GENERAL NEWS: Gamecocks, Fairs, Fall, Meetings, 5 Things to Do

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

So many wonderful things have happened since last time I posted an update! The follow-up from the Annual Literacy Leaders Awards ceremony was absolutely wonderful and we are just delighted that Lynn Teague is chairing the ALL Nominations Committee for next year. We had a lively and exciting homecoming celebration. Dr. Pat Feehan had us all involved in her interactive history of Cocky (the USC mascot!) We laughed, we sang and I even got to dance with Cocky. We had a large part of a 30 second Cocky commercial featuring Cocky’s Reading Express and the Center for Children’s Books and Literacy. AND DA DUM. . . . . The Gamecocks are ranked number seven in the SEC!

Now let’s talk seriously about fall and fairs and Dean Fred Roper’s cream cakes and fried dough and cotton candy and the South Carolina State Fair! Last year SLIS went to the fair so now it is a tradition! Meet us outside the main gate of the fair on Friday, October 12 at 6:00 p.m. and I’ll buy entry tickets for the first ten SLIS students to show up by 6:15. This is co-sponsored by our LISSA organization so fun is guaranteed. For those of you in other states, the first five posts of a great State Fair story to my blog and I’ll send you the cost of your admittance. Has to be this year’s fair!

All is going well at SLIS. We have our National Advisory Council meeting this Friday morning and the members will be helping us get ready for our next accreditation visit. The African American Leadership Group is meeting November 30 and they will be helping us finish our Student Diversity Recruitment Plan. Our doctoral students are working on a chapter for the _Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science_, writing a paper a day and generally becoming a welcome part of our research and scholarly endeavors. Our masters students are shining stars and every where they work they leave a legacy of expertise AND good will. I even get compliments about our students when I’m in the grocery line!

Check out the new DISCUS website http://www.scdiscus.org/ and new _Access Science_resource. Hope to see many of you when SCLA comes to Columbia October 31 to November 2 http://www.scla.org/AnnualConference2007/HomePage .

There is always more to tell but time keeps on ticking. . .. In the meantime, here are your five things to read or do and be sure to check out the blog and hold discussions by commenting on the postings at http://fridaymatters.blogspot.com.

1. The University of Connecticut Libraries, along with 18 other institutions in the Boston Library Consortium, recently agreed to scan more than 10 million pages from books no longer in copyright into the Open Content Alliance holdings during the next two years. http://www.advance.uconn.edu/2007/071001/07100109.htm

2. Library Policy Hurts Privacy, Patron Says [The Washington Post] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/19/AR2007091900610.html

3. Libraries attract record crowds: Public libraries evolving to meet demand for digital services http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_6913453

4. Tags Help Make Libraries Del.icio.us. Social bookmarking and tagging boost participation http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6476403.html

5. And from our own Dr. Walling: “I know some of you like "professional" tee shirts. I just got my Wireless catalog and found a good one that is new to me. It says: "Librarians: the thin blue line between you and the FBI." In case you don't get their catalog, the Web address is http://www.thewirelesscatalog.com/wireless/T-Shirts-amp-Sweatshirts_1HA/Item_Librarians-The-Thin-Blue-Line-Shirts_VF2871G_ps_cti-1HA.html and phone is 800.669.999”

Let me know if there is anything we can do for you and keep making a difference!

Yours,
Dr. sam