All Good Things Must End

Students have completed finals, printed out boarding passes, and are ready to go home for the holidays. The library is closing today at 3:45 and will reopen on January 2nd. Many members of the faculty, staff, and student body have already been in to check out pleasure reading and DVDs for the break. If you still need some diversion for over the holidays, stop by in the next couple of hours.

The Ledge

It’s always startling to realize the information you can find in a library. On a recent trip to the public library, I picked up a copy of Down East Magazine and came across an article about an ill-fated hunting trip right after Christmas back in 1956. It told the story of a fisherman, who along with his son and nephew, lost his life after being stranded on a ledge when his skiff drifted away while duck hunting. After spending much of the last three summers sailing the waters in Harpswell, along with many trips to Estes Lobster House, I had never heard the story about Buster Estes. This true story inspired Lawrence Sargent Hall, who was then a professor at Bowdoin College to write the short story, “The Ledge,” which won the O. Henry Memorial Award in 1960. If you’re interested in reading this or any other short stories, take a look at our short story collection near the circulation desk.

Ornament Hunt

Ornament Hunt
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

The tradition continues. All students, staff, and faculty have an ornament hanging on the trees outside the library. The trick is to find yours. I found mine. Thanks!

Carolers in the Library

The most lovely of traditions! Mr. Seufert brings his German I class and Miss Keegan brings one of her Spanish classes to sing holiday music for us. We are an appreciative audience.

A Murder of Crows - Crow Intelligence

As Ms. Chase was walking back from lunch yesterday, a murder of crows settled by the library's back door. For her, Hitchcock used to always come uneasily to mind. Since she saw the TED talk by Joshua Klein on crow intelligence, however, she is no longer wary of them (or at least not in the same way!). Take a look yourself:

 

If you are interested in learning more after watching, try the DVD A Murder of Crows (shelved at DVD 598.8 MUR) or the book Crows: Encounters with the Wise Guys of the Avian World by Candace Savage (598.864 SAV).

Latest Reviews: December 2012

Fiction - Annotated Austen - October 09
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Looking for a read? Why not search our LibraryThing collection! Below you can find links to reviews of just some of the books recently read by our staff.

The latest reviews in our "virtual collection" include Souls in the Great Machine by Sean McMullen, Persuasion: An Annotated Edition by Jane Austen (edited by Robert Morrison), and Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi.

You can always find even more reviews through our LibraryThing profile.

Back Issues of The Archon Online

Back issues of The Archon, the Governor's Academy newsletter, are now available online at the Internet Archive. The Archon was first published in 1906, and once served as both the school newspaper/magazine as well as the alumni publication. We are glad to say it is still going strong!

Yearlier this year, the school received a grant through the Digital Commonwealth and the Boston Public Library to have our entire collection of Archons digitized.

Please read more at the Governor's Academy Archives blog!

Essex Result on Display

Essex Result on Display
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Theophilus Parsons may be one of our most noteworthy alumni. In 1778, during the American Revolution, Massachusetts submitted a draft of a state constitution to the various towns for approval. Criticism of this initial document was widespread. Theophilus Parsons wanted to do more than criticize; he wanted to suggest an alternative. Gathering representatives from towns throughout Essex County, Parsons led meetings to discuss the proposed constitution and possible alternatives. The group published their political thoughts in a document that came to be known as The Essex Result. The document and ideas contained within formed the basis of the new Massachusetts Constitution, adopted in 1780, and the US Constitution of 1787.

On display here is our archives' version of this document - an original! Visit the Governor's Academy Archives blog for more information, or come in to see Mrs. Slater's display on Theophilus Parsons.

Author Visit Tonight: Tom Perrotta

Author Visit Tom Perrotta
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

"Laurie Garvey hadn't been raised to believe in the Rapture. She hadn't been raised to believe in much of anything, except the foolishness of belief itself. (...) And then it happened. The biblical prophesy came true, or at least partly true. People disappeared, millions of them at the same time, all over the world."

This excerpt is from Tom Perrotta's 2011 novel The Leftovers. Interested to hear more by Mr. Perrotta? He will be on campus tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Wilkie Center. He will read from his novels and talk about writing.

Mr. Perotta will be available to sign books after his talk. Please also drop in to see our display at the front desk!

Story Cubes

Story Cubes
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

As Miss Driskill left, she gave us all a gift - Rory's Story Cubes. Nine cubes have 54 images that are tossed into opportunities for many, many stories Students shake them, scatter them and start spinning wondrous tales. Stop by and regale us with your story!

Author Visit: Tom Perrotta

Author Visit Tom Perrotta
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Tom Perrotta, award winning author and screenwriter, will be on campus on Monday, November 12, 2012. He will speak at 7:30 p.m. in The Wilkie Center for the Performing Arts.

Mr. Perrotta’s novels include The Leftovers, The Abstinence Teacher, Little Children, Joe College, Election, The Wishbones, and Bad Haircut. Two of Mr. Perrotta’s novels, Election and Little Children, were turned into an award winning films. His latest novel, The Leftovers, was named one of the "Best Books of 2011" by O the Oprah Magazine, Kirkus Reviews, Amazon.com, GQ, NPR (Fresh Air), The Washington Post, The Seattle Times, and The Book Page.

He is a very entertaining speaker, and - in the words of our Mr. Searles - the evening "will be most enjoyable."

After his talk / reading, Mr. Perrotta will be available to sign books. The public is also invited to attend the talk; the evening is free of charge.

Latest Reviews: November 2012

Nonfiction - 100s - May 16
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Reviews to some of the books recently read by our staff are published in our LibraryThing pages. If you are looking for a read for the upcoming break, why not have a look at one of the reviews?

The latest reviews linked to our "virtual collection" include Deception Point by Dan Brown, Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie, and Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain.

You can always find even more reviews through our LibraryThing profile.

Halloween Fun

Halloween Fast Picks
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Looking for last-minute Halloween entertainment? The library has several displays of spooky stuff - please feel free to pick your favorite!

Today students were allowed to wear Halloween costumes to school. In the evening, small children of faculty and staff will meet in costume for the annual picture. They will be making their rounds of the campus, trick or treating.

Happy Halloween!

Hurricane Sandy Approaching

The Pescosolido library will be closed for the rest of today due to the approaching hurricane Sandy.

Apart from following the school announcements, here are a few links that you can check out to keep yourself informed:

Wind Map by hint.fm
The Washington Post: Hurricane Sandy live updates
National Weather Service's Hurricane Sandy surface wind field map and Public Advisory

Stay safe!

Newest of the New: History Books

Nonfiction - 900s - October 24
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

During the fall semester, we buy a lot of nonfiction to help students start off their semesters with interesting reads. In addition, we buy many, many books to specifically aid the juniors with their U.S. history research papers.

In this photo there are several books for junior research projects. Can you guess which ones?

How Do You Get Your Science News?

How do you get your science news? Do you use a major media outlet for all of your news? Or do you read a dedicated science portal or a blog? There are several places you can check, some of which are mentioned below.

• NASA Science News – space-related science stories
• New York Times: Science – science news edited and collected by the New York Times
• Phys.org – a science, research and technology news service which covers a full range of topics, including physics, earth science, medicine, nanotechnology, electronics, space, biology, chemistry, computer sciences, engineering, mathematics and other sciences and technologies
• Random Walks – Mr. Chase, a math teacher at Richard Montgomery High School, in Rockville, MD, writes about math and math-related issues with real enjoyment
• ScienceDaily – breaking news about the latest scientific discoveries, updated several times a day

Do you have any favorite science sources, either for fun or for serious use? Please share!

Ballot Topics on Daily Display

Daily Display - October 17 2012
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

In addition to the 2012 Presidential Elections, we are trying to keep the Massachusetts elections in mind when designing our displays.

We already did a daily display on the Massachusetts ballot issues in general. Today's daily display is on assisted death. Included are just a fraction of material we have on this and other controversial ballot topics. Search our catalog or look in our databases for more information. We also have a research guide on the 2012 elections with a wealth of links. And please just ask for help if you cannot find what you are looking for - we are here to assist you.

October Displays

Halloween Dystopias 2012
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

A new set of colorful displays is out for October! We strive to make past as well as current events relevant to the school and the library collection. The Cuban Missile Crisis display does just that with a photograph from the school archives. It shows President Kennedy – a congressman at the time – visiting our campus. Our Halloween display tickles everyone’s intellectual curiosity with a wide range of dystopias.

On your way in, please also check out the daily display on the lobby table. Ms. Marnell always manages to find such interesting facts and accompanies them with something from our collection.

In addition, Ms. Struck has brought in the first round of Objects of the Week – everyday items that her art students transform. We encourage you to visit these and our other, smaller displays.

Latest Batch of Entertainment DVDs

Entertainment DVDs - October 03
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

We have added another batch of entertainment DVDs - movies and TV series - to the collection. You can see our latest additions at the new DVD shelves in the library or in our Flickr pages. We're also happy to fill requests (resources permitting).

P.S. Also a new selection of anime is now available!

2012 Elections Resources

Daily Display - October 03 2012
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Our daily display is all about the presidential debates today! Please check it out in the library lobby on your way in or out.

More information on the U.S. presidency and the elections can be found in the U.S. 2012 Elections guide. It is just one of our brand new research guides on the LibGuides site. With only 5 weeks to go, time is running short!

Latest Reviews: October 2012

iBoy
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Below you will find reviews of just some of the books recently read by our staff. Take a look to see whether you might find a thing or two to read.

The latest reviews linked to our "virtual collection" include The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin, iBoy by Kevin Brooks, Airborn by Kenneth Oppel, and Napoleon's Pyramids by William Dietrich.

You can always find even more reviews through our LibraryThing profile!

Little Red School House Tour

Little Red Schoolhouse
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Don't forget that in honor of the 250th kick-off weekend, Ms. Slater will be opening the Little Red School House for touring on Friday. She will guide visitors through the school house. The school house will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 11:15 a.m. and again from 12:00 noon until 3:00 p.m.

This is a wonderful chance to learn a little about early academy history. Welcome any and all who would like to stop by!

We extend our sincere thanks to Ms. Slater, our archivist, for making the tour possible.

Governor's Academy Mural

Governors Mural
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

To celebrate the school's upcoming 250th anniversary, a mural depicting various aspects of the school history was commissioned. A mural committee met with the two artists, Joshua Winer and David Fichter, several times during the spring semester to discuss ideas.

In the summer, the painting began in earnest, and the mural took shape week by week. Here it is in its full glory, photographed by Mr. Oxton from the Fine Arts department. (Check out our Summer 2012 Flickr photos for some of the intermediate stages.) We are delighted at how the mural turned out!

Our archivist, Ms. Slater, will highlight different elements of the mural both in a series of library displays and in blog posts. Her first display is on William Dummer, the school's founder. The first blog post deals with the Mansion House, William Dummer's residence, and the Milestone, which was commissioned by John Dummer, William's cousin. Did you know that there are ghost stories connected to the Mansion House? Or that the Milestone was a part of fierce family rivalry in Byfield?Please read more in the Archives blog, and come in to see the display!

A Hobbit Anniversary

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien was first published on 21 September 1937 – 75 years ago. It sold out by Christmas, but has never been out of print since.

The Hobbit cannot really be taken by itself, for “it stands on the threshold of one of the most immense and satisfying imaginative creations of our time" – namely The Lord of the Rings (Helms, Randel. Tolkien’s World. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1974. Print. Page 52). Tolkien based a lot of his material on early Germanic literature, poetry, and mythology. His experiences in the First World War are often described as a source for many of the thematic elements in Tolkien’s writing. 

Both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings have been adapted multiple times for stage, screen, radio, board games, and video games. While many other authors had published works of fantasy before Tolkien, the great success of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings led directly to a popular resurgence of the genre.

Please check out our display in the hallway near the Electronic Classroom for more!

Improved Printing Options in the Library

Print here!
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

In last week's post about changes in the library, we already mentioned that the new, spiffy library copier also functions as a printer. Now there is another small change to report on the printing front.

Printing to the front desk printer has been disabled for students in favor of the newer and more dependable printers. Printing even longer .pdfs should now work without a hitch!

Here are your options in a nutshell:

Copier:
Color jobs as well as b&w
One-sided

Classroom printer:
Only b&w
Double-sided by default

Library 2nd floor:
Only b&w
One-sided

As always, if you have questions or if you need help, please come and see us!

Regarding Academic Honesty

Regarding Academic Honesty
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

To follow Dr. Quimby's talk about honesty, we pulled and displayed Jonah Lehrer's controversial book Imagine. He forfeited his career when it was revealed that he invented multiple quotes for his book.

If students have questions regarding academic honesty, there are many sources to turn to. They can talk to a teacher, or turn to one our learning center specialists. There are multiple books about honesty and cheating in our collection, including research and citation guides.

Honesty might feel like a theoretical exercise, but as Jonah Lehrer found out, it is very deeply tied to our everyday routines.

Little Red School House

Little Red Schoolhouse
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

The empty flag stand in the original Little Red Schoolhouse now "flies" the flag that would have been there in 1763. Ms. Slater sent away to England for a linen English flag. It is easy to forget that William Dummer was a Royal Governor during difficult times in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He established the school in his will before the events of 1776. You can see additional pictures on today's Facebook post.

Changes in the Library Since Summer

Collage Mural Small
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

A few days ago, we already mentioned some of the changes that took place in the library over the summer break. Here is more detailed information on those changes.

Quite a few parts of our book collection moved to make space for the new Center for Teaching and Learning. The history collection is now in the Bragdon reading room, the graphic novels have moved to the glass room, and the periodicals have moved into the Lyons nook (nook near the glass room). We know it’s a lot to remember, so we have a Quick Guide to Locations available at the front desk to help you.

Our Flickr and Facebook pages have lots of photos of the various stages of construction. They also include documentation of the steps needed to bring our gorgeous new mural to life.

A small but helpful change, we hope, is the addition of a couple of workstations for a quick email check or for printing something for class. They are located in the nook between the front door and the elevator (to the left as you walk in). You also now have the capability of printing (both color and black and white) to the library copier, so please send your jobs there and remember to pick them up!

Last but not least, the library has an amazing collection, but if there’s something specific you would like, please stop by the front desk to ask. We’re glad to help you.

Latest Reviews: September 2012

Delirium
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Welcome back! We hope that your summer break was relaxing and inspirational. Below you will find reviews of just some of the books read by our staff during the summer months. Why not have a look to see whether one will tickle your fancy?

The latest reviews linked to our "virtual collection" include Delirium by Lauren Oliver, The 20-minute Gardener by Tom Christopher & Marty Asher, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon.

You can always find even more reviews through our LibraryThing profile.

Head Start for Fall

Head Start for Fall
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

General registration opened today, and we already see our students using the library to hang out, use a computer, or read a book or a magazine.

There were many changes in the library during the summer. The most notable one is the gorgeous mural celebrating the 250 years of Governor's Academy history. All the windows were replaced. Parts of the collection were relocated and rooms repurposed in preparation for the new learning center. There is new carpeting and paint. Details are still being worked on in some areas of the library. There is also new equipment. We are in the process of improving our signage to reflect all the changes and help people navigate the library better.

There is one thing, however, that does not change: We are excited to greet both returning and new students, and also look forward to welcoming the faculty and staff.

Please come in to say hello, and do not hesitate to ask us if you cannot find something. Welcome back, each and every one of you!

Happy Summer!

Colors in the Library
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Our students are packing up their belongings and emptying their dorm rooms as they transition into summer mode.

We are transitioning here at the library as well (although some are staying for the whole summer). We need to take down our displays, shelve the books, and clean up the building. Summer will also see some significant construction in the library. Exciting times ahead!

We wish everyone a fantastic, relaxing, and refreshing summer! If you are staying in the area, pop in to say hello. If not, we will see you next fall!

Latest Reviews: June 2012

Last Good Man
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Looking for relaxing reads for the summer break? Why not select a book reviewed by our staff!

The latest reviews linked to our "virtual collection" include The Last Good Man by A.J. Kazinski, Scapegoat: A History of Blaming Other People by Charlie Campbell, and Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth Godin.

You can always find even more reviews through our LibraryThing profile.

Happy summer!

May 25th Geek Pride Day

May 25th Geek Pride Day
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Geeks, technology and space: what do they have in common? Today in the library, we’re celebrating Geek Pride Day. Today is also the anniversary of the debut of Star Wars. Of course, if you’re a geek, you already knew that. Geek Pride Day also coincides with the remarkable feat we’re watching today: the unmanned SpaceX Dragon approaching the International Space Station.

In the library we’re always interested in the latest and greatest in technology. As we have been thinking about the prevalence of iPad use in schools, we’ve started brainstorming ways to integrate using the iPad in the library. Recently, we downloaded the Hubble Top 100 app to view the breathtaking images of space the Hubble telescope has captured over the years. Maybe sometime in the near future, we’ll be tracking commercial space flights on the iPad.

Librarians' Tasks Are Changing

(Source: Unknown.)

The sign above may be polarized on purpose, but it does prove a point. Quite a few, in fact.

When talking about information searches or the Internet, Google is ubiquitous. What is often forgotten, however, is that a fast search online, even a very good fast search, is not match to the analytical capabilities of the human brain. Nor is everything valuable digitized and available on the Internet; that will take decades and millions of dollars to achieve.

Google allows anyone with an Internet access to look up facts or other information. This is great: improved access and wider availability of information can only be a good thing. Complex searches, however, require a different strategy than just typing a few key terms into a search box. Librarians have provided that help for decades. Also, librarians assist people to evaluate or apply information, how to create documents or other media, how to describe and cite sources. Many libraries provide technology help as an integral part of their activities. The nature of librarianship is, therefore, moving away from simple fact-checking towards more detailed, more analytical, more time-consuming tasks like teaching, analysis, and preservation. Furthermore, many libraries - whether they be public, school or special libraries - collect and preserve unique local knowledge and resources. All of this happens with comparatively small investments.

When did you last thank your librarians for all of their hard work?

New Fiction for May

Fiction - May 17
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Although the semester is winding to an end, we still have a few book orders coming in. Here is a selection of our latest fiction purchases. Browse them in person at our new books nook, or the new books display in the lobby!

Remember, you can also visit our LibraryThing profile for a list of latest additions. LibraryThing also has reviews of books in our collection, not only by our staff and students but by other users as well.

Many have stopped but few have taken.....

Lost and Found Items - PLEASE CLAIM!
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

As you come into the library, take a look at what we have gathered from around the building and from the bin in the copier room. Maybe you'll be delighted to find the jacket you forgot you owned!

Outgoing Inter-Library Loans

Outgoing ILL
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

We are a member of the Massachusetts Library System that provides access to interlibrary loan, among other things. Patrons of other libraries who want to use books from our collection can request them through their home library, and vice versa. While the amounts of books coming and going vary throughout the year, early fall and late spring are always the busiest times.

Here is a stack of our books being prepared for their trip into the big world. Our technical services associate takes good care of both incoming and outgoing materials.

Preparing for the End of Semester

Preparing for Summer
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

We cannot believe it is just about two weeks until the semester ends! There are so many things to wrap up for the academic year.

We need to make sure that students get all the help they need for finishing their papers and projects. Also, we need to follow up on all loans and see that they are returned before the summer. There are the year 2012 graduates to congratulate! The budget and our final book and DVD orders need to be followed up on, too. Next year's text books need to be ordered and processed. Supplies need to be replenished. Our physical materials have to be in good shape for next fall, which means that the book repair supplies are getting a lot of use.

In addition to the next academic year, our sights are on summer as well. We prepared a display about beach reading. The summer programs notice board is chock full of ideas and information - check it out by the copier room.

Wikipedia Facts

Via: Open-Site.org

Choose Privacy Week Display

Choose Privacy Week 1
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Did you see our Privacy Week display?

We are so used to free online services that we may not think everything that is involved. Signing up for even a discount card at your supermarket requires giving your name, address, and phone number, if not your age, gender, and hobbies. After that, your purchases are tracked and saved in the company databases for an indeterminate time.

With online services it gets more complex very quickly. Keeping your account numbers and identifying information secret can help prevent financial fraud. But even if you do everything right, a hacker can destroy all your efforts.

There are several things you can do right now. Protect your online reputation as you would protect your real-life reputation. Be aware of your choices and their safety implications. It is as important as being aware of cars when crossing a road. And lastly, practice constant vigilance.

Please feel free to visit the library for more information. If you would like to check out one or more books from the display, we will be happy to help you.

Search Google Like a Pro

Who doesn't google? It's much rarer to find a power-googler than a googler, though. If your current use of Google is limited to typing a few words in and changing them around until you find what you’re looking for, you might use a helpful hint or two.

Surround your phrase with double quotes. This is the simplest and fastest thing you can do to improve your results.
     Example: "colonial history"
Search a specific website or specific kinds of websites. This trick is extremely useful for locating government data, for instance.
      Example: "colonial history" site:.gov

Search for specific file types, for example PowerPoints or .pdfs.
      Example: "colonial history" filetype:ppt

Searching for phone numbers goes by the same logic as site or file specific searching.
      Example: phonebook:000-123-4567

Read more in Dharmesh Shah's post at Hubspot.

Latest Reviews: May 2012

Your Playlist
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Summer – and summer reading! – is almost here. The library staff keeps reviewing books from our collection. Why not take advantage of both!

Some of the latest reviews linked to our "virtual collection" include Bossypants by Tina Fey, Below Stairs: The Classic Kitchen Maid's Memoir That Inspired Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey by Margaret Powell, and Your Playlist Can Change Your Life by Galina Mindlin, Don DuRousseau, and Joseph Cardillo.

You can always find even more reviews through our LibraryThing profile.

Author Dennis Lehane on Campus!

Dennis Lehane Display
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Nationally acclaimed author Dennis Lehane will be here Tuesday, May 1, 2012. Mr. Lehane is the author of noted novels such as Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone, and Shutter Island. He is also an award winning short story writer. He will be here for dinner in the in the Duncan Library in the Phillips building. After the dinner, Mr. Lehane will talk about his work and give a reading in the P.A.C. There will also be refreshments, books for sale, and a book signing in the Remis Lobby.

We hope you will also find time to visit our little Lehane display in the reference area. We have pulled together nine of his novels and a few movies. Some have already been borrowed from the display. Make haste if you want one, too!

Anime Galore!

Anime Display
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Did you know the school has an anime club? To support them, we just ordered several classic anime movies on DVD. Titles include Kiki's Delivery Service, Metropolis, Nausicaa, My Neighbour Totoro, Princess Mononoke, and many others. If you want to check one out, make haste - they are in high demand!

New Paperclips - Fashion!

New Paperclips - Fashion!
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Although the Carl A. Pescosolido library is an academic building, with rules that emphasize the educational use of the building and the resources, we PeskyLibrarians do try to keep things light and fun. Here is a selection of novelty paper clips we recently added onto our supplies at the front desk. You might also remember a certain high-heeled tape dispenser!

Haiku for Poetry Month

Haiku for Poetry Month
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

The bowl needs constant replenishing. Students are invited to take a haiku to celebrate April is Poetry Month. The latest scrolls added feature zombie haikus written in the style of known poets.

Googlefight

Have you heard of Googlefight? It runs a search on two concurrent search terms or phrases in Google, and returns the number of results. The search is accompanied by a short stick-figure animation. (The site is not affiliated with or sponsored by Google.)

Googlefight promotes itself as a game-type site, but it is very useful to get comparative statistics on web content and word usage. For instance, writers could use it to check on the relative popularity of variant versions of idiomatic phrases. For instance, according to Googlefight, "pesky library" is much more common than "pescosolido library", and the misspelling "definately", compared to "definitely", comes up about 7 % of the time on the web.

P.S. Don't forget - the common book author Brittany Perham visits the library tomorrow, April 19th, at lunchtime!

Common Book Display

Common Book Perham Display
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Next Thursday, April 19th, the 2012 common book author Brittany Perham will be on campus. She will read her poems, talk about writing, and share her life as a poet and teacher.

We prepared this small display to highlight her poetry written while at Governor's.

Ms. Perham is not only a Governor's alum - she graduated in 1999 - but she holds degrees from Tufts University and from the University of Virginia. She has received awards from the Academy of American Poets and the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, and she has twice been a finalist for the Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowship given by POETRY. Currently Ms. Perham is a Jones Lecturer in Creative Writing at Stanford University, California.

From noon to 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, lunch will be provided in the Bragdon Reading Room in the library. Ms. Perham will be available for questions, conversation, and book signing. Everyone is invited!

Titanic 100th Anniversary

Titanic 100th Anniversary
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

We've just added some new books to our Titanic display which feature photographs and primary accounts. Also check out the BBC's Titanic at 100 for fascinating pictures, accounts, and a look at the Balmoral's recreation of the fateful trip.

TOMS Day in the Library

Tom's Day in the Library
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Two Governor's students organized a TOMS One Day Without Shoes event and shoe drive yesterday! Students, faculty and staff were encouraged to walk barefoot for the academic day, fliers and posters shared pertinent information, and a shoe drive spot steadily filled up with donations during the day.

We in the library were happy to highlight the efforts and document the shoeless action in the building. Please visit our Flickr account for more photos!

April: National Frog Month

National Frog Month Display
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Who doesn't love frogs? From their distinctive calls to wiggly tadpoles, from rainbow-bright skins of tropical frogs to the wide range of chemicals found in their systems that might one day benefit our pharmacological industry, frogs have surprisingly much to offer. It is no wonder this diverse group of amphibians has a month dedicated to them.

The library has a number of resources for reading more. Online, you could, for example, look at University of California at Berkeley's resources. AmphibiaWeb is an online system that provides access to information on amphibian declines, conservation, natural history, and taxonomy. Or you could browse amphibian photos by scientific name, for instance. If you still want more, try dissecting a frog online (provided by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory).

Maya Angelou's Birthday Remembered

Maya Angelou Mini Display
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Today we wish a Happy Birthday to the beloved author, actor, and activist Maya Angelou. She is the recipient of numerous awards and honorary degrees, and her influence on contemporary American literature and on human rights is tremendous.

Please visit our lobby for this little display, or browse through our collection for her works.

Latest Reviews: April 2012

Nonfiction - 700s - February 01
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

As we settle down to the remainder of the spring semester, a book or two might well be just what the doctor ordered as a refreshing break from the work. Why not pick up one reviewed by the library staff?

Some of the latest reviews linked to our "virtual collection" include The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy by Stieg Larsson (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest) and Knitting around the World by Lela Nargi.


You can always find even more reviews through our LibraryThing profile.