Thank you for your interest in the UT Libraries/School of Information Sciences Book Read. As you know, we solicited titles from the Libraries’ Organizational Read participants, and by popular vote, the book we will examine this semester is So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo. A committee of Dania Bilal, Thura Mack, Michelle Brannen, Peter Fernandez, Charissa Powell, Casey Fox, Kim Blaylock and Megan Venable have been working since last fall to get this initiative in motion.

Your books have been mailed to the address you provided. If there is a problem with delivery (Megan Venable msmith93@utk.edu). A kickoff session was scheduled for Monday, March 8^th from 3:30 – 5 PM. Dean Steve Smith of the UT Libraries and Director of the School of Information Sciences Carol Tenopir agreed to facilitate the kickoff session. Following the kickoff, and throughout the spring and summer semesters, small group sessions will be scheduled with a wrap-up meeting in the fall.

Book Read Goals identified by the committee:

-Utilize the book topic to enhance work relationships within and between SIS and UT Libraries.

-Apply gained knowledge toward strengthening work performance in teaching, service and scholarship.

If there are any questions, please let me or any of the committee members know. We are all looking forward to having fruitful discussions with our colleagues.

Friday, May 14/11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

(Facilitated by Vandana Singh and Jenny Moore; vandana@utk.edu/croker@utk.edu)

Tuesday, May 18/9:30 – 11 AM
(Facilitated by Peter Fernandez and Devendra Potnis; pfernand@utk.edu/dpotnis@utk.edu)

Thursday, May 27/9:30 – 11 AM
(Facilitated by Peter Fernandez and Devendra Potnis; pfernand@utk.edu/dpotnis@utk.edu)

Thursday, June 3/9:30-11 AM
(Facilitated by Brittany Norwood and Thura Mack; norwoodbr@utk.edu/tmack@utk.edu)

Monday, June 7/9:30-11 AM
(Facilitated by Brittany Norwood and Thura Mack; norwoodbr@utk.edu/tmack@utk.edu)

Thursday, June 24/3:30 – 5 PM
(Facilitated by Hillary Tune and Lorna Hollowell; htune1@utk.edu/lhollo11@utk.edu)

Monday, July 12/3:30 – 5 PM
(Facilitated by Hillary Tune and Lorna Hollowell; htune1@utk.edu/lhollo11@utk.edu)

Friday, July 16/Noon – 1:30 PM
(Facilitated by Vandana Singh and Jenny Moore; vandana@utk.edu/croker@utk.edu)

Wednesday, July 21/3:30- 5 PM
(Facilitated by Megan Venable and Michelle Brannen; msmith93@utk.edu/brannen@utk.edu)

Wednesday, July 28/4-5:30 PM
(Facilitated by Megan Venable and Michelle Brannen; msmith93@utk.edu/brannen@utk.edu)