The Ohio State University

International Day for Sharing Life Stories

The Digital Storytelling Team of staff from University Libraries, Technology Enhanced Learning and Research, and Faculty and TA Development created an OSU campus event on Friday, May 16, 2008 to coincide with the International Day for Sharing Life Stories in conjunction with The Center for Digital Storytelling.

The day was billed as an “opportunity for people around the world to gather in community halls, classrooms, public parks, theaters, auditoriums, as well websites, email exchanges, and virtual environments to hear each other’s stories. We want this day to be especially dedicated to celebrating and promoting Life Story projects that have made a difference within neighborhoods, communities, and societies as a whole.”

Events
Digital Storytelling Showcase
9:30 –10:30 Wexner Center Film Theater
A screening of various digital stories, many made at OSU.

Theatrical Storytelling Presentations
11:00 –12:15
Wexner Center Film Theater
An hour of storytelling performances from various campus and community storytellers. Performers include Kevin Cordi, Olivia Bratich, Ruthmarie Mitsch, Tyler Termeer, Dionne Custer, Lyn Ford, Sally Crandall and more.

Panel Discussion
1:00 – 2:30 pm Wexner Center Film Theater
A Cross-Campus View of Story in Teaching, Research, and Outreach.

A lively conversation about how colleagues from across the campus use the notion of “story” to define and enhance their teaching, research, and outreach activities. Panelists included Adeleke Adeeko (English), Susan Fisher (Biology), Joe Ponce (English), Joy Reilly (Theatre), and Sabra Webber (Near Eastern Languages and Culture/Comp Studies).

Convener
David Herman, Dept. of English/Project Narrative

Welcoming Remarks
Pres. E. Gordon Gee

Co-sponsored by Project Narrative, The Digital Union, The Office of Faculty and TA Development, The Office of Technology-Enhanced Learning and Research, and Ohio State University Libraries

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Reading Bone

This summer we featured Reading Bone ,a free 3 session reading and discussion series on Jeff Smith’s epic graphic novel Bone, facilitated by Steven Fink, OSU Professor of English. The group met on Monday evenings June 9, 16, and 23 from 7:00 -8:30 pm in the Cartoon Research Library seminar room at the Wexner Center for the Arts. Registration was required for the series and was open to interested adults who are able to attend all three discussions. Books were provided to participants free of charge, courtesy of the author. Inquiries: readingbone@gmail.com or call 614.292.2594 for more information. Reading Bone was presented by the University Libraries, the Cartoon Research Library, Wexner Center for the Arts and the Department of English.

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Modern Marvels: Jewish Adventures in the Graphic Novel

OSU Libraries repeated the Jewish Literature Series Modern Marvels Spring quarter 2008.

We were pleased to offer the community a five-part reading and discussion series called “Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature – Identity and Imagination,” which explores Jewish literature and culture though scholar-led discussions of contemporary and classic books on a common theme. The library’s series explored the theme Modern Marvels: Jewish Adventures in the Graphic Novel, and was facilitated by Steven Fink, professor of English at the Ohio State University.

The book discussions were held on Monday evenings from 7-8:30pm in the seminar room adjacent to the Cartoon Research Library in the Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St. Registration was required for the free reading and discussion series, and was open to interested adults in the community were able to participate in all 5 discussions. Books for the Modern Marvels program were provided to series participants; dates and titles for discussion included:

March 31, 2008 - A Contract with God by Will Eisner. Set among 1930s Bronx tenements, four stories capture the brutal yet tender world of working-class Jews. The first “graphic novel.”

April 14, 2008 - The Complete Maus I&II by Art Spiegelman. The story of Speigelman’s parents—Jews reaching maturity in Europe on the verge of Nazism and their survival in a concentration camp. A 1992 Pulitzer Prize winner.

April 28, 2008 - Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer:Stories by Ben Katchor. A photographer documents a rapidly vanishing urban netherworld.

May 5, 2008 - The Quitter by Harvey Pekar
The author discusses the ways in his life that he quit before he could fail. The story ends with a hopeful message that it is possible to find one’s way. Explores the navy, mid-century race relations, and jazz.

May 19, 2008 - The Rabbi’s Cat by Joann Sfar. A rabbi engages his talking pet—who wants to become Jewish and have a bar mitzvah—in a debate, including topics such as spelling, parental love, and the very nature of Jewish identity.

“Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature” was made possible through a grant from Nextbook and the American Library Association with local support generously provided by Paul Watkins, OSU Friends of the Library Board member. Promotional support was provided by our local partners: Cartoon Research Library, the Melton Center for Jewish Studies and Friends of the OSU Libraries.

To be placed on a wait list for possible future offerings contact Donna Distel at letstalkmodern@gmail.com or call 614.292.2594.

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Reading ReMix

OSU Libraries’ new book group, Reading ReMix, debuted Winter Quarter 2008. The program is open to all OSU students and features discussions of contemporary books in a casual setting. Complimentary copies of each book will be provided courtesy of OSU Libraries.

A long-term commitment is not necessary. Students may choose to sign up for the program on a book-by-book basis. Please visit the Reading ReMix blog for more information.

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Faculty Recognition Book Exhibit

The Faculty Recognition Book Exhibit opened at the Sullivant Library on November 14, 2007 and featured some of the books selected by Ohio State University faculty granted tenure or promotion in 2007/08. The 152 honorees, including regular and clinical faculty from all OSU campuses, chose a title to be book-plated in their name in recognition of their accomplishments. The diversity of titles selected represents the breadth of expertise of The Ohio State University faculty and the scope of their teaching and research. The exhibit continued through Dec. 17th. ; contact distel.1@osu.edu.

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Modern Marvels: Jewish Adventures in the Graphic Novel

OSU Libraries presented a five-part reading and discussion series called “Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature - Identity and Imagination,” which explores Jewish literature and culture though scholar-led discussions of contemporary and classic books on a common theme. The library’s series explored the theme Modern Marvels: Jewish Adventures in the Graphic Novel, and was led by Steven Fink, professor of English at the Ohio State University.

The book discussions were held on Monday evenings from 7-8:30pm in the seminar room adjacent to the Cartoon Research Library in the Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St. Registration was required for the free reading and discussion series, and was open to interested adults in the community who were able to participate in all 5 discussions. Books for the Modern Marvels program were provided to series participants; dates and titles for discussion included:

October 1, 2007 - A Contract with God by Will Eisner
October 15, 2007 - The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman
October 29, 2007 - Julius Knipl by Ben Katchor
November 5, 2007 - The Quitter by Harvey Pekar
November 19, 2007 - The Rabbi’s Cat by Joann Sfar

Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature was made possible through a grant from Nextbook and the American Library Association with local support generously provided by Paul Watkins. Promotional support was provided by our local partners: Cartoon Research Library, the Melton Center for Jewish Studies and OSU Hillel.

Thanks to an enthusiastic response from the community, we have reapplied for the grant in hopes of repeating Modern Marvels in Spring of 2008. To be notified about a possible future offering contact Donna Distel at letstalkmodern@gmail.com or call 614.292.2594.

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Library 2.0 Seminar

OSU Libraries hosted a seminar on Library 2.0 topics for Ohio librarians on June 13 & 14, 2007 at the Longaberger Alumni House. The seminar was funded in part by an Institute of Museum and Library Services LSTA grant awarded by the State Library of Ohio. More information is available at http://library.osu.edu/sites/Seminar2-0/ .

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Libraries’ ReadAloud

The Libraries’ ReadAloud program was pleased to be a participant in Listening to The Land…A Year Long Reading of Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac. Thursday September 27th from 3-4 pm an appreciative audience gathered for a reading of the remarkable essays “Choral Copse”, “Guacamaja” and “Song of Gavilan” by Bill and Ruthmarie Mitsch. The program was held at one of the hidden treasures of OSU: the Olentangy River Wetlands Research Park. www.swamp.osu.edu See complete listing of the Listening to The Land program, which continues at various locations through March of 2008: www.epa.state.ohio.us/oeef/leopold2007. .

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