Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpT7xkq3AXo&list=PLOQvdw7d0cd9RZZkd2lZy2hmrnJv-cfLI&index=15
Evan Snow: And welcome back to another episode of the Choose 954 podcast, episode 84, with NSU's Jim Hutchins. If you didn’t know about Choose 954, myself and my business partner are community builders and creative entrepreneurs who started an initiative to cultivate culture. We want people to know about the great things going on in our efforts to make this area a better place to live, not just a better place to vacation.
The point of the podcast is to connect you, the listener, with interesting people doing important things in the community, and Jim has quite a lot going on at the Alvin Sherman Library, which we're excited to tell you about, including some events that we're collaborating on. So, without much further ado, for those that are not familiar with you, Jim, why don’t you tell us a little about yourself at a high level?
Jim Hutchins: Thank you, Evan. I appreciate you taking the opportunity to let me join the podcast today. Very excited, and I just want to thank Andrew Martino, who introduced me to you. So yeah, I’m Jim Hutchins, the Vice President for Information Services and University Library here at Nova Southeastern University. I’ve been with the university for 23 years—this November will be 23 years—all with the libraries. And I’ve had the pleasure to come up through the ranks, and I’ve also had the pleasure to work in this great building, the NSU Alvin Sherman Library Research and Information Technology Center, which I think we’re going to talk about a good bit here for the duration of the call.
I’m originally not a South Floridian—I’m originally from Western Pennsylvania, from Pittsburgh. Right after graduate school, I have an undergrad in history, and I’ve always been in libraries and interested in culture. But right after my graduate degree in library science, I went to work for Penn State University for three years. It was a great job, and I still have a lot of friends up at Penn State, but it just snowed too much, and I couldn’t handle the eight months of winter any longer. So, my mom jokes, “I sent you off to college when you were 18, and you never came back,” because I’ve worked in higher ed for 30 years. Then she said, “I sent you down to Florida,” because my mom, around March like now, my birthday month, sent me down. She had some property in Florida, and I came down here and never left. I’ve really found Nova Southeastern University, South Florida, and 954 as my home. So, that’s a high-level synopsis of myself. How about that?
Evan Snow: Well, we’re glad you made the decision to choose 954 and definitely excited with the direction things are going at the library and the Circle of Friends, which Andrew is a board member of. Could you tell us a little bit about how things have progressed for you from when you arrived at NSU just a few years ago up until where you are today?
Jim Hutchins: Yeah, I can absolutely tell you that when I first came down here in 1999—to start at the beginning—I knew that Nova Southeastern University was not becoming a university. We haven’t been around for 60 years—next year will be our 60th anniversary. But this library, this 325,000-square-foot library, did not exist. It was just a big lawn. At my interview, the people who were my mentors and ended up being my bosses showed me the blueprints. I thought, “Wow, there are a lot of offices there. Are those for faculty?” And they said, “No, those are for the library staff that we’re going to hire.” I knew that this was going to be a publicly accessible building, and I’ll talk more about the Alvin Sherman Library today, but this building is 325,000 square feet and is one of the biggest in the southeastern United States. It’s the physical manifestation of a partnership between Broward County and Nova Southeastern University.
So back in 1999, a month or two before my interview, the Broward County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously along with the NSU trustees to build a research library that would be shared by the faculty, staff, and students of Nova Southeastern University and all the residents of Broward County. Anybody who lives, works, or attends classes in Broward County can come into this library with unfettered access—that’s really unique. So when I was looking at all those offices 20-some years ago, there were only 14 librarians. We ended up hiring 40 librarians because we offer so many services for the county and our students. We do quite a bit now. The university itself has grown, and we’ve entered into the top half of U.S. News & World Report, so our academic status has definitely been climbing. We’re very happy with what we do here.
Evan Snow: Amen. It impresses us and definitely serves a vital role in the community. One of the reasons why Andrew saw the importance of joining the board and providing support is to give back and create more interactions with the community through our community-building initiatives. One of the ones that we’re really excited to let the community know about and invite them out to join us next Friday is that we’re moving AAF Creative Zen, our monthly breakfast lecture series, our mini TED Talk, to NSU at the Alvin Sherman Library. This first event will take place in the Levan Center of Innovation on the fifth floor. It will transition within the building moving forward, between the Coachella Gallery and other breakout conference rooms on the property as well.
If you didn’t know about Creative Zen, it’s an event we’ve been hosting for about five years. I initially had my “aha” moment that led me down this path of arts, culture, community building, and everything else that Andrew and I have been up to these last couple of years by bringing in local, thought-provoking speakers to share their relatable stories—everyone from entrepreneurs to yoga and Zen masters, to nonprofit leaders in the communities, to doctors and advocates, and everyone else in between. It served an important purpose for me very early on in my journey, which is why I like to pay it back and pay it forward by continuing to host this event for free every second Friday morning of the month. We’ve been transitioning it to different places throughout Broward County, and we’re glad to have found a new home here at NSU and the Alvin Sherman Library, because libraries and universities serve a valuable purpose for our community.
Can you tell us, aside from Creative Zen coming up—which we’ll be glad to link in the show notes and comments—what other things you guys have going on at the library and on campus in terms of events and other opportunities that the community might be able to get involved in and check out the space?
Jim Hutchins: Absolutely. Do you have enough time? We really do have a full calendar, especially this semester and specifically this month. I want to mention a couple of things you mentioned, Evan. The Alvin Sherman Library building has five floors, and on our fifth floor, we have the Alan B. Levan NSU Broward Center of Innovation, where the Creative Zen in March will be held. We’re really excited because that is like the shiny new penny on campus—the Levan Center is beautiful. But after that, in April and hopefully going forward, we’re going to have the Creative Zen meetings in our Cotilla Gallery, which is a beautiful event and exhibit space.
Right now, you know, that gives me my segue. We are celebrating Black history—not just Black History Month, but Black history here at the university. We start our celebration right before Martin Luther King Day, and our exhibit is going to run all the way until the end of March, March 31st. The exhibit is called "Black Wings: African Americans in Aviation," and we’ve had some great events with a great turnout. I definitely recommend getting to the library if you’re not going to be here for Creative Zen but getting to the library to check out this exhibition.
Some other things tied to that exhibition include an event on March 9th with an astronaut, Winston Scott, who is part of Black aviation history. He came from segregated Coconut Grove, and his story is very inspiring. He was a Boys and Girls Club member and is now part of their Hall of Fame. He grew up in the 50s and 60s and didn’t have access to some of the STEM courses that are now so prevalent. He found a niche for music, went off to Florida State, got a Bachelor’s degree in music, and eventually became an astronaut, spending 25 days in space. But you’ll have to hear his story on March 9th from 5:30 to 7 PM.
The last thing we’re doing for our Black History celebration is on March 31st, when Alvin Hall, author of "The Green Book," will be here from 12:30 to 2 PM. Many of you may have seen the movie "The Green Book." It was a book put together to let African Americans know what safe hotels and restaurants they could go to during Jim Crow, so they’d know where they’d be safe. We’re very excited for that.
Women’s History Month is also in March, and we’re hosting a program called "Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories." It’s a panel discussion with a faculty member and three of our media students who work in different elements of student media—radio, newspaper, and TV. We’re very excited for this, and it’s going to be on Tuesday, March 21st. Our radio station will start off on our library lawn right in front of the Alvin Sherman Library at 4 PM, and the program begins at 5 PM. At 6 PM, we’ll have pizza and some fun, and Radio X will close out the event. We’re very excited for this partnership between the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts, the Alvin Sherman Library, and the Broward County Libraries.
Those are just three of about 10 things I could have told you, but I know you only have so much time, so I’ll leave it at that.
Evan Snow: It’s not every day that you get to hear from an astronaut, which is amazing and another reason to choose 954, to bring brilliant minds to give our community front-row access in our backyard here. I think that’s incredible. If somebody wants to find out more information, where can they find it on the interwebs?
Jim Hutchins: I would always recommend the quickest way to get to everything is our comprehensive website. Go to sherman.library.nova.edu—that’s our homepage. If you scroll down to about the middle of the page, you’ll see all our upcoming events. Click on one of those, and it’ll take you to a calendar of events where you can filter and find things that are appropriate for your age group, your child if you have children, or if you want to bring children. We have something for everybody.
I can’t believe I totally forgot to mention what we’re doing because I’m living in it—on Sunday, we’re having our StoryFest Festival, which is one of our signature events. Everybody outside is running around getting ready for it, and I’m happy to be here when it’s a little cooler and calmer. StoryFest is a family literacy festival, and this is the 11th one we’ve had. This is the first time we’ve come back to campus since before the pandemic. It’s an all-day event that goes from 11 AM to 3 PM. Every child gets a free book, and we have lots of performers, face painters, games, and most of all, it promotes literacy. I wouldn’t be able to get out of my office if I didn’t mention that. That’s Sunday, March 5th.
Evan Snow: I’m glad you shared that. You didn’t know this, but I’m going to tell you and maybe some of my friends and some of the people who listen to the podcast know this: storytelling at NSU actually holds a very special place in my heart. Prior to COVID, my mother and I would go to TEDxNSU every year from about 2014 to 2019. For about five years, Dr. Leanne Boucher Gill would produce it with a great team from the university. Understandably, COVID happened, and it hasn’t been brought back yet, but I have many fond memories and formed many amazing relationships with people I met who spoke at TEDxNSU—alumni, professors. I was fortunate to be there the last year you hosted it for Dr. Guy Harvey’s TED Talk, which, as a fan of talks and inspiration, and as an ocean conservationist, was one of the most memorable talks I was ever fortunate to be a part of. So, I’m glad you guys are continuing to make these opportunities available with brilliant speakers, and I’m glad we can contribute in our small part with AAF Creative Zen.
I’m even more excited that this first talk features one of the most impressive and inspiring people in my life that I’ve ever had the fortune to know and be involved with—Joanna Godoy of Radical Partners, the CEO. I recently underwent their Social Entrepreneurship Boot Camp, and I can never say enough good things about Radical Partners and the programs and initiatives they do, like 10 Days of Connections. Joanna is one of the most incredible changemakers, motivators, facilitators, and just one of the most incredible people in our community, so we’re very excited to have her share her thought-provoking and relatable story for free on Friday, March 9th, at the Alvin Sherman Library at NSU. This first event is in the NSU Levan Center of Innovation on the fifth floor. The doors open at 8:30 AM, with an opportunity to mix and mingle with fellow community members. There will be complimentary coffee and pastries. The introduction starts at 9 AM, and we incorporate a free guided meditation from Rise of Nature Retreats and my coach and friend Chloe Ravel to put everybody in a relaxed, Zen state to receive this motivation and inspiration. We’re out of there by 10 AM.
If you’re not sure about missing an hour or maybe an hour and a half of work, I have a whole list of truthful things you can tell your boss about why it’s beneficial for you to take some time out of your life to get some inspiration and motivation that you can bring back to your company and workplace. You can find more information on that event under AAF Creative Zen, or you can find it on Choose954. Jim, if they want to find out more on your social media, where would be the best place to direct people regarding the library?
Jim Hutchins: Everything centers on the Sherman Library, and right underneath our events, we have our social media—essentially, a lineup of the platforms we participate on. I would click on any one or all of those. Evan, you did a great job, but you and I must share the same brain because the event is on March 10th. I’ve been putting March 9th on everything, but it’s March 10th. We’re going to have free parking here, and we’ll be working with you and Andrew to make sure a parking pass is provided. We want it to be frictionless when you come into the library. We’ll have some greeters to take you up to the fifth floor. As Evan said, we’ll have coffee and pastries, and we’re very happy to do that and start this off. Dr. Boucher is actually going to be speaking at our StoryFest function because she has two titles. The theme of StoryFest this year is STEAM—science, technology, environment, art, and mathematics. We’re looking to get the TED Talks back to NSU and host them out of the Alvin Sherman Library.
Evan Snow: I’m so glad to hear that. I appreciate that. She’s one of my favorite people, and I’m forever grateful. I know it’s a labor of love—a volunteer, nonprofit type of thing—and it takes a very special person to take time out of their lives, as we’re doing, to put these initiatives together to bring our community together to connect, engage, and inspire, which is part of our mission. We really appreciate you doing that.
There are two last things I’d like you to touch on for those who aren’t familiar with the Circle of Friends, which Andrew is a board member of. Why don’t you tell us a little about the Circle of Friends, what you guys do, and maybe some ways that someone potentially interested could get involved or support?
Jim Hutchins: Absolutely. The Alvin Sherman Library has an affinity group called the Circle of Friends, and Andrew is one of our board members. Andrew’s opened up a lot of different opportunities for us. The Circle of Friends are our friend-raisers—they connect us with networks like Creative Zen, where we hope that when you come here to the Alvin Sherman Library, you’ll want to come back and bring your friends. The Circle of Friends has been around since before this building was opened in 1999, right after the ground was first broken. Their mission is to enhance the programs, resources, services, and staff of the Alvin Sherman Library. They’ve done so much for us—they’ve procured art, funded programs, and more. If you’re a library lover, I think there’s a place for you in the Circle of Friends.
Again, everything centers on the Alvin Sherman Library page. If you get there, go into the menu at the very top left-hand corner, and you’ll find Circle of Friends. It’ll tell you how to join the Circle of Friends. We’re so happy to have people like Andrew contribute. It’s an advisory board, and we’re not paying him, but he does a whole lot of work for us, and we really appreciate that. I could go on and on about the Circle of Friends, but reach out to me. My email is the best way if you want to find out anything about the Alvin Sherman Library. It’s very easy—my name is Jim Hutchins, so my email is jamesh@nova.edu. I’d be more than happy to provide tours or give you any information you might be interested in.
Evan Snow: Thank you very much. I appreciate that. You really lucked out with getting Andrew to be involved there, and I’m so proud and happy to see all the great things, some of the new exhibits that have already been facilitated with some introductions from Andrew. I know Tony Quan did a great show—more good stuff is where that came from. I normally like to end with a question you already kind of answered about why you chose 954, but I’d like to end with one question that I can tell is obviously near and dear to your heart: Why, for those who might not be familiar or cognizant or think about this, are libraries important to our community?
Jim Hutchins: Libraries are important to our community—they’ve been important for thousands of years. Many people think, “Now there are no longer books. We don’t need books; everything’s online,” but that’s a fallacy or an incorrect perception. The mission of this library, the Alvin Sherman Library, is to be the premier research, cultural, and lifelong learning center for both NSU and the community. Things you mentioned, and I don’t want to forget, include the cultural exhibits that Andrew has helped us with, like Tony Quan’s "Crossing Borders." That was a really beautiful and powerful exhibition.
The library will always be important because people still want to read books. I truly believe that. But I also believe in connections. There were seven months when the doors to the Sherman Library were closed, and it was a very lonely place. I was here with a skeleton staff, and I vowed when we reopened that I would do everything I could to make connections in the community, to bring people onto this campus and into the library to see everything we have. We’re not only consuming information here—we’re making information in our maker spaces and digital media labs. There’s so much you can do here. Evan, I could go on and on, and if you know me long enough, you’ll probably tell me to shut up at least once in your life, but there’s just so much you can do here. It’s not just your father’s library with books—it’s vibrant, and there’s a lot of activity here.
Evan Snow: Amazing. Well, we encourage the community to join us for any of these incredible events you have coming up. You can definitely save the date for the second Friday morning of every month for Creative Zen. A quick spoiler alert: I will actually be sharing my story for the first time publicly in this format on the five-year anniversary of Creative Zen in May, which, speaking of books, will run parallel with me releasing my first book, my memoir, telling my story of arts, culture, community building, creative entrepreneurship, and the lessons I’ve learned up to this point. I hope this story, the learning lessons, and the prompts I’m putting in the book can help change your life, your kids’ lives, or a kid’s life you care about—maybe a friend, family member, or someone you mentor.
I’m an avid reader, I love books, and I’m really glad to bring this book and this story into the universe here. I really appreciate you taking the time, Jim. I appreciate your support of us, our initiatives, and the community. We look forward to having you guys join us at NSU, and maybe you can get some inspiration to change your life, your community, or something beyond that. If you ever have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’m an open book at Choose954 on social media, choose954@unitusgroup.com via email, and feel free to reach out to Jim with any questions. We’d love to hear from you.
Jim Hutchins: Thank you, Evan. Thank you, Andrew.
Evan Snow: My pleasure. Thanks, Jim. We’ll see you soon.
Jim Hutchins: Okay. Cheers.
Evan Snow: Cheers.
コメント