Banned Books Week

The American Library Association and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression in tandem with nationwide booksellers, authors, and publishers groups dedicate one week each year to celebrate everyone’s freedom to read by alerting readers to some of the books that have been targeted for censorship in the past.

Because of “the efforts of librarians, teachers, booksellers, and and members of the community to retain the books in the library collections,” says the ALA Banned Books Week Web site,  most of the books were ultimately not banned or restricted.

Notable challenged books and the reasons they were challenged:

• The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier for using offensive language, being sexually explicit, and portraying violence
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain for racism
• The Color Purple by Alice Walker for portraying homosexuality, using offensive language, and being sexually explicit
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou for being sexually explicit
• In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak for portraying nudity, using offensive language, and being sexually explicit
• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck for using offensive language, and portraying racism and violence
• Any Harry Potter book by J. K. Rowling for portraying the occult, Satanism, and violence

Banned Book Week highlights the importance of First Amendment rights.

Web 2.0 in Education Workshop at FLC

This is just a note to let staff and faculty know about an exciting upcoming workshop on October 2 at Folsom Lake College.  If you came to (or were interested in but missed) the Classroom 2.0 event last Spring, this looks to be similar but with a more specifically community-college focus.

This will not be a traditional conference with presenters and spectators, but rather an “unconference,” so come ready to share what you know and learn more about using Web 2.0 and emerging technologies in education.

Visit the workshop wiki to learn more and add your name to the list of participants.

Resources for a Teachable Moment

Many SCC faculty are making use of recent campus events as a teachable moment for critical thinking.  To support that momentum, the library would like to share a sample of significant information resources.

Books and Media in the SCC Library

Asking the right questions: a guide to critical thinking.  M. Neil Browne.  2010, 2007, 2004.

From critical thinking to argument: a portable guide.  Sylvan Barnet, Hugo Bedau.  2008, 2005.

Beyond feelings: a guide to critical thinking.  Vincent Ryan Ruggiero.  2008, 2004, 2001.

The thinker’s guide to fallacies: the art of mental trickery and manipulation.  Richard Paul and Linda Elder.  2006.

How to think about weird things: critical thinking for a New Age.  Theodore Schick, Jr., Lewis Vaughn.  2002, 1999.

Find many more titles in LOIS, the library catalog.  Suggested keyword searches:  critical thinking, persuasion, logic, reasoning, freedom of speech, reasoning, ethics.

Websites

There are many.  Turn up a good quality list of resources by searching for “critical thinking” at INFOMINE, Intute or Librarian’s Internet Index (research databases of handpicked websites).

The Library has also posted a few links to published articles from library databases about the abortion debate on its Twitter stream.

Librarians are deeply invested in helping students think critically about information.  Bring your students to the library for an orientation, or send them to do some digging on their own.

Why (and where) we’re Twittering

The SCC Library recently started up a Twitter account, which we’re using to post quick notes about new and ongoing services, upcoming events, and online resources we notice that might help students do their research. Why Twitter?

(NOTE: if you’re already suffering from information overload, you might want to skip this one.)

IM a librarian (Instant Message, that is)

IM form

Got a library question?  The library help page now features instant messaging (or, if you prefer, chat). If you see a green light, we’re online. Just type your question to the librarian into the small white box on the IM form and hit enter.

If the light is red, we’re not online, but don’t let that stop you. If we’re open, give us a call (558-2461), or use our e-mail form.  We’ll get back to you as soon as we can!  (Messaging is normally online during library open hours.)

Library & LRC to Close at 8:00 p.m.!

Please spread the word: The SCC Library and Learning Resource Center will begin closing at 8:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, effective Tuesday, Sept. 8.  Funding cuts have caused reductions in evening staff hours below the minimum needed to operate the building. (Friday and Saturday LRC hours remain unchanged at 7:30-5:00 and 9:00-4:00. )

Learning Resource Center Hours

This change will impact students who use Library, Instructional Media, and Academic Computers services in the evening to study, do research, use computers, view media, and borrow reserve textbooks.   Please help get the word out so students who come to the LRC can be prepared.  This change may also impact instructors who bring classes for library instruction; plan on an earlier session when you submit an evening orientation request.

Hours for Academic Computers in B-153 are Monday-Friday 8:00-4:00.  eServices hours in B-153 are Monday-Thursday 7:30 -5:00.