STAFF

Editor Cy Dillon Stanley Library Virginia Ferrum College P.O. Box 1000 Ferrum, Virginia 24088 (540) 365-4428 Libraries [email protected] July/August/September, 1999, Vol. 45, No. 3 Associate Editor Nancy H. Seamans Virginia Tech COLUMNS University Libraries Blacksburg, Virginia Cy Dillon 2 Openers: An Interview with Alyson Hagy (540) 231-2708 [email protected] Sandra Heinemann 4 President’s Column: Committees Fuel the VLA Fire Editorial Board Karen W. Dillon Julie A. Campbell, Ed. 28 Virginia Books Contract Manager SWING (Southwest Information Network Group) FEATURES 3045 Dugspur Road Callaway, Virginia 24067 Scott Silet 6 Anatomy of the Internet Reference Resources (540) 334-5089 Web Page: a UVA Library Experiment [email protected] Patricia C. Bangs 11 Washingtonpost.com Publisher Marc John T. Kneebone Teren Links Future of Libraries and Media Publications Division Library of Virginia Marna Hostetler 13 Hollins University’s New Wyndham 800 E. Broad Street Robertson Library Richmond, Virginia 23219 Pat McKay and 16 ‘Teen Read Week’ Sparks Regional (804) 786-7311 [email protected] Janet Baumgardner Cooperation in Metropolitan Richmond, Virginia Rebecca R. Laine 18 The VLA Paraprofessional Forum’s 1999 Longwood College Library Farmville, Virginia 23909 Conference (804) 395-2441 Mary Dessypris 23 Accessing Virginia Statistics on the Internet [email protected] Anne Lawrence and 26 University of Virginia’s Alderman Café Melissa Norris Earns High Marks from Faculty, Students, and Customer Survey

Virginia Libraries is a quarterly journal published by the Virginia Library Association whose purpose is to develop, promote, and improve library and information services and the pro- fession of librarianship in order to advance literacy and learning and to ensure access to information in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The journal, distributed to the membership, is used as a vehicle for members to exchange information, ideas, and solutions to mutual problems in professional articles on current topics in the library and information field. Views expressed in Virginia Libraries are not necessarily endorsed by the editor or edito- rial board. Information in Virginia Libraries is copyrighted by the Virginia Library Associa- tion. Material may be reproduced for informational, educational, or recreational purposes. Virginia Libraries is indexed in Library Literature. Items for publication and editorial inquiries should be addressed to the editor. Inquiries regarding membership, subscriptions, advertising, or claims should be directed to VLA, P.O. Box 8277, Norfolk, VA 23503-0277. All personnel happenings and announcements should be sent to the VLA Newsletter, Mary Hansbrough, P.O. Box 90001, University Libraries, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24062, (540) 231-8832, fax (540) 231-3694, e-mail maryhans@

Graphic Design by Lamp-Post Publicity, Meherrin vt.edu. Virginia Libraries is available by subscription at $20 per year. Printing by Farmville Printing, Farmville The guidelines for submissions to Virginia Libraries are found on the inside back cover. PAGE 2 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999

OPENERS An Interview with Alyson Hagy

by Cy Dillon

lyson Hagy, a native North Carolina. My guess is of Franklin County, that I’m intrigued by survi- Virginia, will pub- vors, by people who work on Alish her third collection of land or water where their short stories and her first livelihoods are affected by novel during the coming natural forces far beyond year. She teaches writing at their control. Why would the University of Wyoming. anyone want to live on a bar- rier island or in a mountain How did growing up on hollow? Because it’s beauti- VL the edge of the moun- ful and challenging, and tains in Virginia affect your because independence and a development as a storyteller? high level of solitude are Isn’t your father something often desirable. I don’t think of the old-time country doc- that everyone should live in tor? such places; I don’t think Growing up on the edge most of us would want to do AH of the Blue Ridge moun- so. But people who live on tains, just at the intersection our American margins — of Appalachian and Pied- geographically, economically, mont cultures, had a great culturally — deeply intrigue effect on me as a writer. I me, perhaps because they are was raised on a farm just out- always in “conflict” with side of Rocky Mount, Vir- weather or economic success ginia, so the richness of the rural black and white, poor and poorer, as we usually define it. landscape — the large vegetable since I often saw families on the I cannot tell which landscapes garden, the ancient barns, the hay edge of grief. I was also welcomed will trigger my imagination. I’ve fields, the murky Blackwater river onto the porches of those families recently completed a novel set on — fed my imagination, though I and became familiar with the care- a racetrack in Kentucky, which is wasn’t consciously aware of that ful, hard-working rhythms of their not a project I would have pre- fact. Southerners are grand story- lives. Even now, after years away dicted for myself. I think I was tellers, so I think being raised in a from Virginia, I am still drawn to drawn to the track because it har- tale-telling culture also influenced rural areas, to places that are often bored a rich microcosm of Ameri- my imagination. My father, who beautiful (as the Virginia moun- can dreamers, but I’m not abso- was a general practitioner in Frank- tains are) but difficult to live in. lutely sure. lin County until I was 15 (he still practices as a family doctor in Roa- Why do you think you set so You have a knack for captur- noke), is a great talker, and he col- VL many of your stories in ex- VL ing the language of different lected anecdotes and tales from his treme landscapes? The Outer Banks characters and narrators. Do you colleagues and patients, often and the Upper Peninsula are quite have a method for absorbing the bringing them home to share with different from western Virginia. idiom, or does it come naturally? us. I also think that traveling on I wasn’t aware of my predilec- I suppose I’ve become a house calls with my father (which AH tion for “extreme landscapes” AH trained listener. I wasn’t con- we often did) deepened my appre- until I was deep into my collection scious of this tendency, either. The ciation for a wide range of people, of stories about the Outer Banks of only conscious “training” I did as a JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES PAGE 3

young person was read, and I read are likely to connect me to the rea- writing goals do you have for your- because I loved it, not because I listic tradition of Eudora Welty, self in the next few years? dreamed of being a writer. I Carson McCullers, etc. Which is I’d like to get to work on a dreamed of being a veterinarian. not a bad place to be. AH new novel, perhaps some- Or an archaeologist. Or an eques- thing set in Wyoming where we trienne. You say that your sister Mel- have plenty of intriguing ex- My parents are both excellent VL chora is your ideal reader. Do tremes. And I’m always writing singers, so maybe the ability to you use the reactions of readers in stories…about lots of different hear idiom comes from some half- writing and revising your stories, places and characters. There is buried musical ability. I wish I or do you keep them to yourself probably at least one more Vir- could sing. I wish I could make until they are in final form? ginia book in me, as well. I’m regu- people’s skin prickle at the sound When I’ve done all I can with larly haunted (in a good way) by of my voice the way the great sing- AH a story (after many, many some half-formed, Blue Ridge-type ers do. Maybe I’m a writer…one drafts), I’ll try it out on a tough characters in my imagination. with an interest in sound and reader or two. Even after 20 years rhythm…because I can’t sing. Not of experience, I’m not always my Do you find that teaching well enough to go beyond the own best editor. Skilled readers are VL creative writing at a university church choir, in any case. very important to me. My sister is helps or hinders your own writing? not a writer, but she is a devoted Have you had students who are You have said that you are reader of all sorts of books. She’s a successful writers themselves? VL “right in the middle of the great one to test fiction on. I can still teach effectively realist tradition.” Do academic crit- AH and get my own writing ics accept this of you, or do you Your story “Sharking” is nar- done, but it seems to get harder get the feeling they’d rather see VL rated from the point of view and harder. Writing becomes more you go in a different direction? of a character who is almost the demanding the better you get at it, It’s hard to say what the crit- polar opposite of you. He is a disil- so it can become difficult to share AH ics think of me. I haven’t lusioned loner who reveals human your best wisdom with your stu- made much of an appearance on compassion almost begrudgingly. dents when that wisdom is so the critical scene though I am Why did you select such a charac- hard-earned and more difficult to occasionally contacted by a gradu- ter to inhabit? define. Right now, I still love ate student interested in my Appa- Tough question. I remember teaching. It’s a thrill…and a lachian or Southern roots. I sup- AH seeing this heavy, tattooed, chance for me to learn. There’s pose some critics won’t find me eccentric guy at the end of Frisco also the desire to “give something “Southern” enough, but I feel Pier on Hatteras Island once. I back” to eager young writers. I’ve deeply Southern. It’s simply been never forgot him — the way he had some truly great teachers in my path to take my rural roots out looked, the way his equipment my day — George Garrett (now at into wider America. was arrayed around him. Some- UVa) is one of the most brilliant, What I mean when I say I’m “in thing began to hum when I saw generous artists I’ll ever know. I the middle of the realist tradition” him…and the hum didn’t go away also learned some vital lessons is that I’m not a particularly post- for years. Finally I was able to ima- from Richard Ford, Janet Kauff- modern writer. My stories (and my gine a voice to go with his body man, and Charles Baxter. novel) are traditional in structure and his obvious passion for shark I’ve had the privilege of work- and focus; they have beginnings, fishing. Many of my stories begin ing with many students who have middles, and ends. About half of like that — with a tableau, or a gone on to publish and publish the important American writers are couple of sentences of dialogue. I well. I don’t take credit for their still realists; it’s an abiding strain seem to store those fragments until work, however. I may have helped in our literature. Yet I am inter- I can use them. them solve a short-term problem ested in what the experimenters I also feel more challenged or two, but success in writing has are doing with language and form. when I write “away” from myself. I more to do with what you learn I try to keep up (to some degree) think other folks are much more than what you are taught. And, with avant garde fiction on the interesting than I am. I’m a born most of that learning occurs from internet, for instance. I just chronicler, I guess. reading (no surprise there) and haven’t found a way to use my putting pen to paper. Persistence interest in the new to fuel my own After three short story collec- and passion. Those are the keys. VL work. Not yet. So for now critics VL tions and a new novel, what PAGE 4 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Committees Fuel the VLA Fire

by Sandra Heinemann

hen asked to serve General Assembly in sponsoring for forum and section chairs which on a committee, and passing legislation to provide generates program ideas and guide- most of us inwardly $2.8 million to increase state aid to lines for successful meetings. They Wgroan. We want to know “How public libraries in 2000 and monitor continuing education pro- much time is it going to take?” $500,000 to fund the technology grams through a liaison system “What are we supposed to do?” plan, Infopowering the Common- which provides additional support “When do we have to have it wealth. This was the result of a for the program planners. done?” and so forth. We assume focused, organized effort on the Without VLA’s Conference that a committee is being formed part of committee members under Committee, there would not be a because there is a problem to be the leadership of Janis Augustine stimulating, challenging annual solved, a task to be completed, or a and Linda Krantz with the advice conference. Hours of planning, study to be undertaken; and we telephoning, negotiating, and have a talent, skill, interest, or past soliciting are needed to develop a experience that will get the job conference with appeal to a broad done. It is flattering to be asked, The Association runs spectrum of interests, to secure but most committees have a down- first-rate speakers, and to develop side — they demand a lot of work. on the energy, worthwhile programs. With the The upside is an opportunity to commitment, and time assistance of the Executive Direc- exercise intellectual skills, change tor and Chairperson Mary Mayer- a situation for the better, and of its volunteers. Hennelly, committee members interact with others with similar also plan social events, determine concerns or interests. On balance, schedules, contact vendors, and shouldn’t we say “yes”? decide on program brochures. All Fortunately, many competent and counsel and efforts of VLA’s of this serves to attract people to people have said “yes” to the Vir- legislative liaison. This same group the conference and support the ginia Library Association. The influenced the direction of Inter- needs of members to network and Association runs on the energy, net use legislation that resulted in learn in a stimulating environ- commitment, and time of its vol- passage of HB1043 which provided ment. unteers. The appointed commit- for local control of Internet use in Without the efforts of the Publi- tees and their chairs address issues Virginia’s public libraries. cations Committee, VLA would of importance to the VLA member- Without VLA’s Continuing Edu- not have state-of-the-art communi- ship and to the profession. At cation Committee, the Association cation tools for use by the mem- present, VLA has ten standing would not have sponsored a pleth- bership. During the past few years, committees and one ad hoc com- ora of continuing education and a web site was developed and a list- mittee. A total of 120 members training programs for the member- serv begun. These two services participate in these committees, ship. C. E. opportunities are always complement the VLA Newsletter approximately 10 percent of the among the top three services that and Virginia Libraries, insuring that membership. The work they do is members expect from the Associa- we have an informed, involved vital to the organization. tion. Louveller Luster, 1998/99 membership. This year, co-chairs Without VLA’s Legislative Com- Chairperson, and her committee Barbie Selby and Sue Trask and mittee, we would not have secured members annually plan a continu- their committee have worked to the support of members of the ing education training workshop secure revenue to support publica-

Sandra Heinemann is Head Catalog Librarian at Hampden-Sydney College. JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES PAGE 5

Publications Committee members convene at Barbie Selby’s home this spring.

tions through advertising. Other 1999 VLA Committees VLA committees monitor intellec- tual freedom issues, select individ- Administrative Services Continuing Education Tom Hehman Stella B. Pool, Chair Louveller Luster, Chair- Mary Mayer-Hennelly uals and groups to receive recogni- Karen Cary person Sarah Hudson tion and awards, choose VLA Carol Creager Althea Acshmann Chuck Koutnik scholarship recipients, and Deborah H. Dawson Molly Brennan Patrick M. O’Brien Donna Gant Elizabeth Doolittle Sarah Parker develop organization manuals. Sally Jacobs Harriett Edmunds, ex officio Sally G. Reed Committees form the underpin- Maurice LaPierre My Guidarelli Laurie S. Roberts ning of VLA. They provide an Edward Lener Pat Howe Gail Tatum Donna Pletcher Mary Prendergast John Twombly opportunity for individuals to Carol Sinwell Barbara Rittinger Spencer Watts develop leadership skills which Therese Wagenknecht will be needed in the future. Pro- Awards & Recognition Sarah Wiggins Publications Susan Keller, Chairperson Lydia Williams Barbie Selby, Co-Chair fessionals, paraprofessionals, and Barbara Ecton Sue Trask, Co-Chair other library supporters are able to Connie Gilman Intellectual Freedom Antoinette Arsic work together and learn from one Velma Haley Neal Wyatt, Chairperson Margaret R. Brinkhuis Collette Macin Ruth Arnold Caroline Gilson another. VLA emphasizes inclu- Steve Murden Jeff Clark Andrea Kross siveness and regional participation Olivia Osei-Sarfo Connie Gilman Loretta Parham-O’Brien within all committees so that peo- Sarah Parker Ted Hostelter Cy Dillon, ex officio Carmy Witzke Sarah Parker Linda Hahne, ex officio ple from all areas of the Common- Timothy Coggins Mary Hansbrough, ex officio wealth can contribute. Members Conference Stephanie Michel Steve Helm, ex officio who work on committees are often Mary Mayer-Hennelly, Jane E. Sullivan Chairperson Starr Smith Scholarship the unsung heroes of the associa- Sandy Heinemann Kristen Steele Sydney Simpson, tion. They all deserve a round of Linda Hahne Chairperson applause for their contributions to Carolyn Barkley Legislative Donna Bausch Libby Blanton Janis Augustine, Co-Chair Velma Haley strengthening the association and Harriett Edmunds Linda Krantz, Co-Chair Sandy Heinemann, ex the profession in Virginia. VL Linda Farynk Sam Clay, Vice Chair officio Connie Gilman Beth Askew Lindsey Ideson Jim Gwin Ellen Bell Elna Ann Mayo Carol Hunter Barbara Burdette Marianne Ramsden Olivia Osei-Sarfo Ann Friedman Carol Sinwell Bess Haile John Trotti PAGE 6 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999

Anatomy of the Internet Reference Resources Web Page: a UVA Library Experiment

by Scott Silet

his just in: The number rang.gen.va.us/Infofldr/departs/ As the number of these resources of Web sites surpasses 53 reference/Index.htm, “Index of grew, we found they became gazillion worldwide — WWW Resources.” The University increasingly useful in our work Tnumber of reference librarians of Virginia also maintains a collec- answering reference questions. In experiencing information melt- tion called http://www.lib.virginia. response to this trend, many of us down attributed to the number of edu/reference, “Internet Reference created lists of Internet-accessible web sites at an all-time high. Resources” (IRR), which has existed resources on our library’s reference While this isn’t an actual headline in one form or another since the pages. Unfortunately for our users, (yet), I suspect many of us feel as spring of 1995. The following arti- most were difficult to find and though we read it every week. poorly organized — indicating, per- Keeping up with the deluge of haps, that they were designed pri- information available on the Inter- marily for ourselves and not our net is a full-time job. Indeed, Keeping up with the library users. Lacking any stan- organizations like Yahoo, The deluge of information dards of style or development, the Scout Report, and the Internet quality of pages varied widely. Public Library have sizable staffs available on the Internet Some used a straight alphabetic whose sole responsibility is to sur- listing while others attempted to vey the farthest reaches of the vir- is a full-time job. annotate each site or to group tual universe and keep the rest of items by subject, but what these us informed about what is new lists gained in organization they and interesting on the web. As the frequently lost in comprehensive- number of resources available over cle is a brief history of that refer- ness. The pages grew indepen- the Internet has grown, many ref- ence page, a discussion of how it is dently of one another over the erence librarians around the state currently maintained and adminis- next two years, a fact reinforced by have responded by establishing tered, and a listing of issues and the lack of communication be- their own virtual collections of ref- challenges that face it and similar tween librarians who maintained erence resources. For samples of collections in the future. them. such collections see Virginia Tech’s As the web grew, the time http://www.lib.vt.edu/research/ needed to maintain these pages Background resources/, “General Reference Re- increased as well. Realizing that sources,” William & Mary’s http:// As is the case with many such the task of maintaining this collec- www.swem.vm.edu/Gateway/ref. pages at other libraries, the IRR tion was better handled by a cen- html, “Reference Resources,” Fair- essentially started out as a series of tralized effort, I proposed in the fax County’s http://www.co.fairfax. handy web sites which University spring of 1997 that we consolidate va.us/library/internet/ref.htm, “Ref- of Virginia reference librarians our efforts and create a single page erence Bookshelf,” and Rockbridge found and bookmarked on their that would serve all UVa libraries. Regional Library’s http://www.lib. office or reference desk computers. An Advisory Committee made up

Scott Silet is Instruction and Information Services Librarian at the University of Virginia. JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES PAGE 7

Image 1, left, the Internet Refer- ence Resources homepage. Image 2, below, is an example of catalogued resource.

of six reference librarians (many of whose pages were integrated to make IRR) was established to coor- dinate the creation, design, and maintenance of IRR which offi- cially went public in the fall of 1997.

Page Design What’s in a Name?: One of the first tricky issues the Advisory Group had to resolve was what to name settled on Internet Reference ties, Engineering, Science & Medi- the page — a seemingly simple Resources — our thinking being cine, and Social Sciences) to reflect task which ultimately proved to be that that name would best repre- the major areas of study at the somewhat problematic. Many vari- sent a collection of resources University. The five categories, six ations on a theme for reference which had come from “out there” if you consider the “New” category pages existed already: Virtual Refer- on the Internet and not owned by which was added later, were color- ence Desk, Electronic Reference Shelf, (i.e. from within) the Library. coded to give users a sense of loca- On-line Reference Works, Reference tion within the complex IRR struc- Sources on the Internet, etc. (See http:// Categories: The Advisory Group ture. We then divided each cate- www.lib.virginia.edu/reference/new/ wrestled with several items related gory into a series of subcategories univrefpages.html for the variety to the organization of the page, (topics). of names used at other university starting with establishing a coher- libraries.) We all felt that no one ent and logical subject hierarchy Topics: We created the list of topics name adequately described the (see image #1). We settled on five for the General category after look- unique nature of the collection, main categories and concluded ing at our existing resources as specifically how it differed from that the top-level page should dis- well as by looking at those topics the Library’s primary (fee-based) play general resources sources — used by other college and univer- collections of resources accessible materials which would most likely sity reference pages. Topics for the on the web, including InfoTrac, be of interest to users in all librar- four subject-specific areas, on the Lexis-Nexis, and Encyclopedia Bri- ies. We chose four other subject- other hand, relate directly to the tannica. After much debate, we specific categories (Arts & Humani- fields of study at the University PAGE 8 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 and are named primarily after aca- the left-hand frame and category/ demic departments. Several fields topic headers. I should add that it Purpose/Audience: With few excep- have a large number of resources was only after some discussion tions, sites included in IRR support (government / foreign affairs - 64, that the Advisory Group accepted the instructional and research pro- business-58, travel-43, and books- frames as the best way to organize grams of the University. If the 32) so we chose to further subdi- the IRR, and we haven’t looked resource is general or basic in vide these topics into logical and back since. This Office also pro- nature, then it will be included if it useful groupings (e.g., geographi- vides us with a regular report of is perceived by the selector to be of cal, chronological, material type, broken, orphaned, and redirected interest to our faculty, students, etc.). Once topics have been URLs using LinkBot. We have a and staff. If there is some doubt as created and subdivided, items are graduate student assistant fix out- to the appropriateness of a re- then organized according to their source to the collection then the usefulness or popularity relative to determining scenario is “Might the grouping. Here, we rely on our someone within the University own experience using the page to It is important to have community ask us a question determine the most beneficial which this source would help order of entries which does, it guidelines governing answer?” should be noted, change from the selection of library time to time, particularly with Scope: The resources included must time-sensitive materials. Entries materials, and web serve to answer a factual or quick may be cross-listed between cate- reference question, just as if it gories and/or topics, if appropriate. reference sources are were a title added to our print If a source lends itself well to more no exception. ready reference collection. The rel- than two topics within the same atively narrow scope of the IRR is category, it is placed in a special what differentiates it from other “general/disciplinary” topic head- library or commercial reference ing. pages. It generally differs from its dated links on a monthly basis. colleagues in one of two ways: Annotations: Annotations in IRR PERL-meister Patrick Yott, director those sites only include general, describe the content and evaluate of our Geo-Statistical Center, also not subject-specific, resources or the usefulness of a resource. As a assisted us by writing a series of they include sites that would not general rule, annotations should complex scripts to update the be considered ready reference in alert the user to the authority, graphical, navigational, and func- nature by our selection criteria. comprehensiveness, currency, and tional changes required by each of The site at http://www.indiana. ease of use of an item as well other the dozens of HTML files that edu/~librcsd/internet/, created by things like the existence of search make up the IRR. Jian Liu and now maintained by engine or index. They should also Anne Graham, is an excellent highlight any additional resources example of the former and http:// Collection Development such as glossaries, source lists, or sunsite.berkeley.edu/InternetIndex/, advanced searching forms which It is important to have guidelines The Librarian’s Index to the Inter- might prove helpful when using governing the selection of library net, is an equally good example of the page. Equally as important, materials, and web reference sources the latter. I survey both regularly annotations serve as words which are no exception. Some institu- to supplement our collection. are indexed by the IRR’s internal tions, like the University of Ore- search engine; therefore the selec- gon, have established collection Access: In order to be included in tor/annotator needs to use words development policies specifically IRR, it is necessary that reference which users might employ to for Internet resources (see http:// resources either be freely-accessible describe and find that item. darkwing.uoregon.edu/~chadwelf/ or free with a simple registration. intesele.htm). While UVa has not No detailed registrations or ones Layout: We were fortunate to have gone to these lengths, selectors that require personal information a number of talented individuals contributing to IRR use many of are included because it is not the within the Library to assist with the same guidelines for inclusion intention of the IRR to profile our the graphical and mechanical that govern our print reference users for web capitalists any more design of the IRR. Our Publications materials. These include, but are than browser cookies already do. Office helped with the design of not limited to: Resources appearing to be free for JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES PAGE 9 limited time are included at the resources on them. As a general resources while searching our discretion of the selector and rule, we do not include resources library catalog, but it might prove noted in the site’s annotation. that are produced and viewed with useful to look into this. Only in a few instances do we list Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) since these subscription-based web databases, files are typically large with no log- Use Statistics: Currently the top- another characteristic that distin- ical or apparent means of internal level IRR page receives roughly guishes our page from those of navigation other than a search 5,000 hits per month (up nearly many other libraries. There are tool. Additionally it’s not possible 500% since July 1997), approxi- many reasons for doing this. Even to link to a specific item such as a mately 40% of which come from now, the majority of the Library’s table or an appendix within a .pdf within the University. The top databases cannot directly be linked file, and this also limits utility. eleven most frequently accessed because they are part of a suite of areas during April, 1999 were: databases that are (IP) authenti- cated at the collection level, and 1). General-Phone (816) this can be quite confusing. Addi- One of the keys to 2). Arts & Humanities (651) - the tionally, more than half of our most popular topic within this users are not affiliated with UVa, a good site is the category was English Lan- and the Advisory Group considers availability of a good guage & Literature (229) it bad form to include resources to 3). General-Encyclopedias (603) which not all have access. Lastly, index or search engine. 4). General-Style Manuals/ we decided that keeping up with Grammar (496), what was available “outside” the 5). General-People/Biographies Library provided us with a suffi- (371) cient amount of work for now. 6). General-Books/Publishers Access & Use of IRR (345) Authority/Accuracy: Whenever pos- One of the perpetual challenges we 7). General-Libraries/Archives sible, we verify information within face with the IRR is promoting the (339) a reference web site against print wide variety of resources contained 8). Humanities-Popular Culture sources to verify the accuracy of in it — whether they be a popular (movies, television, music) the data. Authorship, if known or resource of local interest like the (334) not apparent from the URL, is typi- Charlottesville Movie Guide or a 8). Social Sciences (334) - the cally included in the annotation. nationally-known scholarly resource most popular topic within this like the Handbook of Latin American category was Government & Currency: Ideally, sites for inclusion Studies. Since it came into being Foreign Affairs (212) are regularly updated. Exceptions two years ago, the IRR has bene- 10). General-Dictionaries (323) to this rule include resources such fited greatly from its location on 11). General-Local (C’ville, UVa, as historical works (biographies, the top-level of the Library’s Virginia) (284) bibliographies, etc.). Notes on cur- homepage (serendipity continues rency, if known, are added to the to play a role in our Library’s col- General topics get substantially site’s annotation. lections). Many patrons also learn more use, we presume, because about IRR when we use it to help their scope is useful to a broader Arrangement/Ease of Use: The con- answer their questions at the refer- range of users and because these tent of resources included in IRR ence desk. Additionally, whenever topics are also what the user sees should be organized to allow the appropriate, we use it in classes first after connecting to the page. user to easily extract needed infor- taught through the Library’s in- We use a software program called mation. Poorly designed sites, in struction programs. NetTracker to compile a series of spite of the utility of the informa- Another source of user aware- use statistics including number of tion they contain, are regularly ness comes from Virgo, our on-line views by month and day, average excluded. One of the keys to a catalog. Each of the resources in time viewing a page, plus the good site is the availability of a IRR is cataloged, many of them user’s two and three-digit domain good index or search engine. courtesy of Jackie Shieh — a for- name extensions (i.e. .edu, .uk), When linking to a site, we try to mer member of our Cataloging browser, and platform. This data is lead users directly to a search Department (see image #2). We useful in determining who com- engine or index screen, rather than have no data as yet indicating how prises our user base, what resource placing the onus of finding the many people find and use these areas they are using, and, more PAGE 10 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 generally, where we should be added to the library catalog. the form of a collective web page focusing our efforts in the future. or a current awareness list-serv to For those users who do not highlight new reference resources. Immediate/Long-term want to browse the subject hierar- Another challenge for reference Challenges chy for a resource, we offer a mod- librarians is to use our unique erately useful search engine, Webi- User awareness is, arguably, the knowledge of the web to compile nator, which indexes every word in key to the success or failure of ref- or create new web reference the site and is updated weekly by erence web pages which, in turn, sources. For example, we received our Library systems department. justifies the amount of effort that a reference question a few months Unfortunately, this search engine goes into building and maintain- ago from someone who needed to is not entirely sufficient for our ing them. Awareness of these know the individual companies needs because it retrieves only the resources starts at home. It is that made up several major stock name of topics, not individual indexes. We could not find a items, which contain the user’s source (print or electronic) that search term. This forces users to compiled this data, but in the pro- search that topic page to find the Another challenge for cess of searching we found that specific resource. We are currently reference librarians many individual indexes had this investigating using a more sophis- information available on their ticated mark-up language (SGML) is to use our unique web sites. We then brought these which would allow for much more lists together in one resource on effective user search and retrieval. knowledge of the web the IRR called Stock Index Directo- SGML will also allow us to track to compile or create new ries (http://www.lib.virginia.edu/ which individual resources are reference —> Social Sciences —> being used. web reference sources. Business —> Stocks - #20). As the beginning of the 21st Administration & Maintenance: While century approaches, we find that suggestions for resources come nearly everything related to the from many different areas of the important that UVa reference library and its collections are in a library, updates to the IRR are librarians regularly scan newly state of flux. Here are a few things done primarily by two reference added resources to IRR, just as we that will characterize that state: librarians, one covering the Sci- do to keep up with new print and users will be increasingly defined ences, Medicine, and Engineering subscription-based electronic re- by who comes in through our and one covering the rest. We are sources. We must also continue homepages rather than our doors, currently working on a web-based our efforts to publicize throughout the number of reference resources form generated by a complex PERL the library those new resources on the web will be inversely pro- script which would allow users and which are of interest to us all. portional to the amount of time librarians to suggest resources for Keeping up with the deluge is a our users have to find them as well inclusion on-line. Entries to IRR problem that will most likely per- as our ability to collect, organize, are added on an as-find/have-time sist for IRR selectors indefinitely. and make it all accessible, and basis (generally 2–4 times a month). One response is to continue to iden- resource management in the dawn We added a “New” category about tify high-quality current awareness of the information age must take a year ago to highlight recent resources like the Scout Report and place concurrently with the build- entries. The IRR’s custodians them- the Librarians Index to the Inter- ing of electronic collections and selves find these categories particu- net to assist in this discovery and not be an afterthought. Resources larly useful when scanning com- selection process. Another is to in- like the Internet Reference Re- prehensive reference sites like the vestigate building consortial collec- sources page are poised to make a “New This Week” section of http:// tions which would enable librari- valuable and lasting contribution sunsite.berkeley.edu/InternetIndex/ ans from peer institutions to con- to a library’s reference collection, (Librarian’s Index to the Internet), tribute to a shared resource or, at but we must meet these challenges and, at the same time, to provide the very least, develop a mechanism head-on in order to ensure our our Cataloging Department with a by which we share our discoveries continued success. current list of resources to be with each other. These could take VL JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES PAGE 11 Washingtonpost.com Publisher Marc Teren Links Future of Libraries and Media

by Patricia C. Bangs

s “information navi- Referring to an image gators,” both librar- familiar to librarians of the ies and the news Internet as a library with all Amedia are successfully rein- its books strewn on the floor, venting themselves to stay Teren explained, “The ability relevant in the digital age, ex- to make sense of information plained Marc Teren, president is a skill even more in de- and publisher of Washington- mand in the age of the Inter- post.Newsweek Interactive, in a net. Searching for authorita- recent speech to the Fairfax tive information online is County Public Library staff. like setting sail in a hurri- “We are similar in many cane. Most of us sailors will ways,” remarked Teren in a get swamped before we reach keynote address at the Li- our destination. People need brary’s annual Staff Day, a help navigating the swelling half-day in-service event that sea of information to be hosted almost 500 Library found on the Internet. That staff on the Fairfax campus of is where we come in. That is George Mason University. why I believe our role is more “Unfortunately that means important now than ever.” we are seen by some as relics Citing statistics that 77 of an analog era. Soon to be percent of Fairfax County res- replaced by ubiquitous access Marc Teren addresses the Fairfax idents own library cards and to a global pool of information County Public Library staff on the com- 82 percent of the County popula- open 24 hours a day and available mon future of libraries and the news tion uses the library, Teren feels in a den or office near you. media in the electronic era. the Fairfax County Public Library Accused of being unnecessary or is successfully involving the com- irrelevant, we are being asked to munity in their local libraries — a reinvent ourselves to secure our Walt Disney Company, Teren key to staying relevant in the future in a digital world.” brings a businessman’s acumen information age. Teren, who took the helm at (and an M.B.A. from Harvard) to Just as Washingtonpost.com wants Washingtonpost.com in December the dissemination of information to be an extension of what its 1996, readily admits that his expe- in the digital age. But he under- community of users perceive The rience in the information business stands the key role of the “infor- Washington Post to be, libraries is relatively new. Previously in mation navigator,” whether a want their consumers to use the charge of developing interactive librarian or newspaper reporter, in library as an extension of their entertainment services for The the electronic era. home and the larger community

Pat Banks is Staff Writer in the Public Information Office of the Fairfax County Public Library. PAGE 12 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 in which they live, Teren believes. dollar valuation, I’d say the mar- enlightening. “I found Marc “Once at the library you can con- kets are betting that print on paper Teren’s business approach to infor- nect them to a world of informa- still has quite a future.” mation access, his emphasis on the tion and a range of services that But, it is in the new electronic need to identify the customer, in meet their growing information medium that traditional informa- the case of public libraries, the needs. And those needs are grow- tion disseminators must be most needs of the community, enlight- ing. And they will continue to creative. Teren described a new ening,” said one anonymous staff grow,” he explained. partnership between Washington- member on a Staff Day evaluation Teren highlighted a fact familiar post.com and Encyclopedia Britan- form. to librarians, that the public nica that provides individuals with The head of the Library’s new library is the number one alterna- in-depth access to the encyclope- Information Central service, which tive point for accessing the Inter- dia’s resources as it relates to cur- provides research services to Fair- net outside of home, work, or rent news. fax County government staff, saw school. Teren suggests that since Teren’s remarks on the future of the number of individuals using libraries and librarians as reassur- the library as an alternate access ing. “He effectively linked librari- point to the Internet continues to “Seems to me that ans and journalists, seeing each as increase, “The Internet is likely to a ‘knowledge portal’ in an expand- grow rather than shrink your audi- your position in the ing world of information,” Mary- ence. As always you are the access community is more Ann Sheehan explained. point for individuals of all eco- Training Coordinator Fran Mill- nomic backgrounds…. For many, important than ever.” houser agreed. “He broadened my and particularly for those for perspectives on what information whom the playing field is not services libraries can provide. If the always equal, you are the access to Post can partner with Encyclopedia the web and as such the gateway He concluded his remarks by Britannica to provide in-depth to knowledge, information and congratulating the library profes- information to online newspaper exploration. Seems to me that your sion on being “early-adapters” to readers, libraries can continue to position in the community is more the information age. “You are one explore the many information important than ever.” of the first professions to become partnerships the Internet can pro- Teren also talked about the via- expert at making sense of the vide.” bility of print in an age of rapidly Internet. And I read that librarians Teren’s final words mirrored developing electronic formats. have been in the information- both libraries’ and newspapers’ Noting that annual paper con- dissemination business for 6,000 need to seek creative approaches to sumption rose from 86.8 to 99 mil- years. For you, this Internet thing preserve our expertise in an elec- lion tons from 1990 to 1998, is just one more format to master.” tronic era. “Every day that we according to recent statistics from Serving the community by eval- spend defining our craft for this the American Forest and Paper uating and organizing the wealth new medium, we carve a bigger Association, Teren gave Mark of information available on the place for it in the New World order Twain’s well-known witticism a Internet is the key to staying rele- …. What we face each day isn’t new twist: “Predictions of a paper- vant in this new medium, Teren easy. We must reinvent our institu- less society have been greatly exag- emphasized. “Whether it is print tions for the future so that our gerated.” He continued, “Despite or online, the value of perspective children and our children’s chil- the popularity of the Internet, it and understanding can not be dren can reap the reward of their appears we have not yet lost inter- underestimated. The key is to go continued existence. Ours is est in reading text on paper. As a out there each day and prove our important work. We must stay matter of fact, thanks to Ama- value to the constituencies we focused, stay true, and know that zon.com, interest and access to serve.” we are not alone.” VL books has never been higher. Many in the audience found Based upon their 20-plus billion- Teren’s remarks perceptive and JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES PAGE 13 Hollins University’s New Wyndham Robertson Library

by Marna Hostetler

ollins University’s new Features Wyndham Robertson Library opened to the The 56,620-square-foot library Hpublic March 30, 1999 and was was designed with student formally dedicated two weeks input and has many exciting later as part of an entire week- features. The building has seat- end honoring the school’s liter- ing for almost 300 patrons, and ary tradition. After a five-year each seat has a network connec- fundraising effort and three tion, allowing patrons to bring years of construction, the Hol- in their personal laptops and lins community welcomed the connect comfortably. The entry new building with enthusiasm. level houses the Circulation Wing, the Frazier Reference Wing, the Government Docu- Funding ments Collection, and the Beginning with the 1995 Lewis Reading Room with two- announcement of plans to story windows. There is also a build a new library, the build- fully networked, Viennese- ing was the cornerstone of the styled coffee commons with an Capital Campaign for Hollins. adjoining reading porch. The Campaign eventually The lower level is home to raised over $47 million, with the bound periodicals and $14 million earmarked for the Graceful columns adorn the building. microform collections, as well library. as the Jessup Media Commons. The library is named for Wynd- The Media Commons includes a ham Robertson, current chair of television studio and control the Hollins University Board of floor, named in memory of Pela room, video editing and produc- Trustees and member of the class Plummer Hundley and Thomas tion equipment, and a multimedia of 1958. Ms. Robertson’s brother Johnston Hundley; the children’s development center for faculty Julian Robertson and his wife Josie literature wing, named in memory and students. The Jackson Screen- made a $3 million gift to name the of Elizabeth Moss Hall, class of ing Room seats 40 people and can building in Wyndham’s honor. 1902; the Reference Wing, named accommodate film screenings, bib- Other named areas in the building in memory of Harry S. Frazier, Jr.; liographic instruction, small con- include: the third floor, named in the Friendship Colonnade, named ferences, computer training, and honor of former Hollins Board of in memory of Mina Hohenberg interactive media presentations. Trustees Chair Jane Bassett Spil- Darden, class of 1959; and the The Media Library contains man, class of 1953; The Hollins Lewis Reading Room, named in approximately 3,000 items and is Room, given to honor former memory of Frances McNulty Lewis, serviced by the Media Circulation Dean Mary Phelgar Smith; the first class of 1928. Desk.

Marna Hostetler, formerly Public Services Librarian at Wyndham Robertson Library of Hollins University, now works at the University of South Carolina. PAGE 14 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999

The setting for the library is quiet and majestic, both outside and in.

The second level accommodates a fully networked, 25-seat biblio- graphic instruction room, Techni- cal Services, and Administrative Offices. The Boney Reading Room with its beautiful view of the Hol- lins landscape is also on this level. The third level features the Ash- worth Rare Books Room, the McVitty-Niederer Archives Room, and the Hollins Room. The Hollins Room, when complete, will hold all works by and about Hollins cially began Friday, April 9 with a not mere actualities, that we are faculty and alumnae/i. This level keynote address given by Dr. Var- potentialities, that we are not mere also houses the McDonnell-Hall tan Gregorian, president of the socio-economic, entertainment and Children’s Literature Wing, which Carnegie Corporation and past consumer units, that we are ra- includes the 1,400-volume France- president of Brown University and tional, moral, spiritual beings lia Butler Collection. Butler was a New York Public Library. In his endowed with reason, imagination well-known children’s literature address, Dr. Gregorian said that and dreams.” scholar. Each level has individual dedicating a library is an event of Gregorian’s impassioned speech, study carrels, and the upper three “paramount importance in the life “In Praise of Libraries,” earned him levels have both private study of a society, in the life of a com- a standing ovation from the crowd rooms and open group study space. munity, in the life of a city, in the of 800 and was an adaptation of life of Hollins University and in an essay he planned to publish the annals of American philan- later in the spring. Dedication Weekend thropy.” Dr. Gregorian also pointed Tours of the library were offered Although the library opened to out that the Robertson Library at this time, and library staff mem- patrons March 30, it was not for- dedication was actually “a rededi- bers were posted at key points mally dedicated until April 10, cation to learning and knowledge, throughout the building to answer 1999. The dedication coincided understanding, education, to the any questions. A wine and cheese with a Literary Festival and a Crea- future. In dedicating a library we reception in the library foyer set tive Writing Program reunion, are also celebrating the human the mood for a festive black-tie which made for three days of excit- spirit, the human dignity, the gala held later in the evening. ing literary activities and events. human potential. We note with Despite clouds and the threat of The weekend’s festivities offi- pride that we human beings are rain, more than 900 spectators JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES PAGE 15

gathered for the dedication cere- In conjunction with the Literary mony on Saturday, April 10. To Festival and the Library Dedica- commemorate the fact that the tion, a book signing and reading school’s first library collection was session were held by published seeded by student donations, thir- Hollins alumnae/i and Brendan teen students and one faculty Galvin, the 1999 Wyndham Rob- member each carried an item in a ertson Writer-in-Residence. This ceremonial book passing from the session was well-received by the Cocke building, the school’s origi- 300 attendees and provided a won- nal library, to the new Robertson derful forum for interaction with Library. Items passed included: the authors. Good Night Moon, by Margaret The events of the library dedica- Wise Brown, class of 1932; tion weekend were a pleasure for Morocco, by Mary Cross, class of all who participated, and the new 1957; Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, by building is warm and welcoming. Annie Dillard, class of 1967, M.A. As we settle into our new space, 1968; The Last Day the Dogbushes the staff of the Wyndham Robert- Bloomed, by Lee Smith, class of son Library would like to invite 1967; The Flying Change, by Henry Virginia librarians to stop by any Taylor, M.A. 1966; “Buffalo Girls,” time. VL a CBS miniseries coproduced by Sandra Saxon Brice, class of 1973; and Hollins College: An Illustrated History, by Frances J. Niederer. Following the book passing, Wyndham Robertson welcomed the crowd from the steps of the new library. After remarks from Hollins President Janet E. Rasmus- sen and a dedication prayer by Chaplain Jan Fuller Carruthers, class of 1978, a surprise announce- ment was made. In honor of the longstanding literary tradition at Hollins, the Friends of Libraries, USA designated the library a national Literary Landmark. The library is one of only thirty-six such designations nationwide and is the first in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Virginia Center for the Book at the Library of Virginia provided a commemorative build- ing plaque, which has since been mounted near the front doors of the building. After these announcements and closing remarks, Library Director Diane Graves and Wyndham Rob- ertson opened the library doors, welcoming visitors to the new building. Tours were again offered, including an “engineer’s tour” of the building’s many mechanical and electrical components. PAGE 16 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 ‘Teen Read Week’ Sparks Regional Cooperation in Metropolitan Richmond, Virginia

by Pat McKay and Janet Baumgardner

ead for the fun of it! The marketing coordinator from FOX would jump at the chance to star theme of the first national 35, a local television station. The in their own TV commercial, even celebration of “Teen Read group’s charge was to develop a one extolling the joys of reading. RWeek” October 17–23, 1998, pro- highly visible, community-wide And that was the hook; that was vided the catalyst for three neigh- collaborative project that would the connection they needed. boring public library systems to appeal to middle and high school From the hundreds of entries join forces in a cooperative promo- students. Since Teen Read Week received, seven teens from each tional effort designed to motivate was scheduled for the third week library system were picked and teens to read for pleasure. This in October, timing was also impor- notified. Release forms and “talk- effort included the lure of TV star- tant. The project, as developed, ing points” were sent to each win- dom, as well as chances to win free included the following three com- ner in preparation for the taping. tickets to a “Widespread Panic” ponents: Luckily, Chesterfield County Li- concert and the opportunity to brary was closed on Columbus meet that popular rock group • The involvement of FOX TV was Day, so the selection of the date behind the scenes after their per- crucial. They agreed to co-sponsor and site for taping was an easy formance. How did these non- a contest that enabled local teens one. The production was expertly literary incentives connect to teen to win the opportunity to appear done by the FOX 35 staff who literacy? As usual, librarians had in seven prime time TV public ser- turned Bon Air Library into a TV the answer. vice announcements focusing on studio and transformed nervous When the American Library “Reading for the Fun of It.” As part teens into acting pros in one eve- Association, the Young Adult Li- of the publicity for this contest, ning. The “actors” chatted about brary Services Association, and the posters were placed in public and books and reading as if they had National Education Association private schools in the three locali- known each other forever. At the announced “Teen Read Week” last ties, and school officials were pizza party afterwards (provided by summer, Janet Baumgardner, the asked to assist with promotion. FOX 35), they exchanged phone Program Coordinator with Ches- However, teens had to actually come numbers and enjoyed an adrena- terfield County Public Library, was to their public library to enter the con- line high, far different from the immediately interested. In their test. This age group is often seen as subdued young adults who had media releases, the sponsoring one in which a large number of arrived at the taping session. The organizations had stressed cooper- those who can read choose not to producer was excited by the qual- ation among schools and public and one in which television, not ity of the tape made by the teens, libraries. Ms. Baumgardner took reading, is the entertainment of from which the public service this suggestion a step further by choice. Janet Baumgardner, along announcements were edited. In inviting representatives of neigh- with Pat McKay from Richmond fact, FOX personnel were so pleased boring Richmond and Henrico Public Library and Lisa Blouch that they ran the PSA’s beyond Public Library systems to a brain- from Henrico County Public Teen Read Week and are consider- storming session that included the Library, knew that many teens ing running them nationally.

Pat McKay works at the Richmond Public Library, and Janet Baumgardner is on the staff of the Chesterfield County Public Library. JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES PAGE 17

Winners of “Teen Read Week” in Chesterfield (left) and Richmond (below) enjoy the filming of their commercials.

• The popular musical group Widespread Panic’s generous offer of five sets of free tickets and an invitation backstage after their Richmond performance on Novem- ber 7 (coordinated through the American Library Association) was the second component to the regional promotion of Teen Read Belle proved to be an ardent pre-publicity in the two local pub- Week by the three library systems. library and literacy supporter and lications aimed at teens, or having Local college radio station WVCU, plans were made with her to re- teen readership — Tab and Style from Virginia Commonwealth connect on other promotional Weekly — will also be pursued. We University, was enthusiastic about activities. hope to continue our partnership the chance to offer something this with the local FOX 35 TV station. exciting to their listeners and read- The above segments combined to Lessons learned in dealing with TV ily agreed to give away the tickets form a successful first annual Teen include the importance of written, to callers who named their favorite Read Week celebration in Chester- step-by-step guidelines, rather books. Widespread Panic fans field, Henrico, and Richmond, than simply having a conceptual named Grapes of Wrath, Where the Virginia. The partnership also agreement with the television sta- Sidewalk Ends, Lord of the Rings tril- strengthened the bond among the tion, and the necessity of a release ogy, Be Here Now and Hero With a three library systems and paved form to be sent to the parents of Thousand Faces as their favorites. the way for further cooperative the teens to sign well ahead of the programs. taping session. This mailing should • Q 94, one of the most listened to We are looking forward to fu- include the time and location of local teen radio stations in the ture Teen Read Week celebrations the taping, directions and other Richmond metropolitan area, and have agreed that earlier plan- pertinent information. offered to devote an early morning ning will result in greater commu- Our experience proved that talk show to Teen Read Week. Pat nity awareness. In fact, we plan to Teen Read Week is a valuable McKay from Richmond and Janet begin publicity in the summer, opportunity to reach an important Baumgardner from Chesterfield while teens have fewer constraints segment of our population. Time County Public Library found that on their time and might be visit- spent in celebrating teens and call- talking about what they believe in ing the library for pleasure. School ing their attention to reading for so strongly — reading, books for cooperation was definitely a valu- fun is time well spent. VL teens and getting information able component in publicizing last from the library — made the tap- year’s FOX 35 contest. This can ing session fly by. Host Sheilah and will be built upon. Expanded PAGE 18 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 The VLA Paraprofessional Forum’s 1999 Conference

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PIERRE COURTOIS

he Paraprofessional Forum of the Virginia Library Association held its sev- Tenth annual two-day conference on May 17–18, 1999, at the Univer- sity of Richmond. Four hundred and twenty-five library personnel from 10 states and the District of Columbia attended the conference that centered on the theme, Mas- tering the Challenges of the 21st Cen- tury. The conference offered three keynote speakers, twenty-four ses- sions, and seven roundtables. A picnic was an option for those arriving on Sunday evening. The picnic’s Hawaiian theme was a train professionals and executives shared some wonderful words of popular one, and the door prizes to be the very best they can be. He advice on how to do just that. She with a tropical flare were crowd challenged conference attendees to focused on how we can turn chal- pleasers. The Monday evening social evaluate themselves with his lenges into opportunities and in was another time for people to get speech, Do You Sizzle or Fizzle? He so doing enhance our lives. She together and enjoy themselves. Ron- presented sound advice on how to offered some suggestions on how nie Gilder from Richmond was the succeed in the workplace. His pres- to become successful in the work- D. J. for the event, and his smooth entation was filled with words place. Ms. Edumunds presented a style and musical selections re- such as prioritize, individualize, ener- message that encouraged us to sulted in a fun-filled evening. gize, and phrases such as discover return to the workplace excited your gifts, take aim, hit the target, about the new challenges that face and become the prize. Dr. Henry not us each day and about those that Monday’s Opening Session only presented a message that we know will come our way during The conference opened with words inspired attendees to excel, but a the 21st Century. of welcome from the VLAPF Co- message that made everyone laugh Lydia C. Williams chairs, Suzanne Leacy and Don as well. Longwood College Library Socia, and two special guests. James R. Rettig, Director of the Tuesday’s Opening Session Highlights from Boatwright Library at the Univer- Several Sessions sity of Richmond, and Carolyn Harriett Edmunds, Special Events Barkley, VLA Vice President/ and Volunteer Programs Coordina- Dave Paddock, President of DG President Elect, both offered greet- tor at The Library of Virginia, was Paddock Financial, was the pre- ings to conference attendees. the Tuesday morning keynote senter for Financial Planning with We were fortunate to have Dr. speaker. Once again, the audience What? He presented an overview Dale Henry as the keynote speaker was privileged enough to hear a of the basics of financial planning on Monday morning. Dr. Henry is speaker whose words were truly for the long term. Topics included President of Your Best Unlimited, a motivational. She took the Confer- dollar cost averting, compound company based in Knoxville, Ten- ence theme, Mastering the Chal- interest, and IRAs. Mr. Paddock nessee, and it is his business to lenges of the 21st Century, and also stressed the need for invest- JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES PAGE 19 ments in addition to employer- Lew Belfont of Gaithersburg Re- sponsored retirement plans, and gional Library in Maryland pre- the importance of working with a sented Values Based Circulation Sys- financial professional who will tem. She believes in creating a ser- address your personal financial vice philosophy that will allow goals, needs, and situation. your customers to become your Susan Paddock partners. She believes if you let the Virginia Beach Central Library patrons know that you need their help to do well, and they in turn Kristi Thomas Beavin and Lynn know they need your help to do Sawyer, both with the Arlington well, you will satisfy your cus- County Department of Libraries, tomers’ needs and be successful. presented Children’s Advisory: Belfont stated that we should Knowing and Promoting Children’s know our institution’s goals and Print and Non-Print Collections. This become familiar with its policy, was a very informative session and know how to execute the pol- filled with excellent tips on print icy. The goal of values- and non-print materials and based service is to create included handouts of web sites, and employ a fully devel- book lists, and titles of helpful arti- oped service philosophy cles. Ms. Sawyer discussed book that states that each cus- selection for different age levels tomer is unique and that and shared some of her favorite the employee’s relationship authors and titles with the group. with each customer should Ms. Beavin shared her insight into be characterized by trust non-print collections such as and respect. audio books, and gave advice on Joan Taylor how to select the best products. Washington County She also offered advice on how to Public Library get children interested in listening to audio books. This was a session Sharon Garrett, owner of that appealed to the parent as well Image 101 in Richmond, as those who work with children presented a session entitled in the library setting. Putting Your Best Foot For- Caressa Talley ward: Projecting a Profes- Sweet Briar College Library sional Image. Ms. Garrett shared tips on how to dress Sherrie Waddill, owner of Sherrie’s Storytelling on the Go, presented Reading Brings Families Together. She shared how she makes books come to life by dressing as a book character and by using props and cutouts. She demonstrated her secrets by reading several books in which she used props, and even got the audience involved in mak- ing cutouts for one of the stories. Ms. Waddill provided each attendee with a packet filled with great books to read including pat- terns for cutouts. Ms. Waddill’s Keynote speakers Harriett Edmunds enthusiastic presentation was (top), Dale Henry (above), and Con- packed with useful information. nie Elliot motivated their audiences Caressa Talley with their outstanding messages. PAGE 20 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999

Above, the Monday evening social was a hit. Left, the winners of the straw hats given as door prizes during the Sunday evening picnic pose for Pierre Courtois, conference photographer. Below, raffle prize winners left on Tuesday with some unique items.

for success in the workplace. She covered fashion personality, body type, wardrobe, and how to acces- sorize. She demonstrated how one can turn 10 pieces of clothing into 25 outfits and gave many helpful tips on how to accentuate outfits with scarves, jewelry, and the right handbag. Ms. Garrett packed a managing our time in order to the plan before danger occurs. He wealth of helpful and interesting make it possible for each of us to stated that each employee should information into this session. achieve a healthy balance in our have training in following their Lydia C. Williams lives. institution’s safety guidelines. In Lydia C. Williams addition, the employee should Alice Phillips of Continental Health maintain a professional attitude in Richmond presented Time Man- Dr. Frank Howe of Longwood Col- and commitment to continued agement on the Homefront. Ms. Phil- lege presented Taming the Trouble- growth, develop good listening lips offered tips for achieving a some Patron. Dr. Howe reminded us skills including reading non-verbal healthy balance in our lives focus- that we serve the public — ALL the communication, and maintain a ing on the body, mind, and spirit. public. Some of our patrons may positive communication style. One She gave a Timeout Test so that make us uneasy by their behavior. should understand the differences each of us could rate ourselves to A patron may present special con- in learning skills, previous knowl- see where we fall short in meeting cerns because of mental illness, an edge, interests, and the need for the goal of a healthy life style. She altered state, or strange behavior recognition or anonymity of the suggested that we evaluate how we that creates a potentially threaten- patron. One should learn to disen- spend our time in order to make ing situation. Dr. Howe empha- gage courteously but firmly when better use of the 168 hours we sized that each agency should have dealing with the aggressive patron. have in each week. Ms. Phillips a safety plan and that each Dr. Howe gave helpful examples to offered many helpful ideas for employee should be familiar with maintain personal safety when JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES PAGE 21

Suzanne Leacy and Don Socia, VLAPF Co-Chairs, wel- comed conference attendees on Monday and Tuesday mornings.

The Conference sessions and roundtables kept conference attendees busy.

mation. It was a lively session with many questions and answers. Ms. Barkley distributed some excellent handouts about genealogy and dealing with the troublesome or priate author to speak to their examples of print and online ser- aggressive patron. patrons. They have numerous free vices. Ruth Turner handouts and materials for use in E. A. Mayo Retiree of Fairfax County libraries. The center is working on Eggleston Library Public Library a project entitled Virginia Reads Hampden Sydney College that will result in posters of Vir- Deborah Hocutt, Executive Direc- ginia celebrities posing with their Kelly McBride, Assistant Director tor of the Virginia Center for the favorite books. The information for Public Services at Clinch Valley Book, gave a wonderful presenta- provided by Ms. Hocutt was both College, and Matthew Peltier, a tion on Virginia authors and the interesting and useful. student in the School of Library Center for the Book. The focus for Sue McFaden and Information Science at the the Center for the Book is on the Fairfax County Public Library University of Kentucky in Lexing- literary heritage of Virginia. The ton, made presentations about Virginia Authors’ Room at The Carolyn Barkley, Central Librarian their visits to libraries in the Library of Virginia has over 7,000 at the Virginia Beach Public Li- Republic of Ireland and in Ghana, titles ranging from William Brad- brary and an active member of West Africa, respectively. They ford, a colonial writer, to Patricia many genealogical associations, both found many similarities Cornwell. Ms. Hocutt stated that gave an enthusiastic talk on Serving between libraries in the United The Center sponsors numerous the Genealogist in the Library. Her States and those they visited events around Virginia to promote advice to all who deal with patrons abroad, but also found the cultures books and reading, including the searching their genealogy was to of the countries impacted on the Charlottesville Festival for the learn your library’s collection, edu- libraries. Their travelogues and Book. This year’s festival will focus cate yourself on local resources, their varied experiences made us on poetry. The Center for the Book focus the patron on his/her ques- all want to visit foreign libraries. will help any library find an appro- tion, and always document infor- E. A. Mayo PAGE 22 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999

Left, Mr. Bill Fiege of Longwood Col- lege presented two sessions dealing with how we present ourselves ver- bally. Below, Dr. Andrew Ferguson of the University of Richmond speaks on “Marketing Yourself — Resume Style.” Right, Dr. Ed DeRegibus of the Farm- ville Chiropractic Center addresses attendees on “Musculoskeletal Disor- ders and the Computer Workstation.”

Tuesday’s Extraordinary Afternoon est in the VLAPF scholarship raffle. The conference ended with several Raymond Edwards of the Mont- special events including an elegant gomery County Public Library was buffet luncheon and the scholar- the winner of the framed P. Buck- ship raffle. The highlight of the ley Moss print entitled The Barter afternoon was the keynote speaker, Theatre. The print was donated by Connie Elliott. Ms. Elliott is the the P. Buckley Moss Society of Director of Tourism for Anderson Staunton, Virginia, and was County, Tennessee. As a Certified framed compliments of Christo- Meeting Professional, Ms. Elliott is pher’s Fine Arts and Framing of President of Ideal Events, which Farmville, Virginia. Arlene Ran- provides the finest speakers and dolph of the Richmond Public meeting management services. Her Library won the CD/tape player motto is “If it ain’t fun, I’m not and six popular CDs donated by interested!” and her motto rang the WAL-MART Supercenter of true as she addressed the group. Farmville, Virginia. Other lucky She used humorous and heart- award provided Ms. Bell with the winners left with a Winnie the warming stories to get her message opportunity of attending the con- Pooh hat box filled with Pooh- across, and that message is for ference by providing funds that related surprises, a cooking basket each of us to get excited about self- paid all conference expenses. She filled with baking items, a window improvement. She encouraged us received a special framed com- box filled with gardening items, a to be persistent and to work dili- memorative certificate during the basket shaped like Virginia filled gently at making our dreams come Monday opening session. Patricia with made-in-Virginia products, true. Ms. Elliott made the audience White, who works at the Annan- and one of several Beanie Baby laugh, and she made a few of us dale Campus Library of the North- baskets. Alex Matthews donated a cry as she closed out the confer- ern Virginia Community College, collection of her signed first edi- ence with her challenge to each of was awarded the Outstanding Para- tions to be given as a raffle prize. us to go out and master the chal- professional of the Year Award. This variety of outstanding prizes lenges of the 21st Century. She was recognized during the resulted in a very successful raffle. Tuesday opening session, and was The 2000 conference theme is awarded a special plaque in honor Reaching for the Stars: Success, Recog- Awards of her accomplishments in the nition, Professionalism. Mark your The Paraprofessional Forum pre- library field. calendar for May 22–23, and make sented two special awards during plans to join us at the University this year’s conference. Nancy P. of Richmond for the VLA Parapro- The Scholarship Raffle Bell, who has worked at the Long- fessional Forum’s eighth annual wood College Library for 30 years, Unique prizes on display at the two-day conference. received the VLAPF Award. The registration desk sparked an inter- Lydia C. Williams VL JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES PAGE 23 Accessing Virginia Statistics on the Internet

by Mary Dessypris

rying to find the right makes available online some of the site for statistics on the information included in this publi- Internet can be a frustrat- cation. With a click on a subject, a Ting experience. It may also turn menu of choices appears. The out to be time-consuming, even information displayed consists of when using search engines. The tables developed by the Center or search becomes easy, efficient, and links to federal and/or state sites quick when one knows the web that compile the information. site that provides the information sought. This article is intended to Virginia Profiles point to the Internet sites with http://www.census.gov/ helpful statistics, which may be datamap/www/51.html useful to small or branch libraries Available from the Bureau of Cen- that do not have access to many sus, this page provides for each printed sources. To access most of community the following data: site, it is a very useful resource these files the Acrobat Reader soft- • Coordinates for each county and because it gives pertinent eco- ware should be installed. This soft- city, nomic and demographics informa- ware allows the reader to view files • Access to the Tiger Map file, tion by zip code. This is a free site. in Portable Document Format • Population, demographic, and (pdf). This software is free and housing information from the available on the Internet. Sites 1990 U.S. Census, In-Depth which maintain their data in pdf • Population estimates for all format usually provide a link to For in-depth information on Vir- counties in Virginia, access Acrobat Reader. ginia statistics on a variety of sub- • Income and poverty data, jects check: • Economic Census (1992), • County Business Patterns Eco- Quick Overviews Cooper Center for Public Service nomic Profile: 1993–1996, Quick overviews on Virginia figures: http://www.virginia.edu/ • USA Counties General Profile coopercenter/vastat/ 1994–1996, Virginia Economic Development This is the most important web • State Abstract, Partnership site for business, demographics, • Government Finances (1996). http://www.YesVirginia.org/ and economics in Virginia. Va- As new statistical information is index2.html Stats, as the site is known, is a web compiled it is made available on Click on: The Facts and Regional page developed and maintained by the Internet. Views. the Business and Economics Sec- tion of the Weldon Cooper Center In addition to the above sites, a Dismal Scientist for Public Service at the University number of other agencies provide http://www.dismalscientist.com of Virginia. The Center publishes statistics on specific topics, as Even though this is a commercial The Virginia Statistical Abstract and listed on the next two pages.

Mary Dessypris is Government Services and Outreach Librarian in the Archival and Information Services Division of the Library of Virginia. PAGE 24 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999

Economy Elections Labor Market Information Federal Reserve Bank of The Election Results Index http://www.vec.state.va.us/ Richmond / Monetary Policy http://www.sbe.state.va.us/ lbrmkt/lmi.htm and Business Conditions Election/results/Index.htm This site is maintained by the Vir- http://www.rich.frb.org/ Available from the Virginia Board ginia Employment Commission. monetarypol/busconditions.html of Elections, the information cov- The data displayed are produced The Federal Reserve Bank of Rich- ers the years 1996–1998. by the Economic Information Ser- mond provides crucial economic vices Division in cooperation with information on the fifth district, U.S. and Virginia Election Data the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The which includes Virginia. This page http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/ State Data Center, another division links to the quarterly Region Focus, elections/ of VEC, works closely with the manufacturing and service sector This site contains current and his- Bureau of Census and develops surveys, and the Beige Book which toric data available from the Univer- Virginia’s population projections: provides overviews of economic sity of Virginia. Two files are available: • Monthly Unemployment Press conditions on the national and Virginia Election Data 1984–1996 Release, regional level. and US Election Data 1788–1900. • Monthly Nonfarm Employment The Virginia file permits the user Press Release, The University of Virginia main- to get detailed data to the precinct • Labor Force Components, tains the following databases with level for the election returns of the • Annual Average Unemployment national and Virginia statistics: following offices: President, Sena- Rates, tor, Representative, Governor, Lt. • Latest Occupational Employ- Geospatial and Statistical Governor, Attorney General, and ment Statistics, Data Center General Assembly (Senate and • Population Estimates, http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/ House). The file on U. S. Elections • Virginia Economic Indicators. The Geospatial and Statistical includes the election returns for (Geostat) Data Center was formed over 90% of the elections for Presi- Monthly Revenue Data in 1998 with the merger of the dent, Governor, and United States http://www.state.va.us/sfin/ Social Sciences Data and Geo- Representative from 1824–1990, as revrep.htm graphic Information Centers. Click well as United States Senator from The Office of the Secretary of on “Interactive Data” on the left 1912–1990. In addition, the records Finance makes available on the navigational bar to access a wealth for approximately two-thirds of Internet the official monthly com- of statistical data divided in four the returns for federal and guber- munication of the Secretary to the categories: natorial elections from 1788–1823 Governor on revenue figures and • Social, Demographic and Politi- are included. provides a description of the eco- cal Data, nomic status of the Common- • Domestic Economic Data, Historic Demographics wealth. • International Economic Data, • Education and Health Data. United States Historical Census Virginia Outlook Data Browser 1790–1970 http://business.wm.edu/bbr/ Regional Economic http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/ bbrotlk.html Information System census/ Virginia Outlook is a publication of http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/ This database was originally created the Bureau of Business Research at reis/index.html by the Inter-university Consortium the College of William and Mary The REIS database, produced by for Political and Social Research School of Business Administration. the Bureau of Economic Analysis (ICPSR) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school maintains the most and accessible from the above Now available for browsing through recent issues in an electronic ver- Domestic and Economic Data cate- the University of Virginia, it “de- sion. Virginia Outlook forecasts new gory, provides local area economic scribes the people and the econ- trends and provides an in-depth data for states, counties, and met- omy of the United States on the state analysis of the economic status of ropolitan areas for 1969–1996. and county level from 1790 to 1970.” the state and the six largest metro- Summaries are provided for each After selecting the year, variables politan areas. area as well as detailed statistics on must be chosen from the different personal income and earnings, categories of data that were col- full- and part-time employment, lected in each given year, and then transfer payments, and farm one is given the choice of viewing income and expenses. the data by state or county level. JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES PAGE 25

Education Politics Miscellaneous The Virginia Department of Virginia Public Access Project The Virginia Department of Alco- Education Data http://www.opensecrets.org/vpap/ holic Beverage Control (ABC) http://www.pen.k12.va.us/ This is a non-profit, non-partisan makes available a Fact Sheet with VDOE/Publications/ web site that makes available to figures on alcohol-related facts and The Department makes available the public campaign contributions accidents: on the Internet detailed statistical to Virginia politicians. It can be Virginia Crash Facts in Brief data about Virginia’s elementary searched by the candidate’s or con- http://www.abc.state.va.us/ and secondary education system. tributor’s name. facts/crash.html They are: and a file on Beverage Sales • Fall Membership (1993–1998) Virginia Voter Net http://www.abc.state.va.us/ (includes state summary and http://www.pilotonline.com/ admin/abcsale98.htm data by grade and ethnicity), voter/ • Report of Graduates (1996/7– This site is maintained by the Crash Statistics for Virginia 1997/8), newspaper Virginian-Pilot. It is a http://www.dmv.state.va.us/ • Report of Dropouts (1996/7– constantly evolving site. Even webdoc/safety/qfmenu.htm 1997/8), though the focus of the site is the The Department of Motor Vehicles • Annual School Report. Statistical Hampton-Roads area, it is a great maintains a searchable database on (1996/7–1997/8), resource during elections time accident statistics in Virginia. The • Triennial Census. 1999 School with ample information on candi- database includes figures for 1995– Census, dates and final results. The 1997 1997 so far, and may be searched • Assessment Reports. archive is still available. by city, county, town, or by DMV district. The State Council of Higher Educa- tion of Virginia/Facts and Figures Health Statistics http://www.schev.edu/ http://www.vdh.state.va.us/ wuresrch/index.html stats/index.html The Department maintains online The Virginia Center for Health Sta- files that describe the status of tistics provides a number of files Higher Education in Virginia. They with statistics on births and are: deaths. Marriage figures are not • The Statistical Summaries available. (enrollment in Virginia’s public and private colleges and univer- The Virginia Uniform Crime sities), Reporting Program • Academic Performance Charac- http://www.vsp.state.va.us/ teristics (describes the perfor- vsp.html mances of freshmen in the pub- The Virginia State Police makes lic and private colleges and uni- available the most recent edition versities), of Crime In Virginia on its web • Admissions, site. This publication reports facts • Completions (degrees awarded), and trends of crimes in the Com- • Degrees Inventories (by institu- monwealth. To access it scroll tions, by program areas and his- down on the left navigational bar toric information), and click on Crime in Virginia. • Enrollment Summaries (On/Off campus, Full/Part Time, In/Out The Uniform Crime Reports State, Race, Age Groups, and Stu- http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/crime/ dent Level), Data for Virginia and the U.S. • Finances (Tuition Fees and Room (1990–1995) are available through and Board). the University of Virginia.

Addresses were verified as of August 1999. VL PAGE 26 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999

University of Virginia’s Alderman Café Earns High Marks from Faculty, Students, and Customer Survey

by Anne Lawrence and Melissa Norris

hen patrons first enter tives of the Alderman Café. bookstores with similar cafés have Alderman Library at According to Deputy University become so popular.” Lester added: the University of Vir- Librarian Kendon Stubbs, mem- “They work hard to make you feel Wginia they are greeted by vaulted bers of the Faculty Senate noticed at home.” ceilings, chandeliers, an impressive the popularity of on-campus cof- The Library Fees Committee Roman numeral clock, the smell of feehouses at other institutions and acknowledged the success of area coffee brewing and the whirl of a were eager to bring the concept coffee shops and hoped that estab- cappuccino machine. Soon after home to UVa. “I thought it odd lishing a similarly relaxed, congen- opening in September 1998, the that our University, centered ial environment in Alderman’s Alderman Café, located in the around the concept of the Aca- main hall would attract more stu- Library’s Memorial Hall, quickly demical Village, should have been dents and heighten attention to became a popular meeting place so deficient in this regard. The the Library. The café’s popularity for students, faculty, and staff. The ongoing exchange of ideas inside has succeeded in increasing Li- café recently placed second out of and beyond the classroom is pre- brary patronage, and the Library 512 college and university dining cisely what UVa. strives to foster,” will also benefit from a renovation facilities serviced by ARAMARK, said former Faculty Senate Chair- of Memorial Hall scheduled to take Inc., a national food service pro- man Jahan Ramazani, another pro- place this fall. Renovation plans vider. This impressive ranking, the ponent of the café. include the addition of more tables result of a spring customer satisfac- While members of the Faculty and chairs to accommodate an tion survey, improves upon the Senate saw the coffee shop as a ever-growing number of café fifth place ranking the café means to enrich UVa.’s intellectual patrons, as well as additional com- received in the fall survey. community, members of the Li- puter stations and lounge furniture Café Supervisor Diane McLellan brary’s Student Advisory Commit- for the other Library users. attributes the shop’s success to the tee and Library Fees Committee Lester was quick to add, how- relaxed attitude of its patrons. “It focused on other benefits such as ever, that this expansion “does not doesn’t matter whether someone’s increasing patron comfort and mean we’re becoming the Univer- an undergraduate student, a ten- generating revenue. Reference and sity of Virginia Alderman Café and ured professor, or the Dean of Stu- Information Services Director Linda Library.” While the café will main- dents. In here, they’re a ‘tall latte,’ Lester said that students had been tain the seating area, the renova- an ‘iced chai,’ or a ‘grande asking the Library to make food tions are concurrent with the mocha,’” she said. “The laid back and beverages available for a long Library’s goal of providing com- atmosphere really helps to break time: “It’s much more pleasant to fortable study facilities for its down barriers.” study when you can sip a cup of patrons. “We used to have several Providing “common grounds” coffee without having to worry large tables in Memorial Hall where faculty and students can get that the ‘food police’ are going to where people could read or work together is one of the main objec- come get you. I think that’s why on group projects, but those had

Melissa Norris is Public Relations Specialist for Alderman Library of the University of Virginia. Anne Lawrence was an intern for the Communications and Publications Department and has since completed her degree. JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES PAGE 27

to go when we put in the coffee Senate Chairman-elect David Gies, the café, I think it’s a great place to shop,” she remarked. “Now we’re former President of the Senate’s relax and catch up on reading.” simply relocating a few offices to Research and Scholarship Commit- First year student Kara Hurston give the students that space back.” tee. “The University identified a takes advantage of the opportunity In the spring of 1998 plans to need and met it in a very elegant to meet with her instructors in a establish the Alderman Café be- way.” neutral setting. “It’s a lot less came a group effort. By late Feb- Faculty Senate members and intimidating to come up to profes- ruary, members of the Library University Library officials be- sors here rather than after class. Student Advisory Committee, the lieved locating the coffee shop in They seem like regular people and Library Fees Committee, and the an academic setting would foster have more time to answer my Faculty Senate had consulted with interaction and contribute to the questions.” Director of University Dining Ser- growth of an intellectual commu- The café once again proved its vices Ed Gutauskas about the pros, nity at UVa. “The Alderman Café popularity among students during cons, and logistics of opening a has become even more of a success final exams week when 1,134 cus- coffee shop in the Library. “Ed than we had thought possible,” tomers patronized the shop in one thought it would be a good idea to said Faculty Senate Chairman Ed day. On a more typical day, the put us in touch with one another,” Ayers. “To see it busy all day long café averages 600 customers. said Library Communications and with students and professors and McLellan’s advice to anyone Publications Department Director librarians talking with one another considering a similar venture is Ken Jensen. “We each brought a is very gratifying.” McLellan con- simply to be prepared for success. different perspective to the pro- curred, remarking that “students “This really is the students’ café. ject.” often come here to meet with They’ve made it what it is today The united efforts of students, study groups or to talk to profes- and will ensure its successful Library officials, and the Faculty sors. I can tell they’re doing work future.” Senate enabled the Alderman Café because of the books they leave The Alderman Café is open to be established in just a few behind.” Humorously, Ayers re- weekdays during the school year months, illustrating the potential marked, “I’d like to think that the from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and success of faculty-student collabo- additional caffeine has increased again from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. ration. In this way, it could be said the productivity of the Library The café extends its hours during that the coffee shop has already patrons!” exams, remaining open until mid- fulfilled its mission of bringing Third year student John Duval night. To accommodate summer faculty and students together. “[The said that he usually stops by the patrons and visitors to the Library, opening of the café] is a wonderful café in between classes. “I would the café is open June through example of how the University can probably not come [to Alderman August, Monday through Friday work together perfectly,” said Faculty Library] otherwise, but because of from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. VL PAGE 28 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 Virginia Books

Reviews prepared by the staff of the Division of Publications and Educational Services of the Library of Virginia Julie A. Campbell, Editor

Charles Joyner, Shared Tradi- fourth section suggests ways in tions: Southern History and which history can enhance our Folk Culture. Urbana and understanding of folk culture, as Chicago: University of a balance to the previous essays, Illinois Press, 1999. xiii + 361 which examine the importance of pp. $19.95 (softcover), $49.95 folk culture in understanding his- (hardcover). correctly points out that the equat- tory. Joyner closes with an essay Historian and folklorist Charles ing of “folk” with “rural” is narrow on the impact of resort develop- Joyner won the National Univer- and inaccurate. ment on the folk culture of the sity Press Book Award for his 1984 Joyner divides his volume into Carolina sea islands and concludes publication, Down by the Riverside: five sections. The first two exam- that, although the folk culture A South Carolina Slave Community, ine the interrelationship between may be endangered, it is hardy and a study of the rice plantations of will, as always, adapt and modify. the low country. Joyner repeats his Joyner is an unfussy writer who success with this new volume of tackles the subject with gusto and essays, which asks “large questions The result is a rich mix insight. Much of the book con- in small places” and develops his cerns the low country of South examination of the folk culture of traditions that have Carolina as well as Appalachia. He that distinguishes the South. stimulated and modified includes a fascinating essay on Joyner defines folk culture as “the passion” of John Brown in what is unforgettable. It “embodies each other. which he places Brown’s actions at in its traditional chain of transmis- Harper’s Ferry and his execution at sion the visions and values of the Charleston within the context of folk themselves.” Although the ele- social drama, an anthropological ments of folk culture appear history and the study of folk cul- method of analyzing events in uncomplicated, in fact they consti- ture, including three essays com- other cultures. Nevertheless, tute an intricately woven fabric of menting on the approaches David Joyner’s emphasis on examining considerable complexity. Joyner Potter, David Hackett Fischer, and the folk culture of the South fits rightly reminds readers that, from Henry Glassie have taken to south- well with the growth of social his- the beginning, “Europeans of vari- ern history. The third section tory. “Folklorists,” he writes, “need ous ethnic backgrounds converged offers looks at the persistence of history to help them understand with Africans of various ethnic folk culture in the New South, the process of change in folk cul- backgrounds and with Native with essays on the Jewish popula- ture; social historians need folklore Americans of various ethnic back- tion in Georgetown, South Caro- to help them understand the role grounds.” The result is a rich mix lina, southern musical traditions, of the folk in history.” of traditions that have stimulated and the role of folk tradition on —reviewed by Barbara Batson, and modified each other. He also the civil-rights movement. The Exhibits Coordinator

Julie A. Campbell is editor of Virginia Cavalcade magazine. She works in the Publications and Educational Services Divi- sion at the Library of Virginia. Staff members from other divisions of the Library occasionally contribute to “Virginia Books” and are so noted in their bylines. JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES PAGE 29

John Saillant, ed., Afro- Virginians were quick to form fam- falls midway in the collection and Virginian History and Culture. ilies and to create communities. is a sort of keystone. He tells of a New York: Garland Publish- Kinship, friendship, and com- free black family who had acquired ing, 1999. x + 252 pp. munity figure prominently in all property in Virginia, but who $55.00. the essays. Gail S. Terry shows how migrated north for greater oppor- On summer mornings for the slaves maintained bonds of kin- tunity and there successfully past dozen years, a small exodus of ship as Virginia planters moved passed for white. All the virtues of researchers from the Library of Vir- west across the Appalachian this collection are present: careful ginia occurs about an hour after Mountains, and John J. Zaborney research, a passion for understand- the reading room opens. The investigates the practice of slave ing, and stories about human departing patrons are historians hiring and its consequences for beings that will stick with you. whose innovative research projects families. Gregg Kimball shows how This slim book is a very large mon- on Virginia topics and scholarly the congregation (largely slaves) of ument to the success of the Vir- promise earned them Andrew Mel- Richmond’s First African Baptist ginia Historical Society’s fellow- lon Research Fellowships at the Church communicated with for- ship program. Virginia Historical Society, where mer members in the free states, —reviewed by John T. Kneebone, the reading room opens an hour took up collections for missions in Director, Publications and Educa- after the Library’s. This collection Liberia, and, on the whole, dis- tional Services Division of nine essays, most by younger played a cosmopolitan awareness scholars with important books in of the world outside Virginia. The their future, is testimony to how black church is an equally impor- Mary Louise Clifford, From the fellowships are energizing the Slavery to Freetown: Black study of Virginia’s past. I know Loyalists After the American just about all the contributors, and Revolution. Jefferson, North one of them, Gregg Kimball, is an This collection of nine Carolina: McFarland & Company, esteemed colleague at the Library. 1999. viii + 251 pp. $48.50. Even if they were complete strang- essays…is testimony Thousands of enslaved African ers, however, I would still recom- Americans responded to British mend the book to libraries with to how the fellowships promises of freedom during the Virginiana collections and to any- are energizing the study American Revolution, leaving their one interested in an exciting new masters and homes to cross mili- look at Virginia’s past. of Virginia’s past. tary lines. With the defeat of Brit- Editor John Saillant asked each ish forces and the Treaty of Paris, contributor to stimulate further these ex-slaves became people research, and Mark M. Smith’s fas- without a country. Clifford’s book cinating exploration of the evolu- focuses on those people who colo- tion of work discipline on Virginia tant institution in Harold S. For- nized first in Nova Scotia and then plantations, which seems to paral- sythe’s superb recreation of politics in Sierra Leone on Africa’s west lel developments in the factory in Mecklenburg County during the coast. In both places the expatri- system, is a fine example of that 1880s, an example of local history ates carved out a difficult exis- approach. Some themes emerge, at its best. tence. In Nova Scotia the migrants too. The opening essay, by Doug- Other essays demonstrate the faced poverty and racism; in las B. Chambers, on the slave trade important roles of women. Africa, life was complicated by to Virginia in the eighteenth cen- Michelle A. Krowl looks at the colonial rivalries and politics, eco- tury, argues that Virginia’s debt- actions of African American nomic hardship, and conflict with ridden tobacco planters were of women during the Civil War, and native Africans. Despite these trou- marginal importance in the Atlan- Barbara Bair highlights the roles bles, settlers created viable com- tic economy, and, therefore, rela- that they played in the nationalist munities with religious and educa- tively few slaves came to Virginia. Garveyite movement of the 1920s. tional institutions. Of those who did (usually directly Both essays take subjects previ- Clifford’s book sketches the from Africa), a larger portion than ously presented in male-oriented overall history of the ex-slaves’ in other slave markets were terms of self-assertion and inde- experiences, relying mainly on sec- women and children. As a conse- pendence and add illuminating ondary sources. But the author’s quence of this brutally calculated complications. Philip J. Schwarz’s primary focus is on the lives of a demographic pattern, Afro- essay, “The Gilliams’ Dilemma,” small group of black loyalists, PAGE 30 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 among them Virginians Mary role of antebellum women’s associ- museums often attempted to Perth, Moses Wilkinson, and ations in benevolence. Without present a carefully tailored, sani- David George. Early chapters intro- the vote, women had only their tized version of the past. In reality, duce these central figures, describ- moral influence to change the the issues and conflicts of their ing their experiences under slavery world around them. In the turbu- times shaped the institutions. and their initial bids for freedom. lent 1850s, the Mount Vernon Domesticating History explores how Each then reappears throughout Ladies’ Association of the Union and why these museums were the main narrative, which roughly converted George Washington’s founded, and thoughtfully consid- spans the period from the Ameri- home into a shrine, raising funds ers their role in preserving Amer- can Revolution to the first decade by selling bouquets and postcards ica’s past. Meaty endnotes and a of the nineteenth century. The use to visitors while attempting to handy index round out the illus- of the settlers’ lives as a central bring together women from the trated volume. narrative thread and the short, North and South. After the war, —reviewed by Jennifer Davis descriptive chapters should make women transferred the energies McDaid, Assistant Editor, Virginia the book accessible to a broad they had used in relief work to Cavalcade audience, but the sparse endnotes creating memorials, and house and minimal context and analysis may also limit understanding of John Gilman Kolp, Gentle- the settlers’ world. men and Freeholders: Electoral —reviewed by Gregg Kimball, Museums are not Politics in Colonial Virginia. Assistant Director, Publications and Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Educational Services Division founded in vacuums, University Press, 1998. xi + 249 pp. West writes, and they $46.00. Challenging Charles Sydnor’s Patricia West, Domesticating do not operate in one. interpretation of colonial Virginia History: The Political Origins as a hierarchical, oligarchic society of America’s House Museums. dominated by a handful of local Washington, D.C.: Smithso- elites, John Gilman Kolp argues nian Institution Press, 1999. xiii + museums became model American that a variety of factors including 241 pp. $40.00 (hardcover), $17.95 homes. geography, county formation, and (soft cover). Orchard House, the Concord, local issues affected local elections This book examines four his- Massachusetts, home of writer for the House of Burgesses, leading toric sites: Mount Vernon, Orchard Louisa May Alcott, was restored by to diverse political experiences for House, Monticello, and the Booker women who set aside Alcott’s pro- the colony’s voters and officehold- T. Washington National Monu- suffrage views and her father’s ers. While long-established Tide- ment, all but one of which transcendentalism for a more tra- water counties with a stable gentry (Orchard House) are in Virginia. ditional “Little Women” house. had few real electoral contests in House museums, West argues, are The establishment of Monticello as the eighteenth century, newer “products as well as purveyors of a museum in the 1920s marked a Piedmont counties, particularly history.” The founders of these turning point in the movement, those lacking an established clique institutions had varied and often when college-educated male pro- of gentry leaders, were far more complex motives. Some meant to fessionals supplanted voluntary likely to experience highly com- memorialize a person, others female organizations. Booker T. petitive elections, long and costly intended to inculcate American Washington’s Franklin County campaigns, … and voter indepen- values in recent immigrants, and birthplace, with its reconstructed dence at the polls. The difference most sought to advance political cabin, received congressional sup- in interpretation, Kolp suggests, motives. Museums are not port in the midst of the civil-rights derives from the evidence histori- founded in vacuums, West writes, movement, helping curators ex- ans use; while the letters and diar- and they do not operate in one. plore a very different type of his- ies of the gentry portray the ideal Furniture, docents, and interpreta- tory. of an ordered political arrange- tion all reflect the climate of the Historic house museums, West ment, existing pollbooks and times just as much (or more than) concludes, “were manufactured reports of contested elections in they reflect the past. out of human needs bound by the records of the House of Bur- West begins her study with time and place.” Founded in politi- gesses reveal that democracy, not Mount Vernon, examining the cally charged environments, house oligarchy, ruled. JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES PAGE 31

After looking in Part 1 at colo- America: History, Context, Cul- libraries across the state, for which nial law and issues from the local ture” series of the Johns Hopkins they deserve hearty thanks. through the imperial level that University Press. affected elections, Kolp uses case —reviewed by Mary Carroll Johan- Researchers interested in Hano- studies of established eastern and sen, Research Associate, Dictionary of ver County and African Ameri- newly formed frontier counties in Virginia Biography can history will want to see Black Part 2 to demonstrate the variety Hanoverians: An Enlightened Past of political cultures possible within (Rockville, Virginia: ITS Inc., 1999, the single political community of 212 pp., $29.95 hardcover), by Dr. Virginia. Virginia Bookends Vonita W. Foster, which includes Kolp emphasizes the role of the interviews with black residents of small leaseholder in colonial poli- The Virginia Foundation for Hanover County as well as photo- tics. On average, about fifty per- the Humanities and Public Pol- graphs and a look at historical doc- cent of adult white Virginia males uments. It is the first in a projected owned enough land to vote, while three-part series, which will also another twenty percent held life cover “homes and communities” leases giving them the privilege. …existing pollbooks and and “growth and pursuits.” To Kolp has found that tenants able order the book, send a check or to vote did so in significant num- reports of contested purchase order for $29.95 to ITS bers, forming as much as one half Inc., P.O. Box 302, Rockville, VA of the electorate, and making elec- elections in the records 23146-0302. tion results particularly difficult to of the House of predict. A divided or absent gentry Genealogists will be happy to only exacerbated the volatility of Burgesses reveal that learn of the publication of the elections. Thus, Halifax County, a newest volume of the ever-popular frontier community lacking an eas- democracy, not Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of ily identifiable economic elite, oligarchy, ruled. Virginia Land Patents and Grants, experienced a combative style of Volume 7, 1762–1776 (Richmond: politics resulting in frequent office- Virginia Genealogical Society, holder turnover as well as high 1999, $40) edited by Dennis R. political interest and awareness Hudgins. The useful, information- among voters. icy makes a strong contribution to packed book includes references to Local issues, however, could political study with its publication adjacent landowners and to earlier also bring electoral volatility to of the third edition of David Bea- patentees who failed to pay quit- established communities. Thus, in ringer, ed., The Bill of Rights, The rents. Historian John M. Hemphill Accomack County, controversy Courts, and the Law (Charlottes- II writes the introduction. To over the need to seat a new church ville: 1999, xx + 396 pp., $21.95 order, contact the VGS at 5001 W. led to political squabbles lasting soft cover). The first two editions Broad St., #115, Richmond, Vir- for decades. As tensions with Great came out in 1987 and 1991. The ginia 23230. Britain rose from the 1750s current volume, which contains through the 1770s, however, Vir- abridgements of fifty-five cases of Loudoun County: 250 Years of ginians in many counties experi- the U.S. Supreme Court, features Towns and Villages, by Mary enced fewer competitive elections. new material on property rights, Fishback and the Thomas Balch Instead, voters were more likely to federalism, assisted suicide, and (of Library Commission, is part of the return incumbents to office, send- special interest to librarians) the “Images of America” series from ing to Whitehall a message of colo- Internet and free speech. The six Arcadia Publishing, 2 Cumberland nial support for the House of Bur- expert commentators all hail from St., Charleston, South Carolina gesses. Virginia institutions: University of 29401. Packed into 127 pages of Kolp is an associate professor of Virginia, University of Richmond, this attractive little book ($18.99 history at the U.S. Naval Academy. Marshall-Wythe School of Law, softcover) are more than 200 He used Virginia diaries, letters, Virginia Commonwealth Univer- black-and-white photographs of newspapers, pollbooks, county his- sity, and Sweet Briar College. The historic homes, churches, schools, tories, lists of tithables, and other VFH and the Friends of Virginia businesses, and other county insti- rich sources to craft his political Libraries have generously donated tutions. Happily, many of the study, which is part of the “Early a copy to main-branch public places are alive and well, but the PAGE 32 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES JULY–SEPTEMBER, 1999

caption of a ca. 1880 photo of the hardcover). The Campbells were the Southern Secession Movement George Washington Hummer fam- Scottish immigrants who chose to (White Mane Books: 1999, viii + ily says that their farm “is now the fight on opposite sides of the war. 141 pp., $24.95 hardcover). Cisco site of the new Holiday Inn on Alexander wrote to his wife, Jane, examines the motives of five seces- Route 28, near Dulles Airport.” in October of 1861 from “Camp of sionists. “I hope that my the big chesnut Va”: “You must approach,” he writes in the pref- The University of North Caro- bear in mind that a Letter from ace, “particularly in allowing these lina Press has issued a soft home is thought a great deal of diverse but representative individ- cover reprint of Rhys Isaac’s book, out here. Just consider yourself uals to speak for themselves, will The Transformation of Virginia, away in the wilds of Virginia and contribute to a fuller and fairer 1740–1790 (Chapel Hill: 1999, xl + Living the way I am.” understanding of them and their 451 pp., $16.95). Dr. Isaac, who cause.” teaches at the College of William White Mane Publishing Com- and Mary, contributes a new pref- pany, of Shippensburg, Penn- In December 1863, Union ace to his important study, which forces attacked Salem, Virginia. won the Pulitzer Prize and the That event is the focus of Darrell L. National Historical Society Book Collins, General William Averell’s Prize in 1983. The Times Literary Salem Raid: Breaking the Knoxville Supplement calls it “one of the George Washington Supply Line (Burd Street Press: best — and most provocative — Hummer family says 1999, ix + 174 pp., $24.95 hard- books written on colonial Anglo- cover). Collins calls Averell’s feat America.” that their farm “is now “one of the most daring and remarkable” of its kind. Another soft cover reprint of the site of the new interest comes during the Holiday Inn on Route 28, A famous battle gets a new 200th anniversary of George treatment at the hands of Washington’s death: The Invention near Dulles Airport.” JoAnna M. McDonald, “We Shall of George Washington, by Paul K. Meet Again”: The First Battle of Longmore (Charlottesville: Univer- Manassas (Bull Run), July 18–21, sity Press of Virginia, 1999, x + 337 1861 (White Mane Books: 1999, xii pp., $16.95). First published in sylvania, and its imprints White + 230 pp., $27.95 hardcover). The 1988, the book studies how Wash- Mane Books and Burd Street Press, publisher says it “is the first book ington himself shaped his image. have five new titles. First is Ben F. on this subject to include forty- The “well-written and thoroughly Fordney, Stoneman at Chancellors- five maps and over 200 photo- researched work explains George ville: The Coming of Age of Union graphs of the individual soldiers.” Washington’s career in terms of Cavalry (White Mane Books: 1999, his lifelong ambition for public ix + 77 pp., $7.95 soft cover). The And finally comes a study of recognition,” writes Choice. author, who teaches at James Mad- the development of the Con- ison University, wrote the book federate navy by R. Thomas Camp- due to his conviction that George bell, Academy on the James: The Stoneman “was a significant fig- Confederate Naval School (Burd Civil War Bookends ure, who has received little recog- Street Press: 1999, xii + 283 pp., nition from historians, despite $39.95 hardcover). The Confeder- From the University of South both his role in several crucial acy needed a navy and it needed Carolina Press comes The Civil campaigns and his postwar ser- to train its sailors, and thus was War Letters of Alexander Campbell, vice.” born the naval school. The class- 79th New York Infantry Regiment, room was not in a building some- and James Campbell, 1st South Caro- Virginian John Tyler anchors where in Richmond but afloat on lina Battalion, edited by Terry A. one chapter of Walter Brian the James River and onboard the Johnston Jr. (xx + 190 pp., $24.95 Cisco, Taking a Stand: Portraits from CSS Patrick Henry. VL