INFODESK: Fingers

“Where’s the … “

Wheres the ...

The library veterans call it air traffic control.

The first few weeks of the semester we spend most of our time directing students to the restrooms, Student Center, Testing Center, Writing Center and just about any other “center” on campus (except the center of a Tootsie Roll pop, which is where I will direct myself in a few moments).

Anyone walking into the library is likely to catch us pointing (sorry, mom) to the “invisible” wooden doors on the staircase to the second floor. We call them invisible because no one seems to be able to see them unless we point to them like bird dogs.

So don’t worry if you see big Hispanic guy at the Infodesk extending a finger, it’s probably just me to telling you where to go … you know, on campus.

Book of the Day

So you’re bored, sitting at home, nothing to do.  You start sizing up that back yard and surplus of lumber that’s been sitting around, noticing the flannel your closet has been taunting you with since 1995.  You know what you gotta do:  It is time to get all Abe Lincoln on this and build yourself a log cabin!

Lucky for you, Log Homes Made Easy : contracting and building your own home is one of the newest editions to Billington Library.  Loaded full of pictures, checklists, and step-by-step instructions, Jim Cooper’s third edition is great for that rainy afternoon when your inner Paul Bunyan calls.

Book of the (last few) Day(s)

In addition to the weekend, other library projects kept me too busy to update the blog.  For now though, I am able to present to you a heavy one:  The Holocaust by Bullets.  Not pleasant, but interesting: the author assembled a team of history and ballistic experts to locate and examine mass graves of Holocaust victims in order to better get an understanding of how these people died, and the horrific truth of their conditions.  For resources on Holocaust fiction, visit this LibGuides bibliography. For resources on international Jewish Fiction, consult the Jewish Fiction page.

Calling all readers: join JCCC Booktalk!

Did you know we have our own book club here at JCCC?  It’s called Booktalk, and the group meets once a month to discuss inspiring titles both contemporary and classic.  Booktalk is open to all members of the campus community.  For more information, join the Booktalk listserv by e-mailing mfitzpat@jccc.edu.

Here’s the roster of books selected for discussion during the 2008-09 school year:

9/26 — Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

10/24 — Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

12/5 — A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers by Xiaolu Guo

1/30/09 — Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

2/27 — In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

3/27 — Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo

4/24 — Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson

Book of the Day

Ebbets Field, not Wrigley
Ebbets Field, not Wrigley

When going through the books to be added to the catalog, one caught my attention immediately.  Unfortunately it was not this book. I can just promise that the next few days will feature some excellent selections.

That being said, Wait Till Next Year fell into my field of vision, and the title combined with a stadium in the background made me assume it was about the Chicago Cubs.  Regardless of the current standings, even the Royals have won a World Series in recent history, whereas the Cubs have fallen apart consistently in June (until this year) for the last 100 years.

Upon closer inspection, not only is it a memoir by historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, but it is about her following of the (formerly) Brooklyn Dodgers since she was six years old.  Weaving her narrative through time and historical events in America’s past, she connects baseball’s impact on her life to the ever-changing face of the United States.

I’ve recently discovered that baseball novels are not as dry as I thought they would be, particularly non-fiction such as this.  If sports literature does interest you, or sports humor, check out God Save the Fan, written by former Deadspin.com editor Will Leitch, coming to our library soon!

Twitter – Social Networking

The library is now on Twitter

With a forced minimum of less than 200 characters, Twitter is a way to follow library happenings in digestible formats.  Adding the library as a Twitter friend will inform you of minor happenings, when we add blog posts, when a new subject guide is created, when special events take place, and if needed, possibly some policy reminders!  Add us as a friend, and don’t hesitate to start a message “@JCCCLib: to ask us a question.

If you aren’t familiar with Twitter, check it out here.  We’ll let you know as more creative uses develop!

Book of the Day

War Horse: a history of the military horse and rider is by Louis A. DiMarco, and while I do not have a cover image as-per normal, this book is too interesting to not post (credit to flickr user sharper3d for that image).  I can tell you that the real cover features a United States Civil War soldier next to his mount, and I can also warn/promise you that this is a well-researched book on the history of equestrian combat.  Or, human combat using horses (I don’t think there’s a pony Fight Club out there).  It may be easy to view modern combat, an often in-personable use of technology from far distances, and forget about not only the safety concerns of these unarmored vehicles, but also of the tactical advantages of having a faster, stronger transport than the marching battalions.  Very cool book.

Book of the Day

America’s Nuclear Wastelands! I have nuclear paranoia to the point where you would think I remembered most of the Cold War.  Given that, this book title scare the ever-livin’ out of me.  The book actually does talk about Cold-War era weapons production and how we have to get rid of them. Here’s a quote from the back of the book:

In 2000, it was estimated that $212 billion and 70 years would be required to clean up the nuclear contamination and waste at 113 complexes while closing 4,000 unneeded facilities.

Does that not scare you?!  I suppose different generations have their different fears, but this is certainly an interesting book about environmental issues in the United States.  Here’s a picture to relax you after all of that.

Book of the Day

Muhajababes: Meet the New Middle East – Young, Sexy, and Devout may tell you something you already know.  It may also change your mind about things you thought you knew.  One thing is certain:  Allegra Stratton, who went into her project admittedly ignorant, found out that youth culture in many Middle Eastern nations has found an interesting balance between secular and religious that the West doesn’t always get to see.  For whatever reason this book is picked up, or however you may feel about Stratton’s findings, it is certainly an avenue to open discussions.  JCCC has other books like Heavy Metal Islam, as well as this fiction bibliography, both of which contain interesting perspectives on the Middle East and beyond. Check it out.