#librarianlife #poetrymonthrocks

I attended the poetry reading by Dr. Mark Busby this afternoon in The Wittliff. One of my favorite parts of my job is meeting the faculty and seeing them do what they love. We can get so caught up in the fast-paced academic calendar that we forget why we were first drawn to the University. To have the opportunity to listen to inspirational poetry, eat fresh strawberries, and look at beautiful photographs... All in a day's work!

Check out our catalog for some of Mark Busby's books

We also have e-books available - click and enjoy!

BLACK■■■OUT■■■■POETRY■■■@Alkek

image source: http://tinyurl.com/ky8p77b

April 20th
12:30-1:30pm

Cross “writing poetry” 

off your bucket list! 

Join us in Alkek Library’s 

Open Theater 

on April 20th. 

Bring your ideas, and

we’ll provide the words.

image source: http://tinyurl.com/lgxbbnt

Lunch Poems Playlist

Our first Lunch Poems was a success! If you missed out, you can watch the playlist here:

Check our Lunch Poems web page for future events!

Celebrate National Poetry Month with Alkek Library!

April is National Poetry Month! 

How do you plan to celebrate?

Alkek Library is kicking off a new series called Lunch Poems.

Please join us on April 13, from Noon - 1PM in the Open Theater!

Light refreshments will be served, and please feel free to bring your own lunch!

Some other ways to celebrate National Poetry Month:

• Join us for Lunch Poems - either in person or check our facebook page for the live video
• Sign up for a poem a day
• Explore Alkek's poetry databases for your scholarly research or personal enjoyment
• Attend my workshop on Scholarly Research - Literary Topics for tips researching our poetry databases
• Watch videos about poetry in our streaming databases
• Go old school and check out a poetry book from our collection
• Go new school and read a poetry E-book instead
• Visit the Alkek Library on April 27 and pick out a poem for Poem in Your Pocket Day

I hope you find your own special way to celebrate National Poetry Month!

I leave you one of my favorite poems: Reading Moby-Dick at 30,000 feet by Tony Hoagland

Workshop: Scholarly Research on Literary Topics

Have you ever wondered how to conduct scholarly research in the literary disciplines: fiction, poetry, film and drama?

Do you have trouble finding academic resources for literary theory, critical theory, biographical information, reviews or other literary topics?

There's still time to register for my workshop "Scholarly Research - Literary Topics" and impress all of your classmates with your research prowess! Workshop is offered March 30, at 3pm, and again on April 18, at 11am!

Take a look at some examples of research skills and databases that could be covered in the workshop:

Humanities Source Ultimate database - Advanced Search

Columbia Granger's World of Poetry database - Advanced Search

Drama Online database - Advanced search (with audio option)

Scoured any databases lately?

You might have heard that a Graduate Student in Texas discovered an anonymously published Walt Whitman novel. How did he do it?

By "scouring a vast online database of 19th century newspapers for names found in Whitman's notebooks" (Weldon).

Next time you find yourself with some time on your hands, head over to our Newspaper Databases and maybe you'll discover some gems!

AP Photo from AP Images Database

Let my scars leave brilliant traces

I am very saddened by the apparent suicide of student Travis Green at our University. I did not know him, but I have known people who have made the decision to take their own life, and I know how terribly difficult it is for their family and friends to comprehend.

If you are considering suicide, please know that there is 24-hour help available to you: http://www.counseling.txstate.edu/Suicide-Prevention.html

And if you need to speak with someone for any reason at all, please know that it is a sign of great strength to reach out and ask for help when you are feeling helpless. The University offers many different types of counseling services: http://www.counseling.txstate.edu/services/counsel.html

Travis Green was a talented writer, and published his work online.

This poem has been a salve for me when I have gone through coping with the suicide of someone close:

Individuation by Avah Pevlor Johnson
If I must be wrung through the paradox,
-- broken into wholeness,
wring me around the moon;
pelt me with particles from the dark side.
Fling me into space;
hide me in a black hole.
Let me dance with devils on dead stars.
Let my scars leave brilliant traces,
for my highborn soul seeks its hell --
in high places.