BSU Celebrates National Library Week

By Venetta Bronson

            Earlier in the week Bowie State University celebrated National Library Week with three special events held in the Thurgood Marshall Library. On April 13, Bowie was visited by educational consultant Steven Roy Goodman and family psychologist Andrea Leiman. Together they discussed the importance of making the search for a college a family process. They also introduced their book "College Admissions Together: It Takes A Family." A book intended to help families make the search for a college much easier and less conflicting.

            On April 14, Bowie State opened its new archives for tours. The archives included many photographs and documents from Bowie State's earlier days before it was officially declared a university. Also during the event Dr. Charles G. Simmons visited and discussed "The Essence of True Historical Research."

             "Dr. Simmons gave to those in the room the true essence of scholastic achievement (himself)," said Kevin Pothier, head of acquisitions, who attended the event. "Not only is he my mentor and friend he is what a faculty member is and should be in the future. He is a lifelong learner, thinker and writer. Never would he speak without knowing the facts and that facts are written and double- and triple-checked before they become history. To sit in this man's presence is a treasure that all of this institution from the president to the freshman class need to see what the university really is."

            A poetry night was held at the library, which was co-sponsored by the English and Modern Language Department and the library.

            The week included a celebration of Bowie State's recent victory in a case study competition sponsored by Thurgood Marshall College Fund. The competition featured a case study to aid students in developing marketing strategies that would motivate students to participate in their programs. Fifteen schools submitted proposals, however only three out of the fifteen were selected to participate. Bowie State University, Delaware State University, and Tennessee State University. And out of those three, Bowie was declared the victor.

            "What was interesting is that when they began the process none of students knew each other so they had to bond and ... they literally had to work together using cell phones, e-mail and other means to put this case study together," Pothier said. "They won and the Thurgood Marshal Scholarship Fund is actually using their web design ideas on their site to make it more user friendly. I was highly impressed and honored to meet them."

            Concerning future National Library Week's Bowie Plans to coordinate with other department's for the Poetry Night event, and continue to work with the Office of University Relations and Marketing as they did this year to expose more authors, scholars and artists and increase attendance.

            Overall this year's National Library week was a success despite the fact that not too many attended, those who did attend left with something they didn't have before. Aside from National Library Week there are many opportunities students can find at the Thurgood Marshall Library.

            "Academic achievement begins and ends in the library or the resource center," Pothier said. "I encourage all faculty and students to come to the library and see that we have grown and become better, but you have to come in to find that out."