LSA News

No. 68, September/October, 2005

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

Special Gift Arrives from Thai Royal Family

by Ron Renchler, photos by Stacy DeHart

When Veerakarn Suebsang first visited University Librarian Deborah Carver’s office last spring, he delivered some good news. He reported that a contingent of government leaders and other dignitaries from Thailand had recently visited the Eugene-Springfield area and the UO campus, and had been so favorably impressed by the warm reception they received that they wanted to show their appreciation with a gift.

L-R, Suruedj Ronghanam, Carol Hixon, Chuchuen Chotchuang and Lori Robare

Suebsang, a UO graduate student in planning, public policy and management and director of the United States-Thailand Distance Learning Organization (DLO) told Carver: “The visitors found Eugene-Springfield community members so friendly and so curious about Thailand and its monarchy that they wanted to offer a gift of books from Thailand’s Royal Family as a way of saying thank you.” The gift was also meant to demonstrate Thailand’s desire for continued friendship and close relations between Thailand, the UO, and the local community, he said.

Suebsang, who managed the process of collecting and delivering the gift, asked the UO Libraries and the public libraries in Eugene and Springfield to supply a “wish-list” of the type of material they might want. The UO Libraries requested items that will become part of a high-quality research collection on Thailand for students and faculty, while the public libraries asked for popular Thai literature and general works on Thai culture and history.

The gift, consisting of more than 1,700 books from the personal collections of Thailand’s Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Grand Chamberlain Khwankeo Vajarodaya, and other Thai government and academic leaders, arrived this past summer. About three-fourths of the books will be added to the UO Libraries’ research collections; the remaining books will be placed in the Eugene Public Library and Springfield Public Library.

Limited edition book of King Chulalonglorn's photographs of 19th century Thailand with handwritten comments

The generosity of the Royal Family and the DLO didn’t end with the gift of books. Many items given to the UO Libraries were written in Thai and needed to have bibliographical information transliterated and then be fully cataloged for inclusion in the library’s collections. To complete this task, the DLO arranged to have two professional librarians from Thailand, Chuchuen Chotchuang and Suruedj Ronghanam, be in residence at the library for two months to catalog the books. A team of Thai students attending the UO have served as translators and have provided other assistance as part of the gift cataloging team.

In welcoming the two librarians at a recent reception, Deborah Carver said the gift of books and the presence of Chuchuen Chotchuang and Suruedj Ronghanam at the UO Libraries represent the kind of cultural exchange that goes far beyond the library’s walls. “The Thai Royal Family’s gift will yield creative, lifelong learning experiences for everyone involved, both in Thailand and the United States,” she said. “We are honored to receive this magnificent gift and eager to help strengthen the UO’s connection to citizens and communities throughout Thailand.”

Visits to the Eugene-Springfield area by Thai government officials and dignitaries, including Manisa Piyasing, head of Thailand's Distance Learning Foundation, are planned for the coming months, culminating in a visit by a member of the Royal family in early 2006, when the gift will be formally dedicated.

LSA bids farewell to summer with baseball, ritual face-stuffing

by Dave Baker, photos by Laura Damiani

The visiting team takes a swing

The last few fleeting weeks of the season are upon us. Soon we will find ourselves surrounded by a literal flood of young adults seeking to better themselves by expanding their minds and increasing their breadth of knowledge, if only by learning how one might tap a keg. There are precious few days left until we can expect to overhear old favorites such as, "If I had known it was going to rain here in October, I never would have applied!" and "Dude I'm totally dropping my ten o'clock class. I just can't get up that early." And so, in ritualistic fashion, certain members of the venerable Library Staff Association uttered a simultaneous wistful "goodbye" to Summer and a stern "bring it on" to Fall by gathering at Eugene's Civic Stadium on August 31st for an evening of light-hearted consumptive bliss. Oh, and apparently there was a baseball game going on as well.

Library staff enjoy the perks of special seating

I play my fair share of musical instruments. I persist in playing them poorly, so that I have never had even a remote chance of being what the kids call a "rock star." Even so, I had my first inkling of what it must feel like to be a rock star when I entered the area designated for our revelry, a sticker reading "U of O Library Staff" affixed firmly to my shirt. The place was full of Ems employees, scurrying to and fro in the final stages of their preparation for our arrival. Some were filling tables with plates and napkins; others were tapping kegs of mustard and mayonnaise for us to sample at our leisure (straight from the pump!). A handful of harried individuals busily rotated various patties and cylinders of meat and un-meat alike over a raging fire, surely afflicted with a mixture of respect and dread in anticipation of our collective appetite for all things grilled. The tension in the air was palpable: what would happen if these handlers of books, these dispensers of knowledge, had not enough to eat!? Clearly, they did not want to find out.

Nor did they want to find out what would happen if we went thirsty. I truly began to feel my new "rock star" status sinking in when I approached the beverage window. There were people behind the counter busily filling cups with various carbonated elixirs, but they were not given to filling our needs on an individual basis; it was clear that their only purpose was to make sure that we collectively had enough to drink, whenever the whim came, without the hassle of human interaction. As their guests we were tasked with simply taking what we wanted as soon as we wanted it. I immediately felt that this was an expectation that I could live up to.

(story continued)

Dreaming at My Desk

by Harriett Smith

When I was in high school, my girlfriend's family used to go car camping at Siltcoos every June right after school let out. This was before the advent of "recreational vehicles", and once we parked the old green-and-cream Volkswagen bus, out came several big canvas tents almost tall enough for us to stand up in. The adults shared one tent and the teenagers usually crammed into another big tent. I think there was supposed to be one tent for the boys and one for the girls, but as I recall we would stay up very late and just sleep wherever we ended up.

Driftwood fort on the beach photo courtesy of Jennifer Rowan

Mornings were chilly, full of ravens croaking and the distant sound of the waves. My friend's parents were usually up before us, tending a coffee pot over a small fire. For breakfast there would be oatmeal or bacon and pancakes, or maybe toast—typical breakfast fare, with the added fillip of a slightly smokey taste.

After breakfast, we would make the long trek over dunes to the windy beach. We were always on the lookout for wild strawberries, even though at that time of year finding one or two ripe ones in the whole week was miraculous. Once on the beach, we would often skinny-dip in the cold Pacific surf, and then run up into the dunes to lie sheltered from the breeze while working on our tans. Only rarely did we see any motorized vehicle in the dunes there. We were in a private, hot, sunny, sandy paradise of our own, where we could tell stories, doze, read, or just talk desultorily.

I first read Tom Wolfe's Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test at Siltcoos beach, lying in a warm tent in the sleepy afternoon. I also first read Emma there, and Far From the Madding Crowd. I wrote in my journal, talked secrets with my girlfriends, hung out with my boyfriend, learned to play strip poker, and discovered the joys of box macaroni and s'mores.

One foggy morning I had walked a long way down the beach alone. It's always my habit to beachcomb, so I was looking down as I walked, watching for pretty shells and rocks. As I lifted my gaze for a moment, I suddenly saw a round green object quite a way down the beach from me. I couldn't believe my eyes! I looked all around. No one was in sight, but I ran as fast as I could towards the largest green glass float I had ever seen….washed up on the beach in perfect condition. Over a foot in diameter, it was pitted a bit, and had some shellfish attached which had to be cleaned off when they began to smell, but it was whole, and beautiful. I still have it, in my bedroom where I see it every day.

My friends and I were dreamers in our late teens. Some of those dreams came true. My boyfriend used to mock himself by saying he would be a famous televangelist, or saint, and preach to multitudes. After trying twice to be an engineer, he is now a minister, though I don't think his church has been visited by the cameras, and his name is unknown to the multitudes. Some of the dreams we had then have not come true. Maybe they never could. My girlfriend and I used to talk about taking a summer to live on the beach. We would live in driftwood forts, and cook our food over beach fires. We would eat off the big clam shells we found everywhere, and be beachcombers, maybe waitressing a bit for money—but I think in our dream we didn't need much money. We would drink summer wine out of the beautiful swirled blue-green Mexican glasses I had bought in the mountains one day—glasses that looked like the sea itself. We would read, swim, walk, and write.

My friend and I have busy lives now. We've never spent another summer week together since the week after high school graduation. We live in different states, and seldom see each other. She has children, and a career working to make the world a better place, which keeps her stressed and on the run. I too have work to do, and a back which might not benefit from even one night in a sleeping bag on the sand. Still I dream that somehow, some day, we will find time to spend together again. On a warm summer beach without rain, we'll find or build a sturdy driftwood fort, with a log for a table and clam shells for dishes. We'll drink red wine by candlelight, and talk as we walk by the starlit sea. We'll write poetry, sing, dress in salt-stained gypsy velvets, and dance on the bright morning sands....just as we dreamed in those seawind summers long ago.

Rippey Library Doubles in Size

by Barbara A. Butler

Just half of the OIMB ITC fills the portion of the library which was the attic of the former OIMB Director's Cottage. photo courtesy of Barbara A. Butler

Construction of the second floor of the Loyd and Dorothy Rippey Library was completed just before the beginning of Summer Term. The new space houses the OIMB (Oregon Institute of Marine Biology) Information Technology Center, collaborative work rooms for students, offices for visiting faculty members, a conference room and an image processing laboratory. The first floor of the library is a tad bit quieter now that the computers have been moved upstairs and two visiting summer term faculty members have already test-driven the new offices. The library has always been the center of activity on campus and doubly so now that it has doubled in size!

THE WORLD AROUND US:

Special Olympics, Special Volunteers

story and photos by Paul Harvey

The mission of Special Olympics Oregon is to provide year-round sports training, health education and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

I didn't want to change a word of the Special Olympics Oregon mission statement for this article, only to point out that Special Olympics offers so much more to so many more people once they get involved, if only for a day. I have had the privilege of coaching Special Olympics softball for the past 11 years, basketball for the last ten and have just started my fourth year coaching bowling. I have also served as the volunteer manager for the Eugene-Springfield program for the past three years. I could, and would go on and on about how Special Olympics has impacted my life, but I won't. This article is about your co-workers who have stepped up and volunteered in a variety of capacities.

Eugene Kodiaks Special Olympics Basketball Team

Dave Peterson worked as a downhill starter assistant for the regional skiing and snowboarding tournament held last winter at Willamette Pass. The following are his words (you may need an X Games translator for parts).

"The opening ceremony of the comp [competition] was one of the most moving experiences I've witnessed. Powerful and beautiful. I was moved to tears with pride for these athletes. I felt so fortunate to be a witness of their bravery in the Cascades. It felt epic, and it was epic. I can't wait to volunteer next year.

(story continued)

Special Olympics Bocce

by David Grange

My involvement in the Special Olympics started early one morning on one of my last days of work, before retirement. The regional summer games were coming up and Paul Harvey was on the lookout for volunteers. He knew that I played bocce, and the Special Olympics had just added bocce to their summer sports line-up. I had never seen an official game, let alone played in one. They were looking for officials. I figured if I was going to get involved, I'd jump right in the middle of things and be an official.

(story continued)

SEAFOOD DIET

by Rose Thomas

Pike Place Market, Seattle photo by Laura Damiani

Back in 1973, I can remember my parents sitting us down at the dinner table to tell us that we were moving to Oregon. Later, after finding Oregon on the map, I marveled at how near we would be to the Pacific Ocean. Coming from Kansas and having always dreamed of living in a lighthouse, the move was a really big deal for me.

My first sight of the Pacific Ocean was something I will never forget. That first trip to Florence was a winding route that took much longer than my eager anticipation could possibly stand. When we finally caught a glimpse of the wide expanse of ocean between the dunes, it was breathtaking. Walking along the beach on a rainy day, we were all sandblasted and wet on the ride home. But first, we had stopped at a seafood market and took home freshly caught shrimp for dinner that night.

Now I have seen also the ocean in Washington, California and Texas. I've since gone on to eat whatever seafood entrée the region offers: fish tacos in San Diego and Los Angeles, grilled salmon in Washington, and shrimp freshly caught out of the Gulf of Mexico. Any trip to the beach usually includes at stop to a restaurant for some seafood. Whether it is Mo's or the International C-Food Restaurant in Florence, the Mo's and Mo's Annex twins right across the street from each other in Newport, or the Bandon Channel House if we've made it all the way down south to Bandon-by-the-Sea. Occasionally, I'll have a bowl of chowder or a nice piece of grilled fish. But there's something about eating shrimp that brings back the memory of that first beach trip for me.

(story continued)

"American Cowboys"

The handful of people who turned up for the second annual "Food and a Film" potluck had a real treat in store for them! The event, co-sponsored by the Library Diversity Committee and LSA, featured a screening of "American Cowboys", one of the series of films selected for viewing to complement the exhibit "The Many Faces of Oregon's Workers, circa 1900-1940" currently on view at the Knight Library.

Jackson Sundown

The film "American Cowboys" tells the story of two men, Jackson Sundown of the Nez Perce tribe, and George Fletcher, a black man who came with his family from the south as a child and grew up in Pendleton. Both men are currently featured in the Knight Library exhibit. The film focuses on their participation in the early Pendleton, Oregon Round-Ups. In 1911, both competed against a white man, John Spain. Although the crowd favored George Fletcher as the real winner, Spain was given first prize that year (Jackson Sundown had been injured and was no longer a contender). The judges felt that it was impossible to award the prize to a non-white, although the crowd was vociferous in their disagreement. At last in 1916 the 53-year-old Sundown, who had competed in the event for many years, was deservedly awarded a first prize. But Fletcher was never allowed to compete in bronc riding again, and turned to exhibition riding as a way to stay in rodeo.

Tribal elders and people who knew Fletcher or Sundown, or had seen them ride, were quoted in interviews. The cowboy's early lives and upbringing, the Nez Perce wars Sundown experienced and the racism Fletcher encountered as a young black man in Pendleton, and what happened to them after they stopped bronc riding were all discussed.

American Cowboys Sundown, Hall and Rollen, 1916

The real treat, though, was the extensive live footage of the men as they rode in the 1911 and 1916 Pendleton Round-Ups. There were parade shots, and lots and lots of film of the bronc riding. People interviewed had discussed the men's ability to relate to the horses, and you could see it in these long rides (there was no 10-second rule then). The men rode with elegance and fluidity. Watching this archival footage was an amazing experience and one that it's a shame more library staff did not have a chance to enjoy.

"American Cowboys" was produced by Wildbill Productions in association with Oregon Public Broadcasting in 1998. The library's copy is available at VIDEO COLL VIDEOTAPE 06846.

The UO Libraries' Digital Library Collections page is a great place to start if you'd like to see some images of early Round-Ups and the cowboys and cowgirls who roped and rode in them. A basic search across all of the CONTENTdm collections pulls up a number of fascinating images. (Not all have yet been cataloged.) For more explanation about these collections, please see About UO Digital Library Collections.

The next film in the LDC series will be "Family Gathering". It will be shown Thursday September 15 at noon in Studio A. Brown-baggers are welcome. The film is 30 minutes long.

Images courtesy of Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries

Carol Lenocker latest 'Fact File' winner

Congratulations to Carol Lenoker of Metadata and Digital Library Services, who correctly identified all of the aunts and uncles in last month's Fact File contest. Carol has been sent a gift certificate worth $5.00 toward purchases at the UO Bookstore. Honorable mention goes to Jen Lindsey, of Access Services, who also identified all 10 names (but as the previous winner was ineligible to claim this month's prize).

You can revisit the clues in the August issue of LSA News Fact File.

The Answers:

1. Auntie Em (The Wizard of Oz)
2. Uncle Martin (My Favorite Martian)
3. Aunt Polly (Tom Sawyer)
4. Ebenezer Scrooge (A Christmas Carol)
5. Aunt Bee (Andy Griffith Show)
6. Auntie Mame (Auntie Mame)
7. Uncle Fester (The Addams Family)
8. Uncle Vanya (Uncle Vanya)
9. Uncle Charlie (My Three Sons)
10. Aunt Eller (Oklahoma)

Poetry Issue Planned

Many thanks to all of you who submitted favorite poems and poets who sent in some of their work for inclusion in a future issue of LSA News. We look forward to producing a poetry issue sometime in the future. We would like to have a few more examples of some of your favorite poems and would be thrilled to receive some more original poetry.

When selecting favorite poems, do remember that copyright restrictions govern online publications, so we are seeking poems that are either in the public domain, or legally published online (to which we may refer the reader), and poems that can be excerpted effectively.

Suggested poems and your original poetic works may be sent to LSA News.

Bicycle Lunch Group Gets Rolling

by Eliz Breakstone, photos by Stacy DeHart and Eliz Breakstone

l-r, Stan Hall, Andrew Bonamici, Eliz Breakstone, Megan Dazey, Tom Stave and Susan Stumpf

Last month six fearless souls ventured forth from the library on bicycle for the first of many bike-to-lunch rides. Tom Stave, Susan Stumpf, Stan Hall, Andrew Bonamici, Megan Dazey and Eliz Breakstone, on bikes ranging from recumbent to cruiser to road, made their way across Eugene to Plaza Latina, a new grocery store with a fabulous little café at the front of the store. The bikers dined on tostadas, burritos, chiles rellenos and other tasty delights. Though the ride was casual and the speed comfortable, everyone felt that lunch was well-earned.

Plaza Latina

Join the "velocipedians" on their next journey. They’ll be biking to Triomphe on Willamette for lunch on September 19th. Meet at the bike racks at noon. The speed is comfortable and everyone welcome!

If you can’t make this month’s ride, but would like to join in the future, contact Eliz at ebreak@uoregon.edu and she’ll add you to the email list.

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.

LSA EVENTS

At press time, no LSA events had been planned for September or October. But watch the Staff Bulletin and your email for updates!

NON-LSA EVENTS

HURRICANE RELIEF:
On Saturday, September 10, 2005 there will be a Car Wash/Bake Sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Eugene Friends Church, located at 3495 W. 18th. All proceeds will be sent directly to Friends Disaster Service which is already delivering assistance to victims in Gulfport, MS. Tom Stave in Documents tells us that the September 3 event raised about $1300. If you can't make it to this weekend's event but would like to help, Tom is accepting contributions. Checks should be made out to "Friends Disaster Service". For more information, you can contact Tom.

The American Library Association has issued a statement on Hurricane Katrina and has put up a page of news posts, mostly items emailed in from librarians in the affected areas.

As part of the film series which complements the curent exhibit in the Knight Library, The Many Faces of Oregon's Workers, circa 1900-1940, please join the Library Diversity Committee on Thursday, September 15, 2005 at noon in Studio A to view "Family Gathering" (30 min.). The film portrays the treatment of Japanese-American citizens during WWII, especially their removal from their homes to internment camps. The focus of the film is on the Yasui family (profiled in the current exhibit) and how the WWII years affected them. You are welcome to bring your lunch to these brown-bag events.

The Great Oregon Fall Beach Cleanup takes place on September 17, 2005. Sounds like a great way to honor Mother Nature and have fun too!

On September 24, 2005 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the historic Applegate House in Yoncalla, Oregon will be holding an Arts and Antiques Appraisal and Preservation Day. For a $10 donation you may have two objects appraised, and get expert advice from conservators on how to care for your antiques. There will also be tours of the "Old House" at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Beverages and picnic area will be available. For more information contact Stacy DeHart or call (541) 849-3500, or visit applegatehouse.com.

A queer ally training workshop has been scheduled for Wednesday, September 28, 2005 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the East Conference Room. This "Allies 101" workshop is intended to give participants the opportunity to learn how to be supportive of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students, faculty and staff. For more information, check out the UO's "Queer Ally Coalition" web site. Please email or phone Christy Carmichael (6-1840) if you would like to sign up for this workshop or want more information.

The Eugene Symphony season begins in September. On October 20, 2005 at 8 p.m., the Symphony will perform Webern's "Variations for Orchestra", Walton's "Viola Concerto", and Holst's "The Planets." Harriett Smith sings with the symphony women's chorus and says this concert is one you'll want to hear!

The UO School of Music presents flutist Nancy Andrew and harpist Laura Zaerr on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 at 8:00 pm in Beall Hall. The Faculty Artist Series recital will include the world premiere of a work by Terry McQuilkin. Tickets, available at the door, are $9 ($5 for students and seniors).

Eugene Celebration Parade, 2001
photo by Laura Damiani

Announcements:

All-staff photos: Copies of several of the all-staff photos taken in June are now available! Image Services of MDLS is now taking orders, via this webform. Photos are available in 5" x 7" or 8" x 10" prints at $5 and $8 respectively. Turn-around time will be about two weeks depending on the number of prints requested.

Seeking Social Souls: The LSA Social Committee is seeking new recruits. We primarily host the Holiday Potluck in December and the Spring Tea in May, and are in search of anyone who would like to take part in planning/decorating/etc. for these functions. Please contact Raina Smith at 6-1837 or email her if you think you might like to help out.

People in the Library

Welcome:

Katherine (Kate) Ball joined the staff in MDLS on August 16. Kate has been an intern and volunteer here since January. She has been and will continue working on the Office of the President Archival Collection Digitization Project, as well as the large collection of images and textual documents associated with the role of athletics here at the University. Kate hails from Eugene and attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, and received her MLIS at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Some of her favorite pastimes include knitting, book construction, cooking, hiking and reading. Greetings Kate!

On August 22 nd the Library welcomed Erin O’Meara to her new job as University Records Manager in Special Collections &University Archives. Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Erin received her Masters in Archival Studies at the University of British Columbia. From there she moved to Oregon in 2004. At that time she worked as Records Management Analyst in the Oregon State Archives in Salem. Her work there included discovery for the FBI of SAIF records, and the accessioning of records related to the Neil Goldschmidt case. In her spare time Erin enjoys cooking for her friends, lap swimming and competing athletically against her twin sister in New York. She is looking forward to possibly starting a spinning class with Eliz Breakstone. Welcome Erin!

Congratulations:

Goodbye:

Staff photos by Stacy DeHart unless otherwise indicated

Been to an interesting conference?

Send us a brief report for publication in the next newsletter. Thanks!

Last updated: 12 September, 2005
lsaweb@lists.uoregon.edu