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TIME TO READ December 11, 2009

Posted by reshslibrary in : New books in the Library, Reading Recommendations , 5 comments

I know that everyone, students and teachers alike, are completely focused on final exams and successfully concluding the semester.  However, I’m here to encourage you to take a look beyond next Wednesday and think about spending some of your 2 weeks of vacation reading — reading for fun, that is!

I look forward to Christmas break as a chance to relax and read what I want to read, what Ms. Boe calls “mind candy.”  For me, that’s usually  mysteries.  And I have two I’m going to start with:

If you’re looking for some ideas for your own vacation reading list, stop by the library and check out these new arrivals.

Naruto

 

Naruto, volume 1 : The Tests of the Ninja;  by Masashi Kishimoto  (find it on our shelves at FIC KIS)

This is the first in an extensive graphic novel series (volume 46 was published this past October).  In the village of Konohagakure, school is literally a battlefield where classmates are ninjas in training, competing to become the greatest ninja in the land.

 

 

HungerGames

The Hunger Games;  by Suzanne Collins  (find it on our shelves at FIC COL)

In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss’s skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister’s place.

 

 

Espressologist

 

The Espressologist;  by Kristina Springer  (find it on our shelves at FIC SPR)

While working part-time as a barista in a Chicago coffee bar, high school senior Jane dabbles in matchmaking after observing the coffee preferences of her customers.

 

 

 

Sphinx

Sphinx’s Princess;  by Esther Friesner  (find it on our shelves at FIC FRI)

Although she is a dutiful daughter, Nefertiti’s dancing abilities, remarkable beauty, and intelligence garner attention near and far — so much so that her family is summoned to the Egyptian royal court, where Nefertiti becomes a pawn in the power play of her scheming aunt, Queen Tiye.

 

 

Madigan

Flash Burnout : A Novel;  by L.K. Madigan  (find it on our shelves at FIC MAD)

When he snapped a picture of a street person for his photography homework, Blake never dreamed that the woman in the photo was his friend Marissa’s long-lost, meth-addicted mom.  Blake’s participation in the ensuing drama opens up a world of trouble, both for him and for Marissa.

 

Taylor

 

Lips Touch : Three Times;  by Laini Taylor, illustrated by Jim DiBartolo  (find it on our shelves at FIC TAY)

Three tales of supernatural love, each pivoting on a kiss that is no mere kiss.

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CQ RESEARCHER GUIDE SHEET December 9, 2009

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CQ Researcher (http://library.cqpress.com) is one of our subscription databases.  It provides comprehensive reporting and analysis on issues in the news.  Controversial topics are addressed in a balanced, unbiased manner.

Click on the link below for a guide sheet to using this database.  If you need the username and password to access the database, stop by the library and pick up a blue sheet.  The guide sheet is also available from the library’s Online Databases web page.  If you have questions about using CQ Researcher, just stop by the library and ask.

CQ Researcher Guide Sheet.

TODAY’S SCIENCE GUIDE SHEET December 7, 2009

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Today’s Science (http://www.fofweb.com/) is one of our subscription databases.  It presents science news written especially for students and explores important developments in biology, chemistry, the environment, space, physics, and technology.

Click on the link below for a guide sheet to using this database.  If you need the username and password to access the database, stop by the library and pick up a blue sheet.  The guide sheet is also available from the library’s Online Databases webpage.  If you have questions about using Today’s Science, just stop by the library — we’re happy to help!

Today’s Science Guide Sheet

ISSUES & CONTROVERSIES GUIDE SHEET December 3, 2009

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Issues & Controversies (http://www.fofweb.com) is one of our subscription databases.  It explores more than 800 topics in business, politics, government, education, and popular culture.  It is an excellent place to start when researching controversial issues for classes such as English II, Morality, Sociology, and Current Events.

Click on the link below for a guide sheet to using this database.  If you need the username and password to access the database, stop by the library and pick up a blue sheet.  The guide sheet is also available from the library’s Online Databases webpage.  If you have questions about using Issues & Controversies, just stop by the library — we’re happy to help!

Issues & Controversies Guide Sheet.

ENGLISH II – CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES November 23, 2009

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Students in English II classes, here are some suggestions about how to begin your search. Don’t hesitate to talk with Res library staff if you need more help finding resources.

Background Reading
Before you start marshalling your arguments, take the time to do some background reading on your topic. Look for a balanced overview that will give you a sense of the key issues and points of debate as well as some history on the topic. One of the most important reasons to do background reading is to help you find subject terms, names, and keywords that you can use when searching for further resources on your topic.

Some places to look for overviews: books (they will often use the term “overview” or “history” in the title or subtitle), any of the databases listed below, a general encyclopedia (depending on your topic), general news magazines like Time or Newsweek.

Evidence to Support Your Argument
There are different types of evidence that might support your argument:

Think about what kind of evidence will best support the various points you are raising. If you are having trouble finding sources for evidence, see the Res Library staff.

Citation Information
Collect the citation information for your bibliography as you do your research.

Books
Some series that present articles on various controversial topics are:

Most public libraries will have at least some of these. You can get others through InterLibrary Loan.

Use a library catalog to find books on your topic. Use the bibliographies in books and articles to find more resources. Use the call number of a good book to browse the shelves for more books.

 

Res Library Subscription Databases (See the blue sheets for user IDs and passwords)

Web Resources
If you use web sites, you must absolutely know who the author is!

SOCIOLOGY FINAL EXAM RESEARCH November 19, 2009

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Here are the links for the web resources on the handout you received during your library visit.  Students who were on Kairos can pick up a handout from Ms. Boe or from the library.

SUBSCRIPTION DATABASES

WEB RESOURCES

CREATING YOUR BIBLIOGRAPHY

Use these two resources to help you correctly format your bibliography according to APA guidelines.  Remember to collect your citation information as you do your research.  It will save you from having to reconstruct your search later.

LIVING WOMEN HEROES November 18, 2009

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For students in Mrs. Martin’s English I class, here are the links from the hand-out you received during your visit to the library.  Don’t forget to use your local public library for more resources — books, magazines, and their electronic databases.

Please stop by and see us in the library if you need help.

Library Catalogs

 

 

Res Library Subscription Databases

 

Web Resources

Some of these sites are good places to look for ideas of a woman to research.  Some of them will provide more in-depth information or links to other resources.  Try to find the person’s official website for the most up-to-date information.  No doubt you will find many other web resources.  Just make sure you know who the author of the website is and their credentials — you must know if you can trust the information they are providing.

 

Citing Your Sources

Use your Writing Stylus to help you understand the MLA format.  It is best to collect the information you need for your bibliography as you do your research rather than trying to go back and reconstruct your sources later.

An excellent resource to help you format your citations is the Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01)

Use the Oregon School Library Information System website (http://old.oslis.org/docs/MLAcitexamprtnprt8-07.pdf) to see examples of citations in proper MLA format.

FIRSTSEARCH GUIDE SHEET November 12, 2009

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FirstSearch (http://firstsearch.oclc.org) is one of our subscription databases.  It’s really a number of databases under one umbrella.  Most of the databases are provided free of charge through the Illinois State Library.  The databases cover a range of subject areas from the humanities to education to science and medicine.  Some of the databases are full-text.

FirstSearch is an excellent resource and can be very helpful to you in many of your assignments.  However, it’s not the easiest or most intuitive database to get into and use.  Therefore, we’ve developed a guidesheet to help walk you through logging on, selecting databases, searching, and dealing with results.

Click on the link below for the guide sheet.  It is also available from the library’s Online Databases webpage.  If you need the Authorization number and password for FirstSearch, stop by the library and pick up a blue sheet.  And if you need help using FirstSearch, just let us know.  We’d be happy to sit down and work with you on it.

FirstSearch Guide Sheet

NEW BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY November 4, 2009

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We’ve added some new books to the library’s collection in the last several weeks.  Stop by and take a look at these and others.

 

Callahan

 

April & Oliver;  by Tess Callahan  (find it on our shelves at FIC CAL)

The story of April and Oliver, two inseparable childhood friends whose existences again collide with the sudden death of April’s younger brother.

Tess Callahan’s website  (http://tesscallahan.com)

 

 

Cashore

 Fire;  by Kristin Cashore  (find it on our shelves at FIC CAS)

In a kingdom called The Dells, Fire is the last human-shaped monster, with unimaginable beauty and the ability to control the minds of those around her.  But even with these gifts, she cannot escape the strife that overcomes her world.  This is a kind of prequel to Cashore’s Graceling.

Kristin Cashore’s blog and website  (http://kristincashore.blogspot.com)

 

Collins

Catching Fire;  by Suzanne Collins  (find it on our shelves at FIC COL)

By winning the annual Hunger Games, District 12 tributes Katniss and Peeta have secured a life of safety and plenty for themselves and their families. But because they won by defying the rules, they unwittingly become the faces of an impending rebellion.  This is a sequel to The Hunger Games.

Suzanne Collins’ website  (http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com)

 

Secrets

I Can’t Keep My Own Secrets : Six-Word Memoirs by Teens Famous and Obscure : From Smith Magazine;  edited by Rachel Fershleiser and Larry Smith  (find it on our shelves at 920 ICA)

Smith Magazine sought memoirs that could only be 6 words long and then chose some of the best for this collection.  Creative and thought-provoking.  How would you sum up your life in 6 words?

Smith Magazine  ( http://www.smithteens.com)

 

 

Chicago

The Plan of Chicago : Daniel Burnham and the Remaking of the American City;  by Carl S. Smith  (find it on our shelves at 977.311 SMI)

This was the Chicago Public Library’s “One Book, One Chicago” pick for Fall 2009.  Burnham’s plan proposed many of the city’s most distinctive features and it remains a living document that continues to inspire discussion and, well, plans!

Burnham Plan Centennial website  (http://burnhamplan100.uchicago.edu)

 

Darwin

Charles and Emma : The Darwins’ Leap of Faith;  by Deborah Heiligman  (find it on our shelves at 921 DAR)

Find out how the tension between the theory of evolution and the tenets of religion, a tension that remains to this day, played out in the marriage of Charles Darwin and his wife, Emma.

Deborah Heiligman’s website  (http://www.deborahheiligman.com)

LITERARY CRITICISM RESEARCH October 26, 2009

Posted by reshslibrary in : Help with Assignments , 1 comment so far

Here are some suggestions for students in American Lit, World Lit, and Brit Lit who are beginning their literary criticism research papers.  Don’t hesitate to stop by the library if you need more help finding resources.

BACKGROUND READING

Background reading on your author can provide information on the author’s life, the publishing history of the book, literary terms associated with the author and his/her works (genre, literary movements, themes, style, etc.) and any adaptations of the work.  Use Britannica Online (http://www.school.eb.com) or a print encyclopedia (find them in the Res Library at REF 031).  If you use a print encyclopedia, look up your author in the index volume.  That way you’ll find all of the references to your author in the entire set and you will have a greater understanding of their writing and their significance.  If you use an online encyclopedia, read all of the entries that come up in the Results list, not just the first one.

Check if there is an entry for your author in American Writers (REF 810.9 AME) or British Writers (REF 820.9 BRI).  These entries are a terrific introduction to your author so although they might be quite long, they are well worth the effort.  If you print out the information on your novel or play from the Gale Literary Index (http://www.galenet.com/servlet/LitIndex) , you will know exactly which volume to check.

REFERENCE BOOKS

There are several series of reference books you can consult, either in the Res Library or at your local public library.  The printout from the Gale Literary Index (http://www.galenet.com/servlet/LitIndex) will come in handy here once again, especially to find critical essays in Contemporary Literary Criticism, Nineteenth Century Literature Criticism, and Twentieth Century Literary Criticism.

Browse the 800s in the Reference section for other possible sources.  Your public library has many more sets and series that will be useful, so don’t neglect a trip there.

CIRCULATING BOOKS

Depending on your author and title, you may find entire volumes of literary criticism devoted to that work.  Or you may find books about your author containing a chapter or two about the particular work you are researching.  The Subject Heading format for finding literary criticism about an author or about a particular work is as follows:

[author's last name, author's first name] — Criticism and interpretation
[author's last name author's first name]. [title of the work] — Criticism and interpretation

Use the Res Library catalog or your local public library catalog to search for books of literary criticism by selecting the Browse feature and entering a Subject search for the author’s name (last name, first name).  The Browse features lists all of the Subject headings in a row and you can scroll down the list to see if there are Subject headings that match the formats shown above.  Then click on that Subject heading to get the list of books.  It sounds complicated but it’s really a quick way to find critical essays.  If you need a demonstration, stop by the library.  Here are the web addresses for some of the local public libraries:

There are several series of books of literary criticism, either about all of the author’s works, or about a single work.  There are even some books that focus on a specific literary character.  Search for books edited by Harold Bloom or for books in the Twayne’s series, e.g. Twayne’s United States Authors, Twayne’s English Authors, Twayne’s World Authors, etc.

RES LIBRARY DATABASES

The Res Library subscribes to a number of databases and two of them will be of particular use to you in this research project.  If you don’t have the usernames and passwords for these databases, stop by the library and pick up a blue sheet.  We’d be happy to give you a little demonstration if you’re having trouble using either one of these databases.

This is just a basic introduction to these two databases.  If your class doesn’t come to the library for an introduction to finding critical essays, stop by the library on your own for some help.  We are open from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on most days.  And don’t forget to use the databases available through your local public library.

CITING YOUR SOURCES

Your Writing Stylus will help you follow the MLA format in citing your sources and creating your bibliography.  The library has the latest edition of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (REF 808 GIB).  In addition, here are two websites that can help:

SOME TIPS FOR RESEARCH

This is a big project so make sure you stop by the library throughout your research and writing process and let us know how we can help.