Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Summer Reads from the MUM Book Discussion Group

A summer of reading is ahead from the MUM Book Discussion Group! We have picked our next two monthly reading choices for June and July.

Our June book discussion will be on Wednesday, June 23, from 12:00-1:00 in the library (aim for the blue chairs). Our book is Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake. We join family of Indian immigrants as they transform themselves into Americans. A fuller description is available at http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides3/namesake1.asp The book is widely available through OhioLINK and can be requested from this page: http://tinyurl.com/29q2ka3

Our July discussion will be held on Thursday, July 22, from 12:00-1:00 in the library. The book is the Scandinavian thriller The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson. Financial intrigue and a mysterious disappearance challenge Swedish journalist Mikael Blomkvist and his putative ally, the enigmatic Lisbeth Salander. More information on the book is available at http://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/index.cfm/book_number/2179/The-Girl-with-the-Dragon-Tattoo The book may be requested from OhioLINK at this page: http://tinyurl.com/2agrpny

August is currently open for suggestions, but in September we will read Alexander McCall Smith’s The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency as part of Middfest’s Books of Botswana Reading Challenge (see http://ghlibrarynews.blogspot.com/2010/04/books-of-botswana-reading-challenge.html).

Be sure to check our website for upcoming events and to suggest additional titles: http://www.mid.muohio.edu/library/bookdiscussion.htm

We look forward to having you join us!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Summer Reading 2010

Whether you are beach bound, heading to the mountains, or sitting in your backyard, pick up a book and read this summer. Here are a few titles to consider.

Double Comfort Safari Club. Alexander McCall Smith. 2010.
Prepare for 2010 MidFest which will highlight Botswana, Africa by reading the latest novel in the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series. MidFest Book Discussion Groups will be discussing this internationally best-selling author’s series in coming months, which focuses on the mysteries of life, using humor, culture, generational differences, ethics, and the call of community.

Beatrice and Virgil: A Novel. Yann Martel. 2010.
A celebrated now struggling author Henry meets with an older taxidermist to discuss his play featuring a howler monkey and donkey. Through the framework of fable, a holocaust tale unfolds. Thought-provoking themes on the human condition are raised, such as creativity and cruelty.

Wolf Hall. Hilary Mantel. 2010.
Follow the fascinating power play and intrigue in Henry VIII's court as he quest for a male heir with the help of Oliver Cromwell, and the hindrance of Sir Thomas More.

Life Among the Lutherans. Garrison Keillor. 2009.
Explore Keillor's spiritual roots spiced with humor and insight on living the good life.

Made for Goodness: And Why This Makes All the Difference. Desmond Tutu. 2010.
Reflect with one of the transparent movers and shakers of our time on the outworking of sin, goodness, and forgiveness.

And what are you reading this summer? Tell GHL.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Accessing Textbooks Through the Library

Students have a variety of options to access required course materials through the Gardner-Harvey Library:

1. The library may have purchased the course textbook as part of our Textbooks on Reserve program. The current list of available textbooks (arranged by course) is available at http://www.mid.muohio.edu/library/textbookreserves.htm The library will also purchase additional textbooks as requested for Summer Semester. Each textbook may be borrowed from the library for two hours, or if checked out after 5:00pm, it can be kept until 9:00am the next morning.

2. Faculty members may have placed textbooks or other materials on library reserve. Many of the textbooks provided by faculty members are on the list linked above. If a faculty member would like to place an item on reserve, please consult the information at http://www.mid.muohio.edu/library/reserves.htm and use the online form at the bottom of that page.

3. Students may be able to borrow a copy of the textbook from another Miami University Library or from one of our OhioLINK library partners around the state. Materials may be borrowed for up to 15 weeks through OhioLINK. The starting point is to use our library catalog at http://www.lib.muohio.edu/multifacet (this searches all Miami libraries) and then to click on “Request Item.” Library staff would be happy to run searches and assist anyone in checking the availability of a title in OhioLINK.

4. Some textbooks are available as electronic books purchased through OhioLINK. A quick way to search these e-book collections (along with the print collections of OhioLINK libraries) is to use the University System of Ohio’s Textbook Portal at http://textbooks.uso.edu/ Enter either the ISBN or a combination of the title and author of the book to see if it is available.

The library stands ready to assist any student or faculty member who needs help with these matters. Please contact us at 513-727-3222, midref@lib.muohio.edu, IM us @ askghl, or contact any of our staff members directly using the information at http://www.mid.muohio.edu/library/contactus.htm

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

New Materials Added in March and April

The March and April new materials list is now available. We added 549 books, DVDs, and other items over those months, thanks to the impressive efforts of our faculty selectors and the library staff.

Have a suggestion of something to order? Use our online request form, email one of our staff members or drop by the library with your request. Thanks!

John