FRIENDS OF THE ALBION COLLEGE LIBRARY

Year End Review: 1999

MEMBERSHIP

In 1999 the Friends of the Albion College Library had 55 members.

EVENTS & PROGRAMS

The Odd Topics Society Luncheon Group is thriving. In the past year we learned about reproduction Shaker furniture, Australian Aboriginal art, what goes on behind the scenes at The Late Show with David Letterman, the online auction site Ebay and ding-a-ling-a-ding.....change ringing. Upcoming talks look every bit as interesting such as Tamara Crupi's talk in January on "un-natural nature". The Briton Room is open for business, so we will return to our noon hour luncheon format.

Last spring the Friends Annual Book Sale raised over $1,000!! We also had a fine turnout for the Book Sale Preview Lecture discussing the MacGregor Collection in the Albion College Rare Book Room. See Upcoming Events below for information on our next book sale.

The Friends continued to host Books & Coffee, recently renamed Readings & Lectures, with the English Department. We most recently co-hosted GLCA New Writers Award Winner, Becky Hagenston, on October 26th. She read from her award-winning collection of short stories, A Gram of Mars, published by Sarabande Books in 1998. The next Readings & Lectures will feature the GLCA Poetry award winner. Details will follow when available....

PURCHASES & GIFTS

Thanks to the generous support of our Friends and Mrs. Dallas Harger the library was able to purchase the Directory of American Scholars. This important 5 volume set provides biographical information on prominent educators and scholars in the humanities. The Friends also provided funds for the purchase of M.F.K. Fisher, A Life in Letters: Correspondence, 1929-1991 and Seasons for Growing: The Diaries of Lizzie A. Dravenstatt, 1870- 1928 and tee-shirts for the student participants in the 1999 Elkin R. Isaac Research Symposium. Finally, let's not forget our most colorful purchase...... the Odd Topics Society dodo banner!!!

UPCOMING EVENTS in 2000

Odd Topics Luncheons are scheduled for: January 26, February 23, March 22, September 27, October 25 and November 15.

The Friends Annual Book Sale is tentatively scheduled for March 29 (Friends' Preview), 30 and 31. We have loads of books so it looks like another big money maker. The Friends' 1999 Year In Review and a list of upcoming events for 2000 are posted on the library's home page at http://www.albion.edu/library/Friends/Main.asp.