AFI's Top 10 Motion Pictures and TV Programs of 2005

How Well Did You Keep Up With Pop Culture This Year?

"AFI is proud to honor these 20 collaborative teams. As the institute recognizes and celebrates excellence across the century, these honorees will be part of the record that documents America's enduring cultural legacy," AFI director and CEO Jean Picker Firstenberg said.

Full article, click here.

Top 10 Motion Pictures of 2005

Brokeback Mountain
Capote
Crash
The 40 Year-Old Virgin
Good Night, and Good Luck
A History of Violence
King Kong
Munich
The Squid and the Whale
Syriana

Top 10 TV Programs of 2005

24 (Fox)
Battlestar Galactica (Sci-Fi Channel)
Deadwood (HBO)
Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
House (Fox)
Lost (ABC)
Rescue Me (FX)
Sleeper Cell (Showtime)
Sometimes in April (HBO)
Veronica Mars (UPN)

Will You Catch The Flu This Year?

The Centers for Disease Control has a new link titled "What You Should Know" providing key facts about the flu this year (there is only one case in Oklahoma currently). The linked article includes steps you can take to prevent the flu and also comments on Avian Flu. This is an interesting and informative link from Government Documents. To access, click on the above title "Will You Catch The Flu This Year?"

Finals Resting Place Continues Mon.-Tues. 8pm

Students seeking a "Finals Resting Place" to escape exam study stress can find a refuge in the Libray basement on Dec 14-15 and Dec 18-20. During these designated days the library will host the Finals Resting Place from 8 p.m. until midnight in the basement lounge and writing center. The decorations will be a Tim Burton Christmas theme.
This will be a place where no studying is allowed. However students may talk, play games, listen to music, make phone calls, check their e-mail and get a free cup of coffee and a cookie. Taking a break can actually be good for you mentally and physically and help you study more diligently after you're rested. We'll leave the light on for you.

U.S. Census Counts Thanksgiving Consumption

Are you kinda curious as to how much you ate on Thanksgiving?

Never fear! The U.S. Census Bureau can tell you.

• An estimated 256 million turkeys were raised in the United States in 2005.
• U.S. cranberry production in 2005 was approximately 649 million pounds.
• The 2005 total volume of wheat, 2.1 billion bushels, is essential for breads and pies.
• Quantity of turkey consumed by the typical American is 13.7 pounds (annually).
• 3 U.S. locations named after the main course: Turkey, TX, Turkey Creek, LA and Turkey, NC.

For more information, please follow the hyperlink provided.

Oklahoma's school science standards get an "F"

The Thomas B. Fordham Institute has published The State of State Science Standards 2005, the Institute's first comprehensive review of state science standards for public schools in five years. The bad news: despite extensive revision of many standards most students receive an education "ungrounded in basic subjects like biology, human physiology and the environment", according to the review's author, Dr. Paul R. Gross. Oklahoma's standards get a "F" for setting low student expectations and their timid treatment of evolution. On the bright side, Oklahoma's failing grade trumps Kansas' "F-" for standards "that make a mockery of the very definition of science." The good news in the review: some states have created excellent standards (New Mexico, South Carolina, and California for example), and problems in many of the poor standards are fixable.

The Bear Bryant Funeral Train

Brad Vice, an English professor from Mississippi State University, has been accused of plagiarizing parts of The Bear Bryant Funeral Train, a winner of the prestigious Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction. After the book’s publication by the University of Georgia Press, Margaret Butler, a librarian at the Tuscaloosa Public Library, was shocked when she looked at its first page. She recognized the first lines as being from Stars Fell on Alabama, published by Carl Carmer in 1934 and reprinted by the University of Alabama Press in 2000. Upon a comparison of the two works, Ms. Butler and another librarian found other examples of identical wording. The publisher has now revoked the award and pulped all remaining copies of the book.

For more information: http://www.nypress.com/18/48/news&columns/RobertClarkYoung.cfm

The Votes Are In...

The Oklahoma Reads Oklahoma book favorite for 2006 was "The Saints and Sinners of Okay County" by Dayna Dunbar. (Call number 813.6 D898s located on 2nd Floor). The story is about a 1970's wife who is expecting her fourth child and her no-good husband has just deserted her. It's all about how she survives in a small Oklahoma town.

The 2005 winner was "Walking the Choctaw Road: Stories from Red People Memory" by Tim Tingle. (Call # 398.2089 T588 located on 2nd Floor). Both of these books are available to be checked out from the Al Harris Library. Either one would provide an enjoyable day of reading for pleasure during the holiday break. Be sure to check out book before we close for the holidays. We're open from 8-5 on Thursday and Friday (Dec 22 & 23). The library is closed from Dec 24 through Jan 2.

All of the books being voted on have been popular reading choices. To see other choices, click on the following link: "The Votes Are In".

SWOSU Associate Professor showcasing new book

Dr. Victoria Gaydosik is celebrating the publication of her first book and she is offering a signed copy along with its companion volume to the Al Harris Library. All the faculty and staff of the Al Harris Library would like to congratulate Dr. Gaydosik on her accomplishment. Also, we would like to extend a message of gratitude for the donation of her book to our literature collection.

Graduate Record photos Dec. 5-6, Study Rm. 3

Photos for the SWOSU Graduate Record will be taken in Study Room 3 of the Al Harris Library on Monday, Dec. 5 from 10am - 8pm and Tuesday, Dec. 6 from 10am - 3pm.

Where are your wireless manners?

Cell Phone Etiquette (LetsTalk.com)

1) Stop noise pollution: Don't shout into your phone and keep the ring on as low as possible. Or better yet, keep the phone on vibrate.

2) Off means off: Respect the rules of any location, including planes, schools, churches and restaurants.

3) Take it in private: If you're expecting an important call, turn the phone to vibrate or silent mode. Then, to take the call, excuse yourself to the lobby, restroom or outside where there are fewer people.

4) Be aware of personal space: No, not your space, others'. Keep several feet away from anyone when on a call.

5) Let them know: Inform callers and call recipients that you're on a cell phone.

6) Know when to call: Just because you have someone's cell phone number, don't assume you can call it at anytime.

In the News...

50 Cent to Launch Hip-Hop Book Line

Survey Studies Internet Use in China
For additional information, please visit this sites: Markle Foundation, China Internet Project, and China Internet Network Information Center.

Joan Didion Wins National Book Award
For additional information, please visit the National Book Foundation website.

AFI Gets Inspired for New List

New Report on the Development of American Indian and Alaska Native Children

American Indian and Alaska Native Children: Findings From the Base Year of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) is a new report filed by the National Center for Education Statistics that provides descriptive information on American Indian and Alaska Native children born in the United States in 2001. It presents information on characteristics of their families, on children's mental and physical skills, on children's first experiences in childcare, on the fathers of these children, and on their prenatal care.

Library of Congress: American Memory Updates

NAWSA Suffrage Scrapbooks, 1897-1911
Between 1897 and 1911 Elizabeth Smith Miller and her daughter, Anne Fitzhugh Miller, filled seven large scrapbooks with ephemera and memorabilia related to their work with women's suffrage. The Elizabeth Smith Miller and Anne Fitzhugh Miller scrapbooks are a part of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) Collection in the Rare Book and Special Collections Division.


Tending the Commons: Folklife and Landscape in Southern West Virginia
Incorporates 718 excerpts from original sound recordings, 1,256 photographs, and 10 manuscripts from the American Folklife Center's Coal River Folklife Project (1992-99) documenting traditional uses of the mountains in Southern West Virginia's Big Coal River Valley.


Documents from the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, 1774-1789
274 documents relating to the work of Congress and the drafting and ratification of the Constitution. Items include extracts of the journals of Congress, resolutions, proclamations, committee reports, treaties, and early printed versions of the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. A number of these items contain manuscript annotations not recorded elsewhere that offer insight into the delicate process of creating consensus.

Storytelling and Family Stories Display

Come check out our Storytelling and Family Stories display in the Reference area of the Al Harris Library! Here you will find stories to tell, as well as information and guidance on how to tell them. Storytelling is an art form that can be practiced and enjoyed in family and community settings, or at festivals, such as the WinterTales Storytelling Festival in Oklahoma City and the Texas Storytelling Festival in Denton, Texas. The National Storytelling Network has proclaimed 2005 as the “The Year of the Storyteller.”

New Words Added to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary

Here are some of the new words and phrases now included:

Chick flick
Brain freeze
Steganography
Cybrarian
Hospitalist

The White House: An Historic Guide

The White House may be one of the most facinating homes anywhere. This small book about the White House in the Libraries' Government Documents collection (call no. Y 3.H 62/4: 8 W 58) will appeal to anyone interested in history, politics, landscaping, or art. Included are many color photographs showing both the exterior and interior rooms at different times in history. The book also includes sketches of the White House after it was partially burned by the British during the War of 1812. Cut-away sketches of the building show rooms that vistors see during public tours.

The decor of the White House has changed with the tastes of its occupants and the fashions of the period. For example, there are photographs of the East Room as it looked during Andrew Johnson's term (1865-1869) and the room's subsequent remodeling in 1873 by Ulysses S. Grant in a Greek-inspired style critics ridiculed as "steamboat Gothic." "The White House: An Historic Guide" is a fascinating look at one of the world's best-known homes.

Workshop Opportunity: Alternative Medicine

Consumer Health: An Evidence Based Approach to Complementary and Alternative Medicine

From Steve Beleu, U.S. Government Information Librarian at the Oklahoma Department of Libraries:

"On December 6th Metrodocs (the group of Federal Depository libraries in the Oklahoma City area) will host a free 4-hour afternoon workshop from 1:00 to 5:00 at the University of Central Oklahoma's Max Chambers Library. This event will be co-hosted by the Oklahoma Health Sciences Library Association.

Titled Consumer Health: An Evidence Based Approach to Complementary and Alternative Medicine, it is designed to give attendees an understanding of the history and practice of alternative medicine. This is an Internet-based workshop in which each attendee will use a computer in their Library Instruction room. The workshop is free, but you must be registered to attend.

Who can attend: all library workers, hospital and health clinic staff, university and college staff, anyone engaged in providing complementary and alternative medicine, and the general public. Although this workshop is designed for librarians, anyone interested in Complementary and Alternative Medicine will learn from it.

Our instructor will be Karen Vargas, Consumer Health Coordinator, National Network of Libraries of Medicine, South Central Region.Here is a website where you can read more about this workshop--http://nnlm.gov/scr/edn/cam.htm

To register, please send your name and the name of your library/institution to sbeleu@oltn.odl.state.ok.us"

It's a Girl!

We have a new addition to our Library Family!

We are pleased to report that Elora Brianna Johnson arrived on Oct. 19, 2005. She is the bouncing, beautiful baby girl of our SECTP Librarian Adriana Edwards-Johnson and her husband Anthony. Mom and baby are doing fine.

Congratulations!

SAT Math Scores for 2005 Highest on Record

"I am encouraged by the improvement demonstrated in math, a fundamental skill that students need to succeed in college and, later, in a highly competitive global marketplace," said Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board. "However, the relatively flat trend in verbal scores indicates what we have observed for years: the need to redouble efforts to emphasize the core literacy skills of reading and writing in all courses across the curriculum starting in the earliest grades."

Library Staff Honored

Mary Roberson, InterLibrary Loan Coordinator and Janice Hodge, Sayre Library Manager were both recently honored for 20 years of service at SWOSU. Both of these ladies are an asset to SWOSU Libraries and have provided excellent service to faculty and students over the years. You may read the entire story here.

Congratulations, Mary and Janice!

Library Fall Break schedule

The Al Harris Library will be open from 7:30am - 5:00pm Wed., Oct. 19. The Library will be closed Oct. 20-22. Normal hours will resume on Sunday, Oct. 23. Have a great break!

Floppy Disks Currently Unavailable

The Reference Desk is currently out of floppy disks to loan.

If you have previously borrowed a disk and are finished with it, or you find one of the Library's disks, please return to the Circulation Desk. You can identify them by the label, which says: SWOSU LIBRARY - PLEASE RETURN AFTER USE - THANK YOU.

As soon as disks return, we'll be able to resume loans.

2nd fl. group study rooms closed 10/8-10/13

The large group study rooms on the 2nd floor of the Al Harris Library will be closed from Sat., Oct. 8 through Thurs., Oct. 13. During this time Human Resources will use the rooms for SWOSU's annual employee benefits enrollment.

Trust and Terror

After September 11/2001, many Americans were frantically searching for loved ones who were missing or injured. Fences near gound zero were covered with photos and flyers of the missing.
Since that time, there was a proposal to expand the role of U.S. libraries in providing crisis information dissemination and management. NCLIS (U.S. National Commission and Information Science) was the logical outcome since there are more than 16,000 public libraries and over 95% of all library locatins have Internet access.
After hurricane Katrina, refugees were rescued and dispersed all over the United States. During this time, many were separated from their children or immediate families. Free access to Internet websites from public libraries enabled hundreds of family members to be reunited.
This CD was narrated by Walter Cronkite and provides a plethora of additional government links and information. Just another reason that libraries are important to America and Americans. Link: http://www.nclis.gov/index.cfm

Facebook / Inside Higher Ed

Facebook is perhaps one of the more popular "peer to peer" networks currently online. However this article from Inside Higher Ed points out some potential problems college students can face when sharing their academic experiences online.

Here are some points to ponder about Facebook -- be sure to read the entire article to get the full story!

• Facebook sells your information to spammers. This means increased spam to your email accounts and perhaps a greater chance for identity theft.
• Statements made on Facebook can be followed up by University administrators. Last year, three students had to face the University of Mississippi’s judicial system after campus police officers found out they had created a group on the Facebook that pertained to a specific professor.
• Federal officials monitor Facebook. A student at the University of Oklahoma was investigated by the Secret Service after posting a comment about assassinating the president on the Facebook group: “Bush Sucks.”

Also, note that potential employers look at these sites as well and anything you post could impact your career once you graduate.

Spooky Reads

In honor of the ghoulicious holiday, we've created a display of "spooky reads" for Halloween.

Located in front of the circulation desk, check out spine-tingling stories and fun-facts about the holiday.

For more spooktacular fun, visit the ghostcam at the Willard Library and see if you can catch a peek at the famous "Lady in Grey."

Confederate Army Maps Available at American Memory

The Hotchkiss Map Collection contains cartographic materials created by Mjr. Jedediah Hotchkiss (1828-1899), a topographic engineer in the Confederate Army. The most renowed work from this collection are the battle maps especially those of the Shenandoah Valley which were used by Gen. Robert E. Lee and Gen. Thomas J. "Stone Wall" Jackson. Besides civil war maps, Hotchkiss created post-war maps on the railroad industry, mineral and mining, and other geological features. The collection consists of 341 sketchbooks, manuscripts, annotated printed maps, and the cartographic originals.

Monk and Coltrane Recordings Found in Library of Congress

"Blue Note Records, in conjunction with Thelonious Records, will release Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall, a never-before-heard jazz classic that documents one of the most historically important working bands in the history of the music, a band that was both short-lived and, until now, thought to be frustratingly under-recorded. The concert, which took place at the famed New York hall on November 29, 1957, was preserved on newly-discovered tapes made by Voice of America for a later radio broadcast that were located at the Library of Congress in Washington DC earlier this year."

It just goes to show that you never now what's hiding in your library's basement!

Homecoming Weekend 2005

The Southwestern Room will be open on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2005 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. On display will be yearbooks, school newspapers, and other University publications. The Southwestern Room is located on the second floor of the Library. Come by and see how Al Harris Library has changed and visit the Southwestern Room to reminisce your college days.

Go DAWGS, beat the Texans!

Oklahoma Reads Oklahoma

"Oklahoma Reads Oklahoma' is a statewide activity which invites the people of Oklahoma to examine our state's unique history, experience it's diverse heritage, and explore its promising future by reading and discussing notable and important works about the Sooner State.

A special committe nominated 6 books (with Oklahoma content) written by Oklahomans. After perusing, please vote for your favorite book on the link below. See our display at the library today.

Teachers can find a discussion guide also located on the link below. Have some fun.. Read!

www.okreadsok.org

Can Laundry Be Done Online, Too?

This week's Newsweek reports that a number of college campuses are installing internet-based laundry systems.

No, you can't actually have your computer wash your dirty socks, but you can get an email or text message when your spin cycle is complete, or study a two-week usage chart to determine the best no-wait times for a machine.

Read the article here, or stop by the current periodicals section in the library's reference area to read the latest issue of Newsweek.

Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15-Oct 15)

In 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim a week in September as National Hispanic Heritage Week. The observance was expanded in 1988 to a monthlong celebration (Sept. 15-Oct. 15). During this month, America celebrates the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.

For some quick facts on the Hispanic culture, click here.

New Book by Elizabeth Kostova

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova is here at the Al Harris Library! This book has been on The New York Times Bestsellers List since it was published in August and is ranked #2 on the List this week. A retelling of the story of Dracula, this is the first book for Kostova who spent 10 years researching and writing it. Come and check it out to see why The Historian is so popular!

Interesting New Book in Gov Docs

One of the most interesting new books received each year in Government Documents in the Al Harris Library is "The World Factbook" by the Central Intelligence Agency. This little gem is packed with information about most countries of the world. Information for each country includes: maps, historical background, geographic coordinates, area, how much coastline, bordering countries, territorial claim of ocean (miles or km) from coast, climate, terrain, elevation extremes, natural resources, % arable land, % irrigated land, natural hazzards, current environmental issues & international agreements. People info includes: population, sex ratio, death rate, nationality, ethnic groups, religions, languages, and literacy. Data on government and economy includes: current account balance, fixed investment, public debt, and reserves of foreign exchange and gold. If you are planning on visiting a foreign country or writing a report - check this book out first. Click on the following to see the website: http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS552

Organization Fair Winner!

The Organizational Fair was great this year! We talked to lots of students about the library and what we have to offer. We also had a drawing at the Organizational Fair for one lucky person to win two free weeks of tanning from Body Active (thanks to Body Active for their generous donation!). We are pleased to announce the winner, Ms. Vickie Dean! After the Organization Fair, library tours were offered to let students get to know the library better. If you missed out but are still interested in coming over for a tour, call Kristi at 774-7113 and we’ll show you around!

Constitution Day

To help celebrate Constitution Day (September 16), the Al Harris Library has a new display at the North end of the entryway. This display isn't big and splashy in a Hollywood way, but a replica of the United States Constitution and several library books on the subject are shown. There is also a booklet which lists questions and answers about the subject (which might be useful for teachers or teaching students). Take a look next time you're in the Library! An interesting link is an article on the Constitution in the National Archives: http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution.html

Women of Protest

View photos documenting women's struggle for the right to vote. The American Memory project, Women of Protest: Photos from the Records of the National Woman's Party, documents the pickets, parades, demonstrations, and hunger strikes that led to ratification of the 19th amendment.

Hurricane Katrina

To keep up on disaster relief efforts in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida go to these web sites:

• CNN Special Report: Hurricane Season
• WWLTV Katrina Blog
• New Orleans Times-Picayune
  
• National Hurricane Center/Tropical Prediction Center
• Yahoo! News Full Coverage of Hurricane Katrina
• New Orleans by satellite (pre-Katrina)
  
• The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
• Storm Names

SWOSU is collecting donations for Hurricane Katrina victims.

Back to School Data

The U.S. Census Bureau released a special statistical fact sheet regarding back to school activities.

• 7 million school children speak Spanish at home
• The average nation tuition for one year at a college and university is $10,660
• In 2004, $6 million was spent on back to school shopping
• 54.6 million is the projected number of students to be enrolled in the nation's elementary and high schools this fall

National Archives Gets a New Website

The National Archives and Records Administration recently changed the appearance and address of their website to http://www.archives.gov/.

To search the collections of the National Archives use the Archival Research Catalog and the Access to Archival Databases.

Also, America's Historical Documents continues to provide access to the country's most influencial and famous written texts such as, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Bill of Rights, and the Emancipation Proclaimation.

2005 KIDS COUNT Data Book Released

The 16th annual KIDS COUNT Data Book released July 27 reports that national trends in child well-being are no longer improving in the rapid and sustained way they did in the late 1990s. Among the negative trends: the number of children who live with parents facing persistent unemployment grew to 4 million, an increase of more than 1 million since 2000.

Teens Using the Internet in Record Numbers

The report compiled for the Pew Internet & American Life Project found 87% of those aged 12 to 17, now use the Internet. That amounts to about 21 million youth who use the Internet, up from roughly 17 million in 2000. Approximately, 11 million teens go online daily, compared to about 7 million in 2000.

For the full report, read Teens and Technology: Youth are Leading the Transition to a Fully Wired and Mobile Nation.

Nation's Report Card 2004

Recently, the National Center for Education Statistics released a new update to the Nation's Report Card, Long Term Trend Assessment Results 2004. This source data covers student performance in reading from 1971 to 2004 and student performance in mathematics from 1973 to 2004. Results are reported in three ways: by scale scores, by selected percentiles, and by percentage of students performing at or above each of five performance levels. The reading and mathematics long-term trend assessments refer to different student populations and measure different subject area skills from the main NAEP assessments.

America's Children: Key Indicators of Well-Being 2005

The new edition of America's Children: Key Indicators of Well-Being 2005 is now available from the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. It is a biennial report to the Nation on the condition of children in America. Nine contextual measures describe the changing population, family, and environmental context in which children are living, and 25 indicators depict the well-being of children in the areas of economic security, health, behavior and social environment, and education. This year's report has special features on children with asthma, children with specified blood lead levels, and parental reports of children’s emotional and behavioral difficulties. In addition, the report includes a special section on family structure and the well-being of children.

Historical Census Data

U.S. Census Bureau recently released a report, Historic Census statistics on population totals by race, 1790 to 1990, and by Hispanic origin, 1970 to 1990, for large cities and other urban places in the United States.
Within this report, historical information can be found for Muscogee, Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

National Boating Information

The Extent of Boating Information in the 2001 Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation provides some data on one of America's summer past times.

In 2001, the number of days people spent fishing in freshwater lakes and ponds was 443,247,000 and the number of days spent fishing from a boat was 190,796,000. The price tag attached to these activities were $127,803,000 for boat-launch fees and $1,259,753,000 for boat fuel.

The complete national survey can be found by clicking here.

Evolution of American Life: Impact of the Internet

The Pew Internet & American Life Project put together a report that examined how the Internet has changed American Life over the past decade. It has changed the way we inform ourselves, amuse ourselves, care for ourselves, educate ourselves, work, shop, bank, and stay in touch.

On a typical day at the end of 2004, some 70 million American adults logged onto the Internet to engage in a variety of activities. That represents a 37% increase from the 51 million Americans who were online on an average day in 2000.

To read this statistical report of the changes in American life, click here.

Database for Tracking Terrorist Incidents Worldwide

The National Counterterrorism Center is the primary center for U.S. government analysis of terrorism. The NCTC recently revealed a new database, the Worldwide Incidents Tracking System (WITS). In a recent news article, the WITS tracked nearly 3,200 incidents in 2004.

Majority Trust the Media

Despite criticisms, most Americans continue to view media outlets in a positive way. The following ratings are based upon Americans' favorable opinions of...daily newspapers (80%), local TV news (79%), cable TV news (79%), network TV news (75%), and major national papers (61%).

For the full survey, please click here.

The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press is an independent opinion research group that studies attitudes toward the press, politics and public policy issues.

America's Public School Libraries: 1953-2000

American Public School Libraries: 1953-2000

Drawn from more than 25 sources, mostly federal reports and surveys, this booklet presents a history of federal legislation and national standards affecting school library media centers and key characteristics of school libraries at the national level, from 1953–54 to1999–2000. This booklet is based on the report Fifty Years of SupportingChildren’s Learning: A History of Public School Libraries and FederalLegislation from 1953–2000.

Computer & Internet Use by Children

The National Center of Education Statistics issued a new report--Rates of Computer and Internet Use by Children in Nursery School and Students in Kindergarten Through Twelfth Grade: 2003.

The report indicates the use of computers and the Internet by children is increasing rapidly. Some factors included into this report are the parent's education level, family income level, ethnicity, and comparison of children and adult usage of computers and the Internet.

Live 8: Economic Independence for Africa

While Amercia celebrates her Independence Day, the world's musicians are asking for the wealthiest and most powerful countries to recognize economic independence on the continent of Africa.

Live 8 is a worldwide concert event that will bring together 150 musicians and entertainers in 10 different cities around the world to raise public awareness of third world debt and poverty. Live 8 wants to influence the world leaders attending the G8 Summit to forgive all debt and to increase aid and support for Africa.

Independence Day History

The formal declaration was adopted July 4, 1776, by representatives of the Thirteen Colonies in North America announcing the separation of those colonies from Great Britain and making them into the United States.

Did you know July is National Hot Dog Month?

It is estimated that 155 million hot dogs will be consumed during the Independence Day weekend.

Did you know July is Fireworks Safety Month?

In 2003, four persons died and an estimated 9,300 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries in the U.S. For more facts about fireworks-related injuries, the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control has created the following factsheet.

Did you know the U.S. imports American Flags from China?

Star-Mangled Banner, an entertaining tribute to controversial and botched renditions of our national anthem.

© 2005 Pearson Education, publishing as Infoplease.
© National Center for Injury Prevention and Control and U.S. Census Bureau

Government Reports Easier to Find Now

A new web site, Open CRS, aims to make widely available to the public certain government reports about topics from terrorism to Social Security that congressional researchers prepare and distribute now only to lawmakers.

Open CRS links to more than a half-dozen existing collections of nearly 8,000 reports from the Congressional Research Service. According to Open CRS, american taxpayers spend nearly $100 million a year to fund the Congressional Research Service, a "think tank" that provides reports to members of Congress on a variety of topics relevant to current political events. Yet, these reports are not made available to the public in a way that they can be easily obtained.

More Boys than Girls?

The National Center for Health Statistics has released a new report showing that male births outnumbered female births in the United States in 2002. This is the 63rd year in a row that male births have outnumbered female births.

For summary of report, click here.

For the full report, click here.

AFI's Top 100 Quotes from U.S. Filmmaking

The AFI (American Film Institute) is a national organization providing leadership in screen education and the recognition and celebration of excellence in the art of film, television and digital media. AFI is known for their cinematic countdowns and recently they announced the top 100 movie quotes within the last 100 years of American filmmaking.

1. "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" Gone With the Wind (1939)
2. "I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse." The Godfather (1972)
4. "Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." The Wizard of Oz (1939)
5. "Here's looking at you, kid." Casablanca (1942)
6. "Go ahead, make my day." Sudden Impact (1983)
8. "May the Force be with you." Star Wars (1977)
10. "You talking to me?" Taxi Driver (1976)
15. "E.T. phone home." E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
22. "Bond. James Bond." Dr. No (1962)
26. "Show me the money!" Jerry Maguire (1996)
29. "You can't handle the truth!" A Few Good Men (1992)
44. "I see dead people." The Sixth Sense (1999)
54. "There's no crying in baseball!" A League of Their Own (1992)
68. "Here's Johnny!" The Shining (1980)
76. "Hasta la vista, baby." Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
80. "Yo, Adrian!" Rocky (1976)
85. "My precious." The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (2002)
94. "I feel the need-the need for speed!" Top Gun (1986)
100. "I'm king of the world!" Titanic (1997)

OpenNet Initiative Monitors Worldwide Censorship

OpenNet Initiative is collaborative endeavor between researchers of Harvard University, the University of Toronto, and the University of Cambridge. Their mission is to investigate and challenge state filtration and surveillance practices.

Their latest reports have been compiled on Iran and China. Each of the studies includes a press release which provides a summary of their investigation findings and a full report which includes details of Internet infrastructure, media regulations, testing methodology and analysis.

The website includes reports on Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

New Medicare Prescription Drug Program

From the U.S. Social Security Administration office in Oklahoma City:

In January 2006, a new Medicare Prescription Drug Program (Part D) will take effect, providing a prescription drug benefit to seniors and persons with disabilities who have Medicare coverage. Under this new program, Medicare beneficiaries who meet limited income and asset limits may be eligible to receive financial help which reduces or eliminates the monthly premium and significantly lowers the co-payment for prescription drugs.

From June through August 2005, Medicare beneficiaries who may be eligible for the extra help will be mailed an Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs (Form SSA-1020). If you receive an application you should complete and return it as soon as possible. If you do not receive an application in the mail or do not want to wait, you can get one by calling at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Beginning July 1, 2005, you can also apply online at www.socialsecurity.gov.

Have questions about basic aspects of social security or reform issues? Please consult this guide for further information.

Recent Data on American Education

2003 International Adult Literacy and Lifeskills (ALL) Survey

The report shows that America’s adults performed worse than their counterparts in Bermuda, Norway, and Switzerland, but better than those in Italy. There was no measurable difference between the performance of Canadian and U.S. adults. ALL reports on the literacy and numeracy skills of adults ages 16-65 in six countries.

Men outscored women on the numeracy scale in every country. In the United States, men scored 15 points higher than women on the literacy scale. White U.S. adults outscored Black, Hispanic, and other adults in both literacy and numeracy. There was no measurable difference between the performance of Blacks and Hispanics in literacy or numeracy.

Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year 2002-03

Released by the National Center of Education Statistics, this National Public Education Financial Survey is to provide district, state, and federal policymakers, researchers, and other interested users with descriptive information about revenues and expenditures for public elementary and secondary education.

Flag Day History

On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress replaced the British symbols with a new design featuring 13 white stars in a circle pattern on a field of blue and 13 red and white stripes. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that established Flag Day on June 14.

It is observed across the country by displaying the American Flag on homes and public buildings. Other popular ways of observing this day include flag-raising ceremonies, singing of the national anthem, and the study of flag etiquette and the flag's origin and meaning.

"Flag Day, June 14" Henderson, Helene, ed. Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary. 3rd ed. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 2005. Ref 394.26 H732

For more information about the observance of this day, please visit the website of the National Flag Day Foundation.

Meteorology Terms 101

After experiencing the powerful storms that traveled through the area yesterday, did the weatherman introduce any meteorological terms unfamiliar to you?

Wind Shear- an abrupt change in wind speed or direction which can occur at any altitude

Squall Line- unbroken line of thunderstorms that form over or ahead of fast-moving cold fronts which often produce strong straight-line winds and hail

Gust Front- is the leading edge of the cold, low-level outflow from a thunderstorm which often produces strong, gusty winds and a sudden drop temperature

Gustnado- a short-lived, circulating funnel occuring in the gust front that rarely produces damage

For more meteorological information like this, consult the following reference resource:
Schneider, Stephen H., ed. Encyclopedia of Climate and Weather. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996. Ref 551.503 En195

American Revolution Map Collection

The Rochambeau Map Collection contains cartographic items used by Jean Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau (1725-1807), when he was commander in chief of the French expeditionary army (1780-82) during the American Revolution.

The maps were from Rochambeau's personal collection, cover much of eastern North America, and date from 1717 to 1795. The maps show Revolutionary-era military actions, some of which were published in England and France, and early state maps from the 1790s. Many of the items in this extraordinary group of maps show the importance of cartographic materials in the campaigns of the American Revolution as well as Rochambeau's continuing interest in the new United States.

The collection consists of 40 manuscript and 26 printed maps, and a manuscript atlas, the originals of which are in the Library of Congress' Geography and Map Division.

Previous Record Held by Baby Boomers Surpassed

The number of students enrolled in elementary and high school in 2003 — 49.5 million — surpassed the previous all-time high of 48.7 million set in 1970 when baby-boomers were of school-age, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.

For the full press release, click here.

For the statistical data, click here.

PubChem Project

PubChem is a component of the National Library of Medicine's Molecular Libraries Roadmap Initiative. This database is organized into three sections: Compound, Substance and BioAssay.

Each compound is displayed with a visual representation of its structure and includes cross-referenced links into bioactivity, protein structures, toxicology, MeSH annotations, related and similar compounds.

One of 2004's Best Online Reference Sources

Allmusic

Created in 1995, this constantly growing resource of more than 76,000 biographies, 778,900 albums and 260,700 album reviews, provides information on popular artists as well as historic entertainers in a variety of genres. Each artist is presented with an overview, biography, discography, song index with audio capability, collaborations, and awards.

State Interim Population Projections by Age and Sex, 2004-2030

U.S. Census State Population Projections

The projections were produced for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia by age and sex for the years 2001 to 2030, based on Census 2000 results, and the general assumption that recent state-specific trends in fertility, mortality, domestic migration, and international migration will continue.

Our Nation's Air Pollution Report Card

Fewer Americans have had to breathe unhealthy levels of smog or microscopic soot in recent years, but air pollution remained a threat in counties where more than half the nation lives, the American Lung Association said in an annual report Thursday.

Using data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the group found that the number of counties in which unhealthy air was recorded fell significantly for the first time in six years, to 390 from 441 in last year's report. The new report covered 2001 to 2003, while the previous one analyzed pollution levels from 2000 to 2002.

First Study of American Indian Health

The National Center for Health Statistics, part of the CDC, released their first study about the health characteristics of American Indians on Wednesday, April 27, titled Health Characteristics of the American Indian and Alaska Native Adult Population: United States, 1999-2003.

It reports on these health characteristics: basic demographic data, such as race, education, age, income, poverty status, and having health insurance; health behaviors, such as smoking, drinking, physical activity, and overweight status; health care utilization, such as the use of doctor's offices or HMOs, and non-use of healthcare facilities due to high health care costs; health conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, and deafness; mental health status, such as feelings of depression, distress, and hopelessness; and respondent-assessed overall health status.

National Library Week Contest Winners

What was your excuse for not returning library books?

Here is the top 10 list of excuses for National Library Week 2005.

Turn Off TV, Turn on Life

Turn Off TV, Turn on Life is the national slogan for TV Turnoff Week (April 25-May 1). Besides being a good idea for all those students who need to study for finals, the sponsor of this national initiative provides information on the TV habits of American households.

Under TV Facts & Figures, this website provides fact sheets, famous quotes, and documented research. The information presented is accompanied by bibliographies that include newspapers, magazines, websites, reports, and government information.

Government Views of Iraq: An Online Bibliography

Government Views on Iraq is an online bibliography organized by the Cohen Library, City College of New York. This bibliography contains approximately 100 topics composed from government documents and information.

A description from the website:

The bulk of the resources are from the United States, there are international entries as well. Resources include such items as U.S. Congressional Hearings and Resolutions, Federal Agency reports, transcripts of press conferences and briefings, USAID Fact Sheets, legislation, news releases and Presidential Communications, as well as texts of United Nations Security Council Resolutions, the Geneva Conventions and Protcols, selected international treaties and information on governance post Saddam Hussein including regulations, memoranda, orders and public notices from the Coalition Provisional Authority as well as resources of the Iraqi national elections on January 30, 2005 and information on the Iraqi Transitional Government.

I Hear America Singing

I Hear America Singing is a Library of Congress Web site, that invites visitors to experience the diversity of American performing arts through the Library's unsurpassed collections of scores, sheet music, audio recordings, films, photographs, maps and other materials. Special presentations on selected topics highlight some of the unique and unusual materials in the Library's collections. This site is a continually growing resource, and visitors are encouraged to return regularly to see what's new.

Visiting the Virtual Vatican

The Vatican has produced a wonderful website where a researcher can access the Vatican library and archive to examine objects like 15th century manuscripts.

Because of the recent passing of Pope John Paul II, the Vatican created a historical chronology of the Pope John Paul's life from 1978-2005. Each year's entry is subdivided into four areas: Words of the Holy Father, Videos, Travel, and Events.

WMD Commission Report

The report about WMDs is now available by the Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction.

The Comission was created by Executive Order 13328 on February 6, 2004 and charged with the responsiblity of assessing whether the Intelligence Community is sufficiently authorized, organized, equipped, trained and resourced to identify and warn the United States of potential threats associated with WMDs.

James Madison Papers Available Online

The Library of Congress recently announced the release of the James Madison Papers, a part of the American Memory Project.

The James Madison Papers include approximately 12,000 items captured in some 72,000 digital images. This digital archive about the "Father of the Constitution" includes correspondence, personal notes, drafts of letters and legislation, an autobiography, legal and financial documents, and miscellaneous manuscripts.

State Education Data Profiles

The State Education Data Profiles is a new resource produced by the National Center for Education Statistics that collects information in elementary/secondary education, postsecondary education and selected demographics for all the states in the U.S.

The National Center for Education Statistics, a division of the U.S. Department of Education, is responsible for collecting and analyzing data that are related to education in the United States and other nations.

April Fool's Day: Behind the Holiday

April Fool's Day is one of the most light hearted days of the year, yet it stems from a serious subject—the adoption of a new calendar.

Ancient cultures, including those as varied as the Romans and the Hindus, celebrated New Year's Day on April 1. It closely follows the vernal equinox (March 20th or March 21st.) In medieval times, much of Europe celebrated March 25, the Feast of Annunciation, as the beginning of the new year.

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar (the Gregorian Calendar) to replace the old Julian Calendar. The new calendar called for New Year's Day to be celebrated Jan. 1. Many countries, however, resisted the change. In fact, some European countries held out for centuries (Scotland until 1660; Germany, Denmark, and Norway until 1700; and England until 1752).
In 1564 France adopted the reformed calendar and shifted New Year's day to Jan. 1. However, many people either refused to accept the new date, or did not learn about it, and continued to celebrate New Year's Day April 1. Other people began to make fun of these traditionalists, sending them on "fool's errands" or trying to trick them into believing something false.
In 1752, Great Britain finally changed over to the Gregorian Calendar, and April Fool's Day began to be celebrated in England and in the American colonies.

Pranks and jokes are of course still popular on this day—not to mention the rest of the year.
"April Fool's Day: Origin and History."

Infoplease.© 2000–2005 Pearson Education, publishing as Infoplease.01 Apr. 2005 http://www.infoplease.com/spot/aprilfools1.html

Pew Report on Search Engine User Confidence

Internet searchers are confident, satisfied and trusting---but they are also unaware and naïve.
Some interesting data...

• 84% of Internet users have used search engines.
• 88% of men who are Internet users have used search engines.
• 79% of women who are Internet users have used search engines.
• 89% of Internet users under 30 years have used search engines, compared to 85% of those 30-49 years, 79% of those 50-64 years, 67% of those over 65 years.

For the full report: http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Searchengine_users.pdf

Oklahoma Watercolor Association XIX Exhibition Arrives

This traveling exhibit from the Oklahoma Watercolor Association consists of fabulous artwork created by Oklahoma artists. The artists are selected from entries in the OWA’s juried event. The traveling exhibit visits only ten locations within the state each year. The traveling exhibit is currently on display in the Al Harris Library. It consists of 18 works of art from the following artists:

P. Ballew, Shattuck
T. Cannady, Oklahoma City
B. Fentress, Oklahoma City
M. Foor, Norman
B. Hanes, Stillwater
D. Hollander, Guthrie
D. Howell, Midwest City
R. Kerby, Vinita
R. Murphy, Oklahoma City
W. Roos, Oklahoma City
B. Seabourn, Warr Acres
B. Shaw, Norman
L. Taylor, Hinton
L. Wilcoxson, Oklahoma City

The purpose of the Oklahoma Watercolor Association is to encourage the recognition of the State of Oklahoma as a center of artistic endeavor and to educate its artists in water media. This is facilitated through programs, seminars, demonstrations, workshops, critiques, exhibitions, sketching opportunities and other work pertaining to water media.

This exhibit is sponsored by the Oklahoma Arts Council. For more information, please contact the Oklahoma Arts Council's curatorial staff at 405.521.2931 or visit their website at www.arts.ok.gov.

The Vietnam Project, a Digital Archive at Texas Tech University

The Vietnam Project provides online access to primary sources, images and other material about the American Vietnam experience.

(Excerpt from the February 1, 2005 issue of Library Journal)

Texas Tech University, Lubbock, is ramping up The Vietnam Project with several massive digitization initiatives that will make major resources far more accessible. Launched in 1989, the project consists of two units, The Vietnam Center and The Virtual Vietnam Archive, along with smaller subdivisions: The Oral History Project, The Vietnam Archive, and The Teachers' Resource Web. "We have over two million pages online. When you add the eight to 12 million pages of microfilm materials we have, we're looking at a potential digital archive of anywhere between 20 and 25 million pages," associate director and archivist Steve Maxner told LJ.

Experiencing War: Stories from the Veterans History Project

The Veterans History Project is a project of the American Folklore Center of the Library of Congress. The stories are not a formal history of war, but a treasure trove of individual feeling and personal recollections.

This project's primary focus is on first-hand accounts of U.S. Veterans from:
World War I (1914-1920)
World War II (1939-1946)
Korean War (1950-1955)
Vietnam War (1961-1975)
Persian Gulf War (1990-1995)
Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts (2001-present)

In addition, those U.S. citizen civilians who were actively involved in supporting war efforts (such as war industry workers, USO workers, flight instructors, medical volunteers, etc.) are also invited to share their valuable stories.

New York Public Library Digital Gallery

NYPL Digital Gallery provides access to over 275,000 images digitized from primary sources and printed rarities in the collections of The New York Public Library, including illuminated manuscripts, historical maps, vintage posters, rare prints and photographs, illustrated books, printed ephemera, and more.

CONDITIONS OF USE
NYPL Digital Gallery is a free service from The New York Public Library offering hundreds of thousands of digital images of historical materials from the Research Libraries' original, rare and specialized holdings. NYPL provides free and open access to its Digital Gallery and images may be freely downloaded for personal, research and study purposes only.

Notice Anything New in the Weatherford Skyline?

Large sentinels of technology are appearing to the south of Weatherford and it provides a local opportunity to investigate wind power and the use of environment-friendly energy.

Wind Energy Technology by the U.S. Dept. of Energy
FAQ About Wind Energy by the American Wind Energy Association
FPL Energy Press Release about the Weatherford Wind Energy Center
Wind Project Database: Oklahoma
Weatherford Wind Energy Center Snapshot

Stamp to Honor Presidential Libraries

(Associated Press)

The nation's 12 presidential libraries will be honored on a postage stamp to be issued next summer, the Postal Service said Friday. First day of issue ceremonies will be held at the various libraries and at President Ford's separate museum on Aug. 4, the 50th anniversary of the Presidential Libraries Act.

The stamp will show the seal of the presidency against a cream-colored background.
"Presidential Libraries, as democratic institutions, are critical to an open society in that they allow Americans access to papers and other materials not available thorough traditional libraries," said Postmaster General John E. Potter.

Ceremonies will be Aug. 4 at:
George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, College Station, TX
Jimmy Carter Library & Museum, Atlanta, GA
William J. Clinton Presidential Center, Little Rock, AR
Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum, Abilene, KS
Gerald R. Ford Library, Ann Arbor, MI
Gerald R. Ford Museum, Grand Rapids, MI
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum, West Branch, IA
Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, Austin, TX
John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, Boston, MA
Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace, Yorba Linda, CA
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, Simi Valley, CA
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, Hyde Park, NY
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, Independence, MO