HCC Brandon Library

New books! New look!

2012-01-11T05:54:00.000-08:00

The LRC has a new look! Over the winter break the library received a paint job and we are now bright and welcoming with the school blue and fresh walls! The New Lease Book titles are in, and Stephen King keeps you on the edge of your seat as he tries to prevent the Kennedy assasination. Bill Cosby wants to make you laugh, Patricia Cornwell wants to puzzle you, and Umberto Eco....well he would like to creep you out and confuse you all at once...... in a cemetary. So, come by and take a look, Ooooo and Awwww over our face lift, and pick out one of the new reads! Laurie~

"V" is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton
A Dark and Lonely Place by Edna Buchanan
11/22/63 by Stephen King
Micro by Michael Crichton and Richard Preston
Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich
The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco; translated from the Italian by Richard Dixon
Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell
I Didn't Ask to be Born (But I'm Glad I was) by Bill Cosby; illustrations by George Booth
The Affair: A Reacher Novel by Lee Child
Love in a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich & Dorien Kelly
Breakdown by Sara Paretsky
D.C. Dead by Stuart Woods
Foreign Influence by Brad Thor
The Last Nude by Ellis Avery

The Lease Book Collection is made possible by the generosity of the Brandon SGA.

New Fiction!

2011-11-08T06:35:00.000-08:00

New titles have arrived in the SGA sponsored best sellers collection and long time favorites like Danielle Steele and Sharon Kay Penman are now on the shelf. We also have the latest offering, The Litigators, for you John Grisham fans. Many of you may recall the literary praise given to Charles Frazier, who wrote the beautiful Cold Mountain, and he is on the list with a new tale from North Carolina, titled Nightwoods. A story of suspense and love featuring two children who haven't spoken since their mother's death. The Washinton Post called it: "an Appalachian Gothic with a low-level fever that runs alternately warm and chilling.”

New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb
The Vault by Ruth Rendell
Flash and Bones by Kathy Reichs
Room by Emma Donoghue
Quicksilver by Amanda Quick
Lethal by Sandra Brown
The Secret Mistress by Mary Balogh
A Stolen Life: A Memoir by Jaycee Dugard
Prince of Ravenscar by Catherine Coulter
Iron House by John Hart
Zero Day by David Baldacci
The Litigators by John Grisham
Hotel Vendome by Danielle Steel
Lionheart by Sharon Kay Penman
Nightwoods by Charles Frazier
Pirate King by Laurie R. King

~Laurie

Ecosystems, Economics, and Education

2011-09-30T07:05:00.000-07:00

Whether you're involved in sustainability issues or just passionate about being part of positive change for ecosystems, economics and education, the Brandon Learning Resource Center encourages your interest and attendance at this important conference in November.

Presenting the 36th Annual Conference
Ecosystems, Economics, and Education

November 3 - 4, 2011 John R. Trinkle Conference Center
Hillsborough Community College, Plant City Campus

To register, please go to the Registration page.

We look forward to seeing you there

BLRC Link:
GOING MOBILE: http://libguides.hccfl.edu/goingmobile
http://hccfl.edu/departments/ifs/conference.aspx

Mes de la Herencia Hispana

2011-09-02T09:50:00.000-07:00

A month for Celebrating Hispanic Culture:

The Spain we know today was originally settled by groups from across the ancient world. From 1100 BC onward the Phoenicians, the Greeks, and the Carthaginians established settlements where they found people known as the Iberians from northern Africa. Phoenicians and Greeks were later followed by the Carthaginians and Romans. With the dissolution of Rome came the Visigoths from northern Europe and later, Celts, who came from every region of Europe and settled from Hungary to Northern Scotland. Now consider the impact of these historical events: The Moors invade from northern Africa and bring Islamic culture to Europe and are later driven out by Isabella of Castile. Under her commission, Columbus searched for a new route to India and becomes the first European explorer to see our part of the Americas. The defeat of the mighty Spanish Armada would establish British dominance in Europe, while Spain held onto her western territories. Portugal, Mexico, Central and South America are settled by Spain. Spanish Cession in 1819 and Mexican Cession in 1848 bring Arizona, California, one third of Colorado, Florida, one half of New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, and Utah into the Union of the United States. A survey of Spanish culture reveals more than a template of world history as so many nations and peoples have melded into new civilizations. It also provides a contrast to limited contemporary perceptions of ‘Hispanic’, as the history of Hispanic culture is a macrocosm of our known world. ~Laurie

Explore more in BLRC books:
The Norton Anthology of Latino literature
The rise and fall of the Spanish Empire
Eyes Wide Open Exploring Today’s South America
Mexicanos: a history of Mexicans in the United States
Latin American politics and development

Image: Priestess of Ancient Iberia, 5th century onward.
Spanish films to watch for: http://www.filmmovement.com/filmcatalog/index.asp?FINDBY=Genre&GenreID=29&gclid=CJLov5aN_6oCFdgS2godZ2k90Q&
Sources: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/266944/Hispania
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/557573/Spain/70269/The-Romans

2011-09-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

Welcome back everyone, we hope you 've had a good summer. The new best sellers are coming in just in time for the Labor Day weekend, so Jeffrey Archer and Tom Clancy fans take note!~Laurie

Buried Prey by John Sandford
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Those in Peril by Wilbur Smith
The Snowman by Jo Nesbø
William and Catherine by Andrew Morton
The Kingdom by Clive Cussler with Grant Blackwood
Against all Enemies by Tom Clancy with Peter Telep
Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich
The Sauvignon Secret by Ellen Crosby
Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer
Heartwishes by Jude Deveraux.

The Lease Collection is made possible by the generosity of the HCC Brandon SGA.

Attention eBooks/Audiobooks Users!

2011-06-16T15:14:00.000-07:00

Are you a NetLibrary eBook or Audiobook user?

Your eBooks and Audiobooks are moving to EBSCOhost in July 2011!

Please read these important instructions regarding your favorites, checkouts, holds, and notes before we move.

New Lease Books!

2011-04-29T08:10:00.000-07:00

The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Alexander McCall Smith
Tick Tock by James Patterson
Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts
The Love of my Youth by Mary Gordon
The Uncoupling by Meg Wolitzer
44 Charles Street by Danielle Steel
The Land of Painted Caves by Jean M. Auel
Elizabeth I by Margaret George
Dead by Midnight by Carolyn G. Hart
Save Me by Lisa Scottoline
Midnight and the Meaning of Love by Sister Souljah

New Books

2011-03-17T05:56:00.000-07:00

Well, its' that time of year again. The powers that be have declared that we will lose an hour of sleep and have to go to bed earlier. Need something to wind down? Want to take advantage of the evening light? Here's some new titles in the Lease Book Collection, courtesy of the Brandon SGA:

The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino
And Furthermore by Judi Dench
Gone by Mo Hayder
Love you More by Lisa Gardner
Fire the Sky by Kathleen O’Neal Gear & Michael W. Gear
Night Road by Kristen Hannah
A Decadent Way to Die by McKevett
Treachery in Death by J.D. Robb
Though Not Dead: a Kate Shugak Novel by by Dana Stabenow
River Marked by Patricia Briggs
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
The Complaints by Ian Rankin

NEW DVDs AND BOOKS!!!!!!!

2011-01-28T10:32:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the generosity of the Brandon SGA the BLRC now has over 40 new DVD titles available for check out. And unlike Red Box, it's free! The new slection includes dramas, such as the Oscar nominated Winter's Bone, comedies like Get Him to the Greek and Grown Ups, as well as family films and documentaries like the Sundance winner Restrepo. We have also added new titles to the Lease Book Collection, which is also supported by SGA. Many thanks to Student Government for playing such an important role in the LRCs recreational collections and looking out for the needs of HCC Brandon students! ~Laurie

NEW BOOK TITLES:
Outliers: the Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
Unbroken: A World War II Airmen's Story of Survival by Laura Hillebrand
Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog, and of his friend Marilyn Monroe by Andrew O' Hagan
Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card
Dead or Alive by Tom Clancy
Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell
Crescent Dawn by Clive Cussler
Edge by Jeffrey Deaver
What the Night Knows by Dean R. Koontz
In Too Deep by Jayne Ann Krentz

iHockney!

2010-11-16T06:45:00.000-08:00

David Hockney, British artist of the Pop Movement, (now 73 years of age) is considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, and he's found a way to paint without paint, paint brushes....or getting out of bed. In 2008 he discovered his iPhone's Brushes Application. Now, using only his right thumb he creates about 10 to 20 images a week and e-mails them to friends and relatives. (Sometimes he forgets it's digital and wipes his thumb on his clothes). So far he has created about 1,000 images, which went on display this October in Paris. All are shown on iPad and iPhone screens. The images could eventually be streamed to museums or collected into apps for everyone with the technology at hand. So, if you've been thinking about engaging in some more creative activities and you're in line at the grocery store, sitting in the airport or chilling on the beach you might look to Mr. Hockney for inspiration.~Laurie

It's an iHockney! Image Courtesy of Vanity Fair

Hell's Corner by David Baldacci

Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane

Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King

Our Kind of Traitor by John Le Carre

Getting to Happy by Terry McMillian

The Lease Book Collection is made possible by the generosity of the Brandon SGA

Native American History Month

2010-10-28T08:08:00.000-07:00

Lakota Woman Lucille' by E. S. Curtis 1907
One of my first entries on the BLRC blog was about Native Americans and the American Photographer Edward S. Curtis. Once again I would like to draw attention to his work as well as his subject, for our November 2010 observance of Native American History Month. Beginning in 1900 and continuing over thirty years, Edward Sheriff Curtis took over 40,000 images and recorded ethnographic information from over eighty American Indian tribal groups, ranging from the Eskimo or Inuit people of the far north to the Hopi people of the Southwest to the Mississippi region and into Mexico. He also captured the likeness of many important and well-known Indian people of that time, including Geronimo, Chief Joseph, Red Cloud, Medicine Crow and others. However, the Curtis photographs must be placed in their proper perspective. Curtis saw these people as a primitive and vanishing culture and wished to record their lives before they all disappeared. But many of the tribes he photographed remain active today as they’ve worked to preseve their cultures. At the same time some tribes have vanished along with the facts of ritual and everyday life, and in many cases Curtis’s record is the only record. Curtis gave his whole life to this project, living on the trail, alienated from his own family, and dying in poverty. But despite the hardships the photographer had to endure, the ultimate beauty of The North American Indian lies not only with the genius of Curtis, but also and most importantly, within his subjects. Curtis was a great artist, but the Indian people possessed the beauty and dignity portrayed, and this can still be seen in their descendants today.

If you are Native American, or interested in this topic, I encourage you to visit the site below made available by Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, which lists the tribes, texts and photos compiled in Curtis's work. Laurie ~

http://curtis.library.northwestern.edu/

Additional Sources: American Masters from pbs.org
Photo: Edward S. Curtis Collection U.S. Library of Congress

El Dorado

2010-10-04T07:58:00.001-07:00

"Catch a glimpse of EL DORADO"

Pre-Columbian Gold Artifacts Exhibition

HCC Brandon Library October 4th-31st

Hispanic Hertiage celebrations are on the agenda for the month of October and the HCC Brandon LRC is proud to have on display this exhibit featuring a history of these Pre-Columbian artifacts. Every culture has its Avalon, Sarras or Syon, but none has been as praised in poem, literature and film like the legend of Eldorado. Perhaps you've read the Poem by Edgar Allen Poe, seen the film Eldorado with John Wayne, or even the recent Disney production of the tale, whatever the source this name and lengend are ubiquitus in western culture. Now, thanks to the efforts of Elisa Molano-Cook, we have a beautiful display with models and text depicting the story behind this legend. Please come by the LRC to view this exhibit as you enjoy the many events and festivities of Hispanic Heritage Month ~ Laurie

New in the Library

2010-09-24T12:36:00.001-07:00

We're now one month into the Fall semester and our SGA sponsored Lease Collection is adding new titles each week. The new items now in include Ken Follett, Daniel Silva and Florida favorite, Carl Hiaasen. Since last Spring the LRC has aquired a large screen television, which is used to post important campus information as well as bring attention to upcoming observations such as Labor Day, the various holidays in September and Banned Books Week. So please stop by, pick out a book for the predicted rainy week ahead and find out why someone was always trying to ban Lolita or Catch-22. Laurie~

Burn by Nevada Barr

Scarlet Nights by Jude Devereaux

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

Red Queen by Phillipa Gregory

Star Island by Carl Hiaasen

Rembrandt Affair by Daniel Silva

Fall of Giants ar Island by Carl Hiaasen

Search by Nora Roberts

The Fall of Giants by Ken Follett

Painted Ladies by Robert B. Parker

Trials of Zion by Allen M. Dershowitz

Grace of Silence: A Memoir by Michele Norris

Three Stations by Martin Cruz-Smith

Legacy a Novel by Danielle Steel

Animal Cruelty Prevention Month/ New Books

2010-06-07T10:08:00.000-07:00

In the midst of the present environmental crisis and other events world wide it is difficult to see the point in worrying about one dog or another cat. However, the Humane Society of the United States estimates that animal shelters care for 6-8 million dogs and cats every year in the United States, of whom some 3-4 million are euthanized. If those numbers were applied to humans we’d call it a Holocaust, every year. No, dogs and cats are not endangered. They’re not exotic. Their environment is not threatened and they do not require special foods to survive. But they also cannot speak out, and they did not bring this misery upon themselves, and like so much of the suffering in the world, it can be avoided. It’s true that you cannot personally stop the oil leak in the gulf now threatening animal life. You can't always hop on a boat and stop dolphin slaughter in Japan, or stand down hunters killing baby seal, but you can do something about this, while improving conditions in your neighborhood. Prevent animal cruelty and over population. Spay, neuter and care for your pets. Report cruelty and neglect when you see it. Donate when you can. Inform and educate others. Free the resources for those other battles, and make a difference for you, your community and animals in need. ~ Laurie

For a $20 special on spaying and neutering your feline go to actampa.org and click on "specials and grants."

New Books, Courtesy of SGA:

Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende
BedWetter By Sarah Silverman
Private Life by Jane Smiley
Blue-eyed Devil by Robert B. Parker
The God of the Hive by Laurie R. King
61 hours by Lee Child
Secret Affair by Mary Blough
The Girl Who Kicked a Hornets Nest by Stieg Larsson

PBS Gulf Oil Spill Tracker

2010-06-03T08:44:00.000-07:00

The library goes Mobile!

2010-04-28T15:42:00.001-07:00

Now you can access the library site from any mobile device. This site optimized for most mobile phones and is accessible from the library website or directly at: http://www.hccfl.edu/library/mobile.

If you have a smartphone (such as iPhone, Droid or Blackberry) you shouldn't have problems accessing the main library website.

New Books for Break

2010-03-08T07:06:00.000-08:00

As I am sure you're all aware, spring break is not far away.

Sixteen days, five hours, forty one minutes and eleven seconds, actually.

Maybe we will have sunshine, maybe some beach weather, who knows? So wherever and whenever you decide to relax, make sure you have your reads picked out to go along. We have lots of new titles in the recreational reading collection, including your favorite authors.

Our thanks to the HCC Brandon SGA for making this possible.

Treasure Hunt by John Lescroart
Death of a Valentine by M.C. Beaton
Doors Open by Ian Rankin
Gator a-go-go by Tim Dorsey
The Merry Wives of Maggody by Joan Hess
Brava Valentine by Adriana Trigiani
Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb
Wild Zone by Joy Fielding
Big Girl by Danielle Steel
Split Image by Robert Parker
The Language of Bees by Laurie R. King
Point Omega by Don DeLillo
The Brutal Retelling by Louise Penny
Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier
The End of the Road by Sue Henry

Campus Reads -- The Glass Castle

2010-02-18T16:33:00.001-08:00

Come by the library and pick up a copy of The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls and participate in the campus reads program at Brandon Campus.

Follow this link for a summary & book reviews

Check out HCC Brandon's Campus Reads page for info & various events, including a roundtable discussion on The Glass Castle on Wed. March 10th at 12:15 in BTEC 201.

New Library Database - Films on Demand

2010-02-03T12:34:00.000-08:00

You may be interested in an AV service we’ve just added to the HCC Libraries’ databases. You can access the databases at www.linccweb.org or on the Library website. (You will need to Log-on for access with your ID# & PIN - see this Hawk Card / HCC ID page for more info.) > Click on “Search a Specific Database” and >select FMG [Films] on Demand.

The database contains streaming video from large and small production companies covering a wide range of subjects to enhance college courses. These videos include public performance rights that allow them to be used in the educational setting. It includes the following subcollections:

Master Academic Collection
Humanities & Social Sciences Collection
Science Collection
Business & Economics Collection
Health Collection

Features include:

New digital titles are added on a monthly basis
Collections can be authenticated to institutions course management system via IP and/or EzProxy
Streamed via Windows media 300K, Flash 400K. 700K and 1.5 MB bit rates
Title and playlist URL links can be posted into any course management system (i.e. blackboard, angel, moodle etc.).
Subscribers are allowed unrestricted, asynchronous, 24/7 access to all video content by authenticated users.
All programming includes public performance rights.

Short Story Contest

2010-01-19T12:13:00.000-08:00

The Tampa Bay Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters has asked me to promote a national writing contest.

The focus of this year’s competition is SHORT STORIES.

Writers must be 18-33 years old, and two (2) stories must be submitted before 2/12/10.

One story must be first-person narrative; the other must be third person; minimum length is 1,000 words each; maximum total for the two is 7,500.

More info can be secured from the Web site

WWW.ARTS-NSAL.ORG/Competition.html

2010-01-13T06:46:00.000-08:00

Florida Nature Program

James Moran, Florida nature photographer, will present his spectacular program "A Journal of Light: a Photographer's Search for the Soul of Florida, on Wed. Feb. 24, 2010, from 11:00 a.m. to noon, in the Brandon Student Services Building Auditorium.

"For twenty years, John Moran has traveled the Sunshine State with his cameras, capturing natural Florida as it must have appeared to Ponce de Leon and other early strangers in paradise. Narrating a slide show of his remarkable collection of landscape and wildlife photography, Moran reflects on his quest to capture the soul of one of the most photographed states in the country."

The program is sponsored by the Hillsborough Community College's Brandon Speakers Committee and is supported by the Hillsborough Community Brandon Student Government Assn.

The program is free and open to the public. Professors who wish to bring their classes should rsvp Wendy Foley at 813-253-7803 or wfoley@hccfl.edu. For more information, please also contact Wendy Foley.

NEW BOOKS!

2010-01-12T09:51:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to everyone, and welcome back. The new books have been piling up and it's like Christmas all over again at my desk. A three day weekend is before us and a good book may be on your agenda, so have a look below. Stieg Larsson's The Girl Who Played with Fire, W.E. B. Griffin's latest and a romance from Jude Devereaux have arrived. And should you like cats AND Sci-fi, do we have the book for you! Catalyst by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Scarborough. ~Laurie

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingslover
Smash Cut by Sandra Brown
Michael by the Editors of Rolling Stone Magazine
New York, the Novel by Edward Rutherford
Family Album by Penelope Lively
Too Much Happines by Alice Munro
The Red Velvet Turnshoe by Cassandra Clark
Stones to Schools by Greg Mortenson
Nanny Returns by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Noah’s Comapss by Anne Tyler
Hidden Empire by Orson Scott Card
Crawl Space by Sarah Graves
Unfinished Desires by Gail Godwin
A Matter of Class by Mary Balogh
The Honor of Spies by W.E. B. Griffin
Days of Gold by Jude Devereaux
Fair Maiden by Joyce Carol Oats
Where the God of Love Hangs Out by Amy Bloom
Catalyst by Ann McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough

The Lease Plan is sponsored by the Student Government Association.

dis•crim•i•na•tion

2009-12-01T08:24:00.000-08:00

Cambodian Sex Slaves
dis·crim·i·na·tion
Pronunciation: \dis-kri-me-nā-shon
Function: noun
Date: 1648
3. The act, practice, or an instance of discriminating
categorically rather than individually.

“Discrimination lies at the root of many of the world’s most pressing human rights problems. No country is immune from this scourge. Eliminating discrimination ia duty of the highest order.”

Navi Pillay

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

All human rights violations can be measured by this simple definition. Discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, language, religion, political, national or social origin, disability, property, birth, sexual orientation or other status is at the root of social problems worldwide. Rwanda, Bosnia and Kurdistan bring to mind recent cases of discrimination in an epoch of genocide and brutality. History is rife with acts of inhumanity on levels that defy description, from the time of ancient Sparta to present day Dafur. For example, acts of gang rape seriously or fatally injuring victims has become so common in Africa that the UN has declared it a 'war wound' and special clinics have been established to deal with the problem.* Less obvious but equally destructive forms of discrimination occur worldwide, such as denying education, human trafficking, sexual slavery, child soldiering, domestic violence and the denial of political representation. Brutalities of this kind occur in America too, but we can openly discuss the issue, challenge it and fight for change. But while struggling with our own concerns, and we may find the wrongs of the rest of the world enraging, what can we do? Where do we begin?

Don’t look away!

Human Rights Day is December 10th.

Learn all you can. Tell others. Defy discrimination every day, through thought, word and action. Write a letter, and let those violating human rights know that you’re watching. Find an organization you can help. Send a dollar, or more, if you can. Find a way to make a change in the world around you. Let your government representatives know you care what happens elsewhere. End it here, so it can someday end there; there, in those parts of the world where inhumane suffering is a way of life. For every person you meet in a day that is different from you there is another inhumanely treated in another part of the world. Remember them.
~Laurie

The United Nations, Human Rights:

http://www.un.org/en/rights/
Heifer International: http://www.heifer.org/
UNICEF: http://www.unicef.org/
Report: World Slavery, BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/world/slavery/default.stm

*According to the United Nations, at least 200,000 women and children have been raped in eastern DR Congo since 1996 and the BBC reports that in 2002 sexual violence against children and infants in South Africa increased 400%.

Image courtesy of aim4asia.org/mission/

New Books/ Halloween

2009-10-05T13:11:00.000-07:00

2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France the Celtic tribes observed the New Year on November 1 with the festival of Samhain. Marking the end of summer and the beginning of winter this time of year was associated with death, and the Celts believed that on the night before the new year the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred and the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory and in the course of the four hundred years that they ruled there, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebrations. First there was Feralia, a day in late October, when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. Second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees who's symbol is the apple, and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain may explain the tradition of "bobbing" for apples practiced today. As Christianity spread the celebration called All-hallowmas ( meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before, the night of Samhain, came to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Later, in A.D. 1000, the Catholic Church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes. So, this year, as you spend your share of the estimated 5 billion dollars spent in the US each year on Halloween costumes and tooth decaying snacks for your neighbor’s kids, go ahead, feel part of a very ancient tradition, because you are~ Laurie

The Lease Plan is sponsored by the Student Government Association.

NEW IN THE LIBRARY:

Traveling with Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
Seven Days of Rage by Paul La Rosa
That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo
Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us! by Ralph Nader
A Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve
Little Bird of Heaven by Joyce Carol Oates
The Murder of King Tut by James Patterson
Rough Country by John Sandford
The Defector by Daniel Silva
The Help by Kathryn Stockard
The Spire by Richard North Patterson
Hothouse Orchid by Stuart Woods
Hardball by Sara Peretsky
Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls

Image: "Black Domestic Cat Silhouetted Against Sunset Sky, Eyes
Reflecting the Light, UK by Jane Burton

Talking Heads

2009-09-03T13:49:00.000-07:00

We see them every day on the internet, on television, in magazines and newspapers, or hear them on the radio. They are Talking Heads* broadcasting on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, PBS, the BBC and all the other media outlets. They’re liberal, conservative, moderate, extreme right or left and they all talk, talk and talk, about what they think. They agree with us, annoy us, anger us, entertain us and sometimes change our opinions. But how do we know if any of them are right? Written over 220 years ago the US Constitution is the foundation of our government and remains under daily scrutiny by lawmakers, representatives and the public. Our voice and our freedoms are guaranteed by this piece of paper, but do we remain familiar with its content? When a politician makes a campaign promise do we know if he has the power keep that promise? If a law is challenged do we have a grasp of the reasoning behind the challenge? If an editorialist claims to know what a politician can or cannot achieve do we know if they’re right? If we want to insure that we think freely for ourselves do we have the tools? We're all keen to be familiar with our bank statement, insurance policies, work contracts and our wills, but how much do we remember from school about the US Constitution? Take a little time this upcoming Constitution Week of September 14th and become reacquainted with the most important document in your life, The United States Constitution. Go beyond the beauty of the preamble and review the structure of our government, its powers and limits. Because after all, we are the government, it says so, right at the top of the page……. ~Laurie

Related Links:
Constitution Overview
Constitution Day Facts
Observing Constitution Day
Constitution of the United States
Primary Documents in American History -- Constitution
Constitutional law
Constitution Center
Federalist Papers
Anti-Federalist Papers

* "Talking Heads" are in no way affiliated with
David Byrne and the rest of the boys in the
band, who are TheTalking Heads.

Hurricane: The Bright Side

2009-05-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

"The danger is that if you say there's a beneficial effect, you come off sounding like a nut.” Sidney Maddock, Environmental Analyst for The Center of Biological Diversity

Today is the start of Hurricane season, but there's more to a storm of this kind than just damage.

Aquifer: We've all been hearing about it due to the state drought. Enough rain and it will be replenished, maybe this year. One hurricane storm could take care of the problem in a matter of days. Frank Marks, research Meteorologist for the hurricane research division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, explains: "A hurricane can dump 5 to 15 inches of fresh water on a place that desperately needs it, replenishing the aquifer. It also can clean out clogged-up and polluted bodies of water."It flushes out all the garbage."
Reefs: Hurricanes even help some things they're accused of hurting, such as the coral reefs in Florida's Biscayne Bay. "In Hurricane Andrew, people worried about reef damage," Marks said. "And the reefs were damaged. Pieces of the reefs were broken off. But they looked later and saw that the pieces of the reef that broke off were starting new reefs."
Cute guy in the picture:
The Piping Plover is a seashore bird. It makes its nest in sandy stretches of beach. If too much vegetation grows on the beach, the piping plover can't nest there. If they can't nest, they can't mate. And the piping plover already is classified as a "threatened" species. "A storm like this is so powerful," says Sidney Maddox, "that it will push massive amounts of sand and water across the island and you'll have large areas of open sand without vegetation, and those are the areas where next summer the shore birds will breed."
So as you purchase your supplies, pack your car, learn your routes and hope the house is there when you get back, try to look on the bright side. Maybe one or two eco-system problems were worked out while you were riding out the storm. ~Laurie

Pack, prepare, tune to news, and take an evacuation order seriously.

National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Swine Flu: Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1)

2009-04-30T14:01:00.000-07:00

Due to the recent global outbreak of Swine Influenza, EBSCO Publishing and the DynaMed Editors have made DynaMed’s information about Swine Influenza free to health care providers and institutions throughout the world. The DynaMed topic on Swine Influenza consolidates information from multiple sources for health care providers to stay current with recommendations for monitoring, diagnosing, and treating patients with flu-like illnesses during this outbreak. DynaMed Editors will continue to monitor information and update this topic as needed throughout this global crisis. Please click on the following link for information regarding Swine Influenza: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/swineflu/.

Writing Center in the Library!

2009-04-21T14:44:00.000-07:00

For this week and next (until May 1st), the writing center will station a staff member in the library conference room to provide additional “walk-in” writing assistance to students for the following hours.

Mon: 10:00 – 2:00
Tue: 1:00-5:00
Wed: 9:00-1:00
Thur: 1:30-4:30

The Writing Center in BACA 207 will remain open during our normal operating hours

Visitors on the Beach

2009-04-01T16:18:00.000-07:00

April is already bringing warm summer temperatures, and beach season is upon us. But starting in May people won't be the only visitors on the beach, as that is the beginning of Florida's Loggerhead Turtle nesting season. Loggerhead Sea Turtles reportedly grow to a weight range anywhere from 250 to 400 lbs and live up to 30 years. Most of the time they go unnoticed in the ocean, but for several months out of the year they come ashore to lay eggs where they were born, then go back into the sea. It takes about two months for the hatchlings to surface and make a run for the sea, and this means we are playing on the beaches while the newborn Loggerhead is fighting for survival. Scientists estimate that only 1 in 1000 to 10,000 hatchlings will make it to adulthood. Granted, they meet with dangers at sea, but it’s our responsibility to avoid being a hazard for them on land. It’s estimated that up to 80% of the Loggerheads in the U.S. are in Florida, so as we go into beach season lets be conscious of their presence and observe the recommendations listed below. For more information drop by the BLRC or visit the links in blue. ~Laurie

*Keep outside lights off during turtle season from May through October.
*Report injured or sick turtles and those who endanger turtles or disturb the nests. (1-888-404-FWCC)
*Make sure to remove chairs, umbrellas and other gear from the beach each night.
*Level all sand castles and fill any holes dug during play.
*Please pick up all trash. Sea turtles mistakenly eat debris, especially plastic, which results in death.
*Never buy products made from sea turtles or any other endangered species.
BE AWARE ON THE BEACH!

Turtle Time: http://www.turtletime.org/
See Florida Online: http://www.seefloridaonline.com/turtles/
Fish and Wildlife Research Institute: http://research.myfwc.com/features/category_main.asp?id=1289

Tell us what to get!

2009-03-11T12:51:00.000-07:00

What do you want to watch? Listen to? Read? We want to know!
We will be purchasing new DVDs, CDs, & paperback books for our recreational collections, and we want to know what suggestions you have. We will do our best to purchase all recommendations if they are available and appropriate for the collections. Feel free to submit your request(s) on our Online Form or in person at the library front desk.

Many thanks to the Brandon campus Student Government Association for funding our recreational collections!!!

Research Paper Problems? Ask a Librarian!

2009-02-18T12:17:00.000-08:00

Click Here: Ask-a-Librarian

Or, Ask-a-Librarian Mobile

Native American History Month

2008-11-10T09:22:00.000-08:00

In 1895 a Seattle photographer named Edward S. Curtis (shown above right), met and photographed Princess Angeline (aka Kickisomlo), the daughter of Chief Sealth of Seattle. This was to be his first portrait of a Native American. In 1906 Financier J.P. Morgan commissioned Curtis to produce a series on the North American Indian. It was to be in 20 volumes with 1,500 photographs. Curtis' goal was not just to photograph, but to document as much Native American traditional life as possible. He wrote in the introduction to his first volume in 1907: "The information that is to be gathered ... respecting the mode of life of one of the great races of mankind must be collected at once or the opportunity will be lost." Curtis made over 10,000 wax cylinder recordings of Indian language and music. He took over 40,000 photographic images from over 80 tribes. He recorded tribal lore and history, described traditional foods, housing, garments, recreation, ceremonies and funeral customs, while writing biographical sketches of tribal leaders. Critics of his work have claimed he manipulated his images to remove western influence, and did not show the poverty and loss of rights suffered by his subjects. Still, in most cases, Curtis’s writings and photos are the only record we have of Native American life. ~ Laurie

Read more about Edward S. Curtis and Native Americans:
Edward Sheriff Curtis: Visions of the First Americans by Don Gulbrandsen
Shadow Catcher: The Life and Work of Edward S. Curtis by Laurie Lawlor
Sacred Legacy: Edward S Curtis And The North American Indian by Joseph Horse Capture, N. Scott Momaday, Christopher Cardozo, and Edward S. Curtis

Tell us what to get!

2008-11-04T12:21:00.000-08:00

What do you want to watch? Listen to? Read? We want to know!

We will be purchasing new DVDs, CDs, & paperback books for our recreational collections, and we want to know what suggestions you have. We will do our best to purchase all recommendations if they are available and appropriate for the collections. Feel free to leave your suggestion(s) as a comment to this post or in person at the library front desk.

Many thanks to the Brandon campus Student Government Association for funding our recreational collections!!!

Hispanic Culture Coast to Coast

2008-10-22T14:07:00.000-07:00

In 1513 explorer Juan Ponce de León landed somewhere on the northeast coast of the present State of Florida. He claimed "La Florida" for Spain and then sailed south passing around the Florida Keys. By 1568, Spain had claimed a vast area of land along the western side of North America and to secure that claim they created a series of farms which were built within missions, leading to the creation of the twenty one missions along what is now Highway101 in California. From east to west the city of St Augustine and the California Mission Trail bear witness to Spain's nationwide influence on the history of America. Today, approximately 42.7 million Hispanic Americans make up the largest ethnic minority in the nation. In addition to a historical connection with Spain and Mexico, Hispanic Americans now come from all over South and Central America, Cuba and Puerto Rico, and with them come five centuries of enriching Hispanic culture for us to celebrate. The BLRC salutes Hispanic American Heritage and invites you to discover more about the California Mission Trail or the city of St. Augustine by visiting the links below or the BLRC for our selection of titles on Hispanic culture.~ Laurie

Pictured above: Carmel Mission, Carmel California

http://www.staugustinelinks.com/st-augustine-history.asp
http://www.nps.gov/archive/jeff/LewisClark2/Circa1804/WestwardExpansion/EarlyExplorers/CaliforniaMissions.htm

Free People, Read Freely

2008-08-29T12:55:00.000-07:00

"To prohibit the reading of certain books is to declare the inhabitants to be either fools or slaves." -- Claude Adrien Helvetius

Many authors we now take for granted on our library shelves have often been denied to the reading public. A common practice in totalitarian societies, we don’t think book bans happen in America, but they do. The Grapes of Wrath, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Catcher in the Rye, Call of the Wild, Beloved, Don Quixote, and Fahrenheit 451 (a book about banning books) have all been burned, banned or withheld from readers in America and abroad. September 27th through October 4th is Banned Books Week, but here in the BLRC we’re observing for the entire month of September with books that someone didn’t want you to read. Use your library and exercise your right to read, and think, freely. Free People Read Freely ~ Laurie

It's Easy bein' Green

2008-08-12T08:02:00.000-07:00

Green is the new fashion these days with green clothing, green household cleaners and smart cars. But recycling is nothing new.to our parents and grandparents who called it "not wasting.” In an effort to not waste in the BLRC we've reused paper for a recycled printer and used recycling containers to collect more. Now recycling is in place campus wide, so it’s easy to be green. We are happy to provide a daily 30 page print limit, academic printing only, for free and avoiding waste and unnecessary costs will continue to make that possible. So please remind students: Wasting paper wastes trees, wasting trees wastes fuel to cut down, transport and process trees, wasting fuel leads to higher costs, foreign dependency and increasing the threat of global warming.

Re-duce, Re-use, Re-cycle~ Laurie

Here is a list of our new "multiple use" books courtesy of SGA's Lease Book Program:

Careless in Red by Elizabeth George
The Forgery of Venus by Michael Gruber
Hell’s Bay by James W. Hall
Rouge by Danielle Steel
Just Too Good to Be True by E. Lynn Harris
Tribute by Nora Roberts

"Sequoias" courtesy Alain Thomas

Tis the Season .........For Hurricanes

2008-06-04T09:20:00.000-07:00

It’s that time of year again. We start stocking up on drinking water and batteries. We take note of hurricane routes and wonder if we have enough plywood to cover the windows on the house. This is all part of sensible preparation and, according to experts, the most important factor in surviving a disaster. The June issue of Time Magazine addresses this topic citing the examples of Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire in 1977, The Estonia, which sank in the Baltic Sea in 1994 and the World Trade Center in 2001. In each instance preparation and a cool head prevailed for many of the survivors.

Evolutionary Psychologist Gordon Gallup, Jr. has heard many stories from police and emergency workers who’ve observed people freezing under extreme stress. Gallup notes that animals do this in a state of fear and describes it as “playing dead” to evade predators. Humans, under stress, search the brain for a survival response and many cases freezing is the choice, and often the fatal choice. But humans can break out of such a state through focus and preparation, by something as simple as knowing which exit to take in an emergency. This gives the brain a starting point, and the person the ability to react.

At home and at work we are all responsible for our survival in an emergency. A realistic perception of the dangers, preparation and keeping our focus can mean the difference for us, and those around us.

Visit the link below for the full article in Time and the story of Rick Rescorla, whose preparation and courage saved the lives of more than two thousand people on 9/11.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1810315-1,00.html

Let us know what you think!

2008-04-21T13:09:00.000-07:00

Click on the image to take a quick survey of the resources and services provided by HCC Libraries. It will only take a few moments of your time. Your feedback is essential for us to provide the best resources to support your research needs. Thanks for your input!

Literary Databases Update

2008-03-07T06:24:00.000-08:00

There have been some recent changes to our Literature databases. For one, the popular LRC or Literature Resource Center has changed names. It is now called Literature Resources from Gale.

Not to confuse things but there is also a new literary database called Literary Reference Center, So, in effect there is still an LRC, just a different database.

Both of these are quality article databases for literary research. They are available from our Online Databases list under "Literature". To access these you will need your HCC ID information. Do you have your HCC ID card?

2007 Pulitzer Prize Winning Titles at the Library

2008-02-28T11:58:00.000-08:00

The 2007 Pulitzer Prize Winners at the Library are:

Fiction: Cormac McCarthy's The Road.

(Click on book jacket for more information)

History: Gene Roberts and Hank Klibanoff's The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation.

(Click on book jacket for more information)

Election 2008

2008-02-04T15:21:00.001-08:00

The HCC Libraries Election 2008 Resources guide provides links to information on candidates, their positions, ballot measures, and helpful elections info for Hillsborough County voters. Follow the elections through the primaries to the Nov '08 general election...and don't forget to vote!

YOUR BRAIN ON BOOKS

2008-01-08T09:07:00.000-08:00

The December 31 to Jan. 7 US News and World Report offers a list of 50 things we can do to make our lives better in 2008. Two pages are devoted to the subject of reading, and for those of us who love to read, the news that reading is good for us comes as no surprise. However, article author Deborah Kotz offers this evidence:

“More than income, social class, or education, says NEA Chairman Dana Gioia, the more you read, the greater likelihood that you will do well in school, be successful in business, and become involved in your community. The bottom line, he says: ‘Reading allows us to achieve more of our personal potential than almost any other activity.’ Neuroscience further backs up those contentions, says Tufts University child development Prof. Maryanne Wolfe. "Reading not only creates its own circuitry within the brain; that circuitry gives us the capacity to go beyond the text to new thoughts of our own," says Wolfe "My worry is that our children's and our societal immersion into the ever more immediate, digital presentation format for text will short-circuit" part of that ability.”

Feed your brain: Read

New in the Library:

Your requests are needed!

2007-11-27T15:19:00.000-08:00

Do you have your HCC ID Card?

2007-11-26T11:46:00.000-08:00

Your HCC ID card is also your Library Card

Step 1: Get your HCC ID at BSSB 210 (Career Center). Hours: M 4-7, T 12:30-4, W 10-1, TH 8-11.

Step 2: Bring your HCC ID card to the Library to be activated.

Step 3: Check out library materials (books, DVDs, CDs, etc.) and access Online resources (online article databases, ebooks, and more).

(Note: Don't forget to show your HCC ID for a discount at the movies and other places that accept student IDs.)

Eight New LINCCWeb databases to be activated January 1, 2008

2007-11-26T09:56:00.000-08:00

The new statewide eResources, acquired with funds approved by the Florida Legislature, will be activated in LINCCWeb on January 1, 2008, are listed below. They are available to students at all Florida community colleges.

Academic Search Complete (EBSCO)
ARTstor (ARTstor)
Business Source Complete (EBSCO)
Education Research Complete (EBSCO)
Literary Reference Center (EBSCO)
MEDLINE with full text (EBSCO)
Nursing and Allied Health Database (ProQuest)
Science Resource Center (Gale)

With the addition of these new databases, the core set of statewide LINCCWeb eResources will total 91. A list of statewide LINCCWeb eResources is available at http://www.cclaflorida.org/docs/linccweb_eresources.asp

To access the library databases, go to www.hccfl.edu/library/blrc. Click on online article databases. Log-on with your library activated HCC ID card and your PIN. For help accessing online resources view the Accessing Online Resources Tutorial.

Native American Heritage Month

2007-10-31T14:39:00.000-07:00

Shoshone Warrior
Courtesy of LegendsofAmerica.com

First enacted in 1990 Native American Heritage Month was instituted to recognize the native peoples of America and their participation in the nation’s history. America's first peoples have endured for centuries and remain a vital cultural, political, social, and moral presence in the nation. Native Americans have brought values and ideas to society that now, more than ever, have become part of America’s consciousness. Most importantly in this era of environmental and global concerns, the idea that humans can thrive without destroying the natural environment and the understanding that people from very different backgrounds, cultures, religions, and traditions can come together to build a great country.

This month, HCC’s BLRC draws attention to the literary, artistic, political and religious experience of Native Americans with a selection of reading from our permanent collection of fiction, non-fiction and reference materials. For more about Native American Culture please enjoy the links below:

http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/History_and_Culture/AmericanIndian_History.htm
http://www.library.okstate.edu/Govdocs/browsetopics/nativeam.html
http://www.nativeamericanlinks.com/
http://www.nativeculturelinks.com/indians.html
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/natam.html
http://www.bluecloud.org/dakota.html
http://users.ap.net/~chenae/natlink.html

El Dorado

2007-10-29T15:39:00.000-07:00

Come by the library to see the display of Pre-Columbian Artifacts prepared by Elisa Molano-Cook for Hispanic Heritage Month at the Brandon Campus.

NEW BOOKS!

2007-10-17T14:18:00.000-07:00

Here's a sampling of the new books available to check out from Brandon Library. Note: click on a book image for call number information, a summary and book review(s).

Give us a piece of your mind!

2007-10-01T12:39:00.001-07:00

Click on the image to take a quick survey of our Online resources through http://www.linccweb.org/, It will only take a few moments of your time. Your feedback is essential for us to provide the best resources to support your research needs. You can access the survey through Nov. 16th. It is also linked from the Library website. Thanks for your input!

Tour the library from the comfort of your own couch

2007-10-01T12:08:00.000-07:00

We've created a Video Tour of the library for the benefit of users who haven't had the benefit of a library orientation and/or students taking classes online that may not come to campus regularly. This video, posted on the right column, will introduce you to the library and our resources and services.

We plan on creating more of these informative videos and other media turoials in the future. The videos and tutorials are permanently posted on the library Media Resources page. The Brandon library videos are also available on our YouTube channel.

October is AIDS Awareness Month

2007-09-27T10:39:00.000-07:00

1 in 171 :

The number of people living with AIDS/HIV

Six Degrees of Separation is a term that’s entered popular vernacular and a sociological concept that's been studied academically*. These studies concluded, depending on method, the possibility of anywhere from 6 to 90 acquaintances creating a connection between us and everyone else on earth. Viewed in this context the number 39.5 million in 6 billion is a stunning 1 in approximately 171.

Now, add in the mathematics of unprotected sexual partnering:

1 plus 1 partner, who've been with 1, 2 or 3 partners, who’ve been with 1, 2, 3, or 4 partners, who’ve had 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more partners….and those have had 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or more partners….and all the sexual partners of those people ….and so on. The number of unseen and unknown persons affecting your life is terrifying.

AIDS does not just happen.....

-to other people
-in far off countries
-or other sectors of society.
AIDS happens everywhere.

-More than 25 million people have Died of AIDS since 1981

-Africa has 12 Million AIDS Orphans

-AIDS is estimated to have killed over a million Americans

-People living with HIV/AIDS as of 2006: 39.5M

KNOW THE RISKS:

The Center for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/prev_prog/AHP/resources/other/print/Sample_article.htm).
The Mayo Clinic:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hiv-aids/DS00005/DSECTION=4
American Academy of Family Physicians: http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/sexinfections/hiv/005.html
*Stanley Malgram, Harvard University, 1967. Duncan Watts Columbia University, 2006.

Constitution Week September 2007

2007-09-18T06:21:00.000-07:00

We the People:

For most of us these are words we learned in school and set aside for future reference. Beyond that many give little thought to the document that secures our rights and structures our government. We hear about the Fifth Amendment or Freedom of Speech if they are thought under threat, but do we understand the fragile historical document and the words it contains? Do we understand the limits of constitutional power in our governmental branches? Is there a historical significance to the concept “the pursuit of happiness?” Do we ever contemplate how words on paper can create a nation? Who is the government in America?

The week of September 17th is Constitution Week so take a moment and look at our constitution in the link to the National Archive below. It provides an in depth look at this document which affects our lives daily, including all the amendments, the Bill of Rights and links for more reading.

To know your rights

is to know the rights

of others.

For Constitution resources in the library and online visit HCC Brandon Library's U.S. Constitution Resources.

http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution.html

Obscene, dangerous, profane, racist!

2007-09-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

It’s difficult to believe these words have been used to describe the classic works of Mark Twain, Harper Lee and William Shakespeare. Yet at some point in the last fifty years anyone of these terms has been used to place a ban on such familiar authors as Joseph Heller, Judy Blume, J.D. Salinger, Stephen King, Alice Walker and Arthur Miller. Twain, Lee and Shakespeare have all been labeled racist for their honest portrayal of contemporary attitudes and James Joyce’s Dublin masterpeice, Ulysses, has become the main target for a number of censorship cases, as outlined in Paul Vanderheim's book, James Joyce and Censorship, the trials of Ulysses (available in the BLRC collection).

The list of challenged books and plays below provide a measure of the profound effect literature has on a nation and its culture, serving to remind everyone of the value of intellectual freedom. For this reason libraries, book sellers and readers take time every September to observe Banned Book Week and draw attention to the many works of literature that have been challenged. For additional lists of recently challenged books and most frequently challenged books of the 1990’s go to the American Library Association links below.

Lord of the Flies

The Diary of Anne Frank
The Living Bible

Farewell to Arms
Catcher in the Rye

East of Eden
Brave New World

The Grapes of Wrath
Catch-22

Huckleberry Finn
A Clockwork Orange

I know why the caged bird sings
The Color Purple

The Red Pony
The Crucible

To Kill a Mockingbird
Death of a Salesman

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Challenged books 2000-2005: http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bbwlinks/topten2000to2005.htm
Most frequently challenged books of the 1990’s: http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bbwlinks/100mostfrequently.htm

Global Warming Slide Show

2007-07-31T07:36:00.000-07:00

Roberta Fernandez, of the Climate Project
SEPT. 27th – 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
BSSB AUDITORIUM

Many people believe that the Earth is too vast to be influenced by human activity. However, technologies have increased to the point that the global climate balance is tipping. Florida will be especially hard hit. Learn how small efforts can make a difference now. The Climate Project is a non-profit group that brings education, information, research and citizen action programs to communities around the country. Roberta Fernandez’ informative slide program, will be based on Al Gore’s book, An Inconvenient Truth. The DVD of that title will be available in the library for checking out.

This program is sponsored by the Brandon Campus Speakers Committee. If you have questions, please call Wendy Foley at 813-253-7812.

Top 10 ways you can help save energy!

2007-06-27T11:48:00.000-07:00

The following is a list of 10 ways you can help make a difference by conserving energy. The list was compiled by Roberta Fernandez of the Climate Project (http://www.climateproject.org/). She will be presenting a slideshow based on the documentary An Inconvenient Truth on campus at the HCC Brandon Campus Auditorium on Thurs., Sept. 27th at 1pm. Also note that we do have the DVD of the movie in the library available for check out. Check this blog in the coming months for more information.

Top 10 Ways To Save Energy

Carpool, walk, ride a bike, use mass transit: If every commuter did this 1 day at home,
we’d save 5.85 billion gallons of gas and 143 billion tons of CO2
Get better gas mileage: Every 3 miles per gallon improvement can save 3,000 lbs. of CO₂
per year; A hybrid car can reduce CO₂ by 16,000 lbs. and save you $3,750 per year;
Rapid acceleration can decrease mileage by 5 to 33%
Replace your bulbs with CFL’s: If every house used only 1 CFL, it would be equivalent
to removing of 1 million cars from the roads; Lighting accounts for 20% of all electricity
consumed in the US
Set your thermostat at 78 in the summer and 68 in the winter: Heating/cooling your home
accounts for about 45% of a home’s total energy use.
Seal your doors and windows, insulate. The average home causes more pollution than our
car because of the fossil fuels burned to supply the power we need.
Unplug everything you are not using: Standby power can account for 9-10% of
household energy. A television uses 25% of its energy when it is turned off.
Take shorter showers: aim for 5 minutes; 1883 low flow shower heads will save 472,630
lbs. of CO₂
Stop junk mail: The production of junk mail consumes as much energy as 2.8 million
cars. There are 200 million trees cut for junk mail every year – that’s like cutting down
the Rocky Mt. National Park 3 times per year
Use refillable and reusable containers, recycle: 1.5 million barrels of oil is used for
America’s bottled water. This equals fueling 100,000 cars for a year. 8 out of 10 bottles
end up in landfills; Worldwide, 500 billion plastic bags are manufactured each year, that
is nearly 1 million per minute. Use cloth bags instead
Use the power of your voice and your votes: Write your local, state and federal officials
to let them know you think this is a critical issue that needs to be addressed with
appropriate measures.

2007-06-21T12:49:00.000-07:00

Don't Panic

Sam Rockwell as Zaphod Bebblebrox in The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy*

Thanks to the hard work and generosity of the Student Government Association we have a 101 new DVDs in the HCC Brandon LRC collection. This has expanded our Drama selection and added new titles in Comedy, Action, Horror and Family. We’ve also added to our Shakespeare performances for those who would like to see what they’re reading come to life in production. Below is a list of some of the new titles.

DVDs are available free of charge for a three day check out.

The Holiday

Volvar

Match Point
Riddick

House of Flying Daggers

The Prestige
The Illusionist

Beowulf and Grendel

Munich
Saw III

Copying Beethoven

In Her Shoes

* Image from hitchhikers.movies.go.com

Who wants to be in a Video?

2007-06-12T15:17:00.000-07:00

OK, it's not that exciting...We are filming a short promotional video for the library Thurs. morning (6/14) from 9:30-12noon. As it is summer term, the library is a bit slower than usual so we need students to come to the library and fill out the "scenes." Please come by and help us promote the library!

Video of Ray Paul exhibit

2007-06-04T15:01:00.000-07:00

In case you missed the great art exhibit we had in the library from April to June, check out the brief video.

Adopt a Cat June 2007

2007-05-31T15:06:00.000-07:00

49,557

That’s how many animals were destroyed in Hillsborough,
Pinellas and Pasco Counties last year.
29,872 were in Hillsborough County alone.*

*Statistics provided by the ASPCA

June is designated as Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, but adoptions are not limited to cats alone. Dogs and other shelter animals are in need every day. For pet owners who can make room for one more or others who can give to their resources or time, this is a reminder of what a difference one person can make. And helping animals it not just an issue of making homes or providing shelter. Animal protection organizations strive to educate the public about animal care and population control. Spaying, neutering and proper care can make a difference for thousands of animals and help to relieve the overload, expense and tragedy of animal destruction in shelters.

Please visit some of links below and find out what you can do to help.

The ASPCA: http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer

Cat Call Adoptions: http://catcall.org/

Tampa Pets: http://www.tampapets.org/site/

Humane Society of Tampa Bay: http://www.humanesocietytampa.org/links/index.cfm

Ray Paul Exhibit -- Extended!

2007-05-22T12:12:00.000-07:00

Ray Paul Exhibit at HCC Brandon Campus Library
April 9th – June 4th 2007

The artwork of one of Tampa's premier local artists, Ray Paul, will be showing at Hillsborough Community College’s Brandon Campus Library. Mr. Paul’s absorbing artwork has been shown in numerous exhibitions over the years, both locally and nationally as well as having graced the covers of books and the pages of magazines.

The artwork will be exhibited in the Brandon Campus Library from April 9th through June 4th. The exhibit is free and open to the public to come view the work of this extraordinary artist. Library hours are Mon-Thu 8am-8pm; Fri 8-4:30pm; Sat 8-2pm.

For more information on the artist, visit Ray Paul’s website:
http://www.raypaul.artistsunlimited.org.

Feel free to Chat in the library

2007-05-10T13:46:00.000-07:00

That is, using our Meebo IM/chat service (on the library website: http://www.hccfl.edu/library/blrc/askalib.html).

If you have a question and we are online line drop us an IM. You can also use your own chat service (AIM, Yahoo, Google, MSN). Just add us to your buddy list: hccbrandonlibrary

Earth-like Planet Discovered

2007-04-25T10:54:00.000-07:00

But don't pack your bags just yet. Click here to read or listen to the article on NPR.

Kurt Vonnegut Book Display

2007-04-12T16:37:00.000-07:00

Come celebrate the life and work of one of America's best-ever literary voices by checking out one of his books we have on display. Vonnegut may have been tough on humanity but it was only because he cared so much. If you've never read him before, prepare to laugh out loud. We've lost one of the great wits of our time.

The Artwork of Ray Paul

2007-04-09T16:53:00.000-07:00

Ray Paul Exhibit at HCC Brandon Campus Library
April 9th – May 9th 2007

The artwork of one of Tampa's premier local artists, Ray Paul, will be showing at Hillsborough Community College’s Brandon Campus Library. Mr. Paul’s absorbing artwork has been shown in numerous exhibitions over the years, both locally and nationally as well as having graced the covers of books and the pages of magazines.

The artwork will be exhibited in the Brandon Campus Library from April 9th through May 9th. The exhibit is free and open to the public to come view the work of this extraordinary artist. Library hours are Mon-Thu 8am-8pm; Fri 8-4:30pm; Sat 8-2pm.

For more information on the artist, visit Ray Paul’s website:
http://www.raypaul.artistsunlimited.org.

Take our Survey and let us know what you think!

2007-04-02T14:32:00.000-07:00

Your input is important to us as we strive to improve our library services. Click here: Student Survey of Library Services

Holocaust Remembrance

2007-04-02T11:10:00.000-07:00

The Fences of Auschwitz

Holocaust Remembrance Day

Sunday April 15th, 2007

Auschwitz was the largest camp established by the Nazis. The concentration camp, located 37 miles west of Krakow (Cracow), near the prewar German-Polish border, included extermination and forced-labor camps. On January 27, 1945, the Soviet army entered Auschwitz and liberated more than 7,000 remaining prisoners, who were mostly ill and dying. It is estimated that at minimum 1.3 million people were deported to Auschwitz between 1940 and 1945; of these, at least 1.1 million were murdered.

The Nazi death camps took the lives of 11 million people throughout the course of the Second World War (1939-1945). Out of the 11 million, 6 million were Jews and 5 million were Poles, homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Gypsies, Afro-Europeans, Catholic Priests, Christian Ministers, children, the handicapped, and men and women of the German Resistance. Over all, the war caused approximately 55 million deaths. 25 million in the military and 30 million civilians.

It has been 62 years since the liberation of Auschwitz, and organizations devoted to keeping the memory and lessons of this conflagration alive have set aside April 15 as a day of remembrance. Please take a moment of your time to visit some of the following links providing film footage and personal histories of survival:

United States Holocaust Museum:
http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/focus/auschwitz/

http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10005168

Holocaust Suvivors.org:
http://www.holocaustsurvivors.org/

Florida Holocaust Museum:
http://www.flholocaustmuseum.org/