The Voice for Social Justice and Equality: Frederick Douglass

Last Monday night at 6 PM, Bailey Library hosted a presentation by Dr. Christophas Walker.  Longtime associate of the Frederick Douglass Institute, Dr. Walker spoke of the impressive life of Frederick Douglass, slave, writer, and the voice for social justice and equality. 

As an infant, Douglass was separated from his mother and sold into slavery.  Although illegal at that time to teach slaves to read or write, the wife of Frederick’s first slave owner began teaching him to read. When her husband discovered this, he stopped it; but, Frederick’s taste for learning could not be sated easily.  He became skillful at trading things to school boys in exchange for using their textbooks and furthering his reading skills.

Eventually Douglass escaped to the North and worked alongside Abraham Lincoln during his term as president, addressing the treatment of black men in the army, as well as, slavery.   Frederick spoke out for social justice and equality, was a supporter of women’s rights, and often spoke on behalf of women's suffrage groups.  When Lincoln died, former slave, Frederick Douglass was present at his funeral.

As Dr. Walker continued his presentation, he addressed current human rights issues, such as gender inequality, and domestic violence by sports heroes, making his audience aware that almost 200 years after slavery was abolished, we still are fighting for social justice and equality.

For further information about Frederick Douglass, his life, and slavery, check out Bailey Library’s Frederick Douglass Pan African Studies Collection of 10,000 titles.

Archives ….and all that Jazz

Jared Negley, Slippery Rock University Archives assistant

Jared Negley, former Slippery Rock University graduate, is Bailey Library’s newest Archives assistant.  Negley graduated from SRU in 2008 with a Bachelor in the Arts of Music degree and an East Asian Studies Minor. 

Jared is an avid jazz musician and plays the upright bass.  His freelance jazz playing led him from gigs at the North Country Brewery in Slippery Rock and the Butler Symphony Office, to playing with bands like the Trinity Jazz Orchestra and the Harmony-Zelienople Jazz Band. He teaches private music lessons and taught jazz combo and improvisation with a team of other SRU student assistants at the Slippery Rock University Summer Creative & Performing Arts Academy.  He also taught bass, rhythm section and ear training master classes. 

As an undergrad, Negley spent much of his time in Bailey Library studying and doing group work. He then procured employment as a student worker in the Serials department where he helped patrons locate periodicals and prepared journals for binding, as well as updated holding records.  It was during this time that he realized he wanted to become a librarian with music as his specialty.  Jared also has another tie with Bailey Library.  His mother, Dorothyann Negley, worked at Bailey in the Technical Services Department for 32 years until her retirement in 2010.

In 2008, Jared continued his education at Rutgers University in New Jersey where he studied Jazz History and Research until his graduation in 2010 with his Master of the Arts degree.  While at Rutgers, Negley taught a course on the history of rock and pop music. At the Institute of Jazz Studies in New Jersey, he gained valuable experience as an Archives assistant, working there from 2008 to 2010. 

The Pratt Institute came next where Jared earned his Master of Science degree in Library and Information Sciences in 2012.  During this period he furthered his archival experience with an internship at the Louis Armstrong Archives in Queens, New York.  “I like working in libraries.  I like the idea of giving people free access to information and preserving our history,” said Negley. 

Then, in the latter part of 2014, Slippery Rock University Archives department advertised for an Archives assistant to create an online database for record groups and collections, and to digitize and upload photos.  Jared applied, was interviewed, and offered the position.  He accepted, and the rest, as they say, is history. 

Recently Read by Jaymie Macek

Jaymie Macek, Public Relations Major

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier is a book that I would recommend to any female wishing to read about time travel and the old English time period. I borrowed this book through Bailey Library’s Interlibrary Loan online,
E-ZBorrow, and received the book in about four days.  While reading this book, I was instantly encapsulated into the story and did not put the book down until it was finished. I didn’t want the story to end!  Luckily for me, this is a trilogy and I have already requested the next two books in the series.  Gwyneth, the main character in this book, is extremely fun and spunky.  She and her new time-traveling partner, Gideon, pick up their next adventure in the sequel in the trilogy entitled “Sapphire Blue.” When reading this book, you might want to set a chunk of time aside because you will keep turning the pages until the book is over. Definitely a “must read.”

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Request this book through E-ZBorrow

http://www.sru.edu/academics/library/Pages/libloan.aspx

Recently Read by Carlie Lipke

Carlie Lipke, Communications Major

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is definitely a novel I would recommend to anyone. I picked it up after hearing it would be a film soon. I read the first few chapters and was instantly hooked. It’s definitely a great read for any student at SRU because the story line is amazing and keeps you on your toes.Just when you think you have everything figured out, Flynn adds another plot twist to take it to a new level. Psychologist students would love it! I especially liked how the chapters alternated from the points of view of the main characters, Nick and Amy. This was a twist in itself---making the reader believe first one, then the other. My advice is to plan a day of reading because you will not want to put the book down.  

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Call #: FLY

Location:  Reading Room, Third Floor, Bailey Library

Recently Read by Danielle Faggioli

Danielle Faggioli, Mathematics Major

The Fault in our Stars by John Green is an excellent book, especially for college students. The book is enjoyable and a quick read so it won't take too much time from your studies. The premise is based primarily on two main characters, Hazel and Augustus, who both suffer from cancer. Chapter by chapter, you learn their journeys through their stories. Although the characters are a little younger than most of us at SRU (16 and 17), their difficult lives force them to mature quickly. As a result, the characters are very relatable. The book is filled with ups and downs and keeps your attention. As you live their stories through them, you will constantly be wondering, "What will happen next?" I recommend this inspirational novel (which is now a major motion picture) as your next read.

The Fault in our Stars by John Green
Call Number: Fic G7966f 

Located: Second Floor of Bailey Library

Calling all READERS......

Have you read a great book recently?  Would you like to share what you read with Bailey Library's blog?  Email ellen.pontius@sru.edu or call 724-738-4389 for more details.  We will feature a new reader each week, along with their picture, and their book recommendation.

"Portable office" stacks up

Following the massive weeding project Bailey Library undertook to make way for the new Mathematics Lab coming this Fall, staff worker, Charlynn Seidel, has begun correlating the titles for the bound journals left on the shelf with those that are in the library catalog.  As she does this, she is also unifying the entries so all follow the same format.  Once her initial examination is finished, the bound journals will be shifted to the ground floor onto new compact shelving units. Meanwhile, her new "portable office" makes the catalog clean-up project much easier for her.