Thursday, June 21, 2018

Summer Reading Recommendations - Two from Lisa Wan

Recently the Library posted a video on our YouTube Channel with staff recommendations for summer reading.  Here's the "why?" behind some of those recommendations, as well as for other books that didn't make it into the video.

Lisa Wan is our Tarleton - Fort Worth Librarian.  Here are her recommendations, both of which are available as e-books in our OverDrive collection:

"A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles, takes the reader into the fictional life of a Russian gentleman imprisoned in a world-class Russian hotel during the Russian Revolution.  I enjoyed the fictionalized glimpse of old world life in Russia through descriptions of the hotel life, but the real gem for me was growing to know the characters more deeply and enjoying their interactions. The book’s ending is intriguing, leaving my friends and I in disagreement about the conclusion.

I read The Only Woman in the Room, by Eileen Pollack, because I know that women still struggle to belong in primarily male-dominated fields.  Pollack’s book is her biographical story as one of the first two women to earn a degree in physics from Yale University. Pollack describes her encounters, not only with learning physics, but also with, literally, being the only woman room in a the classroom full of men.  Pollack’s unbarred description of the struggles of a female in a STEM [science - technology - engineering - math] field in the 1970s gave me perspective on the subtle prejudices women face when working in a male dominated field, yet encouraged me with her will to overcome."

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Summer Reading Recommendations - Non-Fiction Titles from Joshua Wallace

Recently the Library posted a video on our YouTube Channel with staff recommendations for summer reading.  Here's the "why?" behind some of those recommendations, as well as for other books that didn't make it into the video.

Joshua Wallace, our Instruction Librarian, says,

"I enjoy reading non-fiction works, and personally find it difficult to become engrossed in fiction. If you’re like me then here are some books you might enjoy.

Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah – This autobiography is an emotional rollercoaster, and you probably want to have a box of tissues handy when reading it. Adeline’s mother died two weeks after giving birth to her, and the family considered her bad luck as a result. Years later her father remarried, and her stepmother was exceedingly cruel. Despite these challenges, Adeline excelled academically. As this family drama unfolds, World War II and the Chinese Civil War occurs in the background." 


[This e-book is available 24/7 in our OverDrive collection.  The next two print books can be found in the General Stacks on the upper level of the Dick Smith Library.]

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris – "A hilarious read that is a nice break from the tear-jerker mentioned above. You might still need that box of tissues, but this time it will be because you’re laughing too much. This is a collection of autobiographical (possibly humorously exaggerated) essays of the author’s life. From taking a speech therapy class in his childhood, to living abroad in France, and much more in between. This author finds humor even in the mundane and challenging events of his life.

Japan 1941: Countdown to Infamy by Eri Hotta – This work tells the story of Japan’s decision to bomb Pearl Harbor from the Japanese point-of-view. This book reveals that many Japanese officials realized that bombing the US would have terrible consequences, but the tragi-comic realities of Japan’s government and society at the time pushed them along this disastrous course. Hotta is a great writer and the way she tells the story makes this book hard to put down."


Tuesday, June 12, 2018

National Sewing Machine Day

National Sewing Machine day is an unofficial holiday that is celebrated every year on June 13. It was created in recognition of the invention of the sewing machine, a machine that made clothing production easier and quicker.

Who invented the sewing machine?

In 1790 an English inventor, Thomas Saint, received a patent for a machine that would be powered by a hand crank and could sew leather and canvas. Alas no one has ever found evidence that his idea went beyond initial drawings.

In 1874, William Newton Wilson discovered Saint's design and built a working model. The model was later donated to the London Science Museum.


Since Saint's initial design, many inventors have tinkered with the machine in order to improve its functionality. One of the most notable modifications to the machines came in 1851 when Isaac Singer adapted the design to include a foot pedal and a push down needle. Singer was then able to bring the machine beyond factories and into American households.



You can click on this link to further explore the history, and controversies, behind the creation of the modern sewing machine.

How to celebrate National Sewing Machine Day?
  • Sew something for charity
  • If you do not already have a machine, borrow one and practice
  • Examine quilts and reflect on familial heritage
Lastly our library has a large collection of materials to help generate ideas for projects. Below are some examples: 

Books and Ebooks 
Digital Videos
If you need help finding resources, contact the library at reference@tarleton.edu or 254-968-9249.

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Texas Traveling

Are you planning a trip somewhere in Texas this summer? If so, then make a stop by the library before you do. We have a wealth of travel information available in our collection.
The Alamo, San Antonio, TX 2009.
By Daniel Schwen [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons.
Periodicals 

  • Texas Highways - magazine published monthly by the Texas Department of Transportation. Contains many articles with Texas road trip ideas.
  • Texas Monthly - this magazine covers all things Texas (politics, culture, and much more). It also frequently publishes useful information for Texas travel such as this recent article on traveling in the hill country. 
  • Texas Parks and Wildlife - monthly magazine published by the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife. Contains useful information on the recreational activities available at Texas state parks.

Books & eBooks
1933 Texas Highway Map.
Probably don't want to use this for current travel purposes.
[Public Domain], from Wikimedia Commons. 
Websites
If you need help finding travel information for Texas or any other destination, then contact the library at reference@tarleton.edu or 254-968-9149.