The Andersen Library Blog

New Stuff Tuesday – July 1, 2014

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Amanda Howell

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter Series
On Audio Book
written by J.K. Rowling, read by Jim Dale
PR6068.O93 H3
Audio Books, New Arrivals, 2nd floor

Do you drive to class or an internship every day during the week? Rather than listening to the same six songs on the radio, check out the Harry Potter audio books at Andersen Library. Listen to Harry talk to snakes, Ron and Hermione argue about house-elf rights, and the Sorting Hat sing a new song at the start of the school year. Jim Dale reads all seven books. He set a Guinness World Record for doing 134 distinct voices in the Order of the Phoenix, then he beat that record by doing 146 voices in the Deathly Hallows!

If the 117 hours of Harry on audio book isn’t enough for you, you can watch A Very Potter Musical and A Very Potter Sequel on YouTube. These parodies of the series, created by University of Michigan students (including Darren Criss from Glee), are hilarious and well worth watching. And if you need yet another way to escape reality and pretend your Hogwarts letter just got lost in the owl post, sign up for an account on Pottermore. Pottermore allows you to experience the Harry Potter series in a completely new way. You can walk through your favorite chapters, make potions, cast spells, get sorted into a House, and more!

Dumbledore Quote

Embrace your nerdy side this summer. Break out the wand you bought at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, put the audio books on your iPod, and pretend that someday you’ll finally see Hogwarts.

Posted in new stuff tuesdays | Tagged audio books, Harry Potter, new stuff | 2 Comments

July 4: Andersen Library hours, Whitewater events

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Barbara

Andersen Library will be closed on Friday, July 4th, 2014. Of course, online access to databases (including articles), the library catalog (including ebooks) and Ask a Librarian online assistance via chat will be available.

Flag and fireworks image But if you’re taking a break from studies, you can celebrate the holiday!

Whitewater has a parade that starts at 10 a.m. on the 4th (parade route map), preceded by the Whippet City Mile along the same route and starting at 9:45 a.m.

The Family Festival at Whitewater runs Thurs.-Sat., July 3-5. The schedule includes midway games, food (pickle on a stick!), music, the annual car show (on the 4th), Minneiska ski show (on the 4th), fireworks, the Whitewater Classic Drum Corps International tour event (on the 5th in UWW’s Perkins Stadium) and more.

Also on Sat., July 5th, from 1-3pm in the Cultural Arts Center (402 W. Main Street): The Whitewater Arts Alliance and the Whitewater Historical Society are sponsoring an appearance by Barbara Birge of Charlotte, NC, who will read from the 1860s diaries and 1912 published work of her great-grandfather, Julius Birge, who gave the Birge Fountain to Whitewater.

Many nearby communities will be celebrating as well, e.g,. Milton offers “Taste of Milton,” Optimist Run/Walk (on the 4th), carnival, parade (on the 4th), music, softball, and more. The Hoard Historical Museum in Fort Atkinson will host its annual ice cream social on the 4th from 1-3 p.m. with live music.

Enjoy.

Posted in around the library, around wisconsin | Tagged community events, fun stuff, holidays, library hours | Comments Off

Friday Fun: Birds

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Barbara

What better way to celebrate Friday and the weekend than by appreciating nature via bird cams!

I’ve recently been enjoying the Texas Barn Owls, brought to us by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. They should be fledging soon, in about a week or so. You can choose other bird cams listed at http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/all-cams/

Interested in learning more? The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s web site has information about birds and birding, and Andersen Library has resources too! Search the catalog for books such as Birds and people (Main Oversize Collection, 3rd Floor, QL673 .C63 2013), The birdwatcher’s companion to North American birdlife (Main Collection, 3rd Floor, QL681 .L35 2004), North American owls: Biology and natural history (Main Collection, 3rd Floor, QL696.S8 J64 2002), and many other titles. Also check out the Great Wisconsin Birding & Nature Trail web site and Audubon‘s web site with a lot of information, including The Online Guide to North American Birds.

Please ask a librarian for assistance with finding materials, if desired.

texasbarnowls on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

Posted in around the library, around the world | Tagged bird cams, birding, birds, books, fun stuff, nature, ornithology, video streaming, web sites | Comments Off

Are You a Fan of Veronica Roth’s Books?

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Martha

If you’ve been waiting for one of Veronica Roth’s books (Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant) to be returned, please remember to try Universal Borrowing or put your name on the hold list for the book you want, so that it will be held for you when it is returned to UW-Whitewater’s Andersen Library. In the mean time, what are you to read?!? The answer may just lie in the NoveList database, which suggests read alikes (similar books) and, if you’re so inclined, provides various “Advanced Search” options, such as to make searches based on books that are dystopian and/or that have been made into movies. We will have some, but not all of the books listed in NoveList, so if we don’t have the one(s) you’re interested in, check UB.

If Veronica Roth’s books entice you, you might want to read some of these that are held by the Andersen Library:

The City of Ember – DuPrau, Jeanne – also made into a movie

In the year 241, twelve-year-old Lina trades jobs on Assignment Day to be a Messenger to run to new places in her decaying but beloved city, perhaps even to glimpse Unknown Regions. Has the genre ‘Science fiction’ and the subject ‘Dystopias.’

Curriculum Collection, Juvenile Fiction; Call Number: F Dup

Giver Quartet – Lowry, Lois

Reason: These series are Compelling and World-building, and they share: the genre ‘Science fiction’ and the subject ‘Dystopias.’

The Giver – not yet released as a movie
- Curriculum Collection, Juvenile Fiction; Call Number: F Low
Gathering Blue

Curriculum Collection, Juvenile Fiction; Call Number: F Low

Messenger

Curriculum Collection, Juvenile Fiction; Call Number: F Low

Son
- Curriculum Collection, Juvenile Fiction; Call Number: F Low

Hunger Games Trilogy – Collins, Suzanne

Readers who can’t get enough dystopian fiction with strong female main characters will enjoy both series in which factions compete in often disturbing contests in which their strength and courage are tested. — Kathy Stewart

Hunger Games – also made into a movie
- Curriculum Collection, Juvenile Fiction; Call Number: F Col
- Browsing Books Audio; PS3603.O4558 H86 2008
Catching Fire – also made into a movie
- Curriculum Collection, Juvenile Fiction; Call Number: F Col
- Kindle DX No.4 (Ask at Circulation Desk)
Mocking Jay – not yet released as a movie
- Curriculum Collection, Juvenile Fiction; Call Number: F Col
- Kindle DX No.4 (Ask at Circulation Desk)

Legend – Lu, Marie – in development into a movie

Reason: Readers who prefer their science fiction laced with romance will be intrigued by these high-octane series that take place in futuristic versions of North America and explore complicated issues of war, politics, love, and sacrifice. — Rebecca Honeycutt

Curriculum Collection, Juvenile Fiction; Call Number: F Lu

Under the Never Sky – Rossi, Veronica

Reason: Readers drawn to action-packed dystopian stories will find much to love in these two series, which follow heroines forced into new lives as they discover their strength, overcome prejudice, and fall in love. — Alina Gerall

Curriculum Collection, Juvenile Fiction; Call Number: F Ros

Posted in around the library, summer reading | Tagged books, summer reading | 1 Comment

New Stuff Tuesday – June 24, 2014

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Ellen Latorraca

A Sliver of Light

A Sliver of Light:
Three Americans Imprisoned in Iran
Browsing Books Audio DS318.9 .B38 2014
New Arrivals, 2nd floor

It will be some time before we begin to learn about the ordeal endured by service member Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl during his captivity. While stories of such events take time to unfold, if shared publicly at all, memoirs of captivity such as A Sliver of Light highlight the psychological torment of solitary confinement and of interrogations. Recalling the news stories of the three Americans imprisoned in Iran in 2009, one may have wondered how three civilians could find themselves on the wrong side of an international border while enjoying a day hike. Shane Bauer, Josh Fattal, and Sarah Shourd’s story is a reminder of the vastness of our own country and its open spaces, and of the friendliness of our neighbors. While it remains unclear whether they accidentally crossed over or were tricked across by Iranian soldiers who had waved them closer while pointing guns, the following two years unfold in this audiobook alternating among each of the three captives’ narration. In addition to a fascinating listen, A Sliver of Light, as with our recent events, is a reminder of the tireless work of families and advocates, the roles governments play to bring citizens home, and how the captives can only hope, often with little evidence, that such work may indeed be taking place.

Posted in new stuff tuesdays | Tagged audiobooks, new stuff tuesdays | Comments Off

Thurgood Marshall

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Barbara

Thurgood Marshall, appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Johnson on June 13, 1967, was the first African-American justice on the Court. You can read his biography via Biography Reference Bank database, Encyclopedia of African American History, the National Park Service’s International Civil Rights Walk of Fame, or his profile on the United States Courts web site.

Cover of Making Constitutional Law Andersen Library has more! Search HALCat for Marshall, Thurgood as a subject and find 15 resources, including the video Thurgood Marshall: Portrait of an American hero (2nd-floor Browsing VHS, KF8745 .M34 T48 1985), books such as Making constitutional law: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court, 1961-1991 and Against the death penalty: The relentless dissents of Justices Brennan and Marshall, and a link to FBI documents regarding Thurgood Marshall.

Article databases such as Legal Source can be used to find articles about Thurgood Marshall, including “Civil Rights For The Twenty-First Century: Lessons From Justice Thurgood Marshall’s Racetranscending Jurisprudence” (Lewis & Clark Law Review, 2013, vol.17:no.4, pp.973-986) and “The Glorious Jurisprudence of Thurgood Marshall” (Harvard Law & Policy Review, 2013, vol.7:no. 1, pp.113-137).

The episode of Biography called “Thurgood Marshall: Justice for All” is available via Films on Demand for UWW students and staff.

Andersen Library also provides UWW students and staff with two legal research databases, LexisNexis Academic and WestlawNext, which can be used to look up Thurgood Marshall. For example, use WestlawNext’s advanced search option to search for him as an attorney or judge. Did you know that he was one of the attorneys involved with Brown v. Board of Education?

Please ask a librarian for assistance with finding materials, if desired.

Andersen Library is a federal and Wisconsin depository library with federal and state government documents on a variety of current and relevant issues available to you in various formats (print, DVD/CD-ROM, online). Check out your government at Andersen Library!

Posted in around the world, info.gov | Tagged anniversaries, articles, biographies, databases, federal government, government info, history, judges, justices, law, supreme court, Thurgood Marhsall, U.S. Supreme Court, videos, web sites | Comments Off

New Stuff Tuesday – June 10, 2014

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Carol

Wind in the Willows Season 2

The Wind in the Willows:
Season 2
Browsing DVD Win 2
New Arrivals, 2nd floor

It’s June and just the time for Ratty and Mole to leave their spring cleaning behind and set out on their travels on the river. Come join them as they pack a picnic hamper with biscuits, marmalade, tins of potted meat, and cool bottles of ginger beer to go messing about with boats. A visit to Mole’s high-spirited friend Mr. Toad of Toad Hall will figure in their escapades. And faithful old Badger will come to their rescue when Mr. Toad’s escapades or the skulking weasels land them in mischief. Enjoy the antics of Kenneth Graham’s unforgettable Wind in the Willows chums in these classic animated videos.

Posted in new stuff tuesdays | Tagged animation, Badger, Mole, Mr. Toad, Rat, Wind in the Willows | Comments Off

Patricia Cornwell – summer reading

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Barbara

Bestselling crime novelist Patricia Cornwell, creator of crime-solving medical examiner Kay Scarpetta, was born on June 9th in 1956. Looking for a few good books to read? Do you like CSI? Try her novels!

Cover of Book of the Dead Search Research@UWW for a list of her titles available in Andersen Library, including Postmortem (her first novel), Book of the dead, Trace, Blow fly, and more. You can read about Cornwell’s titles at www.Goodreads.com to see what other readers think!

Happy reading.

Posted in around the world, summer reading | Tagged authors, books, fiction, forensic fiction, fun stuff, genre fiction, novels, reading | Comments Off

T³: Social Media and Your Digital Life

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Diana

One of the ways most people end up sharing aspects of their life online is through the use of social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. This post assumes that you already know the basics of using your social media accounts–but what if you want to do more? It can be pretty time consuming to manage all your accounts if you have to log into each one separately. It’s also easy to loose track of what information you’ve posted on each account and where you saw that link to that amazing cat video. Social media managers are useful tools that prevent the mechanics of status updates, tweets, and account notifications from sucking up all your free time. Now you can concentrate on actually responding to your friends or perfecting a cat video of your own to share! You may also want to know more about how often people view your account updates and postings–most managers provide you with easy ways to view basic data and analyses of your activities.

One of the most popular social media managers is HootSuite. There are other social media managers out there, but HootSuite is one of the easiest to use and works with a large number of popular social media platforms. A free account with HootSuite allows you to manage up to 5 social media accounts (such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Foursquare, and Google+) from your dashboard. You can also add apps to your HootSuite account that allow you to manage other accounts like Instagram, Flickr, and YouTube (plus many more). With HootSuite you can schedule your posts on various accounts and see your cross-platform activities. It’s also a one-stop place to monitor responses to your activities.

Your free HootSuite account includes access to 3 basic analytic reports–use these to track which of your posts was most popular, determine what days and times are best for posting, or see which of your friends and followers are most interactive. This information is particularly useful if you have a social media campaign for a class, a student organization, or another type of group.

Posted in tech tips | Tagged facebook, hootsuite, social media, twitter, websites, your digital life | Comments Off