Book Dirt
Have you checked out a book lately? Carole Svensson has-and she's here to tell you about it. Welcome to Book Dirt, a monthly column about books and programs at the UW Tacoma Library. In every issue of Inside Track, Carole will spill the latest about great books, fun events and tips to help you, your colleagues and your family enjoy the Library.
2008- 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 . . .
