Thursday, February 26, 2009

Studying in the Library


Moodling
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library
There is a new course on the library moodle site: http://elmstreet.govsacademy.org/course/view.php?id=419 Check it out for tips on how to best use the resources and the spaces in the library for your individual and group study needs.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Day in the Dark?


Day in the Dark?
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library
Students and faculty alike are choosing to sit near our huge expanse of windows today. The school's green cup challenge team requested that lights be turned off in all buildings today in an effort to cut our electricity usage and greenhouse gas emissions. While much of the building seems darker today, we are fortunate to have so much natural light in this building that there is room for all to find a space to work comfortably.

The Governor's Academy 2009 Green Cup Challenge Video

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

AP Photo Exhibit

The AP Photo class hung a new collection upstairs - From Bright Crayons to Dark Corners: the Departure of Innocence. Each photo depicts one piece of the theme dealing with the loss of innocence. The works are meant to be viewed in sequence from left to right. Come by and check out this thought-provoking exhibit.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Celebration of our students' achievements at the Boston Globe's Scholastic Art Awards

During this Parents' Weekend, David Oxton of the Fine Arts department hung a screen in our foyer on which he is projecting images of student work. Our students did especially well in the recently announced Boston Globe Scholastic Art awards, earning five Gold Keys, five Silver Keys, and seven Honorable Mentions. Take a look at their remarkable work.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Comfy chairs


Comfy chairs
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library
Sunshine, comfy chairs, and a paper to write... but first a nap.

What would you buy with $25?


Looking for Reviews
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library
Readers in the Pesky Library have a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to amazon.com simply by completing a book review of a book of their choice. Students are free to choose either fiction or nonfiction, and write a review of 100 words or less.

When they return the review to the librarians, it will be entered into our Library Thing database, to help other readers find that book.

Each month the librarians will draw a lucky $25 winner from the reviewers who wrote a review that month! So far, your chances are good.

We know you read - write a review and go shopping for a book, CD, DVD, or whatever else you want!

Monday, February 16, 2009

Freshman History Research

Freshman history students were in the library today searching for information about Germany and communism prior to World War II. Their information will be presented as PowerPoint slide shows.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

So happy to be studying with a friend

Sometimes you can't help but be happy when accompanied by good books, a good friend, and a great school.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

The National Archives



Yesterday we visited the National Archives

and Records Administration building in Waltham.

We toured the building and learned about their

extensive archives and education programs.

Their education coordinator will work with

teachers to develop lessons based on primary

source documents in the collection. Individuals

may visit to examine publicly held documents.

Digital cameras and scanners are allowed to be

used on most documents so that a copy can be

taken home. Additionally, 300,000 documents

have been scanned and are available online in

the archival research catalog. Records include

court records, case files, immigration and

naturalization records, census records through

1930, and military, maritime and custom records.

For records that must be viewed in person, they

recommend that you write, phone, or email

before you come so that they can quickly locate

the records you desire to view.

Thursday, February 05, 2009

DVD Conversion


Technological changes require that we replace items that become obsolete. Many of our videotapes have reached the end of their useful lives. We’ve begun to replace the classics with DVD formatted films. We still have a long way to go, but here’s the first batch of DVDs to be replaced. For information on titles, see our Flickr page.

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Black History Month - Telling our Stories

We are celebrating Black History Month this year with a collection of novels and stories about the African-American experience or by African-American authors. Along with books by Zadie Smith, Toni Morrison, Langston Hughes, and James Baldwin, we are highlighting some children's books in our collection, books by Patricia McKissack, Jacqueline Woodson, and Julius Lester (check out his blog!) So on these snowy days, grab Show Way, curl up in a comfy chair, and learn about how quilts once served as secret maps for freedom-seeking slaves.

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Spanish Class


Spanish Class
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library
Mr. Falconer’s Spanish language classes were in the library for two days, researching for a short thesis paper on Indigenous Hispanic peoples. Here, Mr. Falconer works with a student using the Latino American Experience, a library subscription database containing over 190 titles related to “the pre-Columbian civilizations of the Americas… to the triumphs and challenges facing present-day U.S. Latinos.” It also gives students links to websites that have been vetted for accuracy and authority, helping them to weed through much of the chaff that’s available freely on the Internet. A great site to begin learning about Indigenous Hispanic people is http://www.archaeolink.com/south_america_indigenous_studies.htm

Monday, February 02, 2009

Etch-a-Sketch at 50


Nift at Fifty Display
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library
People can't keep their hands off! This enduring toy is always in use. We were glad we caught this picture before it got shaken away.