~ ~IBRARY HORIZONS A Newsletter of The Libraries

FALL 2010, VOL. 25, NO. 2

UA Libraries Acquires Extensive Collection of American Historical Documents, Photos and Books

The University of Alabama Libraries has acquired one of the most exten- sive collections of Americana and Southern history in private hands: the A. S. Williams III Americana Collec- tion with an emphasis on the history and culture of the South.

For more than 40 years, Williams, a Eufaula native and UA alumnus, collected rare Americana, primarily books, manuscripts and photographs relating to the history of the .

“Much of the content of the Williams Collection is unique and hence not available at other libraries or through online sources,” said Dr. George C. Rable, Charles Summersell chair in (l to r) Dr. Robert E. Witt, president of The University of Alabama, Southern history at UA. “The Mr. A.S. Williams III and Dr. Louis A. Pitschmann, dean of University Libraries, Williams Collection will support a after the presentation ceremony in the Pearce Foyer of the Gorgas Library. vast array of research projects based on manuscript, print and visual special collections, particularly those Starting with his Presidential materials.” pertaining to the South and the histo- Collection, Williams acquired books ry of photography, to a new level of written by and about the presidents, Valued at more than $12 million, the excellence and national prominence,” as well as books they signed or collection was formally accepted in said Dr. Louis A. Pitschmann, dean of inscribed. He eventually expanded June at a presentation ceremony libraries. “We are honored that Mr. this collection by acquiring one or attended by Williams, his family Williams has agreed to entrust us with more documents written or signed by members, and UA President Dr. his remarkable collection.” every former president. Robert E. Witt. President Witt addressed the large gathering and The collection represents a lifetime of He later broadened his scope to thanked Williams for his extraordinary avid collecting by Williams, former include material related to the history collection and generosity. executive vice president and treasurer of Alabama and the South in general. of Protective Life Corp. A trip to The collection contains unpublished “The Williams Collection builds on Williamsburg, Va., in the early 1960s existing strengths and brings our sparked his passion for collecting. See “Collection” on page 9 LIBRARY HORIZONS • 1 Message From the Dean LIBRARY HORIZONS A NEWSLETTER OF THE It’s a new day at the University of UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA LIBRARIES Alabama! A record enrollment of FALL 2010, VOL. 25, NO. 2 over 30,000, a national football Editor: Donna Adcock championship, continued unprece- Content for articles in this issue dented improvements in the was provided by: Donna Adcock, campus infrastructure and facili- Jessica Lacher-Feldman, Guy Lamolinara, Richard LeComte, ties, and record donations to the Louis A. Pitschmann, John Sandy, University Libraries. There is a Lindley Shedd distinct feeling of excitement and Photography credits: Donna vitality in the air. Adcock, Jeff Hanson, Robin McDonald, Barry Sartain Ongoing improvements in the Image credits: Jason Battles, SMC Staff, Tom Wilson, Jessie Weaver University Libraries have led to the Libraries’ highest rankings to Library Leadership Board *Linda Hinson Bachus date in a broad range of assess- Carolyn F. Boone ment indices tracked by the Asso- *Rick Bragg F. Dixon Brooke, Jr. ciation of Research Libraries. For Calvin Brown example, the UA Libraries now Dr. Louis A. Pitschmann, Celeste Burnum th Linda Stanley Champion rank 66 out of 114 university Dean of Libraries Jennie C. Cowart libraries qualifying for ARL mem- Dr. John W. Crowley Julie H. Friedman bership and 37th among 68 public enhanced their ability to advance Annie Hunter Galloway Ann W. Givan university libraries in the ARL. and achieve their academic goals. Dedie Russell Hendrix These rankings compare to 97th Harold Herring st Glenda Garner Hogg and 61 , respectively, in 2003. Today, the University Libraries’ Christine S. Hollingsworth collections provide more digital Tonjanita Johnson B. Rex Jones While the ARL assesses quality access to scholarly books and jour- John H. Josey using a broad range of quantita- nals than was ever possible in the Dorothy “Dorie” King Jessica Lacher-Feldman tive measures, such as expendi- “print-only” era. We would need Amy Rankin Loftin tures, volumes added, and number Shirley McCrary to nearly double current library James Hill McLemore of subscriptions, the true measure space if our digital content were John T. Murdock Rick Paler of a research library’s quality and paper based occupying literally Mary Bess Paluzzi return on investment is its value to miles of shelves. Likewise, the pro- J. Wray Pearce Lois Robertson students and faculty. Our online ductivity software and e-learning William Rodrigues services and resources continue to tools that the Libraries’ computers John V. Rucker The Hon. R. Timothy Russell experience increased use, and our offer students ensure that all stu- Karen L. St. Clair facilities are consistently at capaci- dents have equal opportunities to *Terry L. Saban Margaret Burdick Smith ty, with all available seats taken at explore and learn and compete Rhoda Graves Smith several points during the day. Eleanor Streit locally, nationally, and globally. *Gay Joseph Talese Faculty members and students Howard M. Tepper Dawn Theune alike continue to report that These technology-driven advances Phyllis J. Todd ongoing improvements to our notwithstanding, one of the most Susan S. Tolbert Carla Ventress facilities and the vastly expanded significant developments in the William Walker, Jr. print and digital collections and University Libraries in recent years Dr. Sarah Woolfolk Wiggins computer-assisted learning and *Honorary Members research support have markedly See “Message” on page 4 2 • THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA LIBRARIES

UA Libraries ARL Membership Ranking Alabama's Annual Member Ranking Among All ARL Institutions (out of 114) 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Improves National 97 I 90 I 84 I 87 I 89 I 79 I 66 Rankings Alabama's Annual Member Ranking Among Public ARL Institutions (out of 68) 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 According to annual rankings 61 I 57 I 50 I 53 55 I 46 I 37 released by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), The Alabama's Annual Member Ranking Among Public SUG Institutions (out of 23) 2003 2004 200~_j 2006 2007 2008 2009 University of Alabama Libraries, 21 20 18 19 19 18 13 under the leadership of Dean Louis Pitschmann, has improved ARL Member Ranking its national ranking over the past 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 seven years, moving from 97th to 0 66th out of 114 university 20 libraries in the U.S. and Canada. --Alabama's Annual Member Ranking 37 AmongPublicSUG lnstitutions(outof This success has also translated to 40 f------::::..,,,,..oe:::..-=-'- 23) the Libraries’ ranking among --Alabama's Annual Member Ranking AmongPublicARL Institutions(out of publicly-funded university libraries 60 68) 66--Alabama'sAnnual Member Ranking in the U.S. and the Southern AmongAII ARL Institutions (out of University Group Libraries 80 114) (SUG). 100

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University students from across campus gathered in Gorgas 205 last April to participate in the third annual Media Night hosted by the Lillie Florence Jones Sanford Media Resource and Design Center. Student creators representing many departments, majors and programs presented their personal work of video, audio and digital art.

UA student, Jessie Weaver, entered her image House on Ash Tree Lane. The SMC provides UA students with a leading-edge facility for International students visit with Dr. Cynthia Miller, music, fine digital media production and was funded through a generous & performing arts collections coordinator, at last year’s Friday gift from Dr. and Mrs. Arthur R. Taylor Jr. of Demopolis in Coffee Hour. UA Libraries co-sponsors the coffee each fall during honor of Mrs. Taylor’s grandmother, Lillie Florence Jones International Education Week. IEW is celebrated world-wide Sanford. during the third week of November. LIBRARY HORIZONS • 3

Current News and Events Alabama Center for the Book “Message” Moves to University of Alabama continued from page 2 is the acquisition of the A. S. Libraries Williams III Americana Collection. Comprised of some 20,000 books, The Alabama Center for the pamphlets, and maps as well as Book (www.alabamacenterforthe- nearly an equal number of unpub- [email protected]) has a new lished historical photographs, home, moving to the University diaries, letters, documents, and of Alabama Libraries from the business and financial records from Caroline Marshall Draughon the late 17th century to the late Center for the Arts & Humanities 1940s, the Williams Collection at Auburn University. catapults to national prominence the Libraries’ existing collections “The Center for the Book in the of rare and one-of-a-kind teaching Library of Congress looks forward and research materials. to continued support for its affili- ate center in Alabama in its new The progress the University location,” said John Y. Cole, Libraries continues to make director of the Center for the The Center for the Book would, of course, not be possible Book at the Library of Congress. (www.loc.gov/cfbook/) was without the strong support of the “Jay Lamar at Auburn has done established by Congress in 1977 University and that of the an extraordinary job as director of “to use the resources and prestige Libraries’ growing number of the center. We look forward to of the Library of Congress to pro- donors. Nor would our progress in working with new director Louis mote books, reading, literacy and service quality and national rank- Pitschmann.” libraries.” ings have been achieved without the commitment of the Libraries’ Pitschmann praised the programs --- staff to develop and implement the begun by Lamar and her staff: Excerpts from a news release by Guy various improvements outlined in “Over the past decade Jay and her Lamolinara, The Center for the Book at the Library of Congress this issue of Library Horizons. colleagues at Auburn established a Perhaps most notable among these strong center with a number of are the multi-media support the important and successful outreach Sanford Media Center provides services to the state. We will con- and the new search interface, tinue to promote the Letters Scout, which are described in the About Literature essay contest and following pages. I encourage will seek partners to continue everyone reading this issue of LH other programs for which the cen- to visit the Libraries and experi- ter has become known. Our goal ence first-hand the exciting new is to promote the national Center services and resources that we have for the Book’s programs to initiated in an effort to contribute advance literacy and reading as to the University’s overall growth well as promote appreciation of and commitment to excellence. regional writers.” 4 • THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA LIBRARIES Celebrating the Centennial of Alabama’s Own William Bradford Huie

On November 13, 2010, the Mercury, and was a pioneering celebrated Alabama author, world- news television panelist on the renowned journalist and screen- 1950s CBS program, the writer and UA graduate (class of Longines Chronoscope. 1930), William Bradford Huie would have been 100 years old. In honor of Huie, and because Though he passed away in 1986, of a recent gift of rare materi- his vast body of work lives on, as als, published items, and per- does his pioneering style of jour- sonal effects from his widow, nalism. In his lifetime, Huie Martha, the W.S. Hoole wrote twenty-three books, selling Special Collections Library over 30 million copies, as well as will present an exhibit on numerous articles for leading Huie that allows visitors to magazines, including the article in better understand the scope Look magazine (January, 1956) on and breadth of his work. the Emmett Till murder in From a career that started that is considered by when he was a student at many as a starting point for the The University of Alabama in modern Civil Rights Movement. the late 1920s, through his death The excitement Huie also served as editor and in 1986, Huie seemed to have his and interest in Huie has spread owner of H.L. Mencken’s finger on the pulse of America, from Hoole to other parts of American and an ability to get to the heart campus and the community. The of a story, seeking out the truth. following day, November 10, Among the numerous treasures in there will be a screening of Wild the collection is Huie’s special River (1960), the Elia Kazan film travel typewriter that he used starring , which in the 1940s as an officer and is based in part on Huie’s semi- aide to Vice Admiral Moreel, and autobiographical novel, Mud on chronicler of the Seebees, during the Stars. The film also borrows World War II, and as a war corre- from another Alabama spondent in the Pacific theater, at author/UA graduate’s work, Iwo Jima and Hawaii. Dunbar’s Cove by Borden Deal. Dr. Don Noble will speak before The exhibit opening, along with a the film. talk will take place on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at the W.S. In addition, other events are being Hoole Special Collections planned around campus, including Library. The guest speakers for the performance of a play on Huie this event are Martha Huie, written by UA faculty member, along with celebrated author, Billy Field, and a high school out- University of Alabama gradu- reach program coordinated by ate, and mentee of Huie, Wayne Greenhaw. See “Celebrating” on page 10

LIBRARY HORIZONS • 5

Book Collecting Inspires UA Students

When the UA Libraries held its first book collecting contest in 2006, some wondered whether enthusiasm for book collecting would endure in future years. Wouldn’t proliferation of digital media cause students to forget about or dismiss the wonder and beauty of books?

That so many students entered the University Libraries 4th Annual Book Collecting Contest suggests a different outcome. Indeed, UA students still love books and many are aspiring book collectors, ready to engage in collecting over the long run. Our students still Undergraduate winners Laura Abson and April Snider; guest A. S. “Steve” Williams; understand the unique and special and graduate winners Rachel Watts, Lauren Faulkenberry and Robert LoMascolo. way that books bring meaning to all aspects of culture and society. graduate category. “Fantasy for Kerouac’s book). And, as with book collectors All Ages,” (Harry Potter books) everywhere, they appreciate books F Lauren Faulkenberry, School of as objects of art. F Edward Mostoller, College of Library and Information Arts and Sciences, second place, Studies, third place, graduate On April 14, 2010, six contest undergraduate category. “What category. “Everything I winners were formally recognized Have We Been Doing?” (books Learned about Love” (stories in a special reception in Gorgas on the Middle East). by Southern writers) Library, when Dr. Mildred F April Snider, College of Com- Jackson, associate dean for collec- Adding special flavor to the 2010 munication and Information tions, announced with much book collecting contest, A.S. Sciences, third place, under- anticipation the names of the Williams III, one of Alabama’s graduate category. “My Friend contest winners. most serious book collectors, gave the Comic Book,” (includes a very interesting talk at the recep- comics with female heroes) Contest winners were selected in tion telling of his experiences dur- graduate and undergraduate cate- F Robert LoMascolo, School of ing a lifetime of book collecting. gories and received cash prizes Library and Information along with a one-year membership Studies, first place, graduate The 2010 book collecting contest in the Rotunda Library Society. category. “Books designed by was jointly sponsored by the Bruce Rogers.” University Libraries and the The 2010 winners and their Alabama Center for the Book. collections are: F Rachel Watts, College of Arts and Sciences, second place, --- F Laura Abson, College of Arts graduate category. “On the John H. Sandy, head, Rodgers Library for and Sciences, first place, under- Road” (book covers of Jack Science and Engineering 6 • THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA LIBRARIES Team Members: • John Michael Simpson, New College, Interdisciplinary •••••••••••••••••••••••• Studies • Walker Donaldson, College of Arts & Sciences, Political Science/History

Third Place: Video title: Spy Boy Spy: Library Mission Impossible university libraries Team Leader: Alex Jones, Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business video contest Administration, Marketing Team Members: • Dustin Hawkins, Culverhouse University Libraries sponsored included camcorders, tripods, College of Commerce and the first annual Libraries Video iPod Nanos and iPod Shuffles. Business Administration, Contest during spring semester. Marketing “The purpose of the video compe- The winners were: tition was to promote library Fourth Place: First Place: resources and services while Video title: The Canterlibrary encouraging students to create Video title: Good Research vs. Tales Bad Research collaborative teams and show the Team Leader: Cedrick Alexander, library from the student perspec- Team Leader: Josh Sahib, College of Communication and tive,” stated Lindley Shedd, media College of Communication and Information Sciences, Journalism services coordinator, Lillie Information Sciences, Master of Team Members: Florence Jones Sanford Media Library and Information Studies • Mitch DeAnda, College of Arts Resource and Design Center and Team Members: & Sciences, Political Science chair of the contest. “Teams were • Jana Motes, College of • Jarvis Halsey, College of Arts & given a set of requirements includ- Communication and Sciences, Music Administration ing time limits, required locations Information Sciences, and a product free of copyright Telecommunication and Film --- material.” • Sydney Prather, New College, Lindley C. Shedd, media services coordinator, Cultural Understanding Sanford Media Center Nine teams entered the competi- through Visual and Textual tion. A panel of judges selected Media four videos as finalists. The four finalists’ videos were uploaded to Second Place: the library website for public vote. Video title: Final Cut Doh More than 1800 votes were cast to determine final rankings. Team Leader: Adam Roper, Culverhouse College of All participants who completed a Commerce and Business video were given t-shirts designed Administration, Criminal Justice for the competition. Prizes and Accounting LIBRARY HORIZONS • 7

Scout - New Name of Libraries Search Interface

Scout was the winning entry sent in by Holly Miller, undergraduate, in the DiscoverySearch Naming Contest held online by the University Libraries. Over 85% of voters selected Miller’s entry as the new name for the Libraries search interface. Miller selected the name Scout as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of To Kill a Mocking- bird and Harper Lee’s unforget- table character. The name also implies to “seek and find”.

Katelyn Fowler, undergraduate, placed second with her entry Crimson Search and Laura Gricius- L to R: Jason Battles, Holly Miller, and Tom Wilson West, graduate student, finished third with OASIS. and third place entrants received Mildred Jackson, associate dean monetary prizes. for collections, and Dr. Louis A. Tom Wilson, associate dean of Pitschmann, dean of Libraries, library technology, and Jason Seventy-two unique entries were selected three names from those Battles, head, web services depart- submitted. The University entries for the public vote. ment, presented the winner with Libraries Public Interface Working Over 400 votes were cast for the an iPod Touch while the second Group along with Wilson, Dr. finalists.

Story Time at McLure Education Library

Area children and their parents were entertained during Family Weekend Story Time at McLure Education Library in September. Education and Library & Information Studies students as well as library faculty members read stories and entertained the children with craft projects. Dr. Mildred Jackson, professional story teller and associate dean for collections, is pictured during her presentation. Story Time is part of UA’s annual Family Weekend.

8 • THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA LIBRARIES

“Collection” continued from page 1 letters, diaries and docu- ments written by Alabamians from the 1820s forward. These letters describe politi- cal and historical events as McDonald Robin by Photographs well as daily life.

“For those of us who study Southern discourse, the manu- scripts in this collection will be of tremendous value for both research and teaching,” said Dr. Catherine Evans Davies, professor of The photography linguistics and chair of UA’s depart- portion of the col- ment of English. lection has more than 12,000 “The Williams Collection is a treasure photographs from trove of material that will lend itself the South and to new research initiatives for our fac- Alabama ranging Photographs by Robin McDonald ulty and students, and will make our from the late 1850s to the special collections library a destination mid-1930s. Civil War photographs, on the third floor of Amelia of choice for many researchers from perhaps one of the finest archives and Gayle Gorgas Library and opens to other institutions,” stated Dr. Michael research collections of its kind, titled the public November 9, 2010. To Picone, UA professor of French and “The Southern Photographer, 1860- read more about the collection, visit linguistics. 1910” are features of this collection. www.lib.ua.edu/williamscollection. The work of Southern photographers Wartime history includes all aspects is represented by approximately 4,000 --- of the Civil War. The collection is images from 2,500 different studios. Richard LeComte, communications specialist, media relations, University of Alabama especially strong in military manuals, histories and travel accounts, text- Smaller sub-collections include books and novels. early Southern maps; the African- American experience in the In addition to presidential and South, represented by photo- historical documents, the collection graphs, books and pamphlets; also includes Indian land grants; and materials relating to the unpublished archival collections of financial history of the 19th-century business records; some United States from pre- 3,000 works of Southern fiction from Revolutionary times to the earliest examples to contemporary the founding of the Bank authors; and several literary archives. of the United States. The collection is rich in first editions, signed copies, limited editions, The Williams Collection comprises Photographs by Robin McDonald association copies and rare books more than 20,000 books and 12,000 and manuscripts. photographs. The collection is housed Example of a rare wallpaper binding LIBRARY HORIZONS • 9 News from the Faculty and Staff Welcome New Faculty

Melissa Fortson was Kevin Walker was appointed research & appointed user engage- instructional services ment and assessment spe- librarian, Gorgas Library cialist, Gorgas Library on on August 9, 2010. September 13, 2010. Fortson received her BA Walker received his BA in in English from Sewanee: English Literature and The University of the Master of Library & South and her Master of Information Studies from Library & Information the University of Alabama Studies from The and is currently working University of Alabama. on a Ph.D. in Public Prior to returning to her Policy & Administration home state of Alabama to at Auburn University. He attend graduate school, Fortson worked at the worked the last six years at Alabama State University Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Develop- before joining UA Libraries. He is moderator-elect of mental Disabilities, coordinating an information and Alabama Library Association’s (ALLA) Collection referral program serving people with disabilities and Development and Management Round Table and a their families. She also worked as a Braille and talking member of the ALLA Handbook Committee and the book librarian and in instructional technology. Alabama Political Science Association’s Committee on Student Involvement. Josh Sahib was appoint- ed research and instruc- tional services librarian, Gorgas Library on August 2, 2010. Sahib holds “Celebrating” three degrees, BS in continued from page 5 Management Information Systems, MA in American Field. Both of these events are November 3rd. Studies and a Master of Library & Information Several teaching faculty across campus are also Studies all from the working on a series of four open discussions and University of Alabama. group readings based on Huie’s writings, which He recently worked in the will take place in Spring 2011. This will include Faculty Resource Center participants from History, Journalism, New at the University as an eLearning support specialist College, American Studies, Telecommunication and was the team leader of the winning video in the and Film and other areas on campus. A blog, Libraries-sponsored Video Contest last spring in the website, and Facebook page have all been created graduate division. to help document and disperse information about this exciting collaboration. Visit the blog at http://wbhuieat100.blogspot.com/

In Memory of Lisa Powell Stevenson --- Reference Librarian, Gorgas Library Jessica Lacher-Feldman, curator of rare books and special collections

10 • THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA LIBRARIES

William Fair Worford, Recipient of Henderson Endowed Scholarship

The Patricia S. Henderson 24 hours of the 36 credit hours Endowed Scholarship was recently needed to qualify for graduation awarded to William Fair Worford, and has maintained a 4.0 GPA. library assistant I, Library Annex Services. Worford has been work- In his scholarship application ing in university libraries since Worford stated “While researching 2001, first as a student at the for a class I found that the basic University of Montevallo where he parameters of librarianship have completed his history degree in not changed: it is the platforms 2003. upon which those parameters are presented that continue to change He joined the University of and challenge the profession.” Alabama Libraries in 2005 as a full-time employee in the catalogu- He went on to say, “These ing department and enrolled in the changes serve as an appealing chal- School of Library and Information lenge for future librarians. This is Studies in fall 2008 as a part-time what makes academic librarianship student. Worford has completed an enticing career for me.” William Fair Worford Dr. Nancy DuPree and Pamela Steward Receive Library Faculty and Staff Awards

Dr. Nancy DuPree and Pamela Steward, accounting Steward have been named recipi- assistant in the ents of the 2010 Library Lead- Business Office, has ership Faculty and Staff Awards. been with the libraries Eleanor Streit, program chair of for 23 years. Her the University of Alabama Library responsibilities include Leadership Board, announced the coordination of travel winners at the March Library arrangements, Forum meeting. accounting and pro- curement support for Dr. DuPree*, information services equipment and sup- librarian, began her career with plies, budget reports University Libraries in Gorgas and day-to-day pro- Library, Interlibrary Loan Depart- cessing of transactions ment, in 1982. She moved to and reporting for 83 McLure Education Library in different funds. L to R: Dean Louis Pitschmann, Dr. Nancy DuPree, 1983 as a staff member and Pamela Steward, and Eleanor Streit moved to her current position in Each recipient received May, 2003. Her job involves out- a framed certificate and reach to faculty in the College of honorarium at the University *Dr. DuPree was recently named Education, determining the needs of Alabama Library Leadership interim curator of the A. S. Williams III for purchasing materials. Board Luncheon in May. Americana Collection. LIBRARY HORIZONS • 11 THE UNIVERSITY OF Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage ALABAMA P A I D Permit 200 LIBRARIES Tuscaloosa, Alabama Box 870266 Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0266

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