Just as Julius Caesar before them: They came, they saw, they conquered.
Monday, September 30, 2013
"History will be kind to me for I intend to write it." -Winston Churchill
We in the library have been very pleased to hear about the range of topics our Juniors are considering for their history papers. Everything from Great Women in War to Whitey Bulger & Organized Crime's Impact on the Development of Boston has come across our reference desk. We've been treated to everything from Ebonics to Reaganomics, from the Sons of Liberty to the Gold Standard & The Great Depression.
Just as Julius Caesar before them: They came, they saw, they conquered.
Just as Julius Caesar before them: They came, they saw, they conquered.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Banned Book Week: Since 1982
Join us at the Pesky Library for our annual celebration of Banned Book Week. Help yourself to a button or bookmark and check out our display of books that have been banned in schools around the country.
Most book-banning is never reported, of course, but the American Library Association reports a minimum of 326 books banned in 2011 alone. Come read one and take a stand against censorship!
Most book-banning is never reported, of course, but the American Library Association reports a minimum of 326 books banned in 2011 alone. Come read one and take a stand against censorship!
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Harness the Power of Rosemary!
Ancient Greek scholars believed that rosemary was good for strengthening the memory so they would wear wreaths of it on their heads when studying for exams.
Two recent studies prove that the Greeks’ use of rosemary may have had some scientific merit.
Two recent studies prove that the Greeks’ use of rosemary may have had some scientific merit.
Both studies–one from the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing in Boca Raton, and the other from the Department of Nursing at Nambu University in Korea–found that rosemary benefits has a significant and measurable positive effect on test takers! That same benefit carries over to any high-stress situation that requires concentration, memory, and cognition.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Need to Give a Class Presentation Soon?
Worried about presenting your data effectively?
Learn from the master:
Learn from the master:
Monday, September 09, 2013
Welcome Back!
As the first semester gets rolling we are so pleased to welcome new and returning students, faculty and staff to the library.
Please come in and say hello. We are here to help you with anything you need. And if you see two newbies working in the library they are Kirsten and Andrea.
Welcome back, and have a great semester!
Please come in and say hello. We are here to help you with anything you need. And if you see two newbies working in the library they are Kirsten and Andrea.
Welcome back, and have a great semester!
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Happy Summer!
It's time to say goodbyes again. Some goodbyes we know will be short - only over the summer! - but others may be for years or, as far as we know, for good.
Class of 2013: Heartfelt congratulations! Students, staff, and faculty departing Govs: We wish you well in your future endeavors. Returning students, staff, and faculty: Welcome back in the fall!
We hope everyone will have a fantastic, enjoyable summer!
As a personal note: As you may remember, at end of next week I will leave the Academy to head for new adventures. I leave with very fond memories of the people at Govs. The caring community fostered here is quite remarkable. I hope you will always cherish it. Goodbye, good luck - and thanks for all the fish! -Eppu
Class of 2013: Heartfelt congratulations! Students, staff, and faculty departing Govs: We wish you well in your future endeavors. Returning students, staff, and faculty: Welcome back in the fall!
We hope everyone will have a fantastic, enjoyable summer!
As a personal note: As you may remember, at end of next week I will leave the Academy to head for new adventures. I leave with very fond memories of the people at Govs. The caring community fostered here is quite remarkable. I hope you will always cherish it. Goodbye, good luck - and thanks for all the fish! -Eppu
Monday, May 27, 2013
Silent Study Everywhere
Yes, it is that time of the year again. Exams week means, as before, that the entire library building is reserved for silent study. This also mean the library study rooms!
Students who need or want to work in groups can use the collaboration spaces elsewhere on campus - there is a list available in the library.
Good luck!
Students who need or want to work in groups can use the collaboration spaces elsewhere on campus - there is a list available in the library.
Good luck!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
For the Class of 2013
You dreamt, and you strived. Now you are there. Congratulations on your graduation. Well done.
Best of luck in your future endeavors; may you achieve more success ahead. Thank you for the good times!
Best of luck in your future endeavors; may you achieve more success ahead. Thank you for the good times!
Monday, May 20, 2013
Overdue Library Books Wanted!
The end of semester is near. Have you returned your library books and DVDs?
Now is the perfect time to check your desk, your closet, your shelf, and your backpack for library treasures you have not returned yet and get them back to the library. (Check under your desk and bed, too!)
Thank you!
Now is the perfect time to check your desk, your closet, your shelf, and your backpack for library treasures you have not returned yet and get them back to the library. (Check under your desk and bed, too!)
Thank you!
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
National Etiquette Week
National Etiquette Week is the national recognition of etiquette and protocol in all areas of life. The week will raise awareness of all people to act with courtesy, civility, kindness, respect and manners as well as rally people to act with good manners in their everyday lives.
Inflammatory comments and jokes may amount to harassment or bullying charges, and are, of course, inappropriate, as is plagiarism, cheating, lying, and stealing. In addition, the school rules include several smaller points that boil down to a matter of courtesy and respect to others. Examples include removing your hat while indoors and forgoing public displays of affection that are overly physical or explicit. Keeping your feet off chairs or tables and picking up trash around your work area when leaving may not be written down, but are definite signs of consideration towards others.
Stop by the library to look at the famous book on etiquette by Emily Post (Emily Post's Etiquette, shelved upstairs at 393 POS), or read more at emilypost.com. We also encourage you to relax, breathe, and smile at people around you!
Inflammatory comments and jokes may amount to harassment or bullying charges, and are, of course, inappropriate, as is plagiarism, cheating, lying, and stealing. In addition, the school rules include several smaller points that boil down to a matter of courtesy and respect to others. Examples include removing your hat while indoors and forgoing public displays of affection that are overly physical or explicit. Keeping your feet off chairs or tables and picking up trash around your work area when leaving may not be written down, but are definite signs of consideration towards others.
Stop by the library to look at the famous book on etiquette by Emily Post (Emily Post's Etiquette, shelved upstairs at 393 POS), or read more at emilypost.com. We also encourage you to relax, breathe, and smile at people around you!
Monday, May 13, 2013
Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam Allows High-Def Art Mashups
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, one of the world's leading museums, has launched a ground-breaking online collection sharing tool, Rijks Studio.
The museum invites the public to create and share their own favorites sets, and use the high-resolution images in creative ways, free of copyright. You can even zoom in on the images and save a detail of a larger work in your set. With 125,000 masterpieces to browse, from Rembrandt to Vermeer to lesser known or unknown artists, the museum's web site offers a breathtaking selection.
According to Artdaily.org, the museum's Director of Collections, Taco Dibbits, says:
According to Artdaily.org, the museum's Director of Collections, Taco Dibbits, says:
"The Rijksmuseum is a museum for and of everyone, and with the launch of Rijks Studio we are excited to share the extensive collection with art lovers around the world using the latest digital technology. We created Rijks Studio based on the belief that the collection of the Rijksmuseum belongs to us all."Read more at Artdaily.org!
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Women's Sports through the Archives' Eyes
This year, our archivist highlights different aspects of the new mural in her monthly displays. For May, Ms. Slater found a selection of images of the girl's athletic teams from the archives. Among the treasures are photos of the first women's basketball, lacrosse, and hockey teams at Governor's Academy. As contrast, she posted a number of current photos.
It's a truly fascinating glimpse back in time. Come on in to take a look!
It's a truly fascinating glimpse back in time. Come on in to take a look!
Monday, May 06, 2013
Latest Reviews: May 2013
Below you can find links to reviews of just some of the books recently read by our staff. Why not look in our LibraryThing collection for both fiction and non-fiction to read, either before or during summer.
The latest reviews in our "virtual collection" include Taxes in America by Leonard Burman and Joel Slemrod, and The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi.
You can always find even more reviews through our LibraryThing profile.
The latest reviews in our "virtual collection" include Taxes in America by Leonard Burman and Joel Slemrod, and The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi.
You can always find even more reviews through our LibraryThing profile.
Wednesday, May 01, 2013
Choose Privacy Week, May 1-7
Choose Privacy Week is a national public awareness campaign that seeks to deepen public awareness about personal privacy rights and the need to insure those rights in an era of pervasive surveillance.
We live in an age when knowledge is power. New technologies give us unprecedented access to information. They also facilitate surveillance, with the power to collect and mine personal information. Whether it's your location, your phone calls, your Facebook posts, your purchases or the websites you visit, your daily activities are monitored, recorded, collected and stored.
Visit the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom pages for more information, or read about how to safeguard your information when using public computers and/or wi-fi. And don't forget to check out our display in the lobby!
We live in an age when knowledge is power. New technologies give us unprecedented access to information. They also facilitate surveillance, with the power to collect and mine personal information. Whether it's your location, your phone calls, your Facebook posts, your purchases or the websites you visit, your daily activities are monitored, recorded, collected and stored.
Visit the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom pages for more information, or read about how to safeguard your information when using public computers and/or wi-fi. And don't forget to check out our display in the lobby!
Monday, April 29, 2013
New Happiness Board for May
We use the flipside of our library rules board in the lobby as a happiness board. The happiness board is a place to display funny, cheerful, and interesting images, cartoons, and thoughts.
Now that spring has finally sprung, the latest version of the happiness board acknowledges how close the end of semester is - and with that, graduation and summer. Objects in calendar are closer than they appear, indeed!
Now that spring has finally sprung, the latest version of the happiness board acknowledges how close the end of semester is - and with that, graduation and summer. Objects in calendar are closer than they appear, indeed!
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Digital Public Library of America
The newest of the new in cultural online materials is the Digital Public Library of America. The beta version went live just last week, on April 18, 2013.
The site brings together a wealth of already digitized material from America’s libraries, archives, and museums into a freely accessible portal. Millions of items have already been added: photographs, manuscripts, books, sounds, moving images, and more. Regional collections are linked to make them available throughout the U.S. For instance, content from a few major institutional collections (like Harvard University and the National Archive) are included.
The data included is also as open as possible. Specific restrictions notwithstanding, the materials are available for bulk download, and the DPLA code is available as open source for users to develop their own discovery tools and apps.
And that is just the beginning! There are already seven digital exhibitions and two discovery apps available. The DPLA is also collaborating with Europeana, the multi-lingual online collection of millions of digitized items from European museums, libraries, archives and multi-media collections. And besides public domain materials, the DPLA is working to make in-copyright items available (see John Palfrey's article in the April 15, 2013, issue of Libray Journal).
The site brings together a wealth of already digitized material from America’s libraries, archives, and museums into a freely accessible portal. Millions of items have already been added: photographs, manuscripts, books, sounds, moving images, and more. Regional collections are linked to make them available throughout the U.S. For instance, content from a few major institutional collections (like Harvard University and the National Archive) are included.
The data included is also as open as possible. Specific restrictions notwithstanding, the materials are available for bulk download, and the DPLA code is available as open source for users to develop their own discovery tools and apps.
And that is just the beginning! There are already seven digital exhibitions and two discovery apps available. The DPLA is also collaborating with Europeana, the multi-lingual online collection of millions of digitized items from European museums, libraries, archives and multi-media collections. And besides public domain materials, the DPLA is working to make in-copyright items available (see John Palfrey's article in the April 15, 2013, issue of Libray Journal).
Monday, April 22, 2013
April 22, 2013 - Earth Day
The first Earth Day, on April 22, 1970, activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement. The passage of the landmark Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and many other groundbreaking environmental laws soon followed.
Growing out of the first Earth Day, Earth Day Network (EDN) works with over 22,000 partners in 192 countries to broaden, diversify and mobilize the environmental movement. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.
We hope you saw the Do the Math! movie on campus last night and were inspired by it. You can also visit the Earth Day 2013 website, or our library display, for more inspiration and ideas!
Growing out of the first Earth Day, Earth Day Network (EDN) works with over 22,000 partners in 192 countries to broaden, diversify and mobilize the environmental movement. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.
We hope you saw the Do the Math! movie on campus last night and were inspired by it. You can also visit the Earth Day 2013 website, or our library display, for more inspiration and ideas!
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Common Book Day Approaches Fast
This spring's common book author is Dennis Lehane. 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 visit the campus next Tuesday, April 23rd.
You have just under a week to visit the library to take a look at the display we created with Mr. Lehane's works. Or get your copy of the common book, Live by Night, either in the library (shelved at FIC LEH) or the book store.
You have just under a week to visit the library to take a look at the display we created with Mr. Lehane's works. Or get your copy of the common book, Live by Night, either in the library (shelved at FIC LEH) or the book store.
Monday, April 15, 2013
News Haiku by The New York Times
Do you read The New York Times regularly? What about their new haiku?
The New York Times started a Tumblr blog for their haiku. These three-line poems are found on the newspaper's home page with the help of an algorithm. Jacob Harris, the senior software architect at The New York Times, describes the project:
Read more at The Times haiku blog!
"[The algorithm] periodically checks the New York Times home page for newly published articles. Then it scans each sentence looking for potential haikus by using an electronic dictionary containing syllable counts. We started with a basic rhyming lexicon, but over time we've added syllable counts for words like 'Rihanna' or 'terroir' to keep pace with the broad vocabulary of The Times."
"Not every haiku our computer finds is a good one. The algorithm discards some potential poems if they are awkwardly constructed and it does not scan articles covering sensitive topics. Furthermore, the machine has no aesthetic sense. It can't distinguish between an elegant verse and a plodding one. But, when it does stumble across something beautiful or funny or just a gem of a haiku, human journalists select it and post it on this blog."
Read more at The Times haiku blog!
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Two Free Culture Resources Online
The search giant Google has stepped into the cultural arena with two online services. The Cultural Institute "helps preserve and promote culture online." In a similar vein, the Art Project highlights almost 50,000 works of art.
You can browse the Art Project by artist, artwork, or art collection, or search and refine your search results by medium. Details of each work of art are provided, along with links to other works by the same artist. In addition, you can browse partial collections of the participating institutions - an impressive number of renowned institutions worldwide have signed up so far. You can also see the works of art in their current indoor location, much like the Google Maps street view.
The Cultural Institute's site is filled with imagery. You can read background info and original manuscripts, view photos, graphs, and maps, plus watch videos. According to Google, they want to have a "visually rich and interactive online experience for telling cultural stories in new ways." For example, you can find artifacts and events by era, project (theme, more or less), or Google's collaborative partner. Search results can be refined by source, event, place, person, media, or date, and arranged by relevance or age. A subproject called the World Wonders Project enables the exploration ancient, modern, and natural wonders, like the Great Barrier Reef or Pompei.
We have only begun to play around with both services, but so far we're very impressed with them. Happy exploration!
You can browse the Art Project by artist, artwork, or art collection, or search and refine your search results by medium. Details of each work of art are provided, along with links to other works by the same artist. In addition, you can browse partial collections of the participating institutions - an impressive number of renowned institutions worldwide have signed up so far. You can also see the works of art in their current indoor location, much like the Google Maps street view.
The Cultural Institute's site is filled with imagery. You can read background info and original manuscripts, view photos, graphs, and maps, plus watch videos. According to Google, they want to have a "visually rich and interactive online experience for telling cultural stories in new ways." For example, you can find artifacts and events by era, project (theme, more or less), or Google's collaborative partner. Search results can be refined by source, event, place, person, media, or date, and arranged by relevance or age. A subproject called the World Wonders Project enables the exploration ancient, modern, and natural wonders, like the Great Barrier Reef or Pompei.
We have only begun to play around with both services, but so far we're very impressed with them. Happy exploration!
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