Spring Semester Events Hosted by the Libraries

Come join us for an evening of great poetry, literature and music!

February 20, Wednesday night at 7:45 p.m.—co-hosted with the Faulconer Gallery—An open mic for poetry, fiction, or music. Location: Faulconer Gallery. Join the Grinnell College Libraries and the Faulconer Art Gallery for an evening of literature and music. Read from your own poetry and fiction or that of a favorite author or poet; perform music that you've written yourself or any piece that you've been working on. Share your literary and musical passion in a beautiful setting with other members of the college and the community of Grinnell. If you have questions or want more information, contact Tilly Woodward [woodward] or Rebecca Stuhr [stuhrr].

February 27, Wednesday night at 7:45 p.m.--Will Freeman will read from his work in progress, "Road Map". Freeman's book takes the form of journal entries and recounts a father-son cross-country road trip. As with any set of plans, the unexpected, whether chance or fate, is always a determining factor. This is a book about father and son relationships, life choices, and finding one's way. Location: first floor, Burling Library

March 5, Wednesday night at 7:45 p.m.--Mark Montgomery, professor of economics at Grinnell College, will read from his humorous essays and fiction at Burling Library, First Floor. This is one of four events being hosted by the libraries during the spring semester of 2008. This event is free and open to the public. Location: first floor, Burling.

April 7, Monday night at 7:45 p.m.--Betty Moffett, short story writer (and folk singer), will read from her short fiction. Betty will be joined by the Too Many String Band to perform some of her songs. Location: first floor, Burling Library.

April 16, Wednesday night at 7:45 p.m.--David Richter, assistant professor of Spanish will be giving a talk on modern Spanish poetry. In April of 2007, the college celebrated the donation from Mary-Elizabeth Debicki of Andrew P. Debicki's personal library. This year the Grinnell College Libraries are recognizing the life and contributions of Professor Debicki with a lecture, sponsored by Mrs. Debicki, to be given by David Richter. The title of Prof. Richter's talk will be: "Death and Desire in Modern Hispanic Poetry: Reflections on Grinnell College Libraries' Andrew P. Debicki Collection." Location: first floor, Burling Library


April 23, Wednesday night at 7:45 p.m.--The students of Ralph Saverese's Craft of Poetry class will read from the poetry they have been writing throughout the semester. Location: first floor, Burling Library.

May 1, Thursday night at 7:45 p.m.--Paula Smith, Professor of English, and as of July 2008, Dean of the College, will read from her most recent literary works. Smith recently spent a portion of her sabbatical at Ragdale, an artist retreat near Lake Forest, Illinois, as an artist in residence. Location: first floor, Burling Library.

New Faces in the Libraries

During the Spring semester, library users will see three new faces at the Burling and Kistle reference desks. Simone Sidwell, Elaine Settergren, and Lorraine Hopper-Wobst will work with us part-time while we complete the search for a Data Services Librarian and while Phil Jones is on research leave.

Simone has an MLS from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with a BA in Comparative Literature. Elaine’s MLS is from the University of Pittsburgh, and her BA from Winona State is in English. Lorraine has a Master’s in Library Science from Drexel University and a BA in Spanish and English from Bucknell. Please welcome Simone, Elaine and Lorraine to Grinnell College!

Photo courtesy of the Grinnell College Libraries.

Course-level Passwords for E-reserves

This semester we are implementing a new password system for accessing electronic reserve readings, streaming audio files, etc. The password will restrict access to course materials to the students enrolled in that course. Instructors will provide the password to enrolled students at the beginning of the term. If a student forgets his/her password, it is available from the circ desk supervisor, the reference librarian, academic support assistants, and often, on the PioneerWeb page for the course. Our goal with this procedure is to improve our compliance with copyright law while ensuring that students can get help with lost or forgotten passwords.