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University Libraries

Birds, Birds, Birds!
February is traditionally a time when western Illinois celebrates the observation of bald eagles as they make their way south along the Mississippi River in search of food. University Libraries is no exception to this celebration. On Friday, February 3, 2012 University Libraries will host the “Birds, Birds, Birds!” reception celebrating multiple ornithological influences in the Leslie F. Malpass Library. The reception celebrates Dr. Thomas Dunstan, professor emeritus of biology at Western Illinois University, induction into the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame in 2011; the donation of the sculpture, Echo, to the library; and the expansion of the Petersen Ornithological Collection. 

Dr. Dunstan was recognized for his, “commitment to natural resources protection, conservation and enhancement of outdoor recreation opportunities in the state” according to the Illinois Conservation Foundation. Specifically, he was recognized for his work to protect and expand the wildlife habitat of bald eagles. Although he retired in 2007, Dr. Dunstan continues his wildlife work.

If you have visited the Access Services desk in the Malpass Library in the last six months, you have surely noticed Echo, a sculpture created by WIU 2011 graduate, Mark Padlo. Echo was created in Don Crouch’s sculpture course here at WIU, and was purchased for University Libraries by Dr. Patricia Hutinger, in memory of her son, Scott Hutinger. 

The Mary Lou and Peter Petersen, Jr. Ornithological Collection recently received additional books. The collection contains over a 1,000 unique titles of rare and high quality books, periodicals, banding cards and records dating back to 1886.

The reception will be held in the Garden Lounge of the Leslie F. Malpass Library from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Please join us in celebrating Birds, Birds, Birds!

Dr. Yan Lwin Has Been Busy
Dr. Yan Lwin, a WIU Library Leadership Board member and retired WIU Physics professor recently was ordained a Buddhist Monk at the Burmese Buddhist Association in Elmhurst, IL. Dr. Lwin was previously ordained as a novice as a boy in Burma. He participated along with six other men and one boy (novice) during the two day ceremony consisting of daily fasting, meditation and quiet reflection. For the complete story, read more.

Dr. Lwin was also recently invited and received financial assistance to attend and participate in the "Conference on Graphene" which was held Friday-Saturday, January 13-14 at the University of California, Santa Barbara Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics.

Graphene is a most peculiar and unique material which consists simply of one atomic layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice. As such graphene is the ultimate two-dimensional crystal since it is only one atom thick in the third dimension! 

"The Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, which has been in operation since 1979, is funded by the National Science Foundation and the University of California. The general purpose of the institute is to contribute to the progress of theoretical physics, especially in areas overlapping the traditional subfields, in ways that are not easily realized in existing institutions," said Lwin.

As a participant, Lwin spent a day of training at Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope (LCOGT) Network to assist in research-based learning activities in the classroom. This opportunity will be made available to interested students in outreach and education program of high schools and community colleges near the area of the Western Illinois.

Lwin, who retired from Western in July 2006 after 41 years of service, is originally from Burma (also called Myanmar). He came to the United States in 1955 to study physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a government scholar. In 1965, he joined the WIU physics department. He has also worked for the Solid State Science Division of Argonne National Laboratory as a resident research scientist, as a visiting physics professor at the University of Illinois and as a visiting scholar in China at the invitation of the Chinese government. His main research interests are condensed matter physics, the point imperfections and radiation damage in solids. Other areas of interests include physics education and computer applications in physics.

Retired NASA Astronaut Coming to WIU
The first-ever Dr. Elizabeth Kaspar Women's Lecture for University Libraries will take place Wednesday, March 7, 2012 as retired NASA astronaut Dr. Linda Godwin visits WIU to discuss women and science.

Dr. Elizabeth A. Kaspar, a member of the former educational foundations department (now educational and interdisciplinary studies), has contributed $25,000 to endow a permanent lecture series for University Libraries during Women's History Month at Western.

"Creating a lecture series to highlight accomplished women by bringing them to Western means a great deal to me," Kaspar said. "I think it is important for our students, especially our female students, to be inspired by women during Women's History Month. Women may not have the struggles they once did, but girls still need to be reminded they can be or do anything they want."

Kaspar's efforts to eliminate gender inequity on the Macomb campus are legendary. She is credited with developing the first women's studies course at WIU, leading to the eventual women's studies curriculum, and for chairing Western's first Committee on the Status of Women. She received the Western Organization for Women (WOW) Achievement Award in 1990-91 and served as vice president for the Illinois State Commission on Women. Kaspar was also vice president and president of the Foundation for the National Association of State Commissions on Women that met annually in Washington, D.C. In September 2010, she was honored by local artist Constance "Connie" Berg through dedication of the sculpture, "Furious Flower," installed in the WIU Multicultural Center as a constant reminder of Kaspar’s achievements.

Kaspar is a native of Louisville, KY. She taught and served as dean of women at the Westhampton College of the University of Richmond and Albion College before coming to Western in 1965.

More details on Dr. Linda Godwin's March 7, 2012 presentation are coming soon.