Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15
The staff at Ramaker Library wishes you a happy Thanksgiving. We also want to remind you that our hours do change for the holiday:
Tuesday, Nov 24: 7:30am – 5pm
Wednesday, Nov 25: 8am – 4:30pm
Thursday, Nov 26: Closed
Friday, Nov 27: Closed
Saturday, Nov 28: Closed
Sunday, Nov 29: 6pm – 12am (reference librarian available from 6-9pm)
Enjoy your break!
CQ Researcher is a VERY popular resource at Ramaker Library. It contains full-text reports on current issues and is a great place to start your research. Each report provides charts, graphs, stats, as well as background information.
The newest report is entitled:
Online Privacy: Do Americans Need Better Protection – As the author Patrick Marshall states, ”millions of americans store important personal data on the internet from credit-card numbers and bank account information to family photos”. How vulnerable is that information to being stolen by computer hackers? How do you feel about advertizers collecting information about your personal marketing behaviors(what you buy over the internet) and selling that information to others? Find some answers to these questions and more in this latest report.
Other interesting reports coming up include:
CQ Researcher is located on the library homepage in the Quick links box.
This fall, Ramaker Library has a new display in our lobby. The collection, courtesy of Laurie Furlong and Todd Tracy in the Biology department, highlights the ecological varieties in our area. The collection includes beautiful photography and an impressive display of butterflies, beetles and other bugs. Next time you stop at the library, be sure to check this out. (There’s a library pun for you!)
Ramaker has just added another history database to our collection – and it’s one particularly helpful to those needing primary sources.
Picture from the Library of Congress.
ArchiveGrid is an online resource for searching through historical documents, personal papers, and family histories held in archives around the world. Thousands of libraries, museums, and archives have contributed nearly a million collection descriptions to ArchiveGrid. Researchers searching ArchiveGrid can learn about these collections, contact archives to arrange a visit to examine materials, and order copies.
ArchiveGrid is a great source to see what primary sources are available. In some cases, you may find documents and photos that have been digitized and are available on the web, but in most cases you will need to contact the collection owner to access the materials.
It’s worth a search, though, because of the depth of collections compiled on this site. If you have questions about this resource or any others, please ask a Ramaker librarian for help.
In the past month, Ramaker has added a number of materials in the field of education to our collection. Topics range from classroom management and instruction to standards development. New titles include the following:
To see a list of all the new materials at Ramaker, visit our New Books page.
An online chat feature has now been added to….
Ramaker librarians will be available to answer questions or help with research projects online at the following times:
Monday – Wednesday: 8 – 5 p.m. and 6 – 9:30 p.m.
Thursday: 8 – 5 p.m.
Friday: 8 – 5 p.m.
Sunday: 6 – 9 p.m.
We look forward to chatting with you!
Thank you to the juniors and seniors who participated in the Ramaker Library Survey. 309 students participated and provided library staff with valuable feedback on our services and facility. We are working on addressing issues that you helped identify. Click here to view findings from the survey and a progress report.
First, we hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving enjoying God’s blessings with each other.
Second, do note that Ramaker hours are changed for the holiday. Our schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, Nov 25: 7:30am – 5pm
Wednesday, Nov 26: 8am – 4:30pm
Thursday, Nov 27: Closed
Friday, Nov 28: Closed
Saturday, Nov 29: Closed
Sunday, Nov 30: 6pm – 12am
Happy Thanksgiving!
It’s Election Day — don’t forget to vote! Polling places in Iowa are open from 7am until 9pm. Iowa does have same-day registration, so even if you are not registered to vote, you can do so today.
If you have any questions about where to vote or if you are eligible to vote, visit the web site of the Iowa Secretary of State; all the information should be there.
Former Senator George McGovern will speak at a chapel service this Thursday, October 9, at 11:05 a.m. His topic will be world hunger, as Senator McGovern has served as the United Nations ambassador on hunger since 2001.
In addition to being a professor, U.S. representative, senator, Democratic nominee for president and humanitarian, George McGovern is also an author. Ramaker Library holds some of his writings, including his autobiography Grassroots.
Today marks the 7th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, DC. Do you remember where you were when you heard?
I was in my office in the library and heard about some planes hitting some buildings somewhere. At first, we thought it was a joke, but then heard from another staff member who had been listening to the radio, that it was not a joke. We began to listen to the radio and eventually moved to the RSC to watch the big screen TV. It was there that I watched the first tower fall on LIVE television. It was surreal. All I could think about was how I wanted to see and hug my family.
My thoughts and prayers go out to all of the families who are remembering loved ones lost today.
It has been said that the “Best Things in Life are Free” AND that“Money can’t buy the Most Important Things in Life.” Some of these FREE things that I enjoy in my life are:
Free Learning…
At Northwestern I learn something new everyday. This learning comes in variety of ways —student and faculty research, community people sharing stories and projects, new books arriving at the library, Kathleen Norris, Minding Place workshops….the list is endless!!! Libraries are the best place in the world—FREE to everyone with no discrimination allowed — a wonderful place that supports lifelong learning!!
Free Events…
Northwestern students, faculty, and special guests sharing their gifts and talents through music, theatre, and athletic events, lectures, discussions, poetry readings, not to mention host family activities, Ethnic Fair, SSP & SOS stories….all FREE!
Other Free Things I Enjoy in my Day to Day Life
Nature – Outdoor activities such as flower gardening, long walks, bicycling, camping, as well as Iowa vistas and sunsets.
Conversations – with grandchildren, friends, and family and listening to the wisdom of our elders.
Comfort food – Cooking old family recipes and trying new recipes. When my granddaughter asked me, “What is a cannoli?’ (which was mentioned in a book she was reading) we had to give a new recipe a try and we were delighted with the results.
Random free things we can give away—smiles, laughter, honesty, kindness, compassion, gratitude, acceptance, and making a difference where we can.
The Best things in life are really FREE!
This winter I read a wonderful book called Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. It was published in 2007 and is the true story of one man’s journey as he climbed K2, (the second highest peak in the world) located in northern Pakistan.
After failing to reach the summit he descended through the mountains feeling sick and lost. He ended up in a remote rugged mountain village in Baltistan. The people of the village took him in and showed him great kindness. Seeing their isolation and poverty, when he left Greg promised to return and build a school for their village. Back home Greg worked very hard to raise the money to build the first school. His personal sacrifices and dedication in keeping his word to the villagers inspired him to follow through and build the school. Greg and his organization have built many more schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan in the last decade. Three Cups of Tea is an amazing story and I highly recommend it!
Murder in the Stacks
A Mystery Writing Event Celebrating the Minding Place Symposium
Do you like to write? Do you like mysteries? Would you like to write the first chapter of a mystery? The staff of Ramaker Library invites you to submit the first chapter of a mystery that is set in a library—the library in your hometown, the library of your alma mater, the library of your imagination, or even Ramaker. The title for this event comes from the 1934 book, Murder in the Stacks by Marion Boyd Havinghurst. Havinghurst wrote most of her mystery in the library at Miami University (Oxford, OH), and she sets the murder in a library similar to one at Miami University. Havinghurst opens her work by writing, “In a particularly charming spot in one of our maligned middle western states…”
Sound familiar? With the time, place and characters set out before you, she concludes the first chapter with the discovery of a body in the stacks and leaves you wanting to read on. You, too, can write the first chapter of a mystery. All students, staff, and faculty are invited to submit a first chapter. A panel of library staff and others from across campus will select three pieces to be dramatically read on the Day of Learning in Community. On the afternoon of April 9, during the workshop sessions, three of the submissions will be read to an audience in the library.
Please submit your chapter as a Microsoft Word document to Dan Daily ddaily@nwciowa.edu by April 1. When submitting…
· Include your name and e-mail address
· Limit your piece to 1,000 words · Indicate if are willing to have your chapter read at the Day of Learning in Community (April 9).
· Indicate if you are willing to have your chapter included in a collection of submissions that will be kept in the library and available for others to read.
Murder in the Stacks by Marion Boyd Havinghurst is on reserve in Ramaker Library.
Welcome to the Ramaker Library Blog! Library staff will post information about library hours, new books, new electronic resources and other news. Yet, READBlog is more than news. We welcome discussion, comments, and questions from the Northwestern community. Please feel free to share thoughts about what you are currently reading, comments on library services, and other random musings. Last, but not least, keep an eye out for facts, trivia, nonsense, and otherwise about Ramaker Library and the staff who work in it. For example, learn which library staff member has experience in firing missiles and why I have an affinity for bow ties! -Dan
