Doug Jones in Concert

Big thanks to HNU student Doug Jones and Christopher Almada (student at CSU East Bay) for their full-of-awesome performance yesterday in the library!

Viewing: Selections from Women and the Word, Wednesday, February 22, 12:30 – 1:25 PM. Sr. Maureen Hester will present clips from a DVD associated with the Women and the Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America exhibit currently on display at the California Museum in Sacramento. In the Glass Lounge. Note: if you are planning to attend Mass on 2/22 (Ash Wednesday), ashes will be distributed at both the noon and the 5 p.m. Mass.

More Upcoming Events…

Thursday 3/15 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Book Talk, local investigative reporter Thomas Peele, Killing the Messenger, about an Oakland crime family. See this Oakland Tribune article about Killing the Messenger!

OCCUPY APA! A Citation Sit-in for Students and Faculty,  Thursday, March 22, 5-7 PM, Library Classroom: Are you a student or faculty member driven to frustration by the challenges of APA (American Psychological Association) citation? Are your APA citation skills in need of a tune-up? Would you like an introduction to using RefWorks to format your citations? Librarians Nicole Branch and Daniel Ransom are offering a workshop about this ubiquitous and challenging citation format designed to help you format citations and reference lists easily and quickly. Email hnulibrary@hnu.edu to reserve a spot.

Piano Hand, by Flickr User alexanderward12

DOUG JONES IN CONCERT, Tuesday, February 14, 12:30 – 1:30 in the Library: HNU student and gifted musician Doug Jones returns to the Cushing Library for a special Valentine’s Day piano recital featuring Doug’s original compositions. Drop in and out as your schedule permits. You are welcome to bring your lunch; we’ll serve sweets, fruit, and beverages.

NEXT WEEK: Viewing: Selections from Women and the Word, Wednesday, February 22, 12:30 – 1:25 PM. Sr. Maureen Hester will present clips from a DVD associated with the Women and the Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America exhibit currently on display at the California Museum in Sacramento. In the Glass Lounge. Nibblies served.

Cushing Library Main Reading Room ca.1960

BACK TO THE FUTURE: Have you noticed books mysteriously moving from one section to the other in the library? This spring we are conducting the Big Shift, in which nearly every book in the library will be shifted forward as we fill empty shelving on the lower level. The goals are to create more study space on the main level and to improve your safety by eliminating unsecured shelving added in the 1970s through the 1990s. This photo from the 1960s gives you a sneak peek of some of the space we’ll recover.

(Flickr photo “Piano Hand” by alexanderward12 ; reused via Creative Commons license NC-ND 2.5.)

Belo Cipriani and Madge

CUSHING SALON REMINDER: Tuesday, February 7, 7-8 p.m., the Cushing Library at Holy Names University (3500 Mountain Blvd., Oakland CA)  is hosting a book talk by Holy Names student and sparkling memoirist Belo Cipriani. Belo’s autobiography, Blind: A Memoir, chronicles his experiences after he was blinded by childhood friends in 2007. Following the reading, Belo will sign copies (available for purchase at the reading, cash-only).

This event is open to the public (see the Holy Names website for directions).  Light refreshments served. Email hnulibrary@hnu.edu for more information.

OCCUPY APA! A Citation Sit-in for Students and Faculty,  Thursday, March 22, 5-7 PM, Library Classroom: Are you a student or faculty member driven to frustration by the challenges of APA (American Psychological Association) citation? Are your APA citation skills in need of a tune-up? Would you like an introduction to using RefWorks to format your citations? Librarians Nicole Branch and Daniel Ransom are offering a workshop about this ubiquitous and challenging citation format designed to help you format citations and reference lists easily and quickly.

Light refreshments served. RSVPs encouraged but not required (e-mail hnulibrary@hnu.edu or call 510.436.1060).

Belo Cipriani and Madge

Tuesday, February 7, 7-8 p.m., the Cushing Library at Holy Names University (3500 Mountain Blvd., Oakland CA)  is hosting a book talk by Holy Names student and sparkling memoirist Belo Cipriani. Belo’s autobiography, Blind: A Memoir, chronicles his experiences after he was blinded by childhood friends in 2007.

Following the reading, Belo will sign copies (available for purchase at the reading, cash-only).

This event is open to the public (see the Holy Names website for directions).  Light refreshments served. Email hnulibrary@hnu.edu for more information.

Belo’s book has been climbing the Amazon charts and garnering critical acclaim since its debut in 2011. His readings are electric, moving, and highly entertaining. He spoke to a standing-room only at last fall’s Litquake. You won’t want to miss this talk!

About Belo

Belo is a Lambda Literary Fellow and  Literary Death Match champion who is currently a student at the Sophia Center of Holy Names University. He holds a Masters Degree in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from Notre Dame de Namur University, where he studied under award winning poet Jacqueline Berger and fiction writer Kerry Dolan. He is heavily involved with the San Francisco literary community and is a member of Litquake and The California Writers Club, as well as a contributing writer for Bay Area publications.

Belo and his guide dog Madge live in San Francisco. Read more about Belo (and hear him talking about Blind) on his website.

We have hung more Giant Post-Its around the library to solicit feedback on our services and resources. Based on the dozens of responses we’ve had so far, the leading issues are longer hours, more study rooms, and more comfortable furniture. Come on in and share your thoughts–particularly useful as the Library Vision Task Force gets ready to craft the library’s mission statement.

Pictures from Alex Sing’s Art Talk

Alex Sing speaking at the Holy Names U Library

A wonderful time was had by all! See the pictures on Flickr, and don’t forget to come to the library this spring to see Alex’s fannnntastic art work.

Upcoming Cushing Library Salons for Spring 2012

All events are open to the public and feature light refreshments.

Tuesday 2/7 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Book Talk, HNU student and sparkling memoirist Belo Cipriani, Blind: A Memoir

Tuesday 2/14 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Valentine’s Day Brownbag Concert, original compositions by HNU student Doug Jones

Thursday 3/15 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Book Talk, local investigative reporter Thomas Peele, Killing the Messenger, about an Oakland crime family. See today’s Oakland Tribune article about Killing the Messenger!

Tuesday 3/20 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Brownbag Concert

Thursday January 19, 7 – 8 p.m., Cushing Library Glass Lounge. Open to the public.

Holy Names Student Alex Sing, the Cushing Library’s 6th Artist in Residence, originally thought he didn’t like art. But his work at HNU exposed him to creating artwork in a variety of media. Come hear Alex present, see his magnificent artwork gracing our walls, and of course, enjoy nibblies and conversation with fellow art-lovers.

The Glass Lounge occasionally features events that may interfere with quiet study. As a reminder,  our lower level features 5 study rooms (including one with a beautiful mural), a number of desks with lamps and outlets facing the road, and plenty of quiet.

New PCs Coming Soon

We’re delighted to report that before the month is out, perhaps sooner, we will replace the old PCs near the front door with new computers.

Other Cushing Library Salons for Spring 2012

All events are open to the public and feature light refreshments.

Tuesday 2/7 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Book Talk, HNU student and sparkling memoirist Belo Cipriani, Blind: A Memoir

Tuesday 2/14 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Valentine’s Day Brownbag Concert, original compositions by HNU student Doug Jones

Thursday 3/15 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Book Talk, local investigative reporter Thomas Peele, Killing the Messenger, about an Oakland crime family

Tuesday 3/20 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Brownbag Concert

Thursday January 19, 7 – 8 p.m., Cushing Library Glass Lounge. Open to the public.

At Sign

Holy Names Student Alex Sing, the Cushing Library’s 6th Artist in Residence, originally thought he didn’t like art. But his work at HNU exposed him to creating artwork in a variety of media. Come hear Alex present, see his magnificent artwork gracing our walls, and of course, enjoy nibblies and conversation with fellow art-lovers.

Did Santa bring you an e-reader?

A Kindle? Nook? iPad? Droid? iPod? Sony e-reader? Etc.? If so, then be sure to check out our Overdrive ebook collection — restocked in December with bestsellers, annual “best book” lists, New York Times Notables, and more. Let us know if you need assistance using Overdrive. Use our website, http://library.hnu.edu, to recommend new titles to purchase.

Spring Hours

Effective today, Wednesday, January 11: 9 am – 9 pm Monday through Thursday, 10-5 Friday, 10-3 Saturday, and 1 pm – 7 pm Sunday.

Welcome nurses!

It’s Nursing Weekend, and librarians Daniel Ransom, Nicole Branch, and Rachel Hanses are here Thursday through Saturday to help you with your research needs.

Other Cushing Library Salons for Spring 2012

All events are open to the public and feature light refreshments.

Tuesday 2/7 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Book Talk, HNU student and sparkling memoirist Belo Cipriani, Blind: A Memoir

Tuesday 2/14 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Valentine’s Day Brownbag Concert, original compositions by HNU student Doug Jones

Thursday 3/15 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Book Talk, local investigative reporter Thomas Peele, Killing the Messenger, about an Oakland crime family

Tuesday 3/20 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Brownbag Concert, Selections from Andrew Lloyd Webber by HNU student Christiana Hargrave

They're Humongous!

If you haven’t done so yet, take a moment to swing through Cushing and use our Giant Post-Its to jot down what you want from the Library (we’re seeing many requests for longer hours, better chairs and tables, and more books). Giant Post-Its will be up around the library through at least the first week of school in January. Be frank–your input helps, and every voice counts!

Library Hours Through December 22

• Thursday, December 8: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Friday, December 9: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Saturday, December 10: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• CLOSED Sunday, December 11
• Through December 22, we are open 10-5 Monday through Friday, and closed Saturday and Sunday.
• CLOSED Friday, December 23.

Extended Holiday Checkouts—Our Gift to You!

Reminder: Print Books, DVDs, etc. checked out or renewed from the Cushing Library on or after Tuesday, December 6 will not be due back to the library until Friday, January 13. (Overdrive books will keep their 3-week checkouts, but you can always check them out again online if there’s no holds… and they automatically check in at 21 days.)

We also just added close to 100 books to our paper and Overdrive collection, featuring National Book Award finalists and dozens of books from the New York Times Notable Books of 2011. Happy reading!

• Wednesday, 11/30 and Thursday 12/1: 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.
• Friday, December 2 & Saturday, December 3: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Sunday, December 4: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Monday, December 5: 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. (serving coffee, herbal tea, and treats 2-5 p.m.)
• Tuesday, December 6 – Thursday December 8: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Friday, December 9: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Saturday, December 10: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Sunday, December 11: CLOSED

Extended Holiday Checkouts—Our Gift to You!

We're Crazy for Books!

Hey, book lovers! Books, DVDs, etc. checked out or renewed from the Cushing Library on or after Tuesday, December 6 will not be due back to the library until Friday, January 13.

Don’t forget our Overdrive eBook collection is open 24/7, ready for you to download books to your Nook, Kindle, iPad, Sony e-reader, Droid, iPhone, Touch, or other mobile device.

We’re restocking the regular and Overdrive shelves early next week with the latest paperback best sellers from the San Francisco Chronicle and other sources. Want us to buy a book? Just ask!

HNU Sophia Center student Belo Cipriani, author of Blind: A Memoir (the library has two print copies plus the e-audiobook) will be reading at the Barnes & Noble Bookfair in Emeryville this weekend (5604 Bay Street). The Bookfair is 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday November 27, and will also feature Mary Beth Philips (co-author of Miracle Chase) and Mike May (author of Crashing Through). Books purchased with vouchers distributed at this reading go to support the Blind Babies Foundation. Belo will be reading for us this spring!

Hip Hop Matters

If you have a little pleasure-reading time this holiday weekend, stop on by the Library today or tomorrow and pick out a book (or check out a book online through our Overdrive collection). Recent titles we’ve acquired include Hip Hop Matters (also in paper), Black Noise: Rap Music and Black Culture in Contemporary America, Cleopatra: A Life, Zagat: San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants 2012, Jacques Pepin’s The Origin of AIDS, and Jeffrey Eugenides’ Middlesex.