Monday, November 29, 2010

Who's That Pictured in Southern Accent?

Who Are These People? Where Are They? What Are They Doing?

Imagine yourself a few short years from now skimming through your old yearbook. "What's his name?" you might ask. Well, here's your chance to help the BSC College Archives document what was happening on the Hilltop in 2010.

We have a copy of the 2010 Southern Accent at the Library Reference Desk. We'd like you to help us out with the names, places, and activities that are pictured in the yearbook.

So, stop by and write in the names of the people you know. We will then make an index to the yearbook so this information won't be lost. It could be a fun break from studying and writing papers, too!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Thanksgiving Hours

The American Thanksgiving. Some believe that the Pilgrims were first in 1619. But it was Abraham Lincoln who in 1863 first proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday. While the Pilgrims were thankful for a safe voyage across the Atlantic, Lincoln was living in a more somber time, having exactly one week before delivered his stirring address at the Gettysburg cemetery.

--Guy Hubbs, College Archivist

Library Hours for Thanksgiving Week
Tuesday, November 23 -- 8:00 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Wednesday, November 24 -- 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday - Saturday, November 25 - 27 -- CLOSED
Sunday, November 28 -- 2:00 p.m. - midnight

"Thanksgiving Day" image by Thomas Nast from Harper's Weekly, November 26, 1863

Monday, November 15, 2010

Top Ten Words of 2010

The Global Language Monitor has announced its top words of the year (as well as the top phrases and names). And the winners are:
  1. Spillcam
  2. Vuvuzela
  3. The Narrative
  4. Refudiate
  5. Guido and Guidette
  6. Deficit
  7. Snowmaggedden
  8. 3-D
  9. Shellacking
  10. Simplexity

For clear definitions, see the full story (published Nov. 14, 2010) at the Global Language Monitor website: http://www.languagemonitor.com/.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

ScienceDirect Unavailable Much of Saturday

Attention All Science Researchers!

Because of system maintenance at the company, one of BSC Library's most heavily-used science databases, ScienceDirect, will be unavailable on Saturday, November 13, from 8:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m.

Do not despair because there are many other databases that cover science topics. Be sure to explore the list of databases arranged by subject and try other options. Remember, if you use Biological Abstracts, you will need to check to see if BSC has access to the journals/articles you want. Do this by searching for journal titles in the Library's Ejournals list.

Remember, too, that Reference help is available on Sundays from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Not Your Usual Poetry Reading

Andrew Hudgins, poet and Alabama graduate will speak in the Norton Theatre on Tuesday, November 9 during Common Hour. Ned Balbo of The Antioch Review* says Hudgins' "skill, economy and sense of mischief" confirm his place as "one of our few indispensable poets." Mr. Hudgins attended Huntington College in Montgomery and teaches at The Ohio State University. He has won several awards for poetry. He has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and The National Book Award and has published numerous poems and books such as Shut Up, You're Fine and After the Lost War, A Narrative. This event qualifies for CEIS credit.
*The Antioch Review. 62:1, Winter 2004

Pacifist

I said I was a pacifist.
I wouldn't kill a flea.
All living things are sanctified--
at least as much as me.

But ants kept running underneath
my shoes, to my regret.
Mom gave me pin-worm medicine,
and gnats drowned in my sweat.

Mosquitoes landed on my neck.
I slapped before I thought.
And when I saw my bloody palm
I wasn't overwrought.

My baseball glove is made of skin
stripped from a cow, and dried,
and the chicken in my chicken pie
is not a suicide.

"Though I love baseball and meat pie,
These deaths are not my fault,"
I said. Then, hell, I went outside,
and covered snails with salt.

--from The Antioch Review, 61:3, Summer 2003

Monday, November 1, 2010

Love your library ~ Leave no trace!

The library is starting a new campaign. The amount of food and drink being consumed in our building has risen noticeably in recent months. At the same time, the number of hours that housekeeping staff are able to devote to the library has declined, and they are finding it very difficult to keep up with the refuse. While cockroaches and other vermin appear to be thriving, we do not consider their happiness to be an important goal at this time; we would prefer to have an environment with less garbage and fewer bugs.

The library's official policy allows covered drinks only in the building. However, if you do bring food into the library, we ask that you remove all of your leftovers - or as the Boy Scouts say, "Pack it out!" Garbage cans are located just outside the library entrance, for your convenience.

Thank you for helping keep the library clean.