Wednesday, December 1, 2010

What’s Happening at WhatstheBook?



Over the last eleven months the Sullivan Library and Learning Resource Center has tweeted 541 times on our Twitter account WhatstheBook. While we haven’t come close to Justin Bieber’s or Ashton Kutcher’s tweet volume, we tweet nearly every day from a book in the library’s collection. On the following day we provide the title to the previous day’s tweet, and we tweet from another book in the collection.

During the month of November we tweeted about the subject of food to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. Here are some of the tweets and the titles from which they came. We’ve also provided the call numbers for the books featured below in case you want to check them out from the library.

“Biting into a crunchy cornbread crust is just one of the pleasures associated with this treat.” Appalachian Home Cooking by Mark F. Sohn (641.5974 S682a).

“But then it was Thanksgiving, and my grandmother’s kitchen was ablaze in harvest color. . .” The New Thanksgiving Table by Diane Morgan (641.568 M847n)

If these tweets have piqued your interest, we invite you to follow us at WhatstheBook. In December we will be tweeting about such topics as: National Cookie Week (yum!), Christmas, Kwanzaa, the start of the Islamic New Year, and much more.

Monday, November 8, 2010

A Pleasant Surprise




When I first picked up the book Heart of a Samurai I wondered if I would like it because the cover, which had a whale and some fishermen on it, made me think of Melville’s Moby Dick, a book that I didn’t enjoy. To my delight, Preus’ story about Nakahama Manjiro, a shipwrecked young Japanese man who comes to the United States to start a new life, captivated me from the very beginning. Not only was the story of Manjiro full of adventure and history, I got a feel for what it might be like to move to another country and encounter the culture and people of that new land. From the well-realized settings to a character full of depth and life, this was a book that far exceeded my expectations. At the end of the book Ms. Preus included a wealth of information about the real Manjiro and his life in Japan and in the United States.

Publisher’s Weekly, a national book magazine, recently included the book Heart of a Samurai on its 2010 Best Books for Children list. The Sullivan University Library and Learning Resource Center has this well-written book about a remarkable young man, and anyone who is interested may borrow it from the library. Here is a link to more information about the book, and one of the librarians will be glad to help you find it on the shelf if you want to read it.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Facebook on the Big Screen

Columbia Pictures recently released, The Social Network, a movie that loosely chronicles the creation and early years of the social networking site known as Facebook. Actor Jesse Eisenberg stars as the Facebook founder and current CEO, Mark Zuckerberg.

The screenwriter, Aaron Sorkin, who also wrote the screenplay for Charlie Wilson’s War and A Few Good Men, worked with author, Ben Mezrich, to create the screenplay of The Social Network. Mezrich wrote the book The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal, on which the movie is based. The Sullivan Library and Learning Resource Center has Mr. Mezrich’s book, and it is available for students, faculty, or staff to borrow. For more information on the movie or the book, The Accidental Billionaires; 006.754 M617a, here are some sites and articles of interest.

Internet Movie Database article on The Social Network


Time magazine has an article about Facebook and The Social Network, titled "Face-Off," in the October 4, 2010 issue.

The library also has other books about Facebook, and here are a few of those titles.

Creating Facebook Applications; 006.7 K53c
Essential Facebook Development; 006.754 M461e
Facebook Cookbook; 004.69 G619f
The Facebook Effect; 338.761 K59f
The Facebook Era; 658.872 S555f
How to Find a Job on LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and Other Social Networks; 650.14 S325h

If you have any questions about the movie, The Social Network, any of the books mentioned in this post, or how to find out more about Facebook, please don’t hesitate to ask one of the librarians for help.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Banned Books Week-What's the Big Deal?



What are banned and challenged books? What is Banned Books Week, and why is it important?

According to the American Library Association, a challenged book is one that someone has attempted to remove from a library or restrict access to within the libary, and a banned book has been removed from a library because of complaints by an individual or group. Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others. Due to the commitment of librarians, teachers, parents, students and other concerned citizens, most challenges are unsuccessful and most materials are retained in the school curriculum or library collection.

Banned Books Week occurs annually, and it is designed to remind people of the importance of the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the freedom to read. The librarians at the Sullivan University Library and Learning Resource Center-Lexington Campus promote Banned Books Week to raise awareness about the materials banned or challenged and to remind students, faculty, and staff of the importance of having diverse materials available to read. To learn more about Banned Books Week go to the American Library Association’s Banned Books Week site.

Don't forget to stop by the library and see the display of banned and challenged books.

Friday, August 20, 2010

The World Is Coming to Us

In case you haven't already heard, Lexington, KY, our fair city, is the host of the 2010 World Equestrian Games (aka WEG).

Here are some brief facts about the games and a couple of websites that have even more information for you. The majority of this information was gathered from the World Equestrian Games event site.

-The first World Equestrian Games were held in Stockholm, Sweden in 1990.
-This is the first time in the history of the games that a non-European country has hosted the games.
-You often see the abbreviation FEI on the logo for the World Equestrian Games. FEI stands for Federation Equestre Internationale, and you can find out more about the FEI here.

For more information on what events are occurring locally to celebrate the games and how the games will impact the Lexington area, click here.

Whether or not you attend the games, you may encounter visitors at restaurants, malls, or on the road. Let's take this opportunity to show the world how much the great state of Kentucky has to offer.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Watching the Weather

Wow - is it hot! Are you wondering when it will rain and cool things off?

Listed below are our favorite sites for forecasts on weather in Kentucky, maybe one will have some good news!

Weather blogs:

What are your favorites?

Friday, August 6, 2010

Celebrating Farmers Markets

Now hear this, August 1-7 is National Farmers Market Week. The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Thomas J. Vilsack, in his proclamation for this week, “Encourages the people of the United States to celebrate the benefits of farmers markets with appropriate observances and activities.” Here are some U.S. government links related to farmers markets, including one where you can find a farmers market near you.

National Farmers Market Week Proclamation
Find a Farmers Market
Get to Know Your Local Farmer
Farmers Market Statistics

For those who live in the Lexington area, Lexington has a farmers market that is open on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Look at the Lexington Farmers Market website for hours, locations, and more information. While you’re at the website, you’ll see that Sullivan University is one of the sponsors of the Lexington Farmers Market.

After you finish your shopping at the farmers market, come to the Sullivan Library and Learning Resource Center-Lexington Campus where we have an abundance of materials related to farmers markets and cooking with local, seasonal foods that you can check out. Here is just a sampling of the items you can find here at your library.

Crescent City Farmers Market Cookbook by Poppy Tooker; 641.564 T669c

Fresh from the Farmers’ Market: Year-Round Recipes for the Pick of the Crop by Janet Fletcher; 641.65 F612f

How to Pick a Peach: The Search for Flavor from Farm to Table by Russ Parsons; 641.35 P251h

Southern Farmers Market Cookbook by Holly Herrick; 641.5636 H566s

To Market to Market to Buy a Fat Pig (videorecording) produced by Rick Sebak; DVD 641.01 T627

If you need help locating any of the featured titles or if you want more information about farmers markets, please don’t hesitate to ask one of the librarians. We will be glad to assist you.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Did Your Favorite Fictional Lawyer Make the List?

For those of you interested in the legal profession or who just can't get enough of Law & Order and its spin-offs, the ABA Journal has published a list of "The 25 Greatest Fictional Lawyers {Who Are Not Atticus Finch} in the August 2010 issue. Did your favorite fictional lawyer make the list?

If you’re curious to see who made the list, just come to the Sullivan University Library & Learning Resource Center to see the August 2010 issue.

The following movies, which can also be found in the library, feature some of the top 25 fictional attorneys. One of the librarians can help you locate the ABA Journal or these movies if you want.

Anatomy of a Murder; 791.43 A535
And Justice for All; 791.4372 A543
A Few Good Men; 791.43 F432
My Cousin Vinny; 791.43 M995
Rumpole of the Bailey; 791.4572 R937s
A Time to Kill; 791.43 T583
The Verdict; 340.1 V484
Witness for the Prosecution; 791.43 W825

Who is your favorite fictional attorney?

Friday, May 28, 2010

2010 Student Survey Results

During weeks 6 and 7 Library on the Lexington campus conducted their 6th annual survey of the student body to determine how well student needs are being met by the library. 326 students took a few minutes to provide the library with feedback and thoughts on ways to improve service.

According to this year’s survey results, 99% of students rated the library as "Good" or "Excellent" overall. The following areas were also rated very highly by student participants in the survey:

  • 95% of respondents reported that the online library catalog provides clear and useful information.
  • 100% of respondents said that the library's website provides them with useful information.
  • 94% of respondents rated the quality of service provided by library personnel as "Usually helpful" or "Always helpful."
  • 99% of respondents reported that the library "Usually" or "Always" provides a welcoming environment in which they are comfortable asking for assistance.
  • 98% of respondents reported that the library is "Mostly adequate" or "Usually adequate" for meeting their research and information needs.

As well as ranking the library and its services, survey participants were invited to comment on their library experiences. Students added over 600 comments to their survey forms, emphasizing their opinions of the library:

  • everyone always seems happy to be there - even if I'm not.
  • Anytime there are problems w/computers or finding materials they are great!
  • great help! - wonderful, clean, organized environment
  • I like the library a lot. The people are really helpful to help me find the resources I need to get my research papers done
  • They have never let me down.
  • it's nice to know there is a database with the info I need organized somewhere
We appreciate each student that participated in the survey. During the upcoming year, constructive comments for improvement will be studied, with emphasis placed on:
  1. Maintaining a studious, welcoming atmosphere.
  2. Continuing to develop current, pertinent collections of both print and electronic resources.

Even though the survey is over, we always want to hear from the Sullivan community -- feel free to share your comments with the library by sending us an email at liblex@sullivan.edu.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Anybody Hungry for Chinese Food?

The most recent edition of the journal Flavor and Fortune has a list of the 100 Best Chinese Restaurants in the United States. Lo and behold, two of these restaurants are in the great state of Kentucky.

Without further adieu, the winners from Kentucky are:

8 China at 1850 Hurstbourne Parkway in Louisville
August Moon at 1550 Lowes Drive in Murray

To find out more information about the other winners look at pages 23-24 of the Summer issue of Flavor and Fortune. Just ask for it at the desk, and one of the librarians will be happy to let you read it.

By the way, the Sullivan University Library and Learning Resource Center also has some terrific books on the subject of Chinese (and Asian for that matter) cooking. Here are just a few of the titles that can be found in the library. Please don't hesitate to ask one of the librarians if you need help finding any of these titles.

Asian Dumplings by Andrea Nguyen; 641.595 N576a
Chinese Cooking by Belinda Hulin and Kian Lam Kho; 641.5951 H912c
The Complete Asian Cooking Companion by Vicki Liley; 641.595 L728c
Haute Chinese Cuisine from the Kitchen of Wakiya by Yuji Wakiya; 641.5951 W149h
Mastering the Art of Chinese Cooking by Eillen Yin-Fei Lo; 641.5951 L795m

Happy cooking and eating from your Sullivan Library and Learning Resource Center!

Monday, May 3, 2010

Annual Library Survey

Please take a few minutes over the next two weeks, May 3rd through 14th, to complete a library survey. In addition to questions about the library, this year’s survey includes questions about the Tutoring Center and Career Services. Surveys can be completed either online or stop by the library for a form. By completing the survey, you become eligible to win a $25.00 bookstore gift certificate.

Thank you for your help in improving your library!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

READ Posters for National Library Week


Stop by the library this week and browse our gallery of READ posters featuring Sullivan University faculty and students.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Can we take your picture??

Each year during April the Library celebrates National Library Week with libraries across America. First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use and services.

For 2010 we would like to make READ posters using students and their favorite books. Stop by the library anytime during Week 1 or 2 to get your picture taken and help us commemorate National Library Week.

Friday, February 19, 2010

This week's new books--

These are just some of the new books processed this week in the Library. These are just a few items, if you'd like to see more new items OR need a particular title, please stop by the Reference Desk and the staff will be happy to help you!
  • After modernity? : secularity, globalization, and the re-enchantment of the world, edited by James K.A. Smith. 261 A258
  • Are we there yet? : the golden age of American family vacations, by Susan Sessions Rugh. 973.92 R932a
  • The book of numbers : the secret of numbers and how they changed the world, by Peter J. Bentley. 510 B477b
  • In Fed we trust : Ben Bernanke's war on the great panic, by David Wessel. 332.11 W515i
  • Innovate the Pixar way : business lessons from the world's most creative corporate, by Bill Capodagli and Lynn Jackson. 658.4063 C245i
  • The murder of Lehman Brothers : an insider's look at the global meltdown, by Joseph Tibman. 658.4 T553m
  • Party shoes, by Noel Streatfeild. JF S
  • The snow tourist : a search for the world's purest, deepest snowfall, by Charlie English. 910.4 E58s
  • Switch : how to change things when change is hard, by Chip Heath and Dan Heath. 303.4 H437s
  • Worried sick : a prescription for health in an overtreated America / Nortin M. Hadler. 362.1 H131w

More information on each title can be found in the catalog or by talking with a librarian.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Mmm, Comfort Food

During these cold, winter months it can be nice to have some hearty food to enjoy. In the February/March issue of Fine Cooking magazine, comfort food lovers will find recipes to warm their hearts and their stomachs.

There are two recipes for macaroni and cheese, one that is traditional and one that has pork and scallions. See page 8 of the magazine for the pork version and page 90 for the more conventional offering.

The Fine Cooking editors didn't neglect decadent desserts either. See pages 76-79 for two different takes on Devil's Food Cake.

For those who want to learn more about comfort food and try their hands at some other comfort food recipes, here are two titles that are available in the Sullivan Library and Learning Resource Center.

Elegant Comfort Food from the Dorset Inn by Jane and Michael Stern; 641.5974 S839e

Heirloom Cooking with the Brass Sisters, Queens of Comfort Food by Marilyn and Sheila Brass; 641.5973 B823h

The librarians will be glad to help anyone who needs assistance finding the magazine Fine Cooking or either of the titles mentioned here.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Black History Month









The Sullivan Library and Learning Resource Center commemorates Black History Month with a book display featuring items from our collection. Please feel free to speak with one of the librarians if you want to check out one of the books on display, if you want more information about Black History Month, or if you want to find other books about African-Americans in our collection.

You may also want to check out the poster for the Coretta Scott King Book Awards that we have posted. The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given in honor of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and in honor of his wife Coretta Scott King, who continued his efforts after his death. The awards are given annually to books created by African-American authors and illustrators that celebrate the African-American experience. To find out more about the awards and the winners, check out this link about the Coretta Scott King Book Awards.

Friday, January 29, 2010

New books, Week 4

These are just some of the new books processed this week in the Library. These are just a few items, if you'd like to see more new items OR need a particular title, please stop by the Reference Desk and the staff will be happy to help you!

  • America's natural places. The Midwest, by Jason Ney, Terri Nichols. 333.72 N569am
  • ASP.NET 4.0 programming, by Joydip Kanjilal. 006.7882 K16a
  • Born round : the secret history of a full-time eater, by Frank Bruni. 641.01 B896b
  • Bringing it to the table : on farming and food, by Wendell Berry ; with an introduction by Michael Pollan. 630.973 B534b
  • Eugenics, marriage and birth control, by William J. Robinson. 363.92 R666e
  • How to use the Internet to get your next job, by Janet Nagle. 650.14 N149h
  • Paper fortunes : modern Wall Street : where it's been and where it's going, by Roy C. Smith. 332.64 S658p
  • Reckoning at Eagle Creek : the secret legacy of coal in the heartland, by Jeff Biggers. 305.9622 B592r
  • The search for fulfillment : revolutionary new research that reveals the secret to long-term happiness, by Susan Krauss Whitbourne. 155.25 W579s

More information on each title can be found in the catalog or by talking with a librarian.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Drumroll Please. . . Children's Book Award Winners Announced









On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the American Library Association, announced the winners of the Caldecott and Newbery Awards, two famous children's book awards. The Newbery Medal is given for the writing and goes to the author of the book. The Caldecott Medal is given to the illustrator of a picture book. Now, without further adieu, here are the 2010 winners (and honor titles) for the Newbery and Caldecott books. For the titles that we have at the Sullivan Lexington Library and Learning Resource Center, a call number will be listed beside the title.


2010 Newbery Winner
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Honors
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick

2010 Caldecott Winner
The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney; JF P

Honors
All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon; Illustrated by Marla Frazee; JF S
Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors by Joyce Sidman; Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski; JF S


While the Newbery and the Caldecott Medals are two well-known children's book awards, several other children's book awards were announced on Monday too. Winners of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards, which celebrates books written by and featuring African-Americans, and the Pura Belpre Award, which is given to a Latino/Latina writer or illustrator for a work that celebrates Hispanic heritage, were also announced yesterday. The library has books that won those awards too.


Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award
The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes; Illustrated by E.B. Lewis; JF H


Pura Belpre Illustrator Award
Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children's Day/Book Day; Celebremos el Dia de los Ninos/el Dia de los libros by Pat Mora and Rafael Lopez.; JF M


For more information about these awards or the books that are available in the Sullivan Library-Lexington campus, please stop by the library and someone will be glad to assist you.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Tutoring Schedule, Winter 2010

Click on image below to see Tutoring Schedule for Winter Quarter.

If you need assistance in a subject that isn't listed, please see your instructor, the department chair, or other full-time instructor in the department during their office hours or on Plus Fridays for assistance. Office hours and Plus Friday hours are posted on the bulletin board in the faculty office suite near rm. 146.

The Tutoring Center is located in Rm. 133.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Follow us on Twitter!



How well do you know your library?

Starting January 1, 2010 the library will post a daily quote from a book in the collection to our Twitter account.


Follow us and see if you can guess what book we're quoting -- we give the answer the following day -- along with a new quote to guess.


To find us on Twitter :

Thursday, January 7, 2010

New Books - Week 1

Welcome to Winter Quarter 2010! These are just some of the new books processed this week in the Library. These are just a few items, if you'd like to see more new items OR need a particular title, stop by the Reference Desk and the staff will be happy to help you!
  • Coco : 10 World-Leading Masters Choose 100 Contemporary Chefs, by Ferran Adrià and friends. 641.5 A243c
  • The collaborative habit : life lessons for working together, by Twyla Tharp. 650.13 T367c
  • Essential Facebook development : build successful applications for the Facebook platform, by John Maver and Cappy Popp. 006.754 M461e
  • Fractals : hunting the hidden dimension, a Quest Productions and Kikim Media production for Nova ; produced and directed by Michael Schwarz and Bill Jersey. DVD 514.742 F798
  • A moveable feast : with America's favorite chefs, a production of WGBH Boston in association with American Public Television ; featuring Julia Collin-Davison. DVD 641.59 M935
  • The new Jim Crow : mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness, by Michelle Alexander. 364.973 A377n
  • The non-designer's presentation book : principles for effective presentation design, by Robin Williams. 006.6 W726n
  • Priceless : the myth of fair value (and how to take advantage of it), by William Poundstone. 338.52 P876p
  • Understanding Sam and Asperger syndrome, story by Clarabelle van Niekerk & Liezl Venter ; pictures by Clarabelle van Niekerk. JF N
  • 10 steps to successful teams, by Renie McClay. 658.4022 M126t

More information on each title can be found in the catalog or by talking with a librarian.