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 LappĂ©, 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 LappĂ©’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