Book Dirt
2009
- May 2009: Driven to distraction
Are you feeling worn out from the end of the school year, the ongoing budget crisis and the possibility of catching the swine flu? It’s time to distract yourself from all your woes with resources that are available to you right here in your UW Tacoma Library. Come by the Library and check out a DVD to while away the evening hours instead of fretting and stewing over the next day’s headlines. Here are some guaranteed distractions: Read more . . . - April 2009: Working together
When I was a student here at UW Tacoma in the mid-’90s, group work was just becoming popular. Now, in 2009, nary a class goes by that doesn’t require it. The Library has tools available to help groups work together. We are lucky that many database providers offer methods to easily save, share and annotate searches for groups in need of journal articles and book chapters. Additionally, we have added a variety of resources to help facilitate the kinds of work that groups do outside of database searches: writing papers, creating presentations and making spreadsheets. Read more . . . - February 2009: Black History Month
With the inauguration of our first African-American president in January, Black History Month takes on a new significance this year. This wonderful event invites us to delve into our new president’s history, and to remember that the history of a wide range of ethnicities is the history of our country. The Library is here to guide you to resources to explore the history of all of our American roots. If you’re interested in African-American history, the list below will get you started. It is a very small sampling of the amazing number of excellent resources we have. Don’t hesitate to talk to a librarian. We love to explore history. Read more . . . - January 2009: An economy of words
A new year always holds promise, but this year's promise is a little bleak. We are inundated with messages of downward spiraling economic circumstances. Sure, we're all aware that it's happening, but what does it mean? Depression, bankruptcies, inflation, unemployment rates, recession — it's all scary news with mysterious words. It can be difficult to understand how it will affect you, or how it fits into the big picture of our economic past, present and, perhaps most importantly, future.At the UW Tacoma Library, we have lots of resources to help you decipher those cryptic economic terms and allow you to make some sense of it all. Here are some starting points, ranging from scholarly papers to the price of Big Macs around the world (only $1.30 in the Ukraine, secret sauce and all). Read more . . .
- November 2008: Historical electoral and convention resources
It's been an incredible election this year. The level of engagement and excitement about the candidates and the process has rarely been more intense in modern times. See how this election stacks up against past elections by perusing the fantastic (and fantastically reliable) resources available at the Library. Read more . . . - June 2008: Summer Jobs
Summer is coming, slowly but surely. For those of us who work at UW Tacoma, our focus shifts to vacations, new plans for the next year, perhaps a summer research project. However, our newly graduated students shift their focus to one thing: a JOB! Read more . . . - April 2008: Online Resources
I'm back from a Book Dirt hiatus, during which I've been terribly sick. During my illness, I've had to time to contemplate and appreciate the many online resources we have to offer that allowed me to continue my work while lying weakly at home. Let me share a few that I have taken advantage of, all organized and presented to you in one efficient location: YOUR UW Tacoma Library! Read more . . .
- December 2007: Reading season
There's certainly no shortage of downtime during the holidays. In between opening presents, eating and talking to family, there are plenty of opportunities to indulge in some fun reading. Read more . . . - November 2007: Being thankful
Grab your turkey sandwich and sit back; it's time to review our many reasons to be thankful. Usually, this is a personal endeavor. But at the UW Tacoma Library, we have lots of reasons to be thankful. We suspect that we aren't the only ones, and so we're going to share with everyone! Read more . . . - August 2007: Intellectual ramp-up
In June, I appealed to the summer slacker in all of us by talking about beach reading. But that time of year is rapidly passing, and now is the time to get those sluggish brain cells flowing again. Why not get your intellect in shape for fall by exploring a subject that has always fascinated you? We've got lots of pithy and substantive reads to help build your cerebral muscles. Read more . . . - July 2007: Patriotic reading
Summer may be a time for fireworks and BBQs, but it's also a time to reflect on the building of our nation. Recently, I was in Washington, D.C., and was able to view some of the documents and books that belonged to our founding fathers. Seeing the handwriting of Thomas Jefferson in the margins of a book formerly belonging to Benjamin Franklin really brings alive the independent vision that these men had in a time of British rule. Seeing the documents in person is incomparable-but you can stay right here in the "other" Washington and still view them. Read more . . . - June 2007: Beach reading
Let's face it-when you think of the library in the summer months, you think "Beach reading!" Now, granted, we are a university library, so our idea of beach reading might be a little different than, say, People magazine. But that doesn't mean we don't have some great reads! Check out these intriguing titles (all by UW Tacoma authors) to fill your summer days with excitement. Read more . . . - May 2007: Tacoma history
As you move about campus, darting between buildings for meetings, do you ever wonder about our beautiful architecture? Do you think about downtown and wonder what it used to be like and why it developed the way it did? Read more . . . - April 2007: Master's theses
As a culmination of their studies at the University of Washington Tacoma, master's students work hard on their theses-but when they're done, what happens to their final project? They disappear into the library stacks, rarely to be viewed by anyone. Now, UW Tacoma students' theses are available to the public. To find this collection, climb the stairs to the Library's tower room. Read a thesis right there under the Chihuly chandelier, or encourage your students to check one out as inspiration for developing their own ideas. Either way, our faculty and staff should feel proud that their work with students is resulting in some amazing theses. Read more . . . - March 2007: Nonprofit resources
Do you have a passion for helping people? Here at the UW Tacoma Library, one of the ways we support that passion is by providing access to materials that help folks write grants to do good work in our communities. If you would like to start a nonprofit, or support a local organization that's doing worthwhile work, come by the Library and avail yourself of our Nonprofit Resources Collection, part of the Foundation Center's Cooperating Collection network. The network was developed to support those who are seeking financial support for their community endeavors. Read more . . . - February 2007: New Books
Looking for a fun read to share with your kids? Dive into our children's collection, officially known as the Professor Belinda Y. Louie Children's and Young Adult Literature Library Endowed Collection, which provides the opportunity for children of all ages to read books ranging from Caldecott winners to Dr. Seuss to African folk tales. The collection is being developed to support students in our education program, but all of our kids' books are available for any interested staff, student, or faculty member to check out and take home. Here are some of my favorite titles from this collection. Read more . . .
