GENERAL NEWS: Fair Tradition, New Semester, 5 Things to Do
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Is it fall yet? We had the best rain on Sunday night with promises of cooler weather. Instead, we got a sauna. Is it fall yet? And speaking of fall, when is the State Fair? Last year we had a SLIS goes to the fair night and much fun was had by all. Should we do it again? Remember that if we do, it becomes a tradition! Let me know what you think.
We are in full swing of a new semester with many, many new students. Orientations all went well, the West Virginia/Virginia Cohort is up and running, the Lobsters are getting closer to graduation and our South Carolina students are finding their way around campus and our website. We have the first new doctoral students on campus and settled into their commons area. You can see the synapses sparking as they think about and contemplate research ideas.
Our faculty is up and away with research projects, grants and stellar teaching. It was such an honor to be at the first faculty meeting last week and hear about all of the new and exciting projects. When you get a chance please let them know that I am not the only one that thinks they are the best in the universe!
Homecoming is coming and for all you football fans that means Gamecocks play Mississippi State on September 29. Your alumni society has much fun planned for the week including our own Dr. Feehan in a special storytelling session on Gibbs Greene. Details to come.
In the meantime, here are your five things to do, read or think about for this week:
1. One in Four Read No Books Last Year [ABC News]
http://abcnews.go.com/US/WireStory?id=3507898
2. An Entire Bookshelf, now in your hands [International Herald Tribune]
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/08/business/basics.php
3. Open Library [Inside Higher Ed]
http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2007/08/08/mclemee
4. Ask for What You Want [Library Journal]
http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6466666.html
5. Imagine No Restrictions: Digital Rights Management [School Library Journal]
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6448189.html
Have a fun and safe Labor Day weekend and let us know if there is anything we can do for you!
dr. sam
GENERAL NEWS: Everglades, Graduation, 5 Things to Do
Hello dear friends and colleagues,
I hope you are somewhere cooler than Columbia, South Carolina! It is actually hotter here than it was in the Everglades! Geez. . .but oh the Everglades were beautiful. So wild and unpredictable. We saw some wonderful critters and sights during our two week adventure. It really is one of the last wild frontiers and I feel refreshed and rejuvenated by its beauty.
Photos are up on the blog slideshow at http://fridaymatters.blogspot.com/2007/05/general-news-new-slideshow.html but I haven’t taken time to annotate or title them. Just enjoy! The giant hare sculpture is one of our new art pieces done by our friend Keith Jellum in Portland, OR. It is so much fun to have a wild hare. . .other photo is the neighborhood rabbit. Can’t wait to see what happens when rabbit meets hare.
Graduation is this weekend and I think you will remember that it is one of my favorite celebrations. When our students complete their degrees and set out to change the world, I have great hope. And again, we have a stellar group of graduates, ready to go forth and be leaders, carrying a culture of service and excellence.
This weekend is also orientations for our new cohort with Virginia and West Virginia. We have about 60 new students and I am looking forward to meeting them and welcoming them to this wonderful adventure in library and information science.
Orientation for Columbia is August 17 and 18. August 17 is an optional evening get together at Davis College. Saturday, August 18 is the required orientation. I look forward to meeting our new South Carolina students then.
On September 13, we will be giving the first annual literacy leader awards. These ALL awards are for leaders that have made statewide contributions to the literacy campaign. More information to come.
Make sure you include this important date on your calendar! The SCASL 2008 Annual Conference, March 12-14, 2008 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center-Power Up @ your library. There is a new hotel and a parking garage, so see you in Columbia for spring blooms and a great conference. You still have time to submit a proposal for a presentation by August 15.
Since it’s been awhile, you get six things to do, read or act upon:
1.Big news: CHA CHA (a search engine with human intermediation) replaces Google at Indiana Universities
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070803/BUSINESS/708030434/-1/LOCAL17
2.BT futurologist Lesley Gavin looks ahead to a time when real and virtual worlds mix as easily as making a mobile phone call. The Tech Lab: Lesley Gavin
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6929201.stm
3.Note that Dan Pink's "A Whole New Mind" will be featured as the topic of discussion at the One Book One Conference session during the AASL 13th National Conference this October. http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2007/july2007/aaslr08.htm
4.Good news: Internet helps libraries, despite predictions it would spell the end. By Eric Moskowitz, Globe Staff http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/07/29/good_circulation/
5.Great collection of essays and photos: Cultural Images of Librarians [John Hubbard]
http://www.tk421.net/essays/nwyt.pdf
6.Online Social Networks, Virtual Communities, Enterprises, and Information Professionals [Searcher]
http://www.infotoday.com/searcher/jul07/Reid_Grey.shtml
Best regards to you and yours and be careful out there!
Dr. Sam
