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Bernd Mohr's
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LSA NewsNo. 50, January 2004If you have anything you want in the next newsletter, send it to lsaweb@lists.uoregon.edu . LSA HOLIDAY HAPPENINGSBy Hilary HartThe Library Staff Association's third annual Holiday Sale held December 3 saw some especially fine contributions. Marilyn Mohr laid out a handsome selection of her hand-bound books and albums. Shoppers had an array of conserves and preserves to choose from made by Sara Brownmiller, Susan Mincks, Harriett Smith, and Liesel Vorderstrasse. Pam DeLaittre sold blankets made from wool grown by her own sheep. Every year Pam packs up the raw wool and sends it off to Canada where it is woven into blankets. Michiyo Goble, who also sells her work at White Lotus Gallery, contributed some of her pottery for the sale. Traditional to the Holiday Sale is the raffling off of a cake. Mandy Garcia and her professional-baker sister provided this year's prize, a raspberry chocolate mousse cake with whipped cream frosting. Sylvia Worrix was the lucky winner, and kind enough to share. I can vouch that the cake was both light and decadent.
Above: The raffle prize. Click here to see scenes from the Holiday Potluck Lessons Learned in Mexico:Cabritoby L.R. SextonThere's nothing like travel in a foreign land to teach us something valuable about fortitude, self discipline, inner strength, and character. It's just too bad that Tod had to learn his lesson on an empty stomach, with a fork and knife ... Story continued
Above: Puebla The View From Hidden SpringBy Pam DeLaittreSo what's a farm without chickens? Our neighbor down the hill and next door decided to "free range" his chickens last summer. We would see a couple of his little game banties strutting around being very macho and cock-a-doodling in the very wee hours of the morning. Then one brought four tiny chicks out of our brushy wooded area. That was it, Kirk decided we should get chickens, and when he gets an idea like that I go along -- after all, I like eggs. We knew nothing, zip, nil about chickens, so as Kirk does anytime he gets a bug like this in his bonnet, he researched the subject on the web. Initially we thought we would like Bantam chickens because of their size. The neighbor's chickens however were very flighty and silly, so we looked for a breed (or strain) that would be calmer and yet lay reasonable eggs. We settled on several types of "heavy" or modern Bantams: Barnevelders, Rhode Island Reds, and Partridge Plymouth Rocks.
Well, before you get chickens, you need a coop -- especially if you are out where
we are -- due to all the predators. Raccoons, cats, coyotes, cougars, and dogs
all will chase and eat chickens. So once again we went to the web, and downloaded
plans for a wonderful
little coop from the Netherlands. It required 4 sheets of plywood; one each for
the front, back and roof, and the last for the ends and floor of the "bedroom".
It took us about a week to finish the coop. Then we were ready!
True Confessions of a Conservation TechnicianBy Amanda GarciaI arrive at work to find my press full of books from the day before, revived and ready to be re-released to the shelves for consumption by the masses. Opening a press of repairs is often as satisfying as my first cup of coffee. I can't wait to get started on the next batch. I put on my apron and look to my shelf of tattered and torn pages, bare boards and broken spines, waiting for their turn. With my number 11 X-Acto and Teflon folder in hand, I'm prepared for the pile. Slicing into each book is both horrifying and satisfying. There is no going back after that first cut, it's a job that demands a combination of skills. It's art, science and history at my fingertips. Chemistry is required if I ever decide to continue in the conservation field. Last year, I squeezed General Chemistry lecture and lab into my schedule. This year I wanted my weeks not only to consist of the molecules and measurements in Organic Chemistry, but also allow creative expression. When I discovered that Marilyn Reaves was going to teach a night studio class called Visual Journals and Altered Books I leapt at the opportunity. Thanks to the Library Staff Development Fund, I was able to pay the self-support class fee and take the class. The class consisted of exploring techniques and materials used in making a visual journal. The journal worked as a portable forum for whatever idea, experience or study I wanted to record. We used various approaches in making our journals, including a variety of media, tools, drawing and story telling techniques. We were required to have a weekly theme that threaded throughout the term. My theme, not surprisingly, was chemistry. I pulled compounds and functional groups from my environment and thoughts, and explored their shape and orientation in space as truly beautiful entities in form and function. The second part of the class involved constructing various simple bindings (accordion, single signature and Japanese stab) and selecting a book to "alter." I went to a used bookstore to find a book. On a sale shelf, I found Anatomy of A Murder by Robert Traver, for $2. I planned to call it Anatomy of a Murder of a Book and dissect it in the most crude and contemptuous way. I cut holes in the cover and painted the end sheets. I tore out pages and tipped them back in the wrong places! I glued pages together and kept cutting. It was almost Halloween and I couldn't stop myself! I was a conservation technician with a vengeance. The things I did to that book are irreversible. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the class, a perfect partner to O-Chem.
Above: Grasses in Rain by Erik Dahl A Savoury Viewby Catherine FlynnWHERE TO HAVE TEA The Northwest has a deservedly stellar reputation for excellent coffee, but as any ardent tea drinker knows, it is a challenge to lay your hands on a decently brewed cup of tea. Fortunately, there are a few places in town that are devoted to the cause. If you've made a New Year's resolution to get together with friends more often, here are a couple of spots that will make it easy to keep that resolution. My first choice. The shop is modeled on the European tea salons frequented by the owner, and stocks many teas imported under a French label. The vermillion walls, brocade upholstery and cherrywood cabinets fashion a decor that is so elegant your pinky will stay raised of its own accord. Choosing your tea from the myriad of selections is eased by the sample jars available for sniffing. There is a wonderful selection of black teas as well as greens, rooibos and herbal teas. You will want to sit and sip for hours. Their Salon Tea is a delight. A three-tiered silver tray is filled with savoury tea sandwiches and mini-quichey-type things on the bottom, excellent scones with cream and jam in the middle, and petit fours and other decadent sweets at the pinnacle.
Open 10 am-6 pm M-Sa, 12-5 pm Su; 201 W. Broadway; 242-1010. Fool's Paradise This artsy, bohemian spot is tucked away in an alley and embellished with African art, cleverly refurbished antiques, strings of Italian lights and great drapey swaths of gauzy fabric. There is a lot of charm in the surroundings, and often the service is a match for it. You choose your teacup from a miscellany of old china cups and then decide whether to sit at a table near the window, or ensconced in the corner on a floor cushion under a wild feathery hanging light creation. While the menu boasts an extensive list of teas, they are not always well stocked. Food offerings include nicely seasoned homemade soups and sandwiches. On a good day, you might arrive just as cookies are coming out of the oven or a charming layer cake is being given the final touches of frosting. Sometimes, however, the pickings can be a bit on the slim side. It's rather like stopping in at an eccentric aunt's for tea.
Open 9 am-9 pm M-Sa, 10 am-6 pm Su; 460 Willamette St.; 653-2840. Future Shock! Techno-Conference for "AV Geeks and Digi-pimps"By Stacy DeHartFrom as far away as the University of Maine at Farmington to the Kapi'olani Community College in Hawaii, media professionals from colleges, universities, museums, hospitals, libraries, public television stations, and corporate sponsors gathered together at the Annual Conference of the Consortia of College and University Media Centers. The conference was held at the Francis Marion Hotel in the warmth and sunshine of beautiful and historic Charleston, South Carolina from October 30 - November 3, 2003. The mission of the CCUMC is to provide leadership and a forum for information exchange to the providers of media and technology support for quality teaching and learning at higher education institutions. The over 600 members represent all sizes of institutions in higher education that provide media/instructional technology-related support services, as well as companies providing related products. The Media Services Department of the Knight Library has recently become a member of this organization, and the Library Staff Development Fund very generously funded my attendance at this conference. To participate as an attendee for the first time after so many years of assisting presenters was satisfying enough, but I was also on a trip by myself with neither children tagging along, nor with the ultimate destination being the home of a relative. What a treat!
Above: Conference participants could view live alligators in the wild. FROM THE FACT FILE / Answers to Last Issue's ContestHigh FlyersIn our December issue, we celebrated a century of aviation history by asking you to identify notable names, aircraft, and places in the annals of flight. Three staff members scored perfectly, and our winner, selected at random, is Stacy DeHart of Media Services. Stacy will be receiving a gift certificate worth $5.00 toward purchases at the University of Oregon Bookstore. The two other flying aces this time were Jen Lindsay of Access Services and Bill Murray of Metadata and Digital Library Services. An alert reader pointed out an error in one of our clues. We stated that George W. Bush had flown in a fighter jet for a photo op this year; in fact he rode in a Navy S-3B Viking, a multi-purpose plane used for refueling, surveillance and other operations. You can revisit the clues in the December LSA News Fact File.
The answers:
EVENTS OF INTERESTAs 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. LSA EVENTS If you've been following the news from Africa, you know the situation in Zimbabwe has changed radically over the past couple of years. What's it like to live in Zimbabwe now? On Thursday, January 15th from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Studio A the LSA Program Committee will present a discussion on Zimbabwe by Jennifer Kyker. She will talk about her studies (her interest in Zimbabwe began in elementary school), her experiences as a Fulbright fellow in ethnomusicology in that country, the current situation there, and the plans she has for forming a non-profit organization to aid young Zimbabwean orphan women to complete their education. The program should last about an hour. NON-LSA EVENTS There will be a Johnston lecture on a similar topic on the same day as Jennifer's LSA presentation: "A Writer Bearing Witness: AIDS orphans in Africa". Author Melissa Fay Greene will speak on her work Thursday January 15 in the Knight Library Browsing Room. The 4 p.m. lecture will be followed by a reception. If you can't make it to Jennifer Kyker's LSA presentation, you'll get a second chance to hear her discuss her experiences as a Fulbright fellow studying ethnomusicology in Zimbabwe. She'll talk about the current situation there and the organization she hopes to form on Saturday, January 17 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Fool's Paradise Teahouse, 460 Willamette St. This event is a fundraiser with a sliding scale for admission donations ($5-15 is suggested). Looking for something new and exciting to spice up your January? Try Polka Bowling Night, Saturday January 24th, 8 p.m. to midnight at Southtowne Lanes, 2486 Willamette St. The $12 fee (advance tickets ONLY) includes rental of shoes, bowling, pool tables and live music. Get your tickets at Tsunami Books, WINK (formerly the Comic News, in the 5th St. Public Market), Backstage Dancewear, or from members of Accordions Anonymous (including David Landazuri, proud cataloging accordionist.)
ProfileInside Oregon recently featured a profile of Paul Harvey. Paul is a member of the Metadata and Digital Services Department, and an avid Special Olympics coach.
Welcome!
Greg Doyle, Orbis Cascade Alliance, started January 5.
GoodbyesFarewell to Juanita Benedicto, who is leaving January 23 to accept a position at Lane Community College.
Congratulations!To Angus and Christine Nesbit! Madeline Nesbit, their first child, was born on Friday, November 28, weighing 7 lbs. 13 oz.
Been to an interesting conference?Send us a brief report for publication in the next newsletter. Thanks! | ||||
Last updated: 030902 |
