Cites & Bytes @ Bailey

Marjorie Stephenson Scholarship event

2011-11-01T13:47:00.004-04:00

This year's Marjorie Stephenson Scholarship award winners were celebrated at an event at Bailey Library last week. Shawnte Knox, Ashley Taylor and Raven Davis (left to right) were in attendance. Awardees Morgan Shepherd and Tierney Smithson were unable to attend the event.

Congratulations to all!

photograph credit: Gordon Ovenshine

READING ROOM HAS RELOCATED....

2011-07-12T09:05:00.013-04:00

The Reading Room in Bailey Library has moved from the first floor to the second floor beside the Instructional Materials Center to make space for the new Technology Learning Center that's coming soon. Visit the new location and check out some new titles for summer reading: Against All Enemies by Tom Clancy w/Peter Telep, The Girl in the Blue Beret by Bobbie Ann Mason, The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough, Groundswell by Katie Lee, Heat Wave by Nancy Thayer, Now You See Her by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge, Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand and Smokin Seventeen by Janet Evanovich...

Retirement Reception

2011-06-08T12:27:00.004-04:00

Bailey Library honored retiring employee, Barbara McGinnis, with a reception on June 7 in the Special Collections room at the library. Barb has worked for Slippery Rock University for 40 years, and the last six years were at Bailey Library as a clerk typist III. Congratulations, best wishes & THANK YOU Barb!

"Girls' Day at the Rock"

2011-04-20T08:59:00.005-04:00

Britney, Bailey, Danielle and Hannah visited Bailey Library on April 14th as part of the SRU President's Commission on the Status of Women "Girls on the Move" program. The eight year olds went on a library tour ("We never knew the library was so big!"), looked up countries in an Atlas, tried out a microfilm viewer and ended up in the Instructional Materials Center to play a word game. A fun experience for all....

Literature Scholars Rejoice

2011-04-14T08:15:00.002-04:00

Researchers at the National Archives recently discovered a treasure trove of handwritten documents--penned by no other than Walt Whitman when the poet was a lowly government clerk. From the middle of the Civil War through 1875, he worked in various government offices and left behind more than 3000 documents--primarily copies of official correspondence that, as a clerk, he was charged with reproducing. No Xerox machines or word processing in those days! Many, though, are now being digitized and can be viewed on the National Archives site.

And you thought government documents were boring!

Pennsylvania Census Data

2011-04-07T08:30:00.002-04:00

Remember when you answered all those questions on your census form? The results are in--check out the data for Pennsylvania here. Results for the rest of the country are available at the Census site.

2011-04-01T09:02:00.015-04:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.... The world's largest library in Washington D.C. (home to about 145 million books) celebrates it's 211th birthday this month. Visit it at http://www.loc.gov/index.html or attend the 11th annual National Book Festival, which will be held on September 24th & 25th this year and is sponsored by the Library of Congress.

President's Budget Released

2011-02-15T09:15:00.004-05:00

Want to see for yourself what all the fuss is about? The full text of the 2012 Budget of the United States Government is available for your to review on FDSys.

Happy New Year!

2011-02-03T20:07:00.003-05:00

Today, February 3, 2011, is the Chinese New Year, and 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit. In celebration, discover your own Chinese Zodiac. I was born under the Pig. How about you?

Bye, Bye Winter Blues!

2011-02-02T08:47:00.006-05:00

According to Punxsutawney Phil, who did not see his shadow, we are in for an early spring.

Other groundhogs around the country concur.
Staten Island Chuck (NY)
Buckeye Chuck (OH)
General Beauregard Lee (GA)

However, according to Jimmy the Groundhog, those in WI aren't as lucky.

Winter Blues

2011-02-01T10:28:00.006-05:00

Can't wait to hear what Punxsutawney Phil predicts tomorrow on Groundhog Day.

Pictures are of ice covered trees in my backyard taken the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011.

Remembering...

2011-01-28T13:10:00.004-05:00

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the Challenger explosion.

To learn more, read these news stories:

NPR

WTAE News

And, investigate history at these sites:

NASA History Program: Challenger STS 51-L Accident

Challenger Center: 25 Years

Here We Go Steelers

2011-01-26T13:54:00.002-05:00

We all are very aware that Super Bowl XLV will be played on February 6 at Cowboy Stadium. But did you know that Pittsburgh is the 61st most populous city in the country and that Green Bay is 268th? Find out more about how the cities compare in this special report from the Census Bureau.

The New Adventures of Huck Finn

2011-01-21T08:20:00.003-05:00

In case you haven't heard yet, a hot topic in 2011 has been the rewriting of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The publisher, NewSouth Books, plan to replace the "n-word" with the word slave.

Along with others, librarians are weighing in on the subject.

School Library Journal

ROCKPride

2010 Healthfest

2010-10-21T14:51:00.015-04:00

"Let's Make Your Health a Ten in 2010"

Bailey library's display at the 25th annual Healthfest this year was all about "the clean 15" and "the dirty dozen" in organic foods. And the winner of the organic foods gift basket?......Carl Sustrich.

Anniversary of North Hall Fire

2010-10-08T13:29:00.005-04:00

"On October 16, 1937, Homecoming preparations at Slippery Rock State Teachers College went awry and the original North Hall dormitory caught fire. Everyone escaped the blaze but the building was a total loss. Ox roasting is dangerous business!"

Learn more at the online exhibit available through Bailey Library's web site.

2010-09-23T14:53:00.012-04:00

BANNED BOOKS WEEK

The American Library Association reports that all kinds of people and groups, for all sorts of reasons, continue to attempt to suppress anything that conflicts with their own beliefs. Banned Books Week is September 25 through October 2. Bailey Library's Reference Room is now displaying some of the challenged books from last year. Stop by the Reference Desk on Thursday 9/30/10 from 10am-2pm and 6-8pm and on Friday 10/1/10 from 10am-2pm to play our banned books game and to enter a drawing for SGA bookstore gift certificates.

2010-09-01T08:46:00.002-04:00

Did you know Bailey Library has cameras and audio equipment for loan if you have a valid SRU I.D? Some of the items available include: hard drive video cameras, digital still cameras, tripods, microphones, and headphones. These items can be found in the laptop room in the basement of the library. Laptop room hours are: Sunday 1PM-10:45PM, Mon-Thur 9AM-10:45PM, Friday 9AM-4:15PM, and closed on Saturdays. Items may also be returned to the first floor Circulation desk when the laptop room is closed. See the library website for more information: http://www.sru.edu/academics/library/directory/Pages/cameras.aspx

Summertime. Sweet summertime.

2010-05-16T17:27:00.003-04:00

Starting to plan some summer fun?

Here are some resources to help get you going...

Nearby Counties
Allegheny County

Armstrong County

Beaver County
Butler County

Lawrence County

Mercer County

Venango County

Nearby State Parks

Kaleidoscope

2010-04-14T14:43:00.003-04:00

"Make sure you visit the Bailey library reference room during the Kaleidoscope Festival" (April 14-25), and walk into a "life-size kaleidoscope". The "large purple sculpture" (8'x8'x16') was constructed by Erie artist, Gary Cacchione.

Today is Census Day

2010-04-01T09:16:00.002-04:00

Today's the last day to mail back your census form. Census data helps determine how various federal funds are distributed, so be sure to get that form in the mail! Check out your community's participation rates on the Census web site.

Bailey Bulletin

2010-03-02T10:09:00.003-05:00

The results are in and the forthcoming Bailey Library newsletter will be titled "Bailey Bulletin." Sixty-one votes were cast and the break down was as follows.

Bailey Bulletin - 19 votes (31%)
Bailey Beacon - 16 votes (26%)
Bailey Blotter - 13 votes (21%)
Bailey News - 13 votes (21%)

Congratulations to Roxanne Rubash and Fatima Abugulal for submitting the winning submission! Both will receive SGA gift cards.

Pin-Back Button Collection

2010-02-22T13:22:00.008-05:00

See some of the buttons from the Robert DiSpirito Sr. Collection on display in the Reference Room on the first floor of Bailey Library. Buttons were first patented in 1896 and became a popular way to campaign and advertise. In the 1960's, they became a fashionable way to promote favorite bands, artists, and causes. For further information on buttons, find a copy of the Price Guide to Collectible Pin-Back Buttons 1896-1986 by Ted Hake and Russ King. (Thanks to Kevin McLatchy/Archives for information for this display.)

Music, Sweet Music

2010-02-17T09:29:00.003-05:00

Alexander Street Press has announced that they will be growing Music Online substantially in 2010. In fact, they are tripling in size. Bailey Library subscribes to the Classical Music Library, which will expand from 64,000 to approximately 155,000 recordings.

Thank You Indianapolis Colts and World Vision

2010-02-11T08:43:00.003-05:00

Yes the Colts lost the Super Bowl, but people in Haiti who are suffering in the wake of the earthquake last month, are the benefactors. Thanks to a partnership with World Vision, which annually collects all post-season donated apparel from the NFL, Super Bowl clothing will be donated to Haiti. According to David Krichavsky, NFL director of community relations, "For years, World Vision has helped us to ensure that no NFL apparel goes to waste. With the enormous needs in Haiti and World Vision's long-term presence there, we know that these goods will go to very good use." And there's even a local connection--all donated goods are processed and shipped from World Vision's international distribution center in Pittsburgh. For more information on this program, see World Vision.

Budget of the United States

2010-02-01T14:58:00.003-05:00

You may have noticed on news sites or programs that the president unveiled his 2011 budget today. If you want the details, the complete thing is available from the Office of Budget and Management.

2010 Census

2010-01-29T10:04:00.004-05:00

It's that time again. The U.S. Census Bureau is about to begin its Constitutionally-mandated count of everyone who resides in the United States. While their web site provides plenty of information about the census process, here are some highlights:

March, 2010: Census forms will be mailed or delivered to American households.
April 1, 2010: National Census Day - if your forms are not returned by that date, you will probably be visited by a census taker. Census takers, who will be working to collect data between April and July of 2010, will not come to your home if you've mailed in your census questionnaire.
Be sure to check out this information about what to expect and how to verify the identity of a census worker.
If you're concerned about the security of the information you report, be sure to read Protecting Your Personal Information.

Marjorie Stephenson Scholarship

2010-01-20T14:48:00.002-05:00

Applications are available in the main office on the second floor of the library for the Marjorie Stephenson Scholarship. Ms. Stephenson was a member of the library faculty who made provisions in her will for a scholarship for undergraduate students at SRU. Black female students receive priority consideration--all full-time students, however, are welcome to apply. Full details are available with the applications.

National Book Awards - 2009

2009-12-09T09:34:00.004-05:00

Looking for the perfect book to either give as a gift or to get as a gift... The National Book Awards might be a great place to start. The 2009 winners have been announced, and, as always, the categories are broad enough to please almost any reader: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Young People's Literature. If you aren't looking to purchase the book, stop by Bailey Library. We have a great selection of National Book Award winners both past and present.

International Ornaments & Emblems

2009-12-04T08:00:00.005-05:00

Dr. Myra Balok’s International Fyrst Seminar and April Longwell’s Honor’s Fyrst Seminar students made these ornaments and emblems of their countries on display in the first floor Reference area at Bailey Library.

Name Our Newsletter Contest

2009-12-01T10:36:00.004-05:00

Bailey Library needs your help. We plan to launch a newsletter starting next semester, but we can't decide on a name. So, we are enlisting your help, and we are asking you to enter our "Name Our Newsletter Contest." The top 3 suggested names will be voted on early next semester. The person who submitted the winning name will win a $10 SGA Bookstore gift card, along with bragging rights. Those who submitted the second and third place names will win $5 SGA Bookstore gift cards.

How to Enter:

E-mail your newsletter name suggestion to catherine.rudowsky@sru.edu by Thursday, Dec. 17 with the subject line "Newsletter Name."
Provide your name and contact information in the event that your suggestion is the winning entry.
Check back in January to vote on the winning name form a list of the top three suggestions.

Gobble, gobble, gobble

2009-11-24T09:44:00.003-05:00

I never knew how many things I didn't know about Thanksgiving. Thanks to the History Channel, I now know enough to annoy everyone at the dinner table this Thursday.

Take the Thanksgiving Quiz to see how much you know, and if you don't know as much as you thought, take a minute to have fun learning.

Thanksgiving Fun Facts

Mayflower Myths

The First Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Proclamation

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Smell That Smell

2009-11-23T11:57:00.002-05:00

Now this is an interesting research project... Henry Fountain writes about Digging Into the Science of That Old-Book Smell in the NYT. For all of those who have sniffed and wondered, you aren't alone.

Who Can Serve?

2009-11-09T08:12:00.002-05:00

According to a newly released report from Mission Readiness, 75% of young people in the United States are ineligible to serve in the military. Many are under-educated (1 in 4 lack a high school diploma), have a criminal record that precludes their service (1 in 10 have a previous felony or serious misdemeanor conviction), or are physically unfit (27% are overweight). This report has generated a lot of press and concerns about these issues might affect national security. One response is a proposal from Congress that focuses on early intervention to provide early education opportunities.

Snapshot PA Day

2009-11-05T14:43:00.007-05:00

Libraries of all types all across PA recently celebrated Snapshot PA: One Day in the Life of Pennsylvania Libraries. Snapshot PA is a project, initiated by the Pennsylvania Library Association and Commonwealth Libraries, to capture the impact that PA libraries have on their communities on a typical day. Once the information from all libraries is gathered, processed, and disseminated, I will share it. In the meantime, here is what we reported from Bailey Library:

Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Door count/Customer visits: 2,959
Circulation of monographs and media: 190
Materials borrowed via ILL: 60
Materials loaned via ILL: 30
Reference desk questions: 54
One-on-one (in librarians’ offices) reference questions: 11
Instruction sessions: 1 class / 16 students
Online databases searches: 10,440

We also gathered some wonderful comments, such as the following:

"When I typically think of a library, I have images of women in tiny glasses with angry expressions prowling the aisles of books to pounce on anyone who isn’t being silent and still. While we do have our fair share of women with small glasses, all of the librarians are pleasant to work with. The atmosphere is laid-back, which has allowed Bailey Library to become a central hang-out for students at Slippery Rock University."

If you have any questions about our findings or about Snapshot PA, please contact Cathy Rudowsky at catherine.rudowsky@sru.edu or at 724-738-2657.

We All Have A Story--Or Do We?

2009-11-02T09:38:00.004-05:00

This video, in which Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Adichie reminds us that we need multiple stories, is well worth watching. It's good to remember that we should look at people and cultures through a wide lens--

At The End of Slavery

2009-10-28T12:44:00.003-04:00

Think slavery ended with the Civil War? Think again. Millions of people today are held in slavery worldwide. According to Foreign Affairs, "it seems almost certain that the modern global slave trade is larger in absolute terms than the Atlantic slave trade in the 18th and 19th centuries."

If you'd like to learn more about this evil and how you can become a modern-day abolitionist, come to a screening of the documentary At the End of Slavery: The Battle for Justice in our Time. Narrated by Danny Glover, this 25-minute film documents the reality of modern-day slavery. Following the film, Jane Smith, who has worked as a researcher for Stop Child Trafficking Now, will briefly discuss what viewers can do to help stop slavery.

November 3, Special Collections, 2nd floor Bailey Library

7:00 and 9:00

Healthfest 2009

2009-10-20T15:05:00.011-04:00

24th Annual Healthfest

"Keep Your Health Fine in 2009"

Bailey Library's display for this year's Healthfest (which was held at the Aebersold Student Recreation Center on 10/20/09) was all about some of the best foods (yogurt, eggs, dark chocolate, berries, oatmeal, almonds, Swiss chard & salsa) you can eat. The winner of our "good foods gift basket" was Linda Enis, and the poster was created by our student employee, Roxanne Rubash.

You're There and We're Here... Not a problem

2009-10-14T09:05:00.004-04:00

Feeling a little sluggish because you caught a bug? Not wanting to drive 30 minutes in a snow storm? Never fear... Bailey Library is here. And there. Everywhere really; as long as there is Internet.

Joining in with the University, the community, and the country, we are doing our part to prepare for a possible flu outbreak by spreading the word that we have been fairly well prepared all along, at least in terms of serving you from a distance. How can we serve you from here while you are there? Glad, you asked...

Remote Reference - Phone: 724-738-2641; e-mail: askalibrarian@sru.edu; IM: SRUBaileyLibrary

Remote Access to Databases -Access our databases the same way you do on campus, for example our Databases A-Z list, with one additional step requiring you to enter your SRU log on information. A screen asking for your information will appear after you click on the database link.

Remote Access to Over 150,000 E-Books and Over 30,000 E-Journals - Access various resources through records in our Catalog by following the Web Link and entering your SRU log on information.

As Bailey Library continues to devise a plan to serve you during a possible flu outbreak, we will keep you well informed. Please check our blog and our home page for updates, which will be posted as needed. And, most importantly, please stay well.

Job Hunting Anyone?

2009-10-08T16:55:00.003-04:00

Bailey Library has added a new database to our Databases A-Z list. Glassdoor.com provides salaries, reviews, and interview questions for over 30,000 companies. If you are on campus, you can pass directly to the database through our A-Z link. If you are off campus, use the A-Z link and enter your SRU information.

Happy hunting!

Congratulations Nobel Laureate Winners!

2009-10-07T13:48:00.003-04:00

From AIP... "The American Institute of Physics is proud to present a host of resources on this year's Nobel Laureates in Physics, Drs. Willard Boyle and George Smith, formerly of Bell Labs, for their invention of the charge-coupled device; and Dr. Charles Kao, of Standard Telecommunication Laboratories, Harlow, UK, and Chinese University of Hong Kong, for his work in development of optical fibers for telecommunications."

Get the full story and links to various resources here.

National Information Literacy Month

2009-10-06T14:07:00.002-04:00

In an official proclamation issued on October 1, President Barack Obama declared October 2009 as National Information Literacy Month. President Obama stated, among other things, that "National Information Literacy Awareness Month highlights the need for all Americans to be adept in the skills necessary to effectively navigate the Information Age... Though we may know how to find the information we need, we must also know how to evaluate it... In addition to the basic skills of reading, writing, and arithmetic, it is equally important that our students are given the tools required to take advantage of the information available to them. The ability to seek, find, and decipher information can be applied to countless life decisions, whether financial, medical, educational, or technical." Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

Not So Fun Friday Stuff

2009-10-02T08:19:00.005-04:00

Melba Tomeo, the founder of Cites & Bytes @ Bailey, used to post Friday Fun from time to time. On this particularly gloomy Friday, I thought that the following list of the 10 most depressing books might be more appropriate. The list is a result of a survey conducted by Abe Books and has been brought to our attention thanks to Lynn Hoffmann, Reference Librarian here at SRU. You can read the full "book report" here.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
1984 by George Orwell
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Night by Elie Wiesel
On the Beach by Nevil Shute
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Lord of the Flies by William Golding

2009-10-01T11:33:00.006-04:00

Contemplating Autumn...

"Autumn... the year's last, loveliest smile.”
--William C. Bryant

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf's a flower. "
--Albert Camus

"Neither Spring nor Summer Beauty hath such grace As I have seen in one Autumnal face. "
--John Donne

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns. "
--George Eliot

"I've never known anyone yet who doesn't suffer a certain restlessness when autumn rolls around... We're all eight years old again and anything is possible."
--Sue Grafton

"Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all. "
--Stanley Horowitz

"October is a symphony of permanence and change."
-- Bonaro W. Overstreet

"October. This is one of the peculiarly dangerous months to speculate in stocks. The others are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, June, December, August, and February. "
--Mark Twain

Thanks Dr. Brown!

2009-09-28T12:59:00.002-04:00

Dr. George Brown was recently awarded a grant from the Nippon Foundation, which provided SRU with 100 books on Understanding Contemporary Japan. The books have been added to Bailey Library's Japan Collection and are in the online catalog. To view these and other materials in the Japan Collection perform a Keyword Boolean Search in the online catalog for "Japan Collection." Congratulations Dr. Brown and thank you!

The Freedom to Read

2009-09-25T14:32:00.005-04:00

Banned Books Week, an annual celebration of the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment, is running from September 26th - October 3rd this year.

Last year alone, 520 books were challenged and over 70 were removed from library shelves. Preserve your First Amendment Rights; don't take your freedom for granted and READ!

Learn More:

ALA Banned & Challenged Books Website

Top 10 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2008

Books Challenged or Banned in 2007-2008

Banned or Challenged Classics

Ahhh... Open Access

2009-09-15T09:14:00.003-04:00

Inside Higher Ed reports about a "Breakthrough on Open Access":

"On Monday, five leading universities announced a new "Compact for Open Access Publishing Equity" in which they have pledged to develop systems to pay open access journals for the articles they publish by the institutions' scholars. In doing so, the institutions are attempting to put to rest the idea that only older publication models (paid and/or print) can support rigorous peer review and quality assurance. "

Read the full article.

Flu season is fast approaching. Are you armed with information?

2009-09-14T12:48:00.007-04:00

From EBSCO, one of Bailey Library's primary database vendors...

"As public concern about Pandemic H1N1 and the upcoming flu season continues to grow, the medical and nursing editors from EBSCO Publishing (EBSCO) respond by offering the latest evidence-based flu-related information available for free.

This free flu information resource is located at http://www.ebscohost.com/flu and will provide continually updated, evidence-based clinical information from DynaMed™ and Nursing Reference Center™, EBSCO’s clinical and nursing point-of-care databases, along with patient education information in 17 languages from Patient Education Reference Center™. Please visit this site often and feel free to share, post, and email this link to your colleagues, patrons, family and friends."

Information can also be found from...
SRU
PA Department of Health
CDC (Seasonal Flu)
CDC (H1N1 Flu)
Flu.gov

Thinking about changing your major...

2009-09-03T15:23:00.005-04:00

It is only the first week of school, so give it some time. But, if you are undecided or are pretty sure you want to follow new pursuits, consider these 5 disciplines, which according to Smart Money are linked to expanding industries with strong potential for job growth:

Engineering

Life Sciences

Statistics

Environmental Studies

Finance

Read the full article here.

A Beach, a Blanket, and a Book... Ahhhhh!

2009-06-22T11:30:00.004-04:00

Since today is the first full day of summer, I have summer reading on the mind. In case you do too... Below are a few summer reading lists to get the party started. Happy reading!

NPR: Librarian Nancy Pearl Picks Summer's Best Books
The Boston Globe: The books of summer
UC Davis: Smart Summer Reading
Read Street: Summer reading: more dirty books
Buzz Sugar: Summer Reading: 12 New Books to Check Out
Oprah's 2009 Summer Reading List: 25 Books You Can't Put Down
LA Times 60 New Books to Read This Summer
Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Hot summer of reading

2009-06-03T13:23:00.007-04:00

Joey Kennedy (who took most of the photos on our library web page) currently has a solo exhibit Friday 6/5/09 from 6-9pm at 5427 Penn Ave. in Pittsburgh

Friday also is the start of the 3 Rivers Arts Festival in Pittsburgh

Here are links to the festival: http://www.artsfestival.net/

and to the Penn Ave. Unblurred Art Walk: http://www.pennavenuearts.org/unblurred/unblurred.php

2009-05-13T18:44:00.005-04:00

Summertime

Then followed that beautiful season...SUMMER...
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new-created in all the freshness of childhood.

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Summer Reading Available at Bailey Library:

Sand Dollar

Summer Song of the Water Boatman

Summertime Waltz

Monsoon Summer

Hot Day on Abbot Avenue

Olive’s Ocean

Second Summer of the Sisterhood

Freedom Summer

Julian’s Glorious Summer

Memories of Summer

Bluebird Summer

Harlem Summer

for more summertime reading search "summer" in Bailey Library's Online Catalog: http://academics.sru.edu/library/index.htm

Summer Reading...

2009-05-12T13:37:00.005-04:00

I stumbled upon USA Today's 2009 Summer Books Calendar this week and thought that I would share it.

And, in case you are still playing catch-up on last year's reading, here is a recap of a few 2008 summer reading lists:

CNN.com: Top Authors Pick Best Summer Books

London Review Bookshop: Summer Books 2008

Los Angeles Times: 2008 Summer Reading List

MSNBC: Hit the Stack! Top 10 Summer Reads

NPR: Summer Books 2008
USA Today: Summer Books Preview 2008

Or, if you are in the mood to go beyond current summer reads, here are a few lists of all-time great novels:

Best 100 Novels of All Time
The Radcliffe List
Random House Reader
Time's All-Time 100 Novels

Finals Week @ Bailey Library

2009-04-23T20:03:00.005-04:00

In keeping with semester tradition, Bailey Library will remain open 24-hours during finals week starting on Monday, April 27 at 7:45 am through Friday, May 1 at 5:00 pm. The Library will also host a pizza study break on Monday, April 27 at 8:00 to kick-off the week.

New this year, T&B Naturally, the coffee cafe in the Library, will also remain open 24-hours during finals week. Come enjoy a cup of java as you hunker down to study.

Good luck with finals!

Past due books... It is never too late

2009-04-22T09:25:00.006-04:00

Washington and Lee University recently had a book returned, and it was only 145 years past due. The book, volume one from History of the War in the Peninsula and in the South of France From the Year 1807 to the Year 1814, was originally stolen by a Union officer during the Civil War. Read more.

What a Wonderful Place to Live

2009-04-17T10:44:00.005-04:00

Wednesday, April 22 is Earth Day 2009. Visit the Earth Day Network web site to learn about the history of Earth Day, various Earth Day events, and to access the Earth Day Blog. You can also visit EarthDay.gov or the EPA for government sponsored sites.

2009-04-02T13:31:00.018-04:00

CLASSROOM ACTIVITY AREA

@ the IMC/2nd floor/Bailey Library
Spring Semester Hours:
Sunday 1-9pm
Monday-Thursday 9am-9pm
Friday 9am-4pm

"Hands-on activities for fieldwork and student teaching"

Where's my Stimulus Package?

2009-03-11T09:44:00.004-04:00

The U.S. Department of the Treasury is in the process of constructing a web site, the goal of which is to keep citizens up-to-date on developments in the stimulus package. It currently provides information on mortgage assistance, consumer and business loans, and various related fact sheets and press releases. More will be forthcoming as the site is finalized.

Happy Birthday President Lincoln!

2009-02-12T10:17:00.003-05:00

Today we're celebrating the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, the Great Emancipator. To learn more about him check out the official biography provided by the White House. Tributes to our 16th president are being held all over the country--from Washington D.C. to Illinois.

Just for fun: If you want to find out if you're smarter than a first grader, take this Abraham Lincoln quiz.

IMC Celebrates Black History Month

2009-02-02T11:15:00.003-05:00

Bailey Library's Instructional Materials Center ("IMC") is celebrating Black History Month by displaying examples of items that are available to check out. (Display arranged by student employee, Amanda White.)

Pittsburgh's Going to the Super Bowl!

2009-01-30T11:21:00.002-05:00

Bailey Library shows their continued support of the Black & Gold. GO STEELERS!

Slumdog $1 a Day

2009-01-28T11:24:00.004-05:00

Doesn't have quite the same ring does it? But that's the reality for millions of people in the world. If you've seen "Slumdog Millionaire," you've gotten a glimpse into what such a life is like. This narrated slide show will open your eyes even more. Not only does disease and starvation run rampant in such conditions, but children are extremely vulnerable to being duped into crime or, even worse, trafficked as slaves. The most recent U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Report estimates that, of the 800,000 men, women, and children trafficked across international borders each year, 50% of them are children.

To be or not to be...

2009-01-23T15:40:00.005-05:00

Wondering what to be when you grow up?

U.S. News & World Report offers profiles of 30 FABULOUS careers proving to have strong outlook and high job satisfaction. No surprise to us at Bailey Library, LIBRARIAN made the list. Wondering about being a librarian? Stop by Bailey; we'd love to talk to you about it.

http://www.usnews.com/sections/business/best-careers/

How Quickly We Change

2009-01-21T08:22:00.003-05:00

While we were watching Barack Obama take the oath of office yesterday, a very visible symbol of the change of power appeared. Check out this enlarged view of the before and after shots of the home page of the President (where, by the way, you can find President Obama's inaugural address, photos, and the White House blog).

Here we go Steelers! Here we go!

2009-01-16T15:58:00.004-05:00

Bailey Library shows support for the big game this weekend against the Baltimore Ravens. Hopefully the Steelers will be as fierce as the Bailey Library crew!

Marjorie Stephenson Scholarship Applications Available

2009-01-15T13:03:00.001-05:00

Applications for the Marjorie Stephenson Scholarship are available now. This annual undergraduate scholarship was established by former SRU librarian, Marjorie Stephenson. Black female students receive priority consideration; all students who meet the criteria, however, are invited to apply. For further information and an application, stop in room D309 of Bailey Library. Questions? Contact Jane Smith, jane.smith@sru.edu or 724.738.2638.

WMD Report Released

2008-12-04T12:42:00.002-05:00

The Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, which was established as an outcome of the 9/11 Commission Report, has just released its findings. Charged with assessing the nation's current activities, initiatives, and programs aimed at preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism, the commission's aim was to provide a clear, comprehensive strategy that included concrete recommendations to achieve this crucial goal of prevention. Their report, entitled World at Risk, is the result of months of interviews and research informed by the experience of the expert members of the Commission.

Google Resurrects Life Magazine Images

2008-11-20T10:44:00.003-05:00

Lynn Hoffmann, reference librarian, shares LIFE Photo Archive hosted by Google with us...

"Google has opened up the Life magazine photo archives, launching an online photo gallery that offers millions of pictures that have gone unviewed for decades."

What Will You be Thankful for on Thanksgiving?

2008-11-08T07:02:00.009-05:00

I've got a pretty long list.

I don't have to go to bed hungry.
That's not the case for the 850 million people on our planet who are chronically hungry. Every five seconds a child dies from hunger-related illnesses. In other words, while you read this blog entry, 20-30 of those deaths will occur.
I have clean water.
More than 2.7 billion people have inadequate or nonexistant access to proper sanitation. I spent some time in Eastern Europe this summer where I met families who live on the edge of thriving cities, but have no indoor plumbing and must walk several blocks to retrieve clean water for their homes.
I have an education.
In the least-developed countries of the world, only 26% of boys and 21% of girls are enrolled in secondary school.
I am free.
The U.S. State Department estimates that approximately 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year where they are then exploited for profit. Many work long hours as low-skilled laborers, as domestic servants, or in the sex trade. The majority of those trafficked are female; as many as half are children.

We can all do something about these and other justice issues--even if they seem overwhelming. As Bob Pierce, the founder of World Vision said, “Don’t fail to do something because you can’t do everything.”

Learn more about an issue and how you can help. Lots of resources are available online.
Buy a malaria net to protect kids from deadly mosquitos.
Eat a developing-nation diet for one or more meals (e.g. a tortilla, beans, and rice) and donate what you would have spent on food to a food bank.
Join or start a Mocha Club--by giving up two mochas a month, you can feed a child in Africa.
Sign up for the One Campaign.
Fund a microloan through Opportunity International or Kiva.

These are just a few ideas...the list is endless.

It's Finally Here!

2008-11-03T10:32:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow we'll finally be going to the polls (unless you're among those who've voted early). Online results will be available many places. Some to try include the CNN Election Center, NPR's Vote 2008, Decision 08 on MSNBC (the other networks, ABC and CBS also have online coverage), and Politico.com. For information on other online tools and election information, check out this article from PC World.

Pennsylvania Population Projections

2008-11-03T10:15:00.003-05:00

New population projections by county are now available from the Pennsylvania State Data Center. According to the research brief detailing these projections, the commonwealth's "population will continue to grow, becoming larger, older and more diverse by 2030. The total population of Pennsylvania is projected to increase by the year 2030 to 13,190,400, representing a 7.4 percent increase from 2000." Butler County, because of it's proximity to Pittsburgh, is expected to grow significantly. Mercer County, though, is projected to experience little population change.

Economic Woes?

2008-10-17T15:25:00.003-04:00

Trying to keep all the info straight? Check out this overview of the "bailout" from Forbes magazine. If you're not sure just what a recession is, see this Newsweek article. The New York Times Money page is regularly updated with helpful information. And Money magazine, which is part of the CNN empire has lots of helpful info too. These are only some of the places you can learn about how we got here and what we're trying to do to wrestle with our current economic problems. If you really want to get bogged down in legalese, you can also read the full-text of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, which is sure to make you thankful you're not a politician.

Marjorie Stephenson Scholarship Winners

2008-10-14T09:18:00.004-04:00

Bailey Library recently honored this year's winners of the Marjorie Stephenson Scholarship at a tea that was sponsored by the SRU Foundation. The awardees, Sierra Brown (Philosophy), Rashonda Hunter (Elementary Education), Louise Jones (Psychology), Jazmine Loman (Athletic Training), Kalia Mason (Psychology), Kaleen Quinn (Elementary Education), and Adrianna Williams (Resort and Recreation Management and Tourism), are a talented group of women; we are proud to celebrate their achievements!
Pictured above: Adrianna Williams, Sierra Brown, Louise Jones, and Kalia Mason.

2008-10-03T11:24:00.005-04:00

Kosui Press Exhibition

Kenzaburo Tsukuda

@ Bailey Library/3rd floor lobby

October 1-15

If you like shocking endings...

2008-09-11T10:37:00.004-04:00

The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry --This book has been called a "hero's journey for women." It's a story about two missing women, but it's really about three missing women because one of them must revisit her past in order to find herself. Disturbing and intriguing, this book is so craftily written that I forced myself to put it down so it wouldn't end. Check it out from the Bailey Library Reading Room......

Loving Frank by Nancy Horan --Mamah Borthwick Cheney was an intelligent, lovely, educated woman who entered into a scandalous love affair with Frank Lloyd Wright in Chicago in the early 1900's. This fictionalized account is based on historical events. Mamah and her husband commissioned Wright to build them a home. Mamah and Wright left their spouses and children and lived together in Europe and then returned to live at Wright's home, Taliesin, in Wisconsin where the affair ended in tragedy. My sister recommended this book to me. I don't think I would have picked it up on my own, but I was drawn into it and had to keep reading. The ending will floor you! (Bailey library has a copy in the Reading Room.)

Greek Rural Postmen Vs. Nude Mice

2008-09-08T15:03:00.004-04:00

It turns out that Greek Rural Postmen are more interesting than Nude Mice, at least when it comes to oddest book title of the past 3o years. The Bookseller magazine recently announced the winner of the Diagram Prize, a prize awarded annually for oddest book title, which this year celebrated a 30th anniversary by awarding oddest book title of the past 30 years. For more information, read The Bookseller announcement or this article, Greek Rural Postmen beat Nude Mice, Green Nazis to Oddest Book Title Prize, from the Orlando Sentinel.

Two Books to Read....

2008-09-03T14:00:00.000-04:00

Big Russ & Me and Wisdom of Our Fathers (by Tim Russert)

I found Tim Russert's books after hearing about his death last June, and I wished I had read them sooner! Big Russ & Me (which I ordered through our Interlibrary Loan department) is a wonderful tribute to the lives of a father and son, and I was either laughing or crying as I was reminded of my own father and childhood. It was so refreshing to read a book written with such love, admiration and honesty. Check out Russert's follow-up book, Wisdom of Our Fathers, from Bailey Library's Reading Room. It's a compilation of letters he received from readers who were affected by Big Russ & Me.

Hurricane Information

2008-09-02T12:49:00.002-04:00

Many of us are trying to follow the latest on the numerous hurricanes that are in the news right now. The National Hurricane Center provides such information as projected storm paths, advisories, and preparedness. FEMA also has a hurricane center with educational information on hurricanes, recovery documents, and even more information on preparedness. They also provide a list of web sites and contact information on each state's emergency management offices. These can provide a wealth of more localized information.

How to Follow an Election

2008-08-28T14:25:00.002-04:00

The library at Vanderbilt University has developed a wonderful overview of information on this year's election. Election 2008 provides access to news reports, blogs, statistics...and oh yes, the candidates' campaign sites. Enjoy!

Visiting a National Park?

2008-08-27T11:05:00.004-04:00

Did you know that the government provides access to tons of really helpful information online? I'm hoping to highlight a few of their sites here this semester. One I've found very informative lately is the National Parks site, where you'll find all kinds of help for planning a visit to any of the nearly 400 areas administered by the National Parks Service. Teachers can direct kids to a WebRangers program that provides teaching games for kids of all ages. Most parks provide lesson plans that you can use in your classroom. My husband and I visited the Grand Canyon this summer, and I relied heavily on the site to learn about available lodging, trails, weather and other pertinent information. Scout around--I think you'll be surprised how easy it is to be an armchair traveler through some of the most beautiful scenery our country has to offer.

Bard Hall Demolition

2008-08-05T08:43:00.003-04:00

July 31, 2008
Bard Hall is no more!

Video captured by Nethkelum Perera
on behalf of Slippery Rock University Archives,
Bailey Library, Slippery Rock University

A picture is worth a thousand words...

2008-07-15T14:30:00.007-04:00

We have another beautiful photo essay from our student photographer, Joey Kennedy, and we want to share it with all of you. The images in this collection are from the spring semester 2008. This particular photograph is of librarian Martina Nicholas passing out pizza during the finals week study break.

Enjoy the show!

(This is a flickr slideshow version of those photos and may take a moment to load.)

This Art Speaks to Me...

2008-05-07T14:55:00.004-04:00

or I wish someone would speak to me about this art. Where did it come from? Who are the artists? What does it mean? I just noticed this at the corner of the library on the patio a couple of days ago.

Some theories are as follows...
Bill Huber: It's a tribute to the internet and how information travels through the "tubes"...
Me and Rita talking: Maybe it's a tribute to interlibrary loan and how books are sent from one place to another...
Me thinking to myself: Maybe since it is furnace ductwork, it's some sort of Fahrenheit 451 censorship statement!

What's your theory? It's very interesting and has created discussion here. Artists, come forward!

Summer Reading....

2008-05-06T06:00:00.004-04:00

Time to catch up with some current and classic... Enjoy!

Beach Books and Beyond

NY Times Bestseller Lists
Summer Reading Online
You Must Read This
Barnes and Noble Book Clubs

New York Times Notable Books 2007, available in our Reading Room... Check the corner bookcase, check for a NYT Notable label on the spine, and check it out!

Seen on the Second Floor....

2008-05-05T10:38:00.005-04:00

pj guy.... and pj guy's friend. They have on cute flannel pj pants and are carrying sleeping bags and pillows. No books that I could see... but hey, it's important to be well rested for Finals Week also.

It has actually been quiet, just productive noise so far, but I thought this might be a good time to share the "noise alarm" that some libraries are using. How much fun would that be? I would want to see if I could get the lights to flash, wouldn't you?

Free Comic Book Day!

2008-05-03T13:29:00.003-04:00

This always sneaks up on me. Here's a handy participating store locator.

<-- Look, there's a new version of the old Classics Illustrated in the list.

Bits and Pieces....

2008-05-02T14:52:00.004-04:00

The Boolify search engine... illustrates exactly what we are talking about when we discuss all that and, or, not stuff.

Still trying to promote Exalead... It has previews, you can make your own little gallery of frequently consulted pages, also fancy advanced searching, and sparkling video and image search that let you specify length, size, etc.

Some fun t-shirts from Unshelved...

Turn Bytes Into Books... I've actually used the Blurb software for this. Seems like there is a business model here for scrapbooking, make-your-own cookbooks, portfolios, etc. I want to save my timeless blog prose for posterity.

World's largest audio-visual archive from the Library of Congress... want to hear the oldest song ever recorded? Au Clair de la Lune , 1860... not much of a beat but I think I can dance to it.

Are you a fan of crazy Australian people promoting libraries? Enjoy...

Recently Read and Heard...

2008-05-01T10:00:00.003-04:00

Mississippi Sissy by Kevin Sessums. A frank (very graphic! Don't go rolling up to Giant Eagle with your windows down and frighten the citizens!) memoir about a young boy who does not follow in his athletic father's footsteps in terms of overt "masculinity." His father is killed in an accident, his mother dies soon after of cancer and he and his siblings are raised by grandparents. I was touched by his struggles, amused by his desire to be addressed as Arlene Francis, fascinated by his friendship with Eudora Welty and horrified by some of his experiences. He was molested by a predatory minister and the first to discover the body of a dear friend who had been brutally murdered. An "outsider biography" that helps to open a window on what life was like for a young gay man growing up in the South...

School Days by Robert B. Parker. Spencer gets hired, Spencer investigates, Spencer interviews a lot of people, Spencer roughs a few of them up and shoots a bad guy. All that and he still has time to take care of the dog Pearl while his lady love, Susan Silverman, is out of town. He also temporarily rescues a broken teenager, a noble effort that ends tragically. In this audio version, Spencer is investigating a school shooting and uncovers a whole nest of nastiness. I like this series and like Joe Montegna as the narrator, but I don't understand why he says "said" so much. "I said, he said, she said..." I don't think that works so well with books so full of dialogue.

Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris. This is one of the "hot" new books, detailing the decline of an advertising agency and the lives of the soon-to-be-furloughed employees. There are comparisons to The Office television show certainly.... whenever someone leaves, quits, gets fired, dies, other workers switch and take their office chair, presumed to be a better, more comfortable seat. This amuses me because I am currently sitting in a chair that has been handed down among three employees at the library. And yes, it is very comfortable. There is inter-office romance and general insanity. There is a heavy air of self-obsession, you know how we all analyze and discuss work-related events and characters. So, this is a funny book... but situated in the middle of this humorous account is a very sad short story about breast cancer and fear, very moving really. And while I was congratulating myself on my critical perceptions, it turned out that the author was aware of this story set in the center of the book too (imagine!) and that one of the characters uses that story and gets a novel published five years later. An enjoyable read, short listed for the National Book Award. What happened to Joe though?

Out by Natsuo Kirino. A plot summary sounds very grisly for this mystery/crime novel but I enjoyed this book immensely and am looking forward to another by the same author, perhaps aptly titled Grotesque. Four women work the night shift in a boxed lunch factory in Tokyo. Their lives are grim by varying degrees. One, abused by her husband, murders him... and the other three dispose of the body by cutting it up and leaving it in parks and rubbish bins around the city. (I told you it was grisly.) One of the women is foolish and needy, deeply in debt... that's right, she can't keep her mouth shut and things unravel in strange and unexpected ways. The characters were excellent, the descriptions just vibrated with gritty realism, I was intrigued. Winner of the Grand Prix, Japan's top mystery award.

Up All Night....

2008-05-01T09:38:00.002-04:00

The library will be open 24 hours during Finals Week, beginning Sunday, May 4 at 1:00 p.m. and closing on Friday, May 9 at 5:00 p.m.

This is a good time to remind everyone that the third floor is the QUIET zone... groups that need to converse and collaborate should find study space on the second and first floors. Put your cell phones on vibrate and be considerate of others, please.

GOOD LUCK!

How Geographically-Literate Are You Anyway?

2008-04-29T13:56:00.002-04:00

With summer break looming large (yeah!), it's a good time to check out your knowledge of the world and famous travel sites you might be visiting. The Traveler IQ Challenge is lots of fun--and you might learn something!

What's Your Carbon Footprint?

2008-04-29T09:27:00.003-04:00

...or more correctly, your nation's carbon footprint? Check out Breathing Earth--a site that lets you view a graphic illustration of carbon emissions--in relation to population. If you want to calculate how your lifestyle choices impact the environment answer a short Earth Day Footprint quiz.

Books Say the Darndest Things...

2008-04-27T21:29:00.004-04:00

My Beautiful Mommy is all about teaching tots about plastic surgery. Seriously...

And if that's not enough for you, here is It's Just a Plant to help children understand why Mommy and Daddy are giggling uncontrollably. (Love the 70's vibe in the illustrations.)

Let's try these instead: Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts or something from the Pulitzers... or something suggested by Book Lamp or even blogs and websites turned into books.

And by the way, Mad Libs just turned 50. Now there's a good time and you can play it online. (Weed and fake breasts optional.)

Trees Here... Get Your Trees Here

2008-04-25T12:16:00.004-04:00

Today is Arbor Day, a day that celebrates tree planting and tree care. Celebrate by planting a tree, admiring a tree, or even hugging a tree. If you join the Arbor Day Foundation, you get 10 free trees, so join today and plant away!

World Malaria Day

2008-04-25T08:45:00.000-04:00

April 25 is World Malaria Day. Sponsored by the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, a global consortium of partners ranging from the World Health Organization to Unicef, this day is set aside to commemorate "the global effort to provide effective control of malaria around the world." Control of malaria is critical to our future. This deadly disease kills about 1 million children a year--one every 30 seconds. Stopping this killer is a multi-fronted endeavor involving research, education, advocacy, and funds. One effective preventative measure is the use of treated mosquito nets that protect children and adults from the bites of malaria carriers. Malaria is also treatable; medications, though, are often not available to those afflicted. You can donate a net or medications through a number of organizations including Malaria No More, and World Vision. More information is available from all the web sites linked above.

Getting Greener at the Library... Bins are Filling Up

2008-04-24T14:57:00.002-04:00

These recycling bins represent the amount of paper left behind at the library printers... from Monday, 4/21- Thursday, 4/24. The red wrappers you see are from fresh reams of paper fed into the printers during that same time period. I wish I had thought to count those, but I can tell you that the library spends over $10,000 a year on recycled paper for the printers.

Our little "art" project will come down tomorrow. Our goal was to increase awareness of the waste that occurs when items are printed and not collected, etc. Please read our other tips to improve your printing habits.

Going Greener at the Library.... Take Our Poll

2008-04-24T09:35:00.004-04:00

The library already recycles and uses recycled paper for all of our printers. Obviously, we want to support student printing needs for research and coursework. However, our costs and the amount of paper wasted continues to soar. We would like to hear from you... please respond to our poll and/or offer comments below.

Going Greener at the Library... PowerPoint Poisoning, Part 2 or Why Are You Killing the Printers?

2008-04-23T10:11:00.003-04:00

Guess what makes the reference printers die? or at least queasy? When you print one slide per page with a big old black background, the massive amounts of toner clog everything up. Please quit it.

And while we are on the subject, quit hitting the Print button six times. Print jobs queue, wait your turn. It's not always about you.

Going Greener at the Library... Green Printing

2008-04-23T08:41:00.004-04:00

One of the excellent new features of the new reference printers is the ability to duplex or print on both sides of your paper. It's easy to do, go to Preferences in the print dialog box and select it. Here's a movie to show you how...

Some other suggestions for green printing and computing come from Lifehacker... Green Print and Aardvark. Both applications eliminate unnecessary printing.

Amazing Tree Facts from Library Technician Kevin McClatchy:

It takes approximately 17 mature trees to make a ton of paper fiber.
One 60-ft pine tree equals approximately 161 reams of paper.
Learn more at Treehugger.com....

Going Greener at the Library.... Green Search

2008-04-22T20:32:00.005-04:00

15 of the Best Green Search Engines... more details and descriptions from AltSearchEngines

GreenMaven

Ecocho

Blackle

Searchgreener

Eco-Find

Earthle

EcoSeek

Greensie

Greenona

Green Link Central

Green Terroir

Eco Seeker

Friends Green

Greenlinking

Climate Gift