University of Illinois Residence Hall Libraries

Finals already?

2009-05-10T21:21:00.002-05:00

Finals are here!!! And all the residence hall libraries have special extended hours in celebration :-). We're now open every day from 4pm-1am until Thursday the 14th. The libraries have everything you need whether you're looking to study, relax or have some fun. We have plenty of quiet studying space, internet access and previous exams and study tools for you to utilize. If you're more in the mood to get away from all the pressure of finals, or if you're lucky enough to not have any, we also offer plenty for leisure activities. Our extensive CD and DVD collections offer plenty of opportunity for listening and viewing pleasure and our so varied that its almost guaranteed you'll find something you like! We also have a wide variety of magazines to choose from and of course BOOKS! So come check us out before you leave for the semester, summer's not too far off!

Check out LAR's 'New Books' section!

2009-05-08T16:58:00.006-05:00

Need a break studying for finals? Stop by LAR's library and check out some great new books!
***

Michelle Obama in her Own Words
The Views and Values of America's First Lady

There's a lot to learn about history-making First Lady Michelle Obama. Her glamorous good looks, no-nonsense approach, and quirky sense of humor have intrigued many Americans. Drawing on quotations form a variety of sources - including newspaper and magazine articles, transcripts, speeches, and TV interviews and profiles - this concise book of quotations provides a highly readable survey of Michelle Obama's thoughts, words, and beliefs. From her reflections on balancing work and motherhood to her role in the White House, Michelle Obama in her Own Words is an easy-to-use and accessible reference guide.

***

Relative Discomfort
The Family Survival Guide by Jeremy Greenberg

In Relative Discomfort, comedian and author Jeremy Greenberg offers a hilarious collection of games, exit strategies, conversation starters, and other tips and tricks to help you survive Thanksgivings, Christmases, bar mitzvahs, reunions, weddings, funerals, and many other potentially painful family gatherings. Whether it's attending your cousin's combination wedding/baby shower/high school graduation, moving back into your parents' home when you're no longer a kid (or, if you're the parent, kicking your adult son or daughter out of your home), or sitting through yet another mind-numbing discussion about the amounts of nuts in your aunt's fudge squares, this sidesplitting guide will help you get through (or at least laugh at) even the most boring or annoying family encounters.

***

Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume
Edited by Jennifer O'Connell

Whether laughing to tears reading Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great or clamoring for more unmistakable “me too!” moments in Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, girls all over the world have been touched by Judy Blume’s poignant coming-of-age stories. Now, in this anthology of essays, twenty-four notable female authors write straight from the heart about the unforgettable novels that left an indelible mark on their childhoods and still influence them today. Drawing on their own experiences of feeling like a Fourth Grade Nothing before growing up to become Smart Women themselves, these writers pay tribute, through their reflections and most cherished memories, to one of the most beloved authors of all time.

***

I Aint Sayin' She's a Gold Digger
By Erica K. Barnes

Kentia can't seem to meet her monetary needs. Since beauty and trickery are what she knows best, she uses them as her golden ticket. Kentia drains money from teh wallet of her current man, and when she's done with him, she moves on to the next. Kentia hustles her victims, not knowing that she's about to become a victim herself.

New Magazines In Peabody!

2009-04-30T16:32:00.006-05:00

Tired of reading the same mainstream magazines every week? Want to expand your horizons and read more riveting, unique magazines? Peabody Library has recently expanded its magazine collection to include some of today’s most interesting magazines!

Computer Arts is a fascinating magazine, containing interesting computer-generated artwork, interviews with up-and-coming artists, and award winning artwork. It also includes a free CD which offers a Photoshop video training session, allowing you to discover new 3D, animation, video and analysis techniques!

Make Magazine is another unique magazine, which is sure to have you flipping page after page! It is full of pictures and stories about new technological advances, interviews with inventors, and much more!

Paste Magazine is one of the top sources for current events regarding music, movies, and the arts. For anyone who loves reading about music and movies, this magazine is a must read!

Hot Oscar Movies (2009) in ISR!

2009-04-29T22:27:00.006-05:00

Check out these Oscar Award Winning Movies(2009) at ISR!

Wall-E: Best Animated Feature

Slumdog Millionaire: 8 awards: best feature film, direction, original song, original score, sound mixing, editing, adapted screenplay and cinematography.

Dark Knight: Sound Editing

Man On Wire: Documentary Feature

Milk: Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

The Duchess: Costume Design

Who's Your City?

2009-04-22T00:09:00.003-05:00

As the end of your college career gets closer you may find yourself with many questions about your next career path. Richard Florida’s book entitled Who’s Your City? gives great insight on just how important it is to pick the right location. He says that before you consider important decisions like your future profession or marriage, you need to decide where to live. Now that it is getting much more difficult to land a job, finding the right city to live in is more important than ever. In the book, Richard discusses many factors that should influence where you live.

Some of the topics he discusses in detail include:

-How finding the perfect job depends on your location
-The differences in housing price and value for major cities
-How the right location will improve your happiness
-How to find a town that matches your personality and improves your social calendar.
-And the three big moves one should expect to make

If you are preparing to make your first big steps into the real world, this is a must read! It provides an interesting and informative way of looking at your future and how to make it better than you’ve imagined.

eBook -- Sustainable Energy Without the Hot Air

2009-04-09T19:16:00.002-05:00

At last a book that comprehensively reveals the true facts about sustainable energy in a form that is both highly readable and entertaining. Robert Sansom, EDF Energy

Matthias Rath - steal this chapter - Bad Science

2009-04-09T19:12:00.002-05:00

Ben Goldacre has posted to his excellent blog a chapter he had to leave out of the first edition of his book, Bad Science. The chapter deals with vitamin magnate Matthias Rath, who went over to Africa and launched a lamentably successful campaign to promote his pills in place of effective AIDS drugs. Read this chapter (Goldacre writes very engagingly and passionately) and then pass it on. Quackery has a body count.

More Than One Way to Listen to A Song

2009-04-07T23:02:00.007-05:00

If you could pick out the best CDs from every genre, and collect them together in one library, you'd find that the Residential Life Libraries are a sweet spot for music lovers.

Borrowing unfamiliar music from our libraries is an excellent way to discover new bands. You can see some of our most recent purchases range from Hip Hop, Latin, Indie, Movie Soundtracks, and more.

In the age of the Portable Media Device, a CD is part of the plastic space which once took up entire walls of many an apartment. Now downloading music and music apps, and making the perfect shuffle are the first choice for millions of listeners, and barely take up the room in your pocket. Libraries love this, we love to see people connect to culture, and we strive to give you everything you need to stay in touch with the brilliance, irreverence, and creativity of music artists.

To this end, we give you loads of fantastic CDs, as well as a list the most popular music apps as listed in Billboards April 4th issue:

Artist iPhone Apps

Lady Gaga: Haus of Gaga (free)
AKON: Freedome (free)
Pink's Funhouse (free)
Soulja Boy Tell'Em TV (free)
Death Cab for Cutie (free)

Radio Apps

iHeart Radio
Pandora
Shazam

Travel Books in ISR

2009-04-07T20:11:00.012-05:00

Thinking about traveling anywhere this summer? Come check out travel books at ISR!

Learn about Florida before your trip! Read about different accommodations, places to eat, cultural events, and more in different cities around Florida. Look up tourist offices, maps, transportation, and other useful things that you may need for your trip. If you like outdoor activities, this guidebook also gives information on hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, scuba diving, sailing, and many other outdoor activities in Florida.

Get local insight on Panama! Learn about Panama City, as well as other provinces. The author discusses places to eat, sleep, and sight-see all over the country. He also talks about the culture and language, and what to expect as a foreigner visiting from another country.

Thinking about going to China? Read up on its many different cities and regions. The authors go into the culture and environment, as well as restaurants and accommodations. They also provide insight into some Chinese history and language, and go into detail on how to get around many different cities so you can make the most of your trip.

You probably have already been to Chicago, but there’s always more to see and do! Learn about different neighborhoods, festivals and parades, restaurants, and much more. Also learn about the different immigrant populations that have arrived and their influence on Chicago.

ALSO: New York City, Hong Kong and Macau, Australia and New Zealand, India, and others

2009-04-06T23:06:00.003-05:00

Summer Fit For Summer Fun!

Peabody Library’s new book by Tiki Barber Pure Hard Workout will help you get in the perfect shape just in time for summer. Pure Hard Workout is based on the intensity of hardcore power lifting tossing out the everyday use of machines and takes it back to the basic lifts like squats. With over 150 pages of pictures and descriptive exercises the guidance of this book will have you ripped for the summer in no time! So stop wasting time and start building real strength and muscle. Be sure to check out this new book at Peabody Library along with all the other new books our Residence Hall Libraries has to offer!

Peabody's New Books

2009-04-02T22:46:00.002-05:00

There are some new books at the Peabody Library. Here’s a glimpse of some of the materials.

Paranoia
By Jason Freeman and Daniel Freeman

The tagline reads “Terrorist, child abductors, muggers, delinquent teenagers, malicious colleagues…Who wouldn’t be worried?” The book examines if paranoia is a modern phenomenon or if paranoia has always been a part of our culture. The authors are researchers on the topic thus you will be learning from the best. It’s a short read and an interesting look into the mindset of society.

Study Away, The Unauthorized Guide to College Abroad
By Mariah Balaban and Jennifer Shields

If you are planning on studying aboard or just dreaming about it, this book can help you narrow down the choices. There are 68 featured profiles of schools around the world that teach in English. The profiles describe the campus, academic programs, tuition rates and financial aid information, student housing, and social activities. It is the inside scoop on studying aboard.

There is a whole bookcase devoted to new material. If you are looking for fiction, non-fiction, or just a good read, we’re sure to have something that appeals to you. And if we don’t just let us know and we can help you fill out a request slip. So come in to the Peabody Library and check out the new books!

New CDs

2009-03-18T16:01:00.008-05:00

Come and check out our new CDs @ LAR Library!!!!!

ROCK:

1. Black Butterfly by Buckcherry

Amazon Editorial Review: “Buckcherry is back with a purpose, unleashing their newest effort, Black Butterfly. Following the platinum success of 15, these LA rockers haven't lost any of their edge.”

2. Doll Domination by Pussycat Dolls

3. Meo suo ieyrun vio spilum endalaust by Sigur Ros

SOUNDTRACK:

1. P.S. I Love You Original Motion Picture Score

2. Curious Case of Benjamin Button Music From The Motion Picture

“DESPLAT delivers a handful of well-used themes, motifs and instrumentation that captures the essence of Benjamin, his circle of friends and family as well as the film's locale. The end result is a melodic and introspective musical experience that has its own charm outside the context of the film.” ~Christopher Coleman (www.tracksounds.com)

3. Mamma Mia! The Movie Soundtrack

RAP/R&B/ELEC:

1. Tronic by Black Milk

2. Onmyradio by Soulchild, Musiq

“That's what makes his fifth CD, OnMyRadio, a welcome departure from previous work, which started to all sound the same around 2003's Soulstar. He hasn't abandoned his romantic roots, but he was wise to enrich them with Southern charm.” ~M. Watson (Entertainment Weekly)

3. Soulja Boy tellem.com

4. Donkey by CSS

INTERNATIONAL/LATIN:

1. Activando by KMW

2. Made in Dakar by Orchestra Baobab

COUNTRY:

1. Do You Know by Jessica Simpson

“…the most strong-footed move that Jessica Simpson — or her ever-present dad-ager…” ~Rolling Stone

CD covers from www.amazon.com

Check out Busey Evans Library's New DVDs!

2009-03-15T20:06:00.006-05:00

Secret Life of Bees

Set in South Carolina in 1964, this is the tale of Lily Owens a 14 year-old girl who is haunted by the memory of her late mother. To escape her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father, Lily flees with Rosaleen, her caregiver and only friend, to a South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother's past. Taken in by the intelligent and independent Boatwright sisters, Lily finds solace in their mesmerizing world of beekeeping. Written by Fox Searchlight Pictures

Shaggy Dog

Dr. Kozak (Robert Downey Jr.) kidnaps a 300-year old Tibetan sheepdog in an attempt to discover the dog's secret of longevity and produce a fountain of youth drug. Unfortunately, all he has produced are animal mutations such as a king cobra-canine with a tail, a dog-frog that barks, and other mutations that are part dog. The sheepdog escapes the lab and is rescued by Carly Douglas (Zena Grey), who takes him home. Deputy District Attorney Dave Douglas (Tim Allen) is prosecuting Carly's teacher for the firebombing of Dr. Kozak's lab. Dave hates dogs, and after he is bitten by the sheepdog, the dog is sent to the pound. The dog has injected Dave with some of his DNA cells, and Dave begins to have canine urges and eventually, becomes a sheepdog. Dave learns the truth about his family and the drug company as a dog. Douglas Young (the-movie-guy)

Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist

It's been three weeks, two days, and 23 hours since Tris broke up with Nick. And now here she is at his gig, with a new guy. How could she have moved on so fast? This begins the night of Nick, Norah and Manhattan. The night of stripping nuns, hotel ice rooms, Russian food, psychotic ex-boyfriends and lovingly trashy ex-girlfriends. It's the night of Julio and Salvatore. The night of holding hands and writing songs and singing in the rain. It's a night they'll never forget.

2009-03-05T21:49:00.004-06:00

March 2009 – Gregory Blog Post

At Gregory Library, we’ve been getting quite a few new books in. Read on to find out more about two of these new books!

1. Flat Belly Diet! A Breakthrough Plan from the Editors of Prevention
By: Liz Vaccariello, with Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD

Though this book is aimed primarily at women of approximately 40 years of age, it seems as if it could work for a broader audience. The Flat Belly Diet claims that with its help you can “lose inches in just four days, drop up to 15 pounds in 32 days, eat delicious, satisfying foods, never feel hungry, and boost your energy as the weight falls off!” The book description states that the diet is designed to target the number one trouble spot for women: the belly. I think one of the most important parts of this book is that it’s written with the help of an actual Dietician (not always the case with diet books!), which gives the book more credibility. To me, the book seems like it takes a sensible approach, which separates it from other fad diet books. However, it’s important to note that no diet is magic, and plans such as these are usually the most useful for kick-starting weight loss plans, not maintaining long term weight loss.

2. Elephants on Acid and Other Bizarre Experiments
By: Alex Boese

According to the author, “The one unifying element” in this book “(besides the obvious theme of bizarreness) is that all the experiments in the book were considered to be legitimate scientific research at the time they were conducted -- which gives some perspective both on changing scientific ethics and methodological standards.” All of the experiments that Boese highlights in the book are real and were conducted at some point, no matter how unlikely they might seem. Included in the book are “attempts to prove the myth that the bar patrons become more attractive at closing time and the effects of staying awake for 11 days straight” along with Frankenstein-like experiments. Amazon’s description states that the book “will obviously appeal to armchair scientists, but the short, witty, ceaselessly amusing entries should delight anyone with a healthy sense of morbid curiosity.” Check this book out – you’ll definitely be entertained!

Reading for Fun!

2009-02-27T14:29:00.004-06:00

Hello Fellow Readers,

Do you feel you have no time to read books just for fun because you are always reading long, large textbooks? I feel this way often at school so I took the opportunity to catch up on some reading over winter break. I highly recommend reading the book, The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls which was a New York Times Bestseller. This book can be found at your Peabody Library in the Peabody Tunnels. The book is actually a memoir of Jeannette Walls life and her experiences growing up. Jeannette Walls was one of four children born to Rex and Rose Mary Walls. Rex and Rose were not your normal parents in their form of parenting. The family was at most times in a state of dysfunction with such nonconformist parents. They moved around a lot, and slept wherever they could. The family had a hunger for adventure and to follow their dreams. Rex was a brilliant man, when sober, who taught his children many things but most of all to have hope and their dreams would come true. Rose Mary did not embrace the responsibility of raising a family well as she was found to be frustrated often. She was a woman who loved to paint since she saw that as lasting forever.
Running out of food and money was not uncommon for the family. Their love for adventure was in fact too much as they had lived life irrationally for too long. The family had to return home to Rex’s hometown, a West Virginia mining town, much to Rex’s attempt to stay away. Rex would do whatever he could to escape and would even leave for periods of time. Both of their parent’s attempts to hold down jobs were many failed attempts. Rex and Rose Mary believed in their children learning from their mistakes, something that they never did learn to do. This left Jeannette and her brother and sisters to provide for themselves and to fight to survive in this harsh world. Together they survived their parents’ betrayals and lack of a functioning family. Together the children finally found the resources and the will to leave home and the pain of their past. Walls does an excellent job of describing what it was like to be child in this dysfunctional family. Through all of her embarrassing and horrific experiences she still is able to write this book not as the victim. Despite the tragedy of her childhood she is still able to respect her parents and have love for them. This memoir is inspiring for all of those who are trying to rise above their past.
The University of Illinois Residence Libraries are lucky to have three copies of this wonderful book. There are two copies available at the Busey-Evans Library and one copy available at the Peabody Library. They are located in the Bibliography section. Feel free to ask the librarians on duty if you are having any trouble finding it. I hope you will consider checking out this book the next day you are at the Residence Hall Libraries. So the next time you fall asleep again while trying to read that textbook trying reading The Glass Castle which will be sure to keep your attention. Happy Reading :)

New Magazines at ISR

2009-02-27T11:50:00.002-06:00

Hello intrepid readers!
Some of you may have noticed a few changes over here at the ISR Library. Magazine racks are simply teeming with new reads for you, and you may be wondering what you'll be reading next!
Fortunately for you, this blog will highlight some of the best of the best and show you exactly what each new zine is known for!

Bust: Bust is marketed as a magazine "for women with something to get off their chests." Although it is marketed as such, men also can and do enjoy reading its up-to-the-minute responses to art, culture, and current events. Here is where you'll find smart, sassy, and savvy coverage of all things new (as well as some great conversation starters).

Giant Robot: Interested in learning about Asian American pop culture? Then look no further than Giant Robot! Giant Robot was originally a handmade magazine, but since its inception, it has grown to "giant" proportions and covered art, design, music, movies, travel, and current evetns. It is unique because there are also several stores for and by its readers! Unfortunately, none of its stores are in Champaign-Urbana, so you might want to visit them over Spring Break!

Seed: Interested in science? Or maybe majoring in it? Then Seed is for you. It features articles about science and society, and the articles are easy to understand and accessible to anyone. The famous physicist Brian Greene is the editor, and in its eight-year lifespan, it has won numerous literary and scientific awards.

Make: Feel like crafting that perfect project for class? Want to re-create something cool you saw at Engineering Open House? Or maybe just want to prank your best friend? Then head on down and check out Make. It features "do-it-yourself" projects that break down some complex concepts and allow you to come up with some impressive creations. Make also has a section called "Primer," which shows you step-by-step instructions on some of the basic concepts of metalwork, woodwork, and welding. There is no telling to what you will create!

Adbusters: Adbusters is an anti-consumerist magazine that features stories of activist causes. If you're looking for something humorous or outraged, then take a look at Adbusters. It features "subvertisements" that parody real ad campaigns, and its staff has launched several awareness events such as "Buy Nothing Day" and "TV Turnoff Week." If you're looking to "question authority," or maybe just to see what their views are about, you should come and see this one.

We can't wait to see you in ISR and hope you enjoy some of these great titles!

LOOKING FOR ROMANTIC COMEDY ?????

2009-02-25T21:58:00.002-06:00

Watch some Romantic Comedy in your comfort zone and from the University Libraries DVD collection…

Check out some of the greatest romantic comedy of all time!!! You can start with Ernst Lubitsch’s screwball classic Trouble In Paradise, but of course, you cannot but think of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Julie when it comes to romance, and so you can also enjoy the quintessential version of it, Franco Zeffirelli’s West Side Story (1961)..

You might also want to go through a journey in Vienna with actor Ethan Hawke in Before Sunrise (1995), or maybe Italy isn’t such a bad idea and riding the Vespa with Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday (1953).

Oh wait, you cannot resist Clark Gable in It Happened One Night (1934), can you? Maybe not. What about musical, such as Robert Altman’s L.A.-centric musical-comedy A Perfect Couple (1979), that’ll do… or some more classic with Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn in Holiday (1938), or shall we go for Whit Stillman’s culture-clash comedy Barcelona (1994) and spice up your international exploration of love.

You can also enjoy one of U of I alums, Ang Lee’s production of Brokeback Mountain (2005), in a memory of one of America’s greatest actors Heath Ledger. Or if you are in the mood of robotic romance you can always go with Wall-E (2008) And there are many more… Summertime (1955), I Know Where I’m Going! (1945), Friday Night (2002), Adam Sandler’s Punch Drunk Love (2002), Irish love story Once (2006), Woody Allen’s Annie Hall (1977), Roxanne (1987), French romance Jules Et Jim (1962), Defending Your Life (1991), Julie Andrews’ The Sound Of Music (1965), Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet’s Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004), Billy The Kid (2007), and many many many more…

LOOKING FOR AN INTERNSHIP OR JOB ANYTIME SOON? LOOK NO FURTHER THAN PAR LIBRARY!!

2009-02-22T23:05:00.003-06:00

Are you planning on working over this coming summer? If so, why not make it a memorable experience and a great addition to your resume by getting an internship? For any of you who might be looking to get an internship any time in the near future, Pennsylvania Avenue Library (PAR) offers a great selection of resources to guide and help you on your search. For those of you that are seniors and are going to be looking for jobs, there are also great resources available for you here at PAR, all in the College/Career section. Here are just a few of the many helpful titles available for you on your search for a job/internship:

How to Say It on Your Resume: A Top Recruiting Director's Guide to Writing the Perfect Resume for Every Job
By Brad Karsh
Call #: 650.14 K1489h

PAR’s newest addition to the College/Career from February, this guide details a step-by-step process to creating the perfect resume that will be well-received by all potential employers. Ideal for all types of people looking to find work, the two customer reviews on Amazon.com speak quite highly of this book. It also includes numerous sample resumes as guidelines for the reader.

What Color Is Your Parachute? 2007: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers
By Richard Nelson Bolles
Call #: 371.425 B63w 2007

While not the most updated version, this book is often cited as the best-selling job-hunting book in the world, for which there must be some good reasons. Going through the process of helping the reader find out what job is right for him/her and where to go with that idea, along with nearly every other step of the process for finding a job, this book should be the first place to go when beginning to search for a job or internship. The fifty-seven Amazon.com reviews average out to a 4.5/5 stars, which indicates that there must be some valuable information held within these pages.

Firestarters: 100 Job Profiles to Inspire Young Women
By Kelly Beatty & Dale Salvaggio Bradshaw
Call #: 331.702 B38f 2006

Supposedly geared towards women (sorry guys), I think this book can offer at least something for everybody. This book details the experiences and responsibilities of one hundred different women and their jobs, which range from Chief Financial Officer, to a golf pro, to a photographer. Critically acclaimed to inspire young women, this book is perfect for someone who does not have a set idea on what they want to do or where they want to work. The four Amazon.com customer reviews give it an average of 4.5/5, with the only non-five star review claiming that it was quite helpful, just not very inspiring. Even if you are a guy and you’re in need of potential job or internship ideas, it wouldn’t hurt to at least take a peek through this one (guys, if you’re worried about the pink cover, just put it inside of another book and read it like that).

These are just a few examples of the many resources available to you here at PAR Library. From The Big Book of Jobs, to The Internship Bible, to the many other resources in our College/Careers section, you are sure to find something to help you on your quest to finding an internship or job that perfectly suits you.

New Magazines Galore!!!

2009-01-26T17:13:00.007-06:00

Since last semester, the Busey-Evans Library has revamped its magazine collection with over 15 new titles!! Here are some of the new mags the library will be getting this semester: ALEF, Bust, Craft, Giant Robot, Guilt & Pleasure, PINK, Spirituality & Health, URB, Verge, The Week, and Yoga Journal. These magazines are very diverse from one another and from other magazines you may have read before; they cover a wide variety of topics. For example, ALEF is a mag about the Arab world: fashion, lifestyle, and culture!

Have you ever read an independent magazine before? Come in and take a look at Bitch, which is an independent feminist magazine. This magazine has reviews of the latest books, movies, TV shows, and art!

You can learn new things, get the latest news story coverage in The Week, career advice from PINK, or read URB, which is wholly devoted to hip-hop and urban culture!

Welcome Back!

2009-01-20T16:30:00.005-06:00

Welcome back, students!

I hope that you enjoyed Winter Break, with all its time to read for leisure and not for a requirement!

Over Winter Break, I enjoyed lots of time watching different TV series on DVD, many of which we have featured here at the Gregory Residence Hall Library!

The first one that I got hooked on was Flight of the Conchords:

This is a hilarious HBO series about 2 guys from New Zealand who come to America looking for fame. The only problem is that they aren't any good, and neither them nor their inept manager seems to notice!

Full of random dream sequence-like music videos broken into the plot, this show is sure to become a new favorite!

Another show that I spent lots of time watching over break was Gilmore Girls:

A 7-season running show, this series is laugh-out-loud hilarious! The relationship between the mother and daughter (Lorelei and Rory) is always entertaining, and there's never a dull moment. Luckily, Gregory Residence Hall has the full series available to our patrons!

I hope you enjoyed some great TV series also! Feel free to comment back with more recommendations, and OF COURSE, check out Gregory Libraries collection of TV series for your enjoyment!

Dear Dewey

2008-11-21T00:04:00.002-06:00

Dear Dewey,
What is up with that board hanging in Gregory's library with all the questions and answers on it?

-That is a great question. Here at Gregory Library we have a little something called the question board. It is a board that hangs on the wall near the entrance to our library and gives patrons the opportunity to ask a question. There are no limits to these questions. It can be about anything and everything. There is an envelope with question forms attached to the board where the patron writes their question then we, the librarians, research the question and answer it to the best of our ability. We've had some pretty interesting questions so far: "What is the Alma Mater?", "Does God exist?", and "What are the all time best selling books and authors?".

All in all, this is just a little something extra that makes our library special. It helps patrons and librarians interact, and it is something interesting for people to look at as they come into our library. Here at Gregory, us librarians and the many patrons love the question board.

Take home a Book or CD for Thanksgiving!!

2008-11-20T04:22:00.010-06:00

Wondering what you're going to do during this Thanksgiving break? How about reading a good book you’ve always wanted to read? Or how about unwinding from all that super late night studying you just did (hey, we know you did it) with your favorite genre of music, or favorite artist of music? Well, luckily Peabody Library has both! (as do all of the other libraries in the undergraduate dorms). In fact, we even have magazines (almost 20 different varieties) and Cliff’s Notes. If you’ve been too busy with schoolwork the past few weeks to remember that these items are even here, now is your chance. Visit the Peabody library in the Snyder/Weston/Scott basement for 5 minutes this week before you leave, and browse through our collection. You can check out an unlimited number of books, up to 4 CDs, and an unlimited number of magazines, if they are not the most recent issue. This Thanksgiving break is nine days long. The library will close for Thanksgiving break on Friday (Nov. 21) at 5 P.M, so be sure to stop by before then if you want to take something home. The library reopens on Monday Dec. 1 though, so be sure not to forget your library items at home. In case you don’t already have a particular book or CD in mind, here are a few of the genres available to check out over break:

For Books: Mystery/Thriller, Sci-Fi, Romance, Literature, Art, Social Science, Biography, Job/Career, Science, History, Religion, Multicultural, Self-help, Study Guides, Language, Relationships, and more!

For CDs: Rock/Pop, R&B, Jazz, Gospel, Classical, Country, Soundtracks, Dance, International, Reggae, Blues, Electronica, Holiday, and more!

For Magazines: Entertainment Weekly, Sports Illustrated, People, Time, Newsweek, Car and Driver, Cosmopolitan, Latina, Glamour, Ebony, Wired, Fashion, Rolling Stone, and more!

Learn all you need to know about the new president-elect at LAR Library!

2008-11-19T18:52:00.001-06:00

It was so encouraging to see so many participate in our democratic process this election year; hopefully we can continue to be well educated about the political scene in this country as Barack Obama’s term begins. Get to know the new president through a number of resources at the LAR Library.

Check out a number of magazines featuring a cover story on Barack Obama:

Jet, November 17 issue: “Yes, we did! Barack Obama, Election 2008” p.27-34
People, November 24 issue: “America’s First Family: The Obamas’ New Life!” p.58-63
Newsweek, November 24 issue: “Obama’s Lincoln: The Strength of Humility” p. 28-32
Time, November 24 issue: “The New New Deal” p.26-29

Another good read about Barack Obama available at LAR:

Dreams from My Father: A story of Race and Inheritance
Rereleased in 2004 this is a New York Times Best Seller. Read Obama’s memoirs and learn about his past in a more personal way and gain a glimpse of what made our new president who he is today.

Be sure to stop by LAR and check out any of these resources!

Can't find a book or DVD you want?

2008-11-17T21:01:00.007-06:00

The weather is getting cold out there, we would just try to minimize the time of staying outside the dorm. However since the residence hall library is relatively small comparing to other department libraries, and there are books/DVDs that you are looking, what can you do if you can't find them in the residence hall libraries?

Here are the suggestions for you:

(i) check on www.library.uiuc.edu and try to locate the book, if they are on campus or in I-Share, you can easily request them to be sent to your dorm's library, a notification email will be sent to you when your book(s) arrive(s). Ask your dorm's librarian who are on duty if you do not know how this could be done!

(ii) If you think that your collection is too small, you can fill in the request slip in your dorm's library, or you can always email to your dorm's library and tell us about the collections (including books, cds and DVDs) that they should purchase.

Here are our email address:
Allen : allenlibrary@gmail.com
ISR : isrlibrary@gmail.com
Busey-Evans : buseylibrary@gmail.com
FAR : farlibrary@gmail.com
Gregory : grelibrary@gmail.com
LAR : larlibrary@gmail.com
PAR : parlibrary@gmail.com
Peabody : pealibrary@gmail.com

Twilight fun!

2008-11-14T13:44:00.004-06:00

The Twilight movie will be out in one week and we here at Gregory Library have some Twilight fun in store!

Now through Wednesday (November 19th), visit Gregory Library, correctly answer 6 questions from the books, and get entered into a drawing for a special Twilight bag, movie poster, and Breaking Dawn stickers! Every person who submits an entry will receive a Breaking Dawn bookmark.

At 9 p.m. on Thursday the 20th, join us for a Twilight book discussion. After the discussion, at 10 p.m., the winner for the bag, poster, and stickers will be drawn. The winner does not need to be present to win.

Also, listen to Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Playlist! Meyer created her own playlist while writing Twilight, and the Residence Hall Libraries have many of the CDs, including:
- "Three cheers for sweet revenge" by My Chemical Romance (LAR)
- "Pablo honey" by Radiohead (Allen)
- "A rush of blood to the head" by Coldplay (FAR)
- "Hybrid theory" by Linkin Park (Busey Evans, Peabody)
and more! Visit your Res Hall Library for more information.

Come join us and have fun!