Top News: March 2008 Archives

We are pleased to announce that Paley Library has two new state-of-the art self-check machines on the first floor of Paley underneath the portrait of Samuel Paley. The new machines now feature a two step procedure that allows all sizes of books to be checked out successfully. With the old check-out machines we found that many of our users were unable to use them for large books such as music scores and art history books. Size and barcode placement is no longer a problem.

The graphics on the screen make them very user-friendly and we hope that many more of our users will be able to take advantage of their convenience.

---Penelope Myers

While it's great that the Temple University Libraries have added so many new electronic databases, journals and book collections, our list of databases was getting extremely long. Finding the right database for a research project was becoming a challenge, and scrolling our A-Z list a bit cumbersome. To improve student and faculty access to our rich collection of e-resources we introduce Database Finder. It's a completely new way to find the right database. Instead of scrolling through the databases from A to Z, or examining subject groupings, Database Finder is a search engine that locates electronic databases, journal and book collections based on the words in the name of the database or by broad subject category. In time, Database Finder will feature a more robust keyword search capability. Here is a glimpse of the search interface:

Note that if you do prefer the old A-Z list or subject browse of the databases, those approaches are still available. But we hope you'll prefer the ability to quickly access your database of choice by searching its name or finding several to choose from based on your subject. If you have more questions about Database Finder, please contact your departmental library liaison. We look forward to your feedback and comments.

Daddy Grace was a flamboyant preacher of the 1930's, 40's, and 50's who created a religious organization with churches situated mainly up and down the east coast of the United States, including Philadelphia. His church was pentecostal in orientation and known for extravagant rituals, parades, and festivals. Until now, Daddy Grace and his United House of Prayer for All People has been relatively neglected in the scholarship of religious studies. Temple's Adjunct Associate Professor Marie Dallam has gone a long way in filling in the gaps in our understanding of this fascinating figure in American religious history with her new book, Daddy Grace: A Celebrity Preacher and His House of Prayer, published by New York University Press.

On March 10, Marie Dallam stopped by Paley Library to discuss her new book with librarian Fred Rowland. Below is a link to this audio interview.

Marie Dallam Audio Interview (mp3)

Don't forget that if Daddy Grace: A Celebrity Preacher and His House of Prayer is checked out from Paley Library, you can request it through E-ZBorrow.

---Fred Rowland

In celebration of Women’s History Month, legendary jazz performers Katherine “Kittye” DeChavis and Trudy Pitts spoke and performed at Paley Library on March 5th, 2008. After the performance, Ms. DeChavis and Ms. Pitts joined librarian Anne Harlow for questions and conversation recorded on this Library Podcast.

In the podcast, Katherine “Kittye” DeChavis describes her earliest musical experiences. She recalls the musical environment of Philadelphia that provided many opportunities to learn, to perform, and to listen to various kinds of music. Ms. DeChavis describes her move to Montreal, and then to New York, working at the Paradise and the Apollo Theaters. She tells the story of how she unexpectedly came to record the hits “Hucklebuck” and “Be Anything but Be Mine.” Ms. DeChavis expresses heartfelt concern for young people today, and offers advice for students who are studying to be performers.

Trudy Pitts, a native Philadelphian, performs and records extensively on jazz organ. She has degrees from the Philadelphia Music Academy, Temple University, and Juilliard, and is currently on the piano faculty of the University of the Arts. In the podcast, Trudy recalls her extensive training in classical music, and how growing up in a musical family in Philadelphia influenced her music. She talks about her transition from classical music to jazz, and how she incorporates classical elements into her performances. Trudy shares her philosophies of being a wife, mother, and professional musician, and gives warmhearted guidance for aspiring young musicians.

Special thanks to Sebastian Derry, Media Services Librarian, for serving as the sound engineer for the podcast and to Dr. Diane D. Turner, Curator of the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection, for planning today’s program and reaching out and inviting these two extraordinary women to come to the library today. And thank you to Kittye DeChavis and Trudy Pitts for sharing their experiences and insights with us.

Get the audio here

Ms. Trudy Pitts takes a bow after her performance at Temple University's Paley Library, March 5, 2008.

Curator of the Blockson Collection Dr. Diane Turner, WRTI radio announcers Harrison Ridley and Bob Perkins, and University Librarian Larry Alford with Tracy Pitts and Kittye DeChavis