Western Writers Series Digital Editions

A partnership between Albertsons Library Special Collections and the Boise State English Department - Western Writers Series is making 23 out-of-print titles available digitally for the first time. The Western Writers Series provides brief, authoritative introductions to writers and classic texts of the American west.

The purpose of the 50-60 page booklets is to deepen the understanding and appreciation for the literature of the American west. The Western Writers Series are written by scholars and intended for lay readers and fellow scholars alike.

In celebration of this undertaking, a launch event featuring readings by Brady Udall, Clay Morgan, Janet Homes, and Mitch Wieland will be held at The Cabin on Thursday December 4th at 6 pm. Further details can be read here.

Rick Stoddart

Reference Librarian

Phone: (208) 426-1626

Library hours during Thanksgiving week

Albertsons Library will be open limited hours during the Thanksgiving Holiday starting this Sunday, November 23rd:

Sun 11/23...... 10:00am-6:00pm

Mon-Tues 11/24-25... 8:00am-6:00pm
Wed 11/26.......8:00am-5:00pm
Thu-Fri 11/27-28..... CLOSED
Sat 11/29..........10:00am- 6:00pm
Sun 11/30.........10:00am- midnight

Please refer to the library's Hours web page for additional information. Have a great Thanksgiving holiday!

Live reading of Three Cups of Tea

Once again Albertsons Library staff will perform a public reading of this year’s First-Year Read book, Three Cups of Tea, on November 18th starting at 9:00 am on the first floor of the Interactive Learning Center.

Information about the book, online resources, and where to get additional copies can be found at http://guides.boisestate.edu/fyread.

Will you be spending the evening with Greg Mortenson? Learn more about him first

This year's First-Year Read book is Three Cups of Tea, a nonfiction tale about one man's quest to improve education for Pakistani children despite the perils of war and Islamic extremism, written by Greg Mortenson and Oliver Relin. Mortenson is currently head of the Central Asia Institute, a nonprofit organization that is continuing his humanitarian work in the Middle East.

The big news is: Greg Mortenson is coming to the Morrison Center on November 18th! To read more about his visit, check out the press release.

If you're working on research related to the book, or just want to learn more about Mortenson and his efforts, check out our LibGuide on Three Cups. The guide includes recommended websites, video, and links to related books in the library.

CLIO Notes added to America: History & Life and Historical Abstracts databases

Historical research just became a lot easier! We are pleased to announce the addition of CLIO Notes to America: History & Life and Historical Abstracts in the library's databases collection. CLIO is available via the EBSCOhost suite of databases:

CLIO Notes for America: History & Life will guide you through subjects in United States history, by allowing you to browse through chronologies and brief summaries of significant events and themes in American history. On the main screen, you will find a list of major time periods and events. Each of these is further divided into subtopics that display informative essays and suggestions for further research. Linked subject terms are also provided, which allow you to search the entire America: History and Life database for articles, book and media reviews, and dissertations.

CLIO Notes for Historical Abstracts will guide you through subjects in World History since 1450 (excluding the United States and Canada), by allowing you to browse through chronologies and brief summaries of significant events and themes in modern history. On the main screen, you will find a list of major time periods and events. Each of these is further divided into subtopics that display informative essays and suggestions for further research. Linked subject terms are also provided, which allow you to search the entire Historical Abstracts database for articles, book citations and dissertations.

Access to America: History & Life and scores of other databases is available via the Albertsons Library's Databases page. Please contact one of our helpful reference librarians if you would like to know more about this or any of the resources available to you at the library.

Magnum Photos Coming to ARTstor

The ARTstor Digital Library, now at over 800,000 images, is growing monthly. A recent ARTstor announcement provides exciting news about the addition of Magnum photos in spring 2009:

Beginning this spring, Magnum will launch 80,000 high-quality photographs within the ARTstor Digital Library to share images of major events and personalities from the Spanish Civil War to Vietnam to the present day for scholarly purposes. Mark Lubell, Managing Director of Magnum’s New York office, says of the collaboration, "The ARTstor Digital Library is a wonderful way of providing students and the academic community with access to a selection of Magnum’s iconic photographs.

You can find ARTstor on the Library's 'Find Articles, Databases' page.

Innovative Librarians Wanted

Boise State University seeks two proactive and innovative librarians, to become a part of our team to continue our quest toward becoming a Metropolitan Research University of Distinction.

The Reference Librarian positions will provide reference services; participate in collection development as the liaison to academic departments; and have responsibility for bibliographic instruction and orientation sessions. Interested? Take a look at the job description.

Join us for International Connections: “Bridging Heritage and International Studies"

Please join us at 12:30 p.m. on November 13, 2008, in the SUB Hatch B Ballroom to hear from Nere Lete, Assistant Professor of Basque and Director of the Basque Studies Minor at Boise State. Lete, a native of Spain’s Basque country, grew up and attended school in Spain during the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco. She received her first Basque language teaching certificate from Euskaltzaindia when she was 15, and later studied Basque Philology.

While pursuing her studies, Lete worked for Basque television and film translating and adapting scripts. In 1994 she received her Master of Fine Arts degree in translation from the University of Iowa. She has taught Basque and Spanish in the Basque Country and in the United States at the University of Nevada, Reno, the University of Iowa, and Boise State University.

In her talk, “Bridging Heritage and International Studies,” Lete will discuss how Boise State University has embarked on the unprecedented journey to link the Basque Diaspora, the Basque Country and U.S. higher education. Boise State University joined forces in 2005 with the Treasure Valley’s vibrant Basque community, the U.S. Department of Education and the Basque Government to create the Basque Studies program. Three years later we have a strong program that is gaining prestige in the local, national and international spheres. Lete will also explain how Boise State is building a bridge between Heritage Studies and International Studies.

Light refreshments will be provided or feel free to bring your own lunch. The event is sponsored by the Albertsons Library and Boise State University International Programs. For more information, call 426-3652.

Nail Tech Trick of the Trade

I'm always fascinated at the little home experiments nail technicians will do. Some of the greatest product ideas usually come from Nail Tech ingenuity.

At our company we offer two kits of color gel for creating a permanent polish look or works of art. In my line, Cinapro, we have the Pastel Kit and the Runway Collection Kit. Naturally, the best pigment mix comes from lab. However, a Nail Tech doesn't have to stop there. You can actually mix two or more of our colors together to make a new color. Custom colors can really set you apart from the competition. You can literally label the jar, "Mary" or "Lucy" after your client.

Taking customization one step further, Star Nail Gels can actually be mixed with....POLISH to create colors. The mix ratio is 60% Gel to 40% of your favorite polish color. Stir them up and apply like usual. If you want a lighter version of the same color, just mix less of the polish. With Clear gel you'll get more of a transparent color. With White gel you'll get an opaque color. Just be sure that you are using a 9watt UV lamp to cure your colors. Especially the opaque ones. The more pigment you add the harder it is for the UV rays to penetrate the thickness of the gel and cure it completely. A way to get around that is to do super thin coats (cure in between each coat) and do several coats to build it up.

Moving on to Acrylics. In the Cina line we offer a "Color Pigment and Mixing Kit". It's raw pigment you mix with your own acrylic powders to create custom blends of color acrylic. However, you can actually tint the monomer with your favorite polish. Just a few drops in your dappen dish of monomer will tint the liquid. Simply dip like normal and make an acrylic ball tinted through and through with the monomer. It's an alternative to those additive drops that tend to evaporate in the jar. Again, clear powder creates transparent (stained glass) effect, while white powder will create an opaque effect.

Building custom colors doesn't have to be just an artistic thing. Keep in mind not all powders or gels are so perfect for every given skin tone. Offering a custom blend to match your clients skin tone is definitely something you want to market to your clients. This will set you apart from the competition. Just be careful to keep your recipe in a safe place so that you can match your first batch in the future.

Have fun mixing!

Elaine
(writing from Valencia, CA today)

Want better Grades? We can help!

Want to get better grades? Take University 106: Library Research (1 credit) and learn to find the information you need to succeed in course papers and projects. UNIV 106 will get you on the path to becoming an information ninja, able to slice through the web and maneuver the library’s rich information landscape to conquer projects.

New! Some sections will explore disciplinary research; one class will focus on Business & Marketing and another on Diversity Studies. All courses are one credit, pass fail and taught by Librarians. If you have any questions, please contact the instructor directly.

ENGLISH 102 & UNIV 106 are teaming up to help you get a jump-start on your research skills.You can take both courses simultaneously. Get the course schedule and learn more on this page.

My First Pogo Stick

On August 27 I wrote a blog titled "Misogyny". The topic was how miserable Apple made me when I went to use my new iPhone and discovered the screen didn't react to my nails. Women across the world have been feeling my pain.

Well, I am happy to announce that someone heard our cries. Introducing the "Pogo Stylus". The people who made the pogo have discovered a way to mimic the touch that our skin generates on the screen of an Apple iPhone or iPod Touch. I've been using mine all week and am so relieved to type an SMS without hitting any and every letter besides the one I really want.

My absolute favorite thing about using the Pogo, no more disgusting finger prints all over my screen. There is nothing more embarrassing than extending my phone to share a picture with a friend only to realize my screen is covered in smudges.

The only downside... where do I keep my Pogo so that it is handy on the fly? Well Pogo does ship a clip on holster for your Pogo Stylus. However, it only fits the iPhone if you aren't using a cover. I'm constantly tossing my iPhone into my hand bag and just couldn't imagine the damage I would cause my phone if I didn't have my full cover on it. Maybe the people at Pogo will come out with a full case that has a spot to store the stylus.

To find a Pogo Stylus, just google "Pogo Stylus" and you'll find lots of retailers on the internet.

Elaine
(writing from Valencia, CA today)

An American Librarian in Paris

If you are visiting Paris this Fall (Paris France not Paris Idaho) be sure to stop into the American Library in Paris, a few blocks from the Eiffel Tower, to see an exhibit of letters, photos, and memorabilia from Idaho librarian Ruth McBirney, who worked in the American Library for 6 years (1947-1953), before returning to her hometown of Boise to become head librarian of Boise Junior College.

When the Boise State University Library dedicated its McBirney Room in 2005, Special Collections created an exhibit in our display windows (and a website), about Miss McBirney's work and life in Paris. This summer the American Library in Paris asked if they could borrow the exhibit and we gladly complied.

Here is the notice from the American Library's e-newsletter announcing the McBirney exhibit in Paris:

Chère Mac: An American Librarian in Paris Now through 3 January 2009

"On February 5, 1947, twenty-nine-year-old Ruth McBirney set sail for Europe. Ahead of her was a great adventure: six years in Paris, the opportunity to witness the "City of Light" come back to life after the grim experience of German occupation during World War II and a new position at The American Library in Paris.

"With special thanks to the Boise State University Library's Special Collections Department, experience part of the Library's history through Ruth's photographs, words and memorabilia, on display through January 3rd. "

Alan Virta,
Head of Special Collections

Welcome

Welcome to Boise State University new faculty for 2008.