Think Like a President and Get Out of Your Head

What could be better for summer reading than getting completely out of your head and reading something very different from your normal go-to recreational reading?  Take a chance and do what former president Obama did.  He read The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu and here is what he had to say about it in a New York Times article for the NY Times book review section.

” … there’s been the occasion where I just want to get out of my own head. [Laughter] Sometimes you read fiction just because you want to be someplace else.

What are some of those books?

It’s interesting, the stuff I read just to escape ends up being a mix of things — some science fiction. For a while, there was a three-volume science-fiction novel, the “Three-Body Problem” series —

Oh, Liu Cixin, who won the Hugo Award.

— which was just wildly imaginative, really interesting. It wasn’t so much sort of character studies as it was just this sweeping —

It’s really about the fate of the universe.

Exactly. The scope of it was immense. So that was fun to read, partly because my day-to-day problems with Congress seem fairly petty — not something to worry about. Aliens are about to invade. [Laughter]

Excerpt from the New York Times, January 16, 2017.

If a recommendation from the ex-President isn’t enough, what about the current head of Facebook – Mark Zukerburg who also recommended this book for his book club.

The novels are set in post-war Communist China, the first, The Three-Body Problem tells the story of an alien civilization that learns of the existence of Earth.  Facing destruction, the aliens invade.   The ensuing war is detailed in The Dark Forest, and the trilogy ends with, the appropriately named, Death’s End, that explores the two societies’ attempts to co-exist.

If you would like to share some head time with something completely different, McLure Library has all three books in that series in the Education School Library collection.

Book 1                                                     Book 2                                            Book 3

Cover Image                      Cover Image                    Cover Image

The call number for the first book is   PL 2947 .C59 S3613 2014

If you would like to read this novel call 348 – 6346 or 348-1508 and we will put it on hold for you.  Or you can come to McLure and see what other fantastic summer reading we have on our shelves.

New eBooks: July 2017

Check out some recent additions to our eBook collection.

Have a book purchase suggestion? Submit it via https://www.lib.ua.edu/forms/suggest-a-purchase-form/.

New eBooks!

Check out recent additions to our e-book collection.

Have a book purchase suggestion? Submit it via https://www.lib.ua.edu/forms/suggest-a-purchase-form/.

Retired?

Who knew you could retire a color?  Aren’t the colors a constant?  Unchanging?  The color spectrum a scientific fact?

On the morning of March 31, 2017 Crayola will retire a color from it’s classic 24 count box of crayons.  Exactly which color is going to be retired has been a well kept secret, and the world anxiously awaits this announcement.

This exciting event in the life of the coloring box can be a learning opportunity for the classroom.  Here is a list of crayon read-alouds that can be used in the classroom.

Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

Cover Image

Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt              Cover Image

Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall

Cover Image

Bad Day at Riverbend by Chris Van Allsburg      Cover Image

Not in the House Newton by Judith Heide Gilliland

Cover Image

Read Across America 2017

 

Happy Read Across America Day!

This week, we celebrate the 20th anniversary National Education Association’s (NEA) Read Across America program with a Dr. Seuss showcase.

On campus? Come see the main floor display with our favorite Dr. Seuss books and resources about Theodore Seuss Geisel. During your visit, feel free to checkout a book and take a Dr. Seuss bookmark created by the McLure Library staff.

We’re celebrating online too! Follow us on social media as we share tips, activities, and our Dr. Seuss favorites.

Check out our Pinterest board, curated by K. Justice, for great Dr. Seuss-themed free classroom or library activities. https://www.pinterest.com/mclurelibrary/read-across-americadr-seuss-2017/

Let us know how you’re celebrating Read Across America & Dr. Seuss 2017 with #mclurelibrary on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook!

 

A Series of Unfortunate Events Rainy Weekend

With rainy weather in the forecast this weekend, the McLure Library has a few tips for you!  For nostalgic reasons, many of you have already checked out the Netflix adaption of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, and if you haven’t it is definitely time to do so.  The McLure faculty and staff would encourage you to first come check out the A Series of Unfortunate Events books, as they are a quick reads and very entertaining!

 

While you’re curled up on the couch with your newly checked out books, or if you decided to binge watch A Series of Unfortunate Events on Netflix, you’re going to need snacks!  Check out the link below for some yummy recipes.  You can whip them up either before or after your time with Violet, Klaus, and Sunny.

Check it out:

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/01/13/509495544/ring-in-lemony-snicket-on-netflix-with-a-series-of-unfortunate-recipes

 

Welcome Stillman Students!

Welcome, Stillman students!

You are invited to use the materials in the McLure Education Library.  If you would like to check out books, just take your Stillman ID to the Gorgas Library circulation desk on the second floor and request a free Bama Borrower’s Card.  Then present your Borrower’s Card and a valid photo ID when you check out books in McLure.

Here’s the page with the complete information about the Borrower’s Card:
https://www.lib.ua.edu/using-the-library/circulation-services/borrowing/#/bamaBorrowers

Students from other Alabama institutions may also participate!  For the complete list of schools, see:
https://www.lib.ua.edu/using-the-library/interlibrary-loan/area-institutions/

Note that students from Auburn University, Auburn University at Montgomery, and Jacksonville State University can check out materials using their school’s ID card–no need for a Borrower’s Card.

 

McLure: 72 Hour Laptop and Chromebooks!

A lot of new changes are coming to the McLure, like our new 72-hour check out policy for our Dell laptops and Chromebooks!

Here are a few tips to make checkout fast and easy!

  1. Bring your ACT card (we can not use just your CWID)
  2. Read the laptop borrowing agreement carefully
  3. Be patient while the McLure staff checks the laptop and the accessories
  4. You will then be issued a 72-hour laptop!

Tips to avoid late fees:

  1. Never leave the laptop unattended (if stolen or lost the lost fee will be accredited to your account)
  2. Take care of the laptop and its accessories
  3. Return the laptop to the library (McLure) that you checked it out from!
  4.  Bring it back on the due date or before

April is Autism Awareness Month!

Facts about Autism

  • Autism spectrum Disorder also known as ASD is a developmental disability that can cause social, communication, and behavioral challenges.
  1. Autism now affects approximately 1 in 68 children.
  2. Boys are nearly five times more likely to have autism, about 1 in 42.
  3. There is no cure, however with early intervention symptoms can greatly improve.
  4. Autism is one of the fastest growing developmental disorders.

In helping to raise awareness we would like to feature some of the great resources we have available at McLure Education Library!

100 Ideas for Supporting Pupils on the Autistic Spectrum

100 ideas  http://library.ua.edu/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=2090010

 

Developing College Skills in Students with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome

Developing college skills  http://library.ua.edu/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=3400574

 

The New Social Story Book

social   http://library.ua.edu/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=1673177

 

The Social Skills Picture Book

picture   http://library.ua.edu/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=1666226

Ian’s Walk

ian    http://library.ua.edu/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=1063270

Carly’s Voice

carly    http://library.ua.edu/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=3913348

 

Please check out our Curriculum Materials area for sensory manipulatives!

 

The Mystery Box

The mystery box    http://library.ua.edu/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=1852881

Gears Galore

gearshttp://library.ua.edu/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=1203448

 

 Coming Soon!!!!!

Sensory Balls

sensory ballshttp://library.ua.edu/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=4438677

 

For additional resources please visit: https://autism-clinic.ua.edu

clinic

Special thanks to The University of Alabama Autism Spectrum Disorders Clinic.  I cannot say enough wonderful things about this clinic and the services they provide.

 

Content created by:  Kristy Justice