InULA Around the State

Among the many people with a Jane Austen obsession is Associate Librarian Jackie Johnson at IU Southeast. Jackie, who has been at IU Southeast since 1990, is a historian (She has been overheard arguing passionately at 7:30 in the morning about some obscure reference to the Hapsburgs) and an Anglophile. She has published on Mary Queen of Scots; she subscribes to British Heritage magazine, and she plays knights and castles regularly with her 5 year old-son. But her real love is the Georgian/Regency period that Jane Austen immortalized in her novels. So she teamed up with an English professor at IU Southeast, Tresa Reynolds, to form JASIUS-the Jane Austen Society of IU Southeast, the purpose of which is to foster appreciation of Austen and her times. The group meets once a semester for high tea and to discuss a particular Austen work. Jackie, who is also an excellent cook, has provided delicious period foods for the meetings, and there has even been some talk of period costumes, although she hasn't gone that far yet. At any rate, it has piqued interest on and off campus, and has been a good way for Jackie to combine personal and professional interests. (Submitted by Nancy Totten)

Many IU librarians are musicians, and one of them is Brian Winterman. Brian is the Assistant Librarian at IUB's Life Sciences Library and Chemistry Library, and the collection manager for nursing. He writes songs, plays guitar and bass, and sings with four different bands. Brian has been an IU librarian since 2004, and he has lived in Bloomington since 2001. His job, his music, and his family keep him busy. Check out his website brianwinterman.com then ask him why libraries are not mentioned.

Do you know an IU Librarian who's doing something interesting, unexpected or inspirational? Get their permission to write a brief profile and send it to Emily Okada (okada@indiana.edu).