Late Minute Election Information

Less than a week before the 2012 Presidential Election!  Are you prepared?

Looking for last minute election information assist you in making an informed choice?  Have you checked the validity of the candidate's statements? Do you know about their campaigns?

Check out the library's Election 2012 Research Guide which contains access to the latest news, fact checking resources, and candidate information.  Use the guide to learn more about the candidates, their speeches, and current campaigns. 

Research Tip: Stable URLs

Have you ever been interrupted while researching and copied the search URL in an email with the intent to return to your search at a later time?  If so, you have learned that in most cases, it does not work when you return to it.

Why?  Each time you start a session in one of the library's databases, a unique session ID is attached to that search.  When the window is closed, the database considers your research session over and the URL is no longer valid.

The fix: enter stable URLs.  A stable URL is a short URL listed somewhere in the record for the article or periodical that you are interested in.  It can also be called a permanent URL.  If you bookmark, save, or copy a stable URL, you will be able to directly return to the article you selected.  Look for stable and permanent URLs in our library's databases.

New Database: Mango Languages

Hewes Library purchased access to a new database, Mango Languages.  Mango is an online language-learning system that can help you learn languages like Spanish, French, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, German, Mandarin Chinese, Greek, Italian and more.  They describe their product:

"Mango uses common, everyday conversations as the basis of each lesson, so your patrons will be able to start using and appreciating what they learn right away. Our comprehensive methodology includes all four key-language components (vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar and culture) and integrates strategically placed memory building and critical-thinking exercises to help users remember and adapt what they learn."

Access Mango Languages from the Databases: Find Articles web page of the library's website.

Database access is limited to the current students, staff, and faculty of Monmouth College.

Database Highlight: Biographical Research: Part 1 - American National Biography

Biographical Research-Part 1- American National Biography

Need to find out information on an historical person for a paper or presentation?  If you are in need of detailed information about a person, then finding a book in our library catalog is your best option.  But if you only need general information or are just curious and want to find out more information about someone, then try one of Hewes’ biography databases.  American National Biography contains information and photos on a wide variety of people who contributed to the fabric of America.  Some were born here, others were not, but all either lived most of their lives here or made their most significant contributions here. 

If using this database, it is best to use the “search by name” feature if you know the name of the person for whom you are seeking information.  Using the “search full text” box will not always bring up the correct person first.   Use the “Last name, First name” way of typing in the name to quickly get to the entry for that person. 

There are other ways to search the database without knowing the name of a person.  For instance if you are looking for a scientist, military person or government officer to write about, you can use the “occupations” list to narrow the search by category such as Military and Intelligence Operations, Government and Politics, and Science and Technology.  Clicking on this will give you a listing of all the people in the database who fall into that category.

You can also search Special Collections on American Indian Heritage, Asian Pacific American Heritage, Black History, Hispanic Heritage and Women’s History.  Just clicking on one of the boxes will bring up a listing of people who fall under that category or you can use it to limit your search.  The database lists people by their popular name, for instance search for “Babe Ruth” not “George Herman Ruth”.

When should I use this database?  Use this database to find information for papers on historical individuals who have contributed to America in some way.  It also is a useful place to go if you are looking for ideas for a paper topic.  The “research ideas” button found at the top of the page links to a “jump-start your research” with articles and lists of important individuals on topics like the Civil War, Gilded Age, Women’s History and other topics.

NOTE:  This database does not have information on current individuals like Barack Obama or Taylor Swift.  If you need information on current people, use the database Current Biography Illustrated which has pictures and short biographies of people currently in the news.  This database will be described in Part 2 of this article.

Treasures of the Collection: Railroad books.

Treasures of the Collection: Railroad books.

Last time this column talked about one of the more unusual items found in Hewes library, the Canopus stone.  This time the column will talk about one of the large book donations received by the college, a collection of over 300 books about railroads and trains.

In 2005 an anonymous alumni donated a collection of railroad books to Monmouth College.  Because the city of Monmouth, although not a rail hub (that is the nearby town of Galesburg), has many trains passing through the city every day on one of the main routes belonging to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad and there was a faculty member who was active in researching the history of American railroads, the collection was gladly accepted.

Railroads and railroading is an area of great interest to many people, with many clubs, societies and groups dedicated to collecting and sharing information about trains.  Many of the books in Hewes are unusual, detailed accounts of trains, their engines and railroad companies.  The books also contain memories of people who worked or travelled on the railroads.  Large percentages of them are labors of love, prepared in great detail by people absorbed in the topic of trains and railroads.  Nearly all of the books include large amounts of photographs and drawings, for example, the book American Locomotives consists almost entirely of schematic drawings and photographs of American locomotives made between the years 1830-1880.  There are numerous books that focus on individual types of train such as steam, superliners and electric and even more specialized titles that give great detail about some of the many rail lines that once operated in the United States such as B & O Power a history of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad between the years 1829-64 and Pennsy Power, a description of the steam and electric locomotives of the Pennsylvania Railroad 1900-1957.

Among the more interesting titles is The Collector’s book of the locomotive, which talks about the many forms of collectible involving locomotives such as photographs, post cards, glass and china, advertising and toys.  The toys covered by this book include trackless, clockwork, steam, electric and small and large scale models. 

Another unusual title is Fifty years on the tracks, a book written to commemorate 50 years of the Caterpillar Tractor Company of Peoria, Illinois which originally was the Best and Holt companies that made steam engines for farm use in the late 19^{th and} early 20^th centuries.  Some of the books are quite rare.  The book A long look at steam, a collection of the author’s photographs of steam engines, is one of only two copies available in Illinois.  The titles Lines East is the only copy of this book in Illinois and one of only 9 copies available in libraries nation-wide.  The collection can be searched in the library catalog.  For those interested in browsing the collection, many of the books can be found in the first floor OVERSIZE collection at call numbers TF23 and TJ 603 and others can be found by browsing the call number TF23 in the main collection.  All of the railroading books are available for loan.

ScotsRead Books Arriving

New ScotsRead Titles have arrived and been added to the collection.  You can find them on the Main Level of the library near the study tables.  Check out:

• The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
• The Vanishing Point by Val McDermid
• America Again: Re-Becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't by Stephen Colbert
• Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
• NYPD Red by James Patterson
• Sleep No More by Iris Johansen

Research Help

Are you struggling with a research paper? Are you unsure where to find scholarly journal articles on your topic? Stop by the Reference Desk or email the Reference staff to step up an appointment.

The Hewes Library librarians can help you locate scholarly articles for your paper, statistics for your speeches, and more! Librarians are available at the following times or by appointment:

• Monday - Thursday: 9am - noon, 1:30pm - 4:30pm, and 6pm-9pm
• Friday: 9am - noon and 1:30pm - 4:30pm
• Saturday: No librarians are available
• Sunday: 1:30pm - 4:30pm and 6pm-9pm

New Items at Hewes Library

New items are added to the Hewes Library collection on a continual basis. Recent titles have included:

• New Digital Storytelling by Bryan Alexander
• Racial Innocence by Robin Berbstein
• Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney
• God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
• Just Listen: a novel by Sarah Dessen
• Conduct of War, 1789-1961 by J.F.C. Fuller
• Bullied by Carrie Goldman
• History of Trust in Ancient Greece by Steven Johnstone
• Writing for Others, Writing for Ourselves by Jerry Lanson
• Identity Theft in Today's World by Megan McNally

Treasures of the Collection: Monmouthania for Homecoming 2012

Treasures of the Collection: Monmouthania

October is a time of nostalgia.  The falling leaves and cooler weather remind one that the end of another year is coming.  Colleges use this time of year to hold homecomings and invite alumni to return to their alma maters giving them an opportunity to catch up with old friends, find out what’s new and to participate in a variety of events, including a football game.  To help get in the mood for the return of the alumni, this column will take a look at the large collection of Monmouthania held by the library. 

 

 

What is Monmouthania?  It is the name used to describe all sorts of memorabilia directly related to the college.  Included are such items as the book, “How to study at Monmouth College” from 1957, a Wee Scots guide 1955-56, explaining for new students, “…the traditions and rules of Monmouth College…”, dance cards and favors used by young women at formals given by various campus groups such as the TKE Orchid formal of 1958, the student council Spring formal 1936, and the unaffiliated women of Monmouth College’s “Evening in Jade”.  All of this material can be seen in the display cases found in the Special Collections room on the second floor of the library. 

 

 

But that is not the only material available there. Another case contains books written by current and former Monmouth College faculty.  Included in these is “The Theology of New England” by D.H Wallace, the first president of Monmouth College (1857-1876) and “Charlotte’s Web” (Tela Charlottae) translated into Latin by Bernice Fox, a professor of Classics at Monmouth College from 1947-81.  Books by current faculty members William Urban and Thomas Sienkewicz are also included in the display.  Still other cases contain sports memorabilia and one shelf memorializes former music faculty member Gracie Peterson with photos and proclamations.

On the ground floor, behind the Reference disk you can find a collection of old yearbooks, alumni directories, catalogs and books about Monmouth College, Monmouth and Warren County. 

Can’t make to homecoming this year, but still want to relive old memories?  Then take a look at the MC on-line archives, consisting of two sites where you can find searchable versions of the student newspapers, catalogs and yearbooks.

Homecoming 2012: Scots through the Decades

Stop by the library to view all of the Homecoming decorations!  Hewes Library is featuring two timelines - Scots through the Decades and MC Libraries through the Decades. 

Hewes Library & Einstein Brothers Returns to Regular Hours

Today Hewes Library and Einstein Brothers Bagels have returned to their regular hours.  The upcoming break hours schedule can be found online.

Banned Book Week 2012 Wrap Up

 

Banned Book Week 2012 officially comes to a close today, but the library displays will remain up until the beginning of next week.

Take a few moments to browse the books that have been challenged or banned throughout the country. Browse through the list of most frequently challenged titles to see how many you have read.....you may be surprised!

Books are available for checkout. Please take them to the Circulation Desk on the main floor of the library with your MC ID card to take them with you.

Fall Break Hours

Hewes Library will have the following hours for Fall Break:

Friday	October 5	7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday	October 6 - 7	Closed
Monday	October 8	8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday	October 9	8:00 a.m. - Midnight

Regular hours will resume on Wednesday, October 10. 

BBW: Top 10 Most Challenged Books

For the previous year (2011), the Office for Intellectual Freedom at the American Library Association counted 326 challenges to materials.  The most frequently challenged books were:

1. ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle
   Reasons: offensive language; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group
2. The Color of Earth (series), by Kim Dong Hwa
   Reasons: nudity; sex education; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group
3. The Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne Collins
   Reasons: anti-ethnic; anti-family; insensitivity; offensive language; occult/satanic; violence
4. My Mom's Having A Baby! A Kid's Month-by-Month Guide to Pregnancy, by Dori Hillestad Butler
   Reasons: nudity; sex education; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group
5. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
   Reasons: offensive language; racism; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group
6. Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
   Reasons: nudity; offensive language; religious viewpoint
7. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
   Reasons: insensitivity; nudity; racism; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit
8. What My Mother Doesn't Know, by Sonya Sones
   Reasons: nudity; offensive language; sexually explicit
9. Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily Von Ziegesar
   Reasons: drugs; offensive language; sexually explicit
10. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
    Reasons: offensive language; racism

BBW: YouTube Virtual Read Out

Check out the Virtual Read Out on YouTube featured Banned Books Week.  Readers are encouraged to read short segments of their favorite banned or challenged book. 

BBW: Library Displays

Banned Books Week library displays are in the east and west lobby areas on the main floor.  Feel free to check out any of the displayed titles.

BBW: Challenge vs. Banning

Banned Book Week (BBW) 2012

What is the difference between a challenge and a banning?

According to the American Library Association:

"A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials. Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others. Due to the commitment of librarians, teachers, parents, students and other concerned citizens, most challenges are unsuccessful and most materials are retained in the school curriculum or library collection." ~American Library Association's About Banned & Challenged Books

Looking to learn more on Banned Books Week? These resources will be helpful:

• American Library Association's Banned Book Week Website: Full information on Banned Book Week and the history of the event.
• More on the differences between a Challenge and a Banned Book
• More Terms & Definitions relating to Banned Book Week