The Science Fiction Book Club’s second jump into alternate
history will be His Majesty’s Dragon
by Naomi
Novik. In this version of the Napoleonic Wars,
dragons are an integral part of warfare. That part is fantasy, but the book is
still very much grounded in politics, history, and combat.
Novik is an award-winning author most recently known for Uprooted and Spinning Silver.
His Majesty’s Dragon was her first
published book. Two of the sequels, Throne of Jade
and Black Powder War
were released in the months following His
Majesty’s Dragon. The three books together won Novik a Locus Award in 2007
for First
Novel. His Majesty’s Dragon
was also nominated for a Hugo Award for Best Novel
in 2007.
You can find His
Majesty’s Dragon at your local public library or through interlibrary
loan.
We look forward to chatting with you about His Majesty’s Dragon on Thursday, March
21st at 2pm in Library 314.
Clean Out Your Bookcase Day is today—February 20, 2019!
The Claire T. Carney Library
would love to have your donations for our Read and Return Collection.
We maintain a fun/non-required reading collection (fiction … beach reads … or interesting light non-fiction) in the Library Living Room and the 2nd floor lecture room hallway. These books are donated to us for students — and the rest of the UMassD Community — to borrow on the honor system. No formal checkouts needed … we just ask that you return a book when you finish it. We need to replenish our selection and are seeking donations of gently used books fitting the description. If you have some things you’d like to donate, please bring your books to the Library Circulation Desk.
Questions? Please contact
Kari Mofford: kmofford@umassd.edu or
508-999-8865.
It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and love is in the air! Do you have
a favorite literary love story? Do you swoon over Pride and Prejudice,
or do you prefer To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before? Is Carry On
the book for you, or can you not live without The Princess Bride? Share
the title that speaks to your heart on one of our paper hearts in
the Library Living Room all this week!
I have been birding — looking at, listening to, and identifying birds — since I was a kid. Though it once seemed like something I only shared with folks my parents’ age, I am seeing more and more kids and young adults outside, binoculars in hand. For a lot of us, birding is a way to interact with nature by watching these little winged creatures interact with it, too. It gets us outside and allows us to take a break from studying or working, or from just sitting on the couch mindlessly scrolling through our phones. For me, it’s a way to respectfully enjoy the outdoors. You have to stay quiet, keep a safe distance, and do your best not to disturb the birds or their habitat. It keeps me in constant awe of the world and the creatures with whom we share it.
Chickadee
Here on the UMassD
campus, we are pretty lucky, habitat-wise. We have trees, brush, fields, and
even a pond. This allows for all sorts of birds to stop by, nest, or winter
over. Yes, winter! Though winter can easily get the best of our happiness with
its short days, cold weather, and general lack of color, many birds still call
New England home. Walking through campus, I hear black-capped chickadees,
Northern cardinals, white-breasted nuthatches, dark-eyed juncos, and downy
woodpeckers. Not to mention both American and fish crows, and those pesky
Canada geese that block Ring Road whenever they feel like it (okay, I don’t
love those guys). I have seen red-tailed hawks swoop by the library windows and
turkey vultures soaring high over the campus center while herring gulls warm
themselves on the roof. One of my favorite year-round birds, cedar waxwings,
congregate in large groups on winter berry trees, the flashes of yellow on
their tails brightening even the dullest of days. It’s a nice reminder that we
are not alone in the cold, and that life can thrive, even when the temperature
dips below 30.
Downy Woodpecker
Though birds are
feeding and flying throughout the day, they are most active in the early
morning hours. So after your next all nighter, on your way home, take a deep
breath and an extra few minutes to look for or listen to some brave little
songbirds who are making the best of their winter habitat, just like you are.
Then, by all means, go to bed!
Cardinal
If you are interested in learning more about birds and birding, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a fantastic website (https://www.allaboutbirds.org/) and a free app called Merlin Bird ID, which can help you identify birds based on your location and description of their appearance. The library also has some guides that birders, beginner to advanced, will find useful:
The Claire T. Carney Library has a new(ish) librarian! Read the interview below to get to know our new Social Sciences & Data Services Librarian, Rachel Baum.
So you’re the Social Sciences & Data Services Librarian? What does that even mean?
The “Social Sciences” portion means that I am the library representative (or “liaison”) to the Social Sciences department. I work with faculty to buy books, teach library instruction sessions to their classes, and advocate for them in library meetings. The “Data Services” part has to do with helping researchers on campus, whether students or faculty, develop and adhere to data management plans throughout their research process, then ensuring that the data they gather remains accessible and discoverable to other researchers.
Where are you from?
Originally, I am from Long Island, New York. Fun fact, New Yorkers hardly ever say “I’m from New York” without being more specific because otherwise, the follow-up question is “New York City?” and disappointing people with a “no” reply is a bummer.
Where did you go to school and what did you major in?
I did my undergraduate work at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. I majored in English Literature, focusing on Shakespeare, and minored in European History. I have both U.S. and Canadian citizenship, so getting to live in Montreal, where my dad grew up, was a wonderful experience. My master’s degree in Library and Information Science is from Simmons University, where I focused on academic librarianship, especially reference and instruction.
Do you have any hobbies that aren’t librarianish?
I’m not sure where this falls on the librarianish spectrum, but my favorite thing to do in my spare time is go out birdwatching. I know plenty of non-librarians who love it, but it also involves identifying and categorizing things, so it may count! I also love to cook and am trying to teach myself how to bake bread.
What are you looking forward to this spring semester?
I will be working with 10 different English 102 classes, and I’m excited to meet so many new students and help to start developing their academic research skills. Since I’m still relatively new, we’ll be doing a lot of learning together, which is my favorite kind of learning.
If you had to give one piece of advice to students, what would it be?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help! My job is to help you do your best work and feel comfortable researching, and I love it.
How can someone contact you if they need help with research?
The Science Fiction Book Club is looking to alternative histories in Spring 2019! The first book of the semester will be Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. This story takes place in an alternative version of World War I where the Austro-Hungarians and Germans are known as “Clankers” (due to their use of steam-powered machines) and the British are “Darwinists” (they have genetically modified animals for ships and weapons). The story centers on the meeting of two unlikely friends from opposite sides and what they encounter on the great ship Leviathan as they both try to conceal their own secrets.
No matter what way you choose to read the book, we really think you’re in for a treat. Those that read it in print or digital will be able to enjoy fantastic illustrations by Keith Thompson. The audiobook is also highly recommended, as it’s read by actor Alan Cumming. Leviathan was included on the Young Adult Library Services Association “Best Books for Young Adults” list in 2010. If you love it, be prepared to devour the sequels: Behemoth and Goliath. You can find Leviathan at your local public library or through interlibrary loan.
We look forward to chatting with you about Leviathan on Wednesday, February 20th at 1pm in Library 314.
Welcome back for the spring
semester! And, if you are new to the UMassD community this semester,
welcome! We hope you enjoyed the break
and are excited to be back on campus.
So, now that you’re here we
thought we’d take a moment to send a few library reminders:
The library is back to
regular hours. We are open from 7:30 am to 1 am Monday through Thursday,
7:30 am to 9 pm on Fridays, 9 am to 9 pm on Saturdays, and noon to 1 am on
Sundays. You can find holiday hours and other exceptions on our online calendar. Remember to bring your UMass Pass when visiting the library after 10 pm
as you must tap your card to enter the building.
We are here to support your learning and research. If you have research questions, we have subject librarians who are happy to talk with you and provide help! You can email, chat, text, call, or stop by in-person to connect with one of our librarians. Reference librarians staff one of the computers at the 1st floor Learning Commons Desk. They are here to help you, so please feel free to come talk to them! Our Learning Commons student assistants also provide basic technical support with things like COIN and printing at the same desk. Think of the Learning Commons Desk as a one-stop shop for both your technical and research questions.
There are many kinds of study spaces throughout
the library for individual and group study. Do
you do a lot of group work? If
so, you can go online and reserve a group study room! You
will also see “table tents” on the 3rd and 5th floors to help you share the
group study tables and help us all make the best use of the library’s study
spaces. If you would like to notify a friend about where you’re going to
be studying in the library, send them a link with a pointer on a library floor
map of where you’ll be studying using the Find Me Here tool. And, near the Learning
Commons Desk on the first floor, the South Reading Room
provides a space for quiet study.
Do you need a laptop for your work in the
library? Borrow one for the day at the first floor Circulation Desk.
If you’re back and already
thinking about your senior project, your master’s thesis or the big paper
you’ll have to write this semester, you might want to look up one of our expert subject librariansto help you with your research.
If you need an item that the
library does not have in our collections (excluding textbooks), you can request
it free of charge by using our interlibrary loan service.
As the semester progresses,
watch for library programming and events, such as the Game Night we sponsor
every Thursday night from 7-10PM in the Library Living Room, with a variety of
board games on hand. The library also co-sponsors Stressless Days once a month
in the Library Living Room that feature games, therapy dogs, and chair massage,
as well as arts and crafts. Looking for a good book to read for fun? We have a
Science Fiction Book Club that meets once a month, a collection of “Read and
Return” books in the Library Living Room, and plenty of genre fiction or light
non-fiction in the library stacks.
Winter break is almost here, and it’s time to think about all the great pop culture you can consume while homework is on the back burner! The library staff would like to share their holiday favorites. From Santa Claus to John McClane, this list includes anything we think might inspire holiday cheer (or terror).
These were solicited independently from staff across the Carney & Law Libraries. In case you prefer a shortlist, we note that the following films received at least two recommendations:
A Christmas Story
Batman Returns
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Die Hard
Elf
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Scrooged
The Year Without a Santa Claus
Rachel Baum, Information Services
A Charlie Brown
Christmas
Die
Hard
You’ve
Got Mail
Billy Cryer, Systems & Digital Services
Krampus
Scrooged
Judy Farrar, Archives & Special Collections
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Chris Garron, Systems & Digital Services
A
Christmas Story
Bela Gupta, Technical Services
Home Alone 1, 2, & 3
While
You Were Sleeping
Lorraine Heffernan, Information Services
A Christmas Carol (the
1984 version, with George C. Scott)
Hilary Kraus, Information Services
Die
Hard
It’s a
Wonderful Life
Miracle
on 34th street (the original, with Edmund Gwenn)
Scrooged
Maureen McDevitt, Access Services
Christmas in Connecticut (the original, with Barbara Stanwyk)
Last Holiday
Joanne Mello, Technical Services
Elf
It’s a Wonderful Life
Olivia Miller, Information Services
Batman
Returns
The
Muppet Christmas Carol
The
Nightmare Before Christmas
Kari Mofford, Access Services
A Charlie Brown Christmas
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (the original animated film, with Boris Karloff)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Misty Peltz-Steele, Law Library
A
Christmas Story
Susan Raidy-Klein, TechnicalServices
A
Christmas Carol (the 1938 version, with Reginald Owen)
Crunch time is upon us and soon our library will be full of students working on group projects and studying for finals. Here are a few tips that may help alleviate some stress.
We begin 24/7 hours tonight, Monday, Dec. 3 until Monday, December 17 when we close at 1AM. Also be aware for security you will need to have your UMass Pass to access the building after 10PM and until our normal open hours the next day.
Group Study Rooms – Don’t forget to reserve time in our study rooms through the library website to make sure you can use them, as groups with reservations have priority of the space. You get three hours per week in your name and we ask that if you make reservations please do so in consecutive blocks or have a group member use their time if needed.
Veterans’ Reading Room and Graduate Study Room – Don’t forget the Veterans’ Reading Room (354) and Graduate Study Room (306)…and if you are not a Veteran or Graduate Student, please respect that these rooms are designated for them.
Quiet Study Area – The only designated quiet study area is located in the South Reading Room in the Learning Commons, first floor. If you need complete quiet, please use this room. Noise levels should be kept at respectable, conversational levels throughout the rest of the building.
Finding Computers to Use – We have three computer classrooms (128, 225, 226) that are available for public computer use when no instruction sessions are being held. We have schedules on each door to let you know when they are free and they are also listed on ReservIT if you want to check before you come to the library. We also loan out laptops from the Circulation desk. Be aware that these are due back the same day…actually an hour before the desk closes, so be mindful of the time so you don’t accrue overdue fines.
Sharing Large Study Tables – You may have seen our table tents on the 3rd and 5th floors that encourages everyone to share large tables as much as possible. Please use these table tents to invite others to join you whenever you can, as finding a seat for an individual can be very challenging as the semester winds down.
We are Here to Help! – Lastly, please contact the Librarians or staff (You can stop by the Learning Commons or Circulation Desk) if you have any issue or need assistance. We also have security guards at night who can help. We are here for you! This building gets very full during this time of year and finding study space can be challenging. Please be respectful of others and remember this is a public space for everyone to use…so it may not be perfect for every expectation, but with everyone’s assistance we can make it work.
The Science Fiction Book Club is looking forward to our last venture into time (for the semester) with Jeff Lemire’s Trillium. It’s a cross between Romeo & Juliet, Indiana Jones, and Cloud Atlas with a heavy dose of sci-fi masterfully illustrated in ink and watercolor. Trillium was originally published as comic book miniseries. This collects all eight issues into one trade publication.
Lemire is a prolific comic creator, having written and illustrated many titles of his own and contributed to works published by DC and Marvel. Lemire’s perhaps best known for Essex County, a graphic novel about a fictionalized version of his hometown in Canada. With it he earned a nomination for a Harvey Award in 2008 for Best New Talent. The first volume won the Alex Award from the American Library Association. Trillium was nominated for an Eisner (the Oscars of comics) for Best Limited Series.
You can find Trillium at your local public library or through interlibrary loan.
We look forward to chatting with you about Trillium on Tuesday, December 4th at 2pm in Library 314.
The Claire T. Carney Library has a new(ish) librarian! Read the interview below to get to know our new Social Sciences & Data Services Librarian, Rachel Baum.
Crunch time is upon us and soon our library will be full of students working on group projects and studying for finals. Here are a few tips that may help alleviate some stress. 