Women have politically impacted the role of the United States government ever since the 19th Amendment was passed when they were finally granted the right to vote. But just how much do you know about the women who have served in the U.S. Congress and brought about historical and political change?
The House of Representatives has compiled a thoroughly informative book commemorating the women who have served in Congress, from Jeannette Rankin, the first woman to serve in Congress, through the many current female members serving their constituents today. Capturing the vivid history during the times these women served, the book provides biographical information on each female representative, including how they became active politically, the years they served in Congress, their voting records, pictures, and personal quotes. Check this book out and learn more than you can imagine about the political history of the United States and how women have changed history by getting involved in politics.
The University Library is a federal depository with many federal, state, local, and international documents on a variety of current and relevant issues available to you in print, microfiche, CD-ROM, and electronically. Come check out your government at the University Library!
Barbershop
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures
PN1997.2 .B37 2003
New Book Island, 2nd floor
When Barbershop was released in 2002, it ruffled more than a few feathers. Some viewers found remarks about African-American icons, like Jesse Jackson, irreverent and distasteful. On the surface, Barbershop is a story about Calvin (Ice Cube), who runs the barbershop he inherited from his father on Chicago’s South Side. He’s got dreams and this shabby business is stalling his progress. But as the business begins to slip through his fingers, Calvin gets a clue about what his barbershop really stands for. Calvin’s fellow barbers are side-splittingly funny, including Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer), who always tells it like it is. Jimmy is well-educated, but a total snob and he can’t stand Isaac (Troy Garity), the barber who hasn’t figured out that he’s white. On a deeper level, this movie is not only about the social institutions that create community, but about individualism and the “average joe” as the defining element of cultural identity. But don’t let all that deep stuff scare you – this movie is hilarious.
Wizard of Oz
Turner Entertainment
PN1997 .W59 2005
New Book Island, 2nd floor
Follow the yellow brick road … to adventure. Every year, I looked forward to watching this magical tale when it returned to television. Once, I made the mistake of watching it alone on our dark, cold TV porch and nearly fainted in terror when the Wicked Witch of the West appeared on the scene. No childhood would be complete without the story of Dorothy, who, with her little dog Toto, Scarecrow, Tinman, and the Cowardly Lion, make their way through the witch-infested woods to find the Wizard, who will send Dorothy back to Kansas. Relive the magic of Oz with this 2 DVD set. Disc 2 includes documentaries, trailers, a photo gallery and lots more memorabilia.
After three years of commuting to Madison and “surviving the scary Beltline,” Katie Davis, government documents assistant, completed her Master’s in Library Science in December. Her hard work and dedication all paid off on Sunday when she got to cross the stage at the commencement ceremony (she is happy to report that she walked without falling). The Library would like to congratulate Katie on her accomplishment and wish her the best of luck in the future!
The Sugar Camp Quilt is part of the Elm Creek Quilts series, by Jennifer Chiaverini (a Madison author). Before you think, “Quilting? Yuk!,” keep reading! This book contains adventure, romance, prejudice, and family dynamics, all with a little history thrown in. I read this book in less than 2 days and found it hard to put down. It’s set prior to the Civil War. In a nutshell, feisty Dorothea Granger, who lives with her parents in the home of her very stern uncle, is commanded by her uncle to create a quilt with a very specific design. When he dies unexpectedly, they discover that the quilt design is actually a guide to a station on the Underground Railroad. Dorothea herself becomes involved in guiding slaves along the Railroad, and she has some harrowing adventures dodging slavecatchers while doing so.
The Sugar Camp Quilt is a little different than the other Elm Creek Quilts books. It doesn’t involve any of the characters Elm Creek readers are used to, although some of the names have been mentioned in the present-day books. Don’t worry if you haven’t read the other books in the series; this one can easily stand by itself. You’ll find it in the University Library’s McNaughton Leisure Collection, call number MCN Chi. And check out the other Elm Creek Quilts books in the Library, also in the McNaughton Collection under call number MCN Chi: Master Quilter, Christmas Quilt (this one’s a little dull), Circle of Quilters, and Quilter’s Homecoming. The earlier Elm Creek Quilts books are likely available at your local public library. I recommend trying to read them in order if you can. They’re great for a little light reading!
Since it’s Friday (woo hoo!), I’d like to share another fun video that I got from a librarian friend. This is a trailer for an upcoming documentary entitled The Hollywood Librarian – check out the film’s website!
According to the History Channel’s This Day in History website, on May 18, 1908 putting the phrase “In God We Trust” on some U.S. coins was mandated by the U.S. Congress. Seems strange given the separation of church and state, no? I’ve often wondered about that!
I toured the U.S. Mint in Denver this spring and it didn’t come up on the tour. But the Government must get asked about it all the time, because the U.S. Treasury’s website has a factsheet on the history of the phrase and our money.
Anybody looking for a controversial topic for a paper might look further into this! The Library’s collection of books and journal articles should be able to help. For example, the Library has a book about Madalyn Murray O’Hair called The Athiest, which is available online. There are pages talking about her 1977 lawsuit against the Secretary of the Treasury and the Director of Engraving and Printing to stop the printing of the phrase on U.S. currency.
Just a Friday thought, even though Spring Semester is ending already, for those casting about for paper topics–and if this one doesn’t grab you, you can always check out the significant events of other dates using the History Channel’s website for inspiration.
The University Library is a federal depository with many federal, state, local, and international documents on a variety of current and relevant issues available to you in print, microfiche, CD-ROM, and electronically. Come check out your government at the University Library!
The University Library Blog needs a new name. It’s… a little on the bland side. Although some may argue that it’s perfectly fitting for the Library, I disagree. On the other hand, I could use some help in choosing a better one. There’s library blogs out there like The Shifted Librarian, Research Buzz and On the Shelf. I think the name should convey that we are a multi-faceted organization that is utilizing this blog as a way to communicate with its users and publicize our resources and services. How do you fit that in just a few words?
Any suggestions?
Here at the Library, we’re all about research. We have books, journals, magazines, online databases, guides and much more to help you with your research. On the other hand, sometimes you just need a quick definition or an encyclopedia article and you don’t feel like going to the Library’s site and logging in. Where do you turn? I’m guessing you either go straight to Wikipedia or you get there from a Google search. There are alternatives to Wikipedia – well, one serious contender and the other is more of a wannabe.
Citizendium
I don’t think I can pronounce it – even with the pronounciation guide – but Citizendium has a similar purpose to Wikipedia – to provide a credible and reliable source of information that is free to the public. Citizendium adds the factor of gentle expert oversight, something that Wikipedia currently lacks. Furthermore, they do not allow aliases and include author/expert (auto)biographies as well. Since the project is relatively new, it doesn’t have the amount of content as the more established contemporary. I’d keep Citizendium on your radar screen for the future – it’s a serious contender.
Uncyclopedia
At first glance, this site appears deceivingly similar to Wikipedia. It’s not until you read the content of the pages before you realize it’s an imposter. It’s like the editors at the Onion took over the encyclopedia – either that or an estranger former admin. This site demonstrates the need to use web sources with caution – not all sites are as obviously misleading as this. For fun, check out the featured article from 15 May. Sounds like something that’s happened here on campus, no?
This week, I’ve chosen two unrelated titles, just that they had somewhat catchy covers. I know, I know, don’t judge a book by its cover.
Relationship Sabotage:
Unconscious Factors That Destroy Couples, Marriages and Families
William Matta
HM1106 .R45 2006
New Book Island, 2nd floor
Although I was initially drawn to this book by the cover art with the couple standing on a seemingly self-suspended rock, the book raises the interesting topic of break-ups and the factors for their demise. Matta, listed as one of the top therapists according to Psychology Today, contends that the unconscious mind plays a pivotal role in the failure of relationships, memories as far back as childhood that continue to haunt individuals. In his review of book, WP Anderson, emeritus faculty from the University of Missouri-Columbia, indicated the its usefulness both as a self-help text and as a guide for students because of its depiction of real-life client interactions.
Wikinomics:
How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything
Don Tapscott & Anthony Williams
HD69 .S8 T37 2006
New Book Island, 2nd floor
How many times have you searched for something on Google and retrieved an article from Wikipedia, probably 8 times out of 10, right? Everyone knows about sites like Wikipedia, Youtube, Flickr, the “Web 2.0,” but Tapscott and Williams delve into the larger idea of “mass collaboration” and its impact on the way businesses interact with consumers. No longer must users rely on private industry for innovation because of open source technologies like Mozilla Firefox and the Linux operating system. This book outlines where companies fit into the scheme and how they can tap into the collaboration of the masses.
A digital library of more than 300 World War II documents is now available, thanks to a partnership between the U.S. Government Printing Office and Southern Methodist University’s libraries, at http://worldwar2.smu.edu/.
Here you’ll find images of informational pamphlets, government reports, regulations, and pocket guides to foreign countries prepared for servicemen. Also linked from the site is the Melvin C. Shaffer Collection of photographs depicting North Africa (1943), Germany (1945), and Italy and Southern France (1944 – 1945).
The University Library is a federal depository with many federal, state, local, and international documents on a variety of current and relevant issues available to you in print, microfiche, CD-ROM, and electronically. Come check out your government at the University Library!
