News, Updates, and Information of Interest from Samford University Library
Friday, September 10, 2010
SUPPORT THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
You can support the University Library every time to make online purchases through some of your favorite online stores such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, AbeBooks, Alibris, and Family Christian Stores. Click here to learn how easy it is to support the library!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
COSMIC EVENT
With thanks to George Atchley for his ongoing reporting on astronomical events to the Samford community.
Dr. Atchley wrote:
"This past Sunday, NASA scientists at the Tuscon-based Catalina Sky Survey discovered two asteroids that will pass close to Earth. Neither will hit Earth. The first, estimated at approximately 32 to 65 feet in size, will miss Earth by approximately 154,000 miles on Wednesday at 4:51 a.m. CST. The second, about half the size of the first, will pass within approximately 49,000 miles of Earth about 12 hours later at 4:12 p.m. Again, neither will hit Earth. Even if they did, because of their small sizes, only small pieces would reach the surface after producing a spectacular meteor (fireball) while passing through our atmosphere.
I’m certain the internet will buzz with misinformation. A moderate-sized amateur telescope should be able to view the asteroids, but it will be challenging...Here’s a great website if you’re really interested in this event: http://faulkes-telescope.com/node/2310."
Dr. Atchley wrote:
"This past Sunday, NASA scientists at the Tuscon-based Catalina Sky Survey discovered two asteroids that will pass close to Earth. Neither will hit Earth. The first, estimated at approximately 32 to 65 feet in size, will miss Earth by approximately 154,000 miles on Wednesday at 4:51 a.m. CST. The second, about half the size of the first, will pass within approximately 49,000 miles of Earth about 12 hours later at 4:12 p.m. Again, neither will hit Earth. Even if they did, because of their small sizes, only small pieces would reach the surface after producing a spectacular meteor (fireball) while passing through our atmosphere.
I’m certain the internet will buzz with misinformation. A moderate-sized amateur telescope should be able to view the asteroids, but it will be challenging...Here’s a great website if you’re really interested in this event: http://faulkes-telescope.com/node/2310."
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
WHERE CAN I DONATE BOOKS?
If you've ever had books that you wanted to donate and wondered where you might find information about organizations that accept and make good use of used books, this LibGuide from the Passaic County Community College Library is for you: Book Donation Programs from the Passaic County Community College Library.
Friday, September 3, 2010
SEPTEMBER IS LIBRARY CARD SIGN-UP MONTH
Attention new students, old students, faculty, staff, and any other readers living in Jefferson County. The public library system in this area is exceptionally well-developed and makes available a very impressive variety of books, music, and DVDs. I'm continually impressed with the wide range of materials and the evident thoughtfulness given to collection-building in Jefferson County libraries.
The libraries of Jefferson County include the Birmingham Public Library system, and cardholders from Birmingham Public or any one of the Jefferson County libraries have access to the entire Jefferson County Library Cooperative.
What does this mean for you? It means that a large, diverse and resource-rich system is available to you.
The library closest to Samford (and my own favorite branch) is in Vestavia. I've always found the staff there to be exceptionally friendly and helpful, so if you need help obtaining a card or have other questions, I suggest you pay them a visit.
One particular item I want to tell you about is the excellent collection of books in the area of studio art and art history in the central branch of the Birmingham Public system. A number of Samford students have been able to find books they have needed in that collection.
We encourage you to explore, use, and support our wonderful public library system. Now go get that card!
The libraries of Jefferson County include the Birmingham Public Library system, and cardholders from Birmingham Public or any one of the Jefferson County libraries have access to the entire Jefferson County Library Cooperative.
What does this mean for you? It means that a large, diverse and resource-rich system is available to you.
The library closest to Samford (and my own favorite branch) is in Vestavia. I've always found the staff there to be exceptionally friendly and helpful, so if you need help obtaining a card or have other questions, I suggest you pay them a visit.
One particular item I want to tell you about is the excellent collection of books in the area of studio art and art history in the central branch of the Birmingham Public system. A number of Samford students have been able to find books they have needed in that collection.
We encourage you to explore, use, and support our wonderful public library system. Now go get that card!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
OXFORD DICTIONARY.COM
This story has been widely reported. I've chosen two venues as the bases for this post:
"The head of Oxford University Press, Nigel Portwood, recently caused a stir by openly considering the possibility that the third edition of the Oxford English Dictionary might be published in electronic form only. What prompted those thoughts was the success of the online version of the O.E.D., as it is usually called, and the limited sales of the printed 20-volume edition."
(Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/01/opinion/01wed4.html?scp=1&sq=oxford%20print&st=cse)
We can intuit the reason without much effort, and a spokesperson for Oxford University Press confirmed that users prefer to look up words using its online product. Although I'm not a user of ebooks and remain a little skeptical about the notion that ebooks will eventually come to replace physical books altogether, I must admit that I haven't used a paper-based dictionary for English-language needs in quite a while. (Other languages are a different matter.) Read the story in more detail here.
"The head of Oxford University Press, Nigel Portwood, recently caused a stir by openly considering the possibility that the third edition of the Oxford English Dictionary might be published in electronic form only. What prompted those thoughts was the success of the online version of the O.E.D., as it is usually called, and the limited sales of the printed 20-volume edition."
(Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/01/opinion/01wed4.html?scp=1&sq=oxford%20print&st=cse)
We can intuit the reason without much effort, and a spokesperson for Oxford University Press confirmed that users prefer to look up words using its online product. Although I'm not a user of ebooks and remain a little skeptical about the notion that ebooks will eventually come to replace physical books altogether, I must admit that I haven't used a paper-based dictionary for English-language needs in quite a while. (Other languages are a different matter.) Read the story in more detail here.
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