Thursday, December 17, 2009

Sherlock Holmes reception Monday January 11!

You are cordially invited to the opening of the Richard Ray & Joshua Davis Green Sherlock Holmes Collection BSC Library ~ Wood Room NOW Monday, January 11th from 4 – 5:30 p.m.
  • Enjoy scones, tea, and other refreshments
  • Peruse a unique collection of books, magazines, films, and posters, and memorabilia —including a complete 1893 first-run set of stories appearing in Harper’s Weekly
  • Meet the collectors of these treasures, which will henceforth be housed in the Library Wood Room

Free tickets to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie, starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law, will be available to the first 30 BSC students who attend.

Best costume contest: Students who come in costume as a Sherlock Holmes character will also have a chance to win a a Barnes & Noble gift certificate!

Co-sponsored by BSC Library, Office of Interim & Contract Learning, and SGA Quest II

Library Closed for the Holidays

The BSC Library will be closed over the College's holiday break, from December 19 through January 3. We will reopen on Monday, January 4 at 8 am. Happy Holidays!

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Library schedule for reading days/final exams

Reading Days / Final Exams schedule: December 9 - 10 (Wednesday - Thursday) 8:00am - 2:00am December 11 (Friday) 8:00am - 10:00pm December 12 (Saturday) 9:00am - midnight December 13 (Sunday) 2:00pm - 2:00am December 14 - 16 (Monday - Wednesday) 8:00am - 2:00am December 17 (Thursday) 8:00am - 10:00pm December 18 (Friday) 8:00am - 5:00pm
During these extended hours, the Electronic Classroom on the ground floor will also be open during the hours the Library is open.
The library will be CLOSED for Christmas & New Year's holidays from December 19 - January 3

InterLibrary Loan Notice:
All Interlibrary Loan Books are due back in the library December 9th. The library will give no renewals and we will not ask other libraries for any ILL books after December 9th due to the Christmas rush of mail. We will still ask for articles until December 18th. Students can still submit requests for books; we will hold these requests and and ask for them first thing on January 4th.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Professor Jim Neel's podcast now available

Art professor Jim Neel's Provost's Forum presentation, "Babel, Babel, Babel: Politics, Plumbing and Porcelain (Or why we should change the name of our species)" is now available. It is a really interesting discussion of how Professor Neel developed the idea for his current exhibition. The podcast is at:
We hope you enjoy the presentation.
Steve Laughlin

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Two new faculty podcasts available!

The Library is pleased to present two podcasts of recent BSC faculty presentations. Kelly Russell’s talk entitled “Redefining the Family” is an insightful look at how changes in family structures have affected classroom environments. The podcasts are at (video listed first, then audio):
Renée Norrell’s talk, “Memory and the Quest for Identity: Québécois Fictional Narratives during the Quiet Revolution” is a fascinating discussion of the literature of French speaking Quebec during the time of the 1960s Quiet Revolution. The podcasts are at (video listed first, then audio):
Remember that all the podcasts available from the Library are accessible from the Podcast link on the bottom of the BSC Library home page. Enjoy!! Steve Laughlin

Monday, November 30, 2009

Faculty Publication -- Terrorism: A History

Associate Professor of History Randy Law is having quite the year. His new book, Terrorism: A History, was published this past summer by Polity press, a British publishing house that focuses on sociology, politics, and social and political theory. The book’s most recent review, published only last week, congratulated Law “on what is an error-free and well-presented book with a sprinkling of black and white images” and an “exhaustive bibliography.” The review concluded that “Law’s study provides the main reading for any political theory or international relations course.” The book can be found in the BSC Library (call number HV6431 .L39 2009). Shortly after Terrorism: A History came off the press, Professor Law headed off for the Ukraine, where he has been continuing to study terrorism on a Fulbright scholarship. His wife, Hannah Wolfson, has recorded their experiences there on her lively blog (http://theunlitsea.com/ ). We all look forward to welcoming back the Laws, along with their son Alex, when they are expected to return to Alabama next week.
--Anonymous Library-type Blogger

Monday, November 23, 2009

Thanksgiving Week Hours for the Library

The BSC Library will be open the following hours during Thanksgiving Week: Monday 11/23: 8 am - midnight Tuesday 11/24: 8 am - 7 pm Wednesday 11/25: 8 am - 5 pm Thursday 11/26: CLOSED Friday 11/27: CLOSED Saturday 11/28: CLOSED Sunday 11/29: 2 pm - midnight Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Striking 12: A New Musical for the Holidays

Feeling like a Scrooge? Well, then you should definitely go out and support the BSC Theatre in their performance of Striking 12 to put you in the Holiday spirit. Striking 12 is a musical that brings together old and new styles while combining music from all spectrums. It is a story that mirrors Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It is about a man at Christmas time that has turned into a Scrooge. He is very depressed at the end of the year when he meets a girl selling holiday lights which leads him to the story The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen. Through his journey, the man comes to discover what really matters in his life – and just in time for the New Year. It will be showing on the Mainstage of the Theatre starting this Thursday: November 19-21 at 7:30 p.m. November 22 at 2:30 p.m. Be sure to make time in your busy schedule for this amazing rendition of Striking 12! For more information on this and other upcoming productions visit the BSC Theatre's Homepage.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Provost's forum: Babel, Babel, Babel

The chimps are coming!!!!

Professor Jim Neel talks on politics and the inspiration behind his creation of the chimpanzee army that is currently on display in the Durbin Gallery in the Art building. The title of his talk is: Babel, Babel, Babel: Plumbing, Porcelain and Politics or Why We Should Change the Name of Our Species.

Gain insight into these monkey warriors, Tuesday 11/17 at 11 a.m. in Norton Theatre.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

New databases - including the Historical New York Times!

The BSC library has recently subscribed to online versions of several important resources, which were previously available only in print or microfilm. All of these are accessible from the library's Databases page, from on-campus or off-campus (with a valid BSC user ID and password). Here are the juicy details: Historical New York Times (Full Text, Full Image) The New York Times in full-text and full image articles, dating back to the very first issue. Searchable by key word, subject, company/organization, person, location, and creative work. Facts on File - World News Digest An archival record of domestic and international news, covering "all major political, social, and economic events since November 1940." Ulrichsweb Bibliographic, publishing and pricing information on more than 300,000 periodicals from around the world, including academic and scholarly journals, Open Access publications, peer-reviewed titles, popular magazines, newspapers, newsletters, and more. Bibliographic Index Plus Covers "over 530,000 bibliographies appearing in periodicals, as whole books, or parts of books," from 1982 to the present. Essay & General Literature Index Cites essays and articles contained in collections of essays and miscellaneous works. Its focus is on the humanities and social sciences, covering topics on political science, history, criticism of literary works, drama, and film, etc. Short Story Index An index to short stories written in or translated into English that have appeared in collections and selected periodicals, from 1984 to the present. Play Index An index to 44,000 plays published individually or in collections from 1949 to the present.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Kevin Stump to Discuss Entrepreneurship with BSC Community

Kevin Stump, a well respected BSC alum, will be returining to the BSC campus Tuesday, November 10th to speak. The title of this event is "Entrepreneurship, Finance, and Management", but don't be led to believe that this event is restricted to Business Majors. Everyone, especially those who are curious about or have an entrepreneurial spirit themselves, are invited to attend. Stump has obtained a successful career by being an entreprenuer so this event is bound to be informative and insightful. Amazingly, at a young age, Stump founded his own company and has since led it to national success. By way of his knowledge and experiences, Kevin Stump is bound to convey a message to the entrepreneur in each of us. Let's welcome him back to the BSC campus this upcoming Tuesday during common hour in the Harbert Auditorium.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Library used book sale this Friday & Saturday

The BSC library will be holding a used book sale on Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7, in conjunction with Homecoming & Alumni Reunion weekend. Hardbacks and CDs will be on sale for $1, and paperbacks for 50 cents. The sale will be underway from 9 am to 5 pm each day. Come stop by the first floor of the library to see what books await you!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Writer Thomas E. Kennedy to speak Nov. 2 at 3:30

BACHE visiting writer Thomas E. Kennedy is scheduled to speak today at 3:30 in Harbert Auditorium. Kennedy has written numerous books, essays, short stories and poems, in addition to working for the medical profession as an editor, speechwriter, and translator. A native of New York, Kennedy currently makes his home in Denmark. His most recent book, Riding the Dog: A Look Back at America, was published in 2008. If you'd like to know more about Thomas E. Kennedy's work, visit his website at http://www.thomasekennedy.com/ ... and come hear him speak!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Meet Lenora Johnston, evening circulation supervisor

Ms. Lenora Johnston, the latest addition to the library staff, began working at Birmingham-Southern earlier this month. Ms. Johnston has a B.A. in Communications from the University of Alabama, and has worked previously at the University of Alabama-Birmingham's Lister Hill Library and for the Birmingham Public Library system. She is both knowledgeable and personable, and we are very pleased that she has joined the library staff. You can find her at the library circulation desk on Sundays from 2 pm to 10 pm, or Monday through Thursday from 1:30 pm to 10 pm... ready to lend a hand! Welcome, Lenora!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Alina Fernandez to Share Experiences with BSC Community

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, Alina Fernandez is scheduled to speak to the Birmingham Southern community about her experiences growing up in Cuba and being the daughter of political leader, Fidel Castro. Currently living in the United States, Fernandez's story is expected to intrigue listeners and amaze audience members as she reflects on events she witnessed growing up in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s in Cuba. Fernandez's lecture will take place in Bruno Great Hall (in Norton) at 7pm on October 27th. It is an event sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, listed as CEIS credit, and an event that everyone is encouraged to attend. Hope to see you there.

Provost Provides Pianist to Please the People's Ears

The Provost’s forum this October is a lesson in The Piano and the Pendulum, by Lucy DeSa. Dr. DeSa is the distinguished Assistant Professor of Music for Birmingham-Southern, recently added to the BSC faculty for the 2008-09 year. Lucy DeSa gained her Bachelor of Music from the University of California, Irvine in 1983 and later completed her Master of Music from the University of Southern California in 1986, finally gaining a Doctor of Musical Arts from Stony Brook University in 2007. With all these educational honors, she graced the faculty of University of California Irvine, Irvine Valley College and University of Massachusetts, Lowell before coming to BSC, as well as performing nationally as a recitalist and chamber musician. Dr. DeSa has great skill in teaching and performing her music; her primary interests include collaborative piano, group piano, keyboard harmony and applied piano. You may have been lucky enough to have her for an MS 110, 310, or 410 piano class, and can attest to Dr. DeSa’s prestigious skills. Up until now, these skills have been somewhat hidden from the greater BSC community, but on October 27 that will be remedied as Lucy DeSa presents an 11:00 am Provost’s Forum titled The Piano and the Pendulum. Held in Hill hall the alliterative title will come to life under Dr. DeSa’s care, and I’m sure the crowd will come away refreshed. Birmingham-Southern students are encouraged to attend this unmasking of a master—and for the skeptics, don’t worry—you can even check her out on Facebook.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

New Podcast - Gail Smith on Harriet Beecher Stowe

The Library is happy to present the first podcasts of the 2009/10 year. Dr. Gail Smith presented " Faith in the Flesh: Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Illustrated Feminist Scripture" on September 17th. Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin and Dred also wrote Women in Sacred History, in 1874. Dr. Smith discussed the contrast in the text of the book compared with the illustrations used in the work. It is an interesting and enjoyable presentation. The podcasts are available in both video and audio format on the library's Provost's Forum Podcasts page, at http://orgs.bsc.edu/podcasts/. We hope you enjoy them. Steve Laughlin

Dr. Michael Leslie: "Oh, brave new world!"

Thursday at 11 am in the Norton Theater, Dr. Michael Leslie (a member of the English faculty at Rhodes College and Dean of the British Studies at Oxford Program) will discuss the creation of a web-based edition of the works of the dramatist Richard Brome. A brief description of the talk, provided by Dr. John Tatter, follows:
"Oh, brave new world!” Digital Publication and the Drama of the Age of Shakespeare
There has always been a problem with editing and publishing drama in the age of print: so much that excites us and is crucial about theatre can’t be reproduced on the page. And the costs of print publishing mean that even not-for-profit publishers are only willing to print and promote a few star writers whose works they think are bankable (to all intents and purposes, Shakespeare). The result is that what is available for students and others interested in drama is radically limited in a variety of ways. New publishing technologies may offer exciting ways around some of the limitations. Digital publishing removes the costs of print and paper and substantially diminishes the costs of distribution; and the digital medium allows us to rethink what it is that an edition of a play text might be. For the past three years an international group of scholars has been creating a digital, web-based edition of the works of one of the most popular but now virtually unknown dramatists of the generation that follows Shakespeare: Richard Brome. With two minor exceptions, Brome’s plays haven’t been published or performed for centuries, and presenting them on the web is intended to re-introduce Brome to those interested in early modern drama. The edition is striking, however, for its incorporation of video of workshop experiments with actors and discussions between actors, editors, and specialists in such disciplines as costume, scenery, lighting, verse speaking, and dialect. The edition will “go live” this fall, and Professor Leslie's talk will present it and discuss some of the issues it raises.

Monday, October 19, 2009

New SGA DVDs - October 2009

All of the following DVDs were suggested by students, and have been ordered from SGA funds for the Library. They are available in the video area on the first floor, either in the New section or alphabetically under call number PN1997: 21 Baghead Before the devil knows you’re dead Bourne supremacy Burn after reading Casanova Chumscrubber Coraline Dead man Dog soliders Election Elizabethtown Fall Ferngully: the last rainforest Get smart Ginger snaps Ginger snaps 2 (unleashed) Hamlet 2 Hard candy Henry Poole is here In Bruges Jezebel (restored and remastered edition) Journey to the center of the earth Life before her eyes Limey Longshots Looney tunes Madagascar – escape 2 Africa Mystery men Nick & norah’s infinite playlist On golden pond Orphanage Perfect score Pineapple express Role models Romy and Michele’s high school reunion Sex and the city (the movie) Smiley face Soul men Spirit Strangers Taken Twilight (two-disc special edition) Wall-e Willard Yes man Zodiac

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Fall Break Hours for the Library

During fall break, the library will be open at the following times: Thursday 10/15: 8 am - 10 pm Friday 10/16: 8 am - 5 pm Saturday 10/17: CLOSED Sunday 10/18: 2 pm - midnight Happy fall break!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Recent Gifts to the Library's Music Collection

The library received several exceptional gifts of music this summer! During this past summer the library received a gift of 1500 CDs from Dr. Marvin Whiting. His gift includes many different artists such as: Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, Joseph Haydn, Georg Philipp Telemann, Antonio Vivaldi, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. And those are only a few. Another gift came from Dr. James Cook, one of our own music professors, who donated 400 CDs including western and non- western types of music. Professor Emerita Mildred Allen generously gave the library a selection of more than 150 opera recordings upon her retirement in May; and in August, Professor Ron Hooten donated a number of books related to music education, from his personal collection. Almost half of Dr. Whiting's donation is already on the shelf and ready to be checked out. The rest of the gifts are currently in process. We greatly appreciate these gifts. They have increased the library's music collection to well over 5000 CDs of western vocal, orchestral, and chamber music, and enhanced the print collection as well.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

The Laramie Project

The Birmingham-Southern theatre department promises to impress yet again with this fall’s performance of The Laramie Project, written by Moises Kaufman and the Members of Tectonic Theatre Project. Opening night is October 6, 2009 at 7:30pm, and shows continue at 7:30pm through the 10th. The final performance is October 11 at 2:30pm. The play will be performed in the more intimate setting of Theatre One, the smaller underground stage of the theater building. Directed by Alan Litsey, only 100 seats are available per night, so get tickets now! They are available in Norton and the theater department has its own box office as well.

The play is set in Laramie, Wyoming based on 200 interviews with the people of Laramie after the grotesque murder of Matthew Shephard shook the town in 1998. The play takes a candid, intense look at hate crimes and crimes against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) community; Matthew Shephard was murdered because he was homosexual. The theatre department pulls off this feat in exploring 60 different characters, portrayed by only 12 different actors. This play carries special meaning, performed so close to the anniversary of Shephard’s death eleven years ago on October 12, 1998. The dedicated cast includes Ginny Coats, Fred Brown, MacKenzie Smith, Jasha Vaughn, Jordan Crenshaw, Chris Hicks, Lisa Bamberg, Kristen Leonard, Joseph Laughridge, AnnaRose MacArthur, Ethan Hamm and Alan Young.

Laramie makes no pretenses as a “happy play.” The goal is to spark discussions and thoughts to prevent any more of these tragedies. It is a thoughtful play, and our theatre department is well up to the task set before them. Students and community members alike are highly encouraged to see The Laramie Project and support the theater and the message Laramie sends. And if you forget your Kleenex, don’t worry; I’ll have mine.

-Alyssa Briggs, Junior

Thursday, October 1, 2009

BSC's Durbin Art Gallery to Host New Exhibit

On Friday, October 2nd, from 6-8pm Birmingham-Southern College's own Durbin Art Gallery will open its new exhibit entitled "Visibilities: The Art of Negotiating Identity". The exhibit will feature artwork from 8 skillful artists around the United States and Canada and have themes pertaining to politics, sexual identity, and social issues. The exhibition, funded mainly through the Office of Multicultural Affairs, ALLIES , and a grant from the Mellon Foundation/Associated Colleges of the South, will last until October 23 and have many other events associated with it. During the duration of the exhibition existing on campus, there will be round-table discussions, speakers, receptions, film discussions, and more (For dates, times, and locations see http://csunx2.bsc.edu/CeisFutureEvents/FutureEvents.html.) The fact that "Visibilities: The Art of Negotiating Identity" will be BSC's first national invitational exhibition and will only be hosted by the Durbin Art Gallery for a few short weeks are only two of the many reasons to come out to enjoy this exhibit. Whether it is to take in the beauty of the featured artworks or to contemplate life events, this exhibit is not one you will want to miss.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Banned Books Week

BANNED BOOKS!

Did you know you have most likely been reading Banned books? There are many books that are common for middle and high school classes to read that are either being questioned or are banned in the United States. The American Library Association (ALA) has published a list of the top 100 Novels of the 20th Century that have been Questioned, Challenged, or Banned. The things that can get a book put under these categories include sexually explicit material, offensive language, material deemed unsuitable for the age group, violence, and homosexuality. There are a few other things that people have called out in quite a few book such as anti family, and religious viewpoints. These are just a few things people have questioned over the years.

This is Banned Books week and here is the link to the ALA website where you can find a list of challenged and banned books. Check it out -- how many have you read?

Monday, September 28, 2009

Enjoying Beethoven's Piano Sonata in C Major, Opus 2 No.3

“Musical training is a more potent instrument than any other because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inner places of the soul.” –Plato Rhythm and harmony have certainly found their way into the soul of William DeVan. DeVan has been a professor of music at Birmingham Southern College since 1980, and students in varying majors have had the opportunity to learn the arts of the piano from him. Whether they are students studying music, math, or science, he has taught them all. DeVan has given several master classes in China. He has also performed in Xiamen, Nanning, and Paris. To put it in his own words, “I regard every piano student that I teach as a future patron of the arts. I want to make sure that all of my students have an understanding of the demanding process of learning that results in a performance at the piano.” This Tuesday during common hour, Professor William DeVan will be performing in Hill Hall. The title of the performance is “Enjoying Beethoven’s Piano Sonata in C Major, Opus 2 No. 3.” Please plan to make room in your day for this significant cultural event.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Did you know...

that the BSC library added nearly 6000 items to its collections last year? More than 17,000 books, DVDs, and CDs were checked out by students, faculty, staff and other library patrons over the course of the 2008-2009 academic year. Come join the party: thousands of books are sitting on the shelves right now, waiting just for you...!

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Dialogue Week: Chewing the Fat with BSC

Talk. Gossip. Chatting. Lectures. Conversations. Discussions. Birmingham-Southern College is a primary source of information-exchange for a lot of people; among friends, professors, in and out of class. This week, however, they’re doing something special. This year BSC announced the debut of the Dialogue Series, a “yearlong, cross-disciplinary discussion on a single topic,” according to the BSC website. This fall the focus is Dialogue on Food, inspired by “Menu for the Future,” published by Northwest Earth institute. Birmingham-Southern has engaged several big-name speakers to encourage interest in this topic, including Frances Moore Lappé, democracy advocate, Ana Sofia Joanes, director of “Fresh,” and David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. The week includes events and speakers from all professions and perspectives; panels on “What is the place of food in your religious tradition?,” local issues, food taxes, and even discussions featuring some of BSC’s own Psychology professors, Drs. Witte and Meggers, on the topic of eating disorders. The week begins on September 22, 2009, with Frances Moore Lappé’s “Dialogue on Food: From Sustenance to Community.” Talks and panels continue through September 24 at various hours and locations. For a complete list of events, times and locations, visit http://csunx2.bsc.edu/CeisFutureEvents/FutureEvents.html. For more information on Dialogue Week and individual speakers, please visit BSC’s web-page about the event, at http://www.bsc.edu/dialogue/index.htm. There are links to different books about food, films about food, and even an essay contest exclusive to freshmen at BSC with rewards up to $100! Food is universal; what better way to start talking than over a meal? Join BSC in the first of many Dialogue Weeks, and get talking!

-Alyssa Briggs, Jr. at Birmingham-Southern College

Friday, September 18, 2009

Be sure to check out the Miniature Books exhibition in the Durbin Gallery!

The Monumental Ideas in Miniature Books exhibition is currently in the BSC Durbin Gallery. Close to 150 miniature books of every imaginable shape and material are on display. Birmingham-Southern faculty member Kevin Shook's work is represented in the exhibition, along with the creations of dozens of other talented artists. A display like this is definitely of special interest to those of us who are book fanatics! Check it out in the Art Gallery, M-F 8:30 am - 4:45 pm, now through September 24.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Provost's Forum Sept. 17: Dr. Gail Smith presents...

If you are an English major here at BSC, you may have had Professor Gail Smith for classes like EH 389 Contextual Studies in American Literature or EH 330 Major Authors. If you're not an English major, it's still possible that you may know Professor Smith from Intro to Writing or Intro to Fiction. Whatever your connection to Professor Smith, or even if you have no connection to her at all, wouldn't it be an extraordinary opportunity to hear her thoughts on Harriet Beecher Stowe! Here's your chance. Professor of English Gail Smith will be presenting "Faith in the Flesh: Harriet Beecher Stowe's Illustrated Feminist Scripture" during common hour on Thursday, September 17th in Norton Theatre. With Professor Smith's educational background from Yale and University of Virginia and her academic interests in areas like 19th century American Literature, Gender Studies, and Religion and Literature, we're bound to be in for a treat.

Monday, September 14, 2009

U.S. Constitution Day -- September 17

How much do you know about our U.S. Constitution?

In celebration of Constitution Day the BSC Library has a display of the Constitution which includes a few interesting question and anwers, such as: Do you know how the Constitution was written? How long did it take to write the Constitution? Did all of the delegates sign?

Were all the states (at the time) represented? Find the answers to these questions and much more by exploring the booklet, Questions & Answers Pertaining to the Constitution by Sol Bloom of the National Archives located at the display case on the main floor of the BSC Library.

For further information, you can explore the following websites: National Constitution Center Sunnylands Constitution Project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center Charters of Freedom from the National Archives

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Swine Flu Prevention

The Library is a great place to study and meet with friends. However, because it is so popular, it may be easier to come into contact with the virus that causes the flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, the H1N1 Virus, also known as the Swine Flu, is already widespread in Alabama. Influenza (flu) is thought to spread person-to-person mainly through the coughing or sneezing of infected people. Protect yourself by following the recommendations of the CDC. Some facts: People infected with seasonal and 2009 H1N1 flu shed the virus and may be able to infect others from 1 day before getting sick to 5 to 7 days after. Studies have shown that the influenza virus can survive on environmental surfaces and can infect a person for 2-8 hours after being deposited on the surface. Recommendations While in the Library To help keep germs at bay, the Library has the following available at the Reference Desk:

  • alcohol-based hand cleaner,
  • tissues, and
  • disinfectant wipes

Feel free to use them to clean computer keyboards and your hands. General Recommendations

  • Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing
  • Wash hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based cleaners
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth
  • Stay home if you have flu-like symptoms
  • Go see the Nurse on the second-floor of Norton if you get sick

More Information

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Happy Birthday to Internet!

Internet is 40 years old!! Click here for a short video. Being an old person, I remember getting Internet access in the early 1990's. I went crazy searching the few library catalogs then on the net! It was the neatest thing to me. Steve Laughlin

Monday, August 31, 2009

Welcome, new and returning students!

Fall semester at BSC begins September 2, and the library is open for business! If you're a new student and feeling quizzical, please take a look at the Top 10 library questions asked by new students. We'll be offering library orientation sessions for first-year and transfer students on Tuesday, September 1, at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. If you're an old-timer - welcome back! Please feel free to stop by and check out a new book, DVD or CD. We've gotten quite a few materials in over the summer, including a generous gift of around 1500 classical music CDs. A dozen additional computer workstations also made their way into the library over the past month; six are on the first floor and six on the ground floor (in the ARC room near the back - where all the computers have been loaded with additional software for theater design students). All in all, it's been a good summer - but we missed the energy that a full contingent of BSC students and faculty brings to the library. We're glad you're back - and hope to see you soon!

Monday, August 3, 2009

Summer break = shorter library hours

July 31 was the final day of finals for the summer session here at BSC. Fall classes will begin on September 2. In the meantime... school's out! The library will be open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, during the month of August, and will not offer chat reference service during this month. In September, feeling happy and refreshed, we will resume our regular hours of operation.

Monday, July 27, 2009

The Ultimate Guide to the World now available!

The Library's latest database, Global Road Warrior, bills itself as "a Passage to the World!"

** Attractive, high-resolution maps provide bright, visual learning tools for the classroom, as project accents, or as learning and study guides.
**Rich culture reports cover everything from childhood, dating, marriage, family and funerals to cultural faux pas.
**A plethora of topics gets travelers, relocaters and professionals the information they need to plot and trot the globe.
**Constantly updated data offers students, travelers, business people and researchers plenty to explore on a continual basis.

Take a moment to test drive the Global Road Warrior, at the link above!

Steve Laughlin

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

New Service Offered to Faculty!

The Birmingham-Southern Interlibrary Loan Department will begin delivery of Interlibrary Loan articles via email to the faculty today. The email will say Birmingham-Southern College Document Delivery Notification (ILL number or something similar) and the article will be attached. Please note all articles cannot be delivered via email due to format and/or problems with the quality of the article. Where possible, we will email, but you may still have to pick up paper copies of some articles. In that case, we will notify you the article is available at the Circulation Desk. ILL Department Janice Poplau Jimmie Chicarello

Monday, June 29, 2009

Did you know...

... that the BSC Library has a collection of more than 5,000 children's books? While intended primarily for education majors, the "Juvenile Collection" is also a useful resource for members of the BSC community who have children, younger brothers or sisters, or simply a youthful take on life! The collection is located on the ground floor of the library. It includes both fiction and non-fiction books, any of which may be checked out for one week at a time. Recent acquisitions include the top 100 picture books (from School Library Journal's list) not already owned by the library.

Please feel free to browse through the children's books next time you're in the library, and relive your childhood with a refreshing dose of Maurice Sendak, Tomie de Paola, or Dr. Seuss.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

"This is June, the month of grass and leaves..."

... so wrote Henry David Thoreau. For some strange reason, he neglected to note that it is also the month that summer school begins at BSC. As the summer term gets underway, we hope you will have a chance to make use of the Library and its re-designed website. Library hours during the summer are as follows: Monday - Thursday: 8:00am - 10:00pm Friday: 8:00am - 5:00pm Saturday: 1:00pm - 5:00pm Sunday: 2:00pm - 10:00pm We've opened up a new space on the ground floor of the Library, a "screening room" which can be reserved by students interested in watching videos on the big screen or editing audio & video files. There are some important changes to the website as well: we've provided a "quick search" option for the library catalog (so you can look for works by Thoreau, among other things); a direct link for people to check their library accounts; and the option to chat with a librarian. Links to the Library's Blog, Podcasts, and Facebook page run across the bottom of the homepage. And in response to student input, several of the Library Research Tools now have new names (Databases, Ejournals, Research Guides, and Research FAQs). We continue to be interested in your feedback and your suggestions for improving any aspect of library service - either via this blog, through the library's suggestion box, or in person. Here's to a serene, sunny, suggestive summer!

Friday, May 22, 2009

New look for the Library website

The library is planning to launch a new site on June 1. We've aimed to keep all the functions of the old site, add some new functions (such as a catalog quick search and live chat assistance), and streamline the look just a bit. We welcome your feedback - either on this blog or via the library's suggestion box. Let us know what you think!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Congratulations, Graduating Seniors!

Finals are final-ly over! We extend our congratulations to the Class of 2009...and thank you for returning your books in time to graduate! :-) We'll be lying low in the library until the start of summer classes. The library will be open from 8 am to 5 pm for the next 3 weeks, and closed over the weekends (as well as for Memorial Day) until June 8. Enjoy the break!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Finals Week in the Library: Extended hours and more room to study

Library hours during finals week are as follows: Thursday 5/7: 8 am - 2 am Friday 5/8: 8 am - 10 pm Saturday 5/9: 9 am - midnight Sunday 5/10: 2 pm - 2 am Monday-Wednesday, 5/11-5/13: 8 am - 2 am Thursday, 5/14: 8 am - 10 pm Friday 5/15: 8 am - 5 pm Saturday-Sunday, 5/16-5/17: Closed The Library has opened up a new Screening Room on the ground floor, with a wide-screen TV/DVD player for screening movies and room to relax & hang out. During finals week this will be open as a space for students to take a break from studying. Beginning in the summer, this room will be available for students and faculty to schedule for watching films, working on group projects requiring projection from a laptop to the "big screen," and editing audio or video files (a well equipped computer is on its way!).

The Library Electronic Classroom will be open to students during library hours for finals week (5/7 - 5/14).

Good luck with finals!!!