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November 2008

Thanksgiving closing and Library access information

The Library will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday break from Wednesday, November 26, through Saturday, November 29. We will reopen for regular hours Sunday, November 30, at noon.



Also, please note that due to the ongoing CCSR construction project, the access ramp to the Library from the Riverway will be closed off starting Monday, December 1. Access to the Library will be from the Pilgrim Road side only. As the project reaches its final stages, access to the Library may change again, but we’ll do our best to keep you up to date on how best to approach the door.

We thank you for your patience and wish you all a happy Thanksgiving!


What’s Going on in the World?

We’ve all had our eyes and ears peeled to the news this fall, with the economic crisis and presidential election all taking place. Where does one go to find a pulse of what is going on in our country, let alone the world?

http://www.newseum.org/


- You can search by country or continent

- Look back through archived pages for momentous events (categorized by general topic)

Example: Red Sox win the World Series


- You can see front pages from around the world:

O Globo, published in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil


Holiday hours on Tuesday, Nov. 11

In observance of Veterans Day, the Library will be open from 1 to 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

Do you know why Veterans Day is celebrated on Nov. 11 no matter what day of the week it falls on, unlike most other holidays that are celebrated on Mondays? Visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs History of Veterans Day page to find out.


Getting to the Library — an update

Due to construction work for the Campus Center and Student Residence, access to the Library from the Pilgrim Road side is currently blocked. Please use the ramp on the Riverway side of the building to get to the door.

We would also like to remind you that if you are returning items when the Library is closed, please put them in the book drop. A hole has been cut in the temporary wall so that the book drop is still accessible. If you cannot reach the book drop, do not leave items outside, as this may cause them to be stolen or damaged. Patrons are charged replacement fees for any lost or damaged items, so please be sure your items are returned safely.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and we will update you further as construction progresses toward the anticipated January opening of the CCSR.


Electopedia: A Great Source for Silly Facts about the Candidates

This website – published by the New York Magazine – is one of the more hilarious campaign reference tools that we’ve seen this election year. Using an approach somewhat similar to the satire posted on Cracked.com, the 2008 Electopedia provides:

“A guide to (almost) everything there is to know about presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama, from the important issues (Best Speech) to the really important issues (Hairstyle).”

The 2008 Electopedia provides a well-organized, succinct and humorously-written resource for anyone looking for information about the sensational 2008 Presidential campaign. Each issue (Favorite Hobby, Taste in Alcohol, Greatest Political Accomplishment, etc.) can take up anywhere from 150-300 words per candidate, and range from the silly (Superstitions) to serious (Best Speech).

See the New York Magazine’s 2008 Electopedia for some fun, light-hearted relief from the 24/7 media coverage of the 2008 Presidential campaign. While it may not have the same academic weight as a typical encyclopedia it will definitely provide some laughs along with each article and maybe even some tidbits that are true.