[nesfa-reading-group] [Library] [Info] Potential Library Visit

[cjhi newcastle2.com]

Is there a reason not to invite them for this Friday? The Bellairs is definitely a lighter work.

/CHip
________________________________
From: reading-group <reading-group-bounces at lists.nesfa.org> on behalf of Wesley Brodsky <wesbrodsky at alum.mit.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, July 5, 2023 12:35 PM
To: NESFA ReadingGroup <reading-group at lists.nesfa.org>
Subject: [nesfa-reading-group] Fw: [Library] [Info] Potential Library Visit

Hello Reading Group;

The person referenced below is interested in how some idea of ‘seriousness’ affect the way that SF is discussed and interpreted. They hope to find diverse discussions among different fan groups about this connection with seriousness, through science, wonder, social worth, estrangement, community-building and so on.

I think these are things somewhat discussed in our reading group, so I am thinking of sending them the Meetup reference to our discussion
Friday, August 4, 2023 • 7:00pm to 9:30pm (Boston time) NESFA Reading Group Book: “The Face in the Frost” by John Bellairs

They will not be in our vicinity at that time, but could join via Zoom.

Wes Brodsky
"It is of the utmost importance that Concepts not trouble you with silliness or complications, unless you are searching for really difficult work."; Giordano Bruno (1582)

________________________________________
From: library <library-bounces at lists.nesfa.org> on behalf of Sharon Sbarsky <info at nesfa.org>
Sent: Monday, July 3, 2023 10:19 AM
To: Ciarán Kavanagh
Cc: info at nesfa.org; library at nesfa.org
Subject: Re: [Library] [Info] Potential Library Visit

Ciarán,

Yes, you would be very welcome to come to NESFA and visit our library. On Wednesdays, will be open from 1pm on, but if the front door is locked, please call 617-625-2311 as the Librarian on duty may be in a different room until more people arrive. There is no need to join NESFA and become a member, but you are welcome to do so.

In addition to the Open Library Hours, two weeks ago we returned to gathering in the Clubhouse during Wednesday evenings. Some people who will be there in person will be doing small NESFA tasks, others will be there for the conversation. There will also be people who will join us on a hybrid zoom. (We are still working out the kinks for that.)

So the potential for additional discussions and conversations exists in the early evening. With your permission, I will forward your email to one of our mailing lists to let people know that you will be there. In case more people decide to arrive in person or via zoom that evening to speak with you.

Sharon Sbarsky
Boskone and NESFA Online Information


On Mon, Jul 3, 2023 at 4:12 AM Ciarán Kavanagh via Info <info at lists.nesfa.org<mailto:info at lists.nesfa.org>> wrote:
Dear NESFA,

My name is Dr Ciarán Kavanagh, and I am an Irish postdoctoral research based in Ghent University in Belgium. I am emailing to inquire about a potential visit to the NESFA clubhouse library on Wednesday July 26th. I will be on a two week research trip to Cambridge between July 14th and 29th to visit MITSFS’s fanzine collection, however the Distinctive Collections archive in which it is housed is unfortunately closed from the 26th to the 30th . Your friends in MITSFS suggested that the NESFA clubhouse collection might also be of interest.
As to what that interest is, my current research project is a three-year postdoc, “Science Fiction and Seriousness”, supported by the Flemish Research Council. In broad strokes, it is about the idea of seriousness in science fiction, or so-called ‘Serious SF. More specifically, I am interested in how some idea of ‘seriousness’ affects the way that SF is discussed and interpreted. Thus, I am not debating which texts are or are not serious, but am looking at the larger idea of seriousness in the genre, and how different reading communities have built and used such a concept, and the consequences of different ‘seriousnesses’. As part of this, I am looking into the discursive cultures built in fanzines and periodicals, in which I am hoping to find diverse discussions among different fan groups about this connection with seriousness, through science, wonder, social worth, estrangement, community-building and so on.
I see on your website that Wednesday’s are open library days, so I was hoping to explore the collection for a few hours. Would this be possible? Of course, if the library is member’s only, I am happy to apply for membership and pay dues.
I will also be in the area for a while, so if the project is of interest (or even just my state of being a wandering SF fan), then I am very open to any activities/conversations that might come my way :)
Looking forward to hearing from you.
With Thanks,
Ciarán Kavanagh

________________________
Dr Ciarán Kavanagh (he/him)
FWO Postdoctoral Researcher,
English Literature Section, UGent


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