New Books Displays

Crystal's book art at the Reference Desk new books display

Those of you who’d like to browse through some of the newest things added to the Dick Smith Library’s collection should take a look at our new books displays. There are two on the main floor: one at the Reference Desk and one in the student lounge. Crystal Money, the library’s Reference Assistant, maintains both areas and switches out the books at the beginning of every month. Everything in the displays is available to be checked out.

Here are a few of the books currently on display:

Come Take a Look at Our New Display!

 





If these images intrigue you, stop by the library and see the whole thing - we've got a brand-new Coca-Cola themed holiday display. It's located right across from the Suave Cafe, so you can enjoy a cup of coffee or a snack at the same time.

Arr, Today be National Talk Like A Pirate Day!

Display on Piracy.

Ahoy, mateys. Today marks the 10th Annual National Talk Like A Pirate Day! There are several things you can do to participate in this day of fun. You can change the language of your Facebook to English (Pirate). You can also use the Tarleton Libraries Mango Languages database to learn to talk pirate.

Why does it take Pirates so long to learn the alphabet? Because they can spend years at C! (Please Pause to Laugh...you know it's funny!)

You can search Discovery to find books on pirates, the history of piracy, and modern piracy, or stop by the New Books display and "checkout" the books that have already been selected.

Why are pirates pirates? Because they ARRRRRR!!(Again..just laugh.)

Talk like a Pirate, ye scurvy dogs!!

Moby Dick: Book Discussion & Library Display

• Want to share ideas about Herman Melville's Moby Dick?
• Curious to hear what others think about the novel?

You're in Luck!

Tarleton’s Bibliophiles Anonymous group is getting together to discuss Moby Dick and everyone's invited:

• Thurs., August 2
• 4-6 p.m.
• Nursing Building lobby

Consider joining the conversation.  It should be a treat.  Contact Hank Jones (wjones@tarleton.edu) or Marcus Parks (marcus.parks@go.tarleton.edu) if you'd like more information.

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• Want to to read other works by Melville or what others have said about them?

You're in Luck, Again!

When you're in the library, be sure to checkout what's on the display in the lobby.

Crystal Money, Library Reference Assistant, has created a display of Melville's works and books by others discussing his works.

If you see something that interests you, check it out! All you need is your Texan Card.

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• Want to read critical reviews of Moby Dick?
• Looking for published articles about Melville's works?

How Lucky Can You Get?

The library subscribes to several databases that offer critical essays, explanations, and discussions of Melville's works (i.e.Literature Criticism Online, Gale Literary Database,  JSTOR, Project Muse, etc.).  Plus, you can use the library's Discovery tool to simultaneously search most of the library's databases.

Just go to the library's database page, choose a database (use your NTNET login when off-campus), and search for Melville and/or his works.  You're sure to find plenty that interests you.

If all these opportunities aren't enough to satisfy your Moby Dick cravings, you can listen to the novel online with Librivox's streaming audiobook.

Enjoy!

National Library Week

Did you know that this week, April 8-14^th, is National Library Week? We are celebrating this week by revealing who will be on the next library READ posters. Want to join in on the fun? Come to the Library’s main lobby from 3:00-4:00PM today, April 11^th, to witness the unveiling of the posters. While you’re here, be sure to check out the great displays that our staff has put up for your enjoyment. There's never a dull moment in the Dick Smith Library!

One last thing...

It’s funny how we as Americans often define ourselves by our work. Telling someone “I’m an accountant” or “I work with kids” will give a certain kind of message, and they will assume certain things about you.

On Monday, September 19, I’ll be leaving this country to study for my Master of Arts in Information Studies at the University of Brighton. I’m doing this so I can continue to further my career in libraries.

Though I’ve only ever worked in one library, I can honestly say that it’s the best place I’ve ever been employed so far. The reason for this is simple: librarians (and other information professionals who work in libraries) happen to be the friendliest, kindest, most generous people I have yet to encounter.

I’m not sure where my future will take me, or where I’ll be working in a year, five years, or thirty. I know one thing, however: if I’m working with library professionals I’ll be associated with the best possible company.

The staff of Dick Smith Library will each hold a piece of my heart. I love them all, and I’ll never forget how they’ve enriched my life for the past five years.

Thank you!

Thomas Schilb

P.S. I’ve attached pictures from my last two displays. Enjoy!

Remembering 9/11

If you didn't realize, Sunday marks a decade since the tragic events of 9/11. In honor of this event, the library has a "Remembering 9/11" display in the foyer. The two sided exhibit features photos, books, and other information as well as original art from Tarleton staff member Alan Magnani. Come by the library to check it out or view pictures of the display on our Flickr page.

Woman's History Month

March is Woman's History Month.  The theme this year is "Our History is our Strength".  Take this quiz by the National Woman's History project and test your knowledge to see if  can you 'Identify These Women of Great Vision and Achievement Whose History Is Our Strength'

Come visit the library to see our Woman's History display created by the office of Diversity and Inclusion.  You can also see pictures (not very good ones!) on the library's FlickR page!

Upcoming Brown Bag Presentations

Two upcoming Brown Bag presentations in the Library Multipurpose Room will celebrate African American History Month.

Tomorrow, Thursday, February 18, from 12:05 to 12:50 PM, students in English 341, Cultural Studies – African American Literature, are going to read excerpts from writings by African American authors. Their instructor, Dr. Marcy Tanter, will also read a few poems by Lucille Clifton, who died this past weekend. Refreshments and student attendance slips will be available.

A week later, on Thursday, February 25, from 12:10 to 12:50 PM, Minority Student Leadership will present a program on African American Heritage. Pizza and drinks will be provided, and student attendance slips will be available.

On your way to and from the Multipurpose Room, check out the displays on African American History Month, including books, videos, and music by African American authors and artists, in the library's lobbies (done by Tarleton's Office of Diversity and Inclusion), and on the main level near the computers (done by library staff).

Top Ten Tuesday - 10 African American Inventors

In honor of African American History Month and inspired by The Top Ten African-American Inventors at Scholastic.com, here are 11 (in ten different books in the Dick Smith Library collection; click on the names for links) African-American inventors:

Elijah McCoy (1843–1929) invented an oil-dripping cup for trains and is the source for the expression "the real McCoy."

Lewis Latimer (1848–1928) invented the carbon filament in the light bulb.

Jan Ernst Matzeliger (1852–1889) invented a shoemaking machine that increased processing speed.

Granville T. Woods (1856–1910) invented a train-to-station communication system.

George Washington Carver (1860–1943) invented peanut butter and 400 plant products.

Madam C. J. Walker (1867–1919) invented a hair-growing lotion and became the first female African-American millionaire.

Garrett Morgan (1877–1963) invented the gas mask AND the first traffic signal.

Dr. Patricia E. Bath (1949–) invented a method of eye surgery that has helped many blind people see.

Lonnie G. Johnson (1949–) invented the well-known Supersoaker watergun.

Otis Boykin (1920–1982) invented 28 different electronic devices, including control devices for guided missiles, IBM computers, and the pacemaker.

John Dove (1924-2003) originated concepts used in making compact discs.

While you're in the library looking for these and other resources, check out the display in the library's lobbies for African American History Month, put together by Tarleton's Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Man on the Moon

Today is the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. I was twelve years old back then, and I remember huddling around the TV with my parents and siblings at our Houston home, watching the ghostly images on the grainy black-and-white video. Amazingly, NASA taped over the original video transmissions, but it’s been restored from a number of sources, including CBS videos – you can hear late anchorman Walter Cronkite in the background:

"Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."

These were the first words spoken on the surface of the moon, by Neil Armstrong after the lunar landing module (nicknamed the Eagle) touched down at 5:17 PM (Central Standard Time) July 20, 1969. With dozens of cousins in Chicago and New York, I remember it felt special that the first word spoken in the "stark beauty" of the “magnificent desolation” of the moon was that of my Texas hometown.

About 5½ hours later, at 9:56 p.m, Armstrong stepped off the lunar module onto the surface of the moon, with the famous words: "That's one small step for [a] man. ... One giant leap for mankind."

(And yes, there was an “a” in there.)

The Dick Smith Library has a display through the end of August on this 40th anniversary (outer lobby) as well as the 50th anniversary of the creation of NASA (inner lobby).

Tarleton Thursdays: Did You Know?

The first Grassburr was published in 1916. It included a listing of all the John Tarleton College alums from the first graduating class in 1903 through the 1915 graduates. The editor, F. Paul Williams, stated that “Time has added another year to the history of John Tarleton College. We have endeavored to make this volume of The Grassburr a representative of the year for every student to remember his pleasures and friends by. We have worked faithfully to publish a book that we will be justly proud of. To what extent we have accomplished this, let time and posterity decide.”
In 1901 the male and female literary societies worked together to produce the John Tarleton, a monthly campus literary journal. In 1904 it became a 2 page weekly news sheet called The Tarletonite. The October 12, 1905 issue stated that John Tarleton President “Edgar Bramlette spent Saturday morning on the Bosque looking for snails, craw fish, et cetera.” It also stated that "Tarleton College will open the season in a game with Howard Payne College next Saturday." In 1919 The Tarletonite name was changed to the JTAC.

Homecoming 2008 will feature a reunion of the Grassburr and JTAC staff from 1953-1958. Stuart Chilton has located many of the former staff members and this will be a great homecoming for them. The Dick Smith Library staff organized a display in their honor in the Thompson Student Center lobby next to the post office. Stop by and take a look!

Be my Valentine

Valentine’s Day is approaching and many of us are thinking about our loved ones, but do you know why we celebrate Valentine’s Day? Check out this video clip on the History of Valentine’s Day @ http://www.history.com/minisites/valentine/.

Need to get inspired?
Here are just a few suggestions from our collection:

E-Books
Personal Author: Aron, Paul, 1956 Sept. 15-
Title: Count the ways [electronic resource]: the greatest love stories of our time / Paul Aron.
DICK-SMITH CALL NUMBER -HQ801 .A2 A76 2002 EB

Personal Author: Shafer, Ken, 1970-
Title: Happy together [computer file]: 500 things to do for and with your sweetheart / Ken Shafer ; illustrated by Tom Szafranski.
DICK-SMITH CALL NUMBER - HQ801 .S466 1996 EB

Books to Checkout
Title: Nothing but you : love stories from the New Yorker / edited by Roger Angell.
DICK-SMITH CALL NUMBER - PS648.L6 N68 1998
Location: STACKS

Personal Author: Fisher, Helen E.
Title: Why we love : the nature and chemistry of romantic love / Helen Fisher.
DICK-SMITH CALL NUMBER - BF575.L8 F53 2005
Location: STACKS

Also, checkout our lobby display of the 100 Greatest Love Poems Ever Written!