3/31/2009

Twilight @Your Library -- finally!

Yup, that’s right. We have “Twilight” on DVD in the library. A promise is a promise, after all.

Now, don’t everyone race over here at once. We have one copy, the call number is 1669V, and you all have to share. Remember sharing? Crayons in kindergarten, swings in elementary school, Wii sets with your siblings (and parents!)…If you are lucky enough to snag the library copy of Twilight off the shelf, be kind and return it in a timely basis so others may enjoy it as well. Don’t make me turn this library around and go home!

Now, for those of you whose tastes might not include angst-ridden teen vampires, perhaps you would enjoy one of these other new additions to the library DVD collection:

Bolt 1670V
Milk 1674V
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas 1673V
Rachel Getting Married 1672V
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist 1677V
Bottleshock 1675V
The Changeling 1671V

…and yes, when “New Moon” comes out on DVD, the library will get a copy. We promise (again).
But you have to wait for the movie to be made, released in theatres, pirated overseas and finally released in the U.S. Sorry, but that’s how it works.

Stay tuned!

3/24/2009

Visual Resumes are Opening Doors for New Grads

posted by Kelley Griffith

I was flipping from one radio station to another on my drive home yesterday evening and landed on NPR just in time to tune in to All Things Considered. I was particularly struck by the report on the increased use of Visual Resumes among young professionals and new college grads. Visual Resumes utilize social networking sites and multimedia to create a dynamic online resume. Young professionals and new grads are turning to Visual Resumes to promote their myriad skills.

Many perspective employers gather additional information about job candidates by using social networking sites such as Blogs, MySpace, Facebook and YouTube. The Visual Resume allows candidates to direct potential employers to organized and well thought out sites that best represent their skills. The Visual Resume works best as a networking tool but a link can be included in a static print resume to encourage perspective employers to dig a little deeper. Free resume building sites include VisualCV, Zolio, and GigTide.

The library has a variety of tools and resources to assist students in building online resumes. Students may borrow digital still cameras and digital video cameras from the library. Training on setting up and using blogs, podcasts and Facebook can be requested. Technology librarians can also assist student in using our video editing and podcasting software. Feel free to contact Edward Mandity or Kata Koppel for assistance.

3/13/2009

Spring in Seattle & Board Games@Your Library Kelley Griffith 3/13/2009

It's not technically spring but the temps have been bouncing from one extreme to the other this week and I've decided to observe spring in my tiny corner of the world. Kata, Eddie and Elizabeth are off to Seattle attending the Association of Research Libraries Conference. I'm here at home minding the books and with way too much free time on my hands. The very idea of "too much time on my hands" generally creates a state of consternation within the library staff. I tend to develop some of my better grandiose plans when no one is around to administer a reality check. Sr. Joel and I have been watching over the HML for the last three days and I have had an inordinate time to plan. National Library Week is a month away and this may be the best celebration yet. Everybody loves a petting zoo, right?
Anyway, our greatest achievement this week has been cataloging and making board games, courtesy of the MC Gaming Club, available for circulation. In all modesty my contribution was simply pointing to the shelves where the items should be placed. Sr. Joel was responsible for all other aspect of processing these items. The collection includes, Twister, Apples to Apples, Chinese checkers, chess, Clue, Risk, Pictureka, and many more. To view a title list search the Reserve Collection Catalog, type in "student council" in the text box and search by Professor. Board games will circulate for one week and will be treated like any other library material. Lost items will be subject to replacement fees, replacement cost + 5.00 processing fee.

3/03/2009

Spring Break Reading @YourLibrary

Hitting the road for spring break? Make sure you pack a book -- and I don’t mean that thing you’re supposed to read for that class you intend to skip so you can catch the early flight to Cancun.
No, what you need is some good, old fashioned leisure reading. The library can help, with over 275 titles in the Leisure Reading collection.

Recent additions include:

Beach reading:
College Girl: A Novel, Patricia Weitz
For some this may feel like autobiography. Every college student can see a bit of themselves in Natalie, the first in her family to attend college and somewhat intimidated by the experience. Living in the dorm is worlds away from commuting to the local college and living at home, and her struggles to fit in socially while excelling academically make for a riveting read.

The Associate, John Grisham
Kyle is a law student with a deep, dark secret. Unscrupulous people use that secret to manipulate the law student, who may or may not triumph in the end. Classic Grisham, pure and simple.

Cultivate an intellectual look by the pool:

The Canal Builders
, Julie Greene
A cultural history of the Panama Canal, bringing to light the human element involved – tens of thousands of workers from around the world, who traveled to Panama to build the canal that cemented America’s place as dominant player on the world stage.

We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land, Jimmy Carter
The latest book from former President Carter, outlining his plan for a peace agreement in the holy land.

Riveting reading – keeps you from ever actually getting to the pool:

A Mad Desire to Dance
, Elie Wiesel
A novel from the author of Night. Wiesel tells the story of Doriel, son of members of the resistance who survived WWII only to perish in an accident. Doriel is haunted by images of the war and an inability to enjoy even the most basic happiness. Through the study of Judaism and later psychoanalysis, Doriel comes to a heartbreaking revelation about his life.

The Second Opinion, Michael Palmer
A speedy, cat-and-mouse thriller from the author of The First Patient and Extreme Measures. A doctor must fight to keep her father alive while trying to unravel an intricate conspiracy surrounding the very doctors trusted to save lives.

A list of the most recent additions to the Leisure Collection may be viewed via this link on the library website. For you techies in the crowd, subscribe to the RSS feed to receive updates when new titles are added.