ODU Writes a Book – in a Day

Provost Carol Simpson, Vice Provost Chandra de Silva, library officials and organizers of ODU Writes a Book were joined by Big Blue as they kicked off the 24-hour flash mob book authorship project Tuesday afternoon in the Learning Commons at Perry Library (see photos below).

Over the ensuing 24 hours, any interested volunteers with an ODU email address were invited to participate in shared authorship of the book "You are (w)here: how knowledge is related to virtual and physical place." Participants could contribute in person in the Learning Commons, or virtually, as co-authors.

Following the 24-hour period, a wrap-up program took place at 12:30 p.m. today in the Learning Commons featuring President John R. Broderick, where samples of participants' contributions to the project were showcased.

George Fowler, associate university librarian for information resources and technology, and Dylan Wittkower, assistant professor of philosophy, are leaders of the project. The hoped-for end result is a multimedia book whose authorship can be claimed jointly by many participants from the ODU community.

Big Blue was on hand to help kick off the project. Photo by Cheryl Copper

Provost Carol Simpson. Photo by David Hollingsworth

Project co-leader George Fowler. Photo by David Hollingsworth

Vice Provost Chandra de Silva gets instruction on how to contribute to the project from George Fowler. Photo by Cheryl Copper

Kathryn Boone, left, Learning Commons operations manager and a member of the project’s organizing team, and Karen Vaughan, digital services coordinator for the University Libraries, were on hand for the kickoff event. Photo by David Hollingsworth

Big Blue adds his entry to the book. Photo by Cheryl Copper

Project co-leader Dylan Wittkower discusses the “ODU Writes a Book” initiative with ODU student Maeha Karlow, a junior psychology major. Photo by Leanna Caplan

Manuela Mourao, professor of English, works on the project at the Learning Commons. Photo by Leanna Caplan

Project co-leader George Fowler addresses participants at the kickoff event. Photo by Leanna Caplan