By Kathleen McWilliams and Julia Werth
Senior Staff Writer and Campus Correspondent

Reprinted from the UConn Daily Campus published Sunday, November 10, 2013

Bestselling children’s authors Tomie de Paola and Steven Kellogg joined the UConn Co-op at the 22nd annual Connecticut Children’s Book Fair.

This year, 27 authors and illustrators joined together with the University of Connecticut Libraries and the UConn Co-op to create a place where children’s book characters such as Strega Nona and Clifford come to life and inspire children to pursue their passion for reading.

According to Sharon Ristau, the children’s book buyer for the Co-op who has been helping organize the book fair for the past 11 years, the best part is “seeing all the kids get excited about the story characters.”

The kids certainly are excited. Six-year-old Davey, who was proudly “making a space shuttle” at the arts and crafts table, was so excited to be back at the book fair because he “went last year and its such a success.”

Davey’s mother, Thany Litrico, a 2006 UConn graduate from the School of Nursing, said that the event really “helps kids get excited about reading” which is so important for success in school.

A wide variety of books were available for purchase including board books for toddlers, picture books and novels for young adult readers. Many of the authors whose works were featured, were also in attendance and signed books for fans. The authors also gave panel discussions throughout the day aimed at parents and UConn students.

Children were entertained by a menagerie of characters including Stega Nona, Clifford and Spot the Dog. Local volunteers ran a craft station where children could construct and decorate paper crowns.

According to author Robert Forbes, who was joining the book fair for his third year, the event has “tremendous energy.” Even though Connecticut isn’t exactly next door to his home state of Florida, Forbes says he “wouldn’t miss this event for anything.” He believes that helping to interest children in stories and reading as early as possible will only benefit them later in life.

“These kids will all have a leg up in life because their parents read to them,” he said.

The book fair works to inspire children in the realm of literature. Kayla, who has been attending the book fair since she was only a year old, was so excited to be back this year for her 13th time.

“I love listening to the presentations,” she said. “It helps me learn for when I write my stories.”

Adults too can become interested in the world of literature at any time in their lives. Aaron Becker, an author and illustrator who was attending the event for the first time, published his first book “Journey” this summer after working as an artist for film studios in California his entire career. Becker said that he “did not expect so many families” to be attending the event. He thought maybe just a few “bookies” but not the hordes of excited children, parent, and grandparents that were swarming around the tables of books. After seeing such enthusiasm, Becker says he “definitely wants to come back.”

During the duration of the book fair, various panel discussions were held in addition to other children’s literature themed events. Bridging the divide between children’s literature and the university, UConn illustration students were invited to submit work to win the Raab Prize in illustration. The works were created for a poem by children’s author Jane Yolen and were critiqued by author and illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka. Krosoczka critiqued aspects of the illustration such as placement of the text in relation to the art as well as the content of the artist’s work.

Authors presented on a variety of topics, including one called “This is Teen” which focused on teen literature and bringing teenage readers closer to the authors who produce their favorite works. The panel was moderated by author Elizabeth Eulberg, author of “The Lonely Hearts Club” and featured authors Jeff Hirsch, author of “The Eleventh Plague,” Alaya Johnson, author of “Moonshine” and Michael Northrop, author of “Trapped.” All three authors write primarily for teens and contributed in sight on the subject of writing for a teen audience and connecting with teenagers.

“It was fun to meet Alaya,” said Lorraine, 14. “You read the books and you don’t see what the author put into its writing. I liked hearing about how she wrote the book.”

The University of Connecticut has acquired a sculpture by Connecticut artist, Gregor Bugaeff, through the generosity of two anonymous donors. The sculpture, executed in chrome and steel, is titled “Arachnid Ballerina Dancing on Lilypads.” Bugaeff joined us on Sunday, September 29th to sign the piece.

This acquisition was inspired by Bugaeff’s exhibition in the Library during the summer of 2011. Titled “Things That Go Bump in the Night,” his exhibition featured 60 paintings and 13 sculptures of which “Ballerina” was one.

Executed in chrome and steel, “Ballerina” is a reflection of Bugaeff’s theme of metamorphosing found objects into mythological figures and scenes. The piece stands a stately 5’ high and is 3’ in diameter and has been placed on Level B, adjacent to the Norman D. Stevens Gallery in the Homer Babbidge Library.

The Libraries’ exhibition program supports the research, teaching and learning, and public engagement activities of the University. Acquisition of the sculpture underscores the Libraries goal of enriching the intellectual and cultural life of the university community through an active public art program, but also to support the rich cultural resources and artists found in Connecticut.

More information about the Libraries’ exhibition program, including the current exhibits on display, can be found at http://lib.uconn.edu/about/exhibits/

by Suzanne Zack
posted in UConn Today, October 4, 2013

A decade after Puerto Rico became a United States “protectorate” in the 1950s, scores of islanders streamed into New York City. Among them were poets, writers, musicians, and artists who used poetry and prose to question and examine their newfound identity, culture, and history in what became known as the Nuyorican Literary Movement.

Magdalena Gomez

Magdalena Gómez, a figure in that nascent movement, who used her voice to decry the oppression she observed and encouraged the disenfranchised to work to realize their potential, has recently given her personal papers to the UConn Libraries’ Archives & Special Collections in the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center.

“Magdalena Gómez can be considered the quintessential Renaissance woman: poet, playwright, performer, writer, and social activist,” says Marisol Ramos, curator of the Latin American and Caribbean Collections and librarian for Latin American & Caribbean Studies, Latino Studies, Spanish, and Anthropology. “She is committed to Latina/o issues, and the rights of youth, women, and prisoners, as well as human rights as represented in her art, her writings, and her performances.”

Ramos believes the campus community and those well beyond its borders will find Gómez and her personal papers a rich resource.

Says Fany Hannon, director of the Puerto Rican/Latin American Cultural Center, “I’m thrilled the University has acquired the papers and works of a Latina icon like Magdalena Gómez. With negative Latino stereotypes perpetuated in the media, it is both refreshing and empowering to have the positive example of a person who strives to succeed every day. Anyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity, cultural background, or social status, can identify with her work, which is synonymous with activism, community advocacy, and perseverance.”

Gómez began as a performance poet at the age of 17 in New York, and was championed by scores of notable poets, but eventually left the Nuyorican Movement to follow her own path.

For most of her life, both in New York City and, more recently, in Springfield, Mass., she has created her own unique style. She has toured nationally as a motivational speaker and teacher, and with Maria Luisa Arroyo, co-edited a book on bullying, Bullying: Replies, Rebuttals, Confessions, and Catharsis (2012), which gives voice to affected people, from young teens to those in their 80s.

She recently witnessed the off-Broadway production of her work, “Dancing in My Cockroach Killers,” by the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater and Pregones Theater, which opened to considerable acclaim on Sept. 19 and runs through Oct. 13. The production is a selection of her work, adapted and musicalized for theater.

“Magdalena Gómez is a prolific, fierce writer whose work can find a voice in other artistic forms, like theater, music, even dance,” according to veteran performer, theater director, and dramaturge Rosalba Rolon, who directed Gómez’s production in New York.

In addition to her writing, Gómez is the co-founder and artistic director of Teatro V!da, the first Latino theater in the history of Springfield, Mass., started in 2007 with support from the Latino Breakfast Club. She received a National Association of Latino Arts and Culture artist’s grant for her work on anti-bullying initiatives with Teatro V!da in 2010, and was named a Master Artist by National Endowment for the Arts presenters, the Pregones Theater.

Gómez’s connection with UConn began several years ago, when she performed in Hartford with Fred Ho, an American jazz saxophonist, writer, and social activist. History professor and founding director of the Asian American Studies Institute Roger Buckley, who attended the performance, was so struck by Gómez’s poetry that he invited her to speak in his class. During the class, Gómez performed a monologue in which she drew an analogy between the American treatment of Japanese during the war and the physical violence she herself had experienced as a young woman, describing both actions as demonstrating a profound effect on the human condition.

Gómez credits Ho (whose personal papers are also housed in UConn’s Archives & Special Collections) with introducing her to UConn through Buckley and Asian American Cultural Center director Angela Rola.

“On the journey to liberation, we must be able to differentiate the essential self from the influences that have formed the cascara or outward shell of who we present to the world,” Gómez says. “Critical thinking and the questioning of authority allows us to embrace the liberating effects of imagination, invites us to honor our intuition, and encourages us to activate an intentional creative practice.”

A special event will celebrate Gómez’s life and career and the arrival of her personal papers in the UConn Libraries’ Archives & Special Collections on Oct. 9 at 4 p.m. in the Student Union Theatre. For additional information, contact Marisol Ramos: Marisol.ramos@uconn.edu, or 860-486-2734

By Alex Sferrazza
Staff Writer/Daily Campus

Reprinted from the UConn Daily Campus, published Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Commuter Appreciation Week contented Wednesday afternoon at the Homer Babbidge Library with “Lunch at the Library,” a casual gathering of commuter students to enjoy a free lunch while receiving some time saving research tips from the library staff.

Photo by Alex Sferrazza/The Daily Campus

At the engagement, commuter students were greeted and presented with a flash drive containing helpful information about utilizing the library’s various research utilities. Commuters were then invited to grab a sandwich complete with chips, a cookie, an apple and soda.

In lieu of a speaker or PowerPoint presentation, students were encouraged to mingle with each other and approach event staff with questions about library amenities.

This was the second time the library has hosted this event, and the staff was planning for a crowd of approximately 60 students to show up between noon and 2 p.m. However by 12:15, the initial supply of prepared boxed lunches had been depleted. The crowd far exceeded the estimate of 60 that staffers had in mind based on past attendance.

“We increased the amount of food available from last year’s event,” explained Ashley Trotter, the Program Coordinator for Off-Campus Student Services. “We obviously don’t want to run out of food, we even just called catering to bring more over”.

Trotter seemed pleased with the event’s large turn out: “We hold events like these so that commuter students feel appreciated, and to help bridge the disconnect they might feel from living off campus.”

Quite a few of the commuters in attendance were only recently made aware of the event and Commuter Appreciation Week as a whole and were pleasantly surprised.

“I actually didn’t even know UConn had a commuter week until my friend told me she saw a Twitter post,” 7th-semester sports management major Jennifer Gobin said. “I’m definitely going to consider going to the remaining events later in the week now.”

Dawn Cadogan a librarian, discussed the library’s role in the event: “We want our students particularly commuters, to know that we are here for them.”

Indeed, much of the lunch highlighted features of the library that would be particularly useful to commuting students. Cadogan noted that students have the ability to rent iPads, Kindles and laptops for library use and can also rent bicycles at the library to assist students in getting around campus.

Commuter Appreciation Week will continue on Thursday with “Commuter Time Out,” providing commuting students with unlimited free tokens at the Student Union game room and Friday with “Spot the Hippo,” a scavenger hunt around campus. The festivities conclude with free vouchers for popcorn and soda that will be given to commuting students before the weekly Friday night flick at the Student Union Theater.

By Kevin Costello
Campus Correspondent/Daily Campus

Reprinted from the UConn Daily Campus published Tuesday, October 1, 2013

The University of Connecticut Libraries are among the top resources available for UConn students.

With thousands of books, top-notch electronics, and solitary cubicles, students count on the libraries. Now they have teamed up to bring students various exhibits. The exhibitions can be found in the Homer Babbage library and the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center.

These exhibits are meant to inform and entertain students with well-constructed displays. Reaching students of all kinds is of primary importance, so the exhibitions highlight various subjects. The exhibits are suitable to reach all interest levels and both experts or beginners.

Homer Babbage Library is home to two of three, while the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center houses the third.

The exhibits encourage students and visitors alike to entertain their interests and explore new subjects. There is something for everyone- the cultural, musical and unconventional. First, at Homer Babbage is the exhibit entitled, “Asian Americans at UConn, A 20-year Perspective.” Twenty years ago, UConn established the Asian American Cultural Center and Asian American Studies Institute. The exhibit celebrates members of the Asian American community that have inspired others. It can be seen in the Norma D. Stevens Gallery located in Homer.

Second at Homer Babbage is an exhibit fans of all music styles can enjoy. “Vintage Beatle Guitars” is the title of this collection, and it features guitars previously owned and used by the legendary band. The guitars stand in glass displays, lining the walls as students enter. Students stop and glance throughout the day at guitars that were personally owned by the band. The proud owner of the collection is Beatles die-hard Carlo Cantamessa. He fell in love with guitar and the band when they first appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1964. He began taking lessons in Waterbury, Conn. and now plays as John Lennon in several Beatles tribute shows. Highlighted in the display are notable guitars such as George Harrison’s 1966 Gretsch 6122 Country Gentleman, the instrument he used to record “She Loves You.”

The third and final exhibit is located in the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center Gallery. Here, students can see the dramatic evolution of women’s bookworks throughout the years. “A Private and Sensuous Encounter” presents the writings of women artists from 1966 to 2013. Beginning with their emergence on the Fine Press scene, the exhibit shows the increasingly unconventional approach taken by these women. Fine arts and creativity are highlighted in this exhibit. The exhibits opened on Aug. 1, and will be available for viewing until Oct. 25.

The UConn Libraries, with the assistance of the UITS Information Security Office, has finalized the log-in component for the campus community to HathiTrust (HT) Digital Library, a massive digital library of published scholarship created by a partnership of major academic and research libraries. Using their NetID, campus researchers can go to: http://www.hathitrust.org/  and download PDFs of full-view items and create permanent public “collections” of HT items.

HathiTrust includes material from the Google Books Library Project, an effort by Google to scan and make searchable the collections of several major research libraries, as well as material from the Internet Archive, a non-profit that offers free online access to historical digital collections, in which UConn has been an active participant since 2008.

HathiTrust allows users to do full-text searches of all the books in the repository, and partner affiliates can download all material in the public domain. In addition, soon members of the community who are visually impaired will be able to download the full text of material that is in copyright for use with assistive technology.

HathiTrust was launched in 2008 by the then 12-university consortium, known as the Committee on Institutional Cooperation and the University of California system. It has grown to more than 50 partners, including Columbia, Princeton, Yale, Duke, and Johns Hopkins. UConn is the first public research university in New England to become a member.

In the past two years, HathiTrust’s partners have contributed more than 10.7 million volumes to the digital library, digitized from their library collections. More than 2 million of the contributed volumes are in the public domain and are freely available on the Web.

Workshops are being scheduled on how to use this new resource. Register at: http://lib.uconn.edu/instruction/workshop/

For more information, contact: David Lowe

Martha Bedard has been appointed the Vice Provost for University of Connecticut Libraries, effective October 14.  She is currently Dean of University Libraries at the University of New Mexico, a position she has held since 2007.

“Martha is an outstanding leader, and we are confident that she will guide the University Libraries further into the 21st century as UConn expands its faculty, student population, and University collections,” said Provost Mun Choi and Vice Provost Sally Reis in announcing her appointment.

Prior to New Mexico, Bedard held positions at Texas A&M University (TAMU) and the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. At TAMU, she served in various leadership roles beginning in 2000, including Associate Dean for Information and Collection Services. Her previous positions at TAMU also included Associate Dean and Director of the Medical Sciences Library, Associate Dean for Advanced Studies, and Associate Dean for Digital Initiatives.

She served as the Associate Director for Library Services, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Health Sciences Library, and held medical library directorships at Wake Medical Center in Raleigh NC, the Medical Center of Central Massachusetts in Worcester MA., and Lowell General Hospital.

“It is an honor to have been chosen the next Vice Provost for University Libraries at UConn.  I am excited about the opportunity to build from strength, and to work with such a committed and highly skilled staff,” Bedard said.  “UConn is in the midst of a period of extensive growth which opens up many new avenues for the University Libraries to demonstrate its leadership in ways that will support and enhance these new strategic programs, faculty, students, and the state.  I have been personally enriched by the experiences, colleagues and friends I have made while working in libraries across the country, but I am especially pleased to be returning ‘home’ to New England.”

A native of Massachusetts, Bedard holds a Master’s degree in Library Science from Simmons Graduate School of Library Science in Boston and a B.A. in English from Fitchburg State College.

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