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Frederick
Lincoln Chenery | Harold Booher
| Lucille Hager | William
Bill Mears
Robert Elzy Cogswell
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Interim
Booher Library Librarian 2001-2006
Head of Technical Services (2001)
Tutor for Theological Research and Writing (95-96; 99-04)
Associate Librarian for Cataloging & Reference Services
(94-01)
Reference Librarian (92-94)
Cataloger (80-94)
Rob
came to ETSS from the library at the School of Law at the
University of Texas, where he met and married his wife, Betty.
When he arrived in 1980, the library was completely a paper-based
system. Patrons checked items in and out on "check out" cards,
and much of his work as a cataloger required long hours at
the typewriter. Rob's ability to type in excess of 90 words
a minute (including numbers) without errors, made his life
as a cataloger much easier in this world and later into the
computerized world into which he would help issue the library.
In addition to years of professional library training, Rob
also brought significant management experience from his work
helping establishing Casa Marianella and his work on its board.
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Rob,
since he was Lutheran (later, following the Call to Common Mission
signed by both churches, Rob was the only member of the community
formally received into both denominations), applied to earn
his master’s in religion through the Lutheran Program
in the Southwest, with the support of the seminary. [Historical
note: Rob and Anna Livingston are the only recipients of MAR
degrees from LSPS; when they graduated it was determined that
as an extension program, LSPS, could only provide one program,
the MDiv.] Rob’s thesis, submitted in 1989, was Castro's
Cuba and the Apostle Paul : Servanthood in Church and State
Illuminated by Galatians 5:13-15, a copy which is available
in the Booher Library.
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After
Harold and Pat Booher retired, Bill Mears took over as interim
director for seven months in 2001. Bill immediately recognized
Rob’s leadership abilities and encouraged him to enter
the search for the position of director. The results of that
search were announced to thunderous applause at the fall staff
retreat at Salt Lick.
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As
director, Rob took it as a mandate to make the library more hospitable.
During his tenure, we set up the reception area in the lobby,
provided coffee, and added animal crackers for the non-vegetarians.
Under Rob’s leadership the library expanded on social events
hosted by Pat and Harold Booher to include art shows (the 9/11
anniversary show coordinated by Ginger Geyer, the layered work
of Delda Skinner, the quilts of Eloise Cotugno, to name a few),
wine and cheese parties (especially on Friday afternoons), and
Jazz performances (by Fito Kahn, Duane
Carter, ETSS students, and others).
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Rob
was always working on a book or document, between tutoring and
editing others’ works, but more recently, perhaps inspired
by his favorite author, Mary Oliver, he began to very intentionally
write poetry. Below are two examples of a very diverse portfolio
that has been occupying his time more fully since he retired.
In fact, on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 he and Horacio Peña
shared some of their poems with the ETSS/LSPS community sponsored
by the Hispanic Church Studies Program and the Library as part
of Theological Libraries Month (some
poetry written by Rob).
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