Commencement speaker's book available in the library

The speaker at tomorrow's commencement ceremony will be Woodward Academy President and United Methodist Elder Dr. F. Stuart Gulley. Dr. Gulley is an ordained Methodist minister as well as a leader in education and in his community.

Reinhardt President Dr. J. Thomas Isherwood has called Gulley a "fitting" choice to address the last graduating class of Reinhardt College and to welcome the new era of Reinhardt University.

Dr. Gulley is an authority on the moral dimensions of leadership. His latest work, entitled The Academic President as Moral Leader: James T. Laney at Emory University, 1977-1993, is available for checkout at our library. It is located on the third floor, call number LD1751.E3817L36 2001 .

Commencement activities will begin with the Baccalaureate tonight at 6:30 pm in the Falany Performing Arts Center. The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Ron Flowers, president of the Reinhardt Ministerial Association.

The commencement ceremony will begin at 9:30 tomorrow morning in the main gymnasium.

Congratulations again to all of our graduates. We are proud of you!

Reminder: Library closed this Sunday

The library will start its summer schedule after today. We will be closed on Sundays from now until the start of fall semester.

I will be posting our summer hours soon.

Eco-tip of the day: PARTY!

Congratulations to all of our students, especially to our graduates! You've made it through another year! Your hard work has really paid off!

For our final eco-tip of the day: PARTY! Celebrate the start of summer vacation! I challenge you to celebrate in an environmentally-friendly fashion. Have everyone bring his or her own cup to cut down on the mess of disposables. Send e-vites instead of paper invitations. (I wonder--does anyone use paper invitations anymore?)

Be safe, be sensible--but have fun! You've earned it!

Final "Year Of" Movie: Aleut Story, tomorrow at 2 pm!

The Year of North American Indigenous Peoples' film series will officially wrap up tomorrow with the screening of the powerful documentary Aleut Story. This film documents the little-known story of the forced internment of indigenous Alaskans during World War II and their struggle for their civil rights.

In 1942, as World War II reached Alaska, Aleut Americans were transferred to government camps 1,500 miles away. Anyone of 1/8th or more native blood was compelled to ship out. An estimated 10 percent perished.

Filmed on location in Alaska and Washington, D.C., this poignant, richly textured film contains rare archival images and compelling interviews with Aleut internment survivors — many of whom are speaking out for the first time in more than 60 years.

To learn more about the film and the history behind it, please see the official website at www.aleutstory.tv.

Aleut Story will be shown tomorrow, April 29, at 2 pm in the theater at the Funk Heritage Center.

Eco-Tip of the Day: Be a Locavore!

A locavore is someone who eats food grown or produced locally. The idea is that foods grown locally don't require additives to keep them fresh longer for shipping, and they also don't require the fuel expenditure to transport them.

Grow your own food when possible (container gardens work well for tomatoes and herbs). Check out local produce stands. I'm a big fan of Clear Conscience Natural Market in Canton; they stock a lot of locally produced food items. I often buy my eggs from Mrs. Smith the math teacher.

Of course, a GREAT way to start being a locavore is to check out the Waleska Farmer's Market, NEW this summer! This is a joint venture between Reinhardt and the city of Waleska. The Market will be held from 4:30 pm to 8:30pm the first Thursday of each month from May through August. The site is the Reinhardt University parking lot behind the old Waleska First Baptist church at the corner of Highway 140 and Highway 108. The Grand Opening of the Waleska Farmers Market will be held Thursday May 6. Contact horticulturist Zach White at (770) 720-5988 for more details!

Farewell my senior friends

This is not a blog I was looking forward to writing. One of the best things about working on a great campus like Reinhardt's is getting to know the wonderful students, and that's very true. I look forward to seeing the same faces every day in the library. I don't feel like I'm staff, and you're students; I feel like we're friends. Of course, the reality is that you all put in your hard work for four years and then go off to bigger and better things (better than here?), and well, you leave. And I miss you!

Four of our student workers whom I've been blessed to know and work with for the past few years are graduating on Saturday. I'm as proud as I can be of all of you, but I also have to say that I am very much going to miss working with all of you.

Chris Williams, you were actually one of the very first people I met when I started working here. I've had so much fun joking around with you about the A-Team and Evil Dead (you still have my Army of Darkness dvd by the way). Even more so, I am going to miss your kind heart and your listening ear. You have a caring spirit that shines even brighter than those sharp outfits you wear. Reinhardt has been so enriched by your being here, and I know you are going to go on and be a huge success in life. I will look forward to following your career the way I used to keep track of you through your many accomplishments here!

Brielle Chinn, you have been a huge help to me. Any time I needed something done, I knew I could always count on you to do it and do it well. How am I ever going to manage without you? :) You have a way of coming into a room and lifting everyone's spirits. You've done great things at Reinhardt, and I know you will continue to shine in the big business world. You have blossomed into a confident and classy young lady and are a great example and role model. Keep your faith in God and your faith in yourself, and there is nothing too big for you to accomplish.

Drew Childers, my fellow Waleska native, the small-town boy with the super-sized heart! I know we're going to see each other again--we Waleska folks have to stick together. Your empathy is tremendous, and I don't know if you've ever met a stranger. We've seen each other through ups and downs over the years, and through it all your faith has been strong. You walk the walk of Matthew 22:37-40. I believe in you. Believe in yourself. Don't forget it. (And thanks for the tunes, D-Rizz).

Kirsten Rodning, my friend, what can I say? Except, of course, that this is not goodbye. Our friendship just graduates to "grown-up" level, right? I mean, now that we're both grown-ups! ;) Remember what Dorothy said to the Scarecrow? What a lovely surprise to find a kindred spirit! I'm sure the Library Mystery Club will continue to find puzzles that need to be solved, and I may need to call on my fellow detective. I will always think of you every time I see David Bowie, and I will know that somewhere you are screaming inside. Remember scholarly analyses of The Lorax and the months that stretched Murphy's law to its limits. It's all material for a writer: use it. The road goes ever on and on.

If I can give all of you one piece of advice, it's this. When you get to be my age, and you look back, it won't be the things you did that you'll regret the most. It will be the things you didn't do.

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. ~Theodor Seuss Geisel

Thank God for Facebook! ;)

And Bo and Kelsey-- thanks for your hard work, too. :)

Eco-tip of the day: laundry day

Are you washing your clothes before you pack them up to take home for the summer? Of course not, you're packing them for mom to do! Hey, give mom a break and do them yourself when you get home. Give the folks a break on their electric bill too by turning the dial on the washing machine to "cold." 90% of the energy used by washing machines goes into heating, and most loads don't need hot water anyway. The higher the water temperature, the higher the cost both to you and to the planet. I would go ahead and say that of course you should wait to do laundry until you can do a full load, but I have a feeling that's not a problem for most of us, haha...

Eco-Tip of the Day: Slow Down!

I found a great article by Benjamin Jones on The Daily Green about boosting fuel economy. He reiterates the usual things you've heard (slow down, don't take unnecessary trips, keep your car maintained), but he really puts it into perspective by comparing your car to riding a bicycle. How much energy does it take to go as fast as you can on a bike, all the time, as opposed to taking an easier pace? How much harder would it be to pedal a bicycle that was broken down, as opposed to a smooth ride on full tires? Just because you don't feel the difference of energy expenditure between driving 45 mph and 65 mph doesn't mean your car can't!

Congratulations to our shining stars!

Congratulations to KIRSTEN RODNING for representing us so well yesterday at Honors Day with her English award and to DREW CHILDERS for his Communications award. I am going to miss you all more than I can say.

A very big congratulations to the best boss ever, MICHAEL MARTINEZ, for winning the Elizabeth Moss Bailey Faculty Mentor Award. This award means a lot because it's chosen by the students. The plaque states that "his outstanding commitment to the student body both inside and outside of the classroom has distinguished him as not only a professor, but also as a friend." Our library director really cares about our students, and it shows in their love and respect for him. We are so proud!

As usual, I understand our library "frequent fliers" really cleaned up with awards and honors. Somehow I don't think that's a coincidence!

Congratulations to all of the award winners. We're extremely proud of all of you.

Coffee breaks!

This Sunday from 2 to 11 pm as well as Monday and Tuesday nights, there will be free coffee available in the library for Reinhardt students. Thanks to Karen Preslock for heading up this initiative to provide our hardworking students with their favorite late-night study aid!

Eco-tips for the end of the semester

If your notes are in a binder and you want to save them, take them out of the binder and staple them. Re-use the binder.

If you don't want to save your notes, recycle the paper.

If you don't want to keep your books, sell them or donate them.

Don't "trash" all your hard work!

Good luck everybody!

Scarier than finals...

Good luck on those finals everyone! There's an eerie quiet in the library this morning, after all that frantic activity of folks working on papers and presentations and gearing up in study groups for the big tests. I expect to see a few of you back in here after this morning's exams. Let me know how you did! And when you finish up those finals, before you leave to go home, please do come by to tell us goodbye. Check the blog over the summer and stay in touch.

I thought I'd share with you an email you might find at the very least amusing as a study break, or perhaps an example of something at Reinhardt that is scarier than finals week!

Back around Halloween, I posted this entry in which I shared some Reinhardt College ghost stories, and I asked if anyone had any personal paranormal experiences to tell about. Last week, I got a reply from a current Reinhardt student. Here is his story (his name and identifying details have been removed to preserve his anonymity):

Yes, it is 4am but hey it's the weekend and I want time to chill and relax before the school year lets out! But I wanted to share with you... I, am a witness to MANY of these haunting events. :)

Cobb Hall - I have seen the little girl. She is blonde, hair length below shoulders... wearing a light blue dress above the knee. White ruffled socks with cute black shoes. Typical.I have seen her... TWICE. Once outside, skipping and trodding back to Cobb from Gordy, I suppose. And once inside. I heard her giggle once through a vent. Man, no kidding, those vents carry like no other! When you hear a little girl giggling at night, you know something's out there.

Gordy Hall - I have not seen Captain Reinhardt, sadly enough.

Paul Jones Hall - hehe, I don't think it's "against the rules" but I have snuck in there one time with an old R.A. from last semester. It's true: the faucets DO turn on by themselves. There is also a room conjoined by another room... with an open closet. Very weird and frightening to me. I haven't heard the janitor, but I have felt his spirit on the top floor. I picture a black janitor for some reason, and his spirit felt shy and discomforting... like he was begging to be left alone.

Lake Mullinax - Last semester, I witnessed something IN the lake. A glow - about a blue/greenish glow. It doesn't fill up the whole lake, but a big spot near the middle. This can be viewed from upstairs in the big theory classroom, or out of the class piano room. I saw the glow from the distance...outside. It was like a "standing tall" glow.
I am going to say this, and I am honestly telling the truth here - there is splashing. No, not kids playing in that gunky water having fun, drinkin' a couple of beers late at night, ACTUAL splashing. And they are big splashes. Some sort of THING lives in there... My personal guess is a huge, long abnormal beastie like a snake. I nickname it the sea monster.
I also have a good friend of mine who has witnessed the glow, splashing, and a quick glance of the lake monster.
There are also ducks...very loud, annoying, ANGRY sounding ducks late at night...
Around midnight, there is always a cat in the parking lot sitting sideways while its head is turned 90 degrees staring at you as you come out of the side of the music building. This semester, instead, there is a brown rabbit sitting in the middle of the green at midnight. I've also witnessed it at 2:30am, once, just sitting there...
I have also witnessed loud, screeching, roars coming from the lake. I know this is now sounding REALLY silly but I am dead serious. No, it was not the AC turning on...Not it was not a car. It was coming from the lake. That is actually the night I first saw the glow illuminating from the lake.

FPAC - oh man, where do I start? This 5 - year old building is haunted already. The "phantom of the fpac" is actually a female, and her picture is located at the top of the marble stairs. She is said to have died and the spirit followed the picture to the FPAC when it was donated. Her spirit now resides there, and her spirit is normally felt in the concert hall, and/or upstairs.
A lot of people have reported to end up tripping on those stairs.
At night in the atrium, if you stop and listen closely, there is this soft tapping noise that seems to be coming from the corner of the atrium where the communications door is.
In one of the grand piano practice rooms, the piano slide cover goes down and covers all 88 keys automatically without you having to touch it. I only witnessed this once though when I walked out of the practice room and came back in 2 minutes later to find the cover already covering the keys from dust.
The vents - a few times noticed, there is this really soft high squeeling noise coming from the vents... it lasts about 15 seconds, then followed by an EXTREMELY FOUL smell... I was with a group of friends in the common room when we first experienced it. We also witnessed a tall black shadow figure, and a white/grayish medium tall figure walking back and forth past the common room door late at night.
We also witnessed the squeeling noise/foul smell coming from other various rooms.
In room 111 (band room) there is a loud "whoooooooo" sound when it is storming/windy.
If you are in the main hallway (not the hallway by the studio or practice rooms) you can swear you can hear music (mainly piano playing), laughter, drinking, and merriment going on in the air (like a small, sophisticated party). But as you walk more and more, the further it seems to be away, as if you're walking away from it. I have witnessed this MANY times and it is creepy.
No matter what the temperature is in the FPAC, the choir room is always at least ten degrees colder than normal...
My personal witness: I was in my car about to leave when I saw two orbs floating around in the band room. I saw them through the window. They were flying pretty high in the air. One was black and other were grey in color.

Well, that is all I have for you... i will let you know if I found out anything else. Thanks! Hope you had fun reading this! Tell your friends!

I did have fun reading this, Anonymous Commentator! ::shiver:: Thanks for sharing!

If any of you decide to take a break from studying late at night this week, and you decide to "blow off steam" by going ghosthunting, be careful! And drop me a line if you spot anything!

Cathy Wilson: Your Wii is Waiting!

Cathy Wilson, an Education major, won the drawing with her excellent review of Look to the Mountain: an Ecology of Indigenous Education by Gregory Cajete, Ph. D.

Thank you to Dr. Roger Lee, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, who came by yesterday to draw the winning entry. Thank you to all who entered the "Year of North American Indigenous Peoples" contest!

BREAKING NEWS!!!

TWO-TIME "YEAR OF NORTH AMERICAN INDIGENOUS PEOPLES" ESSAY CONTEST WINNER CATHY WILSON HAS JUST WON THE GRAND PRIZE--A NINTENDO WII!!!

Year Of Movie-- and winners!

Hey--get to the Earth Day Fair early, like at 11, so you'll have plenty of time for the penultimate Year of North American Indigenous Peoples movie at 2 pm. Today's offering is the 1994 film Sioux City, starring Lou Diamond Phillips as a young Lakota man who was adopted as a child by a wealthy Jewish couple and raised in Beverly Hills. He knows very little of his Lakota cultural heritage until he receives a mysterious package. It's an amulet, sent by his birth mother from the reservation in Sioux City. He goes to meet her and discovers that she's been murdered. He starts to investigate her death and meets with resistance from the local authorities. Finally, through the intervention of his grandfather, a shaman, and a young Lakota woman, he begins to learn about his people's customs and is even able to contact his mother's spirit.

According to public services librarian Karen Preslock, we got so many great entries this month in our "Year Of" contest that it was hard to narrow it down to just one first place winner and one second place winner! The first place winner, Cathy Wilson, wins TWO t-shirts and a 4-gig flash drive for her outstanding review of the movie Oceti Sakowin! Two second-place winners were chosen, Kirsten Rodning for her review of Dances with Wolves (we love her title: "Conceited or Truly Noteworthy?")and Randolph Hicks for his review of the book All-American--the rise and fall of Jim Thorpe. Both Kirsten and Randolph will receive a t-shirt and a 1-gig flash drive. A third-place winner, Chesley Torrance, reviewed Spirit Rider. Chesley will receive a t-shirt.

Congratulations everyone!

The big drawing for the Wii will take place TODAY in the library around 4:30 pm. Good luck!

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day! Don't forget today's activities on campus!

Today is find-your-own-eco-tip day. Go to the Earth Day fair today and learn one new thing you can do to help the Earth. Hey, why don't you email it to me at amm "at" reinhardt.edu?

Thanks!

Eco-Tip of the Day: Participate in tomorrow's Earth Day activities!

Tomorrow is Earth Day, and there are a lot of things going on on campus. The events start at 11 am on the Hasty Lawn with the Earth Day Fair. Representatives from several companies will be on hand to share information about energy conservation, water conservation, sustainable farming and recycling. From 11 to 1 our favorite horticulturalist Zach White will be selling plants from the Reinhardt greenhouse: vegetables, flowers and hanging baskets. There will be a plant raffle announced at 12:30 and at 1:30.

(If you want to get an earlier start on your plant shopping, the Tri Beta Biology Honorary Society will be selling tomato plants and geraniums at the picnic table next to the Dobbs Building from 11 to 1 today).

Traditionally on Earth Day a tree is planted every year on the Reinhardt campus. This year's tree is very special: a Golden Weeping Willow tree in memory of maintenance supervisor Tommy McBurnett. Members of the McBurnett family will be on hand to witness the planting. The ceremony will begin at 2:30 in front of Roberts Hall.

Please plan to attend these events and enjoy the beautiful sunshine. Especially since finals are coming up. This may be the last time you see the sun for about a week!

New Federally-funded database available for Reinhardt students

The National Criminal Justice Reference Service is sponsored by the US Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs and the National Institute of Corrections, as well as the President's Office of National Drug Control Policy. The National Criminal Justice Reference Service Abstracts database contains more than 205,000 publications, reports, articles, and audiovisual products from the United States and around the world. These resources include statistics, research findings, program descriptions, congressional hearing transcripts, and training materials.

The abstracts include the title, author, sponsoring agency, purchasing address, and journal citation, as well as a 100- to 200-word summary of the document's contents. The database is searchable by keyword and index term.

This database will be of particular interest to those of you who are going into Reinhardt's Public Safety Institute at our North Fulton campus. (Micheal, I am looking at you). The institute provides basic certification and degree programming for fire fighters, law enforcement, emergency medical personnel and military personnel. Cherokee County and a five-city coalition consisting of Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Milton, Roswell, and Sandy Springs, are working in partnership with this program. The Public Safety Institute is working closely with these agencies as well as state and federal homeland security departments. If you want to be involved with helping keep our area safe and prepared, you should contact admissions counselor Ray Schumacher at RES@reinhardt.edu.

Eco-tip of the day: Re-use clothing!

Buy used clothing at Goodwill or thrift shops. Trade and share outfits with your friends. Not only will you save money, you'll help the environment by cutting down on waste and the fuel it takes to transport new clothes to the stores. You'll even be putting a dent in the profits of overseas sweatshops.

Don't throw away clothes that are missing a button or a zipper if you can repair them. Be creative--can you cover a small stain with an applique? Cut up old t-shirts to use as dust cloths.

Don't forget--you can also donate your unwanted clothes and other items to charity. Goodwill is even making it easier for you next week. From Monday, April 26, through Friday, April 30, between 11 am and 7 pm, there will be donation bins on campus between East and West Apartments and Cobb Hall. Hey, the fewer things you need to pack and take home, the easier moving out of the dorms will be.

Eco-tip: Precycling

What is "precycling?" Precycling is stopping trash waste before it starts. Pack a waste-free lunch. Use cloth instead of paper towels. Don't accept a bag with a small purchase--or carry your own bags for large and small transactions. Avoid unnecessary items when you order fast food (straws, lids, napkins, utensils--ask in advance if you don't need them). Buy in bulk to reduce packaging.

Just taking a few moments to think can nip trash in the bud, as Barney Fife would say.

See here for more ideas!

Weekend eco-tip for readers 21 and over ONLY...

Want to avoid buying cleaning products with harsh chemicals? Looking for a DEET-free insect repellent? Want to get more wear out of your clothes between washings?

What is this miracle "natural" product that does all of the above plus helps heal poison ivy and jellyfish stings?

See The Daily Green for the surprising answer...

THIS IS THE LAST DAY!

Today is the absolute deadline for the Year of North American Indigenous Peoples contest! If you want a shot at winning the Wii, you must send your review to Karen Preslock at kp1@reinhardt.edu before 5:00 pm TODAY!

The winner will be announced next week!

Eco-tip of the day

Stock up on fair-trade coffee for finals!
For more information, see www.transfairusa. org.

Tomorrow's movie: Imprint

Come out to the Funk Heritage Center tomorrow at 2 pm to catch this week's Year of North American Indigenous Peoples movie, the 2007 thriller "Imprint." Shayla Stonefeather, a Native American attorney prosecuting a Lakota teen in a controversial murder trial, returns to the reservation to say goodbye to her dying father. After the teen is killed, she hears ghostly voices and sees strange visions that cause her to re-examine beliefs she thought she left behind.

Eco-tip of the day

Carry a refillable water bottle instead of buying bottled water. If you drink from the tap (which is the most ecologically-friendly option), try keeping a pitcher of water in the fridge. That way, not only do you get nice cold water to drink, you ensure that every drop goes into you, instead of down the drain in the sink.

Check out more eco-tips at Green Student U, a blog aimed at college students and featuring interesting news stories on environmental themes (read the story about the Chinese man who created a solar water heater by attaching old beer bottles to his roof)!

The last week to win the Wii

Well, the "Year of North American Indigenous Peoples" contest is winding down. Although the official deadline for the contest has been April 15, librarian Karen Preslock says she will extend the deadline until this Friday, the 16th. Folks, your chances of winning this thing are pretty good! I also understand that the Wii Fit Plus game and balance board are being thrown in. I own this game, and I have to tell you this is the most fun way to exercise that I've ever tried. You even get to "fly" in a chicken suit. I'm serious. Now isn't that worth entering the contest?

All you have to do to enter is to watch one of the library's "Year Of" movies or read one of the "Year Of" books, and write a brief review. Send the review to Karen at kp1@reinhardt.edu. Everyone who enters has a chance at the drawing for the Wii.

Several of you have told me that you've intended to enter, but haven't gotten around to it yet. Well, this is the time!

Some pictures from the Library's Spring Day table

Thanks for coming out to the Library/Year Of Spring Day table. I hope all of you had fun! Congratulations to those who won T-shirts; I'm impressed with your ability to research on the fly.


(Yoshi would like me to remind you again that the clock is ticking. Get those "Year Of" contest entries in!)

Today's eco-tip: Use reusable dishes and cups instead of buying disposable ones. If you don't live in a house or an apartment with a kitchen, you can always wash them in the dorm sink. If you do have access to a dishwasher, here's a cheery thought: a dishwasher uses less energy, water and soap than a person washing dishes by hand. :) Win/win! (source: treehugger.com)

SPRING DAY!

Bo is right. Spring Day.

Daytime classes are cancelled, so head on over to the gym between 11 and 3 for fun, games and free Varsity food. I'll be there again this year sporting my library tattoos and running a "Year Of North American Indigenous Peoples" trivia contest. I'll supply the quote, and you supply the author (you might want to have those iPhones handy). If you get the answer right, you win a free "Year Of" t-shirt!

We'll also have the "Year Of" shirts for sale for just $5 apiece!

If you're partied out at 2 pm, we do have our regularly scheduled "Year Of" movie today at the Funk Heritage Center. Today's offering is "The Doe Boy."



Don't forget-- today marks ONE WEEK before the final deadline to enter the "Year Of" book or movie review contest. ALL ENTRANTS are eligible for the drawing to win the Wii! DO NOT MISS OUT ON YOUR CHANCE!!! Send your book or movie review to Karen at kp1@reinhardt.edu.

That's all I have time for right now! This blogger is heading out to get things ready for Spring Day! See you there!

Energy-saving tips for the dorm!

Courtesy of Goucher College

* Use compact fluorescent bulbs, which last longer and use less energy than regular bulbs.
* Turn off unnecessary electrical devices when you leave a room for more than 15 minutes.
* Enable your computer to go into "sleep mode" when not in use.
* Do not leave computers on all night.
* Unplug appliances and electronics when not in use.
* Unplug cell phone charger when charging is complete.
* Use natural light rather than electric whenever possible.
* Pull down window shades at night in the winter and during the day in the summer.
* Go old school -- try a standard phone with a cord instead of a cordless model, which requires constant energy.
* Turn off and defrost refrigerator over long breaks.
* Don't use power strips to turn on your computer and desk equipment all at once.
* Buy inexpensive mugs and plates that you can wash rather than disposable ones and avoid over-packaged takeout food.
* Reuse envelopes, advertisements, and previously used paper for notes.
* Buy a water filter and refill a reusable container instead of buying cases of bottled water.
* Share magazines and books (Or--ahem go to the library! Or try PaperBackSwap--it's a great site for recycling your books and getting new things to read. Tell them "Jigsawdiva" sent you).

More environmentally-friendly printing tips...

Along the lines of what I was writing about yesterday: check your print settings. If it has to look nice, by all means use the high-quality setting. If it's less important, use the draft setting. We've gone through a lot of ink in these printers this school year!

I mentioned yesterday about using the highlight-and-print selection method when printing from a Web page. Here's another idea. Do you really need to print out that page? Can you save ink and paper by bookmarking it instead? If you're not on your own computer, try an online bookmarking site like delicious.com. (While you're there, check out some of our library's accounts: RCSS for general student success links, RCEDU for education students, and RCBUS for business students). Alternatively, you could do what I do: if I see a web page that interests me, I'll often email the link to myself so I can check it later. Sometimes I start a Word document and list the urls for myself, or even copy and paste the information I need. Then I can just store it on my flash drive.

Reinhardt is one of the few colleges in this area that doesn't charge its students for printing...yet. Let's be conservative of our resources, and maybe we can help keep it that way for as long as we can. Helping the environment is a side benefit!

(Thanks to kaboose.com for the cute clip art!)

Happy Earth Month!

Earth month, you say? Not Earth Day?

Well, it's going to be Earth Month this month in the library. This blogger decrees it (and I have ever so much pull here, you know).

Check out our display of environmental books on the second floor of the library. You'll find everything from that conservation classic The Lorax to practical tips on green living and green businesses.

Some of you have asked me if we're going to have another contest this month like our Black History and Women's History trivia contests. I'm working on that. In the meantime, check this blog and the white board every day for some easy things we can do to try to live a little "greener."

The first tips I'd like to share have a direct impact on all of us here in the library. They have to do with saving ink and paper!

Did you know we have stacks of scratch paper next to each of the library printers? They usually have one printed side and one blank side. If you're just printing out notes for your own use, not a formal paper, you can ask the staff member at the desk to load some of this paper so you can print on the clean side. That's some easy recycling! Even easier: take some of this paper and staple it together to make your own pads for taking notes in class. Cheaper than buying a notebook!

Also, when you're printing only part of a page, such as some information from a Web site, you can always highlight the information and choose "print selection" rather than "print all." That way you don't end up with a lot of wasted paper. If you do end up with some wasted paper, put it in the recycle stack instead of throwing it in the trash. We also have a recycle bin next to the paper cutter.

If you have a number of pages to copy at the library copier, ask a staff member to show you how to make double-sided copies.

If we all try to be a little more conscious of the paper we use (and I need to work on this as much as anyone), not only can we help the environment, we can also stretch out our resources here and keep printing and copying as inexpensive as possible!

I hope you all had a GREAT Easter! I'm already looking forward to Spring Day on Thursday. We'll be having a "Year Of North American Indigenous Peoples" trivia contest and giving away some of those sharp-looking t-shirts. Remember, too, that we are in the last days of our BIG "Year Of" contest. There are only 10 days left! One of you kids is going home with a Nintendo Wii. Who's it going to be?

No fooling...

Happy April Fools' Day! Don't worry--this blogger won't be playing any jokes on you here. I love holidays of all sorts, but this one in particular always makes me paranoid and uneasy. Probably because I present no challenge at all to anyone who wants to fool me! I'm easy pickin's, the sort who says "Really?" when someone tells me the word "gullible" isn't in the dictionary. (It is, and my picture should be there next to it).

According to Daily Life Online, one of our databases, the origins of April Fool's Day are obscure. I remember hearing it was because the new year used to be celebrated in April. When the western world adopted the Gregorian calendar and the year started on January 1, not everyone got the message. I guess those people who were still celebrating the new year on April 1 must have felt pretty foolish!

Another theory suggests the holiday started in commemoration of Noah sending out the first dove from the ark to check for land. Oops! No land yet! April Fool! Some people think the day evolved from the Roman festival of Cerealia (nothing to do with Rice Krispies), the Indian festival of the Huli, or celebrations of the vernal equinox. Another idea is that the day is simply inspired by the unpredictability of springtime weather--how many times have you felt punk'd by the forecast?

In any case, April Fool's Day seems to have come into common observance in Europe during the 18th century. Did you know an April Fool's victim in France is called a poisson d’avril-- an April Fish? Must be because they fall hook, line and sinker.

No joke though--I do want to tell you about a couple of things coming up. One is today's "Year Of" movie: Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. As always, the film will be shown at 2 pm in the Funk Heritage Center. Remember, if you want a chance to win the Wii, you only have half a month left to enter the contest! Read any "Year Of" book or see any "Year Of" movie, write a review and send it to Karen at kp1@reinhardt.edu. Everyone who enters is eligible for the drawing, so get those entries in!

The college (and the library) will be closed tomorrow in observance of Good Friday. This Sunday morning at 7am will be the annual Easter sunrise service in the Gordy! I've attended this service in the past, and it is always very moving. Plus they feed you! It's worth getting out of bed.

I hope everyone has a happy and safe Easter weekend! And please don't tell me my shoes are untied. I'll fall for it--and I'm wearing pumps today!

This is funny, though. And today's featured articles and news on Wikipedia are even funnier. Dude--there's a reason your profs won't let you use these sites for your research.