Library blog offers tips on landing a Federal job

Looking for a job after college? Don't neglect the civil service sector!

The @yourlibrary blog from the American Library Association just recently posted some tips for finding and applying for Federal jobs and using the USAJobs site. Those of you who have taken seminars with our public services librarian Karen Preslock already have a leg up; Karen's very knowledgeable about the process and is a great resource for you!

According to the blog, there are several reforms either in place or in the works to make the federal job application process easier. The website has been revamped to facilitate better communication between job seekers and Federal agencies.

Good luck!

Let's get reading to rumble!

Wow. I never heard of this before, but I can't stop grinning about it. YALSA, the Young Adult Library Services Association (a division of ALA), and World Wrestling Entertainment sponsor a Wrestlemania-themed Reading Challenge every year for students as part of Teen Read Week. Students from grades 5-6 have to design a bookmark promoting reading. Students from grades 7-12 (and this is the part I love) are supposed to come up with a tag team pairing their favorite WWE wrestler and their favorite literary character and describe how this team would unseat the current WWE tag-team champions.

It's too bad I'm just a little too old to enter. I'd love to see how Thursday Next (from the series by Jasper Fforde) would demolish the Hart Foundation...

Welcome "new" library employees!

The Reinhardt University library is excited to announce the two newest members of our staff! Although they are new staff members, they are actually old hands around here. Drew Childers and Kirsten Rodning, both recent alumni from the class of 2010, were both library student workers during their college days. Well, we decided that we can't do without them! Drew is now the North Fulton library assistant, and Kirsten is on staff here at the main campus. Please join us in welcoming "back" two of Reinhardt's finest!

Don't forget the Waleska Farmer's Market tomorrow

Don't forget tomorrow is Market Day! The Waleska Farmers Market at Reinhardt University will be meeting Thursday, July 1 from 4:30 to 8:30 behind the former Waleska First Baptist Church at the corner of Hwy 140 & Hwy 10.

The market will have its first fruits and vegetables of the season. Get all the goodies you need for your July 4th gatherings at the Waleska Farmers Market!

Registered vendors for the July 1st market:

Foods
Zach White - Plants and veggies <--Reinhardt Horticulturist!
Anne Sherhouse - Plants
Lisa and Fred Dudash - Jams, jellies, breads and cut flowers
Vivan Tritt - Frozen sorbet ice cream
Robert Czeraza - Plants, azaleas and hostas
Larry Speights - Homemade barbeque sauce and spices <--RU's favorite BBQ man!
Jackey and Colline Cantrell - Squash, cucumbers, zucchini --- possibly green beans, tomatoes, okra & peppers
Natalie Durham - Cupcakes, fudge peanuts - Raise money for breast cancer funds - Arrangedtoeat.com
Judy Walker - Jams and jellies
Master Gardeners - Ed Stumpler and Carol Jackson -plant clinic

Arts and Crafts
Eddie Smith- Crafts and pottery
Carolyn Burkholder - Decoupage plates, photographic notecards, handmade purses and knitting items
Susie Carter - Handmade candles
Stephanie Olsen - Handmade Jewelry <-- Hill Freeman Library Employee!
Bonnie Coates - Certified eggs, crafts and parakeets Birds
Rachael Kaplus - Children's and babies' stuffed toys
Edna O'Conner - Handmade quilts, placemats handmade all colors, bowl covers
Brenda Munday

Visiting professors and students give RU international flavor this summer!

The atmosphere at Reinhardt University has a distinct foreign flair this summer. From the apartments to the Gordy Center to the hallways to the classrooms themselves (and naturally, in the library), you can hear students and professors conversing in Spanish.
Reinhardt is very fortunate this summer to be hosting classes for a master’s degree in Spanish language and culture, offered by none other than the prestigious University of Salamanca in Salamanca, Spain. Founded in 1218, the University of Salamanca is the oldest university in Spain and one of the first universities in Europe. According to Reinhardt professor Elaine McAllister, who was instrumental in bringing the program to our campus, the University of Salamanca is universally recognized as the “keepers of the Spanish language.”
The program, designed for high school Spanish teachers, includes two consecutive summers of intensive coursework, along with a professional portfolio and thesis. The program as initially conceived by the education office of the Spanish embassy would have had the students travel to Salamasca for classes, but that proved impractical for young teachers with families. Instead, the Salamasca faculty has come to us. A team of five professors from Spain and about 30 graduate students from Georgia and all across the country are staying on the Reinhardt campus and enjoying the Reinhardt experience.
Dr. Carmen Fernandez, an assistant dean at the University of Salamanca, said, “The campus is really beautiful. We are very comfortably settled.” She spoke of the success of similar graduate programs at the University of Salamanca, and added, “I think we can have the same success here.” This is the fourth year the program has been offered in the Atlanta area.
We hope our guests are enjoying RU’s hospitality. We know that we are all excited to have them here! Dr. Wayne Glowka, dean of the school of Arts and Humanities, said, “This is the most fun I’ve had at Reinhardt in three years! It’s very exciting. It’s nice to hear Spanish spoken in the halls.’
We have had several of the students come to the library during their time here. Dr. Fernandez said she wished they had more time to spend here, that they had enjoyed a presentation by library director Michael Martinez about our resources. She said they were particularly impressed by our digital holdings, and they enjoyed the American way of letting people browse the library on their own. In Spain, libraries more often have closed stacks.
Of course the library at the University of Salamasca has a lot to recommend it. Its vaults contain priceless treasures and historic manuscripts, including a Bible that dates back to the time of the Visigoths!

I found this promotional video online about the University of Salamasca. It's very impressive! Take a look!



Pay close attention around the 4-minute mark for a glimpse of the magnificent old library.

Nancy Pearl interview with Terry Pratchett

"

If you have enough book space, I don't want to talk to you."
— Terry Pratchett

Seattle Channel Video can be played in Flash Player 9 and up

If you've never read any of the Discworld novels, watch this video to learn more about them. I highly recommend them--even to people who ordinarily don't read fantasy. I also recommend his non-fantasy works.

If you have read them, you need no further encouragement to watch this interview! Enjoy! (Just knowing uber-librarian Nancy Pearl likes Pratchett raises her in my esteem even higher).

Terry Pratchett has been diagnosed with a rare strain of Alzheimer's, and he has donated over a half million pounds (equivalent to about a million dollars) to Alzheimer's research in the UK. The loss of even one person to this disease is a tragedy. The prospect of losing a beautiful mind like Terry's breaks my heart.

Anyone for BBQ?

Oh my goodness, I do love me some BBQ. The new issue of Atlanta Magazine arrived today in the library, boasting reviews of 58 barbecue joints and ranking the top five. There are also tips on where you can get the best Brunswick stew, coleslaw, potato salads, baked beans and banana pudding. It's before lunch, and I'm on a diet. This magazine is killing me. Would you like to know where you can get the finest swine in A-town? Come check it out!

Now that I have whetted your appetites, I have another proposition for you. It seems the playground at Waleska United Methodist Church, also known as Hagan Chapel, is in dire need of repair. In order to raise funds for the project, the church is going to be selling barbecue dinners for $6 apiece this Saturday from 3 to 5 pm. All the fixin's are included. I plan to place an order and feed my whole family this weekend! Want to eat pig for a good cause? Come on out!

Then on July 15, at the Waleska Farmer's Market at Reinhardt University, I understand that Reinhardt's favorite BBQ man Mr. Loose Lip Larry will be doing a cooking demonstration.

At this rate, Waleska and Reinhardt University are going to become prime BBQ destinations in their own right!