Contact Information: Department of Library Public Services 706 Cravens Library Western Kentucky University 1906 College Heights Blvd. #11067    Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101-1067   Phone: (270) 745-6168 FAX: (270) 745-2275 FAX: (270) 745-6422 Email: peggy.wright@wku.edu

Education
Position Description
Research
Public Services
Web-based Materials
Awards/Grants

• B.A. English/History (1965), St. Joseph’s College, Emmitsburg, Md.
• M.A. History (1969) St. John’s University, Jamaica, N.Y.
• M.L.S. (1979) Humanities, Peabody/Vanderbilt, Nashville
• M.A. Theology (2004), St. Meinrad’s School of Theology, St Meinrad’s, Indiana

Ms. Wright has been a member of the Department of Library Public Services faculty since 1978. Cordinates special projects for the Department. Plans and coordinates Libraries' role in annual New Faculty Orientation. Edits the Libraries' Walking Tour. Produces University Libraries' Video Series. Currently writing the script for the Libraries' new audio tour. Collects and analyzes Libraries' Research Instruction Statistics. Manages the Libraries' off campus series: Far Away Places and Kentucky Live! Southern Culture at Its Best.

Research interest include: Belize, Special education, Reading techniques, Early Church History, World history (early period), History of Bladensburg (war of 1812), Elizabeth Ann Seton, Catholic Education.

Books

Wright, Mary Margaret. Port O’Bladensburg. A Brief History of a 1742 Town. Bladensburg Publishers: Bladensburg, Md.: Bladensburg Publishers, 1977.

Wright, Mary Margaret. Elizabeth Seton’s Contributions to Education: Beginnings. Private Publisher: Emmitsburg, Md.: Privately Printed, 1979.

Wright, Mary Margaret. Gifted Education: A Bibliography. Western Kentucky University, 1984.

Wright, Mary Margaret. Special Education: A Bibliography. Western Kentucky University. 1985.

Wright, Mary Margaret. A Survey of Tertiary Libraries in Belize. Belmopan, Belize: Government Printing Office, 1989.

Wright, Mary Margaret. World Bibliographic Series. Belize. Oxford and Sante Barbara: ABC-Clio Press, 1993. E-edition from NetLibrary, 2002.

Wright, Mary Margaret and Brian Coutts. Historical Dictionary of Belize. Scarecrow Press (In process).

Articles

Wright, Mary Margaret. "Social Studies Innovations." Maryland Social Studies Register (Fall, 1976).

Wright, Mary Margaret. "Brags and Baggage." Kentucky Libraries. ( Summer, 1987).

Wright, Mary Margaret. "Order Out of Chaos." Kentucky Libraries. (Summer, 1988).

Wright, Mary Margaret. "Feeding the Hungry." Ozanam News (Spring, 1984).

Wright, Mary Margaret. "A Library for the University College of Belize." College and Research Library News, ( July/August, 1990).

Wright, Mary Margaret. "A Teacup Idea: The Research Retreat." College and Research News, (February, 1993) 54: 83-85.

Wright, Mary Margaret and C. Etkin, C Foster, E. Moore, S. Staebell. "The Net Result: Enthusiasm for Exploring the Internet." Information Technology Libraries. (December, 1993).

Wright, Mary Margaret. "Boa Lady, Jaguar Woman, and Ethnobotanist." Belize Currents, 1994.

Wright, Mary Margaret and B. Coutts. "Central America: From Civil Wars to Tourist Mecca." Library Journal. (March 1, 1997).

Media Products

Wright, Mary Margaret. "Caring: A Slide Presentation." 1973.

Wright, Mary Margaret. "Margaret Scrabble: A British Novelist." Radio Script, 1982.

Wright, Mary Margaret. "Class of 1906: Your Books Are Overdue." Exhibit for Seventy-fifth Anniversary of WKU Libraries., 1982.

Wright, Mary Margaret. "China: A Textile and Film Exhibit. Dr. Twoomy’s resources. 1982-.1983." Helm Lobby.

Wright, Mary Margaret. "Giverny." Sara Beal’s photo collection. 1985.

Wright, Mary Margaret. "History of University Libraries: A permanent Exhibit." Cravens 4th floor, 1999.

(From 1977 through 1987, over 40 collections were exhibited in the Helm Library).

Public Services

Professional

ALA International/Reading Association

Throughout twenty-five years at WKU, served on a variety of committees, including:

• NCATE through the College of Education
• Numerous search committees
• SACS Committee for the College of Education
• Center for Teaching and Learning board member
• Phi Kappa Phi Scholarship Committee, chair
• Faculty Senate Secretary (2terms)
• Inaugural Committe for Dr. Ransdell’s inauguration
• Hosted COBEC committee at my home twice
• Student Advisement for four years
• International Reading Association:
• American Library Association/EBSS/Reference Chair 1993-1994

For University Libraries

• Task Force on Library Reorganization
• Dean’s Advisory Council
• University Libraries Strategic Planning Committee
• Libraries’ Sabbatical Committee
• Faculty Excellence Awards Committee
• Outcomes Assessments Committee
• Octoberfest Committee
• DLPS Rank and Promotion CommitteeLibraries’ Special Events Committee
• Library Faculty retreat Committee
• Edited Library newsletter: All About Us for four years
• Solicited, then trained three librarians for Belize libraries
• Worked with Yan Ming, a Chinese librarian for one year on our WKU campus
• Hosted the Chinese Delegation (For two years in a row)
• With permission and support of University Administration:
  • organized library for Belize Teacher’s College
  • set up an education center for PRIDE Belize
  • established three separate learning centers for Stella Maris Home forMentally and physically impaired children in Belize designed, organized, ordered/cataloged collection for the University College of Beliz

Community

 

• Volunteer, Chamber of Commerce International Festival, 1990-1993
• Set up St. Vincent de Paul store in 1987, served as Secretary for five tears
• Provide international students with warm clothing each year throught St. Vincent de Paul Organization
• Have taught public speaking to Lectors at Church
• Taught in parish religious education sessions
• Teach at our local jail on Sundays (three times each month)

I have written or compiled the following materials, available on the World Wide Web:

• List your web-based materials here
  

• University Libraries Award for Public Service (1990)
• University Award for Public Service (1990)
• 1982 Faculty Research Committee Grant to cover publication costs for a Special Education Bibliography to disseminate to Kentucky institutions. $250
• 1983 Faculty Research Grant for publication of a bibliography for Gifted Students to be used to instruct teachers of Gifted students. $250
• 1986 USIA Grant to set up the BELCAST library according to international standards. $30,000
• 1987 Faculty Development Grant to fund airfare to Belize to act as consultant for the establishment of the library for the University College of Belize. $350
• 1988 Belize Government Grant to design, set up furnish and order resources for the University College of Belize (the first university library in Belize) $40,000
• 1988 Unrestricted Development Funds to conduct a University Libraries Symposium on Eudora Welty. $1,500
• 1988 University Lecture Series towards the Eudora Welty Symposium. $1,000
• 1988 Kentucky Humanities Council toward Eudora Welty Symposium. $3,000
• 1989 Belize Government Grant to travel to Belize to prepare for Library/University Opening day dedication. $1,000
• 1989 Faculty Research Grant to study Belize school libraries. $680
• 1989 USIA Grant to conduct a survey of Belizean Tertiary School Libraries. $3,000
• 1990 USIA Grant renewed at the request of the Belize Government
• 1990 Faculty Research Grant to prepare national bibliography on Belize. $1,000
• 1991 Faculty Research Grant (with Brian Coutts) for research for Clio press book on Belize. $2,000.
• 1993 Unrestricted University funds (with Elaine Moore) for Visualizer. $2,000.
• 1994 Faculty Research Grant (with Brian Coutts) for research for Historical dictionary of Belize. $2,000.
• 1998 The Dean’s Fund. To establish a WKU Library exhibit. $500.
• 1990 A grant from a local company (that does not want to advertise) to complete the exhibit on the History of WKU Libraries. $4,000.
• 2000 A University Grant to develop a new video for University Libraries. $5,000.
• WKU International Students award for providing warm clothing for students through St. vincent de Paul Society (2003)