Food for Fines, Nov. 17– Dec. 14, 2014

Posted on November 12, 2014 by jpelger

“Food for Fines”

November 17th – December 14th

FoodforFinesThis fall, Collins Memorial Library and Backpacks of Hope are co-sponsoring Food for Fines.
Pay off your library fines with food instead of cash, November 17th – December 14th. Donate to a worthy cause AND clean up your library debt at the same time.

Bring in 1 can of food and we will waive $1.00 of your library fines (for returned items). That’s right! $1 per can! No limit! 

  • One – 6 ounce can or larger = $1.00 of fines. (Unlimited waived) 
  • Canned food accepted for fines on returned items only, not for replacement fees of lost items.
  • Bring cans to the Circulation Desk on the main floor of the library.
  • Only non-perishable, un-dented, and labeled cans will be accepted.
    o  Additional donations are welcome.
    o Please, no jars/glass containers. Thank you. 
  •  All canned food will be donated to the St. Leo Food Connection.

 

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Popular Reading: “Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris 1932”

Posted on November 12, 2014 by jmkyoung

ChameleonClubLovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris 1932
By Francine Prose

The scene is 1920’s Paris: a city of spellbinding ambition, love, art, and discovery. Places like the Chameleon Club serve as oases for the various expats, artists, and libertines that traverse the city. Among others who find refuge at the Chameleon Club is Lou Villars, a phenomenal athlete and cross-dressing lesbian. As the years pass, both the characters that inhibited this vagrant dwelling and the world around them transform-for better or worse.

Told from various perspectives, Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris 1932 pays homage to this vibrant city. Check it out in the Popular Collection, located in the Media Room.

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Why the Public Library Beats Amazon—for Now

Posted on November 12, 2014 by jmkyoung

publicLibraryebooksA growing stack of companies would like you to pay a monthly fee to read e-books, just like you subscribe to Netflix to binge on movies and TV shows.

Don’t bother. Go sign up for a public library card instead.

Really, the public library? Amazon.com recently launched Kindle Unlimited, a $10-per-month service offering loans of 600,000 e-books. Startups called Oyster and Scribd offer something similar. It isn’t very often that a musty old institution can hold its own against tech disrupters.

But it turns out librarians haven’t just been sitting around shushing people while the Internet drove them into irrelevance. More than 90% of American public libraries have amassed e-book collections you can read on your iPad, and often even on a Kindle. You don’t have to walk into a branch or risk an overdue fine. And they’re totally free.

Read more: Why the Public Library Beats Amazon—for Now, by Personal Tech columnist Geoffrey A. Fowler.

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From the Archives: Cool Japanese Wood-block Art!

Posted on November 6, 2014 by jmkyoung

Archives_JapaneseWoodblocksWe take a hiatus from our general “odd thing we stumbled across in the archives’ photos” this week to give you “odd thing we stumbled across in the Shelmidine Room”. While hunting for art for this year’s Christmas card, I found a collection of books titled Manga: the sketchbooks of Hokusai. I know what you’re thinking, and no, it isn’t the contemporary storytelling manga (though that would be cool too).

With the first published in 1814, this series of sketchbooks is filled with drawings of everyday objects, people, and scenery. These are beautifully wood block-printed in black, grey, and a light pink, fleshy tone. The subject material ranges from animals and plants to architecture, landscapes, and even portraits. In all, the collection likely has thousands of sketches, and they’re all absolutely gorgeous. If you’re ever looking to visit the Archives & Special Collections and aren’t certain what you want to do, you could just peruse (gently!) through one of these fifteen volumes.

Open Hours every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on the second floor of the library.

By Morgan Ford

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Digitizing old manuscripts at The Morgan Library in New York

Posted on November 5, 2014 by jmkyoung
Views of Gutenberg Bible

Views of Gutenberg Bible

Google has digitized millions of print books already, but some old manuscripts, like The Gutenberg Bible, need a very special treatment.

The 700-year manuscript is not only the most precious cultural heritage. It’s also a fragile volume only a limited number of people can access without making a damage.

It’s digitization that can let millions of people look inside The Gutenberg Bible or The Little Prince. Since the books are available online as digital files, it’s safe to look at them millions of times.

A special, very advanced technology, is used to preserve old manuscripts in a digital form. Phase One is the cultural heritage digitization solution that includes reprographic camera systems, scanners, and film scanning kits.

View article with amazing video.

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NEW Humor in the Popular Collection: “Food: A Love Story”

Posted on November 5, 2014 by jmkyoung

Food_ALoveStoryFrom the Bestselling Author of Dad is Fat

Jim Gaffigan’s long-anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Dad is Fat, is now available for your enjoyment in the Popular Collection.

Food: A Love Story is a delectable ode to the wonderful stuff that (most of the time) fuels us humans. In it Gaffigan, a self-proclaimed “eatie,” shares some of his most intimate gastronomic memories, opinions, and fantasies that are sure to leave you hungry for more.

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20 modern libraries from around the world

Posted on November 3, 2014 by jmkyoung

BIGCALLOUT_ModernLibrariesLibraries are doing well in digital times. Here are most awesome examples.

Many people, when asked about libraries, imagine old buildings with dimmed light and endless rows of heavy wooden bookshelves.

Libraries are our heritage. They contain all knowledge human kind has acquired. They have to be like that… or maybe not.

Libraries are avant-garde of civilization. They have to evolve, and look into the future, not only the past.

Modern libraries (and the futuristic building is not a must to make a library modern) are shaping the way we learn things and enjoy books in the digital age. They offer access to books in every possible form and format.  Read more of the article 20 modern libraries from around the world

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Music in the library – Flute Ensemble: Friday, November 7, 2014, at 3:15 p.m.

Posted on November 3, 2014 by jmkyoung

MusicinLibrary_Nov7Music in the Library: Flute Ensemble
Friday, Nov. 7, 2014
3:15-3:35 p.m.
Collins Library Reading Room

Performance by:
Flute trio (Whitney Reveyrand, Megan Reich, Barbara Cotton) and Flute quartet (Colin Babcock, Victoria Chase, Bianca Lim, Adam Hayashigawa)

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“Spotlight: Research Conferences” by Liz Roepke ’15, Peer Research Advisor

Posted on October 31, 2014 by jmkyoung
CALLOUT_OCT31_Spotlight

This picture of a neuroscience conference shows a typical busy poster session: presenters stand by their work while conference attendees walk through and ask about work they’re interested in.

Over Fall Break, I had the great opportunity to attend and present my research at the Geological Society of America’s 2014 Fall Meeting, which was held in Vancouver, British Columbia. What an experience! It’s the second professional geologic conference I have attended and this one only made me more excited about entering the field after graduating from Puget Sound next spring. Along with excitement, I was nervous before presenting my research, inspired by so many passionate and knowledgeable people, and, I’ll admit, a little overwhelmed by the sheer amount of knowledge disseminated in those few days to so many people.

After all the time I’ve spent reading and citing peer-reviewed articles in the library, it was so cool to meet those published authors and hear about their research first-hand!

Sound like something you might enjoy? Read on for more information:

Why should you go?

  • Learn about topics in your area of interest that you could pursue as undergraduate research/graduate research/a career
  • Meet students and professionals who share your interests
  • Learn from experienced professionals about what it takes to succeed in your field
  • Explore career options and learn about programs at graduate schools you’re interested in
Students inquiring about a school at their exhibition room booth. (Image obtained from www.geosociety.org)

Students inquiring about a school at their exhibition room booth. (Image obtained from www.geosociety.org)

What are the logistics?

  • Ask your professors if they know of any upcoming conferences that might be relevant to your major/minor/emphasis.
  • Talk to your department chair about getting funding from the department – there might be some available for student opportunities like these.
  • You can apply for a UEC travel grants through Puget Sound – awards up to $500 are given. (Find more information here: http://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/academic-resources/student-research-travel-award/student-travel-awards/)
  • Travel grants through outside organizations – look for information on the conference website and search around through related societies; ask your professors if they know of any other opportunities as well.
  • Most conferences have discounted rates and special information for students that can help you find a hostel, or a roommate to lower the cost of a hotel.
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Library of Congress Seeks Halloween Photos For American Folklife Center Collection

Posted on October 31, 2014 by jmkyoung

HalloweenPhotoSubmissionsThe American Folklife Center (AFC) at the Library of Congress is inviting Americans participating in holidays at the end of October and early November – Halloween, All Souls Day, All Saints Day, Dia de los Muertos – to photograph hayrides, haunted houses, parades, trick-or-treating and other celebratory and commemorative activities to contribute to a new collection documenting contemporary folklife.

Between Oct. 22 and Nov. 5, AFC invites people to document in photographs how holiday celebrations are experienced by friends, family and community, then post photos to the photo-sharing site Flickr under a creative commons license with the tag #FolklifeHalloween2014.

The following are guidelines:

  1. Title: Give your photo a title
  2. Short Description (including photographer and location): Include a brief description. What is significant about the image? Where was it taken? Who is the photographer?
  3. License: For potential inclusion in the collection, please license the photo under a creative commons license.

Additional information is available on the AFC blog at blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2014/10/share-your-photos-of-halloween/.

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