Friday, December 18, 2009

Paul Revere and Exam Week

We like to save exam week for special projects. The building is empty of students for several hours and we can truly concentrate rather than multi-task! This year we spent time with our archivist, Laurie DiModica, and the school's original seal fashioned by Paul Revere. We knew that the seal had been used for Trustee business and were curious as to what was on it and any symbolism.
We initially bought sealing wax that was made from a 300 year old formula, thinking historical accuracy. But as we burned it, the soot and ash smeared the image we were trying to see. So, we went 20th century and chose sealing wax designed for a glue gun. The image was clearer. We all made an imprint for how often do we get a chance to be hands-on with history?
Laurie did some reasearch into the Trustee minutes and found in a meeting on November 22, 1786 (handwritten by John Quincy Adams):
"Voted, that a vote of the Trust passed the 7th of April 1786 for procuring a seal and directing the devise of it be, and the same is hereby annulled--and further voted, that the Treasurer [Micajah Sawyer Esq.] be, and he hereby is directed to procure a seal for and at the expenc
e of the Trust of about the size of an English Half Crown; and that the devise of it, be the figure of Apollo holding out a laurel, with this label from his mouth, "Detur Digniori," and a number of pupils looking at the laurel. With these words round the margin Sigillum Academiae Demmerianae 1763."


Thursday, December 17, 2009

New History DVDs

We have approximately 2,000 DVDs in our collection and add to the list each month. Half of our movies are entertainment and heavily used by boarding students and day students alike. Our faculty makes good use of the remainder of our collection by showing videos in class or assigning them to be watched for homework. Additionally, many junior history thesis papers are written with the aid of our extensive history video collection. For more information on these videos see our flickr page, or search our catalog.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

More Book Lists

Yesterday we blogged about reading suggestions displayed on our Christmas Book Tree. There are plenty of other sources, too, for suggested reading. Check out these lists, for example:

Reading Suggestions by the Glenview (IL) Public Library
Reading Suggestions for Teens by the Sunnyvale (CA) Public Library
Books & More, Teens by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

And if you're heading to college next year, you might want to have a look at the following lists:

College Bound Reading List by the Arrowhead (WI) Library System
101 Great Books by The College Board
College Bound Reading List by EducationPlanner.org

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Christmas Book Tree


Christmas Book Tree
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library
"Tis the season for jolly reading! The Christmas book display in the foyer is loaded with holiday stories. Choose from among Jeff Guin's How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas or his Autobiography of Santa Claus, Wally Lamb's Wishing' and Hopin', or Let it Snow (three novellas by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle.) Just added this week is the new Knit the Season by Kate Jacobs.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Reindeer in the Trees


Reindeer in the Trees
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library
The Holiday Break is fast approaching. The library shows its best decorations to get you in the mood. Here are some adventurous reindeer.

Before the break, however, there is a week of exams. Please remember: the whole library is dedicated to silent study this week. Be considerate of your fellow students.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Carollers at the Library

For me, the best day of the season is when the carollers come. Today Mr. Seufert's German class sang O Tannenbaum and Stille Nacht while Miss Keegan's Class sang Santa Claus Esta Viniendo a la Ciudad.


Thursday, December 10, 2009

Copyright-Free Photos Online

Need a picture for a report, letter, or a card - and fast? Instead of googling and grabbing something at random, why not try searching for photos taken by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duty. Many of them are free of copyright and free to use - not to mention simply gorgeous. Photos are provided by the Agricultural Research Service, FEMA, Antarctic Photo Library, and the Department of Defense, for example.

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

The Roots of the TGA Student Exchange

Yesterday we blogged about TGA's newest cross-cultural activity, the Cultural Awareness Student Association (or CASA for short). But did you know that the Academy sent exchange students out to Europe already in the 1920s? Two boys from the school went to Denmark to live with “high class Danish families and absorb the traits of their life and customs.” Read more in the May 1927 issue of The Archon in our Archives blog.

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Cultural Awareness Student Association


Casa
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library
Students of the newly formed Cultural Awareness Student Association created displays for the library to share what their new club is about. The new club plans on celebrating cultural diversity and awareness through music, dance, food.... Their organizational meeting is tonight at 6:30 in Frost Old Library.

Monday, December 07, 2009

This Just In!


December 2009 dvds Fiction
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library
We literally just finished processing a set of new books and DVDs, including these movies and much more. Check out the new books shelf!

Friday, December 04, 2009

Inspirational speakers and videos

On Wednesday the entire community was treated to a talk by Paul Deegan, travel author and adventurer. He spoke of three trips that tested his, and others, limits and abilities. He spoke cogently of understanding one’s own desires and abilities, planning properly, and reaching our dreams in spite of any handicaps life may have handed us.
Hopefully these two new videos, Intrepid Descent and Blood, Sweat & Gears, will give us further inspiration to follow Mr. Deegan’s example.

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Reminder: Lost and Found

Despite the fact that the semester is ending (or maybe because of it?) , the contents of the Lost and Found bin in the copier room keep growing. Please come and claim your shoes(!), hats, jackets, shirts, notebooks, textbooks, dictionaries, and novels. You're sure to need at least some of them before the Holiday Break.

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

To Kindle or not?

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Sherman Alexie
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full EpisodesPolitical HumorU.S. Speedskating

Digital or print? This Sherman Alexie interview offers an interesting (and humorous!) perspective from an author point of view.

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Back to Work

Welcome back from the Thanksgiving break! We hope you've had an enjoyable holiday.

These final weeks before the Holiday Break are going to be busy for everyone. The freshmen will continue their civics meetings with library staff to learn about the Noodle Tools bibliography software. Juniors will continue researching and writing their history papers. The exam week is almost here.

With all that's going on, it's easy to feel stressed out. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, teens are just as stressed as adults (if not more so). (Check out the Editorial of The Governor for Nov 20th.)

While we here at the library can't do your research or write your paper for you, we can give advice and point you to the right sources. Don't forget to take the opportunity to talk to Mrs. Allen and Mr. Quigley. And when your brain is full, pop into the library for entertainment. We have novels, magazines, movies, and more.