A human face on a national tragedy

The latest issue of American History magazine features an article on the Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War photographs at the Library of Congress. Nearly 700 photographs depicting mostly young and unknown Union and Confederate soldiers were donated to the Library of Congress by Tom Liljenquist and his three sons (Jason, Brandon, and Christian) of McLean, VA.

As the Civil War nears its 150th anniversary, the passage of time and the magnitude of the suffering (more than 600,000 killed) can obscure the individual human sacrifice and commitment from each of the combatants. These photographs have a shocking immediacy to them. They're just ordinary young men, most about the same age of our students, the same age as (if not younger than) the men and women who are currently serving our country.

The Library of Congress is planning to open an exhibit, "The Last Full Measure: Civil War Photographs From the Liljenquist Family Collection," in April to mark the sesquicentennial. Until then, you can view most of the images at www.loc.gov/rr/print/caption/captionliljenquist.html.

(Photograph from the Liljenquist Collection at the Library of Congress)

The Triplett Collection's OTHER Donor

I've written before in the blog about the massive donation by Don Wesley-Brown that serves as the core of our Triplett Military History Collection. There is another major donor to the collection who hasn't gotten as much press, and that is the Poe family from Ball Ground,GA. Robert and Mary Poe donated about 1,100 books to the Hill Freeman Library and Spruill Learning Center.

The books belonged to Mrs. Poe's brother Frank James Farkus III. Farkus fought in World War II as a member of the US Army's 160th Engineer Combat Battalion. He served under General George S. Patton and participated in the liberation of France. Farkus' time in the service led to a lifelong interest in the European theater of operations. About a quarter of the books in his collection are in German. Many of the books focus on various divisions and units, American and German as well as troops from Australia, New Zealand, India, and South Africa. Mr. and Mrs. Poe inherited the books when Farkus passed away two years ago. They decided to donate the books to Reinhardt, believing that Farkus would have wanted to share them with students.

"While by call number and location they are placed in the Triplett Memorial Military History Collection, they are also designated in the catalog and by a book plate as in memory of Frank James Farkus III," said technical services librarian Joel Langford.

"Say Cheese!" Our Photo Winner

Congratulations to Bonnie Medford! Bonnie submitted the winning entry in our Library Photo Contest. In this picture, Bonnie and fellow sociology major Josh Quintanilla hang out with North Fulton Library Assistant Drew Childers '10 in the Hill Freeman Library. What better place to be on a rainy pre-finals afternoon? The picture was snapped by Anna Dollar.

Bonnie has won a "Year of Oceania" t-shirt.

We will have another photo contest in the spring. Start practicing your smile and planning your photo ops! The most creative library picture will win!

SAY CHEESE!!!!

JUST IN TIME FOR OUR 24-HOUR STUDY SESSIONS--A NEW LIBRARY PHOTO CONTEST!

HOW TO ENTER:

Just snap a picture of yourself and/or your friends in the Hill Freeman Library & Spruill Learning Center sometime between now and the end of finals on December 8. Then send the pictures to Amy McGee at amm@reinhardt.edu, or turn in a hard copy at the desk.

RULES:
The picture must be G- or at least PG-rated. (We know you love the library, but don't get too carried away).
All people in the foreground of the picture should be identified by first and last name. They do not all have to be current Reinhardt students, but the preference is for at least one of the subjects to be currently enrolled at RU.
By submitting an image, you are giving permission for the Hill Freeman Library & Spruill Learning Center to use the image on the website, blog, Facebook page, Twitter, in the newsletter or in other promotional materials. You retain the copyright for all other uses (although a Creative Commons licensing would be way cool).
Be creative--but don't do anything dangerous. ;)

Prizes are involved, as is the chance to see your goofy study smiles preserved for posterity!

Have fun--and say cheese!

From memory to history: JFK, 47 years later

Today is the 47th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

"Where were you when JFK was shot?" When I was growing up, it was something I heard asked of my elders from time to time as the classic cultural touchstone moment. Everyone remembered; the tragedy crystallized mundane tasks like grocery shopping or routine experiences like sitting in an 11th grade language arts class into moments frozen in time and space.

Where were you when JFK was shot? I'm guessing a great many of you, especially you students, were... well... wherever I was. Not present. (I experienced the same sort of freeze-frame in my life when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded, for which I know most of you students still weren't around, and much more so on 9/11).

I read an interesting article today in The Dallas Morning News Online about the Sixth Floor Museum, and how it is transitioning from preserving the history for those who remember to explaining the event to those of us who weren't yet born.

"We're at a pivotal moment right now," said Nicola Longford, the museum's executive director. "We're changing from memory to history."

USA Today's site has a great special section today on JFK's America.

If you're interested in the subject, don't neglect your library's resources. We have a number of excellent books, e-books and videos. I recommend the database American History in Video from Alexander Street Press for their selection of contemporary newsreels associated with the assassination and also some great documentary programming from A&E and PBS.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

Would you like an insider's view of the world of public broadcasting? Thursday at 2 pm on the third floor of the Hill Freeman Library and Spruill Learning Center, Nancy Hall, the former executive director of Georgia Public Broadcasting, will be giving a talk entitled "Public Broadcasting: Life in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood."

As Executive Director of Georgia Public Broadcasting, Nancy Hall served as the general manager of Georgia’s statewide public television, public radio and satellite- and web-based, distance learning networks. She was also President of the Foundation for Public Broadcasting in Georgia. She retired in October 2008. Before joining GPB in 1995 as director of External Affairs, she served as Special Assistant to Georgia School Superintendent Werner Rogers, working in public affairs, including intergovernmental initiatives such as The Family Connection and Governor Miller's Policy Council on Children and Families. While living in Virginia, she worked in Jimmy Carter's campaign for president and the Henry Howell campaign for Governor. She is currently treasurer of Georgia Women for a Change, a member of the Board of the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy and the Atlanta Press Club, where she serves on the scholarship committee. She was recognized as a Woman of Achievement by the Greater Atlanta YWCA in 2007 and recently received the Linda Torrence Award for Leadership in Media and Arts, given by the Georgia Women's Institute. She is a graduate of Leadership Georgia, the Regional Leadership Institute and the Georgia Executive Leadership Institute. Nancy graduated from the University of Georgia, where she was a news reporter and editor of The Red and Black. From Savannah, she graduated from Savannah High School, and was a classmate of Reinhardt's own Assistant Professor Larry Webb.

Thank you to Larry Webb for this information! It should be a fascinating talk for communications majors and anyone who enjoys the quality programming of public broadcasting. After all, we all live in Mr. Rogers' neighborhood!

IMPORTANT LIBRARY BULLETIN!!!

It's crunch time again, kiddoes, and the Hill Freeman Library and Spruill Learning Center has some exciting news for you. The library will of course be closed on Thanksgiving and the day after, and we have traditionally been closed the following Sunday as well. This year, however, not only will we be open for business at usual on 2 pm November 28, but that will also be the start of our 24-HOUR STUDY DAYS. After we open on the 28th, we will not close again until 11 pm on December 2. The stacks will be open, and the library will be staffed. We will also have the usual finals-time complimentary coffee, tea and hot chocolate available.

Pulling all-nighters on major papers can be a lonely business. Come study with us.


(Photo is licensed under Creative Commons by umjanedoan. Thanks for using Creative Commons to share your work with the world).

Happy Veterans' Day, and Thank You...

In honor of the day, I wanted to share this video from PostSecret.com.



Don't forget the Veterans' Day event today in the library at 2 p.m. And don't forget all who have served and are now serving.

This blogger is giving personal thanks to Noble McGee, Kyle Klincko, Clay Limbaugh, Matthew Puckett and Don Wesley-Brown.

"Year of Oceania" Veterans' Day Event!

You will not want to miss tomorrow's speaker! On November 11 at 2 pm in the Hill Freeman Library and Spruill Learning Center, Reinhardt's artist-in-residence George Lucktenberg will be speaking on the Battle of Midway and how it affected the outcome of World War II. Lucktenberg has had a passion for the subject of World War II, specifically the Pacific theater, ever since he was a young teenager looking up to his veteran older brother. Come relive the stories of American heroism and ingenuity, and honor the sacrifices made by all veterans in protecting our nation's freedom!

Congratulations to our "Year of Oceania" trivia contest winners!

Congratulations to the winners of the Oceania Trivia contest:

Christie Mason
Janet Rodning
Cathy Wilson

The answer to the question “Without the use of their eyes, what three things did the early Polynesian people know about the ocean water that enabled them to navigate from island to island?” is:
1) Hearing- The change of rhythmic set of waves against the hull could indicate an island out of sight.
2) Taste and smell- The salinity of the water becomes less as you get closer to land due to the fresh water runoff, and they would be able to smell the vegetation from the islands.
3) Feel- The temperature of the water changes as you come closer to land.

WINNERS, you came closest to the answer so please stop by the library to receive your T-Shirts!
THANKS FOR ENTERING.
--Stephanie Olsen

"Year of Oceania" Movie tomorrow: "Whale Rider"

Come out to Tarpley 215 at 2 pm on Tuesday, November 9, for a screening of the 2002 New Zealand film Whale Rider, presented by The Year of Oceania.

Whale Rider stars Keisha Castle-Hughes as Kahu Paikea "Pai" Apirana, a 12-year-old Maori girl. Pai believes she is destined to become the chief of her people, despite the fact that only males have traditionally held this role. Keisha Castle-Hughes was nominated for the Academy Award for her performance, the youngest Best Actress nominee in history.

Dr. Zach Felix will be on hand to lead discussion of the film and answer any questions.

Remember our ongoing "Year of Oceania" essay contest! You could win a sharp-looking "Year Of" t-shirt if you write the best review of a "Year Of" book, movie, or event! See any library staff member for details!

"Year of Oceania" Speaker Thursday!

Come out to the Hill Freeman Library and Spruill Learning Center this Thursday, November 4, at 2 pm to hear Reinhardt's own Dr. Zander speak on "Captain Cook and the Search for the Southern Continent."

Thrill to true stories of maritime exploration! Remember, you can write a review of this event and be eligible to win a sharp=looking "Year of Oceania" t-shirt! See Stephanie Olsen or any library staff member for details!

Happy Halloween from the Hill Freeman Library and Spruill Learning Center!

Have a spooky but safe holiday this weekend!

If you don't have a costume, or you just want to get into the "spirit" a little early, come on out to the library today for face-painting and temporary tattoos, "Year of Oceania"-style, courtesy of Stephanie Olsen. She will be decorating the
student body" until 5:00 today! Come check it out, and check out how cool you can look!

Here's a video from RUTV about last weekend's impressive Trick or Treat event! My children go every year, and I am always so proud of how you guys go all-out to decorate and dress up for this event! The kids of Waleska thank you!

Face Painting in the Library this Friday!!! Happy Halloween!!!

Year of Oceania Presentations this Thursday in the Library!

Please come out to the library on Thursday, October 28th, to hear some informative presentations on the Year of Oceania from two of Reinhardt's own! From 2pm to 2:45, Dr. Theresa Ast will present "The Island of the Colorblind." (Can you imagine what it would be like to live in a society in which everyone was literally colorblind since birth? How would that affect the way you perceived things and spoke about the things you saw and experienced?) Then from 3pm to 3:45, Professor John Yelvington will speak on the liberation of the Philippines in World War II.


As always, remember our ongoing essay contest! Just read any Year of Oceania book, see any Year of Oceania movie, or attend any Year of Oceania event--for example, this one! Then write a brief review (two paragraphs are sufficient, and send it to Stephanie Olsen at sfo@reinhardt.edu. The winning essay each month wins a "Year Of" t-shirt!

Meet Melissa Doyle, our newest staff member!

"Are we allowed to ask you what you're doing in there?"

Our newest staff member has been a source of some curiosity to students studying on the third floor of the library. She wears a lab coat and has been spotted wheeling book carts out of a plastic-sheeted room in the back corner. Well, I am here to put the mystery at rest! Melissa Doyle, who started working with us last month, is not our resident mad scientist, and we don't keep her locked away in a plastic room so she can conduct her nefarious experiments in seclusion. She's been hard at work cleaning books for our new Triplett Military History Collection.


There were over 120 boxes of books, magazines and other media which needed to be cleaned before they could be processed and put on the shelves. Melissa expects to complete the job this week. After that, she'll finally get to emerge from what she calls "the bubble" to work at the reference desk and help with the next phases of the Triplett process.




I asked Melissa a few questions about her background, career goals and impressions of Reinhardt so far:

Where did you go to school?

MD: I went to Florida State University, where I double majored in Creative
Writing and Humanities with Art History concentration. I am in the MLIS
program at University of North Texas for my Masters in Library Science.

What attracted you to library work?

MD: I think it’s what I was always meant to do. I love books and learning, and
I especially love sharing information with other people.

What do you like best about working at the library?

It’s such a comfortable place, with couches and artwork and books
everywhere, and great people I’ve gotten to know so well. After too many
years in a cubicle farm, I look forward to work every day.

What are your future career plans?

I hope to become a full librarian here at Reinhardt one day. I’ve been
inspired by working on TMMC and want to expand on the Southern history and culture theme of the collection, as well as continue to develop the libraryas it grows. I’d love to see our library become a predominant institution in Southern history and culture one day, especially with so much of it in this area.

What do you think of Reinhardt?

It’s a great school! When I first came up here I immediately felt at home.
Everyone is so nice and easy to talk to, and I love all of the activities
the school has going on.

What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?

I read a lot. I also hula hoop, craft, and explore. I love getting in my
car and just seeing where I end up.

Technical services librarian Joel Langford says Melissa has been a wonderful addition to the library staff. "She has taken on a rather daunting, unexciting project with great enthusiasm. She is very self-motivated and works tirelessly all day on a very tiring task. She is careful and precise in her work, and I hope her experience here will benefit her in her pursuit of a library career as much as she will be beneficial to us."

Special guest blog: "Rising from the Ashes," Part One: My Yearbook Experience by Sam Morton

A visitor to the Reinhardt archives in the Hill Freeman Library and Spruill Learning Center can learn much about the history of the school just from perusing old yearbooks. Our collection of the Cherokee Phoenix dates back to 1948, but stops abruptly in 2004, the last year Reinhardt had an official yearbook. What record will current Reinhardt students leave behind them if they have no yearbook?

One Reinhardt student, Sam Morton, is embarking on a quest to raise the Cherokee Phoenix, like its mythical namesake, back up from the ashes. She will be chronicling this effort here on the library blog. Here in the first installment, Sam describes her personal experience of working on her high school yearbook and what it has meant for her.

I do believe that Reinhardt University is in dire need of a yearbook.
How did I come to this conclusion? It’s a simple, professional opinion.

During my sophomore year of high school, I joined the yearbook staff. It wasn’t my first choice for an elective class (I wanted to take Drawing 1 with all my heart), but it turned out to be the best accident ever. I was assigned to the ads section and realized quickly, that even though working in ads wasn’t the most interesting section in the book, I loved everything about the yearbook process. I loved researching stories, interviewing people, and designing layouts. The photographic aspect however, was my favorite. I loved learning about the cameras, the techniques used to take a great photo, and how the photos should be placed in the book to achieve ultimate aesthetic value.

Yearbook class gave me something to be passionate about. Because I knew this product would be given to people in my school and displayed around the community, I always wanted to do my best. As a newbie though, it was difficult to get my ideas in the book.

My junior year was where I realized my love for graphic design. This has come to be my major in college and I’m lucky that I realized my love for the art so early. I know what I want to do with my life because of my experiences in yearbook.
No longer a newbie, I was able to have a real influence over the content of the book. My stories were published. My photos were chosen. My ideas were listened to and expounded upon. I really felt accomplished and productive. It was a new feeling to me. My passion simply grew. I worked harder in that one elective class than I had ever worked in any of my core classes during my entire life. I wanted to do a good job so badly that I frequently lost sleep due to photo editing jobs. Making deadline was paramount.

Because of all of this hard work, I was chosen by my advisor to be Editor-in-Chief of the yearbook staff during my senior year. This, by far, was the hardest, yet most rewarding thing I had ever done.

I had to learn to speak publicly and convey my ideas effectively. I had to assign jobs, settle disputes, and even learn to get angry when my staff members were wasting time and not turning in assignments by deadline. I held my staff members to high expectations and when they pulled through, I was very proud of them. It was more work to be an editor than I had anticipated, but when the year was over and our book was published, I felt completely satisfied. My staff had done a great job and created the best yearbook of my high school yet.

Keep watching this space for further updates on the journey to revive the Phoenix! If you're interested in being part of this effort, see Sam, or send me a message at amm "at" reinhardt.edu, and I will pass your contact information on to her. Sam, thanks for sharing your experience with us!

Dingo ate my baby: Year of Oceania movie this Thursday

On Thursday, October 21, at 2 pm in Lawson 104, the Year of Oceania program will present the 1988 Australian film A Cry in the Dark, starring Meryl Streep and Sam Neill. The film is based on the real-life case of Azaria Chamberlain, a 9-week-old infant who disappeared from a campground near Uluru in August of 1980. Her body was never found.
Azaria's mother Lindy (Streep) claimed she saw a dingo carrying off the child. Although an initial inquest accepted Lindy's account as true, public opinion began to swell against the Chamberlains, who were accused of killing their baby and trying to cover it up. Eventually Lindy was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor. Three years later new evidence caused the case to be reopened.

Meryl Streep was nominated for an Academy award for her performance. The movie won the Australian Film Institute's award for Best Film. Streep and Neill both took home the Australian Film Institute's best acting awards, and Fred Schepesi won as best director. In 2008 the American Film Institute included A Cry in the Dark in its list of the top ten best courtroom dramas.

Library director and Year of Oceania committee member Michael Martinez will be on hand to lead a discussion and answer questions about the film.

Remember the ongoing essay contest! Just read any Year of Oceania book, see any Year of Oceania movie, or attend any Year of Oceania event. Then write a brief review (two paragraphs are sufficient, and send it to Stephanie Olsen at sfo@reinhardt.edu. The winning essay each month wins a "Year Of" t-shirt!

Australian Consulate to speak at Glasshouse Oct. 20

Tomorrow, October 20, the Year of Oceania will present a special guest speaker. Duncan Cole, the Australian Consulate General and Trade Commissioner in Atlanta, will speak at the Bannister Glasshouse (located in the Hasty Student Center) from 2 pm until 3:45 pm.

As Consulate General, Mr. Cole serves as a representative of the Australian government and works to encourage trade and friendship between his home country and the United States. He also assists Austalian citizens living or traveling in the southeastern US.

Year Of Oceania Trivia Contest!

Without the use of their eyes, what three things did the early Polynesian people know about the ocean water that enabled them to navigate from island to island?

Check your Reinhardt student email for a message from Stephanie Olsen. Reply to the email with your answer, or else come by the library to submit your entry in person.

This contest will run through November 7. All winners will receive a beautiful Year of Oceania turtle logo t-shirt!

Good luck!

Check out the newest addition to the Hill Freeman Library serials collection

INSIDE LACROSSE is now available at the Hill Freeman Library and Spruill Learning Center!!!

Photoblog from Alumni/Family Day 2010

Reinhardt's Family & Alumni Weekend Preview!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Zach Dunbar, Deena Hutson and Gigi Martinez! They are the winners of the Year of Oceania Eyes Tattoo contest!

The aim was to provide the correct number of eyes in the French Polynesian tattoo design pictured here. There are 182 eyes in this tattoo! Zach was closet with his guess of 184, and Gigi and Deena were right behind him with their answers of 185 and 186 respectively.

These three all won a "Year of Oceania" t-shirt.

Stay tuned for our next contest!

Remember, our Year of Oceania essay contest is ongoing. All you have to do is read a book or watch a movie about the Oceania region from our library, or attend any Year of Oceania event. Then write a two to three paragraph summery on the movie, book, or event. Turn it in at the library to either Michael Martinez or Stephanie Olsen. A new winner will be chosen each month.

Good luck! And sharp eyes there, Zach, Gigi and Deena!

Fall Farmer's Market Today from 2 to 6 pm!

Make plans today to come out to the first ever Fall Waleska Farmers Market. The market will be held in the Reinhardt University parking lot behind the Red Sea Church (former site of Waleska Baptist Church) at the intersection of highways 108 and 140.

Reinhardt horticulturist and market guru Zach White will be there selling plants to benefit the Burgess Arboretum at Reinhardt University.

The weather is going to be perfect for strolling around the market and checking out the different booths. All of the vendors are local. They will be selling locally-grown plants; handmade crafts, candles and soaps; homemade desserts, jams, jellies and more.

The Master Gardeners of Cherokee County will be conducting a plant clinic at the market today. They will be available to field any of your gardening questions.

Did you know that the Waleska Farmer's Market at Reinhardt University was voted in August as the 4th best farmers market in the state of Georgia in the America's Favorite Farmers Market Contest? Not bad for our FIRST YEAR! Click here for more information.

See you at the market!

Read for the Record TOMORROW Oct. 7, 2010

Tomorrow, October 7, 2010, you have the chance to help set a world record and help a child in need at the same time.

How? Just go to wegivebooks.org. There you can read the classic, Caldecott-winning children's book The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, and help set a record for the most people reading the same book on the same day.

You don't have to wait until tomorrow to start reading. For every copy of the book read on wegivebooks.org, the Jumpstart organization and We Give Books will donate a copy to a child in need. Why not read it today, to donate a book to a child, and then read it again tomorrow for the record?

Be a part of something. Read for the record!

Year of Oceania Movie TODAY: Ned Kelly

Join library director Michael Martinez in Tarpley 213 at 2 pm for a screening of Ned Kelly. This 2003 film stars Heath Ledger and Orlando Bloom. Ned Kelly was an Irish-Australian bushranger (analogous to an Old West outlaw) in the late 19th century. Some saw him as a cold-blooded killer; some saw him as a folk hero.

This film depicts Kelly, played by Ledger, in a largely sympathetic light, as the victim of anti-Irish prejudice. Unjustly accused of attacking an officer, Ned Kelly and his friends take to the hills to elude capture and plot to clear their names.



Remember our ongoing "Year of Oceania" essay contest! All you have to do is read a book or watch a movie about the Oceania region from our library, or attend any Year of Oceania event. Then write a two to three paragraph summery on the movie, book, or event. Turn it in at the library to either Michael Martinez or Stephanie Olsen. The winner receives a sharp-looking "Year Of" t-shirt featuring the turtle logo designed by Stephanie Olsen.

A new winner is chosen each month. The deadline for our next contest is October 28.

Despite budget cuts, public libraries will survive...

Student worker in the spotlight: Q&A with Sam Morton

Sam Morton is an 18-year-old freshman graphic design major from Ranger, GA. She comes to Reinhardt from Sonoraville High School, where she was captain of the Academic Bowl team and editor-in-chief of the yearbook, as well as participating in Key Club, Beta Club and the Photography Club. We lucked out at the library when we hired Sam as a student worker. She's stepped right into some of our special projects and quickly made herself indispensable around here! I know I wouldn't want to do without her.

Readers of this blog know Sam from her guest post about the Humans vs. Zombies game. You may have seen her in the library, too, wheeling around book carts piled high with materials she's been helping us process. I recently asked Sam to take a break from all of her hard work and answer a few questions for me. So, without further ado, let's get to know Sam Morton!

Why did you choose to attend Reinhardt University?

The campus is absolutely beautiful and everyone I've met here has been so nice. It's been so easy to make friends, and I get the feeling I'll have these friends for a very long time. And the art program here is astounding.

What prompted you to apply for a student worker position at the library?

I wanted to work in the library because libraries are some of my favorite places. I love being surrounded by all the books. It's like stepping into a different world.

Tell me about some of the activities in which you've been involved since coming to RU.

I work in the library (obviously), I'm a member of the Anime Club, just participated in Humans Vs. Zombies, and I'm also trying to start a yearbook for next year.

What's the best thing about Reinhardt so far?

The people. Everyone here is amazing and the teachers really know what they're doing. Coming to Reinhardt was probably the best decision I ever made.

What's the best thing about the library?

You, of course! :D And Michael. And Joel. And Keershton. And Stephanie. I love you guys!

Aww...(blush).. we're kind of fond of you, too. What are your favorite books?

The Harry Potter books have been a huge part of my life and they are definitely my favorite. I love all of them. They're absolutely fantastic. But the Ender series by Orson Scott Card is also fantastic... but so is all of Ray Bradbury's work. And Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, that's a great book. Oh! And Kurt Vonnegut! I love him. I also really love Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.

How about a favorite movie?

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It's Jim Carrey's best work. (He's also my favorite actor, if you were wondering.)

What do you want to be "when you grow up?"

If I could have my way, I'd read books for the rest of my life. But unless I want to edit them as well, that's not really a possibility. Editing books would drive me insane. I can't stand grammatical or spelling errors. I'd like to be a photographer, but yet again, that's something that might be a little out of my reach. So majoring in Graphic Design and getting a job in advertising is where I am right now. I want to be the person behind the logos that we see every day. That unknown person with the small, yet surprisingly significant, work that is taken for granted.

Anything else?

I like answering interview questions, obviously. :)

Thanks, Sam! It's a pleasure to have you on board!

We have our first Year of Oceania contest winner!

I am extremely excited to announce MS. KELSEY FLOYD as the first winner of our Year of Oceania essay contest!!! Kelsey wrote a great piece on the Luau and has won a T-shirt and flash drive.

Congratulations to Kelsey and to all who participated!

If you didn't win the T-shirt, don't despair! We having a essay contest each month. All you have to do is read a book or watch a movie about the Oceania region from our library, or attend any Year of Oceania event. Then write a two to three paragraph summery on the movie, book, or event. Turn it in at the library to either Michael Martinez or Stephanie Olsen. The deadline for our next contest is October 28.

The next "Year Of" event will be the movie Ned Kelly on Oct. 5 at 2 pm.

The “Year of Oceania” books and movies are located on the main floor of the library near the service desk.

You could be next!

Think for yourself! Let others do the same! Banned Books Week 2010

Welcome to Banned Books Week 2010! The last week of September every year is set aside to celebrate intellectual freedom. We observe Banned Books Week by highlighting the benefits of free and open access to information and emphasizing the dangers of censorship.

What does intellectual freedom mean? It means you have the freedom to access information and express ideas no matter how unorthodox or unpopular (or politically incorrect) those ideas might be. In a free society, information is not restricted, and access to unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints is protected for all who wish to read them.

In other words, it's your brain--you get to decide what goes into it! No one makes that decision for you, and you don't make it for anyone else.

The books spotlighted during Banned Books Week have all been the targets of an attempted ban. They range from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to The Lorax, from The Decameron to Twilight to Captain Underpants.

Stop by our banned books display on the second floor of the library, and then check out this website to see a list of books that have been banned or challenged. You may be surprised!

My favorite joke:

It was high noon when he walked into the saloon. Despite the dust clinging to his black and white fur, everyone knew immediately the gunslinger was a panda. You could cut the tension with a knife as the panda lumbered to the bar.

"We don't want any trouble here," the bartender told him nervously.

"I'm here for lunch. Gimme a sandwich and your best sarsaparilla," the black-and-white stranger said.

The saloon's patrons began to relax when the bartender slid the panda his food, and the furry stranger started to eat.

When the panda finished his meal, he stood up, whirled around, pulled out his six-shooters and began to fire. Folks were diving for cover under tables. Bottles were shattering behind the bar. Broken glass rained down from the chandelier amid the hail of bullets. Without a word, the panda returned his pistols to their holsters and started to make his way out the door.

From behind the bar where he was cowering in fright, the bartender asked in a shaky voice: "Why, Mr. Panda? Why did you do it?"

The panda turned around coolly, a grim smile on his fuzzy face. "I'm a panda, pal. Look it up." And he was gone, the saloon doors swinging in his wake.

The town schoolmarm, who was hiding in the back corner, opened her dictionary with trembling hands and read the following:

"Panda: a bear-like marsupial originating in Asian regions. Known largely for its stark black and white coloring. Eats, shoots and leaves."

Happy National Punctuation Day

Special Guest Blog: Undead Confessional!

Well, the first Humans vs. Zombies game of the 2010-2011 school year ended Wednesday night when the last human (I understand it was King Aaron) fell to the shambling hordes.

I'm always vastly amused by the HvZ shenanigans, and also tremendously jealous because I don't get to play! Fortunately I get to live (and die) vicariously through my student buddies (and Jamie Thomas's hilarious writeups on Facebook).

I recently asked library student worker (and my right-hand woman) Samantha Morton, an HvZ newbie this semester, to write a guest blog for me about Humans vs Zombies from a player's perspective. Here's Sam to tell you all what it's like to go from mild-mannered college freshman to fearless zombie fighter to undead menace and back again:

Nerf guns. Sock grenades. Bandannas. Fake blood.
Running. Shooting. Chasing. Falling. Tagging.
Missions. Story lines. Paranoia. The thirst for a kill.

This is Humans Vs. Zombies.

As a freshman, it's been my goal to immerse myself in the different activities here at Reinhardt. I couldn't think of a better way to do that than to take up my Nerf gun, and go kill some brain-obsessed zombies.

After securing my bandanna to my arm, snapping my Flip Clip into my Deploy, and stuffing two balled up socks in my pockets, I headed out, ready for a fight. I had no delusions about the game; I knew how it worked. The humans almost always lost, while the zombies were vicious and ready to win.

My goal: survive long enough to make it through the first mission.

I achieved my goal, but not much more.

After the first mission, I was tagged by my roommate, Original Zombie (OZ) Kat Abrams. At first I was disappointed, but as the second mission neared, I realized that being a brain-hungry zombie was much better than a paranoid human.

To zombies, the mission is kill. Turn as many humans as you can, and then feed your fellow zombies. The camaraderie you gain as a zombie is unparalleled. By rushing as a group, it was easy to tag those humans who couldn't shoot their guns fast enough. It's easy to make friends when you're all fighting for the same goal: victory.

HvZ was a life changing experience for me. Here I sit, bruised, bug-bitten, and sore, but pleased. I made so many new friends, found people with common interests as me (braaaains), and had a ton of fun along the way.

I'm so excited to don that bandanna again in October. I think this time though, I'll register to be an OZ.

The eyes have it...

Reinhardt students! Here's another chance to win a nifty "Year of Oceania" t-shirt!

Study this picture of a French Polynesian tattoo. Count how many eyes are in it. Send your answer to Stephanie Olsen, library staff member and "Year of Oceania" representative, at sfo "at" reinhardt.edu, or come to the library and put your answer on a slip of paper and put it in our jar. The one with the closest number wins.

According to Stephanie, the Marquesan and Lapita cultures believe that tattooed eyes give all-seeing protection. The more eyes the more protection.

All Reinhardt students are eligible. If there is more than one correct answer, we will draw three names.

The t-shirts are light blue with the turtle logo (designed by Stephanie).

Good luck!

A long-expected party...

It's September 22nd! That means it's the shared birthday of J.R.R. Tolkien's furry-footed protagonists, Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. You may remember that it was the occasion of Bilbo's eleventy-first birthday and Frodo's thirty-third birthday that figured in the opening chapter of The Lord of the Rings. If you've never read Tolkien's masterwork of fantasy, this would be an excellent day to begin (it's available on the third floor of the library, under the call number PR 6039.O32. L6 1975). If you've read it before (even several times, as I have), perhaps it's time to revisit it.

Of course, you could always screen Peter Jackson's film version. Pay close attention to the scenery. As New Zealand stands in for Middle-Earth in the film, you could even consider it "Year of Oceania" research! (The screening of Ralph Bakshi's 1978 animated version is not recommended by this blogger).

The occasion really should be marked with fireworks and pints (pints!), but those aren't feasible options for the dorms. Unless it's a pint of root beer. The fireworks wouldn't live up to Gandalf's anyway.



Say what you will of Bilbo Baggins; he knew how to make an exit.

Year of Oceania Luau TODAY in the Gordy

Roasted Pig, Hawaiian Chicken, Coconut Rice Pilaf, Sesame Green Beans, Lemon Pepper Broccoli, Curry Chicken Salad, Ham and Pineapple Pizza
Fresh Cut Fruit, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Whipped Coconut Cake, Pina Colada Mocktails, mmm, mmm, mmm... come out and have a taste of Oceania today from 11 am to 2 pm in the Gordy Center.

Students on the meal plan - please bring your meal cards. Students not on the meal plan, guests and faculty and staff will pay regular meal prices: $6.50 for guests,$2.25 for faculty and staff.

Library staff member and artist Stephanie Olsen will be on hand to give out temporary tattoos of her own design and traditional motifs, including the fantastic "Year Of" turtle!

Luau Tomorrow!

Now you, too, can smell like a library!

Don't get me wrong. I'm thrilled with digital libraries and online collections, but there is at least one thing that digitization can't replicate: the smell of a library. Whenever I step into a library, I like to inhale deeply and revel in the book-scent. The more computers take the place of old volumes, the fainter and fainter that good old scent becomes, replaced by something like plastic and humming wires.

Well, I've found the solution. Book collector and perfume artisan Christopher Brosius of I Hate Perfume has created a new scent called "In the Library." He describes it as "a warm blend of English Novel*, Russian & Moroccan Leather Bindings, Worn Cloth and a hint of Wood Polish

*The main note in this scent was copied from one of my favorite novels originally published in 1927. I happened to find a signed first edition in pristine condition many years ago in London. I was more than a little excited because there were only ever a hundred of these in the first place. It had a marvelous warm woody slightly sweet smell and I set about immediately to bottle it."

It even comes in a room spray. Watch out--I may be wandering around the computers and spritzing that wonderful library scent all around!

Yarr!

Ahoy there, library patrons!

As ye may or may not know, September 19 is officially "Talk Like a Pirate Day!" If ye lubbers don't know what that is (what, were ye marooned on an island or something?), click the link there to find out.

Personally, I'm a big fan of Talk Like a Pirate Day, and I think there should be more silly-actin' and talkin' holidays--maybe Act Like a Ninja Day? But I must admit, in the Pirate vs Ninja debate, I am on the pirate side all the way.

So what does this have to do with the library? Well, for one thing, we do have some piratical resources for ye. Everything from an excellent biography of William Dampier to The Barefoot Book of Pirates to Michael Crichton's Pirate Latitudes. We have a video of the old "Captain Kidd" movie starring Charles Laughton.

For another thing, I just found out that I myself will be captaining the circulation desk on Sunday, September 19th. Hill Freeman Library, prepare to be boarded.

If ye come to the desk between the hours of 2 to 7 pm on Sunday, AND ye talk like a pirate to me, well, there just might be a little treasure for ye in it...

See ya then, lubbers!

Move over Rosetta Stone..

Salve! Salut! Hola! Hallo!

I'm excited to tell you about one of our newest acquisitions! TellMeMore v.10.0 is a self-paced, web-based language learning program accessible from your library homepage.

Just come to the library and set up your account, and soon you can be learning Dutch, English (British or American Flavor), French, German, Italian or Spanish (in Latin American or Original Spanish Spanish varieties).

The program teaches you both to write and to speak the language (so you'll need a microphone and speakers--or check out a headset microphone from the library). The voice analysis is so exact you can hear the word or phrase, then speak it, and compare a visual representation of your speech to one of the native speaker's. Also, any time you see an underlined word, you can click on it to get a definition, hear it spoken, practice saying it or get the conjugation (if applicable).

Are you starting Dutch from the beginning or just want to review your high school French? You can select your current skill level from complete beginner to advanced. You can also track your progress. If you leave in the middle of a lesson, you can return to that lesson when you log back in?

Intrigued? Check out this tutorial.

Ciao!

Don't miss Oceans8 Thursday, Sept. 16!

The Year of Oceania has a rare treat in store for you tomorrow at 2 pm in the Falany Performing Arts Center. Jon Bowermaster--adventurer, writer and filmmaker--will be presenting his video Oceans8.

In 1999, Bowermaster and his team of photographers, scientists, filmmakers and navigators embarked on an expedition. The goal was to visit each of the seven continents, plus Oceania, by sea kayak. The dramatic result became National Geographic's Oceans8, a thrilling and eye-opening view of the world that has been rarely seen.

This presentation is free and open to the public. Don't miss your chance to see this amazing video and hear firsthand the story behind it. Here's just a taste:



You can preview more of Oceans8 at the official Youtube site for The Heliconia Press. Then come see it in high def at the FPAC tomorrow and hear Jon Bowermaster describe his thrilling exploits in person!

YOO Movie TODAY: Australia!

Come out to the Hoke O' Kelley room in the Administration building at 2pm today to see the old-fashioned, sweeping epic Australia. Set in pre-World War II Australia, the movie stars Nicole Kidman as an English aristocrat who inherits a cattle ranch in Australia. In order to protect her new property, she is forced to team with rugged cattle drover Hugh Jackman to drive her 2,000 head of cattle across the (equally rugged) outback. Their journey puts them on a direct course with the bombing of Darwin, Australia, by Japanese forces.

Funk Heritage Center director Dr. Joe Kitchens will be onhand to introduce the movie and answer any questions.

This is a great opportunity to enter our contest and win a "Year Of" t-shirt!

Win a "Year Of Oceania" turtle logo t-shirt!

I've been hearing a lot of you expressing your admiration for the "Year of Oceania" turtle logo. Library Circulation and Interlibrary Loan specialist (and in-house artist) Stephanie Olsen designed the logo based on traditional South Pacific body art designs.

Some of you have also been asking how you can obtain one of those nifty Year of Oceania shirts featuring Stephanie's logo. I am here to tell you how.

Just come to the library and check out a Year Of Oceania book or movie. These are located on the second floor near the circulation desk. Even better, come out to a "Year Of" event. Then write a brief (two- or three-paragraph) summary of the movie, book or event, and submit to either Michael Martinez or Stephanie Olsen at the library by Sept. 28.

You can get started on this project today by attending the screening of the movie Australia, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, in the Hoke O'Kelley auditorium at 2 pm.

Another great opportunity comes up on Thursday, September 16th at 2 pm in the Falany Performing Arts Center. We are very lucky to have Mr. Jon Bowermaster, of the National Geographic Oceans 8 project, coming to speak. Mr. Bowermaster has just returned from nearly three months exploring Antartica by sailboat and sea kayak. You won't want to miss the stories he will have to tell!

If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Olsen at sfo@reinhardt.edu.

Good luck! I hope you all win t-shirts. The Year of Oceania looks great on you!

Have a great LONG weekend!

Just a reminder... the Hill Freeman Library & Spruill Learning Center will be CLOSED on Sunday, September 5, and Monday, September 6, in observance of the Labor Day holiday! Of course, our 24-hour study area is always open for Reinhardt students with their Eagle cards, and you can peruse our electronic journals, books and databases from WHEREVER you're spending your day off (provided you have internet access of course). If you've got a long drive ahead of you, might I suggest coming by today and picking up one of our audiobooks to keep you company?

Have fun, be safe, and we'll see you back here on Tuesday!

Now Hear This! WilsonWeb will talk wordy to you

Listen up!

WilsonWeb, the purveyor of our online databases OmniFile Select and Art Abstracts, has a new feature for those who like to multitask, those with a print disability, those who need a little more help studying those technical journals, and those who still like a bedtime story read to them (and honestly, who doesn't?)

When you pull up an article, the new ReadSpeaker function will give you the option of hearing HTML full-text as an streaming audio file. You can read along just like you did with your audiobooks when you were a kid (back in my day, I had a little record player, and they would ring a bell when it was time to turn the page--but I'm dating myself). I'm not kidding, sometimes it helps you keep your mind from wandering when you're reading a scholarly article full of jargon. Or perhaps you'd like to listen to the article while you're doing something important on another site, like tending those Farmville crops or playing Bejeweled. You can even download the articles as mp3 files to play back later when you're working out or driving or doing some mindless task like folding laundry.

It's not exactly like listening to an audiobook. Wilson didn't shell out for Samuel L. Jackson to record The Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology for you with full inflection (although wouldn't that have been awesome). The voice is kind of robotic, although you can control the reading speed and even select whether you want a male robot or a female robot. You know, for those of you who care what sex your robot is. You know who you are.

It really is a good idea. I have to admit, it makes me more likely to search the Omnifile first just in case there's a good article I want to listen to while taking my nap break. As busy as we all are, we need all the help we can get, and if listening to the robot makes studying more efficient and helps me get more done, I'm going to do it!

Check it out!

AJC Decatur Book Festival this weekend!

For the interested...

YOO Book Note: Getting Stoned with Savages

OK, listen up students, and I'll let you in on a secret. If your professor wants you to read a Year of Oceania book for one of your classes this year, pick Getting Stoned with Savages by J. Maarten Troost. It is, in my considered professional opinion, a hoot and a half. I laughed all through it. Troost has got to be one of the most self-deprecatingly witty travel writers around.

In this book, Troost tells about his experiences living on the remote islands of Vanuatu (where cannibalism is, it would seem, a fairly recent memory, and kava--ideally processed through the mastication of prepubescent boys--is the foulest-tasting, absolutely best narcotic social lubricant known to man), and more urban squalor in Fiji. (After reading Troost's narrative, I found myself snickering at the man in front of me at the checkout counter at Target who was buying a massive quantity of Fiji brand bottled water).

Even his (lengthy) chapter titles are hilarious. For example, "Chapter 5, in which the author ponders cannibalism and discovers that he just doesn't get it--not at all, cannot get past the icky factor--and so, left to his own devices by his beguiling wife, he decides to seek enlightenment on the island of Malekula, where until recently, within his own lifetime even, they lunched on people."

or "Chapter 8, in which the author travels to the island of Tanna, where he ascends an active volcano; witnesses the extraordinary Nekowiar ceremony, culminating with the slaughter of two hundred pigs; and meets with villagers deep within the forest who live according to the tenets of kastom, which is another word for naked."

I have to admit, I was a little uncomfortable with the title, as obviously tongue-in-cheek as it was. The progressive in me bristled and was ready to take offense at the colonial term "savages." It is true that Troost shows little regard for political correctness in his writing, but he is far from bigoted against the indigenous people of Oceania. In fact, he is much more at ease drinking kava with the Ni-Vanuatu than hanging around with those of European stock, who tended to have eighteenth- or nineteenth-century attitudes towards the locals. (Troost reserves his sharpest ire for French yacht racers. Boy, there's a bunch of savages Captain Cook would have given a wide berth).

I enjoyed Troost's book so much, I plan to read his previous work The Sex Lives of Cannibals, about his earlier South Pacific experiences living on the island of Tarawa. And lucky me! The library has it through eBrary! Hurrah! So if you have to read two books for The Year of Oceania, there's another option for you.

Take a (virtual) kava break and enjoy the book!

Armed and dangerous...@ your Library

Check out this great story from the Seattle Public Library's Shelf Talk blog, of how a purse-snatcher was foiled by a resourceful patron and a stack of very heavy library books!

Is any of your assigned reading this semester heavy enough to be considered a deadly weapon? Some of mine might be, but most of it is online. I suppose I could crack someone over the head with my computer.

What's your heaviest book?

Don't miss all the fun today!

Hey, folks, make sure to stop by the Gordy/Hasty lawn area today. There's going to be all kinds of fun and games going on with several Welcome Week festivities happening today.

From 11am - 1pm today is the Student Activities Fair. Trust me, from my advanced age looking back on my college years, the more you can get involved with what's going on on campus, the better your college career will be. There's sure to be something to catch your interest. Take a look, find out what's going on around you! Especially be sure to check out the table for the Year of Oceania. Library staff member and artist Stephanie Olsen will be giving temporary tattoos of her own design. Stephanie created the turtle logo for the "Year of" this year (and last year's bear logo). I've already got my awesome whorl tattoo she gave me this morning. You can stop by the library and check ME out.

Then from 4:00 until 8:00pm, the Gordy Lawn is the site of the Block Party sponsored by Residence Life, Aramark, Campus Ministry, and the Residence Hall Association. There will be food, music, more games and give-aways (who doesn't love swag?).

At some point, especially if you're into good, fresh homegrown food and local crafts, you're going to want to mosey over across the street to the parking lot behind the former Waleska First Baptist Church. From 4:30 to 8:30 pm the Waleska Farmer's Market at Reinhardt University will be happening. Get some tasty treats or some pretty plants to take back to your dorm room. Reinhardt's own chef John Young is going to be giving a cooking demonstration, preparing fresh local fruit and salads. If you've not been to one of our farmer's markets, you should see all the fun you've been missing out on this summer. The market is the brainchild of Reinhardt horticulturist Zach White. He started it up in May, and it has just become wildly popular. Seriously, it is the place to be in Waleska! You have no idea.

Enjoy it all today!

Year Of Oceania Book Note: "Come On Shore and We Will Kill and Eat You All"

Okay, granted, the book is worth picking up for the title alone...

Come On Shore and We Will Kill and Eat You All: A New Zealand Story could be described as an anthropological memoir. Author Christina Thompson, a Caucasian woman from Boston, tells the story of how she met and married a Maori man named Seven, interweaving their personal history with the tumultuous history of the Europeans' interaction with indigenous New Zealanders. (You'll be relieved to hear that the title refers to the latter topic--and even then is a probable misquote).

Thompson, an academic by trade, has done her research. The book is at its best when she's detailing the historical side of murder, misunderstanding, tragedy and conquest. Compared to the florid historical details, her own story is surprisingly bloodless. In an author's note at the beginning, she explains that she changed details to protect the anonymity of her in-laws. Thompson fairly points out that her husband's family confided in her as a relative and not as a researcher for a potential book. While she does pepper her narrative with some scattered culture-shock observations, it seemed to me that she approached her own story with a certain restraint. When she told how she and Seven eloped, I was surprised, since I'd no idea at that point that they were even romantically involved!

Thompson seems more comfortable with disclosure when she talks about her three sons and the mixed heritage they share. She also shares some of her own family history, which will resonate with those members of the Reinhardt community who participated in last year's "Year Of" theme. She feels guilt that her family prospered at the expense of an indigenous people, while her husband's people suffered at the hands of colonial interests.

The book is a quick read (I finished it in one sitting), and it packs an impressive amount of historical fact and perspective in 253 pages. I recommend it to anyone who wants a quick education about the Maori people and the European colonization of New Zealand.

WELCOME BACK, STUDENTS!

Two things are ever constant on the first day of each semester: I will have the theme song to "Welcome Back Kotter" stuck in my head all day, and almost none of the incoming students (although there are exceptions) are old enough to remember the show.

But welcome back students, and welcome to all of you who are just beginning your time at Reinhardt University (yay)! This is the inaugural year for the university, and I know there are a lot of festivities planned to honor it. What's it like being part of history? On behalf of all the library staff, I would like to let you know that we don't bite! Forget all the scary librarian stereotypes you've heard. We actually do want to help you, so if you have a question--whether it's a research query or if you just need to know where the bathroom is--please ask!

Another thing that is a near-constant on the first day of classes is the question of how to log on to the computers in the library. Things have changed a little since last year, so listen up! We are going to try to keep the computers logged on all day, but if someone logs one off, here is how to log it back on. Type "usernopassword" for the name, and leave the password field blank. That should bring the computer up to the desktop.

Once you have the desktop up, you will see a new icon in the upper right corner. That is how you access your personal drive on the network. You can use your regular sign-on for that.

Good luck, everyone! On a personal note, your blogger friend here is also starting school this semester, so good luck to all of us!