Author: lagrant

Using the Library’s eBooks

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image from: greecepubliclibrary.org

By Leslie Grant, Graduate Assistant, McLure Education Library

In addition to our print books, McLure provides access to many electronic books, or eBooks. We’ve written about this topic in the past, but some changes to library services make it necessary to share updated information.

 

Reading an eBook:

EBooks are a valuable information resource at the library. Some materials are available only in eBook format, and it is becoming the preferred method for purchasing new titles.

The library does not currently use a single service to manage our eBook holdings. Instead they are provided by a number of different publishers. This means that library eBooks vary in format and platform.

EBooks are easily accessed by using Scout or the library’s catalog. Results from a search will indicate when a book is available electronically and will provide a link or information about how to view or download the material.

The various eBook providers cause some inconsistency across the library’s eBook holdings. Appearance, length of access, and number of simultaneous users can all vary, as well the ability to download, print, and take notes or highlight within the text.

 
Reserving an eBook:

It is not necessary for faculty to place an eBook on reserve for use in a particular course. However, putting an eBook on reserve will allow it to appear on the library’s website in the list of course reserves, making it easier for students to find and access.

Some eBooks can also be included on Blackboard. EBooks are added to Blackboard shelf by linking to them in the same manner you would for an article in a database. Further questions about using eBooks on Blackboard can be directed to Josh Sahib by email (jsahib@ua.edu) or phone (205-348-6529).

Hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions about library eBooks. For additional information, contact Wendy Arrasmith at (205-348-5678) or by email at (warrismi@ua.edu) or Will Fritz at (205-348-6346) or e-mail him at (wafritz@ua.edu).

Diversity in Children’s Literature

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By Leslie Grant, Graduate Assistant, McLure Education Library

The call for more diversity among book characters and authors has gained a lot of attention recently. We thought it would be helpful to provide some background and information on the topic to help others better understand the issue and some current reactions.

The lack of diversity in book publishing is by no means a new issue, but articles like “Where Are the People of Color in Children’s Books?” by Walter Dean Myers and “The Apartheid of Children’s Literature” by Christopher Myers helped bring the topic to the forefront within the past few months. The articles both react to and reflect on the baffling statistics from a study by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center at the University of Wisconsin that “Of 3,200 children’s books published in 2013, just 93 were about black people.” Rather than being an anomaly, these figures represent the trend of relatively low numbers of minority representation in children’s and young adult fiction.

One of the biggest movements has been the #WeNeedDiverseBooks Campaign. Through the use of social media, authors, publishers, and readers were able to share their reasons for wanting to see more diversity in books. By the end of the first day, the trend had gone viral, leading to thousands of tweets on the topic. The campaign has also been encouraging readers to buy more diverse books and for libraries to work to diversify their shelves.

We Need Diverse Books was largely a reaction to the 2014 Book Expo America. When the book publishing conference announced the lineup for their BookCon panels, the list consisted solely of white male participants. The success of We Need Diverse Books inspired BookCon to create a new panel featuring a more diverse group of children’s authors.

To find out more about We Need Diverse Books and BookCon, read “BookCon Controversy Begets Diversity Social Media Campaign” and “A Loud Start for BookCon”.

 

Book-Related Links

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By Leslie Grant, Graduate Assistant, McLure Education Library

We’ve read several articles recently about current book trends and reading behaviors. Here is a list of a few favorites you might find interesting.

 

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“Kids Don’t Read Books Because Parents Don’t Read Books”

According to a recent report, reading rates are in decline. So what’s the cause? Many people are quick to blame technology, but perhaps the problem stems more from larger cultural attitudes toward reading. “At the end of the day, how our children read and what our children read says a lot more about adult attitudes than it does about our kids’.”

 

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“The Reason Every Book about Africa Has the Same Cover – And It’s Not Pretty”

Ever noticed the acacia tree that seems to grace the cover of every book with an African author or setting? Regardless of style or subject, this tree has become ubiquitous with “African” books. The author examines why this is, blaming preferences by publishers to follow tradition and simplify the “other”.

 

 

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“How I Convinced My 8 Year Old to Choose Books Instead of Minecraft”

In this article, the writer shares a personal account about encouraging his son to read. While this includes incentivizing reading by making it a requirement before video games, he mostly focuses on how to make books appealing so that kids will choose to read. For instance, the comic book format of a graphic novel looks more like entertainment than reading, and eBooks offer both a technology aspect and the gratification of instant access.

 

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“Why You Should Avoid Best-Selling Books”

While everyone loves the glamour of the newest best seller, it might not be the best investment of your time. The knowledge it offers is ephemeral, serving as conversation fodder until the next best thing is published. On the other hand, books that withstand the test of time promise relevancy in the long term. They also offer a way to set yourself apart: “If you read what everyone else reads, soon you’ll start thinking like everyone else.”

Book Renewal Deadline for Faculty and Grad Students

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Reminder:

In order to help the library keep track of its materials, all library books charged to UA faculty and graduate students need to be physically renewed by Saturday, May 31. This can be done by bring the books to any library location. For faculty members with seven or more books, you can make an appointment with one of the librarians for a staff member to renew the books at your office. Please refer to the official memo for further instructions. Thanks for your cooperation!

(Note – this does not apply to undergraduate students.)

Picture Book Series

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By Leslie Grant, Graduate Assistant, McLure Education Library

We have several picture book series at McLure in the curriculum materials library downstairs. These books are great because they enable kids to read new books while still feeling comfortable with familiar characters. Also, if they like a book, you have a ready list of recommendations for further reading. A few popular series at the library include:

Olivia by Ian Falconer
“Whether at home getting ready for the day, enjoying the beach, or at bedtime, Olivia is a feisty pig who has too much energy for her own good.”

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Olivia
Dream big : [starring Olivia]
Olivia … and the missing toy
Olivia and the fairy princesses
Olivia counts
Olivia forms a band
Olivia goes to Venice
Olivia helps with Christmas
Olivia saves the circus
Olivia’s opposites

Pigeon by Mo Willems
“The bus driver turns over the duty of watching the bus to you, with one instruction, don’t let the pigeon drive the bus.”

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Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus
Don’t let the pigeon stay up late!
The duckling gets a cookie!?
The Pigeon finds a hot dog!
The pigeon has feelings, too!
The pigeon wants a puppy!

 

Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor
“A young girl who loves fancy things helps her family to be fancy…”

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Fancy Nancy
Fancy Nancy and the boy from Paris
Fancy Nancy and the posh puppy
Fancy Nancy, poison ivy expert
Fancy Nancy sees stars
Fancy Nancy’s favorite fancy words

 

David by David Shannon
“A young boy is depicted doing a variety of naughty things for which he is repeatedly admonished, but finally he gets a hug.”

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No, David!
David gets in trouble
David goes to school
It’s Christmas, David!

 

 

Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner
”Skippyjon Jones is a Siamese cat with an overactive imagination who would rather be El Skippito, his Zorro-like alter ego.”

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Skippyjon Jones 1-2-3
Skippyjon Jones and the big bones
Skippyjon Jones and the treasure hunt
Skippyjon Jones Cirque de Olé
Skippyjon Jones. Class action
Skippyjon Jones : color crazy
Skippyjon Jones in mummy trouble
Skippyjon Jones in the dog house
Skippyjon Jones– lost in spice
Skippyjon Jones shape up
Skippyjon Jones up & down

 

What are your favorite picture book series?

 

Television Show Read Alikes

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By Leslie Grant, Graduate Assistant, McLure Education Library

For fans of popular television series, there’s never an episode long enough to satisfy, and the wait between seasons can feel like an eternity. To bide your time until then, you might be interested in reading some similar stories. Here’s our list of read alikes for a few of your tv favorites:

If you like The Bachelor, you might like…

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The Selection by Kiera Cass.

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“America Singer is chosen to compete in the Selection–a contest to see which girl can win the heart of Illea’s prince–but all she really wants is a chance for a future with her secret love, Aspen, who is a caste below her.”

 

If you like Once Upon a Time, you might like…

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The Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley.

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“Orphans Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are sent to live with an eccentric grandmother that they have always believed to be dead.”

 

 

If you like Hannibal, you might like…

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Chew by John Layman and Rob Guillory.

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“Tony Chu is a detective with a secret. A weird secret. Tony Chu is Cibopathic, which means he gets psychic impressions from whatever he eats.”

 

 

If you like The 100, you might like…

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The Maze Runner by James Dashner.

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“Sixteen-year-old Thomas wakes up with no memory in the middle of a maze and realizes he must work with the community in which he finds himself if he is to escape.”

 

You can find all of these suggestions at McLure. Let us know in the comments if there are any other tv show/book comparisons you think we’re missing.

Midnight Snack: Where to Eat on Campus

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By Leslie Grant, Graduate Assistant, McLure Education Library

WImage courtesy of Bama Dininghile you’re studying and finishing up those last minute papers and projects, you might choose to take advantage of the library’s extended hours. If those late night hours work up an appetite, you’re in luck! Many dining locations on campus will be staying open later. For those studying at McLure, you might be interested to know that the Alston Bistro & Subway (located in the business courtyard behind the library) will be staying open until 2am during finals week. To find out about other locations and hours, check the Bama Dining website. Also, our library is food-friendly, so feel free to bring in outside food or drink as a study snack. You can even order food and have it delivered here, just don’t expect us to pay for it! : )

Longer Library Hours

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McLure will be open longer hours starting next week to provide more time for studying during dead week and finals.

Here is our schedule for the next two weeks ( April 20th-May 2nd):

  • Sunday:
    1:00pm – 12:00am
  • Monday:
    7:00am – 12:00am
  • Tuesday:
    7:00am – 12:00am
  • Wednesday:
    7:00am – 12:00am
  • Thursday:
    7:00am – 12:00am
  • Friday:
    7:00am – 6:00pm
  • Saturday:
    10:00am – 6:00pm

For more information, including exceptions and other library hours, click here.

Also, you may want to note that McLure will be opening two hours earlier than the rest of the libraries on campus this Sunday, April 2oth.

The Praxis: What to Expect on Test Day

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this guy is smug because he knew what to expect on test day (picture from the Praxis website)

By Leslie Grant, Graduate Assistant, McLure Education Library

Many College of Education students will soon be taking the Praxis. In order to help you be more prepared on test day, we would like to share some Praxis resources. For more about the Praxis and how to find library study aids, read our previous post on the topic here.

The Praxis is currently is the process of moving to a completely computerized version of the test. For those of us used to paper and pencil standardized tests, this can add a level of uncertainty to an already stressful situation. Luckily, the Praxis has released some guides that will ease the process.

First, you can check out their Computer-delivered Testing Demonstration. This site shows you what the test will look like and how to navigate through it. It even includes a demo version where you can practice with log in and sample questions. By practicing with this demonstration, you can feel more comfortable with the format of the test because you have seen and used it before.

You can also watch a Computer-delivered Test Center Tour. This will guide you through computer testing procedures, including proper identification, how to store your belongings, and entering and exiting the testing area. The video shows what to expect on test day, and I found it very similar to my own experience with ETS computerized testing. It’s a great resource to get an idea of what the testing facility will look like, especially for those who have never been to one before.

For those taking the computer-delivered test, I would highly recommend spending the time to look over these websites to get more familiar with the test format and testing centers. You can also find additional help with studying on the Preparation Materials page of the Praxis website.

Best of luck!

What is Manga?

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manga

By Leslie Grant, Graduate Assistant, McLure Education Library

If you’re ever perused the shelves of our graphic novel section, you might notice that some of the books appear to be printed backwards. The cover illustration appears on the back, rather than the front of the book. You may know this already, but these books are called manga. For those unfamiliar with the genre, we thought it would be good to provide a short explanation.

Manga originates from Japan. The word itself means comic or cartoon. Manga is a style that developed in the late 19th century, and the stories can be about a wide range of topics. It has risen in popularity in Europe and North America, especially after the influx of Japanese animation.

The reading direction in a traditional manga (image from Wikipedia)

Rather than a being misprint, manga only appears “backwards” if you’re used to reading from left to right. This is because manga is usually written from right to left. Some publishers choose to flip the images to accommodate western readers. However, this inversion can cause other problems by changing the illustrations and directions within the text.

The image to the left demonstrates the direction in which the story is read within traditional manga. You can also see a more detailed explanation with examples by following this link.

 

Now that you understand the basics, we have several series to get you started, including:

  • Vampire Knight
  • Oh My Goddess!
  • Hikaru No Go
  • Neon Genesis Evangelion
  • Gravitation
  • Someday’s Dreamers: Spellbound

You can find all of these and more by browsing the graphic novels downstairs at McLure or searching the catalog. Enjoy!