Dear Friends:

Ready or not fall is here! The start of the new academic year brings with it a flurry of activity, as usual. I am pleased to announce that we have a number of exciting and thought-provoking events and exhibits planned for this quarter, but I'd also like to reflect on some highlights of the summer months.

As the 2016-17 academic year came to a close in June, we bid farewell to our beloved University Librarian of 18 years, Brian E. C. Schottlaender. Brian was an effective and highly respected leader who brought the UC San Diego Library to the national scale with his effort to lead collaborative initiatives that advanced digitization and digital preservation. Many thanks to all of you who joined us for his retirement celebrations. 

Around that same time, we had the pleasure of awarding the annual Undergraduate Library Research Prize to four students who have demonstrated exemplary research skills in mining the Library's rich and diverse information resources and services. You can read more about the winners and their fascinating research in the article below.

I'm also pleased to report that the Library recently received a generous gift to create the Schwartz Library Collection Endowment for Melanesian/Anthropology Studies, in honor of Professor Emeritus Theodore Schwartz, a prominent figure in psychological anthropology. As you'll see in the article below, the fund will support the Library's distinguished Melanesian and Anthropology Studies Collection.

The concluding highlight of the summer was no doubt the 14th annual Dinner in the Library, featuring  international best-selling author Ann Patchett who captivated the audience as she described her evolving relationship with books and how she became a champion of literary culture. The gala raised $205,000 to support the Geisel Library Revitalization Initiative (GLRI), which will transform the 1st, 2nd, and 8th floors of Geisel Library to benefit student learning and research. The event was a remarkable success thanks to our generous sponsors-especially Audrey Geisel-and the honorary committee chaired by Jeanne Jones. For those of you who missed this year's Dinner , I encourage you to read the article below, which includes photos from the event and a link to Ann's talk via the UCTV Library Channel .

Finally, in case you haven't noticed, the Library recently launched a redesigned website with a more modern look and feel that is compatible across all devices. I hope you find the site to be more user-friendly and easy to navigate.

Warm regards,

Tammy Nickelson Dearie
Interim University Librarian
2017 Dinner in the Library Gala Raises Significant Support for Smart Learning Spaces DiL
International Best-Selling Author, Ann Patchett
UC San Diego's 14th annual Dinner in the Library lived up to its reputation as the premier campus event for lovers of libraries and books. Hosted by Interim University Librarian, Tammy Nickelson Dearie, the yearly tradition transformed the first floor of Geisel Library into an elegant cocktail and dining area amidst book collections and study spaces.

Drawing a crowd of more than 160 library friends and supporters, the gala raised $205,000 to support the Geisel Library Revitalization Initiative (GLRI), which will  transform the 1st, 2nd, and 8th floors of Geisel Library to benefit student learning and research. Dearie gave special thanks to all those who generously supported this year's Dinner, especially lead sponsor Audrey Geisel, and Jeanne Jones, who chaired the Dinner's honorary committee for the second consecutive year.   Continue reading...
Ted Schwartz and Paliau Maloat, Central Park, New York, 1970
The UC San Diego Library recently received a generous gift to create the Schwartz Library Collection Endowment for Melanesian/Anthropology Studies, in honor of UC San Diego Professor Emeritus Theodore (Ted) Schwartz, a prominent figure in psychological anthropology. The fund will support in perpetuity the Library's distinguished Melanesian and Anthropology Studies Collection. In addition to the endowed fund, Schwartz's personal papers have been donated to the Library's Special Collections & Archives, where they will be available for use by scholars, researchers, and educators. 

"We are delighted to make this gift to honor the work of my uncle, Theodore Schwartz, in Melanesian Studies and support the excellence of the Library's collections in this area of distinction for UC San Diego," said Steve and Paula Mae Schwartz. "This endowed fund will ensure that Ted's research and the Library's collections in Melanesian and Anthropology Studies are preserved and accessible to scholars at UC San Diego and around the world."  Continue reading...
Left to right: Yuanhao Qu, Sarah Prentiss, Maryanne Beckwith, & Megan Finch
Recognizing that outstanding student research goes hand in hand with knowledgeable use of library resources, collections, and services, the UC San Diego Library has announced four honorees for the 2017 Undergraduate Library Research Prize. Their research topics ranged from fish communities living in low oxygen zones in the Gulf of California to the role of women as playwrights in Restoration England.

The annual award is sponsored by the UC San Diego Library, the Vice Chancellor for Students Affairs, and the UCSD Alumni Association. Awards are given in the Social Sciences, Arts, Humanities and Physical and Life Sciences categories. They include a cash award of $1,000 and $500 for first and second place, respectively.   Continue reading...
The Photography of Norman Spencer: An Exhibit
October 3 - November 1, 2017
Geisel Library, Main (2nd) Floor

TONIGHT
Reception: Tuesday, October 10
5:30 - 7:30 PM
Geisel Library, Seuss Room

Professor Norman Spencer's photographs capture the intimate moments of key players in Chinese alternative culture, especially in underground and independent Chinese cinema. This exhibit includes images of  figures from Chinese academia and the  arts ranging from the 1990s to today.  Currently a professor of English at State University of New York at Nassau, Norman Spencer, Ph.D. has donated this photographic collection to the UC San Diego Library More information...
Tuesday, October 17
6:30 - 8:30 PM 
Geisel Library, Seuss Room

The Library's popular micro-fiction series is back with another open-mic reading of original Flash-Fantasy & Sci-Fi short stories.

Writers interested in sharing their written work should submit entries of 250 words or less to Scott Paulson by Friday, October 13. At the event, participants will have the opportunity to read their entries or have them read aloud by someone else. All are welcome to come listen to these short stories from beyond and enjoy refreshments!  This event is hosted in partnership with The Writing + Critical Expression Hub at the Teaching + Learning Commons.   More information...
Thursday, October 19
4:30 - 6:30 PM 
Geisel Library, Seuss Room

A half-century after its initial publication, poet and UC San Diego professor emeritus Jerome Rothenberg's brilliant anthology, Technicians of the Sacred, has been revised, expanded, and newly issued by the University of California Press. Hailed by the Los Angeles Times as one of the hundred most recommended American books of the late 20th century, this work has exposed generations of readers to the multiple possibilities of poetry throughout the world.  Join us for a reading by  Rothenberg and five other poets ---   Rae Armantrout, Ben Doller, Sandra Doller, John Bloomberg-Rissman, and Wai-lim Yip --- followed by a reception More information...
Tuesday, October 24
5:30 - 7:00 PM 
Geisel Library, Seuss Room


In his new book,  Dirt is Good , Professor Rob Knight takes a fresh look at the microbiome   ---   the combined activity of all the tiny organisms inside our bodies and the surrounding environment   ---  commonly known as germs.

Professor Knight, director of UC San Diego's Center for Microbiome Innovation, will discuss society's recent obsession with the microbiome and its varied effects on human health, which has led to a rise in misinformation especially for parents who are concerned about their children's health RSVP.
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