Upcoming Events

Make your own book in the library

Learn to make your own book in the library. Let NMCC instructor Pam Crawford show you some basic techniques for making beautiful books. February 3rd from 12-1.

Lincoln and Religion

To celebrate Lincoln's Bicentennial, on February 12th from 12-1 NMCC instructor David Raymond will give talk on Lincoln's Religion in the library. Be sure to check out our display of new Lincoln books.

African American Read Out - To celebrate Black History Month

NMCC instructor Jennifer Graham and NMCC students will hold readings in the library. Join us from 11:30 - 12:30 on February 27th.

Make your own bracelet in the library

Make your own bracelet in the library. NMCC Academic Success Center Coordinator, Laura McPherson will teach you how to make a beautiful bracelet. February 20th 12-1. Fee of $6.00 for bead kit.

Beautiful Photographs of London

For photography lovers

You have to read this story and take a look at the photos below the text. These are amazing and beautiful photos of London.

Photos

See additional aerial photography by Jason Hawkes.

If you have amazing photos from the NMCC campus that you would like to share, please contact me.

Delayed opening today

Northern Maine Community College delayed opening today, Thursday, January 29th. Campus will open at 9:00 a.m.

Living Green and Green Ideas

When the thermometer registers -38 it might be a good time to think about your global footprint. We just received several new books which can give ideas on how to be more eco-friendly.

Look for these new titles on our new books shelf.

Also on the new shelf:

Green IT: Reduce your information system's environmental impact while adding to the bottom line / Toby J. Velte

The Green Campus: Meeting the Challenge of Environmental Sustainability / Walter Simpson, editor.

Speech Anxiety Group on Campus

We all experience a bit of speech anxiety and the best way to overcome this is by practicing in front of a group.

A speech anxiety group will meet every Thursday from 3:30 - 5:00 in the large study room at the Academic Success Center on campus.

Come in and practice in front of your peers and get some constructive feedback. You can also come to sit and listen and provide feedback.

For further information, contact Laura McPherson in the Academic Success Center.

Things Fall Apart

Have you ever read a book by an author whose name you did not know how to pronounce?
I am currently reading Things Fall Apart by Nigerian born author Chinua Achebe. Luckily, I could listen to the author say his name here.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Things Fall Apart. Achebe has written many novels throughout his career, but this book is considered his masterpiece. The work has been translated into fifty languages and has had sales of over 10 million copies.

Reading this work which represents African village life is one good way to celebrate Black History Month. What books are you planning to read for Black History Month? We have a nice selection in the library. Stop by to pick one up.

New Books

Check out the new book section in the library.

Two new books for your reading pleasure:

Best African American Essays 2009
Best African American Fiction 2009

Maine History

With all of its success and excellent outreach, I am still a bit amazed at the number of people who have not heard of Maine Memory Network. It is a wonderful place to begin your online searching for Maine history and Maine photos.

Coming in fall 2009, Maine History Online will be another excellent source for information.

A Maine section has recently been established in the library where you will find all things Maine related in one location. Stop in and browse the shelves for Maine authors, Maine history, Maine art, and much more.

Other resources:

Maine Historical Society
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Vintage Maine Images
Early Maine
Maine State Library History Resources
Maine State Library Genealogy Resources
Maine Black History Resources
Maine State Archives
Maine State Archives Databases for downloading

Research

Conducting any type of research can take time. Don't wait until the last minute to realize that you can't find the information you need for your paper or project. Stop into the library or contact librarians Gail Roy or Kim Ferguson. We will be happy to work with you to show you the best resources to use and some tips and tricks that will help you become a better searcher. Learning to search the appropriate databases and learning how to conduct a more efficient Google search are two simple ways you can streamline your research process. Locating and evaluating information should be interesting and enjoyable rather than frustrating and discouraging. Stop by and let us show you how we can help.

Library Photos

New local history book in Maine Collection

Ron Laing has just donated a copy of his recent book, Egypt Road: A Memoir of a Farm Boy to the library. The book is a wonderful account of Ron's life in Westfield, Maine. I just started reading it this weekend and am enjoying it immensely. Ron graduated from Presque Isle High School in 1953 and shares some wonderful memories and photographs in this book.

Ron is a photographer and his work has appeared in Echoes and other publications. His first book, an African Adventure, contains beautiful photographs of his trip to Kenya. Ron wrote the book to raise money to buy uniforms so children there could attend school.

He lives in Oxford, Maine, with his wife Carolyn Dudley Laing.

What are you doing right now?

If you answer the question, "What are you doing right now?" then you are already aware of social networking possibilities. I would be very interested in hearing from students about how you stay connected. Do you use Facebook, Twitter, Second Life, MySpace? Something else? How many times a day do you send IMs or text messages?

What would be the best way for the library to share news with you? Do you read the library blog? Subscribe to the RSS feed? Follow us on Twitter?

Post a reply. Your thoughts and comments are appreciated.

Inaugurals Precedents and Notable Events

Some interesting information about past inaugurations.

Presidential Inauguration

Wherever you are on Tuesday, you'll have many options for viewing the presidential inauguration. If you are on campus, stop by the Reed Dining Commons to witness history on a big screen TV and enjoy a wonderful lunch buffet featuring foods significant to every president since JFK. If you can't make it to the dining hall on campus, there are many options for viewing the inauguration online.

Inaugural Senate

Presidential Inaugural Committee PICTV

CSPAN

CNN

MSNBC

Joost

Post your photos to the official inaugural book project.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

The library is closed today, Monday, January 19th, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Read more about his life and legacy at the sites below:

The King Center

Birth Home / National Park Service

Nobel Peace Prize 1964

MLK National Memorial

MLK Day of Service

Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute

Writer, celebrated wit, and member of the Algonquin Round Table Dorothy Parker never met Martin Luther King, Jr., but she believed in civil rights and the work he was doing and left her literary estate to him upon her death in 1967. After Martin Luther King was assassinated, the rights to her literary estate were transferred to the NAACP. Read more here.

Edgar Allan Poe 200th Birthday

Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19, 1809. This year marks the 200th anniversary of his birth. Celebrate by reading one of his works. You can find them online at Project Gutenberg.

Poe Bio

Visit the Poe Museum to learn more about Edgar Allan Poe

Baltimore Poe House and Museum

Nevermore 2009

Edgar Allan Poe Collection Enoch Pratt Free Library

Wind Power

The new Wind Power program at NMCC is generating a lot of interest on campus and in the community. Wayne Kilcollins recently joined the NMCC faculty and is teaching classes this semester. Stop into the library and see the display of wind power books, handouts, and other wind technology related information.

We have asked Wayne Kilcollins to give a talk about wind energy on Earth Day, April 22nd. Further information regarding time and topic will be posted on this blog as we get closer to the date.

Read Governor Baldacci's recent announcement about a wind energy rebate.

View some online resources below to learn more about wind energy and its importance in energy conservation.

American Wind Energy Association

Australian Wind Energy Association

British Wind Energy Association

California Energy Commission

Canadian Wind Energy Association

Danish Wind Energy Association

National Wind Coordinating Collaborative

Wind Energy Works

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

NREL Resources

US DOE Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE)

EERE Wind Basics

Research Labs

Sandia National Labs

National Renewable Energy Lab Wind Research

Other Energy Related Sites

Smart Power

Energy Information Administration

DESIRE Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Energy

Utility Wind Integration Group

Beginning of the semester

Today is Friday, January 16th and the semester seems well underway. Many of you have already stopped into the library and have asked questions about: your library card (which is your student ID), using the wireless, logging into the portal, how to find articles, how to request ILLs, and other general library information.

The library staff is here to assist you and help make your college experience that much better. Stop in and schedule a one-on-one session to learn to use Noodlebib (a citation manager for MLA/APA style). Ask us about the databases we have which you can access from home to retrieve journal and newspaper articles.

If there is something you need for your research, stop by and ask us. You can also call, e-mail, or IM us. Your comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Let us know what you think about library service.

The Tin Man

The Tin Man arrived in the library in 2004 and has spent every day since in the library reading and studying. The Tin Man was designed and created by the students in the sheet metal class taught by Dennis Albert, sheet metal instructor in the Trade & Technical Department. In 2004, Peggy O'Kane, then Assistant Dean of Learning Resources, approached Dennis about building a Tin Man for the library. Peggy thought he would be a wonderful surprise for the children who visit the library for storytime. As it turns out, everyone who visits the library comments on the Tin Man and enjoys seeing him.

The Tin Man is quiet, polite, and is an avid reader. Though his reading tastes are quite eclectic, he is most often seen reading children's books.

Maine Libraries Week

Read the Maine Libraries Week Proclamation.

Maine Libraries Week is January 11-17th and in our library we are celebrating with a raffle of a beautiful reader's basket. Stop in and sign up for the raffle.

While you are in the library be sure to look at our displays highlighting new books: Wind Energy, Going Green, Children's Literature, Inauguration, Black History, and Lincoln Bicentennial.

Pick up some free bookmarks, a Maine Libraries bumper sticker, and handouts on how to use MARVEL! the online databases free to all Maine residents.

We'll be offering individual training sessions all week long. Stop into the library and we'll be happy to show you how to use MARVEL!, Novelist, NextReads, NoodleBib, and much more.

Maine Libraries Week is the perfect time to visit your library and take advantage of all it has to offer.

Make Your Own Book in the Library

Have you ever wanted to learn how to make a book? Pam Crawford, NMCC Instructor, will hold a workshop in early February to show you the basics of making your own books.

Here are just a few samples of her work. These books are beautiful works of art. They will be on display in the main lobby case during the next few weeks. Be sure to stop and take a look at these amazing books. Once you see them, you'll want to create your own.

The workshop will be held in the library. Details to follow. Pre-registration required.

E. Perrin Edmunds

Edward Perrin Edmunds was born in Fort Fairfield, June 7, 1925, the son of Edward Edmunds, Jr., and Helen Powers Edmunds. He was educated at the Hotchkiss School, Yale, Dartmouth, and Northwestern. In World War II, Edmunds served as an ensign in the United States Navy and was discharged in 1946. After the war, he served in the Maine State House of Representatives (1958–1960) and the Maine State Senate (1961–1964), and was a member of the Maine Governor’s Council.

President of C.A. Powers and Company Inc., a large grower of certified seed potatoes in Fort Fairfield and Limestone, he was a longtime Aroostook County potato grower and dealer and also served for a time as president of the National Bank of Fort Fairfield.

Edmunds was married to the former Joyce Reed of Fort Fairfield. He died of a heart attack December 17, 1967, at the age of forty-two.