LibrarySustenance

Something new

2011-11-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

Every fall, the Library works to offer something new to our students. Our goal, to meet the needs of students by offering new and innovative library materials or digital resources. This year, we have added several new products. One we are very excited about is the Playaway audiobook. I know you are all holding your breath to find out just what this great new audiobook format is, right? Playaway is a digital audiobook that plays by itself. No more carrying around a case of CDs, switching them in the car while driving, or having a CD end just when something exciting is about to happen. Playaway holds the entire book on a small player (smaller than most cell phones) which can be carried with you anywhere. It is great for driving. It is perfect for listening while running or working out. You use it like an iPod or an MP3 player. All you need are a pair of earbuds and away you go. If you don't have a pair, we'll give you one to get you started. Now are you excited?
Here are a couple of books we have on Playaway that we think you will enjoy.

The Patience Stone

by Atiq Rahimi
In Persian folklore, Syngue Sabour is a magical stone, a patience stone, that absorbs the plight of those who confide in it. But here, the Syngue Sabour is not a stone, but a man lying brain-dead. His wife sits by his side, resenting him for not resisting the call to arms, for wanting to be a hero, and in the end, for being incapacitated. Yet she cares, speaking to him, revealing her deepest desires, pains, and secrets. She speaks of her life, not knowing if her husband hears, confessing about sex and love and her anger against a man who never understood her, and who mistreated her. Free of oppression, she leads her story up to a great secret that is unthinkable in a country like Afghanistan. Rahimi captures with great courage and spare, poetic, prose the reality of everyday life for an intelligent woman under the oppressive weight of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. (summary from Blackstone Audio)

The Mask of Zorro

by Yuri Rasovsky (based on the book by Johnston McCulley)

This is a sensational recording read by Val Kilmer and a full cast. The voices will keep you on the edge of your seat the length of the novel.

Wealthy, young aristocrat Don Diego de la Vega is the son of the richest ranchero in the country. Don Diego is an idler who has never concerned himself with more than the cut of his clothes. But Vega’s timorous reputation is merely a mask to conceal his alter ego—El Zorro. As Zorro, dressed in black and wearing a mask, he is transformed into a cunning swordsman who fearlessly pulls off dashing and daring escapades in his quest to avenge the helpless, aid the poor and oppressed, and punish cruel officials. Deemed an outlaw by California’s corrupt governor, he is ever-hunted by the Commandante of La Reina de Los Angeles, Capitan Ramón, and his henchman, Sergeant Pedro Gonzalez.

Cleaning Nabokov's House

by Leslie Daniels
Barb Barrett has inadequate skills for relationships. In particular, she cannot follow her husband’s instructions. Because of this character “flaw,” she falls through the safety net of her lousy marriage, losing custody of her children and her home as she plummets. Guided only by her intense inner life, and a questionable business plan, Barb is determined to reinvent herself. She moves into a house once occupied by the literary genius Vladimir Nabokov, author of the notorious Lolita. She discovers what could be Nabokov’s last unpublished manuscript and from there begins a painful yet joyous journey that is deliciously romantic, both darkly comic and wise.(summary from Blackstone Audio)

The Ninth Wife

2011-10-26T09:33:00.000-07:00

Amy Stoll's novel The Ninth Wife is an interesting and enthralling read. This story centers around a woman, Bess, who has given up hope of ever settling down until she meets Rory. He seems to be everything she's been waiting for and she falls completely in love. Life has definitely taken a turn for the best, that is until Rory asks Bess to marry him. After the proposal, Rory confesses that he's been married eight times. Without giving Rory an answer, Bess feels she must discover what is hiding in his past and sets upon an adventurous road trip with her gay neighbor and her 65 year old grandparents to meet the first eight wives. This journey provides for a rich look into the very heart of relationships as well as how the past plays a vital part of how we live and who we are. This was fun, mind-blowing, inspiring, and an overall great read. Come check out our book of the week today.

Book of the week

2011-10-21T09:01:00.000-07:00

I've been reading a lot of poetry of late. Poetry fits the growing busyness of this month as assignments are coming due, events are being held, and the cold weather is creeping in. I find myself snatching a poem or two in between meetings or classes. What I love about reading poetry like this is the foothold it seems to give me to the world beyond my daily tasks. Each day provides us with a myriad of things to start, things to finish, calls to return, messages to send, and on and on. A poem gives a moment, a glimpse into a feeling, a thought, another life. It takes little from us and still manages to give us pause and a breath. For me, it is that moment that allows me to breathe. It gives me space to stop and look around, to see something in the world about that is not of myself and to appreciate it. The book that I want to feature this week is an amazing, fairly new book of poetry by former United States Poet Laureate, Kay Ryan. The Best of It is filled with poems which will give pause to the day, a smile, a laugh, and that moment we are all seeking to breathe. The Best of It won the Pulitzer Prize winner for poetry this year and I can see why. It's our feature book and it comes highly recommended!
Here's a poem from Kay Ryan's book that I wanted to share with you.
Backward Miracle

Every once in a while
we need a
backward miracle
that will strip language,
make it hold for
a minute: just the
vessel with the
wine in it--
a sacramental
refusal to multiply,
reclaiming the
single loaf
and the single
fish thereby.

Take a moment today for yourself and enjoy the world around you.

A cool fall day and a good book

2011-10-13T09:40:00.000-07:00

I love fall and all the changes, colors, smells, and feelings that come with it. It is my favorite season. Days start slowing down. Even the earth seems to begin quieting itself, nestling in to a time of rest, of quiet, of rejuvenation. As leaves fall, rains come, and the air outside settles into a cool crisp routine of days, there is a distinct smell that invades the senses letting every part of the body feel the coming of fall.
For me, this is what fall is. It makes me want to drink hot cider, sit in a comfortable chair and read a good book. Right now I am reading The Paris Wife which I'll write you all about as soon as I'm finished. So far, it's fabulous. Next on my list to try is a series that several students have recommended so we've just added them to the Library. The series is Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments books. The first three books are on our Library shelf now, and the newest one is on order as soon as it is published.
These books follow Clary, a young girl who drawn into a world of demons, demon hunters, mysticism and dark secrets when her mother disappears and she herself is nearly killed by a monster. Existing in the dark underworld of the city, she discovers and soon becomes a part of a world only imagined in stories or television shows.
This series has come very highly recommended by many of you, so I'm posting it here on your recommendations. These books have been compared to the TV shows Angel and Supernatural and are recommended by authors of similar books such as Twilight's Stephanie Meyers. Try them and let us know what you think. Cassandra Clare has other series that we could add to the Library shelves if you are interested. Come check them out today and enjoy the warmth of the fall season with a good book.

Contest Winners

2011-10-11T09:19:00.000-07:00

Finally, we are publishing the two winners to our Fall Banned Books Week contest. We drew two names this year and the winners are, A.J. Barker and Andrea J. Stop by the Library anytime and pick up your prizes. Thank you to all for responding. If you haven't had a chance to read all the comments on the last two blog posts, you should. It delights us to see how passionate some of you are about your freedom to read and protecting that right for those around you. Also, if you didn't get a chance to watch any of the YouTube videos or come to our live reading, they are still available on the BBW YouTube channel. There are some great videos by several of our favorite authors that we encourage you to check out.

Fall Library Contest

2011-09-26T10:07:00.000-07:00

This week, the Library is hosting a Banned Books Week celebration. We are featuring displays of some of our favorite banned books in the Library. Come by and see them and ask us about more.
We will also be hosting a first ever Banned Book Read-Out on Wednesday from 12 - 5 p.m. This means that we will be reading aloud excerpts from some of our favorite banned books. Please come and take a turn reading aloud with us or just stop by and listen between classes. We will also have videos broadcasting during the day of authors and readers across the U.S. reading from their favorite banned books throughout the day.

Every term, the Library features a contest or drawing for fabulous prizes. The Fall contest coincides with our Banned Books Week celebration. We encourage all of you to join with us in this celebration, enter the contest and stand up for your freedom to read.

Three ways you can enter the contest....

Comment here on the blog or by email and share your favorite banned book and why you think it should be read.
Comment here or email why you think the Freedom to Read is important.
Upload a video to the BBW Read Out youtube channel of you reading from your favorite banned book and share the link with us. For an example watch author Judy Blume's video.
All entries must be in by Monday, October 3rd. Winners will be announced by October 7th.

Banned Books Week!

2011-09-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

Every year, the TVCC Library joins with the American Library Association and libraries across the United States in celebrating Banned Books Week. This year, BBW is September 26th thru the 30th. What is Banned Books Week? Most of us have heard of banning books or burning books in an historical context... something you may have read in a history textbook yet doesn't seem relevant today. What many don't realize is the practice of banning books (removing them from libraries and school curriculum) still happens today. Not only does it still happen, but it is happening in the United States. One of the most glorious aspects of this country is the fundamental freedoms we all have which are guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution. As a society we celebrate those freedoms, stand on them, defend them. One of those freedoms is the Freedom to Read, to read and to think whatever you choose. Book banning defies that freedom by removing access to books or other materials because individuals may find some of the content offensive.
The list of books that have been challenged or removed from library shelves over the years is astounding. For example, the American Dictionary was removed from a library because some of the words defined were deemed inappropriate to all readers. Little Red Riding Hood by the Grimm brothers was removed from school libraries because, "The basket carried by Little Red Riding Hood contained a bottle of wine, which condones the use of alcohol."

Next week please join with us in celebrating your freedom to read and choose for yourselves. What to expect next week...

You will find lots of information about banned books and a great selection of them in the Library.
We will be hosting a public read-aloud event on Wednesday in the Library from 12 - 6. You can come and listen to live reading or read yourself from your favorite banned book.
Watch the ALA youtube channel to hear other banned book readers and authors in the Library throughout the week.
Enter the Library's BBW contest here on the blog and be entered to win prizes at the end of the week!

Welcome

2011-09-19T09:28:00.000-07:00

As the new school year officially gets underway, I want to take the opportunity to say to all new students and those returning, "Hello and welcome to TVCC." The Library staff are glad you are all here and we look forward to seeing you and helping you as we can. A few start of term things I want to make you all aware of...
Research classes: The Library offers a one-time hour-long research presentation which is free and will give you all the information you need to use the Library as well as navigate our online research sites. This is a fabulously helpful training that you will use for every class you take. Many of your teachers will have this presentation during your regular class period. Others require or recommend that you take it on your own time. Some even offer extra credit for taking it. It is offered in the Library beginning the second week of the term every Tuesday at 7 p.m., Wednesday at 12 p.m. and Thursday at 4 .m. All you have to do is stop by the Library at one of these times and we will take care of the rest.
Student ID cards: Yes, you get these in the Library. We also have Fall stickers so if you are a returning student, stop by and we will update your card. If you would like a gym pass to the weight room you do have to have a current card so come to the Library first.
For everything else: Remember you can always ask the Library staff. Regardless of the question, we will help you in any way that we can. Over the summer we added a lot of new books and DVDs to our collection. We are very excited about what we were able to add this year so far. If there is something you are looking for that that we don't have, let us know. We take requests and suggestions, so let us know what you think.
We hope to see you all soon.

Finals Week

2011-08-11T07:12:00.000-07:00

Most of you have made it through your last final and are breathing that sigh of relief which lifts all the weight and stress and energy from the last 8 weeks off of your shoulders allowing a sense of peace, satisfaction, or just plain gladness that it's over to settle in. For those of you who aren't there yet, today is the day. By the end of it, you will have that release. Hang in there, you're soo close.
For me, the summer term is always kind of a limbo land with students that we've gotten to know leaving or finishing their last class before moving on to greater things or new students coming in, not sure if TVCC is the place for them or what it will be like going here. This summer term has been unique to me in the number of new students or continuing students who have discovered the Library and have settled in here either physically or virtually as their place to connect and find help. I say this because I've had a record number of you responding to these blog posts, emailing me personally and even calling the Library and leaving messages. All of these responses have been ones of thanks, for the services, the help they received, the comfort levels in the Library and overall, just thanking us for being here and connecting with you.
While no thanks are necessary, I wanted to say that it truly delights us to hear from all of you and we really appreciate it. Whenever I teach a research class, I always ask students to remember that the Library staff are here for you. We are here to help in whatever ways we can and hopefully be a small part of the successful education experience that you have here at TVCC. We really mean that. So, for those of you moving on, we have enjoyed being a part of your lives. For those of you coming in or just starting to become familiar with the Library...keep talking to us. Tell us what you like. Tell us what you don't like. Ask questions. Ask for help. Just ask. We want to hear what you have to say.
This may be the last post on here for a few weeks, but the we'll be back up and running in September. Please continue to let us know what you are thinking. We will still answer your emails and questions even if we are closed. We have some really fun and exciting stuff planned for the fall and we hope you'll continue to be a part of it. Most importantly, keep talking to us. Have a fantastic summer break!
Wishing you all the best,

~The Library Staff

Not for the faint of heart

2011-08-10T06:58:00.000-07:00

In the Library, our staff reading tastes cover a variety of genres and styles. For your benefit, we like to share book and movie recommendations that reflect our tastes as well as things we think may be of interest to you all. This week's summer reading recommendation is one that has been very popular among the TVCC student body this year. One of our staff finally read the first book in this series and absolutely loved it.
The book...The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro. This is the first novel by Del Toro and the first in a series of three. Guillermo Del Toro's name may be familiar to some of you as a film producer of films such as Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth, The Orphanage, Kung Fu Panda 2 and many others which have earned him three Academy Awards. For those of you who like his darker works, or are fans of horror movies, scary or suspenseful books, this trilogy is highly recommended.
The plot...

In one week, Manhattan will be gone.

In one month, the country. In two months . . . the world.

At New York's JFK Airport an arriving Boeing 777 taxiing along a runway suddenly stops dead. All the shades have been drawn, all communication channels have mysteriously gone quiet. Dr. Eph Goodweather, head of a CDC rapid-response team investigating biological threats, boards the darkened plane . . . and what he finds makes his blood run cold.

A terrifying contagion has come to the unsuspecting city, an unstoppable plague that will spread like an all-consuming wildfire—lethal, merciless, hungry . . . vampiric.

And in a pawnshop in Spanish Harlem an aged Holocaust survivor knows that the war he has been dreading his entire life is finally here . . . (taken from Amazon.com)

Sound exciting? It is. From the first page you will have a hard time putting it down. It will make your heart race and distract you from food, life, work. So be careful when you pick it up, it is addicting.
The Library has The Strain (book 1) and The Fall (book 2) in print and on audio. The final book, The Night Eternal in the series comes out in October, so get put on the list and be the first to get it.
Looking for more Guillermo Del Toro? We just got in his most recent film and Academy Award nominations, Biutiful starring Javier Bardem. This is a haunting film about a man who is trying to navigate through life with his two young sons. He is a man with a criminal past that haunts him, but also a man who can see his own death which guides him. For this movie or any of our new DVDs, stop by the Library this week. If we don't see you, have a fabulous summer break!

Summer update

2011-08-04T08:56:00.000-07:00

I confess, summer is my least favorite season. This is mainly due to the intense heat that we experience in this area which sends me into hiding in cool air-conditioned spaces. However, as I was walking across campus early this morning I was struck by what a wonderful summer moment it was. The sun was up with just enough clouds to make the morning still sort of gray. The air is somehow cool and warm at the same time, giving off a sense of comfort and cleanliness. Like climbing into a fresh made bed with clean sheets. It makes you want to stop and breathe it in. The smell of fresh mowed grass is everywhere. The dew still clinging to each blade, still resisting the coming heat of the day. This picture I found on Pixadis is exactly how this morning felt. These are the moments that I love summer. It feels very sad to me to think that it will be gone within the hour as the sun continues to rise and the temperature attempts to meet its incline.
I hope all of your summers are going well. School is almost out, one more week to go! This week I'm sure that causes a mixture of excitement, relief and stress among you. I wanted to let you all know about a few things that are happening with the Library in the next week or two. First of all, today is the last Library research class for the summer. They will resume the second week of Fall term. The Library is still open this Friday for those needing a place to get the last of that homework or study time in.
The Library will be closed for a couple of weeks beginning next Friday, August 12th, re-opening on August 29th. You are welcome to come in and check out books and movies next week and keep them over the break next week. If you have items to return and we are not here, please use the drop-boxes outside of the building.
If you haven't yet submitted your summer reading picks, please do so. I'll post the list of all your favorites here in the next week or so. All entries will be put into a drawing. We may have more than one prize available, so send us your book choices. I look forward to hearing from more of you!

A book you may have missed

2011-07-25T09:43:00.000-07:00

Though he's been writing and very well recommended for years, I've never read Michael Connelly's novels. I've been intrigued and many of our students really like his books. So, this spring I finally picked up my first Michael Connelly, The Lincoln Lawyer. I admit that in part, this was because the movie had just come out and I always like to start with the book before I watch the film. This book is a perfect summer read. It grabs you from the first page, pulling you into the world of Mickey Haller, defense attorney. Haller works out of the backseat of his Lincoln Town Car as he travels between cases and clients across Los Angeles. Haller epitomizes the seedy lawyer type working more to manipulate the system then have to decide if his client is guilty or not. That is, until he lands the very wealthy young man in trouble who may turn out to be the answer to all his problems. As you can imagine, things don't go as well for Haller as he hopes. With twists and turns, suspense and fear, this book will keep you on the edge from start to finish. The Lincoln Lawyer is the first in Connelly's Mickey Haller series, so if you, like me, enjoy this book there are several more out there to read.
The film version starring Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei and Ryan Phillippe was actually a good portrayal of the book and I recommend it as well. You can check out the book or film from the Library today.

Incomprehensible endurance and strength

2011-07-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

That's the heart of this week's summer reading book recommendations. Laura Hillenbrand's new book Unbroken will capture you from the first few pages and sweep you away into another era and the life of a man who overcame more than most of us can imagine and changed his life.
Rather than tell you all about it, I'll let you read what the author has to say about her book (captured from Amazon's author page).

Eight years ago, an old man told me a story that took my breath away. His name was Louie Zamperini, and from the day I first spoke to him, his almost incomprehensibly dramatic life was my obsession.

It was a horse--the subject of my first book, Seabiscuit: An American Legend--who led me to Louie. As I researched the Depression-era racehorse, I kept coming across stories about Louie, a 1930s track star who endured an amazing odyssey in World War II. I knew only a little about him then, but I couldn’t shake him from my mind. After I finished Seabiscuit, I tracked Louie down, called him and asked about his life. For the next hour, he had me transfixed.

Growing up in California in the 1920s, Louie was a hellraiser, stealing everything edible that he could carry, staging elaborate pranks, getting in fistfights, and bedeviling the local police. But as a teenager, he emerged as one of the greatest runners America had ever seen, competing at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where he put on a sensational performance, crossed paths with Hitler, and stole a German flag right off the Reich Chancellery. He was preparing for the 1940 Olympics, and closing in on the fabled four-minute mile, when World War II began. Louie joined the Army Air Corps, becoming a bombardier. Stationed on Oahu, he survived harrowing combat, including an epic air battle that ended when his plane crash-landed, some six hundred holes in its fuselage and half the crew seriously wounded.

On a May afternoon in 1943, Louie took off on a search mission for a lost plane. Somewhere over the Pacific, the engines on his bomber failed. The plane plummeted into the sea, leaving Louie and two other men stranded on a tiny raft. Drifting for weeks and thousands of miles, they endured starvation and desperate thirst, sharks that leapt aboard the raft, trying to drag them off, a machine-gun attack from a Japanese bomber, and a typhoon with waves some forty feet high. At last, they spotted an island. As they rowed toward it, unbeknownst to them, a Japanese military boat was lurking nearby. Louie’s journey had only just begun.

That first conversation with Louie was a pivot point in my life. Fascinated by his experiences, and the mystery of how a man could overcome so much, I began a seven-year journey through his story. I found it in diaries, letters and unpublished memoirs; in the memories of his family and friends, fellow Olympians, former American airmen and Japanese veterans; in forgotten papers in archives as far-flung as Oslo and Canberra. Along the way, there were staggering surprises, and Louie’s unlikely, inspiring story came alive for me. It is a tale of daring, defiance, persistence, ingenuity, and the ferocious will of a man who refused to be broken.

The culmination of my journey is my new book, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. I hope you are as spellbound by Louie’s life as I am.

This is a fabulous read, well recommended by the Library staff.

The Help

2011-07-15T07:43:00.000-07:00

This book is an absolute favorite read for the summer. The Help by Kathryn Stockett has been on my "to read" list for over a year now. The last month I've been doing a lot of driving so I checked out the audiobook version of this novel. First, let me say that audiobooks are great! Sometimes the narration is simply fantastic and regardless of the story, the reader can keep you excited all the way through the novel. The Help was recorded with not one, but three woman whose voices truly bring the characters of this novel to life. Very enjoyable! Although regarding the book, I think Kathryn Stockett's characters need little help being brought to life. This is a story about the deep South in the 1960's during the breaking of the Civil Rights Movement. As recent college graduate, Miss Skeeter finds herself in a world where women are not expected to contribute anything to society but children and going to college is supposed to accomplish little more than to get oneself a husband. In her early twenties, she is looked upon like an "old maid" who will never amount to anything because she is not married nor is she looking for a husband but rather a job in publishing. To satisfy her desires to be a writer, Miss Skeeter decides to write a book about the "help", the black women who wait on and serve the white folks. Life from the point of view of each of these amazing women is quite different. The book in its entirety is funny, charming, and wonderful. The Library has the book, the audiobook, and we are eagerly awaiting the August premier of the movie. A definite four-star recommendation for your summer reading list.

Blood, monsters, gods, enduring love...

2011-07-06T07:14:00.000-07:00

Okay, admit it, some of you assumed I was talking about the Twilight saga or something similar. No, I'm talking about my newest summer read that I share with hearty recommendations. If you've read Twilight and are looking for something new or have no desire to read the aforementioned vampire books but enjoy the mystical, fantastical, or just a good suspense drama this book is for you. What is it? None other than the debut novel of Maria Dahvana Headley about the life of Cleopatra, Queen of Kings. Having read Maria's first nonfiction work, The Year of Yes, which was a wonderful read that had me laughing from page one, Queen of Kings was a surprise. Deeply rooted in history and ancient literature, the story of Cleopatra is one we have all heard or know something of. Ms. Headley asks the question, "What if Cleopatra didn't die?" Taking the age-old story, she turns Cleopatra into a story more fantastic and heart-stopping than you could imagine. I found myself up in the early morning hours reading out of desperation to find out what happens next. Each page is full of history, beauty, and suspense, leaving one breathless at the end and eager for more. This is the first installment in what is to be a trilogy that I cannot wait to finish. Pick it up in the Library today!

For more on the life of Cleopatra we also have the new biography, Cleopatra by Pulitzer Prize Winner Stacy Schiff. Also an excellent and fascinating read.

On nature..

2011-06-27T14:32:00.000-07:00

This week's featured book is not one I think many would just pick up. It's an collections of essays on nature. Now, before you tune-out or skip on to the next thing, let me tell you what really happens within the pages of The Way of Natural History by Thomas Lowe Fleischner. This collection is actually a wonderful collaboration wherein the author has collected the thoughts of writers, poets, scientists, naturalists and even guitar legend and icon Richard Thompson their thoughts on nature. The result is a beautiful, diverse and interesting read that can be done in spurts or all at once. This book is the perfect summer reading choice for anyone who likes the outdoors or finds themselves at all inspired by nature. I could go on and on about this one, but I'll simply say, Read It!
To tempt you all a bit more, here's an excerpt from the opening of Richard Thompson's essay.
"To counter the boredome of travel, and the stress of performance, musicians have traditionally resorted to drugs and drink, and maybe that will work for a while; but there comes a fork in the road, and down one fork lies the Grim Reaper, and down the other survival. Most who choose survival have a strategy to keep themselves sane and sober(ish) - and it usually involves..." To see what how he ties this back to nature, you'll have to read it for yourselves. Enjoy!

Fair Game

2011-06-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

This is a powerful story that if you haven't had a chance to read, we recommend. It will definitely cause you to think and maybe rethink about your feelings on spies, terrorism, and the wars that this nation gets involved in. Valerie Plame has written a great accounting of the incident and the drama that followed which turned her life and her family's upside down. Her book Fair Game: My life as a spy, my betrayal by the White House is intense, challenging, heart-stopping at points as Valerie Plame finally comes forth and sets the record straight about her highly publicized story.
Not the typical light summer reading, but a story worth reading. At the Library you will find her book, her husband's book The Politics of Truth by Joseph C. Wilson and in the very near future the major motion picture based upon their story, Fair Game starring Naomi Watts and Sean Penn.
Try it and let us know what you think.

Biographies galore...

2011-06-13T12:57:00.000-07:00

This spring has seen the publishing world flush in celebrity biographies. Why do we care? Well, some stories are just too interesting to pass up. A few stood out to us and were recently added to the Library shelves. For this week, rather than review just one book, we're going to share a few titles. Confession: we haven't read them all yet, but didn't want you to miss the opportunity to check them out.
It would be remiss of us to not start with the sensational memoir, Does the Noise in My Head Bother You? by none other than Steven Tyler.
Another male memoirist that caught our attention was the ever charming Rob Lowe (and yes ladies, we admit that somethings are definitely better with age) and his new book Stories I Only Tell My Friends: an Autobiography. Anyone familiar with movies and celebrities of the 80's will find this book fascinating, funny, moving, and so much more.

For something more serious or rather more inspiring and moving, we'd suggest Ashley Judd's new book All That is Bitter and Sweet.

A few other biographies that we liked....
Bossypants by Tina Fey
Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
My Father's Daughter by Gwyneth Paltrow (cookbook)
127 Hours: between a rock and a hard place by Aron Ralston

Summer Reading

2011-06-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, so finally we are past those cold days, but now the heat is here and coming in waves. I love those perfect summer days where the heat is just enough that you feel warmth on your skin, but the breeze wafts in and out cooling as it goes. Unfortunately, Eastern Oregon/Idaho summers tend to be much more than that idyllic feeling. In fact, they often have me running indoors for relief from the penetrating sunshine and the delight of air-conditioning. To satisfy you whether inside or out, the Library has a fantastic selection of books, movies, audiobooks, and magazines for your summer pleasure. For readers, summer is the best time because publisher typically send all their new releases out in the late spring and by summer, libraries are stocked up and constantly adding more new wonders to their shelves. TVCC is no exception. The list of new books we've added in the last week alone is long and will keep growing.
For each week of the summer, we will post a review of one of our new items or maybe one that we think may have been missed. Look forward to those, and stop by anytime to check out other new titles we have. Please feel free to comment or share your reading choices or add to ours. We love to hear from you!

This Week in the Library!

2011-05-31T09:06:00.000-07:00

This week, the Library has a fantastic program coming. The Library is hosting a free presentation by author/poet Michael Czarnecki. Here's a little bit about Michael and this week's presentation.
Michael Czarnecki is a poet, oral memoirist and small press publisher (FootHills Publishing, in its 26th year) who lives in the hills of New York State, in the upper Susquehanna Watershed. From his home on Wheeler Hill he travels out on the poetic road across America. He has had nine chapbooks and books published including "Never Stop Asking for Poems" and "Twenty Days on Route 20," a haibun account of a journey on America's longest road. More information about Michael can be found at www.foothillspublishing.com/poetguy

The performance covers the time period from John Kennedy's assassination in 1963, through 1975, when he became part of a rural community in the hills of New York State. Along the way Michael suffered through battles of conscience, incurred the wrath of the family, participated in college demonstrations, hitchhiked 30,000 miles, backpacked in the mountains and experienced the usual late-teen, young adult joys and sorrows of life. All of this is set against the cultural and historical happenings of the era. Michael will share his entertaining and moving story of an ordinary person who happened to come of age during this unique time period in our recent history.

This event is free and open to any who would like. It will be this Friday, June 3rd at 2 p.m. in the Library. Michael is also giving a reading from his most recent book as well as a poetry reading at the Ontario Community Library on Thursday, June 2nd at 6 p.m.
We look forward to seeing you there.

Step up to the Plate!

2011-05-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

As promised...here's the details about our next contest event. Spring is finally here. Baseball season is in full swing. The TVCC Library is joining with libraries all across the US, in conjunction with the American Library Association and the National Baseball Hall of Fame to promote the sixth annual Step Up to The Plate campaign. Inspired by our love for all things baseball, this event is meant to honor the sport and encourage your use of the Library. This year, Step Up to the Plate connects generations by exploring baseball’s more than 150-year history through topics like famous baseball families and historical baseball franchises. Join with us in playing.
How to play... Go to the SUTTP site and download the playbook. People of all ages are encouraged to use the print and electronic resources available at their library to answer a series of trivia questions designed for their age group (10 and under, 11-13, 14-17 and 18 and over). You will then be on your way to answering questions about famous baseball families and historical baseball franchises. Questions are available in both English and Spanish.
When...Now! You can begin at any time. Submit your entries in the mail, via email or online. Final date to submit is September 1st, so you have all summer to get your answers turned in.
The prizes are... The grand-prize winner will receive a trip for two to Cooperstown, N.Y., to attend the Hall of Fame’s World Series Gala in October 2011. The prize will include admission to
the Hall of Fame, a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum, library and archives, roundtrip
coach airfare within the United States, and two nights’ hotel accommodation in
Cooperstown, N.Y. (double occupancy). Additionally, the winner will also receive a
family membership to the Hall of Fame. Several prizes will be given (drawn randomly from all entries) that include some very cool baseball memorabilia and autographed items. Just by entering, you can win prizes for your library too.
How to find the answers...Use your Library. You can look online, use any of the TVCC Library databases. We also have a great variety of books and the fabulous Baseball DVD series by director Ken Burns. There are more sources to help in your research too. The Baseball Hall of Fame http://www.baseballhall.org has a great library where they keep clippings and information on just about everyone. If you are stumped, ask us for help.

This is just to get you started. We'll be carrying over our baseball theme throughout the season and over the summer with some fun events planned for later. Keep checking here for the latest news.

Your Right to Privacy!

2011-05-04T12:17:00.000-07:00

This week is national Choose Privacy week. Have you ever heard of it? Many of you will say no. Let me explain what this is. Our right to free speech as well as our ability to communicate to each other digitally *read Facebook, Twitter, email, etc.* are vital parts of our everyday lives. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas says about the freedom of speech "Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us."
We as a society revel in our ability to send and receive information instantly in scholarly, professional and especially personal pursuits. We put out an amazing amount of information into the digital world with the assumption that we have nothing to hide, or that no one can use it to harm us. What most of us don't think about is that there are actually groups out there fighting for your right to say what you want and be protected in that. One of the largest advocates is of course, libraries including the TVCC library. We proudly support and advocate for your rights to privacy and freedom of speech. Every year, libraries across the US join in Choose Privacy week to acknowledge this work and attempt to educate you, the public about your rights and potential violations of. To find out more, watch the following video or go to the Privacy Revolution website.

How does the right to privacy affect you? Share your thoughts with us here. The news story that has me the most horrified of late is the new Apple iPods and iPads which track your every movement and send that information straight to Apple. Unlike organizations such as ours, which cannot keep track of or share any of your personal information, private corporations are under no such obligation. Legally, they can retain and use any information gathered for whatever purposes they desire. What do you think about this?

What's happening now...

2011-05-02T08:59:00.000-07:00

It's the first of May and finally Spring seems ready to stay. I say this with fingers crossed that last week's snow was just a fluke. Anyway, onward and upward....
As the Library's Spring contest comes to a close, I've had a some requests to keep it open. So, I will be taking your submissions for our April contest until next Monday, May 9th. Send them in soon. Remember, we aren't looking for professional work, but what you personally have to say. I look forward to reading what you send in!
What's next...
BASEBALL! What does the Library have to do with baseball? Details to come, but the exciting news is that there are a host of prizes including an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Just teasing you with that... I'll let you know all the details and how to enter very soon.
Also, as promised I'll post later this week and let you know who our featured author of the month is. So, good things to come...stay tuned.

2011-04-18T08:23:00.000-07:00

The Wind Sings Welcome in Early Spring by Carl Sandburg

The grip of the ice is gone now.
The silvers chase purple.
The purples tag silver.
They let out their runners
Here where summer says to the lilies:
“Wish and be wistful,
Circle this wind-hunted, wind-sung water.”

Come along always, come along now.
You for me, kiss me, pull me by the ear.
Push me along with the wind push.
Sing like the whinnying wind.
Sing like the hustling obstreperous wind.

Have you ever seen deeper purple …
this in my wild wind fingers?
Could you have more fun with a pony or a goat?
Have you seen such flicking heels before,
Silver jig heels on the purple sky rim?
Come along always, come along now.

Poem in Your Pocket Day

2011-04-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

Since 2004, during National Poetry Month, the Academy of American Poets holds Poem in Your Pocket Day. This is a day designed to get people talking about and sharing poetry. What do you do? Find a poem, write it down or print it out, and keep it in our pocket the whole of the day. Then, as you go about your day, ask people if they have a poem. Read yours to them, and share in the beauty of poetry. To find out more about it or get a poem for your pocket, check out this site. This year's Poem in Your Pocket Day is April 14th. Get a poem and come ask the library staff about theirs. We'll read one to you!
What is great about this event is the reading aloud of poetry to one another. Poems should be read aloud. It gives the words a life that the page cannot. If you've not heard poetry aloud, it is a great experience. Try some of these tags on LastFM for a great listen. There are amazing slam poetry, true beat poetry from the likes of Jack Kerouac, and performances that will have you reexamining what you think about a poem is by Lady Khadija and many others. Give it a try.

My spring poem selection for this week is one of my favorites and I thought fitting with all the weather we've been having recently. Keep sending in your entries!

April Rain Song by Langston Hughes
Let the rain kiss you.
Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops.
Let the rain sing you a lullaby.

The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk.
The rain makes running pools in the gutter.
The rain plays a little sleep-song on our roof at night -

And I love the rain.

A light exists in Spring

2011-04-05T08:02:00.000-07:00

A light exists in spring by Emily Dickinson

A light exists in spring
Not present on the year
At any other period.
When March is scarcely here

A color stands abroad
On solitary hills
That science cannot overtake,
But human naturefeels.

It waits upon the lawn;
It shows the furthest tree
Upon the furthest slope we know;
It almost speaks to me.

Then, as horizons step,
Or noons report away,
Without the formula of sound,
It passes, and we stay:

A quality of loss
Affecting our content,
As trade had suddenly encroached
Upon a sacrament.

I hope you enjoyed this week's poem. If you have favorites, please share them with us here.
Don't forget to send in your entries for the poetry contest.

April Contest

2011-03-30T07:23:00.000-07:00

Well, the first week of the term is underway and finally there seems to be a hint of warmth and the glimpse that Spring may finally be on its way. It is also almost April, a month which brings to mind iconic images of baby chicks, budding trees, and colorful cascades of spring flowers. It also reminds me of poetry. Why, you might ask. April is National Poetry Month and we in the Library celebrate that ever year. This year, we are going to challenge you a little bit and we hope you respond. For our Spring term contest, we are hosting a poetry writing contest. Now, don't let that discourage you. Everyone can write poetry. Give it a try. We are not looking for William Shakespeare or T.S. Eliot. Rather, we want to see what you come up with. And of course, there are great prizes in store for the winner.
What to do...write about spring. Anything that makes you think of spring be it flowers, rain, homework, or baseball season, write it down. There is no minimum words, but we are asking that it be no longer than 36 lines. We've recruited a couple of esteemed judges from the English Department faculty to help us decide on the winner. There was such a great response to our last contest, let's see if we can't get even more this term. Give it a try. We know you can do it! All entries should be emailed to the library@tvcc.cc account.
To help you get in the mood, each week I'll be posting a poem or excerpt from one about spring to help inspire you. This week's poem is from Oregon poet Eleanor Berry. Enjoy.

excerpt from From Here to There by Eleanor Berry

Winters there, bare branches
scribe the characteristic
calligraphies of their species
against a solid overcast, smooth gray
promising snow,
or against flawless blue
with a brilliant sun that does not warm the land but reveals its form.

Here, below billowy cloudforms
continually building and dispersing,
celery-pale strands of hanging lichens dangle
and grass-green pelts
of mosses and leaf lichens swathe
the leafless oak branches, blurring
and thickening the lines.

Finals Week

2011-03-15T07:17:00.000-07:00

Just a short quick post for Finals Week. Remember that there are No Research Classes held during Finals Week. If you still haven't had one, it is a great class and very helpful. Stop by the Library next term and we'll get you scheduled in for a class. The Library is open during Spring Break from 8-5. Stop by and see us. If you have items to return, feel free to use either of the outside drop boxes. You can put all library items in them.

Have a great vacation and we'll see you in a couple of weeks!

End of Winter announcements

2011-03-09T08:11:00.000-08:00

Well, the votes are in and we had a great response from you in our Winter contest. To start with, thank you all for entering. The winner... Matt Berryman! Congratulations Matt. I've also compiled a list of your favorite book/movie combinations. Your answers were quite diverse and we received a lot of them, so I'm posting the list of only the most voted for titles.
The Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyers
The Chronicles of Narnia Series by C. S. Lewis
The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

And our most voted for author... Stephen King. Stephen King has had over twenty books and short stories turned into films and about the same number of TV mini-series based upon his books and stories. Many of you voted for him, so I felt he deserved a mention of his own. Your favorites were The Green Mile and Shawshank Redemption.
Keep reading and we'll keep posting new and interesting ideas here. Stay tuned for the announcement about our April contest.
Other announcements..

This is the last week to take a Library research class if you need one for a course you are taking right now. Research classes in the the Library will resume the second week of Spring term.
All books and videos are due next week. If you want to come in and check anything out for over Spring Break, just let us know that you want to keep your items over the break.

What's next...

2011-03-03T08:28:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is the last day for our Winter contest, so make sure and get your entries in. We will draw for prizes next week and post the list of your favorites here. Make sure and send all entries or comments in by 5 p.m. this Friday.
What's next, many of you have asked...well, we'll keep you updated with our current new movies and book selections here, so make sure and check those. We're also going to begin a new idea, featuring one book and one movie a month with reviews written by different faculty and staff across our campus each month. March's featured book of the month has already been selected and the review will be posted soon.
Our Spring term contest will be in April, so watch for that after Spring Break.
What else? Well, we'd like to hear from you what you would like to see or are interested in. Somethings we've posted in the past are search and tech tips, selected faculty's favorite book lists, upcoming releases and more. Maybe you'd like to see student posts here? What we most want to know is what you want to hear about. Send in your suggestions and we'll answer them.

Women's History Month

2011-02-24T09:52:00.000-08:00

March is officially here and with it comes a great desire in me to see spring come as well. Yet, looking outside I find that the gray skies and frozen earth linger on. Rather than dwell on the cold and dismal world outside, let's begin the month by celebrating something the amazing and inspiring. March is Women's History Month and with that, I'd like to acknowledge some amazing women and inspiring works that are going on around us.
Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton must be acknowledge in their tireless efforts to see equality achieved for women. A driving force behind women's Right to Vote, these ladies as well as countless others stood up against the tide of oppression and found a voice for all womankind. Their efforts can be seen in two amazing films we have at the library, Not for Ourselves Alone (directed by Ken Burns) and the new HBO drama Iron Jawed Angels (starring Hilary Swank, Patrick Dempsey, Julia Ormond and many others). Both of these films get a 5 star rating from our staff.
A few women who inspire us... Lucy Stone, Mother Teresa, Lucy Parsons, Corrie ten Boom, Abigail Adams, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Joni Earickson Tada, Audrey Hepburn, Princess Sultana, Helen Keller, Susan G. Komen and yes, Fran Drescher. Each of these women have lived through horrendous things or affected great social change and their lives are an inspiration to the strength and character of women. Though her first book was amazingly moving, Fran Drescher's second book Cancer Schmancer is funny and a true tale of the spirit behind Susan G. Komen's Race for the Cure movement. It's not Breast Cancer Awareness month, but there is something every one of you can to do be a part of and help in this movement to promote women's health and survival just from your home computer. Try this website, which allows you to click a button and their sponsors will donate a free mammogram for every click. You can click as often as you want or sign up for daily reminders to do so. There are many ways to get involved and find out more. If you are interested click here, here, here or even here.
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Lucy Parsons and Lucy Stone were all advocates for labor, worker's rights, a society free of war, and women having the courage to know their voice and make it heard. Any of their writings or works about them are astounding, inspiring, and awakening. These are truly women to admire. What you will find when you read about these women is they not only changed history, but lived in an extraordinary time filled with revolutionaries and people willing to stand up for what they believe. Books about these women are filled with many others who are worth reading about.
For more books or movies on amazing women, stop by the Library and check out our Women's History Month display.

Our favorites...

2011-02-23T10:52:00.000-08:00

As promised, the Library staff has compiled a list of our favorite book/movie titles to share with you. The top few had the most votes, but any of these we highly recommend.
Title / Film / Author
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962 - Gregory Peck) by Harper Lee
The Notebook (2004 - Ryan Gosling) by Nicholas Sparks
The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-3 - Peter Jackson) by J.R.R. Tolkein
Atonement (2007 - Keira Knightley) by Ian McEwan
Pride and Prejudice (2005 - Keira Knightley & 1995 Colin Firth) by Jane Austen
Emma (1996 - Gwyneth Paltrow) by Jane Austen
The Kite Runner (2007) by Khaled Housseini
Much Ado About Nothing (1993 - Kenneth Branaugh) by William Shakespeare
Jane Eyre (1996 - William Hurt) by Charlotte Bronte
The Painted Veil (2006 - Edward Norton) by M. Somerset Maugham
The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Last Song (2010 - Mylie Cyrus) by Nicholas Sparks
A Time to Kill (1996 - Matthew McConaughey) by John Grisham

All of these are available at or through the Library.
There's still two weeks left to send in your entries into our drawing, so if you haven't done so get them turned in. You can post them here or email them to library@tvcc.cc. So far there has been a great response so make sure and get your votes in soon.

Winter Library Contest

2011-02-14T06:40:00.000-08:00

I love February because it is Awards month. Yes, I'm talking about Hollywood's glitz and glam walk down the red carpet to the Golden Globes, SAGs, Grammy Awards and of course the Academy Awards. Maybe you don't get all aflutter about who wore what or the fabulous shoes Gwyneth Paltrow had on during her performance at the Grammy Awards this year like I do. Still there are lots of reasons for watching. I personally have a few favorite speeches that stand out over the years that were worth watching. My top three....Gwyneth Paltrow's Oscar for "Shakespeare in Love", Reese Witherspoon's Oscar speech for "Walk the Line", and of course Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova's Oscar acceptance for their song "Falling Slowly" (the performance can be found on YouTube too and is worth the watch).
What does this have to do with the contest, you may be wondering. Well, inspired by the season the Library staff have been talking about our favorite book/movie combinations. We are compiling a list of our favorites, but we would like to know yours. Write in or post here your favorite book made into a movie and why you like it. We'll compile a list of student favorites and share them with you. So again, all you have to do to be qualified to win gift cards and a set of the top selling book series from 2010 is send us your favorite book/movie combos and why. You can send in as many as you'd like. All entries are due by March 2nd. We'll draw for the winning entry and post it on March 4th. We look forward to hearing what you come up with.
Did you know, all the movies nominated for Best Picture at this year's Oscars are based on books?

Best Reads of 2010

2011-02-07T06:45:00.000-08:00

The 2011 year is here. Looking back at 2010, there are days we may want to forget and days which will stay tucked away in that part of our memory reserved for the best moments in life. What stands out to me about the 2010 year was the amazingly diverse books that we read. This year, more than previous seemed to have a wide variety of books that were absolutely incredible. For you, we've compiled our favorites from 2010.
To begin with, I have to mention now astronomically popular Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series which the Library staff couldn't get enough of. If intellectual thrillers overflowing with conspiracy, murder, intrigue, and mystery are your type of novel, then we heartily recommend this series.
What else made our list?
The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobsen : a witty, funny, and challenging novel about three friends, a Jewish philosopher, a rabbi, and a radio producer who share their loves, losses, and life lessons with each other. This novel will make every reader take a closer look at how they see themselves and those around them. We must mention too that this book won the 2010 Man Booker Prize.
Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter by Mario Llosa Vargas : not a new book, but one which garnered international attention this year as Vargas was announced as the winner of the 2010 Nobel Prize for Literature. The novel is a comic story of a young Peruvian working at a radio station whose quirky Aunt and soap opera writing coworker make life interesting, to say the least.
The Autobiography of Mark Twain : a dauntingly large volume but don't let its size dissuade you. This book is brimming with Twain's cynicism, wit, and humor. A thoroughly enjoyable read as a whole or in small doses.
Parrot & Olivier in America by Peter Carey : a fictionalized story of Alexis de Tocqueville in a journey across 19^th century America with his servant who is spying on him provides a wonderful picture of that period in American history.
The Big Short by Michael Lewis : a fascinating, character driven account of the stock market crash of 2008 and why we are still making the same mistakes.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot : the historical account of medicine and its issues of race, poverty, ethics, and blunders beginning in the “colored” ward at Johns Hopkins Hospital, 1950.
Just Kids by Patti Smith : This is a love letter to Smith’s dear friend Robert Mapplethorpe, paying tribute to their life together, art, writing, passion, and the tumultuous times they lived in.
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson : an absolutely moving and enthralling account of the movement of over 6 million blacks attempting to escape the Jim Crow laws of the South which follows the lives and stories of three individuals who survived the movement which transformed America.
Blueeyedboy by Joanne Harris : a disturbing tale of a beloved son who is a serial killer, told through blog posts and narrative. This unique style and structure of the novel serves Harris' ability to keep you guessing and enthralled from the first page very well.

While these made it into our favorites list, there are a few more that are worthy of mention. Freedom by Jonathan Franzen, The Library of the Dead by Glenn Cooper, Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks, Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon, Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane, The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, and Once on a Moonless Night by Daj Sijie.

Do you have a favorite not on our list? Let us know what it is.

Evergreen System

2010-12-30T11:55:00.000-08:00

Important Changes in the Library!

Effective December 29, 2010, the TVCC Library will be changing the computer software used to operate the library catalog and check out books and other library materials.

Library users will see some helpful changes with the new system. The Evergreen system is full of modern and convenient features, including tabs for juggling multiple screens of information, and spell-checking of search terms with suggested alternates, much like Google’s suggestions when you misspell a word. Evergreen features faceted browsing by subjects, authors, and series to find related books easily from the title you’re currently viewing. Patrons will also be able to see which books are checked out, renew books and place holds, and create “bookbags,” reading lists that can be shared with others.
To see all the new features, watch the tutorial video below.

What this means for you...

Some things will be different with the new software. The biggest change will be to the PIN numbers library patrons use to access their library account online. All PIN numbers will be reset on December 30th to the last four digits of your phone number. If you cannot access your account, please contact the library and we will reset your pin with a new temporary number. All students will then be able to create a PIN of their choosing.

Additionally, some library users have turned on the reading history on their online account to keep track of books they have read. Because a PIN number protects reading history it will not transfer to the new system. We apologize for this inconvenience. Click here to access your library account.
For more information on your account, watch the following video.

We think you will like this new system and find it easy to use. Please let us know if you have questions or problems.

Finals Week!!!

2010-12-07T12:24:00.001-08:00

It's here, you've made it. Almost done. You may have gotten notices from the Library or were told by one of the staff that everything is due this week. Yes it is. To avoid late fees, make sure and get all you books/CDs/films turned in by Friday. If you want some holiday reading, please come up and see us. Anything you take with you won't be due until the first week of Winter term unless it is a video. These are standard check-out time. The Library will be open Monday-Friday, 8-5 during Christmas break excepting the week of December 20th-24th.
On to the good stuff...
Wondering what to read for Christmas break? Well, we have a few good suggestions for you. There are a few new releases from some of your favorite authors: The Confession by John Grisham, Painted Ladies by Robert B. Parker, and Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King
This year we've seen some remarkable new literature from new and established authors that are more than worth mentioning. Here's our list. Click on each title to read the summary.
I Hotel by Karen Tei Yamashita
Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon
Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter by Mario Vargas Llosa
Dark Water by Laura McNeal
And to our nonfiction readers:
Every man in this village is a liar by Megan K. Stack
Aftershock: the next economy and America's future by Robert B. Reich
The invisible gorilla: and other ways our institutions deceive us by Christopher F Chabris
Just Kids by Patty Smith
Have some recommendations for us? We'd love to hear them.

Fall

2010-10-26T10:42:00.000-07:00

As the weather here in Ontario has suddenly turned cold and leaves are scattered everywhere, it feels like the fall season is here. Though we know it is upon us, it has always seemed to me that there comes a day in which fall arrives. There is smell in the air that can't be defined. The earth is damp and breathing heavy through the dying plants and decaying leaves. One's own breath becomes like the earth, weighted and yet refreshed. That's how I see the season. Typically, the days get darker, the weather turns colder, and people become like the earth, dormant, hibernating from the cold. We retreat inside to books, movies, warm drinks. Still the season is one of vibrant colors, smells and flavors. It should make you feel alive and energized. My challenge to you all this fall is to wake up, look about you, and don't let the chilled weather dampen your momentum in your classes or your personal life.
What can the Library do to help you in this endeavor? Well, this week, I want to feature comedy. Laughter has an innate power to excite and open us up to what is truly good and worth living for. The Library has several good comedic films that will lift your spirits. Some titles we recommend...
The Darjeeling Limited
The Family Stone
just married
it's Complicated
The Holiday
The Proposal
Throw Momma from the train
i heart huckabees
Meet the Parents

Banned Book Week 2010

2010-09-28T17:43:00.000-07:00

Banned Book Week 2010
For those of you on campus, you may have noticed some of your teachers or staff members wearing "I read banned books" buttons or you may have seen the bulletin boards in Barber Hall and the Library. To let all of you know what this is about... this week, the Library is celebrating Banned Book Week. For the 28th annual Banned Book Week, September 27 - October 1, 2010, libraries and bookstores across the U.S. are celebrating a democratic society's most basic freedom -- the freedom to read. As part of this celebration, we honor that freedom by acknowledging both the books and the authors who had the brilliance to write them. Banned Book week "celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them. After all, intellectual freedom can exist only where these two essential conditions are met." (taken from the ALA)

Some interesting bits about banned books:
* each year the Office of Intellectual Freedom receives hundreds of reports filed asking that books be removed from Library shelves.
* In 2006, the OIF received over 500 attempts to have books removed.
*Leaves of Grass, Walt Whitman's famous collection of poetry, was withdrawn in Boston in 1881, after the District Attorney threatened criminal prosecution for the use of explicit language in some poems.
*D. H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover was the object of numerous obscenity trials in both the UK and the United States up into the 1960s.
*The Savannah Morning News reported in November 1999 that a teacher at the Windsor Forest High School required seniors to obtain permission slips before they could read Hamlet, Macbeth, or King Lear.
*Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind was banned for its depiction of the behavior of Scarlett O'Hara and the freed slaves in the novel.
For more stories...
Top recently challenged or banned books of 2010
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Webster's College Dictionary
Of mice and men by John Steinbeck
The absolutely true diary of a part time Indian by Sherman Alexie
The giver by Lois Lowry
The adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
A girl's life online by Katherin Tarbox
Hunted by P.C. Cast
The freedom writers diary by Freedom Writers
The lovely bones by Alice Sebold
Go ask Alice by Anonymous
To kill a mockingbird by Harper Lee
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich
And many more...

Many of these books are available in the Library and we would be delighted to get any that you may want to read in. Please, let us know. We also have the film version of many of these great stories available on DVD.
In essence, BBW in the Library is about our celebrating and enforcing your right to read, learn, think, and find out about whatever you want. In keeping with that, we want to know what you think about these freedoms. So we are having a contest to help us celebrate. Please send us your expression as a student of what it means to you to have the right to read and the freedom to learn. This can be just some thoughts, an essay, a poem, a drawing, whatever you come up with that communicates how you feel. Please submit them by Monday, October 4th and we will have a drawing for prizes from all submissions. You can hand them into the library staff or submit them to library@tvcc.cc. We will share some of our favorites with you next week.

A man, a boy, and a house full of women

2009-07-09T14:14:00.000-07:00

Such are the characters of the first two novels we are highlighting this week from our Summer Reading list. One novel that you may have missed, but we recommend is Tony Parsons' Man and Boy. This story is about the life of Harry Silver, a late-night TV talk show producer, married and father of one. He is approaching the age of thirty when his life takes a wrong turn, . Harry buys the red sports car, has a one night stand, and of course is discovered by his wife who leaves him with his four year old son. After losing his job, Harry finds himself in the role of an incompetent stay at home dad. He struggles with raising a child, finding a job, the loss of a relationship, and the complications of creating a new family unit. It is a good, funny, sometimes sad, and thought provoking read.
Another great summer read, is The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. This is the journey of young Lily Owens from a world of pain and mystery into one of love and true friendship. Lily is a fourteen year old white girl whose run away from home. She's traveling through the South in the early 1960's looking for a place of refuge. Her father is abusive and an alcoholic who blames her for shooting her own mother as a child. Lily was young enough she remembers only her mother's love, death, and the loneliness that she's dwelt in ever since. Lily ends up in the home of Black Madonna honey which is made by three single black sisters. Their taking Lily in could cost them everything, but true compassion won't let them turn her away. As the sisters seek to find out the secrets behind Lily's presence and the past she hides, an amazing connection that none of them expected comes out. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read. It is deep in characters, description, and heart.
Both of these books will leave you feeling satisfied and ready for more.

Summer Reading

2009-06-11T08:02:00.000-07:00

This term has really flown by for us here in the Library and I realize we've not posted in quite a while. It's been a great but busy year and I congratulate all of you who are graduating and moving forward with your lives. For those of you who will be here through the summer and next fall, it is time for the Library's Summer Reading list. Typically we share some of our favorite authors so that you have a lot to choose from. This year however, I decided to mix things up a bit and do something different. We are featuring some of our favorite reads over the years, most of which you probably have missed. Each week I'll highlight one or two on this blog. They are all on display in the Library so stop by and check one out. You can also scroll down and find the complete list on the left-hand side of this page.
We are open through the summer. During the breaks, the Library is only open from 8-5 Monday-Friday. Through the summer term, we have longer hours and will always provide book and movies to the Caldwell campus when we are open. So check out our latest DVDs, summer reading books or let us know if there's something you want that we don't have. We are happy to find it for you.
This week's feature books from the Summer Reading list are first, The curious incident of the dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon. Now, you may be thinking that this is a rather strange and abnormally long title but don't let that dissuade you. This book is a fascinating read. Mark Haddon has gone inside the mind of a young autistic boy whose dog has died. The book is all from young Christopher's point of view, opening a whole new world up to the reader with insights that are very profound to what life is like for those with autism. Highly recommended.
Another book that you may have missed or not even realized there was a book is How to make an Americ an quilt by Whitney Otto. You may have heard of the title from the 1995 movie based on this book starring no less than Wynona Rider, Anne Bancroft, Ellen Burnstyn and Maya Angelou herself. The book is a quick and easy read with each page filled with the wonder and magic of discovering who you are and what the mysteries found in everyone's past.
Both of these novels we think you'll enjoy. There is much, much more at the Library, so come see us this summer. We'd love to help you find something just for you.

April Authors

2009-04-07T08:21:00.000-07:00

Well, I couldn't pick just one author this month for the our featured writer. I was looking at the Diversity display for month of April in which we are featuring books on gay rights, activism and famous people who are openly gay. This display is in conjunction with the Diversity Council's featured speakers this month. If you haven't heard about it yet, this Wednesday, April 8th at 1 p.m. in Ontario and 3 p.m. in Caldwell we are honored to hear from two members of the Idaho Equalities Commission speaking about what is happening regarding local legislation, activism, how to get involved, and supporting the upholding of human rights in our communities for all members, including those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc. You won't want to miss this. If you want more information, please see the TVCC website.
April is also National Poetry Month. Usually we choose someone who is a poet for our featured writer, but in light of the topic this month I decided to do something different. We have two Authors of the month for April. Our first is Willa Cather. Miss Cather has written numerous novels and short stories. She spent the first part of her writing career as a journalist, submitting stories to papers and magazines as well. Some of her most famous works are "Paul's Case", My Antonia and Death comes for the Archbishop. Her writing is easy to read, classic stories, twists and turns, and something for everyone. Cather lived during the first part of the 19th century as a well-known and published writer. This is a wonderful accomplishment for a woman during the time but even more so for a lesbian woman. Her character and writing speaks for itself in her works and we highly recommend anything by her. Not forgetting our poetry focus, we are also featuring the works of Walt Whitman. Whitman is one of the most well known poets for his book entitled Leaves of Grass. His poetry is so well loved that he can be found in most anthologies and collections spanning the last century. Whitman was definitely a character. He was known to wander the streets shouting poetry as he walked by. He was an openly gay man in a time where there wasn't really a gay community in the United States. Whitman was never abashed about who and what he was. In that respect, he is truly inspirational to those who have followed in his steps. He was also notoriously a perfectionist, having revised and re-published Leaves of Grass no less than eight times, striving to get it just right. I know you'll find something you like in any of his books of poetry. The Library has a good selection of these two writers. Come and take one home with you.

Queen of Murder

2009-03-12T09:14:00.001-07:00

March has come and the term is winding to a close. Before many of you disappear for some much needed relaxation over the break, we wanted to share our Author of the month pick with you. This woman has written about 70 novels, numerous short stories and screenplays. She has become synonymous with the term mystery novel, with few other writers becoming her equal. Who is this woman you ask? Why Agatha Christie, of course. Agatha Christie began her writing career at the young age of 24. Her husband had left to fight in the war, so between her shifts as a nurse in the local hospital, Christie began writing detective novels. Her first was "The Mysterious affair at Styles" which introduced her most famous detective, Hercule Poirot. Christie wrote over 30 Poirot mysteries, some of which have been made into movies such as "Murder on the Orient Express." Soon after that, Agatha Christie began to write stories featuring her newest detective, Miss Jane Marple. Christie novels are easy to read and enjoyable for anyone who loves a good mystery. Her novels are timeless and classic, appealing to generations of readers. She is truly one of our favorite readers and the Library staff heartily recommends any of her books if you are looking for something new to try. We have many of her novels, plays and short story collections. Come by and check out one or two or three. We guarantee you'll like them.

Oregon Reads 2009

2009-02-26T07:43:00.000-08:00

Many of you have started hearing about Oregon Reads, or the book "Stubborn Twig." What's it all about? Well here's the place to find out. This year, the 150th birthday of Oregon, the Oregon State Library raised the question, "What if 50,000 people read the same book?" They chose three books with uniquely Oregon themes and Oregon authors for all ages to read. From January through the end of April, Oregon libraries across the state are putting on programs and promoting both the book and literacy in our families. The TVCC Library and the TVCC Diversity has become a part of that. This year, the adult book choice is "Stubborn Twig" by Lauren Kessler. This book shares the story across three generations of a Japanese American family as they face moving to America, the Interment and building a life after being released. It is an amazing story that gives us a real and intimate view of what life was like for many of our fellow citizens through that time. It is moving and leaves the reader feeling like they've truly learned something important. If you haven't read it yet, I encourage all to do so. We have several copies circulating and would be happy to put you on the list if you would like for the next available one. There are also copies available at the TVCC Bookstore.
There is a really exciting event coming up on Monday, March 2nd. We are having Joan Yasui Emerson, whose family is the subject of the book "Stubborn Twig," come and speak here at TVCC. She will be talking on the Internment experience, what the aftermath for Japanese families was like and the importance of remembering. Alongside her will be a panel of local Japanese who each will have their own story to share. This is a free event and open to everyone. We will have it at both 12:30 in the afternoon and 6:30 in the evening. Please come one and all. We look forward to seeing you there.

Still I rise

2009-02-03T09:53:00.001-08:00

The month of February is traditionally honored as Black History Month in the United States. In keeping with that theme, I was looking for someone who has been an inspiring Black writer to fill our Author of the Month slot. I came up with many. For you, I've narrowed it down to two outstanding women who have written wonderful books and are favorites here among the Library Staff. The first is Maya Angelou, who has lived a life full of inspiration from her vast body of written works, her struggles and family trials, to the activism that she practices fighting for civil rights. Maya Angelou's life alone will move you, and if you haven't read it, I recommend her autobiography "I know why the caged bird sings," and it's sequels "Gather together in my name" and "The heart of a woman." Each of these are very moving and powerful works that capture the essence of struggle and the power to overcome. Equally moving are Miss Angelou's poems, such as the inspiration for today's blog, "Still I rise." The words of this poem travel through the trials of many black women, remaining relevant to all of us with the defiant spirit that says despite all that happens to me, still I rise. Here's a couple of excerpt that will give you a taste...
You may write me down in history / With your bitter, twisted lies, / You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.
Just like moons and like suns, / With the certainty of tides, / Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.
For more bio information on Maya Angelou, click here. You can also find more of her poems available online at www.poemhunter.com.
I also wanted to include Toni Morrison in our February Author of the Month category. She is another amazing black woman author whose body of work can stand alone and teach each one of us something. Toni Morrison was the first black woman to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993, and it was an honor much deserved. If you haven't yet become a fan, I really encourage you to pick up any of her novels. They are quick and easy reads, and at the same time will challenge both what you know and what you see in the people around you.
The Library has several book by these woman and we are sure we can find one to suit you. Please come by and visit us. We look forward to seeing you soon.

And so it begins...

2009-01-16T13:52:00.000-08:00

January makes me think of this rather ominous line from "The Lord of the Rings" full of foreboding and hope. I don't know why, maybe it's the strange need to make resolutions or do things better than we did before. Maybe it's all the possibilities that come with something new, a beginning. Yet it seems that before we are more than a couple of weeks into it, all efforts to do things different have fallen by the wayside. Maybe a good resolution for this year would be to live as you want to live. Be the person that you wish you were. Now, this isn't meant to sound dismal or depressing, because you are here. You are already doing something good, working hard towards a goal, and each one of you registered for classes and beginning the journey toward the end of the term. So, Welcome to those new students who have joined us for the first time and a hearty welcome back to those of you returning. Brave souls, all of you who have been trudging through the ice and freezing winter wind for something as fantastic as an education. Way to go.
To start the term, I wanted to remind you that the Library is still offering the free Mini-Research Class which we highly recommend. If you haven't taken it in one of your other classes yet, the times are posted on the Library webpage and are the same every week. Come by any of the days offered and we would be happy to help you. Even if you have taken it, a refresher is often really helpful as well. Remember that if you can't find what you need in the Library, come ask any of our cheerful staff, call us or email us at library@tvcc.cc and we will answer your questions. We are always available. Also, check out the WorldCat link on the Library webpage and you will find a lot of helpful research, links into other libraries, more book recommendations and help than you could imagine and a multitude of other things. If you find something there that you would like, let us know and we'll get it in for you. We look forward to seeing you or hearing from you soon. And from there... it begins.

Spreading the holiday cheer...

2008-12-03T06:46:00.000-08:00

You're nearly there. Finals week is almost here and then you'll be done. Why would I say such a thing, well not to send you into a panic but to encourage you that the end is in sight. As you are gearing up for the holiday season and a nice long break, I wanted to share a couple of things with you. First, we will be open during the break with the exception of the week of Christmas. Feel free to come in and see us, stock up on some light reading or movies. In the spirit of spreading a little holiday cheer, we've put up an all about Christmas display in the Library. It's filled with books, audio books and movies that are about Christmas, Hanukkah, and the holiday season. Some of my favorites, I thought I'd share here. Favorite Christmas reads: J.R.R. Tolkein's The Father Christmas letters, Dylan Thomas' A Child's Christmas in Wales, Dickens' A Christmas Carol (of course) and though it's not really about Christmas, my all time favorite book to read at Christmas time is Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. I've never read another novel that was more about the true spirit of giving and compassion than this, and it is the perfect book for staying inside and reading for hours on end. These are all great picks for the winter break and we have many more as well, including Christmas stories by popular authors such as Mary Higgins Clark, Janet Evanovich, John Grisham, and Truman Capote among others.
If you are looking for a good holiday film, we have those too. My all time favorite Christmas movies is easily, White Christmas starring Bing Crosby. The close second is The Family Stone with Sarah Jessica Parker and Diane Keaton. If you haven't seen this yet, it is definitely a must! Every should watch this film, you'll laugh, you'll cry, you may even do both at the same time. Now some of you guys are thinking, "Chick flick" but no, it's truly an everyone film. Trust me. We also have many others ranging from Red Skelton's Christmas Jollies to the A&E biography of Santa Claus.
Good Luck. Study well. Happy Holidays.

World Aids Day!

2008-11-26T06:28:00.000-08:00

Teaming up with the Diversity Council, the Library is promoting World AIDS Day. This is a day set aside around the world to remind us that there is a global killer out there and we still have not found a cure. Recent articles and research show that AIDS is again on the rise in the United States, especially in young people. The threat isn't real to many as it's not an epidemic that youth have witnessed. Yet, it is still a very real issue today. For more information on the AIDS epidemic, visit the United Nations site. There are a variety of ways to contract AIDS. The UN site will give you the most information on this. There is also information in the Library that you can pick up and take with you. If you are are wondering if are at risk, get tested. It's easy and it's free. For a local testing center, check here. The World AIDS Campaign is a great place to find out more about the global aspect of this disease and how to help. It's about more than just you and me, and only together can we make a difference. Of the universities and community colleges in our surrounding area, TVCC is only one that has not taken the One Campaign challenge. You may have heard of the name as it was started and is promoted by Bono, the lead singer of U2. This is a great organization with fun and interactive ways that YOU can make a difference and help everyday. They have a campus challenge for all college and university students. For those of you who are interested in starting a local One group, there's lots of info on their website. There are a million ways that we can make a difference in the world, and each one matters. Take some time this holiday season to think about what you can do.

American Indian heritage

2008-11-17T07:29:00.000-08:00

I wanted to point out our to those of you who've missed it, our display honoring American Indians. Last month we were featuring the Buddhist religion. This month we are featuring the American Indian culture and heritage. We have some fantastic materials on the Native American history in this country in their own words as well as some materials on what life is like in their culture today. One of the most interesting to read through is the book "Lies my teacher told me about Christopher Columbus," which is a quick and easy read while at the same time showing us some facts that history books commonly leave out. A beautiful book that came out a couple of years ago that is well worth the read is "Paddling to where I stand" about the life of a modern day Indian noblewoman and her journey through the decades to life today. We have two wonderful videos that you've been checking out with great frequency, but if you've missed them, I wanted to let you know they are here. The first is the film "500 nations," a mini-series narrated by Kevin Costner on the plight of the Indians. It's an amazing documentary that brings what we thought we knew about Indians to a whole new light. We also have the mini-series "How the West was lost" for this month only, so come see it while you can. There are several other important books for your convenience on display here such as "I will fight no more forever" by Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce and "Bury my heart at Wounded Knee" by Dee Brown and several others.
Also, if you haven't yet checked out our Author of the Month display or read the blog on Howard Zinn, I encourage you to do so.
Have a great week!

November Author of the Month!

2008-11-13T10:16:00.000-08:00

In light of this being an election year, I thought that our author of the month should be someone who is involved in making a difference in this world. As election day came, and a new precedence was set towards change in this country, I felt grateful towards all of those before us who have fought for just such a time. There seems to be an air of stirring around us, unrest, and hope. People are beginning to understand and realize their unlimited potential. In respect to the times, I could think of no one better than Howard Zinn. Zinn's writings have inspired countless adults and youth to challenge their government and their ideals. His messages are messages of truth, doing what is right and not just what is acceptable, and teaching us that we have the ability and the power to bring about change. Zinn's first experience with war was as a fighter pilot during WWII. From then on, he dedicated his life to fighting for peace and equality, for the value of the human life. Howard Zinn was instrumental in the early civil rights movement working with others such as Martin Luther King Jr. to bring the atrocity of racism to the forefront of the American stage. He again fought to end the violence during the Vietnam War and hasn't stop fighting even today. We have a great DVD about the life of Howard Zinn that all of you will enjoy. Other books in the Library that we highly recommend are: A People's History of the United States, Marx in Soho, and Passionate Declarations among others.

During this month of celebrating our past and making new history, I challenge you all to remember that regardless of your age, gender, race or religion, you all have something to share with the world. You all have something to give and by believing in yourselves and daring to make your voice heard, you can make this country, this world a better place. All you have to do is try.

If you are looking for more writers of inspiration and dissent, we have featured for this month Noam Chomsky, Eugene V. Debs, Mark Twain, and Susan B. Anthony.

They're creepy and they're kooky...

2008-10-23T07:01:00.000-07:00

This week, with the approaching Halloween holiday coming up, I've had the theme song from The Addams Family show in my head. I'm passing that on to all of you now... maybe. Anyway, in light of the theme, we are celebrating all things scary in the Library! If you are a fan of terror in books of movies, this is the place to be. We have several on display for you up here, and many, many more on the shelves. If you aren't sure where to start, we have plenty of recommendations. I must admit that when it comes to scary, I'm a lightweight. Still, every once in a while, everyone loves a really creepy story. Some of the best I've read, I'll share with you..
"The turn of the screw" by Henry James. This is a short story so you can read it in one day, but is highly creepy and borders on terror. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova is an excellent novel about the man whom all vampire stories are based off of, and it is realistic enough to make it believable. This book definitely kept me up at night. Another book that you may have missed and by far the scariest book I've ever read is The Oath by Frank Peretti. This one, don't read late at night at all! Peretti writes realistic fiction, not sci-fi or horror, so the happenings here are things that we see everyday and could very well happen to us. I think this must be what makes it so horrifying. And of course, we have several selections by The Master of terror himself, Edgar Alan Poe. Along the same lines, if movie viewing is your thing there are some good scary films here as well. We have some Alfred Hitchcock to keep you in suspense with The 39 steps, Jamaica Inn or even his illustrious Psycho. We are also proud to feature the incomparable Vincent Price in The Abominable Dr. Phibes and Poe's The House of Usher. And of course, we have numerous Stephen King and Dean Koontz books.
If you come up to the Library in costume on Halloween day, we'll have chocolate for you! Have a safe and fun, mysterious and spooky Halloween.

Fall is definately here.

2008-10-17T07:44:00.000-07:00

It seems like all of a sudden it's perpetually chilly outside an leaves are dropping everywhere. Fall is here, and with it the desire to be indoors where it's warm, a hot drink in hand and some quality relaxing time. If you haven't been to the Library in a while, we do have some comfy new chairs, a fireplace, and plenty of reading materials. If you can't imagine having the time between all your school work to squeeze in a bit of extra reading, bring your school books, sit in front of the fire with a cup of cider and put your feet up.
We've been adding some more great DVD's to our collection over the summer and Fall. They are perfect to take a break from your studies and relax with. We've also added several that are excellent if you are just curious or for research. I'd like to highlight a couple that I think are well worth watching. Recently we added Howard Zinn's You can't be Neutral on a moving Train to our collection. For all you Zinn fans this is a must see, and if you don't know who he is then it is a must see as well. Another wonderful film that everyone should watch is His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaks on peace and prosperity. Both of these are about an hour and you will really enjoy them. Another movie that we added over the summer that can't be missed is the miniseries John Adams. Starring Laura Linney and Paul Giamanti, this mini-series earned 13 Emmy wins and many other awards and nominations.
Make sure and take some time to enjoy this fall season, and we hope to see you soon.

My religion is very simple.

2008-10-03T13:53:00.000-07:00

I love this quote from the Dalai Lama, "My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness." On campus this month, we are honoring world religions. In respect to that our October Author of the Month is the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama is a great author and speaker who has written books on several issues as well as his personal testimony, and that of his people. One such book is The wisdom of Forgiveness which speaks to each of us and our personal struggles with forgivness and compassion. He writes in a very light and easy to read style that anyone can enjoy. We also are featuring his book "Ethics for the new millenium" which provides wisdom on many topics and is applicable to anyone. These and others are featured this month in the Library. If you are interested in more information on the current or 14th Dalai Lama, click here. You can read many of his writings and speeches.

In addition to featuring works by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, we are also featuring works on Buddhism. In the Library we have several books on the Buddhist faith, its history, the art and lifestyle of Zen, and more.
This week TVCC students will be able to listen to Reverend Fujimoto of the Idaho/Oregon Buddhist Temple here in Ontario. He will be speaking at a free event Wednesday, October 8th at 1 p.m., here in the Weese building. If you at all can, we encourage you to attend.

For the week, I'll leave you with another Dalai Lama quote. We look forward to seeing you soon.

"Compassion is not religious business, it is human business, it is not luxury, it is essential for our own peace and mental stability, it is essential for human survival. "

For past Authors of the Month, click the link below.

Banned Book Week

2008-09-30T14:14:00.000-07:00

For those of you on campus, you may have noticed some of your teachers or staff members wearing "I read banned books" buttons or you may have seen the bulletin boards in Barber Hall and the Library. To let all of you know what this is about... this week, the Library is celebrating Banned Book Week. For the 27th annual Banned Book Week, September 29 - October 6, 2007, libraries and bookstores across the U.S. are celebrating a democratic society's most basic freedom -- the freedom to read. As part of this celebration, we honor that freedom by acknowledging both the books and the authors who had the brilliance to write them. Banned Book week "celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them. After all, intellectual freedom can exist only where these two essential conditions are met." (taken from the ALA)

Some interesting bits about banned books:
* each year the Office of Intellectual Freedom receives hundreds of reports filed asking that books be removed from Library shelves.
* In 2006, the OIF received over 500 attempts to have books removed.
*Leaves of Grass, Walt Whitman's famous collection of poetry, was withdrawn in Boston in 1881, after the District Attorney threatened criminal prosecution for the use of explicit language in some poems.
*D. H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover was the object of numerous obscenity trials in both the UK and the United States up into the 1960s.
*The Savannah Morning News reported in November 1999 that a teacher at the Windsor Forest High School required seniors to obtain permission slips before they could read Hamlet, Macbeth, or King Lear.
*Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind was banned for its depiction of the behavior of Scarlett O'Hara and the freed slaves in the novel.
For more stories click here.

Top recently challenged or banned books of 2008
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The Joy of gay sex by Charles Silverstein
Of mice and men by John Steinbeck
The bluest eye by Toni Morrison
The giver by Lois Lowry
The adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Native son by Richard Wright
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
A girl's life online by Katherin Tarbox
Angus, Thongs and full-frontal snogging: confessions of Georgia Nicolson by Louise Rennison
Feed by M.T. Anderson
Alice on her way by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
The freedom writers diary by Freedom Writers
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
The lovely bones by Alice Sebold
Go ask Alice by Anonymous
To kill a mockingbird by Harper Lee
Give a boy a gun by Todd Strasser
And many more...

Many of these books are available in the Library and we would be delighted to get any that you may want to read in. Please, let us know. We also have the movie version of many of these available on DVD.
In essence, BBW in the Library is about our celebrating and enforcing your right to read, learn, think, and find out about whatever you want. Come up and check out some of these or any other books. See you soon.

Welcome Back!

2008-09-22T14:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome! Welcome!
To those of you who are new, we are so glad you are here. For those of you returning, it's good to have you back. As the first official blog of this 2008-2009 school year, I wanted to take the opportunity to let you know what's going on in the Library. We are offering, beginning this week our mini-research class on Tuesdays at 7pm, Wednesdays at noon, and Thursdays at 4pm. It's free and incredibly helpful. We really encourage all new students to stop by and take the class. If you've had it before and need a refresher, that's okay too. For those of you used to the Library's research tools, you may have noticed that EBSCOHOST has changed and updated a lot of it's features. I think that you'll like this newer version.
Other things to know about the Library:
We've added some really great movies this year. Always check out our new movie section on the blog. That's updated as we get them in.
Also keep checking out both our new book section on the blog as well as the new book shelf in the Library. We get too many in to name them all.
If you are looking for something that we don't have, ASK. We are truly here to help you and we are happy to do it.
We look forward to seeing you soon!

What you've been reading

2008-09-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

Generally this blog is full of recommendations and suggestions. This month, as summer is drawing to a close and the next school year is looming in the distance, I thought that I would do something new. So, we are going to talk about what you've been reading instead. The most popular check-outs this summer have been limited to a couple of authors. The first being Stephanie Meyers who came out with two new books over the summer. "Breaking Dawn," the fourth book in her Twilight series is available and hasn't been in the Library more than a day since we got it. The first three books in the series are well-liked by everyone who reads them as well. Stephanie Meyers other new book, "The Host" has gotten rave reviews by our students. If you haven't had the chance yet, come in and check them out.
Another author who has been keeping you entertained this summer is Nicholas Sparks. His books "The Choice," "The Wedding," "Message in a bottle" and "True believer" have been your favorites. Another of his books, "Nights in Rodanthe" you've also like and in case you haven't heard yet is being released in a couple of weeks as a movie. The movie looks like it will be a good one, starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane. I highly recommend checking out the book, as there's just enough time to read it before the going to the theater.
Other popular check-outs this summer...
Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz
Skeleton man by Tony Hillerman
Honeymoon, Cross, and Double Cross by James Patterson
Duma Key by Stephen King
The yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Black wind by Clive Cussler
Angels fall by Nora Roberts
The last time they met by Anita Shreve
and Cause of Death by Patricia Cornwell
Hopefully one of these inspires you, but if not come and see us anyway. We have much more to choose from. Take it easy.

Summer Reading!

2008-07-10T15:29:00.000-07:00

I've been a bit lax in getting this posted so for that I apologize. For those of you who haven't made it up here this summer, the Library Staff has compiled a list of their favorite authors for summer reading. Some you have heard of here before, but we couldn't pass it up to mention them again. For your reading pleasure....
Janet Evanovich
James Patterson
Phillipa Gregory
Ann Patchett
Nicholas Sparks
Diane Mott Davidson
Maria V. Snyder
with a few extras....
"Man and a boy" by Tony Parsons, "The Calling" by Inger Ash Wolfe, and "A rather lovely inheritance" by C.A. Belmond.
All great, light, easy reads, perfect for hammock reading, beach reading, poolside reading or imagining that you are one of these places while reading. We heartily recommend any book by any of these authors and would be happy to help you find something that fits you. Stop by and check some of these and more out. We've also recently added several fantastic movies to our collection that are well worth a visit to the Library. See you soon.

Once again

2008-06-26T10:04:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, it's been a while since you've heard from us. But now school is back in session and once again we are here to help. For those of you who are just joining us, welcome. I little reminder, the Library mini-research class is offered during the summer quarter, the same three times a week as always. Times are posted on our home page. If you haven't taken it, it's really beneficial and will actually save you time/stress/headaches as you do research the rest of the school year. If you have taken it in the past, this summer is a great time for a refresher course. Plus, EBSCO is changing. We'd love to show you the new version and all the fun new features they've added. Try it out yourself by going into EBSCOHOST, clicking on "New Features!" and searching in the Beta version. I think you'll like it. Another thing to note is the changed hours of the Library this summer. We are open fewer hours, but still available to help if you need it. Instead of an author of the month for the summer months, we will be keeping with Library tradition and featuring the summer reading picks from you librarians. I'll let you know that soon.
For now, have a great summer and stop by and see us sometime.

The future awaits.

2008-06-08T12:19:00.000-07:00

Graduation is this week. Congratulations, you made it. Whether you are moving on with a degree in hand, or stepping into your second year here, you did it. It's good to take note of each small accomplishment as well as the grand. I've been in a mood of reflection this weekend thinking about all the times in life that we move on or take stock and reflect our place in this world. That to me is what Graduation speeches are generally about. I was reading Ann Patchett's grad speech titled "What Now?" for a college graduation (available here) this week. Many seem to challenge you to take hold of your lives, your future, your dreams and really grasp what you want from this world. To instill in you the hope that you truly can do anything, and the confidence to go out and try it. Of all that I've learned this year from the professors here on campus, the one thing that stands out and I'll take away from this year is that we are all a part of this place, this country, this world. And it is our responsibility, not someone else's to change it and make it a better place. It sounds and feels like a rather big and daunting task, but do not be overwhelmed. Each and every act that you do to help someone, to stand up for the rights of youself and those around you, to make yourself aware, educated and apart of what is happening around you makes a difference. One life can be changed or saved by your actions. As long as you never stop recognizing that you have the power to change the world, and standing together we can do anything, there will always be hope and a future worth looking forward to.

So, where do we start? There are a million ways. I found one that I really wanted to share with you. Without moving a foot from your chair, you can help in many ways and change lives across the globe. Please check this out... thehungersite.com By simply going here and clicking you can add to the food donated to those who are hungry. Do it everyday! There are a million other ways on this site alone to help and make a difference. Another site to visit is freerice.com, where you can get donations sent by playing a game.
Again, congratulations to all of you who are moving forward from here. To those of you who will be here next year, we look forward to seeing more of you. Be sure to keep checking in with us over the summer for new books/movies and great summer reading lists.
Now go, and change the world!

and the mystery continues...

2008-05-29T19:12:00.000-07:00

As we are in the the month of mystery with Mary Higgins Clark as our featured author, I wanted to add a few to your list if you are looking for something good. New out this month is the latest James Bond novel "Devil may care". Though it's not actually written by Ian Fleming, critics are raving that it is true to his style and finesse. Also out this month, the new Stephanie Meyer book "The Host" which is her first adult novel. It is something new and different subject matter, but still in the realm of suspense. The newest Stephanie Plum book "Fearless Fourteen" by Janet Evanovich comes out in a couple of weeks (yes ours is already on order) for those of you anxiously holding your breath. Elizabeth George's new "Careless in red" is out as well as the newest from the master of mystery and fear, Dean Koontz's latest in the Odd Thomas series, "Odd hours." It proves to be a delightful summer full of great reads. All of these and many more are available through your Library. And if you happen to be one of those who just can't get enough mystery... here's a site that you will love. Try it.

The end is near...

2008-05-18T16:45:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not talking about the end of the world. The end of the school year is in sight for most of you. You are almost done. In that last minute scramble to get work completed on time, we hope that you can take advantage of some relaxation and a good book. In light of that, I'd like to introduce our Author of the Month. Yes, I know that it's the middle of the month. Still, there are four weeks left in the term, plenty of time to get some entertainment reading in. For the end of the term author, I decided to go with an old favorite.... Mary Higgins Clark. Mary Higgins Clark has been writing mystery/suspense for 30 plus years now. Her books have ranged over many topics and in general keep you reading into the wee hours of the night. Her latest book "Where are you now?" took me back to the first time I read one of hers. I was hooked from the first chapter. My ideal mystery steal you away from the beginning, makes you anxious to read every page, is very difficult if impossible to guess who the murderer is, and leaves you completely satisfied in the end. This book fulfills them all. There are so many more to choose from though. With over 40 books to her name ranging from fiction and non-fiction to children's books and nearly 20 movies, she is a an icon in the pulp fiction world. Personal favorites are: "Nighttime is my time", "The cradle will fall", "While my pretty one sleeps" and "Weep no more my lady." Come on up and give one a try.

Election 2008

2008-05-05T13:49:00.000-07:00

If you are tired of the back and forth news detailing whose winning where, fear not for you won't find that here. Yet, if you are one of the many who don't really understand all the ins and outs of primaries, delegates and superdelegates, and question whether or not your vote matters, then read on. After speaking with a student this weekend who truly did not believe their vote was worth the effort, I began to think about how many of us really understand the whole election process. So, I set out to find some clear and concise info that will help you to understand. Here's a couple of sites that I think fit the bill... Elections 101 and Why delegates matter. For a more in depth look at what your vote does, check out Does my vote count? Many question whether their individual vote has an impact, as the true voting in November is based off the electoral college. It is important. Read about the electoral college and you will understand that your vote is what decides their vote. Only once in the last century did the popular vote not reflect the Presidential choice of the people and that was in the 2000 Bush-Gore election. There are more reasons than the people's voice didn't count. Their voice did. It always will. On every level, if you decide not to vote, you are giving up on living in a world where people matter. I know that's a bit drastic, but if we don't believe in ourselves and our power to make a difference in the world around us, then where is the hope for a future? Each and every one of you has the ability to make the world a better place. It's not just about voting in the national elections, but in the student body elections on campus. In being a part of the process, going to meetings, presenting ideas, getting your voice heard. It always matters! So be encouraged, feel the power, go out and change the world. It's yours to change.

For you who are Oregon residents, remember that the Oregon primaries are May 20th.

It's not easy being Green.

2008-04-16T19:09:00.000-07:00

April 22nd is Earth Day! There seems to be an influx of the "Go green" movement these days, you see it, hear it, and everyone knows there's something to it, but how involved are we really? We live on a beautiful and great planet and taking care of it is the responsibility of us all. So, what do we do about it? There are mountains of information on global warming, the green-house effect, climate change, toxic emissions, recycling. Few people actually understand what those terms mean and how they apply to us. The best thing to do.... read. There are articles, books, videos galore and even classes here on campus that will help you to understand just what is going on with our planet and how you can help. Step one: Recycle. Not just your pop-cans and water bottles, but your school supplies, used notebook paper, clothes you no longer wear, to larger items. If you don't know where, find out. If there aren't recycle receptacles around, ask for them. A great place for other items is the Phi Theta Kappa organization here on campus collecting used books, furniture, computers, canned foods. There are so many ways to give and every time we give without purchasing something new, we are recycling what we have. Everything is a start. Students at campuses all across the country are getting involved in making their world a better place. You can too. For more ways to make a difference in your community check out the Earth Day display in the Library or the EarthDay website or check out the following links. In celebration of Earth Day this week, if you come up to the Library, we'll give you free chocolate! It doesn't get any better than that. So stop by, and let us know what you think... about ways to recycle, your favorite books, blog posts, whatever...we want to hear it.

Earth911
Internet Consumer Guide
Recycle City

And we're back!

2008-04-09T19:23:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's been a while since the last post. This term started out quite a bit busier than the last for me and posting has simply been pushed to the back burner. Now, we are into Week 3 here and things are beginning to even out. I had a very busy spring break, but was also lucky enough to get through a couple books in that week. That's a luxury I don't often get, and am delighted. This time I decided to try some books that I wouldn't normally read in my desire for something new and to be able to expand my book recommendations just for you. I was pleasantly surprised on the whole. And as you are all clammering to know what it was I read... I'll share. First, I finally made it through "A heart-breaking work of staggering genius" by Dave Eggers, which if you are politically minded at all or just like to laugh is a great read. I also delved into the "chick lit" genre and read "The nanny diaries" by Emma MacLaughlin and was surprised by the depth into her character's lives and the raw emotions of the book. I got through my first 'Alex Cross' book in James Patterson's series "Violets are blue"and have to admit that my delicate sensibilities were stretched, but a good bit of suspense. Plus, I highly recommend that if you are starting out to read them in order, I had quite a bit that I missed out on from previous books. Along the dark and scary route, I picked up my first ever Stephen King and found myself flying through the pages. Though his books are lengthier than most pulp fiction, there really is an art to grabbing your reader's attention and interest, twisting them around and not letting go till long after the last page is turned. King does this well. I finished "Atonement" by Ian McEwan which was absolutely wonderful, the best read so far this year. And finally, I finish "The Ha-ha" by Dave King which was altogether a different story for me, but well written and very enjoyable. So, if you're looking for something to read, I'd recommend any of these and more. Enjoy this term and make sure to keep checking in for the latest here.

Ode to the veggie...

2008-03-16T12:24:00.000-07:00

I wanted to draw your attention this week to a magazine that the Library has purchased this year called Vegetarian Times. This is a great magazine and would be a perfect check-out for springtime reading. Just for vegetarians... no, not at all. In fact, if you are at all interested in healthy living, then you'll enjoy this magazine. Not only does it feature easy, delicious recipes in every magazine such as this month's Fettucine Alfredo with seared portobellos or Chocolate shortbread cookies (mmm.... ), it's also a great source on everything eco or bio friendly from non-toxic household cleansers to body lotions, shampoos, and gardening tips. You can visit the VT website for recipe indexes, article archives, interesting blogs and simple ways that you can help preserve the environment. Every issue is well worth the read. Try it and let us know what you think.
If earth-friendly or natural living interests you, two other magazines that the Library has subscriptions to that you'll enjoy are Herbs for Health and Organic Gardening.

Save Me!

2008-03-05T18:08:00.000-08:00

More often than most of us would care to admit, we have committed the devastating error of not saving that paper we are typing and then something happens. You've just lost it all. Well, for those of you who've experienced this, you know just how frustrating it can be. Then, you vow never to let this happen again, mentally preparing yourself to Save, Save, Save in the future. Yet, inevitably that determination lapses and you forget. Well, here's a couple of tips to do in case you find yourself in this predicament as well as to prevent it:
Prevention
In Microsoft Office Word 2007, there is an "auto save" feature that will automatically create a back-up every so many minutes without you ever clicking Save. To activate this either on your personal computer or a lab computer, click the M.O. button (circle in the top left corner), then click on Word Options. Under the Advanced tab in the Save section is the "Always create backup" option. By making sure this is selected, Office will automatically save your file. If it is lost, by following the same steps, M.O. button, Word Options, and then Save, you can find the AutoRecover file location, that will show you where to find it.

Recovery
Both Word 2007 and previous versions have an autorecovery feature in case Word itself shuts down or locks up. In order to access this, Word must be closed. Then reopen it and any recovered files should appear. If they do not, click on the Microsoft Office Button and then Open. If your file does not appear here, type in the following...
For Windows Vista
%userprofile%\AppData\Microsoft\Word\*.asd
For Microsoft Windows 2003 or XP
%userprofile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\*.asd

This should show you the files that are saved. Click on the one titled "Auto Recovery save of (your file)" and it should open.

If you are working on a campus lab computer, the best option is to save it yourself due to their tendency to shut down in the middle of your work. If this occurs, Microsoft cannot help you. For more tips and help with any Microsoft Office 2007 programs, http://office.microsoft.com is a great and very helpful website. Good luck.

And the winner is.....

2008-03-02T14:22:00.000-08:00

No, we are not talking about the closing of awards season, but the much coveted honor of the Library's Author of the Month spot... which goes to...
John Le Carre. Le Carre is the author of nineteen intriguing novels chocked full of mystery, espionage, love, and generally a message for society. He has long been an author that could move readers. As quoted by Nigel Williams (writer for the Observer) after reading Le Carre, "This book breathes life, anger and excitement." Several of his novels in fact have traversed from page to screen both big and television. From "Russia House" (which earned Michelle Pfiefer a Golden Globe nom.) to the fantastic mini-series "Tinker, tailor, soldier, spy" starring the equally fantastic Alec Guinness and receiving an Emmy nomination. More recently, we've seen "The Constant Gardner" grace the Academy Awards earning Rachel Weisz an Oscar, among other nominations. Enough about the movies though, the books are wonderful. Something different than the usual fiction read that really challenges the reader morally, intellectually, and your world perspective. He is not afraid to hit on politics and all the ins and outs of the workings of world government. Nor does he hold back when in saying something that should be said if the subject is touchy. In the end, intriguing and enthralling are the words I think fit his writing best. All of these mentioned books are available today in the Library as well as his brand new "Absolute Friends" and others. For something new that will keep you on the edge of your seat and challenge you as well, John Le Carre is a great choice!

The Earth laughs in flowers. - Emerson

2008-02-27T18:56:00.000-08:00

After my previous posting, this week's weather has actually been lovely. Semi-warm sunny days. It has filled me with the joyful anticipation of Spring. Though we'd all like warmer weather, there's something about Spring that thrills most of us. There's almost a euphoric sense of something coming with the end of cold days in sight, the budding trees, blooming flowers, fresh clean air, and rejuvenation of the spirit. Too much to place upon a coming season, I know and yet every year it happens. I personally feel the intense need to garden. Though I don't have a space to do this currently, the desire is still there. Just to see colorful blooms and foliage tumbling over each other fills my heart with joy. And, there are always options. If you don't have a garden, you can do it indoors! I always like to keep a container of herbs growing year round indoors (year round is totally wishful thinking on my part... my thumb's not that green) because fresh herbs are great in cooking. Still, this is an easy way to start and small herb container gardens can be found in most retail stores as well as online. There's also any number of plants that if placed near a window can grow and bloom, brightening up any apartment. We have some great books on container gardening. The local nursery, Andrews Seed just down the street from the campus has a fabulous staff who are great with answering questions about what grows where. So if you are feeling the need to help Spring along or just brighten your day, give it a try.

There are flowers and songs, snowflakes and smiles, acts of great courage, laughter between friends, a job well done, the smell of fresh-baked bread. Beauty is everywhere. ~ Matthew Fox

Oh... the weather outside is frightful...

2008-02-22T11:20:00.000-08:00

Just this week, we've had a meteor shower, a lunar eclipse, 3 earthquakes and now more snow. It's enough to make some question the coming end of the world, especially if you've watched the environmental thriller "The day after tomorrow." Or if you are an astronomer (real or amateur) then you probably thought it was a fantastic week. Here's a picture of this weeks eclipse. There's a great website that posts an astronomy picture of the day that is fun and definitely worth checking out. There is always a lot if speculation and doomsday theories when it comes to weather, the environment, what causes these changes. We have some great books in the Library about weather and some really good new books about environmental issues and what you can do on an individual level to make changes. The best way to make a difference in the world on any issue is to be informed. Don't rely on what you've heard or alway thought was truth, but dig a little deeper and find out the true facts. That's what we (the Library) is here for. Another great source for those of you at a distance is the netlibrary link our home page. There are great books there on any current topic for research and information.
Though slightly off topic here, I'm going to make the leap from science to science-fiction. For those fans out there, I'm very pleased to announce the long awaited new book from sci-fi author Ray Bradbury is here! "Farewell Summer" is his newest and the sequel to "Dandelion Wine." I've not yet had a chance to read it, but will let you know as soon as I do what I think. In the meantime, there's an available copy in our Library today!

February Author of the Month!

2008-02-04T19:13:00.000-08:00

I know it's been a while since we've had a specific Author featured. So this month, I wanted to pick someone really good that has our staff has been reading furiously and thoroughly enjoying. That author is James Patterson. I've been watching (before writer's strikes and reruns) the new ABC drama "Women's Murder Club" which being a die-hard crime show fan, I love. It's very fun and different from the rest of the crime shows out right now. I've really enjoyed it and was surprised to find that it's based on a book series by James Patterson. Though I have an equal passion for reading books of the murder-mystery variety, Patterson is not an author that I've tried before. Over Christmas break, we delved into that series and became instant fans. He is very easy to read, fun, and good at keeping you guessing. I didn't have the killer's identity figured out at all in the first three books. This is a must for me in good mystery writing. The Library now has copies of the first six books in the Women's Murder Club series with the seventh (out in February) to be added soon. Give them a try, we think you'll like them. Patterson is also the author of many more books chocked full of drama and suspense. Another series he writes is the Alex Cross series which you may be familiar with as a few have been made into movies such as "Kiss the Girls" and "Along came a Spider" both starring Morgan Freeman. There are many more to choose from and any of his books come well recommended by the Library staff. Pick one up and enjoy.

Golden men and lace hearts...

2008-02-04T18:54:00.000-08:00

February is here, and with it comes the season of award shows and stores full of pink and red. I've heard Valentine's Day described as a holiday designed to make anyone depressed. If you don't have a special someone, let's admit... it's a little bit disheartening. If you do, then there is the stress of finding the right gift, the exorbitant amount of money one is asked to spend on flowers that will die in less than a week, and the fear that comes when you've picked the wrong thing. None of which sounds fun. Altogether an odd choice of things to celebrate. Still, looking at the bigger picture what we really hope to celebrate is love. Not just any love, mind you but the idea of that immortal, enduring, passionate type of love that we all wish defined our lives instead of living on the edge of our dreams. So in honor of that, I've decided to share with you what I think are the best love stories out there. Now, I'm not talking about paperback romance, or "bodice-ripper" novels with more steamy scenes than conversations. No, I'm talking about agonizing, seemingly hopeless, heart-aching yearning love that prevails all odds and ends with such utter satisfaction that the world feels like a better place in the end. Guaranteed to put you in the mood for Valentine's Day and fill your heart with hope.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Little Women by Louisa May Allcot
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Les Miserable by Victor Hugo
and The Year of Yes by Maria Headley (because it's fun!)
Honorable mentions would include The Great Gatsby, The Way We Were, The Notebook, Gone with the Wind and The Thorn Birds. So if you are in the mood for love...
And as for those little golden men who become suddenly popular this time of year, we've recently added several Oscar winning films to our collection. Stop by our display of winning movies and the books that started them.

All about the Book...

2008-01-27T13:05:00.000-08:00

I am always amazed when I hear that someone doesn't read or doesn't like books. Maybe because I've always been such a passionate reader that I'm stunned when people say they don't like books. One of the biggest lessons that I've learned since becoming a librarian is that there literally is a book out there for everyone. If you don't think you like to read, you just haven't found the right book yet. We'd love to help you with this. I really feel that this is the greatest challenge, and most rewarding part of this job... to help an individual really connect with a book and reading.

I was reading this week, the monthly newsletter from abebooks.com and really enjoyed one of the articles. Here are a few excerpts that I wanted to share... from Death of the Book?by Richard Davies.
"People have been forecasting the end of the book for as long as books have been around. Recent threats include cinema, television, video games, and the Internet. And you know what? It’s all a myth.... the book is alive and well, and bigger and better than ever. We regularly see reports that books are threatened and reading is declining. There have been two major ones in recent months and the media is always quick to seize on these stories. But you know what? I think the death of the book has been greatly exaggerated. The book remains arguably the most perfect - and most comforting - of all technologies. We don’t see that changing any time soon."

I loved this! I've recently heard from a couple of people that they think libraries will soon become extinct in the world of cyberspace, but I don't believe it. Mostly because, in this age of information bombardment, few people are dedicated to help you navigate through it and find truly good information. Librarians are. None of this is meant to over-glamorize our place in the world, but to encourage you all to use the resources available to you. We are here to help. For those of you who haven't taken the Library Research Class, I greatly encourage you take the time. It's an excellent opportunity to learn how to get good, credible information, do research, and will save you hours of time searching for sources. Plus, you can ask as many questions as you want! The sooner in the term you take it, the more beneficial it is to you as well. We offer it three times a week every week, and it is about 45 minutes long. The class is held in the Library Tuesdays at 7 p.m., Wednesdays at 12 p.m., and Thursdays at 2 p.m. Just stop at the front desk and let us know you are there.

Let's go to the Movies!

2008-01-22T15:59:00.000-08:00

So, I know that you have all been anxiously awaiting the Author of the month which has yet to appear here. I apologize for getting such a late start this month. As it's now more than halfway through the month, I thought we'd do something different. In lieu of a particular author, I thought that we'd put the spotlight (figuratively and literally) on a few books that you might have missed. We were just discussing last week at the plethora of good-looking movies out right now, and many of them are based on books. Regardless of your taste in books or movies, there is one here for you. Starting with "Atonement", "Charlie Wilson's War", "P. S. I love you",
"Kite Runner ", "I am legend", "Into the Wild", "The Other Boleyn Girl" and "No Country for Old Men", we have a fantastic selection of films birthed from the pages of a book and showing in theaters now. All of which can be found through your Library! A few others that you may have missed in the last year.... "Bourne Ultimatum", "Evening", "Hannibal Rising", "A mighty Heart", and of course "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", "The Painted Veil", "Eragon", "Fast Food Nation", and "The Last King of Scotland"... just to name a few. I've found that movies are always better if you've read the book first. If one of these movies is on your list, give the book a try too. Or if you are just looking for something to read right now, these will be available and on display on our New Book shelf. Come and check one out.
We love suggestions, so if you have one, please let us know.

Welcome Back!

2008-01-10T16:38:00.000-08:00

The start of a new year, and you've all made it back. It's nice to see your smiling faces again. Though the winter break did seem very short this year (as I'm sure it does every year), we are once again in full swing of classes and studies. I must say, the transition this week was made much easier by the lovely snow day. I know we will all be sick of the snow soon, but I still have that five-year-old excitement at the first real snow of the year. Here's a couple of shots from the Library of our winter wonderland taken on Tuesday. Before you get too bogged down with school work, I'm encouraging all to go out and enjoy it this weekend. Or you could take advantage of the cold weather excuse to curl up with a blanket, a good book and some Holiday Spice tea(mmmmm..). I was able to get some reading done over the break, and thanks to Mr. Wilson's suggestions had a lovely time of it. I broke out Anna Karenina once again, with a renewed sense of wonder as the last time I read it was long ago. It was wonderful, perfect actually. I've always felt that winter months should be reserved for reading Russian authors. There's something that feels rather fitting about reading long, dreary tales of beauty and epic passions during this season. I also, and again thank you Mr. Wilson, read Light in August. Though I haven't finished it yet, it is a fantastic book. I seem to have a rather love/hate relationship with Mr. Faulkner, where appreciation and enjoyment don't always coincide. This book thus far, breaks the rule. There are still copies available in the Library, so come and check one out.
Now, for those of you who are maybe feeling a bit under the weather this week, or just biding your time until the cold catches up to you....check out our featured list this month. We have added some really great books to the Library this year on natural health. There's everything from stress reduction to herbal remedies for the common cold. We've also purchased a subscription to Herbs for Health, a great new magazine chocked full of good ideas and information. All this to aid you in boosting your immune system, energy levels, and all around happiness.

Happy Holidays!

2007-12-18T14:53:00.000-08:00

Well, the first term of the year is over. The recouperation process has begun, we hope.
For all of you this Christmas season, we wish you the merriest of times, safe travels, warmth, family, and of course a good book to read.
The Library will be closed next week, but back again after New Years. So, Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! And all the holiday cheer you can stand, from The Library Staff!

Teacher Picks!

2007-11-27T11:29:00.000-08:00

As promised, we are featuring one of your very own teachers in our pick of the month spot. The anticipation is over, the person with the honor for December.... (drum roll please).... Marc Wilson! Yes, I hear the cheering in the background. Well I will say this, if you are looking for a good book to read over the break, he has given us some wonderful choices. I asked Mr. Wilson for his top ten favorite reads, and he gave me a list of 11 books titled, The Only Books Worth Reading: A Dianoetic List. (Dianoetic, meaning intellectual...don't worry, I had to look it up too.) So, here's his list:
1. Light in August by William Faulkner
2. Beneath the Wheel by Hermann Hesse
3. Candide by Voltaire
4. Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
5. Ironweed by William Kennedy
6. Native Son by Richard Wright
7. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy 8. Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
9. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
10. The Universal Baseball Association by Robert Coover
11. The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

An excellent selection with something for everyone, a little romance, a little drama, poetry, philosophy, and fantasy. All of these books are available through the Library, so stop by and pick one up! Perfect for your Christmas break reading. Thank you Mr. Wilson for sharing these with us.
Also, if you need another class for your Winter schedule, Mr. Wilson is teaching a History of Film class during the Winter term that sounds like a fantastic class to take. It's Wednesday evenings, consisting of watching and discussing movies. Sign up, if you haven't yet!
Now, Finals Week is upon us! Don't forget to bring in all your Library materials by Wednesday. We will be open during the break with the exception of the week of Christmas. Come in and catch up on some reading or movie watching. Good luck this week, and have a great break!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2007-11-19T16:01:00.001-08:00

Fall is almost over, the warmer days are coming to a close... and the end of the term is drawing near. Suddenly the holiday season is upon us and once again, I feel this intense need to make caramel apple pies, drink cider, and have long chats with friends and family. All the things that normally, time does not get taken for. Every holidays season strive to do less, and take more time doing it. Generally, this consists of picking my Christmas Break reading list, (which I already have, and can't wait to get to), checking off that holiday to-do list, and catching up on movies I haven't had time to see. And yet, the other factor that must be considered... less than three weeks left of school. While this is exciting, I know, there is also a lot to be done for many of you. Don't panic, you'll get there. There are just a few things that I wanted to make you aware of as the end of term is drawing near...
The Library Research class is NOT offered finals week. Those who have not taken it yet, but are required to for a class have only six more opportunities. This Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday at 12, and then the regular times next week.
Also, due to the holiday, the Library will be closing at 3pm on Wednesday the 21st of November and will also be closed Thursday and Friday. We are open regular times for the next two Sundays.
The good news is . . . The ID Card printer is back! We apologize and thank all of you who have been so patiently waiting. Come up anytime the Library is open and get your card.
All Library materials must be turned in by December 5th! You may come in and check materials out that week for your Christmas reading or viewing pleasure.
The Library will be open during the break 8-5, Monday thru Friday, with the exception of the week of Christmas. So, please come in and see us.
Next month, instead of an Author of the Month, a TVCC Instructor will be sharing their top 10 favorite books with us and we will have those featured at the Library for check-out! I know you will all be excited to know who and what, but that must wait for another week.
In the mean time, have a wonderful holiday weekend and take some time to do something fun. Love in the Time of Cholera is out in theaters this week, so I'll be making time to see that. I'll let you know how it is next week. If you venture out to see it, let us know what you think as well.
In the mean time...
Happy Thanksgiving from the Library Staff!

Book , Movie, or Both?

2007-11-07T17:22:00.000-08:00

I mentioned last week the fierce competition for the Author of the month spot, and felt I had to let you know about the runner-up. This is in honor of a movie coming out in just two weeks, Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Love in the Time of Cholera. This has been a favorite of mine since the first time that I read it. It's been touted as "one of the greatest love stories of all time," and at the same time is very real, gritty and human. Starting much the same as any other love story... boy meets girl, they fall in love, and they live happily every after... oh wait, actually she decides to marry someone else. Famous for his twists and turns, Garcia Marquez is one of the great 20th century authors with many books to his name. His books have been read and taught for decades, and never failed to move readers. If love stories are not your cup of tea, there's more to choose from in his collection of works which range from sci-fi, to the very strange, romantic, intellectual, or historical non-fiction. I highly recommend Love in the Time of Cholera, and there's just enough time to read the book before the movie comes out. Stop in and check out a copy, or another of his books in the Library. In case you are curious, here's the trailer to get you excited!
My question...
Do you prefer to read the book first, watch the movie first, or do you not watch movies based on your favorite books? Let me know what you think. I'd love to hear your comments!

November Author of the Month!

2007-11-01T12:39:00.000-07:00

I had a difficult time choosing this month's featured author... so many options. The competition was fierce, but in the end Ken Burns was our choice. Though the books he's written are few, this man has contributed greatly to the historical education of America. By capturing a time long gone yet restored through his lens, Ken Burns shows us history anew. I know we've just mentioned his newest film triumph The War last week. There are more available in the Library for your viewing pleasure as well. We have available the epic Civil War series which is a librarian favorite and has achieved more than 40 major film and television awards, including two Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards, People's Choice Award.. the list goes on. In case war documentaries are not your thing, we have the fascinating (and much shorter) Lewis and Clark, Mark Twain, and Thomas Jefferson films. The book he wrote about the filming of The War is available for check-out as are many more of his works through the Sage Library System through Interlibrary loans(don't know how? Come see us!). So, if you haven't yet, come check out one of these films.
Plus, if you are taking one of Mr. Mahaffey's classes, they are good for extra credit!

Cold weather and coziness

2007-10-25T18:29:00.000-07:00

As the weather has begun it's random changing from warm to absolutely freezing, my first notion is to hide away inside where it's warm and cozy. This after all, is one of the great pleasures of fall and winter. So if you are looking for something to do whilst ensconced in the snugness of your homes, the Library just got some new DVD's in that will help wile away the hours. For those of you who have been catching bits and pieces of the Ken Burns series airing currently on PBS, The War, we now have it. This in-depth, fascinating look at WWII and how it affected home-life in America is a must-see and one you won't easily forget.
For another television series that you may have missed this summer, the equally enthralling and absolutely fascinating series Planet Earth which aired on the Discovery Channel. It doesn't matter if you are a "nature channel" watcher or not, you will love this! And since we are on the topic of epic film watching, the Library has also recently acquired the Collector's Edition of Titanic, complete with an additional 45 minutes of 'never before seen' deleted scenes (and you thought the original version was long). Don't worry, the extra scenes are on a separate disc, for those of us who are not true fans.
So, if you are looking for something to do this weekend while staying warm, or hiding from the masses of trick-or-treaters next week, stop by and check these or others in our movie selection out. Also, if you haven't done so yet, it's a great time to pick up a Jodi Picoult book for the weekend. The student reviews so far have been fantastic!