LSA News

No. 72, March, 2006

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

Poetry Issue Index Poetry: An Editor's Note Limerick Contest Winners Announced Poets Among Us: Works by UO Libraries Writers Staff Select Favorite Poetry The Jewish Literature Reading and Discussion Series by Leslie Bennett The True Harbingers of Spring by Jennifer Rowan The View From Hidden Spring by Pam DeLaittre Visiting the Farm by Annie Zeidman-Karpinski O Artichoke, My Artichoke, I Do Love Thee by Rose Thomas Readin' in the Rain by Donna Pellinger Letter to the Editors Winner of "Fact File" Announced Events of Interest People in the Library

Puck from A Midsummer Night's Dream detail from a screen print by Laura Damiani

Editor's note

Poetry for all of us

Here in the university environment, it's not hard to find folks who know and love poetry. But it's probably even easier to find colleagues who claim indifference toward the art. And there are lots of folks like me, who read the essays in a magazine like the New Yorker, but skip over the poems, intending to read them later on, and forgetting to do so. This shouldn't be surprising, for although we are regularly exposed to the newest offerings in music, film and prose literature, poetry seems to be relegated to a place outside the mainstream: deserving of respect but (except for literature scholars and incurable romantics) not something that generates passionate interest. Maybe this phenomenon is a byproduct of our data-oriented world. Or perhaps this is a result of the kind of experience most of us had with poetry in school (analyze, memorize!), and the fact that we are so rarely encouraged to read poetry aloud.

Poet Billy Collins wrote:

I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide
or press an ear against its hive.

Collins wanted readers to let the poem speak for itself. He reminds us that poems are written to move us, touch us, change us. Poetry isn't written so that it can be dissected.

Collins closes his poem with:

But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.
They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.

Responding to our invitation of some time ago, a few readers have told us which poems are among their favorites. The model for this invitation was the Favorite Poem Project, spearheaded by former poet laureate of the United States Robert Pinksy. Following the example of the national project, we asked contributors to say a few words about the poem or poems they selected.

We've also included a selection of poems by our own staff here in UO Libraries, including works by Risa Bear, Harriett Smith, Nancy Slight-Gibney, Susan Robles (Mincks) and David Landazuri. But we kick things off on a lighter note: a baker's dozen of delightful limericks, the fruits of our recent contest.

You'll also find in this issue two springtime articles — Jennifer Rowan's column on birds, and Rose Thomas' on artichokes — that continue along the theme of poetry. In addition, we have from Leslie Bennett a preview of the upcoming reading and discussion series, "Let's Talk About It: Jewish Literature—Identity and Imagination," columns by Pam DeLaittre and Annie Zeidman-Karpinski, a report on "Readin' in the Rain" by Donna Pellinger, and our regular monthly features.

This issue of LSA News is the creative product of no fewer than ten guest contributors, plus the diligent work of our dedicated editorial team. Don't try to read all of it in one sitting. Bookmark in your browser http://lsa.uoregon.edu/newsletter.html as one of your favorites, and return to the newsletter throughout the month.

—Terry McQuilkin

Leading Library Limerists Lauded

Marilyn Mohr and Victoria Wong

It was a team effort that brought victory in LSA News' Limerick Contest for Victoria Wong, Student Assistant, and Marilyn Mohr, Senior Preservation Technician in the Beach Conservation Lab, Materials Processing and Conservation Unit of Metadata and Digital Library Services. Their limerick was chosen as best out of 13 entries by our celebrity judge, Professor Lisa Freinkel, Director of the Comparative Literature Program and Associate Professor of English. Victoria and Marilyn received their prize — the coveted chocolate pound cake — in time to share with co-workers during their recent payday celebration party. Congratulations, Victoria and Marilyn! You have served your library with distinction. And here is the winning entry:

Blame 00100

This last research paper was pivotal.
What luck! All the readings were digital.
But my sleek laptop crashed
As the deadline sped past.
Would I've failed if my sources were physical?

To read the other dozen submissions, all worthy of honorable mention, click here.

The Poets Among Us:
A sampling of poetry by Library Staff

Two Poems by Risa Bear

Sometimes

this is what you'll come to, picking about
in earth, pulling morning glory roots
like long white worms and heaping them

beside you of a morning: you will become
distant and glum, and as your wrists dry up,
caked in clay, you'll look around you, and

not your small red barn, your irises,
your bamboo patch, your oak and ash,
your three brave maples rattling in the breeze,

your small house bracketed in lilacs, breathing smoke,
your woodshed stacked roof-high,
your mint and parsley putting on new life,

your geese, your ducks, your pear trees in bright bloom
will rid you of the thought of what this is
that you are digging, bit by troweled bit.

Assuming the sun will come out, which now
it does, things won't seem quite that bad,
and yet you will walk stooped, with furrowed

brow, into the house for a late cold lunch
without words, for there are no words
to share what it was the cold ground

said to your hands just now.

---

Or, sometimes

you'll come to this, lovingly rooting
in earth, gently setting to one side
fat worms, watching them

sink from sight with shrugs of their nonexistent
shoulders. As your wrists dry up, caked
in clay, you'll look around you, and

your small red barn, your irises,
your bamboo patch, your ash and oak,
your three unfurling maples whispering in the breeze,

Bamboo by Stacy DeHart

your white house bracketed in lilacs, breathing
smoke, your woodshed stacked with fir,
your mint and parsley putting on new life,

your pears and apples, your geese in their bright plumes
will bring to you the thought of what this is
that you are digging, bit by troweled bit.

Assuming that the clouds will come, which now
they do, you will take things as they are,
and so you simply walk, with even-tempered

gaze, toward the house for a late cold lunch:
one without words, for there are no words
to share what it was your hands

said to the green earth even now.

Copyright © 2002 the author and Stony Run Press. Used by permission.

Read more poetry by UO Library staff

Library Staff Members' Favorite Poems

Poetry picks range from Shakespeare to Stevenson

Lisa Levitt:
The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

My Favorite Poem is The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost. I encountered this poem back in one of my high school literature classes and read it at my high school graduation (oh so long ago). It meant a lot to me because I grew up in a small town and chose to go out-of-state for college but four years ago I wandered back to Oregon (although not to the same town).

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Read more poetry selected by UO Library staff members

The Jewish Literature Reading and Discussion Series

by Leslie Bennett

Have you ever wanted to participate in a book club right here on campus with your fellow University and Eugene/Springfield community members? If you have, here's your chance to join many of your friends in an exciting opportunity.

This spring the UO Libraries will host a free five-part reading and discussion series called "Let's Talk About It: Jewish Literature—Identity and Imagination." The series will explore Jewish literature and culture through scholar-led discussions of contemporary and classic books on a common theme. The theme chosen for discussion in the local series is Between Two Worlds: Stories of Estrangement and Homecoming, a theme that has relevance to our community, as most of us have come from somewhere else to be here.

A reception and kickoff event will be held Tuesday, March 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Browsing Room of the Knight Library. The kickoff event will feature music by David Helfand; refreshments; and an introductory talk on the theme by Martha Ravits, a local expert on Jewish literature who is serving as facilitator and scholar for the book discussions. Marti has taught in the Women's Studies Department, as well as in Judaic studies, and is considered a scholar in Jewish literature. What is unique about this series is that you can learn more about the books from the lectures at the beginning of each session, then participate in the book discussions—along with enjoying the company of your colleagues, the refreshments, and listening to music related to each book's theme. Supporting materials for the reading and discussion sessions will be distributed at the reception. Copies of books to be discussed in the series will also be available for purchase from the UO Bookstore at the reception. Other copies may be borrowed from the UO Libraries, or the Eugene and Springfield public libraries.

The books chosen for reading in the local series and the dates of their respective discussion sessions are as follows: Eva Hoffman's Lost in Translation, April 18; Saul Bellow's Mr. Sammler's Planet, May 2; Moacyr Scliar's The Centaur in the Garden, May 9; André Aciman's Out of Egypt, May 23; and Allegra Goodman's Kaaterskill Falls, June 6. All discussion sessions begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Browsing Room of Knight Library. Martha Ravits will be present at each session to give background on the books and facilitate the discussion.

Other supporting activities for the series include an exhibit on Jewish music and music of cultural diasporas in the Music Services area of the Knight Library, beginning March 1, and an exhibit in the Knight Library's first-floor exhibit cases on the theme, running from March 15 to July 7.

The UO Libraries is one of 200 libraries nationwide receiving grants to host the series, developed by Nextbook and the American Library Association. Our grant came about through the hard work of Faye Chadwell, with local support provided by the UO Libraries Diversity Committee, UO Judaic Studies Program, UO EMU Cultural Forum, Eugene Public Library, and Temple Beth Israel.

If you think you'd like to participate in the sessions, but you don't have time to read all the books, please come to the introductory session on March 14th—and you can come to the others as your time permits. We promise that this will be a fun and interesting series!

Questions? Email Leslie Bennett or phone her at 346-1930. And be sure to pick up one of the colorful bookmarks for the series, available at most public service desks in the UO Libraries.

The True Harbingers of Spring

by Jennifer Rowan

Plain as Day
Parker River Wildlife Refuge

Two birders from Connecticut
went looking for the Snowy Owl.
And I observed — while on the viewing
platform — as they approached, on the prowl
with tripod, scope, and removable zoom.
I knew my peace had met its doom
and offered them my place, and left
to look for something in the pine.
I wasn't sure exactly what —
or which allusion, countersign,
or signal I should there pursue.
I never got what birders knew —
you go to where the bird has flew;
don't wait for it to come to you.

By Son Rivers, 2006
Reprinted with the permission of Son Rivers

It's the time of year when each week unveils more markers of the shift from winter to … well, that lovely, long transitional season we in Western Oregon think of as spring. The stress of winter holidays may be over, but the daily norm still leans to wet and temperatures continue to be cold, sometimes awfully cold, at least by our west coast mollycoddled standards. Between showers, drizzles, sprinkles and mists, we are offered the occasional tease of a bright sunrise or a late-clearing afternoon, but in general we must rely on other clues to reassure ourselves that winter is truly on the wane. Crocuses, daffodils, camellias and forsythias are the earliest flora indicators of the season shift. The uppermost blossoms of the earliest magnolia I know — tall and leggy in the margin between Allen and Lawrence Hall — opened on February 10th this year, only three days later than its previous blooming "record".

The more elusive markers are, for obvious reasons, those that ambulate, migrate or peregrinate. Resident mallards in the Amazon creek are aggressively courting; a colony of blue herons is constructing nesting platforms in the tall cottonwoods along the Willamette north of the Valley River footbridge; and I've recently been diverted in my morning bike commute by two (2!) intensely indelicate episodes of carnal knowledge between raccoon couples (after a startled glimpse, I averted my gaze). Love (and the preservation of species) is surely in the air.

There's a lot going on if you make a point to get outside and look around, which is making these transition months a particularly gratifying time for those who enjoy looking for and watching birds. There are species that come down from the mountains or in from the coast during the months of harsh winter weather, which has allowed us to enjoy the seasonal appearances of juncos and Townsend's warblers at our bird feeders and the brief visits of mergansers (common and hooded), dunlins and greater yellowlegs in the Amazon creek. Northwest birders were hyped-up this year by the migration of snowy owls as far south as the Willamette Valley and along the Pacific coast.

Two local hotspots for urban or near-urban bird watching include the north bank bike path extension along the Willamette river and Fern Ridge reservoir. During the shift in seasons along the Willamette, loons, grebes, gadwalls and widgeons can be spotted in the quieter inlets from the main river channel. Double-crested cormorants periodically congregate by the hundreds in the tall cottonwoods. Canada geese are a dominant and raucous presence as couples prepare to nest on the small islands. Wood ducks will arrive soon to use the quiet waterways for breeding; in past years, we have counted a dozen or more pairs with their young.

Fern Ridge is always a good birdwatching experience, that is, except during goose hunting season when the parking area at the end of Royal Avenue is filled with pickup trucks with empty gun racks, and the regular sound of shotgun blasts make one cringe with revulsion. I will never understand hunting in general, but to shoot innocuous ducks or Canada geese that mate for life! The only recourse is to shun Fern Ridge during hunting season. However, during the winter-spring transition, there is unending activity and a wonderful diversity of waterfowl and raptors at the reservoir. During a visit a couple of weeks ago, we saw tundra swans, great white egrets, northern harriers, a bald eagle and two golden eagles (we haven't spotted any osprey yet — they winter in the Baja peninsula and usually return to nest here in March). We also watched the lively darting and swooping behavior of birds we initially identified as returning swifts partly because early February is still too soon to expect to see swallows. We have since learned that swallows have indeed returned to the Willamette Valley ahead of the norm, a fact that we'd like to take as a promise of early spring.

Turkey vulture: the true harbinger of spring
reprinted with the permission of
photographer Peter Weber of www.wildbirdphotos.com

However, osprey and violet-green swallows are not the indicator species marking the end of winter in western Oregon — that distinction must go to the true harbinger of spring, the turkey vulture! And yes, they've been spotted in the area in the last week (having returned, it would seem, from more southern climes and carrion), so regardless of the behaviors of woodchucks in those eastern states, there is now no doubt that spring has officially arrived here in Oregon's Willamette Valley, where it matters (to us) the most.

I do not know which to prefer,
The beauty of inflections
Or the beauty of innuendoes,
The blackbird whistling
Or just after.

From "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird"
By Wallace Stevens

Vulture in flight
reprinted with the permission of
photographer Russell Thorstrom/The Peregrine Fund

The View from Hidden Spring

by Pam DeLaittre

Are you a recycler? I am.

Kirk and I don't have garbage service any more. Several years ago, our garbage company in Cottage Grove quit picking up recycles, so we quit using them. We carefully separate our waste into paper, cardboard, plastic bags and "things". "Things" are cans (with any Campbell products labels removed for education points), plastic bottles that fall within the recycle guidelines, glass, and metal such as used nails, Snapple bottle caps etc. Our animal waste products such as manure, straw, and dirty hay all go into the garden where our "garden" chickens pull it apart and remove seeds, grain and insects. Once a month, or maybe less, we go to the dump and pay our $6 (discounted because we do recycle) to empty our three garbage cans of non-recyclables.

I feel and have felt my entire life that using things once isn't enough. There is just so much benefit to re-use. Our pop and beer cans go back to the store creating "found money" benefits which I try to put into our savings "Hippo" (yes our "piggy" bank is a purple Hippo). We put our change in this daily. It does mount up over a year or so.

This is the mind-set that led me to become an organ donor from the time it was possible to denote it on my driver's license. All of my family know that this is the way I feel; I have signed the form and had it witnessed. My partner knows this is important to me.

One of the dilemmas I had to face when I had Lasik surgery was that my corneas would no longer be able to be donated. I selfishly, though with a lot of thought, decided that for me seeing for the rest of my life took priority over giving my corneas away at death.

Becoming a donor is easy. Giving life to someone else is the ultimate "random act of kindness". I realize that for some people this is a very difficult decision, for religious, moral, or personal reasons. I respect their personal rights.

But if you haven't really thought about it, maybe now, when someone we know, a respected colleague, is benefiting from the selfless gift of donated organs, is a good time to consider it. As I told Cara in a card, as a donor, I can't think of anyone more deserving of my organs should they have been the ones in use.

Please consider becoming an organ donor if you are not, and if you are, congratulations on your "recycling" skill.

The Oregon Donor Program has an informative web site.

Visiting the Farm

by Annie Zeidman-Karpinski

The Birthday Girl, the unsuspecting sheep, and a very excited Boris

A young friend of Boris' is fascinated with sheep. She has stickers, photos, stuffed animals, pictures depicting them. When her birthday party rolled around I thought that Boris and I would offer to take her to see Real Live Sheep as a present. I also wanted to meet my (sort of) namesake, little orphan Annie, the sheep Pam had to bottle feed. Pam was willing to serve as hostess and the sheep weren't consulted.

The Birthday Girl and her little sister, their mother (who works in the UO Law school), Boris and I all arrived on a gorgeous sunny morning. We all loved seeing the sheep, chickens, cats, dogs and horses. It is funny to go to a farm with kids. The things that catch their eyes and hold their attention are such a surprise. The girls thought the cats in the barn were as interesting as the other animals. But, they were smart enough to keep an eye on us from a distance. Boris thought everything was interesting and was as fascinated with the moving animals as he is with the world in general. I can't say the sheep, cats, dogs, horses and chickens reciprocated his enthusiasm.

(story continued)

O Artichoke, My Artichoke, I Do Love Thee

by Rose Thomas

"O heart weighed down by so many wings…!"
from the poem Artichoke by Joe Hutchison

Spring approaches and my mind focuses on two things: National Poetry Month in April and the upcoming artichoke season. It is hard for me to believe that it was less than a decade ago that I tried my first artichoke. I admit that it was not a vegetable I would ordinarily eat. Perhaps I had never tried a fresh artichoke because I wasn't quite sure how to prepare or eat one.

photo by Laura Damiani

I can still remember the simple act of tearing off the fleshy outer leaves of my steamed artichoke, dipping them into the melted butter, and scraping the flesh gently through my teeth. Since then, I've made a point of seeking out as many artichoke recipes as possible, whether they use fresh artichokes or not.

Steaming an artichoke is easy: pick a good, firm artichoke at the grocer, bring it home and wash it under cold water. Trim off the lower petals, the top quarter of the artichoke and bottom stem with a chef's knife. Dipping the artichoke into water that has been acidified with lemon juice or vinegar will help it stay green. Place it on a steamer basket or a small rack inside a large, lidded pot with a little salted water in the bottom. Put the lid tightly on the pot and steam 25-45 minutes (depending on size), or until an outer leaf pulls off easily and a fork inserts easily into the bottom stem.

The method of picking and eating each leaf until you reach the prized heart of the artichoke is a ritual, and if you hurry through the eating the outer leaves to get to the choke, then you have completely missed the experience you were meant to have.

It's the same way I feel about poetry. A poem can appear to be about one thing (hard and spiny), but if you pick through the outer edges (words), slowly work away the leaves (imagery), then you reach the "heart" or the true meaning of what the poem is about. Speed through the process and you completely miss out on the experience.

I resolve to seek out good poetry as will I feast on great artichokes, whether I "dine" on Pablo Neruda's lengthy "Ode to the Artichoke" or "snack" on something like Joe Hutchinson's brief-but-to-the-point one-liner. If you haven't tried either an artichoke or a poem, don't be scared — just do it!

Check out the CALIFORNIA ARTICHOKE ADVISORY BOARD website to get some good information on how to select, prepare, and even eat an artichoke. Use some of their great recipes for artichokes prepared different ways. They've also got some great ideas for dips that are alternatives to butter.

Readin' in the Rain

by Donna Pellinger

Each February, "Readin' in the Rain" invites Eugene/Springfield to read, talk about, and celebrate one book. The 2006 choice was Crescent, Diana Abu-Jaber's love story set in L.A.'s Arab-American community. This book is filled with Arabian foods and spices, traditional poetry and tales, and the budding relationship between an American chef and an Iraqi exile.

Diana Abu-Jaber with "Readin' in the Rain" board members

The "Umbrella Opening" on February 3 featured international belly dancer Astryd deMichele, who performed to live Arabic and Turkic music by the band Ala Nar—whose name is Arabic for "on fire"! The ensemble took the audience on a journey through the Middle East, merging sweet melodies with dynamic rhythms, beautiful vocals, and stunning dance. Performers played flute, ney (Arabic flute), saz (long-necked lute), hand drums, oud (short-necked plucked lute), acoustic bass, violin, doumbec (Arabic tabla drums), daff (frame drum), and riqq (tambourine). That same evening, Dr. Beth Aydelott, professor of English and writing at Northwest Christian College, explored questions raised by the novel, including: What does it mean to be an American? What and where is "home"? What does the conflict felt by immigrants torn by two cultures have to do with being American? And what does food have to do with all of it?

(story continued)

Three staffers show they're Shakespeare-savvy

Three UO Libraries staff members correctly identified all eight of the Shakespeare plays in last month's Fact File contest. Carol Lenocker, Materials Processing and Conservation Unit Supervisor, MDLS, is the fortunate winner whose name was randomly selected among the three with perfect scores. Carol will be receiving a gift certificate worth $10.00 toward purchases at the UO Bookstore. Honorable mention goes to the other two bardophiles with flawless submissions: Michelle Page, of Access Services, and Jennifer Hufman of Facilities and Purchasing.

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

The Answers:

1. A Midsummer Night's Dream
2. Hamlet
3. As You Like It
4. Twelfth Night
5. Othello
6. The Merchant of Venice
7. Much Ado About Nothing
8. Romeo and Juliet

Letter to the Editors

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

MARCH 9, 2006: LSA sponsors the Introduction to Bookbinding workshop from 5 to 7 p.m. in Studio A. Never made a book before but always wanted to try? This workshop, led by the Beach Lab's Andrew Huot, will teach you the techniques to start making your own books and pamphlets. We will make a variety of different book structures that you can use for gifts, small notebooks, journals, or art projects. No experience is necessary, and all are encouraged to join in. Andrew Huot has been binding, repairing, and restoring books and making artist books since 1990. He has taught workshops and classes throughout the Northwest. There is a 15-person limit for this workshop. Please email Andrew or phone him at 6-0761 to register.

MARCH 24, 2006: Leslie Bennett, Head of Music Services, will host a Music Appreciation Brown Bag from noon to 1 p.m. in the Knight Library Browsing Room. Titled "Musical Borrowings & Re-purposings: Music from the Douglass Room from the Medieval to Hip Hop", this promises to be an interesting program!

APRIL 12, 2006: The first day of Spring is approaching, so it's time to turn our thoughts towards next month's annual Library Staff Association Spring Sale, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Knight Library Browsing Room. As usual LSA will showcase the talents, artistry, and green thumbs of our co-workers, and it's not too soon to think of items you might bring in: plant starts, crafts, baked goods, artistic works, and all those holiday gifts that "just didn't fit with your décor" for the rummage table. Rose Thomas has graciously agreed to create the dessert to be raffled off, and if you remember how delicious her last contribution was, you'll want to start saving up for raffle tickets now! This year the 10% commission on sale proceeds and receipts from the raffle will be donated to Food for Lane County. There will also be a box at the Sale for canned goods or monetary donations.

MAY 16, 2006: The May Tea will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Knight Library Browsing Room.

JUNE 20, 2006: Get your act together! The Gonzo Revue 2006 will be here before you know it. Begin your preparations now in order to dazzle us all. Not sure what kind of act to perform? Ask a co-worker or email David McCallum.

NON-LSA EVENTS

MARCH 8, 2006: The Library Staff Development Committee presents Dr. Joe Janes from the University of Washington's iSchool, speaking on "The Future of Reference". How is the digital age changing the way libraries provide services? What will the future look like? Join us for an informative presentation and discussion at 11 a.m. in the Knight Library Browsing Room. Dr. Janes specializes in digital reference and was the founder of the Internet Public Library, a pioneering virtual reference project. In addition to writing the "Internet Librarian" column for ALA's American Libraries magazine, Dr. Janes is an internationally-known presenter on the impact of technologies on library services.

MARCH 14, 2006: The reception and kickoff event for the reading and discussion series "Let's Talk About It: Jewish Literature—Identity and Imagination" will be at 7:30 p.m. in the Knight Library Browsing Room. The event will feature music by David Helfand; refreshments; and an introductory talk on the theme by Martha Ravits. See article above.

APRIL 1, 2006: David Landazuri is a member of Accordions Anonymous, who will perform on the opening day of the Saturday Market. He'll top off this musical triumph by appearing with Queen Accordionna's Drunk Puppet Band at Drunk Puppet Night, held upstairs at the Vet's Club (16th and Willamette), beginning at 8 p.m. David admits he'll be part of a sock monkey skit by the ubiquitous and creative Jean Murphy. Don't attend if you are offended by anatomically approximate sock monkeys.

APRIL 20, 2006: Dr. Kay Westerfield and Dr. Belinda Davy, both of the UO American English Institute, will give a brown-bag workshop on Communication Across Cultures from 12 to 1:30 p.m. in the Knight Library Browsing Room. Westerfield and Davy visited the library in August 2004 to speak about communication with international students. This April, they will expand their presentation to discuss different communication styles, how to prevent communication breakdown, etc. If you are interested in a particular aspect of communication across cultures, we are looking for input! Please contact Eliz Breakstone, chair of the Library's Diversity Committee.

People in the Library

Goodbye:

Wally Slocum resigned his position as Library Technician 3, Technical Services, Law Library, effective February 28. Wally obtained his MLS from the UO in 1965; worked as a student assistant from 1967-1969; as an Assistant Serials Librarian from 1969-1976 in what is now Knight Library; then served as a Clerical Specialist and Administrative Assistant in Serials from July 1, 1976 - February 12, 1984, when he was transferred to the Law Library. In a recent conversation Wally indicated he has long been active in helping organize the Oregon Country Fair, and assists local craft workers obtain fabric from Portland for their projects. Good luck, Wally; and thanks for your service.

Welcome:

Congratulations:

Get Well:

Staff photos by Stacy DeHart unless otherwise indicated

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

Last updated: 6 March 2006
lsaweb@lists.uoregon.edu