Loren Eiseley

~ ~ The NC B Quarterly a publication of The Nebraska Center for the Book

Vol. 7 Fall 1997 No.3

/

Loren Eiseley Taken in his University of Pennsylvania office with his cat, "Night Country." Night Country is the new University of Nebraska Press publication that appeared in 1997. Photo used bY permission, UniversihJ of Pennsylvania Archives. Board of Directors Nebraska Center for the Book The Nebraska Center for the Book is the Board of Directors Meetings 1997 23rd state affiliate of the Library of Con­ gress's National Center for the Book. The Please note: Change of Location Center is a non-profit corporation whose The Annual Meeting of the NCB will purpose is to stimulate public interest in take place at 2 P.M on Sunday, books, reading, and the written word. The November 2, 1997 at Gere Library, 56th Center acts as a catalyst, bringing together & Normal Streets in Lincoln, Nebraska. Members of the Board of Directors will individuals and organizations to build the be elected at this meeting. Please plan to Nebraska community of the book. The Cen­ attend. Contact Dick Allen at ter serves as a partner and supporter of 402-435-4052 if you need an absentee programs, events, and unique projects ballot. which celebrate the written word. The cur­ The NCB Awards Presentation and rent board members are: Reception will follow the annual meeting on Sunday, November 2, 1997 at Gere Library, 3-5 P.M Dick Allen, Treasurer Lincoln Thomas Boyle, Past President Fremont 1997 Board of Directors meetings will Denise Brady, begin by 10 A.M on each of these dates President Omaha (except Nov. 2nd as noted above). Board John Butler Omaha meetings will be followed, after lunch, by Molly Fisher Lincoln meetings of the NCB working committees. For 1997 these include: a Membership Linda Hillegass Lincoln Committee, a Public Relations/ Richard Miller Lincoln Publications Committee, a Nebraska Mel Krutz Seward Literature Festival Committee, and a Ron Norman Kearney Catalyst/Networking Committee. Laureen Riedesel, Committee membership is not restricted President-Elect Beatrice to board members. Please get involved in the work of your NCB! Lori Utecht Bancroft Rod Wagner Lincoln Katherine Walter Lincoln NCB Quarterly is published quarterly by the Dee Yost Hastings Nebraska Center for the Book. Subscription is free with Nebraska Center for the Book membership. We welcome your contribu­ tions and correspondence. Write to NCB Quarterly cf o Lincoln City Libraries, 136 *F.M. Tuttle, South 14th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508. Executive Treasurer Lincoln ©Copyright 1997 by the Nebraska Center for the Book ISSN 1063-9365 2 The Nebraska Center for the Book an affiliate of tM U brary of Congress .a ~

President's Message encourage all mem­ president of Cliffs Notes, Inc., will high­ bers to join the Board light the work of Clifton K. Hillegass. I of Directors for our an­ Carol Conner, Lincoln City Libraries Direc­ nual meeting and awards tor, will have received the Mildred Bennett presentation and recep­ A ward for her untiring efforts on behalf of tion on November 2nd books, reading and libraries in Nebraska at at Gere Library, 56th & the Nebraska Library Association - Ne­ Denise Brady Normal Streets in Lincoln. braska Educational Media Association The annual meeting will Awards Banquet on October 30. begin at 2 p.m. Election of new members A reception honoring all three award re­ of the Board of Directors will take place cipients will be hosted by the NCB Board with members present and those who have of Directors. I hope to visit with many of requested absentee ballots voting. (Contact you there! Dick Allen at 402-435-4052 if you need an absentee ballot.) Your input is important. Denise Brady Please be involved. A brief Board of Direc­ tor's meeting to elect officers and approve a 1998 budget will follow the Annual Meet­ ing. On behalf of the NCB Board of Directors, I would like to take this opportunity to in­ New State Centers to be Announced vite all of you to the awards presentations and reception honoring these outstanding Proposals from Georgia and Maine individuals and organizations. Festivities have been approved for affiliation as will begin at 3 p.m. at Gere Library follow­ state centers for the book. The Georgia ing the meetings I mentioned above. Re­ Center for the Book, to be located at freshments will be served. DeKalb County Public Library in Deca­ tur, will officially begin its organiza­ The afternoon will include a brief history tional and planning activities in 1998. of the award-winning Prairie Schooner and a reading from a recent edition. The Maine Humanities Council in Port­ land will be home for the Maine Center In addition, Kent H. Hendrickson, Associ­ for the Book which will officially begin ate Vice Chancellor for Information Serv­ its planning activities in October. ices at UNL, (formerly Dean of Libraries at UNL) and Richard J. Spellman, retired 3 National Reading Promotion - 1997-2000 To remind Americans of the importance of reading to individuals and to the nation, the Center for the Book in the Libran; of Congress has chosen "Building a Nation of Readers" for the Library of Congress's national reading promotion campaign for the years 1997-2000.

"Today we often forget how important own bicentenary in the year 2000. We in­ reading is to individual development and vite schools, libraries, educational, civic to democracy itself. This campaign theme and government organizations, corpora­ is both a reminder and a goal for where we tions, professional associations, labor un­ want to be in the year 2000. It continues ions, and others to join us in building a na­ the work of hundreds of national, state, tion of readers by organizing and support­ and community coalitions formed in pre­ ing reading promotion projects that benefit vious Center for the Book reading promo­ all age groups." tion campaigns and complements the Li­ John Y. Cole brary of Congress's plans to celebrate its Director, The Center for the Book Ideas for Building a Nation of Readers

For Individuals & Families For Schools & Libraries • Create a literan1 map • Learn about and support local • Encourage personal recommen­ For Organizations & literactJ projects dations of books worth reading Businesses • Teach someone to read •Publicize and distribute lists of • Support local literactJ projects • Sponsor a child in a summer recommended books for readers • Become a book fair sponsor reading program of all ages •Provide literactJ training classes • Keep books and magazines • Invite local authors and well­ at the workplace around the home known personalities to speak • Establish an employee volunteer • Set family reading goals about how reading influenced literactJ program •Get a library card and use it their lives • Form a reading promotion part­ • Encourage a child to get a li­ • Plan a summer reading program nership with a local school brary card • Use local newspapers to encour­ • Sponsor a book discussion group • Read books, magazines, and age reading and discussion of in­ • Use your newsletter to spread newspapers aloud to each other teresting topics the word about the importance • Give books and magazines sub­ • Hold a Read-a-than or Read-in of reading scriptions as gifts • Give awards for reading achieve­ • Sponsor Read Alouds in a desig­ •join a book discussion group ment nated company location • Use television and radio to en­ • Organize a Reading Day at a lo­ • Establish a collection of Read­ courage reading cal sports event Aloud children's books for em­ • Designate a special time in the ployees to borrow day to "Drop Everything and • Give books as business gifts Read!"

4 The Nebraska Center for the Book~ an affiliate of t~ Library of Congress Choices for the 21st Century: Defining Our Role in a Changing World

lie commons" for civic dialogue and de­ Choic;esforthe bate. Choices is an ideal way to bring to­ 21st Century gether people of diverse backgrounds, Public Policy Discussions ages, and ethnic groups in your commu­ in Your Local Library nity for an interactive discussion. ~ This national program, developed by Would you like to know more about major Brown University's Thomas J. Watson Jr. Institute for International Studies, seeks to issues which America faces as we ap­ proach the 21st century? In 1998, the Ne­ apply a humanities-based perspective to public policy by exploring how underlying braska Humanities Council and the Ne­ braska Center for the Book will become values shape different directions in foreign policy, thus emphasizing the human di­ first-time participants in a national project mension of policy development. The na­ designed to engage citizens in an impor­ tional Choices office supplies all content tant debate over U.S. foreign policy in the post Cold-war era. Choices for the 21st Cen­ and promotional materials for the library tunI Defining Our Role in a Changing World program, including a reader for each par­ ticipant. In addition, trained discussion is a library discussion program which fos­ ters values-based reflection on such topics leaders will be provided by the Nebraska Humanities Council. as The Search for Peace in an Age of Con­ flict; Global Environmental Problems; U.S. If you would like to be considered as one Trade Policy: Competing in a Global Econ­ of the 12 host sites for the Choices pro­ omy; China on the World Stage: Weighing gram, please contact Lisa Johnston at the the U.S. Response; Shifting Sands: Balanc­ Nebraska Humanities Council (402) 474- ing U.S. Interests in the Middle East; and 2131 by October 15. The Council also wel­ U.S. Immigration Policy in an Unsettled comes your participation as we plan this World. program for the coming year. If you would like to participate in the Choices This scholar-led discussion series will be Planning Committee, please contact us as held in 12 Nebraska communities in the soon as possible. Spring of 1998. Specifically designed for the non-expert, the Choices program seeks See page 7 for comments from past Choices to encourage more citizens to participate in participants. public policy discussions and aims to estab­ lish the local library as an "intellectual pub-

5 Peru State Gains Nebraska Trails & Tales Grant Nebraska's rich history and literary heri­ transportation and as an inspiration for tage will come alive for several fortunate writers such as John G. Neihardt and Willa people next summer thanks to a $10,000 Cather. grant awarded to Peru State College. The Dr. Holtz, Professor of English at Peru Nebraska Humanities Council has given State, will teach the Nebraska Literature PSC the grant to offer once again The component. Dr. Crook, Associate Professor Trails & Tales Tour and Institute. of History and Political Science, will teach Peru State will present the unique pro­ History of Nebraska. gram, first offered in June 1996, next June Students can earn up to six hours of gradu­ 15-27 according to its coordinators, Dr. Sara ate credit, with the stipends sponsored by Crook and Dr. Dan Holtz. The NHC grant the Nebraska Humanities Council available will be used to cover a portion of the costs to teachers from the elementary through for approximately 40 lucky participants. high school grades, and to personnel from The Trails & Tales Tour and Institute is an institutions such as libraries and museums. interdisciplinary history and literature pro­ The first Trails & Tales Tour and Institute gram featuring graduate-level classroom in­ filled quickly. Interested persons are en­ struction for one week and a six-day, state­ couraged to contact either Dr. Crook (402) wide bus tour the second week. 872-2279 or Dr. Holtz (402) 872-2267 at That tour will illustrate Nebraska's roles as Peru State for more information. a highway for the nation's rail and wagon

NEBRASKA • AUTHOR • INFO •LINK

The Heritage Room is a non-circulating collection of books and information by and about Nebraska authors. One of the services is the Nebraska Author Info Link (NAIL), an online database of information about Nebraska authors, which is ultimately intended to be accessible throughout the state. You can help by providing infor­ mation. Contact the Heritage Room staff at Bennett Martin Public Li­ brary, 136 South 14th, Lincoln, NE 68508 for more information.

6 The Ne~:~;1~L~~~::t~:!':: Book~

Evening Class by Maeve Binchy W Cfiook <=Review Delacorte Press, 1997, Hardcover $24.95 by Linda Hillegass Lee Booksellers, Lincoln, NE

rish novelist Maeve Binchy has always Each pupil comes to the class with some been a writer who could make you care problem or personal sadness and each I deeply about her characters on page leaves the class happier and better able to one. In Evening Class she proves it again. handle life. Signora, the Irish native whose She brings her reader an odd assortment of many years in Italy were a time of content­ Dubliners whose lives seem unconnected ment in spite of personal tragedy, is the until an aging and disappointed educator gentle catalyst for all this change. Her joy launches an evening class in Italian at a in the small things of life, her wisdom and rundown urban school. Seemingly des­ her simplicity seem to affect her students tined to failure, the class and its mysteri­ by osmosis. ous teacher magically affect the lives of a Binchy' s story is a warm, cozy and wholly flock of students. wonderful read.

What people have to say about Choices ... There aren't many places where you can find people you don't know talking about important is­ sues. Most likely you hang out with people who share your opinions. these groups are a cross-sec­ tion. When you sit down and listen, you see where they're coming from, and it makes you stop and think. - Air Force captain Ven; interesting viewpoints. Made me delve into what my own values really are and how my val­ ues influence my choices. -Mediator T11is isn't hjpical even;day conversation for 17-18 year olds. It was a good change ... I can honestly say that I have learned a lot of new, important information that I never knew before. - High school student Just because we are called "senior citizens" does not give us a right to "set back - kick up our heels"- we need to be informed-then act. - Retired farmer There seemed to be an interest in our group for [continued discussions] and a perceived need to fill the vacuum of current political discourse with something more meaningful. - Construction project manager 7 The Nebraska Center for the Book -Annual Awards The Mildred Bennett Award, named in the Nebraska Library Association - Ne­ honor of founding member and first presi­ braska Educational Media Association dent of the Willa Cather Pioneer Memorial Awards Banquet at the Holiday Confer­ and Education Foundation, is presented an­ ence Centre in Omaha. nually to recognize an individual who has The second award, the Jane Geske A ward, made a significant contribution to fostering is presented annually to an organization, the literary business, library, school, association or tradition of other group which has made an excep­ Nebraska. tional contribution to literacy, books, read­ The 1997 ing, libraries or Nebraska literature. Mildred Ben­ Named after the founding member of the nett Award Nebraska Center for the Book and the co­ goes to Carol owner with her husband, Norman, of Estu­ J. Connor, di­ ary Bookstore in Lincoln, this year's recipi­ rector of the ent of the Jane Lincoln City Geske Award is Libraries Prairie Schooner since 1978. magazine (Hilda Carol Connor Currently, Raz, editor-in­ Ms. Connor is chief). Prairie Schoo­ president of the Mountain Plains Library ner, an interna­ Association and a past president of the Ne­ tional literary quar­ braska Library Association. In addition, terly published Ms. Connor has been a strong supporter of with the support of the Heritage Room at the Bennett Martin the English Depart­ Public Library in Lincoln, which helps ment at the Univer­ maintain Nebraska's literary heritage. Ms. sity of Nebraska­ Connor is also a leader in the Lincoln com­ Lincoln and the munity, serving on a number of local University of Ne­ boards, including the American Cancer So­ braska Press, was ciety, Family Services Board, Nebraska Art founded in 1926 by Hilda Raz, editor-in-chief Association, Mayor's Committee for Inter­ Lowry C. Wim- national Friendship, and the Community berly. Short stories, poems and essays from Advisory Committee for the Lincoln Public Prairie Schooner are consistently repub­ Schools. lished in the O' Henn; Awards, Best Ameri- The Mildred Bennett Award will be pre­ sented Thursday evening, October 30, at continued on page 9 8 The Nebraska. Center for the Book anaffiliateof the Li brary o/Co ng~ss ,.. ~

The Nebraska Center for the Book - neur of the Year Award from the Univer­ Annual Awards sity of Southern Illinois at Carbondale and continued from page 8 has honorary doctorates from Kearney can Poetnj, Best American Short Stories, Best State College, Nebraska Wesleyan Univer­ American Essays and Pushcart Prize antholo­ sity, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, gies. In 1994, Prairie Schooner was cited by and Midland Lutheran College. Mr. Hille­ the Dictionan1 of Literan1 Biography Yearbook gass has been a long-time supporter of the as one of the "Ten Best Magazines for Po­ Lincoln City Libraries and has made gener­ etry" in the country. An accomplished poet ous donations to Love Library and the Cen­ and essayist herself, Ms. Raz has published ter for Great Plains Studies at UNL. While four books of poetry, as well as numerous at the Nebraska Book Company, Mr. Hille­ articles and reviews. gass, along with Carlton Lowenburg of the A new award, the Lifetime Achievement Asian Foundation, initiated a program of A ward, will be presented this year to books for Asian students. Clifton K. Hillegass, founder and president The Jane Geske and the Lifetime Achieve­ of Cliffs Notes from 1958to1983. Mr. Hille­ ment Awards will be presented at 3:00 gass was born in Rising City, Nebraska in p.m. on November 2, 1997, at Gere Library, 1918 and served in the U.S. Army Air 56th and Normal Streets, Lincoln, Ne­ Corps from 1942 to 1945. Before launching braska. Friends of the three honorees, as Cliffs Notes, Mr. Hillegass was employed well as interested members of Nebraska's by the Nebraska Book Company in Lin­ community of the book, are cordially in­ coln. He has served on a number of vited and encouraged to attend. For more boards, including the Board of Trustees of information, call Denise Brady in Omaha, Nebraska Wesleyan University and the Lin­ (402) 554-2773, or Dick Allen in Lincoln, coln Public Schools Foundation Board. In (402) 435-4052. 1990, Mr. Hillegass received the Entrepre-

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W e do know that many great authors from this state are already in print. In fact, the Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors contains nearly 10,000 volumes written by over 3,000 authors from Nebraska. What a tremendous literary heritage we all possess! The mission of the Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors is to preserve and promote works by and about Nebraska authors, past and present. The collection strives to gather in one location written works by all Nebraskans. With your help, the Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors can continue to preserve the literary heritage of our state. The Nebraska Literary Heritage Association supports this room and other projects. You can become a member. Write to the Lincoln City Library Foundation, 136 South 14th, Lincoln, NE 68508 for more information.

9 Eiseley Program to Feature Natural History Author Paul Gruchow Where does the landscape end-and where thick bogs, of rocky ridges and deep clear do we begin? Is it possible to go anywhere, lakes." In Grass Roots: The Universe of Home, even into a remote wilderness, alone? Are Gruchow "paints poignant pictures of ru­ wilderness and civilization opposites, or ral life before corporate agribusiness domi­ are they mirror images? nated landscapes." Paul Gruchow asks these intriguing ques­ His talk for us is entitled "Loren Eiseley tions in the current on-line edition of The and the Meaning of Natural History" Hungn; Mind Review. Perhaps he'll answer where he will consider the natural essay in some of them, too, during his talk at the an­ American intellectual experience. As he nual Loren Eiseley celebration in Elephant has said, "to me, there is no better example Hall on Saturday, October 25, 1997. of this than the work of Loren Eiseley." In The program which is sponsored in part the afternoon we will gather at the Ne­ by the Nebraska Humanities Council will braska Academy of Science Building (the feature noted natural history writer Paul former Schultz home) from 3 to 5 PM for a Gruchow. Mr. Gruchow has taught at St. reading of Eiseley's works by Ken Finch Olaf College and Concordia College in Min­ and a nature walk conducted by Morton nesota and is a regular guest lecturer Stelling who is both the Academy's Associ­ throughout the United States. ate Executive Director and a representative of the Wachiska Audubon Society. Author of six books about humans and the natural world, Gruchow believes Eiseley is It will be a wonderful day, so be sure to a master of the natural history essay-the join us for a nature walk, dinner among kind of writing he calls "the meeting place the mastodons at Morrill Hall, and of science and the humanities." Gruchow' s talk. Gruchow' s essays, like Eiseley' s, are The program will begin at 7 PM in the deeply personal. In Boundan; Waters: The lower floor auditorium of Morrill Hall. It is Grace of the Wild he tells of his wanderings free and open to the public. For more infor­ through the boundary waters of Minnesota mation, please contact Barbara Sonuner at and Ontario, a "land of dense forests and 402-421-7176. The Neb:.~;1:.<;:~:::t~:~':: Bo~k ~

MADness, Censorship & Certitude Did you ever wonder who writes the crazy deadline is October 22.), send a check for articles and draws those insane cartoons in $55 to Northeast Library System, 281313th MAD magazine, the ones which follow Street, Columbus, NE 68601. Registration EOE (Equally Offensive to Everyone) at the door (if room is available) will be guidelines? Those attending the Nebraska $60. The program starts at 9:30 AM with Library Association pre-conference spon­ registration and refreshments; the panel sored by Nebraska's regional library sys­ discussion begins at 1:30 PM and the pro­ tems will have a chance to find out when gram will conclude about 3 PM. A buffet Joe Raiola, associate editor of MAD maga­ lunch is provided and is covered by the zine pays a visit to Omaha October 29, registration cost. 1997 at the Holiday Inn Convention Cen­ Joe Raiola has presented his talk to various ter. Raiola will regale his audience with a groups around the country including the history of MAD magazine discussing the American Library Association and the battles of founder William Gaines with the Utah Library Association conferences. He House Select Committee on Un-American has been a member of "The Usual Gang of Activities and showing slides of some of Idiots" at MAD since 1985, and he has writ­ the more infamous pages from the maga­ ten and appeared in seven full-length auto­ zine. He will also share his satiric look at biographical one-man comedy shows. He the First Amendment issues of today, cov­ lives in New York City, leads workshops ering attempts at regulating the Internet, in creativity, and is celebrating his 21st banned books, and the "true" meaning of year in psychotherapy (and his voice mail obscenity in his presentation entitled, "The message has to be heard to be believed). Joy of Censorship." Nebraska's six regional library systems Following Raiola' s presentation, a panel of and their headquarters are: Eastern Library Nebraska religions leaders will share their System (Omaha), Meridian Library System views on censorship in society today. Pan­ (Kearney), Panhandle Library System elists are Rev. Dale Phillips (Keystone Bap­ (Scottsbluff), Northeast Library System (Co­ tist Church, Hastings), Dr. Otis Young lumbus), Republican Valley Library Sys­ (First Plym,:mth Congregational Church, tem (Hastings), and Southeast Library Sys­ Lincoln), and Rabbi Paul Drazen (Beth El tem (Lincoln). For further information, or if Synagogue, Omaha). Questions and re­ you have any questions, you may call Rich­ sponses are welcomed from the audience. ard Miller at the Nebraska Library Com­ To register for the pre-conference (The mission at 402-471-3175.

11 Calendar of Events - 1997-1998

October, 1997 17-23 National Children's Book Week 16 John H. Ames Reading Series 20 Charlyne Berens: Leaving Your Mark - John Janovy, Naturalist The Political Career of Nebraska State 25 Friends of Loren Eiseley Senator Jerome Warner Annual Program and Dinner December, 1997 29 Nebraska Library Association Pre-conference 3 Lunch at the Library {Heritage Room) November, 1997 Laurie Cox-Paul: A Frontier Army Christmas 1 National Family Literacy Day January, 1998 5 Lunch at the Library {Heritage Room) 9-13 New Orleans, ALA Midwinter Meeting Sue Rosowski: Editing Nebraska's 18-24 National Book Week Literary Heritage with Willa Cather

NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID LINCOLN, NE PERMIT NO. 988 c/o Bennett Martin Public Library 136 South 14th Street Lincoln, Nebraska 68508-1899