Running Out of Steam: Considering the Energy Problem at the Carter Library

Thursday, October 2^nd marked the second event in the Georgia Deliberations 2008 program series at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library in Atlanta, Georgia. The topic of the afternoon’s deliberation, “The Energy Problem: Choices for an Uncertain Future” brought out impassioned and informed commentary from an audience of nearly 40 attendees, as well as an appearance from the Carter Library’s Director, Jay Hakes. Jill Severn and Margaret Holt co-moderated this event, while Matt Garrett (Assistant Director, Emory University’s Center for Student Leadership and Engagement) recorded the happenings of the deliberation.

The deliberation got off to a fast start when moderators asked the crowd what came to into the mind of an average American when someone mentioned the “energy crisis”. High gas prices seemed to resonate with most people, though the majority of this group seemed far more concerned with the environmental impacts of drilling and the increased risks posed by global warming. Throughout the afternoon’s discussion, the audience voiced that although increasing costs are an important concern for all Americans, it is important to keep the big picture and long-term impact of our dependence on oil in the forefront of this discussion.

Notable Comments from this discussion:

• Where is the breaking point? Several attendees mentioned that we don’t yet know what it will take to decrease oil consumption in the US. As prices continue to climb, people are cutting back, but what will it take for people to stop relying on gas?

• The crowd found numerous problems with Approach 1 – which suggested a focus on reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil. Most attendees agreed that even if the US tapped its oil reserves, this supply would go into a global market and could be exported to a higher bidder overseas – leaving Americans high and dry.

• In discussion of Approach 2 – investigating alternative fuel sources – the point was made that there is no truly benign energy source available. Many took issue with the suggestion that nuclear power is a viable alternative and discussed the negative impacts of this energy source.

• Partisan speech played a role in discussing Approach 3 – reducing energy consumption with government regulation. Some attendees looked forward, mentioning the proposed energy platforms of the current Presidential candidates. Others made frequent references to the policy decisions of the Cater and Reagan administrations. It seemed that no politicians have (or had) all the answers.

• One great (and hopeful) comparison was drawn in a brief discussion of the drought in Georgia. Since residents have been forced to restrict their water usage during this period they have managed by employing various conservation measures. Now, people brag about the ways they save on water. If similar restrictions were placed on energy, might we see a similar result?

• The final point made in the deliberation was this: when people are pushed to the edge, they will revert back to the basics to survive. But, as a culture we have to think more about each other and our environment and less about our own preferences and energy needs. We need to consider how we got to this place in our history and use that analysis as a starting point to make changes for the future.

The turnout in Atlanta was great – and the final comments from Director Hakes were a nice way to bring all the comments of the afternoon full circle. Our next forum, News Media and Society: How to Restore the Public Trust, will be held on this Thursday, October 9 from 7:00-9:00pm at the Tifton Welcome Station (Business Development Meeting Room, 502 Main Street, Tifton, GA). For more information on this, and other upcoming public forums, please visit Russell Library homepage or call (706) 542-5788.

The Future Ain't What It Used to Be: Discussing Community Prosperity in Tifton

On Tuesday, September 30^th the Russell Library hosted the first of three public forums in the community of Tifton, Georgia – a town located less than 200 miles south of Athens, Georgia. The topic, “Pathways to Prosperity: Choosing a Future for Your Community,” brought out 25 attendees, including several candidates for public office and individuals engaged in a diverse range of professions in the surrounding area. The discussion was lively and established that attendees have many shared goals for the future of their community.

Dedicated volunteers Dr. Margaret Holt and Sharon Gibson served as co-moderators for the forum. Holt, a retired UGA professor, is a longtime associate of the National Issues Forums Institute and has moderated numerous forums in communities across the country. This fall, she has comoderated several forums as part of the Georgia Deliberations initiative by the Russell Library, the Jimmy Carter Library, and partners around the state.. Meanwhile Gibson, a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension family and consumer science educator, brought a special connection to this deliberation – she is a former resident of Tifton. Both moderators directed a smooth and impartial discussion, guiding attendees through three approaches to achieving greater prosperity. Russell Library staff members Jill Severn and Jan Levinson were on hand to record and observe the deliberation.

The topic of this forum hit close to home, especially in light of this week’s news from Wall Street, and inspired some great discussion. In recent decades the South has been transformed by increased wealth and population, but the region is still grappling with how to manage that growth and what these changes mean for the future of individual communities.

Notable moments in the deliberation with Tifton residents:

• Moderators began by asking the group what, if anything made the South a distinct place. Responses ranged from descriptions of small-town living to comments about poverty, rural life, and the high rate of illiteracy
  

• The crowd largely criticized Approach 1. Comments suggested that before employing a “trickle-down” approach by bringing more jobs to the area, you have to combat poverty and illiteracy in the region. You have to create a strong work force before attracting the right kind of businesses.

• One citizen astutely commented that before you can pick out a path to prosperity, you have to decide what prosperity means to your community. He noted that it isn’t always about money, but about the quality of life in a place.

• The crowd seemed to favor Approach 2, investing in people first. The suggestion was made to establish more informal, community-based education opportunities rather than depending solely on the public school system.
  
  
• Everyone favored taking a smart approach to managing growth, citing the results of poorly managed growth in nearby cities and recognizing that good zoning and public-private partnerships would most benefit Tifton.

The next public forum, The Energy Problem: Choices for an Uncertain Future,will be held on this Thursday, October 2nd from 3:00-5:00pm at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library For more information on this, and other upcoming public forums, please visit Russell Library homepage or call (706) 542-5788.

Southern Liberalism at the Public Library

On Sunday, September 28^th the Russell Library hosted, “Highlander Folk School & the Southern Front: Worker Education and the Growth of the Civil Rights Movement,” at the Athens-Clarke County Public Library. Speakers at this event, the second in the Weaving the Threads of Justice program series, examined the roots of Highlander Folk School and its co-founders, Myles Horton and Don West.

Guest speaker Dr. Randy Patton, Professor of History at Kennesaw State University, began the program by setting the scene for the audience – describing the climate of southern liberalism from the decade of Highlander’s founding (1930s) and into the Civil Rights Movement.

Noted historian Dr. Jim Lorence followed, using Dr. Patton’s talk as the backdrop for a more focused discussion on Don West, the lesser-known co-founder of the Highlander School. Although Lorence’s talk remained centered on West’s role at Highlander and his tumutumultuous relationship with Myles Horton, the author’s most recent publication,
A Hard Journey: The Life of Don West, expounds on the long and varied life of West – a highly controversial social activist. Following the program, audience members mingled with the speakers at an informal reception and Dr. Lorence generously signed copies of his book.

Another successful event -- Thanks to everyone who attended! Next on the agenda, "Seeing Red in Black: White Southern Leaders Fight Desegregation" – a multimedia presentation by Jill Severn & Craig Breaden of the Russell Library – this coming Sunday, October 5^th from 3-5pm at the Demosthenian Hall, North Campus, University of Georgia. Following what is sure to be a great presentation at a fantastic venue (with delicious snacks & drinks as always) .

Mingling at the Reception....

Coping with the Cost of Health Care

On Thursday, September 25th UGA students, staff, and faculty, together with citizens from the surrounding community turned out to discuss the rising cost of healthcare at the Russell Library. This event was the second forum in the Georgia Deliberations Fall Forum Series.

Jill Severn, who manages civic engagement and outreach work for the Russell Library, and UGA student Ellyn Echols served as moderators for the discussion. Echols said a few words about her involvement in the Roosevelt Institution, a student think-tank on campus devoted to researching and writing public policy, before laying out the ground rules for the discussion and helping the crowd to express their stakes in the issue at hand. Will Riley, a Georgia Tech student, commuted from Atlanta to serve as the scribe-recorder, while UGA students Matt Brandenbugh and Kelly Ann Frizzell served as official observers.

Like the forum at the Carter Library (9/17/08), this discussion focused on the pros and cons of three approaches to solving the problems of the current U.S. health care system. But the makeup of the attendees and their comments varied from the event in Atlanta. The group was split evenly between men and women -- the majority composed of students and a sprinkling of young professionals. Although several participants made frequent remarks, no one dominated the conversation and most everyone chimed in at least once.

Notable Moments in the Deliberation:

• One returning participant, a retired government manager for unemployment insurance, suggested that businesses should play a larger role in coverage costs for employees.

• An extended discussion regarding the need for increased preventative care led to a series of questions about the rising cost of medical services and the declining number of general practitioners. When asked why basic medical services cost so much, the crowd was largely silent and pensive.

• Several participants heavily favored the approach championing universal health care, emphasizing that all Americans should have access to a basic level of health care.

• At the evening’s conclusion a few attendees remarked that the current economic crisis will put health care on the back burner in the coming elections, but inevitably there will have to be changes in the system

The next public forum, “Pathways to Prosperity: Choosing a Future for Your Community” will be held on next Tuesday, September 30th from 7:00-9:00pm at the Agirama in Tifton, GA. For more information on this, and other upcoming public forums, please visit Russell Library homepage or call (706) 542-5788.

Healthcare Forum at Carter Library

On Wednesday, September 17th a dedicated contingent of students, faculty, and staff associated with the Russell Forum for Civil Life in Georgia traveled to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library in Atlanta to co-host the first forum in the statewide Georgia Deliberations Fall Forum Series. The forum focused on weighing strategies for coping with the rising costs of health care.

The forum at the Carter library drew a crowd of almost sixty people who turned out to deliberate this issue on a rainy Wednesday afternoon—a sure sign of the issue’s growing significance. Tony Clark, of the Jimmy Carter Library, welcomed the enthusiastic group and Jill Severn, who manages civic engagement and outreach work for the Russell Library shared some details about the national forum initiative and the nine upcoming forums in Atlanta, Athens, Albany, and Tifton. Dr. Margaret Holt, who is retired from the UGA faculty, and Matt Garrett, who works in student affairs at Emory, co-moderated the forum. Jill Severn served as the scribe-recorder for the event and Matt Brandenburgh, a senior physics major at UGA served as the official observer. Jan Levinson, Assistant Outreach Archivist at the Russell Library also attended the forum and oriented participants as they arrived.

The forum focused on weighing the pros and cons and the tradeoffs and tensions associated with three approaches for addressing the problems associated with the current U.S. healthcare system. “Considering how divisive the issue of health care has been in the past and currently, the comments from forum participants were remarkably non-partisan,” commented moderator Margaret Holt. Participants expressed diverse opinions to the approaches, but invested great energy in listening to one another and remaining open to changing their perspectives. At the close of the meeting, many in the group remarked that they felt a real energy among the participants to begin to tackle component problems associated with health care as first steps in dealing with the issue as a whole. The tenor of the discussion and the great turnout also made many hopeful that civil civic life was alive and well in Atlanta. Indeed, many participants expressed plans to return to the Carter Library for the two upcoming forums (energy challenges, Thursday, October 2nd at 3 p.m. and the future mission of education, Monday, October 13th at 3 p.m.) or even to venture to one of the other forums that will be held in Athens and Tifton throughout this fall. After wrapping things up around 5:00 pm, the moderating team celebrated success with a good meal at Manuel’s Tavern – and then headed home to Athens just before dark.

The next public forum in the series, “Coping with the Cost of Healthcare” will be held at the Russell Library next Thursday, September 25th from 7:00-9:00pm. For more information on this, and other public forums, please visit http://www.libs.uga.edu/russell/exhibits/deliberations.shtml or call (706) 542-5788.

Highlander Folk School Exhibit Opening

September 14th marked the opening of the Russell Library’s newest exhibit and program series, Weaving the Threads of Justice: The Highlander Center, 1932-2007. Guest speaker Dr. Helen Lewis captivated the audience with tales of the Highlander Folk School. Moving through the School’s history, Lewis reminded the crowd that society faces many of the same challenges today that existed at the time of Highlander’s founding in 1932. She spoke of her experiences as a staff member (1977-1997) and moved seamlessly into an introduction of the documentary film You Got to Move, which addressed Highlander’s role in the Civil Rights Movement in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Following the film screening, visitors were treated to some Appalachian fare – ham biscuits, apple pie, and other light snacks – before touring the exhibit gallery.

The event was a great success! And we look forward to seeing everyone at our next program, Highlander Folk School & the Southern Front: Worker Education & the Civil Rights Movement on Sunday, September 28th at the Athens Regional Public Library.

Speaker Helen Lewis

Fall 2008 Research and Reference Hours

For the fall 2008 semester, the Russell Library will be open for research and reference from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. These hours will commence on August 18, 2008. Watch for special after-hours research events later in the fall. For more information, please contact Jill Severn 706-542-5766 or jsevern@uga.edu

New Russell Staff Member!

Name: Jan Levinson

Job Title: Assistant Outreach Archivist

Joined Russell Staff: July 2008

Job Description:
I coordinate the development of thematic exhibits and public programs that explore the mission and collections of the library.

Other work experience:
Curatorial Assistant, Historic Columbia Foundation, Columbia, SC
Research Assistant, Teaching American History in South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Intern, Office of Architectural History and Historic Preservation, Smithsonian Institution
Curatorial Assistant, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, MA

Education:
B.A. in History, Clemson University, 2005
M.A. in Public History, University of South Carolina, 2008

Professional Memberships:
American Association of Museums
South Eastern Museums Conference
South Eastern Registrars Association

Most Enjoyable Aspect of Your Job:
The opportunity to think creatively. I think that public institutions have the opportunity and the obligation to act as agents of change in their surrounding communities. I'm excited to play a role in developing exhibit spaces and public programs that flesh out historical themes, connect those themes to current issues, and foster thoughtful discussions and activities.

Alternate Career Path if not in Museums or Archives:
I'd love to run a cool (and affordable!) vintage shop and call it "The Museum” or to explore work in the field of Historic Preservation.

Favorite Pastimes:
Listening to NPR's "This American Life", reading the newest installments of the Frugal Traveler on nytimes.com, checking out new bands at local shows.

Comments on the profession today:
Museums and Libraries are at a turning point and are constantly working to extend their levels of access and outreach while working with increasingly limited resources. These challenges make for an exciting time in the field when all institutions are pushed to think outside of the box. We're in for a time of change and lots of new and inventive strategies for reaching out to visitors and making them comfortable in museum and archive spaces.

Current Top 10 collections visited

Here's our Current top 10 collections visited online. What's your favorite collection? Visit our collection finding aids and boost their stats!

1. Walt Lardner Collection of Jimmy Carter Editorial Cartoons
2. Martin J. Hillenbrand Papers
3. Richard B. Russell, Jr. Collection
4. Harold P. Henderson, Sr. Oral History Collection: Series I. Ellis Arnall
5. Clifford Baldowski Editorial Cartoons
6. Clifford Hodges Brewton Collection of Lester G. Maddox Speech/Press Files
7. Herman E. Talmadge Collection
8. Harold P. Henderson, Sr. Oral History Collection: Series II. Ernest Vandiver
9. Dean Rusk Personal Papers
10. Dean Rusk Oral History Project

A Researcher's Experience at the Russell Library...

"I found out about the extensive collections at the Russell Library when I began working here as a student researcher in December of 2006.

Since then, I have spent countless hours working with the collections as both an employee and as a student. I have based three papers off of the Russell collections. My experiences with the collection and staff have been top-notch. After doing extensive archival research across six states, I can genuinely say that the Russell Library is one of the best archives in the nation. It speaks to the friendliness and accessibility of the RBRL that undergraduate students regularly come here grudgingly for class assignments requiring primary source research and leave talking excitedly about their experiences."

-Sherri Sheu

Published in Beyond the Pages, Volume 7, Spring 2008