USC Upstate Library News - LibGuides at University of South Carolina Upstate

Images of painting "Conserve (Footprint)" by Jenny Bonner - image on left is snow-covered stream; image on right shows a degraded environment Now on view in the library is the artwork, "Conserve (Footprint)" (2024; acrylic and mixed media on canvas), by Jenny Bonner. Bonner is a painter, sculptor, installation artist, and lecturer in Visual Arts at USC Upstate.

The work is a highlight of the library's new exhibit on climate change, Real People, Real Climate, Real Changes. The large format work was commissioned by the exhibit's creators, the National Science Foundation's National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) Center for Science Education. Bonner created the work especially for the exhibit.

Bonner explains that her work is based on her experiences living near and exploring wilderness areas in Spartanburg and beyond, such as the Cottonwood Trail in South Carolina and the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina. In the panel on the left, the work shows a stream covered in snow; the panel on the right shows the streambed after the snow has melted, revealing trash and debris underneath. Bonner states that the work "celebrates the gift of conservation, while carrying a reminder that we must strive to act as conservators all the time, showing our love for the world around us through gentle living and constant care for the future."

The artwork will be on view through February 28, 2024, and then will travel with the exhibit to its next destination.

The USC Upstate Library is pleased to present “Picturing Women Inventors,” a poster exhibit that explores the inventions of 19 highly accomplished American women. This poster exhibit will be on view through March and April in the library's cafe and study room area on the 1st floor.

“Picturing Women Inventors” is distributed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) in collaboration with the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The exhibit is sponsored by Lyda Hill Philanthropies IF/THEN Initiative and Ericsson.

About the exhibit

Throughout American history, women with diverse backgrounds and interests created inventions that changed lives every day. But women haven’t always had equal opportunities to be inventors or received as much recognition.

“Picturing Women Inventors” showcases the breakthroughs, motivations, and challenges women encountered while pursuing their goals as inventors. The poster exhibit highlights stories of inventors like Marilyn Hamilton (see picture), who after a hang-gliding accident in 1978 left her paralyzed, invented a lightweight wheelchair that was easy to maneuver. Diversity of background and age are showcased including inventor Alexis Lewis, who at 12-years-old in 2011 was inspired to adapt a traditional Native American sled, called a travois, by adding wheels to create a simpler way to transport families and their belongings in Somalia.

Inventors featured include astronauts, computer pioneers, businesswomen, athletes, engineers, and students, among others.

A row of construction helmets and shovels featuring the USC Upstate logo. The shovels are sticking out of the ground and the helmets are placed on top. It's happening!

The ground has finally been broken on a $21 million addition to the USC Upstate Library building. Construction on the new addition will start in May 2024 and continue until summer 2025. The South Carolina General Assembly provided the funding for this building, the first new construction on the USC Upstate campus since 2009.

The new addition will provide a campus focal point for student success services, such as advising, tutoring, study hall, and career management, and the Center for International Education.

In the current architectural plan, a bridge will connect the addition to the existing library's 2nd floor. Student Success, Career Management, and other Academic Affairs operations currently located on the library's 2nd floor will relocate to the new building once it is complete.

Once those services move to their new home, another round of library renovations will begin. Future renovations include improved access to the library from the parking lot, more study rooms and improved quiet study space, and a digital learning lab/makerspace.

Sign with coffee cup for Perk Up! cafe listing operating hours Get ready to place your orders!

Beginning February 10, Perk Up! the library's café, will be open on Fridays through the remainder of spring semester. The coffee shop will operate from 8 am to 2 pm on Friday, along with its current schedule of 8 am to 3 pm, Monday through Thursday.

Friday hours for the café has been a frequent request of the USC Upstate campus community. Thanks to their efforts, USC Upstate Dining Services is now able to meet this request.

So whether you want a coffee, a latte, a frappe, a quick nosh, or a more substantial sandwich, Perk Up! can now cure your craving five days a week.

New art in the library: Conserve (Footprint)

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