• On Saturday 11th, more than 600 youngsters participated in the board game convention that opened the fifth version of the Book Route organized by the Library System of Universidad de Santiago. This year the activity is devoted to Fantastic Literature, which is related to popular role-playing games
• According to Ximena Sobarzo, Director of the Library System, SiB, “There is a direct relation among movies, literature and role-playing games, which are so widespread among youngsters. Therefore, focusing on this topic is a good way of promoting reading in our community, as this is our main challenge.” 
• The activity program includes conferences, film screenings, reading guidance and role-playing games and it will last until April 23rd, when the World Book and Copyright Day is celebrated.
• As part of its outreach activities, the SiB has also organized a tribute to the Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano, who died on April 13th.

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Ximena Sobarzo, Director of the Library System of Universidad de Santiago (SiB U. de Santiago), described the TerraCon board game convention as “a complete success”. The TerraCon was held on April 11th to open the Book Route 2015 of our University.

This opening convention drew more than 600 attendees- youngsters mostly – who visited the Central Library of Universidad de Santiago to participate in role-playing game tournaments, trade collectible cards and see striking miniature figure exhibitions.

In its fifth version, the traditional Book Route organized by the SiB U. de Santiago has a varied schedule of activities focused on Fantastic Literature that includes film screenings, role-playing game tournaments, conferences and others related to this genre.

The Book Route cultural schedule will continue until April 23rd, when the World Book and Copyright Day is celebrated, and it offers other free-of charge events, like the lecture “La fantasía olvidada: clásicos olvidados de literatura infantil de fantasía”, given by Paula Rivera, BA in Hispanic Letters, on April 15th, at 16:00, at the Central Library auditorium.

Likewise, on April 17th, at 16:00, the translator Danilo Jarlaz will give the lecture “La construcción del mundo fantástico a partir de lo ordinario” at the same auditorium

The Book Route involves both scheduled visits to different places in the campus and the promotion of library circulation services. It is being held between April 13th and 23rd, from 10:30 to 14:00.

Classic films and fantastic film premieres are being screened at the Central Library multimedia room, since April 14th to April 22nd, from 10:00 to 16:00.

On April 23rd, from 12:00 to 17:00, at the plaza beside the Central Library, a closure activity called “Taberna Medieval” (Medieval Tavern) has been scheduled. The Chilean Tolkien Society, a group that has specially been invited for the occasion, will be in charge of this activity and will provide music, dance performances, food and medieval decorations. 

This closure activity will also include discussion boards on Fantastic Literature and will have the presence of fencing, archery, and dance and Viking music groups of Universidad de Santiago.

Besides, along with the activities scheduled, “Don Cándido”, the traditional character that symbolizes the Book Route, will ride his bike all over the campus, giving books to students and bringing the library closer to the University community.

Promoting reading in the community 

Ximena Sobarzo, Director of the Library System of Universidad de Santiago, showed herself very pleased for the beginning of the activity and she said that the main goal of the Book Route continued to be promoting the interest in reading in our University community and the community around us, through diverting and creative activities

“Every year, in our Book Route we try to approach new aspects related to how literature goes across different interests and different personalities. We want to show that literature is on the movies, TV, comics, music and others. That is our challenge,” she says.

Regarding Fantastic Literature, on which the activity is focused this year, Ximena Sobarzo says: “There is a direct relation among movies, literature and role-playing games, which are so widespread among youngsters. Therefore, focusing on this topic is a good way of promoting reading in our community, as this is our main challenge.” 

 

For more information, click on https://rutadellibro2015.wordpress.com/

• Our orchestra performed under the direction of the renowned conductor Bill Barclay in the “Romeo and Juliet” concerts given at the Croata Park, in Antofagasta on November 15t, and at the Inés de Suárez Park, in Providencia, Santiago, on November 16th.
• Specially invited by the Teatro a Mil Foundation, Universidad de Santiago Classical Orchestra was in charge of performing under the leadership of the renowned American-born conductor Bill Barclay during his presentations in Chile, in the context of the celebration of the 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s birth. The activity was organized by this Foundation.
• The commemorative program included two performances of the “Romeo and Juliet” concert: one at the Croata Park, in Antofagasta, on November 15th and the second at the Inés de Suárez Park, in Providencia, Santiago, on November 16th, at 18:00 o’clock.

“Romeo and Juliet” concert was directed by Bill Barclay, composer and conductor, who is considered as an expert in the English writer’s work. He is the first American to join the staff of the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, in London, and has composed for them for four seasons.

Barclay has written several musical pieces and solo works, like Muse on Fire: Shakespeare and the Music of the Spheres, which has been performed at universities and theatres in the United States and other countries. In the past five years he has held artist residencies as conductor and composer at the Columbia University, University of Connecticut, Purdue University, Brandeis University, University of Wisconsin and the University of Virginia. He has been a guest lecturer at Harvard University too.

The concert- that included pieces written by the Russian musicians Piotr Tchaikovsky y Serguei Prokofiev- was opened by the piece composed in 1869 by Tchaikovsky, based on the Romeo and Juliet tragedy. This Russian composer named his work just like Shakespeare’s play and styled it an “Overture-Fantasy”. He was 28 years old when he composed it, but he rewrote it in 1880. 

The program was closed by the piece composed in 1935 by Serguei Prokofiev for the Romeo and Juliet ballet, which suites were popular in Russia and the United States. In Chile, the seven movements of the Suite Nº2 were performed.

Translated by Marcela Contreras