Wheelock College Library

We've Moved!

2010-12-23T11:20:00.000-05:00

The Library blog can now be found at its new home at http://library.wheelock.edu/blog/.

Vacation day trip: Museum of Science

2010-12-15T15:38:00.000-05:00

Looking for something to do while you're on break from classes? Why not visit the Museum of Science? The Library offers passes for $5 admission for up to four people (regular price $21 for adults).

This is your last chance to see the temporary exhibits "Inside the Mind of M.C. Escher" (closes January 2), "Reptiles: The Beautiful and the Deadly" (closes Jan. 4), and "K'NEX: Building Thrill Rides" (closes January 17). But don't worry if you can't make it by then -- new exhibits will be opening soon, and the 30-plus permanent exhibits will be there no matter when you go.

Stop by the Service Desk on the first floor of the Library to pick up your discount admission pass. We only have one per date, so they are first-come, first-served, but because the passes do not need to be returned, you can pick them up any time before your visit.

Go to www.mos.org for more information about the museum, including hours and directions. And have a great time!

Merry Festivus!

2010-12-15T15:37:00.001-05:00

Every year following Thanksgiving, a familiar feeling begins to set in. Those songs! Those lights! Those decorations! And suddenly I remember: I couldn't care less about Christmas. I know I'm mostly alone on this one, but I can't help it: I'm immune to holiday cheer.

Fortunately, there's an alternative for people like me. It's not Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, or even Chinese New Year.

It's Festivus! Celebrated every year on December 23rd (or whenever you feel like celebrating it), Festivus is an ancient, enduring tradition that dates back to 1997 AD. Its mystic and sacred origins emerged from an episode of the television show Seinfeld. Anyone can celebrate Festivus, no matter your religious background, ethnicity or level of aversion to the Christmas holiday (though a high amount of the latter certainly helps).

How you celebrate Festivus is a matter of personal taste, but there are a few essentials:

The Festivus Pole: instead of a tree or menorah, Festivus decorations center around (and in fact are often solely comprised of) a plain metal pole. Don't have a pole? That's OK! Anything metallic, or even a crude drawing of a metal pole, will suffice.
The Airing of Grievances: did anything or anyone particularly upset you during the past year? This is your chance to let the world know! If Thanksgiving is the time for remembering what you're thankful for, Festivus provides an opportunity to vent frustrations. This can take any form you like, within the bounds of national, state and/or local laws.
Feats of Strength: the best part of Festivus. Again, it's open to interpretation, but tradition dictates targeting the strongest or most powerful member of a given social group, and attempting to diminish this person's power, often by wrestling him or her to the ground. In the absence of such a figure, an escalating series of dares is also acceptable.

So tell me, fellow Christmas-unenthusiasts: how will you celebrate Festivus this year?

Feeling stressed? Watch some fish!

2010-12-08T14:56:00.000-05:00

What am I going to write about? I have no ideas. What have I been doing lately that could be of interest? Nothing – all boring librarian stuff. Look around at the stuff in my office – maybe a physical object will give me an idea…folders, papers, journals, books, computer, phone, printer, chairs, stack of boxes serving as a table, calendar poster, happy light. Happy light? Seasonal affective disorder? Too depressing. Rolodex? A wry reflection on change? Who cares; I don’t even care. Clock? Observations on individual preferences for digital vs. analog and do young people wear watches anymore? Oh, how original…

Wow, I am really stuck. 10-day traffic jam in China? Old news. [Brain surf over to] Blizzard of ’78? Not blogable. Dumb websites? The ones I know aren’t as good as the ones they know.

I give up. Why don't we take a break and watch some soothing images of fish in an aquarium? Maybe it will inspire some great ideas...

Unwanted Books = Literacy Funding

2010-12-08T14:53:00.000-05:00

Thanks to your donations of unwanted books at the end of last year, over $70 was donated to the National Center for Family Literacy. The Library also received a commission which will be used to purchase additional materials to support you in your coursework. Instead of your unwanted books ending up in a landfill, they were sent to Better World Books to be resold or recycled.

Last year we sent them 334 books; 288 were reused and 46 were recycled. By reselling and recycling these books, we had a positive environmental impact. Your book donations saved 6 trees, 4028 gallons of water, and 481 lbs of greenhouse gases. The moral of the story is, if you have unwanted books at the end of the semester, place them in the Better World Book bins located in the Library foyer, the CCSR, the old Student Center, and at Hawes. We will send them to be recycled and the environment, the literacy foundation, the Library, and ultimately you will all benefit.

Robot Dinosaurs That Shoot Beams When They Roar (and other distractions)

2010-12-08T13:32:00.000-05:00

The end of the semester can be stressful, with so many papers and projects due. Sometimes it helps to take a break, so we've collected some of our favorite online time-wasters for your enjoyment:

Robot Dinosaurs That Shoot Beams When They Roar is pretty much exactly what it sounds like.

The Impossible Quiz is somewhat impossible. However, the questions are always in the same order, so you can keep starting over and getting a bit further each time. The furthest I've ever made it is #39.

Ninja Ropes is a simple physics-based game that is apparently a favorite of the cast and crew of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.

StumbleUpon is a great way to find new and interesting (and distracting) stuff online. It creates personalized recommendations just for you.

FoodPornDaily is possibly the only porn site that you won't get busted for viewing in the Library. It presents a daily photo of something that looks insanely delicious. Click n' drool!

Hipster Puppies liked this blog better before it went mainstream.

And if you're looking to get away from the computer screen entirely, there are board games in the lower level of the library (by the vending machines) and foosball in the Pilgrim Student Center.

Happy procrastinating!

Can Censorship EVER be OK?

2010-12-01T11:05:00.000-05:00

Is censorship ever ok?

Every October, the Library acknowledges Banned Books Month with an exhibit of banned titles. We pat ourselves on the back because, after all, we don’t ban books. We’re librarians, educators, scholars. We’re for intellectual freedom 100%. Aren’t we?

In September, Boyd Tonkin published a column in The Independent in response to an exhibit of banned titles created by London libraries. He felt the titles were too easy, titles we’re too comfortable defending. His point was that almost everyone believes in censorship at one time or another. To illustrate, he compiled a list of 10 titles—that weren’t included in the London exhibit—he thought would be more difficult to defend. His list is not comfortable reading. It reminds us of the other side of the banned books discussion, the part that happens after we say, “I’d never, ever censor” when we stammer out, “Except for that book.”

Tomkins’ list includes Did Six Million Really Die? “a Holocaust denial manual” according BookTryst. I consider it hate speech, designed solely for fueling anti-Semitism. But Tomkins’ list also includes Osama bin Laden’s Messages to the World, about which one reviewer stated, “Bin Laden has been precise in telling America the reasons he is waging war on us. None of the reasons has anything to do with our freedom, liberty and democracy but everything to do with US policies and actions in the Muslim world.” That happens to be a statement I agree with. Another person—perhaps someone whose life was touched by the events of 9/11—might consider that statement outrageous and untrue, and bin Laden’s book good only for burning.

Further down the list are Pauline Réage’s Story of O, a well-known erotic novel about sado-masochism, and AM Homes’ The End of Alice, a novel told from the point of view of an imprisoned pedophile. Once upon a time (in the 70s), when sexual mores were more liberal than they are now, reading Story of O was something of a rite of passage. Definitely not a big deal. The End of Alice sounds horrifying beyond words.

Is there a point where free speech is trumped by hate speech or when content becomes dangerous? It’s a tough issue. So what do you do? You start by trying to approach things critically rather than emotionally. Perhaps you examine both sides of a controversial topic. You ask questions, do research, look at the writing—is it inflammatory solely for the sake of being inflammatory? Perhaps you talk with other people, friends, your professors, or, and perhaps especially, those who don’t agree with you. Essentially, you approach something controversial by expanding your knowledge base. It won’t make it any easier to defend some titles, but it will help move the issue from a no discussion, stark black-and-white to a shades of gray dialogue.

A Library's Suite Dreams

2010-11-25T09:16:00.000-05:00

The library is a great place with all of its resources, programming and friendly staff.

But have you ever felt compelled to spend the night in one?

Well, someone in New York City loves the library this much!

The Library Hotel has taken its admiration of libraries and its classification system to another level. Each of the ten floors is dedicated to one of the major categories of the Dewey Decimal System: Social Sciences, Literature, Languages, History, Math & Science, General Knowledge, Technology, Philosophy, The Arts and Religion.

The guest rooms are decorated to reflect one of these ten categories and also houses a collection of corresponding books and artwork.

For example, the 11th floor, History, is comprised of guest rooms named Biography, Geography & Travel, Asian History, Oceanography, Ancient History and 20th Century History.

For a full list of the guest room names by floor please click here.

Student Technology Services

2010-11-20T12:12:00.000-05:00

Many of you already know me. I am based in the lower level of the Library, near the computer labs. Primarily, I work in the Library, supporting the computers and printing in the building and provide service to student laptops. We wanted to formally announce here the expansion of my services for the students. In cooperation with the Technology Department, we are making my desk a "one stop shopping" destination for all student technology needs. These services include:

Laptop support: spyware, viruses, update issues
Audio/Visual equipment help
email questions and problems
TV/Cable issues
Help with Office applications
Hardware device installation: cameras, printers, etc.
Smartphone email issues

Please come by and see me with any of these issues. I can be contacted at:

Jeff Pearson

librarytech@wheelock.edu

617-879-2223

Noisy Season Gets Early Start at Library

2010-11-10T13:39:00.017-05:00

Noisy Season at the Wheelock College Library officially opened at 10:42 Tuesday morning, when the Library staff received the first TalkBack complaint of the semester about Quiet Zone disrespectors.

Typically beginning right after the Thanksgiving break, the Noisy Season has been getting noisier in recent years, but this is the earliest onset since records have been kept. Library Director Brenda Ecsedy said the season is the result of the convergence of several factors.

“As we get later into the semester Library usage increases, and the stress of patrons using the Library increases,” she said. “As more offices and functions come into the building, and as we increase enrollment, the usual noise escalation is compounded. It isn’t surprising really that the season has opened earlier than usual, but this is even ahead of any predictions we had.”

Associate Director Ann Glannon noted that the Library is taking steps to keep the season from getting out of control. “As soon as we got that TalkBack message, we knew we had to act quickly to contain the spread of noise. Once it gets out of control, it’s hard to pull back.

“So we are increasing staff monitoring of the building, and will be posting reminders in the Quiet Zones. We’ve alerted the other offices in the building to the early arrival of Noisy Season so they can assist in curbing unnecessary volume as soon as they hear it.”

Patrons who encounter Noisy Season violators are asked to politely encourage them to reduce the noise, or to alert Library staff if they are uncomfortable directly addressing the perpetrators.

Thanksgiving Turkey ... Cake?!

2010-11-09T12:49:00.000-05:00

As you probably know, the Wheelock Library will be closed Wednesday, November 24 – Saturday, November 27.

And what are you bringing to the table for Thanksgiving with your family and friends?! Turnips? Mashed potatoes? Cranberry sauce?

How about this Thanksgiving turkey cake?

I think it looks delicious. What do you think? What would your dinner guests think if you served this?

Turkeys

2010-11-09T09:28:00.015-05:00

I love those silly turkeys that kids make by tracing their hands. There are all kinds of variations (do a Google image search to see some approaches you might not have considered...), they’re adorable, and fun and easy to make. But they do not constitute meaningful curriculum about Thanksgiving, Pilgrims, Native Americans, or harvest festivals.

Every year Wheelock students flock to the Library to gather Thanksgiving books for their early childhood and elementary classrooms. The students who come early are grateful, because every year demand outstrips supply; it is a popular topic. Extend the impact of the books you do find by using free online resources. The journal Booklist has published a guide called “Classroom Connections: Thanksgiving Books as Hooks—Linking Literature to Primary Sources.”

“As your thoughts turn to turkey, pumpkin pie, fall leaves, and football,
consider connecting these high-quality Thanksgiving-themed books to Library of Congress resources. Go beyond the words on the page—dig into primary sources, engage your students, spark critical thinking, and guide them toward a deeper understanding of Thanksgiving traditions and history.”

Also try the Library’s Curriculum Resources Subject Guide, which is available from the Library’s homepage. The Plimoth Plantation and the Mashantucket Pequot Museum websites (in the Guide) are full of resources, and you can easily find many more in all of the other selected websites on that page by searching for “Thanksgiving” with the custom search box at the top of the list of websites.

And then be thankful you do not have to pluck and clean a turkey before you can eat it. Did you see the size of those things?

Ann Glannon

"Turkeyday" image by Alicia Alferman from http://www.themayfly.com/weblog/2007/11/turkey_day_break.html and used with permission.

Family Literacy Month

2010-11-04T12:09:00.009-04:00

November is Family Literacy Month

Governor Patrick issued a Proclamation declaring November 2010 to be Family Literacy Month in Massachusetts. Family Literacy Month is an opportunity to support children of all ages in out-of-school learning, engage parents in supporting their children's education, and engage community partners in supporting and celebrating lifelong learning and family well-being.

Here are some ways to encourage inter-generational family reading.

Know the child’s reading abilities. A child’s teacher or reading specialist can assess a child's ability. A librarian can make recommendations on age-appropriate books.

Set aside time for reading. Designate a time of day when family members can read for pleasure. Make reading a part of the family routine.

Make reading special. Children should feel as if having a book is special. Help them create a space for storing their books.

Use the local library. One of the best resources for families starting a reading tradition is the access to their community's library. Libraries also offer story hours and other fun literacy activities. Make visits to your library a routine activity.

Be sure to stop and look at the library’s display case! The staff compiled a few of their favorite books and shared reading memories to celebrate this month.

The Wheelock Library, Frank Benson, and John Singer Sargent?

2010-10-14T10:40:00.008-04:00

As most of you are aware, the Wheelock College Library has seen a number of changes in 2010—from a newly designed 1st floor, to new computers, to additional group meeting space, to the relocation of the Archives.

But what do we know about the building’s history?

According to the our archival collections, the building we now call the Wheelock College Library was originally an art studio space. But it took some detective work to really uncover this building’s past.

In her study of American impressionist Frank Benson, Faith Andrews Bedford notes that, in 1915, Benson and a number of his friends and colleagues built a structure “located on the marshes of the Charles River” that they used for art studio space. A 1925 Boston City Directory lists the address for this building (under Benson’s name, among others) as 132 Riverway.

Benson, an American impressionist painter as well as a graduate of and professor at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, is known to have closed his Riverway studio in 1944. The following year, Wheelock College purchased a building on the Riverway for use as office space, art studios, and a library. Around this time, Wheelock publications and reports from the office of the president variously refer to this new building as the Art Building, the Riverway Studios, or the Riverway Studio Building.

This purchase is mentioned in the October 5, 1945 edition of The Fliterary, the Wheelock student newsletter at the time, but the building didn’t officially open as the Art and Library Building until autumn 1947. Because administrative offices were also located in the building at first, 132 Riverway served as the College’s administrative address for a number of years.

In the December 8, 1950 issue of The Fliterary, Fran Daly (class of 1952) penned an article about the “studio building” in which she writes:

The Studio Building, which serves as an art studio, a library and an administrative building, has a very distinguished past … Designed and built by Frank W. Benson and Joseph DeCamp, this building was formerly used as artists’ studios. In addition to its famous designers and builders, this building has housed artists of both local and international repute. For example, there were such artists as William James, Gertrude Fiske, Charles Woodbury, Fritz Kellogg and William M. Paxton. Even the famous John Singer Sargent is believed to have worked in the building at one time.

This list includes a couple of important figures from Boston’s art history – and perhaps no one more noteworthy than John Singer Sargent. But did Sargent ever use the Riverway studio?

Keep checking the Wheelock College Library’s blog for more information about (and images of) the Library building’s expansion over the years – and for further information about Sargent’s connection to the building. I have the answer, I promise.

-Andrew Elder, Archivist

New Home for the Center for Career and Professional Development

2010-10-12T11:51:00.000-04:00

The offices of the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) are now housed in the Library, Ground Floor! The CCPD offers individual appointments on a variety of topics including: self assessment, major exploration, resumes/cover letters, job search strategies, interview techniques, applying to graduate school, and more. Look for a collection of reference materials, including major specific guides and career based books. The CCPD Resource Center (#005B) also contains employer contacts, tip sheets, and periodicals. Check out our website, which is full of valuable online resources, including career development presentations, access to Optimal Resume - a resume writing guide, and Wheelock Works - a job listing database with part-time, full-time, volunteer, and internship opportunities: www.wheelock.edu/ccd/

Stop by during Walk-In hours or schedule an appointment at ccd@wheelock.edu!

Hours:
Monday & Thursday 9am-5pm
Tuesday & Wednesday 9am-7pm *Extended Hours*
Friday 8:30am-4:30pm

Walk-In Hours: Have your quick questions answered or a short resume critique!
Wednesday 2-3pm
Thursday 12-1 pm

We look forward to seeing you!

Library Code of Conduct (a.k.a. Shhhh…)

2010-10-12T11:13:00.000-04:00

Yes, we have one.

For many years we have not advertised or explicitly reminded Library users of the standards for behavior, believing self-regulation and peer enforcement to be the preferred methods for ensuring a safe, secure, and welcoming environment conducive to study and research. But the survey of students we conducted last spring told us otherwise. It was very clear from your comments that many of you did not find the Library conducive to study and research because it was noisy. And that you wanted Library staff to do something about it.

To make the expectations of appropriate behavior explicit and clear, we have posted the Code of Conduct on the Library’s webpage and physically in the building, and staff members are actively working to rebuild a culture of respectful peace and quiet. We invite you to join us. The easiest way to make the Library quieter is for all of us all to be quiet; simple, but not necessarily easy. So we may at times remind you of the community’s need for the Library to be a quieter place, a.k.a. Shhhh…

Shhh... Librarian image copyright Farmington Public Library Foundation; used with permission. Order your own Shhh...Librarian Gear today!

Searching for Peace and Quiet?

2010-10-10T13:12:00.000-04:00

Last spring, the Library conducted a student satisfaction survey. Many survey respondents asked for more quiet space in the Library. You asked, we listened!

Starting this fall, the following areas in the Library are Quiet Zones:

Basement computer labs
Floor 3M
Floor 4
Floor 4M

Conversations in the Quiet Zones need to be brief and-- you guessed it-- quiet. Cell phone use is prohibited. If you need to watch a video or listen to music on a computer, you must use headphones.

The Quiet Zones are places for you to study and work on class assignments in peace. If you need to do group work or have a conversation, you are welcome to do so on Floors 1-3, or in the conference rooms on floors 2M and 3M. Even in these "Non-Quiet Zones," though, the noise should be kept to a respectful level.

If you're ever bothered by noise in any area of the Library, Quiet or Non-Quiet, let a staff member know right away! We are happy to help.

Columbus Day Holiday on 10/11: Library open 1pm-11pm

2010-10-06T16:23:00.006-04:00

Monday, October 11th marks this year's Columbus Day holiday. The Library will be open from 1pm-11pm.

You've heard of Christopher Columbus, but do you know about Dia de la Raza? Commemorated in many Latin American countries, it is a celebration of Hispanic culture and heritage. Dia de la Raza (Day of the Race) is observed in conjunction with Columbus Day as a reminder of the peoples and traditions that existed before Columbus' arrival, and their continued ways of life. To learn more, check out this explanation on the Mexican government's website.

Boston Book Festival

2010-10-01T15:12:00.000-04:00

BOSTON BOOK FESTIVAL

Looking for a fun, educational and FREE event?

The Boston Book Festival will take place on Saturday, October 16th in Copley Square.

Over 150 authors will be at this FREE event! Check out the full list of presenters and sign-up for workshops and contests. There will also be great activities for adults and children, booksellers, signings, live music and food! The event runs from 9 am to 7 pm, so take advantage of this event for book lovers and enjoy a wonderful New England fall day!

Credo Reference

2010-09-27T11:15:00.000-04:00

Check out one of our finest online reference resources, Credo Reference. Encyclopedias, dictionaries and other reference books are great sources for reliable information. Reference books are a great way to familiarize yourself with a new topic. Credo Reference makes the process even easier as you can quickly search for relevant entries.

This online resource does a little of everything. Credo boasts a robust array of online reference sources. At your disposal are great reference sources such as the Encyclopedia of School Psychology, Encyclopedia of Sex and Gender, Encyclopedia of Emancipation and Abolition in the Transatlantic World, etc. These sources and more are at your searching fingertips. You can further break down your search by subject in the drop down menu next to the search box or browse the subject lists under the "Find a Book" link.

The Concept Map is a particularly useful tool for visualizing the topic of your research. The tool graphically displays your central topic and related terms in an interconnected map. Scrolling over related terms connects you to articles and further information through a pop up window. Try searching your term in the Concept Map interface to narrow or expand on your topic.

Under the "Gadgets" link an assortment of tools are available. You can convert measurements like imperial pints to other volumes or you can convert fuel consumption. If you're having trouble spelling a word you can use the "Crossword search," using "?" in place of letters, especially useful for crossword puzzle addicts. Other gadget searches include; persons, holidays, quotations, places and definitions.

What's your favorite banned book?

2010-09-23T12:32:00.000-04:00

September 25th-October 2nd is Banned Books Week. Commemorated every year by the American Library Association, the purpose of this week is to draw attention to books that have been challenged, banned or withdrawn from library collections. The ALA believes that since books represent freedom of speech, they should be available for everyone to judge and evaluate.

Below is a list of the Wheelock Library staff's favorite banned books.

Let us know what YOUR favorite is!

Adam's favorite: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Allyson's favorite: To Kill a Mockingbird
Ann's favorite: the Harry Potter series
Anne's favorites: Little Red Riding Hood and And Tango Makes Three
Ashley's favorite: Lolita
Brenda's favorite: The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
Molly's favorite: The Handmaid's Tale

Back to school, back to books!

2010-09-20T10:57:00.000-04:00

I love September - new beginnings, cooler weather, beautiful colors. I always loved to read and maybe that's one reason I chose education as my profession. I grew up in a community that was open to different points of view. While in school I learned that there were books that we read that were not allowed in other schools throughout the country. Here are some of my favorites: Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Sneak a peek of these wonderful books - with a flashlight, under your covers.

Have a productive and good year,

Jeannie Blazar

Director, Wheelock College Resource Center

Meet the Librarians!

2010-09-14T13:30:00.001-04:00

It takes a large staff of dedicated people to keep the Wheelock Library running. In addition to our sixteen student workers and ten evening/weekend supervisors, there are ten professional librarians.

What do we mean by a "professional" librarian? In most cases, this refers to someone who has completed a master's degree in Library and Information Science. (If you're interested in what this means, read more here!) There are also para-professional librarians, who may not have that particular degree, but have worked in the field long enough to know the ins & outs of library work.

Our professional and para-professional librarians at Wheelock often do their work behind the scenes, so you may not know who they are or what they do. Here's a handy guide! Click on the names with links to learn more about that person's role in the Library...

Adam Williams, Instruction and Reference Librarian

Allyson Harper-Nixon, Library Services Specialist

Amy Basque, Systems Librarian

Andrew Elder, Archivist

Ann Glannon, Associate Director and Collections Management Librarian

Anne Moore, Technical Services Librarian

Ashley Peterson, Access Services Librarian

Brenda Ecsedy, Library Director

Jeff Pearson, Library Technology Specialist

Molly McInerney, Administrative Assistant

Library Card Sign-Up Month

2010-09-11T10:05:00.000-04:00

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month!

Do you have a card to your public library? Do you know what the library can offer you?

Here are a few ways you can use your local library:

- Learn about local candidates running for office
- Read a newspaper from another country
- Borrow an audiobook for your next roadtrip
- Volunteer as a literacy tutor

Interested in more? Check out a full list here.

Area residents, please check-out these local libraries' card sign-up policies:

- Boston Public Library
- Brookline Public Library
- Cambridge Public Library
- Newton Public Library

Banned: The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language

2010-09-01T15:55:00.000-04:00

Banning a dictionary? Really?!?

WARNING! The following definition is not appropriate for those under the age of 18.

Bed (transitive verb) - to have sexual relations with

Brenda E.

Banned Book Week - The Handmaid's Tale

2010-09-01T15:18:00.001-04:00

My favorite banned book is "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood.

This dystopian novel spoke volumes to me about gender roles, reproductive rights and class struggles. It was the first work by Margaret Atwood I read, and it became my "gateway book" to her vast breadth of eclectic work which includes novels, poetry, short stories, children's literature, non-fiction, short prose, etc. Ms. Atwood's subject matter covers a wide range; from 19th century Canadian murder mysteries in "Alias Grace" to a genetically engineered, post-apocalyptic world in "Oryx and Crake." There is something in her works that will
appeal to nearly everyone.

-MMM

Banned Books Week: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

2010-09-01T15:15:00.001-04:00

The book and the subsequent movie deserve equal praise. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest follows a patient in an infirmary as he rebels against an oppressive institution. The book by Ken Kesey raises questions about authority, society and the individuals. My favorite line out of the book, "But at least I tried...." McMurphy (the rebellious main character)states after an attempt to throw a shower control panel out the window and fails.

Adam Williams
Instruction/Reference Librarian

Banned: Lolita

2010-09-01T11:24:00.001-04:00

Lolita was nearly banned before it even existed-- four publishing houses turned down Vladimir Nabokov's manuscript before its 1955 publication by Paris company Olympia Press. Since then, it's been decried, challenged and banned, often based solely on the bare basics of the plot.

Perhaps understandably. Lolita is the story of a 40ish man attracted to pre-pubescent girls. He marries a woman based on his attraction to her 12-year-old daughter, Dolores (nicknamed Lolita). Once his wife dies, he begins a sexual relationship with Lolita that spans several years and ends when she runs away to live with another (much) older man who is possibly even more depraved than her stepfather/lover.

A warning: readers in search of a salacious thrill will be disappointed. Despite what this crude plot synopsis suggests, Lolita is a complex and beautiful novel, and Vladimir Nabokov is widely considered one of the 20th century's greatest writers. The book accomplishes the rare feat of being a truly enjoyable read at the same time it is dense with symbolism, double meaning and allusion. This is done so deftly that it's possible to read Lolita without realizing that there are entire undiscovered layers of meaning, just lurking beneath the surface prose. To unearth it all, I recommend reading the edition annotated by Alfred Appel (usually located on floor 4M at 813 N11Lza, but currently on reserve).

-Ashley Peterson

BANNED: And Tango Makes Three

2010-09-01T11:14:00.000-04:00

It’s nice to see a picture book with a gay theme that isn’t overpowered by its message. And Tango Makes Three is based on a true story, so the unfolding story isn’t over burdened by the points the author is trying to make. It’s an interesting story, with good illustrations, which combined with its always popular subject—penguins—makes it a fun book.

Back in the day, (my day, that is) Lollipop Power Press, was producing ground breaking books like When Megan Went Away (J-P Se8w) about a lesbian couple’s break-up, In Christina’s Toolbox (J621.9 H75i), about a little girl using tools, and Martin’s Father (J-P Ei25m) about a single father nurturing his son, that presented people and situations that were unheard of in mainstream media. Lollipop described itself as a ”women’s liberation” or “feminist” collective whose mission was to “counteract the sex-stereotyped behavior and role models that society presented to children.” Very important mission, definitely necessary, but the stories tended to get buried under its weight.

There used to be a cigarette ad aimed at women: “You’ve come a long way, Baby.” Banned or not, And Tango Makes Three shows we really have.

Banning Harry

2010-09-01T10:55:00.000-04:00

My favorite banned book? Harry Potter.

One of the things I cherish most about these books is their core value of love. Again and again, love is the most important, useful, valued characteristic or principle, the “trick” of Harry’s that is the source of his survival and triumph over darkness. Dumbledore is explicit about this at the end of the fifth book when he says:

“There is a room in the Department of Mysteries,” interrupted Dumbledore, “that is kept locked at all times. It contains a force that is at once more wonderful and more terrible than death, than human intelligence, than forces of nature. It is also, perhaps, the most mysterious of the many subjects for study that reside there. It is the power held within that room that you possess in such quantities and which Voldemort has not at all. That power took you to save Sirius tonight. That power also saved you from possession by Voldemort, because he could not bear to reside in a body so full of the force he detests. In the end, it mattered not that you could not close your mind. It was your heart that saved you. (p. 843)

This most basic of ideals, widely if not universally held as Good, is refreshingly, explicitly, convincingly, and consistently expressed in all seven books of the series. That these books are frequently challenged because they are believed to promote evil makes them to me the perfect example of the perils of censorship.

(For a discussion of challenges to the first few HP books see:

Foerstel, H. N. (2002). Banned in the U.S.A. : A Reference Guide to Book Censorship in Schools and Public Libraries. Westport, CT: Greenwood.)

Banned: Little Red Riding Hood

2010-09-01T10:31:00.000-04:00

I love the fact that Trina Schart Hyman’s Little Red Riding Hood was banned by 2 California school districts right after it came out. Little Red Riding Hood? It was banned because one of the pictures shows Red with her basket, which has a bottle of wine in it. One school official said: “It gives the younger ones the wrong impression about alcohol. . If they should refrain, why give them a story saying it’s OK?" Hmmm, maybe I've forgotten, but I don't remember getting that message from Little Red Riding Hood. Another school official said: “I don’t think the basket of wine is a good concept for kindergarten or first grade.” Wait, does that mean it’s ok for second or third grade?

Anne Moore

Banned: To Kill a Mockingbird

2010-09-01T10:08:00.000-04:00

Quite possibly my favorite book of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has been challenged, banned, and removed from school libraries and reading lists numerous times for its racial themes and language. As recently as 2009, it was removed from secondary schools in a district in Canada because of parent objection to the use of a racial slur.

This book is one of the few assigned reading titles that stayed with me, and I find myself picking it up over and over again. In fact, I am overdue for another read. But I have my own copy, so if you haven't read it, you can check out the 50th anniversary edition recently added to Wheelock's collection.

-- Allyson Harper-Nixon

Wheelock on the Big Screen

2010-08-29T10:53:00.001-04:00

Remember back in the fall when Hollywood came to campus and covered our quad with fake snow?

Well, the official trailer for “The Social Network” is now online, and it includes a glimpse of the action shot here at Wheelock.It’s quick, but that’s definitely a view from the Campus Center out to the quad at 1:35 in. Viewer discretion is advised: the trailer contains some adult situations and obscene gestures.

The Yahoo! Movies article from July 15 gives more detail about the film. Additional info can be found on IMDb.

The movie is set to be released on October 1.

8 out of 5 Dentists Agree...

2010-08-26T17:54:00.000-04:00

If you like Old Spice, you will love New Spice. The Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University has created a fun video demonstrating the advantages of studying in the library:

While our library doesn't have a snack zone that magically turns laptops into giant sandwiches, we do have bucketloads of library databases and lots of great spots for studying.

A Wheelock College Coat of Arms?

2010-08-24T12:44:00.006-04:00

Did you know that Wheelock College has an official coat of arms?

When the Classroom Building at Wheelock College was built and dedicated in 1941, a stone coat of arms was fixed above the main entrance on Pilgrim Road. In a letter included in the March 1942 alumnae newsletter, Lucy Wheelock described the significance of the newly adopted symbol of the institution she’d founded in 1888:

Over the doorway of our building at 25 Pilgrim Road is the Wheelock coat of arms. It shows three wheels encircled by a wreath of oak leaves and acorns. The three wheels mean progress in the right training of childhood. They show the purpose of Wheelock College to follow the guiding ideal of the Kindergarten, – the training of the head, the heart, and the hand. We wish our children not only to know, but to do, and to feel the joy of service to humanity.

And in her unpublished autobiography, My Life Story, Miss Wheelock describes the symbol’s relationship to her own educational hero, Friedrich Fröbel (or Froebel), the innovative German educator who first introduced the “kindergarten” in 1840:

The wheels mean progress, progress toward Froebel’s ideal of child training of the head, the heart, and the hand. The oak leaves and acorns mean growth – “Great oaks from little acorns grow.”

On June 3, 1960, Wheelock’s Board of Trustees voted to incorporate the coat of arms into the official seal for the college – a crest we continue to use to this day. You can still see the Wheelock College coat of arms above the entrance to the Classroom Building at 25 Pilgrim Road.

Learn more about the Wheelock College Archives online or schedule a time to meet with the Archivist about our collections documenting the history of our institution, the histories of our alumni, and the history of efforts by those at Wheelock and around the world to improve the lives of children and families.

-Andrew Elder, Archivist

Intersession hours August 13-September 7

2010-08-12T15:46:00.002-04:00

The Library will be closed Friday, August 13, and Saturday, August 14, in observance of the College's summer holiday.

And with the end of summer classes, the Library will begin its regular Intersession hours schedule on Monday, August 16: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, closed.

We will also be closed Monday, September 6, for Labor Day.

Fall semester hours begin on the first day of classes, Wednesday, September 8.

Waste Time Intelligently with Sporcle

2010-08-04T12:29:00.003-04:00

Got some time to kill? Check out Sporcle!

What is Sporcle, besides a word that your spellchecker will always underline in red? Glad you asked!

Sporcle is a website that is pure trivia. It challenges your knowledge of various subjects, both common and abstract, with questions and subjects ranging from "Can you name these 90's TV Show theme songs?" to "Can you name the top 100 Comic Book Villains of All Time?" to "Can you name the United States Presidents?" to "Can you name the characters of Family Guy?" Sporcle is guaranteed fun for people of all ages and is a sure way to turn that "wasted" time to something a little more productive!

-Sherard Robbins
Library Assistant

Archives exhibit display on Hawes campus

2010-07-30T14:16:00.012-04:00

In July, the Archives installed an exhibition on Wheelock history for the College’s Center for Scholarship and Research. The Wheelock College Archives contains materials documenting the history of the College, including the memorabilia of its founder, Lucy Wheelock, and houses a collection of rare children's literature and scholarly books on education and the child.

By examining the development of Wheelock College from a one-room kindergarten training school to an institution with a more broad-ranging focus, this exhibition looks first at the course of study at the Wheelock School (or Miss Wheelock’s Kindergarten Training School, as it was known when it was founded in 1888) which changed little before the 1920s. The curriculum during this time prominently featured works focusing on philosophies and educational methods first proposed by the German educator Frederick Froebel, as well as studies of the history of early childhood education in the United States – and kindergarten education in particular.

The mission of the College is to improve the lives of children and families. We hope this exhibit offers a glimpse into the history of Wheelock and its mission. Visit the exhibit at the Center for Scholarship and Research on Wheelock's Brookline campus and let us know what you think.

For more information, contact the Wheelock College Archives.

-Andrew Elder, Archivist

Introducing: Jeff Pearson

2010-07-12T15:17:00.000-04:00

Name: Jeff Pearson

Job title: Library Technology Specialist

Location in Library: Lower Level of the Library, right at the bottom of the stairs.

Tell us what you do in 5o words or less: the title is actually pretty descriptive. I provide support for everything "technological" in the library, especially printing and copying from our public machines and printers, and all of our AV equipment. I also specialize in virus/spyware removal and any other software issues surrounding student laptops.

Choose one service that your department provides that you want the Wheelock community to be aware of: Student laptops, student laptops, student laptops. All virus and spyware problems, as well as device install issues, Windows update problems, and document corruption issues, all are welcome.

What is your favorite website? Here I'll cheat and list two, flip-sides of the same interest: www.nytimes.com and www.theonion.com. I'm a "newsie" and enjoy current events, both serious and humorous. It's hard to beat the New York Times for reasoned, impartial news coverage. And it is equally hard to beat the clever and outrageous takes on the news that The Onion provides. I think they should be read in tandem, just to be sane.

What is your favorite book in the Wheelock Library collection? David McCullough's John Adams (http://endeavor.flo.org/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=649198) is one of my favorite Wheelock holdings. Along with being a "newsie", I really like American history.

When I'm not at work, you can find me... Singing! At church, at Chorus pro Musica (www.choruspromusica.org), in my Barbershop Quartet. I also love to cook--and eat. I watch movies and read to pass the time and love to hike and camp.

Great Lines from Children's Books

2010-07-10T15:34:00.000-04:00

I love reading aloud to kids. I attribute this in part to my father, who was a great reader, and who read to me and my sisters every night. He brought the text alive – really giving voice to the characters and capturing and conveying the heart of the story. And having worked as a nanny, volunteered in a school library, and read aloud nightly to my own kids when they were little (and even occasionally until they were in high school!), I have done a lot of reading aloud myself. I find that, just like in movies, children’s books are full of memorable lines that can be so useful in a variety of occasions in life. Here are a few I like – do you know and love any of them too? What are some of your favorites?

My mother says some days are like that. Even in Australia.

That will do, Eloise.

Can it be May so soon?

Something is not right!

“We are friends,” said Martha. “But there is such a thing as privacy!”

I said, and said, and said those words. I said them. But I lied them.

He will live at our house. He will grow and grow. Will our mother like this? We don’t know.

Library Closed July 5

2010-07-02T14:20:00.001-04:00

The Library will be closed Monday, July 5, in observance of the Independence Day holiday. We will reopen for regular hours Tuesday, July 6, at 9 a.m.

We will be open for regular hours Saturday, July 3, from noon to 6 p.m. And of course, you can always access our electronic resources from the Library home page, including e-books, research guides, databases and full-text journals. For resources requiring a login, use your Wheelock email address and password.

Enjoy your holiday weekend!

July 6th-July 12th: No FLO ILL Requests

2010-07-01T14:26:00.003-04:00

From Tuesday, July 6th through Monday, July 12th, you will not be able to place requests for books through the FLO catalog. You will, however, still be able to visit each FLO library and check out items in-person. See here for a list of FLO libraries and links to their websites.

During this time, non-FLO ILL book requests may still be placed through this form on the Library's website.

Please pardon the inconvenience! FLO ILL will be available once again on Tuesday, July 13th.

Introducing: Allyson Harper-Nixon

2010-07-01T12:58:00.001-04:00

Name
Allyson Harper-Nixon

Job title
Library Services Specialist

Location in Library
At the desk on Floor 1 in the mornings, and at the desk on Floor 1M in the afternoons

Tell us what you do in 50 words or less
I am in charge of the serials: all the newspapers, magazines and journals that come in to the Library need to be checked in so you can see what issues we have in the online catalog. I’m also responsible for InterLibrary Loan: any time you request a book or article from another library, those requests come through me.

Choose one service that your department provides that you most want the Wheelock community to be aware of:
Children’s magazines – we have a great collection of them, and they are available to be checked out for use in practicum settings, with children you baby-sit, or even just for your own nostalgia (Highlights, anyone?).

What is your favorite website?
Notalwaysright.com is a great daily dose of the absurdity of working with the public.

What is your favorite book in the Wheelock Library collection?
I can only pick one? To Kill a Mockingbird is definitely one of my all-time favorites.
As a child, I loved the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary, several of which are available in our collection. We also have Girl from Yamhill: a memoir, Beverly Cleary’s memoir.

When I’m not at work, you can find me…
Reading the same book over and over again to my toddler, watching TV (Food Network and sitcoms are my usual fare, with a little Discovery Channel thrown in for good measure), and dreaming of new mosaic projects.

Introducing: Anne Moore

2010-07-01T12:55:00.001-04:00

Name: Anne Moore

Job title: Technical Services Librarian

Location in Library: My office is Rm. 203. The door has a mole and Thing2 on it.

Tell us what you do in 50 words or less: My job is to get you to the stuff you need. I see that there’s a record in the catalog with the right information in it so you find what you want.

Choose one service that your department provides that you most want the Wheelock community to be aware of: I’m in the processing of learning how to take care of SFX, the magic button that takes you to the full text of articles.

What is your favorite website? I really like playing with Stumbleupon. It’s a random discovery tool you can personalize. I’ve stumbled upon [sorry!] on loads of really nifty websites using it.

What is a typical work day like for you? Fun! I work with lots of different materials so I never get bored. I might start out reclassifying kits for the Resource Center, then move on to cataloging new picture books, and end up figuring out why we can’t get to the full-text of an e-journal we get.

What is your favorite book in the Wheelock Library collection? Besides all the children’s fiction and fairy tales, I love Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. The first time I read it I was too young to understand much of it. I re-read it every year for years after that, discovering something new each time as I understood more and more. It made the book magical for me, as if I got a present every time I read it. I was really disappointed when that stopped happening.

When I’m not at work, you can find me…walking my 3 pugs or with my nose buried in a book.

Introduction

2010-07-01T10:35:00.000-04:00

My name is Molly McInerney and I am the Administrative Assistant at Wheelock College Library. I am a new employee at Wheelock College and it is exciting to be a part of the start of the school year this semester! I support the entire Library Department, and I can be found on the 2nd floor by the windows facing the Campus Center. Please free to stop by and ask me any questions you may have. I am also a Library and Information Science graduate student at Simmons College so I welcome any opportunity to help a student as a great learning experience!

The Library is not only a great resource for your class assignments but it also offers many interesting activities if you're looking for a diversion from your homework. I recommend browsing through the Children's Literature section and uncovering some of your "lost" childhood favorites. I recently spotted Scott O'Dell's "Island of the Blue Dolphins" on the shelf and it took me back to 4th grade when I was fascinated with any type of survival story. My favorite book in the Wheelock Library collection is "Lyddie" by Katherine Patterson. I loved this book as a child because I had heard many stories about my great-grandmother working in the textile mills in Lowell, MA as young girl,and I liked to imagine that my great-grandmother was in the story with Lyddie. Another suggestion is to use one of the new Apple desktop computers and take advantage of their big, beautiful monitors to explore some photography. Take a break from your 13-inch laptop screen and visit two of my favorite photography sites, The Sartorialist (portrait & fashion photography of real people from around the world), or David Grossman Photography (landscape and still-life shots of Duxbury, MA and other local areas).

When I'm not at work you can find me reading on a park bench in the Public Gardens, visiting the latest exhibit at the ICA (the view overlooking the harbor from the Founders Gallery is one of Boston's best), and spending time with my family.

Summer at the Resource Center

2010-06-23T15:47:00.006-04:00

Welcome to the Resource Center

This summer, we invite you to...

Explore our space

Create a project for your class

Find students' ideas for summer living from our bulletin boards

Browse over 1000 items for loan

Take a scavenger hunt

Our hours for June 14th - July 21st are Monday - Thursday, 9 - 5, unless otherwise indicated on our webpage

Later Summer Hours at the Library!

2010-06-21T11:51:00.005-04:00

Attention Nite Owls!

Beginning Monday, June 28th, the Library will stay open later on most evenings. See below for our new schedule:

Mondays: 9am-9pm
Tuesdays: 9am-9pm
Wednesdays: 9am-9pm
Thursdays: 9am-9pm
Fridays: 9am-5pm
Saturdays: 12pm-6pm
Sundays: CLOSED

If you need to use the Library outside these hours, check out our website and explore our virtual collection: everything from article databases to online reference to ebooks. (you'll need your Wheelock email log-in information to access these resources outside the Library)

If you need a quiet place nearby to work when the Wheelock Library is closed, check out the hours for the Simmons College Library, the Emmanuel College Library, and the Wentworth Institute of Technology Library.

Premier Searching in Academia

2010-06-18T10:43:00.000-04:00

Ever wonder where to start? Need scholarly information for your paper, that your professor will accept? Need more than just the World Wide Web? Academic Search Premier (ASP), under our Find Articles and E-Books drop down menu, offers a great solution to all these questions and more. ASP offers a wide range of sources on an equally broad base of subjects, from accident analysis to zoology.

Simply try entering your topic into the search box or try some of the more advanced features. Some of the advanced searching features include "Subject Terms," "Images," limiting by publication date and type and an "Index" search function. If you need peer reviewed articles make sure to check off the "Scholarly (peer reviewed) Journal" selection under the search box. And if you need the article right away select the "Full Text" option. Don't be afraid to experiment and play with all the buttons.

Academic Search Premier is a great starting point for your research. If you have any questions stop by or call (617-879-2222) the Library for further information or help with your research.

The Myth of the Frumpy Librarian

2010-06-15T12:39:00.000-04:00

Welcome to part one in our Librarian Mythbusters series. While several stereotypes persist about people who work in Libraries, I'd like to tackle one in particular today:

Librarians have no style.

You've all heard and seen this stereotype in action. Does this tableau look familiar?

Dowdy skirt, sensible shoes, frumpy cardigan, glasses on a chain. Accessorize with a feline companion and some knitting supplies, and bam! Instant librarian stereotype.

While I could make the point that frowsy, unfashionable people exist in ALL professions, as do hip folks with a great sense of style, or delve deeper into librarian imagery throughout the ages and expound on why a disconnect still exists between what library professionals are perceived to do and what we actually do, I’d instead like to propose some updated stereotypes. Here are some accurate ones I’ve witnessed so far in this profession:

The Tech Geek Librarian

Librarians, with few exceptions, are some of the most technology-savvy people you'll ever meet. It's not uncommon to find refugees from IT departments or former software programmers working in libraries. As more and more information is available online, it's important that librarians know their way around a computer!

The Nerdy Chic Librarian

Let's get one thing straight: librarians may not be categorically unfashionable, but we are most definitely nerds. We love to read (both in print and online), we love to learn, and we love to teach others how to make the most of their own time spent reading and learning. This doesn't mean, of course, that we can't put a fashionable spin on an old stereotype.

The Power Librarian

Hopefully, no one out there still thinks that librarians sit around and read books for a living (and if you do-- stay tuned for future installments of Librarian Mythbusters). Librarians have to be advocates for our profession, and this can mean lots of marketing and schmoozing. We absolutely need to look our professional best when explaining what we do, and asking for bigger budgets with which to do it!

The Guybrarian (also know as a...Librarian)

Just like Noah Wyle in the movie The Librarian, did you know that some library professionals are...MEN? It's true!

I hope these updated librarian stereotypes shed some light on our role in 21st century. We are tech-savvy, information literate, and most importantly: fabulous!

What Do You Mean It's Not a Children's Collection?

2010-06-11T14:02:00.000-04:00

You know, those books on floor 2M – they’re not a children’s collection.

They are undeniably a collection of books written for children. And we certainly expect the books to be used with children. So why isn’t it a children’s collection?

Because this is a college library. That collection is for you. Unlike a public or a school library, our juvenile book collection is built to support college level teaching and learning about children’s literature. The collection is intended to be mediated for children by adults, not to provide direct services to children.

“OK, but what does that mean?” you might ask.

Because our collection is a study and teaching collection, it includes titles that may not represent current thinking about what titles are most appropriate to use with children. Since an important part of our mission is to help college students learn to be discriminating users of books written for children, we have a range of materials for comparison, to help trace historical trends, to illustrate controversies in children’s literature, and to reflect the state of the children’s book publishing industry.

Most books in the collection are ones that have been favorably reviewed by a range of authoritative sources. It is an important purpose of the collection to provide materials for our students to use with children in their field placements. But be aware that there are multiple purposes for the collection, and so it is up to you to always assess the suitability of any materials you plan to use with children. The Library’s Children’s Literature Subject Guide includes guides that can help you choose wisely, as well as lists of recommended titles.

(Oh, and p.s. – contrary to urban legend, it is NOT the largest collection of children’s books in Boston. Boston Public Library has over 130,000 juvenile books, more than ten times as many as we have. We still rather like our collection though…)

Summer hours May 17-August 13

2010-06-07T16:12:00.000-04:00

With the first summer session of classes starting in May this year, the Library will be open on the following schedule from May 17 to August 13:

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday: 12 to 6 p.m.
Sunday: Closed

Updated hours and information about holiday closings can be found online at www.wheelock.edu/library. From this website, you can also access the Library’s online journals, databases, e-books, reference works and research guides at any time from any computer using your Wheelock email ID and password.

Introducing...

2010-05-28T08:29:00.000-04:00

Introducing: Ann Glannon, Associate Director and Collection Management Librarian

I first started at Wheelock in 1985, took some time out to be a full time mom during the 1990s, and then came back in 1997. I have a background in education, and a master’s degree in Library and Information Science. My first job here was as the Reserves Assistant, followed by Curriculum Resources Librarian; I became Assistant Director in 2004 and Associate Director in 2006. I have always worked in public services, providing instruction and reference, and in developing collections. I figured out one day that in all my years here I have probably either physically handled and/or ordered about 85% of the items (except serials) in our materials collections. My current work encompasses all aspects of collection management including budgets, policies and procedures, materials selection, acquisition, lending, and housing for all collections including monograph, serial, juvenile, curriculum, media, special, and digital. I also work with our Director, Brenda Ecsedy, in managing the Library. I can't help it that I look like the stereotype of a librarian.

I love visiting the Maine coast, thrift store shopping, and digging in the dirt. If I had any skill that last one might be called gardening. I don’t like dogs, I do like cats. I listen to WUMB radio and watch the Discovery channel. I can’t quite remember, but I think the last movie I saw in a theater was during a school vacation week in 1997. Dreadful. It was pretty much “Barbie does the Russian Revolution”; official title: Anastasia. And now you know why I haven’t been to the movies since 1997.

Spyware, Mal-ware, and Viruses: Relentless Adversaries

2010-05-07T13:36:00.011-04:00

Spyware, mal-ware, and viruses: no matter what you call them, they're nasty and are out to attack your computer. While they range in seriousness from the merely annoying to the truly nefarious (attempting to steal personal information such as banking and credit card numbers), they can all seriously damage laptops and desktop machines. So, it's good to have an answer to the question:

How do you prevent viruses from being installed?

Create another user with "Resticted Privileges." Logging on to a computer with a user that cannot install software helps keep "the bad stuff" out.
Keep Windows up to date. Most viruses and spyware are written to exploit Microsoft Windows--this runs most of the computers. Installing updates when alerted helps close these vulnerabilities.
Use a reputable Antivirus/Antispyware program. There are many excellent programs on the market, some for a cost and others for free. Here is a link to help evaluate your needs: http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,2806,4796,00.asp. Again, keep it up to date!

If all of your preventative measures fail and your computer exhibits tell-tale signs of virus/spyware activity such as very slow Internet browsing, numerous pop-ups, or the inability to connect to the Internet or restrictions on where you can go, come see us!
You also email librarytech@wheelock.edu or call us at 617-879-2223.

By the Numbers
The numbers quoted below are from Lavasoft's site, a reputable antispyware company, and they are staggering.

100 - 150 million
Estimated number of PCs on the Internet
that are under the control of hackers.

63%
Percentage of people that accept End User License Agreements
without reading the text, according to a Lavasoft poll.

2,286
Number of people who responded to a Lavasoft poll
that they have been a victim of a phishing attack.
With a total of 4,966 people answering the Lavasoft survey,
nearly half of those surveyed have been scammed by a phisher.

15-60 minutes
Estimated timeframe for how often Zlob Trojans update
and change in order to avoid detection, according to Lavasoft researchers.

http://www.lavasoft.com/support/spywareeducationcenter/spyware_statistics.php

Donate your old books!

2010-04-24T10:20:00.000-04:00

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: that phrase is posted at the transfer station (aka the dump). At the Wheelock College Library we are reducing the number of unneeded books, we are reusing them to benefit a literacy foundation, and recycling them to people who do need them. The Library is now partnered with Better World Books , an organization which collects used books and sells them online to raise money for literacy initiatives worldwide. This is similar to Amazon's Marketplace and in fact, you can purchase books from them at any time and proceeds will support literacy foundations.

Drop your books in one of the bins pictured to the right, which are located:

In the Library
In the Campus Center
In the Hawes building

We have selected the National Center for Family Literacy to receive a percentage of the sale of the discarded and unwanted items which we send to Better World Books. If you are unable to sell your textbook back to the bookstore, donate it in a bin and we will see that it goes towards a good cause. When you are cleaning out your dorm room, we will gladly accept any unwanted books you may have, not just textbooks. And you can leave campus feeling good about supporting a worthwhile cause!

All Library items due on May 14th

2010-04-23T10:10:00.004-04:00

Attention students! Starting today, all books you check out from the Library will be due on May 14th.

Our normal 21-day loan period will be shortened so that we can get our stuff back before you all skip town for the summer.

By May 14th, ALL ITEMS (including DVDs, kits, tests, video cameras, and of course books) need to be returned. Anyone with items out past that date will have their Library privileges suspended for next semester. And no one wants that!

Extended Hours at the Library

2010-04-21T12:42:00.014-04:00

Finals season is almost here! For all you night-owls, the Library will be open late starting Monday, April 26th and extending through the end of the semester.

The full schedule is:

Monday, April 26th-Thursday, April 29th
8am-1am

Friday, April 30th & Saturday, May 1st
8am-11pm

Sunday, May 2nd
12pm-1am

Monday, May 3rd-Thursday, May 6th
8am-1am

Friday, May 7th & Saturday, May 8th
8am-11pm

Sunday, May 9th
12pm-1am

Monday, May 10th-Thursday, May 13th
8am-1am

Friday, May 14th
8am-5pm

Library doors will lock every night at 10pm. Use your Wheelock ID or call 617-879-2220 to enter the building after 10pm.

Your Secret Weapon: a Librarian

2010-04-20T12:28:00.000-04:00

Getting help from a librarian is a smart way to combat the stress of the end-of-semester project pileup. Here’s why it’s worth considering..

We have experience with the kinds of research and assignments you have to do and are familiar with the tools and sources that you need. We aren’t starting from scratch every time, which can save you time and aggravation.

They aren’t our projects so we aren’t freaking out about them. We can be calm and help you keep things in perspective.

We like to do research and we like to help! That’s why we work here, that’s what we are trained to do. We love this stuff so you don’t have to!

We were pleased to learn that others agree with us. Check out the “Campus Overload” blog of the Washington Post, to see three more reasons to consider librarians as a “secret weapon” to tackle assignment stress.

Not sure how to find a librarian? Stop by the beautiful new first floor of the Library building, just 20 feet from the Campus Center. The service desk is right by the door, so it’s easy to find someone to help. Or try this link to find half a dozen other ways to get in touch with us.

The Loudest Librarian in Town

2010-04-20T00:44:00.009-04:00

Name:

Amy Basque

Job title:

Systems Librarian

Location in Library:

You can find me over by the end-of-the-alphabet serials (and as far from the printer as possible) on the lovely, light-filled, but sometimes louder-than-desired Floor 3.

Tell us what you do in 50 words or less.

I am responsible for technology in the library. I maintain the library servers, manage the website, and develop online services for library staff and for the public. I also assist in supporting library staff computing needs and managing the public workstations and printers.

Choose one service that your department provides that you most want the Wheelock community to be aware of.

The custom search engines for our selected websites. These are found in our Research Guides and perform a Google search that is limited to only the websites that the reference staff think are pertinent to the topic of the guide. This allows you to have the ease and power of Google without the drawback of getting a mix of useful results and junk (commercial sites, unrelated sites, etc.).

What is your favorite website?

Ian’s Shoelace Site. Not only is it amazing and entertaining, but it’s pretty useful as well! I found a much better way to lace my boots on there (the Double Helix method if you were wondering).

What is your favorite book in the Wheelock Library collection?

My favorite grownup book is On Food and Cooking by Harold McGee. As a nerdy person who loves to cook, I find this book incredibly interesting. He explains stuff like how alcohol makes you drunk, what happens to food when it spoils, and how microwaves work.

My favorite kids book is currently How Tom Beat Captain Najork and his Hired Sportsmen by Russell Hoban. Tom’s Aunt Fidget Wonkham-Strong, who wears an iron hat, summons Captain Najork and his hired sportsmen to teach him a lesson. It’s a very fun and ridiculous book, and it was illustrated by Quentin Blake, my favorite illustrator (best known for his work with Roald Dahl).

Combat email scams and zombie attacks with Common Craft!

2010-04-19T15:42:00.001-04:00

Common Craft makes simple videos that illustrate somewhat complicated topics related to technology, finance, politics, and more. The videos have a very stripped-down style; they use paper cut-outs and whiteboards to explain "in plain English" things such as what social networking is, how the electoral college works, and how using RSS feeds can save you time.

To give you a taste of what Common Craft’s productions are like, I’ve included videos on two dangers that are important for eveyone to be aware of and protect themselves against:

Phishing scams...

...and zombies!

Take a Short Survey, Get a Chance at Some Tunes

2010-04-19T12:47:00.000-04:00

Want to let us know how we're doing? Here's an easy way to do it - take our short online survey! In the amount of time it takes to harvest your FarmVille crops and animals, you can help us improve the Library's resources and services. Everyone who completes the survey will have a chance to win an iTunes gift card.

You can get started here .

Or, if you prefer, you can come to the Library and get a paper copy of the survey to fill out instead.

And we're not only interested in your views at survey time -- you can let us know what's on your mind (and see what others are saying too) anytime using the Talk Back feature of the Library's website. So keep in touch!

Introducing: Andrew Elder, Archivist

2010-04-12T12:34:00.009-04:00

Name: Andrew Elder

Job title: Archivist

Location in Library: Lower Level, Ruth Clapp Archives Room

What I do in 50 words or less: As the Archivist, I work with Wheelock faculty, staff, and students to ensure that College records of enduring value are preserved for future access and use. I update archival collections and finding aids as necessary and develop presentations and exhibitions about the Wheelock Archives, the history of the College, and the history of early childhood education.

Choose one service that your department provides that you most want the Wheelock community to be aware of: Need information about Wheelock College? About any part of our history? Do you need a copy of a first-semester syllabus? Then you should contact the Archives! We preserve the history of Wheelock College, and every member of the Wheelock community is a part of that history. From faculty to students to staff, our archival collections reflect the diversity of our community. Contact me to learn more about including your history in the Wheelock Archives.

What is your favorite website? The Institute of Official Cheer can brighten up any day. More seriously, though: Slate is a great place for the sometimes quirky, often serious, finely written news.

What is your favorite book in the Wheelock Library collection? The Berlin Stories, by Christopher Isherwood. This book is just amazing. I’ve read it several times, and frequently recommend it to friends and to random people on the street. From descriptions of Weimar Germany to reflections on displacement and sexuality, this book is stunning and surprisingly relevant. And Isherwood is an intelligent, thoughtful, and challenging-without-being-difficult writer.

When I’m not at Wheelock, you can find me… In a Jamaica Plain café drinking coffee and reading 4 or 5 books at once, eating cheese, dancing to some hot radio jams, and planning visits to my family in North Adams, Massachusetts.

Librarian by Day, Gamer by Night

2010-04-08T14:41:00.008-04:00

Introducing...

Adam Williams

Instruction/Reference Librarian

Email: awilliams@wheelock.edu

Phone: 617-879-2279

By Day:

My official title at Wheelock Library is Instruction and Reference Librarian. Simply put, I help students with research. I and my staff provide research instruction to classes as well as in one-on-one sessions. We cover the range of the research process, from topic building and search strategies to crediting sources.

I welcome students to take advantage of the individualized research sessions. Every research topic is unique and the individualized service allows reference to tailor strategies to each unique research question. In most cases, students walk away from individualized instruction with most of the articles or other resources necessary to complete their assignment.

By Night:

One of my all time, favorite books is on the shelf at Wheelock Library, A Wizard of Earth Sea by Ursula K. Le Guin (J L525w ). In general I enjoy a good fantasy or science fiction novel, especially titles heavy in politics and intrigue. That probably explains my interest in board games such as Settlers of Catan and Go. I also frequent Jamaica Plain Comics to play strategy games along with fellow game enthusiasts.

If you would like to drop by, you can find my office on 1M or at the front desk of the Library. Or feel free to contact me at my information above.

Holiday hours Monday, April 19

2010-04-07T14:29:00.000-04:00

The Library will be open from 1 to 11 p.m. on Monday, April 19, in observance of Patriots' Day. If you're new to Massachusetts, you may be wondering what this holiday is about. Here's a quick primer. (Click here if the embedded video does not work.)

Heading out to Lexington to take in some of the day's events? Why not combine it with a trip to the National Heritage Museum, which in addition to its cornerstone exhibit, "Sowing the Seeds of Liberty: Lexington & the American Revolution," is hosting "Jim Henson's Fantastic World" through June 27.

Wheelock, we sing to Thee!

2010-04-06T09:29:00.012-04:00

Preserving 122 Years of Wheelock College History

In the Wheelock College Archives, now located on the lower level of the Library, one can find more than just the records of the College. Researchers and community members can explore the lives of some of the thousands of students who have passed through Wheelock since its founding in 1888.

Over the years, graduating classes and individuals have donated countless materials—photographs, diplomas, student notebooks, scrapbooks, diaries—to be preserved by the institution to which they felt so attached.

The classes of 1928 and 1938 put together scrapbooks about life at Wheelock and life in Boston. In these, they included updates about their lives post-Wheelock—their children, their loved ones, and their work.

A few weeks ago, the daughter of Wheelock alumna Mildred Dole (class of 1925) donated to the Archives her mother’s copies of The Wheel, the school’s yearbook. Pressed between the pages of Dole’s 1925 copy of The Wheel, between signatures and notations from classmates and friends, is a leaflet containing the Wheelock Song and the Wheelock Alma Mater.

These songs were composed by student Anne S. Chute in 1915. The Alma Mater was composed around 1947 as part of a school-wide contest by Jean Taylor (from the class of 1949) and other students from Colchester House.

Do you know these Wheelock songs?

Learn more about the Wheelock College Archives online. Or schedule a time to meet with the Archivist about our collections documenting the history of our institution, the histories of our alumni, and the history of efforts by those at Wheelock and around the world to improve the lives of children and families.

To contact the Archivist, call 617.879.2146 or send an email.

-Andrew Elder, Archivist

Wheelock faculty featured in special issue of Theory Into Practice

2010-03-17T11:40:00.003-04:00

Stephanie Cox Suarez, Wheelock College Associate Professor and Chair of the Special Education Department, is a guest editor of the current issue of the journal Theory Into Practice. The special issue, titled "Observation, Documentation, and Reflection to Create a Culture of Inquiry," focuses on how the use of documentation transforms teaching and learning across educational contexts.

In addition to co-editoring the issue with Lisa Fiore of Lesley University, Stephanie also authored one of the issue's articles, "Show Me Again What I Can Do: Documentation and Self-Determination for Students with Social Challenges."

The work of Wheelock Associate Professor Bobbi Rosenquest appears in the issue as well. She is the co-author of "Shifting the Culture of Higher Education: Influences on Students, Teachers, and Pedagogy."

The issue is available online through the Library's subscription. To access it from off-campus, use your Wheelock email ID and password to log in. Print issues may be ordered from the publisher's website for $25.

Congratulations to Stephanie and Bobbi for their work!

Spring break hours March 5-14

2010-03-05T11:07:00.004-05:00

The Library will operate on the following schedule for spring break this year:

Friday, March 5: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, March 6, and Sunday, March 7: Closed

Monday, March 8, to Friday, March 12: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, March 13: Closed

Sunday, March 14: Noon to 11 p.m. These are the regular Sunday hours.

All our usual services will be available when we are open, so if you are staying in the area, stop by to use Reserve materials, get research assistance from our Reference staff for that paper you have to write, or take advantage of our museum passes. Going home? Electronic reference books, databases and thousands of full-text journals are available online from anywhere you can access the Internet through links on the Library's home page.

Enjoy your break!

Dr. Seuss Trivia in the Dining Hall!

2010-02-24T16:38:00.005-05:00

The Wheelock College Library is organizing events to commemorate Read Across America. Backed by the National Education Association, Read Across America is an awareness campaign intended to promote the importance of reading in the lives of young children. It is held every year on Dr. Seuss birthday—who better to symbolize how fun and exciting reading can be, at any age!

On Tuesday, March 2nd, join us in the Dining Hall for some Dr. Seuss Trivia!

12:30pm: Lunchtime trivia
5:30pm: Dinnertime trivia
Special menu items inspired by Dr. Seuss stories will be served all day!

After enjoying some Seuss crafts and stories, come out and put your Seuss Smarts to the test! Seusstastic prizes will be awarded to the winning teams.

Snacks, Crafts and Dr. Seuss Story Time!

2010-02-24T16:36:00.002-05:00

9am: Help us make paper Cat in the Hat hats that will be worn by the children participating in our Dr. Seuss story time. Cookies and coffee will be available.

10am: Children from the Masco daycare program will be on campus for story time. We are asking for volunteers to read a Dr. Seuss book to a small group of these children. Books will be provided by the Library, but feel free to bring your own favorite! Children who do not attend the Masco daycare program are also welcome at this event.

If you're still looking for more Seuss-themed fun, head over to the Dining Hall for some special menu items inspired by Dr. Seuss' stories, and participate in a round of Dr. Seuss trivia!

Holiday hours Monday, February 15

2010-02-12T16:42:00.001-05:00

In observance of the Presidents' Day holiday, the Library will be open from 1 to 11 p.m. on Monday, February 15.

Spring semester hours under way

2010-01-25T16:13:00.002-05:00

The Library is now open for its regular semester hours:

Sunday: 12 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Friday - Saturday: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

The following holiday and special hours also have been announced:

Monday, February 15: 1 to 11 p.m.
Saturday, March 6, and Sunday, March 7: CLOSED
Monday, March 8 - Friday, March 12: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday, March 13: CLOSED
Monday, April 19: 1 - 11 p.m.

Please note that the front door locks 15 minutes before closing.

Have a great semester!

Check out our new first floor!

2010-01-19T14:01:00.010-05:00

The first floor of the Library underwent a dramatic transformation over break! Walls and columns were knocked down, new lighting and paint went up, and 19 new computers were added to improve access to technology.

The renovation also adds tables for laptop users to plug in without searching for outlets, a comfortable seating area for casual reading and, as a focal point, a new service desk combining all the functions of the Circulation and Reference departments.

Other changes in the building include a group study room on Floor 3M and the often-requested water fountain on the Lower Level.

We're putting together a photo slide show of the complete project, but for a look at the finished product, come on by and check it out!

Haiti: how to help

2010-01-14T16:17:00.004-05:00

Many in the Wheelock community are familiar with the work of Dr. Paul Farmer and the Partners in Health organization in Haiti, which is detailed in the College's 2007 summer reading book Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder.

Partners in Health's facilities in Haiti are located two hours from the epicenter of the devastating earthquake that hit the island nation on January 12 and, as such, will be a major medical resource for the injured who are unable to get help in Port-au-Prince. While the organization is soliciting volunteer assistance from medical professionals, what is truly needed is financial assistance. For more information on the team's work in Haiti and a link to make donations, click here.

A variety of other organizations and charities are taking donations for earthquake relief in Haiti as well, but please be cautious, as not all the information is factual. Snopes.com has a good roundup of true and false Internet rumors about donations, as well as suggestions for legitimate sites through which to donate.

New Policy for Children's Museum Passes

2010-01-06T12:04:00.002-05:00

First the good news: the 2010 passes for the Boston Children's Museum have arrived and are available at the Library.

Now for the less-good news: since the college's current membership provides for fewer passes than in years past, availability will be limited.

Each month, 16 passes will be available. Each person with a Wheelock ID will be entitled to two passes once per month. If the passes run out, or you've already claimed your monthly allotment, there will be an opportunity to obtain passes the following month.

This policy is meant to ensure that our limited supply of passes is distributed as fairly as possible.

Now for some good news again: admission to the Children's Museum on Friday evenings from 5pm-9pm costs only $1. If you're unable to obtain free passes through the Library, keep this in mind!

Also, keep an eye out for more free or cheap family-friendly activities in the Boston area on Bostoncentral.com, the Employee Assistance Program's website or boston.com's Family Events page.

Interlibrary Loan Suspended until January 24th, 2010

2009-12-22T10:12:00.003-05:00

As you may know (or have noticed), the Library is currently undergoing major renovations to the first floor area. Once these renovations are complete, you will see a whole new Floor 1: more computers, comfortable seating, improved lighting and a new combined Circulation/Reference desk.

While renovations are taking place, we are suspending Interlibrary Loan (ILL) services. From now through January 24th, 2010, you will not be able to request materials from other libraries. Of course, if you need something from another FLO library (search for it here in the FLO catalog), you may go and check it out directly from that institution using your Wheelock ID card.

If you are a faculty member and need to borrow something via ILL that pertains to a spring 2010 course, please let Ashley Peterson know at apeterson@wheelock.edu or 617-879-2398. We will of course try and accommodate requests that are essential to classroom instruction.

Intersession hours

2009-12-17T15:41:00.003-05:00

The Library will be open as follows during Intersession:

Friday, December 18: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, December 19 - Sunday, December 20: CLOSED
Monday, December 21: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ** Please note the early closing time!
Tuesday, December 22 - Wednesday, December 23: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Thursday, December 24 - Sunday, January 3: CLOSED
Monday, January 4 - Friday, January 8: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday, January 9 - Sunday, January 10: CLOSED
Monday, January 11 - Friday, January 15: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday, January 16 - Monday, January 18: CLOSED
Tuesday, January 19: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Regular semester hours start Wednesday, January 20.

The first floor of the Library will be completely renovated during Intersession. Circulation services will be available on Floor 1M. The computer labs in the lower level will be closed. For more information or updates, check this blog, the Library website at www.wheelock.edu/library, or call 617-879-2220.

Get those books in!

2009-12-11T16:25:00.004-05:00

'Tis the season...to return your Library books! (or DVDs, or videos, or kits...)

Before you dash gleefully home after finishing that last final project or taking that last exam, please be sure to stop by the Library and return anything you may have borrowed this semester.

Thanks, and best of luck with finals!

Tips for a less-stressful December

2009-12-09T14:50:00.003-05:00

December can be a very stressful month, no matter what you are faced with -- final papers and exams, the holidays and all that they entail (shopping, traveling, visiting family), the cold and the snow, and the list goes on. Here are some tips to help you manage your stress levels:

Make sure you save your work at regular intervals. You never know when the program you're working on might freeze, or when someone might accidentally kick out the cord of the computer or flip the switch on the power strip by accident. And yes, this is a stress relief tip -- just think of how stressed out you'll be if you have to re-create that project at the last minute.

Use the 20-20-20 rule to relieve eye fatigue. Every 20 minutes while you are working, particularly at a computer, look up from your work every 20 minutes and focus on an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. (This might also be a good time to save your work.)

Try mind/body medicine techniques. The website of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital offers a section on stress management for a variety of situations, including holiday stress, job stress, and even the stress that comes with being a Boston sports fan.

Amuse yourself! If all else fails, here are some fun websites that are sure to bring a smile to your face: Not Always Right: Funny & Stupid Customer Quotes; ZooBorns; Cake Wrecks: When Professional Cakes Go Horribly, Hilariously Wrong; or, for more literary humor, McSweeney's Internet Tendency.

If you have any tips to share, feel free to leave a comment and help others de-stress!

Fall 2009 Extended Hours

2009-11-24T13:38:00.003-05:00

Finals time is approaching! If you find yourself up late studying, working on projects or procrastinating while you should be studying or working on projects, come on over to the Library during our extended hours:

Sunday, December 6th
12pm-1am

Monday, December 7th-Thursday, December 10th
8am-1am

Friday, December 11th & Saturday, December 12th
8am-11pm

Sunday, December 13th
12pm-1am

Monday, December 14th-Thursday, December 17th
8am-1am

Friday, December 18th
8am-5pm

Library doors will lock every night at 10pm. Use your Wheelock ID or call 617-879-2220 to enter the building after 10pm.

Thanksgiving Hours

2009-11-24T13:25:00.005-05:00

The Wheelock Library's hours for the Thanksgiving Holiday are as follows:

Wednesday, November 25th - Saturday, November 28th
closed

Sunday, November 29th
12pm - 11pm

Interested in learning more about the holiday? Check out this website, provided by the U.S. Government, for history, cooking tips, information about air travel and much more. And this site from Internet4Classrooms has lots of ideas for teaching about Thanksgiving in the classrooom.

We wish everyone a wonderful holiday!

Holiday hours Wednesday, November 11

2009-11-09T12:25:00.003-05:00

The Library will be open from 1 to 11 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day.

If you watched the Boston Bruins play over the weekend, you may have noticed the coaches wearing red flower pins on their lapels. Learn how poppies became a symbol of Veterans Day by reading In Flanders fields: the story of the poem by John McCrae. For an in-depth look at World War I, including a detailed timeline, see G.J. Meyer's A world undone: the story of the Great War, 1914 to 1918.

Rare Books Digitized

2009-10-27T15:02:00.009-04:00

Earlier this year, the Wheelock College Archives began to scan rare volumes from our special books collection. By visiting the Archives web page, you will find links to some of these materials.

Included is a digitized copy of Lucy Wheelock’s My Life Story, an autobiography in which she describes her childhood in Vermont, her professional work nationally and internationally, and finally, the founding of the kindergarten training school that would become Wheelock College. While never formally published, this manuscript is a compelling contribution to the history of childhood education in the United States.

You will also find Miss Wheelock’s Talks to Mothers – part of the Kindergarten Children’s Hour series that she edited for the Houghton Mifflin Company in the 1920s.

Visit the Wheelock College Archives to learn more about our collections.

What was that white stuff?

2009-10-21T15:21:00.003-04:00

Wondering what all that white stuff covering the quad was? Chemical & Engineering News has the answer. Curious about the faux snow industry? Check out British company Snow Business to learn about the different ways winter scenes can be staged.

If you missed the filming itself, the Boston Globe has a photo of "The Social Network" star Jesse Eisenberg dashing through the quad. Official information about the movie is sparse, but check imdb.com for articles and updates.

And of course, we would be remiss if we didn't tell you that the movie is based on the book The Accidental Billionaires: The founding of Facebook, a tale of sex, money, genius, and betrayal by Ben Mezrich. While Wheelock does not own this title, you can borrow a copy from libraries statewide using the Massachusetts Virtual Catalog, linked through the Library's online FLO catalog.

Holiday hours Monday, October 12

2009-10-09T15:35:00.002-04:00

In observance of the College's autumn holiday, the Library will be open from 1 to 11 p.m. on Monday, October 12. We will be open regular hours Saturday, October 10, and Sunday, October 11.

Your comments needed!

2009-09-29T15:14:00.002-04:00

The Library is planning a renovation project and we want your input. Three different proposals for the space on the first floor have been put on display on the information table in the Library foyer, along with plans showing the current configuration for your reference.

Take a look at these proposals, then grab a comment sheet and let us know what you think! The comment sheets also have the three proposals printed on them, so feel free to write notes right by the specific plans, draw in other ideas, or otherwise express your opinions. Then drop your comment sheets off at the Circulation Desk on the first floor. We'll take your ideas into consideration as we work toward the final plans for the renovation.

Thanks in advance for your help on this important project!

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!

2009-09-21T11:47:00.004-04:00

September 15th-October 15th is Hispanic Heritage Month. According to the website factmonster.com,

"Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15, the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico declared its independence on September 16, and Chile on September 18.

The term Hispanic, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, refers to Spanish-speaking people in the United States of any race. On the 2000 Census form, people of Spanish/Hispanic/Latino origin could identify themselves as Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or "other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino." More than 35 million people identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino on the 2000 Census. "

Check out factmonster or the Hispanic Heritage Month pages on scholastic.com and educationworld.com for more information, as well as fun lesson plan ideas for celebrating in the classroom.

Also, stop by the Library and check out our foyer display case for more resources about Hispanic culture, literature and history!

NEW in the Library: All-in-one Printer/Scanner/Copy Machines

2009-09-02T13:14:00.006-04:00

Starting this fall, the Library is featuring brand new all-in-one printer, scanner and copy machines. The old standalone printers and copiers have been removed. The machines are located on the following floors:

Lower level
Floor 1
Floor 1M
Floor 2
Floor 3

You will need a Fenway card, loaded with Fenway cash, to access these machines. If you are a Wheelock alum, we will soon offer guest cards for your printing and copying needs.

Black and white print-outs and copies are 10 cents each. Color print-outs and copies are 50 cents each. You may also scan electronic copies from the machines to an email address free of charge.

All current Wheelock students have a quota of 200 free black & white print-outs. Once this quota is exceeded, you will need to pay Fenway cash to print.

Stay tuned for detailed instructions on using the new machines! There are also "How to Print" pdf documents on all Library computer desk tops, and paper copies floating around throughout the building.

Library website redesigned

2009-09-01T16:39:00.002-04:00

If you haven't been to our home page since you left in May, you've probably noticed we've made lots of changes! The page has been redesigned to help you find the information you need more efficiently. A few of the highlights:

Quick Links to some of the most frequently-used pages, including the full-text journal finder and the A to Z list of databases.
Research Tools pull-down menus for resources by subject area, course guides for selected classes, and database and e-book collections
Daily operating hours right at the top of the page
Flickr photostream of some of the many photos in the College's Archives, housed at the Library

The home page also features a link to our Talk Back feature. Explore the new site and let us know what you think!

Fall hours begin Wednesday, September 2

2009-08-28T16:44:00.002-04:00

Welcome to all our new and returning students, faculty and staff! We hope that you will take advantage of the many resources and services the Library offers to the Wheelock community.

Our regular semester hours begin Wednesday, September 2, and will be as follows:

Monday -Thursday, 8 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Friday - Saturday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday, 12 p.m. - 11 p.m.

In observance of the Labor Day holiday, the Library will be open from 1 to 11 p.m. on Monday, September 7.

Please check this blog or the Library's website, www.wheelock.edu/library, for any changes to the hours as the semester progresses. We wish everyone the best of luck as we begin a new academic year and hope to see you all in the Library soon!

August hours

2009-08-03T15:54:00.002-04:00

The Library will operate on the following schedule in the month of August:

August 3 to 6: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
August 7-9: Closed
August 10-31: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, closed.

Please note that the Library will be closed on Friday, August 7, in observance of the College's summer holiday.

Fall semester hours will be announced as September nears.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

July hours update

2009-06-30T16:54:00.006-04:00

The Library will be open until 9 p.m. on Wednesdays in July starting tomorrow, July 1. Our hours will now be Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Library is closed on Sundays for the summer.

This week, however, the Library will be closed Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, for the Independence Day holiday. We will reopen Monday, July 6, at 9 a.m.

Library offers lawn chairs!

2009-06-17T11:25:00.003-04:00

There's something new to “check out” at the Wheelock College Library.

Lawn chairs and seat cushions are now being offered for recreational use. Come to the library, pick out a summer read, check out a lawn chair, relax and enjoy the weather on the new Campus Center and Student Residence lawn. Chairs and seat cushions may be checked out for 2 hours.

Summer hours change

2009-05-29T11:19:00.002-04:00

The Library announces a change in summer hours. We will now be open until 9 p.m. on Wednesdays in July! And don't forget, we start Saturday hours tomorrow, May 30.

Our schedule will be as follows for the remainder of the summer:

May 29 to June 30: Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, closed

July 1 to 31: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, closed

August 1 to 6: Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, closed

August 9-September 1: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, closed

We will be closed July 3 to 5 for the Independence Day holiday, and August 7 to 9 for the College's summer holiday.

Watch this space or the Library's home page for updates. We hope to see you here this summer!

Memorial Day Closing

2009-05-21T14:00:00.003-04:00

The library will be closed from Friday, May 22nd through Monday, May 25th in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. We will reopen on Tuesday, May 26th at 9am.

Closing early May 15

2009-05-14T15:28:00.003-04:00

The Library will close at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 15, in honor of the Wheelock College Commencement. We will remain closed for the weekend and will reopen Monday, May 18, at 9 a.m.

For more information on our hours or to access the Library's online resources, please visit our website. Congratulations to all the graduates!

Intersession and summer session hours

2009-05-11T11:44:00.003-04:00

As the 2008-2009 academic year comes to a close, the Library announces its schedule for intersession and summer session as follows:

Intersession: May 12 to 21, August 9 to September 1
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, closed

Summer Session: May 26 to August 6
Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, closed

The Library will be closed May 22 to 25 for Memorial Day, July 3 to 5 for Independence Day, and August 7 to 9 for the College's summer holiday.

Check the website or this blog for other changes to the schedule as needed.

Library lobby display: match the events and artifacts

2009-04-27T14:18:00.010-04:00

Below are the matchups of the dates and the artifacts in the Library lobby display.
For descriptions and explanations go the the Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations Subject Guide from the Library's home page.

G   April Cow Fights

P   April, May, June Tako-Age

O   April 2 International Children’s Book Day

H   April 6 North Pole discovered

D   April 8 Vesak

Q   April 15 Tax Day

B   April 23 Shakespeare’s birthday

L   April 24 Library of Congress created

F   April 26 Frederick Law Olmstead’s Birthday

M   April 30 Walpurgis Night

I   April National Whistler’s Convention

J   April Cynonfardd Eisteddfod

E   May 1 May Day

K   May 9 Lemuralia

C   May 10 Transcontinental Railroad

A   May 15 Commencement

N   May Emmet Kelly Clown Festival

Extended hours April 26 to May 10

2009-04-24T15:32:00.001-04:00

The Library will once again be open for end-of-semester extended hours. Our schedule will be as follows:

Sunday, April 26: 12 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Monday, April 27 — Thursday, April 30: 8 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Friday, May 1 — Saturday, May 2: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday, May 3: 12 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Monday, May 4 — Thursday, May 7: 8 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Friday, May 8 — Saturday, May 9: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 10: 12 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Monday, May 11: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Library doors will be locked after 10 p.m. nightly. You must use your Wheelock ID or call x2220 to be let in after 10 p.m.

Best of luck to you all as the 2008-09 academic year comes to a close!

Boolify to the Rescue!

2009-04-22T15:55:00.007-04:00

Are you tired of doing research and finding irrelevant results? Can’t figure out why your search brings nothing but more frustration? Boolify to the rescue! Boolify is a fun and interactive tool designed to help you understand Boolean logic behind your web and database searches. Click and drag Boolean search operators (and, or, and not) between search words, and instantly see how your search results change.

New Website, Rooms, Equipment, and Staff!

2009-04-15T16:52:00.003-04:00

Library Hours
A concern was raised that the Library has been closing earlier than the posted hours. I have worked with Security to resolve this problem. The front door will continue to be automatically locked at 15 minutes before the closing time. The posted hours by the door and on the Library webpage now accurately reflect this. Students inside the building will be reminded at that time of the closing by Library staff; however, lights will not be shut off and the building cleared and secured until the scheduled closing time.

New Media Equipment & Technology
We are adding four new Canon Powershot A470 digital cameras and four new Canon ZR950 digital video cameras to our collection. These will be available to be borrowed from the Circulation Desk very shortly. You will find this equipment a vast improvement over the old media equipment!

There will shortly be ten new iMacs in the Reference area on floor 1M for student use. No more waiting for the PCs to load!

Student-Use Library Rooms
There are two new rooms on the second floor available for student use. One is designated as a Group Study Room and it may be reserved through the Circulation Desk. If no one has reserved it, then it is available for anyone to use. The room contains a table, four chairs, and a whiteboard. The other room is a Media Room with a TV/VCR/DVD setup and a couple of soft chairs. There is no need to reserve this room.

Updated Library Website
The Library website (http://www2.wheelock.edu/wheelock/x1038.xml) has been updated. We hope that you will find the cleaner presentation easier to use. Amy Basque, our Systems Librarian, is looking for students to help with usability testing of the new site. If you are interested (you will be rewarded for your time), please contact her at x2296 or abasque@wheelock.edu.

Please note the Talk Back link on the right side of the Library page. This is an area where you can post any questions or comments (not research questions—contact Library staff with those!) you may have about the Library and its operation, and the question and response will be posted on the site.

New Staff
We are very pleased to have a new Access Services Librarian starting in mid-May. You will most likely see her at the Circulation Desk area. Our student staff have done a great job of running the Circulation operation in the absence of a librarian. Once the new librarian starts, she will review and revise policies and procedures to help ensure that everything runs smoothly for the summer term and beyond.

Reminder
Please return all library materials you have borrowed by May 11!

Survey
I am working with Jeannie Blazar, Director of the Resource Center, on future planning for the Resource Center. As part of that planning, we will conduct a survey to gather usage information. Please take the time to complete the survey after you receive it, even if you have never used the Resource Center. It is important to have the input of as wide a cross-section of students as possible.

Communications
I am very interested in ensuring that the Library and Resource Center work to support all your needs. If you feel there is an issue that needs to be addressed, please bring it to my attention. I can be reached by phone at x2225 or email at becsedy@wheelock.edu, or just stop by my office on the second floor of the Library. I am working with SGA to maintain communications through that group also.

Best of luck to you all as the semester winds down!

Brenda Ecsedy
Director of Academic Resources & Library Services
x2225

Search Flickr by sketching with Retrievr

2009-03-30T16:50:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone!

Looking for a fun study break? This cool tool lets you explore Flickr by sketching a picture in a box on the left side of the page. The site takes your rough sketch of colors and shapes and compares it to some of the most interesting pics found on Flickr.

Go ahead. Give your brain a little break from the stresses of homework!