Happy New Year from the Library Staff!

Since the New Year is a good time for change, check out "Popular New Year's Resolutions" here.

A Big Thank You To Our Student Workers

Thank you Kelsey, Marin, Michelle, Selena and Shelby for all your help during the past semester. Good bye, best wishes and good luck to Selena. We will miss you.

Books Are Great Gifts

Here are some suggestions and ideas.

End of the Semester - Test Taking Tips

As a college student, you cannot avoid tests. Here are some techniques for taking exams and dealing with test anxiety.
Best wishes to you for successful final exams!

http://www.testtakingtips.com/
http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/Papers/testtaking.htm http://www.ulc.psu.edu/studyskills/test_taking.html


For Distance Learners -
http://www.laspositascollege.edu/OnlineLearning/exam_tips.php

End of the Semester - Time Management Tips

It is the busiest time of a semester! You have quite a few deadlines to meet for term papers, homework assignments, projects, etc. You wish that you would have 48 hours a day ...
Visit the following websites, which will help you to learn some useful tips for time management - http://www.academictips.org/acad/timemanagement.html
http://sbinfocanada.about.com/cs/timemanagement/a/timemgttips.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/time-management/WL00048

The library is rockin'....

so roll on in to view our December displays.

• History of Rock and Roll
• 'Tis the Season of Hope
• Human Rights Day and Bill of Rights Day

There's still time...

to pick up a copy of this month's book club selection, Atonement - either in print or DVD - and join us next Wednesday (12/10) at 12:30 for a discussion of the book and film! All are welcome - don't miss this fun event!

I'm dreaming of a Green Christmas...

Green is the new White! The MxCC Library joins 18 other area libraries in "Greening Our Valley", a grant-supported campaign to raise awareness of global warming and other environmental issues. Check out the bulletin board near the copier for green ideas, websites, and events. Together, we can make a difference.

Library hours over Thanksgiving break

Wednesday, 11/26 - Library open 8:30-4:30 (no classes)
Thursday, 11/27 - Saturday, 11/29 - Physical library closed; visit online
Monday, 12/1 - normal schedule resumes (8:30-8)
The library staff wishes all a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

We're still here (virtually) ...

The physical library may be closed over Thanksgiving break but we know you have much work to do so remember you can always get support online :

From home, log in to my.commnet.edu - Library Tab. You'll have access to databases to find journal articles (click Middlesex Community College') and electronic handouts (including bib guides) under 'Help with Your Research'. And begin your Internet searching with sites found under 'Recommended Websites'.

In Blackboard Vista, check out the Library course for online tutorials to guide you in research.

For 24/7 reference assistance, refer to InfoAnyTime on the library's homepage.

Food for Fines

During the months of November, December, and January, you may bring in a non-perishable food item and your overdue fines will be excused. The food will go to a local food pantry.

Nov 19 - Book Club - Podcast

Come to our book club on Nov 19th at 12:15. Listen to this podcast and an excerpt from the book.

Trial Database

Need info on careers, colleges, and prep exams? Try out Testing and Education Reference Center, with Careers module. We currently have a two-week trial (on-campus access only), so try it out and let us know what you think!

New November library displays

Check out photos here but much better to visit and view in person!

Veterans Day - November 11

Want to learn more about the history of Veterans Day or special initiatives? Go to www.va.gov/vetsday/

Here's to a successful event!

Everyone seemed to have a great time at our Community Over Cider event last week (just check out our photos!). We were happy so many people came, and want to thank everyone for participating!

Library staff with students
Originally uploaded by mxcclibraryct

Math can be fun!

Check out these books if you don't believe us...


Poincarâes prize: the hundred-year quest to solve one of math’s greatest puzzles (2007);


Mathematical journeys (2004);



Strange curves, counting rabbits, and other mathematical explorations (2003); and



The millennium problems: the seven greatest unsolved mathematical puzzles of our time (2002).

Happy Halloween!

Ever wondered about the history of this tradition? Then take a look at:

• Halloween: The Fantasy and Folklore of All Hallows
• Halloween: Ancient Origins

The library staff wishes you all a safe and wonderful Halloween!

Wed, Oct. 29th: Community Over Cider

Don't miss visiting the library from 12:30-2:00 on Wed. 10/29 to celebrate Halloween/Harvest. Spine-chilling displays, contests with prizes, ghoulish treats (maybe some tricks), retro games. All are welcome ... if you dare!

Chemistry can be fun!

Don't just take our word for it - take a look at these:

Better looking, better living, better loving: How chemistry can help you achieve life's goals (2007);


The cartoon guide to chemistry (2005);



The joy of chemistry: The amazing science of familiar things (2005);



Why there's antifreeze in your toothpaste: The chemistry of household ingredients (2008); and


Crime scene chemistry for the armchair sleuth (2007).

October Displays

Fall is in the air! We invite you to take a brisk walk to the library and see our new displays:

• Election 2008
• Hispanic Heritage Month
• Connecticut Firsts

Philosophy can be fun!

Take a look at these books from the "Popular Culture and Philosophy" series:

Harry Potter and Philosophy: If Aristotle Ran Hogwarts (2004);



The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy: One Book to Rule Them All (2003);



The Matrix and Philosophy: Welcome to the Desert of the Real (2002);



Seinfeld and Philosophy: A Book About Everything and Nothing (2000);



The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'Oh! of Homer (2001);




The Sopranos and Philosophy: I Kill Therefore I Am (2004); and



Star Wars and Philosophy: More Powerful Than You Can Possibly Imagine (2005).

End of Sept. Displays

Come see our new displays:

• Banned Books Week, September 27 – October 4, 2008
• NASA: 50 Years of Exploration.

The displays won’t be up for long, so hurry in and take a look!

Join us for Bookclub Monday Oct 6th

What will be our place in the world in the future? What does "the rise of the rest" mean to the United States? Come join us to talk about The Post American World on Monday at 12:30 in the library. One copy of our book is available now.

Physics can be fun!

Check out some of our new books that explore the inner and outer workings of the universe in entertaining and understandable ways:

Physics of the Impossible: a scientific exploration into the world of phasers, force fields, teleportation, and time travel (2008);

The Physics of NASCAR: how to make steel + gas + rubber = speed (2008)


The Physics of Star Trek (2007); and

The Physics of Superheroes (2006).

September Displays

We have two new displays for September:

• Constitution Day - Sept. 17th
• Take a Daycation with Family & Friends

Please stop by to view the displays and check out our latest popular book collection titles!

New databases this semester!

Access these - and others - from on-campus and off-campus (my.commnet.edu) under 'Find Articles': (General) Campus Research; (Literature) Literary Reference Center; (Science) Science Direct.

Election 2008

Only two months until election day! To prepare yourself for the big decision on November 4th, check out our Election 2008 page. It includes info on the candidates and issues, the how-to of voting, and more!

Bookclub Choices for Fall 2008

Three terrific books will be discussed this semester. To see the titles and dates, click here.

It's that time of year again...

Welcome students and faculty to the new academic year - we hope to see you all in the Library!

Be sure to get a library card! Bring your MxCC ID to the circulation desk and sign up for an account.

We’ve added many new books and DVDs to the library’s collection over the summer. Take a look at our new titles!

Also, be sure to stop by and peruse our library displays for the month!

Welcome Steps to Success!

Here are some study and other survival skill tips that may help. And never hesitate to ask a librarian!

Summer Reads: Cooking

Cooking up some fantastic feasts this month? Check out these books for some great recipes:

• Rachael Ray 2, 4, 6, 8: Great Meals for Couples or Crowds (2006);

• In Great Taste: Fresh Simple Recipes for Eating and Living Well, by Evelyn H. Lauder (2006); and
  

• Moosewood Restaurant Celebrates: Festive Meals for Holidays and Special Occasions (2003).
  

On Display in August

Stop on by to see our two new displays:

• Discover New Adventures, Explore New Lands (free plastic leis to welcome you; first come, first serve); and
  

• Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics (Aug. 8-24).

Hope you are having a great summer!

There's no getting around it ...

Computer literacy - the ability to use computers efficiently - is an essential skill for students. Need a refresher? Something more? Did you know that many public libraries offer free basic computer classes in Word, Excel, Internet searching, and other topics? Invest just a couple of hours this summer or fall, and it will pay off. Check Russell Library's schedule in Middletown or another public library near you.

Nine Summer Books for your Carry-on

Here's a recent piece from NPR with recommendations for summer reading for your plane trip. Enjoy!

Summer Reads: Walks and Hikes

Want to spend time in the great outdoors? Check out these reads for some great local spots:

• 50 hikes in Connecticut: From the Berkshires to the Coast, by David Hardy (2002);

• Nature walks in Connecticut: AMC Guide to the Hills, Woodlands, and Coast of Connecticut, by Charles W.G. Smith (2004);

• Short nature walks: Connecticut, by Eugene Keyarts (2002); and
  

• The Connecticut Walk Books, by the Connecticut Forest & Park Association (2006).

The Bard Comes to the College Thanks to ArtFarm

ArtFarm presents "outdoor-in-the-grove" performances of "Twelfth Night" July 17 through 20 and 24 through 27 at Middlesex Community College (indoors if raining). Make it a full night or weekend by reading other Shakespearean classics or watching the Bard's work on a DVD borrowed from the MxCC Library! Additional "Twelfth Night" notes: this comedy about mistaken identity and the complicated nature of love is directed by Marcella Trowbridge, ArtFarm's artistic director. Performances start at 7 p.m. at the college, preceded by a musical act at 6. The Sunday performances will be preceded by an EcoFestival at 4. Performances are free, although there is $10 suggested donation. For more information about ArtFarm and their performances, refer to their website.

Summer Reads: Gardening

Doing some gardening this summer? We have some books that might help:

• Gardens for the 21st Century,
  by Anita Pereire,
  2001;
  

• The Complete Encyclopedia of Garden Flowers,
  edited by Kate Bryant,
  2003;

and

• The Complete Books of Herbs,
  by Lesley Bremnes,
  1988.
  

Three new databases!

We are excited to now subscribe to Science Direct, Literary Reference Center (replacing MagillOnLiterature) and Campus Research (replacing LexisNexis). Look for these under 'Find Articles'. The first two databases were suggested and reviewed by faculty members and should be quite useful for research assignments! Ask a library staff member for help in searching these new (and any) online resources.

July Displays

Is it really July already? Our new display for this month is The Hartford Circus Fire (July 6, l944).

We have just received some new titles in our Popular Book Collection, so stop by for some good summer reads.

Happy Fourth of July!

On Display

We have two new displays for June.

• Flag Day, June 14. Come in and test your flag knowledge and pick up a card listing websites for “FAQs on Flags.”
• June is Gay Pride Month

Remember, the Student Art Show will be on display all summer, so if you haven’t already seen it, please stop by.

Keynote Address at MxCC 41th Commencement

Dr. Elsa M. Nuñez
Keynote Address
Middlesex Community College Commencement
June 5, 2008

I would like to thank President Nieves for inviting me to be with you today for Middlesex Community College’s 41st commencement exercises. I feel privileged to be invited. I am delighted to be with the Class of 2008 and their families and friends. I also am honored to share the dais with Chairman Ridley; Chancellor Herzog; Middletown Mayor Giuliano; Trustees, and other distinguished guests.
I also want to acknowledge and congratulate the members of the faculty and staff and the families of our graduates for the guidance and support that they have given this year’s graduating class. Graduates: Help me say “thank you” to all those who have helped you successfully reach this impressive achievement today!
I understand that there are 275 graduates today, preparing for careers ranging from criminology to early childhood education, veterinary technology, and accounting. I also know that many of you are planning to transfer this fall to a four-year university or college. Regardless of the path you have chosen, each of you has come to a crossroads today.
It is both a day of closure and a day of beginnings, but it is principally a day of celebration. Therefore, I am going to keep my remarks brief to ensure that most of our time is focused on today’s graduates, as it should be. But I do have a few thoughts to share with you.
Many years ago I read a set of facts about geese and the lessons people could learn from them. It seems silly, but those of you who are animal lovers know that we can learn a great deal from non-humans. These were written in an Outward Bound Newsletter. I would like to share these with you today because I have used them throughout my life. I often stop what I am doing and reread them to remind myself of their wisdom.

FACT 1 As each goose flaps its wings it creates an “uplift” for the birds that follow. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
LESSON 1 People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
FACT 2 When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.
LESSON 2 If we have as much sense as a goose we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We should be willing to accept their help and give our help to others.
FACT 3 When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.
LESSON 3 It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other’s skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.
FACT 4 The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
LESSON 4 We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one’s core values and encourage the core values of others) is the quality of honking we seek.
FACT 5 When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.
LESSON 5 If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.So how do these lessons apply to each of us?
In addition to finding a good job and supporting yourself and your family, you have a responsibility to help others. With the privilege of being a college graduate, comes the responsibility of positively affecting this great American society. Do not forget that as wealth is inherited, so too is poverty. There is a cause out there with your name on it, whether it’s helping out at your local elementary school, volunteering on a Habitat for Humanity project, or cleaning up your town’s landfill. You will find the way to make a personal contribution.
There are many people I could hold up to you today as models for making your own personal contribution to the world. Martin Luther King. Robert Kennedy. Cesar Chavez. Nelson Mandela. Of course, our tendency is to say, “There was only one Martin Luther King, only one Nelson Mandela.” That is true, but you don’t have to be a world leader to make a difference. These individuals used the lessons from the Geese to create change in the world.
Quite simply: they worked in teams and understood the power of moving in one direction while supporting the work of others.
Anthony Friedmann, in his book, “Writing for the Visual Media,” describes the classic movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life” starring Jimmy Stewart, and declares that the moral of the movie “… is that each individual life counts and affects the lives of others. In other words, the universe is affected by our individual existence. Individual destiny is universal destiny.”
Yes, one person can make an enormous difference even if it is in a local setting. I would like to tell you an amazing story about a woman who demonstrated what one person can do when they feel moved to try to help others. The lessons from the Geese served her well.
Hadley Denning was a 22 year old woman from Maine who just graduated from college. She was visiting Guatemala 11 years ago on vacation. She came upon a situation that she simply could not walk away from. More than 6,000 people were living in or near the 35-acre city dump in Guatemala City, rummaging daily through the rubble and decay to find items they might use or sell. The methane gas was so bad it turned children’s hair red-orange. Dogs and gangs patrolled the alleyways.
For the next eight years, Denning worked tirelessly to bring hope and sustenance to the people of the dump. She became known as “El angel del Basurero” — the “angel of the dump”. She created an organization called Safe Passage and together with other organizations she was able to bring health services, education, and other support to the people she had given her life to. She established a school in an abandoned church — it now serves 500 children. Residential homes have been built on the edges of the dump, and the number of people living in squalor is down to 1,500.
An amazing legacy of an amazing woman. Like the Geese, she worked in a common direction with a community who needed her desperately; like the geese she helped them and accepted their help as they built a team.
Like the geese, she organized the group according to the skills they had (many of which she did not have); like the geese, they encouraged each other day after day even when the goal looked impossible – they honked; and like the geese they stood by each other as they turned around the living conditions for thousands of people. She applied the lessons of the geese, and it worked amazingly well.
Yes. One person can make all the difference. Yet as much as one person can have an amazing impact on the world, when we bring teams of people together, even greater good can occur. In the words of the late Senator Robert Kennedy, “Each time a man stands up for an idea, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
You are moving walls on this campus. Student and faculty leaders at Middlesex are providing free eye care, traveling as far away as Mexico to bring your services to those in need. Those of you who can run 5,000 meters are racing in support of student scholarships. These are just two examples of how MCC graduates already are serving others. As a public college, you have worked in the public interest.

By developing a life-saving drug, by producing a Broadway play with life’s deep meaning, by educating our young people, or by passing a piece of legislation to make the state of Connecticut
better — people working together, can make a huge difference. These opportunities are all within your reach.
As you go out into the workforce and forge your own way, find new ways to serve your local community, be it as a Little League coach, a member of the school board, or serving food at a homeless shelter. If you go into business, strive to become a great leader and manager who stays connected to your community. If you go into healthcare, I challenge you to provide the best care you can to your patients. If you go into education, work to inspire your students. If you go into technology, create ideas that provide useful and valuable innovations.
Whatever you do and wherever you go in life, give it your all and always remember the lesson from the Geese that will empower you to succeed because you will see the good in working as a team with others to achieve your dreams and affect change for the good of others.

--- posted by Lan

Thanks student workers!

The library staff would like to thank our hardworking student workers -- we couldn't have done it without you!!

Visit Arts Show After Commencement Ceremony!

The library will be open to graduates, their families and other guests after the graduation ceremony today. Please come and appreciate the extraordinary art works of our talented students.

Summer Hours

Yes we're open, so stop on by!

• May 20-July 31: M-Th 8:30-6, F 8:30-4:30
• August 1-24th: M-F 8:30-4:30.

While you're here, check out the MxCC Student Art Show!

Congratulations MxCC Graduates!

Commencement exercises will be held Thursday, June 5th at 6:00 on the college campus (rain site: Xavier High). The library staff will see you there! What will you be doing after graduation? Looking for a job? Transferring? The library currently has a great display on career guidance. Also, visit Career websites under 'Recommended Websites' from our home page. Taking a much-deserved vacation? Pick up a copy of the Connecticut Vacation Guide or browse one of our travel books. Joy