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Published by the Library Staff Association of the University of Oregon Library System
No. 17, January 2000!
Keep Your Hand On That Plow
Like him, of whom the poet sings,
Across the centuries afar
We scan the waste of earthly things
And know not clearly where we are;
Nor if the century we're in
Be that which we're accostomed to,
Or if the world's great age begin
Anew.
The Only Way, ascribed to "A. G.", reprinted in The Living Age, Jan. 1900.
I've been thinking about my place in this new century quite a bit, wondering what it means to be old-fashioned. Those of us born us pre-transistor, pre-silicon chip will always carry with us the memory of life in simpler times, by today's standards. You don't have to be pre-TV to be outdated, by the way. If you can remember, say, registration in Mac Court, or the moonwalk, you are already on your way to being outmoded. Not that this is all bad. In fact, it offers us duffers the opportunity to have some perspective on what's to come.
Take my grandfather as an example. His life filled most of the twentieth century. He was born on the centennial cusp, either in the last year of the nineteenth century, or the first of the twentieth, depending on how you reckon the years. Yet, born into a way of life that admitted changes very slowly and grudgingly, Grandpa remained a man of an earlier time.
The nineteenth century had been such a miracle of scientific and technological progress, that people at the turn of the century were at a loss to imagine what could possibly come next. However, by the time my Grandpa had his first picture taken--a grim-faced little tyke, standing stoically in his baby dress and heavy country shoes--the Wright brothers had launched their airplane. The sky was no longer the limit.
My grandfather marveled at the new technologies that were developed at an astonishing rate during his lifetime. Tractors and artificial fertilizers and corn harvesters and improved breeds of cattle and hogs all ended up on my grandfather's farm as though they had all been loaded into a time machine and transported back through the ages. My grandfather made use of all of it, the electric lights in the farrowing shed, running water in the feedlot, inoculations for the calves and electric fence for the pasture. He never took any of it for granted.
He appreciated modern conveniences in a way that I could not. I had never lived before electric lights and indoor toilets. I had never walked behind a horse team in the dust. I could not appreciate any of the gifts he mused over, automobiles with electric starters, automatic silos, milk in a carton, for heaven's sake. Grandpa used to boast about sleeping in until six, instead of rising to milk a cow at five a.m. That's what milk from a carton meant to him.
If Grandpa were a superhero, he would be Pyrexman. Years of working in the elements had rendered him impervious to heat and cold. During the hottest days of the year, he not only habitually wore overalls, long socks, heavy boots and a long sleeved work shirt, he also wore summer-weight long underwear under it all. He came from a people who put decency first before petty considerations like personal comfort. Weirdly, the result was not sunstroke, but an iron constitution.
There were other outmoded conventions he could not shake. Independence and self-reliance were two qualities of this dedicated farmer. The love of good hard physical labor for its own sake was another of them. Grandpa never wanted to quit working; he couldn't see the point in retirement. He was what he did. The things he produced were real: Bread and meat. That he now bought his own bread and meat at the grocery store in town was beside the point: Grandpa was not a widget producer, not a bewildered salary man.
Paradoxically, thanks to good old Henry Ford, Grandpa could now enjoy leisure in a way unimaginable to his parents. While they never left their home state, Grandpa had driven across the country several times. Thanks to the television, he could remove himself even farther from the farm and wander the earth. Although, to tell the truth, what he enjoyed most about TV was keeping up with hog futures on the Chicago exchange.
Sometimes I think that if Grandpa had made it a few years more, we could have gotten him onto the Internet. But that would have been asking a lot. He was already tiring of miracles when his turn came at the jumping off place. Exposure to the forces of the twentieth century never changed him from what he had been born, or from what his ancestors had been for centuries before him, simply a farmer.
By the time he died in 1997, people were once again wondering what on earth could be next. No one is going out on a limb nowadays the way they used to when I was a girl, predicting atom-powered flying cars, or meals in pill form. For one thing, almost nothing is too far fetched to become reality in these crazy times. Of course, that's how people felt at the turn of the last century, too.
However, just because we can't see what's ahead, doesn't mean we should fear to go forward. Like my grandfather, we will be visitors from another era. We'll bring with us our special gifts, unique to our time, and believe it or not, they will be appreciated.
And now for news of the present:
Check out the exhibit The Burgess Boxes: Preserving The Past, Preparing The Future currently shown in the display cases in the Circulation lobby and upstairs in Oregon Collection. The art and craft of preservation housing are revealed. Congratulations to Preservation staff for a wonderful display!
Welcome to new staff members Christina LaBonte, Library
Technician 2, Circulation, and Megan Dazey, Library Technician
2, Acquisition Department
--L. R. Sexton
Build It and They Will Come . . . and Come . . . and Keep on Coming.
This might have been the leitmotif for LSA's Holiday Potluck on December 15 in the Knight Library Browsing Room. This year's potluck was a huge success -- such a success in fact that members of the Social Committee, which has responsibility for planning this event, were scrambling to find additional plates and silverware, to replenish the punchbowl and to keep their fingers crossed that the food would hold out to accommodate all the comers to the potluck!
Those who arrived later
during the two-hour feast were at a decided disadvantage in food
selection. But all-in-all, it was a very festive occasion and a good time
seemed to be had by all. The Holiday Potluck is probably the biggest event that the LSA Social Committee puts on for the year, and it takes the cooperation, coordination, imagination, talent and hard work of a lot of people.
Many
volunteers come together to help set up the tables and chairs, to
decorate, to warm and set out the food, and to clean up and transport
dishes back to the Staff Lounge for pick up. The Social Committee
appreciates the efforts of all those who volunteered to help.
The Browsing Room was again transformed as the window sills and tables were adorned with greenery and fairy lights which volunteers had graciously brought from home. Adding to the festive air was a fine selection of seasonal melodies beautifully executed by Leslie Bennett on keyboard and Heather Ward on recorder. We're really lucky to have such talented and willing members of LSA to add to our enjoyment of the occasion.
Along the east end of the Browsing Room, two long tables were filled
with the many dishes brought by the attendees. On one side of the room
were turkey provided by George and Krys Shipman, and the many casseroles,
pasta/green/fruit salads, breads, appetizers, as well as ethnic dishes
that we look forward to at these get-togethers.
On the other side was the
dessert table -- my special bailiwick -- with cookies, brownies, and fruit
cakes. The Social Committee contracts with University Housing to provide
coffee and tea, table cloths and cloth napkins, dishes and silverware for
this event.
An added treat this year were several vegetarian appetizers from a local caterer -- Woodland Mushroom Strudel, Penne Pasta with Roasted Vegetables, and Sun-dried Herbed Tortellinis. These were provided from an extra infusion of LSA dues money from the Ways and Means Committee, and the Social Committee chose to use it to purchase something that could be enjoyed by everyone at the potluck. This turned out to be a welcome addition as we ran short of food.
The potluck is a relaxing time and a chance to renew old friendships and catch up on the news with folks we don't see often enough during the year. It's a great time to socialize, as many library staff and faculty from all the campus libraries enjoyed the potluck. Also on hand were family members and some retired library staff and faculty. It looked like people were indeed having a good time.
LSA plans to take a look at ways to build on the success of this year's potluck and work some of the kinks out for next year's festivities. We hope you'll join us again next holiday season!
Submitted by Stephanie Midkiff, member, Social Committee
John Turns In A Hat!
Or, Systems Farewell to John Helmer
Systems held an open house on December 9 to congratulate John Helmer on his new job with the Orbis consortium. John was "on loan" to Orbis for many years while also holding his position as head of the Library Systems and Automation Department. Wearing two hats for so long was no doubt a challenge for John, but he managed to do an outstanding job in both capacities.
The Orbis Council recognized his talents, and offered him a full time position as Orbis Manager, which he accepted effective December 1st.
Faculty and staff from throughout the Library system dropped by the Systems Department to congratulate John and wish him well in his new endeavors.
Laine and Shirley |
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Andrew H. in back |
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John With Cake |
John said working at the UO Library has been very challenging, and has given him the opportunity to do something new every few months. He also said he has especially enjoyed working with all of us!
1991 John at upper left
(Orbis banner mounted for the occasion)
Orbis staff, including John, Nancy Nathanson and Debi Baker, will continue to be located in the Systems Department space in the Kincaid addition, but will officially no longer be part of the department. Sara Brownmiller is Acting Head of Systems.
Farewell, John!And see you around!
by Lisa Sieracki and Mark Watson
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