Books, celebrations and a (former) poet laureate: the Friends plan a busy fall

The Friends of the University of Wisconsin-Madison have planned several events for this fall, including guest lectures and a book sale. In addition, Special Collections and University Archives will post exhibits. Here is a look at coming events.

Poetry reading

Billy Collins, former United States Poet Laureate
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m.
Wisconsin Union Theater

Billy Collins, the nation’s former poet laureate, will present a poetry reading, followed by audience questions and a book signing. In June 2001, Collins was named the United States Poet Laureate 2001-'03. He is the author of seven poetry collections, three of which have broken sales records for poetry. His work has been published in The New Yorker, The American Scholar, and Paris Review. Collins is a Guggenheim Fellow and a professor of English. According to The New York Times, Collins is “a charming public reader, who can pack auditoriums.”

This event is being hosted by UW–Madison Libraries and the Friends, and supported by gifts from private donors. Tickets are currently available at the Memorial Union Box Office, open 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon-5 p.m. on Saturday. Contact the box office by phone 608.262.2201, fax 608.265.5008 or e-mail at boxoffice@wut.org.

Largest used book sale in Wisconsin

Oct. 22 - 25
Room 116, Memorial Library

Books for the sale are donated primarily by faculty, staff, students and Madison-area residents. Among the subjects covered by the books available: American studies, fiction, foreign languages, cooking, physical and biological sciences, computer science, government, political science, law, education, fine arts, self-help, reference, business, social sciences, religion, philosophy, women's studies, and history. Money from the sales helps fund an annual lecture series, special purchases for the library collections, and a visiting scholar support program.

All sales are open to the public. For more information on donating materials to sell, visit the Friends' book sales page.

Book sale hours:

Preview Sale ($5 entry)
Wednesday, Oct, 22, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. (No entry fee)

Regular Sale
Thursday, Oct. 23, 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 24, 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

$2-a-Bag Sale (Bring Your Own Bag)
Saturday, Oct. 25, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

All sales are held in 116 Memorial Library.

 

Exhibit: Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Wisconsin's largest library

Through Nov. 1
Circulation Desk Lobby

University Archives presents an exhibit of images documenting the opening of Memorial Library. After a lengthy construction process with several setbacks, including a partial collapse of steel girders in early 1951, Memorial Library finally opened Sept. 17, 1953. Library patrons found a work in progress: many light fixtures were not in place, and the system of pneumatic tubes and conveyor belts to move books was not installed. Memorial Library’s opening ended a long and painful process of seeking a separate building large enough to hold the main University library collections. Finally, the University would not have to “run an 80-cow farm with a 20-stall barn,” in the words of President E. B. Fred. At its opening, the building housed approximately 600,000 volumes with a capacity of 1.5 million.

Exhibit: Notes from the Stone-Paved Path: Meditations on North India

Photographs by Lewis Koch and books from collections of Memorial Library

Through Nov. 7, 2003
Special Collections, 976 Memorial Library

This exhibit, pairing photographs with books, is the result of a year that photographer Lewis Koch lived and worked in a Tibetan community near Dharamsala in north India. As Koch notes, "Each impression, each image, each page of text is, by definition, a highly edited subjective view of a real place or idea... Both quote from a larger context." The exhibit is in conjunction with the 32nd Annual Conference on South Asia, Oct. 24–26, 2003. For more information, visit: http://www.wisc.edu/southasia

Musings about Libraries and Life

Michael Cart, former director, Beverly Hills Public Library
Thursday, Nov. 13 - 4:30 p.m.
Special Collections, 976 Memorial Library

Author, editor, columnist, and former library director Michael Cart, will speak about the imperative importance of libraries and librarians to life and civilization. His context will be his recently published anthology In the Stacks: Short Stories about Libraries and Librarians that includes stories by leading writers of the 20th century including John Cheever, Jorge Luis Borges, Alice Munro, and others. Their sometimes iconoclastic, often affectionate, and occasionally stereotypical views of libraries and librarians offer opportunity for thoughtful discussion and occasional alarm.

Highlights in the History of the UW-Madison Libraries

Nov.13, 2003–March 2004
Special Collections, 976 Memorial Library

Drawing on the resources of University Archives and campus libraries, this exhibit explores the growth of the libraries' holdings, the expansion of library facilities, and changes in library services and the expectations of readers. The exhibit honors the50th anniversary of the dedication of Memorial Library.

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