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Idaho Librarian
Volume 51 Number 5
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE This past year as ILA president has been one of anticipation and implementation of new ideas, a wonderful chance to collaborate and brainstorm with other librarians across the state, and verification of the hard work volunteers are willing to do for the good of all libraries. It has been an honor to work with a dedicated and hard working group of librarians. The executive board is committed in following a strategic plan that focuses on: · Encouraging and maintaining a vital and active organization
and membership.
With committee and membership input, the board made progress in each of the above goals. Ann Abrams and Ruth Cochran developed and mailed new membership brochures. Many ideas were discussed on how to help membership promote our libraries including the annual pre-conference "Lobby for your Library: know what works!" The Intellectual Freedom/Advocacy auction is continually well supported by you, the membership, enabling us to financially assist libraries encountering tough issues. Successful and informative ILA Regional conferences were offered in all parts of the state during April and May. A special thank you to all the people who worked to make the spring and annual conferences a success and also to those who took time to attend and keep abreast of new ideas. The newly elected and appointed ILA executive board and committees (see p. 5) are preparing to work on your behalf in the coming year. Please remember that you are all members of the library community. Thanks to those of you who do contribute _ by attending conferences, serving on committees, offering ideas and support, and serving as officers. Those of you who aren't actively supporting ILA, please consider offering your support through continued membership, committee participation, simply by sharing your thoughts and ideas, or thanking officers and committee people for jobs well done. Dawn Wittman
ED MEDIA DIVISION REPORT Stop by the registration desk at the ILA Convention and receive the Ed Media Annual Report for review and a copy of the Bylaws Revision Proposal to critique. This proposal will be discussed during the Ed Media Division Meeting on Friday morning. Your input will ensure positive, relevant decisions in strengthening and improving our public elementary, middle/junior high, and high school library/media centers. Come join the Roundtable on Friday afternoon in which the members of the Idaho School Library Media Program Coalition will give a summary of 1998-1999 activities. This will be a time of sharing the mission, goals, and activities needed to pursue certificated elementary librarians within Idaho School Media Centers. They met May 19 & 20 at the IEA building in Boise with consultants from the Idaho State Library to formulate a strategic plan including a timeline for its implementation. Please accept their invitation to join them. Your input is requested. Watch for further announcements of time and place. See you at the conference! Marlene Earnest
Proposed Revision of Academic and Special Libraries Division Bylaws One of the goals of the Executive Board for this year is revision of all the division bylaws. The following is the result of a collaborative effort on the part of the former and current division chairs and the chair-elect of the Academic and Special Libraries Division. Please review the proposed changes and send any questions or comments to Jennifer Ashby at jashby@lcsc.edu. Items to be deleted have a line through them. Items to be added are in bold font. We will vote on the proposed changes at the Annual Conference.
ACADEMIC AND SPECIAL LIBRARIES DIVISION BYLAWS ARTICLE I Name The name of this Division shall be the ARTICLE II Authority The Division shall be governed in all matters by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association, and the Bylaws of the Division in this order. No Division may incur expense on behalf of the Association unless authorized to do so by the Executive Board, nor may any Division commit the Association by any declaration of policy except in such matters as have been affirmed by the Executive Board to be the responsibility of the Division. ARTICLE III Purpose The purpose of this Division shall be to advance the common library
interests of all ARTICLE IV Membership Section 1. Criteria for Membership in the Division. Membership in the
Division shall be limited to those qualified members of the Idaho Library
Association who have requested membership in the Division as prescribed
in Section 2. Membership Year. The Division membership year shall be the same as the Association membership year. Instructors in library science and related subjects qualify for membership in this Division. ARTICLE V Officers and Executive Board Section 1. Officers. The officers of this Division shall be a Chairperson, a Vice-chairperson (Chairperson-elect), and a Secretary appointed by the Chairperson. Section 2. Executive Board. The above named officers shall serve as the Executive Board of the Division. Section 3. Elections. For the purpose of expediting the election of officers, the Chairperson of the Division shall be added to the Association Nominating Committee for the purpose of obtaining and submitting the names of consenting division members in good standing as candidates for the elective officers. Such Division officer nominees would then be elected by members of the Division on a mail ballot sent out with the general Association mail ballot with the conference mailing for the annual business meeting of the Association. Section 4. Term of Office. All officers shall serve for a term of Section 5. Vacancies a. In case the office of Chairperson becomes vacant, the Vice-chairperson shall assume office. If, for any reason, the Vice-chairperson is unable to assume the office or the office of Vice-chairperson is also vacant, the Secretary shall become the Chairperson until such time as the Division can meet, and elect a Chairperson in accordance with Article V, Section 3 above. In the event that all three offices become vacant concurrently the Executive Board of the Association shall appoint a Chairperson in accordance with Article V, Section 3 above. b. A vacancy in the office of Vice-chairperson shall be filled by appointment by the Division Chairperson. Section 6. Duties of Officers. The duties of the officers shall be those usually pertaining to such positions, in addition to the following: a. Chairperson: 1. Shall prepare a written report of Division activities for presentation at the annual business meeting of the Association. 2. Shall be Chairperson of the Executive Board of the Division. 3. Shall plan the Division program for the Annual Conference. 4. Shall serve as a voting member of the ILA Executive Board, and the Association Nominating Committee. 5. Shall submit bills for Divisional expenses, within authorized limits, to the ILA Executive Board. 6. Shall transmit the names of the new Division officers to the ILA Secretary, immediately after Division election. 7. Shall present a copy of the minutes of the Division meeting to the ILA Secretary for inclusion the proceedings of the Conference and publication the IDAHO LIBRARIAN. b. Vice-chairperson: Shall be the Chairperson-elect and shall serve as temporary Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson, and shall be responsible for duties assigned by the Chairperson. c. Secretary: 1. Shall keep accurate account of proceedings of all Division meetings in the form of minutes and shall have custody of the minutes and other such records of the Division. 2. Shall prepare a copy of the minutes of Division meetings at the Conference to be given to the Division Chairperson at the close of the Conference. 3. Shall place in the official depository for the Association all records of the Division which have been retired by the Division Chairperson. 4. Shall prepare correspondence as Chairperson directs. 5. Shall be the temporary Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson and Vice-chairperson. 6. Shall keep and maintain a roster of all qualified members of the Division. ARTICLE VI Meetings Section 1. Annual Business Meeting. The annual business meeting shall be held in conjunction with the Annual Conference of the Idaho Library Association. Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Division may be arranged by the Executive Board. ARTICLE VII Committees Section 1. Special Committees. Special Committees may be appointed by the Chairperson. Such committees shall serve until completion of the work for which they were appointed. Section 2. Nominating Committee. A nominating committee of three members shall be appointed as needed. ARTICLE VIII Quorum A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of five (5) members of the Division. ARTICLE IX Amendments The Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the total Division
membership. Such a vote may be taken by mail, in person, or both.
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS New ILA Officers, Chairs Elected Results of the 1999 ILA elections are in. The winners are as follows: § Second Vice-President: Marlene Earnest
The division chairs-elect will take office at the 2000 ILA annual conference.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Notice Requirement Help is Available The Notice section of the ADA's Title II Regulations (35.106) requires that all public entities, including public libraries and library districts inform employees and the public of the ADA's applicability to their governmental activities, programs and services, and of the protections against discrimination assured by the ADA. In the case of Clarkson v. Coughlin et al., 898 F. Supp. 1019 (S.D.N.Y.), the federal district court ruled that a public entity had violated the law by failing to provide ADA notices. To meet the requirements of the ADA, therefore, each library should provide notice and offer the information in forms accessible to individuals with disabilities. To simplify compliance, the International City/County Management Association
(ICMA) is offering ADA NOTICE KITS. The ADA Notice Kits offered by ICMA
contain ADA Notices in print and formats accessible to many individuals
with disabilities (large print, Braille, audiocassette, and computer diskette).
The Kits' color Notice Posters, and other formats, contain information
on local government program accessibility, reasonable accommodation, effective
communication, employment practices, and information resources, as required
by law. The Notice text in the Kits has been reviewed by the ADA Technical
Assistance Center—Region V. Kits are $59 each plus $7.50 shipping and handling.
Kits include free updates. For more information or to order please call
toll free: (877) 232-5487 or fax or send a purchase order to ADA KIT _
ICMA Project, 56 Salem Lane, Evanston, IL 60203. Toll Free Fax: (877) 640-1430.
Free Women's History Catalog Available History becomes today's fascinating story with the new materials available through the fall Women's History Catalog of the National Women's History Project. You'll find colorful posters, reference books, CD-ROMs, biographies, and short videos included, too. "Public interest in history—and women's history in particular—has increased steadily over the past decade," reports Molly MacGregor, NWHP Executive Director. "Women in the twentieth century changed American society in ways that would have astonished earlier generations. Our latest Women's History Catalog has 40 pages of excellent, carefully reviewed materials that library patrons of all ages will find interesting and useful for learning these remarkable stories." For this free Women's History Catalog of multicultural materials, contact
the National Women's History Project, 7738 Bell Rd., Windsor, CA 95492-8518,
call (707) 838-6000, or e-mail nwhp@aol.com. For links chosen specifically
to help with women's history research, visit the web site http://www.NWHP.org.
Applications, materials available for new "Let's Talk About It" series Applications and materials are available for grants of up to $1,000 to host the new "Let's Talk About It: The Next Generation of Reading and Discussion Programs for Libraries" series administered by the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office and funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The deadline to apply is May 5, 2000, for September 2000 programs. "Let's Talk About It," a reading and book discussion model developed by ALA in the 1980s, focuses on reading a common series of texts, chosen by a nationally known scholar, and discussing them in the context of a larger theme. During the past 15 years, the model has been adopted, and adapted, by hundreds of libraries throughout the country. Up to 50 libraries will receive grants from the ALA/NEH to support local scholar honorarium, and program and promotion costs. Grant recipients will also receive a theme kit containing a tip sheet, discussion theme materials in camera-ready form (available separately for each series), ten posters and a logo slick for producing promotional materials. Three new themes have been developed: "End of the World or World Without End: Readings for the Millennium"; "Long Gone: The Literature and Culture of African American Migration"; and "One Vision, Many Voices: Latino Literature in the U.S." The package also includes a revised "Not For Children Only: Classic Children's Literature for Adults." Public libraries as well as other libraries that offer programming for the public and/or librarians with public programming or relevant experience are eligible to apply for grants. Among the criteria to be considered in the review process are: the library's readiness to take on the project; the selection of a qualified humanities scholar to lead the group; a publicity and audience recruitment plan; evidence of local partnerships; and the library's ability to evaluate outcomes. The new "Let's Talk About It" materials are also available for purchase. A complete set theme pack, containing materials for all four themes, costs $125. Individual theme packs are $40 each. Products with the theme logo baseball cap, lapel pin, T-shirt, folder/writing pad and water bottle are also available. Applications, guidelines and "Let's Talk About It" product order information
are available on the ALA Public Programs Office Website http://ala.org/publicprograms.
For more information, call (312) 280-5045.
More than 100 programs to be offered at PLA National Conference More than 100 continuing education programs will be offered during the Public Library Association's (PLA) 8th National Conference, "PLA 2000," to be held March 28-April 1, 2000, in Charlotte, N.C. Conference-goers will be able to build schedules tailored to their specific information needs. Program tracks cover ten areas of specialization: buildings; children's services; special populations/young adult; marketing/customer service; staffing/staff development; technology; trustees/friends/volunteers/advocacy; library administration; author/literary leaders' advisory; adult services/reference. Talk table sessions, author luncheons and tours of Charlotte and surrounding areas are among the other conference activities planned. PLA 2000 also will feature a new and improved career center and seminars related to career goal setting and achieving, developing resume writing and interviewing skills. Preconferences on leadership development, libraries as cultural community centers, readers' advisory, library board trusteeship and technology are scheduled to be held immediately before the conference. In addition to these continuing education programs, more than 230 companies will exhibit. Several special exhibit events, including an opening reception and coffee breaks, are scheduled throughout the conference. PLA members will automatically receive registration information in September.
To become a member, be placed on a mailing list, or for more information,
call (800) 545-2433, ext. 5PLA. Information also is available on the PLA
Web site at www.pla.org. PLA is a division of the American Library Association.
BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW The following is a list of books available for review in the Idaho Librarian. If you would like to review one of these titles, please e-mail Christine DeZelar-Tiedman (chrisd@belle.lib.uidaho.edu). Postal address: University of Idaho Library, P.O. Box 442350, Moscow, Idaho 83844-2350 Andrus, Cecil D. and Connelly, Joel. Cecil Andrus: politics western style. Seattle: Sasquatch Books, c1998. [The review copy is signed by Andrus]. Contested Landscape: the Politics of Wilderness in Utah and the West. ed. by Doug Goodman and Daniel McCool. Salt Lake City: Univ. of Utah Press, 1999. Crandall, David. Fly Free as Easy as 1-2-3. Boise: Legendary Publishing, c1998. Elkins, Andrew. The Great Poem of the Earth: A Study of the Poetry of Thomas Hornsby Ferril. Moscow: University of Idaho Press, 1997. Frome, Michael. Green Ink: an introduction to environmental journalism. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1999. Hochman, Jhan. Green Cultural Studies: Nature in Film, Novel and Theory. Moscow: University of Idaho Press, 1998. Hosac, Chet. The Orphan. Boise: Legendary Pub. Co., c1999. Knudson, Barbara. Living in Chaos, Walking in Peace: A Matter of Ascension. Boise: Legendary Publishing, c1998. Kuhns, Michael. A Guide to the Trees of Utah and the Intermountain West. Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 1998. Lindsay, Jeanne Warren and Jean Brunelli. Nurturing Your Newborn: Young Parents' Guide to Baby's First Month. Buena Park, CA: Morning Glory Press, 1999. Lukas, David. Watchable Birds of the Great Basin. Missoula, Mont.: Mountain Press Pub. Co., 1999. Madsen, Betty M. and Madsen, Brigham D. North to Montana! Jehus, Bullwhackers, and Mule Skinners on the Montana Trail. Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, c1998. Moeller, Bill and Jan. Lewis & Clark: A Photographic Journey. Missoula, Mont.: Mountain Press Pub. Co., 1999. Morrison, John, and Morrison, Catherine Wright. Mavericks: the Lives and Battles of Montana's Political Legends. Moscow: University of Idaho Press, 1997. Peterson, John Alton. Utah's Black Hawk War. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1999. Russell, Bert and Marie. Rock Burst. Moscow: University of Idaho Press, 1998. Sanford, Marcelline Hemingway. At the Hemingways: with fifty years of correspondence between Ernest and Marcelline Hemingway. Centennial ed., with a forward by Michael Reynolds. Moscow: University of Idaho Press, 1999. Shadow Cat: Encountering the American Mountain Lion. ed. by Susan Ewing and Elizabeth Grossman. Seattle: Sasquatch Books, c1999. Spence, Clark C. For Wood River or Bust: Idaho's Silver Boom of the 1880's. Moscow: Univ. of Idaho Press, 1999. Tilford, Gregory L. From Earth to Herbalist: an Earth-conscious guide to medicinal plants. Missoula, Mont.: Mountain Press Pub. Co., 1998. Waitley, Douglas. William Henry Jackson: Framing the Frontier. Missoula: Mountain Press Pub. Co., 1998. White Hat, Albert, Sr. Reading and Writing the Lakota Language.
Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1999.
STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION 1. Publication title: Idaho Librarian. 2. Publication number: 0019-1213. 3. Date of filing: September 22, 1999. 4. Issue frequency: bimonthly. 5. Number of issues published annually: 6. 6. Annual subscription price: $15. 7. Complete mailing address of known office of publication: University of Idaho Library, P.O. Box 442350, Moscow, ID 83844-2350. 8. Complete mailing address of headquarters or general business office of publisher: Idaho Library Association, P.O. Box 8533, Moscow, ID 83843-8533. 9. Full names and complete mailing addresses of publisher, editor, and managing editor: Publisher: Idaho Library Association, P.O. Box 8533, Moscow, ID 83843-8533. Editor: Christine DeZelar-Tiedman, University of Idaho Library, P.O. Box 442350, Moscow, ID 83844-2350. 10. Owner: Idaho Library Association, P.O. Box 8533, Moscow, ID 83843-8533. 11. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities: none. 12. Tax status. The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes: has not changed during the preceding 12 months. 13. Publication title: Idaho Librarian 14. Issue date for publication data below: August 1999 15. Extent and nature of circulation
Avg. no. copies each
No. copies
a. Total no. of copies (net press run)
620
625
Percent paid and/or requested circulation
99%
99%
BOOK REVIEWS Watters, Ron. Winter Tales and Trails: Skiing, Snowshoeing and Snowboarding in Idaho, the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park. Pocatello, ID: Great Rift Press, 1998. 1-877625-05-1 (paperbound); 1-877625-06-X (hardbound). Anyone who enjoys cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, or snowboarding will enjoy this informative and entertaining book. It is a compilation of years of research and is a completely revised version of the original Ski Trails and Old Timers' Tales (1978) by the same author. The book is well researched, as is indicated in the acknowledgements, where Watters pays tribute to over 150 individuals and 29 public land management agencies for their contributions and overall assistance. Actually, this is two books in one. Part One, titled Winter Tales: The History of Skiing in Idaho provides a rich historical narrative of winter travel in Idaho. Fascinating stories of drama and mirth honor and retrace the rich traditions of western winter travel. Tales of handcrafted skis (known as "long snowshoes" of five to 12 feet in length in the old days), gold dust fever, poachers, winter mail delivery, and other exciting and interesting subjects fill this section. However, as a good guidebook should, most of the 352 pages of this book are devoted to describing winter trails. But wait! There are more personal stories to read and enjoy in Part II, Winter Trails: Skiing, Snowshoeing and Snowboarding that are interwoven into each winter trail area's descriptions. As any backcountry user can tell you, a guidebook that features colorful stories about the area that you are visiting can immensely increase the enjoyment of the visit. Watters realizes this, and serves up a taste of local flavor into each region featured in the book. He is a wonderful storyteller, drawing from his own experiences and from those of long ago. In the opening chapter of Part Two, general information is clearly and conscientiously addressed, including recommended backcountry emergency kits, avalanche hazards, and environmental concerns. Helpful graphic symbols describe trail type and difficulty. The regions featured in this guidebook include: § Sandpoint-Bonners Ferry
Aerial illustrations, easy-to-use maps, and enticing photography give the book overall visual appeal and reference value. Cross-Country Skier magazine called this guidebook "The standard by which other books are judged." It is a must for anyone who loves the western winter. Since the Great Rift Press is a small local press, it may be more difficult to locate than other publishers. They may be contacted by writing to 1135 East Bonneville, Pocatello, ID 83201 or by calling 1-800-585-6857. Ron Watters is well qualified to write a book about winter tales and trails. As the director of the Outdoor Program at Idaho State University, he has organized and run outdoor trips throughout the region for more than 25 years. He has also organized a number of long winter backcountry trips, including an east-to-west, 175-mile ski traverse of the Idaho Primitive Area and a north-to-south solo traverse of the River of No Return Wilderness. He has written several other outdoor books, including Ski Camping: A Guide to the Delights of Backcountry Skiing, The Whitewater River Book, and Never Turn Back: The Life of Whitewater Pioneer Walt Blackadar. Because of his interest in outdoor books, Ron conceptualized and now directs the National Outdoor Book Awards, which are co-sponsored by Idaho State University and the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education. Daly, Katherine and Ron Watters. Kath and Ron's Guide to Idaho Paddling: Flatwater and Easy Whitewater Trips. Pocatello, ID: Great Rift Press, 1999. 1-877625-07-8 When the snows melt, the thoughts of outdoor enthusiasts turn to rivers, which is what happened to married couple Kath and Ron. Kathy is the owner and editor of the Great Rift Press, and was formerly a news reporter and anchor for KPVI Channel 6 in Pocatello. She first met Ron when she interviewed him upon his return from his month-long ski traverse across the River of No Return Wilderness (see previous book review). Together they paddled throughout Idaho in an open canoe to research this guide to many of the "laid-back, easy-going" stretches of river in the state. As they state in the opening chapter, "This book is for anyone interested in rivers. In particular it's for families with children and folks with little experience on rivers." Later they explain, "In addition to canoes, the rivers in this book can be run in kayaks, open kayaks, lake kayaks, inflatable kayaks, row boats, drift boats, catarafts and mini-cats used for fishing." After addressing the safety issues of life jackets and high water, they discuss the importance of supporting local businesses, respecting private lands, public land fees, river conservation, and the International Scale of River Difficulty (which goes from Class I to class VI, where I is easy water and class VI is extremely difficult and dangerous). Of particular interest is their description of the "Expanded Class I Scale," which subdivides class I into six sub-sections ranging from 1.0 (flat, lake-like water) to 1.5 (rapid water with small rapids, waves, and obstructions). This is a very sensible, important, and creative innovation that can especially benefit novices and families with children. The introductory chapter continues with sections about how to access information on the best water flow levels to run the rivers, maps, and river map booklets (available from the Great Rift Press). A key to icons and symbols used in the book describes road conditions, river landscape, and river difficulty, among others. Excellent maps, mileage charts, photographs, and descriptions supplement the icons to provide a comprehensive overview of each stretch. The "flatwater and easy" stretches of rivers discussed in this guidebook include: § Southeast Idaho (Bear River, Blackfoot River, Portneuf River,
Marsh Creek, Snake River)
The book concludes with appendices that describe "Private Lands and Paddlers' Rights" including specific citations from the Idaho State Code, and a handy "List of Rivers and Associated Topographic Maps" to assist paddlers with identifying maps for each river. Overall, this is an excellent guidebook for families with children and folks with little experience on rivers. Since the Great Rift Press is a small local press, it may be more difficult to locate than other publishers. They may be contacted by writing to 1135 East Bonneville, Pocatello, ID 83201 or by calling 1-800-585-6857. Jim Fullerton
Madsen, Brigham Dwaine. Against the Grain: Memoirs of a Western Historian. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1998. ISBN 1-56085-113-9. LC 98-17518. $31.95. Brig Madsen's autobiography has special significance for Idaho libraries. Along with such talented Idaho historians as Leonard Arrington, Vardis Fisher, Francis Haines, Dean May, F. Ross Peterson, Carlos Schwantes, and Robert C. Sims, Madsen is a resourceful author who has published substantial information relating to his state, as well as many other consequential items that deserve attention. Born October 21, 1914 in Magna, Utah, Madsen moved with his family in 1919 to a Pocatello suburb, where he gained thorough exposure to carpentry technology, in addition to academic experience. Becoming interested in local Bannock Indian history, he went on to pursue that significant Idaho research subject, along with a variety of additional programs. Always known to his family and personal friends as Dwaine Madsen, he was identified during his wartime military service as Brigham, and that variation became standard for his public career. Before he completed his initial two college years there—all that were available in Pocatello then—Brig had discovered his future career as a student of Professor Giovanni M.D.G. Costigan, who soon became a national celebrity following his University of Wisconsin and Oxford University preparation. Brig's autobiography (p. 70) affirms that he "took every class he [Costigan] taught, listened in rapt attention to every word he uttered in his clipped British accent, and discovered through him" that he wanted to become a college or university history professor. By then Brig had gained a great interest in historiography (which he mastered easily) prior to his graduation, June 6, 1934. A two-year appointment (until July 24, 1936) as a Latter-day Saints missionary in Tennessee and North Carolina interrupted Brig's educational career, but gave him excellent management experience. During that assignment, he emerged as an administrator in charge of evangelical operations for a large mountain region, where he served as district president. Then, following his return to Pocatello, he completed his undergraduate education at the University of Utah in nearby Salt Lake City. Summer employment back in Idaho near Saint Anthony helped fund his university graduation, after which a year's activity as superintendent of schools (along with handling nearly all other staff positions as well) gave him a variety of educational experience in Pingree—a rural community west of Blackfoot and Fort Hall. Then he set out to complete a doctorate in history at the University of California, Berkeley—an enterprise interrupted by wartime military service. That move completed his Idaho residential career, but marked only a beginning of his exceptional contribution to Idaho history. This review is designed for Idaho librarians and is prepared by an Idaho Library Association member of several decades. But even if Brig's career had no Idaho connection, his autobiography would have a great deal of utility for libraries in our state. Even before Brig had a post-war opportunity to finish his doctoral program in Berkeley, his military assignments—including experience as chief Army historian for a substantial area in Germany—prepared him for a far more than ordinary future career. His European travels and responsibilities broadened his abilities notably. After completing his doctoral program at Berkeley in 1948, Brig's early professional career included six years as a history department faculty member in Provo at Brigham Young University. There he naturally continued to participate in Mormon Church activities. But some restrictive religious demands on that campus led him to adopt a much more independent outlook by 1954, when he decided to withdraw from that institution altogether. He continued to recognize that many of his denomination's religious practices had substantial useful features, but he also preferred Carl Sagan's philosophical approach and became decidedly agnostic. That development led him to spend seven years in his alternative occupation of building construction and management. After his return to university and administrative responsibilities with an appointment at Utah State University in Logan (1961-1964), Brig accepted a variety of interesting assignments. On June 1, 1964, he became an assistant director of training for Peace Corps volunteers, a position that kept him in Washington, D.C., and led to a similar responsibility as National Director of Training for Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). In 1966 he returned to Salt Lake City as Dean of Continuing Education at the University of Utah. Within a year he emerged as University Administrative Vice-President, prior to transferring after four years to its history department. During that episode, he served for a time as University Librarian in charge of all its library operations. His success in improving his library staff's academic status was especially significant. Yet he always preferred service in a university history department, where he returned as department chairman in 1974. More than a few of his current activities (1974-1999) relate to Idaho, where his projects continue to be important. Merle Wells
Ippisch, Hanneke. Spotted Bear: A Rocky Mountain Folktale. Ill. by Hedvig Rappe-Flowers. Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Publishing Co., 1998. Once in a while a book comes along that is magical. Spotted Bear is such a tale. In this picture book, which explains how some bears received their unique coloration, the match of text to illustrations is enchanting. The words demand to be read aloud, as they flow lyrically along, inviting the reader to savor them on the tongue. The framing illustrations on each double-spread depict the natural history of the plants and animals of the Rocky Mountain range. A complete section of notes about the art is included at the end of the book. Each full-colored page brings forth new details to delight the eye, from pink Calypso Fairy Slippers to a gray wolf howling at the moon. Many stories are timeless. This original tale of how the bear with the bright, white spot on his chest became a spotted one reads like a folktale. Only those bears that have been noble, that have shown courage and prudence to mankind, are honored. Through the combined efforts of author and illustrator, we are introduced to the magical wonders of a moonlit midsummer night when the animals gather near Quintonkon Creek, Montana. For once every five years, the beargrass blooms, and the torch-like blossoms bend down to mark those few bears on their chests. I would recommend this picture book for any library that has children who love natural history or to any librarian who is always looking for a good book to share aloud with her storytime kids. Betsy Bybell Betsy Bybell is Branch Coordinator for the Latah County Library District in Moscow, Idaho and a storyteller who is always searching for just that perfect story. |
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