NetLibrary March Book of the Month

In Two Billion Cars, transportation experts Daniel Sperling and Deborah Gordon provide a concise history of America's love affair with cars and an overview of the global oil and auto industries. America is still the leading emissions culprit, and what is especially worrying is that developing nations are becoming car-centric cultures as well. The authors explain how we arrived in this dangerous state, and also what we can do about it. Sperling and Gordon expose the roots of the problem-- the resistant auto-industry, dysfunctional oil markets, short-sighted government policies, and unmotivated consumers. They zero in on reforming our gas-guzzling culture, expanding the search for low-carbon fuels, environment-friendly innovations in transportation planning, and more. Promising advances in both transportation technology and fuel efficiency together with shifts in travel behavior, they suggest, offer us a realistic way out of our predicament.

http://whatcounts.com/dm?id=1C2C896D163870C0BCD828AC9AD47C17AB211475F9D6EDD4

Trials on Databases

Along with books, MJ Library purchases databases for articles and other information that are useful for all subjects we teach at NDSCS. On the library main web page, there is a link to NEW resources and any trials we may be carrying out. This has been changed several times lately as we look for new things to add. We invite you to look at the new links and make comments to the library staff, as this helps us determine if these are worth purchasing for our college community.

Facebook Page

Here is a Facebook page I am starting for the library, just to keep adding new ways of connecting with new and old students. Have a look and write on the Wall if you are a Facebook member. I am looking for was to keep it new and interesting.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wahpeton-ND/Mildred-Johnson-Library-NDSCS/23634125026#

Ghost Book - or why you should always check the catalog

Check out this video on YouTube, from Georgia, which explains why you should check the online catalog to see where a book can be found.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUrfgNoPEBY

New Database Resources

A new link has been added to the Library Electronic Resources Web Page.

http://www.ndscs.nodak.edu/library/reference.jsp

Following a Free Trial, we recently added two new databases to our electronic reference materials. One is called Culture Grams, the other is the SIRS Researcher.

Culture Grams is useful for many areas, where finding out about a country and the customs of the citizens is necessary for understanding.

The SIRS Researcher is a well-respected grouping of articles on leading issues, which are often used for research papers, opinion papers, and debate questions.

Last year we purchased the AP Images database, which features materials from the Associated Press over many years. It hasn't been used extensively, but it should be useful for many types of projects. Have a look.

Do you love your librarian?

Then nominate her (or him)!

The Carnegie Corporation and The New York Times sponsor the I Love My Librarian competition. The web site is at

http://www.ilovelibraries.org/lovemylibrarian/cccu.cfm

Here is what they have to say about it:

The Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award encourages library users to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional public, school, college, community college, or university librarians. The awards program will demonstrate how librarians are improving the lives of the people in their communities.

Up to ten winners will be selected annually and will receive a $5,000 cash award, a plaque and $500 travel stipend to attend an awards reception in New York hosted by The New York Times at TheTimesCenter on December 9, 2008. In addition, a plaque will be given to each award winner’s library.

The award is administered by the American Library Association with support from Carnegie Corporation of New York and The New York Times.

So if you have some nice things to say about one of the MJ Library staff, we hope you will consider filling in the nomination form and letting the world know!

The September Project

"Connecting the world one library at a time"

The September Project is a grassroots effort to encourage events about freedom and democracy in all libraries in all countries during the month of September. September Project events are free and organized locally.

The September Project was begun in 2004 to break the silence following September 11, and to invite all people into libraries to consider topics of patriotism, democracy, and citizenship.

Initially, events focused on September 11 and largely took place on September 11. As the project evolved, events spread throughout the month of September and focused on issues of freedom and democracy. Mildred Johnson Library participates in the Project in a small way by presenting information about Patriotism, Democracy, and Citizenship in relation to Constitution Day on Sept. 17; Banned Books Week from Sept. 29 - Oct 4, 2008; and the upcoming 2008 Presidential Elections.