Smith Library Center News

Overwhelmed by your latest paper topic?
Not sure where to begin for your capstone?

Finding too many sources or too few?
Come to one of our three classes!
Our friendly librarians will provide tips and strategies to help you develop a research topic.

Where:
All classes in SLC 202/204

When:
Tuesday, March 6  11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, March 7  12:00 p.m.
Friday, March 9  12:30 p.m.
ENCORE SESSION! – Friday march 23 at 12:30 p.m

The first in a new series “The Librarian is IN” brings you the answers to that eternal question, “What’s the deal with scholarly and popular resources?”

What makes something scholarly? What about newspapers and blogs? Where do they fit in? When is it okay to use popular materials in my paper/project? Come to one of these short, informative classes to find out! We’re offering this class at different times and places to better serve you. Bring your lunch or enjoy a coffee while you get the facts on where to look and what to look for when doing research.

• Tuesday, Feb. 14, 12:30p-1:00p Roy Shilling Rm
• Wednesday, Feb. 15, 7:00p-7:30p Library Coffee Bar
• or Friday, Feb. 17, 12:30p-1:00p Dan Rather Rm

Contact for more information: su.library.classes@gmail.com

Inspired by the book design work of Dave Eggers and McSweeney’s, the Smith Library Center held a Biblio/Graphics contest during the weeks leading up to Eggers’ The Writer’s Voice lecture, inviting students to design new covers for their favorite books. From the great entries we received, our panel of judges selected three winners, with a tie for first place!

Stop by the Smith Library Center Foyer to these and several of the other entries!

First Place

Evan Rodriguez
2666 by Roberto Bolano

Roberta Minker
Sewing Made Easy by Mary Lynch and Dorothy Sara

Third Place

Noël Kalmus
WEETZIE BAT by Francesca Lia Block

Last weekend, the Smith Library Center hosted a booth at the Texas Book Festival.  We had a great time talking to festival attendees about The Writer’s Voice series and Southwestern University. In addition, we were able to meet several SU alumni, parents, and potential future Pirates!

Here are a few photos from the weekend:

The Writer's Voice booth at the 2011 Texas Book Festival, featuring a wide variety of Dave Eggers' work.

The Writer's Voice at the Texas Book Festival.

What brings our student workers and Stormtroopers together? Dave Eggers, of course!

Dana, getting ready for the steady stream of festival-goers on Saturday.

Debbie, talking about The Writer's Voice Series on Sunday afternoon.

Come join us at the Texas Book Festival!

This weekend, the A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library Center will be hosting a booth at the Texas Book Festival, promoting The Writer’s Voice series, the Library, and Southwestern University. The festival will run from 10am-5pm on Saturday, and 11am-5pm on Sunday.

The festival includes author talks, book signings, exhibitor booths, live music, and food. You can see the full schedule of festival events here.

Hope to see you there!

Announcing

A Night of Lettered Enjoyment

Any University without the gathering of literary souls is one I would not attend
– Timothy McSweeney

Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at 8:00pm
Prothro Room, Smith Library Center

In honor of Dave Eggers’s visit to our campus, the Smith Library Center invites the Southwestern community to attend an evening of literary games, readings, conversation, and delectable refreshments.

Members of the Southwestern community are invited to present their favorite selections from McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, or any of Mr. Eggers’literary endeavors. You can learn more about Eggers’ works by visiting the Dave Eggers LibGuide.

Selections must be read aloud in 5 minutes or less. Participants should be prepared to read and explain their choice of selection in front of an audience. Dramatic readings are also encouraged!

As an added bonus, winners of the Biblio/Graphics contest will be announced and prizes awarded.

If you are interested in participating in the event, please send an email to morriss@southwestern.edu.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Have you ever wished you could design a better cover for your favorite book?

Dave Eggers’s publishing company, McSweeney’s, is known for creative book design. As part of the Writer’s Voice series the Smith Library Center is sponsoring Biblio/Graphics, a contest to celebrate the art of the book.

We invite Southwestern students to design covers for their favorite books. Submissions can be in any format, but must be no larger than 12” x 12”. An expert panel of judges will choose the top three designs, which will be featured in a library exhibit and viewed by Dave Eggers, and the winning designers will receive prizes! See the McSweeney’s display in the library lobby for inspiration.

All submissions due no later than October 17^th. Drop off designs at the Circulation Desk c/o Carol Fonken. Please include your name and contact information with your submission.

Winners will be announced on Wednesday, October 19^th.

On November 9th, filmmaker Mira Nair will be speaking at the Alma Thomas Theater as a part of the A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library Center’s The Writer’s Voice series. Due to the high demand for tickets, we are now accepting ticket wait-list requests via our web form.

In preparation for Ms. Nair’s  public lecture, the Smith Library Center will be showing her film The Namesake, starring Kal Penn, in Olin 110 at 6:30pm on Thursday, October 21st. The film will be followed by a discussion led by Sociology Professor Maria Lowe and student Kamna Tripathi. Refreshments will be provided, and DVDs of Mira Nair’s films will be given away following the showing.