Friday, December 14, 2012

Holiday Break Hours

Holiday Break
Library Hours

 
The Birmingham-Southern College Library holiday hours are:
 
Friday, December 14  --  8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
Saturday & Sunday, December 15 & 16  --  CLOSED
 
Monday & Tuesday, December 17 & 18  --  8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
The Library will be CLOSED from
Wednesday, December 18 through Tuesday, January 1, 2013


 Chat and Email Reference Service will resume in January after the break.

The Library will open again on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
 
Happy Holidays to One and All
 
 

 

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Extended Library Hours for Finals

The Library will be OPEN ALL NIGHT
before each Exam Day
 
Final Exams will be on December 6, 7, 10, 12, & 13
(Reading Days are December 5 and 11)
 
Wed. Dec. 5 – OPEN ALL NIGHT
Thurs. Dec. 6 – OPEN ALL NIGHT
Fri. Dec. 7 – Open ‘til 10 p.m.
Sat. Dec. 8 – Open ‘til Midnight
Sun. Dec. 9 – OPEN ALL NIGHT
Mon. Dec. 10 – OPEN 'til 2 a.m.
Tues. Dec. 11 – OPEN ALL NIGHT
Wed. Dec. 12 – OPEN ALL NIGHT
Thurs. Dec. 13 - Open 'til 10 p.m.
Fri. Dec. 14 - Open 'til 5 p.m.



Library services end at 2 a.m. (after 2 a.m. no check-outs; no reserves; no copier or printer support; no paying fines)



Many thanks to SGA & Campus Police
for making these extended hours possible!


Another Important Date:
ALL Interlibrary Loan Books are due back on Monday, December 6th.
 
 
 

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Provost's Forum: Jim Neel

BSC Associate Professor of Art Jim Neel will be featured in a Provost's Forum event this Thursday, November 29. Neel's presentation, entitled, "Les Enfants de la Terre: Children in the Line of Fire," will take place in the art history lecture room.

In October 2010, Neel was awarded the Southeastern College Art Conference Individual Artist's Fellowship for "Les Enfants de la Terre," a series of sculptures in terracotta and iron that addreses the issue of child soldiers. The diminutive scale of the figures strike viewers with their physical fragility and small size, as they call to attention the use of children as soldiers. Neel received a $3,000 award to apply toward the project in addition to the honor of the recognition.

Come enjoy this Provost's Forum event and collect a cultural credit!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Library hours during Thanksgiving break

Hello, all! The Library's Thanksgiving Break hours are scheduled as follows:

Tuesday, November 20 - 8:00am to 10:00pm
Wednesday, November 21 -- 8:00am - noon
Thursday, November 22-- CLOSED
Friday, November 23 -- CLOSED
Saturday, November 24 -- CLOSED
Sunday, November 25 -- 2:00pm to midnight




Also, don't forget to come by the library circulation desk to decorate a feather for our turkey! Gobble Gobble Gobble! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving break!

Friday, November 16, 2012

BSC Celebrates 75 Years of Phi Beta Kappa

Phi Beta Kappa is America's oldest and most prestigious Greek letter academic honor society. Since its founding in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa has sought to develop serious minded students pursuing liberal education and intellectual fellowship. The Greek initials for the society's motto, Love of learning is the guide of life, form the name of Phi Beta Kappa (ΦBK).

Thanks to the efforts of BSC's visionary President Guy Snavely, the College was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa charter in 1937, and the Beta of Alabama chapter was established. Seventy-five years later, Birmingham-Southern College is proud to remain a part of this tradition of excellence.

Today, there are 280 chapters of Phi Beta Kappa across the country.  Many influential people are members, including 17 US presidents, writers Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mark Twain and Michael Crichton, activists Paul Robeson and Betty Friedan, composer Stephen Sondheim, film director Francis Ford Coppola, and NFL quarterback Peyton Manning.  At BSC, new members are elected each spring.  They are typically seniors in the top 10% of their graduating class, who are pursuing a liberal arts degree and have shown a breadth of intellectual perspective, capacity for deliberation and ethical reflection, and a commitment to "love of learning as the guide of life."

Birmingham-Southern College is honored to celebrate 75 years of Phi Beta Kappa.  Please stop by the display cases in the Library to see an exhibit of some of the documents related to the founding and the history of ΦBK at BSC.


Signatures of the charter members of ΦBK at BSC.


BSC Phi Beta Kappa pioneer Guy Snavely


Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Events for "Next To Normal" Students


This coming Tuesday, November 13th, a Provost’s Forum entitled “Pop-Rock Musicals, Pulitzer Prizes, and Psychological Disorders: Just Another Day in the Life of a ‘Next to Normal’ Family” will take place in the College Mainstage Theatre during Common Hour. The presentation will feature Professor Michael Flowers of Theatre Arts and Dr. Heather Meggers-Wright of the Psychology department along with part of the cast of BSC’s production of Next to Normal.

The Provost's Forum event will precede Birmingham-Southern College Department of Theatre's upcoming production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, Next to Normal. With story and lyrics written by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt, Next to Normal first premiered off Broadway in 2008. The story interacts with many social and psychological themes, the main plot concerning a mother who struggles with bipolar disorder and how the disease affects her family.

Four productions will be staged: on November 15 – 17 at 7:30 p.m. and on November 18 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are already on sale-- they are $20 to the general public and $10 for students of any institution. Students can also take advantage of this opportunity to earn an EEIS credit!

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

New DVDs at BSC Library


Now at BSC Library!
Thanks to the continued support from SGA, the BSC Library has acquired a new batch of DVDs for students to check out this Fall!  These new DVDs, which represent a wide variety of genres, are now available for checkout.

The new DVD collection includes critically acclaimed films such as Best Picture Oscar Winners: The Artist (2012), The King's Speech (2011), and The Sting (1973). However, the new set of DVDs also includes "just-for-fun" movies like The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and Captain America. Other additions include Disney's Beauty and The Beast and Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino. Come check one out!

Throughout the semester, students are encouraged to request movies that are missing from our collection.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Halloween at BSC

Halloween is only a few days away! At the Birmingham-Southern campus, there are two long-held Halloween traditions: Halloween on the Hilltop and Organ Spooktacular!


Halloween on the Hilltop 2011
Halloween on the Hilltop will be taking place this Wednesday, Oct 31 from 5- 7 in the Residential Quad. Children from the community under the age of 12 are invited to come for some candy and fun games! Organizations from around campus have booths with fun games and lots of yummy candy. Halloween on the Hilltop brings the entire campus together and is a fun time to dress up and get to know people from around the community.

Organ Spooktacular will be taking place this Wednesday, Oct 31 @ 9:30PM in the Hill Recital Hall. Dr. James Cook will be performing spooky songs on the organ! Costumes are encouraged.

No need to go off campus this year for Halloween! Like every year, Birmingham- Southern has offered plenty of festive activities for the campus to enjoy!

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Spooky Halloween Movies

Fall has officially begun. The trees are shedding their leaves, and a cool, brisk air fills the air. This can only mean Halloween is around the corner! Grab a buddy, take a study break and grab one of the library's several featured horror films! They include:

- Jaws
- The Exorcist
- Scream (1- 3)
- The Grudge (1, 2)
- Friday the 13th
- Edward Scissorhands
- Saw (1- 4)
- The Ring (1, 2)
- Paranormal Activity (1, 2)

They are sure to give you a fright!

Thanks to SGA, we can provide a vast selection of DVDs to students and faculty!

Want to watch a movie that is not in our collection? Request it! The library (with the help of SGA) will purchase movies soon for your viewing pleasure.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Library Booksale -- Oct. 19-20

Library Booksale October 19-20
While you are enjoying the Homecoming/Family Weekend festivities be sure to stop by the Library and pick up a few items from our annual Library Booksale!

There are hundreds of interesting items:  old BSC yearbooks, foreign language dictionaries, literature, fiction, plays, many books on religion, psychology, history, Latin America, cooking, etc.

We are also selling records (LPs) -- both classical and popular.

The prices are right, too!

Books:
$1 (hardbacks)
$1 for two paperbacks
Media:
CDs $1 each
Videotapes $1 each
LPs $.50 each or 3 for $1

The Library Hours
Mon. - Thurs. 8 a.m. - midnight
Fri. - 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sat. - 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sun. - 2 p.m. - midnight

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Family Day and Homecoming Weekend!

Family day and BSC Homecoming Weekend is fast approaching!

Saturday, October 20 is Family day at BSC. Families can join General Krulak in the morning for a welcoming breakfast at Hulsey Lawn (outside the admissions building). Later, students and parents alike will enjoy showing their school spirit by tailgaiting before the Homecoming football game vs. Sewanee. As our formidable football squad takes the field, the BSC Panther Pride Marching Band will perform, and lookout for the crowning of our Homecoming King and Queen during halftime!

While your family is visiting campus, you should bring them to the Library to visit the library's annual booksale! The library sells a variety of used books year-round, but during homecoming weekend, the library presents hundreds of books for its big blowout sale! The books come from a broad range of academic subjects--you never know when you might uncover a gem, waiting to be read!

Have a fun and safe Homecoming Weekend! Forward, ever!

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Fall Break Hours

Hello, All! The Library’s hours for the week of fall break are as follows:

Monday, Oct 8 -- 8am-midnight (regular schedule)
Tuesday, Oct 9 -- 8am-midnight (regular schedule)
Wednesday, Oct 10 -- 8am-10pm
Thursday, Oct 11 --  8am-10pm
Friday, Oct 12 -- 8am-5pm
Saturday, Oct 13 -- Closed
Sunday, Oct 14 -- 2pm-midnight (Resume regular schedule).

Good luck on midterms, and have a happy fall break!



Monday, October 1, 2012

BSC Theatre Presents: Richard III

Josh Philips and Christie Connelly
rehearse a scene from "Richard III."
This weekend, the BSC Theatre Department will present a unique version of William Shakespeare's classic, Richard III. Shakespeare's historical play chronicles the ascent of Richard the III of England and his brief reign as King.

Performances of Shakespeare's Richard III will take place October 4-6 (7:30pm) and October 7 (2:30pm). Tickets cost $15 to the general public and $10 for students. Not only does this show promise to be tremendously entertaining, but the event also counts toward an EEIS credit.

The show features light design by senior Nolan Martin, sound design by junior Brooke Gronemeyer, and stage management by Gia Nappo.

To support this show, director Alan Litsey will join professors Kent Anderson (English) and Matt Mielke (Theatre) to present "Bad Leadership: Richard III's Passage to Power." Students Josh Philips, Christie Connelly, Daniel Bullington, Brent Irwin, and Mary Claire Owen will be on hand, as well, to assist with the presentation. This Provost's Forum event will take place at the College Theatre Mainstage during common hour on Tuesday, October 2.




Monday, September 24, 2012

BSC Library Work-Study Opportunity

The BSC Library has a new opening for a work-study for 2012-13. BSC students who are interested in working in the Library, please leave your name and contact information at the Library Circulation Desk or send an e-mail to libcirc@bsc.edu.

Duties include but are not limited to checking out and checking in library materials, re-shelving returned materials, maintaining library collections, running errands, etc. We are particularly looking for someone who is available to work Mon/Wed/Fri mornings and/or Sun-Thurs afternoons.

Interested students must complete the 2012-13 FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov) as soon as possible and must meet all eligibility requirements for participating in the work-study program as determined by the BSC Financial Aid Office before being hired.

Thanks for your interest. We hope to hear from some of you very soon!


Magdalena Teske ('13) Checks out an iPad to a BSC Student

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

New Study Rooms in the Library

Students studying in
Seminar G (Garcia Marquez)
The BSC Library is excited to announce that three more study rooms will now be available for reservation: Seminar E (Einstein Seminar Room), Seminar F (Fellini Seminar Room), and Seminar G (Garcia-Marquez Seminar Room).

Seminars E, F, and G will be frequently used for tutoring sessions set up by the Academic Resource Center (ARC), but they are also available for general student use.

Along with the three new rooms, the existing Seminar Rooms have been rebranded with names of geniuses from different cultural and scholastic backgrounds. Still available for check out are Seminar A (Jane Austen) and Seminar B (Johann Sebastian Bach). Seminar Rooms C and D (Curie and Douglass) are still open on a first-come, first-served basis.


Students studying in the Auditorium
Another new addition to the library this fall is the Room Reservation/Availability Calendar located on the Library's homepage. This new tool is designed for students and faculty to check room availability online. Reservations can be made over the phone by calling the Library at (205) 226-4740, or emailing Eric Kennedy or Craig Stewart.



Sunday, September 16, 2012

Is the Arab Spring Over in Egypt? Lecture by Amina El-Halawani

This coming Tuesday, Fulbright scholar, Amina El-Halawani, will present a lecture as a part of the "Debate for a Cause" lecture series. This lecture series was designed to create discussion amongst students about current issues around the world. The discussions will be lead by Fulbright scholars from around the world.

Amina's lecture, titled Is the Arab Spring Over in Egypt?, will focus on the revolution of the Egyptian people on January 25th. Amina is interested in peace resolution and political science. Originally from Egypt, she is an old- school pro when it comes to Egyptian politics.

What: Is the Arab Spring Over in Egypt? lecture
When: This Tuesday, September 18 @ 11AM (common hour)
Where: Norton Campus Center's Bruno Great Hall

Come discuss a hot global issue! See you  there!


Tuesday, September 11, 2012

BSC provost Mark Schantz Featured in Upcoming PBS Documentary

 

Dr. Mark Schantz
Birmingham-Southern College's Provost Dr. Mark Schantz is soon to be featured in a PBS documentary about the Civil War, entitled "Death and the Civil War," as a part of the American Experience series from Alabama Public Television.

The film by Ric Burns is based in part on research done by Dr. Schantz on American public attitudes towards death preceding and following the Civil War. More information on Schantz's research can be found in his book, "Awaiting the Heavenly Country: the Civil War and America's Culture of Death" (available in the BSC Library! Call number: E468.9 .S33 2008).

The documentary is set to premiere on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at 7:00 PM, which is the day after the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest single-day battle in American history.

 
BSC will host a free, public viewing of the documentary on campus in the Norton Great Hall at 7 PM on Tuesday, September 18th. Dr. Schantz will be present at the screening to answer any questions or comments following the film. General Krulak, equipped with his unique perspective of death on the battlefield, will introduce the film and Dr. Schantz.
 

To learn more about the documentary, visit the Events@BSC page on the college's webiste:
 
Remember, you can search the BSC Library's new Discovery System to find Dr. Schantz's book and other materials related to this topic.  (Note: some resources may be restricted to users with BSC IDs.)
 
 
 

Thursday, September 6, 2012

New iPads at BSC Library!

Thanks to the generosity of SGA, BSC library has acquired four shiny, new iPads for students to check out. These machines began circulating at the beginning of the fall semester, and students are already embracing their multifaceted capabilities.

While some students have utilized the iPads for academic purposes, others have simply used them for fun. The iPads are equipped with many scholastic applications such as notetaking and e-book apps; however, other "just-for-fun" apps such as Netflix and Photo Booth provide some extra delight for students.

To check out an iPad, contact Eric Kennedy (ekennedy@bsc.edu) or Craig Stewart (rstewart@bsc.edu), or ask at the Library circulation desk.

Thank you SGA!!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Welcome back, BSC students!

Fall semester at BSC has begun and the library staff is looking forward to seeing new and returning students! If you have questions about the library, a good place to get started would be the top 10 library questions page, but we are available to answer any other questions you might have. Please feel free to stop by and check out a book, CD, or DVD. Welcome back, and we hope to see you soon!

Thursday, August 30, 2012

BSC Library Closed Labor Day Weekend

The library will be closed during Labor Day weekend (September 1-3) and will resume normal hours on Tuesday September 4. Happy Labor Day!
 
 

Monday, July 30, 2012

Library Hours for August

The Summer Term is over and the BSC campus is getting ready for all the new and returning students. 

Starting on Monday, July 30, the BSC Library will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.; it will be closed Saturday and Sunday.

When classes start on Wednesday, August 29, the Library will resume it's usual schedule.

In the meantime, stop by the library and pick up a few good books to keep your mind entertained and sharp until classes start.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Morgan Rusby Receives BSC Library Art Purchase Award

This year's recipient of the BSC Library Art Purchase Award is Morgan Rusby, who graduated from Birmingham-Southern this spring with a BFA. Her colorful and original pieces, "Southern Bento" and "Sushi Bar" (pictured below) were acquired by the BSC Library in May. They are on display on the ground floor of the library, along with other inspired and inspiring works of art by BSC students.

The BSC Library Art Purchase Award is funded through our used book sales, which enable the library to purchase at least one outstanding piece of art from the Juried Student Art Exhibition each year. Thanks to Morgan and her fellow BSC artists, the library is slowly becoming a more interesting enclave!

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

BSC Library Closed July 4, 2012

BSC Library Closed for Independence Day Holiday

All BSC Students, faculty, and staff will be away from campus enjoying the National Holiday on July 4.  The Library will be CLOSED all day Wednesday, July 4, 2012.

Library Hours for the week including Independence Day are
Tuesday, July 3 --  8 a.m -- 10 p.m.
Wednesday, July 4 -- CLOSED
Thursday, July 5 -- 8 a.m. -- 10 p.m.
Friday, July 6 -- 8 a.m. -- 5 p.m.
Saturday, July 7 --  1 p.m. -- 5 p.m.
Sunday, July 8 -- 2 p.m. -- 10 p.m.





Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Summer Hours for BSC Library

After an all-too short break from the grueling labors of Spring Term, your BSC Faculty and Staff are ready to help fill your eager minds with new knowledge. The Library will be open to help in this process.
Library Hours for Summer 2012
Monday -- Thursday -- 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Friday -- 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday -- 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday -- 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.


Here is an image of how college administrators from days gone by spent their summer vacation. (O.K. they are not BSC administrators but the point remains...)

Monday, May 21, 2012

Library Hours between Sessions

Summer school begins on Wednesday, June 6. Until that time, the BSC library will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. We will be closed on the weekends and on Monday, May 28, for Memorial Day.

We hope you are enjoying the break, and building a list of good summer reads...!

Monday, May 7, 2012

Exam Period Library Hours

Thanks to funding from SGA, the Library will have extended hours during the exam period!
Regular Library hours will be in effect through Wednesday, May 9.

Exam Period Library Hours:
Thursday, May 10 (Open All Night!)
Friday, May 11 -- Open 'til 10
Saturday, May 12 -- Open 'til Midnight
Sunday, May 13 (Open All Night!)
Monday, May 14 -- (Open All Night!)
Tuesday, May 15 -- (Open All Night!)
Wednesday, May 16 -- (Open All Night!)
Thursday, May 17 -- Open 'til 10
Friday, May 18 -- Open 'til 5
Note: Library Services end at 2 a.m.
(after 2 a.m. no check-outs; no reserves; no copier or printer support; and no paying fines)

A Scene From Finals Week at BSC

Image from 1928 Birmingham-Southern College Yearbook, La Revue

Sunday, April 29, 2012

BSC Spring Concerts

With the semester coming to a close, it's time to get ready for the end-of-the-year concerts! Southern is hosting 4 upcoming concerts that will be sure to knock your socks off!


One A-Chord Gospel Choir Spring Concert
When: Monday, April 30 @ 7 PM
Where: Bruno Great Hall

Southern Chorale Spring Concert
When: Wednesday, May 2 @ 7:30 PM
Where: Hill Recital Hall

BSC Jazz Band's "Jazz by the Fountain"
When: Wednesday, May 2 @ 4 PM
Where: Norton Campus Center Plaza

Hilltop Singers Season Finale
When: Monday, May 7 @ 7:30 PM
Where: Hill Recital Hall


Come out and support your fellow panthers! This is a great way to show your southern pride and earn a culture credit. 
Forward, ever!

Sunday, April 22, 2012

BSC Theater Presents RENT!

RENT! -- BSC Student Production -- April 26-29, 2012


Jonathan Larson's famous Broadway Musical Rent is coming to BSC!

BSC College Theater - Mainstage
Dir. Michael Flowers

April 26-28, 7:30 p.m.
April 29, 2:30 p.m.


General tickets - $20
Student tickets - $10

With costumes, lighting design, hair and makeup design, assistant directing, and choreography done by fellow students, this is an incredible opportunity to see fellow members of the BSC student body showcasing their work on stage, both technically and in the height of performance.

Don't miss BSC's student production of the hit 1996 Broadway musical Rent!

Thursday, April 19, 2012

20TH ANNUAL LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES SYMPOSIUM

THE 20TH ANNUAL LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES SYMPOSIUM
APRIL 20-21, 2012

Teaching at college is not limited to professors in classrooms. Academic symposia provide opportunities for college students to be on the other side of the lectern—the side that teaches students and professors alike a thing or two that is new.

Join your fellow scholars at the 20th Annual Latin American Studies Symposium held right here on campus and listen to your peers from BSC and other schools from all over the country as they present papers on such topics as:

· Amazon deforestation
· Standards of beauty in Brazil
· Mariachi music and patriotism
· Sports and society

Student presenters from BSC include:

· Katie Adams
· Jennifer Commander
· Trent Baker
· CeCe Lacey

Other schools that are represented include:

Baylor University
Kennesaw State University
Millsaps College
Morehouse University
Rhodes College
Samford University
Trinity University
Tulane University

Sunday, April 15, 2012

National Poetry Month

April is national poetry month!!

The Birmingham-Southern Underground Poets Society is sponsoring several events during April in celebration of National Poetry Month.

Upcoming film screenings:
April 16—“Howl” with Dr. Clifford, Norton Theatre, 5 p.m.
April 23—“Slamnation”, Norton Theatre, 5 p.m.

Upcoming poet speakers:
April 19—Jerri Hardesty, Norton Theatre, 11 a.m.
April 26—Shariff Simmons, Norton Theatre, 11 a.m.

For more information on the events, contact Sarah McCune (skmccune@bsc.edu).

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Library Needs Summer Work-Studies!

The Library needs summer work-studies!

BSC students who are interested in working in the Library this summer, please leave your name and contact information at the Library Circulation Desk or send an e-mail to libcirc@bsc.edu not later than May 9.

Duties include but are not limited to checking out and checking in library materials, re-shelving returned materials, maintaining library collections, running errands, etc. Availability to work during the entire summer class term, June 6 – July 30, is required.

Interested students must complete the 2012-13 FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov) as soon as possible and must meet all eligibility requirements for participating in the work-study program as determined by the BSC Financial Aid Office before being hired. Applicants need not be enrolled in summer classes to be eligible but must be enrolled during the 2012-13 academic year.

Thanks for your interest. We hope to hear from some of you very soon!

Library Databases: Remote Access Temporarily Not Available, Connection Still Available from Wired Campus Computers

Due to a hardware failure, several systems are currently unavailable at BSC. This includes the EZProxy system, which allows access to library databases from off-campus and wireless connections.

However, you can still access the databases from a wired computer on campus. To access the databases from a computer on the BSC campus, click on the database name, go to the box in your browser that displays the webpage address (or URL), and remove this initial part of the URL:

Then press enter or the "go to" arrow. You should connect to the database. If you have questions, please contact a librarian at 205-226-4766.
As reported by the IT department, the other systems affected include:
  • TheSIS (registration for students)
  • All math software (Matlab, Maple, Minitab)
  • SPSS
  • All printing via print servers - some printing may work if not going through a print server
  • Pcounter system (for student printing)
  • Copiers

IT is hopeful that access to these systems will be restored by tomorrow, April 12. Thank you for your patience as they work to resolve this problem.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Provost Forum, April 12, Common Hour -- Dr. Randy Law

A single terrorist

but millions would die

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo, June 28, 1914

Insights from the History of Terrorism

by Dr. Randy Law, Associate Professor of History

Provost's Forum

Thursday, April 12

Common Hour

Norton Theater

Sunday, April 1, 2012

April is National Poetry Month!

National Poetry Month was first introduced in April 1966 by the Academy of American Poets. It aims to raise awareness and appreciation for American poetry.

According to poets.org, the Top 5 Love Poems in the U.S. are: “How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun (Sonnet 130)” by William Shakespeare, “When You Are Old” by W.B. Yeats, “Love” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and “The Definition of Love” by Andrew Marvell.

For more ways to celebrate National Poetry Month, visit: http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/94

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Feeling ILL--the scholar's cure

Spring break's over and now you're feeling a bit ill. Could it be because you can't find that book? Try ILL.

You can still get that book or article you want even if it's not available in our BSC Library, by simply going through ILL--InterLibrary Loan. There's a quick link to the InterLibrary Loan form on the Library's home page. Just go to the "Request Forms" link and select InterLibrary Loan.

After you tell us what materials you need, our ILL department will search for other libraries that will provide them. It usually takes about a week and often articles will be delivered electronically. Books must come through the mail and so they take a bit longer. The ILL office will notify you when your materials are available. But don't delay--the earlier you place your requests, the better.

So let your Library help cure your ills with ILLs.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Library Hours for Spring Break

Spring break is just around the corner! But before you grab your sandals and hit the beach, please take a moment to note the library's hours for this most glorious of times.

March 17-18 (Saturday and Sunday) : CLOSED
March 19-23 (Monday-Friday) : 8AM-5PM
March 24 (Saturday) : CLOSED

The regular schedule will resume on Sunday, March 25. Enjoy your well-deserved break!

Monday, March 12, 2012

QEP 3.13 ?!?!

The mystery behind the QEP 3.13 signs that have been appearing around campus will be revealed on Tuesday, March 13, at 4:00, in the Bruno Great Hall. Please plan to attend the all-campus gathering to learn about QEP and its role in BSC's upcoming reaffirmation process with SACS, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In the words of President Krulak, "a successful reaffirmation of our SACS accreditation is the foundation upon which we all stand. Nothing we do over the next 18 months will be more important." Come find out why!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Darkness into Life Guest Speaker

During the month of February, BSC hosted an art and lecture series entitled "Darkness into Life: Alabama Holocaust Survivors through Photography and Art". The last in the line of guest lecturers is Jennifer Lindsay, Faulkner State Community College Professor of World History. Lindsay will be presenting her lecture "Bystanders from Birth: Genocide, Social Justice, and the Process that Transforms Good Citizens into Bad Neighbors" on March 8 at 11:00 in the Norton Theatre (EEIS credit!)

For more information on the Holocaust series, please visit http://www.bsc.edu/communications/news/2012/20120123-holocaust.cfm.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Leadership Matters speaker

This Tuesday, February 28th, Birmingham-Southern will host two guest speakers: Judge Helen Shores Lee, Jefferson County circuit court judge, and David M. Horth, a Senior fellow at the Center for Creative Leadership and co-author of The Leader's Edge.

Judge Lee is the last speaker in this year's Black History Month celebration, and her lecture will take place in Harbert Auditorium at 11AM. (EEIS credit!)
For more information about this event, please contact the Office of Multicultural Affairs at 205-226-4733, or ebrown@bsc.edu

Mr. Horth is a guest speaker for Birmingham-Southern's "Leadership Matters" lecture series. Mr. Horth's lecture, Creative Leadership: Navigating Complex Challenges, will be during Common Hour (11AM) in the Norton Theatre. (EEIS credit!)
For more information about Mr. David M. Horth and past leadership speakers, please visit: http://www.bsc.edu/leadershipmatters/index.cfm

Thursday, February 23, 2012

More Upcoming Black History Month Events

Next week Birmingham-Southern College will be sponsoring 2 Black History Month events. The first, "Of One A-Chord" Music and Dance Performance, will be held in the College Theater at 5:30 on Sunday (2/26). The event will feature several campus groups, including BSC One-A-Chord Gospel Choir, the BSC Hilltop Singers, and students of the college’s dance program. Come out and support our talented students. Also learn more about the Civil Rights Movement that happened right here in Birmingham.

The second event that will be taking place next week is a talk given by guest speaker, Judge Helen Shores Lee. She will be coming out to talk to students and faculty about her dad who fought in the 1930's against discrimination laws. This event will take place at 11AM on Tuesday (2/28) in the Harbert Auditorium. Both events will lead students to gain a more clear outlook of the difficulties African Americans faced during the years of the Civil Rights Movement and leading up to it. For more information click here.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Darkness into Life Lecture Series

Birmingham-Southern College is honored to display an educational and lecture series to increase awareness and understanding of the Holocaust entitled "Darkness to Life: Alabama Holocaust Survivors through Photography and Art." Both the exhibition and lectures are free and open to the public.

Monday, February 20th at 7 PM in the Munger Hall Auditorium Guest Speaker: Dr. Jeffrey Veidlinger, `The Shoah in a Soviet Shtetl` (EEIS Unit 3635)

Tuesday, February 21st at 11 AM in the Norton Center Theatre Guest Speaker: Dr. Jeffrey Veidlinger, `Eastern European Jewish Life` (EEIS Unit 3634)

Thursday, February 23rd at 11 AM in the Norton Center Theatre Guest Speaker: Mr. Max Steinmetz

The Kennedy Art Center's Durbin Gallery features the art of Mitzi J. Levin and the photography of Becky Seitel, which displays personal recollections of 20 Alabama Holocaust survivors. Durbin Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 8:15AM to 4:45PM.

Further exhibition materials can also be found on the main and ground floors of the BSC Library. The main floor features "Children of the Holocaust," while the ground floor presents "The Courage to Remember," a 40 colored posters following the chronology of the Holocaust. BSC Library hours are Monday through Thursday 8AM to midnight, Friday 8AM to 5PM, Saturday 9AM to 5PM and Sunday 2PM to midnight.

For further information, visit: http://www.bsc.edu/communications/news/2012/20120123-holocaust.cfm

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Celebrating Black History Month

Birmingham-Southern College always takes great pride in celebrating Black History Month with a variety of guest speakers and events, and this year is no exception. The Office of Multicultural Affairs has joined together with the Black Student Union to plan activities throughout the month that will be available for everyone to attend:

Feb. 16, 3:30 PM, Norton Campus Theatre
Community Panel: "The Dream Realized: Defining the Black Professional" (EEIS event!)

Feb. 19, 2:00PM
Tour of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Feb. 23, 7:00PM, Hanson Loft
Film: When We Were Kings, Leon Gast

Feb. 26, 5:30PM, College Theatre
Of One A-Chord Performance (EEIS event!)

Feb. 28, 11:00AM, Harbert Auditorium
Speaker: Judge Helen Shores Lee (EEIS event!)

For more information, please visit http://www.bsc.edu/communications/news/2012/20120130-bhm.cfm.

photo W.E.B. DuBois, historian, founder of NAACP, poet, civil rights leader

BSC Library introduces new services for mobile phone users!

The BSC Library is happy to announce three services for mobile phone users. All these are in the "beta" test phase, so please let us know of any problems.

First, we now have a mobile version of our web pages. You may either go to library.bsc.edu with your phone's web browser, or scan the QR on the right.

Secondly, we now offer TEXT to our chat service service. Simply send a text message to 205-287-7746, and chat away (standard text and data charges may apply).

We have also added the capability to share our PC screen with you should you need to see a step-by-step demonstration of some database or other library magic.

We are looking forward to hearing your thoughts on these services. Please send any comments/suggestions/complaints to libref@bsc.edu.

Steve Laughlin

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

"Darkness into Life": Holocaust Exhibit and Speaker Series

Throughout February, Birmingham-Southern College will host an educational art exhibit and lecture series, courtesy of the Birmingham Holocaust Education Committee.

One of the exhibits, "Darkness into Light: Alabama Holocaust Survivors through Photography and Art" will be displayed in the Durbin Art Gallery until February 24, with an opening reception on February 10 from 6-8PM.

Artist Mitzi J. Levin and photographer Becky Seitel will give the first of many lectures in conjunction with this exhibit. Their discussion will take place on February 9 at 11AM in the Norton Theatre.

There will also be a discussion of the exhibit by a faculty panel in the Harbert Auditorium on February 14 at 11AM.

Two more exhibits, "The Courage to Remember" and "Children of the Holocaust" will be housed in the BSC Library. The first is a full-color poster exhibit that charts the course of the Holocaust. The second is a literature collection about the Holocaust published for children and young adults.

For more information on the exhibits and lecture schedule, visit http://www.bsc.edu/communications/news/2012/20120123-holocaust.cfm

Monday, February 6, 2012

156 Years Later

While some of you were sleeping through January and others were off campus on Ex-Term (formerly Interim) projects, BSC celebrated its 156 anniversary. On the 25th of January, 1856, the Alabama legislature formally incorporated Southern University, our parent institution, at Greensboro. In 1918, Southern merged with Birmingham College on the latter's Hilltop campus to create Birmingham-Southern College. Forward Ever.

--photo of Southern University in 1888

For more information about the history of BSC, take a look at the BSC History page prepared by the College Archives.

--G.W. Hubbs, College Archivist

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Winter Break Library Hours

Winter Break Library Schedule

Ex-Term 2012 (formerly known as Interim) is over and our diligent and hardworking BSC students and faculty need a break. Campus is a bit quieter while students and faculty are off gathering up their strength for the Spring Term that starts on February 6th.

The Library Hours for Winter Break

February 1–3, Wednesday –Friday 8 A.M. – 5 P.M.
February 4–5, Saturday –Sunday CLOSED

The Library opens again for Spring Term on Monday, February 6th at 8:00 am.

Friday, January 20, 2012

New books on contemporary Japan

Thanks to the Nippon Foundation Book Project, the Birmingham-Southern College Library has added dozens of new books on Japanese history, politics, society, economics, and literature to its collection. Through its "100 Books for Understanding Contemporary Japan" book donation program, the Nippon Foundation offers English language books to overseas libraries, with the goal of helping readers develop a greater understanding of Japan. Among the many interesting titles are the following:
  • Bushido: the soul of Japan (BJ971 .B8 N58 2002)
  • Japan rising : the resurgence of Japanese power and purpose (DS889.5 .P95 2007)
  • Japan's love-hate relationship with the West (DS881.96 .H57 2005)
  • The Columbia anthology of modern Japanese literature (PL782 .E1 C55)
  • Anime from Akira to Howl's moving castle : experiencing contemporary Japanese animation (NC1766 .J3 N36 2005)
  • The tales of the Heike (PL790 .H42 2006)
  • Science, technology and society in contemporary Japan (Q175.52 .J3 L68 1999)

All of the books are listed in the BSC Library catalog and are available for check-out. A full listing of the "100 books" can be found at http://www.nippon-foundation.or.jp/eng/worldwide/readjapan/list_100books.html. The new items build on the excellent foundation established by the James Wren Asian Studies Collection.

Many thanks to the Nippon Foundation for these wonderful additions to the library collection!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Two ExTerm Activities -- Acrobatics and Fundraising with SciFi

Thursday Night Movie Fundraiser
Do you ever think about scientific breakthroughs and the ethical questions they pose? Sometimes the benefits of these experiments are purchased at a great cost to individuals who often remain anonymous. Dr. Melanie Styers' ExTerm class, Tough Choices: Ethical Dilemmas in Science and Medicine explores the implications of medical breakthroughs.

Based on one case, the students were moved to action and along with Dr. Styers have organized a fundraiser for the Henrietta Lacks Foundation on Thursday evening, Jan. 19, at 7 PM in Harbert Auditorium. They will show the movie Source Code (with Jake Gyllenhall, Vera Farmiga and Michelle Monaghan) and serve pizza and snacks. Following the movie will be a discussion of the bioethical issues raised by the plot. The suggested donation is $5, but any amount is appreciated. All proceeds will be donated to the Henrietta Lacks Foundation.

Dr. Styers reported "the class read the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (a wonderful book!!) The book deals with the history behind HeLa cells, a cervical cancer cell line that has led to many of the most significant scientific breakthroughs over the last 50 years. It details how the cells were isolated from Henrietta Lacks (without her consent) and the lasting effects on her family. The book adresses issues related to race, poverty, medical ethics, and education. My students have been very touched by Henrietta's story."

For information of the movie Source Code see http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0945513/

For information on the Henrietta Lacks Foundation see http://henriettalacksfoundation.org/

Celebrate Chinese New Year with Acrobatics!

One of the most famous acrobatic groups in China, the Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe, will perform at Birmingham-Southern on Wednesday, Jan. 18, in celebration of the 2012 Chinese New Year, The Year of the Dragon.

The performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Bill Battle Coliseum. The public is invited and the event is free. The doors of the coliseum will open at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

MLK, Jr. Holiday -- Monday, Jan. 16 -- Library CLOSED

Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

Monday, January 16, 2012

The BSC Library will be CLOSED

As we celebrate Martin Luther King Day, many of us are unaware of the direct effect that his message had on BSC students. Marti Turnipseed, a BSC student, attended a meeting at the Ensley First Baptist Church, where she heard the Reverend King speak on the need to take a stand for justice. As a result she became the first white person to participate in the non-violent sit-ins at the segregated Birmingham Woolworth's Department Store lunch counters. For her courage to stand up for what she believed to be right, the college administration bowed to outside pressure and expelled her for a year. But Marti returned with her head held high to graduate from BSC in 1964 and then attend divinity school.

You can learn more about Martin Luther King, Jr. through the BSC Library catalogue. Marti Turnipseed's story and BSC's struggles through the civil rights era have been researched by Professor Bill Nicholas of our History Department; you can find her entry in the BSC yearbooks, available online.

--G. Hubbs, BSC Library

Good Friday March held on April 12, 1963. Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth and Rev. Ralph David Abernathy join Dr. King on a march for civil rights in Birmingham.

Photo from the Encyclopedia of Alabama.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

New SD Card Readers for the Library!

Due to student demand, the library has acquired two SD card readers to facilitate photo uploads onto library computers.

Since the library is one of the only places on campus that students can print in color, users frequently print photos from their digital devices here.

Users can now directly connect their memory cards to the computers, allowing the image files to be selected much like files on standard USB drives.

The readers are available for checkout at the circulation desk.