Featured Online Resource: Book Recommendation Web Sites

Creative commons license: Cinema Book Shop

As finals week comes to an end, and you prepare for a much-deserved break between semesters, you might find yourself more in the mood for some pleasure reading.  Sometimes, it can be hard to decide what your next book should be.  Below are some resources that may help you pick out your next book!

• What Should I Read Next? - Enter a favorite book or author to see a list of similar works to consider reading.
• Your Next Read - Recommendations based on favorite books.
• Novelist Plus - This also provides recommendations based on reader interests and past favorites. (Please note that this database is a subscription database, and the link points to Allegany County Public Library's list of databases.  You need to have an Allegany County Library Card to access this. If you live outside of Allegany County, check with your home public library to see if they also have access to this or a  similar database.)
• GoodReads - Create an account to find recommendations from your friends and other members with similar interests.
• National Public Radio Book Reviews
• New York Times Book Reviews 

Of course, you can also browse the shelves of the library or your favorite bookstore (in-person or online), as well as simply talking to your friends about some of their favorite reads.

Enjoy your break as you escape into your next good book!

Ort Library Continues its Collection for the Frostburg Food Pantry

The Ort Library continues to collect food for the Frostburg Food Pantry through December 20, 2013. 

The display on food insecurity, located on the 3^rd floor (located between the 4 stand-up PCs) continues through the end of this month. This display looks at food insecurity and hunger for those living in Allegany and Garrett counties. More than 49 million Americans are living in households that are food insecure. According to the latest US Census data, more than 30% of households in Allegany County and almost 28% of households in Garrett County have incomes of less than $25,000, which can make purchasing food difficult. 

A collection box is located by the display.

Extended Library Hours Continue through Final Exams

Just a reminder that extended library hours continue through Final Exams.

 The hours for the library for the last week of classes and during final exams are listed below

• December 9 - 12 (Mon - Thurs): 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
• December 13 (Fri): 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 midnight
• December 14 (Sat): 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 midnight
• December 15 (Sun): 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
• December 16 - 19 (Mon - Thurs): 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
• December 20 (Fri): 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

If you have any questions, please contact the Circulation Desk at 301-687-4395.

The Ort Library wishes you good luck on your final exams!

Group Study Rooms and Individual Study Rooms Available

As we get closer to final exams, the Ort Library would just like to remind you that we offer five (5) group study rooms for groups of three (3) or more people. Each study room is equipped with a computer and large screen monitor. Three (3) group study rooms are available on the 5^th floor and two (2) group study rooms are available on the 2^nd floor. 

To access a group study room, please stop by the Circulation Desk on the 3^rd floor of the library to check out a key. Your group can utilize the group study room for two (2) hours. At least three (3) members of your group must come to the Circulation Desk to check out the key.

In addition, three (3) group study carrels are available on the 5^th floor of the library. These are open computers/tables for use and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.  

Finally, just an additional reminder that four (4) individual study rooms are available for student use on the 5^th floor of the library. These rooms are always unlocked and you do not need a key to access them.  The individual study rooms can be found at the end of the floor closest to the Chesapeake Dining Hall. If you take the elevator to the 5^th floor, you would go to the left and they would be at the end of the stacks. The rooms that are available for use are 514(A), 515, 519(G), and 522(C).

Symposium Held At Virtual Ort Library in Second Life!

On Dec. 3, the "other" Ort Library on the FSU BobCats Islands sim in the virtual world of Second Life was the venue for the symposium Virtual Expanses: Expanding Virtual Education. The symposium was organized and hosted by Peace Dragovar (Dr. Minnie Ladores, FSU Educational Technology Coordinator, Education Professions Dept.) and Florian Blaisdale (Dr. Sean Henry, Library Webmaster/Coordinator for Library Instruction). Among the thirty attendees were several FSU undergraduate and graduate students studying Educational Technology and Online Instruction.



The Symposium featured lively, interactive presentations by three inspiring leaders in the field of virtual education:

1. Lyr Lobo (Dr. Cynthia Calongne, Professor and Chair of Emerging Media at Colorado Technical University) - Lyr presented strategies and resources for gaming in education. Many of Lyr's recent presentations can be viewed at http://www.slideshare.net/lyrlobo/presentations.
   
   
2. Diantha Petrov (Lori Wahl, Instructor of Clothing, Textiles and Design at the University of Idaho Consultant) - Diantha spoke about successes and strategies with Second Life for distance education, and disccussed future ideas and the challenges of creating immersive learning environments.
   
   
3. Spiff Whitfield (Andrew M. Wheelock, K-12 Educator, Leader in the International Society for Technology in Education's Special Interest Group for Virtual Edication, and Founder of Virtual Pioneers) - Spiff shared his adventures as a "Virtual Pioneer,"visiting historical sims and reimagining how history can be taught in virtual worlds. A video of his recent keynote address at the 2013 Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference is accessible at http://youtu.be/XutJqb5F9QQ

In addition to the stimulating presentations, Florian Blaisdale hosted a trivia game with linden cash prizes for attendees in the Game Tent outside the Library. The Symposium came to a sparkling conclusion with dancing to beautiful music provided by FSU's own Dhrua (Dr. Sally Stephenson, Associate Professor of Education Professions).

The Virtual Expanses Conference on FSU's Second Life BobCat Islands was an astounding success, but just wait until next semester!

New Library Displays for December

The Ort Library is pleased to present two new displays for December.

The first display, located on the 3^rd floor (by the main entrance) provides information on the end of Prohibition 80 years ago (1933) with the passage of the 21^st Amendment to the US Constitution. The temperance movement swept the United States during the 1820s and 30s. By World War I, this cry for the prohibition of alcohol gained increased popularity which culminated in the passage of the 18^th Amendment in 1919 which prohibited the creation, sale, and transportation of alcohol. By the late 1920s, the mood in the US had moved back to allowing the creation of liquor by legitimate businesses. By 1933, the 18^th Amendment, outlawing alcohol had been repealed.

The second display, located on the 5^th floor of the library, recognizes December as AIDS Awareness Month. AIDS Awareness Month is a key opportunity to raise awareness, commemorate those who have passed on, and celebrate victories such as increased access to treatment and prevention services. Come to the Ort Library and view the AIDS Awareness Display on floor 5.  Learn more about HIV/AIDS through statistics and background information as well as see what titles the library has on AIDS.  Included in the display is the book And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts. Published twenty years ago, And the Band Played On was quickly recognized as a masterpiece of investigative reporting.  Shilts' expose revealed why AIDS was allowed to spread unchecked during the early 80's while the most trusted institutions ignored or denied the threat. One of the few true modern classics, it changed and framed how AIDS was discussed in the following years. 

Finally, the display on food insecurity, located on the 3^rd floor (located between the 4 stand-up PCs) continues through the end of this month. This display looks at food insecurity and hunger for those living in Allegany and Garrett counties. More than 49 million Americans are living in households that are food insecure. According to the latest US Census data, more than 30% of households in Allegany County and almost 28% of households in Garrett County have incomes of less than $25,000, which can make purchasing food difficult. 

The Ort Library will be collecting for the Frostburg Food Pantry through the end of the semester. A collection box is located by the display.

The displays will be up through the end of December.

If you have any questions about the displays, please contact Theresa Mastrodonato at ext. 4425 or tmmastrodonato@frostburg.edu or MaryJo Price at ext. 4889 or mprice@frostburg.edu.

Extended Hours Begin Friday December 6

The Ort Library is pleased to announce that extended library hours begin Friday December 6^th. The hours for the library for the last week of classes and during final exams are listed below.

• December 6 (Fri): 7:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
• December 7 (Sat): 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
• December 8 (Sun): 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
• December 9 - 12 (Mon - Thurs): 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
• December 13 (Fri): 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 midnight
• December 14 (Sat): 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 midnight
• December 15 (Sun): 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
• December 16 - 19 (Mon - Thurs): 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
• December 20 (Fri): 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

If you have any questions, please contact the Circulation Desk at 301-687-4395.