Fine Arts/Humanities @ SPC Libraries

October is now NATIONAL INFORMATION LITERACY AWARENESS MONTH

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:45:00 +0000

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
___________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release October 1, 2009

NATIONAL INFORMATION LITERACY AWARENESS MONTH, 2009
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

Every day, we are inundated with vast amounts of information. A 24-hour news cycle and thousands of global television and radio networks, coupled with an immense array of online resources, have challenged our long-held perceptions of information management. Rather than merely possessing data, we must also learn the skills necessary to acquire, collate, and evaluate information for any situation. This new type of literacy also requires competency with communication
technologies, including computers and mobile devices that can help in our day-to-day decisionmaking. National Information Literacy Awareness Month highlights the need for all Americans to be adept in the skills necessary to effectively navigate the Information Age.

Though we may know how to find the information we need, we must also know how to evaluate it. Over the past decade, we have seen a crisis of authenticity emerge. We now live in a world where anyone can publish an opinion or perspective, whether true or not, and have that opinion amplified within the information marketplace. At the same time, Americans have unprecedented access to the diverse and independent sources of information, as well as institutions such as libraries and universities, that can help separate truth from fiction and signal from noise.

Our Nation's educators and institutions of learning must be aware of -- and adjust to -- these new realities. In addition to the basic skills of reading, writing, and arithmetic, it is equally important that our students are given the tools required to take advantage of the information available to them. The ability to seek, find, and decipher information can be applied to countless life decisions, whether financial, medical, educational, or technical.

This month, we dedicate ourselves to increasing information literacy awareness so that all citizens understand its vital importance. An informed and educated citizenry is essential to the functioning of our modern democratic society, and I encourage educational and community institutions across the country to help Americans find and evaluate the information they seek, in all its forms.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2009 as National Information Literacy Awareness Month. I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the important role information plays in our daily lives, and appreciate the need for a greater understanding of its impact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA
# # #

TED Prize launch: the incredible El Sistema music program is coming to the US!

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Tue, 05 May 2009 17:20:00 +0000

El Sistema is a "visionary global movement that transforms the lives of children through music. A new model for social change." For more information regarding El Sistema USA visit: http://elsistemausa.org/.

Jazz in the stacks at the West St. Petersburg Community Library (April 21st at 7:30 p.m)

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:38:00 +0000

In honor of Jazz Appreciation Month, St. Petersburg College will host Jazz in the Stacks, a free concert featuring the Helios Jazz Orchestra, on April 21, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. at its West St. Petersburg Community Library, 750 66th Street North, St. Petersburg. This concert is sponsored in part by the Friends of the Library, the EMIT series, and the City of St. Petersburg.

The Helios Jazz Orchestra, a 22-piece jazz big band that performs swing, bebop and Latin jazz, is led by Director David Manson and made up of some of the most talented musicians in the Tampa Bay area.

Visit Helios Jazz Orchestra or the St. Petersburg Library Blog for more information.

Ask-a-Librarian Director's Chair Contest Winner

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:45:00 +0000

The other Director's Chair winners can be viewed at: http://www.tblc.org/aal/directorschair/winners2009.shtml

Dear Mr. President: A Special Digital Book

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:08:00 +0000

The National Education Association and Kidthing.com released "Dear Mr. President", an electronic book where children share their "thoughts, ideas, and advice" for America's 44th President. For more information visit: www.kidthing.com/DMP

NBC Nightly News report regarding the importance of libraries in these difficult economic times.

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:42:00 +0000

Helios Jazz Orchestra: Live in the Stacks Video

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:41:00 +0000

The Helios Jazz Orchestra: Live in the Stacks

On Oct. 21, the West St. Petersburg Community Library at St. Petersburg College hosted its second “Jazz in the Stacks” concert with the talented Helios Jazz Orchestra.

The 21-piece jazz ensemble, directed by David Manson, performed swing, bebop & Latin jazz arrangements. Its band members, with vocalists Rita Wilson and Joanna Rose, include some of the best jazz musicians in the Tampa Bay area.

Watch them on SPC TV on:

Sunday 9 p.m.

Wednesday 10 a.m.

Saturday 12 p.m.

Friday 8:30 p.m.

Helios Jazz Orchestra -- Live in the Stacks!

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:09:00 +0000

The West St. Petersburg Community Library at St. Petersburg College and the Friends of the Library proudly presents the Helios Jazz Orchestra -- Live in the Stacks!

The Helios Jazz Orchestra is a resident ensemble at St. Petersburg College. The 21-piece jazz big band is directed by Dr. David Manson and performs swing, bebop & Latin jazz. Its members include the best jazz musicians in the Tampa Bay area. Read more at: www.spcollege.edu/spg/music/helios/heliosroster.htm.

The library is located at 67th Street and Eighth Avenue N. on
the St. Petersburg/Gibbs campus. For more information call (727) 341- 7199.

Date: Tuesday October 21, 2008
Time: 7:30pm
Place: Library
Cost: Free!

Refreshments and snacks will be served.

Using word verification to help digitize books

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:44:00 +0000

Everyone has had to type a word or sequence of symbols to verify that they are a human before signing up for an online account like Facebook, Flickr, Gmail etc. I will have to type these words/symbols before posting this to various blogs. These verifications are also known as CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Turing Test To Tell Computers and Humans Apart).

A Carnegie Mellon University scientist, Luis von Ahn, calculated that people waste close to 500,000 hours every day typing these characters. Luis von Ahn consequently developed reCAPTCHA which connects all of this immense brain power to help digitize old books and he and his colleagues reported in Science that “over the last year Web users have transcribed enough text to fill up more than 17,600 books, with better than 99 percent accuracy.”

To read/listen to the story visit http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93605988.

To learn more about reCAPTCHA visit http://www.captcha.net/.

Introduction to Music Course - featuring the Florida Orchestra

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:39:00 +0000

Coming Fall 2008! Introduction to Music course, featuring the Florida Orchestra (Oct. 20 to Dec. 19).

- Attend four Masterworks concerts by the Florida Orchestra. (Admission is included in tuition for the three-credit course. The concerts are Oct. 25, Nov. 8, Nov. 22, and Dec. 13 in Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg. Pre-concert lectures are at 7 p.m., concerts are at 8 p.m. Attendance is required)

- Study in a blend of online and on-campus sessions. (Some work is online. The class will also meet face-to-face from 7-8p.m. on Oct. 22, Nov. 5, Nov. 19, Dec. 10, and 6-10 p.m. on Dec. 17.

Enroll online at www.spcollege.edu. Course number MUH 1110 #3796. For more information visit: www.spcollege.edu/spg/music/donovick or call (727) 341-4360 or (727) 341-4788. For details on the Florida Orchestra concerts visit www.floridaorchestra.com.

ARTstor Tips and Tools

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:39:00 +0000

Using ARTstor large file-size images for teaching

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Integrating ARTstor with Courseware

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Oxford Art and Music Online have been redesigned.

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:01:00 +0000

The Oxford Art and Music Online databases have been redesigned. Guided tours can be found at:

Oxford Music Online
Oxford Art Online

Celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month at the Library!

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:44:00 +0000

Jazz Listening Session: 11:30am - 12:30pm
Jeff Donovick, piano; Don Davis, harmonica: 12:30-1:00pm
SPC Big Band: 1:15-2:00pm

'Cosmic Quandaries' at the Palladium Theatre this Wednesday!

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:52:00 +0000

Join Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson - world renowned astrophysicist, bestselling author, and host of the groundbreaking PBS series NOVA scienceNOW for a journey across the universe as he reveals its cosmic wonders, curiosities and uncertainties in front of a live audience at The Palladium Theatre in St. Petersburg.

WEDU welcomes Dr. deGrasse Tyson, Nova scienceNOW senior executive producer, Paula S. Apsell, and local experts as they as field questions from the audience and explore the mystery of black holes and other galactic conundrums.Tickets are $15 per person and, unlike the universe, are limited for this exclusive WEDU event. Reserve your tickets now at 727.822.3590 or http://www.mypalladium.org/. A flyer for the event can be found here.

Dr. Tyson’s most recent book, Death by Black Hole and other Cosmic Quandaries will be available for purchase at the event.

2007 Florida Book Award Winners

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:54:00 +0000

The 2007 Florida Book Award winners were announced last week and they are as follows:

POPULAR FICTION

Gold Medal Winner: Thomas B. Cavanagh, ‘Head Games’
Silver Medal Winner: James W. Hall, ‘Magic City’
Bronze Medal Winners: Mary Anna Evans, ‘Effigies’; Bob Morris, ‘Bermuda Schwartz’; and Rhonda Poller, ‘Knock Off’

FLORIDA NONFICTION

Gold Medal Winner: Cynthia Barnett, ‘Mirage: Florida and the Vanishing Water of the Eastern U.S’
Silver Medal Winner: Bruce Hunt, ‘Florida Then & Now’
Bronze Medal Winners: Sudye Cauthen, ‘Southern Comforts: Rooted in a Florida Place’and Elna Green, ‘Looking for the New Deal’

POETRY

Gold Medal Winner: David Kirby, ‘House on Boulevard Street’
Silver Medal Winner: Reginald Shepherd, ‘Fata Morgana’
Bronze Medal Winner: Julianna Baggott, ‘Compulsions of Silkworms and Bees’

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE

Gold Medal Winner: Adrian Fogelin, ‘The Sorta Sisters’
Silver Medal Winner: N.E. Bode, ‘The Slippery Map’
Bronze Medal Winner: Ruth Vander Zee, ‘Eli Remembers’

YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE

Gold Medal Winner: Tracy A. Akers, ‘The Search for the Unnamed One’
Silver Medal Winner: Edward Bloor, ‘Taken’
Bronze Medal Winner: Crissa-Jean Chappell, ‘Total Constant Order’

GENERAL FICTION

Gold Medal Winner: Enid Shomer, ‘Tourist Season’
Silver Medal Winner: Leonard Nash, ‘You Can’t Get There from Here’
Bronze Medal Winners: Diana Abu-Jaber, ‘Origin’ and Uthaya Kumar, ‘Ticket to the Moon’

Please contact a librarian if you are interested in reading any of these titles.

For more information on the Florida Book Awards, visit http://www.fsu.edu/~ams/bookawards/index.html

Piano Concert Series with Dolores Gadevsky and Lin He

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:41:00 +0000

St. Petersburg College Piano Concert Series Performance withDolores Gadevsky, Piano and Lin He, Violin.

Dolores Weller Gadevsky has served as piano faculty at Chautauqua Institution, The Eastman School of Music, Los Angeles Conservatory, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Csehy Summer School of Music, and the University of Central Arkansas, where she was also a member of the faculty trio. She is currently serving as Adjunct Professor at
St. Petersburg College.

Born in Shanghai, China, Lin He began his musical training at the age of five. Currently a Doctoral candidate at the Eastman School of Music, Mr. He works under the tutelage of Zvi Zeitlin. Lin He is now serving as the Assistant Professor of Violin at the Louisiana State University School of Music in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Friday, March 7, 7:30 p.m.
Music Center, 6605 5th Ave N, St. Petersburg
Free
(727) 341-4301
Department of Music website: http://www.spcollege.edu/spg/music/

Rudresh Mahanthappa Quartet - Codebook Project Concert at SPC Music Center

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:14:00 +0000

The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Chamber Music America, St. Petersburg College and EMIT present a special Encore concert of Codebook by Rudresh Mahanthappa with Vijay Iyer on piano, François Moutin on bass, and Damion Reid on drums.

Guggenheim fellow Rudresh Mahanthappa is one of the most innovative young musicians and composers in jazz today. Named a "Rising Star" of the alto saxophone by the Downbeat International Critics Poll for the past four years, #2 in 2006, Rudresh has incorporated the culture of his Indian ancestry and has fused myriad influences to create a truly groundbreaking artistic vision.

St. Petersburg College Music Center is at the corner of 66th St. and 5th Ave. N in St. Petersburg. SPC students and staff have free admission. Donation admission is $10(cash) at the door. This concert benefits music student scholarships at St. Petersburg College.

Saturday, March 1
The Music Center at SPC at 8 p.m., pre-concert chat at 7 p.m.
Gibbs campus map

St. Petersburg College Heissler Pipe Organ Concert Series with Nathan Laube

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:34:00 +0000

Nathan Laube has been a perennial favorite of SPC audiences since making his southern U.S. debut at St. Petersburg College in 2005. Currently in his fourth year as a pupil of Alan Morrison at The Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, Nathan has been busy this past year with performances ranging from NYC to Cape Town, South Africa. “One of America’s fastest rising young stars” does not begin to describe the boundless gifts this engaging young man brings to his electrifying performances. An opportunityto experience one of his several opera transcriptions is not to be missed! Mark your calendars!

Friday, Feb. 15, 7:30pm
Music Center, 6605 5th Ave N, St. Petersburg
Free admission
341-4301

ARTstor Tips & tools

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:26:00 +0000

Create presentations using ARTstor large file-size images:
ARTstor images are available for use in presentations for educational or other noncommercial uses in the software environment of your choice.
Learn more

Using the OIV off campus:
Did you know you can show your Offline Image Viewer presentations off-campus? There are several options for transporting OIV files and presenting them at other institutions or conferences.
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ARTstor News

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:52:00 +0000

Case Study: ARTstor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel HillRead an in–depth study of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill's decision-making process in licensing and implementing ARTstor as a campus–wide resource.
Learn more ...

ARTstor joins FacebookAs part of our ongoing effort to make ARTstor information and services broadly available to our community, ARTstor is joining the social networking site Facebook.com.
Learn more ...

St. Petersburg College Heissler Pipe Organ Concert Series with David Higgs

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:34:00 +0000

David Higgs, chairman of the organ department at The Eastman School of Music, headlines the Heissler Organ Concert Series this year. David is an internationally acclaimed concert and recording artist (Gothic Records and Delos International).

Come experience the famed Eastman style through the superlative artistry of this gifted performer. Arrive early, as seating is limited. Doors open at 6:45 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m.
Music Center, 6605 5th Ave. N, St. Petersburg
$10 - general public, SPC students and staff - free admission
(727) 341-4301

Are you an educated voter?

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:16:00 +0000

St. Petersburg College Piano Concert Series Performance with Read Gainsford

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:49:00 +0000

“The perfect combination of head, heart and hands” typifies critics’ responses to Read Gainsford’s first concert tour in the United States. He has earned critical and public acclaim in four continents, and has received high praise for music ranging from Mozart to Messiaen, from performances on period instruments to the pianistic complexities of Rachmaninoff. Born in New Zealand, Read moved to the United States in 1992 to enter the doctoral program at Indiana University, where he worked with Karen Shaw and Leonard Hokanson.

Since living in the USA he has been guest artist for the American Music Teachers Association, as well as giving recitals, concerto performances and master-classes. He has appeared at the Gilmore Keyboard Festival and the Music Festival of the Hamptons, and is a member of the contemporary music group Ensemble X and the Garth Newel Chamber Players, as well as working with such musicians as Jacques Zoon, William Vermuelen, Roberto Diaz, Eddie vanOosthuyse and Luis Rossi.

His program, entitled The French Connection will feature works by Mozart, Debussy, Faure, Messiaen, Poulenc and Bolcom.

FREE!
Friday, January 18, 7:30 p.m.
Music Center, 6605 5th Ave N, St. Petersburg
(727) 341-4301

VILNIUS STRING QUARTET – In Concert

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 13:49:00 +0000

The Vilnius String Quartet has given concerts all over the world including Carnegie Hall (New York), Tchaikovsky Conservatoire (Moscow), Bayerische Rundfunk (Munich), Mozarteum (Salzburg) and in many other renowned concert halls. Having made its debut in 1965, the ensemble's wide repertoire of 450 works includes 150 quartets by contemporary composers and about 100 works by Lithuanian composers. The Vilnius String Quartet has formed a unique tradition of interpretation. Its deep comprehension enables the ensemble to employ a wide range of musical expression in interpreting Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms, Schuloff, Schnitke, Schonberg or Cage.

Wednesday, Jan . 16, 4 p.m., $17 -$22 - $27

Note: St. Petersburg College’s Palladium Theater will be closed for renovations throughout January. As a result, concerts will take place in the Music Center on the St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus, 6605 Fifth Ave. N.

St. Petersburg College Piano Concert Series Performance with Cathal Breslin

noreply@blogger.com (Chad Mairn) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 13:37:00 +0000

An exciting international career has taken Cathal Breslin to critically acclaimed performances in Concert Halls throughout Europe, U.S.A. and Asia. He has worked under such prestigious conductors as Vladimir Altschuler, Christian Gansch, Barry Douglas, Giovanni Battista Rigon, Niklas Willen, and Gearoid Grant.

Breslin was awarded first prize in the Carlet International Piano Competition in Valencia, top prize in the Grand Konzerteum International Piano Competition in Greece, third prize in the Viotti International Piano Competition in Italy (World Federation), fourth prize in the Iowa International Piano Competition, and two special prizes in the AXA Dublin International Piano Competition. He recently performed as one of 30 pianists selected for the Cleveland International Piano Competition, where his performances were critically acclaimed for their "superb intensity and passion."

Jan. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Music Center, 6605 5th Ave N, St. Petersburg
FREE
(727) 341-4301