Yes, we're open today! Finally!

Hello, Reinhardt folks, did you enjoy your unexpected week off? I sure did! It's back to business as usual in snowy Waleska today. The library is warm, the computers are functioning, and our stacks of books are inviting, so come on in and take the chill off! I would advise you to watch your step, though, especially if you're attempting to navigate the rear entrance near the first floor study area. The last time I checked, that was still pretty icy. The front entrance looks to be a little safer (and check out those beautiful icicles on the crape myrtle just to the right)!

Congratulations are due for PHOEBE BUDD! Phoebe is the winner of this month's Year of Oceania essay contest. Her prize is an Oceania t-shirt and a 4-gig flash drive.

There are still several chances to win! To enter, all you have to do is read any book or watch any movie about the Oceania region (located near the service desk on the 2nd floor of the library) or attend any "Year Of" event. Then write a 2- or 3-paragraph summary of the movie, book, or event. Turn it in at the library to either Michael Martinez or Stephanie Olsen by the 28th of each month for your chance to win.

In case you're wondering, we do encourage "double-dipping." If you read a book or watch a movie about Oceania for one of your classes this year, we will accept the work you did for that class as an entry. There's no reason not to enter!

Good luck!

Check out Cherokee Tribune 1/6/11

Check out today's issue of the Cherokee Tribune, either online (at cherokeetribune.com) or at the library for a couple of interesting front-page articles.

Your eye will first be drawn to a great picture of chemistry major Cam Rosenfeld hard at work in the stacks of the Hill Freeman Library. There's an accompanying article by Kristal Dixon discussing Reinhardt University's plans for the near future, including new graduate programs in Education and in Spanish and the possibility of fielding our own football team. (College football in Waleska? I have to admit, I'm rooting for a "yes" decision from the Board of Trustees this May).

After you check that article out, be sure to read the lead story about Cherokee County's 2011 budget. The good news is the budget has been balanced without the need to cut county government staff or government-provided services--but outside agencies that receive county funding--including the Sequoyah Regional Library System--may see a shortfall.

Check it out.

(Photograph by Todd Hull of the Cherokee Tribune)

Library now open on SATURDAYS!

Welcome back, students! I hope you all had a nice break, with whatever appropriate winter holidays and a happy new year's included! Now, you're all nice and rested, recharged and ready for a new semester, RIGHT?

Well, we've got some great news for you! This semester, for the first time, we've added SATURDAY hours to our schedule! The library will be open from 1 pm until 6 pm on Saturdays all semester long (excluding holiday weekends and school breaks).

We also got a lot of positive feedback for our 24-hour study days during finals last semester, so you can look forward to more of those around finals time in April.

Of course, as always, students have access 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to our after-hours area. All you need is your Eagle card to gain entry.

Good luck to all of you! We at your library are here to support you and help make Spring 2011 your best semester yet at Reinhardt!

Oceania in the News: Killer Flood in Rockhampton, Australia

NPR story here

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!