Tony Paganelli as the inaugural research award winner at the faculty kick off meeting Wednesday, August 19 in Helm 100.
The winning research instruction session was designed to provide student interaction utilizing the Interactive Video Service(IVS) system for all four campus locations at WKU. The overall theme of the session was based on the NCAA College Basketball bracket system called March Madness, which the session was titled “Research Madness.” The information provided for the session is based on the WKU Libraries’ Statement of Objectives for Research Instruction.
The research session placed students in groups, which they had the opportunity to name their group or team. Once the teams were named, students were given instruction on specific research and library information. Following each instruction section, students had to complete a given task. The tasks were organized in three rounds: Elite Eight, Final Four, and the Championship. A grading system was created to determine which team won each round. Please note, all teams advanced to each round. The brackets were released at the end of the session to determine the winner.
The session provided the necessary information to aid students in the research process, while allowing them an opportunity to participate in a fun activity. I attached a full detailed abstract of the session, if that helps better describe the instruction. Let me know if you need anything else.
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Date: Friday, September 11
Time: 8:00am – 3:15pm
Location: Room 212, Visual and Performing Arts Library (VPAL), Cravens Library
Contact: Sara Volpi (sara.volpi@wku.edu)
Description: Join us for the first ever FREE livestream of the annual Kentucky Women Writers Conference, live from Lexington, KY. Hear from acclaimed authors like Ann Beattie, Jacinda Townsend, Sonia Sanchez, Meghan Daum, Emily Bingham, and more to help you hone your craft and leave feeling inspired to write. Tickets are valued at $200, but thanks to a partnership with Conference Director Julie Wrinn, we’ll be able to livestream sessions and panels all day Friday and Saturday straight to you here at WKU. All are welcome. You must RSVP to attend by emailing sara.volpi@wku.edu by September 7. Coffee and breakfast pastries will be served, and participants are free to bring personal laptops for notes.
Daily Schedule:
Date: Saturday, September 12
Time: 8:00am – 11:30am
Location: Room 212, Visual and Performing Arts Library (VPAL), Cravens Library
Contact: Sara Volpi (sara.volpi@wku.edu)
Description: Join us for the first ever FREE livestream of the annual Kentucky Women Writers Conference, live from Lexington, KY. Hear from acclaimed authors like Ann Beattie, Jacinda Townsend, Sonia Sanchez, Meghan Daum, Emily Bingham, and more to help you hone your craft and leave feeling inspired to write. Tickets are valued at $200, but thanks to a partnership with Conference Director Julie Wrinn, we’ll be able to livestream sessions and panels all day Friday and Saturday straight to you here at WKU. All are welcome. You must RSVP to attend by emailing sara.volpi@wku.edu by September 7. Coffee and breakfast pastries will be served, and participants are free to bring personal laptops for notes.
Daily Schedule:
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Filed under Events
You are invited to enjoy the Library Special Collections presentation of materials produced by Potter College of Arts & Letters during its first fifty years. This exhibit contains a small- but hopefully representative- sample of the PCAL materials available in WKU Archives. The collections contain many more records of the type on display and also many photographs, administrative records, audio-visual materials, posters, and more.
To see more:
The exhibit is located on the 2nd floor of the Kentucky Building and will be up through the summer.
Post written by WKU Archives Assistant April McCauley.
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With record numbers in sales, enthusiasts came in masses to hear, meet, and buy books from their favorite authors and illustrators at the Southern Kentucky Book Fest held April 18 at the Knicely Conference Center. Bestselling author Diana Gabaldon, known for her popular Outlander series, filled a room with more than 500 fans, some who waited for hours at the entrance, eager to get seats close to the author. Other well-known authors such as Jamie Ford, Terry Brooks, Mary McDonough, and Doreen Cronin brought in their own fan clubs.
“Book Fest was a tremendous success,” said Kristie Lowry, SOKY Book Fest organizer. “We are getting such positive remarks on social media, in-person, and through surveys given to participants.”
More than 1,200 attended the Friday prior to the main Book Fest event for Children’s Day and the Kentucky Writers Conference. According to Lowry, a new writing workshop for teens was also well attended. “We wanted to offer something specifically for those in grades 9-12 and the response was terrific. We definitely would like to continue this program next year.”
Bowling Green resident Crystal Bowling has attended the Writers Conference more than once. “I enjoy attending for the discussions and ideas, not only for the authors presenting, but for the writers in the audience. It’s a wonderful event with a sense of community,” said Bowling.
Noted as one of the largest book festivals in the state, SOKY Book Fest has been named by the Kentucky Travel Industry Association (KTIA) to the Top 10 Festivals & Events for Spring for the third consecutive year.
In addition to sales from the event, Book Fest is funded with grants and donations by companies and individuals. Corporate donors included: Platinum Level – Dollar General; Gold Level – Daily News, Jim Johnson; Silver Level – WKU Conferencing & Catering, West Sixth Brewing, WKU PBS; Bronze Level – Fruit of the Loom, Meijer, Smuckers; Patron Level – Bell Orr Ayers & Moore, WKU Department of English, Logan Aluminum and Bowling Green Convention & Visitors Bureau.
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Filed under Events, Flickr Photos, People
WKU Libraries celebrated Derby Day by wearing hats to work the day before the Derby.
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Filed under Events, Flickr Photos, Past Events, Stuff
WKU Libraries honored its graduating seniors and library assistant scholarship recipient this past week at a reception in Cravens Library. Fifteen library student assistants, some working as many as four years with the libraries, graduated this past weekend, including Emily Anderson, Kelsi Campbell, Danielle Davenport, Katie Decoursey, Ling Hao Liu, Christopher McConnell, Lyndsey Pender, Anna Pettus, Cecia Reyes, Ayaz Sadal, Kameron Simmons, Kelli Storm, Hieu Vo, Rachel Wyatt, and Anna Young. Dean Connie Foster recognized Abby Zibart, the library scholarship recipient, and also congratulated the graduating students. Library Department Heads Brian Coutts, Deana Groves, and Jonathan Jeffrey announced each student assistant from his and her respective work area and honored them with certificates, red towels, and a graduation gift from WKU Libraries. Each student picked out a book or video that will be housed in one of the libraries with a name plate in honor of the graduating student.
“We look forward to this time each semester to honor our graduating student workers,” said Amanda Hardin. “Some of them have been here for several semesters and through summers so they become like family to us. It’s just a small way to thank them for their time with us at WKU and show them how much we appreciate them.”
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Western Kentucky University Libraries received the “Award for Excellence” in the Library Public Relations Materials category at the awards banquet for the Academic Library Advancement and Development Network (ALADN) conference held in San Diego on Tuesday, April 21. The ALADN conference brings deans, advancement officers, and library professionals together to discuss current issues and share insights into the challenges of higher education fundraising as well as the importance of enhancing awareness of the resources and expertise found in academic and research libraries. All participating institutions are invited to enter materials into three of the ten categories which promote their institutions and advance their missions.
WKU Libraries’ award-winning materials featured WKU students from 
different colleges and disciplines on campus in an effort to highlight the student and his/her major, and bring a general awareness to the libraries. Jennifer Wilson, WKU Libraries Marketing Coordinator and campaign organizer, said the advertising targeted the campus community and displayed the promotion on digital screens across the university, display ads in the College Heights Herald, images on the library website, large 22×30 inch posters in the main campus library Commons area, and through social media.
According to Kathleen Schmand, Director of Development and Communications for the Cline Library at Northern Arizona University and committee member of the awards program, the organizers recruit a cross mix of judges from marketing, development, and communications backgrounds. This 
year the selection committee was comprised of marketing and development professionals from San Diego State University.
“ALADN attendees always provide a wonderful display of materials for the awards and the general marketplace,” said Schmand. “2015 was no exception. Through the marketplace we can share the amazing ideas created to tell the story of how a library contributes to the institution and ultimately the success of its students.”
Other contributors to the award included WKU Libraries Dean Connie Foster, WKU Photographers Clinton Lewis and Bryan Lemon, and WKU Graphic Design Student Patric Peters.
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