Happy Halloween!

Don't forget that Memorial Library is open until midnight for your last minute scary book and movie needs. Also stop by for a treat as long as supplies last. Have a safe and happy Halloween!

How to get back into reading

Gather No Dust has a good article with tips for getting back into reading, like "start small", "it doesn't matter what you read", and "don't read before going to bed." One of the best pieces of advice was glossed over - if you like a movie or tv show look for the book. From Sense and Sensibility to Star Wars there are a lot of franchises that have book counterparts. The book Bad Twin is even a real book from inside the fictional Lost setting. The best point the article makes is don't be afraid to stop reading a particular book. Especially library books, which cost you nothing. These aren't brussel sprouts-- it is not good for you to suffer through a book you don't like reading! What tips do you have for getting back into reading?

Happy Homecoming!

The library staff would like to welcome all of the returning Builders who are visiting us this weekend. There are more activities planned than we can cram into this annoucement, so check out the Homecoming Schedule. The library will also be listing Homecoming activities on the video screen behind the circulation desk. While you are here, why not check out the library? We are in the process of renovation, so please excuse the mess around our new restrooms and roof. Alumni are welcome to check out books (including our new popular fiction books) as well as access the Internet. We can also fax, copy, and scan for a small fee. Finally, please come see the display of books by faculty and alumni at the front of the library. Have a great Homecoming Weekend!

Bring your own cup prize day

Today is another prize for bringing your own cup day at the library. This month you can get a spooktacular sticky brain for using your own cup to get a tasty beverage at the library. Just show us your cup at the circulation desk.

Want to put a display in the library?

Memorial Library has two glass display cases in need of displays. Displays should be related to the College in some way. Students, staff, faculty, teams, clubs, groups etc. are all welcome to inquire. You would be responsible for putting the display up and taking it down again. If interested please contact robert.perret@sckans.edu.

Discover the .edu underground

Lifehacker has an interesting article about the .edu underground. That is, the world of college and university websites that often get ignored by major search engine algorithms. Colleges and universities are in the business of scholarship, and a lot of this scholarship tends to languish in the nooks and crannies of the information universe. Some scholarship ends up in obscure journals. Some gets presented at a conference, or prepared for a dissertation but never published. (This is known as grey literature, and can be an excellent source of fresh information.) Now, somewhere in between is the .edu underground. The department web pages, individual databases and other miscellanea that is readily available but hard to discover. Lifehacker suggests using the Google search string site:.edu "insert subject here". Even if you aren't looking for some esoteric data for your research it can be fascinating to see what others have dedicated their scholastic careers to. You just might be inspired to create some underground resources of your own!

Berkeley offers Full-Course lectures free on YouTube

The University of California at Berkeley has started offering videos of full lectures for free on YouTube. The lectures are a sampling across a wide array of disciplines. You can even subscribe to get new lectures when they are released. What a great way to expand your horizons. (And get a sneak peek at what classes at another school are like!)

via Mashable

Fall Break Hours

Memorial Library will be closed on Saturday, October 6 and Sunday, October 7 for Fall Break. We will be open 8 AM - 5 PM on Monday October 8. The 24 hour lobby will also be closed from 6 PM on Friday, October 5 to 8 AM on Monday October 8. Normal library hours and lobby hours will resume at 8AM on Tuesday, October 9. Have a fun and safe break!

Kansas Book Festival

The Kansas Book Festival is being held at Wichita State University this Friday, October 5, and Saturday, October 6. Kansas authors will be speaking, there will be a Book Fair, and there will be a number of concerts. There will also be a Gala on Friday night, should you have some spare Benjamins burning a hole in your pocket. This is a great opportunity to support book culture and Kansas authors!