Conversation

Category: Conversation

Attend the Convo!

Alex Ross Here at the Mudd we’re all about the learning, so when University Convocations come around, we make sure to attend. We even close the library so no one has an excuse for missing out on a chance to hear from someone with interesting things to say.

This week we encourage you to attend the Alex Ross convo on Thursday, November 3 at 11:10 in the Chapel. If you’ve read his writing, you know he has a way with words and will be well worth hearing. If you haven’t read his writing, your friends at the Mudd have created a webpage with links to some of Ross’ books and articles, his blog and Twitter feed, and more.

Attend the Convo. You’ll be glad you did….

Time Again for Things Worth Knowing!

Audience members enjoying a Things Worth Knowing presentation and cookies.

The beginning of the school year marked the start of a new series of Things Worth Knowing presentations in the library.  For those of you who do not know what these events are, I will explain.  Each week, we draw on the expertise of a member of the library staff, the greater Lawrence community, or someone not otherwise affiliated with Lawrence.  Last school year, we hosted presentations on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, Buffy the Vampire Slayer,  superstitions, and more.  So far this school year, special guests have presented on the Gutenberg Bible, fall hijinks of Lawrence past, and the history of Stonewall.  Take a look at our guide for a complete list of topics, along with additional information.  Feeling sad about having missed these awesome events?  Don’t fret- we have many more interesting topics and special guests lined up!  All Things Worth Knowing presentations take place on Friday afternoon and last from 4:30 pm to 5 pm.  Oh- and we always have cookies for our guests to enjoy while listening to the presentations.  The remainder of the fall term presentations are scheduled as follows:

October 14—Cooperating for Change: The Co-op Movement: With special guest Cathy Statz, LU 1996, Education Director for the Wisconsin Farmers Union

October 28—Public Art & the Statue of Liberty: With special guest Professor Rob Neilson

November 4—King Tut: In honor of the anniversary of the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb in 1922

November 11—The Armistice: Recalling World War I and the 85th anniversary of Armistice Day/Veterans Day

Do you have a hidden (or not so hidden) area of expertise you would like to share at a Things Worth Knowing event? If so, contact Gretchen Revie by email or at 920-832-6730 to inquire about arranging a presentation.

Historical Media

We’d like to share a couple of awesome ways to share, view, and experience historical media.

Fourth of July Celebration photo compared with Google Street View

SepiaTown is a user-driven database that matches historical photographs with locations on Google Maps.  Users upload photographs, add the location the photograph was taken, the date it was taken, and any additional information about the picture.  The “then/now” feature provides a side-by-side comparison of the historical photo to the Google Maps Street View.  Users can do a keyword search, or look at images associated with featured locations. Check out the SepiaTown Blog to learn more about features and collections.

The ARIS game platform uses historical images and videos to create mobile games that allow the player to relive past events in the locations that they took place.  An example is the game Dow Day, which displays videos and images from Dow Day in 1967 when a player visits certain locations around Madison.

Dow Day: A game designed using the ARIS game platform.

ARIS was created to allow educators to create mobile games that integrate learning and augmented reality (the concept of using technology to add additional information to an existing environment). Educators/developers have created more than historical games using ARIS.  Some examples include, campus tours, museum exhibits, foreign language instruction,  bird and plant species identification, and one from the Library of Congress on using primary sources.  Games created by ARIS are currently only available on the App Store.

What’s in the Mudd?

You know that we strive to provide you with the best resources available for all of your research needs, but did you know that there’s more to the Mudd library?

Today, we begin a new series called “What’s in the Mudd”.  Stop in the library and take a look at our display of interesting and unusual resources.  Better yet, take one to the circulation desk and check it out.

Our display includes:

  • Pincus and the Pig: A Klezmer Tale– You know and love Peter and the Wolf. Here it’s performed by the Shirim Klezmer Orchestra.  Includes a helpful Yiddish glossary.  As a bonus, includes Klezmer versions of Brahms, Satie, and Mahler.
  • The Ramones, Anthology– The accompanying booklet says “loud and fast.” We think that sums it up nicely.
  • Airplane!– The “Don’t Call Me Shirley” edition.  A hilarious homage to disaster movies.  Technically, there is a plot, but mostly it’s a string of one-liners. A classic.
  • Super Smash Brothers Brawl– The back of the game case claims, “There’s no end to the smashing fun.” It’s true- ask a friend.
  • Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat– Read it in English or attempt it in Russian.
  • Perfect Hips: Belly Dance Workout– Need we say more?
  • Caribbean Cooking for Pleasure- The Mudd library has scads of cookbooks.  You can find them by using the term “cookery” as a search term in LUCIA.
  • AC/DC Rockband Trackpack– Tired of playing the same songs on your Rockband setup? Why not totally rock out with “the majestic power of AC/DC?” (from game case)
  • International Sound Effects Library, volume 1-28- We are featuring volume 3, which contains such sounds as rat squeaks and baboon barks.
  • And more!

All this month, we will continue to delight and surprise you with some of the Mudd library’s hidden gems.

Wellness Resources at the Mudd

Did last week’s spring-like days motivate you to get outside and get active?  Even though the ground is once again covered with snow, the Mudd Library can help you maintain your exercise and healthy living motivations.  We have a growing collection of exercise videos available to check out.  Some of our newest titles include, Yoga for Beginners, Step-by-Step Strength Training, and Perfect Hips: Belly Dance Workout.  The Mudd Library staff can tell you that Wii Sports Resort can be a great workout, as well as a lot of fun to play.  If you don’t have your own Nintendo Wii console, the library has one available for loan.

If you’re interested in researching wellness, our reference librarians have put together a Wellness Resources library guide.  This guide includes information about wellness related electronic databases and websites, as well as tips for finding wellness related books in our catalog.

Of course, the library is not the only place on campus for those interested in wellness.  WelLU, Lawrence University’s committee on wellness, has been actively encouraging wellness on campus.  Take a look at their web page, or visit the newly remodeled Buchanan Kiewit Wellness Center.   The student organization, LU Wellness Committee, focuses on wellness related issues of particular interest to students, such as sexual health/body image and stress management.

History of the Book exhibit

Students from Professor Garth Bond’s fall-term English 527: History of the Book class will be exhibiting their term projects in the Mudd Library. The exhibit opens Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 4:30pm. Come join us for refreshments and interesting conversation about the research the students have done on books housed right here in the Mudd.

Banned Books Week!

Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read is observed during the last week of September each year. Observed since 1982, the annual event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted.

Check out this list of the 100 books most frequently banned and/or challenged between 2000 and 2009, compiled by the American Library Association.

Here’s an interesting map of book challenges from 2007-2010.

And a list of 15 iconic movies based on banned books from the Huffington Post.

For more information about why books are challenged, see this list of “challenged classics” — some of the top novels of the 20th century and the reasons they were challenged. Every book on this list can be found in the Mudd Library.

How many banned books have you read?

How Green Is My iPad?

The New York Times takes a look at that age-old question: which is more environmentally friendly: an e-reader or an old-fashioned book?

Op-Chart: How Green Is My iPad? – NYTimes.com

You’ll be pleased (but not surprised, I’m sure)  to hear their conclusion: “All in all, the most ecologically virtuous way to read a book starts by walking to your local library.”

C’mon over to the Mudd. It’s the right thing to do.