Happy Campers

Getting to Know the Library the Hawaiian Way

On August 25, 2011 it was the pleasure of the Blagg-Huey Library on the Denton campus to host a Hawaiian-themed introduction to the library and its services as part of Pioneer Camp 2011, the annual TWU rite of passage for new students.

There were library tours, refreshments, a photo op, information "islands", prizes and chances to socialize with library staff and each other. Attendance exceeded expectations, and student feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

Wow! With these sunglasses on--and if you squint real hard--it really DOES look like Hawaii in here! Students take advantage of the beach-themed photo op at Pioneer Camp.

C'mon--the beach is this way! Librarian Brandy Klug leads a group of Pioneer campers on a tour of the library, including the Woman's Collection on the second floor.

I love Hawaiian Punch! It wouldn't be camp without punch and cookies.

If you were able to join us, it was our pleasure. Missed it? Want to know more? Find pics from the day here, a tour here, the TWU Libraries website here, and a whole list of librarians eager to help you here. Follow us on facebook, twitter, and our blog--and whatever you do, don't miss out on our outrageously helpful and convenient TWU Libraries Mobile. Finally, as always, if you need library assistance, ask. We are here to serve you.

The TWU Libraries wishes all Pioneers--new and returning--a hugely successful and enjoyable year.

Aloha.

By: Sandy Cochran

Faculty Scream for Ice Cream

TWU Faculty Welcomed to Campus with Ice Cream Social

New and returning TWU faculty were welcomed to campus and a new school year with everybody's friend in a record-breaking heat wave--ice cream.

Sponsored by the Faculty Senate and featuring an assortment of ice cream and toppings from Beth Marie's Old Fashioned Ice Cream Fountain, the ice cream social took place on Monday, August 22nd in the living room area of the Blagg-Huey Library on the Denton campus.

The event was a huge success, thanks to the efforts of Beth Marie's, Aramark (who donated a cake and fruit), the Faculty Senate and library and other TWU staff.

Against a charming backdrop of checkered tablecloths and daisy bouquets, there were drawings for prizes (including an iPad), violins playing and cameras clicking away.

I won! I won! The lucky winner of the iPad holds up her prize.

Is this fun or what?

The atmosphere was vibrant, the ice cream decadent and the collegial conversation flowed.

Not a bad way to start a semester.

Happy Fall.

By: Sandy Cochran

Hola! Mark Your Calendar for Fiesta!

First Week Fiesta 2011 Coming Soon

All TWU students are invited to the Blagg-Huey Library's 3rd Annual First Week Fiesta, taking place at the Denton campus library on Wednesday, August 31st, 2011 from 2 to 4 p.m.

A new school year is upon us. Fiesta is a fun and interactive way for all TWU students--new and returning--to familiarize themselves with the library and all that it has to offer.

Students can tour our beautiful building, meet library staff, learn about the library resources available to them, and take part in useful research skill-building exercises. Learn how to search for library resources, identify scholarly journal articles, find primary sources and more. Library staff will be on hand to guide you and answer any questions you may have.

There will be prize drawings and snack bags for students completing the tours, and certificates of completion will be given out for possible extra credit (at faculty's discretion).

The entire library staff welcomes you to a new school year. We look forward to serving your information and research needs.

Hope to see you on the 31st.

By: Sandy Cochran

InterLibrary Loan Book Straps Now Pink

Color Change Effective Monday, 8/15/11

Beginning Monday, August 15, 2011, TWU Libraries’ InterLibrary Loan (ILL) Department will change the color of the book strap used to identify ILL items.

Items will have a neon pink book strap rather than a green one. Items with the new pink book strap will not display in “My Account” but will only display in your ILLiad account. To view ILL items charged out to you, log on to your ILLiad account and choose “All Requests” under VIEW on the left side menu. Items with the status “Checked Out to Customer” are considered charged out to you.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at ill@mail.twu.edu.

By: Kris Reed

Have You Read This Movie?

Have you ever watched a movie and wondered where the story came from? It's quite possible it came from a book.

The Blagg-Huey Library has many books--some older, some newer--that have been made into movies (or are currently in production). Among them:

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

In post-production

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Final movie installment in theaters

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In production

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

HBO movie and series





The plots of television series often come from books as well. Perhaps you've heard of the very popular Showtime series Dexter? Yes, you guessed it--Dexter is based on a series of novels by Jeff Lindsay. The Blagg-Huey Library carries the following in its Browsing Collection: Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Dearly Devoted Dexter and Dexter in the Dark.


Last, but certainly not least--

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
The 11th book in the Sookie Stackhouse/TrueBlood series
(Sorry--you'll have to wait until I'm finished with this one!)




By: Felicia Cleburn

For Our Friend Carolyn

Donations to Children's Collection in Memory of Carolyn Poole

A collection of bilingual children's books has been donated by Dr. Phyllis Bridges to the Children's Collection of the Blagg-Huey Library in memory of Carolyn Poole, who worked for the TWU Libraries. An advocate of literacy and education, Carolyn was also an adjunct professor on the Denton campus of TWU in the Department of English, Speech and Foreign Languages.

Among the volumes donated in Carolyn's honor: the English/Spanish Grandpa's Magic Tortilla and the English/Japanese Circus Day in Japan. These titles and more, each featuring a commemorative bookplate, will be on display in the Children's Collection on the Garden Level of the library through September 15th, 2011.

Carolyn, who passed away suddenly in June, had a great love for children's literature and books in general. She also loved needlework, movies and attending the theater.

We will miss her.

By: Jimmie Harris

Calling All Muggles

Harry Potter Exhibit on Display Thru September 15th

The release this summer of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows--Part 2", the long-awaited finale of the series, has rekindled intense interest in all things wizardry, magic and "the boy who lived". For those interested in rereading the series, browsing through Potter memorabilia--or taking a break from the heat--the Children's Collection of the Blagg-Huey Library is now featuring a large Potter exhibit with everything from DVDs, audiobooks and J.K. Rowling biographies to trading cards, figurines, posters and books on magic.

Thanks to the talents and generosity of Caitlyn Cole, Caitlin Rodgers, Ploy Phataminwiphas, Ana Ontiveros, Suzanne Sweeney, Mickey Dudley-Russell and Jimmie Lyn Harris, this exhibit takes up a large expanse of the Children's Collection on the library's Garden Level and includes themed tables on Potions, Quidditch & Flying, Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy and Charms--as well as a Harry Potter board game, "The Unofficial Harry Potter Vocabulary Builder" and much more.

The Blagg-Huey Library carries the entire Harry Potter series in print, as well as many more HP books, e-books and media listed for your convenience on the Harry Potter page of the Literature and Language Subject Guide.

The Harry Potter exhibit, on display until September 15th, 2011, is free and open to the public during regular Children's Collection hours.

By: Sandy Cochran