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Watch for flooded roads…

Published by Barbara on June 13, 2008 in around the world and info.gov. 0 Comments

There are maps/news releases online to show where roads are flooded…

Also see the Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation’s “Incident Alerts” site which includes a link to a map of the incident sites and links to county web sites with flooding information.

The NOAA National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan station has maps of warnings (see detailed text of warnings by clicking on “Read watches, warnings & advisories” at the right).

Wisconsin Emergency Management has a web site on the current storm situation, with a list of Red Cross shelters, dam conditions, and park closures, and a web page with other flood information for the public (what to do, safety information, etc.).

Government Printing Office logo

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!

“Death”-ly fun summer reading

Published by Ronna on June 13, 2008 in summer reading. 2 Comments

Strangers in Death

Strangers in Death
by J.D. Robb
MCN Rob
McNaughton Collection, 2nd floor

For some fun, “light,” non-mind-expanding summer reading, try a book from what I call the “death series” by J.D. Robb, aka Nora Roberts. The series starts with Naked in Death, and many, many books later, the latest is Strangers in Death. (Mind you, I got this information from Nora’s website, as I long ago gave up trying to remember which book follows which.) The plot line seldom varies: set in the late 2050’s, Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her trusty sidekick, Peabody, solve horrible murders with the help of Eve’s fabulously rich and unbelievably handsome hubby, Roarke. A cast of other regulars, such as the eccentric e-detective McNab, and the wild and colorful singer, Mavis, appear in each book. The plots are similar enough that I can’t keep the books straight, but little thought is required to digest the titles, and Eve is a feisty, take-no-prisoners (pardon the pun) dame. And for the romance-minded among you, there are at least two or three steamy love scenes in each book—this is Nora Roberts, after all.

So stop by the University Library and pick up Born in Death, Innocent in Death, Creation in Death, and/or Strangers in Death, all in the McNaughton Leisure Collection under the call number Rob. You’re guaranteed a good murder mystery, a relaxing time, and you probably won’t learn a blessed thing. Perfect for summer reading.

Tornado season…be prepared

Published by Barbara on June 12, 2008 in around the world and info.gov. 0 Comments

It’s peak season (May-August) for occasional tornadoes. Be prepared!

Know the difference between a watch and a warning:

tornado imageA Tornado Watch or Severe Weather Watch means a tornado may develop. Be alert and be prepared to take action if the watch becomes a WARNING. (It is not necessary to seek shelter for a severe weather watch.)

A Tornado Warning means a tornado has been spotted in the area. Immediate action may mean the difference between life and death. (It is not necessary to seek shelter for a thunderstorm warning.)

What does the University Library do when there is severe weather?
Our weather radio alerts us when severe weather threatens Walworth, Jefferson, and Rock counties, and we follow procedures in our emergency manual. If there is a tornado warning, and it is heading towards Whitewater, we make an announcement over the public address system directing people to go to the nearest tornado shelter area within the Library (marked with large blue signs). The elevator should not be used, and no one should exit the building until the warning has ended.

If you are interested in knowing more about tornado preparedness, you can search the Library Catalog for tornadoes. A basic explanation of what you need to know about tornadoes is available from the Milwaukee/Sullivan office of the NOAA National Weather Service. The Milwaukee/Sullivan site also lists current watches and warnings (tornadoes, flash floods, severe thunderstorms, and marine warnings) for Wisconsin. The American Red Cross has an online preparedness checklist.

Forces of Nature book coverIf you are explaining tornadoes to young children, the University Library has some materials that may help. Search the Library Catalog for tornado? and juvenile for a list of titles, including the National Geographic book “Forces of nature: the awesome power of volcanoes, earthquakes, and tornadoes” (2nd-floor Curriculum Collection, Oversize Juvenile Nonfiction, Call no: 551.2 Gra) and an online coloring book from the National Weather Service “Billy and Maria learn about tornado safety.”

Government Printing Office logo

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!

New Stuff Tuesday - June 10

Published by kyle on June 10, 2008 in new stuff tuesdays. 1 Comment

The Fine Art of Small Talk

The Fine Art of Small Talk:
How to Start a Conversation, Keep It Going, Build Networking Skills—and Leave a Positive Impression!
by Debra Fine
BJ2121 .F5 2005
New Book Island, 2nd floor

I’m heading to Seattle to a conference this weekend, which provides a source of inspiration for this week’s New Stuff Tuesday, as networking and socializing is a large part of attending such gatherings.

Every social occasion presents an opportunity for mingling with new people and… those awkward pauses, uncomfortable fidgeting, stuttering. Whether you find yourself in these situations often or not, handling those conversations can be critical. Fine, successful corporate trainer, presents this quick read on how to master ’small talk.’ As she points out, you never know if those fleeting encounters can turn into contacts, business partnerships or social relationships. The book goes in detail on not only initiating conversations with perfect strangers, but also how to maintain the talking, which is sometimes more difficult than the approach. So if you don’t feel like your social skills are quite up to par, you might want to take a look at this book.

Summer Library displays

Published by Barbara on June 9, 2008 in around the library and info.gov. 0 Comments

Looking for some “good reads” this summer? We have suggestions…

Check out the display cases in the Library lobby to see samplings of government documents, and Library resources on gardening and the outdoors.

More information is available in the Library collections and online.

For example, if you are planning a trip within Wisconsin–to save gas many people are vacationing near home this year–you might check the Wisconsin Outdoor Report (updated every Thursday by the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources with information you can use, such as fishing reports, wildfire conditions, birding reports, and more) and the State Park Conditions Report. Or forget the gas and check the online Wisconsin county bike condition maps! Another useful site is TravelWisconsin.com which includes a searchable event listing.

Government Printing Office logo

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!

Even More Wikipedias

Published by kyle on June 6, 2008 in around the world. 0 Comments

Back in May 2007, I wrote a post about alternatives to Wikipedia (view original post), one of which was a serious contender to the ever-popular, user-generated/edited encyclopedia and the other being a spoof. Since it’s Friday, Wired Magazine found even more pedias, some useful, some for fun. I thought that Dealipedia was interesting, and I’m sure that Barb would probably find Congresspedia to be utterly fascinating. On the other hand, I’m sure Chickipedia could be a serious time waster for some of you.

Source: 8 Best: Non-Wikipedia Pedias from Wired Magazine

What Happened To the Capital Times?

Published by kolde on June 5, 2008 in around the library and around the world. 0 Comments

Our newspaper readers may have noticed that The Capital Times has disappeared from our current newspaper shelves. This is because the print edition has ceased. However, the paper still exists in an online version which is updated daily. You can access this material at captimes.com or through the Wisconsin State Journal homepage, as both are owned by the same company. Another convenient way to find full-text articles published by the Capital Times is through ProQuest Newspapers. You can browse both current issues and back issues a far back as 1991. Or just go to the Journal Holdings List and type in Capital Times to go straight to the newspaper.

Watch That Footprint Too!

Published by kyle on June 2, 2008 in around the world. 1 Comment

DSCN0180.JPG

Everyone has probably heard that you should be mindful of your carbon footprint - you know, what you do and its environmental impact. Well, as I was flipping through a magazine, I read that there’s another footprint to consider!

In the June issue of Discover Magazine, Thomas Kostigen, the author of the article, writes that our water consumption not only includes the actual water consumed from the tap, but also the virtual water that we intake. What does he mean by virtual water? Virtual water encompasses the water used in the production of food and products, like clothing and furniture. When you compare foods, grains and vegetables require less water, which are harvested after a growing season, than their meat-bearing counterparts. Nothing is without a water footprint - even a sheet of paper and that leather bag you carry footprints of three and 6,340 gallons of water. Makes you think twice about what you eat and buy, no?

For more information about water footprints, check out waterfootprint.org, which information about virtual water and the water footprint concepts, as well as a calculator to see just what sort of wet footprint you’re leaving on the planet.

Sources

Library open for summer business

Published by Barbara on May 30, 2008 in around the library. 1 Comment

Yes, we’re open! The west-side Library building entrances are closed off for work being done on the mall all summer, but we’re still here for you so c’mon in!

Library entrance map summer library hours

Following the red arrow on the map above, enter from the courtyard on the east side of the Andersen Library building (entrance #3), or enter from the north end of McGraw (on the mall corner entrance go down the stairs) and walk the tunnel that links McGraw to Andersen, then come up the stairs to the Library entrance).

New Stuff Tuesday - May 27

Published by kyle on May 27, 2008 in new stuff tuesdays. 0 Comments

Major

Major:
A Black Athlete, A White Era, and the Fight To Be the World’s Fastest Human Being
by Todd Balf
GV1051 .T3 B35 2008
New Book Island, 2nd floor

Ahh, the first day of classes for the summer. Some of you might be taking/teaching these courses, some of you may not. This week’s featured book will appeal to both researchers and pleasure readers.

Balf, former editor of Outside magazine, takes on the story of Marshall Major Taylor, a man that aspired to be the “World’s Fastest Human Being.” The author chronicles not only the life of the athlete, but also the surrounding time period. The turn of the twentieth century saw the world riveted with cycle racing, with large crowds and full stadiums watching six-day events. Taylor not only faced his opponents on the track, but also faced discrimination and segregation due to the color of his skin. Major tells his story as America’s first black sports celebrity.