LSA News

No. 49, December 2003

If you have anything you want in the next newsletter, send it to lsaweb@lists.uoregon.edu .

Index Disaster Workshop A Blast Adventures In The Natural World A Savoury View Eugene Public Library Exposed Undercover! Seminar In Fine Bookbinding Classified Staff Make Good Use of Development Funds Events Of Interest The World Around Us From The Fact File Comings and Goings The New LSA Newsletter Team

Above: View from 3rd floor of Lawrence Hall. Photo by Christine Sundt

Disaster Workshop A Blast

By Hilary Hart

There were a couple of happy outcomes from this summer's flood in Special Collections. The first was the discovery that the disaster supply kits that Carol Lenocker put together were indeed extremely useful in an emergency. The second was an increased sense of urgency about disaster preparedness. To help us in our effort to plan for disasters, Lenocker invited a professional disaster response trainer, Tom Clareson, from Online Computer Library Center, Inc. (OCLC). In one of the highlights from the 2-day Disaster Planning, Response, and Recovery workshop held October 20-21, Clareson showed slides from some of the disaster recovery efforts he has joined in over the years. The participants were treated to images of tornadoes, fires, floods, and the havoc and damage left in their wakes. One unlucky library in Texas was hit by tornado that tore off its roof, blew in the main atrium, and buried the ventilation system in debris. Other libraries in the slide show experienced more localized damage due to flood and fire. The shots of one library's stacks after the 1994 Northridge earthquake provided a lesson in the importance of sturdy, secure shelving.

Above: Water-logged book poised for recovery.

Obviously here in the Northwest we need not fear the touchdown of a tornado, but our region's weather patterns and geology promise other types of natural disasters. In planning for such eventualities, Clareson directed the participants to list the risks we face here in Eugene. The participants identified earthquakes and windstorms as possible threats. (And from what I understand, with the global warming the windstorms that occasionally whip through our region are apt to become more violent and frequent.) Fire and flood, as we know well, are dangers wherever you are. Story continued...

Adventures in the Natural World

by Shirien Chappell

I had a bat in the house last night when I came home from Christmas Valley. I thought it was possible that it came in the door with me, so I called John in CV and went a little bit hysterical on the phone. He calmed me down, ("Breathe, Shirien, I want you to breathe. Sit quietly, listen to my voice, and breathe.") I breathed and watched this flapping prop from a horror movie buzz and whoosh back and forth, now near the door, ("oh, go out, you bat, there's the door so very close, oh please, just go out!") and now back to the other wall, back near the door, now smash into the window and fall to the floor, now struggle to your little feet and take to the air again, whisking above the pillow I clutched tightly over my head, soaring through the length of the living room, again near the door, and finally, finally it found the freedom of the outdoors. "Breathe, Shirien, just take slow breaths." Story continued...

A Savoury View

by Catherine Flynn

There are two kinds of people in the world. There are fruitcake lovers, and then there are those who have just never had the right kind of fruitcake. The latter are usually unfortunates who have been subjected to leaden bricks speckled with alarming bright green bits; heinous confections proffered by passive-aggressive relations and rightly scorned.

The recipe that follows will yield a rich mosaic of fine dried fruits and nuts that will cause you to linger wonderingly over each subtle bite. This is not an excuse to use up old, questionable bits of this and that. Moist, high-quality dried fruits, preferably organically grown, and fresh, local nuts are called for. Fortunately, you can purchase high-quality candied orange peel and lemon peel locally at the Kiva. Also, if you choose the brandy option (and I recommend it), it should be the best that you can reasonably afford, and not something you would eschew drinking on its own. A fruitcake should be a joyous holiday splurge.

This recipe is adapted from one I found years ago on the web. At that point, the author had gotten the recipe from a Maryland neighbor as a war bride during World War II.

Start at least a month before you plan to eat it, so it can ripen, and a day before you plan to bake. The texture is rich and light because you NEVER press the batter down into the pan, and you ALWAYS line and grease the pans and put a large flat pan of boiling water on the floor of the oven or the bottom rack for the entire baking period, refilling as needed. Recipe continued...

LSA Visits Eugene Public Library

By Hilary Hart

The day that Eugene was treated to gentle snowfall, the LSA took its tour of the Eugene Public Library (EPL). For those who were unable to go on the EPL tour, I offer a virtual tour of the library's special points of interest. I cannot cover every space we visited, nor can I duplicate the charm and congeniality of my group's guide, Nancy Lewis, one of the hundreds of library volunteers upon whom the EPL depends.

Above: Tour guide and EPL volunteer Nancy Lewis with us in the reading room.

EPL History The initiative for a public library started with a Eugene women's group, the Fortnightly Club. When Eugene's first public library opened in 1906 it was called the Carnegie Library, after the businessman and philanthropist who provided much of the funding. The Fortnightly's 657 books formed the basis of the library's collection. Story continued...

UnderCover!

Standards Seminar in Fine Bookbinding

A hands-on report by Marilyn Mohr

Book conservators and technicians, book artists, fine binders and other enthusiasts gathered in Denver in October for the 23rd annual Guild of Book Workers Seminar on Standards of Excellence in Hand Bookbinding.

This was the third Standards Seminar I have attended, thanks to partial funding from the Library Staff Development Committee. The Standards Seminar offers a chance to observe master craftspeople-their techniques, tools, materials-with the intent that the level of craftsmanship among all participants will be raised.

The "Mile High Standards" featured five seminars (lecture/demonstrations), a pre-conference foundation session in box making, post-conference symposium on headbands, and the opening of a traveling exhibit of work by GBW members, "In Flight."

One of my interests in attending the Standards Seminar this year was a focus on box making. Craig Jensen, of BookLab II, a limited edition bookbinding and box making studio, demonstrated "Constructing a Double Tray Drop Spine Box." Craig had all components pre-cut to dimensions determined from a computer program and succeeded in constructing and covering the full box in the three hour session, despite the influence of altitude in the drying time of his PVA adhesive, a special formula called 'Wisdom.'

The clamshell box was also central to renowned book artist Julie Chen's seminar, "Presentation Considerations in the Design and Creation of Artist's Books." Julie's earliest artists' books were housed in a clamshell boxes for protection and presentation. Julie credited Sandy Tilcock, the Beach Lab's own box guru, with innovating the use of magnets imbedded in the box for an elegant closure. As Julie's work has evolved, however, the box has become an integral part of the concept of the artist's book. An investment in a laser cutter ($20,000) has enabled her to cut out complex shapes in paper, binder's board, plexiglass and metal. UO Special Collections and Archives has several of Julie Chen's pre-laser cutter artists' books (which have received phase boxes from the Beach Lab to protect the exquisite boxes). See Julie's website, flyingfishpress.com, for more recent works. Finally, Julie shared her latest artist's book, "Personal Paradigm," a board game including a ledger for recording player's results. Will Special Collections Librarians allow patrons to play the game and fill in the ledger?

Discussions of tools, materials and techniques, as well as informative demonstrations were featured in Mark Esser's seminar, "Covering with Leather," and Claire Maziarczyk's seminar on paste paper, "Getting the Look." In addition to paste recipes and patterning tools Claire focused on posture and ergonomics, demonstrating the use of her many wrist splints, a yoga ball and a sock with two tennis balls in it which, when used in many different ways, can "send you to heaven." A slide show of historic paste papers was heavenly for those of us lacking tennis balls.

One surprise at the Standards was a lecture by legendary British bookbinder and restorer Bernard Middleton, who was awarded an honorary membership in the GBW. Mr. Middleton showed slides of his studios since the 1940's, each generally very cramped, cluttered, and filled with natural light. Cats were welcome and ever-present, sitting on books and equipment. Mr. Middleton maligned the cleanliness of American studios, commenting that good dust and dirt can be useful to book restoration. Bernard Middleton's lecture was followed by a forum/poster session. Highlights were a hot pink steel nipping press (it breaks down and fits into a suede-lined box!) created by a book artist/industrial designer from Chicago, and hands-on project offered by GBW President Betsy Palmer Eldridge in 'Finishing without Finishing Tools."

The Standards offers the opportunity to meet colleagues from around the nation and exchange ideas about topics ranging from pigment consolidation (ultrasonic atomizer?) to lab ambience (Donovan, opera, Radiohead). It also afforded the opportunity to connect with book folk in the region. The foundation of the first Northwest Chapter of the GBW was celebrated at the Seminar. Ten northwest members were on hand and we discussed ideas for sponsoring workshops and exhibits in our region. The 2005 Standards will be held in Portland.

After the Standard's finale, a symposium on headbands, I had a little time to unwind and visit the Denver Art Museum. The museum is a tall, narrow building-it looks like a fortress made out of binder's board. I took the elevator the 6th floor, the European Collection. Entering the Renaissance room the first painting I saw was a 15th century double portrait by Fillippino Lippi. Oblong, it featured the heads of just the two men and at eye level a shelf filled with books. Rich volumes bound in green and red velvets, brown leather with brass clasps, the books serve as attributes of the subjects' wealth and learning. To me, these images speak of the traditions of bookbinding that are kept alive today by practicing and teaching bookbinders and conservators, and presented a very inspiring conclusion to my weekend's immersion in Standards of Excellence in Hand Bookbinding.

Above: Members of the Northwest Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers gather in Denver. Marilyn Mohr holds the chapter's first newsletter, an artist's book designed by Roberta Lavadour and Jana Brubaker of Pendleton, Oregon.

Staff Development Funds Put to Work

by Betsy Kelly, Chair, Library Staff Development Committee

The Library is into its second year of providing funding for classified staff development. To date, the fledgling Library Staff Development Committee has been able to fund the activities of fifteen of our Library classified staff who took advantage of this fantastic opportunity (see related article, "UnderCover!" by Marilyn Mohr appearing in this issue of the LSA Newsletter). We are incredibly fortunate to have been allocated $10,000 per year by Library Administration in order to continue this project for a total of three years with the possibility of renewal. The Committee urges more staff to submit funding applications, particularly those who have not yet done so. The process itself is fairly straightforward, and funding guidelines have been recently retooled to encourage participation on a variety of levels - just follow the procedure at http://libweb.uoregon.edu/admnpers/staffdevcom.html. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to contact a member of the Library Staff Development Committee (from our website).

You are likely to receive funding if your need fits one of the following categories:

1. In-state/regional conferences (examples: OLA, PNLA, WLA, national conferences held regionally): the Committee fully funds these events in order to encourage broad staff participation at the regional level.*
2. Out of state conferences and training opportunities: These are specialized opportunities that are not available locally and that can be shown to be particularly relevant to the applicant's job. The committee will generally elect to approve one representative staff person per department per event. Fund at 75 %, up to $1000 total*
3. Tuition for credit classes (i.e. LCC, UO, distance learning programs) deemed relevant to staff person's work in the Library: the Committee will fund a subsidy of $100 per class at a maximum level of three classes per year.*
4. Non-credit training, workshops: the Committee will fund up to $500 per year per person*

   *Subject to available resources, etc.

EVENTS OF INTEREST

As well as featuring upcoming LSA events, we'd like to get the word out about events staff are involved in that might be of interest to co-workers. If you'd like the world, or at least your co-workers, to know about something cool coming up, please email Harriett Smith or lsaweb@lists.

LSA EVENTS

Dont miss the LSA Holiday Sale on Wednesday, December 3. Faculty, staff, and students are invited to consign items and to visit the Knight Library Browsing Room between 11 am to 2 pm to admire and purchase art, craftwork, gifts, etc. LSA will benefit with a 10% commission on purchases. There will be raffle for a delicious Dark Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Cake donated by Mandi Garcia, and of course you may also pay your $6 yearly LSA dues at the sale. Contact Pam DeLaittre at pamdela@uoregon.edu or 6-1826.

Join friends and co-workers at the Holiday Potluck, Wednesday, December 10, 2003 in the Browsing Room between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm. Bring a favourite holiday dish to share. Family are welcome (please make sure to bring a little extra food if you bring guests). If you know of former Library faculty or staff who will need transportation to the potluck, please have them get in touch with Dennis Hyatt at 346-3097 or hyatt@law.

NON-LSA EVENTS

Toys for Tots is back! Now through December 10 you can find a Toys for Tots barrel in the Librarian's Office at the Knight Library. Toys and books should be new, unwrapped, and suitable for children up to the age of 14. Cash or checks (payable to Toys for Tots) will also be accepted. Contact Sheila Gray at 6-1891 or skgray@darkwing.

Jean Murphy says the Eugene Concert Choir's Old-Fashioned Christmas concert will be wonderful! It's on Sunday, December 7, at 2:30 pm in the Silva at the Hult Center (tickets through the Hult). Pre-concert festivities (e.g. wassail and song) start at 1 pm in the Hult Lobby.

Marilyn Mohr is a member of both Vakasara mbira group and Kudana Marimba, and you can hear both groups at the Second Annual Benefit Concert for Famine Relief in Southern Africa, at Cozmic Pizza, corner of 8th and Charnelton, Eugene, Oregon; Friday, December 12, 2003, 7:00 pm. Music by mbira style guitarist Paul Prince, special guest Jennifer Kyker with Kudana marimba, Vakasara and Njuzu mbira groups, and Boka marimba from Portland. All proceeds from the concert will go to Mercy Corps to support Southern Africa Famine Relief.

Oregon Thoroughbred Breeders Association member Pam DeLaittre invites you to a "Day at the Races". Stop by her 'cubie' and get a guest pass for Oregon Day, December 13, 2003. The pass entitles you to FREE parking, admisson, program and seating. RSVP required! The first race starts at 2:10. There is also Breakfast with Santa for the kids 10:30-1:30, and a lunch buffet available for $14.95 in the Turf Club from 1:45 pm to 5 pm. Pam has at least 8 passes available, so don't be shy!

Harriett Smith says the Eugene Chamber Singers holiday concert on Sunday, December 14, at 8 pm at Central Lutheran Church (18th and Potter) will also be a wonderful concert! Tickets at the door.

Harriett and Jean join with David Landazuri to invite you to the Eugene Sacred Harp Singers' holiday concert on Sunday, December 21 at 7 pm at Valley Covenant Church (3636 W. 18th). It's a concert and singalong, with free cookies and cider following. You don't have to be a "good" singer - just enthusiastic! Donation.

The World Around Us

by Angus Nesbit

For the September 2003 faculty forum, the Library Diversity Committee hosted several guest speakers for a discussion of the past and current diversity picture on campus and in Oregon, as well as some thought provoking exercises to help add perspective.

Tim McMahon, the Faculty Development Consultant at Academic Learning Services, led the forum. Tim offered a timeline showing diversity trends in Oregon over past years, and related these trends to UO. Tim also facilitated a brief discussion of white privilege, asking staff to "think back to time you were made to feel like an outsider. Discuss with the person sitting next to you how you felt." Tim left the staff with a handout that cites various print and Web sources that will provide informative and thought-provoking text about a range of diversity issues. Verbatim passages from many of the authors listed on the handout can be found here. Another of Tim's recommended texts, "The Color of Water," is currently recommended freshman reading. Tim also called attention to new Diversity link that is now prominent on the UO home page.

Kimi Mojica, Interim Director of Diversity Programs at the Office of Student Life, introduced various diversity programs and services available to library staff, students and faculty. In addition to general assistance and support of related student groups and the Multicultural Center, Diversity Programs focuses on student retention through the enhancement of an environment that welcomes and helps students build on the strengths of racial diversity. Various mentorship and advocacy services are also offered through Kimi's programs.

Chicora Martin, Director of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Education and Support Services at the Office of Student Life, briefly discussed the programs and services offered for LGBT faculty, staff and students at UO. These services and other campus resources are also outlined in the LGBT Resource Guide that Chicora handed out.

Given the racial homogeneity that exists in Oregon, both Kimi and Chicora acknowledged the difficulty students can have in finding a home on campus that goes beyond small support enclaves and extends further into the greater campus and Eugene community. In the Q & A session that followed the speakers' presentations, Tim was asked if any routinized "exit interviews" are done with students who don't stay. Tim responded that, although not done on campus, Anselmo Villianueva in the 4J schools has exit files documenting experiences of employees of color across the board in Eugene. Ms. Mojica later explained to me that this is a file that was started in conversation with other educators of color, responding to such frequent questions as "what happen to?" and "where did they go?" Mr. Villianueva basically has a hard drive full of interviews. Though none of this information has been published, interested persons can email Mr. Villanueva at villanueva@4j.lane.edu for further information.

FROM THE FACT FILE / TERRY McQUILKIN

Taking Flight

At 10:35 on the morning of December 17, 1903, near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Wilbur Wright steadied the wing of the airplane he had helped build, then stopped and watched as his brother Orville flew the craft for 175 feet before touching down safely. This 12-second flight proved to the world that a heavier-than-air plane could indeed fly, and it ushered in the age of flight. Help us celebrate a century of American aeronautical achievements by identifying, from our clues, some of the people, places and planes who have made aviation history.

1. In 1928 she became the first woman to fly (as a passenger) across the Atlantic; four years later she crossed the Atlantic by herself. On June 1, 1937 she and her navigator Fred Noonan left Miami, Florida, to began an attempt to fly around the world. On June 2, after they had left New Guinea, the U. S. Coast Guard received her final message; despite an exhaustive search effort, no trace of the aviators or their plane was ever found.

2. On October 4, 1957, American officials were caught off guard by the launch of the world's first artificial satellite. The satellite was only about the size of a basketball, but its successful launch marked the beginning of the "space race" and led to the establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. We're looking for the name of the satellite and of the country that produced it.

3. George W. Bush's ride in a fighter jet and landing on an aircraft carrier earlier this year wasn't the first time a politician flew in an aircraft for a photo-op. At an air show in St. Louis, Missouri an earlier president took a four minute ride, reaching an altitude of 50 feet in an airplane built by the Wright Brothers, making him the first president (though he had already left office) to fly in an airplane. We're looking for the name of this president.

4. This Texas born aviator, one of a pair of flyers to circumnavigate the world for the first time in 1931, became of first to fly around the world solo in 1933. In 1935, he was killed, along with his friend, the noted humorist Will Rogers, near Point Barrow Alaska during what was expected by be a leisurely flight around the world.

5. On October 24, 2003, two British Airways jets landed at London's Heathrow Airport, the final commercial flights of a supersonic airplane that began passenger service in 1976. We're looking for the name of the aircraft and of the two countries whose governments in 1962 signed an agreement to develop them.

6. On May 6, 1937, 35 people died in one of the most dramatic catastrophes in aviation history, when their craft, which was but a few feet from its destination, suddenly burst into flames. A reporter who was covering the arrival for radio station WLS was overcome with emotion as he tried to describe the unfolding tragedy. Identify the type of craft this was and its name.

7. The effectiveness of aircraft in carrying out humanitarian missions was demonstrated spectacularly in 1948-49, as American pilots made 196,031 flights, delivering 1,588,293 tons of supplies to citizens threatened by a blockade of their city. We're looking for the name of the city whose residents were saved from being starved out, and of the country that imposed the blockade.

8. This Southern California-born woman aspired to become a professional tennis player, but she instead earned a Ph.D. from Stanford University. She learned of NASA's call for applicants to become astronauts from the university's newspaper, joined NASA in 1977, and in 1983, on the space shuttle Challenger, became the first American woman in space.

9. On May 21, 1927, 100,000 people cheered as a 25-year-old American pilot landed in Paris, after having flown 3,600 miles from New York, completing the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic. He became an instant hero, and his feat was celebrated in books, song, film and an array of memorabilia. Tell us the name of pilot and of the plane he flew.

10. In 1997, Jennifer Murray entered the annals of aviation history by becoming the first woman to fly around the world in a kind of aircraft not normally used for marathon flying. Currently the 63-year-old grandmother is in the news again, as she continues her quest to accomplish another milestone: to be the first pilot to circle the globe via the North and South Poles in the type of craft she flies. She and her co-pilot left New York on October 22; they hope to return by April 14. Tell us what sort of aircraft she is flying.

Answers to Last Issue's Contest

In our previous Fact File, we asked readers to identify ten TV programs from a half-century of broadcast history. Two submissions were 100% correct and our winner, selected randomly, is Colleen Bell. Colleen will receive a gift certificate worth $5.00 toward purchases at the University of Oregon Bookstore. Also correctly identifying all ten programs was Carol Lenocker. To review the clues from this contest see Fact File in the August issue of LSA News.

The answers:

1. Melrose Place
2. The $64,000 Question
3. St. Elsewhere
4. Gilligan's Island
5. Perry Mason
6. Diff'rent Strokes
7. Ferris Bueller
8. The Patty Duke Show
9. Paper Moon
10. Newhart

Comings and Goings

Welcome!

• Brian Cyr, Special Collections & University Archives
• Bokim Youm, Access Services: Circulation/Reserve & Videos
• Jenna Boyle, Current Periodicals and Stacks started September 9
• Sarah Zaleski, Document Center, Map Section started September 29.
• Emily McElroy, Collection Development & Acquisitions, started Oct. 8.
• Vany Xiong, Media Services, started Oct. 13.

• to Adam and Sarah Byrd on the birth of their son, Samuel Patrick, born Oct. 15, 2003.

• Robin Paynter, Reference Librarian, left the library in October. Robin and her husband moved to Melbourne, Australia. If you're reading this from Down Under, Robin, guess what: it's raining!
• Ann Muller, Slavic languages cataloger, retired Sept. 30.
• Sharla Davis, Special Collections & University Archives, retired Nov. 30.

Above: Wet leaves on pavement. (Photo by Erik Dahl, AAA Library)

Chair, Terry McQuilkin, a native of Los Angeles, studied music at the University of Southern California and later at the University of Oregon. During the 1980s he frequently contributed reviews and features to the music pages of the Los Angeles Times. He has worked in Knight Library Music Services since 2000.
Lonni Sexton started as a student employee in the Library in 1981. She is now a member of the Serials Team in the Catalog Department. Lonni enjoys writing, sewing quilts and raising her children, but don't be deceived: she is not a soccer mom.
Harriett Smith is a singer, cook, writer and cataloger who can be found in the highly-decorated cubicle in CMET. See profile.
Hilary Hart is a student as well as a library staff member. She is working on a doctorate in English. See profile.
Jennifer Rowan has worked in the Library since 1986, the first ten years as the Serials/binding specialist in the Law Library and, since 1997, as the Collection assistant in the Visual Resources Collection of the A&AA Library. She completed a Master's degree in Asian Art History in 2002 and has since been endeavoring to catch up with all other gratifying aspects of living that a little leisure allows.

Been to an interesting conference?

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Last updated: 031202
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