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.
Monday, April 02, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
End of the Quarter
All over the library, students were working to complete assessments and prepare for exams. We couldn't keep a laptop or a textbook at the circulation desk. Yet, when I turned a corner to shelve a novel, I confronted an empty table. Must have been a well-earned study break! On Monday we'll start quarter 4 and graduation will be here before we draw a second breath......
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
Today in History: Robert Frost Was Born
Today, March 26th, in 1874, the Pulitzer Prize winning poet Robert Frost was born.
In 1947, he visited Governor's and spoke to students, faculty, and friends of the Academy at a special evening meeting. He first discussed briefly the difficulties in understanding poetry, and then read from his own works, including the well-known "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening". Stop by the library lobby to read more on Mr. Frost. We also pulled out the 1947 Milestone to include some flavor of the times!
P.S. You might also be interested in this past post on the World Poetry Day.
In 1947, he visited Governor's and spoke to students, faculty, and friends of the Academy at a special evening meeting. He first discussed briefly the difficulties in understanding poetry, and then read from his own works, including the well-known "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening". Stop by the library lobby to read more on Mr. Frost. We also pulled out the 1947 Milestone to include some flavor of the times!
P.S. You might also be interested in this past post on the World Poetry Day.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
World Poetry Day
March 21st is the World Poetry Day. Proclaimed as such in 1999 by UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization), it is the perfect opportunity to examine poets and their craft in the classroom or outside it.
According to UNESCO,
In addition to this little display in the lobby, we have a sizable poetry collection. Feel free to search our catalog or lose yourself into poetry upstairs among the shelves.
P.S. Don't forget - April is National Poetry Month in the U.S. and Canada!
According to UNESCO,
"Poetry contributes to creative diversity, by questioning anew our use of words and things, our modes of perception and understanding of the world. Through its associations, its metaphors and its own grammar, poetic language is thus conceivably another facet of the dialogue among cultures."
In addition to this little display in the lobby, we have a sizable poetry collection. Feel free to search our catalog or lose yourself into poetry upstairs among the shelves.
P.S. Don't forget - April is National Poetry Month in the U.S. and Canada!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Latest Reviews: March 2012
There is still time to pick up a book (or two or three...) before heading out on spring break. Pop in and browse our shelves, or read our Library Thing reviews for information and inspiration.
Some of the latest reviews linked to our "virtual collection" include Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards, The Forgotten Affairs of Youth by Alexander McCall Smith, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
You can always find even more reviews through our LibraryThing profile.
Some of the latest reviews linked to our "virtual collection" include Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards, The Forgotten Affairs of Youth by Alexander McCall Smith, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
You can always find even more reviews through our LibraryThing profile.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Phone Booths as Guerilla Libraries
The New York architecture graduate John Locke's ongoing experiment to convert phone booths into mini libraries is gaining a lot of attention. He hopes that New Yorkers will browse the books and pick up one while running errands, and perhaps replace it later with another one of their choosing. The goal is to attempt to foster community engagement and see whether phone booths can give value back to a neighborhood.
How does he select the books to go in each library? Locke says:
Read more about Locke and his project in The Atlantic Cities interview.
How does he select the books to go in each library? Locke says:
"I want everything and anything. I don't have much of a budget, so all the books are donated from people that live nearby and off my own shelves, so everything from Oprah-approved to Jane Jacobs. And obviously as people leave their own books, I'd want the collection to become a record of the interests of that particular site."
Read more about Locke and his project in The Atlantic Cities interview.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Amistad and John Quincy Adams
When is the last time you stopped to study one of our daily mini-displays?
Every weekday, we set out a display about a historical event of the day. A short write-up is accompanied by pertinent items from our collection. The display is located right by the entrance in the lobby.
Today you can learn about the connection John Quincy Adams has to the slave ship Amistad rebellion. Adams also has a connection to the Academy. He studied law under Academy graduate Theophilus Parsons who lived in Newburyport. Parsons, who served as a Chief Justice of Massachusetts and author of the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780, was on the school's Board of Trustees. Adams took the minutes of the Board and we have them conserved in our Archives. Stop by and ask Mrs. Slater to see his beautiful penmanship!
Every weekday, we set out a display about a historical event of the day. A short write-up is accompanied by pertinent items from our collection. The display is located right by the entrance in the lobby.
Today you can learn about the connection John Quincy Adams has to the slave ship Amistad rebellion. Adams also has a connection to the Academy. He studied law under Academy graduate Theophilus Parsons who lived in Newburyport. Parsons, who served as a Chief Justice of Massachusetts and author of the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780, was on the school's Board of Trustees. Adams took the minutes of the Board and we have them conserved in our Archives. Stop by and ask Mrs. Slater to see his beautiful penmanship!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Archival Storage for LIFE
Just like our collection of National Geographic magazines, our LIFE magazines are showing their age. (The oldest issues are from 1969!) And like our National Geographics, we protected them from dust and wear with archival storage boxes.
The LIFE storage boxes are clearly labeled with the magazine name and year(s). They are shelved in their usual spot in the Bragdon Reading Room, in order by year.We encourage you to enjoy our selection. Any time you have questions about our magazine collection, feel free to ask!
The LIFE storage boxes are clearly labeled with the magazine name and year(s). They are shelved in their usual spot in the Bragdon Reading Room, in order by year.We encourage you to enjoy our selection. Any time you have questions about our magazine collection, feel free to ask!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Scientific Blogs Out There
For the scientifically curious, there are plenty of offerings in our library. We carry all the textbooks used at Govs. Our collection of non-fiction contains both books and DVDs in the various sciences, and we subscribe to several popular science periodicals and academic databases. In addition, our catalog links to e-books (available for reading on campus). For those who want more, there are several ways to find interesting writing online. Below are a few possibilities to consider.
The ScienceBlogs portal, launched in 2006, collects more than 80 individual blogs that cover various sciences and the intersection of science with politics and culture. The site classifies the blogs into ten divisions (life sciences, physical science, environment, humanities, education, politics, medicine, brain & behavior, technology, and information science). ScienceBlogs selects their bloggers based on their "originality, insight, talent, and dedication and how we think they would contribute to the discussion at ScienceBlogs," but does not edit their work or tell them what to write about. (Surprisingly many ads might turn off some readers.)
For an ad-free experience, you could head to Scientopia, a collective of people who write about science because they love to do so. This community is "held together by mutual respect and operated by consensus, in which people can write, educate, discuss, and learn about science and the process of doing science." The participating bloggers range from molecular geneticists to graduate students to computer scientists to anthropologists. Their topics and approaches are highly individualistic; there should be something of interest there for most readers.
The blog Not Exactly Rocket Science is another great destination for empty moments. The author, Ed Yong, is an award-winning British science writer. His work has appeared in New Scientist, the Times, WIRED, the Guardian, Nature, and more. This blog is his attempt to "talk about the awe-inspiring, beautiful and quirky world of science to as many people as possible."
The ScienceBlogs portal, launched in 2006, collects more than 80 individual blogs that cover various sciences and the intersection of science with politics and culture. The site classifies the blogs into ten divisions (life sciences, physical science, environment, humanities, education, politics, medicine, brain & behavior, technology, and information science). ScienceBlogs selects their bloggers based on their "originality, insight, talent, and dedication and how we think they would contribute to the discussion at ScienceBlogs," but does not edit their work or tell them what to write about. (Surprisingly many ads might turn off some readers.)
For an ad-free experience, you could head to Scientopia, a collective of people who write about science because they love to do so. This community is "held together by mutual respect and operated by consensus, in which people can write, educate, discuss, and learn about science and the process of doing science." The participating bloggers range from molecular geneticists to graduate students to computer scientists to anthropologists. Their topics and approaches are highly individualistic; there should be something of interest there for most readers.
The blog Not Exactly Rocket Science is another great destination for empty moments. The author, Ed Yong, is an award-winning British science writer. His work has appeared in New Scientist, the Times, WIRED, the Guardian, Nature, and more. This blog is his attempt to "talk about the awe-inspiring, beautiful and quirky world of science to as many people as possible."
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Families Getting Along Display
In honor of Parents Weekend we have put up a display about celebrities and their parents. It doesn’t matter how rich or famous you are, everyone has parents. Our families influence us in so many ways; it is no surprise that some celebrities give their parents credit for their unwavering support. So take a moment this weekend and think about how your parents have supported you and remember to try and get along famously!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Military Tradition at the Academy
The display in this case pays tribute to this military tradition at the academy, and includes a sword used by the Dummer Guard, an on-campus military training unit, during the 1880’s. In addition, we have a Civil War letter from a graduate writing about seeing one of the early ironclad ships, the Keokuk, with Nehemiah Cleaveland in NY. We also have a photo of students in their military training garb and a scrapbook which includes an article about Benjamin Perley Poore’s “savages.”
Monday, February 13, 2012
New Archival Display Case
This new display case in the foyer will contain items from the archives.
As you probably know by now, our new archivist, Ms. Slater, has instituted "history mysteries" - a question or questions to do with the school's history and often connected to an item or items from the archives. The first correct answer will receive a prize from the archives’ prize vault. Some weeks, the mysteries will be found here.
We are very excited to have additional display space for our school's treasures!
As you probably know by now, our new archivist, Ms. Slater, has instituted "history mysteries" - a question or questions to do with the school's history and often connected to an item or items from the archives. The first correct answer will receive a prize from the archives’ prize vault. Some weeks, the mysteries will be found here.
We are very excited to have additional display space for our school's treasures!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Guess the Kisses!
Our annual February contest asks you to guess the amount of Hershey kisses. Last year we used a cube. This year the container is tall and flared. Ms. Marnell found an article with a formula for calculating jelly beans in a cylinder and has challenged students to come up with a formula to calculate this year’s guesses. Good luck!
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Dickens 200 Years
February 7th marks the 200th anniversary of the birthday of Charles Dickens, the continuously beloved British author. Dickens' work transcends his time, language, and culture. He continues to be a tremendous influence throughout the world, and his writings continue to inspire on popular culture like film and TV, plus art, literature, artists, and the academia.
We built a wonderful display around this auspicious anniversary. Among books and posters, there are a handful of more exotic items. One of our staff members, Ms. Lojek, lent for our display four vintage Dickens prints passed on to her by her family. There is also a Dickens action figure equipped with a quill, ready to rhyme.
For an online Dickens experience, check out for instance the Charles Dickens Museum and Dickens 2012.
We built a wonderful display around this auspicious anniversary. Among books and posters, there are a handful of more exotic items. One of our staff members, Ms. Lojek, lent for our display four vintage Dickens prints passed on to her by her family. There is also a Dickens action figure equipped with a quill, ready to rhyme.
For an online Dickens experience, check out for instance the Charles Dickens Museum and Dickens 2012.
Monday, February 06, 2012
Latest Reviews: February 2012
Welcome back! We hope everyone had a great semester break.
If you are looking for outside reading for a class, or something to relax with in between managing text books and new assignments, you could turn to our Library Thing reviews for inspiration.
Some of the latest reviews linked to our "virtual collection" include Boomerang by Michael Lewis, Moonlight on Linoleum by Terry Helwig, and The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides.
You can always find even more reviews through our LibraryThing profile.
If you are looking for outside reading for a class, or something to relax with in between managing text books and new assignments, you could turn to our Library Thing reviews for inspiration.
Some of the latest reviews linked to our "virtual collection" include Boomerang by Michael Lewis, Moonlight on Linoleum by Terry Helwig, and The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides.
You can always find even more reviews through our LibraryThing profile.
Friday, February 03, 2012
Today in History
As you walk into the library, stop by the table and read about today and an event which makes it memorable. Some days it may commemorate a birthday or a pivotal moment in history. Some days it may reflect a current event. Every day, it's intriguing! And, matched with a book or two from the library, opportunity abounds to learn even more.
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore from Moonbot Studios on Vimeo.
“The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” will be considered for an Academy Award in animated short films. Wonderful on so many levels!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Chain of Gratitude
During the community service portion of our Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, juniors and seniors made links for the chain, writing messages of gratitude to family, friends, teachers, staff . . . Ms Struck brought it to the library so we could all read about the acts of kindness in our community.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Smithsonian’s Online Treasures Revealed
The Collections Search Center is an easy search interface to the holdings of the various museums that make up the Smithsonian Institution. It links to over 7.4 million records with 568,100 images, video and sound files, electronic journals, and other resources from the Smithsonian's museums, archives, library and research holdings and collections.
Many primary sources have been digitized, and are available in full through this interface. This should make it an attractive destination for juniors working on their U.S. history thesis!
There is a helpful tutorial to get you started.
The Smithsonian Collections Search Center is also mobile-aware. Users visiting the site with their iPhone or Android devices should automatically be redirected to a mobile friendly version of the site; iPad users receive the fully formatted pages. The Smithsonian Collections Blog features interesting items, current works in progress, or “whatever catches their eye”.
Many primary sources have been digitized, and are available in full through this interface. This should make it an attractive destination for juniors working on their U.S. history thesis!
There is a helpful tutorial to get you started.
The Smithsonian Collections Search Center is also mobile-aware. Users visiting the site with their iPhone or Android devices should automatically be redirected to a mobile friendly version of the site; iPad users receive the fully formatted pages. The Smithsonian Collections Blog features interesting items, current works in progress, or “whatever catches their eye”.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Objects of the Week 9 and 10
Each student in Ms. Struck's art class will be transforming one object a week. Each week the objects will be displayed somewhere in the library until the next objects arrive.
Here are two batches of objects. One is based on a scouring pad, the other on jute twine and candy cups. The inventiveness and imagination of our students is a pleasure to see.
We are looking forward to seeing what Ms. Struck's student will come up with next!
Friday, January 20, 2012
History Mystery of the Week
Our new archivist, Ms. Slater, has started a weekly history mystery. This week’s question was ‘In what year did the academy welcome its first student of African descent?’ And the follow up bonus question: ‘What was the student’s name?’ She had four correct answers from students " who knew that Wentworth Cheswell was in Samuel Moody’s first class at the academy in 1763. Mr. Cheswell apparently thought highly enough of his time here to have it mentioned on his gravestone located in Newmarket, NH. For those of you who thought that Booker T. Washington Jr., son of the famous African-American leader, was the first, you were not alone.”
Mr. Bidstrup followed up her e-mail response with a link to more information on Cheswell at America’sFounding Fathers. Master Moody's early students were indeed a remarkable group!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
SOPA Blackout Display
Wide-spread protesting in the form of blackened web pages were all over the Internet - and headlines - today. Both large, powerful web companies and smaller, private parties joined in this protest. Among the former, there are ubiquitous presences like Google, Wikipedia and Firefox; among the latter, the web comic XKCD and others.
At the crux of the matter are two bills: the Stop On-line Piracy Act (in the House) the and Protect Intellectual Property Act (in the Senate). Known by the adorable acronyms SOPA and PIPA, they are backed by major media companies and are directed against the illegal downloading and streaming of copyright-protected TV shows and movies online. However, according to criticism, the vague language in the bills would enable them to be used to stifle not only user-driven sites, like YouTube or Reddit, for example, but also big operators like search engines and small ones like self-employed media professionals.
Want to know more? The text of both bills is available through the Library of Congress (SOPA and PIPA, respectively), and contacting your elected officials is possible through the Usa.gov website.
P.S. If you need to access an online encyclopedia today, try our website instead of Wikipedia. We have access to the Encyclopedia Britannica and other databases.
At the crux of the matter are two bills: the Stop On-line Piracy Act (in the House) the and Protect Intellectual Property Act (in the Senate). Known by the adorable acronyms SOPA and PIPA, they are backed by major media companies and are directed against the illegal downloading and streaming of copyright-protected TV shows and movies online. However, according to criticism, the vague language in the bills would enable them to be used to stifle not only user-driven sites, like YouTube or Reddit, for example, but also big operators like search engines and small ones like self-employed media professionals.
Want to know more? The text of both bills is available through the Library of Congress (SOPA and PIPA, respectively), and contacting your elected officials is possible through the Usa.gov website.
P.S. If you need to access an online encyclopedia today, try our website instead of Wikipedia. We have access to the Encyclopedia Britannica and other databases.
Monday, January 16, 2012
New Databases: Sharpe and eLibrary Science
The Pescosolido library provides access to online encyclopedias and scholarly articles through several databases. We evaluate our databases periodically. This academic year, we have already added two valuable resources.
The Sharpe Online Reference database contains encyclopedia articles, an image gallery, primary documents, and foreign perspectives on United States. There are also web links and teacher’s resources on early America, economic history, and Ancient and Modern worlds. Other topics covered are conflicts, global history, terrorism, and world trade.
The eLibrary Science, as the name implies, collects scientific full-text articles from thousands of magazines and newspapers. There are also multimedia resources like images, websites, e-books, and videos. Other interesting features include biographies of famous scientists, an RSS feed to latest scientific news, and, in the Today in Science History section, snippets of significant events from the point of view of science. The database’s Interactive tab is especially well suited to casual browsing: dozens of links direct you to online games that illustrate various scientific principles.
We have added links to both these databases on our Catalogs and Databases page. Feel free to visit, and let us know how you found our current selection. We always appreciate feedback.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Highlighting Massachusetts Author Salvatore
This mini display on our first floor highlights R.A. Salvatore, a lifelong Massachusetts resident and prolific author.
Salvatore has been writing for over 20 years. According to the recent Boston Globe article, his books sell at the rate of one million a year, and they've been translated into more than dozen languages.
His most famous character has become an icon in the genre - he's featured in books and graphic novels as well as computer, video, and board games. There's been talk of a movie, even. And yet, Salvatore still lives within a quarter of a mile from his high school, near his and his family's old stomping grounds.
Clearly, Salvatore has hit on a recipe for success. His own take on his success is twofold: it's about people - the characters in the story - and realism that comes from his commitment to history and sports.
Read an interview on Salvatore at The Old Board Gamers' Blog (Part 1 and Part 2), or check out his website.
Salvatore has been writing for over 20 years. According to the recent Boston Globe article, his books sell at the rate of one million a year, and they've been translated into more than dozen languages.
His most famous character has become an icon in the genre - he's featured in books and graphic novels as well as computer, video, and board games. There's been talk of a movie, even. And yet, Salvatore still lives within a quarter of a mile from his high school, near his and his family's old stomping grounds.
Clearly, Salvatore has hit on a recipe for success. His own take on his success is twofold: it's about people - the characters in the story - and realism that comes from his commitment to history and sports.
Read an interview on Salvatore at The Old Board Gamers' Blog (Part 1 and Part 2), or check out his website.
Monday, January 09, 2012
Latest Reviews: January 2012
Welcome back! We hope your holidays were enjoyable and relaxing.
Some of the latest reviews linked to our "virtual collection" include Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth by Alexandra Robbins, Damned by Chuck Palahniuk, Sex on the Moon by Ben Mezrich, and Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card.
You can always find even more reviews through our LibraryThing profile.
Some of the latest reviews linked to our "virtual collection" include Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth by Alexandra Robbins, Damned by Chuck Palahniuk, Sex on the Moon by Ben Mezrich, and Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card.
You can always find even more reviews through our LibraryThing profile.
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
MOO Cards for the New Year
Welcome back from the Holiday Break! We at the library had a hitch with our heating system early this week, but things are running well again and we are back to our normal hours.
In the photo you can see a selection of our latest MOO cards. (MOO cards are small, custom business cards.) These cards contain the library contact information and various photos from the premises. Please help yourself to one in the lobby.
We look forward to seeing all of you again!
In the photo you can see a selection of our latest MOO cards. (MOO cards are small, custom business cards.) These cards contain the library contact information and various photos from the premises. Please help yourself to one in the lobby.
We look forward to seeing all of you again!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Holiday Card Display
As the stress of exams subsides we hope you all take a moment to check out the Governors Holiday Card Display in the Cobb Room of the Phillips Building. These festive cards from the school’s past are a lovely reminder of the rich history and holiday spirit here at Governors. You can read more about the display in the archives blog.
As you all pack up to head home for the holiday don’t forget to stop by the library to pick up a new book to read or a holiday DVD to watch with your family and friends!
The library will be closing today at 3:45 and will reopen with normal business hours on January 4th.
As you all pack up to head home for the holiday don’t forget to stop by the library to pick up a new book to read or a holiday DVD to watch with your family and friends!
The library will be closing today at 3:45 and will reopen with normal business hours on January 4th.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Latest New Books
Just in time for the Holiday break, we have a batch of new books available. Here are a few of the latest books to hit our shelves.
Check out the just added titles - and more! - in the new books nook on the first floor and the small display stand in the lobby. We have also refreshed the end-of-shelf display stands in the fiction section. All of the books and DVDs in our displays are available for checkout as well - just grab them, or ask us to open a case for you.
More new books are visible via Flickr and LibraryThing, and The Book Network offers short reviews should you find yourself stumped for reading.
Check out the just added titles - and more! - in the new books nook on the first floor and the small display stand in the lobby. We have also refreshed the end-of-shelf display stands in the fiction section. All of the books and DVDs in our displays are available for checkout as well - just grab them, or ask us to open a case for you.
More new books are visible via Flickr and LibraryThing, and The Book Network offers short reviews should you find yourself stumped for reading.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Object of the Week 8
Each student in Ms. Struck's art class will be transforming one object a week. Each week the objects will be displayed somewhere in the library until the next objects arrive.
This week's item is a roll of aluminum foil. The range of transformed items is really impressive!
This week's item is a roll of aluminum foil. The range of transformed items is really impressive!
Friday, December 09, 2011
Spanish Christmas Carols
Spanish Christmas Carols a video by Pesky Library on Flickr.
Day two of Christmas caroling in the library! Yesterday the German class treated us with Christmas carols, today it was Christmas carols in Spanish.
Thursday, December 08, 2011
Singing Christmas Carols
Can you think of a better way to start your day than having a group of students arrive and sign Christmas carols to you? We thoroughly enjoyed their performance and appreciated their thoughtfulness.
Now we're looking forward to a visit from the Spanish class! We hear they'll be stopping by tomorrow to sing Spanish Christmas carols.
Now we're looking forward to a visit from the Spanish class! We hear they'll be stopping by tomorrow to sing Spanish Christmas carols.
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Pearl Harbor Display Updated
This December 7, 2011 is the 70th Anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Mrs. Marnell’s brother lives in Hawaii where he works as a systems analyst for Northrup Grumman. Since he works right on the navy base at Pearl Harbor, he sent us items to use in our Pearl Harbor display. He mailed us a copy of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin from December 7, 1941 for students to peruse. He gave us two posters: one details the leaders and the fleet of the United States; the other provides insight into Japan’s leaders and fleet. We also received postcards from the USS Arizona Memorial which honors the 1,177 crewmen who lost their lives that day. Lastly, we included a photo of an Unknown Soldier grave taken at the National Cemetery of the Pacific on Memorial Day 2011.
We also included a copy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Infamy speech from the National Archives. Students who have been working on their history thesis will recognize this as a primary source document.
We also included a copy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Infamy speech from the National Archives. Students who have been working on their history thesis will recognize this as a primary source document.
Monday, December 05, 2011
Latest Reviews: December 2011
If you need a breather before the exams, or want to give your brain something else besides textbooks to read during the break, consider borrowing a book reviewed by our staff.
Just some of the latest reviews linked to our "virtual collection" include The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler, The Witch’s Daughter by Paula Brackston, The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson, and The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra.
You can always find even more reviews through our LibraryThing profile.
Just some of the latest reviews linked to our "virtual collection" include The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler, The Witch’s Daughter by Paula Brackston, The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson, and The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra.
You can always find even more reviews through our LibraryThing profile.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
From Book to Buffet
Over the holidays, the book Hello, Cupcake!: Irresistibly Playful Creations Anyone Can Make was an inspiration for making holiday treats. Although Tom Turkey was in keeping with the Thanksgiving tradition, we decided to make a new tradition of our own by including Swampy as another holiday dessert. This book is available on our shelves: check it out, have fun, and feed your friends! After all, who doesn't like cupcakes?
Friday, November 18, 2011
Thankful Tree
As everyone is packing up for Thanksgiving break, we can feel a collective sigh of relief as everyone passes in their last assignments and begins thinking of the family and food to come. So as you are feeling this relief, it is the perfect time to think of what you are thankful for.
Here in the library we have a Thankful Tree filled with the thanks of the students here at Govs. People are thankful for everything ranging from ‘coffee’ and ‘guys who make them smile’ to ‘friends’, ‘family’ and ‘heat and electricity.’ A few students were even thankful for Governors Academy! So as everyone thinks how thankful they are for this break and passing in their assignments on time, we hope you take a moment to think of all the amazing people and things in your life that you are thankful for!
The staff of the library is very thankful for all of the wonderful students who visit us.
The library closes today (November 18, 2011) at 3:45 and will reopen after break on November 29th with normal business hours.
Happy Thanksgiving! See you all soon.
Here in the library we have a Thankful Tree filled with the thanks of the students here at Govs. People are thankful for everything ranging from ‘coffee’ and ‘guys who make them smile’ to ‘friends’, ‘family’ and ‘heat and electricity.’ A few students were even thankful for Governors Academy! So as everyone thinks how thankful they are for this break and passing in their assignments on time, we hope you take a moment to think of all the amazing people and things in your life that you are thankful for!
The staff of the library is very thankful for all of the wonderful students who visit us.
The library closes today (November 18, 2011) at 3:45 and will reopen after break on November 29th with normal business hours.
Happy Thanksgiving! See you all soon.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
JSTOR Early Journal Content
JSTOR announced recently that they are now providing free access to early journal articles. By this they mean journal content published prior to 1923 in the United States and prior to 1870 elsewhere. Anyone, anywhere in the world can search and read these articles. This “Early Journal Content” includes discourse and scholarship in the arts and humanities, economics and politics, and in mathematics and other sciences. Although only 6% of the content on JSTOR, it includes nearly 500,000 articles from more than 200 journals.
We have added a link and short instructions on how to get to this content on our Catalogs and Databases page. For more information, check out the JSTOR video above, or read their Frequently Asked Questions.
We have added a link and short instructions on how to get to this content on our Catalogs and Databases page. For more information, check out the JSTOR video above, or read their Frequently Asked Questions.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Object of the Week 7
Each student in Ms. Struck's art class will be transforming one object a week. Each week, the objects will be displayed somewhere in the library for that week, until the next objects arrive.
This week's item is a rubber chicken, and you can tell that students had fun with it! There are so many clever ideas here. We're looking forward to even more student artwork in the library!
This week's item is a rubber chicken, and you can tell that students had fun with it! There are so many clever ideas here. We're looking forward to even more student artwork in the library!
Friday, November 11, 2011
“Why join the Navy if you can be a pirate?”
Steve Jobs died last month, and we thought it only fitting to construct a display highlighting the innovation that influenced, and continues to influence, the iGeneration. His vision helped to revolutionize the use of personal computers, the way we listen to music, and how we stay connected to friends and family. What did we do before iPhones and status updates? We have many resources in the library related to internet technology. Students may be interested in watching a Pixar movie, reading Walter Isaacson’s authorized biography, Steve Jobs, or reading iBoy, a book about a boy turned App after an accident embeds a shattered iPhone in his head. The students at Governor’s Academy are creative, independent thinkers. If Steve Jobs can keep on plugging, even after losing a quarter of a billion dollars, he might inspire future entrepreneurs to “put a ding in the universe.” The legacy of Steve Jobs is more about believing in yourself and pursuing your passion than it is about the products he created.
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Diversity Display
At the end of September, our headmaster Dr. Quimby announced the formation of a focus group to consider how to address diversity in all its facets in our community. The committee is jointly chaired by a faculty member and a student from the junior class.
The first meetings were a success, with over 30 members of our school community, both adults and students, volunteering their time and energy. The conversations were thoughtful and productive.
To support the work of the focus group, we in the library put together a display. It highlights as many kinds of variety as we could think of. Included are both non-fiction works and novels. Please come by to have a look!
The first meetings were a success, with over 30 members of our school community, both adults and students, volunteering their time and energy. The conversations were thoughtful and productive.
To support the work of the focus group, we in the library put together a display. It highlights as many kinds of variety as we could think of. Included are both non-fiction works and novels. Please come by to have a look!
Monday, November 07, 2011
Object of the Week 6
Each student in Ms. Struck's art class will be transforming one object a week. Each week the objects will be displayed somewhere in the library until the next objects arrive.
This week's item is a small, humble roll of duct tape. The transformed objects are a far cry from humble, though, as you can see in this photo!
This week's item is a small, humble roll of duct tape. The transformed objects are a far cry from humble, though, as you can see in this photo!
Friday, November 04, 2011
Primary Research for AP US History
Students in Mr. Quigley's AP US History class are writing their thesis papers on topics drawn from the academy's history. They have been meeting with our archivist, Mrs. Dimodica, and using Archons, school catalogs (for curriculum offerings,) and headmaster correspondence as well as many other primary source documents. They have also meet with a librarian on finding secondary sources to support their research. We are all learning (quite serendipitously!) wonderful nuggets of our school's past and are looking forward to reading the completed papers.
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
Latest Reviews: November 2011
Thanksgiving break is almost here! If you need a breather in the middle of the pre-break push, consider borrowing a book reviewed by our staff.
The latest reviews linked to our "virtual collection" include Dogtown: Death and Enchantment in a New England Ghost Town by Elyssa East, and Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan.
You can always find even more reviews through our LibraryThing profile.
The latest reviews linked to our "virtual collection" include Dogtown: Death and Enchantment in a New England Ghost Town by Elyssa East, and Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan.
You can always find even more reviews through our LibraryThing profile.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Hadrian's Wall Display
This colorful display at the back of the reference section was inspired by Ms. Jensen's summer trip to Britain. She had a hiking holiday, and walked the Hadrian's Wall Path end to end, all 84 miles (135 km) of it.
The display highlights the features of the wall and aspects of life in Roman Britain. Books, reference books, and videos complement the display posters.
We also collected relevant and interesting links and online sources on a Hadrian's Wall PageFlakes page - something new we're trying out this year. Check it out and tell us how you like it!
The display highlights the features of the wall and aspects of life in Roman Britain. Books, reference books, and videos complement the display posters.
We also collected relevant and interesting links and online sources on a Hadrian's Wall PageFlakes page - something new we're trying out this year. Check it out and tell us how you like it!
Monday, October 24, 2011
Parents' Weekend
Last weekend, the Academy invited parents to come join us and see what their children's school environment is like. Friday's academic schedule was rearranged to accommodate performances, concerts, community service, and the regular afternoon activities.
We at the library were happy to offer some of our spaces for teacher-parent meetings. There was a lot of activity. In the middle of all the hullabaloo, students were nevertheless able to put in work. As you can see in this photo, also the weather cooperated and presented some of the very best fall decor for parents to admire. We hope everyone is refreshed by the weekend and today's school holiday.
We at the library were happy to offer some of our spaces for teacher-parent meetings. There was a lot of activity. In the middle of all the hullabaloo, students were nevertheless able to put in work. As you can see in this photo, also the weather cooperated and presented some of the very best fall decor for parents to admire. We hope everyone is refreshed by the weekend and today's school holiday.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Have some Happiness
“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”
Frederick Keonig
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”
~ Marcus Aurelius
It is strange to think that happiness is a challenge. We assume that it is normal to be happy and it is abnormal to be sad or angry. However, this is not the case. Most people are content, but happiness takes work. In high school students are overwhelmed with homework, friends, family and the day to day struggles of existing. In the midst of this chaos of high school, happiness sometimes falls by the wayside. Students often just try and get through the day.
Here in the library we are going to try and cultivate real happiness. We have put up a “Have Some Happiness” display right behind the “Rules of the Library” (a little ironic I know). While this may sound cheesy (let’s all skip and hold hands) this display is just a reminder to take a moment to smile, or do something silly that makes you happy. Skipping and holding hands is all well and good, but it is the small things that we can appreciate and make us happy.
What you will find on the “Have Some Happiness” display is inspirational quotes, helpful lists, cartoons, pretty pictures, jokes and anything else that could (hopefully) bring a small smile to someone. Students are encouraged to make suggestions of things to add to the board, and if you think it’s too cheesy, say something and we will try to de-cheese.
Frederick Keonig
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”
~ Marcus Aurelius
It is strange to think that happiness is a challenge. We assume that it is normal to be happy and it is abnormal to be sad or angry. However, this is not the case. Most people are content, but happiness takes work. In high school students are overwhelmed with homework, friends, family and the day to day struggles of existing. In the midst of this chaos of high school, happiness sometimes falls by the wayside. Students often just try and get through the day.
Here in the library we are going to try and cultivate real happiness. We have put up a “Have Some Happiness” display right behind the “Rules of the Library” (a little ironic I know). While this may sound cheesy (let’s all skip and hold hands) this display is just a reminder to take a moment to smile, or do something silly that makes you happy. Skipping and holding hands is all well and good, but it is the small things that we can appreciate and make us happy.
What you will find on the “Have Some Happiness” display is inspirational quotes, helpful lists, cartoons, pretty pictures, jokes and anything else that could (hopefully) bring a small smile to someone. Students are encouraged to make suggestions of things to add to the board, and if you think it’s too cheesy, say something and we will try to de-cheese.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Object of the Week 5
Each student in Ms. Struck's art class will be transforming one object a week. Each week on Monday afternoon, the objects will be displayed somewhere in the library for that week, until the next objects arrive.
This week's item is a breathing mask. In addition to modifying the item itself, students transformed existing items (like statuary) around campus with the mask and photographed the results.
P.S. Did you get a sudden urge for ice cream?
This week's item is a breathing mask. In addition to modifying the item itself, students transformed existing items (like statuary) around campus with the mask and photographed the results.
P.S. Did you get a sudden urge for ice cream?
Monday, October 17, 2011
Getting Ready for Halloween
We are prepared for Halloween!
We may not have witches, ghosts, ghouls and other ghastly creatures lurking in our foyer - at least not yet... Instead, we do have a selection of our newest and scariest titles on DVD. The titles include Sleepy Hollow, The Thing, Shaun of the Dead, Them, An Evening of Edgar Allen Poe, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Signs, Dracula, Corpse Bride, The Sixth Sense, The Exorcist, and many more.
For the faint of heart, we selected scary books for the lobby display stand. Pick your favorite from among cobwebs and spiders... Titles include Dracula the Un-Dead, Gothic!, Haunting Violet, Book of Ghost Stories, The Haunting of Hill House, Everlost, The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein, and The Devil's Alphabet, among others.
There is nothing like watching a film or reading a book that makes you think twice about turning off the lights!
We may not have witches, ghosts, ghouls and other ghastly creatures lurking in our foyer - at least not yet... Instead, we do have a selection of our newest and scariest titles on DVD. The titles include Sleepy Hollow, The Thing, Shaun of the Dead, Them, An Evening of Edgar Allen Poe, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Signs, Dracula, Corpse Bride, The Sixth Sense, The Exorcist, and many more.
For the faint of heart, we selected scary books for the lobby display stand. Pick your favorite from among cobwebs and spiders... Titles include Dracula the Un-Dead, Gothic!, Haunting Violet, Book of Ghost Stories, The Haunting of Hill House, Everlost, The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein, and The Devil's Alphabet, among others.
There is nothing like watching a film or reading a book that makes you think twice about turning off the lights!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Archival Storage for National Geographic
Our collection of National Geographic magazines goes back to 1902. The oldest issues have been bound into book format for easier browsing and better protection. They are nevertheless showing their age: The spines are brittle, pages are dog-eared, and the old paper attracts dust. We want to keep them available for our users, though, so we purchased archival boxes to store them in.
Each box is clearly labeled with the magazine name and year(s). The boxes are shelved with the rest of the National Geographics, in the Bragdon Reading Room, in order by year. Feel free to have a - gentle! - look. And if you have questions about our magazine collection, we're happy to answer!
Each box is clearly labeled with the magazine name and year(s). The boxes are shelved with the rest of the National Geographics, in the Bragdon Reading Room, in order by year. Feel free to have a - gentle! - look. And if you have questions about our magazine collection, we're happy to answer!
Monday, October 10, 2011
Object of the Week 4
Each student in Ms. Struck's art class will be transforming one object a week. Each week on Monday afternoon, the objects will be displayed somewhere in the library for that week, until the next objects arrive.
This week's item is a deck of cards. Feel free to visit the lobby display for a glimpse of these resourceful creations!
This week's item is a deck of cards. Feel free to visit the lobby display for a glimpse of these resourceful creations!
Friday, October 07, 2011
Womens Land Army
Through our Archives, we discovered the following:
In the 1917-1918 Annual Report for Radcliffe College, the College President relates Dummer farming to patriotism:
“The most important patriotic work of our students was in farming. By an arrangement with Dummer Academy, a boys’ school in South Byfield, Massachusetts, a farm, planted by the boys in the spring, was taken over by Radcliffe College for the summer. When the girls came back to College and the boys went back to school, the boys became available for harvesting. Throughout the summer, the girls went and came, no squad staying for more than three weeks, though one or two individuals remained through the season. Besides caring for the Dummer farm, squads of our students worked for neighboring farmers who could not have picked and marketed their summer vegetables without such help. The good impression made by our young farmers wherever they went, their actual service to the country in furthering production of food, their evident health and happiness, and the new world that was opened to them in a vigorous out-of-door life have more than paid the College for the money that the experiment demanded. In this first year we expected no pecuniary profit and were quite prepared for a loss. The spirit shown by the girls and the education they received are profit enough. I believe that there are few uses of a summer vacation to which college girls can look back with such measure of satisfaction, and that no year will seem complete without a Radcliffe farm.”
--L.B.R. Briggs, President
We were intrigued. After all, it was the rents of the original farm which financed the Master Moody and his teaching in the Little Red Schoolhouse. So,this additional reference to farming sent us on a research hunt. We discovered the Women's Land Army and School Garden Army which supported the war effort at home during both of the World Wars.
Our display has pictures of the farm here on campus as well as farm implements of the WWI period which came from a farm in Freedom, NH and would have been of the type used here.
In the 1917-1918 Annual Report for Radcliffe College, the College President relates Dummer farming to patriotism:
“The most important patriotic work of our students was in farming. By an arrangement with Dummer Academy, a boys’ school in South Byfield, Massachusetts, a farm, planted by the boys in the spring, was taken over by Radcliffe College for the summer. When the girls came back to College and the boys went back to school, the boys became available for harvesting. Throughout the summer, the girls went and came, no squad staying for more than three weeks, though one or two individuals remained through the season. Besides caring for the Dummer farm, squads of our students worked for neighboring farmers who could not have picked and marketed their summer vegetables without such help. The good impression made by our young farmers wherever they went, their actual service to the country in furthering production of food, their evident health and happiness, and the new world that was opened to them in a vigorous out-of-door life have more than paid the College for the money that the experiment demanded. In this first year we expected no pecuniary profit and were quite prepared for a loss. The spirit shown by the girls and the education they received are profit enough. I believe that there are few uses of a summer vacation to which college girls can look back with such measure of satisfaction, and that no year will seem complete without a Radcliffe farm.”
--L.B.R. Briggs, President
We were intrigued. After all, it was the rents of the original farm which financed the Master Moody and his teaching in the Little Red Schoolhouse. So,this additional reference to farming sent us on a research hunt. We discovered the Women's Land Army and School Garden Army which supported the war effort at home during both of the World Wars.
Our display has pictures of the farm here on campus as well as farm implements of the WWI period which came from a farm in Freedom, NH and would have been of the type used here.
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
Latest Reviews: October 2011
We hope you have enjoyed returning to the full swing of the new academic year. If you need a breather, consider borrowing a book reviewed by our staff.
The latest reviews linked to our "virtual collection" include Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier and A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me about Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter by William Deresiewicz.
You can always find even more reviews through our LibraryThing profile.
The latest reviews linked to our "virtual collection" include Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier and A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me about Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter by William Deresiewicz.
You can always find even more reviews through our LibraryThing profile.
Monday, October 03, 2011
Object of the Week 3
Each student in Ms. Struck's art class will be transforming one object a week. Each week on Monday afternoon, the objects will be displayed somewhere in the library for that week, until the next objects arrive.
This week's item is a seven-day pill box. We were happy to note that among the transformations are several miniature book cases - proof that electronic readers have not displaced paper books yet.
This week's item is a seven-day pill box. We were happy to note that among the transformations are several miniature book cases - proof that electronic readers have not displaced paper books yet.
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