Life Skills Collection: Practical Tips for Real-Life Responsibilities

Posted on March 6, 2017 by jmkyoung

LifeHacksGreetings, Loggers! By now, you know that college life is filled with new responsibilities that aren’t exclusive to your academic growth. Adulting is tough! If this is your first time living independently, topics like managing your finances, maintaining your living space, and even cooking for yourself might seem completely overwhelming. In addition to providing practical information about other topics, the Life Skills Collection at Collins Library has many resources to help you respond to these practical challenges.

The Life Skills Collection is located in the Learning Commons, on the first floor of Collins Library. Learn more on the companion guide devoted to the Life Skills Collection and discover many more resources at the University of Puget Sound!

By Katy Curtis, Humanities Librarian

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You Are the Universe: Discovering Your Cosmic Self and Why It Matters

Posted on March 3, 2017 by jmkyoung

YouAreUniverseWhat Came Before the Big Bang? Where Did Time Come From? Deepak Chopra joins forces with leading physicist Menas Kafatos to explore these questions and others like them about our place in the world, universe, and cosmos.

You Are the Universe means exactly what it sounds like–each person is a co-creator of reality extending to the vastest reaches of time and space. These two great minds offer a bold, new understanding of the universe as a “human universe”, opposing the idea of a cold, empty void where human life is barely a speck in the cosmos.

Check it out in the Popular Reading Collection today!

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From the Archives & Special Collections: YESNOMAYBE

Posted on March 1, 2017 by jmkyoung

YesNoMaybeHere in the Archives & Special Collections we have an array of quirky items; among some of these items are the collections of Artist Books in the Shelmidine Room. Redefining the concept of a “book,” artists create many fun, educational, and even confounding art pieces with paper, written word, and even various objects. Coming in all shapes and sizes, you never know what you’re going to get, or what hidden surprises lurk among the shelves. From poetry to pop-ups, you’ll find a plethora of colors and content in this collection, and you’re sure to find lots of glitter and glue!

Here is an example of an Artist Book that demonstrates the variety we have in this collection. “YESNOMAYBE” is a flip-book created by Karen Hanmer. Miniscule in size and scarce in words, it’s certainly intriguing. Perhaps it could be useful in certain decision making, passing time via eccentric entertainment, or illuminating the difficulty of providing a concrete answer (as we see the merging of words, blending of ideas, and ambiguity present in the racing pages).

The Archives & Special Collections is open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:00-3:00 p.m. or by appointment.

By Monica Patterson

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March Book of the Month! Leonardo da Vinci: The Complete Paintings and Drawings

Posted on February 28, 2017 by jmkyoung

LeonardodaVinciLeonardo da Vinci: The Complete Paintings and Drawings

http://alliance-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/UPUGS:upugs_alma:CP71127511200001451

This is the next best thing to actually seeing da Vinci’s paintings in person. It’s a large book so all of the pictures are blown up to an amazing scale. There are full pages devoted to a nose or a foot and you can see how complex each part is. Along with the art, there is text that illustrates the life of Leonardo da Vinci and describes his artwork and inventions. The book is nicely broken up into time periods that help explain his style. This is one of my favorite books because you are able to see every detail in his artwork, and you are able to get a better idea of him as an artist.

The Archives & Special Collections is open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:00-3:00 p.m. or by appointment.

By Sierra Scott

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Reflection on 99 Elephants A Day – Currently on display in Collins Library

Posted on February 27, 2017 by jmkyoung

elephantExhibitAlthough elephants themselves remain economically and culturally symbolic their declining population and degraded living conditions remain primarily of human creation. I find that even though elephants have been successfully commercialized, their images printed onto clothing or fashioned into earrings, most people seem unaffected by the significant loss of elephant populations. How can it be that the symbol of the elephant is more sacred than the actual being?

It may be the case that working to conserve another form of life is too difficult, or not someone’s particular purpose. However, I find that any effort made to create positive change is not wasted. Whether it be by making thousands of elephant prints, donating, signing petitions, or learning about the poaching problem anyone can participate in saving one of our planets most intelligent, and communicative animals.

The artist Suzanne Fellows, on feature at Collins Memorial Library, was inspired by a figure in 2013 which stated that 36,000 elephants were exterminated for their ivory tusks. She then embarked on an artistic project to print 99 elephants every day for 365 and recreate the 36,000 murdered elephants.

Over the past 150 years elephant populations have declined significantly due to habitat loss and ivory trade. The primary cause of elephant population declines is ivory trade and poaching. At the turn of the 20th century there were an estimated 5 to 10 million elephants in Africa, and about 100,000 Asian elephants. Today there are about 450,000 elephants in Africa, and about 35,000 Asian elephants. These figures are steadily declining despite desperate efforts by small dedicated conservationist groups.

Although ivory trade is the primary cause of the declining elephant population, agricultural development has also negatively affected elephant populations. University of Puget Sound professor and director of the environmental policy and decision-making program Rachel Demotts’ exhibit “Living with Elephants” is on feature at Collin Memorial Library. The exhibit dives into lesser known aspects of elephant conservation such as human and elephant interaction on shared territory.

Anybody can join the effort to save one of the world’s most culturally symbolic, and objectively intelligent animals. Some people dedicate their art to elephant conservation, and other people dedicate their academic knowledge to the cause. Any effort put into a cause is not wasted so long as it is a worthy cause.

Note:  Professor Rachel DeMotts research is also featured in this exhibit as well as the personal elephant figurine collection of Kenneth McGill.  Also on display is a unique artists’ book on the plight of the elephant by local artist. Mari Gower. The exhibit runs through May 14, 2017.

By Janne Deng

 

 

 

Posted in From the Stacks: blogs from Collins Library student employees | Leave a comment

Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin

Posted on February 24, 2017 by jpelger

trayvonFive years after his death, Travyon has become a symbol of social justice activism, as has his hauntingly familiar image: the photo of a child still in the process of becoming a young man, wearing a hoodie and gazing silently at the camera. But who was Trayvon, before he became a symbol of the cicil rights struggle still pertinent today, and how did one black child’s death on a dark, rainy street in a small Florida town become the match that lit a civil rights crusade? Driven by their intense love for their lost son, his parents discovered their voices, gathered allies, and launched a movement that would change the country.

 

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From the Archives & Special Collections: The Mountain Is Out

Posted on February 22, 2017 by jmkyoung

Archives_MTN_If you’ve spent any time on campus, you’ve definitely noticed the incredible view we have of Mount Rainier. The Mountain that was “God” (being a little book about the great peak which the Indians named “Tacoma” but which is officially called “Rainier”) by John H. Williams was published in 1911, and features a lot of very attractive photography of our beloved mountain. The language in this book is extremely Romantic, though a little beyond its time. It features many of the legends that surrounded the mountain at the time of its publication, and waxes poetic about the peak: “It is an inspiration and yet a riddle to all who are drawn to the mysterious or love the sublime.” Though with all the talk of legends, of course there is also a venture into describing the native populations, which at most points is painfully problematic.

While I’m not sure if I would recommend it as a source if you’re writing about the history of Mt. Rainier, I’d definitely recommend it for the amazing amount of photography included in it. The book itself is filled with black and white photos and a handful of color photos, and even has some newspaper articles pasted in at the front (which on one hand, makes my skin crawl, but on the other hand, they’re cool to read). The stories about the business and exploration are definitely worth a read, though.

The Archives & Special Collections is open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:00-3:00 p.m. or by appointment.

By Morgan Ford

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Become a Peer Research Advisor for the 2017-2018 Academic Year

Posted on February 20, 2017 by jmkyoung

Interested? Contact Peggy Burge for more information or look on loggerjobs!

BecomePeerResearch2017-18

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Diversity and Inclusion Resources: Latin American Newsletters (LatinNews)

Posted on February 20, 2017 by jmkyoung

CALLOUT_LatinNLatin American Newsletters (LatinNews) was founded in London in 1967 to provide expert political, economic, and security analysis on Latin America and the Caribbean. For nearly 50 years, it has been acknowledged as the foremost authority on the region.

LatinNews Reports:

Users can access reports including the Latin American Weekly Report (first published in April 1967), Latin American Special Reports, covering topics of key interest, four Regional Reports (Mexico & Nafta, Central America & the Caribbean, The Andean Group, and Brazil & the Southern Cone), or the specialist monthly, Latin American Economy & Business.

 

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How would it feel, to be labeled a criminal, simply for being born?

Posted on February 17, 2017 by jpelger

CALLOUT_bornacrimeBorn to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by prison, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the earliest years of his life. Born a Crime is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. It is also the story of that young man’s relationship with his fearless, rebellious, and fervently religious mother—his best friend, a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse that would ultimately threaten her own life.

Check out our newest novels in the Popular Reading Collection today!

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