Books

One hundred years ago today, photographer Gordon Parks was born. According to Wikipedia, Parks "...was a groundbreaking American photographer, musician, writer and film director. He is best remembered for his photographic essays for Life magazine and as the director of the 1971 film, Shaft."

The library has a couple of books written by Gordon Parks, a children's book illustrated by Parks, and e-book of Parks' autobiography. We also have a DVD copy of the movie Shaft. Check one or more out today!

If you are interested in Gordon Parks' photography, you can view a few images through the MLibrary Image Collections database.

   

The other day, I was looking for new music to play during the holidays. I have multiple copies of a lot of the standard Christian hymns, but I wanted to learn something new. So, I searched the library catalog and found The New Oxford Book of Carols. This book includes the music and text for 201 carols from the last 700 years. I found a few new pieces for my Eb harmonica and there was so much for my D pennywhistle that I had a hard time limiting my choices. Now, to find the time to get out the guitar and keyboard as well…

How about checking out online sources of sheet music from the 19th century?
Music for the Nation: Sheet Music ~ 1820-1860 & 1870-1885, Historic American Sheet Music: 1850-1920, and Godey’s Lady’s Book (available in Accessible Archives) all include thousands of pieces of sheet music. I didn't check these specifically for holiday music, but give them a try!

   

     

As a child you probably read some of the fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm. Maybe you saw some of the Disney movies based on the tales, such as "Cinderella," "Sleeping Beauty," and "Snow White." Whether you read the tales or watched the movies (or not), come to the library to see our latest exhibit — Once Upon a Time... — celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Grimm fairy tales. We have books on display from our juvenile collection that demonstrate the many versions of some of the stories. We also have objects that show various characters from the movies and stories. And there is so much more!

You can find the exhibit near the elevator on the first floor.

Win a gift card! We are having a Brothers Grimm trivia contest. A winner of a $20 gift certificate to Club Cappuccino will be selected from the entries with the most correct answers. Stop by the exhibit for an entry form.

Share with us! What is/was your favorite Grimm fairy tale? Who is/was your favorite Grimm fairy tale character?
My favorite tale was probably the "Town Musicians of Bremen." When I was in grade school, the music I played on my harmonica was probably just as bad as the music of the donkey, dog, cat, and rooster. And, I thought it was fun to see what the robber thought each animal was (do you remember which was thought to be an ogre?).

   

The School of Education mock interviews originally scheduled for November 28 have been canceled. Whether you are an SOE major or not, take advantage of the library's collection to learn about interviewing for potential jobs. The library has dozens of e-books, books, CDs, and DVDs that can help. Check out one — or more — today!

For example:

       

The list of new books and other materials added to the library’s collection in October has been posted. Click on “…more New Arrivals” on the library’s home page. Or, go directly to http://library.umd.umich.edu/newbooks/.

Examples from the October list include:

       

Did you miss the discussion earlier today with nonverbal communication expert Lin Klaassen? If so, don’t fret. The library has dozens of books available about nonverbal communication. I’m sure the books won’t be as entertaining as the discussion sponsored by Student Engagement, but they might help you learn a little bit about what you missed.

For example:

           

Yes, it’s that time of the year again, when many of us get the flu shot to help protect ourselves from seasonal flu. The library can’t provide you with a flu shot, but we have books, e-books, and video in our collection that you can check out to find out more about the flu, pandemics, and healthcare response to the flu over the past century. And, if you are really interested in the history of the flu, we have online access to An Inaugural Dissertation on the Influenza... — from 1793!

Check one out.

Examples:
Influenza: A Century of Science and Public Health Response (book)
Introduction to Pandemic Influenza (e-book)
Spanish Flu (DVD)

          

The Voice/Vision Holocaust Survivor Oral History Archive recently worked with Irene Miller to publish her Holocaust memoir, “Into No Man’s Land: A Historical Memoir.” Ms. Miller recounts her family’s efforts to survive during World War II. Robbed and stranded in a frozen field outside Warsaw by the man hired to help them escape to Soviet-occupied territory, the family must separate in order to cross the border. When Irene’s mother is rounded up with other families abandoned in the field, she must make a desperate and daring escape from the train of Jews being sent “who knows where.” The family is reunited, but then is shipped off to forced labor camps in Siberia where years of hard work and near starvation take a toll on the family.

Miller will be a highlighted local author at the Jewish Book Fair at the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield on Sunday, November 18 (10 a.m. to noon).

“Into No Man’s Land” is available for sale at Amazon.com.

     

Did you miss the business etiquette dinner last night? The library might be able to help you with some of what you missed! While we don’t have any leftovers from the dinner, the library has many books in our collection about business etiquette. For example, we have the e-book Business Etiquette for Dummies, 2nd edition. And, if you expect to have an international reach in the future, we have Do’s and Taboos Around the World, 3rd edition. Check out a book today!