Got Banned Books?
Intellectual freedom includes the right to freely choose what to read. Libraries are all about offering a wide range of reading materials that appeal to a diverse population of readers. So, how do you feel when someone removes or attempts to remove a book from the library's shelves because he/she believes that it is not suitable for anyone? Well, the American Library Association's motto is "Free People Read Freely," and due to the efforts of librarians, teachers, parents, students, and others who are committed to the freedom to choose, most "challenged" books remain on the shelves and in the curriculums.
Banned Books Week is Sept. 29-Oct. 6. During this week, take a few moments to learn why books are challenged or banned, and reflect on the meaning of censorship and the freedom to choose.
Check out the website for the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom where you will be amazed at the history of banned books. Here is ALA's list of the ten most challenged authors from 1990-2004:
1. Alvin Schwartz
2. Judy Blume
3. Robert Cormier
4. J.K. Rowling
5. Michael Willhoite
6. Katherine Paterson
7. Stephen King
8. Maya Angelou
9. R.L. Stine
10. John Steinbeck
How many of these authors have you read?
And you might be surprised at some of the titles on this list:
The 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000
So guard your freedom to read like the precious gem that it is.
Read a banned book today!
Friday, September 21, 2007
How Sweet It Is!
Susan Moses, chef and owner of 212 Market, a popular restaurant near the Tennessee Aquarium, has talents beyond the mere cooking of delicious entrees and the creation of food temptations. She has learned the skill of sugar art and has loaned some of her amazing creations to our library for all to admire.
According to Susan, she "began training in sugar courses with Ewald Notter (of Notter's School of Pastry Arts) in 1994." She will create sugar sculptures for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and other special events, and has even shipped a pastel-colored set of sugar balls to Chicago for decorating a wedding cake. Susan compares sugar art to glass blowing. Although sugar art is edible, she does not recommend them for eating but rather for viewing, decorating, or making some event personal.
Stop by and see her beautifully delicate sculptures that top the bookcase near the reference desk. Thank you, Susan for sharing your craft with us.
Susan Moses, chef and owner of 212 Market, a popular restaurant near the Tennessee Aquarium, has talents beyond the mere cooking of delicious entrees and the creation of food temptations. She has learned the skill of sugar art and has loaned some of her amazing creations to our library for all to admire.
According to Susan, she "began training in sugar courses with Ewald Notter (of Notter's School of Pastry Arts) in 1994." She will create sugar sculptures for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and other special events, and has even shipped a pastel-colored set of sugar balls to Chicago for decorating a wedding cake. Susan compares sugar art to glass blowing. Although sugar art is edible, she does not recommend them for eating but rather for viewing, decorating, or making some event personal.
Stop by and see her beautifully delicate sculptures that top the bookcase near the reference desk. Thank you, Susan for sharing your craft with us.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Take a Little Trip to Anywhere
Need a little break from studying or thinking? Want a short sightseeing trip to Queens, NY, Beijing, Vienna, Auckland, Sicily, Boston's dive bars, downtown Austin, or numerous other wondrous locales? Then try this website:
Turn Here: Short Films, Cool Places
"TurnHere, Inc. is a digital media company with a unique mission. TurnHere produces professional digital videos, accessible on the Internet, which convey authentic experiences of places and leisure activities in cities and neighborhoods around the world. Each TurnHere digital film is driven by an individual filmmaker’s vision, translated into compelling storytelling, engaging narrators, insider perspective and high entertainment value. Every film that carries the TurnHere brand has met rigorous content, production and technical standards.
Founded in 2005, the company is privately-held and based in Emeryville, California."
You can even subscribe to an alert that will deliver a surprise video to your mailbox every day, or make a video about your business or location and let them produce it for you.
Where will you go today?
Need a little break from studying or thinking? Want a short sightseeing trip to Queens, NY, Beijing, Vienna, Auckland, Sicily, Boston's dive bars, downtown Austin, or numerous other wondrous locales? Then try this website:
Turn Here: Short Films, Cool Places
"TurnHere, Inc. is a digital media company with a unique mission. TurnHere produces professional digital videos, accessible on the Internet, which convey authentic experiences of places and leisure activities in cities and neighborhoods around the world. Each TurnHere digital film is driven by an individual filmmaker’s vision, translated into compelling storytelling, engaging narrators, insider perspective and high entertainment value. Every film that carries the TurnHere brand has met rigorous content, production and technical standards.
Founded in 2005, the company is privately-held and based in Emeryville, California."
You can even subscribe to an alert that will deliver a surprise video to your mailbox every day, or make a video about your business or location and let them produce it for you.
Where will you go today?
Monday, September 10, 2007
Give a DVD to SGA for ARK
The Student Government Association, in cooperation with the library, has implemented a project to create a DVD collection. Who? You know, the SGA and the CSTCC library. What? A project to create a collection of DVDs to check out. When? This semester; right now; today; as we speak. Where? Here, in the main campus library, otherwise known as the Augusta R. Kolwyck library. How? By asking students, faculty, and staff to donate to the SGA a used--or even new--DVD that will be given to the library for all to share. Seriously! Free check-out of DVDs with your CSTCC photo ID.
Sooooo. If you have unviewed or previously viewed DVDs that you need to set free, take them to the SGA office in room S-212 of the Student Center, and Seth Houts, SGA president, or some other important person will thank you profusely on behalf of the library and your fellow classmates.
So far, the display case is empty. Uh, perhaps you weren't aware of the project. BUT, we're hoping that after everyone reads the articles in the the current issue of the Communicator (and in this blog), the donations will begin to flow.
Now, you know you're not going to watch Pirates of the Caribbean again. Take it and any others whose time has come and be the first to contribute to the cause. Prizes will be awarded, but to win a prize, you must donate!
What are you waiting for? What could be better than free movies?
The Student Government Association, in cooperation with the library, has implemented a project to create a DVD collection. Who? You know, the SGA and the CSTCC library. What? A project to create a collection of DVDs to check out. When? This semester; right now; today; as we speak. Where? Here, in the main campus library, otherwise known as the Augusta R. Kolwyck library. How? By asking students, faculty, and staff to donate to the SGA a used--or even new--DVD that will be given to the library for all to share. Seriously! Free check-out of DVDs with your CSTCC photo ID.
Sooooo. If you have unviewed or previously viewed DVDs that you need to set free, take them to the SGA office in room S-212 of the Student Center, and Seth Houts, SGA president, or some other important person will thank you profusely on behalf of the library and your fellow classmates.
So far, the display case is empty. Uh, perhaps you weren't aware of the project. BUT, we're hoping that after everyone reads the articles in the the current issue of the Communicator (and in this blog), the donations will begin to flow.
Now, you know you're not going to watch Pirates of the Caribbean again. Take it and any others whose time has come and be the first to contribute to the cause. Prizes will be awarded, but to win a prize, you must donate!
What are you waiting for? What could be better than free movies?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)