Library Closed For the Holidays, and Favorite Christmas/Holiday Movie

 

2021 has certainly been challenging -- though not unrewarding -- and at 5:00pm this evening the library will close for the last time this year as we prepare to enjoy the holiday break and will re-open at 7:30am on Monday, January 3rd.  We hope everyone has a merry Christmas and a joyous holiday season.

In the meantime... we asked our library family, "what's your favorite Christmas/holiday movie?" Here's what they said:

• “White Christmas, and of course, A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
  
  
• “So many... changes back and forth. Miracle on 34th Street (the original with Maureen O'Hara, Edmund Gwenn & Natalie Wood--not remake!) and yes, even Christmas with the Kranks.”
  
  
• “Muppet Christmas Carol!  My kids really like the new Grinch movie.”
  
  
• “National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.”
  
  
• “How the Grinch stole Christmas.”
  
  
• “A Christmas Story.”
  
  
• “Muppet Christmas Carol.”
  
  
• “Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983).”
  
  
• “The Bells of St. Mary's.”
  
  
• “Christmas Vacation, Elf, White Christmas, The Nativity, Christmas with the Kranks, Charlie Brown Christmas, The Christmas Story, 4 Christmases, A Christmas Carol.”
  
  
• “Christmas Vacation.”
  
  
• “Christmas Vacation.”
  
  
• “National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.”
  
  
• “It's A Wonderful Life.”
  
  
• “Elf!”
  
  
• “Jesus of Nazareth, Part 1.”
  
  
• “A Christmas Story.  It's just not Christmas until Flick's tongue gets stuck and the Bumpus hounds raid the kitchen.  :)”

"Ask Us" Library Poll - Favorite Christmas/Holiday Song?

 

The fall semester is over and the whole campus is winding down in anticipation of our holiday break. But we gathered our library family while we're still here and asked the question, "what's your favorite Christmas/holiday song?"  Here's what they said:

• O Holy Night
  
  
• The theme song from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
  
  
• Anything in a minor key!
  
  
• Baby It's Cold Outside (Dean Martin version from 1959)
  
  
• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
  
  
• Silent Night
  
  
• Good King Wenceslas
  
  
• White Christmas
  
  
• The Little Drummer Boy
  
  
• It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
  
  
• Sleigh Ride
  
  
• We Need a Little Christmas
  
  
• My Favorite Things
  
  
• Christmas in Dixie
  
  
• Mary Did You Know?
  
  
• The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
  
  
• Do You Hear What I Hear?
  
  
• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
  
  
• Carol of the Bells
  
  
• Grown Up Christmas List - Amy Grant
  
  
• Anything by the Romanian Madrigal Choir
  
  
• Brian Setzer's cover of Jingle Bells.

Thanksgiving, Finals, and the Christmas Holidays

It's hard to believe that we're already starting to wind down the Fall Semester as it feels we just started back, but with Thanksgiving next week and finals just on the other side that's exactly what's happening.  Here's a look at our operating hours for the remainder of not just the semester but also the year itself:

Thanksgiving

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The library will close at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27th in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.  We will re-open at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 1st.

Finals

The library will be operating under extended hours for those studying for final examinations, including staying open until 2:00 a.m. on the following dates:

Monday, December 2nd - Thursday, December 5th
Sunday, December 8th - Wednesday, December 11th

In addition, the 2nd floor conference room will be available for additional quiet study space after 5:00 p.m. on selected nights while we are operating under extended hours.

We will also be hosting study breaks during the week of finals -- follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for announcements!

Christmas

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The library will be open 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday, December 16th through Friday, December 20th.  After that we will be closed through New Year's Day and will re-open at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 2nd.  We wish one and all a joyous holiday season and will see you in 2020!

Library Hours for Finals -- and Beyond!

Planning on burning the ol' "midnight oil" with final exams coming up?  Starting Monday, the Samford University Library will be open additional hours during the next two weeks to help accommodate your late-night study needs!

Monday, December 3rd:  7:30am - 2am

Tuesday, December 4th:  7:30am - 2am

Wednesday, December 5th:  7:30am - 2am

Thursday, December 6th:  7:30am - 2am

Friday, December 7th:  7:30am - 8pm 

Saturday, December 8th:  10am - 8pm

Sunday, December 9th:  1pm - 2am

Monday, December 10th:  7:30am - 2am 

Tuesday, December 11th:  7:30am - 2am

Wednesday, December 12th:  7:30am - 2am

Starting on Thursday, December 13th, we will begin operating on reduced hours in anticipation of our annual holiday break.

Thursday, December 13th:  7:30am - 6pm

Friday, December 14th:  7:30am - 5pm

Saturday, December 15th:  CLOSED

Sunday, December 16th:  CLOSED

Monday, December 17th:  7:30am - 5pm

Tuesday, December 18th:  7:30am - 5pm

Wednesday, December 19th:  7:30am - 5pm

Thursday, December 20th:  7:30am - 5pm

Friday, December 21st:  7:30am - 5pm

Beginning Saturday, December 22nd, the library will be CLOSED through January 1st for the Christmas and New Year holidays.  We will re-open Wednesday, January 2nd, at 7:30am.

You can always find more information about the library's hours of operation by visiting our website.

Library Hours for the Holidays

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Finals are over and the library will be closing at 5pm this afternoon as we start getting ready for our annual holiday break.  We hope everyone has a warm and joyous holiday season.

Saturday, December 16th & Sunday, December 17th

CLOSED

Monday, December 18th through Wednesday, December 20th

7:30am - 5pm

Thursday, December 21st through Monday, January 1st

CLOSED

We will re-open operating under reduced hours for Jan Term at 7:30am on Tuesday, January 2nd.  More information about the library's hours of operation may be found here.

Library Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The library will be operating reduced hours next week during the Thanksgiving holiday:

Tuesday, November 21st:  7:30am - 6:00pm

Wednesday, November 22nd:  7:30am - 2:00pm

Thursday, November 23rd:  CLOSED

Friday, November 24th:  CLOSED

Saturday, November 25th:  CLOSED

Sunday, November 26th:  6:00pm - midnight

The library will resume its normal operating hours on Monday, November 27th.  For more information about the library's hours of operation, please click here.

We wish all of the members of the Samford family a safe and enjoyable holiday.  

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

BONUS Throwback Thursday - U.S. Centennial Flag

As we prepare to celebrate our nation's independence next week during the July 4th holiday, we thought it might be fitting to share one of the treasured artifacts housed in the Samford University Library's Special Collection -- a hand-sewn linen United States flag from 1876.

Images courtesy of the Samford University Library Special Collection.

The flag features 37 stars (the number of U.S. states at the time) and is signed by "M. Baker" -- further research identifies her as Matilda Baker, a shopkeeper in her early 50s at the time the flag was made.

Click here for more information about Matilda Baker and the U.S. Centennial Flag

Click here to learn more about items from the Samford University Library Special Collection

Library Hours for the July 4th Holiday

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The Samford University Library will be CLOSED Tuesday, July 4th, in observance of the Independence Day holiday.  We will be open the following hours during the preceding weekend:

• Friday, June 30th:  7:30am - 5:00pm
• Saturday, July 1st:  10:00am - 5:00pm
• Sunday, July 2nd:  1:00pm - 5:00pm
• Monday, July 3rd:  7:30am - 8:00pm

We will resume our normal summer hours on Wednesday, July 5th.

For more information about the library's hours of operation, please click HERE.

Library 2016 Holiday Hours

We've made it through another round of final exams, and extra-special CONGRATULATIONS to all our December graduates who get to see their #SamfordStories culminate with Fall Commencement tomorrow!

The University Library will begin holiday hours today.  Our holiday schedule is:

• Friday, December 16th -- 7:30am - 5:00pm

• Saturday & Sunday, December 17th & 18th -- CLOSED

• Monday, December 19th through Thursday, December 22nd -- 7:30am - 5:00pm

• Friday, December 23rd through Monday, January 2nd -- CLOSED

We will reopen with Jan Term hours on January 3rd. 

From the Howard Crimson, 1941, courtesy of the Samford Library Special Collection

We wish you and yours peace, love, and joy this holiday season.  

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

אנו מאחלים לכם שלום , אהבה ,ושמחה בעונת החגים

نتمنى لكم السلام والمحبة و الفرح في عطلة هذا الموسم

我们祝你平安，爱和喜悦这个假期

Ni deziras al vi pacon , amon kaj ĝojon ĉi ferio sezono

우리는 당신에게 평화 , 사랑, 기쁨 이 휴가 시즌 을 기원합니다

Мы желаем

вам мира , любви, радости и в этот праздничный сезон 

私たちはあなたの平和、愛、喜び、このホリデーシーズンにしたいです

Vi önskar dig fred, kärlek och glädje denna feriesäsong.

tam, bang je yImaq DaneHchugh maH maqtagh QI'lop

Intersession Hours

Please remember that the library has limited hours through June 1st. 

Consult the Library Hours page for details.

Samford University Library Hours

May 2013

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Apr 28 1:00pm- Midnight Apr 29 7:30am- Midnight Apr 30 7:30am- Midnight 1 7:30am- Midnight 2 7:30am- Midnight 3 7:30am- 5:00pm 4 10:00am- 5:00pm 5 1:00pm- Midnight 6 7:30am- 2:00am 7 7:30am- 2:00am 8 7:30am- 2:00am 9 7:30am- 2:00am 10 7:30am- 5:00pm 11 10:00am- 5:00pm 12 1:00pm- 2:00am 13 7:30am- 2:00am 14 7:30am- 2:00am 15 7:30am- 2:00am 16 7:30am- 6:00pm 17 8:00am- 4:30pm 18 CLOSED 19 CLOSED 20 8:00am- 4:30pm 21 8:00am- 4:30pm 22 8:00am- 4:30pm 23 8:00am- 4:30pm 24 8:00am- 4:30pm 25 CLOSED 26 CLOSED 27 CLOSED 28 8:00am- 4:30pm 29 8:00am- 4:30pm 30 8:00am- 4:30pm 31 8:00am- 4:30pm Jun 1 CLOSED

Blessed Is the Name

"Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"

 As we begin this (mostly) sunny Easter weekend, we have also been doing some Spring cleaning. 

You'll notice a new display by the Mace of a beautifully illuminated Bible. 

This is the St. John's Bible, a seven-volume work of art in ancient illumination, calligraphy, and modern sensibilities, all to glorify the Word of God. 

The image above is from Luke 23, the Crucifixion. The St. John's website describes it, saying:

"The use of gold conveys the idea of God manifesting himself in His divine love for humanity, represented by the crowd below. Luke’s gospel recounts that darkness covered the earth for three hours, indicated here by the night sky, and that the curtain of the temple, shown as shreds of purple, was torn in two. The contrast of pain with the glory of gold relates this image to current theological discussions concerning the meaning of the Crucifixion in the contemporary world."

Watch for more features from the newest addition to the Samford Family over the next weeks.

Hosanna in the Highest. Save me, Lord. 

Have a wonderful Easter holiday, 

Marliese Thomas

User Engagement Librarian 

Quiet Study

Trying to Study?

Grad students have an extra option for quiet study during midterms - Rooms 233/234/235
These rooms have been set aside for contemplation of your notes and texts, since noise carries so well in this room.
*Please note, the National Pan-Hellenic Council will be using these rooms for an event from 6-9 PM on Tuesday.

Here are other ways all patrons can take advantage of our building during Midterms:

• 3rd Floor remains a quiet place, and groups can always look into a group study room. 
• Headphones are available for check-out at the Circulation Desk. 
• The Library and Computer Lab will remain open until 2 AM through Wednesday, March 13th. 
• If you see patrons getting a little giddy and giggly, feel free to ask them to keep it down or find a group room. You can always bring concerns to the person at the Ask Us Desk and Circulation.

We aim to create an environment where you can excel, by working together or individually.

Thanks!
Marliese Thomas
User Engagement Librarian

National Grammar Day

There are those who would argue that the only thing drier than an actual grammar book would be a history of the grammar book, but since it’s National Grammar Day today, we down here in Special Collections thought we’d try it anyway.

The earliest English grammar books were often not written in English, but in Latin. It wasn’t until the 18th century that English grammars (as they are known) started being written in English. These early grammars were devoted to explain English constructions to a world where Latin was still being commonly used. In fact, it was believed by many that English didn’t have any unique rules of grammar, but that the Latin rules were perfectly sufficient for understanding the rules of English. Modern Latin scholars would not agree.

Needless to say, as the England’s empire spread around the globe, there was a new need to teach English to non-Native speakers who didn’t know Latin either. The new grammars were styled as informative education textbooks, intended to help the poor, non-English speakers, children and, of course, women understand the complicated beast that is the English language.

This all brings us rather neatly to Lindley Murray. Murray was a lawyer who, in his spare time, wrote English grammar books. It is for his grammar works that he has gone down in history, as the books were used long after his death in educating students in the English speaking world. 

The Special Collection is lucky enough to hold several different editions of Murray’s books, including his English Exercises which was first published in 1797. The Special Collection has an 1814 and an 1866 edition, which are very nearly identical. The book contains exercises “Designed for the Benefit of Private Learners, As Well As for the Use of Schools” and promises to provide instruction on the “Defects in Punctuation, and Violations of the Rules Respecting Perspicuity and Accuracy.”

Sentences such as “A great proportion of human evils are created by ourselves” and “Flattery, whose nature is to destroy and deceive, should be avoided as the poisonous adder” were used in the exercises to instruct morally as well as grammatically. I suspect I’d have paid more attention in English class if those had been the sorts of sentences I was instructed to work with.

Murray was one of several educational reformers of his day. His books were used into the 20th century, along with those of the famous William Holmes McGuffey whose readers and spellers were the backbone of education in the United States for almost a century. We have a bunch of those as well, but they’ll have to wait for another blog post.

Until then, we in the Special Collection remain willing to be more flexible about defects in punctuation than Murray would approve of.

Rachel Cohen
Archivist and User Services Librarian
Special Collection Department

Closed Monday, Jan 21st

In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, 

the Samford Library will be closed on 

Monday, January 21st. 

Portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. By Betsy G. Reyneau; Donated Collections; Record Group 200; National Archives and Records Administration

“Intelligence plus character -- that is the goal of true education.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.

  For questions about library hours, please visit our Hours web page or call our Hours hotline at (205) 726-2015.

Holiday Reading We Love

Now that the semester has come to a close, students (and faculty!) are looking forward to a break from their classes, clubs and jobs. The next few weeks provide the perfect opportunity to catch up on all the books you’ve been meaning to read but could never find time for during the fall. Here at the library, we did a lot of reading throughout the year.

For the first time ever the library faculty and staff members have made a list of the top books we’ve read this year. The list contains classics and newer releases and plenty of titles for fans of science fiction and adventure. We also made sure to include titles for those who prefer nonfiction and memoirs. Several of these books or similar works by the authors are available at the library (those linked). For anyone looking for a great book during the holidays, we’ve made this list with you in mind:

• Revelations by Elaine Pagels
• The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides
• The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson
• The Poet of Tolstoy Park by Sonny Brewer
• The Window and the Tree by Sonny Brewer
• My Imaginary Jesus by Matt Mikalatos
• Wool by Hugh Howey
• Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
• Living In More Than One World: How Peter Drucker’s Wisdom Can Inspire and Transform Your Life by Bruce Rosenstein
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter
• The Bones by Seth Greenland
• Poseidon’s Arrow by Clive Cussler
• Astrid and Veronika by Linda Olsson
• Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
• Star Wars: Millennium Falcon by James Luceno
• The Millennium Falcon Owner’s Workshop Manual by Ryder Windham, Chris Reiff and Chris Trevas
• A Rare Titanic Family: The Caldwells’ Story of Survival by Julie Williams
• Night by Elie Wiesel
• I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith

For those who prefer to purchase your own copy, you can support the library while you shop online. Click here for links to participating companies include Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, AbeBooks, Alibris and Family Christian Stores. When you go through this page to make your online purchase, you can help earn a commission to support the library at no additional cost to you. For more information please visit the Shop Online page of the Samford Library website.

Marci Solomon, Circulation Assistant

Extended Hours During Finals

Open Late!

Students are knee-deep in final presentations, study groups, and paper-writing, and Samford Library will continue extended hours through next week. Don't forget to Ask Us any questions about research, citing sources, or technical problems you have accessing our materials!

Here's the full breakdown:

Wednesday, Dec 5:   7:30 am - 2:00 AM

Thursday, Dec 6:    7:30 am - 2:00 AM

Friday, Dec 7:   7:30 am - 5:00 pm

Saturday, Dec 8:   10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Sunday, Dec 9:   1:00 pm - 2:00 AM

Monday, Dec 10:   7:30 am - 2:00 AM

Tuesday, Dec 11:   7:30 am - 2:00 AM

Wednesday, Dec 12:   7:30 am - 2:00 AM

Thursday, Dec 13:   7:30 am - 6:00 PM

Friday, Dec 14:   8:00 am - 4:30 pm

For a look at all of our holiday hours, including those during winter break, visit our Hours website or call the library information hotline at (205) 726-4015. 

St. Andrew's Day

Photo by Murdo Macleod from The Guardian

Who was St. Andrew?

Andrew was, well, I'll let a greater writer than I am tell you that. In Mark 1:16-18, Jesus, "passing by the Sea of Galilee, saw Simon and Andrew, Simon's brother, casting a set into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.'" He was one of the less prominent Disciples, being omitted from the writings of Matthew and Luke completely. John writes about Andrew more extensively, putting him in a position of authority to intercede between people and Jesus. He continued to preach the gospel throughout the region until his death.

The Martyrologium Romanum gives us some insight into his final days, "30 November is at Patrae of Achaia the feast dat of St. Andrew the Apostle, who preached the Gospel of Christ in Thrace and Schythia. He was arrested by Aegeas the Proconsul, at first locked in prison, then most gravely cut, and finally suspended from a cross. On it, he lived for two days, teaching th epeople; and having asked the Lord that he not be taken down from the cross, he was surrponded with a great spendor from Heaven, while a light shortly shown, and he gave up the ghost."

St. Andrew's Cross

State Flag of Alabama

Tradition accounts that the cross upon which Andrew was crucified was an X-shape, thus creating the shape of the Saltire, or St. Andrew's Cross, which is now the national emblem of Scotland and the state flag of Alabama.

St. Andrew is known as the patron for fishermen, singers, those who suffer from gout and sore throats, unmarried women, and women wishing to become mothers.

Historically, St. Rule is credited with bringing relics of St. Andrew to what is now Scotland, after receiving a vision. St. Andrew was first recognized as the patron saint of Scotland in 1320 at the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath, asserting the country's independence from England.

Not Just Scotland

St. Andrew is revered in many other European countries, including Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Poland, Russia, and Romania. 

In Poland, St. Andrew's Day, or Andrzejki, is celebrated on the night of November 29th and the day of November 30th. It is considered the last night to celebrate before fasting begins during the Advent season, somewhat similar to Mardi Gras before Lent. As the patron saint of maiden women, many Andrzejki games and traditions involve single women seeking clues about their future husbands. 

So, Happy St. Andrew's Day, or, for the Scottish, 'Here's tae us - Wha's like us'! 

Sources:
Peterson, P. M. (1958). Andrew, brother of Simon Peter: His history and his legends. Leiden: E. J. Brill.

Edition in Propylaem ad Acta Sanctorum Decembris, Brussles, 1940. cf. Epistle of the Presbyters and Deacons in Bonnet, Acta, pp. 32-44 and Passio in Bonnet, Sup., pp. 69-70.
 
"Official Symbols and Emblems of Alabama: State Flag of Alabama". Alabama Department of Archives & History. Retrieved 30 November 2012.

"Who was St Andrew?". Scotland.org. Retrieved 30 November 2012.

McSweeny, Declan. "Liverpool gives St Andrew's Day a Polish twist". TheGuardian.co.uk. Retrieved 30 November 2012.

It's Snowing in the Library!

Need a study break? Help us decorate our Christmas trees by making a snowflake!

You'll find all the materials you need on the First Floor, by Circulation -- scissors, paper, and instructions. 

If you want to get really crafty, check out our Pinterest Holiday board for more snowflake patterns. 

Thanksgiving Hours

Due to the Thanksgiving Break, we will have modified hours this week:

Wednesday 21: 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Thursday 22: CLOSED
Friday 23: CLOSED
Saturday 24: CLOSED
Sunday 25: 6:00 pm - Midnight

On Monday, November 26th, our hours will return to normal. For all library hours, check here or call the hours hotline at (205) 726-4015. All online resources should be available to Samford students and affiliates at all times.

We appreciate your cooperation as our staff has the opportunity to enjoy this time with their loved ones.

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Marliese Thomas, User Engagement Librarian