Temple Book Club Discussion of The Soloist One Book, One Philadelphia selection January 29, 1:00 p.m., Paley Library, Lecture Hall Join a discussion of the best-selling book, The Soloist, based on the true story of the bond between journalist Steve Lopez, and homeless man. This man, Nathaniel Ayers, turns out to be a musician of extraordinary gifts. He had studied at Julliard, but struggled with mental illness. The book is a journey through a story of second chances, human connections and the power of art and music The One Book, One Philadelphia program is hosting book discussions all across the city—come join us for Temple’s installment. In addition, Lopez will visit the Libraries this March to discuss his book. See the March 19 post for more information.

Special Collections Showcase: The First Two Centuries of Printing December 3, 4:00 p.m., Paley Library, Mezzanine-Special Collections Reading Room 1210 W. Berks Street, Philadelphia, PA Join a discussion on the development of the printed book as we know it led by Special Collections Curator Tom Whitehead. See examples from Temple University Libraries unique special collections. Explore the development and evolution of book illustration techniques, pagination, foliation, cover pages and more hallmarks of the modern book form. While you are at Paley, come check out the exhibition on the history of fine printing.

3 Millionth Volume Lecture A Conversation with Marjorie Garber, the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of English and of Visual and Environmental Studies, Chair of the Department of Visual and Environmental Studies and Director of the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts at Harvard University November 13, 3:30 p.m., Paley Library, Lecture Hall 1210 W. Berks Street, Philadelphia, PA With interests ranging from sexuality to literary theory, visual studies to popular culture, academics, real estate, politics, Shakespeare and dogs—Marjorie Garber is one of the nation’s foremost, and versatile scholars. Garber has published thirteen books and edited twelve collections of essays covering these topics and more. She is deeply engaged with visual studies, and her dialogue with the topic–characteristically eclectic–includes Patronizing the Arts (2008), Media Spectacles (2003) and a number of interdisciplinary studies, including the groundbreaking Vested Interests: Cross Dressing and Cultural Anxiety (2002). She has also written extensively on Shakespeare (Profiling Shakespeare [2008], Shakespeare After All [2004]) and literary theory (A Manifesto for Literary Studies [2004], Fieldwork: Sites in Literary and Cultural Studies [1996]). Please join the Libraries, Center for the Humanities at Temple (CHAT) and the General Education Program in welcoming Garber for the 3 Millionth Volume Lecture.

Chat in the Stacks November 6, 2:30 p.m. Paley Library Lecture Hall Chat in the Stacks is an on-going series highlighting and promoting excellence in faculty research, creativity and scholarship. Please join us for this cross-disciplinary conversation with professors from across Temple. The Libraries and the Faculty Senate Committee on the Status of Faculty of Color began Chat in the Stacks in the spring of 2008 as a way to engage the Temple community with the latest research taking place across our campuses. The Libraries and the committee are again delighted to bring you a panel discussion with Temple faculty on the latest academic work taking place at our vibrant university. On November 6, this series highlighting and promoting excellence in faculty research will feature Doug Wager, head of the department of directing in the School of Communications and Theater and SFC Michael Woody of the ROTC program at Temple.

Monday, November 3, 2008, 5:30 p.m. Paley Library Lecture Hall Join the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection of Temple University Libraries in welcoming authors and artists Deb Willis and Hank Willis Thomas. Both authors will sign copies of their latest books–Obama: The Historic Campaign in Photographs (Dr. Deb Willis) and Pitch Blackness (Hank Willis Thomas).

Deb Willis is the Chair of the Photography Department at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Dr. Willis also holds an affiliated appointment with the College of Arts and Sciences in Africana Studies at NYU. She has pursued a dual professional career as an art photographer and as one of the nation’s leading historians of African American photography and curator of African American culture. Her awards, exhibitions and publications are many, but highlights include: a 2005 Guggenheim Fellowship and Fletcher Fellowship, a 2000 MacArthur Fellowship, she was also the 1996 recipient of the Anonymous Was a Woman Foundation award. Other notable projects include: The Black Female Body A Photographic History with Carla Williams (Temple University Press, Philadephia, 2002); A Small Nation of People: W.E.B. DuBois and the Photographs from the Paris Exposition (Amistad Press, 2003); Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers – 1840 to the Present (New York: W.W. Norton); Visual Journal: Photography in Harlem and DC in the Thirties and Forties (Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, 1996); Picturing Us: African American Identity in Photography (The New Press, New York, NY, 1994); and VANDERZEE: The Portraits of James VanDerZee (Harry Abrams Publishing, New York, NY, 1993). Dr. Willis will be signing copies of her latest book, Obama: The Historic Campaign in Photographs. Through 150 striking color photographs, Obama: The Historic Campaign in Photographs charts the road to Barack Obama’s nomination as the first African American to lead the presidential ticket of a major party.

Hank Willis Thomas received his BFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and his MFA in photography, along with an MA in visual criticism‚ from the California College of the Arts, San Francisco. He has exhibited in galleries and museums, including the Studio Museum in Harlem; Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, Connecticut; Leica Gallery, New York; and National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C. Willis Thomas is the first recipient of the Aperture West Book Prize, a new annual prize for artists living west of the Mississippi. He lives in Oakland, California. He will be signing copies of his latest book, Pitch Blackness.

The Unique Craft of Artist Books October 7, 6:00 p.m., Temple Gallery in Olde City 259 N. Third Street, Philadelphia, PA Join the Libraries and the Tyler School of Art Department of Exhibitions and Public Programs for a conversation on the unique craft of artist books. The Libraries’ Special Collections Curator, Tom Whitehead, and Tyler’s Andrea Goldstein present Temple’s most curious examples of artist books and lead a discussion on the craftsmanship of book making. This special program is presented in conjunction with concurrent exhibits on the art and craft of the book at Temple Gallery in Old City, Paley Library and Tyler Library on the Elkins Park campus, all on view through October 25.