Full Spectrum of Events Celebrate Weinberg Memorial Library’s 20th Anniversary

The University of Scranton’s celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Memorial Library gets into full swing during the fall 2012 semester with a series of lectures and events.

The Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library, in collaboration with the Schemel Forum, a program of the Weinberg Memorial Library, will dedicate a lecture series to the 20th anniversary celebration. All of the events planned are free and open to the public, except a Wine-Tasting Fundraiser and a Schemel Forum luncheon seminar, “Václav Havel: Profile of a Hero.”

The first of three free, public lectures celebrating the anniversary will be held on Thursday, Oct. 25, by Carolyn Brown, Ph.D., director of the Office of Scholarly Programs at the Library of Congress. She will speak about “Libraries and the Moral Life.” Dr. Brown asserts that knowledge of the human condition through time can be helpful in understanding the present and preparing ourselves and others for the future. Libraries have been the most critical institutions for collecting and transmitting the human heritage of knowledge and wisdom. The lecture will take place in the Rose Room of Brennan Hall, at 5:30 p.m., with a reception to follow.

The next entry in the lecture series, on Tuesday, Oct. 30, “Native Son: Stephen Karam in Conversation with Paul Holdengraber,” brings together two colleagues: Stephen Karam, Scranton native and award-winning playwright; and Paul Holdengraber, the dynamic director of Public Programs at the New York Public Library. Their conversation will center on the life and work of Karam, who said, “No matter how long I live in New York, Scranton will always be home.” The event will take place in the Center for Literary and Performing Arts, McDade Theatre at 5:30, followed by a reception.

Fast forwarding to Tuesday, March 5, 2013, the lecture series concludes with “War and Peace: Current Issues,” presented by Daniel Serwer, scholar, Middle East Institute, and professor, School of Advanced International Studies, at Johns Hopkins University. American troops have been active in war zones every year since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Current war and peace issues for the U.S. include Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria and Iran. The lecture will take place in the Pearn Auditorium of Brennan Hall at 5:30 p.m., with a reception to follow.

Although all three lectures are free of charge and open to the public, reservations are suggested and can be made by calling the library at 941-7816.

In addition to these lectures, the annual Distinguished Author Award Ceremony, which was held in September and honored author and educator Jay Parini, and a Wine-Tasting Event, planned for Friday, Nov. 16, will help the library mark this important milestone, as well as raise funds for the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library’s Endowment Fund – which supports special gifts for the Weinberg Library’s collections and services. The Wine-Tasting Fundraiser, which takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center, will feature local wines. The fundraiser will also support the Edward R. Leahy Community Health and Family Center. Ticket prices are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

Also, a Schemel Forum luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 8, with “Václav Havel: Profile of a Hero,” presented by Martin Palous, Ph.D., former Czech ambassador to the United States and the United Nations and now director of the Václav Havel Presidential Library in Prague, will commemorate the anniversary. The lecture will focus on Havel’s impact as artist and intellectual and ultimately as president of the Czech Republic in the democratization of Eastern and Central Europe during the 1980s and 1990s. The lecture is part of the Schemel Forum World Affairs Luncheon Series and will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Brennan Hall, Room 509 on campus. Fees vary and reservations are required to attend the luncheon lecture.

            For more information or to register for any of the Weinberg Memorial Library 20th anniversary events, contact Kym Fetsko, events coordinator, at 941-7816 or kym.fetsko@scranton.edu.