Brackett Library News and Events

Harding History Comes to Life

2011-10-30T18:47:00.003-05:00

Brackett Library is pleased to announce the publication of our newly enhanced Digital Archives site. In addition to the thousands of images available in Flickr, social club history, and oral histories are being made available in a new and exciting format.

"What we want to do is preserve as much of Harding's history as we can," said Library Director Ann Dixon in an interview with the Bison. In the same interview, Systems Librarian Brenda Breezeel stated, "We want to make available Harding’s history for people to view it from wherever they are."

Our hope is that digital archives site the will help in both of those goals. Current contents include social club scrapbooks, a collection of Jim Bill McInteer's sermon outlines, Spring Sing programs, and interviews with Dr. George S. Benson. Many of the entries are multimedia presentations. Scrapbook pages make noises as pages are turned, and a collection of slide shows from the past have been reformatted into movies accompanied by their soundtracks.

So whether or not you have time to return for Homecoming, you can still enjoy the memories of your days at Harding. If you have club scrapbooks you would like to donate to the project, please contact Ann Dixon at 501-279-4354 or Brenda Breezeel at 501-279-5387. A waiting list for future digitization has already been started, and projects will be completed as time and personnel allows.

October Faculty Favorite

2011-10-21T12:11:00.004-05:00

This month's READ poster features Dale Manor and the book series at the top of his reading list - Ramses.

"I'm in the middle of the third volume of this series which puts a narrative spin on the life and times of ancient Egypt, using Ramses, who was the longest reigning monarch of ancient Egypt, as the focus for the story. Often we read the raw data of 'life in ancient times' without the fabric of human interaction and emotion. Jacq puts 'flesh' on those times, incorporating historical events and people (as well as fictional, of course) to produce an interesting and thought-provoking historical novel."

Stop by the library to check out Ramses or another faculty favorite today!

September Faculty Favorite: Janice Hurd and Crazy Love

2011-09-13T08:29:00.004-05:00

This month's featured Faculty member is Janice Hurd! She chose Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan. Here is what she has to say about this inspiring book:

"Many today are searching for something, searching for something that will answer our religious discontentment. Some of us believe we have found a solution to our searching through our faith and love for God. This author, Frances Chan, has put together a book that addresses these issues and provides us with some guidelines that will make us look further into our relationship with God. The purpose of the book says the answer is found when we start falling in love with God. Read this book and let it challenge you to learn about the love mentioned in Matthew 22."

Come on over to Brackett and check out Crazy Love today!

FAQ Friday

2011-07-22T12:10:00.001-05:00

Make slideshow

What are you reading, Hannah Wood?

2011-07-13T12:59:00.003-05:00

Please welcome our newest librarian, Hannah Wood! Hannah is joining us as Circulation Librarian and will become a familiar face when the fall starts.

So, Ms. Wood, what are you reading?
The Gates of Sleep by Mercedes Lackey and America: A Narrative History by Tindall and Shi

What do you plan to read next? The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

Are you going to see Harry Potter on Friday? I won’t be seeing it Friday, but I will definitely be seeing it! I’m sensing IMAX 3-D in my near future.

Are there any other book-to-movie adaptations you're looking forward to? The Help which comes out in August.

What's the WORST book-to-move adaptation you've endured? A couple come to mind: Timeline (based on the Michael Crichton book) because they rewrote most of the story, and The Da Vinci Code (based on Dan Brown’s novel) because it was Tom Hanks and not Johnny Depp. When you have a character pictured one way in your mind and the actor in the movie looks/acts nothing like what you had pictured, it makes it harder to like the movie.

Who is your favorite classic author? My favorite classic author is, hands down, Jane Austen. (Though I do have to admit I also love Anne Bronte.)

Contemporary? My favorite contemporary author really depends on the genre and my mood. Right now I’m on a Mercedes Lackey kick. I’m re-reading all of her books that I own.

BONUS question: If you could hop into any novel a la Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next character, which novel would you choose? There are so many that I would love to step into, but I think I would have to pick The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James. Even though it’s a fictionalized account of my favorite author, I would love meet the Jane in that book.

Be sure to stop by the circulation desk and say hello to Ms. Wood the next time you're in the library.

Why I love my job

2011-07-11T16:13:00.003-05:00

There are many reasons I love my job, but today reminded me of something that's always at the top of my list.

Harding people.

This morning, I met with a class of our graduate students and helped them with a research project. Grad school can be a scary time. Even great students sometimes flounder a bit. I love that my role allows me to provide encouragement and support, but not grades.

Yep -- I love Harding students!

This afternoon, three alumni came by and asked if we had any scrapbooks from their social club, which has disbanded in recent years. Thankfully, I was able to say YES!

Seeing the faces of these women as they remembered their own time as students was a joy. It's always an honor to hear the stories, see the hopes of reconnection, and share the comfort of returning to thoughts of a simpler time.

It's wonderful when people can come in and look at our scrapbooks, but you don't have to be on campus to revisit the memories. All of our yearbooks are available online and we have over 5,000 images in our Flickr account. We also hope to make the club scrapbooks available in the near future.

So check us out! If you have any questions about our archival holdings, call us at 279-4775. We'll be glad to see if we have what you need.

It's time for what-are-you-reading Wednesday!

2011-06-29T12:01:00.007-05:00

After a brief hiatus in June, it's time for the return of What are you Reading Wednesday. This week, we'll be talking to Serials Librarian Henry Terrill, who is retiring June 30 after thirty-two years of service to the Brackett Library.

So, Mr. Terrill, What are you reading?

This month's issue of Family Handyman magazine. But I skip the car repair parts.

What's the last book you finished?

At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

What do you plan to do next?

Retire and read the rest of the Mitford series. I'm spending the next few months in Rochester, New Hampshire and look forward to borrowing them from the Rochester Public Library.

Favorite fictional character?

David Copperfield.

Favorite author?

The Holy Spirit

What's a classic book that you feel like you should have read but never really have?

Moby Dick. It's just too long.

Thanks, Henry, for spending a few minutes of your next-to-last day with us!

Summer Faculty Favorite

2011-06-27T10:14:00.005-05:00

It's time for another Faculty Favorite! This summer's selection was made by Technical Services Librarian, Shirley Williams. Mrs. Williams chose The Boy who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba.

Why does Mrs. Williams recommend this book?

This is the true story of a remarkable young teenager in Malawi who would not let poverty and severe famine keep him from learning what he wanted to know. When he was forced to drop out of school because his parents could not afford the fees, he went to a library in the town and studied diagrams in science books written in a language he could not understand (English). Using scraps from the local junk yard, he succeeded in constructing a windmill which produced electricity for his family and changed his life.

If you like this book, you may also enjoy these books about people who overcame remarkable odds and improved their lives:

Rocket Boys: A Memoir by Homer Hickam

The Glass Castle: a Memoir by Jeannette Walls

The Long Shadow of Little Rock: A Memoir by Daisy Bates

For more about windmills, check out these titles:

Windmills and Pumps of the Southwest by Dick Hayes, Bill Allen, and Gordon Gilpin.

Renewable Energy Made Easy: free energy from solar, wind, hydropower, and other alternative energy sources by David Craddock

The Adventures of Don Quixote by Cervantes

Congratulations, Mr. Terrill

2011-06-21T13:14:00.004-05:00

Brackett Library's own Henry Terrill was featured in a recent edition of Que Pasa?, the newsletter of AMIGOS Library Services. Mr. Terrill will retire after more than thirty years of service to Harding University. Throughout his years of service, Terrill has richly contributed to the Arkansas Library Association, ARKLink -- the consortia of Arkansas' academic libraries -- and to Christian College Librarians. His retirement will be noticed on many levels.

Terrill has served as a mentor for many beginning librarians across the state. He will be honored with a dinner on Friday, June 24. His plans include spending part of each year in New Hampshire to pursue his lifelong dream of mission work.

Good luck graduates!

2011-05-16T16:47:00.003-05:00

Good luck to all of our May 2011 graduates! You earned your degrees and you earned a special place in our hearts!

God bless you as you move forward to the next stage in your life!

Peggy Huckeba selects for May

2011-05-10T14:14:00.006-05:00

Summer is here, and Peggy Huckeba's Faculty Favorite selection is a good one to help you be healthy and ready for summer fun!

"The ideas in this book have changed the way I live, especially regarding what I eat (and don't eat!). Of course God would instruct His children in how to live to the fullest physically (as well as spiritually), but we don't often look to His word for those directives. In His complete love for us, He provides ways to be healthy in all areas, including our physical health. This book is a study of God's plan for physical health -- supported by traditional medical research."

Ms. Huckeba has served Harding in a variety of positions, including several years in Student Life. Most recently, she has worked as Academic Director for Harding's Physician's Assistant program, but she will be retiring at the end of this academic year. Her future plans include visiting her grandchildren and cooking for friends and family.

To learn more about this book, visit the Brackett Library site.

It's time for what-are-you-reading Wednesday!

2011-04-20T16:04:00.009-05:00

What are you reading? NOTHING! It's Spring Sing week and who has time to read? Instead, you might want to check out some vintage Spring Sing videos. Stop by the Circulation Desk and ask for DVD number 196. Be sure to tell the desk worker what year you want. Need some suggestions? Werewolves from 1986 and Hillbillies from 1987 are personal favorites.

You can also view a collection of pictures from past Spring Sing performances by visiting the Harding Flickr collection.

What are you reading, Jean Waldrop?

2011-04-05T13:59:00.008-05:00

Hey, Jean Waldrop! What are you reading?

Right now I am reading "Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind,"by Ann B. Ross. I am a participant in a book club that is made up of several faculty and staff members here on campus and this book was chosen for next month. I am a little over halfway through this book and laughing as I go. It is just a delightful, easy, quick read about an elderly widow left with a fortune and a few other surprises. Maybe because I am older, I am enjoying Miss Julia, but I think any age group would appreciate her spunk and determination.

In addition to her duties as Reference Librarian, Ms. Waldrop serves as the liaison for all of Harding's Health Sciences programs. She can often be found with Nursing, PA, and Pharmacy students and faculty, or at the Reference Desk helping students navigate the library's online databases. Ms. Waldrop is also the creative energy behind the library's popular READ posters so if you like them, be sure to stop by the Reference Desk and tell her thank you!

Student workers select for National Library Workers Month

2011-04-04T08:38:00.003-05:00

April is National Library Workers month so this month we are honoring our student workers! After polling the entire group for their selection, Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns won the vote. Why did the students choose this book?

Student Reference Assistant Elena Moore stated, "Although fictional, this story of the unlikely friendship between two women exposes what life is really like for many women in the Middle East. It was heart breaking, but inspiring. This book was even better the second time than the first!"

Nicole Dill, who also works as an SRA agreed. "It's an uplifting and moving story about something that is really happening. Everyone should read it to help them understand a culture that is very different from ours."

Interested? Check here to find this book at Brackett Library either in print or as an audiobook.

New Feature! What-are-you-reading Wednesday

2011-03-29T14:26:00.005-05:00

Hey Lisa Wagar! What are you reading?

I'm making my way through the Harry Potter series right now! I was truly convinced that it was all just a huge fad, and that the books weren't even really that great, and people were just reading them because it was "the thing to do." But after we spent Christmas Day having a Potter Movie Marathon, my dear friend Manon finally convinced me to read them. :) And I'm so happily surprised at how well they are written! J.K. Rowling has created a stunning world of wizardry, but even more importantly she has created characters that feel like your best friends. The dynamics between Harry, Ron, Hermione and the rest of their crew are sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking, and always believable. It's hard to read the books and not relate characters and situations to your own family of friends. I would highly recommend the books to anyone and everyone! You don't have to be into fantasy or wizardry to love these books... anyone who has depended on friendship through rough times will appreciate the Harry Potter series!

Lisa can often be found at the Circulation Desk. After serving as a student worker for several years, Lisa joined the library in a full time position this past fall. If you're interested in applying for a student work job, Lisa is the person to talk to!

Ready, Set, Apply!

2011-03-23T16:07:00.006-05:00

Brackett Library will begin taking applications for student workers on Friday, March 25th. Applications will be taken until Friday, April 1st. Potential candidates will be contacted on April 4 and 5 to arrange a time for an interview. Interviews will be held between April 6 and 19, and jobs will be offered April 20-22.

To apply, print and submit the following two forms to the library circulation desk. If you have any questions, please contact the Information Desk at 501-279-4775. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Form 1: Harding application for student employment

Form 2: Library supplemental form

Want to join us?

2011-03-21T11:38:00.005-05:00

Are you interested in working in the library? In the next few days, Brackett Library will begin taking applications for student workers for the Fall 2011 semester. If you're interested, please read the Student Worker FAQ and check back here on Friday, March 25 for updated application dates and deadlines.

More from Dr. Weaver

2011-03-01T10:27:00.001-06:00

Time for Tea!

2011-03-01T10:17:00.004-06:00

Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith has been chosen for this month's Faculty Favorite. Dr. Rebecca Weaver, Dean of the College of Communication, selected the most recent title in the popular Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series because of her love for the continent and people of Africa.

"If you have ever lived in or visited this section of Africa, you need to read each of the books in the series. I love the way the author places you in the country of Botswana through his word pictures and dedication to the vernacular of the people. I think you really need to start with the first book in the series, The Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, so that you can meet each character in time-ordered sequence. Precious Ramotswe, Mma Makutsi, and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni will become your new best friends!"

Library Hours for Saturday, Feb 5

2011-02-04T16:43:00.003-06:00

Due to the wintry weather, Brackett Library will shorten its hours of operation and open at noon on Saturday, February 5. Please use this time to carefully enjoy the snow or sit back and enjoy pictures from Harding's past on the library's archive site.

Kevin and Lori Klein select February READ

2011-02-04T14:55:00.009-06:00

Kevin and Lori Klein made a double selection for this month's Faculty Favorite program. Lori Klein, Assistant Professor of Political Science, recommended Extraordinary, Ordinary People by Condoleezza Rice.

Condoleezza Rice and I grew up in the same city, ten years, a few miles, and an absolute world apart. Birmingham, Alabama is a city infamous for her terrible struggle with race relations, but is is home to both of us. Dr. Rice's book is the story of her family, of her hometown, and of how deeply she believes in "transformation through education."

My copy of this book is covered with notes, littered with turned down pages. I loved seeing the parts of our lives that were similar and learning about how her parents worked so hard to provide her with opportunity and support. I know so well the difference that education has made in my life, and it was compelling to see how much education changed the narratives of the Ray and Rice families. I also enjoyed learning more personal details about this remarkable public servant -- her skill and discipline as a pianist (which came from her mother), her obsessive passion for football (which came from her father), even her foray into ice-skating as she took advantage of spending her childhood summers in Denver. Of course, I was also fascinated to read her inside accounts of political events that have shaped the last few decades, and pleased to catch up on where she has been since leaving public service.

Kevin Klein, Associate Professor of History, chose The Poems of Sidney Lanier.

I have loved the poetry of Sidney Lanier since I first encountered his writings. Lanier fought in the Civil War for the South (during which he contracted tuberculosis in a Northern prisoner of war camp), and returned to the devastated landscape of his native Georgia following the war determined to find a way, despite his chronic health problems, to provide for his wife and three sons.

Lanier never wallowed in the self-pity of the "Lost South," and instead found comfort and cause for celebration in God's creation, both in the beauty of nature and the transcendent qualities of man. Lanier particularly elevated what most considered the humble and despised aspects of God's creation -- swamps, bayous, and poor "cracker" whites and freed blacks. These he showed as beautiful, even noble, in their simplicity and striving for little more than quiet survival.

Lanier also set his talents to the task of expressing his love for his wife in verse throughout their marriage. Having made a living for his family through sixteen years of post-war economic depression and chaos, having given his maturing sons stories of honor and hope, even and especially when encountering adversity or defeat, he died of his war-time disease in 1881 at the age of thirty-nine. His life's work endures. I highly recommend his efforts.

Scott Adair Begins 2011 Faculty Favorites

2011-01-18T08:16:00.008-06:00

Inhabiting the Cruciform God by Michael J. Gorman has been chosen by Scott Adair for the January Faculty Favorite. Adair is a faculty member in the College of Bible and Religion and focuses his teaching and research on Youth Ministry and Youth Culture.

"This book is scholarly, but not pretentious," Adair says. "Gorman has a straight-forward writing style that provides easy access to his interpretive conclusions, which are sublime, inspiring, and demanding. For example, he understands Paul's view of saving faith as participation with Christ -- co-crucifixion. This sharing in Christ's suffering, his kenosis, leads to participation in the divine nature, or theosis. In the end, Gorman's analysis of Paul's gospel is a healthy blend of biblical exegesis, systematic theology, spirituality, and ethics. He accomplishes all of this in only 173 pages."

Finals Week Hours Announced

2010-12-03T16:02:00.004-06:00

In response to increased use and multiple student requests, Brackett Library will keep extended hours during the first days of finals week. Beginning Sunday, December 12 and ending Wednesday, December 15, the library will stay open until 11:45 PM. Our hope is that the increased time can meet the needs of students who are preparing for exams while also allowing our own student workers to be back in the dorm before curfew.

Water for Elephants chosen by Cronk

2010-12-02T11:56:00.006-06:00

Keith Cronk, Assistant Professor of Information Systems and Technology was selected for December's Faculty Favorite. Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen is his selection.

To find Water for Elephants in the Brackett Library, follow this link.

Dr. G talks about Blue Like Jazz

2010-11-14T19:05:00.004-06:00

Library Celebrates Homecoming

2010-11-04T15:59:00.006-05:00

The Brackett Library staff would like to invite you to join us during the university's Homecoming weekend. On Saturday, November 6, there will be two opportunities to connect with the library and Harding history. Stop by the library between 10:30 and noon and learn more about our digital archive collection. Library personnel will be on hand to help you navigate the system and identify people and events in pictures.

From 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, visit the library's author fair in the Ganus Athletic Center. Selected Harding graduates who are also published authors will be available for signing books. Copies of books will also be available for purchase. A preview of the library's image collection will also be available in the GAC.

For a complete schedule of Homecoming activities, visit the Homecoming web page.

Have a wonderful weekend and join us as we all celebrate and remember that "It's GREAT to be at Harding!"

Apply to work in the library!

2010-10-27T08:41:00.005-05:00

If you would like the opportunity to meet wonderful people, help fellow students, and eat casseroles and soup, this is your chance! Brackett Library is currently taking applications for student workers for the Spring 2011 semester.

Before applying, please read through the library's Student Worker FAQ. Two application forms are needed. You can find them on the library website or download them here.

Harding Student Human Resources Form

Brackett Library Form

Applications will be taken from Wednesday, October 27 - Friday, November 5. Selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Wagar at 279-4237.

Fall Break Schedule

2010-10-18T20:01:00.007-05:00

The library staff hopes you have a great Fall Break weekend and that you find some time to enjoy this beautiful season of the year. To allow our student workers to also have some time off, the library hours will be limited this weekend. We will be open Friday and Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm and Sunday evening from 7:00 to 11:00 pm only.

One reason to work at the library . . .

2010-10-14T14:16:00.007-05:00

Every fall, Brackett Library faculty and staff reward the student workers for all of their effort with CASSEROLE DAY! On days like today, "library family" takes on a very special meaning.

Want to join us for Soup Day in the spring? The library will be taking applications for student workers from Wednesday, October 27 until Friday, November 5th. Visit the library website during that time to find the necessary application forms.

Good luck!

Johnnetta Kelly selects Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

2010-10-05T16:55:00.006-05:00

Johnnetta Kelly, Assistant Professor of Nursing, was chosen as October's Faculty Favorite. Her reading selection is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot., a title which was also chosen as one of Amazon.com's Best Books of the Month for February 2010.

"During national health month, this book offers ethical challenges regarding life, science, research, the protection of vulnerable human subjects, and so much more. The book should be on the must-read list for scientists, health professionals, and students of life." -- Johnnetta Kelly

"From a single, abbreviated life grew a seemingly immortal line of cells that made some of the most crucial innovations in modern science possible. And from that same life, and those cells, Rebecca Skloot has fashioned in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks a fascinating and moving story of medicine and family, of how life is sustained in laboratories and in memory. Henrietta Lacks was a mother of five in Baltimore, a poor African American migrant from the tobacco farms of Virginia, who died from a cruelly aggressive cancer at the age of 30 in 1951. A sample of her cancerous tissue, taken without her knowledge or consent, as was the custom then, turned out to provide one of the holy grails of mid-century biology: human cells that could survive--even thrive--in the lab. Known as HeLa cells, their stunning potency gave scientists a building block for countless breakthroughs, beginning with the cure for polio. Meanwhile, Henrietta's family continued to live in poverty and frequently poor health, and their discovery decades later of her unknowing contribution--and her cells' strange survival--left them full of pride, anger, and suspicion. For a decade, Skloot doggedly but compassionately gathered the threads of these stories, slowly gaining the trust of the family while helping them learn the truth about Henrietta, and with their aid she tells a rich and haunting story that asks the questions, Who owns our bodies? And who carries our memories? --Tom Nissley, Amazon.com

Brackett Library goes mobile!

2010-09-04T14:54:00.006-05:00

Brackett Library has gone mobile! Thanks to the work of Systems Librarian Brenda Breezeel, basic functions like searching the catalog, renewing items, and accessing frequently used databases are now available on a new mobile site. Users can also find library phone numbers, library hours, or submit an Ask-A-Librarian question. We hope this site is easy to use and welcome your feedback. Check it out at mlibrary.harding.edu on a mobile device near you.

Ann Hobby Retires

2010-08-31T16:29:00.004-05:00

Today, Tuesday, Aug. 31, is Reference Librarian Ann Hobby's last day to work at Brackett Library. During her 20 years of service to the university and the library, she has mentored many student workers and innumerable students with their research needs. Her quiet, gentle spirit and helpful attitude has impressed students and faculty alike and is greatly appreciated.

The staff at Brackett Library wish her well as she moves into this new stage of her life. Thank you, Ann Hobby.

Calling all Freshmen and Transfers!

2010-08-24T15:50:00.002-05:00

New to Harding? Want to make better grades? All new Harding students are invited to a special 15-minute Brackett Breakout! Stop by the library on Thursday, Friday, or Monday after chapel for the chance to win a Sonic gift card and meet the people who could change your life forever -- or at least make finding a book a little easier.

Ann Hobby Selects for Summer

2010-08-19T09:59:00.007-05:00

Ann Hobby has served as Reference Librarian for the Brackett Library since 1990 and has chosen Laura Bush's memoir, Spoken From the Heart, as the Summer 2010 Faculty Favorite.

When asked about her recommendation, Hobby replied, "In Spoken From the Heart, Laura Bush relates her life in a way that allows the reader to picture a story very similar to that of many other people who grew up in the 1950s and 1960s. Details that she presents allow one to visualize the physical settings and to feel her emotions. The glimpses into her personal history and into events that occurred during her husband's presidency whet the reader's curiosity to know more about specific experiences. They also prompt one to look at current news reports with more insight."

"A subtle, recurring thread throughout the book is a true love story, for her life-long friends, for her husband, and for those whose lives she was able to improve as First Lady of Texas and of the United States."

To find the book in Brackett Library, you may call the Information Desk at 501-279-4775 or follow this link for its location and content notes.

Petit Jean Project Continues

2010-07-22T08:27:00.005-05:00

A project that started as a hopeful possibility is nearing completion. In the fall of 2009, the Brackett Library announced online access to the earliest years of Harding's year book, the Petit Jean. New volumes have been added on a regular basis, and the online collection now includes all Petit Jeans through the 1989-1990 school year.

In addition to the collection of year books, the library has made several other pieces of Harding history available online. A new web page, http://digital.harding.edu, provides access to the year books, the library's Flickr collection of over 5,000 photos, and to a group of videos from Harding's past.

The videos have been made available through Harding University's iTunesU service. A free download is necessary in order to view the video collection, which includes presentations used to raised funds for building the Benson Auditorium. Other historic videos include a collection of patriotic cartoons produced by the university during the presidency of Dr. George S. Benson.

Questions and comments regarding the digital archives collection should be sent directly to the library by using the library's Ask a Librarian service.

Christian School Librarians

2010-07-06T11:32:00.014-05:00

Brackett Library welcomes school librarians to the campus at Harding University for the 15th annual Christian School Librarians conference. Two days of fellowship, sharing, learning, technology training and good food begin Wednesday, July 7. This conference brings librarians from as far away as Pennsylvania, Alabama and Texas and as near as Searcy to interact and learn from each other. For more information check out the Christian School Librarians blog.

Student Workers Select Hunger Games

2010-04-01T11:40:00.009-05:00

The 2009-2010 Brackett Library student workers have selected Suzanne Collins' 2008 publication The Hunger Games as the April pick of the month. The Young Adult title has won numerous awards, has been added to reading lists across the nation, and is a favorite of readers of all ages.

Student Reference Assistant Tiffany Greeley endorsed Hunger Games by saying, "It is a children's book and yet I enjoyed it even as an adult. The main character, Katniss, is a strong and independent female and would do anything to protect those she loves."

Catherine Canterbury, the library's graduate assistant stated, "This is one of the best books I've read since Harry Potter! It doesn't take long until the reader is completely lost in their world and a part of all the twists and turns the author has to offer. This book has it all: action, surprises, loyalty, and even a little romance. It has something to offer everyone."

To check on the availability of The Hunger Games in the Brackett Library, follow this link.

Faculty Favorites goes international!

2010-03-04T10:15:00.004-06:00

Dr. Jeff Hopper, Dean of International Programs is featured on the March Read poster. Dr. Hopper and his staff oversee study abroad programs in seven different countries, making it possible for Harding students to gain firsthand experience in cross-cultural interaction while completing a semester of university study.

Dr. Hopper's choice is A.J. Jacobs' 2008 publication, A Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible.

"This diary tracks one year in the life of an agnostic Jew who lives in New York City. He makes a sincere decision to just see what would happen if he tried to do exactly as the Bible says for one year, " said Hopper. "The first nine months he lives as a believing Jew and the last three months as a Christian. He discovers many of the same challenges and insights that I have encountered. The book is hilarious, thoughtful, and even theological. Essentially, it condenses one lifetime of spiritual introspection into a fun weekend read."

If you are interested in reading Jacobs' account of his experimental year, visit the Brackett library catalog. For more information about Harding's International Studies programs, visit their website.

Book fair is HUGE success!

2010-03-02T09:07:00.007-06:00

Thanks to the Harding University faculty, staff, and students, the Scholastic Book Fair fundraiser was a huge success! Total sales for the Book Fair equalled just over $1700.00, which earned the library an additional $756.30 to spend on more Spanish books for Misión Para Cristo in Jinotega, Nicaragua. Students and faculty contributed 118 books and we were able to buy an additional 142 books, so 260 books will be sent to Nicaragua in the near future.

Thank you, Harding, for once again showing your generosity and compassion for people around the world!

Library hosts book fair

2010-02-19T10:10:00.004-06:00

Brackett Library will be hosting the Scholastic Book Fair next week on Tuesday, February 23 through Thursday, February 25. Chi Kappa Rho, a women's social club, will have volunteers taking care of the fair. It will be open after chapel until 7:00pm each day.

This fair is a fundraiser and will feature children's books in Spanish that can be purchased for $6 or less. A "donated by" nameplate will be placed in the front of each book, and the books will be sent to Misión Para Cristo in Jinotega, Nicaragua. Currently, the mission's "mobile book library" consists of two plastic tubs, so even a few books will make a difference. Regular children's books will also be sold, and we will also be collecting loose change as a donation to the mission. Purchases can be made with cash or with a debit card.

Petit Jean goes digital!

2010-02-15T16:24:00.003-06:00

Brackett Library is pleased to announce the digitization of over twenty-five years of Petit Jean yearbooks. The online collection begins with the 1924-25 Harding College Petit Jean, and currently includes yearbooks through the 1952-53 annual. Additional years are still being prepared for the collection by Catherine Canterbury, the library's graduate assistant.

"For years, we've had the entire run of the Petit Jean tucked away in the archive room. Now, we can share them with alumni worldwide, "said Library Director Ann Dixon. "It's so exciting to see the possibilities that digitization brings. Preservation may happen in the library, but access can now be anywhere. Eventually, we will scan and share all of the yearbooks, and alumni from all eras will be able to view the Petit Jean from their days at Harding."

To view the collection, visit http://digital.harding.edu and enter the Petit Jean link. The Digital Archives page also includes links to the library's Flickr Collection and to the growing collection of archive videos from Harding's past.

Harding alum is selected as Faculty Favorite

2010-01-27T14:42:00.003-06:00

Tamera Alexander, a graduate of Harding University, was the author of January's Faculty Favorite selection. Alexander is the author of multiple Christian Fiction titles, including From a Distance, which was chosen by Dr. Lisa Ritchie.

A registered dietitian, Ritchie is a member of the Family and Consumer Sciences department where she serves as the Director of Didactic Program in Dietetics. When asked why she selected From a Distance, Ritchie replied, "From a Distance has wonderful detail about the Colorado territory during the time of the Civil War, and it reminds the reader to put his hope in the Lord, and to make our dreams, His dreams. It was written by a Harding graduate and was a 2009 Christy Award winner."

To learn more about Tamera Alexander and her books, you can visit her blog at http://tameraalexander.blogspot.com/. The Christy Award website is located at http://www.christyawards.com/ and includes the history of the award and lists of past winners.

New policy for food and beverages

2009-12-16T15:48:00.003-06:00

Effective January 2010, the library will implement new policies regarding food and beverages in the library. While patrons are still welcome to bring snacks and drinks for their study and research time, we ask that the following guidelines be followed.

Food is allowed in all areas of the library except Special Collections.
No hot food is allowed. This includes, but is not limited to, pizza, burgers, tacos, breakfast biscuits, chicken, French fries, etc.
No food deliveries are allowed. (Library authorized deliveries for sponsored events are not subject to this policy.)
All beverages must have a secure top.
Place trash in bins provided for your convenience. When appropriate, please use the recycle bins.
Any spills or waste issues should be reported to the library staff.

Thank you for your assistance in maintaining the library and in reducing litter.

EBSCOhost goes mobile

2009-12-10T12:39:00.004-06:00

Harding University iPhone users can now access EBSCOhost databases on their iPhones and other smartphones!

A press release from the company states, "EBSCO understands that mobile devices are growing in popularity and recognizes the exploding demand of mobile technology. The new interface includes many features for an enhanced mobile experience, is optimized for internet-enabled handheld devices, and qualified for all the major smartphones (such as iPhone, Blackberry, and Treo). EBSCO designed it with a lower resolution, simplified by removing folders and other advanced fatures, and changed the more performance intensive technologies into lightweight HTML."

A downloadable application is expected soon, but for now you may access EBSCOhost content by following the link on the library home page or by using the EBSCOhost logo above while on your smartphone's browser.

Christmas Countdown

2009-12-01T14:43:00.009-06:00

With less than three weeks left in the fall semester, Brackett Library is focusing on the spirit of the season with this month's READ(c) poster and with an upcoming public event.

Robin Miller, Professor of Communication, was chosen to select this month's Faculty Favorite. In light of the timing of his choice and the fall musical production, Miller picked Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol for December readers.

The Dickens story of "A Christmas Carol" has become a part of our culture. It has been adapted many times for film and for stage. Performers from George C. Scott to Patrick Stewart to the Muppets have played Ebenezer Scrooge. Yet, often in these variations on the novel, the gem of pure storytelling that is Dickens work becomes lost.

The novel tells a story of a hurt man who is trying trying to make it through this life. Over the course of the story we see him in the present as well as watch him as he sees the past he has experienced. To deal with all the pain in his life, he often makes poor choices. The result is that he becomes lonesome, bitter, resentful and self focused. That is, he is self focused until he is forced to confront not only his past, but the way his choices then and now affect others.

It is at the moment of recognizing how his life is affecting others that he chooses to live life differently. To live it better. To live for others. For me, that is the core of the story. He sees that no matter what has happened in his past to him and no matter what actions he has taken, he can start today to live life differently. Change in behavior, change in attitude and change in thought for the better are all possibilities that can be achieved today. Regardless of what he has done that has hurt others, he can now begin to live for others.

Although this story never quotes scripture, it effectively preaches a sermon on how to live. Dickens uses the craft of story telling to reveal a truth of how a life can be well lived. And he does it in an extremely entertaining way. This is the best of art. It is engaging, entertaining and reflects the reality that is God's world. I highly recommend this become a part of any family's holiday traditions.

In keeping with a recently adopted tradition, Dr. David Burks will be in the library on Tuesday, December 8th to read The Night Before Christmas. Previous years have included guest reader Keith Cronk's interpretation of The Aussie Night Before Christmas and carolers from Joli Love's French classes.

Food in the Library

2009-11-10T13:46:00.008-06:00

Brackett Library needs your help. When the decision was made to allow food in the building, there was much discussion about what kind of food would be allowed. Another library has an offensive and non-offensive food policy. If the food is considered intrusive on others, it is offensive and not allowed. When Harding student workers were quizzed they said things like pizza, fried chicken, heavily spiced, and greasy foods with strong smells would be offensive to them.

Initially, no guidelines were written about what kind of food would be allowed in the library, and for the most part, library users have been considerate of others. However, in recent weeks, library staff members and patrons have noticed more trash left behind, more attempted pizza deliveries, and more times when food smells have permeated the building. Library patrons have been asked to take the food to the new tables just outside the front door at these times and almost all have cooperated with a good attitude.

So how can you help? Please be considerate of other library users. Please pick up your own trash. Please think before bringing in food that smells strongly enough that others are bothered by it. This is a public building and we all must work together to keep it friendly for all users.

Thank you from the Brackett Library Staff.

Homecoming is here!

2009-10-30T10:09:00.004-05:00

Brackett Library welcomes guests to our campus for Harding's annual Homecoming activities. Library related activities include the presence of archival pictures from Homecomings past on the library site, an alumni author signing, and participation in the university's Trunk or Treat activities.

From 11:00 to 1:00 on Saturday, October 31, award-winning Christian Fiction author Tamera Alexander will be signing books in the lobby of the Hammon Student Center. Fifteen other alumni authors have been invited and have made plans to attend.

Following Saturday's football game, a variety of campus participants will participate in the first Harding University Trunk or Treat which is slated to begin at 6:00 PM in the Ganus Athletic Center. In addition to candy, the library will have a selection of donated children's books to give away.

If you are on campus, please stop by the library for a visit. Recent years have brought many changes and we would love to share some time with you!

Sharing Harding History

2009-10-19T11:00:00.005-05:00

There is no doubt that social networking has changed the way American culture communicates and shares information. Facebook, Linked In, and other sites may have initially been seen as a trend, but it is now common for them to be the primary communication point between family members, teachers and students, and within organizations.

In recent years, digital library collections have also grown in popularity. Brackett Library Director Ann Dixon wanted to make the university's collections of pictures available online and began looking for options. Following the lead of The Library of Congress and several academic libraries, Dixon chose to use Flickr, a photo-sharing site with social networking components. After an initial planning stage, hundreds of hours were spent scanning archive pictures and slides and the Brackett Library Flickr site was born.

Thanks to the work of graduate assistants Jenny Thurston and Catherine Canterbury, thousands of images from Harding's history have been added to the collection. Images range from black and white images belonging to the past to brightly colored collections from Spring Sing and Homecoming productions on the Benson stage. Dates span from Harding's earliest days to the late 1980's.

The library had two goals in making the images public. The primary goal was simply sharing the pictures and helping others enjoy the memories. The second goal? "We want you to find our mistakes," said Librarian Lisa Burley. "Many pictures did not include identification information. Who are these people? Where was this? When was this? If we have made mistakes, please let us know."

If you have questions or comments about the Flickr project, please email them to brackett.library@yahoo.com .

Integrated Search Comes to Brackett

2009-10-13T08:38:00.006-05:00

Brackett Library announces the addition of the new EBSCOhost Integrated Search tool. Using the familiar EBSCOhost interface, Integrated Searching allows researchers to simultaneously search many of the library's electronic resources, including the library catalog.

To access the new service, use the "Search Multiple Resources" box on the center of the library home page. A tutorial featuring the new system can be found on the EBSCOhost support site.

For more information or to schedule a demonstration for a class or department, please contact Lisa Burley at 501-279-4185 or lburley@harding.edu

Finish Strong takes October spot

2009-10-05T11:05:00.007-05:00

In honor of Homecoming, Head Football Coach Ronnie Huckeba was chosen to select October's Faculty Favorite. Finish Strong by Dan Green was selected for its ability to motivate and encourage. "The concept of 'finishing strong' is a valued Christian character trait, as illustrated by the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7," stated Huckeba. "It is also, in my opinion, a must for those who intend to be high achievers."

The 2009 football schedule can be found by visiting the Harding Atheletics website, located at www.hardingsports.com/

Homecoming activities are scheduled to begin on Thursday, October 29 and will include social club reunions, class reunions, and the traditional Homecoming musical. This year's production will be Scrooge. A complete list of Homecoming activities is available at www.harding.edu/homecoming

"Kids from the Home" Book Dedication

2009-09-28T11:01:00.005-05:00

Library Director Ann Dixon and Harding Vice-President of Finance Mel Sansom accept two copies of "Kids from the Home" from Tennessee Children's Home Director of Development Bill Alsup and author Mary Ann Holder Arnett.

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Tennessee Children's Home in Spring Hill, Tennessee, Mary Ann Holder Arnett has compiled a history of the organization. The book "Kids from the Home" is filled with pictures and anecdotes of life at the children's home and stories of their lives after leaving the facility.

On Tuesday morning of Lectureship, Sept. 29, 2009, Brackett Library hosted a ceremony, dedicating the book to the students from the children's home who also attended Harding College/University. Two books were placed in the library collection and a plaque will be displayed in the building with their names.

New Service and Databases Mark Fall Semester

2009-09-11T14:45:00.007-05:00

Brackett Library announces five new databases available to Harding students and faculty: CAMIO, ArchiveGrid, Consumer Health Complete, Gale's General OneFile, and EBSCO's World History Collection, two of which offer services previously research options previously unavailable through the Harding library.

An exciting addition to the library's online collection is CAMIO, a database which features images held in art museums worldwide. According to its website, "CAMIO highlights the creative output of cultures around the world, from prehistoric to contemporary times, and covering the complete range of expressive forms." Art forms included in CAMIO include paintings, textiles, jewelry and costuming, photography, and sculpture. CAMIO is the first database offered by Brackett Library to focus on visual images rather than textual information.

ArchiveGrid provides another one-of-a-kind search interface for Harding library users by providing a network which provides a way to search through "historical documents, personal papers, and family histories held in archives around the world." Historians, geneologists, and all interestsed in the humanities will benefit from this glimpse into primary sources from around the world.

Instant message reference has joined the list of reference tools available to Harding library patrons. Each page of the library website includes an IM box which allows researchers to send questions to the librarian on duty. IM reference is available from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and from 7:00 to 10:00 each evening.

VP McLarty Selects for September

2009-08-31T15:21:00.005-05:00

Vice-President of Spiritual Life Bruce McLarty was honored with kicking off the 2009-2010 Faculty Favorites. McLarty selected Shaping a Christian Worldview edited by David S. Dockery and Gregory Alan Thornbury. McLarty stated, "I came across this book in working on my dissertation this year and was delighted by how much it engages the major issues we seek to address here at Harding. In it the faculty and administration of Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, wrestle with how to build a Christian worldview in the hearts and minds of university students. The first section of the book deals with the big questions of biblical authority and the nature of a Christian worldview. The bulk of the work is made up of chapters written by professors in different disciplines, asking what it means to teach their subject matter in a way that helps to build a Christian worldview."

Welcome back Students

2009-08-19T09:45:00.006-05:00

The Brackett Library librarians and staff welcome new and returning students to campus. We are eager to welcome you back to the library building, but if you are not on campus, let us remind you that the library provides access to over 23,000 online, full-text journals to our community on the Searcy campus, distance education students and those in the overseas programs. In addition, we have almost 4,000 electronic books also available.

Come by and visit with the librarian at the desk or call 501-279-4775 if you need assistance.

Christian School Librarians Conference

2009-07-10T10:01:00.005-05:00

On July 8 & 9, Brackett Library hosted the annual Christian School Librarians Conference in conjunction with the Christian School Administrators meeting. Attendees come from Christian schools where often they are the only one in their building involved in library services. Discussions center around book selection and critiques and what is available through the Internet to better serve students. This year's highlights included a session on the Twilight series, using Flickr to promote services and provide preservation of school pictures, tips on publishing a book, and how to search for and write a grant.

Long-time Employee Selects Summer Read

2009-05-27T10:17:00.003-05:00

In 1979, Henry Terrill joined the faculty members at the Brackett Library to serve as Government Documents and Interlibrary Loan Librarian. Over the years he has served in many capacities and currently manages Serials, Electronic Resources and the University's archives. In May, Terrill received his 30-year pin to honor his service to the university.

Terrill selected Rose Wilder Lane's Let the Hurricane Roar as his reading recommendation. "This little volume was recommended to me by my Junior High School librarian just after my father died when I was 14. When my dad died, I decided that God couldn’t be good. Somehow, she picked up on this and recommended I read the book. Reading about someone else who endured a hard time helped me make it through my own hard time."

Annual Conference Slated for Harding

2009-05-19T09:57:00.004-05:00

The Christian College Librarians annual conference is scheduled to meet on the Harding University campus on Thursday, May 21 and Friday, May 22. Librarians and staff members from colleges and universities associated with the North American Restoration Movement will gather to discuss changes and current events in the academic library world. In addition to local discussions, conference attendees will be able to tour the Harding History house and visit the Clinton Presidential Library and Central High Memorial in Little Rock. Featured speakers include Dr. Jack Shock, who will discuss the year he spent as a speechwriter in the Clinton White House and Dr. Cliff Ganus, Jr. who will share memories of his long years of association with the university.

The first meeting of the Christian College Librarians (CCL) was held at Oklahoma Christian College on May 10, 1974. Recent conference locations have included Abilene Christian University in 2007 and Pepperdine University in 2008. In addition to the roles they fill on their respective campuses, CCL Librarians also volunteer their time to chronicle the contents of Restoration Movement periodicals for Restoration Serials Index. Each year, a scholarship is awarded to a graduate student affiliated with the group who is pursuing a master's in an Information related field.

May honors Nesbit

2009-05-11T11:52:00.007-05:00

Harding's new College of Pharmacy faculty is featured in May's Faculty Favorite. Assistant Professor of Pharmacy, Dr. James Nesbit is often seen on the front lawn reading his Bible or in deep discussion with students. For May, Nesbit selected a Christian classic, Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee. When asked why he recommended the book, Nesbit replied,

What book do you buy the person who has read EVERYTHING?” My answer is “The Spiritual Man” by Watchman Nee. I was given this book to read at a time when I had many questions about what it meant to walk in the Spirit. At the time, the answers I received were generally the standard responses which were very unsatisfying to me. In light of what I was reading in the Scriptures, I had trouble believing that Holy Spirit did not operate in all believers. At the same time, I equally had problems with many of the canned charismatic evidences that seemed more like “entertainment” than born of the nature of Christ. This book is the clearest, most thorough and most compelling treatise about walking in the Spirit that I have ever read. It broke down many of my preconceived notions about what it meant to be “spiritual” and it enlightened me as to the possibilities of how the Spirit works. I have never been the same since reading it. However, it is not a book you get through, it a book you survive by being transformed in the process. This is a book that will either turn a person’s life upside down or it will kill you…or maybe both.

LinkSource Provides Easy Access

2009-04-09T13:54:00.006-05:00

Finding scholarly information for research just got easier for Harding University students and faculty. A recent purchase of EBSCO's LinkSource software will allow researchers to find citations for material and also find the full text of an article no matter where it is located.

"It's very common for article databases to only include a citation and abstract of an article," stated E-Learning & Instruction Librarian Lisa Burley. "Often, the complete text may be available in another online resource, but it's not obvious to the user. In the past, it was necessary to take several steps to find out if our library owned the full text. LinkSource will make the process much easier."

Citations found in any Brackett Library database will have a LinkSource button and/or a text link saying "Search for full text". This is usually shown on the citation in the list of results, but in some databases it will only appear in the detailed reference record.

When the link is clicked, researchers will be connected directly to the full text if it is available online. If LinkSource cannot locate the full text, three options will be presented. Users may choose to search the Brackett Library print collection to see if a physical copy is available in the library. If a physical copy is not available, users can use the Interlibrary Loan link to request the article through ILL. A third option offers the possibility of searching Google scholar for more information.

"Our goal is get our patrons as close to full text articles as we can. Each database has its own rules, but we will connect you as closely as possible," stated Ms. Burley. "And if you need help finding a physical copy, feel free to ask a librarian. That's why we're here!"

Count of Monte Cristo chosen for April

2009-04-01T12:48:00.007-05:00

In honor of National Library Month, the Brackett Library student workers selected Alexandre Dumas' classic tale of betrayal and love for the April 2009 Faculty Favorite. After a popular vote of all workers,The Count of Monte Cristo took top billing.

Elyssa Doom says: “It is a powerful story of war, betrayal, vengeance, and love. Once you pick it up, the story’s adventure makes it so that it is almost impossible to put it down until the dramatic ending.”

Kayla Anderson (Circulation) : “The Count of Monte Cristo is a captivating story with lots of twists to keep you interested and entertained. I highly recommend reading the book as well as seeing the movie.”

Maggie Hayes (Circulation): “The Count of Monte Cristo was such an entertaining book that it even pulled me in at a young age. The story never ceases to entertain me even though I am older now. This book is highly enjoyable.”

Lisa Wagar (Book searcher): “An amazing book! The characters leap off the page, the reader is living the adventures with them. Every twist and turn brings a new emotion and the conclusion is very powerful. If you’ve seen the movie, take your experience to a new level by reading the book!”

Lauren Caldwell (Circulation): “From the first page, you are transported into a book full of sword fighting, betrayal, revenge and romance that never slows down. It’s a great book!”

Lauren Dickerson (Student Reference Assistant): “It’s a book full of surprises! Not only is it an emotional roller-coaster, but it doesn’t have the typical ending.”

Each semester, the library employs an average of 40 student workers who perform the majority of the daily tasks needed to make the library run smoothly. Applications for student positions for Fall 2009 are currently being taken at the circulation desk.

Brackett Library accepting applications for Fall 2009

2009-03-31T16:18:00.006-05:00

Applications for student workers are currently being accepted for Fall 2009. Please print and fill in both forms and bring them to the library circulation desk.

Applications will be accepted from Wednesday, April 1 until Wednesday, April 8. Beginning April 9, selected applicants will be contacted for interviews.

Human Resources Form

Brackett Library Supplement

If you have any further questions, please contact the Brackett Library circulation desk at 279-4279.

Brackett Breakouts for Medical Databases Spring 2009

2009-03-27T16:36:00.002-05:00

Date	Times	Topic	Where
Wednesday, March 4	Noon and 4:00pm	PubMed and NLM	Brackett Library
Wednesday, March 18	Noon and 3:00pm	Micromedex and eMedicine	Brackett Library
Wednesday, March 25	3:00 pm	Lexi-Comp and Facts and Comparisons (Pharmacy students only)	Health Science Building
Wednesday, April 1	Noon and 3:00pm	MD Consult and Science Direct	Brackett Library

Caldecott Winner Chosen for March Faculty Favorite

2009-03-23T13:59:00.000-05:00

March means Spring and Spring means brighter days and time to play outside. In keeping with this lighter mood, Dr. Betty Watson from the Cannon-Clary College of Education chose a picture book for this month's Faculty Favorite.

"The Hello, Goodbye Window is a happy book and in today's world our young children need to hear comforting, joyful stories," stated Watson. "This book is a recent Caldecott winner which elevates it as one of the best picture books published for young children. Both the words and the pictures perfectly display the thinking and drawing abilities of a pre-school child and this allows them to happily identify with it."

Named for nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott, the award is sponsored by the American Library Association and is presented each year by the Association for Library Service to Children. A complete list of Caldecott winners can be found on the ALA site.