Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Featured Online Resource: Vote411.org

The Vote411.org web site is provided by the League of Women Voters, and includes a variety of information related to elections.

Of particular note is the Search by State and Topic option. This lets you find information such as early or absentee voting, ID requirements, polling places, and more that are specific to each state.

Know your Candidates and Understand the Ballot Measures

Another feature that is very helpful is the Candidate and Ballot Measure Information  Often, it is easy to find information about candidates for state and Federal offices, but local candidates can be more challenging.

Go to Candidate and Ballot Measure Information. Enter your address. (You must enter and address that exactly matches one of the suggestions that appear as you type, so be sure to click one of these options when you see a match.) Then, select the Show My Races button.  At this point, you can choose a particular office, and then compare 2 candidates at a time.  Some candidates may not have responded to the League of Women Voters questionnaire, and so their pages will be empty.

If there is a ballot measure on your ticket, information is often provided about the pros and cons for voting for or against that measure.

Save your selections!
This tool also provides check-boxes that allow you to make selections for future reference.  Use the Finish button at the top of the page if you would like to print or email yourself a list of your selections which you can bring with you when you vote! (If you don't see the Finish  button, click on View my Races.)

This tool provides straightforward, balanced information to help you make an educated choice when you vote. It is a little tricky to work with, but with patience, you should feel much more prepared when you go to your polling place!

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

New Library Displays for October 2016

The library is pleased to provide several new displays in the library for October 2016.

5th floor - Display celebrating the 135th birthday of Pablo Picasso. The display discusses his different artistic periods and has examples of books we have on Picasso in the library.

4th floor - Display celebrating National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.This display highlights some tools for people to be aware of when online and has examples of some of the resources available in the library on cybersecurity.

3rd floor -
  • Display highlighting the history of political cartoons. Political cartoons have been in America since before we were first a country. Ben Franklin is credited with penning the first political cartoon in America. This display also highlights Dr. Seuss, who during World War II was a prolific political cartoonist. You can see some of his cartoons on display as well as other examples of political cartoons.
  • Display highlighting the Independent Lit Festival that is being held October 14 and 15. This festival is sponsored by FSU's Center for Literary Arts.
  • FSU has great faculty and staff working for the university. Besides begin great educators, they are also researchers and authors. The display highlights some of the faculty and staff who have written books or produced other works that are available in Special Collections. 
These displays will be up through October.

Ort Library Hosts Banned Book Reading

Thirty participants listened to readings of selections from banned books in the Ort Library on October 4. The event was co-sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, FSU's English Honor Society and the Ort Library.


Readings included excerpts from titles: The Amityville Horror, Scary Stories, The Grapes of Wrath, Harry Potter and Huckleberry Finn.

Dr. Mary Anne Lutz, Honor Society Adviser, is pictured below with Bailey Kight, Kat Wharton, Katie Duddridge, Nick Gray, Niki Folk, Megan Alvarez and Marshall Sandifer.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Banned Books Week Reading in Library - October 4, 7 pm

Frostburg State University’s English Honors Society Sigma Tau Delta and the Ort Library will host a banned books reading on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m. on the third floor of the Ort Library on campus. Members of the campus and local community are invited to attend and read excerpts from books deemed controversial enough to be banned or challenged.

The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be available. For further information contact Dr. Mary Anne Lutz of the FSU Department of English at mlutz@frostburg.edu or Dr. Lea Messman-Mandicott of the Ort Library at lmessman@frostburg.edu.