Robert Locke

Resume

Robert Locke

Work Experience

Reference Librarian and Research Technician

1989—2002. California State University, Sacramento.
    Provided Reference services at Humanities Reference and a General Reference Desk. Helped the university library through the changes from Card Catalog to computerized databases. In Library Instruction wrote and edited chapters of The Library Instruction Handbook as well as Checkpoint Tour, Audio Tour and various library handouts, maps, and other user guides, including the screenplay for a 22 minute videotape featuring research tools and techniques.

Playwright and Novelist

1971-Current.
    Wrote and produced six plays and was Playwright-in-Residence at the American Conservatory Theatre and other theatres. Wrote and published five novels with a sixth and seventh in progress. Wrote four screenplays.

Stage Director

1986—Current.
    Directed five of my own plays, Rose Jewel and Harmony, On Daddy's Birthday, The Dolly, Premiere, Murder and Edna Redrum. Nominated as Best Director for Sacramento's Elly awards for Rose Jewel and Harmony, The Dolly, On Daddy's Birthday, and Premiere.

Actor Singer-Baritone

1967-Current.
    Acted in over 60 professional and semiprofessional productions at Oregon Shakespearean Festival, Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, White Oaks Musical Theatre, etc.. See favorite roles.

Playwriting Instructor

1994-95.
    University of California, Davis. Taught a first semester class in playwriting for juniors and seniors with drama majors. Showcased student plays in a workshop situation.

Playwrights' Consultant

1989-90.
    Wrote a proposal and obtained a grant from California Arts Council to conduct Playwrights' Forums and Readers Theatre productions for Gateway Players, Nevada City. Facilitated discussions and critiques and guided playwrights in the writing and rewriting of their plays.

Reference Librarian

1987-89. California State University, Sacramento
and Sacramento County Public Libraries.
    Worked intermittently as a “Pool Librarian” or relief librarian at the Reference Desks of the University Library and at several of the county's branch libraries.

Creative Writing Instructor

1986-87.
    Wrote two proposals and obtained two grants from the California Arts Council to work with elementary and middle school multicultural students on creative writing projects.

Scriptwriting Instructor

1984.
    For UCLA Extension, taught playwriting and screenwriting.

Editor and Manager

1980-83. Hollywood Reporter, Hollywood CA.
    Responsible for production of Studio Blu-Book Directory. Initiated new system of research, supervised the compiling of data, as well as the Advertising and Art Departments. Won Maggie Award for Best Directory from West Coast Publishing Association.

Reference Librarian, Thesis Editor

1974-76. California State University, Chico.
    Worked reference desk, taught graduate and undergraduate classes in research tools and techniques. Advised Master's candidates on style and format of theses; selected books for Drama, Music, Dance, French and Spanish Departments; wrote and created multimedia guides for classroom instruction in library skills.

Head, Gifts and Exchange Division

1972-74. Harvard College Library.
    In an internship position, reorganized a failing division of the world's largest university library; created new systems; re-established worldwide publications exchange; supervised staff of three full-time employees and part-time students.

Bibliographic Assistant,
French and Italian Acquisitions

1970-72. Harvard College Library.
    Worked closely with Book Selector to select books in Italian and French language and literature. Conducted bibliographic search of monograph and serial titles, processed orders, claimed, corresponded in French and Italian, etc.

Peace Corps Volunteer

1967-70. Liberia, West Africa.
    Taught high school English, French, Physical Geography and World History to Liberians Grade 7-12; extended for third year upon advancement to trainer's position in a Teacher Training Institute; directed dramatic productions and organized a choir.

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Presentations and Papers

October, 2003
California Association of Teachers of English
“Voice in Writing Fiction”
 
June, 2002
Children's Literature Association
“Receiving the Phoenix Honor Award”
 
February, 1999
California State University, Sacramento.
Leneae Festival sponsored by CSUS Theatre Department.
Daylong Playwriting Workshop for high school playwrights.
 
Fall, 1995-96
California State University, Sacramento.
“AIDS Education Advocacy in Public Schools”.
One-hour presentations before Professor Akbar Davami’s
Health Education classes.
 
Spring, 1994
Young Author's Program, Sacramento CA.
Keynote Address: “A Bit of Courage”.
 
Fall, 1993
California Library Association Convention, Oakland CA.
“Young Adults, Censorship, and AIDS”. Two hour presentation.
 
Summer, 1993
American Library Association Convention, New Orleans LA.
Poster Session: “Librarians Know Everything:
Creating an Entertaining Videotape for Library Instruction”.
 
February, 1988
Voice of Youth Advocates. “In Protest”.
Article about censorship and young adult literature.
 
December, 1987
Topeka KS.
3 Day Creative Writing Workshop for high school seniors.
 
Spring, 1987
Oklahoma Association of School Library and Media Specialists, Oklahoma City OK.
“Writing for Young People”. One hour presentation.
 
1985-1989
Dozens of presentations on “Authorship”
to elementary, middle and high school students and teachers,
including half hour talks and three day seminars.

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Education

M.S. Library Science. Simmons College, Boston.
M.A. Drama. California State University, San Francisco.
B.A. Speech Arts, with minors in English, French and Spanish.
California State University, Chico. Graduation cum laude.

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Travel and Languages

West Africa, East Africa, Mediterranean Europe, Brittany, England, Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Tahiti, Easter Island, and much of USA
    I speak, read and write English, Spanish and French. I read Italian well enough to do Italian book acquisitions and take certain life-saving medications while in Roma and Firenze, plus I have a repertoire of a dozen or so Italian songs and arias (if that counts; every little bit does help). I'm told I have a very fine pronunciation of Kpelle, a West African dialect. I know the extensive greetings of Kpelle and a handful of other West African dialects, but speak hardly another word of them. I have an autodidactic appreciation of linguistics.

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Copyright © 2004 Robert Locke
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