Copley Connects Fall 2023

HELLO! Kendall Olson joined the Cataloging and Acquisitions staff of the Collections, Access, and Discovery Department as the new Copy Cataloger and Library Assistant III in July 2023.

Steve Staninger , Professor, Copley Library

The Tin Drum by Günter Grass Written by renowned German

Staff Updates

novelist Günter Grass, it is the story of Oskar Mazerath, a boy from Danzig (now Gdansk, Poland) who stopped growing because he didn’t want to become an adult in Nazi Germany. It explores themes of why the Nazi regime happened and the death and destruction it brought, not just to Europe but to Oskar and his family. It is narrated from the perspective of Oskar, who is in a mental hospital many years after the war. Little Oskar has a toy tin drum, and he gets new ones throughout his life after he destroys them after beating them so vigorously in reaction to his many frustrations, leaving one to ponder, “What is my Tin Drum?” I tried to read it in the original German ( Die Blechtrommel ) but gave up because it was way too complicated. Oskar’s narration drifts in and out of reality and time and it was

Welcome to Copley Reads. In this regular feature, we invite Copley librarians and staff members to share recommendations for books they have enjoyed. We hope you’ll have fun taking a peek into the books that have captivated us.

Kendall worked previously as a library technician at the Carlsbad City Library and as a student assistant at the Cal State San Marcos Library. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Writing from Cal State San Marcos.

Vincent Dang began his appointment as Copley

Maria Navarro , Student Assistant, Copley Library

Library’s new Evening Access Services Manager in August 2023. Vincent graduated in 2020 from the University of California San Diego (UCSD)

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho tells the enchanting

The Secret History by Donna Tartt The Secret History is a psychological

GOODBYE! Chinese Historical Museum. Vincent has been with Copley Library for more than two years as a Weekend Supervisor and as a temporary Circulation and Technology Support Specialist. His education and experience have prepared him well for his new role as Copley’s Evening Access Services Manager. with a Bachelor of Arts in History (with honors), Linguistics and a Minor in Music. He is currently a graduate student at San Diego State University pursuing a Master of Arts in General Linguistics. He can communicate in English, Vietnamese, Mandarin Chinese, Hakka Chinese and Spanish. Vincent has experience as an Event Producer for the San Diego Chinese New Year Fair and the San Diego Asian Film Festival. He also has experience as an Instructor at Mataguay Scout Ranch, UCSD and the San Diego

thriller novel by Donna Tartt. Set in a fictional New England college, it follows a closely knit group of Classics students led by their enigmatic and charismatic

story of Santiago, a young Andalusian shepherd who embarks on a journey to discover his personal legend. Leaving behind his familiar life, Santiago

encounters a series of unexpected events and meaningful encounters that lead him to understand the importance of following one’s dreams and the wisdom of listening to one’s heart. This allegorical novel is rich with profound life lessons and inspirational insights. It encourages readers to reflect on their own aspirations and emphasizes the significance of perseverance, self discovery and the pursuit of one’s true purpose in life. It’s a compelling read for those seeking motivation and a deeper understanding of the journey of self-discovery. The Alchemist can provide students with a fresh perspective on their own life choices, goals and ambitions, inspiring them to navigate their academic journey with a sense of purpose and determination.

professor. As their studies progress, the students become entangled in a web of dark secrets, leading to a shocking and tragic event that changes their lives forever. The novel delves deeply into the persona of each character, revealing their vulnerabilities, ambitions and inner demons, making them highly relatable and intriguing. A good reason for a university student to read The Secret History is to delve into the exploration of moral ambiguity and the consequences of one’s actions. The novel raises thought-provoking questions about ethics, responsibility and the blurred lines between right and wrong, which can provoke deep contemplation and discussions relevant to a student’s own moral development and decision-making in their academic and personal life.

hard to follow in my non-native language. I read it for the first time while living in Germany in the early 1980s. The gloomy German winter weather and reminders of the war all over the city I was in — along with the story — put me in quite the contemplative mood. It was a pivotal time in my life, and this book and its lessons have stayed with me ever since. It is a long, intense book for which Günter Grass won a Nobel Prize in literature. It is considered one of the great novels of post-World War II literature. This book was also made into an award-winning film. This librarian highly recommends reading as many Nobel Prize in literature authors as possible. Doing this will introduce you to the stories and perspectives of people and cultures around the world. Reading these books will acquaint you with writers like Mo Yan (China), Mario Vargas Llosa (Peru), Orhan Pamuk (Turkey) and many other outstanding writers. I look forward to reading books by Jon Fosse (Norway), the 2023 Nobel Laureate!

Copley Library marked the departure of Leslie Hovland , Interlibrary Loan/Reserves Assistant, with thanks and best wishes at the end of October 2023. Leslie has been a team player in the

Collections, Access, and Discovery Department since November 2014, including her recent efforts in the development and management of ereserves workflows to help the USD Learning Design Center with online graduate courses. Leslie will be missed by her library colleagues along with the USD faculty, staff and students that benefited from her cheerful interactions and responsive assistance.

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