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“The Lawyer Who Died in the Courthouse Bathroom” newly published by Parallel Press

news — Mon, 06 May 2013 07:00:56 +0000

“The Lawyer Who Died in the Courthouse Bathroom,” a chapbook by Thomas J. Erickson.

Parallel Press is pleased to announce the publication of The Lawyer Who Died in the Courthouse Bathroom, a new collection of poetry by Thomas J. Erickson ($10.00, Parallel Press, 2013).

In The Lawyer Who Died in the Courthouse Bathroom, Erickson’s muscular poems perform a post-mortem on the titular lawyer with unflinching honesty, digging into personal life failures, the noble work defending indigent clients, and the ugly compromises made in order to do so.

The result is a complete and complicated portrait of the human condition, one that circles back on itself to the title poem and demands re-reading. “The Lawyer Who Died in the Courthouse Bathroom,” reads as both obituary and elegy, at once acknowledging the futility and necessity of a life’s work: ‘As a young man, he read Camus and resolved / that if God did exist it wouldn’t make any difference… The hundreds of people he represented; / their dramas not worth one whit. / The files waiting in his briefcase / the combination set to open.”

Thomas J. Erickson was born in 1960 and grew up in Kohler, Wisconsin. He received a BA from Beloit College in English Composition and a law degree from Marquette University. His poems have appeared in numerous publications including The Los Angeles Review, Quiddity International Literary Review, Mad Poet’s Review, The New Poet, and Slant. He is an attorney in Milwaukee where he is a member of the Hartford Avenue Poets. He is the proud father of Charles and John

How to order

The Lawyer Who Died in the Courthouse Bathroom is available for purchase through Parallel Press for $10.00. Discounts are provided for libraries, booksellers, and non-profit organizations.

Questions? Contact Parallel Press: 608-262-1433 or parallelpress@library.wisc.edu

UW—Madison Chinese Collection Ranked Fifth in Quality Nationwide

news — Fri, 03 May 2013 07:00:47 +0000

A recent study conducted by Dr. Mingxing He, a Chinese publishing industry columnist, analyzed Chinese collections from over 20,000 libraries across 112 countries between 1949 and 2012. In his article entitled “A Solid Indication of the Influence of Chinese Publications Worldwide – Based on Data Analysis of Chinese Catalogs in OCLC WorldCat,” Dr. He identified the U.S. as number one in terms of collection quality. The ranking order is as follows: USA 183, Australia 21, Canada 15, Britain 8, Germany 6, France 6, Hong Kong 5, Singapore 3, Taiwan 3, Japan 2, Netherlands 2, Israel 2, Switzerland 1, and South Africa 1.

Dr. He then screened the top 62 university libraries’ Chinese collections in the United States. The University of Wisconsin—Madison Chinese Collection is delighted to announce that they came in fifth place. What an honor!

Here’s how the top-ranked Chinese Collections stacked up:

The success of the collection can be attributed to the dedication and effort of the four China studies librarians who have worked to build the collection over the years. Congratulations to Chester Wang (1965 to 1997), Thomas Hahn (1998 to 2001), Victoria Chu (2002 to 2005), and Dianna Xu (2006 to present). Thank you for all your hard work!

Dr. He’s article can be accessed at http://www.bookdao.com/article/46574

‘A Tale for the Time Being’ selected for Go Big Read’s 5th year

news — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:48:51 +0000

MADISON, Wis.–“A Tale for the Time Being,” a new novel from critically acclaimed and best-selling author Ruth Ozeki, is the selection for the fifth year of Go Big Read, UW-Madison’s common-reading program.

Ozeki tells a powerful story of the right book falling into the right reader’s hands. A novelist on a remote Canadian island finds a diary, written a decade earlier by a troubled teenage girl in Tokyo, when it washes ashore following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Go Big Read organizers encouraged the campus community to suggest fiction titles that fit into a theme of global connections. UW-Madison Interim Chancellor David Ward chose “A Tale for the Time Being” from the short list a selection committee culled from 192 nominated titles.

“‘A Tale for the Time Being’ is an engaging and broad ranging novel that will find a home for discussion in classrooms across the campus,” Ward says. “It is original and inventive and offers a thought-provoking reading experience for our students and the UW-Madison community.”

The book’s inventive narrative alternates between the two characters, examining the relationship between writer and reader, past and present, fact and fiction. Ozeki draws on history, myth, quantum physics and Zen philosophy as the diary’s author and its reader try to find meaning in their lives.

The Washington Post called the novel “as emotionally engaging as it is intellectually provocative.” The Seattle Times called the diary’s author, Nao, “as moving a witness to coming of age as J. D. Salinger’s Holden Caulfield, if not more so because she is so contemporary.” The other narrator, Ruth, is a writer who Ozeki has said bears “more than a superficial resemblance to me.”

Ruth Ozeki

Brooke Williams, a graduate student in the School of Library and Information Studies and a member of the selection committee, was intrigued by the book’s discussions of Buddhist meditation and Japanese pop culture, and fascinated by how Ozeki built a narrative bridge between two cultures that seem to have very little to do with one another.

“There is so much in this book that students can connect to,” Williams says. “There are fascinating historical threads intertwined throughout the story, along with more recent events, such as the tsunami in Japan. I think students will get a lot out of it.”

Since the common-reading program began five years ago, readers across campus, around the Madison community and throughout the state have participated in class discussions, book groups and public events, says Sarah McDaniel, program manager for Go Big Read.

“Our goal is to create connections around books and reading, and participation from campus and community members has exceeded our wildest expectations,” McDaniel says. “It has always been our intent to choose books from a variety of genres, and we have fielded many requests for work of a fiction. We think readers will really enjoy Ozeki’s novel, and are thrilled to be able to bring her to campus.”

Ozeki’s first two novels — “My Year of Meats” and “All Over Creation” — have been translated into 11 languages and published in 14 countries. She is a filmmaker, and her documentary and dramatic independent films, including “Halving the Bones,” have been shown on PBS, at the Sundance Film Festival, and at colleges and universities across the country. She is also a Zen Buddhist priest and affiliated with the Brooklyn Zen Center and the Everyday Zen Foundation. Ozeki lives in British Columbia and New York City.

Planning is underway for how students, faculty and staff will use the book in classrooms and for special events associated with “A Tale for the Time Being.” UW-Madison instructors interested in using the book can request a review copy.

Ozeki is scheduled to visit campus in October, when she will give a talk at Varsity Hall in Union South. Copies of the book will be given to first-year students at the Chancellor’s Convocation for New Students and to students using the book in their classes.

Learn more about the ongoing Go Big Read program and plans for this fall, and sign up for email updates.

Parallel Press poets’ work featured on “Poetic Bikes”

news — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:14:42 +0000

Last week, Madison B-cycle unveiled 30 new “Poetic Bikes” into their bicycle lending system as part of a city-wide partnership with Poetry Jumps Off the Shelf, a local organization run by Parallel Press poet Shoshauna Shy. In the past, Poetry Jumps Off the Shelf has partnered with Community Car in a similar effort to integrate poems and poetry into everyday events– like a commute to work or school.

In order to choose poems, the team sifted through over 300 submissions, searching for work with a Madison theme. 10 poems were selected and were added to 30 of the iconic red B-cycle Bikes.

Several of the featured poets witnessed the release of their poems into the Madison B-cycle bike share program last Friday, including a variety of Parallel Press Authors and editors (linked below).

List of poems and their poets:

“Tree on Johnson Street” by Jan Chronister
“the wi film festival” by Amelia Cook
“Old House on Lake Monona—the Near End of Jenifer ST” by Peg Carlson Lauber
“It was already clear” by Ralph Murre
“First Fall Semester” by Andrea Potos
“Cursive Discarded From Grade School Curriculum” by Shoshauna Shy
“From my Window” by Danez Smith
“Orange Custard Chocolate Chip” by Frannie Zellman
“Arboretum Walk” and “State Street, Late November” by Rosemary Zurlo-Cuva

New Book Madness Bucky READ Posters are available!

news — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:00:03 +0000

Following the tremendous success of the Book Madness Tournament this year, the Libraries’ external relations office created a new run of Bucky READ posters to celebrate the winning book– J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.

In a tight race against Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, LOTR claimed the UW-Madison Libraries 2013 Book Madness tournament title on April 10th. LOTR won with 51.7% of the votes– here’s how the final match-up went down:

The Lord of the Rings: 451 votes, 51.7%
Pride and Prejudice: 421 votes, 48.3%

The new posters, seen at right, show Bucky reading his copy of The Lord of the Rings at the terrace. The posters are 9×12,” a perfect size for lockers, bulletin boards, or dorm room walls.

E-mail bucky@library.wisc.edu if you’re interested in ordering these special-edition Book Madness Bucky READ posters.

Special thanks go to Senior Artist Dan Joe for creating the new design.

Barb Richards retires from the Department of Special Collections

news — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:20:23 +0000

Barb Richards at her retirement party on April 23rd

On Tuesday, April 23^rd, a retirement party was held in honor of Barb Richards of the Special Collections Department at Memorial Library. Barb’s last day is today, Thursday, April 25^th.

As Barb has noted, with customary good cheer, her work on campus has gone “from rats to rabies to rare books.” She began working at the Gnotobiotic Laboratory at UW-Madison from 1974 to 1977, and after a short stint working in the rabies lab at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH) on campus she came to the Department of Rare Books (now Special Collections) in December 1977.

Barb has helped the Department grow from its original location (the space now occupied by the Microform/Media Center) to its current home on the top two floors of Memorial Library, and she knows every nook and cranny in the Department. She has trained and supervised generations of students in Special Collections, many of whom still stay in touch with her. Working closely with selectors Christine Rom, Gretchen Lagana, Yvonne Schofer, and now Susan Barribeau, Barb has managed the renowned collection of “Little Magazines,” keeping track of publications that defy normal serials practices, following their frequent address and title changes, and cajoling their editors and publishers to fill in gaps. The result is a large and wide-ranging collection that attracts students and faculty from campus as well as scholars from afar, and accounts for much document delivery to researchers elsewhere. Barb has also managed major moves of all of the Department’s holdings with great efficiency, most recently during the installation of compact shelving in the vaults.

Barb’s retirement plans include travel, home projects, and spending time with a new grandchild.

Cards for Barb and envelopes for contributions toward a retirement gift are available in both the GLS administrative office and at the reference desk in Special Collections. Best wishes to Barb as she begins her new adventure!

7th Annual Health Sciences Students Art Exhibit at Ebling Library

news — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 07:00:06 +0000

Click to download / print the full poster

Ebling library is currently hosting the 7th annual Health Sciences Student Art exhibit in the Historical Reading Room and 3rd Floor Gallery. The show spotlights the artistic talent of Health Sciences students, who are also pursuing degrees in the School of Occupational Therapy, the School of Nursing, Veterinary Medicine, the School of Pharmacy, and School of Medicine & Public Health.

This year, students have submitted photographs, ceramic work, paintings, leather work, prints, and jewelry for the show. Some of the pieces are also for sale.

At a Glance:

What: Health Sciences Student Art Exhibit
Where: Ebling Library Historical Reading Room and 3rd Floor Gallery
When: April 11th to May 9th 2013

This year’s artists:

A preview of the show:

Questions about this event? Contact Micaela Sullivan-Fowler for more information at msullivan@library.wisc.edu or 262-2402

Undergraduate Research Award Winners Announced

news — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 07:00:11 +0000

Each year, College Library invites students to apply for its annual Undergraduate Library Research Awards as part of the Undergraduate Symposium. The awards celebrate excellence and creativity in using the library to complete an undergraduate research project, and winners receive cash prizes for their work. The submission process included meeting with librarians Kelli Keclik at College Library or Jessica Newman Steenbock Library to evaluate current or completed projects, writing an essay, and submitting a letter of support from a faculty member.

Campus librarians on the award committee used the Association of College and Research Libraries’ Information Literacy Standards as the main criteria for assessing the applications for the awards. Last week, the selection committee chose four Undergraduate Research Award Winners for 2013. They include:

Mara Stewart for her research on changes in attitudes toward tobacco and marijuana during the first year of college for U.S. students.
Andy Tay Kah Ping for his research in microfluidic diagnostic devices.
Tess Becker for her research on the role of exogenous interferons in rhinovirus replication.
Abigail Mindock for her research on the switch from plastic to metal cutlery at Union South.

For full bios on the winners and summaries of their work, see Undergraduate Research Award Recipients Announced on the College Library blog.

Congratulations to Susan Barribeau and Vicki Tobias, Librarians of the Year

news — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 20:56:31 +0000

Congratulations to Susan Barribeau (left) and Vicki Tobias, the 2013 Librarians of the Year!

The UW–Madison Libraries’ 2013 Librarians of the Year were announced during the annual awards reception held in Lathrop Hall. The recipients of this year’s honors are Vicki Tobias, Images & Media Archivist at University Archives in Steenbock Library, and Susan Barribeau, English Language Humanities Librarian at Memorial Library.

Susan Barribeau received the Librarian of the Year award given to a librarian who has worked more than ten years at the Libraries. Susan is the first person to receive this award a second time, having also won in 2000 as the Librarian of the Year with less than ten years of service. Susan has held a number of positions in her twenty-one years with the Libraries. She has held her current position as English language humanities librarian for nearly five years. Susan never misses an opportunity to acquire new and unique items that make our collections special and useful to our faculty, staff, and students. She has also been exceptional at promoting the collections. For example, she and a student assistant recently launched a Blog to bring more attention to the Little Magazines, a nationally prominent collection. This effort culminated in her participation on a panel at the Grolier Club in New York in March that brought together private and institutional collectors of American Little Magazines. Susan brings this same work ethic and enthusiasm to the numerous collaboration efforts and committees that she serves on. She has been an active member of the Evolving Directions in Academic Research and Resources committee that brings in speakers to present their research to library staff. She has also served as a representative to the University Library Committee to advocate for the Libraries and work with faculty to support library priorities and strategies.

Vicki Tobias received the Librarian of the Year award that is given to those with ten or fewer years of service to the Libraries. Vicki began her love of archives and librarianship while working for the Wisconsin Historical Society Archives as a Web and Digital Projects Coordinator in 2000. It was that job as well as her colleagues at the WHS that inspired her to work towards an MLS from the UW School for Library and Information Studies on the Archives Management track. After graduating Vicki began working for the Libraries in 2004 as a digital services librarian for the UW Digital Collection Center. She is now the UW–Madison Archives images and media archivist. In both of these positions, Vicki has advocated for and been instrumental in the digitization of many collections across campus, such as the Aldo Leopold collection and the Oral History Program. She has also worked hard to create more publicity about these collections especially through the use of social media. In order to further the goals of the Libraries and the UW archives, Vicki has and continues to work with groups across the General Library System, campus, and beyond on a variety of projects and committees. She currently works with the Library Marketing Committee and the Library Social Media group to publicize library resources and services. To quote one of those who nominated her, “Vicki is an excellent colleague, knowledgeable, hard working, pleasant, and funny. I would find it hard to imagine a more deserving candidate for Librarian of the Year.”

Congratulations, Susan and Vicki!

This week is READ! Poster Week at MERIT Library

news — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 07:00:34 +0000

Graduate students reading on the terrace.

Celebrate National Library Week with MERIT Library by starring in your very own READ! poster! Through Friday April 19th, MERIT will be offering its annual READ! Poster Creation program.

WHEN: Sunday April 14 through Friday April 19th, 12-5 pm each day (no reservations necessary!)

WHERE: Our studio is located in MERIT room 109, on the 1st floor of the Teacher Education Building (225 N Mills St).

WHAT: Bring a copy of your favorite book (or books!) and pose for your very own personalized READ! poster. Come in groups, come with a child, or just come by yourself!

Details:

Each poster will be 11″x17.”
1 pose per person and/or group. Each pose costs $5 ($1 each for additional copies).
Only campus print cards can be accepted for payment. Cards can be purchased in MERIT Library.
Images are taken against a green screen, so it’s best to avoid wearing green.
Allow 1 week for the creation of your poster!

Questions?

Just email or call Anna Lewis: alewis@education.wisc.edu or 608-263-8199.