Spring Vol. 25 No. 2, 2009

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News From the Field

University of North Florida

News

UNF was pleased to be selected as the location of the 2008 FACRL Fall Workshop. Dean Shirley Hallblade, with support from Blackwell, hosted a reception in the library the evening before the workshop where many attendees met in an informal and fun setting. The library received good reviews after leading several tours around the new building. It was exceptionally nice to have people visit the part of the state where many seldom travel for conferences and workshops.

Staff

Robb Waltner has moved from Head of Access Services to Head of Acquisitions, effective February 2nd. Laurel Crump, Director of Public Services, will take on a more direct role in managing Access Services.

Stephanie Weiss joined the library as Public Services Librarian. She comes to us from the UNF Division of Continuing Education where she was coordinator for non-credit professional development and test preparation courses.  She has her master’s in library science from FSU and has done part-time reference work with Jacksonville Public Library.

Events

With support from UNF’s American Democracy Project, the library sponsored a presidential inauguration viewing party on January 20th. At peak times, over 200 people (faculty, students, staff, and community members) packed the area near the library’s large-screen TV. The event received coverage by local print and television media and highlights are available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWOqJQ4daeE.

A February 25th program featured “A Conversation with Nathaniel ‘Nat’ Glover” and a Special Collections exhibit of memorabilia from Glover’s two terms as Jacksonville’s first African-American sheriff and total 38 years in local law enforcement. Glover currently serves as a special advisor to UNF’s president and special envoy for higher education as part of “The Jacksonville Commitment,” a collaborative initiative of Edward Waters College, Florida Community College at Jacksonville, Jacksonville University, and UNF.

A special preview party, featuring recent works by the internationally known artist Peter Max, was held as a benefit for UNF’s library. The March 6th event was hosted by a UNF alumna and gallery owner who is a member of the Library Dean’s Leadership Council.