Special Collections: CR

Desire to Serve is the autobiography of Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (1934-2023), a thirty-year member of the United States House of Representatives, in her words as told to Cheryl Brown Wattley. It chronicles Johnson growing up in segregated Waco, Texas; attending St. Mary's nursing school in South Bend, Indiana; working at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Dallas, Texas, as a chief psychiatric nurse; serving in the Texas House; being appointed as the regional director for Health, Education, and Welfare; being elected as a Texas state senator; and serving thirty years as a congressional representative from North Texas. For each of these positions, she was either the first African American or first African American woman to hold the position. Johnson's narrative of the duties and responsibilities of elected officials gives an insider's view of the way government works--or doesn't work. Highlights of Johnson's political career include her support of NAFTA and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act; the failure of the Health Security Act; her support of the Patient Recovery and Affordable Care Act, as well as the CHIPS-Science Act; her service as the chairwoman of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology; and her membership on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Smart casual? Close of play? Endless water-cooler discussions about the weather? Non-autistic adults can behave in baffling ways - and never more so in the maze of unwritten social rules, jargon and ritual that is your average day at the office. Luckily, Maura and Debby (office code cracker extraordinaires) have gone undercover in 'typical' offices for decades to pull together the ultimate survival guide for the autistic employee. Wickedly illustrated by Tim Stringer, this one-stop-shop gives guidance on everything from navigating sensory issues and asking for reasonable workplace adjustments to the appropriate etiquette of in-person and hybrid spaces and how to deal with instances of bullying and harassment. With translations of the bizarre idioms and acronyms of office-speak, as well advice on the baffling unspoken rules of an office social life - this is both a hilarious and highly practical guide to being happier and more successful at work.

The "moving, thoughtful, and inspiring memoir" (Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy) by one of America's most accomplished public servants and legal thinkers--who spent years denying and working around his blindness, before finally embracing it as an essential part of his identity. David Tatel has served nearly 30 years on America's second highest court, the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, where many of our most crucial cases are resolved--or teed up for the Supreme Court. He has championed equal justice for his entire adult life; decided landmark environmental and voting cases; and embodied the ideal of what a great judge should be. Yet he has been blind for the past 50 of his 80-plus years. Initially, he depended upon aides to read texts to him, and more recently, a suite of hi-tech solutions has allowed him to listen to reams of documents at high speeds. At first, he tried to hide his deteriorating vision, and for years, he denied that it had any impact on his career. Only recently, partly thanks to his first-ever guide dog, Vixen, has he come to fully accept his blindness and the role it's played in his personal and professional lives. His story of fighting for justice over many decades, with and without eyesight, is an inspiration to us all. "This memoir of a judge of the country's second highest court, who has been without sight for decades, goes down like a cool drink on a hot day." --Scott Turow, #1 bestselling author of Suspect "Deeply moving and packed with wisdom." --Frank Bruni, New York Times  

Lawrence County may seem a sleepy little place, but looks are deceiving. The red light district in Ironton attracted enough attention for an FBI raid. On the other side of the law, Judge Lloyd Burwell became nationally known for his strict sentencing, which made him the subject for a movie starring Andy Griffith. A 1915 shooting on a shanty boat on the Ohio River sparked a fierce context between Ohio and West Virginia over who had jurisdiction to prosecute the case. The mob ties of Continental Nite Club in Chesapeake ran all the way to the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas.  Local historian and author Lori Shafer gathers a selection of thrilling and occasionally gruesome tales from Lawrence County's dark past.

Anyone can be a quiet influencer. But not everyone knows how. "A tremendous and relevant read!" -Stephen M. R. Covey, New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Speed of Trust Drawing on the enduring wisdom of the Buddha, Confucius, Rumi, Gandhi and others, The Art of Quiet Influence shows anyone, not just bosses, how to use influence without authority, a key mindfulness principle, to get things done at work and in life. Through the classic wisdom of 12 Eastern sages, relevant insights from influence research, and anecdotes and advice from 25 contemporary experts, Davis lays out a path for becoming a "mainspring," the unobtrusive yet powerful influencer first introduced in her book The Greats on Leadership. Organized around three core influence practices - Invite Participation, Share Power, and Aid Progress - readers will learn how to take mindfulness practice "out of the gym and onto the field," while gaining the confidence and practical know-how to be influential in whatever role they occupy.

Trailblazer is the remakable and inspiring story of Cheryl Tyler, a Black woman who defied all odds and shattered barriers in her quest to protect the highest office in the land. This captivating memoir transports readers into Tyler's world as she embarks on an extraordinary journey to become the first Black female agent assigned to the Presidential Protective Division of the United States Secret Service (USSS). Her dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment to her duty shine through as she serves as a top agent, safeguarding not only Presidents George H.W. Bush and William Jefferson Clinton but also world leaders and renowned celebrities. Those accomplishments earned her well-deserved accolades, but this book uncovers the untold story of the challenges she faced as a woman of color in a predominantly male all-white profession. With emotional depth and gripping detail, Tyler's memoir delves into the heart-wrenching struggles she endured during an eighteen-year class action lawsuit against the USSS. Alongside other Black agents, she fought relentlessly to eradicate racial slurs, workplace discrimination, and unfair employment practices within the Agency. As plaintiffs, they emerged victorious, securing a historic $24 million compensation for themselves and other agents who had faced discrimination. Readers will be captivated by Tyler's resilience and her ultimate triumph as she shines a light on one woman's fight for equality and her extraordinary journey to make a lasting impact.