ECU’s Joyner Library hosts illustrator at annual summit

Keynote speaker James Ransome, an award-winning children's book illustrator, and ECU Provost Marilyn Sheerer are seen at the Librarian to Librarian Summit Feb. 4. (Contributed photo)

The 7th annual Librarian to Librarian Summit was held at Joyner Library’s Teaching Resources Center Feb 4.

The conference, only one of two statewide, featured more than 30 diverse roundtable discussions from understanding cultural diversity in elementary education to copyright and app exchanges.

“Joyner Library strives to provide an environment for scholarship and collaboration,” said Dr. Larry Boyer, dean of academic library and learning resources. “One outstanding example of this is our Librarian to Librarian Summit, a unique conference hosted by our Teaching Resources Center, providing the venue for professional development to school librarians and media specialists from across North Carolina.”

North Carolina native and award-winning children’s book illustrator, James Ransome gave the keynote address. Ransome has received both the Coretta Scott Kind Award for Illustration and the IBBY Honor Award for his book, “The Creation.”

For Ransome, the story has always been his inspiration and uses his writing and illustration to instill in children the unique qualities of our cultural and racial differences. Raised by his grandmother in Rich Square, Ransome said “as I read (the Bible), the illustrations, filled with figures in dramatic poses wearing flowing garments and surrounded by beautiful landscapes, sparked my imagination.”

Provost Marilyn Sheerer also attended the event.

“What an exciting presentation given by an accomplished illustrator from North Carolina. We are proud of our Teaching Resources Center’s dedication to the development of our state’s media coordinators while featuring ‘homegrown’ artists like James Ransome,” said Sheerer, who previously served the university as dean of the College of Education.

Former educator and N.C. House Rep. Marian McLawhorn served as a panelist for multiple sessions.

“A good librarian needs to know how to retrieve information from the right sources. The summit provides an opportunity for librarians across the state to review the latest in technology while networking with others in their profession,” she said.

For more information on this event or about Joyner Library, contact Dawn Wainwright at wainwrightd@ecu.edu or (252) 328-4090.
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