Archive for the ‘Fun Stuff’ Category

2009 Word of the Year

November 18, 2009

Today the New Oxford American Dictionary, part of Oxford University Press USA, announced its choice for Word of the Year:  unfriend.  According to Oxford, unfriend is a verb that means, “To remove someone as a ‘friend’ on a social networking site such as Facebook.”


While the word certainly has a new meaning, it’s not really a new word.  In fact, when searching the Oxford English Dictionary Online, references will be found for the verb “unfriend” back in the 17th century — well before the Facebook era. Other words in the running for this year’s top word included birther, green state, deleb, hashtag, intexticated, funemployed and netbook.   If you’re wondering what any of those means, check out this blog post by Oxford.

If you’re ever curious about the development of a word or phrase, give the Oxford English Dictionary Online a try; this authoritative source tracks the history and usage of the English language.

Going Green at Ramaker

October 7, 2009

Each year, Ramaker staff looks through parts of the collection and removes items that are out-of-date or damaged. We did not want these books to end up in a landfill, so we began partnering with Better World Books, who resells them, donates them to literacy charities, or recycles them properly.  Did you know that 97% of a book can be recycled as usable fiber?  Here’s how Ramaker’s partnership with Better World Books has impacted our environment.

  • 291 books were either reused (sold or donated) or recycled, that’s 394 pounds of books
  • 5 trees were saved
  • 3,002 gallons of water were conserved
  • 416 pounds of greenhouse gases were avoided
  • 965 kilowatt hours of electricity were conserved

Pretty cool, huh?

READ!

October 6, 2009

Librarians aren’t the only ones saying it.  Professor John Vonder Bruegge reminds students to read each time they walk into Ramaker.  As the recipient of Northwestern’s Teaching Excellence award, his poster now hangs on the Ramaker mezzanine. 

VonderBruegge

That’s LIFE

September 29, 2009

LifeCover

Google Books has recently digitized a large collection of LIFE magazines and made them available, free of charge, online.  Back issues of LIFE Magazine are always a treat to thumb through, viewing the amazing photography and checking out the ads of the era.  (I saw a great advertisement while flipping through this collection today — Giving a Party? Use plenty of Genuine Ice.  Hmmm, genuine ice?  Is there counterfeit ice?  And who knew ice needed to advertise itself?)   

To access the LIFE Magazine collection, visit Google Books.  You can search the issues by keyword, or you can browse through them issue by issue.  Google has also added a cool thumbnail view tool which allows you to see all the pages in one issue.  To do so, click the thumbnail icon along the top; it’s circled in the screenshot below. 

LifeThumbnail

Summer Reading Suggestions

May 26, 2009

Here is a list of books we thought you might enjoy this summer. If you have any recommendations of your own, leave us a comment.  Happy reading!

 

 The Lucky One  by Nicholas Sparks

luckyoneIs there really such thing as a lucky charm? The hero of Nicholas Sparks’s new novel believes he’s found one in the form of a photograph of a smiling woman he’s never met, but who he comes to believe holds the key to his destiny. The chain of events that leads to him possessing the photograph and finding the woman pictured in it is the stuff of love stories.

 

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid : A Memoir 

by Bill Bryson

thunderboltkidBill Bryson was born in the middle of the American century–1951–in the middle of the United States–Des Moines, Iowa–in the middle of the largest generation in American history–the baby boomers. As one of the funniest writers alive, he is perfectly positioned to mine his all-American childhood for memoir gold. Like millions of his generational peers, Bill Bryson grew up with a rich fantasy life as a superhero . . . more

 

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel  by David Wroblewski

edgarsawtelleA tale reminiscent of “Hamlet” that also celebrates the alliance between humans and dogs follows speech-disabled Wisconsin youth Edgar, who bonds with three yearling canines and struggles to prove that his sinister uncle is responsible for his father’s death.

 

 

Digging to America  by Anne Tyler

diggingtoamericaTwo families awaiting the arrival of their adopted infant daughters from Korea meet at the airport. The families lives become interwined after the Donaldsons, a young American couple invite the Yazdan’s, Maryam, her son and his Iranian American wife to an arrival party, which becomes an annual event . . . more

 

 

 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society  

by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

potatopeelpieAs London is emerging from the shadow of World War II, writer Juliet Ashton discovers her next subject in a book club on Guernsey–a club born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi after its members are discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island.

 

 

The Rope Walk  by Carrie Brown

ropewalkThe Rope Walk brings us the dazzling story of a pivotal summer in the life of Alice, a redheaded tomboy and motherless girl who is beloved and protected by her five older brothers and her widower father, a professor of Shakespeare. On Memorial Day, at her tenth birthday party in the garden of her Vermont village home, Alice meets two people unlike any she’s known before. Theo is a mixed-race New York City kid visiting his white grandparents for the summer. Kenneth is a cosmopolitan artist with AIDS who has come home to convalesce with his middle-aged sister . . . more

 

The Spiral Staircase: My Climb Out of Darkness  by Karen Armstrong

spiralstaircaseKaren Armstrong begins this spellbinding story of her spiritual journey with her departure in 1969 from the Roman Catholic convent she had entered seven years before—hoping, but ultimately failing, to find God. She knew almost nothing of the changed world to which she was returning, and she was tormented by panic attacks and inexplicable seizures . . . more

 

 

 The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963  by Christopher Paul Curtis

watsonsbirminghamThe ordinary interactions and everyday routines of the Watsons, an African American family living in Flint, Michigan, are drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma in Alabama in the summer of 1963.

 

 

  Sandrine’s Letter to Tomorrow  by Dedra Johnson

sandrineletterDespite being a straight-A student and voracious reader, nine-year-old Sandrine Miller is treated like a servant by her mother, who forces Sandrine to clean house, do chores and take care of her younger stepsister, Yolanda. On top of the despair of her life, Sandrine must confront the harshness of life in mid-1970s New Orleans, where older men prey on young girls and she is ostracized because she is a light-skinned black girl . . . more

 

 The Secret  by Rhonda Byrne

secret

Fragments of a Great Secret have been found in the oral traditions, in literature, in religions and philosophies throughout the centuries. For the first time, all the pieces of The Secret come together in an incredible revelation that will be life-transforming for all who experience it.

In this book, you’ll learn how to use The Secret in every aspect of your life — money, health, relationships, happiness, and in every interaction you have in the world. You’ll begin to understand the hidden, untapped power that’s within you, and this revelation . . . more

 

Reconciliation : Islam, Democracy, and the West  

by Benazir Bhutto.Akhund

reconciliation

Writing a few months prior to her assassination, Bhutto explores the complicated history between the Middle East and the West. She traces the roots of international terrorism across the world, including American support for Pakistani general Zia-ul-Haq, who destroyed political parties, eliminated an independent judiciary, marginalized NGOs, suspended the protection of human rights, and aligned Pakistani intelligence agencies with the most radical elements of the Afghan mujahideen. She speaks out not just to the West . . . more

 

 Charlie the Caterpillar  by Dom DeLuise

charlie

A caterpillar is rejected by various groups of animals, until he achieves his beautiful wings and is able to befriend a similarly unhappy caterpillar.

 

 

 

Have a great summer!

WINNERS!! ~ National Library Week ~

April 21, 2009

Congratulations to all of our winners from National Library Week!

  Door Prizes – Students - $10 gift card to iTunes, Quiznos, or Walmart

 Danielle Arnone

Elicia Camarigg

Morgan De Jong

Justin Karmann

Leon Li

Marly Melsh

Michelle Mether

 

Door Prizes – Faculty/Staff

 Randy Jensen – $10 gift card to The Coffee Mill

Anila Karunaker – $10 gift card to De Koffie Hoek

Carly Miller – $15 gift card to Barnes & Noble

Brett Wieking – $15 gift card to Barnes & Noble

 

Where in the World Is the Library Staff?

Student Winner – Moriah Anderson$15 gift card for iTunes, Quiznos, or Walmart

Faculty/Staff Winner – Karen Barker$15 gift card for iTunes, Quiznos, or Walmart

To see the correct answers, click the world below.

world-1

 

Prize Code Winners - $5 gift card to the Hub

TJ Noble

*kudos to TJ for searching through the trash to find 3 winning postcards!

Andy Boone

Natalie Johnson

Ansley Griesse

 

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US CELEBRATE!!

National Library Week – WINNING PRIZE CODES!

April 14, 2009

Check the prize code on the National Library Week postcard that you received through campus mail.  The winning prize codes are listed below.

To claim your $5 gift card, bring your winning postcard to the library!

GOOD LUCK!

Winning Prize Codes

 H8SR7N

J8AS2K

A9VM2Z

K6TT7T

L4TV5T

X1HY1V

H3YR9J

G2HP4J

B2GM5M

G6RP7S

Where in the World Is the Library Staff?

April 13, 2009

STUDENTS, FACULTY, & STAFF

How strong are your geography skills?

Find out by playing our Where in the World Is the Library Staff game!

You could win a $15 gift card to Walmart, Quiznos, or iTunes!

Click the world to play.

world-1

The winners will be announced on Tuesday, April 21.

National Library Week – STUDENT DOOR PRIZES!

April 13, 2009

Students!

Type your NAME and EMAIL ADDRESS in the box below to register for our DOOR PRIZES!

You could win a $10 gift card to your choice of Walmart, Quiznos, or iTunes!

Thank you for helping us celebrate!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Library Week – FACULTY/STAFF DOOR PRIZES!

April 13, 2009

Faculty & Staff!

Type your NAME and EMAIL ADDRESS in the box below to register for our DOOR PRIZES!

You could win a gift card to Barnes & Noble, De Koffie Hoek, or The Coffee Mill!

Thank you for helping us celebrate!!

Congratulations to Jesse Nieuwenhuis, our Lincoln Quiz Winner!

February 23, 2009

Jesse Nieuwenhuis won $10 in cash by answering all quiz questions correctly!

bust-shot-transparent1

Here are the quiz questions along with the correct answers.

1.  What was the name of the Lincoln family dog?  Fido

2.  Grace Bedell, an 11-year-old girl, suggested that Lincoln grow a beard to become President.  True

3.  When was Abraham Lincoln born?  February 12, 1809

4.  How tall was Abraham Lincoln?  6ft, 4in

5.  What did Lincoln carry in his famous tall stovepipe hat?  Letters, bills, notes

6.  How many children did Lincoln have?  4

7.  The cabin where Lincoln was born had how many rooms?  1

8.  What is the name of Abraham Lincoln’s grandfather?  Abraham Lincoln

9.  What other jobs did Lincoln hold before becoming president?  Store clerk, rail splitter, lawyer

10. Lincoln was born outside of the original 13 colonies.  True

11. What was Lincoln’s favorite poem?  Mortality by William Knox

12. What political party did Lincoln help start?  Republican

13. What were the names of Lincoln’s siblings who did not live to see him as president?  Sarah, Thomas

14. Which 3 states are associated with Abraham Lincoln?  Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana

15. Which of Lincoln’s sons lived to adulthood and was present for the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial?  Robert Todd Lincoln

Thank you to everyone who participated in our quiz! 

Happy Birthday, Lincoln!

February 12, 2009

bust-shot-transparent1

February 12, 2009 marks what would have been Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday.

What do you know about Abraham Lincoln?

Take our quiz to find out AND have the chance to win $10 in cash!

Click on the following link to access the quiz.

Lincoln Quiz

Entries will be accepted February 12 through February 22.

The winner will be announced on February 23.  Good luck!

Virtual Costumes

October 30, 2008

Not sure what to dress as for Halloween? There’s no need to mess around with actual costumes . . . you can go as any cool student from years past at Yearbook Yourself. Upload your picture and see how you would look at a ’50s prepster or an ’80s glam rocker.  Send it around and presto! — a great Halloween disguise.  Here’s me through the years . . .

National Library Week Winners!

April 21, 2008

Congratulations to our National Library Week winners!

Jesse Nieuwenhuis (student)

Ardith De Jong (staff)

Thank you to everyone who participated in our drawing

and/or attended our open house!

~ Ramaker Library Staff ~

National Poetry Month

April 15, 2008

April is National Poetry Month. First celebrated in 1995, National Poetry Month is the Academy of American Poets’ annual celebration of poetry.

I wondered why they picked April. I had some guesses, but thanks to the Academy of American Poets’ web site, I now know for certain:

With input from booksellers, librarians, poets, and teachers, the Academy chose a month during the school year so that schools and students could participate fully. February is Black History Month and March is Women’s History Month, so April seemed a logical choice. Also, there are many wonderful poetic references to April:

T. S. Eliot wrote, “April is the cruelest month.” It is our hope that National Poetry Month lessens that effect.

On a lighter note, Chaucer wrote:

Whan that April with his showres soote
The droughte of March hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veine in swich licour,
Of which vertu engendred is the flowr

Finally, Edna St. Vincent Millay asked, “To what purpose, April, do you return again?” For National Poetry Month, of course!

I recently discovered a short poem I like by a former American poet laureate, Ted Kooser. Since the Northwestern community has spent time recently analyzing our place here on the prairie, Kooser’s A Birthday Poem resonated with me. Using a cow as the comparison, he describes both the sun and himself. A fellow Midwesterner (born in Iowa, even), Kooser uses what he encounters everyday to describe more than what is there. You can read the entire text of the poem on the Library of Congress web site.

Ramaker Library holds most of Kooser’s books in its collection, if you’re interested in reading more.