Congress Contemplates Facebook & MySpace Ban for Minors

"MySpace and other social-networking sites like LiveJournal.com and Facebook are the potential targets for a proposed federal law that would effectively require most schools and libraries to render those Web sites inaccessible to minors, an age group that includes some of the category's most ardent users." (C|Net News) Read more ...

Library Intersession Hours Begin Thursday, May 11

Library intersession hours begin on Thursday, May 11. The Al Harris Library will be open from 8am - 5pm Monday through Friday and closed on weekends. For the complete intersession schedule see the library hours page.

Kerr vs. Schulz Election Results

The unofficial results of the May 9th special general election for Oklahoma State Senate District 38 are posted on the Oklahoma State Election Board's web site. The results show Schulz with 56.8% to Kerr's 43.2% with all precincts reporting.

Spring Forward, Pass Finals, Proceed Directly to Summer

Don't leave your A to chance--study at the library!

During finals week, the Al Harris Library is monopolizing your time with fun activities in the library. Select a Chance card from the Circulation Desk and see what awaits you! In the basement, fill out a card for the Community Chest bulletinboard and tell us where you plan to spend your summer vacation.

From 8:00 to 11:00pm on May 3, 4, 7, and 8, the Library Basement will offer a fun atmosphere that will include free food and drinks, board games and space for students to socialize and relax from studying.

Good luck to everyone taking finals and enjoy your summer break!

Cinco de Mayo

Many Americans believe that Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican Independence Day. However, Mexico declared it's independence from Spain on midnight, September 15, 1810.

Some Americans might also be surprised to learn that during America's Civil War, France claimed Mexico under the pretext of unpaid loans by Benito Juarez. After the French army invaded Mexico, Napoleon III set up an Austrian prince named Maximilian to rule Mexico. You can still find Mexican coins with Maximilian's portrait. The one above (cast in solid gold) was found on ebay.

The French foreign legion left the port city of Vera Cruz to attack Mexico City to the west. The French assumed that Mexico would surrender once their capital was seized. The Mexican militia totaled 4,000 and the French were estimated to be from 6,500 to 8,000. The date was May 5, 1862 and this battle was fought in Puebla, Mexico which is located 100 miles east of Mexico City.

Colonel Diaz lead the Mexican calvalry out to the flanks of the French. The French sent their calvary off to chase Diaz and his men through stampeding cattle in thick mud. The result was that the French were defeated in a great victory for Mexico. Napoleon III brought in more reinforements and the war lasted longer, but this battle victory brought unity to Mexico.

Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of that battle in Puebla 144 years ago and is also a yearly celebration of Liberty in Mexico. It is celebrated both in Mexico and the United States wherever Mexican-Americans reside. Festivities consisist of parades, music, folklore, dancing, and food. See our Cinco de Mayo book display at the Al Harris Library this week!

Hispanic-Latino Heritage Week at SWOSU is also from May 1-5.

The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina, Lessons Learned

The Federal Depository Library Program announced in March, 2006 the completion of "The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina, Lessons Learned", which is online.

The title tells the subject of this publication. It's about the mistakes the Government made and what they plan on doing differently if the problem comes up again. One of the most interesting items is the comparison chart located in the back which gives the dollar value (in billions) of various hurricanes and natural disasters. While most hurricanes in recent years cost about $12 billion each, hurricane Katrina came in at a whopping $97 billion! While Katrina resulted in 1,330 deaths, the 1900 hurricane in Galveston (before hurricane were given names) was responsible for 8,000 deaths. Click on the title above to access the full 200+ page article!

The printed versions (of the subject above) have just arrived in Government Documents: Y 1.1/8: 109-377 is "A Failure of Initiative - Final Report of the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurrican Katrina." The companion to this book is Y 1.1/8: 109-396 "A Failure of Initiative, Supplementary Report and Document Annex".

Learn How to Win a Da Vinci Code Movie Poster

Da Vinci Code Revealed!

To celebrate the popularity of Dan Brown's novel, the Da Vinci Code, and the upcoming release of the motion picture by Sony Pictures, the Al Harris Library is displaying materials that highlight the novel, the movie, the video game, Da Vinci's achievements, and the mysteries of codes and hidden messages.

For the duration of this library display, faculty, staff and students can submit contest forms for a chance to win a movie theatre quality poster for the motion picture, the Da Vinci Code.

There are no restrictions on how many chances you submit. Contest chances will be available at the library display only.