Starting April 4th, the Ross Pendergraft Library & Technology Center kicks off several events and lectures celebrating books, culture, history, diversity, and understanding both close to home and from the other side of the world.

Tuesday, April 4th at 6:00 P.M. in RPL 300AB

Award-winning author and Russellville native, Eli Cranor, hosted a special event debuting  his latest novel, Ozark Dogs.   Publisher Soho Crime describes Ozark Dogs as a Southern thriller in which “two families grapple with the aftermath of a murder in their small Arkansas town.”

His first novel, Don’t Know Tough, won the Peter Lovesey First Crime Novel contest and was nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel, the Lefty Award for best debut Mystery Novel, and was a finalist for the 2022 Dashiell Hammett Award.  He writes to a monthly column in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette called “Where I’m Writing From,” and his work has been featured in Missouri Review, Oxford American, Ellery Queen, The Strand and other notable journals.  You can find his first thriller, Don’t Know Tough, available in our book collection.

Monday, April 10th at 7:00 P.M. in RPL 300B

The Library will host John Kutko as part of its Second Monday Author Series to talk about his children’s book, The Tiger & the Painted Bunting.  The book is about a Shanti, a tiger cub who is captured from the wild and sold by poachers to a rich man.  When the tiger inevitably grows too big, she is sent to a zoo where she makes friends with a painted bunting named Al.  Kutko, a retired school teacher from Clarksville School District, developed the story which his granddaughter, Abbriel Harrison, who wrote and illustrated the book.  There will be a drawing for a free signed copy of his book at the event, along with additional copies available for purchase.

Thursday, April 13th at 2:30 P.M. in RPL 300AB

The Arkansas Tech University Black Faculty & Staff Organization will host Ronnie Williams as part of the Diversity Speaks Lecture Series.  He is the author of Markham Street: The Haunting Truth Behind the Murder of My Brother Marvin Leonard Williams, which shares the story of his brother, his murder, subsequent fight for justice, and what life was like for Black families in the South during the 1960’s.

A native of Menifee, Arkansas, Ronnie Williams recently retired as Vice President for Student Services and Institutional Diversity at the University of Central Arkansas.  During his three decades of service, he served as assistant dean of students, director of Minority Affairs, Assistant to the President, and Chief Diversity Office.  He is the former chair of the Arkansas Educational Television Commission, and the first person of color to chair the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce and the Conway Development Corporation Board.  A small reception of light refreshments, provided by the Ross Pendergraft Library & Technology Center, will be available after the lecture.  For more information about Ronnie Williams or his book, visit his webpage at: https://www.ronniewilliamsauthor.com/

Friday, April 14th from 1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. in RPL 300B

The Human Library is back at the Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center featuring people volunteering to tell their own stories about in a non-judgemental, personal conversation-style setting.  As part of a project in the Social Movements and Social Change class in the Behavioral Sciences department, students have been recruiting volunteers to act as “books” that can be read by an individual in a one-on-one setting.  These “books” tell their personal stories of struggle and success in overcoming challenges in life like discrimination, poverty, disability, immigration, abuse, judgement, or oppression.  You can ‘check-out’ a book just by listening to their story face-to-face to gain a broader perspective for the path they have walked.

The Human Library Event has been taking place at ATU for several years and is part of a larger, national organization to promote dialogue and understanding with groups in our society that are often subjected to prejudice, stigmatization or discrimination because of their lifestyle, diagnosis, belief, disability, social status, ethnic origin, etc.  All are welcome to this event.

Monday, April 17th at 6:00 P.M. in RPL 300B

The final lecture of the spring semester from the popular “Manga Talk  Series” from Dr. Hashimoto is titled: “Jujutsu Kaisen: History of Curse in Japan” will take place on April 17th.  Dr. Hashimoto, visiting lecturer of Japanese, will discuss the popular manga and anime series and how it relates to Japanese culture, language, and history.  Frequent attendees of the lecture series often report samples of Japanese candies and treats present at such events.  You can get started on the English-language version of the manga series with v.0 “Blinding Darkness” currently located in the New Books collection of the ATU Library.

For more information about these and other events in the library, contact our Special Events Coordinator and Second Monday Author Series wrangler, Luke Heffley.  You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for up-to-date information on all the happenings happening at RPL.

As part of the Second Monday Author Series, Dr. Bill Morelan will be discussing his book, The Novice Teacher Survival Guide:  How to Avoid Personal Injury and Major Property Damage.  The book was written in a satirical style reminiscent of Dave Barry or Andy Borowitz.  The book is a tongue-in-cheek look at education’s sacred cows.  Morelan wrote it under the pseudonym Justin Case.  

Dr. Morelan is the department head of the Educational Leadership Master’s program at Arkansas Tech.  The program prepares candidates for state licensure as a building-level principal.  

Rescheduled for Monday November 21, at 7pm.  This World War II veteran will be the guest of our November 2022 Second Monday Author Series. Jock Davis is the author of Four Brothers: Reliving the Great Depression and World War II.  The book is Mr. Davis’ personal story of growing up during the Great Depression and then going off to war with all three of his brothers. He had a distinguished military career where he was awarded a combat ribbon with three battle stars for his service in the South Pacific during World War II and the Meritorious Service medal for outstanding service throughout his 37-year military career.  

Davis moved to Russellville in 1946 to attend Arkansas Tech University on the GI Bill.  It was there he met his wife Melba whom he highly talks about in the book.  He received his bachelor’s degree from Tech in 1955 and his master’s degree from the University of Arkansas in 1957.  Davis also had a 55-year career in agricultural business in sales and sales management. In 2006 he was inducted into the Arkansas Tech Alumni Hall of Distinction.  

Mr. Davis will soon be 98 years old.  Come on out and take advantage of this rare opportunity to meet this one-of-a-kind gentleman.  One lucky person will leave with a free signed copy of the book.  For more information contact Luke Heffley at lheffley@atu.edu or 479-964-0546.

Unfortunately, this event will be postponed due to an illness in Mr. Davis’ family.  We will keep you updated on social media as to when he can re-schedule.  We will also let you know if we have another guest author for our series next week. 

The Ross Pendergraft Library & Technology Center will be hosting a series of events called Tech Votes in preparation for the November 8th elections. Earlier this fall the library was part of National Voter Registration Day in order to get voters on campus registered for the big day. The newly formed RSO (registered student organization), Do Something!, worked with Ms. Angela Black, the Interim Library Director, to register 104 people to vote.  

Events this month focus on voter education and discussions with various candidates who are running for different offices in the state of Arkansas.  The first event will feature Pamela Luker from the Pope County Cooperative Extension Office who will discuss the ballot four ballot issues as follows:

1. Authority to call special legislative sessions
2. 60% of voter approval for new constitutional amendments
3. Religious freedom amendment
4. Adult use cannabis amendment

This will take place in room 300A  on Thursday, October 13 at 6:00 PM followed at 7:00 PM by Michael Kalagias, the Libertarian Candidate for the 3rd District of the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Monday, October 17 at 3:00 PM Anna Beth Gorman, a candidate for Secretary of State will meet in room 300B.   

Thursday, October 20 at 5:00 PM the Libertarian Candidate for Arkansas Governor, Ricky Dale Harrington, Jr. will be here to talk about his platform and answer questions.  

Friday, October 28 at 5:00 PM Tech Votes will welcome Chris Jones, the Democrat Candidate for Arkansas Governor. 

The gubernatorial candidates are part of a series from the American Association of University Professors and is co-sponsored by the library.  They will both meet in 300A.  

Refreshments will be served at all Tech Votes events.  We hope to see you there.  All programs are free and open to the public.