Blueprints: Falvey Library

Contents: May 2004

• Seniors honored as Falvey Student Scholars

• Andrew Nagy fills new library technology position

• Yvonne Latty presents the story and the images of African American veterans from the last five American wars

• Barbara Bores retires

• Falvey Research Talk: Can corporations be efficient and socially responsible?
• Falvey Library appreciates its student employees

• Also contributing to this issue...

by Judith Olsen, Reference librarian

“No Child Left Behind,” instant messenger, fragrance, bananas, cochlear implants, the rhetoric of AIDs: these lively and varied topics were presented by the students who were feted as Falvey Scholars on April 27 on the second floor of the Library. For the second year, Falvey Memorial Library recognized seniors from the College of Arts and Sciences honors program who have accomplished exceptional undergraduate research.

Jennifer Woodbury and Caitlin Fouratt

Katharine Hayes

The final selection of the Scholars was made by a committee of Arts and Sciences faculty, in collaboration with the administrators of the Honors program and two Falvey librarians.

According to Joe Lucia, director of Falvey Library, “Selection of award winners was a difficult process, given the high caliber of many of the honors theses this year. I want to express my deep gratitude to the committee for the time and energy they dedicated to making this year's awards possible.”

In addition to Lucia, members of the 2004 Falvey Scholars Selection Committee were Edwin Goff, director, Honors Program; Christine Muller, assistant director, Honors Program; Michael Hones, physics; Jane Morris, Undergraduate Grants and Awards; Evan Radcliffe, English; Heidi Rose, Communication; and David Burke, librarian.

 

By Luisa Cywinski, Circulation supervisor

With the recent addition of a new technology position at Falvey Library, we welcome  Andrew Nagy as the library technology development specialist. As that title implies, he will be focused on creating innovative technologies and services for library patrons, and first and foremost, for the students at Villanova. Toward this goal, Andrew’s experience and enthusiasm will surely lend itself to the development of exciting and creative technology services in the Library. Although he relocated from Syracuse, New York, Andrew grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and was looking forward to his move back to this area, where his parents currently reside. He completed his bachelor’s degree in information technology at Syracuse University and spent the last three years of his college career employed part-time with a Syracuse-based educational web software development company. Consequently, the same company offered him a permanent position after graduation.

In addition to Andrew’s obvious penchant for computing, he also enjoys an interest in the outdoors, fishing, tennis and sailing (for which a laptop may or may not be required). He is currently seeking housing in the Philadelphia area and looks forward to rediscovering familiar places and connecting with old friends. You may want to visit Andrew’s personal home page.

By Jutta Seibert, Catalog/Reference Librarian

On April 26 Yvonne Latty read from her new book We Were There: A Celebration of African American Veterans From World War II to the War in Iraq  to an enthusiastic audience in Falvey Memorial Library. Latty teaches journalism here at Villanova and is a reporter for the Philadelphia Daily News. She is currently on a book tour to promote her book. From May to August the book will be the basis of an exhibition at the National Constitution Center. We Were There portrays 28 veterans from five different wars. Each story is accompanied by two portraits, from then and now. The contemporary portraits were all taken by Philadelphia Inquirer staff photographer Ron Tarver.

Latty talked about the events that inspired her to start this project. Growing up she had little interest in military history or war stories, although her father would frequently talk about his experiences while in the Navy during World War II. Things changed for her after September 11, when Latty was questioning her own patriotism. The final catalyst was a phone call from a veteran asking her to write an obituary for George Ingram, a World War II veteran. While researching his story, Latty came to realize how little we as a society know about  African Americans' contributions to the wars fought by our country. She was especially disappointed by the fact that many of the major war movies give the impression that no African American soldiers fought in these wars.

Yvonne Latty

Latty began looking for African American veterans from World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan and the war in Iraq with the goal of writing a widely accessible account of the African American experience in the U.S. military.

While conducting her interviews she was struck by the need of the veterans to share their wartime experiences. Many of the interviews were highly emotional. Another common thread was a widely shared experience of racism in the military, which stands in stark contrast to the military’s reputation as a vehicle for integration. African American World War II and Korean War veterans find the continuing lack of public recognition for their services, achievements and sacrifices especially painful. Among the better known veterans portrayed in Latty’s book are Luther H. Smith, a resident of Villanova and former Tuskegee Airman, and Brigadier General Vincent Brooks, presently serving in the war in Iraq and well known for his public appearances as an Army spokesperson on the war in Iraq.

By Dennis Lambert, head, collection development and management

At the end of March, Falvey Library bid a fond “happy retirement” to Barbara Bores, our acquisitions librarian. It is not a farewell, since we hope Barbara will stop in occasionally to check on how we are faring.

Barbara held a number of positions in the Library. Her first assignment was part-time for the Periodicals department, working some evenings. Then in 1983, she became a part-time reference librarian. In 1985 she was appointed to the position of acquisitions librarian, though she continued in reference one day a week. At the end of 1987, she began spending all her time on acquisitions duties. Barbara participated in a lot of change at Falvey. When she moved to full-time status in 1985, she remembers that there were only dedicated OCLC computer terminals to support bibliographic verification and cataloging; there were no other computers. Later, in 1988, the acquisitions and cataloging departments were merged to form the present technical services department. She was a major player in the bringing up a stand-alone acquisitions system, MATSS, in 1991. That was replaced in 1998 by Voyager, the current integrated library system. Barbara learned these automated systems and trained other staff in their use.

Taras Ortynsky, head, Technical Services, with Barbara Bores

She was responsible for ordering books/monographs and standing orders, which required great attention to detail to obtain the exact work requested. Barbara developed considerable expertise in both “rush” and “out-of-print” ordering. She worked closely with her own staff in the ordering and procurement of materials, as well as with staff in cataloging, collection development, preservation and other areas of the Library.

Barbara also participated in activities outside of acquisitions, serving as the librarian liaison to the education department, taking part in the Quest Strategies information literacy program and being the mainstay of the Popular Reading collection.

Thank you, Barbara, for all that you did. We wish you well in your well-deserved retirement! She has lots of plans for family activities, travel and volunteer opportunities.

The Technical Services department wishes Barbara Bores farewell: (front row) Ginny Reedy, Barbara Bores, Rita McCabe, Marie Roman, Robbie Rosci, Jackie Smith, Jutta Seibert; (back row) David Burke, Taras Ortynsky, Dennis Lambert, Donna Chadderton.

by Dennis Lambert, head, preservation

Corporations are challenged by our society to be socially responsible, that is, to provide society with benefits beyond their own self-interest and the requirements of the law. This frequently puts executives in an uncomfortable situation. In addition to maximizing profits they must expend scarce resources to be good and generous corporate citizens.

Dr. Jack Pearce

Dr. Jack Pearce, College of Commerce and Finance, addressed this issue on April 1 with his talk in the Library on “Economically Efficient Corporate Social Responsibility: Lessons from the Success of Food Recovery Programs.”  Using food recovery programs as a case study, Dr. Pearce offered his thoughts on what principles help maximize corporate benefits while pursuing the ideals of corporate social responsibility. Food recovery programs make valuable contributions to society, and at the same time reduce waste. Ten million people in the USA do not have enough food and need charity, and, in fact, seven million are served each week by emergency services. Much of the waste in grocery stores is fit for human consumption. In addition, food salvage programs collect surplus from restaurants plus rescue perishable foodstuffs from grocers. Corporations and organizations involved in the production and distribution of food have an opportunity to serve in the redistribution of food that would go to waste.

Based on his work with companies engaged in food service, Dr. Pearce suggests the following five lessons applicable to all firms pursuing efficient corporate social responsibility.

First, corporations need to pursue a durable mission. They need to find charitable programs that expect to continue and make long-term commitments to those programs. Second, corporations should contribute what they do best to charitable programs. Programs being helped ought to get products or services that the companies produce, rather than just donating money.

Third, corporations should join with large-scale programs that are able to absorb large contributions. Fourth, corporations need to consider what government support is provided, often in the form of tax deductions and legal liability protection. Government can substantially aid companies in maximizing benefits.

And fifth, corporations need to consider the total package of benefits. Giving away material goods that might end up as trash saves on trash bills. Media coverage may result, and corporate logos and names will be displayed advantageously. In the event that unemployed volunteers develop new skills, companies reap good will. A competent evaluation of the total package of benefits help companies determine good matches with charitable programs.

Complementing the Falvey Library Faculty Book Talk series, the Faculty Research Talks provide a forum for Villanova faculty publishing in scholarly journals.

On April 29, the Falvey Student Employee Appreciation Committee (SEAC) hosted a celebration with pizzas, soft drinks and cookies, commending the student employees for a job well done. One of the high points of the celebration was recognizing the 28 seniors (out of 112 students) who have been employed by the Library. Each senior was recognized individually and was awarded a certificate and a $20 gift card to Barnes & Noble. Also, two $25 gift certificates to Gulifty’s were raffled off.  

SEAC members are Scott Brady, chair (IMS), Marie Roman (RMS), Darren Poley (Reference) and Bill Greene (Periodicals). Additional thanks go to members of the Graphics department (IMS) and Margaret Duffy (director’s office).

Also contributing to this issue: Bill Greene and Jacqueline Smith; photography by Donna Blaszkowski, Diane Adamo Brocchi, Bernadette Dierkes, and Judy Olsen. Michael Foight contributed photography to the April 2004 issue.