October 2002

“Book Person of the Year” Linda Sue Park    

The Newbery Award is named for John Newbery (1713-1767), a British publisher who is credited with being the first to issue books especially for children. René Paul Chambellan designed The Newbery Medal, which was first awarded in 1922 to Hendrik Willem van Loon for The Story of Mankind. It was the first children’s book award and continues to be the most prestigious recognition given to an American children’s book based on its literary merit.
At our next meeting our speaker will be Linda Sue Park the winner of the 2001Newbery Medal for her book A Single Shard published in 2001 by Clarion Books. The American Library Association awards the Medal each year for the “Most Distinguished Contribution to American Literature for Children.” 

A Single Shard, which takes place in 12th century Korea tells the story of Tree-ear, an orphan boy who is determined to learn the potter’s craft and overcomes many obstacles to reach his goal. According to Kathleen Odean, chair of the Newbery Award Selection Committee, "Tree-ear’s determination and bravery in pursuing his dream of becoming a potter takes readers on a literary journey that demonstrates how courage, honor and perseverance can overcome great odds and bring great happiness. Park effectively conveys 12th century Korea in this masterful piece of historical fiction."  

Ms. Park’s parents were born and raised in Korea, and in the past few years she has developed a fascination with her heritage. This interest inspired her to write A Single Shard and three other critically acclaimed historical novels set in Korea: Seesaw Girl (1999), The Kite Fighters (2000), and When My Name was Keoko (2002). Ms. Parks lives in Rochester with her husband and two children.  

Last spring the Bibliophile Society of Rochester named Linda Sue Park our “Book Person of the Year” and she will be presented with the award at the meeting. A reception will follow. Don’t miss this very special event.  


Wednesday, October 16, 2002  ` Brighton Town Hall ` 7:30 PM

President's Corner
By Bob Eames

Bob Reidel’s talk on Modern Library Editions at our first meeting of the season was very informative and interesting. Thanks to Bob for bringing with him so many titles in the series, showing how format and bindings have changed since Modern Library’s founding in 1917. 

Following the success of the “Members’ Manuscript” night at our May meeting, John Westerberg suggested that we publish our efforts. If anyone is interested in compiling and editing such an endeavor, please let me know. 

Copies of the fall 2002 issue of The Fellowship of American Bibliophilic Societies Newsletter are now available. Thanks to Ray Edinger for reporting the activities of our Society to the “Club and Notes” section.

  Member’s Collection on Display

      Submitted by John Westerberg 

Items from the collection of Charles Beyah are on display at St. John Fisher Library until November 15, 2002. Charles, a retired principal of a Rochester city school and a member of our Society, has been a long-time collector of Black history. On display are newspapers, periodicals, and artifacts of slavery.   &

 

New Booksellers' Association Formed
      Submitted by Martha Kelly

A new brochure listing Rochester Area sellers of used and rare books is available at most bookstores in the area and from any RABA member.  RABA is a new organization of local booksellers, formed to promote awareness of the used and rare book business.  Our first project was the production of the new brochure; next is a special weekend community project.  We'll be donating 10% of store proceeds on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, November
14,15, and 16, to Literacy Volunteers.   A website is in the planning stages.  We'll keep you posted on this and other RABA events. 

Simon Winchester Talk at UR

  Simon Winchester, best-selling author of The Professor and the Madman, The Story of the Oxford English Dictionary and The Map that Changed the World: William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology will speak in Hubbell Auditorium in Hutchison Hall on October 11 at 5 p.m. followed by a book signing. His talk “Pleasures of a Writing Life” describes his adventures while researching stories including a stint in a Patagonian jail and a trip down the Yangtze River. Dr. Seymour Schwartz, a nationally recognized author and map collector, will introduce him.    &

 

Two Musical Exhibitions 

On display in the Hilfiker Gallery and the Seward Room in the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections in the University of Rochester Library  is Mid-Century Jazz in Rochester, 1955-1962: Photographic Prints from the Paul Hoeffler Archive. The display brings together classic portraits and never-seen shots of artists at rehearsals, with admiring fans, on stage, and in quiet moments of thinking and composing music.

Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, and Sonny Rollins numbered among the musicians and vocalists Hoeffler photographed. At the Pythodd Club, Ridgecrest Inn, Eastman Theatre, and the Rochester Roller Rink, Hoeffler documented them and their ubiquitous instruments. His black-and-white photographs captured them at public performances, in hotel rooms, and outside clubs taking breaks between sets. In the introduction to the exhibit, the photographs are described “as a collective portrait of Rochester jazz history that had begun to fade in memory, but has now been brought back into sharp focus.” Almost 100 photographs from the collection recently acquired by the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections are on display. 

Scaling The Heights: Rochester's Musical Innovators is the current exhibition in the reception area of the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections. The exhibition highlights the many significant composers and performers who have Rochester connections either because they were born here, lived here, or have ties to the Eastman School of Music. The composers featured include David Diamond, Howard Hanson, Alec Wilder, and Alexander Courage, who wrote the theme for the original Star Trek television series. Performers include Chuck Mangione, Paul Smoker, David Warfield, Cab Calloway, David Hochstein, and Renée Fleming. Most of the material on display is from the collections of the Sibley Music Library at the Eastman School of Music and includes original manuscript scores, programs, recordings, and photographs.

Both exhibitions, which are free and open to the public during the Department's regular hours (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9 -5; Wednesday, 9-8; Saturday, 11-3), continue through February 15, 2003

Dues are Due!

 Don’t forget that it’s time to pay your dues for the 2002-2003 season.

Dues remain at $15 for a single membership and $25 for a couple. Bring your check to the next meeting and give it to our Treasurer Dick Orr or mail it to: Bibliophile Society of Rochester, P. O. Box 18695, Rochester, NY 14618.