Math and Voting is the theme of Math Awareness Month (April 2008)
Vote for your favorite candidate and see how voting methods influence election outcomes.
Find out more about the mathematics of voting.
or check out the following books in tripod:
Chaotic elections! A mathematician looks at voting
The mathematics of voting and elections: a hands-on approach
Since this is just a trial, it won't be active all the time, but we'll try leaving it open when we're at our desks.
Every year during the library's Information Fair, we ask the incoming frosh to name their favorite films. We use this information to add to our recreational videos.
Here are this year's top results:
The winner with 13 votes:
Pride and Prejudice
(5 votes for the Colin Firth miniseries, 1 for the 2005 Keira Knightley version, 7 unspecified)
5 votes each:
Amelie
Pirates of the Caribbean
4 votes each:
Gone with the Wind
The Princess Bride
3 votes each:
Almost Famous
Hairspray (not sure which version!)
Legally Blonde (to be ordered)
Practical Magic (to be ordered)
Save the Last Dance (to be ordered)
Superbad (To be ordered)
Fall is here, and students and faculty are returning (or arriving for the first time). For everyone who's new to Tripod, the libraries' catalog, and for everyone who's used it but hasn't tried all the bells and whistles, here's a short guide to some of the features you may not know about.
« Continue reading "Top 10 things you (probably) didn't know you could do with Tripod" »
A video series on the history of African American dance, with emphasis on the role that African American choreographers and dancers have played in the development of modern dance.
Part One focuses "on the early development of modern dance-and set against the background of the Harlem Renaissance, racial segregation and the Great Depression ... examining how African Americans overcame a 'segregated aesthetic' to become recognized as modern dance artists."
Part Two features Katherine Dunham, whose "priority is to create new choreography with her dancers."
Part Three examines the 1960s through the 1980s.
Watch an excerpt from Bill T. Jones' "D-Man in the Water."
Nominations for the 28th Annual Emmy Awards for News & Documentary were announced this past week.
Check out some of these nominated documentaries owned by the Tri-Co libraries on dvd!
THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
Eugene O'Neill was one of the greatest playwrights in American history. Through his experimental and emotionally probing dramas, he addressed the difficulties of human society with a deep psychological complexity. more info...
CINEMAX
COURT TV
DISCOVERY CHANNEL
Acclaimed director Werner Herzog explores the life and death of amateur grizzly bear expert and wildlife preservationist Timothy Treadwell, who lived unarmed among grizzlies for 13 summers. more info...
DOCUMENTARY CHANNEL
P.O.V.
Follows a group of 12-year-old boys from the most violent ghettos of Baltimore to the Baraka School, an experimental boarding school in rural Kenya, where children live by strict guidelines, yet are given the freedom to grow. more info...
Many academic, public and school libraries have recently been promoting their services through promotional videos. Gale Publishing decided to highlight the best of these films at their Librareo website. Take a look at the creativity on display. Don't miss the Towson Public Library's "Hemmingway the Bookworm!"
http://www.gale.com/librareo/vote.html
More Librareo videos are available on YouTube
Ever wonder who these people are whose names are so prominently displayed in the Carpenter atrium? Now you can find out who started the History of Art Department, who was known for recreating Roman banquets, who founded the Ella Riegel Memorial Museum. We’ve added biographical sketches of these renowned scholars to the Carpenter webpage.
Curious, Useful, Edifying, Inspiring:
The Reference Books of McCabe Library
Staff Pick for the week of April 10th, 2006
Directory of Historic House Museums in the United States
Call number: REF E 159.W29 2000
Chosen by: Laura Cass, Mellon Intern
Laura says:
“We all know about the big monuments and museums: The Smithsonian, Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, etc. However, beyond these famous sites, there is a whole world of little bits of history just waiting to be discovered. This is where house museums come in. Often, they’re a simple collection of artifacts placed in the home of the person who owned them. Behind their relative simplicity, though, lies hidden historic value. For example, what better place to learn about the life of a Revolutionary War soldier than by going to the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial, right here in Philadelphia. This is just one of the many hidden historic gems around the US, and the Directory of Historic House Museums is definitely a good entry point into this exciting area.”
The Directory of Historic House Museums in the United States is on display above the McCabe Reference Desk for your browsing pleasure.
Curious, Useful, Edifying, Inspiring: The Reference Books of McCabe Library
Staff Pick for the week of April 3rd, 2006
NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK!
The Whole Library Handbook 4
Call number: REF Z665.2 .U6 W49 2006
Chosen by: Ann Wheeler, Reference and Instruction Intern
Ann says:
“This is a fantastic reference source for librarians and library patrons alike, containing information, data, and factoids about all types of libraries. Use it to answer those burning questions, including… How and why was the Library of Congress classification system invented? Flip to page 317 to find out. What exactly is a presidential library, and where is Herbert Hoover’s? Check out page 37. How do you say the word “library” in 131 different languages, including ASL and Morse code? Page 516 has the answer. And who can resist an essay on Melvil Dewey, creator of the Dewey Decimal System, with the opening sentence, ‘Melvil Dewey…was a driven man, tense, complicated, concentrated, hounded by a fear of death and decay.’ Read the rest on page 100.”
The Whole Library Handbook 4 is on display above the McCabe Reference Desk.
Curious, Useful, Edifying, Inspiring: The Reference Books of McCabe Library
Staff Pick for the week of March 27th, 2006
The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes
Call number: Ref PZ8.3 .O62
Chosen by: Jen Roth, Mellon Intern
Jen says:
“Did you know that “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” has four more verses? Are you curious about the history of “Yankee Doodle?” Is “Ring Around the Rosie” actually about the plague? This book is filled with familiar rhymes and riddles (as well as plenty of unfamiliar ones), along with their histories, guesses at their real meanings, and other fascinating tidbits of information.”
The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes is on display above the McCabe Reference Desk.
Jen is a Mellon Intern at Swarthmore College Library. The Mellon Internship program is designed to introduce students to the profession of librarianship.
Curious, Useful, Edifying, Inspiring:
The Reference Books of McCabe Library
Staff Pick for the week of March 20th, 2006
Statistical Abstract of the United States
Call number: Ref Desk HA202 (earlier editions in Gov Docs)
Chosen by: Ed Fuller, General Reference Librarian
Ed says:
“The first place to look for any statistics about the United States. If over a thousand pages of well-indexed numbers isn’t enough, the Statistical Abstract also tells were more can be found. The library also has the Statistical Abstract back to 1885 (shelved in government documents, call number C 3.134) as well as Historical Statistics of the United States. (call number Ref HA202 .H57 2006)”
You'll find the Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2006 edition, on display above the Reference Desk.
Find out more about the Ides of March at InfoPlease.com.
Or, check out The Ides of March by Thorton Wilder. This brilliant novel retells the tragedy of Julius Caesar through vividly imagined letters and documents. You'll find copies at all three libraries.
Curious, Useful, Edifying, Inspiring:
The Reference Books of McCabe Library
Staff Pick for the week of February 27th, 2006
The MacMillan Visual Dictionary
Call number: Ref P361 .M28 1994
Chosen by: Ed Fuller, General Reference Librarian
Ed says:
“If you’ve looked at something and wondered what the name for it was or wondered what something looked like, the MacMillan Visual Dictionary has illustrations of thousands of things from animals with their parts labeled to ranked hands in poker in English, French, Spanish, and German. If bicycling through Germany, you could tell the mechanic that your Lenkstange (handlebars) needed repair by consulting this book. Unfortunately, it is too big to carry, but this large, well-indexed, full-color book is a very enjoyable reference work.”
You'll find the MacMillan Visual Dictionary on display above the Reference Desk in McCabe Library.
Curious, Useful, Edifying, Inspiring: The Reference Books of McCabe Library
Staff Pick for the week of February 13th, 2006
Good Fiction Guide
REF PN 3503 .G66 2001
Chosen by: Ann Wheeler, Reference and Instruction Intern
Ann says: "Looking for a great read? This book will help you find one. Based on the idea that a good recommendation counts more than flashy promotion, this book contains 34 essays on different fiction subjects, each written by an avid reader in the field. In addition to familiar genres such as crime, fantasy, romance, and science fiction, this guide includes intriguing subjects such as Australia and New Zealand, childhood, magic realism, and sexual politics. Each essay concludes with a “Top Twelve” reading list representing the best of the genre. Selections range in date from newer titles to the classics, and include both literature and popular fiction. With such variety, everyone is sure to find something new and interesting to read!"
You'll find the Good Fiction Guide on display next to the Reference Desk in McCabe Library.
Curious, Useful, Edifying, Inspiring:
The Reference Books of McCabe Library
Staff Pick for the week of January 23rd, 2006
Panati’s Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things
Call Number: Ref AG6 .P37 1989
Chosen by: Ed Fuller, General Reference Librarian
Ed says:
"Did you know that chewing gum and Silly Putty began as substitutes for rubber, or that ketchup started before tomatoes, or how the hot dog got its name? This book is a trivia lover’s romp through the origins of hundreds of everyday objects and great fun to just flip through."
Put your thoughts into visual expression and design a new logo for the library! If yours is the winning design, you will receive a $100 gift certificate to the bookstore, fame, glory and our undying appreciation. For more information or to submit your designs, email or send campus mail to Evelyn Khoo, ekhoo1@swarthmore.edu. The logo can be in color or black & white and should be approx. 2x2''. Deadline is Feb 3rd, 2006.
Curious, Useful, Edifying, Inspiring: Apply for the Mellon Librarian Recruitment Student Internship
Why Participate?
* Learn about the nature of library work and the challenges facing the library profession
* Find out if librarianship is a good career choice for you to consider
* Gain valuable work experience in a library setting
* Add a unique experience to your resume
* Challenge your skills and broaden your interests
* Earn a competitive salary
More details about the intership.
To apply, complete this application. (Word Document)
Sumbit applications to Pamela Harris, McCabe Library. (email: pharris1@swarthmore.edu)
Applications are due by Tuesday, NOVEMBER 22, 2005
Curious, Useful, Edifying, Inspiring: The Reference Books of McCabe Library.
Staff Pick for November 7, 2005
Hunting the Snark, a Compendium of New Poetic Terminology
Call Number: PS 323.5.P49 1989
Chosen by Evelyn Khoo, Library Associate.
Evelyn says: "Don't be held hostage by the Norton Anthologies! In Hunting the Snark, Robert Peters snubs one ink-stained nose at the usual geographic or chronological format for most reference works, replacing them with hilarious and thought-provoking classifications like "academic sleaze", "poultry poems", "bent genes poems", "Disney poems", etc.
Each category has a bite-sized selection of poets, both classic and contemporary, which embody the spirit of each genre, tied together with Peters' sometimes scathing (but always witty) critical analysis.
One vivid example: "'Momentosity' occurs when a poet yanks a poem towards an easy metaphysics, into significance. Such a poet feels obligated, especially if he is well-known, to say Big Things - he becomes a sort of Shelleyan sky pilot for mankind."
Happy Hunting!
Each week, one of the library staff selects a favorite reference book. The featured book is displayed at the Reference Desk in McCabe Library.
Did you know you can browse our video collection in Tripod by country or genre? Genres include Adventure, Animated, Gay and Lesbian, Romance, Documentary, Science Fiction and more.
Just look for the drop-down boxes on the Video/DVD tab in Tripod to start exploring.
From there, you can also link to our New Videos and More Video Resources to see what we've bought recently and explore film and video resources.
Find materials in our libraries with Yahoo! or Google. Thanks to our participation in the global library catalog WorldCat, our records are searchable at Yahoo! and Google.
Simply visit yahoo.com or google.com and enter "Find in a Library" (as a phrase, including quote marks) plus one or more search terms.
**Tip: put titles in quites too. For example,
"find in a library" "pride and prejudice"
Your returned results will include links with the prefix "Find in a Library" and the name of a library-owned item that matches your search terms.
Follow the "Find in a Library" and you'll see information about the item. Enter the ZIP postal code for your college to see a list of libraries that have the item. If we own it, our name will appear as a link that leads directly to Tripod and the online record for the item!
Want to "Find in a Library" no matter where you are on the Web?
Visit WorldCat Libraries to install one of several browser plug-ins. It's another way to search for library materials, right from your browser's menu bar.
Each week, one of the library staff will select a favorite reference book. The featured book will be displayed at the Reference Desk in McCabe Library.
This week's selection comes from Ed Fuller, General Reference Librarian:
The Originals: Who’s Really Who in Fiction
Ref PN56.4 .A46 1985
Ed says,
“If you’ve ever finished a novel and wondered what it would be like to talk to the characters, page through The Originals, an alphabetical listing of literary characters and their real life inspirations. Obviously, authors often change things or use multiple persons, but the book is a great romp through English, American, and European literature’s real people. Includes photographs.”
Stop by the Reference Desk and check it out.
Need to find info fast? Try xreferplus, a one-stop source for online reference books in a wide array of subject fields.
Dictionaries in French, Spanish, Portuguese, Latin, German, and Italian! The Collins World Atlas Gazeteer! The Great American History Fact-Finder! Barron's New Food Lover's Companion! Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary! Quotation guides, religious texts, and even a crossword puzzle solver... these are some of the 177 tools available through xreferplus.
Give xreferplus a whirl. You'll be glad you did.
Did you know that you can get tables of contents and search results from ProQuest Research Library delivered to your inbox on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis?
Simply browse to the Publications tab, find your journal, and click the yellow "Set up alert" button at the top of the journal's page.
You can also save your favorite searches and have "alerting" emails sent when new articles are published on your topic. Just click the yellow "Set up alert" button at the top of your search results screen.
ProQuest Research Library offers citations and full-text articles from thousands of academic and popular journals on all subjects, from 1971 through today.
Two new Asian Studies journals have joined Project Muse.
Monumenta Nipponica
Monumenta Nipponica was founded in 1938 by Sophia University, Tokyo, to provide a common platform for scholars throughout the world to present their research on Japanese culture, history, literature, and society. One of the oldest and most highly regarded English-language journals in the Asian studies field, it is known not only for articles of original scholarship and timely book reviews, but also authoritative translations of a wide range of Japanese historical and literary sources.
For more information on the journal see http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/monumenta_nipponica
.
Asian Music
Asian Music, the journal of the Society for Asian Music, is the leading journal devoted to ethnomusicology in Asian music, publishing all aspects of the performing arts of Asia and their cultural context.
For more information on the journal see http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/asian_music
.
An open access, peer-reviewed journal from the London Mathematical Society has been added to Tripod:
LMS Journal of Computation and Mathematics
Full-text of journal articles in available from 1998 (vol. 1) - present.
For more information on Open Access publishing:
The OECD's** new statistical yearbook, OECD Factbook 2005, provides a great way to get an overview of statistical data collected by the OECD, find links to detailed reports and data collections, and compare trends in OECD nations. The online version also includes spreadsheets for tables and graphs.
The Factbook is organized by the following areas:
-Population and migration
-Macroeconomic trends
-Economic globalisation
-Prices
-Labour market
-Science and technology
-Energy
-Environment
-Education
-Public policies
-Quality of life
Connect to the OECD Factbook 2005
** The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) is a consortium of industrialized, or economically powerful, countries that formed in 1961 to foster economic growth and cooperation among member countries. In addition to serving this original purpose, the OECD has become an important clearinghouse for a massive amount of ecomomic data.
