21st century library a lot more than just books

April 30, 2013

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By NATHAN VOELLER/Montana State News

Prospective patrons who expect to see a warehouse full of books will observe something else when they enter the Bozeman Public Library. To reach the first shelves of books, they must pass a coffee shop, a large meeting room, electronic anti-theft detectors and self-checkout circulation desks.

According to Lois Dissly, the head of technical and automated services at the Bozeman Public Library, libraries are no longer just about books. Technological advances have spurred changes in library services, the way libraries are used and even the jobs of librarians.

Dissly said one of the largest changes the Bozeman Public Library and other libraries across Montana have undergone has been the emergence of MontanaLibrary2Go as a new service.

According to the Statewide Library Resources Division, “MontanaLibrary2Go is a consortium service that offers circulating downloadable digital e-books and audiobooks to patrons at participating libraries.” More

Chance meetings lead to musical success

April 30, 2013

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By ALEX KOMSTHOEFT/Montana State News

“Damn, that is good,” Shawn Swain says as he sips on his Bridger Brewery IPA.

Handcrafted, local beer is just one of the many fine things these Kitchen Dwellers appreciate about their hometown of Bozeman. From Montana, Alaska, Colorado, Wisconsin and Illinois, these five boys have unmistakably crossed paths to collaborate what they define as “no ordinary string band.”

All past and present students of Montana State University, these once individual musicians have found their collective sound as a foot-stomping, crowd-pleasing, heart pumping bluegrass band.

Joe Funk and Kyle Shelstad met their freshman year in 2009 when the magic started. “I met Kyle in September of 2010 and the three of us started playing together,” said Swain. “A week later I met Torrin in class.”

Shelstad left the country for a semester and Tyler Schultz stood in as a substitute guitar player for the Kitchen Dwellers. Upon Shelstad’s return, the band had one too many guitarists and were short one fiddle player. The obvious, rational solution Schultz came to was to “just show up with my fiddle that I had never played before. Never.” More

Dancer made an unlikely transition

April 30, 2013

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By PATRICK HILL/Montana State News

Mary Powell is not what you would expect from a belly dancer. As a former tire saleswoman who spent the majority of the day covered in vehicle grease, she made the transition to that of a woman dancing in a hand-sewn costume. It goes without saying, such a transformation requires a leap of imagination.

“I got into dancing because I was curious and I loved it from the first moment I tried it. I realized I could express myself through this,” said Powell. “My palate of emotional strata in movements – in layers – comes from my daughter, Rayven, my family and friends. The root of my heartbeat is made of emotions, music and dreams.”

It was in 2003, on a self-described “double dog dare” when Powell joined an existing local belly dance group in Bozeman, called Lotus Fire. Five years later, she branched off to teach others what had originally inspired her: the spark and the passion that existed within every woman to dance. More

Rodeo arena prep involves lots of dirt

April 30, 2013

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By ALYSSA BURZYNSKI/Montana State News

Long before the competitors arrive with their horse trailers and the crowd fills the arena, the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse is in preparation for the spring rodeo.

Brick Breeden Fieldhouse after it has been transformed into a rodeo arena.

Brick Breeden Fieldhouse after it has been transformed into a rodeo arena.

The Brick Breeden Fieldhouse’s unique design lends it self to the rodeo better than most indoor facilities since it is “the largest domed structure in the western hemisphere without a center support,” according to the Montana State Bobcats website.

“For this year’s rodeo, 6,692 tickets were sold,” according to Michelle Cook, Montana State University ticket manager. Saturday night’s ticket sales filled over 3,000 seats of the possible 4,867, a spectacular turnout for the rodeo, says Cook. But none of this would be possible without the nine months of planning that the Montana State University facilities office does. More

Photo school uses the past to teach the future

April 30, 2013

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By NOAH BOSTROM/Montana State News

In a world where everyone has a camera, where an Instagram is considered art and the word “film” has lost its meaning, what is the importance of studying classical approaches to photography?

The photography students of the Montana State University photography program would argue strongly for the older processes because they are an important part of understanding the visual language.

“We are teaching an entire language to our students, and the same as any other language, we start with the basics,” professor Chris Anderson says. This visual language is one of the most complex languages to learn or express.

“Since we see the world visually, minute to minute, we pay less attention to the detail and the beautiful scenes,” said professor Ian van Coller. “Using the commonplace to create something spectacular is the most important role of photographer.” More

Belly dance troupe revives an old artform

April 30, 2013

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By PATRICK HILL/Montana State News

The pastel colored walls of the Verge Theatre are decorated with framed portraits of past dance performances and other ornaments befitting of a ballet studio. Tucked in the middle of the theatre is the Rainbow Studio. Rhythmic music pumps from the studio as women of all ages move and sway their hips to the various musical beats.

Initiated in 2008, Bad Asp Belly Dancing Troupe is holding strong in their fifth year and currently revolves around five diverse local women. Each instructor focuses on her own blend and style of belly dancing. The troupe maintains a self-described “Earthy feel” to their Tribal Fusion style of dance. “Our style is about setting our own style,” said Mary Powell.

Sitting comfortably on a wooden bench outside of their studio, Powell is half in costume, half in street clothes while she tells the backstory of Bad Asp and the art of belly dancing.

“We started in the living room dancing and it was a lot like the garage band of dancing,” said Powell. Bad Asp is based in a self-made image to maintain a community-influenced approach to the arts. More

‘Rodeo Barbie’ not your average cowgirl

April 30, 2013

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By MADELEINE SHERRIER/Montana State News

Sarah Wright is not what you would imagine the Montana State Rodeo Team’s All Around Cowgirl award-winning athlete to be like. With long, hot-pink acrylic nails and even longer perfectly curled blonde hair extensions, she does not portray the popular image of a “tomboy” that participating in the rodeo would suggest. And she is proud of it.

Sarah Wright breaks the mold when it comes to rodeo competitors.

Sarah Wright breaks the mold when it comes to rodeo competitors.

Recognizable from the stands by her pink boots and matching saddle decorations, Wright has come to realize the irony in her personality.

“Before I came out here (Montana) everyone in my town just knew the way that I was,” Wright says, “so I never heard anything about it. But now I realize that a girl, who only wears pick, feels naked without fake nails, while driving a pick-up truck and flipping goats around could be considered a contradiction.”

At 19, the sophomore knows how she feels about the stereotype. Wright jokes, “It’s important to me that I don’t allow rodeo to define me. Sure I love it, but I also love the color pink. Is that really such a big deal?” More

Technology the realm of modern librarian

April 29, 2013

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By MICHELE McDONALD/Montana State News

Hardback books neatly line the shelves near the Computer Services Desk at the Bozeman Public Library. Behind the desk sits Pam Henley, whose job is to help individuals interested in the technological services offered by the library.

Henley, a graduate of the University of Wyoming and the University of Oklahoma, serves as a technology assistant at the Bozeman Public Library. According to Henley, she started her current career when she and her family returned to Bozeman after living in Japan, Korea and Germany as her husband served in the U.S. Air Force.

While traveling abroad, Henley said she accumulated experience in elementary school libraries which were located on U.S. Air Force bases. According to Henley, public libraries were difficult to find in the nations she visited.

“I never saw a library when I was overseas,” said Henley. “I lived off the base area, so I saw a lot of the economical part of the country. But I never once saw a public library.”

Although libraries did not seem to be numerous, Henley said technological advances overseas surpassed those in the United States. Technology from Japan and Germany always seemed advanced and people in Korea had cell phones before they were popular in the United States, so Henley became comfortable with new technology. More

Soprano is the energy behind musical duo

April 29, 2013

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By KAYLEE WALDEN/ Montana State News

“She has an amazing voice,” a young woman in the crowd whispers emphatically to her friend, after the vivacious red-head on stage belts out a show-stopping high note.

Michal Madeline, right, is half of the musical duo ONOMONO.

Michal Madeline, right, is half of the musical duo ONOMONO.

She stomps a high-heeled foot along with the end of the song, and the crowd erupts into applause. It’s a packed

house at Cactus Records for their Annual Record Store day, and the animated red-head is Michal Madeline, who carefully dismounts the stage as the cheering begins to subside

After several hugs and handshakes, Madeline walks a couple blocks to a bar down the street letting her nerves settle after the surge of adrenaline from being in front of a crowd.

“Jack and Coke please,” she says, waving to a group who yelled their congratulations from the other end of the bar. She tries, to no avail, to tame her “mane,” as she calls it. Fiery red curls stick out in all directions despite her best attempts to secure them back into a pony tail.

“My hair is almost like a metaphor for my life these days,” she says with a laugh, “All over the place.” More

Fundraiser nets $30,000 for library

April 29, 2013

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By NATHAN VOELLER/Montana State News

The Bozeman Public Library Foundation’s fifth annual Cornerstone Celebration raised a record $30,000 for library related activities, according to Foundation Director Paula Beswick.

Beswick said the money raised at the Cornerstone Celebration will be used for programs and services the foundation provides for the people of Bozeman. In 2012, the Bozeman Public Library Foundation provided 135 programs for the public.

“We do all kinds of programs: even college prep courses,” said Beswick.

Jack Kligerman, a volunteer at the library, listed public book readings, book clubs, music performances, art openings, reading programs for children and computer services as some of the offerings of the library. He said he is personally grateful for the opportunities such offerings provide for community members.

“Life without the library would be too isolated,” Kligerman wrote. More

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