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The Lamont News-List November 9, 2005

by Susan M Gilroy

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* The Lamont News-List lamref(a)fas.harvard.edu November 9, 2005 http://hcl.harvard.edu/lamont *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Did you know? The Lamont Reference Room now has a public scanner available--and use of it is free! Files can be saved to a USB flashkey. Or--if you have an "fas.harvard.edu" email address, you can FTP them. Ask us to show you how! ********************************************************** IN THIS ISSUE: -- Power Searching Tip no. 1: Truncating in HOLLIS and other Harvard E-Resources -- E-Research Cool Tools Music resources that make it easy to listen while you learn! -- The Visiting Committee Prize for Undergraduate Book Collecting Calling all bibliophiles! -- And speaking of good books . . . A law student reflects on time spent browsing in our Farnsworth Room ********************************************************* POWER SEARCHING TIP no. 1: Truncation in HOLLIS and other Harvard E-Resources At 15,000,000 item records, the immensity of the HOLLIS catalog is staggering. Yet when students drop by the Lamont Reference Desk with questions about HOLLIS, they often do so not because they've been overwhelmed with hundreds of results. In fact, they may find themselves faced with the opposite problem: their HOLLIS search has retrieved too few. They know that "more" has to be out there; what they need is advice on ways of widening the search or extending its reach. In these situations, we'll usually recommend a technique called TRUNCATION. Here's why: TRUNCATION is a way of using a word root or word stem to retrieve variant forms of a term. In the HOLLIS catalog, the truncation symbol is the question mark (?). MAGIC?, for example, will retrieve catalog records containing such words as "magic," "magical," and "magician." TIME? will retrieve "time," "times," "timely," and "timeless" (among others). You can construct more complicated searches with truncation, too. GLOBAL? AND DISEASE? will look for words like "global," "globalism," "globally," "globalization," or "globalisation." Then it will combine whatever variant it finds with words like "disease" or "diseases" or "diseased." GLOBAL? AND DISEASE? AND MEDIC? would add words like "medical" or "medicine" to the mix. Think of truncation as shorthand for using "or" between lots of similarly spelled terms. Truncation not only saves keystrokes, but also increases the inclusiveness--and thus, the comprehensiveness--of a search. You'll often be surprised at how much good information truncation turns up (and how much you might have missed without it). AND BY THE WAY: Truncation is a feature that most of Harvard's e-resources support. The truncation symbol may vary from resource to resource, although the most common form is the asterisk (*). Ask a librarian if you're not sure which one to use or can't find the information easily in a database's HELP files. Here are examples of acceptable truncation symbols for some of the most heavily used of our E-Resources: -- EBSCO databases (e.g., Academic Search Premier, PsycInfo, MLA, ERIC Religion Index): * [asterisk] -- LexisNexis: ! [exclamation point] -- ProQuest Databases (e.g., The New York Times Historical, ABI Inform, Dissertations and Theses Full-Text): ? [question mark] -- CSA Illumina databases (e.g., Worldwide Political Science Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts, EconLit, PAIS): * [asterisk] -- PubMed: * [asterisk] ********************************************************* E-RESEARCH COOL TOOLS: These resources will be music to your ears! Classical Music Library http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:classicm Smithsonian Global Sound http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:smithglo Harvard students have always had excellent music, audio, and spoken word collections available to them in and around the Yard: in the Loeb Music Library, for example, in Morse Music & Media (Lamont, Level 2) and in the Woodberry Poetry Room (Lamont, Level 5). Last year, Naxos Music Library finally arrived. Available via the "Find E-Resources" page (http://e-research.lib.harvard.edu?func=find-db-1), it offers audio access to 85,000 or so classical, jazz, folk, and world music tracks--everything produced under the Dacapo, Marco Polo, and Naxos recording labels. In late October, two more online audio collections went live on the Harvard Libraries site: Classical Music Library and Smithsonian Global Sound. If you're enthusiastic about music, you'll want to give these e-resources a try. Smithsonian Global Sound, which aims to preserve musical forms and traditions, is an amazing--and amazingly eclectic--compilation: it features world music, jazz, blues, native American, and American folk songs as well as classical music, Broadway show tunes, and more. It advertises itself as a compendium of non-musical sounds, too, taken from the natural, manmade, and animal worlds and the realm of human speech. Within this one resource, you can sample a great many things: 17th century lullabies, Seneca Indian dances, even the sounds of "snapping" shrimp. You can listen to Ho Chi Minh denounce French colonialists in Vietnam, and Angela Davis defend communism; you can hear Sir Edmund Hillary talk about the dangers of mountain climbing and Margaret Mead discuss anthropology as a career; you can experience Burton Raffel reading Anglo Saxon verse or listen in on a performance of a Shakespeare play. Though more narrowly focused than Smithsonian Global Sound, Classical Music Library offers great depth. In fact, CML identifies itself as "the world's largest multi-label database of Classical music recordings for listening and learning." And these labels are impressive: EMI, Hyperion, Gaudeamus, Vox, the Royal Philharmonic, Arabesque, and Nuovo Era listed among them. You can browse by label, if you're so inclined. But you can also search for music other ways, too: by composer, by period, by instrument, by conductor, or by genres (e.g., orchestral, opera & operetta, stage & screen). And there's more to this resource than meets the ear, of course. Images and photographs of composers, biographies, links to a music glossary, and a concise history of western music enrich the experience of using Classical Music Library and extend its value as a research tool. One of the really nice features of Classical Music Library is that it makes comparative listening quite easy, since recordings are grouped by track. A search on the composer Tomaso Albinoni, for example, pulls up six interpretations of his popular /Adagio for organ and strings/ /in g minor/. Classical Music Library allows you to set up your own playlists (or to listen to preselected playlists offered to you on a variety of themes). Customizable playlists are soon to be available in Smithsonian Global Sound. ********************************************************* THE VISITING COMMITTEE PRIZE FOR UNDERGRADUATE BOOK COLLECTING An annual Library event for bibliophiles of every kind Do you collect books of a certain type, on a particular topic or theme, or for a special reason? If so, you should consider entering this year's Undergraduate Book Collecting Prize Competition. First Prize is $1000; Second Prize is $750; and Third Prize is $500. Winning collections in past years have centered on the Berlin subway system, ocean liner books and memorabilia, antique cookbooks, autographed books, and "labyrinthine" literature. Last year's winning collections are displayed in the exhibit cases on Level 5 in Lamont. More detailed information about the Visiting Committee Prize, including rules for applying, can be picked up in the Lamont, Quad or Cabot Libraries. House Masters, House Librarians, Senior Tutors, and Freshman Deans have this information as well. Find out more online: http://hcl.harvard.edu/libraries/lamont/book_collecting_prize.html If you're interested in entering the Competition, you should notify Heather Cole, Librarian of the Lamont Library, of your intention to apply We ask that you declare that intention, in writing, by FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2005. Address your letter to her c/o The Lamont Library or send via email to this address:hcole@fas.harvard.edu The deadline for submitting an essay and annotated bibliography describing your collection is FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2006. ********************************************************* AND SPEAKING OF BOOKS: A Law Student Reflects on Time Spent Browsing in our Farnsworth Room If you haven't explored this lovely room on Level 5, perhaps this article will inspire you to make the trip. http://tinyurl.com/cyyx3 ********************************************************* HAVE A TOPIC you'd like to see us cover in a future issue of the Lamont News-List? A research question you need answered? A tip you want to pass along to other Lamont News-List readers? All suggestions welcome! Send your thoughts and comments to sgilroy(a)fas.harvard.edu. ********************************************************* You received this email because you subscribed to the Lamont News-List. If at any time you wish to stop receiving this newsletter, point your browser to http://lists.fas.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/lamontnews-list. Directions for unsubscribing are at the bottom of the page. ********************************************************** Copyright 2005 President and Fellows of Harvard University

18 years, 7 months

The 2005-2006 Lamont News-List is about to launch!

by Susan Gilroy

Greetings from Lamont Library! This note is just to alert you that the first _Lamont News-List_ of the 2005-2006 academic year will be sent out to subscribers at the end of the week. Lots has changed since last Spring: while you were away, Lamont prepared for 24-5 service; a scanner came to the Reference Room; and we replaced the Mac email kiosks in the Lobby with PCs that work just like our other computer terminals--and even allow you to print. And as you've perhaps discovered already, the Harvard Libraries launched "E-Research," our new system for finding and accessing online resources. If you plan to remain on the list -- and we hope you will -- DO NOTHING. We'll automatically renew your subscription on our end. If you no longer want to receive the _Lamont News-List_, however, point your browser to this address: <http://lists.fas.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/lamontnews-list>http://lists.fas.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/lamontnews-list You'll see easy directions for unsubscribing at the bottom of the _Lamont News-List_ information page.

18 years, 7 months

The Lamont News-List Summer Books Issue, May 25, 2005

by Susan M Gilroy

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* The Lamont News-List lamref(a)fas.harvard.edu May 25, 2005 http://hcl.harvard.edu/lamont *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* This is the 11th and last issue of the 2004-2005 Lamont News-List, which will resume publication again in early October. Thanks for reading! Very best wishes, from all of us here in Lamont, for a Summer vacation that is restful, fun, full of adventure (especially if you're traveling), and productive (if you're getting a head start on your thesis). To our News-List subscribers who are graduating: congratulations, farewell, and good luck. To everyone else: we'll be hoping to see you back here in the Yard next Fall! ********************************************************** THE SUMMER BOOKS ISSUE: -- 12 Tempting Titles, Suggested by News-List Readers Books to suit all kinds of Summer reading tastes ********************************************************** ** THE GINGER MAN, by J. P. Donleavy. (Grove Press, 1955). First published in Paris in 1955 and originally banned in America, J. P. Donleavy's first novel is now recognized the world over as a modern classic of the highest order. Set in Ireland just after World War II, _The Ginger Man_ recounts the misadventures of Sebastian Dangerfield, a young American ne'er-do-well studying at Trinity College in Dublin. Dangerfield's appetite for women, liquor, and general roguishness is insatiable--and he satisfies it with endless charm. "The novel's hero, writes sophomore Nitin Ahuja, "is an amazingly wrought character, his life a constant spectacle. I read [_The Ginger Man_] last summer and loved it." ** THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM, Nelson Algren (1949; Four Walls Eight Windows, 1990). Algren won the very first National Book Award (1950) for this novel, which was also nominated for a Pulitzer. Algren has been compared to Dreiser, Dostoyevsky, and Tolstoy, and yet inexplicably, he has passed into literary obscurity. _The Man With the Golden Arm_ is a beautifully written, moving, and often bruising depiction of life in the Polish slums of postwar Chicago. It tells the story of Frankie "Machine" Majcinek, a card dealer and amateur drummer, and his losing battle with a morphine addiction. Though Algren's world is peopled by the damned and the damaged, he manages to convey that world with extraordinary compassion. Director Otto Preminger turned _The Man With the Golden Arm_ into a 1955 film, starring Frank Sinatra (in an Oscar-nominated performance). Algren, however, never forgave Preminger for what he did to the book in adapting it. ** FIRE UNDER THE SNOW: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A TIBETAN MONK, by Palden Gyatso (Grove Press, 1997). In 1959, along with thousands of other Buddhist monks, Palden Gyatso was sent to prison and then to a forced labor camp for his opposition to the Chinese occupation of Tibet. Thirty three years later, in 1992, Gyatso was released from prison and fled Tibet for India, crossing the Himalayas on foot. He brought with him a small pouch containing instruments of torture, like those the Chinese had used against him. _Fire Under the Snow_ details his experiences and, by extension, bears witness to the suffering of the Tibetan people. "My story," he writes, "is not a glamorous one of high lamas and exotic ritual, but of how a simple monk succeeded in surviving the destructive forces of a totalitarian ideology." Gyatso's autobiography--which contains a foreword by the Dalai Lama--is banned in his homeland. ** THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD, by Zora Neale Hurston (1937; Perennial Classics, 1998). Hurston's book tells the story of Janie Crawford Killicks Starks Woods, a thrice-married, twice-widowed woman who learns the hard way: through her own experience. Granddaughter of a slave and daughter of a runaway mother, Janie rises above her circumstances to find her identity as a woman and as an African American. Eunpi Cho, of Winthrop House, writes: "I just recently reread the book and rediscovered my love for it. The language is so sharp and original, and the characters so alive. Hurston does an amazing job in forcing the reader to live the thoughts and passions of the characters. It's a short book, best read in one sitting, and it will be an incredible experience." ** BALL FOUR, by Jim Bouton (1970; Macmillan, 1990). Before there was BALCO, before there was the disgrace of Pete Rose, before Richard Ben Cramer disillusioned us with his biography of DiMaggio, and long before Jose Canseco penned _Juiced_, there was Jim Bouton's _Ball Four_. Bouton, a knuckleball pitcher and one-time Yankee, forever changed the public's image of baseball in his 1970 expose, which depicted players as fan un-friendly pill-poppers and booze-swillers. _Ball Four_ shocked and scandalized MLB executives, players and sportswriters; the controversy it generated made front-page news. Bouton became an MLB pariah. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn tried to force Bouton to retract the allegations he made; one team even burned a copy of _Ball Four_ in anger. Today, however, it's a baseball classic, and comes recommended by a Harvard sophomore. ** BORSTAL BOY, by Brendan Behan (1958; David Godine, 2000). Freshman Aidan Kelly suggests you pick up this autobiographical memoir, by one of Ireland's foremost playwrights and novelists, when you go looking for some good summer reading. In 1939, 16 year-old Behan, an IRA operative, was arrested in Liverpool with a suitcase full of explosives and became a prisoner of the British crown. In England, juvenile delinquents were sent to "borstal institutions," and Behan, for his crimes, served two years in reform school. _Borstal Boy_, Aidan tells us, "is wonderfully well written and funny," and Behan is a superb storyteller, so "the pages just flew by." ** THE MAN WHO LOVED ONLY NUMBERS: THE STORY OF PAUL ERDOS AND THE SEARCH FOR MATHEMATICAL TRUTH, by Paul Hoffman (Hyperion, 1998). Though little known outside mathematical circles, Erdos, who died in 1996 at age 83, was a legend among his colleagues. In fact, Erdos was so devoted to mathematics that he went without wife, children, steady job, or even a home, preferring to exist as the wandering guest of fellow mathematicians. He published more than 1,500 papers with at least 484 coauthors, who pride themselves on their "Erds number" (a figure indicating one's degree of separation from the master). Rosamond Xiang, a Quincy House junior, calls _The Man Who Loved Only Numbers_ a "witty bio" that's also interesting and accessible to those who aren't very mathematically inclined. In fact, says Rosamond, "Hoffman gives a lucid catalogue of some great conundrums in math history, its personages, and so on." ** SONS AND LOVERS, by D. H. Lawrence (1913; Signet Classics, 2000). Set in a Nottinghamshire coal town, _Sons and Lovers_, published in 1913, is the novel that established Lawrence's reputation. Intensely autobiographical, it traces the emotional and artistic maturation of Paul Morel. It is marvelously Freudian, too, in its depiction of the complicated relationships between husbands and wives, mothers and sons, and men and women. Kay Negishi '07 read _Sons and Lovers_ just recently. "At first, it didn't seem to affect me that much, but it was one of those things where you close the back cover and begin to reflect on what just happened. And it starts hitting you. The brooding emotions, the subtle temptations--it's all there." ** A HEART SO WHITE, by Javier Marias (New Directions, 2000). The winner of several literary prizes in Spain and abroad, this novel begins with an event that happened 40 years before the narrator's birth: the suicide of an aunt--his mother's sister, and his father's first wife. A _Washington Post_ review described the novel as many things: "a love story, a murder mystery, a tale about the loss of innocence and the burden of guilt, a study of the complicated, sometimes sinister negotiations between fathers and sons or husbands and wives." Marias has been likened to Proust, Henry James, and Laurence Sterne. _A Heart So White_ is the pick of an Adams House junior. ** PONZI'S SCHEME: THE TRUE STORY OF A FINANCIAL LEGEND, by Mitchell Zuckoff (Random House, 2005). One late summer morning in 1920, Charles Ponzi coasted to work in Boston in the back seat of his luxury convertible, showing no signs that his financial empire, and his life, were near ruin. Indeed, by August 1920, things were far worse than Ponzi--a confidence man and early master of media "spin"--let everyone believe. Ponzi's company, the ironically named Securities Exchange Commission, bilked investors of millions of dollars by promising to double their money in 90 days. All these years later, the phrase "Ponzi scheme" is still used to describe a "get rick quick" scam. Lamont News-List reader Mark Benson believes Zuckoff's new book is worth your time: "_Ponzi's Scheme_ will be an entertaining and informative read for those who follow the financial markets"--as well as those who don't. ** FREAKONOMICS: A ROGUE ECONOMIST EXPLORES THE HIDDEN SIDE OF EVERYTHING, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner (William Morrow, 2005). Which is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool? What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common? Why do drug dealers still live with their mothers? These may not sound like typical questions for an economist to ask, but Steven D. Levitt, a University of Chicago award-winning scholar, regularly studies the stuff of everyday life--from cheating to child naming patterns--and draws conclusions that turn conventional wisdom on its head. He usually begins with a mountain of data and a simple, unasked question. Some of these questions concern life-and-death issues; others have an admittedly freakish quality (hence the title of the book). Through forceful storytelling and wry insight, Levitt and _New York Times_ co-author Stephen J. Dubner show that economics is, at root, the study of incentives--how people get what they want, or need, especially when other people want or need the same thing. ** WIT, by Margaret Edson (Faber and Faber, 1999). Edson won the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for _Wit_, considered one of the "finest plays of the decade," according to an early reviewer. In 2001, Mike Nichols directed a film version for HBO, starring Emma Thompson, that also received wide acclaim. Vivian Bearing, a professor of English whose life has been spent studying the metaphysical poetry of John Donne, is diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer. She responds to her illness--at least at first--with the same cool wit and rational intensity that she has brought to Donne's Holy Sonnets. As her disease progresses and chemotherapy further debilitates her, Vivian pushes toward an understanding that is as brutal as it is moving. As Peter Marks commented in his _New York Times_ review, at the end of _Wit_ "you will feel both enlightened and, in a strange way, comforted." ********************************************************* HAVE A TOPIC you'd like to see us cover in a future issue of the Lamont News-List? All suggestions welcome! Send your questions, thoughts and comments to sgilroy(a)fas.harvard.edu. ********************************************************** You received this email because you subscribed to the Lamont News-List. If at any time you wish to stop receiving this newsletter, point your browser to http://lists.fas.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/lamontnews-list. Directions for unsubscribing are at the bottom of the page. ********************************************************** Copyright 2005 President and Fellows of Harvard University _______________________________________________ lamstaff-list mailing list lamstaff-list(a)lists.fas.harvard.edu http://lists.fas.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/lamstaff-list

19 years

The Lamont New-List May 16, 2005

by Susan M Gilroy

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* The Lamont News-List lamref(a)fas.harvard.edu May 16, 2005 http://hcl.harvard.edu/lamont *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Congratulations to the winners of this year's Visiting Committee Prize for Undergraduate Book Collecting! Have a look at their work, featured in the exhibit cases on Level 5 or read about their passion for books of various kinds here: http://hcl.harvard.edu/news/stories/2005/ug_book_collecting.html ********************************************************** IN THIS ISSUE: -- Recommend A Summer Book--There's Still Time Share your favorite titles with Lamont News-List readers and you could win a **prize**! -- Looking for old FAS exams? Link to them right from Lamont's home page -- The Harvard College Libraries Want to Hear from You! Take our online survey ********************************************************** RECOMMEND A SUMMER BOOK Share your picks with Lamont News-List Readers--and win a prize! It's an annual rite of Spring for Lamont News-List readers: our call for summer reading suggestions. Perhaps you've read a book this term that was so important, timely, or life-changing that you want other people to know about it. Maybe you're a mystery or sci-fi fan with a favorite author to share. Maybe you've happened upon a book that's unusual, eccentric, visually interesting, or verbally stunning. Maybe you've recently re-read or remembered a book that meant a lot to you at another point in your life. Or maybe you've got a book on hand that you're simply dying to read once you've gotten past papers and finals next month. Tempt us! We're planning to publish the list of reader recommendations in our May 25 final issue of the Lamont News-List--just before you head out for vacation. Send us author(s) and title(s) AND tell us why you've made this choice. We'll enter your name in a raffle for one of our much-coveted Lamont stainless steel travel mugs. Only a few are left--so aim to get one before they're gone! Each winner will get a $10.00 Starbucks coffee card, too. Not a bad way to end the year! Two mug-coffee card combos will be awarded Deadline for entering is **'THURSDAY, MAY 19 .** Winners will be chosen in a random drawing and notified by email after Friday, May 20. Email your book suggestions to sgilroy(a)fas.harvard.edu ********************************************************** LOOKING FOR OLD FAS EXAMS? Link to them right from Lamont's home page http://hcl.harvard.edu/lamont/resources/exams.html Old FAS final exams (some dating back as far as Spring 1998) are available online at the address above. Although you'll find a generous selection of materials, not every instructor or every course is represented here. Harvard faculty are not obligated to post exams, and many do not participate in the program. Remember, too, that much of the material on this page will be dated: exams typically make their way online two full terms (or more) after they've been administered. Courses can change drastically from year to year, even when they're taught by the same instructor. That said, there are also many good reasons to take a look at the page. Understanding something about the parts of an exam or the general shape that questions may take can help minimize pre-test anxiety by giving you a sense of what might be expected of you and in how much time. Lamont retains no paper copies of old FAS exams, but several other Harvard libraries do. We've also listed these libraries, and what we know about the FAS exams they have in print, at the web address above. ******************************************************* The Havard College Libraries Want to Hear From You! Take our online survey before May 26 What do you know about the kinds of reference services that Lamont, Cabot, Widener, and other Harvard College libraries offer? What kinds of reseach help would you like to see us offer? How often? At what time of year? Now's the time to tell us! The Libraries are conducting an online survey through May 26. It's easy to fill out, it won't take you long, and we really do want your input. The survey is here: http://tinyurl.com/dypnz Once you've answered the question, you can opt to enter your name in a drawing for a $20 Harvard Bookstore gift certificate. Winners are selected every day, so you have multiple chances to win. ********************************************************* HAVE A TOPIC you'd like to see us cover in a future issue of the Lamont News-List? A research question you need answered? A tip you want to pass along to other Lamont News-List readers? All suggestions welcome! Send your thoughts and comments to sgilroy(a)fas.harvard.edu. ********************************************************* You received this email because you subscribed to the Lamont News-List. If at any time you wish to stop receiving this newsletter, point your browser to http://lists.fas.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/lamontnews-list. Directions for unsubscribing are at the bottom of the page. ********************************************************** Copyright 2005 President and Fellows of Harvard University

19 years

The Lamont News-List April 29, 2005

by Susan M Gilroy

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* The Lamont News-List lamref(a)fas.harvard.edu April 29, 2005 http://hcl.harvard.edu/lamont *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* In need of some Research Rx these days? Lamont librarians are on call! Drop by the Reference Desk for on-the-spot help, Monday-Wednesday 9 a.m.to 9 p.m., Thursday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. We'll answer your questions (or put you in touch with another Harvard librarian who can). And keep in mind: after hours, Lamont Reference Desk Prefects can help, Sunday-Wednesday nights, 9:00 p.m.-11:30 p.m. ********************************************************** IN THIS ISSUE: -- We're Looking for a few Good Summer Books! Share your favorite titles with Lamont News-List readers and you'll qualify for a special **prize**! -- Power Searching Tip no. 8: Special words and phrases that can give your HOLLIS catalog searches a real boost! -- Getting Ready to Write That Thesis? How to find models of good research and writing by Harvard students -- It's Spring at Last in Lamont's Dudley Garden Enjoy this quiet green space, located behind the Library -- Lamont Library Hours During Reading Period and Exams We're open late, May 8-May 26 -- Hilles Becomes the Quad Library this Summer Information you need to know now is here: http://hcl.harvard.edu/hilles/ ********************************************************** RECOMMEND A SUMMER BOOK Share your picks with Lamont News-List Readers--and win a prize! It's an annual rite of Spring for Lamont News-List readers: our call for summer reading suggestions. Perhaps you've read a book this term that was so important, timely, or life-changing that you want other people to know about it. Maybe you're a mystery or sci-fi fan with a favorite author to share. Maybe you've happened upon a book that's unusual, eccentric, visually interesting, or verbally stunning. Maybe you've recently re-read or remembered a book that meant a lot to you at another point in your life. Or maybe you've got a book on hand that you're simply dying to read once you've gotten past papers and finals next month. Tempt us! We're planning to publish the list of reader recommendations in our mid-May final issue of the Lamont News-List--just before you head out for vacation. Send us authors and titles AND tell us why you've made this choice. We'll enter your name in a raffle for one of our much-coveted Lamont stainless steel travel mugs. We'll throw in a $10.00 Starbucks coffee card, too. Two mug-coffee card combos will be awarded! Deadline for entering is **WEDNESDAY, MAY 18 .** Winners will be chosen in a random drawing and notified by email on Friday, May 20. Email your book suggestions to sgilroy(a)fas.harvard.edu ********************************************************** POWER SEARCHING TIP: No. 9: Words and phrases that can give your HOLLIS searches a real boost! The more time you spend searching the HOLLIS catalog, the more apt you are to notice that there are patterns to the way information is presented and described. Catalog records, for instance, clearly observe a set of rules or conventions; thus, author names always precede titles, titles always precede publication details, library locations are listed alphabetically, and so forth. HOLLIS records use language in regular and predictable patterns as well. Next time you're searching HOLLIS, take a look at the list of "SUBJECT" terms that appear toward the bottom of the screen. Subject terms (or "headings") are always drawn from a special approved vocabulary list and librarians use them to help identify the actual intellectual content of a particular book, video, document (and so on) that a Harvard Library owns. Only certain words may be used, only certain combinations of words are allowed, and these combinations must be entered in very exact, fixed ways. Unless you become a library cataloger yourself, you'll never be expected to master this vocabulary or know its "rules of order" by heart. By using your powers of observation, however--by keeping an eye out for subject words or phrases that seem to appear frequently, under particular conditions or in particular contexts--you can learn quite a lot about the catalog's intellectual design. You can also put that learning to very good use building smarter, better, more efficient searches. After all, every minute saved searching means more time for reading, writing, and critical reflection. If you're facing an end-of term research crunch, the words and phrases we've listed below may help you shortcut your way to good information. Try adding one to your next keyword search and watch what it can do. We've highlighted 14 examples, based on the questions we most often get from anxious students at this point in the semester. If our list doesn't match your need, however, ask a Reference Librarian for other options or for an alternative search strategy. That's what we're here to do! *** "CRITICISM AND INTERPRETATION" Type this phrase (include the quotation marks) into your keyword search when you're interested in finding works that discuss or analyze a writer, a literary work, an artist, an art work, a musician, or a musical work. EXAMPLES: monet and "criticism and interpretation" Sidney and sonnets and "criticism and interpretation" *** UNITED STATES The official subject term for what we abbreviate as "U.S." and also call "America." *** BIBLIOGRAPHY Add this term to a keyword search when you are looking for publications which reference (compile) research and scholarship on a person, event, or topic. *** "DESCRIPTION AND TRAVEL" Add this phrase to a keyword search when you're interested in finding travel literature, travel aids, or accounts of a geographic location. EXAMPLE: provence and "description and travel" *** SOURCES This term is used to identify collections of "primary" documents or discussions of writings that were contemporaneous with a particular event. These might be legal documents, letters, diaries, family papers, etc., that have been assembled and reprinted for use by students or scholars working on the topic. EXAMPLE: England and reformation and sources *** CORRESPONDENCE The official "library" way to look for letters by or to an individual or group. Remember that "correspondence" may be an option to consider when you're asked to incorporate primary source material into your research paper. *** "PERSONAL NARRATIVES" Add this phrase to a keyword search when you're interested in locating an eye-witness account of an event (e.g., a war). EXAMPLE: vietnam and war and "personal narratives" *** STATISTICS Add this word to a keyword search when you're interested in turning up numbers (i.e., data sources) on a topic or a place. EXAMPLES: developing countries and statistics pisa and italy and population and statistics *** BIOGRAPHY In addition to using this term for individuals, you can add it to a search for information on a particular place (like a country or city), an ethnic group, or a class of people. "History" is an option to consider pairing with place names and certain classes of people, too. EXAMPLES: long island and biography south africans and biography political refugees and biography *** "SOCIAL LIFE OR CUSTOMS" Pair this phrase with a country or city name, with ethnic groups or other classes of people. EXAMPLE: aborigines and australia and "social life or customs" *** "SOCIAL ASPECTS" or "ECONOMIC ASPECTS" or "PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS" or "RELIGIOUS ASPECTS" EXAMPLES: slavery and "united states" and "economic aspects" genocide and "psychological aspects" renaissance drama and "religious aspects" *** PUBLIC OPINION or PUBLIC OPINION POLLS or ATTITUDES *** You can power up a keyword search by thinking in terms of familiar forms, too: e.g., "ENCYCLOPEDIAS," "DICTIONARIES" or "HANDBOOKS" are great terms to add to a topic description when you're looking for subject overviews, term definitions, and the like. *** Sometimes, general chronology markers will focus a keyword search: "19th century." "20th century," etc. ********************************************************** GEARING UP TO START YOUR THESIS IN THE SUMMER? Here's how to find models of exemplary research and writing If you're a rising senior, you may be wondering already what the thesis writing process will really involve. You may also be curious about what the finished product should look like and what qualities separate a pretty good thesis from one that's superior--or even better yet, superb. Your professors may have advised you to have a look at some recent undergraduate theses in your concentration (or a field related to it) and often they'll encourage you to spend some time with Hoopes prize-winning essays. So how do you track theses down? If you're up for some browsing, you'll find the most recent two years of Hoopes Prizes next to the New Book Shelf on the main level of Lamont. Undergraduate theses are also cataloged in HOLLIS and we've put together a handy guide that will help you construct several good keyword searches to call them up. You'll find the guide here: http://hcl.harvard.edu/lamont/resources/guides/harvardtheses.pdf ********************************************************** LAMONT LIBRARY'S EXTENDED HOURS DURING READING PERIOD Don't forget: as is our custom during Reading Period and Exams, Lamont remains open *every* day--including Fridays and Saturdays--from 8 a.m. to 12:45 a.m. So arrive early . . . and study late between Sunday May 8th and Thursday, May 26th. ********************************************************** THE DUDLEY GARDEN: Now that it's Spring, enjoy this quiet space behind Lamont Nestled behind Lamont, the Dudley Garden is one of the hidden gems of Harvard Yard. Although it runs along Massachusetts Avenue, you'd hardly know the Dudley Garden even existed from the street. Sheltered from the haste and noise of the Square by a long and high brick wall, it's a perfectly lovely pastoral space to bring your thoughts, a good book, or a good friend. The next time you're in a mood to retreat for a bit, consider taking a walk in; you'll find the entrance to the Garden between Lamont's West Door and the A-entry of Wigglesworth Hall. From now until the end of the academic term, the Dudley Garden will be open for daytime use. Like so much else at Harvard, the Dudley Garden has an interesting story behind it. Intended as a memorial to Governor Thomas Dudley (1576-1653), the Garden was funded by a descendant, the philanthropist Caroline Phelps Stokes. At her death in 1909, Harvard received $25,000 for the project from her estate. The original Dudley Garden featured an ornate wrought iron gate, two semi-circular stone benches, a statue of Governor Dudley, a clock tower, and several inscriptions. One of these erroneously identified Dudley as the first Governor of Massachusetts. He was actually the second, after John Winthrop. Harvard--as you can probably imagine--was roundly criticized in the press for the historical inaccuracy. In 1947, the Dudley Gate was taken down in order to make way for the building of the Lamont Library. A _Crimson_ article from the time reported that the memorial was being preserved and would be re-erected upon the Library's completion. The semi-circular limestone benches were returned to the site in 1949, the inscriptions were corrected, and a terrace and sundial were added. But at some point during the building project, the original Dudley Gate seems to have disappeared. Harvard historians have not been able to determine why it was not rehung when Lamont opened in 1949 or where it ended up. A different Gate now graces the Garden. Its function is purely ornamental now, too. For a number of years, the Dudley Garden was fenced off and closed; isolated and unlit at night, it was deemed unsafe for Harvard students. In honor of Lamont Library's 50th anniversary in 1999, however, the Dudley Garden was re-landscaped and re-opened. Since then, it has served more than one Harvard student well as a spot for "green thought in a green shade." Perhaps you'll be among the fortunate ones who find their way there! ********************************************************* HAVE A TOPIC you'd like to see us cover in a future issue of the Lamont News-List? A research question you need answered? A tip you want to pass along to other Lamont News-List readers? All suggestions welcome! Send your thoughts and comments to sgilroy(a)fas.harvard.edu. ********************************************************* You received this email because you subscribed to the Lamont News-List. If at any time you wish to stop receiving this newsletter, point your browser to http://lists.fas.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/lamontnews-list. Directions for unsubscribing are at the bottom of the page. ********************************************************** Copyright 2005 President and Fellows of Harvard University

19 years, 1 month

The Lamont News-List April 10, 2005

by Susan M Gilroy

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* The Lamont News-List lamref(a)fas.harvard.edu April 10, 2005 http://hcl.harvard.edu/lamont *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* April is National Poetry Month! Read, listen, discuss and discover at the web site of the Academy of American Poets, which sponsors the annual event. Point your browser here: http://www.poets.org/index.cfm ********************************************************** IN THIS ISSUE: -- Power Searching Tip no. 7: Creating "nested" searches in HOLLIS and other Harvard e-resources -- Cool Tool on the Harvard Libraries E-Resources Page An extraordinary resource for research in the social and behavioral sciences -- On our Farnsworth Shelves Murder, mystery, mayhem and international intrigue! -- Looking for back issues of the Lamont News-List? They're archived here: http://hcl.harvard.edu/lamont/resources/tipsandtools/ ********************************************************** POWER SEARCHING Tip no. 7: Creating "nested" searches in the HOLLIS catalog Even if you've never heard the term "nesting" before, the principle behind it is already familiar to you. Today's Power Searching Tip comes straight out of basic math. A long time ago, you learned to change the sense (and sum) of a string of numbers, like 5 x 7 + 4, by introducing parentheses: 5 x (7 + 4). In the HOLLIS catalog, it's possible to express--and change--the relationships between a string of search terms by the very same means. "Nesting" is a method of grouping words parenthetically in order to clarify the logic of a search statement. The parentheses tell the computer how to process the parts of your search: what to look for first, what terms to combine, and in what way. Here's an example: a simple keyword search for BIOLOGICAL AND MILITARY OR DEFENSE in the HOLLIS catalog will produce more than 19,000 "hits" (results). A nested search for the same terms--BIOLOGICAL AND (MILITARY OR DEFENSE)--yields a mere 157. What accounts for the discrepancy? The second, nested search redistributes the "weights" of each term. HOLLIS recognizes that you are treating "military" and "defense" as synonyms, and that EITHER word is acceptable, as long it appears in a catalog record that ALSO contains the word "biological." Without the parentheses, the system will retrieve items that contain BOTH "biological" and "military" OR any item at all in which the word "defense" appears. Your chances of having to sift through irrelevant information dramatically increase. Like truncation (Power Searching Tip no. 2), nesting enables you to extend the reach of a keyword search while preserving a good degree of precision. Nesting is a far more sophisticated approach to searching than truncation, however. Truncation relies entirely on the flexible spelling of individual terms (famil? = family or families or familiar or familiarity). The key to nesting is logical strategy: careful word positioning and attention to the relationships between ideas. When should you use it? Whenever you need to separate primary and secondary search emphases, and whenever you can anticipate alternative search terms that might be worth a try. Examples: (TEENAGERS OR ADOLESCENTS) AND SMOKING (SMOKING OR TOBACCO OR CIGARETTES) AND (ILLNESS OR CANCER OR HEALTH) You'll find that truncation and nesting are often used together to create elaborate, even elegant search statements. Next time you feel like experimenting, see what happens when you enter this search string into the HOLLIS catalog: BIOLOGICAL AND (WEAPON? OR WAR OR WARFARE) AND (MILITARY OR DEFENSE) **And by the way: nesting--just like truncation (Tip no. 2)--is possible in most of Harvard's e-resources. ********************************************************** COOL TOOL ON THE HARVARD LIBRARIES E-RESOURCES PAGE The International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:iesbsxxx In print (26 v.): Lamont REF.ROOM H41 .I58 2001 The _IESBS_ is an amazing feat of international scholarship and an extraordinary research tool. Years in the making, it's the largest reference work ever published on the social and behavioral sciences, and the first attempt in more than three decades to map the entire range of knowledge encompassed by these fields. College students sometimes shy away from using encyclopedias, under the mistaken impression that they have limited value on the undergraduate level and will carry less weight in their bibliographies than books and journal articles. It's true that GENERAL encyclopedias, like the _Britannica_, tend to be broader than they are deep. An authoritative SUBJECT encyclopedia, on the other hand, can be an absolutely indispensable research aid when you need a solid overview of a topic, when you have a knowledge gap to close, or when you want to place your research question in its wider historical, intellectual, cultural, or interdisciplinary contexts. The _IESBS_ is among the favorite resources of Lamont Reference Librarians because of its breadth, depth, and utility. We're as likely to recommend it to you when you tackle a Core course assignment as when you embark on your senior thesis. It's that good. In fact, in the last two weeks, we've shown the _IESBS_ to a senior preparing for her oral exams in Social Studies and a freshman who wants to know a little bit more about what anthropologists "do" before he commits to a concentration. You'll find readable essays in the _IESBS_ on everything from Emile Durkheim to hate crimes, from brain asymmetry to ecological imperialism, and from "standpoint theory" in science to the social dimensions of World War I. Among the many reasons you might want to consult _The International Encyclopedia of Social and Behavioral Sciences_ (IESBS), we offer these: * The _IESBS_ contains 4,000 detailed articles all written by recognized experts. The fields that are covered exhaustively include (among others) psychology, economics, political science, education, and sociology. Perspectives from intersecting fields, like area and international studies, neuroscience and psychiatry (for example) are also well-represented. *_IESBS_ essays summarize scholarly trends, evaluate methodologies, and speculate on future research directions: challenges that lie ahead, questions that remain unanswered, hypotheses that still need to be tested. (More than one undergraduate has found a research project suggested in an _IESBS_ essay, by the way.) * All articles include a recommended reading list of materials chosen by the author for their excellence. These research leads can save you time and energy as you set about tracking down the work of other experts in your field. Some of these bibliographical references are even linked to articles in full-text. * Articles contain cross-references to broader, narrower, and related information covered in the _IESBS_. Look up the essay on "false memory" (for example) and you'll also be directed to entries on subjects like "Eyewitness memory, Psychological Aspects of" and "Memory Development in Children" and "Reconstructive Memory." By these means, the IESBS encourages you to think "around" a topic, as well as to think "about" it. A few search tips: * If you're not sure of the keywords to use for a search, you can explore broad subject classifications in _IESBS_. * If you search by keyword, your search results will list entries in alphabetical order. You can improve your results by clicking on the on the option to resort results by RELEVANCE. * If you want to truncate, the symbol to use is ! (exclamation point). Let us know what you think of _IESBS_ if you're already using it. And if you're not, now's the time to give this e-resource a try! ********************************************************** ON OUR FARNSWORTH SHELVES Just in case you're looking for that next good book to read We know that April is the cruelest month for Harvard students. Just when the days grow longer and the weather gets warmer, the pace of academic life picks up: papers need to get researched and written, deadlines need to be met, and decisions about the summer, the next academic year, or life after Harvard need to be made. At this time of year, what a luxury it is to lose yourself for an hour or two each day in a good book! If you're already longing for a bit of respite from these end-of-term pressures, perhaps you should pay a visit to the Farnsworth Room. Among the many kinds of books there is a super selection of mysteries and espionage fiction from all over the world. This month, we've highlighted some of our favorites in an exhibit called "Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem: International Intrigue." You'll find the exhibit on Level 1, the books in Farnsworth on Level 5, and a brochure of featured titles described here http://hcl.harvard.edu/lamont/news/intrique_intl_apr2005.pdf ******************************************************** HAVE A TOPIC you'd like to see us cover in a future issue of the Lamont News-List? A research question you need answered? A tip you want to pass along to other Lamont News-List readers? All suggestions welcome! Send your thoughts and comments to sgilroy(a)fas.harvard.edu. ********************************************************* You received this email because you subscribed to the Lamont News-List. If at any time you wish to stop receiving this newsletter, point your browser to http://lists.fas.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/lamontnews-list. Directions for unsubscribing are at the bottom of the page. ********************************************************** Copyright 2005 President and Fellows of Harvard University

19 years, 2 months

The Lamont News-List March 11, 2005

by Susan M Gilroy

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* The Lamont News-List lamref(a)fas.harvard.edu March 11, 2005 http://hcl.harvard.edu/lamont *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Are you doing research in the sciences or on a science-related topic? Cabot Library has produced a series of "Getting Started In . . . " guides for undergraduates. If you're ready for next steps, you'll find a nifty collection of guides that go "Beyond the Basics," too. Cabot's research guides are all available here: http://hcl.harvard.edu/cabot/Reference_Guides_Basic/index.html#second ********************************************************** IN THIS ISSUE: -- Cool Tool on the Harvard Libraries E-Resources Page In this database, everything old is news again! -- Power Searching Tip no. 6: "Ordered-received" and other mysterious messages in the HOLLIS catalog -- Web Sites Worth Visiting: A compendium of Presidential campaign commercials, 1952-2004 -- Looking for a specific journal article online? "Citation Linker" is also a way to "Find it @ Harvard" ********************************************************** COOL TOOL ON THE HARVARD LIBRARIES E-RESOURCES PAGE In this database, everything old is news again! The New York Times Historical 1851-2001 [ProQuest Historical Newspapers] http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:nytihist It's America's most influential newspaper, the place to go for "all the news that's fit to print." Now, 150 years of the _New York Times _ have been made searchable online. What sets this news database apart from the rest? If you've ever tried searching the NYTimes.com archives, you already know that much of its content is unavailable for viewing--unless, of course, you pay a fee. The Harvard Libraries offer students access to back issues of _The New York Times_ through LexisNexis, but this alternative has its share of drawbacks, too. LexisNexis uses plain text files (as opposed to .pdfs); it omits news photos, graphs, and visuals of other kinds; and anything that made the pages of the _Times_ before 1980 is not full-text. _The New York Times Historical_ closes these gaps by providing you with page images of every news story in every daily issue, all the way back to its publication debut on September 18, 1851. And it offers you a lot more besides. Birth and death announcements, editorial cartoons, stock prices, weather reports, classified ads, old crossword puzzles: they're all at your fingertips here. For many kinds of projects in the social sciences and humanities, _The New York Times Historical_ can be an invaluable research tool. Its coverage of people, places, events, and things makes it an excellent place to unearth historical evidence for claims you make about the past. You don't have to be a student of history, however, to discover that _The New York Times Historical_ makes fascinating reading. Start poking around in it and you'll be surprised at all the information you'll quickly uncover. And just in case you want to give the database a try, here are some things that might be fun to go looking for: * Early reports of Harvard's plans to build Widener Library * Eyewitness accounts of the battle at Little Big Horn * Reaction to the death of Charles Dickens * Game by game coverage of the 1918 Sox-Cubs World Series * The origin of the term "McNamara's war" * The capture and trial of Hawley Crippen * The invention of the telephone * Gandhi's "fast unto the death" in 1932 * The first news accounts of a rare cancer afflicting homosexual men (later identified as AIDS) In addition to _The New York Times_, Harvard offers you online access to several other "historical" newspapers. These include: The Wall Street Journal Historical (1889-1987) [ProQuest Historical Newspapers] http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:wallstjh The Washington Post Historical (1877-1988) [ProQuest Historical Newspapers] http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:washpost The (London)Times Digital Archive (1785-1985) http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:timesdig ********************************************************** POWER SEARCHING Tip no. 6: No. 5: "Ordered-Received" and other mysterious messages in the HOLLIS catalog No doubt you've already discovered that checking on the AVAILABILITY of an item in the HOLLIS catalog is just as important as noting its LOCATION and call number. There are few things more frustrating than going after a book only to find that it's not on the shelf, either because it's already charged out to a patron or because some other restrictions on its use apply. There are also instances, however, when the "Availability" information is presented in language that is mystifying to anyone other than a Harvard librarian. To help you out, we've rounded up four of the messages that students most often ask about and decoded them below. ** ORDERED-RECEIVED: Books, videos, and other materials that have been purchased for a library collection and have recently arrived will sometimes display this message under "Availability" for a short period of time. "Ordered-received" indicates that the new item, now onsite, is being readied for users and for life on Lamont's shelves. Some final bit of cataloging may be underway, or a barcode, book plate, or call number label may need to be affixed, for example. "Ordered-Received" does NOT mean "off limits," however. If the item is one that Lamont owns, come by the Reference Desk. We'll take down the information and pass it on to our Technical Services department. They'll do their best to get the item processed quickly and they'll notify you as soon as it's ready. Widener items should be requested via this online form: http://hcl.harvard.edu/widener/request/received.html ** ON ORDER or ORDERED--NOT RECEIVED: These messages are synonymous; both indicate that a particular item has been purchased and is expected to be added to the collection. It has not yet arrived at Harvard, however. Though you may have to wait for them a bit longer, materials that are "On Order" or "Ordered-Not Received" can also be held for you. If the item is one that Lamont has purchased, you can stop at the Reference Desk and give us the information. When the item does come in and has been fully processed, we'll notify you, so you can use it first. ** STORAGE: You'll occasionally see this note next to the call number of Lamont items when you check "Availability" information. For a variety of reasons, we sometimes decide to put away extra copies of books until they're actually needed by library patrons. They can be retrieved for you--not on the spot, but in a fairly short time frame. Ask for them at the Lamont Circulation and Reserves Desk. Requests that are made by 3 p.m. each day are normally available by 4 p.m.; requests made after 3 p.m. are usually available the next morning, after 10 a.m. You can request a storage copy in-person OR via the Lamont Library home page. Point your browser here: http://hcl.harvard.edu/lamont/forms/storage.html ** NO CIRCULATION INFORMATION AVAILABLE: There are several reasons why an item may carry this message. Lamont items that display it are usually anomalies; Circulation or Reference staff can probably help resolve the problem. Some Widener items, on the other hand, may display this message because they lack barcodes--and barcodes are the means by which HOLLIS tracks circulation information. The best first course of action is to check the Widener library shelves. The item may actually be sitting right there. Widener Circulation staff will add the missing barcode when you check the item out. Finally, some libraries--Houghton, the Harvard Archives, and smaller research or departmental collections--may display this message to identify an item that never circulates. The good news is that you can probably get your hands on these materials whenever you need them. But you'll have to use them onsite, as they do not, under any circumstances, leave the owning library's premises. ********************************************************* WEB SITES WORTH VISITING The Living Room Candidate: Presidential Campaign Commercials, 1952-2004 http://livingroomcandidate.movingimage.us/index.php This a web site that will appeal to anyone interested in advertising history, in the American presidency, or in the power of words and images to shape attitudes and behavior. Produced by the American Museum of the Moving Image in New York City, "The Living Room Candidate" presents the good, the bad, and the ugly of presidential politicking since the time of Eisenhower. 250 commercials are available for viewing, and they are fascinating, both as artifacts from a particular time and as examples of an evolving form of communication. Here you'll find such landmarks as Ronald Reagan's 1984 "Morning in America," Lyndon Johnson's "Peace Girl/Daisy Ad" (1964), and, of course, the infamous "Willie Horton" commercial from the 1988 Bush/Dukakis race. Commercials can be sampled in several ways: individually, by campaign year and party; by "issue" (poverty, war, taxes, and the like); and by type (those that play on "fear," for example, that are "documentary in style," that focus on "real" people). Each time you view a commercial, you're presented with a list of related TV spots over time. Helpful history and commentary contextualizes what you see. One of the other interesting features of this site is a subsection called "The Desktop Candidate," which examines the effects that the Internet has had on the last two presidential campaigns. Along with party websites and "official" online ads for Republican, Democratic, and third party candidates, there is also a selection of spots produced by partisan groups (like Swift Boat Veterans) under the heading "Shadow Campaigns." "The idea that you can merchandise candidates for high office like breakfast cereal is the ultimate indignity to the democratic process," Adlai Stevenson said in 1956. "The Living Candidate" puts that pronouncement up front on its site. Have a look around. You'll wonder whether Stevenson, ironically, was right. ********************************************************* LOOKING FOR A PARTICULAR JOURNAL ONLINE? "Citation Linker" is also a way to "Find it @ Harvard" "Find it @ Harvard" is a service that's made it easier than ever before for you to locate an online copy of a journal article that might be important to your research. If you've spent time searching in Academic Search Premier, you'll probably have seen this signature yellow and red button next many times already. "Find it @ Harvard" buttons are turning up in lots of other Harvard e-resources, too: PsychInfo, EconLit, the MLA Bibliography, PubMed (to name just a very few). When an article looks promising, one click on "Find it @ Harvard" helps you determine if it's available online, via one (or more) of our 6000 Harvard e-resources. And if there isn't, a "Find it @ Harvard" search will tell you which Harvard Libraries subscribe to the journal in print. "Find it @ Harvard" works great when you're "inside" a database, to be sure. But what if you've come across a journal citation another way: from a bibliography at the end of book, for example, from a web site you've visited, or in an email from your section leader or course TF? In these situations, you can still determine the online availability of the referenced article pretty easily. Here's what to do: >From the Harvard Libraries home page (http://lib.harvard.edu), click on "CITATION LINKER." You'll find it under the red "E-Resources" menu button at the top of the page (and also among the items listed at the bottom of the home page screen). When a new screen opens, just enter the journal title. (You can--but aren't obliged to--enter additional information, like the volume, publication year, or page numbers). Click the "Find it @ Harvard" button and the system will take it from there! Citation Linker **is** "Find it @ Harvard," just made available to you another way. ********************************************************* HAVE A TOPIC you'd like to see us cover in a future issue of the Lamont News-List? A research question you need answered? A tip you want to pass along to other Lamont News-List readers? All suggestions welcome! Send your thoughts and comments to sgilroy(a)fas.harvard.edu. ********************************************************* You received this email because you subscribed to the Lamont News-List. If at any time you wish to stop receiving this newsletter, point your browser to http://lists.fas.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/lamontnews-list. Directions for unsubscribing are at the bottom of the page. ********************************************************** Copyright 2005 President and Fellows of Harvard University

19 years, 3 months

The Lamont News-List February 18, 2005

by Susan M Gilroy

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* The Lamont News-List lamontnews-list@fas February 18 , 2004 http://hcl.harvard.edu/lamont *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* New to the Lamont News-List? Read back issues here: http://hcl.harvard.edu/lamont/resources/tipsandtools/ ********************************************************** IN THIS ISSUE: -- Power Searching Tip no. 5: InterLibrary Loan: the answer to what Harvard Libraries don't (yet) own -- Cool Tools on Lamont Library Shelves "Very Short Introductions:" a series of books you'll be glad to know about -- Learn the Ins and Outs of Data Resources at Harvard 1 hour workshops that Gov, Ec, Social Studies and Sociology concentrators should consider -- MorseLs: Little Bits About our Morse Music & Media Collection Here's how to find sheet music in the Level 2 stacks ********************************************************** POWER SEARCHING Tip no. 5: When Harvard Libraries don't have it, try InterLibrary Loan It doesn't happen often at Harvard, but there's always the chance you'll have the experience sometime in your undergraduate career. You come across a book or article that looks perfect for your research--that may even be essential to it. You're elated at your good fortune. You click the "Find it @ Harvard" button or click into the HOLLIS catalog . . . only to discover that the unthinkable has happened. Not one of the Harvard Libraries owns the item that you need. If you find yourself in this predicament, your answer is a service called INTERLIBRARY LOAN (ILL). Through arrangements that Harvard has made with libraries across the country (and even throughout the world), we can usually borrow the material for you to use (unless special restrictions apply). As if that weren't enough, ILL is provided to you completely free of charge. Widener Library takes care of processing all ILL requests for faculty, staff and students of FAS. To initiate the process, you fill out the online form you'll find here: https://illiad.hcl.harvard.edu/. The first time you use the ILL service, you'll have to set up a personal login and password, but that's an easy thing to do. And you'll know what to do from there. The key to using InterLibrary Loan effectively is your ability to plan ahead and to start your research early, so you'll have some time to spare. ILL materials can take as long as two weeks to get here and if they're coming from overseas, you could have a longer wait time. You'll be automatically notified by email or phone (whichever way you prefer) when the item or items you've requested arrive. ILL is also a good option for getting Countway Medical Library materials, by the way, and when you're busy, it's a great alternative to that long M2 Longwood shuttle ride! ********************************************************** COOL TOOLS ON THE LAMONT LIBRARY SHELVES A (not so) short introduction to a series called "Very Short Introductions" _Very Short Introductions_ are a series of books, published by Oxford University Press, that we've been adding to our collection as fast as we can. The series is enormously popular with Harvard students and many of the Very Short Introductions have made their way onto course reading lists (and Lamont's Reserves shelves). They're not all *that* short, of course; most titles average about 162 pages. Written by experts, _Very Short Introductions_ tackle central problems and issues in over 100 key subjects. The range of things covered is wide (and impressive), so whether you're into pre-Socratic philosophy or particle physics, Heidegger or hieroglyphs, modern Ireland or Roman Britain, you'll nearly always find a title suited to your interest. Don't think "very short" is the equivalent to "dumbed down," however. VSIs distill challenging topics and present them in readable but intellectually satisfying form. Jon Lanham, our Chief Collections Officer here in Lamont, tells us that there's "nothing better as a series" than these_ Very Short Introductions_. "Almost universally, the volume nails the subject." So what might you use _Very Short Introductions_ for? ** You're taking a course here at Harvard that covers a particular topic, individual, or movement and you'd like to get an overview of that subject. ** You're a freshman thinking of concentrating in one of the (many) academic fields covered by VSIs. You'd like to know a little more about what people in this field do, what they care about, and how they look at the world. ** You're a senior boning up for oral examinations and want to refresh your memory of certain theories, thinkers, and the like. ** You like learning new things--or learning "enough" about them to feel well-informed. ** You're just looking for something good to read. How do you find _Very Short Introductions_? In HOLLIS, you have two options: ** You can do a TITLE KEYWORDS search for: "very short introduction" (just like that--include the quotation marks). ** You can a SERIES KEYWORDS search for: "very short introductions" (just like that--note the pluralized form). You can see all of the titles in the _Very Short Introductions_ series, including ones that are coming out this year and those that are planned for future, at the Oxford site: http://www.oup.co.uk/general/vsi/titles/ . We'll be adding them all to Lamont's collection just as soon as they're published! ********************************************************** LEARN TO USE DATA SOURCES AT HARVARD THIS TERM These one-hour workshops are perfect for Gov, Economics, and Sociology Concentrators The Harvard-MIT Data Center is sponsoring a series of workshops throughout the Spring term. Taught by Meghan Dolan, a Data Reference Librarian from Littauer Library, these courses cover everything from quick look-up sources to micro-level datasets. Different workshops, with different emphases, are given for students working in Government, Economics, and Sociology. You can view handouts from past workshops, see a list of workshop offerings, and sign up for one or more of them by going here: http://www.hmdc.harvard.edu/jsp/topic.jsp?id=36&bct=dData%2BServices.s7.t36 ********************************************************* MorseLs: LITTLE BITS ABOUT MORSE MUSIC & MEDIA Tips for finding sheet music in the Level 2 stacks Looking for sheet music--for your favorite Ray Charles song, a Broadway musical, a Count Basie classic or a Beatles tune? You won't often find individual song titles listed in the HOLLIS catalog, but don't take that to mean that they're not available. In fact, Morse Music & Media, on Level 2 in Lamont, has lots of anthologies of printed music and popular song lyrics. These run the gamut, from medieval folk melodies to union songs of the 1930s and protest songs of the 1960s. Heavy metal, easy listening, instrumental music, and even a collection of television show theme songs can be found on the Morse shelves, too. Popular music anthologies are grouped together in Morse Music and Media, and we encourage you to drop by to peruse the collection. General anthologies begin with the Dewey decimal call number 788.2. American popular music begins with the call number 788.83. You can also browse a list of song anthologies via the HOLLIS catalog. Choose the browse by "Dewey Decimal" option from the main screen and type in (for example) 788.2. What should you do when you're not sure where the printed music for a particular song might be anthologized? Stay tuned. We'll tell you next time! ********************************************************* HAVE A TOPIC you'd like to see us cover in a future issue of the Lamont News-List? A research question you need answered? A tip you want to pass along to other Lamont News-List readers? All suggestions welcome! Send your thoughts and comments to sgilroy(a)fas.harvard.edu. ********************************************************* You received this email because you subscribed to the Lamont News-List. If at any time you wish to stop receiving this newsletter, point your browser to http://lists.fas.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/lamontnews-list. Directions for unsubscribing are at the bottom of the page. ********************************************************** Copyright 2005 President and Fellows of Harvard University

19 years, 3 months

The Lamont News-List Intersession Special Issue January 24, 2005

by Susan M Gilroy

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* The Lamont News-List lamont(a)fas.harvard.edu January 24, 2005 http://hcl.harvard.edu/lamont *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Be well, stay safe, have fun and rest up! See you back in Lamont at the beginning of February! ********************************************************** THE INTERSESSION *R & R* SPECIAL ISSUE: -- Books That Harvard Students Recommend 23 titles for Intersession reading -- Mrs. Milner's Temptation Shelf The tradition behind our "Recommended Reading" lists -- Lamont Library Hours During Intersession Just in case you'll be around ********************************************************** BOOKS THAT SOUND TEMPTING 23 titles that Harvard students recommend *** ON KISSING, TICKLING, AND BEING BORED: PSYCHOANALYTIC ESSAYS ON THE UNEXAMINED LIFE, by Adam Phillips. Harvard U P, 1993. British child psychotherapist Adam Phillips has been compared to Susan Sontag, Lionel Trilling, Chekhov and William Empson; Robert Coles has even dubbed him the "Pascal of psychoanalysis." _On Kissing, Tickling, and Being Bored_ is a collection of previously published occasional pieces, book reviews, and meditations on such simple realities as risk, solitude, worry, and yes, as the title suggests, kissing and tickling. Illiana Quimbaya, the Adams House senior who recommends this book, marvels at the way Phillips "dissects the most random things from everyday life." His fascination with the subtleties of human behavior makes him an excellent storyteller. And because this book is both "accessible" and "short" (138 pp.), Illiana thinks it might be great to take along on an airplane. *** THE RULE OF FOUR, by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason. Dial Press, 2004. Laura Perretta '06 has been telling "everyone she knows" about this book. "_The Rule of Four_ is just an amazing read--I picked it up out of boredom this past summer, and quickly understood why it was a bestseller! It follows the adventures of four Princeton undergrads as they try to decipher the secret messages encoded in an unusual Renaissance text. Falling into the newly rising genre that blends factual history with fictional story lines (think: _DaVinci Code_), it really integrates an exciting murder mystery with academic knowledge." The combination makes it perfect "for both an intellectual and relaxing read. Plus, it's co-written by a recent Harvard grad!" If you're curious about _The Rule of Four_, by the way, Laura encourages you to check out the book's "really cool website." The address: http://www.randomhouse.com/bantamdell/theruleoffour/index2.html *** THE NAMESAKE: A NOVEL, by Jhumpa Lahiri. Houghton Mifflin, 2003. Jhumpa Lahiri won the Pulitzer Prize in 1999 for _Interpreter of Maladies_, her dazzling short story collection. _The Namesake_ is her first novel and its setting is Cambridge, MA. Here's how Pragati Tandon, a Leverett House junior, describes the plot: "It's about Bengali immigrants' difficulties trying to preserve their customs," while their American-born son, Gogol, tries to create an identity by "melding aspects from two cultures." In a 2003 _Boston Globe_ review, book critic Gail Caldwell commented that "Lahiri's subject here, and in her stories, is the loneliness of dislocation. . . . In this sense, [_The Namesake_] speaks to the universal struggle to extricate ourselves from the past--from family and obligation and the curse of history." *** THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER, by Stephen Chbosky (Pocket Books, 1999). Freshman Michelle Ceruilli "can't wait" to read Chbosky's novel. The protagonist is 15-year-old Charlie, a high school freshman in Pennsylvania, whose story unfolds as a series of letters to someone he identifies only as "Dear Friend." Charlie has . . . issues. His favorite aunt has died; his best friend has recently committed suicide. The girl he loves wants him as a friend. His 18-year-old sister is pregnant. There are drugs being offered, thuggish athletes to contend with, and classes to get through. No wonder Charlie's befuddled by the process of growing up. _The Perks of Being a Wallflower_ was an instant hit with teens when it appeared on the scene six years ago. Now that it's started appearing in school libraries and on summer reading lists, Chbosky's book has also been igniting firestorms; in some school districts, there have even been efforts to have the book banned. *** THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, by C. S. Lewis. Collins, 1942. "I highly recommend C. S. Lewis's _Screwtape Letters_," writes Jenny Wolahan, of Eliot House. "Though a Christian classic, it can be thoroughly enjoyed by anyone willing to suspend disbelief and listen to the folly of the devil. The plot premise is delightfully fantastic--an older devil writing letters of advice to his young tempter nephew--and the psychology is subtle and shocking. It made me recognize myself in the main (human) character and reexamine much of my behavior. Best of all, like all of Lewis's work, it's clear, insightful, and immensely enjoyable!" *** THE LAST STAND OF THE TIN CAN SOLDIERS: THE EXTRAORDINARY WORLD WAR II STORY OF THE U.S. NAVY'S FINEST HOUR, by James D. Hornfischer. Bantam Books, 2004. Eric Sand '07 has "yet to read this book, but ever since I learned of it, I have been eager to get a copy." Hornfischer tells the story of the October, 1944 Battle of Samar in the Phillipines, one of the largest naval engagements in history. Faced with the overwhelming firepower of the Japanese navy, and with no prospect of reinforcement, thirteen American war ships, under the leadership of Douglas MacArthur, wagered everything. After three harrowing days that cost the U.S. 1000 lives, American forces emerged victorious. When it appeared last year, reviewers hailed _The Last Stand of the Tin Can Soldiers_ as one of the finest World War II volumes to appear in years. Evidently, it also reads like a really good action novel. *** HARVARD YARD, by William Martin. Warner Books, 2003. Martin, who introduced readers to antiquarian bookseller Peter Fallon in a 1979 bestseller, _Back Bay_, has embroiled his hero in another adventure in which history meets mystery. The book hinges on the legend that William Shakespeare gave one of his plays as a gift to John Harvard in honor of his birth. Called "Love's Labours Won," it was widely assumed to have been lost in the fire that destroyed the Harvard Library in the late 1600s. John Harvard, however, had bequeathed the prized manuscript to his best student, young Isaac Wedge, cautioning him to safeguard the play until Puritan values relaxed and the institution was enlightened enough to accept its artistic value. Twelve generations later, the play's whereabouts are no longer known, until an enterprising graduate student, herself a Wedge, unearths clues that suggest the play may be secreted somewhere in Harvard Yard. Laura Larsen-Strecker '08 picked up _Harvard Yard_ over the Winter break, and found it a "very amusing" read. *** MADAME BOVARY, by Gustave Flaubert. 1857. When Flaubert's novel was published in 1857, it outraged many readers as "indecent" because of its treatment of a woman's adultery. Flaubert was put on trial for offending public morality, but was eventually acquitted of the charges. The novel's protagonist, Emma Bovary, longs for the opulent world and grand passions she has read about in romance novels; trapped in a bourgeois marriage to the good but stupid Charles, Emma seeks fulfillment in increasingly desperate ways, only to propel herself toward tragedy. The novel is exquisite in its details and craftsmanship and is considered one of the masterpieces of the realist tradition in Western literature. But it is also, as Lowell House senior Limor Spector discovered, an engrossing story--"so good for curling up with by a fire." *** EX LIBRIS: CONFESSIONS OF A COMMON READER, by Anne Fadiman. Farrer, Straus and Giroux, 1998. "_Ex Libris_ is a collection of 18 essays about a life-long love of books and language," and Anna Harkey '05 says Anne Fadiman's book "will do any bibliophile's heart good. The essays are short and sweet, and as an added bonus, all are absolutely hilarious." The daughter of a writer, Fadiman grew from assembling castles out of her father's set of Trollope to learning about sex from his poorly concealed copy of _Fanny Hill_. Now an editor of _The American Scholar_ with a bookish family of her own (including a husband who is wont to read Homer aloud in bed), Fadiman wittily covers a whole host of topics--from flyleaf inscriptions to compulsive proofreading to sesquipedalianism (the love of big words). *** The HORATIO HORNBLOWER novels, by C. S. Forester. Between 1937 and 1967, author C. S. Forester completed 11 Horatio Hornblower novels. Linda Zou '06 "whole-heartedly recommends" them. She comments: "They're a series of very well written, exciting, and sentimental stories about one man's adventures in the British Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. _Mr. Midshipman Hornblower_ begins the series and introduces a seventeen-year-old boy--fiercely honest, incredibly honorable, and a notch smarter than his colleagues--who encounters all sorts of difficulties as a junior officer. What I love most about the series is that Hornblower is extremely human and makes mistakes despite his triumphs. I saw the A & E movie series of the same title over Thanksgiving break, fell in love with the characters, read some of the books over Christmas break, and fell in love with the characters even more. I give the series top ratings!" *** CONFESSIONS OF A TAX COLLECTOR: ONE MAN'S TOUR OF DUTY INSIDE THE IRS, by Richard Yancey. Harper Collins, 2004. Come April 15 each year, most people have paid their taxes; those who don't might be visited by a guy like Richard Yancey. In _Confessions of a Tax Collector_, Yancey recounts his 12-year career as a revenue officer for the IRS. Yancey's job was to hunt down DBs ("deadbeats" in IRS parlance), hounding and intimidating them until they paid their delinquent taxes. In gripping detail, Yancey describes both the various methods the "service" uses to make people pay up and the psychic toll that such work takes on him. Adams House senior Alex Lemann admits that the subject of Yancey's memoir might sound a bit "dry" to some. But don't be fooled: "this book is really engrossing, suspenseful, funny, and at times moving. Frankly, I couldn't put it down all break." *** IN HARM'S WAY: THE SINKING OF THE USS INDIANAPOLIS AND THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF ITS SURVIVORS, by Doug Stanton. Henry Holt, 2001. _In Harm's Way_ is a book "for anyone remotely interested in the Navy or WW II." On July 30, 1945, after completing a top secret mission to deliver parts of the atom bomb that would be dropped on Hiroshima, the battle cruiser USS Indianapolis was torpedoed in the South Pacific by a Japanese submarine. An estimated 300 men were killed upon impact; close to 900 sailors were cast into the Pacific Ocean, where they remained, undetected by the navy, for nearly five days. Battered by a savage sea, they struggled to survive, fighting off hypothermia, sharks, physical and mental exhaustion, and, finally, hallucinatory dementia. By the time rescue, which was purely accidental, arrived, all but 321 men had lost their lives; four more would die in military hospitals shortly thereafter. The Harvard College sophomore who recommended Stanton's book described it as a "quick, easy read that will help you realize the tremendous dedication of our service- men and women." *** THE BEAN TREES, by Barbara Kingsolver. Harper & Row, 1988. Before there was _The Poisonwood Bible_ and before there was _Pigs in Heaven_, there was Barbara Kingsolver's widely-praised debut novel, _The Bean Trees_. The heroine of the tale is Taylor Greer, who jump-starts her '55 Volkswagen bug one day and lurches out of the grinding poverty of Pittman County, Ky. Taylor is bound for a better life and hopes she'll find it somewhere out West. The VW gets her as far as Arizona, and Taylor figures that's as good a place as any to stop. While passing through Oklahoma, a frightened Cherokee woman has left Taylor with a toddler, and this little girl, named "Turtle," needs some looking after. The challenges are formidable--but so, in a way, is Taylor's resolve. Lauren Berk '06 recently finished _The Bean Trees_ and liked the way it deftly avoided all the cliches of going West. *** THE POWER OF ONE, by Bryce Courtenay. Random House, 1989. Courtenay was born and raised in South Africa, educated in England, and now lives in Australia, where he is a bestselling author. _The Power of One_ was his first novel and many early reviewers described it as "marvelous" and "totally engrossing." It tells the story of Peekay, an English boy in South Africa, in the period between the outbreak of World War II and the coming of "grand apartheid" in the late l940s. Tormented by the Afrikaan boys at the boarding school he attends, Peekay learns to survive by stealth: he will be clever, but he will not show it; he will be strong, but he will act afraid; and he will never cry. _The Power of One_ is ultimately an epic of survival. It's "my favorite book," says Lisa Martinez '06, not simply "because it's very uplifting, but also because it provides some perspective and guidance about the way life 'should' be lived." *** THE STONES OF FLORENCE, by Mary McCarthy. Harcourt, Brace, 1959. Sophomore Rosamond Xiang considers Mary McCarthy's _The Stones of Florence_ "a fantastic travelogue that mixes art, history, politics, local anecdotes and personal memoir. The whole book just flows with good humor and loving lyricism. It is light enough to qualify as my airplane reading, yet it's also serious enough to call to my mind what I've read by Machiavelli, a Florentine. The Florence depicted here is exotic enough to get the tourist in me stirring, but it is also, strangely, familiar enough that I cannot but think of my home city, Shanghai." *** THE ALCHEMIST, by Paulo Coelho. Trans. A. Clarke. HarperSanFrancisco, 1993. _The Alchemist_, a 1983 novel by Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho, is "the single most important book" that senior Priscilla Orta has read. When it appeared in an English version in 1993, _The Alchemist_ quickly became an international bestseller; it has since been translated into more than 40 languages. Coelho tells the story of Santiago, a young Spanish shepherd, who dreams of seeing the Egyptian pyramids and eventually decides to make the journey there. Along the way, he meets gypsies, old men, kings, warriors, desert-dwellers, and an alchemist, who describes Santiago's fate should he settle for less than his dream. "If you ever needed something to reaffirm your dreams or to make you believe in the greatness of life," Priscilla tells us, "this book is it." *** LONGING TO TELL: BLACK WOMEN'S STORIES OF SEXUALITY AND INTIMACY, ed. by Tricia Rose. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003. Rose, a professor of American studies at the University of California at Santa Cruz, interviewed women from various corners of the African diaspora, of different ages, sexual orientations, socioeconomic classes, educational levels, and life experiences. The result is 20 stories in which women recall (and assess) the messages they received about sex from parents, other family members, and friends. Junior Joy Cooper has been reading this book in between studying for exams and working at the Lamont Circulation and Reserves Desk. "I love this book because it challenges my thoughts and theories on my own sexuality and the intimacy I have with friends and lovers. It truly is a great book for inspiration and soul-searching." Critical response has also been enthusiastic. Reviewing _Longing to Tell_ in the _Journal of Sex Research_, psychologist M.C. Holmes called it "important, groundbreaking, and thought-provoking. Not only do these women, and other women, need to tell their own stories, but we all need to hear them as well." *** BEL CANTO, by Ann Patchett. Harper Collins, 2001. Leigh Clark's "favorite recently-read book is _Bel Canto_, by Ann Patchett." Here's why: "In her novel about a small group of opera lovers kidnapped by terrorists, Patchett portrays the characters involved--victims and terrorists alike--as complex human beings whose lives evolve according to the choices they make in their individual or common circumstances. _Bel Canto_ is singular in that it illuminates terrorism and human nature, violence and injustice while never employing emotional ploys or moral sermons. Patchett's book is a murmer of quietly fascinating words spoken by an infinitely kind, compassionate, and timeless soul." *** THREADS: MY LIFE BEHIND THE SEAMS IN THE HIGH-STAKES WORLD OF FASHION, by Joseph Abboud, with Ellen Stern. Harper Collins, 2004. "When you pick up an autobiography by fashion designer Joseph Abboud you expect to find plenty of advice on style. However, what gives the Boston native's life story great substance as well as style is his series of well-chosen anecdotes from his career. Abboud's big break with his menswear collection came soon after its launch in the mid-1980s, and it happened in the most remarkable of fields: sports." Soon, Abboud's clients would include Bob Costas, Bryant Gumbel, and Jim Nantz. But along with the breaks, Abboud committed some blunders, too, and he is candid about both. _Threads_ is enthusiastically recommended by Lamont News-List reader Mark Benson. *** THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES, by Sue Monk Kidd. Viking 2001. Following a racial brawl in 1960s Tiburon, South Carolina, Lily and Rosaleen Owens find shelter in a distant town with three black bee-keeping sisters. The sisters and their close-knit community of women live within the confines of racial and gender bondage and yet have an unmistakable strength and serenity associated with the worship of a black Madonna and the healing power of honey. Through a series of events, Lily discovers that "the hardest thing on earth is choosing what matters." Excerpts from this novel, Kidd's first, also appeared in _Best American Short Stories_. Freshman Jessica Knox thinks "everyone should read" _The Secret Life of Bees_. "It is magical, mysterious, suspenseful, and emotional. The story is touching and fascinating." *** THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN, by Mitch Albom. Hyperion, 2003. The hero of _The Five People You Meet in Heaven_ is an 83-year-old amusement-park repairman named Eddie. Eddie is gruff and lonely and feels as if his life has been a waste. By the end of chapter one, Eddie is dead, having been killed trying to save a little girl from a runaway ride. We follow him into heaven, where he encounters, in sequence, five pivotal figures from his life. Each person has been waiting for him in heaven, and, as Albom reveals, each life (and death) was woven into Eddie's own in ways he never suspected. The freshman who sent in this suggestion hasn't read Albom's novel yet--but she is dying to do so right after exams. *** THE LOVELY BONES, by Alice Sebold. Little, Brown, 2002. About a year ago, Michelle Cerulli '08 read _The Lovely Bones_ by Alice Sebold "and it still remains a top favorite of mine." On a snowy December day in 1973, 14-year-old Susie Salmon is lured into a makeshift underground den in a cornfield and brutally raped and murdered by the man she knew as her neighbor, Mr. Harvey. Susie narrates her story from heaven, where she keeps watch over her grieving family and friends, her killer, and the sad detective working on her case. Writes Michelle: "I really appreciated the childlike innocence of the novel along with its unique perspective on life and the afterlife. It's one of those books you could read time and time again and enjoy every time." *** GOOD OMENS: THE NICE AND ACCURATE PROPHECIES OF AGNES NUTTER, WITCH, by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Workman, 1990. The birth of the Antichrist in a London hospital begins the countdown to Armageddon. Eleven years later, as the forces of both Heaven and Hell anticipate the coming battle to decide the world's fate, a desperate few--including an angel with a taste for rare books, a demon in mirrorshades, the descendant of the world's most accurate prophetess, a part-time witchfinder, four young children, and a dog--race against time to prevent it. Adams House junior Lisa Martinez calls it the "funniest book I've ever read." But "it's also intelligent, and it's well-written. Both writers are really popular in England, and understandably so." Word on the street, by the way, is that Terry Gilliam (of Monty Python fame) is directing a movie version. ********************************************************* MRS. MILNER'S TEMPTATION SHELF In case you're curious about the origin of our "Recommended Reading" lists In the November 23, 2004 issue of the Lamont News-List, we told you a bit about the origins and history of the Farnsworth Room's extracurricular reading collection. But there's more to the story--so read on. A great deal of our information about the Farnsworth Room (especially in its early years) survives because of the diligent record-keeping of its proprietress, Mrs. Florence Cushman Milner (1855-1950). For 21 years, from 1916 until her retirement in 1937 at the age of 82, she was a constant, kindly, and memorable presence in the Farnsworth Room. Although she always saw herself as an "ordinary woman," Mrs. Milner was extraordinary for her time. Already 61 when she arrived at Harvard from Detroit, she had been a math teacher--and from all accounts, quite a gifted one--for much of her working life. In fact, Mrs. Milner even published books on mathematics and on teaching methods at different points in her career. During her time at Harvard, she contributed articles to local and national magazines on a wide variety of topics (including the Farnsworth Room). She edited Lewis Carroll manuscripts; she kept a scrapbook on poet Amy Lowell; she drank tea with Rudyard Kipling during a visit to his home in England; and in her retirement, she penned her autobiography at the urging of a niece. Interestingly enough, one of Mrs. Milner's essays, a _Bookman_ piece on the poems in _Alice in Wonderland_ , is still in circulation on the World Wide Web today (http://www.durrant.demon.co.uk/alice/). In its early years, the Farnsworth Room's appeal for students owed as much to Mrs. Milner's distinctive personality as to its elegant furnishings and the leather-bound volumes of recreational reading that lined its shelves. Mrs Milner seems to have inspired great (and lasting) affection, as well as a certain awe, in the Harvard undergraduates who frequented the Room. Of course, the teacher in her sometimes made her seem overly-strict. She insisted, for example, that overcoats be hung up properly (not draped on chairs), and she absolutely forbade academic work of any kind in her Room. Woe to the young man who put his hat down (or feet up) on Farnsworth Room furniture; woe to the student who pretended to be recreating but was really completing homework behind an open volume of Sir Walter Scott. Whatever her eccentricities, however, Mrs. Milner loved talking about books with students and eagerly helped them choose materials to suit their tastes. Students got in the habit of repaying her in kind by recommending titles to acquire for the Farnsworth collection, or stories she might sample on her own time. One of her early innovations was the creation of a "Temptation Shelf" in the Farnsworth Room, where she highlighted books that were eye-catching or engaging or perhaps just held the promise of a few hours of fun. We like to think of the book suggestions that periodically appear in the Lamont News-List as a virtual version of Mrs. Milner's Temptation Shelf. Over the last four years (when we started the News-List), subscribers have told us time and again that our recommended reading lists are among the features they like best of all. So, happy reading, one and all! And hats off (not on the table, of course) to Mrs. Milner, for giving us a great idea to revive! ********************************************************** LAMONT LIBRARY HOURS DURING INTERSESSION Just in case you'll be in town Tuesday, January 25 8:00am - 4:45pm Wednesday, January 26 - Sunday, January 30 CLOSED Monday, January 31 - Tuesday, February 1 8:00am - 4:45pm ********************************************************* HAVE A TOPIC you'd like to see us cover in a future issue of the Lamont News-List? A research question you need answered? A tip you want to pass along to other Lamont News-List readers? All suggestions welcome! Send your thoughts and comments to sgilroy(a)fas.harvard.edu. ********************************************************* You received this email because you subscribed to the Lamont News-List. If at any time you wish to stop receiving this newsletter, point your browser to http://lists.fas.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/lamontnews-list. Directions for unsubscribing are at the bottom of the page. ********************************************************** Copyright 2005 President and Fellows of Harvard University

19 years, 4 months

The Lamont News-List January 11, 2005

by Susan M Gilroy

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- The Lamont News-List lamontnews-list(a)fas.harvard.edu January 11, 2005 http://hcl.harvard.edu/lamont *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Don't forget: as is our custom during Reading Period and Exams, Lamont remains open every day--including Fridays and Saturdays--from 8 a.m. to 12:45 a.m. So arrive early . . . or stay late between now and January 24th! ********************************************************** IN THIS ISSUE: -- Recommend Some Good Reading: You've Still Got Time! Add your favorite title(s) to our list and you'll qualify for a great **prize** -- Looking for copies of old final exams? Link into them right from Lamont's home page -- Get Late Night Research Help in Lamont If you're finishing a research paper or project this week, a Lamont Reference Desk Prefect can answer your questions! -- Cool Tools in Lamont LET'S GO 2005 travel guides are here ********************************************************** RECOMMEND SOME GOOD READING: THERE'S STILL TIME . . . and win a **prize** just for doing so! You can't beat this deal. Send us the title of a good book, describe what you like about it, and you'll automatically qualify to win a great prize: a $10 Starbucks coffee card AND a Lamont stainless steel travel mug. Since we sent out our first call, in the December 17, 2004 issue of the Lamont News-List, we've been receiving some really interesting and eclectic titles from our subscribers. Now it's your turn to add to our mix! Let us know what you read during the Winter Break. Or what you're dying to read once exams are over. Or just tell us about a book you think other people might want to know about. Books on any and every subject are welcome! DEADLINE TO ENTER THE DRAWING: **JANUARY 19, 2005** Winners will be chosen at random and notified by email. We'll publish the suggestions in our next issue of the Lamont News-List--just in time for Intersession! Send your suggestions to sgilroy(a)fas.harvard.edu. ********************************************************** LOOKING FOR OLD FAS EXAMS? Link to them right from Lamont's home page http://hcl.harvard.edu/lamont/resources/exams.html Old FAS final exams (some dating back as far as 1997) are available online at the address above. Although you'll find a generous selection of materials, not every instructor or every course is represented here. Harvard faculty are not obligated to post exams, and many do not participate in the program. Remember, too, that much of the material on this page will be dated: exams typically make their way online two full terms (or more) after they've been administered. Courses can change drastically from year to year, even when they're taught by the same instructor. That said, there are also many good reasons to take a look at the page. Understanding something about the parts of an exam or the general shape that questions may take can help minimize pre-test anxiety by giving you a sense of what might be expected of you and in how much time. Lamont retains no paper copies of old FAS exams, but several other Harvard libraries do. We've also listed these libraries, and what we know about the FAS exams they have in print, at the web address above. ******************************************************* LATE NIGHT REFERENCE AND RESEARCH HELP IN LAMONT Or, what to do after the librarian goes home You had good intentions. You meant to finish up that final paper during Winter Recess. But somehow, between the visits with friends and family, the holiday cheer, and the luxury of having whole days to yourself again, your research never quite managed to get done. And now, at 10 p.m. one early January night, it hits you: the Reading Period deadline for that paper is creeping ever closer. With just a little bit of direction, you know you could get the research process started and keep your rising sense of panic at bay. But Widener is closing. . . and while Lamont will be open a few hour longer, its friendly Reference Librarians have gone home. Your research-whiz roommate has fallen asleep and it's too late to phone your TF. Where should you turn? Here's a solution: bring your questions to a Lamont Library Reference Desk Prefect. Prefects are undergraduates hired to staff the Reference Desk "after hours," 4 nights each week, Sundays through Wednesdays, from 8:30-11:30 p.m. They can point you toward the language dictionaries, or help you search the HOLLIS catalog, of course, but you'll find them tremendously helpful in solving more complicated research conundrums, too. Tell them what you're looking for and they'll know where to get it. They'll give you good advice on the databases to start with or work with you to figure out what to do next. And if they can't answer your question, they'll pass it along to a Lamont Reference Librarian, for follow-up the very next day. The Lamont Reference Desk is only footsteps away, and on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, it's always open late! Reference Prefects can also be reached by phone, at 5-2451. ********************************************************* COOL TOOLS IN LAMONT: LET'S GO 2005 travel guides have arrived on our shelves! If you're planning a great escape from Cambridge during Intersession, we have good news for you: LET'S GO 2005 guides have arrived in Lamont! Written by Harvard students, LET'S GO bills itself as the "bible of the budget traveler," and each guide is packed with information that will help you stretch your dollars further, find hidden deals, and decide what you should splurge on. This year, three new travel guides--for Ecuador, Peru, and Vietnam--have been added to the series, bringing the total number of guides to 45. LET'S GO 2005 guides are kept on Lamont's Reference shelves [REF ROOM G 153 .6]. These can't leave the library, because they're in such high demand, especially in the Spring term, when undergraduates comp for summer positions at LET'S GO. However, earlier editions--from 2003 and 2004--can be checked out. You'll find them in the travel collection in our Farnsworth Room on Level 5. The LET'S GO website (http://www.letsgo.com) is also worth a look for additional travel information, airfare specials, currency conversion tables, and the like. You'll even find online versions of the LET'S GO guides posted here. And by the way: LET'S GO guides aren't the only travel books you'll find in Lamont. FODOR guides and even a few books from the _City Secrets_ series are also shelved in the travel collection in the Farnsworth Room. ********************************************************* HAVE A TOPIC you'd like to see us cover in a future issue of the Lamont News-List? A research question you need answered? A tip you want to pass along to other Lamont News-List readers? All suggestions welcome! Send your thoughts and comments to sgilroy(a)fas.harvard.edu. ********************************************************* You received this email because you subscribed to the Lamont News-List. If at any time you wish to stop receiving this newsletter, point your browser to http://lists.fas.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/lamontnews-list. Directions for unsubscribing are are the bottom of the page. Copyright 2005 President and Fellows of Harvard University

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