Jesse Flavin recently joined Falvey’s Access Services team as an interlibrary loan technician.

Originally from Glenelg, Md., Jesse graduated from West Chester University with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology. He then moved to Athens, Ga., where he worked in the interlibrary loan department at the University of Georgia Libraries. Jesse hopes to obtain a master of library and information science degree in the near future.

His interests include a wide variety of music, film and food (both cooking and sampling new cuisine). One of his favorite dining spots is the Helmand, an Afghani restaurant in Baltimore, Md. Jesse began playing guitar at age eight and has played in many bands over the years – “some loud, some quiet.”

Jesse currently lives in Wynnewood with his wife and their two-year-old daughter and is looking forward to reconnecting with the Pennsylvania area.

Luisa Cywinski, Access Services team leader, commented that “Jesse comes to us with thirteen years of interlibrary loan experience that will lend itself to our operations.”

Article and photograph by Alice Bampton

( l. to r.) Jackie Coleman, Christina Hansen, Kathleen Pierce

Hidden talents were revealed at the English department and Falvey Memorial Library’s sixth annual Open Mic Poetry Reading. Lisa Sewell, Ph.D., an associate professor of English, served as this year’s master of ceremonies and welcomed students, faculty, staff and special guests to the event, held on Wednesday, April 27, in the library first floor lounge.

Dr. Sewell introduced Christina Hansen, editor in chief of Arthology—one of Villanova University’s student literary-art magazines.  The magazine’s release party coincided with the Open Mic event, and copies of the magazine were available to all present. Arthology contributors read their work, beginning with Christina and her poem, “Earshot.”

Kevin Speirs, 2011 Senior Class Poet Honorable Mention, contributed “Homes,” which has appeared on a poster displayed on Falvey’s first floor. Seniors seeking to become Senior Class Poet have one of their poems made into a poster. To celebrate National Poetry Month, fourteen Senior Class Poet contestants had their poems on display in the Library during April.

Brittany Walker

Brittany Walker stepped up to the microphone next and offered “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” Mike Mo shared “Another Drive.” And Alexandra Edwards read “Because a Girl Is Not a Tree,” which has been published in Arthology.

Moya Cannon, an Irish poet who holds the Irish studies program’s Heimbold Chair for the spring 2011 semester, presented “Hands.” Derek Santos, class of 2011 Senior Class Poet, came forward to read “The Rotten Core.” Then the Director of Irish Studies, Joseph Lennon, Ph.D., delivered “Santa Maria del Boschetto.”

Emily Brady, 2011 Senior Class Poet Runner Up, contributed “Chi Sarà” and “Sestina.” Alexander Lundy, Senior Class Poet contestant, offered “An Inconvenient Haiku,” “Letter to a Young Hipster,” “Fortis Fortuna Juvat,” and “The Gamble.” Ron Ballouz, Senior Class Poet contestant and Falvey Scholar (Astronomy and Astrophysics), read “F___ Camus.”

Catherine Staples delivered “Dwelling.” Derek Stump presented “That’s the Thing about Adolph.” Jackie Coleman,Senior Class Poet contestant and Arthology assistant editor, read “A History of Want, or (Paperweights).” And Bareeq Albarqawi contributed “Burn.”

Special thanks go to Regina McFadden and the staff of the Library’s Programming & Outreach team for providing the chairs, tables for refreshments and for Arthology, and the microphone.

Contributed by Gerald Dierkes; photographs by Laura Hutelmyer

Check out April’s new books!  Highlight reel:

The anthropology of news & journalism
by S. Elizabeth Bird
2010
Indiana University Press
–

Wes Anderson: Why his movies matter
by Mark Browning
2011
Praeger
–

Thinking about leadership
by Nannerl O. Keohane
2010
Princeton University Press
–

Talking together: public deliberation and political particpation in America
by Lawrence R. Jacobs, Fay Lomax Cook, an dMichael X. Delli Carpini
E-book version
2009
University of Chicago Press

Organizational spaces rematerializing the workaday world
edited by Alfons van Marrewijk and Dvora Yanow
2010
Edward Elgar
–

The communication of hate
by Michael Waltman & John Haas
2011
Language as Social Action Series
Peter Lang

Blog theory: feedback and capture in the circuits of drive
by Jodi Dean
2010
Polity
–

Know a great book we’re missing?  Make a suggestion.

______________________________________________
Kristyna Carroll
kristyna.carroll@villanova.edu
610-519-5391

As we watch the newly graduated students go forth into the world, the Falvey Staff wishes to convey heartfelt congratulations to all who toiled over term papers, crammed for exams, and otherwise succeeded in navigating the many challenges of a college career. We enjoyed helping you and supporting you as you balanced your scholarly endeavors with part-time jobs, participated in campus events & activities and connected with classmates and professors. The library spaces, staff, catalog, databases, and books were at your disposal along the way and we invite you to continue using the library. Apply for an alumni courtesy card free of charge and stay connected to Falvey after you graduate.

Do you have words of wisdom, advice, or greetings you’d like to share with everyone? Leave a comment for the class!

by Stephen Spatz

We all know that librarians are resourceful, intelligent and helpful, but on Thursday, March 31, the second night of the biennial Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Conference in Philadelphia, a group of librarians billing themselves as “Marc Fields and Bad Data” demonstrated that they can also be musical and even theatrical—in short, that it is indeed the case that “librarians rock!”

In the course of three 45 minute sets, Marc Fields and Bad Data led a packed ballroom of colleagues and friends on a musical journey through styles ranging from folk and bluegrass to sixties rock and electric jazz, on a diverse collection of instruments including—in addition to the drums, bass, guitars, and keyboard of a typical rock band lineup—viola, harmonica, tenor sax, banjos and concertina.

Of particular interest were a handful of library-themed original songs, composed by band members especially for the event. These songs, covering topics of interest in the library world such as the demise of MARC cataloging, printer malfunction, and the authoring of open-source library applications, were crowd favorites and exemplified the tone of camaraderie and revelry in librarianship felt overall at the ACRL Conference.

The group formed in response to a call for librarian musicians by Falvey Memorial Library Director Joe Lucia. Lucia’s concept was a unique pairing of music and librarianship with few precedents in the history of the American Library Association, and certainly none as elaborate or successful, thanks to Lucia’s vision as well as to the generous sponsorship of the event by library membership organization Lyrasis. (more…)

This week, we added our 10,000th item to the Digital Library! This is quite an exciting milestone!

The item in question is the Volume 18, No. 4 issue of The Villanovan, dated April 4, 1944. The Villanovan was scanned from microfilm by the Internet Archive and we have been steadily working on adding the individual issues to our Digital Library.

Volume 18, No. 4, April 4, 1944 issue of The Villanovan.

This issue features numerous articles related to World War II. The front page headlines are listed below:

* Easter Theme In ‘Bunny Hop’ Show And Dance Apr. 15
* Lt. W. Garrity Killed Piloting Bomber in Africa
* Augustinians In Philippines Safe
* Comdr. Milner Leaves for Active Sea Duty Again
* Guadalcanal and Tulagi Veterans in Marine V-12 Unit Describe Battles
* Plans Completed For Guild Party
* Financier’s Frolic Tickets On Sale Now

Not content with just 10,000, we are already edging past 10,100 as of this writing! The current item count is viewable here and it is updated in real time as we add new items.

Rebecca (Becky) Whidden joined Falvey’s Access Services in April. She works as supervisor on duty, with course reserves and at the information desk.

With a bachelor’s degree in English from Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., and a master’s degree in elementary education from Lesley University, Cambridge, Mass., Becky worked in the book industry for nearly twenty years. Before coming to Falvey, she worked in the technical services department of the Radnor Memorial Library in Wayne, Pa.

Phylis Wright, Manager of Access Desk Services, said, “Becky Whidden comes to us from Radnor Memorial Library where she worked part-time processing serials and assisting in circulation when needed. Her public library experience gives her an added dimension that will contribute to our library as we strive to enhance our own services here in Falvey.”

Her first passion is children’s literature, having worked for a decade in a children’s only bookstore outside of Boston. Even now she continues to write book reviews for the children’s literature review publication, The Horn Book Guide.

True life adventure tales, realistic fiction and anything written by Daniel Pinkwater are her favorite genres of literature. But, although she loves to read (and read and read), Becky grew up in Maine and subsequently enjoys the outdoors as well, swimming at the beach or hiking in the woods. Lately, she has developed an interest in yoga and in running, occasionally participating in races.

Becky resides with her family in Wayne, but has lived in Boston, Mass.; Providence, R.I.; and Colombia, Mo. She has also enjoyed summers in Maine and France. Travel is another favorite activity, and Becky hopes to make it to India, Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan one day.

Photograph: Alice Bampton

Regarding the cool temperatures in Falvey:

The library administrative office has contacted Facilities about this. Unfortunately, because there is a systemic flaw in the current heating, ventilation and cooling infrastructure in the building, the temperature will not be adjusted at this time.

We appreciate your comments and concerns. The plans for the library building renovation include an update of these systems.

Posted for Jean Turner (Digital Library Intern, Spring 2011)

I had no doubt in my mind when I began to work on an online exhibit for Villanova’s Digital Library that the online content of the Fenian Brotherhood  collection would prove full of interesting pieces of 19^th century military history.  Villanova’s Digital Library houses over 450 items for the American Catholic Historical Society that relate to the Fenian Brotherhood’s failed invasions of Canada.  I was caught off guard by the evidence of dramatic divisions and personal quarrels that plagued the Irish American organization and so I chose to highlight those along with the Fenian Brotherhood’s efforts to defy British rule.

(Title banner by Joanne Quinn; click for full size.)

When the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood fought overseas for an independent Ireland they sponsored an organization called the Fenian Brotherhood in the United States.  Originally intended to raise funds and materials for activism on Irish soil, the leaders of the Fenian Brotherhood surprised many with their repeated hostilities against British North America.  The first leader to propose attacks on Canada reasoned that they would create problems for Britain, but as the aggressive plan divided Fenian membership in two, subsequent military actions seemed more congruent with the desires of Fenian leaders to assert their authority over rivaling factions.

The Fenians Progress (New York, John Bradburn, 1865), cover. (1)

The letters and published circulars of Villanova’s Digital Library collection tell the story of several of these factions and their efforts to win authority over the membership as a whole.  Amidst preparations for military attacks leaders accused each other of mishandling the treasury, illegally printing bonds, and even resorting to violence against a fellow Fenian Brother.  The majority of the papers highlighted in this collection and exhibit come from Fenian Senator Frank Gallagher of Buffalo, New York.  Because he engaged in correspondence with members of multiple factions over a period of several years, Gallagher’s papers show the efforts of many to sway his personal opinions and allegiance.

'Battle of Ridgeway C.W.' Graphic. New York: Major C. Donahue and D. Egan, 1869. From Library and Archives Canada: Peter Winkworth Collections of Canadiana. (2)

Check out the online exhibit to follow the Fenian Brotherhood through its inception, three failed invasions of Canadian soil, one murderous plot to cover up inconsistencies in their treasury, and many schisms in the membership until the organization finally discontinued itself in 1886.

Curated by Jean Turner (Digital Library Intern Spring 2011), with graphic design by Joanne Quinn.  Additional and indispensable  contributions to the project were made by student scanners and several transcribers including Susan Ottignon and Mimi DiLenge; David Lacy for his work on the technical details; and Laura Bang and Michael Foight for their advice and guidance.

(1) Digital Library @ Villanova University.

(2) Library and Archives Canada.

Congratulations to this year’s Falvey Scholars! Their research was presented in the Library on Friday, Apr. 29.

Monica Mazzoli (English) – “Parting the ‘mystic shade’: Poetic Imagination and Prophetic Interpretation in Lucy Hutchinson’s Order and Disorder and John Milton’s Paradise Lost.” (Lauren Shohet, Ph.D., faculty mentor; Michael Berthold, Ph.D., second reader)

Eric R. Bifolck (Economics) – “How Much is Too Much? The Effect of Malpractice Premiums on the Supply of Obstetricians/Gynecologists within New York.” (Mary Kelly, Ph.D., faculty mentor)

Kristopher Doll (Mechanical Engineering) – “Evaluation of Elastic Modulus of Hydroxyapatite-Nanocomposites for Bone Implants Using Finite Element Method.” (Ani Ural, Ph.D., faculty mentor)

Lynz J. Parker, BS (Nursing) – “Health and health care correlates of lower back pain and selected mental health alterations among adult respondents to the 2008 National Health Interview Survey.” (Nancy Sharts-Hopko, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, faculty mentor)

Ronald Ballouz (Astronomy and Astrophysics) – “Disk Accretion onto White Dwarfs in Cataclysmic Variables” and “The Shrinking Orbi of the Exoplanet HD 189733b.”  (Edward Sion, Ph.D., and Edward Guinan, Ph.D., faculty mentors)

Digital copies of the winning papers are maintained in the Villanova Digital Library.

Contributed by Alexandra Edwards; photographs by Alice Bampton