Chambers Library

Current & Upcoming Events

Friends of The Library Awards Reception

April 24, 2008 - 3:00pm, New Books Area on First Floor

Please join us at to our Awards Reception to honor the winners of the "Libraries and You" essay contest, and the recipients of the Faculty Materials Grants.

“Libraries and You” Student Essay Contest Winners

Abha Eli Phoboo learned to love libraries in Kathmandu, Nepal. Dawn Brotherton discovered her favorite escape as a child on the campus of the Central Michigan University. Benjamin Davis is the library outlaw...and unrepentant. These three students are the winners of this year's "Libraries and You" contest. Benjamin Davis, an English major, won the first prize of $200; Dawn Brotherton, Math Education, won $100, and Abha Eli Phoboo, Creative Studies, won $50.

Excerpt from the essay of Benjamin Davis: "As I scanned a certain title caught my eye: "Notes of a Dirty Old Man" by Charles Bukowski. It was the grittiest, nastiest, sexiest most moxie-driven stuff I had ever read. He blew the old masters out of the water. I had discovered truly great 'literature.'"
Read the essay

Excerpt from the essay of Dawn Brotherton: "One day, a sign caught my eye. 'Children’s library - downstairs.' My eyes popped out of my head. There were rows and rows of children's books; but I was too scared to even walk in...afraid that someone would notice me and make me leave. One day a librarian noticed me."
Read the essay

Excerpt from the essay of Abha Eli Phoboo: "The minute I arrived at UCO...I visited the library and was astounded by the vastness...it is much bigger than the little library where I first learned to love books in Kathmandu."
Read the essay

Faculty Materials Grants Recipients:

Dr. Margaret Musgrove, Department of Humanities & Philosophy
Area Funded: Classical Studies (Greek and Latin languages and literatures and the history and culture of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds), $1000

Dr. LaDonna Atkins, Department of Human Environmental Sciences
Area funded: Early Childhood Education - Reggio Emilia Philosophy, $1000

Past Events

Eighth Annual Friends of The Library Book Sale

April 18, 19, 20, 2008 - noon to 8:00pm

Friday, April 18 will be a pre-sale event for members of Friends of the Library. Saturday and Sunday, April 19 and 20, will be open to the public.

The 2008 Book Sale prices are:
$2 - Hard backs
50¢ - Paper backs, cassettes, magazines (2), large children's books
$3 - Media (CDs, DVDs)
$1 - LPs
$5 - LP sets
$6 - Kits (large)
$4 - Kits (small)

Donate to the Book Sale!

The Friends of the Library need your underloved and gently used books, CDs, and DVDs.

You may drop them off in the Target shopping carts in the library atrium, or in the Communications, Liberal Arts, or Math & Science buildings. If you want us to pick them up, give Gwen Dobbs a call at 974-2877 or email gdobbs@ucok.edu

We need you to help make this a great year for our book sale!

March Membership Drive

Join through online payroll deduction during the month of March only. Choose to pay one time, or spread your membership dues out in twelve installments.

Enrollment Steps for Membership through Payroll Deduction (UCO Employees Only)

Online Enrollment Steps for Friends of the Library of UCO

1. Login to your account on UCONNECT

2. Click on the following tabs: SCHOOL SERVICES > BRONCHO CENTRAL SERVICES > EMPLOYEE > BENEFITS & DEDUCTIONS > OPEN ENROLLMENT > MISCELLANEOUS > FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY.

3. Enter the amount to be deducted per paycheck, and the total amount to be deducted for the year (the same amount if making a one-time donation). Existing payroll deductions will continue at the same level unless faculty/staff stop or change the donation amount online in the month of March or by paper form available from Employee Services the rest of the year.

4. Click on the following tabs: ADD CHOICE > OPEN ENROLLMENT > COMPLETE.

If you have problems with the enrollment process, please contact the Technical Support Help desk (974-2255), 8am - 5pm. For other questions, contact Gwen Dobbs at 974-2877 or gdobbs@ucok.edu

"Libraries and You" Essay Contest

(see the poster)

Deadline for Submissions: March 31, 2008

First Prize - $200
Second Prize - $100
Third prize - $50

Write a short personal essay detailing how a library has positively impacted your life. Prizes will be awarded with publication/presentation opportunities. Submit a essay of approximately 500 words in MS Word format to gdobbs@ucok.edu

For more information, contact Gwen Dobbs at 974-2877, or email gdobbs@ucok.edu
Sponsored by the Friends of the Library

eBay Auction of Card Catalog Cases

Ten of our obsolete, sturdy catalog cases were auctioned on eBay for a total of approximately $4,600. Some proceeds of the sale will buy comfortable, upholstered couches and chairs for the library.

Thank you to everyone who bid, and a special thanks to the winning bidders!

Presentation on Pre-Columbian Artifacts

Wednesday, September 12, 1:00pm - first floor of library

In a program sponsored by Passport UCO and Friends of the Library, Dr. Bill Hommel will present "People of the Serpent and Jaguar: A Look at the Symbolic Links in the Art of Pre-Columbian Cultures from Mexico to Peru." Pre-Columbian artifacts from 900-1300 C.E. will be on display in the library this semester in support of the UCO Passport Program's emphasis on Central America. Refreshments will be served and the public is welcome.

Friends of The Library Book Sale

April 20, 21, 22, 2007 - noon to 8:00pm

Friday, April 20 will be a pre-sale event for members of Friends of the Library. Saturday and Sunday, April 21 and 22, will be open to the public.

The 2007 Book Sale prices are:
$2 - Hard backs
.50 - Paper backs, cassettes, magazines (2), large children's books
$1 - LPs
$5 - LP sets
$3 - Media
$6 - Kits (large)
$4 - Kits (small)

Friends of the Library Book Collecting Contest

Have a passion for collecting? UCO students, faculty and staff may enter the Friends of the Library Book Collecting Contest for the best collection of books on one topic. Prizes of $200, $100, and $50 will go to the winners, determined by how well the collection represents a theme, creativity, thoughtfulness, and dedication evident in the defining and creating of the collection.

Submit an entry

Calvert Collection Viewing and Reception

Please join us on Wednesday, April 18, at 3:00pm on the 1st floor of the library as we celebrate the work of Oklahoma artist George Calvert, whose works are on display in Archives & Special Collections. The artworks were donated to the UCO Library by the Melton Art Reference Library. The collection includes watercolors, acrylics and a variety of print mediums depicting Oklahoma and San Miguel.

An Evening with Bob Burke

Bob Burke, author of 25 books on Oklahoma people, history and themes, will give a public presentation entitled "Oklahoma's First Century" from 6:00-7:30pm on Friday, March 2nd on the first floor of Chambers Library.

The event is co-sponsored by Friends of the Library, American Democracy Project, and Leadership Central.

See Bob Burke's books
See the event poster

UCO Faculty Author Reception

Chambers Library is celebrating the scholarship and creative activities of the UCO faculty with a Faculty Author Reception in the library atrium on Friday, November 3rd, at 3:00pm.

Faculty publications in Chambers Library have a specially designed bookplate and a note in the library catalog. A list of all faculty publications in the library catalog can be retrieved with a keyword search on "UCO Faculty Author"

Read more about the Faculty Author Book Plate Program and See a list of faculty authors

Friends of the Library Board Meeting

The Friends of the Library will hold their Governing Board Meeting on November 14, 2006, at 6pm. The meeting is open to the public and the Friends encourage members and prospective members to attend.

"Libraries and You" Essay Contest

(see the poster)

Deadline for Submissions: March 31

First Prize - $200
Second Prize - $100
Third prize - 06/07 UCO Parking Permit

5th Annual Friends of The Library Book Sale

(see the poster)

April 6, 7, 8 - noon to 8:00pm

Friday, April 6 will be a pre-sale event for members of Friends of the Library. Saturday and Sunday, April 7 and 8, will be open to the public.

The 2006 Book Sale prices are:
$2 - Hard backs
.50 - Paper backs, cassettes, magazines (2), large children's books
$1 - LPs
$5 - LP sets
$3 - Media
$6 - Kits (large)
$4 - Kits (small)

The Last Viking

At 7:00pm on Friday, April 14, the Friends of the Library and the Sons of Norway will present "The Last Viking," a discussion of the Arctic explorations of Roald Amundsen. The evening's scholar will be Dr. T. H. Baughman, UCO faculty member and noted historian of polar regions. The event will take place on the library's second floor gallery area.

See the poster

Friends of the Library Writer's Workshop

On October 26, 2002, a group of writers gathered in the library conference room at the University of Central Oklahoma to talk about writing, art and the intersection of the two. They wrote poems in response to the Murrah artworks that were displayed on first floor in the library.

Visit the Murrah Poetry Project

For more information on any event, contact Gwen Dobbs at 974-2877 or email gdobbs@ucok.edu