Results tagged “Library_Spotlight” from Iwasaki Library Blog

That's right, you heard it here first: the same folks who brought you the nifty film review and television review guides have now done the same for theatre and performance reviews.

Use these comprehensive guides to identify the date of release, performance, or publication and then determine which indexes, databases, and full-text reference sources have coverage during the given year. Although it's easy to simply stop at the full-text databases, we encourage researchers to make use of both print and online indexes and sources. Not only is there variation in date range coverage, but each source - despite sometimes considerable overlap - indexes a given set of periodical titles (and even books in certain cases).

We hope that these graphic guides make the review-searching process easier. Enjoy, and let us know what you think!

If you're looking for reviews of old television programs, don't just sit there and pull your hair in frustration - turn to the new Television Review Indexes and Sources information graphic compiled by Emerson librarians.

And don't forget that there's a similar review-finder for film.

Coming soon, another review guide for theater and performance reviews!

Library adds Encyclopedia of Journalism to collection!
Librarians go wild, students in awe

Manny Paiges, Library Beat

Boston, Mass. - Just ask your friendly librarian, and she'll tell you: not all encyclopedias are created equal.

Within the last few weeks, on an undisclosed date, the Iwasaki Library acquired the 2009 Encyclopedia of Journalism, a one-of-its-kind six-volume scholarly behemoth that experts say is the encyclopedia to end all encyclopedias. Several of the librarians there have been observed in recent days whispering and shaking their hands in presumed delight while using the new reference work.

"It's kind of a big deal," exclaimed an anonymous source within the library.

With over 360 signed entries in the first four volumes alone, this attractively designed book leaves little to the imagination. This reporter noticed that each of these entries featured "further readings," and each of the volumes also included an index for the entire set.

"We're very pleased, that's all I can say at this time," said another unnamed source within the library, as she trembled and embraced one of the six volumes.

One of the librarians was eager to point out that volume 5 contains key documents in the field, including laws, court cases, codes of ethics and standards, educational statements, and data on the profession. Volume 6 appears to have even more information in the form of appendices that list journalism awards, country ratings of journalism freedom from Freedom House, and a guide to recent literature.

One student interviewed was clearly pleased by the new set. Hugh Tabb Lloyd, a 3rd year journalism student, pored over one of the volumes, smiling widely. "This thing might just save my ass," he said.

No, it's not just you - it is getting hot in here! Cool down with Climate Change: A Reference Handbook, one of many volumes in the Contemporary World Issues series. Each book in this fantastic reference series contains an overview, chronology, biographical sketches, facts and statistical data and/or primary source material, a directory of organizations, a list of other reference sources, and a glossary.

The 2006 Stern Review Report on the Economics of Climate Change commissioned by the British government warned that a failure to strongly and promptly reduce carbon emissions "could create risks of major disruption to economic and social activity, later in this century and in the next, on a scale similar to those associated with the great wars and the economic depression of the first half of the 20th century." And despite the now firmly established scientific consensus on global warming, a recent national survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press revealed a disturbing decline in the proportion of Americans who (1) believe that there is solid evidence of a rise in global temperatures and (2) say global temperatures are rising as a result of human activity.

Use this week's "pick" to educate yourself on this most urgent matter.

The Library Media desk staff hears this question often: "Can I take this video home?" and until now, the answer has always been, "No, students have to watch videos in the Library." Starting today, thanks to a generous gift from an alumni donor, students CAN check out selected DVDs, up to 3 at a time, for 7 days.

Now, a little bit about the man who made this possible. Dick Beebe graduated from Emerson College, and Yale School of Drama. After Yale, he went to Los Angeles, where he became a successful writer for film and television. His credits include The Lazarus Man, a TV series with Robert Urich, Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, "Only Skin Deep", from season 6 of the HBO series Tales from the Crypt, and the 1999 remake of House on Haunted Hill.

As might be expected from a writer who specialized in horror, his video collection is strong in this area. In addition to the classics, it includes unusual items like Charles Crichton's British horror anthology, The Dead of Night, Richard Stanley's cult opus Dust Devil, and Benjamin Christensen's history of witchcraft, Haxan. (This is probably a good place to note that not all of Mr. Beebe's collection is part of the circulating collection. Titles the Library didn't already own will become part of the teaching collection. That said, the circulating collection features plenty of very scary movies--from Alien to Carrie to The Wicker Man to the aforementioned Haxan--and just in time for Halloween.

Another collection highlight reflects Mr. Beebe's interest in television. Starting with The Honeymooners, his collection samples every era--from the 1950's Have Gun, Will Travelto contemporary shows like The Wire.

Sadly, Dick Beebe died June 20, 2008, from complications associated with brain cancer. We feel privileged that he decided shortly before his death to share his love of movies with his alma mater.

The library is releasing the Discover MultiSearch database searcher as a public beta-test for the Emerson Community - find the link on the homepage in the right column. It allows you to type search terms, and search a handful of separate databases at once. When you've tried it out, we're eager to know what you think - please click the Emerson Library logo in the upper right, and fill out a brief survey. If you'd like a quick intro to how it works, please feel free to stop by the reference desk. All responses to our survey will be read and discussed as this tool is refined and redeveloped. Please be aware - it is a beta-test, and several things are likely not to work quite right as of yet!

October is American Archives Month! To celebrate the Archives is featuring the Sigmund A. Lavine Boston Theatre Collection in anticipation of the opening of the new Paramount Center next year.

The Lavine collection features materials related to Boston theaters, including Emerson's own Majestic Theatre. The collection consists of photographs, scrapbooks, ledgers, playbills, programs and newspaper clippings related to Boston theater in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Images include popular actors of the time, like General Tom Thumb, Sara Bernhardt, and Edwin Booth (brother of the notorious John Wilkes Booth). The programs and playbills feature productions from the Bijou Theatre, Boston Museum, Castle Square Theatre, Tremont Theatre, and Hollis Street Theatre, as well as many other Boston area theaters.

For more information about this collection or about the Archives in general, visit the Emerson College Archives website. For more library information, including Archives updates, follow EmersonLibrary on Twitter!

Artwork by Tali Silver is on display in the Library for the Fall 2009 semester.

Silver works in painting, mixed media, watercolors and photography. She was educated in the Midrasha Teachers' College in Israel and continued taking studio courses in the U.S., at Mass Art and other local institutes. Since 1999, she has been an adjunct professor in the School for Visual and Performing Arts at Endicott College, Beverly, Massachusetts.

Beauty and Danger 22" x 30" Watercolor 2009

I am drawn to mystery and darkness. I strive to play these qualities against a presence of light. In the road theme paintings, the landscapes are the settings of a daily drama. Familiar roadsides stretch beneath overarching skies. The sky, the most beautiful canvas of all, streams down its hues. The common experience of speeding along the highway becomes a metaphor for living; it conveys a sense of moving towards an impending encounter with the unknown.

My process is based on photographs which I appropriate or shoot while driving. I work out the composition through small sketches and manipulations in Photoshop. I apply paint in layers. Using watercolors, I alternate multiple washes and dry brushwork. I love the challenge which is unique to watercolors, of maintaining the white paper highlights. It makes me think of things in life, which need to be protected in order for the light to shine through.

Through the Films on Demand database, the Emerson community has access to more than 3500 films, television documentaries and historical dramatizations published by Films for the Humanities and Sciences. These include works by noted documentarians and journalists such as Bill Moyers, the BBC, and ABC News, on a vast range of subjects - art, history, politics, science, and more. Videos may be viewed in Flash, Windows Media or Quicktime formats. Films can be streamed from any internet-accessible PC. Click Here to access Films on Demand, and let us know what you discover.

Definitely no tricks here, just thrilling treats from our collection! All throughout the month of October, you can follow the library on Twitter to receive 31 days of Halloween tweets. Each day at midnight, we'll be highlighting spooky stories, scary movies, and lots of other stuff to get you into the season. Just search for EmersonLibrary on Twitter!

Literature has most often been suppressed or banned because of sexual content. As national obscenity laws have evolved so has the public's response to so-called "smut" books. Once considered so lewd that it was only publishable in Italy in order to avoid English censors, D.H. Lawrence's titillating classic Lady Chatterley's Lover is now firmly ensconced in the canon of great works of the English language. Despite some of it's earthy language, Lady Chatterley's Lover is as much an indictment against industrialization and the dulling effect social hierarchies have on the human condition as it is a torrid love story.

Books like The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio, first written in 14th century Italy, found themselves banned in the United State simply for referencing sexual activity. Having survived seven centuries of criticism and attack, The Decameron is now widely read as an early example of allegorical social criticism and has even been credited with inspiring Geoffrey Chaucer to write The Canterbury Tales. Even notorious novels like John Cleland's Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure have stood the test of time and are now studied as early examples of erotic literature. Academics demonstrate new and insightful readings of these works all the time, demonstrating how historical texts can shed new light on current social issues.

Want to read more about pornography's checkered relationship with literature? Check out some of these titles: Porn 101, Sex Literature and Censorship, and Perspectives on pornography : sexuality in film and literature. For a thorough grounding in pornography's evolution from obscenity to art, check out all three volumes of Pornography and sexual representation in the reference section.

Ray Bradbury's classic portrayal of a futuristic dystopia where "firemen" actual set fires--to books, in fact--instead of extinguishing them has long had its share of admirers and critics alike. Since its publication in 1953, Fahrenheit 451 has also topped the challenged book lists, particularly in school and young adult libraries.

In Facts on File's Banned Books series, Fahrenheit 451's history is long and storied. Ballantine Books, the original publisher, issued a censored and edited version of the book to be sold exclusively to high schools. Words like "hell" and "damn" and references to drunkenness and abortion were eliminated from the book. No references to these edits were made on the copyright pages, and many people read the novel without ever being aware that an "adult" edition existed. Eventually, Ballantine ceased publishing the original version all together, and even Bradbury remained ignorant of these changes. Finally, in 1979, over 25 years after its initial publication, Bradbury was alerted to the censoring of his book and immediate demanded a recall of the highly edited version.

Since 1980, the complete and original text of Fahrenheit 451 has been the only one available, thanks to Bradbury's demands and the keen eyes of some savvy readers. If you want to read a great indictment against censorship, check out this classic. Or take a look at legendary director Francois Truffaut's film adaptation or a graphic novel interpretation of Bradbury's text .

As Banned Books Week continues all this week, check out some of the materials the library has on art and censorship. After all, bans are not limited to books alone. Facts on File released an update to its series, Banned Books, in 2006. These books, divided into four subject areas, discuss in depth the censorship history of some of the most challenged texts in English literature. Featured are Literature Suppressed on Religious Grounds, Literature Suppressed on Political Grounds , Literature Suppressed on Social Grounds, and Literature Suppressed on Sexual Grounds. Each book lists challenged titles alphabetically, offers a synopsis of the work focusing on the elements that give rise to argument, and also provides a history of censorship of the work. Everything from religious documents to children's books is investigated.

To find out even more about the history of censorship and art, try doing some keyword searches in the catalog!

In turn of the century America, Boston became notorious for its strict policing of perceived prurience in the arts. Books, films, even performances were all subject to being "banned in Boston," as lawmakers and censors followed in the footsteps of Anthony Comstock's heavy-handed crusade against obscenity in New York. Comstock was also responsible for the "Comstock Law," a Congressional bill illegalizing the transportation and delivery of items deemed lewd, obscene or otherwise dangerous. Since the law could not exactly determine what an individual might perceive as obscene, it was left open to wide interpretation. It was no more widely interpreted than in Boston.

Author Christopher M. Finan covers this period of censorship history very well in From the Palmer Raids to the Patriot Act: a history of the fight for free speech in America. Finan notes that much of Boston's fervor over decency in publications stemmed from the Watch and Ward Society, a censorship group founded in 1878 and dedicated to restricting and eliminating access to inappropriate literature. At its most powerful, the society ensured that the Boston Public Library had questionable materials under lock and key, and they made sure librarians only doled out those works to patrons who could prove a legitimate research interest.

By the 1920s, the social tide towards censorship was turning. What was once fervently supported as a measure to protect the minds of the innocent was now perceived as authoritarian and ignorant. Finan quotes aptly from an editorial in the Boston Herald: "Do not make us ridiculous [...] Do not imply to the world that those whom we elect to office have no comprehension ... of intellectual freedom" (99).

Eventually, writers and editors of the age, as well as their readership, began to question the validity of the Comstock Laws. Groups like the Watch and Ward Society slowly lost their power, particularly when noted intellectuals like H.L. Mencken challenged such censorship in the courts. In the wake of Nazi book burnings in Germany in 1933, over 100,000 Americans protested in major cities across the nation, signifying that this country would never allow the state to fully determine the value of art. That same year, U.S. District Court judge John M. Woolsey lifted the eleven year Customs Bureau ban on James Joyce's Ulysses, a novel which still tops many publishers' lists of great books written in the 20th century. Of his decision, Judge Woolsey wrote: "When such a real artist in words, as Joyce undoubtedly is, seeks to draw a true picture of the lower middle class in a European city, ought it to be impossible for the American legally to see the picture?" (Finan 108).

Each year, libraries celebrate the history of censorship in America during Banned Books Week, taking place September 26th - October 2nd this year. As we look at books and films that have been banned, challenged or censored in some way, we can appreciate the value of intellectual freedom and examine how far we have come in terms of free speech and consider how far we have to go.

Discover Hidden Gems - the library's welcome to new and returning students - highlights some of the less-visible (or more-overlooked) materials, features and uses of the library. In addition - while supplies last - the library is supplying candy at campus venues, each piece spotlighting one of these resources. New students were invited to submit examples of their own conception of hidden gems, which are displayed throughout the library. Best wishes on the forthcoming school year! Welcome (back)!

The Duke University Libraries, well known for its digital collections, has released thousands of historic TV commercials for free through a new resource called AdViews. The collection features ads for over 70 products and is neatly arranged into albums on iTunes U, the section of the iTunes Store full of free educational materials. This fantastic collection continues to grow and will eventually contain ads through the 1980's.

For now, ads range from the bizarre 1960's Crest campaign in which Bill Cosby stars as "Mr. Tooth Decay" and pals around, amid a pair of humongous teeth, with a karate master named "Bac Teria"; to the classic "Weebles wobble but they don't fall down!"; to the ridiculous Hardees ads from the 1970's, in which a boy and a girl voraciously devour hamburgers, get highly gendered toys from a "Fun Machine" (girl gets ring, boy gets plastic spider, both are thrilled!) , and barely notice that a cape-wearing, burger-loving villain named "Super Mouth" is on the loose and plotting to eat all of the juicy burgers.

If you enjoy vintage ads, you will easily become addicted to AdViews. You'll also probably enjoy geeking out with The Advertising Age Encyclopedia of Advertising and The Encyclopedia of Major Marketing Campaigns, both of which are available in the Library's Reference collection.

Many of you may have seen last year's faculty display in the Little Building and by now you are probably just passing by with maybe a quick glance. If you haven't taken a look recently you might want to stop and check out the latest version. We are featuring 13 more faculty members in this go around.

The Library now provides access to ProQuest Central, a research starting-point with particular strength in journalism, business and economics, health and medicine, technology, social sciences and humanities. A key resource for researchers of all levels, ProQuest Central includes the full text of over 8,800 publications across hundreds of subjects, including 400 newspapers, hundreds of scholarly journals and trade publications, 30,000 dissertations and 9,000 market reports.

Among the new features available in ProQuest Central is a collection of business databases - ABI/Inform, Hoover's, and Snapshot Series; a wide range of health & medicine databases; a full-text newspaper collection featuring both local and national papers; and a daily analysis service which summarizes and predicts the effects of the today's news on the world. With each search, you'll find suggestions and ways to refine your results.

Looking for market research? The Snapshot Series includes over 8,890 market reports across 43 industries in 40 countries, spanning the UK, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and Latin America. It's a unique source for market research data, offering worldwide market data for a broad range of industries and regions.

Reports include market size, market segmentation, market share, market forecast, socioeconomic data, and company websites for main players. Here are a few examples:

Snapshots Italy Luggage & Leather Goods 2007
Snapshots China Mobile Phone Services 2008
Snapshots US Facial Moisturisers 2008

Browse reports by location, industry or document title or search across all reports.

And yes, The Snapshot Series is different from the similarly-named Snapshots, a library-use-only database which provides market profiles and demographics for Nielsen Designated Market Areas (DMAs), Arbitron Metro Survey Areas (MSAs), and US states.

Featuring suggestions from our annual Leisure Reading List.

The Summer Jobs Worldwide 2009 may have just the gig for you! This excellent guide affords general advice and job listings supplemented by "red tape" information detailing visa requirements and work permits. Conservation in France, leading hikes in Costa Rica, teaching English in Korea - check it out!

For this year's National Poetry Month, the Library recognizes the poetic works of wartime.

Take a Study Break with Coffee and Snacks at 8!

Beginning Monday, April 20, and continuing through Monday, May 4, the Library will offer extended hours, remaining open until midnight, Sunday through Thursday evenings, and until 8 p.m. on Saturdays. Coffee and snacks will be served at 8 p.m. on the evenings of April 20-23, 26-30 and May 3-4.

* Monday - Thursday: 7:45 am - midnight

* Friday: 7:45 am - 9:00 pm

* Saturday: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

* Sunday: noon - midnight

For a full schedule and hours of operation, see the Library Hours and Calendar page.

The 2009 Leisure Reading List is now available, with reading suggestions on display throughout the Library and on the Library website.

Thank you to all the students, faculty and staff who contributed reading recommendations to this list!

Interested in seeing some of the most frequently recommended authors and titles? Check out the following visualization:

The Library is pleased to present a special edition of READ posters in celebration of National Library Week. Each poster features a student and a recommended Library resource related to his or her major. Students were selected by the Library Committee.

Ben Grossman

Hannah Borkowski

Jeffrey Young

Laura Kenar

Rachel Stevenson

Steven Lewis

Tamika Reynold

The St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture , available both in print and online, is the perfect beginning source for any related research interest. Covering the areas of social life, music, print, film, television, radio, sports, art and performance, this five-volume encyclopedia features entries on people, groups, bands, organizations, corporations, brands and products, films, genres, TV and radio shows, fashion trends, historical events, technologies, sports teams, social and political movements, social issues, and much more. With illustrations and bibliographies for most entries, the St. James serves as a general and interdisciplinary entry point into the secondary literature on 20th century American popular culture.

Edited by Robert Heath, with contributions from academics and practitioners, the Encyclopedia of Public Relations is an invaluable resource, available in print and online through the Gale Virtual Reference Library database. This two-volume work contains entries on the history, jargon, practitioners, and organizations in the field, as well as entries for theories, models, research methods, ethics, and much more.

The International Encyclopedia of Communication Online, the definitive multivolume reference work for this interdisciplinary field, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Expansive in scope, regularly updated, and extensively cross-referenced, its over 1,400 entries are grouped into 29 editorial areas representing major categories of inquiry, including communication theory, interpersonal communication, media effects, strategic communication, PR, and more. This essential resource includes entries for theories, concepts, methods, geographical areas, and more, making it an invaluable tool for the entire Emerson community.

Look for it on the Library's Databases A-Z webpage or in the FLO catalog!

The Library's printers can now print on both sides of each page, preserving both natural resources and your money. According to the EPA, paper is by far the top contributor to the municipal solid waste stream - and even though recycling rates have increased, the volume of paper waste has increased even more. By using both sides of a sheet of paper, significantly less paper will be used in printing, ultimately leading to less paper waste. Similarly, because Emerson printing is charged by the sheet, printing a 20 page article would formerly cost $1.40, but now by printing it double-sided costs merely $0.70.

Because the Library understands some student work is required to be printed on single-sided sheets, double-sided printing is not the default - you must take some steps to turn this option on. Here are instructions from IT:

Duplex Printing from a PC 1. Choose File > Print. Select the black-and-white laser printer from the Name drop-down menu.
2. Click on the Properties (or Preferences) button to the right of the printer selection list.
3. In the Properties window that appears, select the Finishing tab.
4. Underneath Document Options, check Print on both sides.
5. Click OK to return to the main print dialog, and click OK again to print once you have finished changing the rest of your settings. When you swipe your card at the print station, you will only be charged 7¢ per double-sided sheet.

Duplex Printing from a Mac
1. Choose File > Print. Select the black-and-white laser from the Printer drop-down menu.
2. If necessary, click the triangle button to show additional options headed by a third drop-down menu.
3. Select Layout from this third drop-down menu.
4. Set the Two-Sided drop-down to Long-edge binding. This will set the printer to print on both sides of the sheet.
5. Click Print when you are finished changing your settings. When you swipe your card at the print station, you will only be charged 7¢ per double-sided sheet.

Ta-da! You're saving money and reducing pollution. Thanks for pitching in!

Get help with both research and writing in one convenient location - the Library! A tutor from the Writing & Academic Resource Center will be available at the Library Reference Desk every Sunday from 8-10 p.m., no appointment necessary. Consult with the tutor about:

* Citations

* Grammar

* Paper Topics

* Thesis Statements

Remember that you can also make appointments for tutor sessions by stopping by the Writing & Academic Resource Center in person at 216 Tremont Street or by calling 617-824-7874.

This month the Library celebrates the work of women in documentary cinema.

The Spring 2009 Library READ Poster features Flora Gonzalez, Professor of Writing, Literature & Publishing.

The Library Committee sponsors this series of READ posters featuring Emerson College celebrities and the books they suggest students read. Each semester, an Emersonian and his or her top ten titles will appear on a READ poster. The poster will be on display in the Library and locations around campus.