Greetings,

This past academic year has been remarkable in many ways. Associate Dean Kaya van Beynen received the EBSS Distinguished Education and Behavioral Sciences Librarian Award sponsored by the American Psychological Association, a prestigious national library award. Emily Mann and David Shedden played key roles in establishing the USF St. Petersburg Native American Land Acknowledgment. NPML continued to support the local St. Petersburg community. Most recently, thanks to David Brodosi and his team, NPML is hosting the Florida Holocaust Museum as they interview Holocaust Survivors using a technique developed by the USC Shoah Foundation called Dimensions in Testimony. Elizabeth Gelman, the Museum’s executive director, provided some information about the Survivors: “The Survivors’ experiences are all very different from one another: some were in work and concentration camps; some were hidden children; one escaped to the Shanghai Ghetto; and our oldest participant, who will be 98 the week after her filming, lived through Auschwitz. Each story is a miracle and I feel privileged to play a small role in preserving their testimony.” I concur—I am very proud that NPML could host the filming to support this significant initiative. You can find more specifics about NPML faculty and staff accomplishments in our NPML Spotlight 2020-2021.

We are now turning our attention to Summer and Fall 2021 when we expect to have more in-person, face-to-face experiences. I hope that you all get some well-deserved time to relax this summer after this challenging year. I know I speak for many in NPML when I say we can’t wait to see you all again in person.

Catherine Cardwell
Campus Dean, Nelson Poynter Memorial Library