Author: bbaile14

Assistant Professor / Digital Projects Librarian for Johnson County Community College

The Most Important Book You’ll Read Or Have Shouted At You

So there’s a lack of images in a lot of our new books, and not really a lot of new material.  Therefore, I’ve taken the liberty to plug one of the best books in our collection:

I AM AMERICA (AND SO CAN YOU!) by Stephen Colbert.  But perhaps reading isn’t your thing. That’s cool, we also have the audio version “as shouted by the author” (it says it right on the cover). I’ll confess to personally owning both versions of the book. Heck, I even have the book on my iPod, and when it is on shuffle, a short portion will pop up and keep me entertained.

Our catalog is up today! That’s the rumor going round! Of course, you can always check our Twitter feed to keep updated on these types of things as they occur.

A Book About F-Bombs!

Well, there’s really no getting around this title, is there? Author Christopher Fairman wrote an entire book about the history of the f-bomb, its origin and many uses, and how protecting it in the name of the First Amendment and free speech is essential. Even though I’m out of words to describe it, the book is well thought out and an interesting defense of the word from beginning to end.

Addressing Eating Disorders in the Book of the Day

Reports from campuses are saying that students are having a harder time not just financially, but also emotionally. Because of this, the rise in disorders or behaviors with stigmas attached means that we all need to understand what people around us might be going through.

One book, Demystifying Anorexia Nervosa by Alexander R. Lucas, can help people with friends, colleagues, students, loved ones, or those suffering from anorexia understand the science behind the disorder and separate it from myths or stereotypes about it. More importantly, the book can assist people in beginning the process towards recovery.

Campus Assessment: It’s On!

There’s a big push to implement assessment on this campus, and while you might think this only concerns faculty, students can play a very important part in this. How are we to know what we’re awful at without students letting us know? How can we tell what’s improving unless we know how bad it started?  Student input is so essential, and if you have any interest in what we’re trying to get done here, you can always flip through a book like Educational Assessment in the 21st Century.

Of course, if you’re a faculty member, these materials are critical to establishing a positive environment for assessment on campus.  For that, check out our LibGuides for a run-down on our material.

It’s Transportation… In the FUTURE!

Part of me doesn’t care what this book is about. If the future means I get an egg on wheels to whip around town, I’m so in. BUT the part of me that does care reveals that Reinventing the Automobile tackles the green aspects of future transportation as well as the ideas of city planning and overcrowded areas, providing examples of the need for a smaller, environmentally-friendly vehicle.  It’s awesome either way.

Check Out JCCC-Produced Scholarship @ ScholarSpace

JCCC leads community colleges when it comes to preserving campus-produced scholarship. We’ve hit 285 articles, presentations, and conference papers in our Institutional Repository, ScholarSpace.  Check it out! This is a place for faculty, staff, and students to submit material they’ve written or presented at conferences, for magazines or journals, or that they’ve just put a considerable amount of effort into. When you check it out, if you don’t see your area of expertise represented, fear not: we’ll make a spot for it.

We’ll See How This Goes: Ask Away

Consider this a trial-by-fire.  We’ve taken an interest in this Formspring, “ask us anything” service, so the library has started our own page:

http://formspring.me/JCCCLib

You can now anonymously ask us things like:

  • Important reference questions
  • Things you’re too afraid to ask at the desk
  • Questions on embarrassing topics
  • Curious inquiries into librarianship
  • More random errata

Honesly, we have no idea how this will go, but ask away, and we’ll find out.

Green Up Your Roof!

Any of our students in a Sustainability-related class or with an interest in going green should check out Green Roof Construction and Maintenance. There’s a lot you can do to empower structures by making improvements to their tops, from harnessing energy to using greener materials.  Whether its improving your drainage system to full-on LEED-certified construction, this book can help you make a little or big difference.

Free HIV Tests/Gardasil on 4/12

Hey,

We like you. How much? A bunch. We want you all healthy and aware of your own health.

With that in mind, this just came across our InfoList, so please take note:

FREE RAPID HIV TESTS, GARDASIL INJECTIONS AVAILABLE APRIL 12

The Johnson County Health Department will offer free confidential rapid HIV screenings from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Monday, April 12, in 103 CLB. Results available in 20 minutes.

Gardasil injections also are available at no charge. Gardasil is the HPV vaccine.

No appointment needed. Must be 18 years or older for HIV testing.