Friends of the UTA Libraries End a Memorable Year
By Gerald D. Saxon
Since the publication of the fall 2002 issue of Library Notes, the Friends of the UTA Libraries have been busy
sponsoring a series of interesting programs and initiatives. The Friends have been busier this past season than in
any of the organization’s first sixteen years. The success of the Friends is a testament to the current officers, an
outstanding advisory board, and an energized membership. The officers are Betty Bob Buckley, president;
Richard Francaviglia, first vice president; Dorothy Rencurrel, second vice president; Mary Ellen Emery,
secretary; Stephen Stillwell, jr., treasurer; and Daniel Kauth, parliamentarian. These officers will serve until
September 1, 2003.
What follows is a brief narrative of the Friends’ programs, awards, and other initiatives since November 2002.
The earlier programs for the year, those for September through November 2002, were covered in the last issue of
this newsletter. The programs after November included:
December 13, 2002. The Four Seasons Choral Society, a group made up of local residents of Chinese
origins, entertained the Friends for their holiday program. The program included Chinese songs, both holiday and
non-holiday, and traditional western carols. At the end of their program, the choral society led the Friends and their
guests in a lively sing-a-long of familiar holiday carols. A keepsake was given to all attendees of the program. A
reception honoring the choral society followed the program.
February 7, 2003. Local film critic and author, Philip Wuntch, spoke to the Friends about his new
book Martin Jurow Seein’ Stars. Martin Jurow was a theatrical agent and film producer of well-known
movies such as The Pink Panther, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and Terms of Endearment.
Wuntch brought to life the Hollywood tales of Sinatra, Audrey Hepburn, Ava Gardner, Elvis, and more. A
reception followed with copies of Wuntch’s book being sold and autographed.
March 22, 2002. The Friends met at UTA, boarded UTA buses bound for Joe T. Garcia’s as
their destination for lunch. After a Mexican buffet, special guest speaker, Joyce Roach, set the stage for a tour
of The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame by enlightening her audience with inspiring stories of
cowgirls and ranch women who were often quite ordinary but did extraordinary things. Roach served as a
consultant during the planning of the museum. She is a winner of several Golden Spur Awards from the Western
Writers of America for her work, including her book, The Cowgirls.
May 2, 2003. The Friends' annual election and business meeting were held. Friends' president, Betty
Bob Buckley, conducted the election of officers and new Advisory Council members before the program. Elected
at the meeting were Richard Francaviglia, president; Dorothy Rencurrel, first vice president; Mary Ellen Emery,
second vice president; Stephen Stillwell, jr., secretary; Brent Nicholson, treasurer; and Betty Bob Buckley,
parliamentarian. Shirley Applewhite, Richard Browning, and William Stallings were elected as new members of
the Advisory Council. The new officers and council members will take office on September 1, 2003.
The Friends were pleased to award the second annual UTA Libraries Learning Partnership Award. Friends’
president, Betty Bob Buckley, made the presentation to Dr. Dereje Agonafer, of Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering, and Ms. Barbara Howser, the Libraries’ Science and Engineering Librarian. Each recipient received
a plaque and a $500 stipend.
After the award ceremony, Tom Wilding, director of libraries, spoke and gave a powerpoint presentation on
“The UTA Libraries in the 21st Century: Not Your Parents’ Library!” Wilding compared the libraries of his
parents’ time to the libraries of today and then what his grandchildren might expect libraries to be. Wilding has
been director of libraries at UTA since 1993. Before coming to UTA, he held administrative positions at the
Smithsonian Institution Libraries and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Following Wilding’s presentation, a tour of the libraries was given on four floors of the Central Library. Starting
with the 6th floor, Sally Gross, Kit Goodwin, Brenda McClurkin, and Colin Toenjes gave a tour of Special Collections
emphasizing maps, photos, and manuscripts. On the second floor, Terry Wang gave an overview of the reference
area. James Stewart of the Office of Information Technology gave a tour of Sam’s Click Café on the first floor. Two
areas in the basement were featured. Marie Irwin talked and answered questions about the Digital Media Classroom
and Mary Jo Lyons and Joshua Been of the Information Literacy Program Area gave a tour of the Interactive Classroom.
Food was offered in each of the five areas.
May 7, 2002. At the Libraries’ Spring Reception, first vice president Richard Francaviglia presented the
annual STAR Award to a library staff member who has had outstanding years of service and made substantial
contributions to the library. The award is underwritten by the Friends and was presented to Amber Royer, who works
in Information Services for the library. The award includes a cash prize of $350.
June 27, 2003. Due to the war in Iraq, the Friends added one more program to their season and asked Dr.
Stephen Stillwell, jr., secretary for the Friends’ Advisory Council, to be their final speaker for the 2002-2003 year.
Dr. Stillwell has studied abroad in Egypt and Israel/Palestine. He earned his undergraduate degree in Middle Eastern
Area Studies from the School of International Service at American University and his Ph.D. in history from the University
of North Texas. Currently teaching at UTA in the History Department, he is the author of London, Ankara, and Geneva:
Anglo-Turkish Relations, the Establishment of the Turkish Borders, and the League of Nations, 1919-1939.
The Friends will be conducting their annual membership and renewal campaign from July-October. Questions
about the Friends should be directed to Betty Wood, at 817-272-7421, email
bwood@uta.edu or email Gerald Saxon at saxon@uta.edu or call 817-272-5318.
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