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FRIENDS OF HACKNEY LIBRARY Archive of Activities Sponsored by the Friends (2007 - )
The Friends program was held on Tuesday, April 13, 2010, beginning with a book signing and wine reception at 6:00 pm, followed by dinner and a lecture at 7:00 pm., in Barton College's Hardy Alumni Hall. Dr. Leuchtenburg is one of the nation's top experts on the U.S. presidency in general, and the leading national scholar on Franklin Delano Roosevelt in particular. A native of Queens, New York, Dr. Leuchtenburg received his bachelor's degree from Cornell University, and his master's and Ph.D. degrees from Columbia University. After brief teaching stints at both Smith College and Harvard University, he began his 30-year tenure on the faculty at Columbia University, where he became De Witt Clinton Professor of American History. In 2008, he received an honorary doctor of letters degree from Columbia. He also served as Harmsworth Professor at Oxford University. Lured to the UNC-Chapel Hill campus from Columbia in 1982, Dr. Leuchtenburg served for 20 years at UNC until his retirement in 2002. He has also served as president of three major historical organizations: the American Historical Association, the Organization of American Historians, and the Society of American Historians. Dr. Leuchtenburg is the author of more than a dozen books on twentieth-century American History, including Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal, 1932-1940 and The White House Looks South: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Lyndon B. Johnson. Although the majority of his books concern FDR and the New Deal, he was asked by his longtime friend, the late Arthur Schlesinger Jr., to write his latest book, Herbert Hoover, as part of the American Presidents Series of biographies on all the presidents. The book was released in January 2009. He and his wife, Jean Anne, reside in Chapel Hill.
This award is presented annually to the faculty member who most exemplifies these attributes in his/her support of the library. The faculty member is nominated by the library staff and voted on by the Board of Directors for The Friends of Hackney Library. Previous faculty recipients are Dr. Kathy James (2008) and Dr. Jane Webster (2009). Because of her support for the library and its mission, the library staff was delighted to nominate Ms. Susan Fecho, Professor of Art in Graphic Design and Chair of the Art Department, to be the recipient of the 2010 Friends of Hackney Library Harlow Head Faculty Award. Susan has contributed to the development of the collection of the Hackney Library with selections of materials, especially in the areas of Graphic Design. She engages students in using the library and she makes a point of attending events held in the library. Susan and her husband, Scott, have been members of the Friends of Hackney Library and are currently Signature Sustainers for all of the cultural arts organizations. In 2009, Susan, who is a children's book illustrator herself, moderated the panel of children's book illustrators for the Friends of Hackney Library Spring Event. The Friends were thrilled to present the award to her at the Spring Dinner/Lecture on April 13. 2010. Susan received a certificate of recognition; her name has been engraved and placed on the plaque that hangs in the foyer of the library; and she received $100 to select materials to be placed in the library in her honor.
Once again, Hackney Library's wildly popular "Study 'Round the Clock" returned during final exams in May. As before, for much of this exam period, the library again remained open 24/7.
The library was open the following hours during Reading Day/Exams:
"Study 'Round the Clock" provided an additional 37 hours the library was open during exam period compared to the regular semester. During these 24/7 periods, library services were available from 8 am until midnight only. From midnight until 8 am the following morning, no library services were available, but a police officer was on hand providing security during that time. (Access was limited to Barton students only during the midnight to 8 am time slots. Barton ID was required for admission from midnight until 8 am). The event was sponsored by the Friends of Hackney Library, the Barton College Office of Student Affairs, and the Barton Student Government Association, and Hackney Library.
The Spring 2009 program featured a panel discussion with children's book illustrators Bonnie Christensen, Meredith Hamilton, and Loren Long, moderated by Barton art professor and illustrator Susan B. Fecho. While all three panelists have illustrated a variety of works in their careers, some of their best known works are the children's books they have illustrated. Moderator Susan Fecho has also illustrated children's books as well. An interesting common denominator of this event is that beyond children's book illustrations, all the panel participants share a personal Wilson, North Carolina connection. The event was held on Tuesday, March 31, 2009, in Hardy Alumni Hall on the Barton College campus. A book signing and wine reception began at 6 pm, followed by dinner and the panel discussion at 7 pm. After studying wood engraving and attending classes at Parsons School of Design and Center for Book Arts, Christensen returned to Vermont to focus on wood engraving and was offered her first illustration work. She explains her eventual emergence as a book author and illustrator: "Through a keen interest in printmaking and letterpress printing I eventually hand-printed and bound a limited-edition book. Desire to see that book reach a wider audience eventually led me to trade publishers and initiated my career," she says in Something About the Author (vol. 110, p. 41). She authored and illustrated her first book for children in 1994, an ABC book called An Edible Alphabet, which received critical acclaim for its design and illustrations. Other books she has both written and illustrated include Rebus Riot (1997), Woody Guthrie: Poet of the People (2001), In My Grandmother's House (2003), The Daring Nellie Bly (2003), and the forthcoming Django (2009). In addition, Christensen has illustrated others' works, including award winners such as Stephen Krensky's Breaking Into Print (1996), Craig Crist Evan's Moon Over Tennessee (1999), and Mary Pope Osborne's Pompeii, Lost and Found (2006), among others. Christensen was Guest Lecturer/Artist in Residence at the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica, in Venice, Italy and most recently has served as adjunct professor of Fine Arts at St. Michaels' College in Burlington, VT. For more information about Bonnie Christensen, visit her web site.
 Wilson Connection: Bonnie has recently relocated to Wilson, NC from Vermont.
Her whimsical illustrations have been used in television ads, animations, maps, and children's books, including The Story of the Orchestra, A Child’s Introduction to Poetry, A Child’s Introduction to the Night Sky, A Child's Introduction to Ballet, and A Child's Introduction to the Environment. In addition to children's books, she has also illustrated travel, fashion, and self-help books, cookbooks, calendars, bookmarks, and stationery, as displayed on her web site. She lives with her three children and husband in Brooklyn, New York.
Wilson Connection: Meredith is the niece of Wilson resident and arts patron and former owner of The North Star shop, Lisa Anderson.
But as his web site explains, he "believes his calling as a storyteller lies in illustrating children’s books, often coupling his art with iconic American literary works." His work has been described by the New York Times as exhibiting "muscular style inspired by 1930’s W.P.A. murals," as well as reflecting the influence of the work of Thomas Hart Benton and Grant Wood. Long has illustrated a number of children's books, including those by well-known authors and celebrities:
His latest published work, released in October 2008 in time for the holiday season, is the first picture book that he not only illustrated but also authored solo--Drummer Boy--adapted from the classic Christmas song, "The Drummer Boy." His next book, Otis the Tractor, which he also wrote and illustrated, is scheduled for release in Fall 2009. He makes his home in West Chester, Ohio, with his wife Tracy and their two sons, Griffith and Graham.
Wilson Connection: Loren is the first cousin of Barton College education professor Dave Dolman.
She works professionally in the field of design, digital imaging, and mixed media and exhibits regionally and nationally in galleries, colleges and universities, and museums. She has published illustrations, designs, and photographs, and her work has been accepted into several major collections: The Smithsonian Institution's American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery Library (Washington, DC), the Word and Image Department, Victoria and Albert Museum (London, England), the Zimmerli Art Museum, NAWA Collection, Rutgers University (New Jersey), and the Museum of Women Artists (Washington, DC). Her most recently published work includes the illustrations in a new children's book, The Day Anna Ganna Bandanna Learned to Fly, one of a planned series written by Dr. Vernon Lindquist, former Vice President for Academic Affairs at Barton College.
Wilson Connection: Although she is a resident of Tarboro, NC, Susan not only works at Barton College, but she has also exhibited her work and participated in the Wilson County art scene.
War Bonds, a musical journey through a war that redefined the world, was performed by husband-and-wife acting/singing duo David zum Brunnen and Serena Ebhardt (of EbzB Productions), who also arranged the show. The multimedia family-friendly program explored "the dark side of war and the strange juxtaposition of the light hearted, popular tunes of the time" through 22 familiar World War II-era songs, veterans' actual letters from the front (including zum Brunnen's father's, whose correspondence provided impetus for the show's creation), and headline news of the period. The War Bonds production has toured across the nation, and an edited-for-television version was filmed by UNC-TV and premiered in December 2007. Serena Ebhardt, a Raleigh, North Carolina native, received her BA in Dramatic Art from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and attended the North Carolina Governor's School in Drama. She has acted in and/or produced over 175 professional stage plays and is a member of Actors' Equity Association and Canadian Actors' Equity Association. In addition to stage work, she has also appeared in feature films, television, commercials, industrials, and has done voice-overs. She is a recipient of the International Television and Video Association Silver Reel Award. David zum Brunnen hails from Salisbury, North Carolina, and also received his degree (in Broadcast Journalism) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has performed in numerous local, national, and international productions. In addition to his performance skills, he has also served as General Manager for several theater companies and as Executive Director of the North Carolina Theatre Conference. He has received two INDIE awards for enhancing the cultural life in the Triangle. Ebhardt and zum Brunnen live in Chatham County with their young son, Carlton.
Due to popular student demand, our previous "Late Night at the Library" events held during the past several exam periods were expanded greatly for this spring's exams. While the "Late Night" events featured the library's closing at 2 am one night, during this semester's exams, the library was instead open 24/7 for much of the exam period.
The library was open during the following hours during Reading Day/Exams:
These hours represented an additional 27 hours during which the library was open per exam period over regular semester hours, and 24 more than previous single "Late Night" events. During these 24/7 periods, library services were available from 8 am until midnight only. From midnight until 8 am the following morning, no library services were available, but a security officer was on hand during that time. (Access was limited to Barton students only during the midnight to 8 am time slots--Barton ID was required for admission). The event was sponsored by the Friends of Hackney Library, the Barton College Office of Student Affairs, and the Student Government Association.
 The Near Myths, featuring Barton's own English Professor Jim Clark and friends;
The Ramonas, featuring Hackney Library's weekend librarian Tempie Hayes and friends;
Triple Wide, featuring Hackney Library's circulation supervisor Steven Stewart and friends; and
Uncle Porter, featuring Barton's Mass Communications Associate Professor Webster Struthers and friends (This band was unable to make it due to illness.)
The bands played in rotation from 4:00-7:00 pm, and dinner was served outside the library by Aramark to Barton students on the meal plan and others as well. The bands performed inside the library, where dessert was served. The theme of the 2009 Open House riffed on the American Library Association's annual Banned Books Week campaign, sponsored each September to celebrate intellectual freedom and to decry various challenges through the years to ban certain books because of their content. In addition to the music, one of the activities during the Open House included a contest in which prizes were awarded to winners who guessed correctly the characters/locations of various challenged books. Many thanks to the following additional sponsors for making this special Open House possible:
 Fifty Fifty Lounge and Grill
f.y.e.: for your entertainment
Luna Bean Coffee Shop
Miller Music Center
Professor O'Cools of Wilson, NC
Quince: "A Southern Bistro"
The Rib Hut
Subs Plus
Torero's Mexican Grill
The following comments from Open House attendees indicated that this may be our most popular Open House yet:
The program was held on Tuesday, October 6, 2009, in Hardy Alumni Hall on the Barton College campus. A book signing and wine reception began at 6 pm, followed by dinner and the program at 7 pm. Born in Kentucky but a long-time Florida resident, Hall is best known for his series of ten crime novels (of fifteen total thus far) featuring the hard-bitten, reclusive character Thorn, usually set in south Florida locales. According to Hall's FAQ page, the Thorn character is a combination of several people, both real and fictional: "A neighbor of mine in Key Largo many years ago heavily influenced his creation....There’s also a little Travis McGee [fictional detective of author John D. MacDonald, who influenced Hall's writing] in him of course. And he’s a loner like I am, someone who spends a great deal of time in a room crafting small beautiful objects (fishing flies) that only a few people in the world truly appreciate." The latest of the books to feature Thorn is Hell's Bay. A number of Hall's works have garnered such awards as the John D. MacDonald Award, the San Francisco Review of Books Critic's Choice Award, and the Shamus award for best P.I. novel. In addition, several of his books have been chosen as Literary Guild and Book-of-the-Month Club selections and have been translated into a dozen languages. But fiction is not the only genre in which he works; Hall has written four books of poetry, collections of short stories (one of which, "The Catch," received the 2006 Edgar Allan Poe Award for best short story) and a collection of essays, as well as two screenplay adaptations for his books. He has also contributed to a variety of periodicals, including American Scholar, Antioch Review, Georgia Review, Kenyon Press, North American Review, Poetry, and Southern Poetry Review. Hall holds a B.A. degree in literature from Eckerd College (formerly Florida Presbyterian College) in St. Petersburg, an M.A. in creative writing from Johns Hopkins, and a Ph.D. in literature and creative writing from the University of Utah. He has been teaching literature and creative writing at Florida International University in Miami for over three decades. One of his more celebrated former students is author Dennis Lehane (Mystic River; The Given Day), although Hall claims no credit in his success: "With a guy like Dennis, a good student, very well-read and opinionated, it was clear he didn't need a lot of guidance -- I'm just glad I managed not to screw him up" ("Wingnut with a Keyboard", an interview with Hall by Kevin Burton Smith in January Magazine, March 2005). According to entries in Hall's Guest Book, he is working on a new Thorn novel called Silencer. At the program, he shared that he is also working on a book about 12 best-selling works of fiction and the ten characteristics they share. It is due for publication within the next 12 months or so.
Bonnie's latest work is Django: World's Greatest Jazz Guitarist, which debuted in September 2009. Django Reinhardt, who as a child taught himself to play guitar and began to make his living on the streets of Paris and in jazz clubs, suffered severe burns as a teenager to his hands after a tragic fire that doctors thought would put an end to his budding musical career. But he persevered and proved the doctors spectacularly wrong, becoming one of the world's most renowned jazz guitarists.
One of Christensen's paintings from Django is currently in a show at the Society of Illustrators in New York, to which Christensen has just been elected a member; she joins the ranks of that organization whose early members included Howard Pyle, N.C. Wyeth, Maxfield Parrish, and Frederic Remington. Copies of Django and Christensen's other works were available for purchase and signing at the event. Christensen began her career working in New York theater after earning a B.A. degree in Theatre and Communication from the University of Vermont. Her theater work included Joe Papp's Public Theatre, New York Shakespeare Festival, and others. Christensen eventually focused primarily on playwriting, and some of her plays were produced off-off-Broadway. During this time, she also worked for Screen Actors Guild and Paramount Pictures. After studying wood engraving and attending classes at Parsons School of Design and Center for Book Arts, Christensen returned to Vermont to focus on wood engraving and was offered her first illustration work. She explains her eventual emergence as a book author and illustrator: "Through a keen interest in printmaking and letterpress printing I eventually hand-printed and bound a limited-edition book. Desire to see that book reach a wider audience eventually led me to trade publishers and initiated my career," she says in Something About the Author (vol. 110, p. 41). She authored and illustrated her first book for children in 1994, an ABC book called An Edible Alphabet, which received critical acclaim for its design and illustrations. Other books she has both written and illustrated include Rebus Riot (1997), Woody Guthrie: Poet of the People (2001), In My Grandmother's House (2003), The Daring Nellie Bly (2003), and the forthcoming Fabulous: A Portrait of Andy Warhol (2011). In addition, Christensen has illustrated others' works, including award winners such as Stephen Krensky's Breaking Into Print (1996), Craig Crist Evan's Moon Over Tennessee (1999), Mary Pope Osborne's Pompeii, Lost and Found (2006), and the forthcoming Princess of Borscht (2011) by Leda Schubert. In addition to her books, she has contributed to periodicals such as Vermont Life, National Gardening, and Ladybug.Christensen was Guest Lecturer/Artist in Residence at the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica, in Venice, Italy and served as adjunct professor of Fine Arts at St. Michaels' College in Burlington, VT. Bonnie currently resides in Wilson, North Carolina. For more information about Bonnie Christensen and her work, visit her web site.
Due to popular student demand and the success of the Spring 2009 event, Hackney Library's "Study 'Round the Clock" returned during final exams in December. As before, for much of this exam period, the library remained open 24/7.
The library was open during the following hours during Reading Day/Exams:
"Study 'Round the Clock" provided an additional 38 hours of study time during exam period compared to the regular semester. One hundred and thirteen students total took advantage of the extended hours during the event. During these 24/7 periods, library services were available from 8 am until midnight only. From midnight until 8 am the following morning, no library services were available, but a police officer was on hand providing security during that time. (Access was limited to Barton students only during the midnight to 8 am time slots. Barton ID was required for admission from midnight until 8 am). The event was sponsored by the Friends of Hackney Library, the Barton College Office of Student Affairs, and the Barton Student Government Association, and Hackney Library. In January 2010, the American Library Association announced that the event would be receiving the Association's much-coveted John Cotton Dana Award for Public Relations, the lone academic library among five other 2010 recipients.
A Tennessee native, Jim is the author of several works of prose and poetry, including his latest, Notions: A Jim Clark Miscellany, a collection of prose and poems from 1983-2006. Other works include two books of poems (Dancing on Canaan's Ruins and Handiwork) and a play, The Girl With the Faraway Eye. He has also served as editor of a poetry collection, Fable in the Blood: The Selected Poems of Byron Herbert Reece, and several literary journals, including The Denver Quarterly, The Greensboro Review, and The Vanderbilt Poetry Review. Jim received his B.A. in English from Vanderbilt University, an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and his Ph.D. in modern literature and creative writing from the University of Denver. In addition to communicating through the written word, Jim also communicates through music, including singing and playing guitar, banjo, mountain dulcimer, and autoharp. The event also featured a performance, including songs from his group's (The Near Myths) latest CD, "Words to Burn," which was released on January 28, 2008. Other CDs include Wilson and Buried Land.
The event was held on Tuesday, April 8, 2008, in Hardy Alumni Hall on the Barton College campus. A book signing and wine reception began at 6 pm, followed by dinner and the program at 7 pm. Author Pat Conroy says Hart's debut novel "moves and reads like a book on fire" and calls Hart "an amazing new talent." The New York Times's Janet Maslin calls King of Lies a "seething, roiling, boiling North Carolina murder story [that] crossbreeds enough Grisham-style intrigue and Turow-style brooding to make for a sulfurous mix." Entertainment Weekly says, "In a top-notch debut, Hart's prose is like Raymond Chandler's, angular and hard." And the St. Louis Post-Dispatch claims the novel "pulls off the almost impossible: It makes you like a lawyer." King of Lies has been selected as an Editor’s Pick by the Mystery Guild and as a Featured Alternate by the Doubleday Book Club, the Book-of-the-Month Club, the Literary Guild, and Smart Reader Rewards. The book, winner of the Gumshoe Award for Best First Novel and nominated for several other awards, is also being adapted as a feature film. A native of Durham, North Carolina who later moved to Salisbury (the setting of the book), John Hart holds a bachelor's degree in French literature from Davidson College, a master's degree in accounting from UNC-Chapel Hill, and a law degree from Franklin Pierce Law Center. He has worked as a banker, a stockbroker, and an attorney, but took a year off to realize his only dream: "to write well and to be published well." As he describes on his web site, Hart "spent the better part of a year in a carrel at the Rowan County Public Library. The King of Lies is the result." After a brief stint with Merrill Lynch in Greensboro after the completion of King of Lies, Hart received an advance that allowed him to work on his next two books full time. His highly-anticipated second novel, Down River, was released October 2, 2007 and has garnered even more praise than his debut work. It has been chosen as a main selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club and as a featured alternate for the Literary Guild, the Mystery Guild, and the Doubleday Book Club. Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Library Journal have all given Hart's second work of fiction starred reviews. The following summary of the novel, which is also set in Rowan County, appears on Hart's web site:
Publishers Weekly says "This book should settle once and for all the question of whether thrillers and mysteries can also be literature."
The event was sponsored by the Friends of Hackney Library and included refreshments provided by Tony Tilley and Aramark.
Screenings of the library's new orientation video (complete with popcorn!) were shown at 4:00, 4:30, 5:00, and 5:30 pm during the Open House for those who wanted to view it. A drawing for 10 flash drives took place following each screening. In addition, drawings for pre-paid Visa cards of $25 each as well as other door prizes (Barton umbrellas, water bottles, tee shirts, pendants, bags, and free movie passes from Carmike Theater) were also held following the event. Many thanks to the Friends of Hackney Library, Carmike Theater, and the Barton Student Government Association for sponsorship and door prizes!
In celebration of Constitution Day 2008, the Friends of Hackney Library sponsored a special program on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 featuring a reception and a lecture on constitutional issues given by The Honorable William G. Stewart, NC District Court Judge, District 7. The event was held on the first floor of Hackney Library. Following a reception beginning at 5:00 pm, the lecture, entitled "The Constitution: Everyday Applications," began at 6:00 pm. A native of Fremont, Judge Stewart is the son of the late Jessie and Jesse Stewart. He completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1972 and served six years in the Army Reserve following graduation. He also was employed by the Smithfield Herald newspaper for a year before entering the classroom to teach English and French, while coaching football at Charles B. Aycock, his high school alma mater. Upon completion of his law degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1978, Judge Stewart began his law practice with the firm Parker, Miles, and Hinson. He later served as Clerk of Superior Court for Wilson County before returning to private practice for three years with Narron, Holdford, Babb, Harrison, and Rhodes. He later ran his own law firm until 1990, when he began service as Assistant District Attorney. Judge Stewart served in this role until his election in 2000 as District Court Judge to the 7th Judicial District for the state of North Carolina, in which he currently serves Wilson, Nash and Edgecombe counties. The Constitution Day reception and lecture were free and open to both the Barton community and the community at large.
The program was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008, in Hardy Alumni Hall on the Barton College campus. A book signing and wine reception began at 6 pm, followed by dinner and the program at 7 pm. David Payne was born in Henderson, North Carolina in 1955. He attended the Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating with highest honors in creative writing in 1977. After college, Payne spent a year working on fishing trawlers out of Wanchese, NC, and, later, Point Judith, Rhode Island—experiences that would later underlie the commercial fishing scenes in his fourth novel, Gravesend Light, which was named one of the top books of the year by the Christian Science Monitor. Following his fishing experiences, he spent time traveling the world. An episode of Louis Rukeyser's Wall Street Week 1980 TV show planted the seeds that would eventually inspire Payne to write his first novel, Confessions of a Taoist on Wall Street, which the Washington Post describes as "a book to be read twice, first to be gulped down in great chunks during sleepless nights; later to be sipped slowly, savoring details, like a well-brewed cup of tea." The success of Confessions (winner of the Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship Award) allowed him to write full time. He has also taught at such institutions as Bennington, Duke, and Queens University of Charlotte. His subsequent three novels (Early from the Dance, Ruin Creek, and Gravesend Light) all share settings (and in some cases, characters) in the fictional Piedmont town of Killdeer, NC and on the Outer Banks. Payne's fifth novel, Back to Wando Passo, is set on a rice plantation in Lowcountry South Carolina and features two related love triangles that take place there--one set in the present and the other during the Civil War. Pat Conroy says of this novel, "Back to Wando Passo quivers with authentic life and is so bold in concept and audacious in scope that it seems like the summing up and exclamation point of a great writer's career. The novel contains everything." Payne, who lives in North Carolina with his wife and two children, is currently working on a memoir.
The Friends of Hackney Library sponsored the event, as they have all previous "Late Night" events. Reference and other services were limited from 11 pm to 2 am, but there was plenty of opportunity and space to prepare for final exams. Also, extra security was on hand during the hours of 11 pm to 2 am to provide escorts to on-campus destinations.
Open to the public as well as to the Barton community, the event featured heavy hors d'oeuvres and the opportunity to purchase copies of the book and have them signed by the author himself. Around 6:00 pm, Dr. Broadwater gave a few brief remarks as well. The Washington Post's Jonathan Yardley calls Dr. Broadwater's latest "an exemplary biography," and Publishers Weekly states, "Broadwater's prose is vigorous and his assessment of Mason judicious; this biography is a standout."
On Tuesday, April 10, 2007, the Friends' Spring program took its lead from the Barton College NCAA Division II National Basketball Championship victory over Winona State University in the electrifying final 45-seconds of the game. The Friends program, dubbed "Full Court Press," was held in Hardy Alumni Hall on the Barton College campus. A wine reception began at 6 pm, followed by dinner and the program at 7 pm. The program consisted of a panel discussion moderated by Barton College alumnus and trustee Russell Rawlings, who is currently the director of communications of the NC Bar Association. Panelists included Michael Lindsay, sports writer for the Wilson Daily Times; Mike Charbonneau, news reporter for WRAL-TV; Mike Bogen, sports writer for The Republican newspaper in Springfield, Massachusetts (where the history-making game took place during the Elite Eight tournament); Lorenzo Perez, sports writer for The News & Observer newspaper in Raleigh; and Alton Britt of Wilson, the "voice of Bulldog Basketball." The panelists, who all covered the Bulldogs winning season's 'David versus Goliath'-like finale, carried on a lively discussion about the unique world of sports journalism and its effect on teams and their fans, as illustrated by the Bulldogs' taking of the national title against tremendous odds.
Mr. McGuire teaches and conducts research on the American judiciary, with a primary interest in the U.S. Supreme Court. His book The Supreme Court Bar: Legal Elites in the Washington Community, an analysis of the participation and influence of Washington-based lawyers who specialize in litigating before the high court, received the Choice Outstanding Academic Book Award as well as being honored by the Law and Courts Section of the American Political Science Association. Mr. McGuire has also written and edited several textbooks, including his most recent, The Judicial Branch, which he co-edited as part of Oxford University Press's Institutions of American Democracy series. In addition, his research has been published in numerous journals, such as the American Political Science Review, the American Journal of Political Science, and the Journal of Politics. A former Fulbright Scholar at Trinity College, Dublin, Mr. McGuire received his BA degree from West Virginia University and his Ph.D. from Ohio State University. Among other awards, he has twice received the American Judicature Society Award and has also received the McGraw-Hill Award for work on public opinion and the Supreme Court. The Constitution Day reception and lecture were free and open to both the Barton community and the community at large.
The program was held on Tuesday, October 2, 2007, in Hardy Alumni Hall on the Barton College campus. A book signing and wine reception began at 6 pm, to be followed by dinner and the program at 7 pm. A Washington County, North Carolina native, Don Brown received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina and received a Juris Doctor degree from Campbell University School of Law. He continued his studies at the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, earning the Navy's nonresident certificate in International Law. Mr. Brown spent five years in the U.S. Navy as an officer in the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps. During that time, he served with the U.S. Attorney, served in the Pentagon, and was published in the Naval Law Review. He was also a recipient of the Navy Achievement Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. Mr. Brown spent several years as a Navy JAG Prosecutor before becoming Special Assistant to the United States Attorney in the southern district of California, but returned to North Carolina in 1992, practicing law with two Charlotte area law firms, and then founding his own firm, Brown & Associates PLLC, in 1996. He remained on inactive status with the Navy through 1999, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Mr. Brown has personal connections to Barton College (formerly Atlantic Christian College, founded by the Disciples of Christ [Christian] denomination); not only did he grow up in a Disciples of Christ congregation in Eastern North Carolina, but his father is also a Barton/ACC alumnus, and we were delighted to have the opportunity to host Don on campus.
The Encyclopedia, published by UNC Press (2006) in association with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library, features over 2,000 entries on 1,360 pages covering the entire history and culture of North Carolina. The single-volume work is the final installment of a series of three works edited by Powell that includes The North Carolina Gazetteer (1968) and the Dictionary of North Carolina Biography (six volumes, 1979-96), also published by UNC Press. "The encyclopedia belongs in every home and every library. It's that important," says William Friday, former president of the University of North Carolina system. The event was free and open to the public.
The Friends of Hackney Library, who sponsored the event, also managed to arrange for the delivery of a new "litter" of stress-busting squeezable Barton bulldogs (wildly popular during their debut at this fall's Library Open House) to be given away as well. Reference and other services were limited from 11 pm to 2 am, but there was plenty of opportunity and space for students to prepare for final exams. Last updated May 24, 2010 |
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Friends' Sponsored Activities--2010
April 13, 2010: Spring 2010 Dinner / Lecture Program:
The Spring 2010 Dinner/Lecture featured noted modern American history scholar Dr. William E. Leuchtenburg, the William Rand Kenan Jr. Professor Emeritus of History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
In 2007, the Friends of Hackney Library established the Friends of Hackney Library Harlow Head Faculty Award to honor Dr. Head, Professor of Geography and Chair of the Department of History and Social Sciences, upon his retirement. During his tenure, Dr. Head was an ardent supporter of and contributor to Hackney Library in both word and deed.
May 13-18, 2010: "Study 'Round the Clock" -- Library Open 24/7 During Exams
Panelist Bonnie Christensen, book illustrator and author, is a native of Saranac Lake, NY. She began her career working in New York theater after earning a B.A. degree in Theatre and Communication from the University of Vermont. Her theater work included Joe Papp's Public Theatre, New York Shakespeare Festival, and others. Christensen eventually focused primarily on playwriting, and some of her plays were produced off-off-Broadway. During this time, she also worked for Screen Actors Guild and Paramount Pictures. In addition, she contributed to periodicals such as Vermont Life, National Gardening, and Ladybug.
Panelist Loren Long, a native of Joplin, Missouri, was raised in Lexington, Kentucky. He graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BA in Graphic Design/Art Studio and went on to do graduate studies at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. After a stint working as an illustrator for the now-defunct Gibson Greeting Card company in Cincinnati, Ohio, Long gained recognition as an editorial illustrator for such magazines as Forbes, Time, and Sports Illustrated, to name a few. He has also illustrated book covers for major publishing houses and produced murals and other works of art.
The Friends of Hackney Library sponsored a special program on Friday, May 1, 2009 in Hardy Alumni Hall. The program, which drew 125 attendees (including students from director of theater Adam Twiss's theater class), featured a wine reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and a performance of War Bonds: The Songs and Letters of World War II at 7:00 p.m.
For its fourth annual Open House on Thursday, August 27, The Friends of Hackney Library organization presented a very special event from 4-7 pm: "The Band Book Tour," featuring live music from three bands with various Barton ties, plus food, prizes, and giveaways from local businesses. The bands featured included the following:
The Fall 2009 lecture featured Edgar-award winning author James W. Hall, whose novels include Under Cover of Daylight (1987), Bones of Coral (1992), Blackwater Sound (2002), Off the Chart (2003), Forests of the Night (2004), and Magic City (2007), to name a few. His latest is Hell's Bay (2008).
The book has garnered early praise: As Publishers Weekly's review of Christensen's picture book explains, "Richly expressive paint and ink illustrations portray the hard-earned successes of Django Reinhardt, whose childhood was spent traveling with his impoverished gypsy family, where music was a constant and illuminating presence....A sensuous tribute to an illustrious musician" (PW, August 10, 2009, p. 56). School Library Journal's starred review of the book says that Christensen "includes enough detail to give perspective, but it is her lush paintings that so effectively give life to the man's effervescent charm and determined courage" (SLJ, September 2009, p. 139). And Booklist's starred review has this to say: "Christensen supports the inspirational story with rich, vibrant paintings that capture the texture and tone of the landscapes in Django’s life: burnt oranges and various shades of brown bring the Gypsy campfires to vivid life, while bright blues shimmering under the sharp yellows of stage footlights depict the electricity of the guitarist in performance" (Bill Ott, 
The Friends of Hackney Library and the Barton College Department of English and Modern Languages sponsored a book signing and reception featuring Barton's own Dr. James A. (Jim) Clark, writer and musician. Jim is currently the Elizabeth H. Jordan Professor of Southern Literature and Writer-in-Residence at Barton College, where he is also Director of the Barton College Creative Writing Symposium. The event, which was free and open to the public, was held on Tuesday, February 26 from 5:30-7:00 pm in Hackney Library.
The Spring 2008 program featured John Hart, author of two New York Times best-sellers: his debut novel, The King of Lies, as well as his second, Down River.
During final exams on Sunday, May 11, the Library held its second "Late Night at the Library" event, staying open until 2:00 AM in the morning. In response to student requests for later hours during exams, Late Night debuted during the Fall 2007 semester, and thanks to its success, it was held again this spring. Reference and other services were limited from 11 pm to 2 am, but there was plenty of opportunity and space for students to prepare for final exams.
Close to 100 Barton students, faculty, and staff attended Hackney Library's third annual Fall Open House on Thursday, August 28, from 4-6 pm. The event, sponsored by the Friends of Hackney Library, featured food and giveaways such as dry erase boards and squeezable bulldog stress relievers. The real-live Barton bulldog mascot, Bully, made an appearance as well!
The Fall 2008 lecture featured novelist David Payne, author of Confessions of a Taoist on Wall Street (1984), Early from the Dance (1989), Ruin Creek (1993), Gravesend Light (2000), and Back to Wando Passo (2006).
On Wednesday, February 21, from 5-7 pm in Hackney Library, the Friends of Hackney Library and the Wilson County Historical Association jointly sponsored a reception and book signing featuring Barton College's Dr. Jeff Broadwater and his latest book, George Mason, Forgotten Founder (UNC Press, 2006).
Hackney Library held its second annual Open House on Thursday, August 30, from 4-6 pm. The event featured food and giveaways such as stress-relieving squeezable Barton bulldogs, pens, bookmarks, and award-winning dry-erase boards. Tours of the library were available attendees.
In celebration of Constitution Day 2007, the Friends of Hackney Library sponsored a special program on Monday, September 17, 2007 featuring speaker Kevin T. McGuire, associate professor in the department of political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Following a reception from 6:30 to 7:00 pm on the first floor of Hackney Library, Mr. McGuire presented a lecture concerning constitutional issues, followed by a question-and-answer period.
The Fall 2007 lecture featured Don Brown, a former Navy JAG Officer and the author of Zondervan's
Navy Justice Series: Treason (2005), Hostage (2005), Defiance (2006), and the latest novel in the series, Black Sea Affair (
The Friends of Hackney Library, the Friends of the Wilson County Public Library, and the Wilson County Historical Association sponsored a book signing and reception featuring William S. Powell, editor of the Encyclopedia of North Carolina. Long considered the "dean" of North Carolina history, Dr. Powell was on hand from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 15, 2007 in Hackney Library to sign copies of the book, which were sold during the event.
