Library Staff Spotlight: Rachel and Micah

Here at Union’s library, we are blessed to work with many incredible and interesting staff members. Much of the work they do is often behind-the-scenes, but their combined efforts allow us to provide the academic and recreational resources students and faculty need to succeed. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be shining the spotlight on these amazing people to let you get know who’s on the team, what they do in the library, and even a bit about what they do when they’re taking a much-deserved break from being awesome staff. We’ll hear from a few different people from our various departments and branch locations each week, so stay tuned to this series to meet faces both new and familiar. Without further ado, here are the staff members of your Union University Library! Today, you will meet Rachel Bloomingburg and Micah Rhodes. 

Rachel Bloomingburg

Library Blog: What is your job title and department? What is your location if you don’t work in the Jackson campus library? 

Rachel Bloomingburg: Circulation Manager

LB: What are your job responsibilities? 

RB: I’m one of the main faces you’ll see working the circulation desk. I’m available to answer any question you may have while in the Logos. I’m responsible for hiring and helping to train our new student workers, and I’m a member of our Social Media team. I create new displays for the Family Room, and I assist in other areas as needed.

LB: How long have you worked for Union’s library? 

RB: 3+ years

LB: What did you want to grow up to be when you were a child?   

RB: A mermaid.

LB: What’s a fun fact about yourself or a hidden talent that you possess?   

RB: I love puns and corny jokes! 

LB: What would be your dream vacation? 

RB: I’d love to go on a Hawaiian cruise where I can visit multiple islands.

LB: What is on your TBR (to be read) list? 

RB: Forging Silver Into Stars by Brigid Kemmerer

LB: What is the last book you read?   

RB: Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

LB: What’s your favorite game?

RB: Quiddler

Micah Rhodes

Library Blog: What is your job title and department? What is your location if you don’t work in the Jackson campus library? 

Micah Rhodes: Cataloging Associate in Technical Services

LB: What are your job responsibilities? 

MR: As Union University Library’s Cataloging Associate, I take items we receive from orders or donations and prepare them for our collection. My student worker and I put spine labels, stamps, dust jackets, and barcodes on books or electronic media, then I apply RFID security tags to each item and catalog them in our computer system. At this point, the books, movies, and CDs are ready to be checked out, and you can find them on our New Books shelf or in the stacks!

LB: How long have you worked for Union’s library? 

MR: 1 year as a full-time staff member, and 2 years prior as a student worker.

LB: What did you want to grow up to be when you were a child?   

MR: A lover of dinosaurs, I wanted to become a paleontologist.

LB: What would be your dream vacation? 

MR: Someday, I want to go to New Zealand and feel like I’m traveling through Middle-Earth.

LB: What is your favorite book quote? 

MR: “I didn’t think it would end this way.” “End? No, the journey doesn’t end here. Death is just another path, one that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it.” “What? Gandalf? See what?” “White shores, and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise.” “Well, that isn’t so bad.” “No. No, it isn’t.” -J.R.R. Tolkien, through Gandalf and Pippin; the Lord of the Rings

LB: What is the last book you read?   

MR: I haven’t finished it yet, but I’m currently reading The Eye of the World, the first book in Robert Jordan’s epic fantasy series, “The Wheel of Time.”

Micah’s Monthly Music, April 2022: An Easter Cantata

Much of our theologically rich sacred music comes from the pen of Johann Sebastian Bach. His deep Protestant faith coupled with brilliant compositional craftsmanship and a lifelong career as a church musician produced a plethora of exemplary musical works focused on the church calendar. One type of these musical works is called a cantata, and Bach’s Cantata No. 4: Christ lag in Todesbanden—written for Easter—is perhaps one of his best-known representations of the genre. Sung in German and written for an 18^th-century congregation, it reveals how adept Bach was at composing for a specific context while retaining incredible musicality that appeals even to modern audiences.

Cantatas were composed for various important liturgical services during the year. Like other sacred composers, Bach was careful to keep his cantatas’ music relevant to the prescribed scripture readings for each Sunday; for this Easter, those readings were 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 and Mark 16:1-8. Often, there would already be a chorale hymn written to accompany the readings, and in the case of Cantata No. 4, the preexisting chorale was written by none other than Martin Luther. In these situations, Bach would often take the hymn and use the tune and lyrics to construct the libretto and melodic material of his cantata. Thus, Cantata No. 4 shares the same title as Luther’s hymn: Christ lag in Todesbanden, or “Christ lay in the bonds of death.” Through this approach, Bach could remain innately tied to the Lutheran tradition, make his music immediately familiar to his congregation, and innovate through his counterpoint and composition.

Luther wrote seven verses to his hymn, with a particular focus on the struggle and eventual victory of life against death in the central fourth verse. Bach, always looking for ways to infuse his music with Christian symbolism, took advantage of this “crux” to form his movements into a chiastic structure. This chiasm is created when certain musical ideas are presented and then repeated in reverse order around some focal point. In Cantata No. 4, Bach achieved this structure by arranging his movements in this pattern: chorus–duet–solo–chorus–solo–duet–chorus, with the lyrics of that central chorus emphasizing life’s triumph of death. Why would Bach want to use a chiastic structure? It is commonly interpreted to be a musical symbol of a cross.

The combination of Luther’s lyrics, liturgical attention, chiastic structure, and Bach’s craftsmanship saturated Cantata No. 4 with incredible meaning and relevance to 18^th-century Lutherans on Easter Sunday. We may not have the exact same context as those Christians today, but we can recognize how appropriate Christ lag in Todesbanden was for them, how deeply the cantata is grounded in Protestant theology, and—of course—still enjoy listening to Bach.

Recommended Union Library resources:

• To read: The Cantatas of J.S. Bach  (ML410.B1 D7713 2005)
• To study: Cantata no. 4: Christ lag in Todesbanden (M2020 .B16 S.4 1967)
• To listen: Cantate BWV 4: Christ lag in Todesbanden  (IMC CDs M2020.B3 K3)

Students and faculty, head over to our Music Research Guide to discover how to access more classical music online through the NAXOS library.

Reading List: National Library Week 2022

Each year in April, we celebrate National Library Week. This year’s theme is “Connect with Your Library.” Libraries are great places to study, read, or meet up with friends. Libraries also have resources and services like research help, books, online articles, internet, and technology that connect people to each other and information. We would like you to connect with some of the people who work here in the Logos. We love libraries and want to share that with you.  

What do you like about the Logos and libraries? 

“Libraries are useful because they make readily available any information you might want to know.” ~Stephen Mount, Systems Librarian 

“I love the Logos because it is full of people – students mostly, but lots of faculty, staff, alumni, guests, visitors. The books and other materials are incredible resources, but the Logos reminds us that interactions with others about these books and other resources is the best education.” ~Dr. Dub Oliver, President of Union University 

“I love reading and all the learning that happens through books and at libraries.” ~Amber Wessies, Instruction Librarian 

“I like the generally quiet atmosphere. To be surrounded by shelves of books just waiting to be read makes me happy.” ~Jeannie Byrd, Technical Services Librarian 

“I like libraries because they give you a chance to build community. Plus, all the books!” ~Rachel Bloomingburg, Circulation Manager 

“I love the Logos because I worked in Union’s Library in the PAC for almost 25 years, wanting a beautiful space conducive for serious thought that matched the excellence of the service and collection in the old space. Now we have it!” ~ Melissa Moore, Library Director 

“I like libraries because they are a storehouse of information and a place of discovery.” ~Paul Sorrell, Creative Projects Manager 

“I love the way libraries foster community among those engaging in intellectual pursuits of all kinds and from many different walks of life!” ~ Darius Mullin, Evening Circulation Manager 

“The books available to read!” ~Savannah Patterson, Public Services Librarian 

“Libraries are important because of the many resources they offer communities, such as the information found in academic literature, access to technology, or even simply books for leisure reading. I especially appreciate the Logos for its role in providing these resources to our students and cultivating a space for study and collaboration.” ~Micah Rhodes, Cataloging Associate 

“I love the quiet atmosphere that is conducive for reading good books. Bonding with another person over a shared interest in a book always thrills me too.” ~ Sara Hand, Circulation Associate and Administrative Assistant 

“I have always loved books and libraries. As a child I read children’s fairy tales and Nancy Drew.” ~ Susan Kriaski, Cataloging Associate 

“Libraries are such a power source of information and essential! Our library offers such a wealth of resources including our staff, our wonderful facility, and our valuable resources. We are a vital part in the education of our Union students, preparing them for their chosen career paths.” ~ Beth Lynn, Collection Development Manager 

What is your favorite book? 

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald~ Stephen Mount 

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis ~Dr. Dub 

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder ~ Amber Wessies 

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen ~Jeannie Byrd 

Even Now by Karen Kingsbury ~ Rachel Bloomingburg 

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling ~ Melissa Moore 

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg ~ Paul Sorrell 

The 100 Cupboards by Nathan D. Wilson ~Darius Mullin 

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte ~ Savannah Patterson 

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien ~Micah Rhodes 

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell ~ Sara Hand 

The Sunne of Splendor: A Novel of Richard III by Sharon Kay Penman ~Susan Kriaski 

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee~ Beth Lynn 

*Even Now and The Sunne of Splendor are available through Interlibrary Loan. 

Help us celebrate National Library Week by checking out one of your favorites.   

Micah’s Monthly Music, February 2022: Claude Debussy

From Rossano aka Bud Care

Let’s do something a bit different to introduce this month’s composer! Imagine the ocean for a moment. What do you experience? Perhaps you see the familiar white peaks as a wave crests, rolling onto the shore. Maybe you smell the fishy brine of the water or taste the salt in the air. Do you feel the sudden cold of the water as you wade into the surf? Can you hear the rhythm of the waves crashing in their ceaseless advance and withdrawal? 

Now, you did not just see, touch, taste, smell, or hear the ocean, but your mind combined your actual seaside memories and your imagination to give you an impression of the ocean, maybe to the point you felt like you were really standing on the beach for a moment. Your impression of the ocean is the same mental landscape Claude Debussy worked to evoke in his symphonic sketch La mer. 

It’s easy to talk about Impressionism in the visual art world. Artists like Claude Monet and Pierre-Aguste Renoir are now famous for their hazy, indistinct depictions of landscapes and people. The way they used line and light to convey the idea of their subjects without exactness resulted in profoundly beautiful paintings. Their artistic developments flew in the face of the conventional practices of their day. Claude Debussy, a musical Impressionist, was likewise a radical in his field, challenging established notions of harmony and form in ways that brought new textures and colors to the orchestral palette. 

Born on August 22, 1862, Debussy was on track for a musical career from an early age. By the time he was ten years old, his piano skills earned him a place at the esteemed Conservatoire de Paris, the leading musical school in France. Though he continued to play piano well, he was not the most dedicated of students and eventually changed directions to focus on composition instead. 

Debussy was greatly impressed by late Romantic composers like Richard Wagner, but rather than trying to emulate their style like so many of his peers were, he picked up where they left off and forged ahead. Wagner and his contemporaries had been pushing at the borders of functional tonality – that is, harmonies that moved with clearly defined purpose away from a home chord and resolved back again. By stretching this system to its limits, Romantic composers were able to write pieces of deep emotional expressivity. Debussy (and many other composers in the twentieth century) saw, however, that there was nothing left to be accomplished in this Romantic style and took the next step by leaving functional tonality behind. 

This didn’t mean Debussy completely abandoned centuries of musical tradition. He still used scales in his melodies, though they were often different from conventional major or minor scales. He even used many of the chords constructed by Romantic composers, but he didn’t use them to move harmonies in the same way. Additionally, he brought in influences from musical traditions around the world, especially from Javanese gamelan (a tuned metal percussion ensemble from Indonesia) and the Eastern-sounding pentatonicism that came with it. Debussy’s melding of influences coupled with his focus on subjects like poetry and nature produced a very personal, unique style. 

This distinctly Debussy style and treatment of harmony eventually garnered worldwide fame and comparisons to the Impressionism of the visual arts. Even though Debussy himself rejected the label of “impressionist,” his shimmering music engaged audiences’ imaginations in much the same way as Monet’s paintings might, and the term stuck. Remember our exercise at the beginning? Listen to La mer, and you’ll hear why Debussy is regarded as the first Impressionist composer. 

Recommended Union Library resources: 

• To read: Debussy (ML410.D28 J46 2014) 
• To study: La mer: trois esquisses symphoniques (M1002.D28 M4) 
• To listen: French Impressions, La mer, tracks 9-11 (IMC CDs M1254.U54 F7) 

Students and faculty, head over to our Music Research Guide to discover how to access more classical music online through the NAXOS library. 

March Book Madness 2022: Week 2

Union University’s Library at the Logos welcomes you to this presentation of March Book Madness! On Fridays in February, you will be introduced to the books competing in March Book Madness in 2022. Each week will feature our selection from two different genres. By the end, you will have been introduced to 8 genres and 16 books. Then, during the month of March, stay tuned to our social media channels to vote on your favorites. You, our readers, will determine which book will make it through the Final Four to become our first March Book Madness Champion! 

Micah: Now that those first quarter jitters are out of the way, let’s meet our next two genres: Romance and books written by Christian Authors. This week, Sara Hand will be my co-commentator. Sara, what do we have for romance?  

Sara: First, we have The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Hazel, a 16-year-old with terminal cancer, thinks she knows how the rest of her life is going to turn out until she meets Augustus Waters in Cancer Kid Support Group. Suddenly she finds herself in the middle of an unexpected romance, despite the inevitable tragedy that will befall them. 

Micah: Sounds like a tear-jerker! What book is going up against it? 

Sara: Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer is a retelling of the famous Twilight from Edward’s perspective. Finally, readers learn more about Edward’s past and what he was thinking as he tried to distance himself from Bella, only to fail and completely fall in love with her.   

Micah: Ah, a modern classic romance. Two strong contenders!  

Sara: I think so! Micah, what do we have for books written by Christian authors? 

Micah: Number one is Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dr. Dane Ortlund. Christians can often feel that even though God loves us, he is perpetually disappointed or frustrated by our constant sin and disobedience. In turn, we focus on Jesus Christ’s work in providing salvation and appeasing God’s wrath—which is right and important—but it’s easy to forget that Jesus also has feelings of love and compassion for those he saves. This book explores Jesus’ “gentle and lowly” care towards sinners throughout the Bible to bring encouragement to believers. 

Sara: I’ve been meaning to read that book for a while. It seems like everyone has been reading it lately! What else do you have written by a Christian author?  

Micah: Our next book is The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction, by Justin Whitmel Earley. In this fast-paced world of constant screen-based diversions and workplace interruptions, it’s easy to involuntarily form patterns of life that leave us stressed, depressed, and exhausted. To win back our schedules, Earley walks us through four daily and four weekly habits that help Christians align their daily lives with their beliefs, creating routines that focus on loving God and our neighbors. 

Sara: That sounds like a useful book! I’m not sure which of those books will win this round. 

Micah: Me either! Gentle and Lowly is very comforting and thoughtful, while The Common Rule is incredibly practical and helpful. We’ll see what our readers think! 

Sara: We’ve reached halftime of our introductions. Which book are you hoping will win? Grab your popcorn or your coffee from Modero as we gear up for the second half!  

March Book Madness 2022: Week 1

Union University’s Library at the Logos welcomes you to this presentation of March Book Madness! On Fridays in February, you will be introduced to the books competing in March Book Madness in 2022. Each week will feature our selection from two different genres. By the end, you will have been introduced to 8 genres and 16 books. Then, during the month of March, stay tuned to our social media channels to vote on your favorites. You, our readers, will determine which book will make it through the Final Four to become our first March Book Madness Champion!  

Micah: Welcome, everyone, to our first inaugural March Book Madness competition! I’m Micah Rhodes, and I’ll be one of your commentators for this week, alongside Rachel Bloomingburg. We will take you through our first two genres and the books that go with them. Rachel, what do we have today? 

Rachel: Fantasy and Science Fiction are up first! Fantasy has magical elements and is typically set in another land. Science Fiction often takes place in the future and usually has a technological component. 

Micah: These are some of my favorite genres to read. Why don’t you start us off with a rundown of our fantasy contestants? 

Rachel: Sure! Our first book is Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson. Elisabeth is an apprentice librarian that’s grown up in one of the Great Libraries of Austermeer. She dreams of becoming a warden where she can help protect the kingdom from magical grimoires. Grimoires can seem harmless, but once provoked, they transform into monsters of ink and leather. One day, someone unleashes the most dangerous one. Elisabeth ends up being accused of the crime. She has no choice but to turn to Nathaniel Thorn, a sorcerer, for help. She’s always been taught that sorcerers are evil; however, the more she gets to know Nathaniel, the more she questions what she’s been taught. See what happens as Elisabeth learns more about herself, the people she can trust, and the libraries that she loves.  

Micah: Some fascinating stuff in there! What book will Sorcery of Thorns be facing in the first round? 

Rachel: Next up is Heartless by Marissa Meyer. Living in Wonderland and marrying the king is what all girls want, right? Not Catherine. She is a talented baker and desires to do more with her life. Her mother expects her to accept the king’s proposal at the next royal ball, but neither predicted that handsome and mysterious Jest would enter the picture. Catherine and Jest enter a secret courtship, but in a land full of wonder, things don’t always go according to plan. You may think you know what happened in Wonderland, but Catherine’s story may prove otherwise. 

Micah: Sounds like a winning combination of intrigue and romance! Which do you think will end up on top? 

Rachel: They’re both strong contenders, but I think Sorcery of Thorns’ originality will help it to stand out. Why don’t you introduce us to our sci-fi contestants?  

Micah: One of our science fiction competitors is Andy Weir’s breakout novel, The Martian. In the book, astronaut Mark Watney is accidentally left behind on Mars when his research team must perform an emergency evacuation. The novel follows Watney’s journal entries as he attempts to survive alone on the inhospitable planet, figuring out how to solve all manner of problems from conserving food to contacting Earth without long-range communications equipment. Though the stakes are high, and time is ticking, Mark’s unique brand of humor and pragmatic approach to problem-solving keeps the novel’s tone light and extremely entertaining. 

Rachel: Wow. That’s a lot to handle. Sounds like the type of person you’d want up when the game is on the line. What book will The Martian be going up against?  

Micah: Our other sci-fi entrant is To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, by Christopher Paolini. Paolini is well known for his dragon-rider epic fantasy novel, Eragon, and he brings all his world-building expertise to the genre of science fiction. Kira Navárez, the protagonist, is a xenobiologist who wants nothing more than to settle down with her fiancé in a new planetary colony. However, disaster strikes, war erupts, and Kira’s life is upended when she discovers an ancient alien artifact. Paolini interweaves Kira’s story with fascinating technology, unique aliens, and the perplexing paradox of faster-than-light travel to create a gripping yet thoughtful narrative. 

Rachel: Another unique and intense combination. Which one do you think will end up on top?  

Micah: It’s a hard call; Paolini’s pedigree is impressive and evident in To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, but I think the broad appeal and accessibility of The Martian will give it the win. 

Rachel: Well, folks, that’s all we have time for today! After meeting our first four competitors, which one do you think has the best chance of making the final four? Be ready to vote for your favorite and follow us down to the last page of March Book Madness. 

2021 In Review

Another year with the Logos Library blog has come and gone, and with it have also come a few changes. With each passing year more people are checking out the blog, and we hope to continue bringing quality content for many more years. Take a look below to see what our most popular blogs have been for 2021!

Amount of Blog Views in 2021: 8,048

Amount of Visitors for 2021: 6,228 (We had visitors from over 100 countries!)

The following posts had the most views and interactions of 2021:

Top Ten Blog Posts of 2021:

1. How to Print in the Library with Paw Print
2. Book Club Review: “The Secret History” by Donna Tartt
3. How to View Our Tutorials
4. How to Scan Multiple Pages to Your Email
5. Book Review: “The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires” by Grady Hendrix
6. Matthew’s Monday Movie: “Cinderella Man”
7. Top 5 Social Work Journals
8. Top 5 Nursing Databases
9. Matthew’s Monday Movie: “King Kong” (2005)
10. Featured Book: “New Poets of Native Nations”

Top 5 Book Reviews of 2021:

1. Book Review:  “The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires” by Grady Hendrix
2. Book Review: “To Shake the Sleeping Self” by Jedidiah Jenkins
3. Book Review: “Illiad” by Homer
4. Book Review: “The Martian Chronicles” by Ray Bradbury
5. Book Review: “Circe” by Madeline Miller

Blog Editor-in-Chief:

Olivia Chin (Until September, 2021 when she handed off the baton of editor-in-chief to other staff members)

Blog Editors:

Sara Hand

Melissa Moore

Newly Appointed Blog Team:

Sara Hand

Stephen Mount

Micah Rhodes

Amber Wessies

Featured Writers:

Olivia Chin

Sara Hand

Micah Rhodes

Melissa Moore

Savannah Patterson

Amber Wessies

Micah’s Monthly Music, December 2021: The Christmas Oratorio

During the Christmas season, the entire American musical landscape shifts to focus on the music of the holiday. Stores and restaurants play old Christmas standards alongside the latest pop hits, radio and streaming services are completely saturated in the newest albums and covers, and classically trained musicians make a large portion of their annual income playing numerous Christmas gigs. As a traditionally Christian celebration, churches and major orchestras plan concerts that feature famous Christmas pieces from art music history, the most notable of which are the Christmas oratorios.

What is an oratorio? Well, back when opera was the “pop” music of the 1600s, Catholic audiences were prohibited from partaking in the “secular indulgence” of opera during the season of Lent. This didn’t curb their appetite for music, however, so composers of sacred music developed an alternative that came to be known as the oratorio. Like an opera, oratorios featured an orchestra, various vocal ensembles, several soloists, and a narrative for audiences to follow. The difference lay in the source material; operas generally looked to classical mythology for their inspiration, while oratorios adapted stories from sacred sources like the Bible. Additionally, oratorios did not feature the flamboyant costumes, embellished solos, or grand stage sets of operas, instead focusing more on the lyrics and story themselves as presented by the choir. As oratorios came into their own as a full-fledged musical form, composers began to write them for other events in the church calendar and Christmas was the most logical fit for the style.

The most famous of oratorios heard during Christmas is unequivocally Handel’s Messiah, but it was not originally written for the Advent season. It was simply intended as a musical description of Messianic prophecy, the birth and life of Christ, and his Second Coming. Nevertheless, this piece has become a Christmas mainstay of the art music world, both for its aptness to the Advent story and the quality of the musical craftsmanship. However, Handel was not the only composer to write a Christmas oratorio; Johann Sebastian Bach wrote one and Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel wrote several. Though they are performed less often in English-speaking countries (Bach & Stölzel were both German composers), these oratorios are still of the utmost quality and are specifically designed for Christmas. If you don’t mind looking up translations, I’d recommend you give one of them a try! Otherwise, check out a few movements of Messiah besides the “Hallelujah” chorus.

Merry Christmas!

Recommended Union Library resources:

• To read: Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio: Music, Theology, Culture (ML410.B13 R287 2016)
• To study: Messiah (M2000.H22 M34 1998)
• To listen: Sacred Vocal Works (IMC CDs M3.1.B33 S23)
• To watch: Union University’s “Handel’s Messiah In Concert”

Students and faculty, head over to our Music Research Guide to discover how to access more classical music online through the NAXOS library.

Library Staff Book Club: Dracula by Bram Stoker

Every month library staff members meet for book club to discuss a book held in the Logos Library. Some of the books we have already read include The Giver of Stars, Little Fires Everywhere, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and The Midnight Circus.

In honor of October, we read Dracula by Bram Stoker. The book club members who could attend discussed their thoughts about the novel and their opinions can be found in the form of an interview below.

*Mild spoilers ahead*

Who is your favorite character and why? 

Amber Wessies, Instruction Librarian, answered: I don’t know if I had a favorite character, but I think if I had to pick, I might say Van Helsing or Mina. I think Mina seemed to know more of the story than anyone else since she was the one translating shorthand or transcribing verbal diary entries. At the same time, she was also the one connected to Dracula. Initially, I thought her symptoms of fatigue and loss of appetite might have been pregnancy, but it seems like it was because of Dracula. If it was both, I admire her ability to go on a long carriage ride in the cold through the mountains to hunt Dracula. Although the men often treated her like a helpless silly woman, she was anything but. I think her character broke stereotypes for that time.

I would say Van Helsing because he was the older father figure. He had an intuition and empathy the other characters didn’t really have. He again knew more than most of the characters because of his experience with vampires in the past.

Melissa Moore, Library Director, answered: I had a hard time caring about any of the characters with the exception of Dr. Van Helsing, who I found to be an empathetic character. Both Lucy and Mina I found unappealing, which surprised me given that they are the victims, but they just felt shallow.

Micah Rhodes, Evening Circulation Supervisor, answered: My favorite character was Dr. John Seward, the psychiatrist. One of the major narrators, Dr. Seward is an educated professional and accordingly reacts to the reality of vampirism in a relatable way, with heavy skepticism that eventually turns to horrific belief once he has the evidence. Seward also serves as a catalyst for the novel’s resolution by contacting his mentor, Van Helsing, for help, whose knowledge halts Dracula’s otherwise unquestionable triumph.

Sara Hand, Circulation Associate and Administrative Secretary, answered: My favorite character was Van Helsing because of his witty lines and bravery. Out of all the characters, I felt like he was the most real and relatable. He often mentions the need to eat breakfast before hunting Dracula, which I related to because of my deep appreciation for breakfast as well!

What was your favorite or least favorite part of the story?

Amber Wessies answered: My favorite part of the book was the beginning when Jonathan is at Dracula’s castle. The way Stoker describes Dracula is very creepy. I could connect other modern vampire characteristics to this description of Dracula. The little hairs on Dracula’s hand and the description of him climbing down the wall like a lizard were vivid. I think I would go a little crazy too if I saw and felt those things. When I was reading this part, it also made me think about how much creepier and more suspenseful it must have been for the first readers of the book. We hear vampire stories all the time, we also knew going in Dracula is a vampire. However, I wondered if the first readers knew Dracula was a vampire in the beginning and what information did they know about vampires in general.

Melissa Moore answered: My initial reaction to the book choice was excitement, as this is one of those classics I had never read, and I wondered how it would compare to Frankenstein in particular. I generally enjoy gothic novels, and enjoyed the setting and mystery set up in the first 1/3 of the novel a lot. However, as things moved on, I thought the novel felt almost directionless. The ending seemed anticlimactic to me: I think killing the Count should have been a much more dramatic scene. In the end, I much prefer Frankenstein to Dracula.

Micah Rhodes answered: When a story uses lack of communication and incomplete information as a tension-building plot device, I usually become frustrated with the characters for simply not talking to one another. However, the events of Dracula occur across countries and are connected through seemingly disparate events, so none of the characters believe their lives are affected by the titular, nefarious Count until midway through the novel. This creates a believable epiphany when the characters all meet and realize they have been experiencing different facets of one villain’s plot, then band together to put a stop to it. For me, this successfully subverted my typical frustration with this type of storytelling and rather increased my appreciation of the novel for its success in doing so.

Sara Hand answered: My favorite part was the beginning of the novel when Jonathan is trapped in Dracula’s castle. I enjoyed getting to read what Dracula is like, especially since we don’t get to see him much for the rest of the novel. I also enjoyed the part when the men are trying to save Lucy’s life because I found it suspenseful, exciting, and at times amusing. 

If you have read Dracula, do you agree or disagree with the opinions above? Leave a comment to let us know! Also, if you are interested in reading Dracula you can find it in Union’s library.

Reading List: National Young Readers Week

National Young Readers Week is observed during the second week of November every year in order to promote literacy among children and their families. In the spirit of the occasion, library staff members have shared their favorite children’s books that can be found in Union’s library.

Rachel Bloomingburg, Circulation Manager, enjoys this book because it helps readers think about what makes them special while also encouraging them to choose kindness.

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

Jeannie Byrd, Technical Services Librarian, has always enjoyed this 14 book series:

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Sara Hand, Circulation Associate and Administrative Secretary, loves reading this to her daughter who often mimics the animal voices:

Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill

Susan Kriaski, Cataloging Associate, thinks these two books deserve a read:

Llama Llama and Friends by Anna Dewdney

Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney

Beth Lynn, Collection Development Coordinator, loves reading about Ralph’s adventures on his little red motorcycle:

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

Melissa Moore, Director for Library Services, enjoys these books for their creativity:

Free Fall by David Wiesner

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka

Stephen Mount, Systems Librarian, loved the idea of time and space travel as a child, so he recommends this book:

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Savannah Patterson, Public Services Librarian, recommends this book for the illustrations and the message of giving:

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Micah Rhodes, Evening Circulation Supervisor, likes this book:

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson

Paul Sorrell, Creative Projects Coordinator, appreciates this book because it demonstrates the power of friendship and the talents of a creative spider:

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

Amber Wessies, Instruction Librarian, has fond family memories associated with these books:

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch

Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino