An Interview with Temple Writer-in-Residence Liz Moore

Liz Moore

On Wednesday, November 1, Temple’s Writer-in-Residence Liz Moore will participate in the Libraries’ Midday Arts Series, as part of the Beyond the Page public programming series. Join us at 1:00 PM in the Paley Library Lecture Hall (1210 Polett Walk, Ground Floor) to hear Liz read from her latest novel, The Unseen World. All programs are free and open to all.

I was lucky to catch up with Liz ahead of her reading, to ask about her new role at Temple, her teaching philosophy, and her writing process.


Beckie: Welcome to Temple! Can you tell us about your role as this year’s College of Liberal Arts Writer-in-Residence?

Liz: I’m delighted to be serving as Writer in Residence for Temple’s MFA program. In this capacity, I’ll teach a fiction workshop and a section of Manuscript Tutorial in the Fall 2017 and Fall 2018 semesters.

B: As a writer, how do you approach the teaching of writing?

L: I open all of my writing workshops with a writing prompt. We then move into a discussion of an assigned, previously published text—usually something that illustrates some point of craft that I think is interesting. We then spend the rest of the class workshopping student pieces. More generally, my philosophy is to reserve time for three different categories of discussion: the everyday work of being a writer, including how to develop discipline and a routine and the motivation to sufficiently revise; the fine points of craft, including developing diction, voice, character, and structure; and “big picture” things like what motivates us to write, and what role literature has in our world today.

B: I really appreciate how you make space to discuss those different categories, especially the everyday work of the writer. In terms of your own work, in 2014, you won the Rome Prize in Literature—congratulations by the way! What was that experience like, living and writing abroad for a year?

L: Thank you! The Rome Prize remains the one of the best gifts (and surprises) I’ve ever received. For a year, I was given a really beautiful workspace, room and board, and access to the beautiful city of Rome. It was the first and only time in my life that I’ve ever had nothing to do but write, and I tried to take advantage of that by being as productive as possible—while, of course, leaving time to see the city and the country. I met some really creative people who remain good friends, and finished writing my third novel, The Unseen World.

B: Speaking of which, has the writing process changed for you at all? What did it look like for The Unseen World?

L: I think my writing process changes with every novel I write. The Unseen World was probably the most challenging for me, because it functions in some ways like a puzzle, and I had to come up with the right structure to accommodate that, which was tricky. It’s also my longest book by about a hundred pages, and it required a lot of research about fields I knew nothing about prior to writing this book, so it was a labor of love. The only constant I can take with me from book to book is the knowledge that a great deal of difficulty is just part of the process, so frustration doesn’t cause me to give up on what I’m writing these days—I just try to ride it out.

B: Can you tell us a bit more about the unconventional structure of The Unseen World and your decision to move back and forth in time and space?

L: The structure arose out of necessity, since the release of information had to be timed exactly right to preserve the central mystery of the book, and also a great deal of trial and error. I always tell myself I’m going to one day write a very straightforward book using a simple plot and structure, and then inevitably they spin out of control into something much bigger than my initial ideas.

 

Open Access Week 2017 at the Libraries

This week (October 23–29) is Open Access Week, a yearly international celebration that aims to increase awareness about open access (OA). Most academic work is available only to those who are affiliated with a college or university. However, many people from outside of the university community could also benefit from access to cutting-edge scholarship.

Acknowledging this, researchers have begun to look for different ways to make their work more widely available to the general public. OA scholarship is completely free to read and reuse. Researchers can make their work OA by publishing in an OA journal or by sharing a version of their article in an open digital repository. There are also a growing number of publishers who produce OA books and digital projects.

Temple University Libraries is joining the conversation about the importance of openly available scholarship through a series of events this week, including an exhibit, faculty workshop, panel presentation, and pop-up tables around campus. We invite you to stop by for the following:


EXHIBIT
Opening Up Research @ Temple
Monday, October 23–Friday, October 27, All Day
Paley Library, 1210 Polett Walk, First Floor

In honor of Open Access Week, visit the Libraries for a special exhibit that profiles a few of the many Temple University faculty members who are committed to reaching a wide audience with their research. These faculty come from different disciplines, schools, and colleges, yet they all believe that scholarly information deserves to be read and used beyond the walls of the academy.

FACULTY WORKSHOP
Removing Barriers, Increasing Access
Thursday, October 26, Noon–1:00 pm
Ginsburg Health Sciences Library, Room 246a

Want to provide more equitable and barrier free access to your research or teaching materials? Learn how to publish your work in a more accessible format and provide barrier free course content for your students. Gain knowledge of publishing in open access (OA) journals and locating or creating your own open educational resources (OER).

PANEL PRESENTATION
Open In Order to Change the World: How TU Libraries Are Helping to Democratize Access to Information
Thursday, October 26, 2:00–3:00 pm
Paley Library Lecture Hall, 1210 Polett Walk, Ground Floor

Librarians are changing the world of scholarly communication for the better. In honor of Open Access Week, join us for a discussion of how Temple University Libraries is working to increase access to information. From helping the City of Philadelphia preserve open civic data, to digitizing and making freely available out-of-print Temple University Press books, learn about some of the different projects the Libraries are undertaking that support not just Temple students and faculty, but the global scholarly community.


Have questions about OA but can’t attend any of these events? Check out our OA research guide and look for our pop-up OA tables around campus. We’ll have lots of resources to share as well as some fun OA swag.

 

An Interview with Local Poet Ryan Eckes

On Wednesday, October 18, Temple alumnus and Philadelphia poet Ryan Eckes will participate in the Libraries’ Beyond the Page public programming series as the first featured artist in our Midday Arts Series. Join us at 1:00 PM in the Paley Library Lecture Hall (1210 Polett Walk, Ground Floor) to hear Ryan read from his latest manuscript, General Motors. All programs are free and open to all.

Ryan Eckes

I was lucky to catch up with Ryan ahead of his reading, to ask him about his work and life at Temple and in Philadelphia.

 

Beckie: Can you share with us the story of your journey from Temple grad student to published poet?

Ryan: I started in Temple’s MA poetry program in 2005 when I was 26. I wanted a break from waged work and more time to write poetry, and that’s what I got: two years of immersion in reading and writing—and teaching. A teaching assistantship paid for me to be there (which led to my work as an adjunct). Rachel Blau DuPlessis and Jena Osman were great teachers, as were a few classmates who remain friends today. The experience did not lead immediately or directly to any “success,” but I learned the importance of being in conversation with other writers. I overcame my shyness a bit and started going to more poetry readings to continue my education, which I regard as endless. Being part of a community of writers helps to sustain you over time, especially in a larger culture that does not value poetry or history.

B: In that time, you’ve also published two books and are working on your latest poetry manuscript, General Motors. This collection centers around labor and the influence of public and private transportation on city life. What made you interested in exploring these themes?

R: The book grew from my interest in the GM conspiracy to dismantle public transit in the 20th century, my family’s long history of working for SEPTA/PTC, and my own experience as a union activist and organizer. We live in an automobile society that has shaped just about every aspect of our lives, including the way we see one another, communicate with one another and dispose of one another. I’m interested in how the privatization of public goods and services impacts our relationships and our abilities to survive. In my writing I like to point at the injustices we live inside of and ask questions that make people aware of themselves. And I try to imagine better worlds—that’s the hardest part.

B: How would you describe being a working poet in the city of Philadelphia?

R: Fumbling with language in your head as you walk and ride through the city while also trying to get outside of your head. Fumbling with language in your head as you work your job while also trying to quit your job. Fumbling with language in your head as you talk to people while also trying to love those people. Fumbling with language in your head as you read and read and finally scribble the breath onto paper. Finally reading the poem out loud somewhere and feeling completely alive.

B: That’s such a fascinating insight into how ever-present language is in your daily life. I wonder about the Pew Fellowship you were awarded last year—congratulations by the way! What did that award enable you to do?

R: Thank you. The Pew has given me some very precious time to think and read and write. I’ve been able to finish writing a book that I would otherwise probably still be working on. The grant has allowed me to travel a bit, too. I visited Chile last year for the first time and got to hang out with my friend Carlos Soto-Román who introduced me to other poets there. That never would have happened on adjunct pay!

B: Yes, finding the time and space to work is so important! What other advice do you have for other aspiring poets?

R: My advice is to not think of yourself as an “aspiring” poet. I never did. After I fell in love with poetry, I just started writing and never stopped. I didn’t know where it was going to lead (still don’t). My advice is read widely and keep writing and don’t listen to people who say what you’re doing has no value—remember that capitalist culture is absurd. Stay in touch with the thing inside you that compels you to make something, and trust that thing. And don’t get an MFA unless the university pays for it.

Banned Books Week, Sept. 24–30: Words Have Power

This week is Banned Books Week, an annual American Library Association (ALA) event that celebrates the freedom to read by asking us to consider the danger of censorship and honor the power of words.

Every year, books in schools and libraries are challenged, meaning a person or group has requested their removal or restriction. The reasons for these challenges are manifold, ranging from objections to explicit content, offensive language, or age-inappropriate material. Yet, most challenges are unsuccessful due to the hard work of librarians, teachers, students, and community members who support and promote our freedom to openly access information and literature.

Check out our display on the first floor of Paley Library, across from the service desk. The featured books have all been challenged at some point in libraries and schools, along with many other frequently challenged books. Consider checking one out and support your freedom to read.


Join the Conversation
You can also join the conversation online and speak out against censorship! The Rebel Reader Twitter Tournament, sponsored by ALA, invites you to tweet any of the following action items. Use the hashtags #RebelReader and #TempleLibraries during Banned Books Week for a chance to win an array of literary prizes from ALA.

1. TAKE A SELFIE with a banned or challenged book
2. SHARE A VIDEO of yourself talking about censorship or reading from a banned or challenged book
3. POST A QUOTE from a favorite banned or challenged book. Popular banned and challenged titles can be found at ala.org/bbooks.
4. SHARE A STORY about an educator who helped you learn the power of words
5. TWEET SOME LOVE at a banned author from this list: twitter.com/OIF/lists/banned-authors/members

#BannedBooksWeek
#RebelReader
#TempleLibraries

Fall Public Programming at the Libraries, Beginning Sept. 20

Join us this fall for the Libraries’ free public programming series, Beyond the Page. This season features programs that explore the role of communities in our lives. How are we shaped by the language we use, the institutions we take part in, the places we’ve lived, and the people around us? The Beyond the Page series also consists of a variety of other programs, exhibitions, concerts, and events developed around timely topics and in collaboration with our on-and-off campus partners.

On Wednesday, September 20, check out our first themed program of the fall semester: Creating a Welcoming Campus Community in 2017. This program will ask us to consider: What does a welcoming campus look like? How can we build a campus community that is truly welcoming? Meet us at 12:00 PM in the Paley Library Lecture Hall (1210 Polett Walk, Ground Floor) for a conversation with Temple faculty, staff, students, and community leaders about the extent to which Temple is a welcoming place for international students, immigrants, and students and staff of all backgrounds.

This program takes place during the Welcoming America organization’s Welcoming Week. This annual series of events brings together immigrants, refugees, and native-born residents to raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone.

All programs are free and open to all, and make sure to check out our program schedule for updates and new programs as we move into fall.

Congratulations to the 2016-2017 Livingstone Undergraduate Research Award Winners

From left to right: Andrew Bertolazzi, Hasan Zaidi, Lauren Ruhnke, Jason Fontana, Monsurat Otolorin, David Spatichia, Rhiannon Bell; photo courtesy Brae Howard

Temple University Libraries congratulate the winners of the 2016-2017 Livingstone Undergraduate Research Awards, which honor the best in undergraduate research across a wide spectrum of disciplines and research methods. The Awards are named for generous donor John H. Livingstone, SBM ‘49, who has supported undergraduate research for more than a decade.

The initiative, formerly known as the Library Prize for Undergraduate Research, began thirteen years ago and was expanded, reshaped, and renamed last year, to recognize a greater cross-section of the outstanding scholarly and creative work of our undergraduate students.

We celebrated the winners at an awards ceremony on April 25. Read on for the list of winners, along with their project titles and sponsoring professors. You can also watch the ceremony here.


Livingstone Undergraduate Research Award in the Humanities
Lauren Ruhnke
“Constructing Native Homosexuality in British India”
Faculty advisor: Mark Pollack

Livingstone Undergraduate Research Award in the Social Sciences
Jason Fontana
“The Immigrant Parent Disadvantage: Parent Linguistic Capital and Student School Performance”
Faculty advisor: Shanyang Zhao

Livingstone Undergraduate Research Award in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematical (STEM) Disciplines
Hasan Zaidi
“Using Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Mechanisms to Improve Eye Moisture Over Extended Periods of Contact Lens Wear”
Faculty advisor: Joseph Danowsky

Livingstone Undergraduate Research Award in Creative Works and Media Production
Rhiannon Bell
“Retrospective Falsification – Run Away to Sweden”
Faculty advisor: Leah Modigliani

Livingstone Undergraduate Research Award for General Education Courses
Monsurat Otolorin and David Spatichia
“K-pop Subculture International Impact”
Faculty advisor: Rupananda Misra

Livingstone Undergraduate Research Award in Sustainability and the Environment
Andrew Bertolazzi
“Decentralized Methods of Water Treatment for Reuse of Residential Gray Water”
Faculty advisor: Joseph Danowsky


Photo courtesy Brae Howard

The Livingstone Undergraduate Research Awards are generously sponsored by John H. Livingstone, SBM ‘49.

The Award in Sustainability and the Environment is generously sponsored by Gale, a Cengage Company.

Destress with Dogs at Paley Library

photo courtesy Haley Richter

Starting this Friday, we’ll have some furry friends in Paley Library to help you destress in the midst of final exams! This event is part of our Crunch Time Café, a series of events providing free food, activities, and a break from studying. Hang out with the therapy dogs in the Paley Library Lecture Hall during the following times:

Friday, May 5, 1:00–2:30 PM
Monday, May 8, 10:30 AM–Noon

photo courtesy Haley Richter


Don’t forget about our other Crunch Time Café events over the next two weeks!

Crafts & Games
Wednesday, May 3, Noon–3:00 PM
Take a break from studying by unwinding with crafts and games the day before final exams begin.

Get Your Study On
Thursday, May 4, 6:00–8:00 PM
Join us the first day of exams for caffeine, treats, and healthy snacks. You got this!

The End is Near!
Tuesday, May 9, 7:30–11:00 AM
You are so close! Join us one last time for breakfast treats and coffee to help you power through to the end of exams and propel you toward a much needed summer break.


AND TO MAKE YOUR STUDYING EASIER

Paley Library is open 24/7 through April 28-May 9. You can also book study spaces ahead of time at paleystudy.temple.edu.

Relax and Refuel at Paley Library During Final Exams

The Libraries are bringing back our Crunch Time Café between May 3rd and 9th to help you relax and refuel during study days and final exams. The ever-popular therapy dogs will also be on hand to help you destress! The full list of events is included below, all of which will take place in the Paley Library Lecture Hall, 1210 Polett Walk, Ground Floor.


Crafts & Games
Wednesday, May 3, Noon–3:00PM
Take a break from studying by unwinding with crafts and games the day before final exams begin.

 

Get Your Study On
Thursday, May 4, 6:00–8:00 PM
Join us the first day of exams for caffeine, treats, and healthy snacks. You got this!

Destress with Dogs
Friday, May 5, 1:00–2:30 PM
Monday, May 8, 10:30 AM–Noon
As exams are in full swing, can you imagine anything better than taking a break with cuddly, sweet therapy dogs? Neither can we! Stop by to hang out and destress with some furry friends.

The End is Near!
Tuesday, May 9, 7:30–11:00 AM
You are so close! Join us one last time for breakfast treats and coffee to help you power through to the end of exams and propel you toward a much needed summer break.

 


AND TO MAKE YOUR STUDYING EASIER

Paley Library is open 24/7 through April 28-May 9. You can also book study spaces ahead of time at paleystudy.temple.edu.

Celebrate National Library Week at the Libraries

Today marks the beginning of National Library Week, a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support.


How You Can Celebrate with TU Libraries

  • Stop by our table in Paley Library and the Student Center for more information about library resources and services, as well as some fun stress-relief activities, giveaways, candy, and a chance to tell us why YOU are thankful for the Libraries.

Library Table Hours
Tuesday, April 11 from 2:00–4:00 PM in Paley Library
Wednesday, April 12 11:00 AM–1:00 PM in the Student Center
Thursday, April 13 from 2:00–4:00 PM in Paley Library

  • Our Question of the Week board asks why YOU are thankful for the Libraries—what will you say?
  • Follow #ThankTULibraries stories on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and add your own!

What Library Resources Are TUL Staff Members Most Thankful For?

“I’m most thankful for the library’s video collection, as I’ve frequently used it for my film work. I’m also thankful for librarians who often direct me to the resources I need when I’m feeling overwhelmed and can’t find them.” –Gary Kramer, Publicity Manager, Temple University Press

“I am thankful for Interlibrary loan. I have gotten great books for both leisure and professional reading in the last few months that my local public library doesn’t have.” –Jenny Pierce, Head of Research, Education, and Outreach, Ginsburg Health Sciences Library

“Our committed, creative, & talented staff.” –Joe Lucia, Dean of Libraries

“Access to full text journals! We have so many.” –Lauri Fennell, Reference/Patron Services, Ginsburg Health Sciences Library

“I’m thrilled that we now have online access to the Philadelphia Inquirer for the entire 20th century (we had a gap of about 60 years previously). This is a huge improvement in access for students and faculty who are researching Philadelphia history in a wide range of disciplines. One faculty member told me it was the best news he’d heard in months!” –Rebecca Lloyd, Reference Librarian

Art + Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-thon @ Temple

Temple University Libraries are hosting an Art+Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-thon on Friday, March 3 from 1:30-5:00 PM in the Digital Scholarship Center. We will start with tutorials for beginner Wikipedians at 1:30 PM, but we invite you to drop in at any time and join us!

The Art+Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-thon is an international communal updating of Wikipedia content on subjects related to art and feminism. Universities and cultural institutions around the city of Philadelphia are hosting edit-a-thons throughout the month of March, where participants will gather in one place to edit, add, and improve Wikipedia entries.

Register here, arrive with your laptop or device, power cord, and ideas for entries. It’s that simple. We will provide tutorials for beginner Wikipedians, reference materials, and refreshments.

Since 2014, over 280 Art+Feminism Edit-a-thons have taken place across the world, creating and improving an estimated 4,600 articles. Join us to broaden that reach in 2017! 

#artandfeminism