Thursday Sept. 17 -- First Brown Bag Speaker -- Dr. Suzanne McDevitt

Greetings and welcome to another semester of idea-inflicting informal interpolations from the Baron-Forness Library Brown Bag Speakers Series. Please note the Series has moved to THRUSDAYS but remains at NOON (also knowen as High Noon) high atop the autumn-accented campus of Edinboro University, "the most scenic lecture series on campus," in Room 715 of Your Library.

We begin our series with: Dr. Suzanne McDevitt from the Social Work department, "Food Stamps for College Students & Other Lessons from Poverty." Dr. McDevitt will be speaking on food poverty, and her own work on food banks in Pennsylvania and meeting the needs of our state's residents.

We infite you to bring along a canned good or something for the local Edinboro food bank. Your donation, while not necessary, is always appreciated.

Bring your lunch, refreshments will be served.

Any questions? Call Jack Widner, Reference Librarian, at 2175.

Exhibits in the Baron Forness Library

The Baron Forness Library has Exhibits in the Galleries on the first and second floors. Come in and take a look.

On the first floor, as you enter, Students of the Edinboro for Environmental Defense (SEED) have a display with a goal to protect the remaining environment through activities and study. SEED is open to students in all majors interested in environmental topics. Faculty Advisers: Dr. Laurie Parendes and Dr. Karen Eisenhart.

In coordination with Earth Day activities, Baron Forness Library is displaying an exhibit about its Butterfly Garden by Professor Chris Troutman, one of the library volunteers who design and maintain the garden. The display includes the basics on creating a Butterfly Garden.

Louis Braille would be 200 this year. And exhibit on the 2nd floor commemorates Braille and his accomplishments. Included are examples of materials presented in braille, a braille writer and other informative texts. Dr. Andrea Wyman created this display to complement a travelling exhibit due to arrive in May. For more details contact Dr. Wyman at 732-2793.

The "Bunny Books" along with all the little bunnies brings color and pleasant memories to those enjoying the exhibit. This display, on the 2nd floor, was created by Dr. Andrea Wyman

Eric Carle, Children's book illustrator and innovative book designer is celebrated on the 2nd floor. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has eaten its way into the hearts of millions of children all over the world. It has been translated into more than 47 languages and sold over 29 million copies. Dr. Wyman has designed a collage in honor of Eric Carle.

The Weaving and Fibers Club, students interested in promoting and learning the arts of weaving and fiber, has an exhibit in the Gallery on the 2nd floor. A majority of the pieces are from beginning level students, with a few from the intermediate level. The technique is hand loom weaving in both tapestry and pattern weave. Classes in weaving and fibers are taught in the Edinboro University Art Department.

On the 2nd floor is the Jane Austen exhibit coordinated by Lora Whitney. It commemorated Women's History Month. The exhibit features portraits of Jane Austen, focusing on the Regency era. It investigates the timeless appeal of Jane Austen's writing. The Edinboro University Woman's Association features a Jane Austen Special Interest Group. It meets periodically to investigate the culture, food, and history of the Regency Era. For more information on the Jane Austen SIG, contact Eleanor Randall at 732-2783.

Antique Banks from the collection of Dr. Andrea Wyman are on display on the 2nd floor.

"The Elegance of the Hedgehog" May selection of the Book Discussion Group

The Baron Forness Library Book Discussion Group has choosen Muriel Barbery's The Elegance of the Hedgehog as its May selection. The group will meet in Baron-Forness Library room 715 at 6:45 pm on Tuesday, May 12 to discuss the book.

Library Used LP Record and Book Sale -- Sept. 24 & 25

The Baron-Froness Library will be hosting a sale of Used LP Records and Books that have been deleted from the library's collection. The sale will be September 24 and 25 from 10 am to 4 pm. The Record and Book Sale will be held in room 715, high above the campus on the 7th floor of the Library

Most of the records to be sold are from the classical collection. There are some jazz and pop/rock available.

Books from the library's collection will also be sold during these hours

Book Discussion Group August Meeting.

The Edinboro University Book Discussion Group has been taking a break for the summer. There next meeting is Tuesday, August 11th. They will meet at 6:45 p.m. in Room 715 of the Baron-Forness Library. The book under discussion is The Brief Wondrous Live of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz.

Junot Diaz is professor of creative writing at M.I.T.

What we were reading -- Summer 2009

"Admission" by Jean Hanff Korelitz.
"Banker to the Poor" by Muhammad Yunus
"Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex" by Mary Roach
"Chu Ju's House" by Glorian Whelan
"Dead and Gone" by Charlaine Harris
"Dead until Dark" by Charlene Harris
"Fried Chicken: An American Story" by John T. Edge
"Masterpieces in Miniature: The Detectives" by Agatha Christie
"New England White" by Stephen Carter
"Nixon & Kissinger: Partners in Power " by Robert Dalleck
"Outlander" Series by Diana Gabladon.
"Relic" by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Childs
"Reliquary" by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Childs
"Schulz and Peanuts" by David Michaelis
"Survival of the Sickest" by Dr. Sharon Moalem
"The Art of Detection" by Laurie R. King
"The Art of War" by Sun Tzu
"The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Diaz
"The Host" by Stephenie Meyer
"The Well-Designed Mixed Garden" by DiSabato-Aust.
"Three Bedrooms, One Corpse" by Charlaine Harris
"To Play the Fool" by Laurie R. King
"What’s a Ghoul to do?" by Victoria Laurie
"Slave Ship: A Human History" by Marcus Rediker

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman -- Book Discussion Topic -- October 13.

The Edinboro University Book Discussion Group will discuss Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic for its October meeting. The meeting will be held Tuesday October 13 at 6:45 pm in Baron-Forness room 715. Refreshments will be served.


"For more than two hundred years, the Owens women have been blamed for everything that went wrong in their Massachusetts town. Gillian and Sally endured that fate: As children, the sisters were forever outsiders, taunted, talked about, pointed at. Their elderly aunts almost seemed to encourage the whispers of witchery, with their darkened house and their love concoctions and their crowd of black cats. All Gillian and Sally wanted to do was escape. One would do so by marrying, the other by running away. But the bonds they shared brought them back to each other, and to the magic they couldn’t escape. A delicious novel about witches and real love, family life and everyday spells. A literary incantation."(from Alice Hofmans web pages)

2nd Brown Bag Speaker is Professor Loralyn Whitney -- Date October 15, 2009

Greetings and welcome to the second of the Fall 2009 idea-inflicting informal interpolations from the Baron-Forness Library Brown Bag Speakers Series. The Series meets THRUSDAYS at NOON (also knowen as High Noon) high atop the autumn-accented campus of Edinboro University, "the most scenic lecture series on campus," in Room 715 of Your Library. This meeting will be held October 15, 2009.

Our second speaker is Professor Loralyn Whitney Acquistions Libraian for the Baron-Forness Library. Her topic is Chick Lit.

This brown bag lunch program will discuss the works of three best-selling “hot” chick lit authors: Jane Green, Sophie Kinsella, and Jennifer Weiner. Come and find out what chick lit is, who reads it, and if this genre of contemporary fiction is dead or alive.

In brief, chick lit is targeted toward the urban career woman between the ages of 20 and 30. The typical chick lit heroine often has troublesome issues or addictions to deal with, and has problems sustaining a satisfactory romantic relationship. Many of the novels reflect society’s obsession with consumerism. The hunt for the right scarf or pair of shoes is second in importance only to the hunt for Mr. Right. The archetype of the evil boss is also present in many chick lit novels --think The Devil Wears Prada. A large part of chick lit’s appeal comes from escapism. What young woman wouldn’t want to pursue a trendy career (broadcasting, fashion, publishing) in a major urban center New York, Dublin, London) that offers unlimited opportunities for shopping and socializing? The presenter, Professor Lora Whitney, researched chick lit during a sabbatical leave in 2006.

Bring your lunch, refreshments will be served.

Any questions? Call Jack Widner, Reference Librarian, at 2175.