Readers' Picks--What Library Staff are Reading--Part II

Vicky Leather, Dean of Library Services, says, "I am re-reading The Little Princesses by Marion Crawford, governess to Princess Elizabeth (Lilibet) and Princess Margaret Rose for 17 years. It was copyrighted 1950 so the 'telling is closer to the occurrence' than biographies written today about the same time period.

Even at a very early age, the sense of responsibility and the need to behave in a calm, unruffled manner were apparent in Princess Elizabeth. Just the opposite was true of the irrepressible, incorrigible Margaret Rose. Their parents were truly a close, loving couple who valued their children's happy development and well-being above all. Only the necessity of Princess Elizabeth's father assuming the throne upon the abdication of his brother, Edward, compromised their happy, family-focused home life.

Reading this gives one some insight into life during World War II inside a country that was affected by it daily. It also gives one some degree of understanding of the immense pressures and obligations imposed on a person just by 'being a royal.'"

Image credit to A-1 Women's Discount Bookstore.

Job Search Made Easier for New Graduates--JobWeb.com

Now that graduation has come and gone, you may be pounding the pavement looking for just the right career opportunity that fits your skills and personality. There are plenty of information sources out there--your parents, your friends, your teachers, the Internet, newspapers, professional journals, and, yep, libraries. Take advantage of all of these resources as each one offers a unique perspective.

JobWeb is a useful website, sponsored by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Unlike many job search websites, JobWeb offers its users more than just a list of available openings. Other important employment help is available, such as company information, interview advice, resume examples, job market projections, and personal marketing tips.

Categories of information are provided for students, parents, employers, and colleges. And check out the job market projections for 2008 graduates. Where does your degree count the most?

Good luck in your search for a satisfying and rewarding career! And remember, the library is here to help you get started.

Readers' Picks--What Library Staff Are Reading--Part 1

Most of us who work in libraries are tortured by the fact that we are surrounded by a multitude of fascinating books that we don't have time to read. Dante should have created a ring in his fictional hell as a punishment for avid readers who committed crimes of book mutilation or for those who lost a borrowed book. But I digress....

Summer means reading, doesn't it? Where do you go to read? How about the beach, the porch, the sunroom, the riverpark, the local coffee shop, the breakroom, the backyard, the camping trip, the airplane, the car, the bathroom, and, of course, the library. Get my drift?

This entry is the first in a series of postings devoted to what our library staff are reading this summer. Dwight Hunter is reading Public Relations Writer's Handbook in the Digital Age. Dwight studied public relations in journalism school and is interested in how PR is implemented in a digital environment.

He says, "Public relations and the digital age have provided an interesting mix. Blogs, such as this one, that are written by company staff members, bring a personal touch to public relations. In this case, blogs are not packaged in some ordained company objectives and standards. Instead, they can open avenues of communication with people in a different medium and get that company's plug that their people know what they are talking about on a personal level. A local television station in Chattanooga has a YouTube channel. This is another form of public relations in the digital age--posting interesting videos that promote or highlight your company's benefits or contributions to the community. And even better is the fact that the video is accessible on the world wide Web.

A good example is the website of our local newspaper. The paper has adapted its public relations face to include blogs, an unusual set of weather plays, podcasts, breaking news, image galleries, and so on. Again, a local example of the digital age dictating a different public relations that is not centrally-controlled."

So, look around and notice how public relations is influenced by the influx of digital media and the variety of interesting ways that companies are trying to get your attention, influence your purchasing power, sway your opinions, and ultimately win you over.

Save Money--Read our Magazines

If you're a magazine junkie but find that your gas tank is slurping up your magazine budget, there's an easy, inexpensive way to feed your habit: Come to the library and read OUR magazines instead of buying them at the newsstand.

The current issues of many popular magazines are shelved in alphabetical order (Well, we are a library, you know!) in the area to the left as you enter the front doors. You'll find lots of entertainment and knowledge, as well as some welcome relaxation--all for FREE!

Here are some of the most popular titles:

American Heritage
American Craft
Architectural Record
Better Homes & Gardens
Car and Driver
ESPN
Essence
Esquire
Fortune
Garden Design
Good Housekeeping
House Beautiful
Ladies Home Journal
Motor Trend
National Geographic
Newsweek
People
Popular Science
Prevention
Psychology Today
Redbook
Road and Track
Southern Living
Sports Illustrated
Time
US News
Vanity Fair
Vogue

Did you miss last month's issue of any of these? Not a problem. Just lift the shelf and find several months of back issues still available.

So, find a comfy chair and gather your favorite mags for some pleasant relaxation between, before, or after class.

Pre-Summer Semester Hours for the Library

The main campus library's hours between semesters begin Saturday, May 3, when we will begin being closed on Saturdays throughout the summer. Other hours for the week of May 5 are:

Monday, May 5--8:00AM--6:00PM
Tuesday, May 6--8:00AM--4:30PM
Wednesday, May 7--8:00AM--4:30PM
Thursday, May 8--7:30AM--9:00PM Classes begin.
Friday, May 9--7:30AM--4:30PM

Saturday and Sunday--CLOSED

Regular summer hours begin May 12:

Monday through Thursday--7:30AM--9:00PM
Friday--7:30AM--4:30PM

See you soon!