Coe Etiquette Book 1941 - the digital exhibit!

Good morning all and sundry!!

The last page of Coe's 1941 Etiquette Book was posted last Saturday.  If you are missing your weekly fix you can find the book in its entirety on the archive's digital exhibit page.  You can also go back and look at past blog posts and comment on the various intricacies of etiquette in 1941, or etiquette today!

Can you believe I was only planning on this taking up a month of blog posts?  Now we are approaching a new semester and I need to find something else to blog about.  It shouldn't be too hard, there are numerous Coe treasures in the archive to choose from.  Do I have any requests?  Cosmos cartoons, campus buildings, past student events, George T. Henry photos...?

I hope everyone is having a great holiday break.  I will see you in 2013.

Have a great day

~Sara Pitcher, Archives Assistant

Coe Etiquette Book 1941 - Other Suggestions and Do's and Don'ts

The rules for smoking on campus are much different today due to government laws.  Does anyone want to take a stab at writing an equivalent etiquette note for smoking today?

I find the last part of number 1, under Do's and Don'ts, rather curious "Don't persistently borrow from your friends and forget to return things  -- especially their favorite dates."  I wonder if there is a story behind that tag line.

What are your thoughts behind these suggestions?  I probably should have mentioned this earlier, but there is a place to leave a reply at the bottom.  Your welcome (and heartily encouraged) to pitch in your two cents on the etiquette rules described.

~Sara Pitcher, Archives Assistant

 

Coe Etiquette Book 1941 - Date Problems

 

Thoughts?   Most of this seems like practical advice that is still applicable today.  Is there anything that isn't?  Are you surprised to see a section on dating in a college etiquette book?

~Sara Pitcher, Archives Assistant

Take a break from finals

Most people think the library is just a place to go to study and write papers.  However, the library has a lot more to offer.  My new favorite place in the library is the hidden rooms on 2^nd floor with the comfy chairs and pictures.  Whenever I find myself at the library unable to study, I usually go to the one of these rooms to take a break.  I also use them when I just don’t have ambition to sit at a desk and focus intently on my homework.  I think these rooms offer a unique twist the library.  People usually imagine the cold desks, tiny lamps, and hard chairs.  This room, on the other hand, has oversize chairs and the walls are decorated with paintings that are a good thing to look at, especially to avoid that homework.

As finals come around, it is good to know that the library doesn’t have to be just a place to concentrate and study hard.  Long hours in the library during finals lead us all to hate the library, but it’s really just finals that we hate.  Take a break, visit the rooms and look at the paintings, sit in the chairs and take a break.  You deserve it after all.  Molly-Reference student

Zeitgeist 2012: The year that was thanks to Google

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xY_MUB8adEQ]

Today Google released its "Zeitgeist 2012" video which shows the past year in terms of what users searched on Google.  The video is pretty great, very much worth the 2.5 minutes to watch and enjoy.

Books!!!!

             My favorite thing about working at the library is seeing just what an extensive collection of books that it has to offer. Although I had spent time studying in the library last year (before I had a job at the circulation desk) I hadn’t taken advantage of using the books for various research products. I think one of the reasons why I didn’t do this is because I went to an extremely small high-school that didn’t have a very extensive collection of books. They had always encouraged us to use the library in high-school, but most of the time they just didn’t have enough books for me to find what I was looking for.

            So this year, after I got the job at the library and started doing tasks like shelving and inventory, I was amazed by the multitude of different book topics that the library housed. Even now, four months into the job I still get shocked that there are shelves and shelves of books on a single topic. So last month when I had a big research paper due for Chemistry, instead of only using online sources I checked the library database and was able to find tons of books about my topic. They were very helpful tools for my paper and I’m glad that I now go to a school that has a great library!~Bellamy, Circulation Student

Coe Etiquette Book 1941 - Addressing the Faculty, Illness, and Telephones

Any thoughts on this weeks etiquette advice from 1941?

I find the telephone system interesting.  In 1941 it was one telephone a floor (1 telephone for 25 students), Murray hall was built in the 60s with a telephone in every room (1 telephone for 2 students), and today there is no more need to warn against "hog-calling" in Green Hall since everyone has their own cell phone.

~Sara Pitcher, Archives Assistant

Unbroken by Hillenbrand

One of the best books that I have ever read is Unbroken. The story of an Olympic level sprinter, he was in the 1936 Games in Berlin, who was drafted into the Army Air Force during World War II. The book details Louis Zamperini’s incredible story of being shot down during a mission, spending over two months floating in a small rubber raft in the Pacific and being rescued by a Japanese boat. He then spends the remainder of World War II stuck in a variety of prison camps. Written by the same woman as Seabiscuit, also a really good book and movie, this tale runs the full gamut of emotions. ~Andrew, Reference student

The library owns a copy of this book.  The call number is D805 J3 Z364 2010 and is located on the 2nd floor.  I agree with Andrew.  This book was an amazing testament to human suffering, loss of dreams and the ability to forgive. ~Sandy

Time for Finals

The library is one of the best places to go study if you need to get out of your dorm room for a while. There are so many nooks and crannies here that you can curl yourself into and just get work done without any distractions. Every floor has some sort of study area, whether it's an actual enclosed room or just a bunch of comfy couches up in the Over-Sized Reading Room.

For me, I really love working either up on the second floor in one of the study rooms, if I can get one, or down on the first floor in the reference area. The study rooms are great if you're working with a couple other people and you need to chat about what you're working on or if you can't study in open spaces. Be careful, though, if you're working in there with friends; work might not actually get done if you spend too long chatting!

I also like working in the reference area. It's secluded enough that if you need to be on your own there are spaces for it, but if you want to work near a friend, there's place for that too. The good thing about working on the first floor is that there aren't any places where you can shut the door, so you can actually get work done instead of chatting (which is something I've been guilty of in the past.) Of course, the library isn't the only place on campus you can study, but if you need to work in almost absolute silence or absolute silence, the library is a wonderful place to come to work.

The great thing about it is there are a lot of places to try and work. If you're not sure what works for you, try out study areas on all four floors (people seem to forget about third floor a lot for some unknown reason) and figure out what works for you. Maybe you need walls around you or light or something. You'll probably find a perfect place somewhere in the library.~Anita, Reference student

Problems with EBSCO

Yesterday the library received a heads up that some students were having trouble accessing EBSCO from off-campus.  Computing services has been doing some work updating the proxy server that the campus uses to authenticate off-campus users, and that might be causing the issue.  We're working on resolving the problem, but in the mean time, remember that users should be able to access ALL of the library databases via the library website as long as they are on campus (this includes the new apartments across the street.)  If you are on campus, you never have to go through My.Coe to access the databases, you need simply to go the library's webpage.  Also, if you ever do have issues accessing any of the databases from off-campus, please let the library staff know so we can take care of it!  Good luck with your finals!

-Katelyn, Head of Reference

Massages are back!

Here at the library, we try to offer support to students in a variety of way during finals. Today we can officially announce that the library will be offering chair massages once again as a stress-buster for students prior to finals on Reading Day!  The chair massages will be Tuesday, December 11th from 10-3:30 PM, in the Perrine Gallery.  Massages will each be 10 minutes long, and they will be free!  So how do you get one, and what’s the catch?

• Sign up will start at 10 AM on Friday, December 7th.  Sign up will occur on both Friday, and the following Monday.


• You go to the Reference Desk to sign up.  If the reference desk is not staffed when you come, check in the Reference Office.


• Only current Coe students are eligible to receive a free massage


• You must come in person to sign up (no signing up for a group of friends, or by phone/email.)


• The day of the massages, you must check in 5 minutes prior to your massage.  If you do not check in prior to your massage, you are liable to lose your spot to students on the waiting list.

Sound good?  Great!  Swing by the library to sign up for your free massage, and good luck on your finals!

Coe Etiquette Book 1941 - Table Manners and Rooms

Thoughts?  Any etiquette suggestions still valid today?  Any that are most definitively not valid today?

Eating arrangements are much different today.  For one there are no longer dinning rooms in the halls.  Everyone eats together in the cafeteria.  For another meals are no longer served to tables, but buffet style.  Do you like the cafeteria or would you rather go back to the more formal meals of the past?

I found it interesting that the women get a lecture on how her room is "the key to her personality", and the men get a list of dos and don'ts.  I do find number eight amusing, and have to wonder if there was an incident that prompted its inclusion.

~Sara Pitcher, Archives Assistant

Facebook, Privacy, and Ownership of Content

You might have spotted something along the lines of this in the status of your friends on Facebook:

In response to the new Facebook guidelines, I hereby declare that my copyright is attached to all of my personal details, illustrations, graphics, comics, paintings, photos, and videos, etc. (as a result of the Berner Convention). For any and all commercial use of the above my written consent is required in every instance.

(Those reading this may copy and paste this text on their Facebook walls. This will place them under protection of copyright laws. By the present communiqué, I hereby notify Facebook that it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, disseminate, or take any other action against me on the basis of this profile and/or its contents. The aforementioned prohibited actions also apply to employees, students, agents, and/or any staff under Facebook’s direction or control. The content of this profile is private and confidential information. The violation of my privacy is punishable by law (UCC 1 1-308-308 1-103 and the Rome Statute).

Facebook is now an open capital entity. All members are recommended to publish a notice like this, or if you prefer, then you may copy and paste this version. If you do not publish a statement at least once, you will be allowing tacitly the use of elements such as your photos, as well as the information contained in your profile status updates

As noted in this article from Time magazine, this message is a hoax. It, and any variation thereof, has exactly zero impact as to how Facebook can use the data and content that you post via the site. And they can do this due to the terms and conditions of use that all users agree to prior to creating and maintaining a Facebook account. No amounting of posting in your status bar is going to change the TOS (terms of service), so if you aren't happy with how Facebook is using your data, you are out of luck unless you A) close your account (where it is still a bit murky as to what the company does and does not keep of your data), B) never post information that you're not comfortable as public knowledge, or C) hope that Facebook changes/amends its TOS.

What this all settles down to is that it's important to pay at least some level of attention to the terms and conditions of use on any website that you're using, particularly those that are responsible for your personal data.  Much like the notes and references sections on an academic articles, it might be tempting just to skip over that information; however, you could be missing important information, such as how the company can use your data and what your options are.  This is why you should never just click "I agree" and forget about it, as it could come back to bite you. If you don't want someone to use the info that you post online, the best answer is never to post it all.
-Katelyn, Head of Reference

My Job at the Library

This is my fifth year working here at the library, and I have enjoyed this job the entire time. For me working at the library has given me a time to get all of my homework done in a relatively quiet place. I also get to see a lot of people I normally wouldn’t have gotten to see otherwise. Some of my friends had very different schedules from me but when I was working they would come over for a short chat before studying. It has always been nice to have the library here as a place where I can get work done, but still have a chance to meet with friends. ~Miranda

Coe Etiquette Book 1941 - Dance Etiquette

I must say I am a little sorry for the guys attending dances in 1941, everything was their fault!  Though, I imagine the girl regretted taking advantage of this advice when she failed to get a second date after stepping on the guys toes one too many times.

Today dances are just one of many options for social events on campus.  How does the etiquette described here compare to dance etiquette today?  Are there any bits of past dance etiquette that should be brought back?

~Sara Pitcher, Archives Assistant

Coe Etiquette Book 1941 - Clothes and What to Wear

We don't have a "dress-up" day in the cafeteria anymore.  Does anyone think we should?

If this is the dress code for a college student in 1941, what would the dress code for 2012 look like?  What should and shouldn't be worn to class, campus events, and formal occasions?

~Sara Pitcher, Archives Assistant

Marvin Cone and his legacy at Coe College

Ever wondered about the art galleries that are bathed in sunlight, right inside the front doors of the library? The paintings in these galleries belong to Marvin Cone, a native of Cedar Rapids who graduated from Coe College in 1914 and was on faculty at Coe from 1919 to 1960. In fact, Cone started the Art Department at Coe! He began as a French professor and established the Art Department in 1934.

Marvin Cone is known as one of the most important Iowa artists, as was his close life-time friend, Grant Wood. Grant Wood is known most famously for his “American Gothic.” The Winnifred M. Cone galleries, named after Cone’s wife, feature 60 works of art by Marvin Cone. You can read more about the artworks in the library here.

Marvin Cone is also currently being featured at a solo exhibition at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art; the show is up until January 20, 2012. You can find out more information about the exhibition here.

Pictured above: “Old Quarry, Stone City”, 1936, oil on canvas

--Laura, Head of Audiovisual

Working from off-campus over the holiday break

With Thanksgiving and the break that accompanies it fast approaching, I wanted to remind everyone of a few things before they leave campus.

1) If you want to use the library's databases from home (or wherever you might be traveling),  make sure that you are first logging into My.Coe.  Once logged in to the site, you head to the "Campus Life" tab, from which you can access many of the college's most popular databases.  You cannot go to the library's website from home to access the databases; you have to be logged in and accessing through My.Coe so that the system can verify that you are a Coe student.  However, you can still browse the library's catalog from home if you are so inclined.

2) If you are currently in a class that using any database available through a campus trial at this time, be aware that these databases and their resources are only available from on-campus.

3) If you need research help, or have questions on ILL, remember that the reference department will be here and available on campus through the end of the day on Wednesday.  Feel free to call or email us with your questions.
Thanks, everyone, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
Katelyn, Head of Reference

One Second After

One day last week Tyler came into work tired because he stayed up too late reading a book.  When I asked him about this book and why he found it so captivating we had a short discussion about how we would react to an emergency situation and how Cedar Rapids reacted to the flood.  I asked him to write a review so maybe others would have an interest.  Currently the Coe Library does not have the book on the shelves but it is a current topic about our society.  Here's his review......Sandy

Imagine living in a world where there was no electricity.  Imagine not being able to take a normal shower or going to get food at the nearest grocery market.  In the book, One Second After, written by William R. Forstchen, a father and his family must learn to adapt and survive after an electromagnetic pulse has disabled all electronics around him.  He has to do things no one in their lifetime should have to do, all for the safety and survival of those he loves.  This riveting book does not hold back as it throws countless obstacles and problems at the main character, John.  If you have ever wondered what the significance of learning the history of our nation or why you had to read Animal Farm in high school, this book can show the value of such information.  Once this book starts, it is a slippery slope down to the end as you read about how morality and civilization can change only one second after an EMP strike.   T. Gunderson

 

Coe Etiquette Book 1941: Invitations

The 1941 etiquette book seems to have advice and guidelines for every situation.  On one hand, I imagine it would have been kind of nice to have these guidelines as a Coe student, especially if encountering these situations for the first time.  On the other, it seems rather daunting a stuffy.

What are your thoughts?  Would you utilize a Coe etiquette book that was published in 2012?  Are there situations where these rules still apply (wedding invitations?, formal white house dinners?)?

~Sara Pitcher, Archives Assistant

Time Lines for Music

A helpful resource for Music History buffs, is the timeline...

here are some website examples....

http://www.jazzinamerica.org/jazzresources/timeline

http://www.d-vista.com/OTHER/Liszttime.html

http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/51727

These are great aids in relating subject matter to what was going on in history at the time.  There are timelines available for all sorts of subjects, I just chose music to blog on today.

You can also find time line posters and charts as well as the online scrollable kind. It is a wonderful way to expand what you know, or find out more about what you want to know. Next time you google add "timeline" to your search.

Rich A.

The Case Against Wikipedia

When students come into the library for sessions on research, invariably we end up discussing Wikipedia for a moment or two.  As librarians and people who regularly work with students, we know it's often a place where students start their research or go for quick answers.  I'm constantly dissuading students as to why Wikipedia is not a desirable place for conducting real research, especially research that will be turned in for a grade, for the obvious reasons of the authority of the author/contributor and the lack of proper citation at times.  Following Hurricane Sandy, an excellent example of the first reason has been chronicled by the mainstream media.



His name is Ken Mampel, and he's currently the primary contributor to the Wikipedia article on Hurricane Sandy.  He is 56 years old, unemployed, and does not believe in climate change; hence the lack of the climate change mention as a possible factor in Hurricane Sandy's devastating impact despite several articles written up in recent days to the contrary.  Popular Science has done an excellent write up that you can take a look at here. This is an excellent example as to why one must always follow-up on one's sources, and why it's important not rely on a sole article/viewpoint when exploring a topic. It also serves a great point of emphasis why Wikipedia, although at times informative and entertaining, is not the most reputable place to turn for information. Coe's library has several different reference resources available online for our students and users, such as Credo Reference and Britannica Online, accessible via the library's website. Consider these resources the next time that you're thinking about clicking on a Wikipedia link.

-Katelyn, Head of Reference

Get out the VOTE with these film titles!

It's one more day until the big election, and the AV Department has got you covered! Come in and check out our display of political titles! (image courtesy of the Oskaloosa Public Library)

--Laura, Head of Audiovisual

Coe Etiquette Book 1941: Travel and Dining Out

A bit of etiquette from a bygone day.  The advice today sounds rather elegant...what do you think?

The travel advice is in reference to travel by train.  I often see alumni complaints and remembrances from the time period telling of dodging the trains in downtown Cedar Rapids on the way to events.

Has anyone traveled by train?  Is any of this advice valid today?

~Sara Pitcher, Archives Assistant

Coe Etiquette Book 1941 - Theaters, Teas and Receptions

Thoughts on the etiquette advice for theaters?  What is out of date, still valid, or should be added advice for the 21st century? The most obvious 21st century addition would be a note about cell phones, any others?



I have come across photographs in the archives of teas held at Coe.  Interestingly enough all the women are usually wearing (or holding) gloves.  I never knew it was practically required!?  What do you think?  Do old fashioned teas sound fun or overly stuffy?

There is a good chance that you will end up at a reception at Coe.  They are frequently held after speaking events to allow the audience members to personally speak with the presenter for a few minutes.  Don't be afraid of attending if you are invited to one.

~Sara Pitcher, Archives Assistant

Coe Etiquette Book 1941 - Miscellaneous Suggestions

I actually laughed out loud at this one "You may be pinned to the boy, but this doesn't give you permission to be half carried to class".  What about you?  Anything particularly amusing?  Anything that is relevant advice today?

~Sara Pitcher, Archives Assistant

Upper Reading Room

 When I was a first year, it was difficult to get into the swing of appropriate study methods. In high school I always studied at home at the dining table, never in a library. Depending on what time of the day you are studying, Coe's library can be a very distracting place. It took probably the whole first semester to learn how to use the library to my advantage. It was a long semester of trial and error; studying at a table with other people, listening to music while studying, facing a window while studying, etc. None of those methods worked for me. I found that the best way for me to use the library is the second floor reading room. In those cubbies, I am removed from distraction and most of the time it is silent. There are plug ins in each cubbie so I am able to charge my laptop while working. I also believe it is the best spot to pick up WiFi in the library! ~Kallie

Coe Etiquette Book 1941 - Conversation

I think face to face conversation is a dying art form.  Do you agree?

~Sara Pitcher, Archives Assistant

Register to Vote!

For many Coe students, the upcoming election is one of the first opportunities that they have had to participate in a national election.  However, before one can vote, first you have to be registered.  Although the registration deadline has passed in some states, it's still open in others.  If you are unsure of whether or not the deadline in passed in the state in which you plan on voting, Rock the Vote (an organization devoted to getting out the youth vote) has a on registration deadlines.
Assuming you can still register, the next step is to get yourself signed up!  Then, once election day comes, you are all set when it comes to voting.  If you plan on registering within Iowa and voting here, but can't make it to the polls on election day, you have two options:

1) Vote early!  Iowa is one of several states that has early voting locations available to voters.

2)Request an absentee ballot from the Linn County Auditor's office (this is if you are registering at your Coe address. If you consider another address your home/permanent address, you will need to check in with the auditor in your home county.) Here is the link for the Linn County office.
The hope is that this post has clarified a few issues related to voting, but if not, feel free to post questions, OR check your Coe email for a message from Tom Hicks that has more information on voting locations and other relevant.  Have fun participating in democracy!
-The Reference Department

Neat Q and A on Internet Law

This is a neat blog post that I found earlier today on Lifehacker.  The site hosted a Q & A session with  Derek Bambauer, an associate professor of law at the University of Arizona, where he teaches about internet law and intellectual property. In the past, he was also involved OpenNet Initiative, which tested and studied censorship in countries such as China, Iran, and Vietnam. Although the session is now over,  you'll find lots of great questions in the comments on Internet behaviors and law that I think would be of interest to pretty much everyone who uses the Web

Resources (sometimes overlooked) in the Library

• First Floor East Side Computers: It never fails students will be gathered around the west end printer furiously grabbing papers the printer spits out at mad intervals, but there is another printer steps away. Use the east printer and save some time!


• The Reference Desk: It's these people's jobs to help you find information. They actually enjoy searching out a book for your research paper due tomorrow that you might have neglected. Bonus--if you procrastinate a little less and start thinking about that paper a few weeks in advance, they can help you get resources from other libraries across the country: articles, DVDs, books, you name it.


• The Isolated Computers on the Second and Third Floors: These computers are there to help you find resources here in the library. Go to the website and search the catalog. The call number will be present and voila! Numbers on the shelves will help guide you to that elusive book.


• The Books!: I see students scrambling all the time, struggling to find scholarly articles on Ebsco for a project, when there are countless resources right here. There are books on almost every subject! The library isn't just a place for studying and hanging out. It houses a wealth of information you may find helpful. ~Shanel

Coe Etiquette Book 1941 - Introductions

Would anyone in gender studies like to take a shot at this one?  This was written in 1941, so there are some views that are outdated.  Are there any nuggets of wisdom that apply today?

~Sara Pitcher, Archives Assistant

Study, Study, Study Part 2

So, you need to get some studying done and you’ve come to the library. Chances are you’ve gone done this path before and it has, of course, resulted in lots of finished homework (hooray!).  But there’s a twist- today you’re studying with someone else, maybe even a group of people, and you guys need somewhere to get some serious studying done without annoying the rest of the library.

Good thing Stewart Memorial Library has so many choices! If your group is small try one of the group study rooms on the 2^nd floor. They’re comfy, made for two or three people and have a whiteboard. The rooms are located on the left side and there are two, so it’s no sweat if one is occupied. Equally comfy,  there is a small group study room to the right of the stairs on the 2^nd floor and one in the basement.

If your group is a little bigger try the Eaton room on the 2^nd floor, to the left to the stairs. It’s almost impossible to miss and has lots of space, enough room for roughly four or five people, a whiteboard and a great view. On the right side is another room identical to the Eaton named the Bodey room. There’s also the Engle room on 2^nd, notably the biggest study room. Its historical feel makes for a great study atmosphere. In case you need a computer, there’s always the group study room in the basement, to the right of the stairs, which also has a whiteboard.

On 1^st floor there’s a quiet little nook in the Reading Room called the Knapp room. Although there’s no whiteboard it’s got plenty of space for a study group! Last but not least, there are the Dougie Peters (to the right) and Frank McDonald (to the left) study areas on 1^st floors. Both areas are open to the rest of the library, but have cozy couches and lamps to make for a great study atmosphere. No matter where you pick, we’re sure you and your friends will have a great and productive time! ~Whitni

Coe Etiquette Book 1941 - Voorhees Porch and Personal Appearance

Are there any words of wisdom for today in here? I think there are.  There are also some rather silly and out dated views.  What do you think?

~Sara Pitcher, Archives Assistant

On Display

Have you noticed the display of journals on the first floor of the library?  We are highlighting some titles for leisure reading on various subjects.  The titles range from ArtNews to The Writer to Technology Review and are located close the the Whipple Browsing area.  These can still be checked out for 3 days but feel free to browse through them while enjoying the peacefulness of the library.

The AV Department is now on Pinterest!

The AV Department now has one more way that you can easily find new releases--on Pinterest! Click here to check out our New Arrivals board!

--Laura, Head of Audiovisual

Coe Etiquette Book 1941 - Loyalty

There are bits of serious advice for today in here, can you find them?

~Sara Pitcher, Archives Assistant

Student recommends "Animal Farm"

Book Review: Animal Farm

               Animal Farm is a rather short book, and is a very easy read as it is very hard to put down. It raises very interesting and frighteningly realistic issues by putting forth a scenario in which farm animals, fed up with the treatment given to them by their human owner, rebel and take over the farm on which they’ve spent their entire lives. The pigs, being the most intelligent of the farm animals, naturally take over as the leaders, thus setting the mood for future trouble. What ensues is not, as the animals had hoped, freedom, but rather a coup of sorts. As the story continues, it is obvious that the same problems from before have been reestablished tenfold, and now the animals must find a permanent solution. However, this proves to be an immensely difficult task, and the animals go through much strife and conflict in their attempts to achieve this goal.

This book has excellent themes and raises very interesting questions, with countless ways to view each question. One person might say that there can’t ever be both a functioning and completely satisfied society while there is present a leadership class, while another might say that the animals simply perceived their previous situation as much worse than it actually was. No matter how you approach it, however, this book will definitely challenge you to think.  ~Circ student John Clark

The AV Department? Not just films!

Sure, the AV Department has a ton of films available for checkout, but did you know that we also carry a large collection of television seasons? Come check out one of these TV shows in the following genres:

Animated:

• Daria


• Family Guy

Comedy:

• Bored to Death


• Flight of the Conchords

Crime Drama:

• Numbers


• The Wire

Gritty Drama:

• Breaking Bad


• Entourage

Historical Drama:

• Downton Abbey


• The Tudors

Medical Drama:

• Nip/Tuck


• Nurse Jackie

Mystery:

• Sherlock


• Veronica Mars

Sci Fi/Fantasy:

• Battlestar Galactica


• Game of Thrones

Sports:

• Eastbound & Down


• The League

Suspense:

• Dexter


• 24

--Laura, Head of Audiovisual

Coe Etiquette Book 1941- Appointments with Instructors and Class

This is one of those instances where the wisdom of the past applies today.  I can not give better advice.

It sounds silly to be told to smile to your professor and classmates, to be warned against chewing your gum too loud, and to be on time (you are able adults not children after all), but overall this is good advice.  Class will be more interesting if you are friendly, prepared, and engaged.

~Sara Pitcher, Archives Assistant

 

Braydon Roberts - Introduction and Book Recommendation

[caption id="attachment_1140" align="alignleft" width="163"] Braydon[/caption]

The library cannot provide its extended hours and services, during the academic year, with-out the help of its student workers.   We are deeply appreciative of all the work they do and would like to showcase them on the blog this semester.  We have asked them to recommend a book or media item to the Coe community and will post a brief introduction and their suggestions in the coming weeks.

Library student worker Braydon Roberts is a sophomore who works in the George T. Henry College Archives.  He suggests the Book "Catch 22" by Joseph Heller, because "It is a classical work set during World War II that also involves a lot of humor."

Catch-22 in the Library Catalog

Catch-22 is set in the closing month of World War II, in an American bomber squadron on a small island off Italy.  Its hero is a bombardier named Yossarian, who is frantic and furious because thousands of people he hasn't even met keep trying to kill him. (He has decided to live forever even if he has to die in the attempt.)

His problem is Colonel Cathcart, who keeps raising the number of missions the men have to fly.

-from the description on the book jacket

~Sara Pitcher, Archives Assistant

Study, Study, Study!

Stewart Memorial Library offers many wonderful study areas to choose from.  If you need complete quietness, then the third floor would be best for you.  However, if you are like me and need background noise in order to function then choose the first floor.  Often, I can be found with my head in my book at a round table towards the back!  I also enjoy studying in the study rooms that the library offers on 2nd floor and in the basement. ~Petreece

Internet law and rules, answered by an expert

This is a neat blog post that I found earlier today on Lifehacker.  The site hosted a Q & A session with  Derek Bambauer, an associate professor of law at the University of Arizona, where he teaches about internet law and intellectual property. In the past, he was also involved OpenNet Initiative, which tested and studied censorship in countries such as China, Iran, and Vietnam. Although the session is now over,  you'll find lots of great questions in the comments on Internet behaviors and law that I think would be of interest to pretty much everyone who uses the Web.  If you need a break today, take a look!
-Katelyn, Head of Reference

Coe Etiquette Book 1941- Friendliness and Library Etiquette

In 1941 there were 738 students on campus, a far smaller number than the more than 1300 there are today. But, this first bit of advice is still good; don't hesitate to speak to students, faculty and staff you see on campus.  It is a grand feeling to be able to speak to practically everyone you meet!

No the dining room staff are not your fellow students anymore, but please do treat them with courtesy along with the staff from physical plant who maintain the campus.  Saying good morning, good evening, and showing them respect (even when they can't get to your problem immediately) is very good advice still applicable today.

We have a very fine library on campus. I'll let you decide if it is still one of the finest in Iowa.  In certain areas quiet is appreciated, especially on the third floor.  Study is still an objective, but ignore the rest of that second paragraph.   Study groups, club meetings, and events are welcome and can be expected in the library.  This means noise!  You can also have food in the library (except in the archives).

The librarians and assistants are here for your convenience.  Feel free to ask questions, get directions, or just say hi (we won't bite, I promise)!

Students can check-out books for 28 days and can renew them for a total check out of 56 days (almost 2 months!), periodicals (magazines and journals) can be checked out for 3 days, and DVDs can be checked out for 3-7 days (depending if it is a new release or not).  Yes, if you fail to return library material you will be fined!

Next week: the etiquette of appointments with instructors and classes.

~Sara Pitcher, Archives Assistant

A student's perspective.....

One of the great things about the library - and Coe itself - is the AV department. There are so many DVDs including movies, TV series and documentaries to choose from; my roommate and I made it a tradition to rent TV series and to watch an episode or two every night, and to watch movies in the AV theater whenever we had downtime. The AV library is a really great resource to de-stress when the rest of campus seems to have nothing but work associated with it.

What do the librarians do all day?

Welcome back to Coe everyone!  The start of the semester has been very busy for the reference department, which is pretty standard this time of year.  Many of the FYS classes visit the library during the first few weeks in order to receive an introduction to Coe's holdings and how to best navigate our resources.  One of the activities that I have been starting classes off with this fall is a short activity called, "What do the librarians do all day?", which is a good way to get students thinking about the role that the library and the staff there have in their overall experience at Coe.  I have enjoyed doing this activity so much with the classes, I thought I'd share a bit of what comes out of it on the blog.

Many students believe that the librarians are responsible for shelving and organizing the books, a task that I'm very grateful to say is left to the student workers that help keep the library running (I put in my time shelving books in my hometown library in high school and am not anxious to be back on full-time shelving duty any time soon.)  Most students are very on the ball with other most commonly heard answers, which is that the staff is here to help students. Help them with research, help them with database usage, help them by answering related library questions, and the list goes on and on.  I'm thankful that many of the first-year students seem to understand that the staff is here to help them reach their academic goals, as that's ultimately the reason that I think many people go into this type of work; because they enjoy helping people find what they need.
On that note, please feel free to stop by the reference office any time you're having troubles with a research project, or just find yourself in need of someone to help you brainstorm.  Enjoy your fall everyone!
--Katelyn, Head of Referenc

Coe Etiquette Book 1941

At the left is the cover of an etiquette book provided to the students in 1941.  Every Saturday, in the coming weeks, you can find bits of wisdom from this book here.  Some of its suggestions will be amusing, some I will encourage you to ignore, and some of its advice is still valid today and can help you have an enjoyable college experience.  But first, an introduction from students of 1941 to the students of 2012.

~Sara Pitcher, Archives Assistant

Looking for new films?

The Audiovisual Browsing Collection consists of current popular and feature film DVDs which are available for checkout for a three day loan period. Items may be renewed by calling the department or requesting renewal at the desk. The Browsing area is located just to the left of the Audiovisual desk in the library basement. Come check out some new blockbuster films, documentaries, and TV series!

--Laura, Head of Audiovisual