Cuyamaca College Library Display

Black History the Cuyamaca Way

2012-01-23T18:44:00.001-08:00

Come celebrate Black History with us at the Cuyamaca College library! From the beginning of our spring 2012 semester until the end of February, our library display will honor African Americans and their tremendous contributions to American history. We will showcase Black History through time with posters displayed on both floors in the library as well as books featuring famous African Americans and landmark historical topics. In conjunction with Cuyamaca’s Student Affairs, the first-floor display will highlight Dr. Tanis King Stark’s book, And Her Name was Katrina: Life After the Storm.
Additionally, on February 13, 1:00-3:00, Cuyamaca’s Student Affairs will host a campus visit and talk by Dr. Tanis King Starck followed by San Diego State’s Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity performance of Step, a type of dance typically competitively performed by African American fraternities and sororities. For more information, please visit ASGCC College Hour page or contact Lauren Weiner.
For more information and ideas for celebrating African American History, visit The Library of Congress, African American History Month hosted by The Library of Congress, Black History Month hosted by History.com and Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

National Native American Heritage Month

2011-11-08T11:05:00.000-08:00

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, the Library display for November will feature beautiful Native American items from various tribes from Maria Gearhart’s home. Exhibit animals such as the golden eagle and hummingbirds as well as bison, horse and caribou hides on loan from the San Diego Natural History Museum will also be on display in addition to Native American artwork on loan from our very own Heritage of the America’s Museum. Stop in and pay them a visit! We will also feature books that address Native American tribes, culture, social issues and myths. Our campus College Hour this month will celebrate Native American Heritage on November 15 from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm in front of the Student Center. Be sure not to miss the Native American Contemporary Dancers on November 22 from 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm in front of the Library!

National Disabilities Awareness Month

2011-10-05T12:11:00.000-07:00

October is National Disabilities Awareness Month. Come visit the LTRC this month and learn more about human disabilities and how our college assists and supports students with disabilities. Our display contains books, information sheets on famous disabled individuals as well as five Paraquad Disability Awareness Posters. In addition, the display includes items on loan that are used to assist our students with disabilities such as assistive computer technology (both hardware and software) and alternate media from Cuyamaca College’s Disabled Students Programs Services (DSPS). These items have been provided by the High Tech Center located in the LTRC in room C-114.

October 24– 28 is National Disabilities Awareness Week here @ Cuyamaca College. The annual Wheelchair Basketball Game will take place on October 26, 2011, from 12-1pm in the gym. Be sure to join the fun!

From August 22, 2001 through the month of September, the library display will focus on Constitution Week and the 10th Anniversary of September 11.

2011-08-10T15:22:00.000-07:00

Constitution Week this year is September 16-23. The display will contain items and books related to the September 17, 1787 signing of the Constitution of the United States of America.

This year marks the 10th anniversary for 911. The library display will feature materials that showcase the heroism of the New York City rescue workers and how we united as a nation to rebuild America.

Some refused even to talk about themselves, insisting on recounting the heroism they witnessed. – America’s Heroes; Inspiring Stories of Courage, Sacrifice and Patriotism
by Peter L. Bannon.

Our Neighbors to the South

2011-05-02T17:04:00.000-07:00

Although much of the current news about our neighbors to the south tends toward the negative, Mexico is an amazing country with a rich and fascinating culture and history. This month, the LTRC display will feature this remarkable country.
Join us in the LTRC for our month-long fiesta and enter for a chance to win one of three prizes! Two of our prizes, stunning, authentic Mexican piñatas, will be on display throughout this month. You can also enter to win two VIP admission tickets to the San Diego Museum of Man located in beautiful Balboa Park! Anyone-- faculty, student, or staff may enter!
Our exhibit this month will also include Latin American literature featuring our very own Patricia Santana’s novels Motorcycle Ride on the Sea of Tranquility and Ghosts of El Grullo. Mexico is a country with an exciting and sometimes very controversial history. Stop in to check out information on the ancient Indian tribes such as the Aztecs, Mayans and Olmecs, the origins of Cinco de Mayo, Mexico’s mythology and legends, border issues, as well as travel information about our intriguing neighbor to the south.

The winners for the drawing were:

Samanth S.-- 2 Passes to the Museum of Man in Balboa Park

Nicole R.--piñata

Morgan P.--piñata

Springtime at Cuyamaca College

2011-03-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

For the month of April, Cuyamaca College’s LTRC display will focus on Springtime @ Cuyamaca College!

We will feature beautiful fresh and silk floral arrangements generously donated by Diane Citrowske and Susan Butler from our very own Ornamental Horticulture program. And did you know that our amazing Water Conservation Garden is home to a family of fine-looking Barn Owls? Hoot and Holla (father and mother barn owls) set up residence in the garden’s owl box on February 16 and Holla immediately laid her eggs. Some of those eggs have already hatched! Wanna see? Check out the owl cam ! To get an even closer look at barn owls, stop by the LTRC and check out the display specimen barn owls on loan from the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park. And speaking of owls, we’ve recently discovered that great horned owls nest on our campus as well. A very lost and confused fledgling great horned owl appeared behind the library one morning and Project Wildlife came to the rescue. Stay tuned; we may have a guest speaker from Project Wildlife visit our library in the very near future.

Let the magnificence of spring further inspire you to be GREEN. Our display will include environmentally friendly tips from our Water Conservation Garden in the form of free handouts kindly supplied by Elizabeth Ramos. Water conservation tips from the City of San Diego’s Public Utilities are also available free in the LTRC.

Enjoy our campus’ springtime splendor any time of the year! Watch the video.

P.S. Don’t forget to visit our Spring Garden Festival on campus Saturday, April 9, 2011 from 9 am to 4 pm. Free admission!

Our History is Our Strength!

2011-03-10T09:54:00.000-08:00

March is Women’s History Month! This month’s display in the LTRC features the women leadership of Cuyamaca’s campus and the District Office. Our campus’ deans and vice presidents, Connie Elder, Robin Steinbeck, Danene Brown, Arlene Satele, Serene Pritchett, Madelaine Wolfe, Susan Topham and Julianna Barnes as well as the district Vice Chancellor, Sue Rearic and our Chancellor, Cindy Miles are introduced through photographs and short bios in our 1st floor display case. The 2nd floor cases focus on our powerful and courageous she-roes, those who’ve paved the way for women to overcome oppression and discrimination and set out on their own personal paths of empowerment. Our collection here in the Cuyamaca College LTRC contains excellent literature that highlights the extraordinary accomplishments and amazing strength of many influential women such as Wilma Mankiller, Emily Dickinson, Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Charlotte E. Ray and many others. Stop by the LTRC this month and join in our celebration of our SHE-ROES!

Display Creatively Designed by Maria Gearhart

Civil War to Civil Rights and Beyond . . .

2011-02-03T17:18:00.000-08:00

This year’s Black History Month theme addresses “the efforts of people of African descent to destroy slavery and inaugurate universal freedom in the United States.” African Americans served as recruiters, soldiers, nurses and spies during the Civil War which Frederick Douglass believed would bring an end to America’s “peculiar institution,” slavery. He was proven correct! In honor of this year’s theme, the LTRC display for the month of February celebrates African Americans and the Civil War. The display cases contain books and photographs addressing slavery and emancipation, African American Civil War issues, and autobiographies and narratives of slaves.

For more information, please see:
http://www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/about.html

http://www.nowpublic.com/culture/overview-african-americans-civil-war

http://www.asalh.org/Annual_National_Black_History_Theme.html

National Disabilities Awareness Month

2010-10-06T11:13:00.000-07:00

October is National Disabilities Awareness Month. Come visit the LTRC this month and learn more about human disabilities and how our college assists and supports disabled students. Our display contains books, information sheets on famous disabled individuals as well as five Paraquad Disability Awareness Posters. In addition, the display includes items on loan such as assistive computer technology (both hardware and software) and alternate media that are used to assist our disabled students from Cuyamaca College’s Disabled Students Programs Services (DSPS). These items have been provided by the High Tech Center located in the LTRC in room C-102.

For more information about National Disabilities Awareness Month, please visit Office of Disability Employment Policy

Be sure to join us for Cuyamaca's 13th Annual Wheelchair Basketball Game

LTRC Display Creatively Designed by Maria Gearhart

September is for National Hispanic Heritage Month and the U.S. Constitution Week

2010-08-31T15:43:00.000-07:00

During the month of September, 2010, the library will have two concurrent displays!

In honor of National Constitution Week, September 17-23, 2010, the first floor library display will contain items and books related to the September 17, 1787 signing of the Constitution of the United States of America.

On September 17, 2010, the ASGCC will sponsor an event from 9:15-9:45 am to celebrate Constitution Day. In front of the LTRC, there will be a “live” Statue of Liberty, cookies and a brief, fun quiz where you can test your knowledge of the Constitution. Voter registration will even be available on the Grand Lawn. Please, stop by, register to vote if you haven’t already done so, grab a cookie, take the quiz, then visit the library to view the Constitution display.

More information about Constitution Week can be found here:Constitution Week USA

Mexican Independence

September 15- October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month and this year, September 16 marks Mexico’s 200th anniversary of its Independence from Spain and the 100 year anniversary of its Revolution. The Mexican Heritage display will include books, information and materials related to Mexican history.

More information about National Hispanic Heritage Month can be found here:Hispanic Heritage Month
Information about Mexican Independence and the Mexican Revolution as well as local celebrations can be found here:
Mengei International Museum
Explorando Mexico
Harry Ransom Center

Displays creatively designed by Maria Gearhart

Come Read with Me

2010-06-07T12:51:00.000-07:00

This summer, the Cuyamaca College LTRC would like to extend an invitation to all students, staff and faculty to share the enriching experience of reading with children. Read to your children or grandchildren. Read to a neighbor, friend, niece or nephew. Or how about your own inner-child? Studies show that “the most important thing adults can do in preparing young children for success in school and reading is to read aloud with them” (Family Literacy Foundation and International Reading Association). Stop by and visit us Monday – Thursday, 8 am- 6 pm and check out our display of classics and Caldecott Award winners in addition to plenty of thematic literature perfect for sharing with children of all ages. Happy Reading!

For more information and ideas, here are some websites worth exploring to enhance a child's summer reading adventures:
San Diego County Library 2010 Summer Reading Club
Nature & Me - Preschool Storytime Series and Other FREE Natural History Museum Children's Events
San Diego Public Library 2010 Summer Reading Program
San Diego Family Summer Reading Programs

Equal Education for All

2010-04-28T12:10:00.000-07:00

In 1944, when Gonzalo Mendez attempted to enroll his children in Westminster’s Main Street School, he was turned away and sent to Hoover Elementary, the “Mexican” elementary school. Mendez and four other fathers challenged this discrimination in the class-action lawsuit, Mendez v. Westminster School District and won. On June 14, 1947, Governor Earl Warren signed the bill that ended school segregation in California. This historical event also helped pave the way to the landmark court case Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka which resulted in the Supreme Court ruling, again by Earl Warren, then the Chief Justice of the United States, that ended the school segregation of African-Americans.

In conjunction with Cuyamaca College’s Mexican Cultural Heritage Celebration on Thursday, May 6, 2010, the library display will include items relating to the Mendez v. Westminster case. Come visit the LTRC throughout the month of May and see news articles, academic journal articles, documentary films, and court documents that give attention to both Mendez v. Westminster and Brown v. the Board of Education. Additionally, the book entitled Mendez v. Westminster; School Desegregation and Mexican-American Rights which chronicles the entire history of this case, the commemorative 2007 stamp as well as other books from our collection that address equality in education will be on display.

For more information, please visit the following links:

Learn California.org

UprisingRadio.org

Mendez v. Westminster, A Look At Our Latino Heritage

Mendez v. Westminster Case Blog (Closer to Home)

Brown vs. Board of Education

Smithsonian's Seperate is Not Equal, Brown v. Board of Education

National Poetry Month

2010-04-06T13:22:00.001-07:00

In 1996, in order to honor the amazing art of poetry writing, the Academy of American Poets began the tradition of a month long celebration in April-- National Poetry Month.

This month, our library display will feature works of poetry. In conjunction with Cuyamaca's Spring Garden Festival, our first floor display will contain books of poetry for adults and children that focus on springtime and nature. Our second floor display will feature classic and famous poets. Stop by and visit; you might "meet" a new favorite poet.

For more information about National Poetry Month, please visit: Poets.org

For more information about Cuyamaca's Spring Garden Festival, please visit: Conservation in Bloom

For your own poetry fun, please visit:

Writing Different Types of Poetry

The Poetry Foundation

Famous Poets and Poems

March is National Women's History Month

2010-03-02T17:12:00.000-08:00

The following proclamation is from

the National Women’s History Project Site

Whereas American women of every race, class, and ethnic background have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our Nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways;
Whereas American women have played and continue to play a critical economic, cultural, and social role in every sphere of the life of the Nation by constituting a significant portion of the labor force working inside and outside of the home;
Whereas American women have played a unique role throughout the history of the Nation by providing the majority of the volunteer labor force of the Nation;
Whereas American women were particularly important in the establishment of early charitable, philanthropic, and cultural institutions in our Nation;
Whereas American women of every race, class, and ethnic background served as early leaders in the forefront of every major progressive social change movement;
Whereas American women have been leaders, not only in securing their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity, but also in the abolitionist movement, the emancipation movement, the industrial labor movement, the civil rights movement, and other movements, especially the peace movement, which create a more fair and just society for all; and
Whereas despite these contributions, the role of American women in history has been consistently overlooked and undervalued, in the literature, teaching and study of American history:

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that March is designated as "Women's History Month. The President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation each March, calling upon the people of the United States to observe March as Women’s History Month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

Join our celebration here in Cuyamaca’s LTRC by stopping by and checking out our display of books and information on women who made “historic contributions to the growth and strength of our Nation.” Students, while you're here, enter a raffle for a chance to win a $25.00 gift certificate to Bath & Body Works. On a slip of paper provided at the library circulation counter, print:

your full name
your email address and/or phone number
the name of a historic woman
her contribution to making the world a better place

Place your entry into the purple box on the table by our entryway. The drawing will be on Wednesday, March 31 and the winner will be contacted by phone or email.

The winner of the National Women's Hostory Month Drawing is Nidhal Matti! She won the $25 gift certificate to Bath and Body Works!

Look How Far We've Come!

2010-01-15T09:19:00.000-08:00

The theme for 2010’s National African American History Month is Black Economic Empowerment. Visit Cuyamaca’s LTRC for a display of posters, books and information on African American History. Display cases and wall hangings on both floors of the LTRC showcase materials on notable African Americans, topics such as slavery and civil rights and a historical timeline addressing major historical moments in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.

For additional valuable information on
African American History, visit these websites:
BlackPast.org
African American Web Connection
PBS- African American World

Multnomah County Library Homework Center-- African American

November is Native American Heritage Month

2009-11-03T11:38:00.000-08:00

Come visit Cuyamaca’s LTRC this month and enjoy the display in honor of our Native Americans.

This month’s display includes books from Cuyamaca’s Library collection. Native American children's stories and Native American myths and legends as well as volumes featuring Native American art and history are showcased. Posters displayed provide information about Native American groups from different geographical regions throughout the United States. The animals on loan from San Diego’s Natural History Museum in Balboa Park highlight native animals, and artifacts from Cuyamaca’s Heritage of the America’s Museum and items from Maria Gearhart’s, the LTRC Multi-Media Technician and Library Display Designer and Coordinator’s, private collection emphasize Native American Arts.

For more information about Native American Heritage month, be sure to visit:
http://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/index.html

Check out Cuyamaca’s Heritage of the America’s Museum @:
http://www.cuyamaca.edu/museum/

And explore San Diego’s Natural History Museum @:
http://www.sdnhm.org/

National Disabilities Awareness Month

2009-10-01T14:55:00.000-07:00

October is National Disabilities Awareness Month. Come visit the LTRC this month and learn more about human disabilities and how our college assists and supports disabled students. Our display contains books, information sheets on famous disabled individuals as well as five Paraquad Disability Awareness Posters. In addition, the display includes items on loan from Cuyamaca College’s Disabled Students Programs Services (DSPS) that are used to assist our disabled students such as assistive computer technology (both hardware and software) and alternate media. These items have been provided by the High Tech Center located in the LTRC in room C-102.

Cuyamaca College celebrates Disabilities Awareness Week from October 26 thru October 30th. Our 12th Annual Wheelchair Basketball Game is October 28, 2009 from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in the Cuyamaca College Gym. For more information about Cuyamaca College’s supportive services for disabled students or DSPS, please visit www.cuyamaca.edu/dsps

The Library has two concurrent displays thru the month of September!

2009-08-12T14:26:00.000-07:00

The first floor of the library focuses on the 40th Anniversary of the first man to walk on the moon. On display are books and posters, a 40th Anniversary DVD with Walter Cronkite, and other items commemorating the historic event which took place on July 21, 1969. You can also check out this link: http://www.louisvuittonjourneys.com Watch the interviews of three incredible astronauts, Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon; Sally Ride, the first woman in space and Jim Lovell, the commander of Apollo 13 and the command module pilot of Apollo 11.

On the second floor of the library there are books and posters on the Constitution.

Celebrating Constitution Day

September 17

On Sept. 17, 1787 the U.S. Constitution was signed. Constitution Day is a time to remember that great event and the “birthday” of our government. From now through the month of September the library will have on display books and posters of the Constitution and other Documents of Democracy.For additional information, checkout The National Archives' Website with a scan of the U.S. Constitution available online at:
http://www.archives.gov/national_archives_experience/charters/constitution.html

Display creatively arranged and designed by Maria Gearhart

Water Supply Crisis

2009-06-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

In response to San Diego’s mounting water crisis, the summer semester library display will focus on water conservation. Looking for tips and strategies for being a smarter water user? Come see the live plant exhibit that showcases Cuyamaca College’s Ornamental Horticulture Nursery’s low maintenance, drought resistant plants. Pick up some handy brochures and tip sheets for drought-friendly gardening and wise water consumption. Check out the library displays to learn more about local and international water shortage issues and solutions such as Southern California’s 20 Gallon Challenge.

Display items and information were generously donated by the Cuyamaca College Water Conservation Garden, the Cuyamaca College Ornamental Horticulture Program, and the City of San Diego Water Department.

LTRC Staff Members Create a "Globally Green" Basket for Cuyamaca Foundation Auction

2009-05-13T11:00:00.001-07:00

What’s better than being Green? Being Globally Green! The Cuyamaca College LTRC has collected a set of delightful, hand-wrought gifts made from recycled materials by international artisans hosted by SERRV International. This basket will be auctioned off at the Cuyamaca College Foundation's Annual Fundraising Celebration, It's Good to Be Green! This event will be held in the Student Center on May 16 at 5:30 PM.

By supporting small-scale artisans from 75 under-developed and economically disadvantaged communities around the globe through the provision of tools, training and an alternative or fair trade market, SERRV seeks to “eradicate poverty wherever it resides.” Each purchase of the stunning jewelry, beautiful accessories and finely-crafted home décor items makes the whole world a better place.

Where in the Library is the Molcajete?

2009-05-05T17:19:00.000-07:00

Visit our library display cases to learn more about Hispanic Heritage, and - while you are there - find the molcajete!

A molcajete is a mortar used in Mexican cuisine to grind spices and to prepare salsas and guacamole. Typically carved out of a single block of porous basalt volcanic rock, molcajetes are most often round or bowl-shaped and supported by three short legs. The matching pestle is called a tejolote.

Students who manage to track down this ancient relic have a chance of winning a beautiful pinata in a special drawing. To enter, you will need to answer the following question:

Where in the library is the molcajete?

Bring your submission to the circulation desk and a library staff member will enter your name in the contest. Only one entry per person will be allowed - and a valid student ID is required to participate. The winner will be chosen on Monday, June 1, 2009 (we will be contacting this person by phone or e-mail).

Win Two Tickets to the Da Vinci Experience in Balboa Park!

2009-04-13T12:29:00.001-07:00

Leonardo Da Vinci was a painter, sculptor, architect designer, theorist, engineer and scientist—a genius and a genuine Renaissance Man. In honor of his life, the library is currently displaying books, posters and illustrations celebrating his brilliance and versatility. This display will be available through the end of April.

Students who visit the Cuyamaca College Library - and check out this library blog - have a chance to win two tickets to the Da Vinci Experience at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park (a $50 value). To enter, you will first need to answer the following question:

What replica of a Da Vinci concept is on display in the library?

Bring your answer, along with your student ID, to the circulation desk and a library staff member will enter your name in the contest. You may enter this drawing one time - and a valid student ID is required. The winner will be chosen on Monday, May 4, 2009 (we will be contacting this person by phone or e-mail).

March is Women's History Month!

2009-03-04T11:13:00.000-08:00

The library has put together a Women and Work display in honor of Women's History Month. Library users will find books, e-books, and media on pay equity, work and employment opportunites for women (including information about specific ethnic groups), global outlook, and important dates in American History. The display also covers information on the historic Commission on the Status of Women, the formation and early beginnings of NOW (National Organization for Woman), as well as the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.

And don't forget the Women’s History Forum, entitled Women Breaking Boundaries. On Wednesday, March 18, Cuyamaca College history instructors will be offering some scintillating talks on women and labor issues. The following panelists will appear:

· Jennifer Hernandez - Belle Baranceanu: An Artist’s Experience in the W.P.A.
· Juli Jones - Sarah Polk: First Lady as Political Partner
· Alazar Tesfumariam - Defying Authority: Women in the Abolition Movement
· Terry Valverde - Alice McGrath: In Search of Justice and Human Rights
· Tim Zelt - Ann Lee: Mother of all Shakers

After these presentations, Susan Haber, the History Department Chair, will conduct a question and answer session.

This event will be held at 6 pm in the Digital Theater. So make sure you attend in support of Women History Month. And don't forget to check out the display!

2009-02-03T12:23:00.000-08:00

The library has traditionally put together a display in February for Black History Month on such topics as:

the 50th Anniversary of the Brown vs. the Board of Education Supreme Court ruling
Black History and the West
Black Literary Award Winners
History of Jazz
Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s

The subject for this year’s library Black History Month display is a significant historic event: our nation’s first African-American President, Barack Obama.

Currently on display are materials and resources about President Obama--from his campaign to his inaugural--including posters of his presidential victory speech, as well as the entire text of his inaugural speech. Also included in the display are two books authored by Barack Obama, The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (President Obama won a Grammy for his narration of the audio book), and Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance. This display can be found on both floors of the library. Come by and check it out.

Healthy Eating Display

2009-01-08T14:21:00.000-08:00

A display on healthy eating is currently on available in the library through the end of January. Library users will find books, e-books, DVDs, as well as posters on nutrition and healthy eating. Information on choices of good snacks, fat facts, and healthy foods are highlighted. The display can be found on both the first and second floors of the library. Come on by and take a look.

FYI: All Cuyamaca and Grossmont students are eligible to check out library materials. A current student ID is required at the time of check-out. Student IDs are available free of charge in the Counseling Office in the One-Stop Center. Students must complete the college registration process before an ID card can be issued.

Introducing Connie Sterling - Senior Multimedia Technician

2008-12-11T14:09:00.000-08:00

The district has recently hired a new library worker--Connie Sterling. Connie is in charge of the circulation area. Regular library users will quickly get used to seeing her smiling face, as she usually works at the front desk on the first floor. She's held jobs in libraries before. In fact, she’s earned a Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies from Florida State University. She also has a B.A. in English from San Diego State University.

A native of East County, Connie spent roughly eight years in Florida where she worked as a high school English teacher, and later as an elementary school librarian, a public librarian, and even a junior college librarian. She is very happy to be back in her original stomping grounds, where she now lives with her husband and two children. Connie loves gardening, cooking, and of course, reading. She encourages students to, "Come visit the library, because those of us who work here love to help--and we are very interested in helping students find information."

National Native American Heritage Month

2008-11-05T15:17:00.000-08:00

Through the month of November there is a display in the library in recognition of
National Native American Heritage Month

On display are posters, maps, artifacts and books on Native Americans from different regions in North America. There also are items on loan from the Heritage of the Americas Museum. So stop by and check it out

The Heritage of the American Museum is located on the Cuyamaca College campus. Admittance is free with a student ID card.

Faculy Member Patricia Santana Has Written a Sequel to Motorcycle Ride

2008-09-29T11:20:00.000-07:00

After Spanish Instructor Patricia Santana published her first book, "Motorcycle Ride on the Sea of Tranquility," several English instructors in the district began teaching this poignant coming of age novel. A winner of the 1999 Chicano/Latino Literary Contest, Motorcycle Ride was also listed as one of the American Library Association's "Best Books for Young Adults" in 2003. In addition, the book was named San Diego Magazine’s 2003 Book Award winner in fiction.

In the story we are introduced to fourteen-year-old Yolanda Sahagún as she is excitedly helping her large family - nine siblings in all - prepare a "welcome home" party for her favorite brother, Chuy, who has just returned from fighting in Vietnam. Of course, Chuy re-enters this modest, albeit cozy, domestic scene in south San Diego irrevocably changed. His erratic and often scary behavior inflicts frequent emotional wounds on family members, neighbors, and friends — especially Yolanda, who still cherishes loving memories of his earlier self. Most of the time Chuy is off on his motorcycle, his long hair flying in the wind. This broken man is headed for a disaster, and the whole family knows it.

The sequel, Ghosts of El Grullo, was released last spring. In this second installment (Santana intends to complete a trilogy on the Sahagúns), Yolanda is getting ready to head off to UCSD, and she's more than a little excited about finally living on her own--away from her domineering father. Yet not long after school starts, the unexpected death of her mother pulls Yolanda home again. Eventually, she travels back to her ancestral town - El Grullo, Mexico - in search of answers about her mother's identity. And as she looks through this lens, she begins to bring her own sense of self into better focus. Meanwhile, the seventies are in full swing, nudging her to explore identity politics, feminism, and sexuality in ways her more traditional relatives find disconcerting.

If you are interested in learning more about Patricia Santana's recent book, try listening to the following interview on KBOO Radio in Portland, Oregon. Or see her in person as she discusses Ghosts of El Grullo at Grossmont College (Griffin Gate) on Wednesday, November 5 at 7:00 PM. For more information, please call 619-644-7486.

-Kari Wergeland

2008-09-08T12:23:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed the list of Internet videos included on this blog template (to the right). They are a set of mini-lessons created by Lee and Sachi LeFever of Common Craft. In these videos, Lee LeFever highlights some of the Internet features everyone is talking about, such as RSS, social networking, and wikis. His informal approach is easy to understand, if not fun. So if you find yourself feeling like a dum-dum when such words are bantered about, take a look at some of these clips. You will at least have a better idea of what these terms mean--and you might even be inspired to learn how to use one or two Internet services. FYI, we've also set up a link on the library website to a list of Common Craft videos.

Students, Welcome Back!

2008-08-19T13:12:00.000-07:00

The Cuyamaca College Library is here to support your college work. We offer many tools and resources - not to mention in-person expertise - to help you find the information you need to complete terrific student projects. And we strive to support both on-campus students, as well as distance learners.

It's not a bad idea to think of information as the foundation of any research project. If it isn't sound to begin with, the completed assignment will surely fall flat. However, building a strong foundation is easier said than done. Let's just say a quick and dirty Google search doesn't always cut it. Don't forget, the library purchases many electronic resources that will not pop up on Google. Indeed, becoming information literate takes time. Yet there is no doubt that information literacy will enhance your academic abilities, especially if you plan to transfer.

We like to remind people that librarians are teachers, too. Cuyamaca College librarians are always willing to sit down with a student and offer a one-on-one session on an information topic. If you are interested in a more systematic way of learning how to become a good researcher in this this increasiningly electronic information environment, try signing up for LIR 110: Research Methods in an Online World. In any event, come on in and say hello.

Good luck this fall!

Library/Learning and Technology Resource Center Puts Together Baby Basket for the Foundation Dinner Dance Auction

2008-05-16T10:13:00.001-07:00

Employees working in the Library - Learning and Technology Resources division have pooled their money and time to create a basket for some future Cuyamaca College graduate. This basket will be auctioned off, along with a number of other goodies, at the next Cuyamaca Foundation Dinner Dance, scheduled for Saturday, May 17, at 5:30 p.m. Included in the basket are children's DVDs, a CD, educational toys, a handmade baby blanket, a pillow, a Barnes and Noble gift card, and a "college fund" piggy bank.

The annual Cuyamaca College Foundation Dinner Dance is one of the biggest fundraisers for the college. Last year the Foundation raised over $120,000. Their mission is "To provide continuous support and resources to Cuyamaca College," and they continue to award scholarships, fund capital improvements (not provided by the state), as well as fund special projcts.

There are many ways to donate to the Cuyamaca College Foundation. For more information, check out their website at http://www.cuyamaca.edu/foundation/default.asp.

Introducing the Library's New "Living Room"

2008-04-25T09:22:00.000-07:00

The Cuyamaca College Library has just opened up a new study space called The Living Room, located in room C-219 on the second floor of the library. This spacious area - with some of the best views on campus - is officially designated as"laid back." Students will find comfortable seating, as well as tables and chairs for those who want to study in groups. A large whiteboard is also available.

While The Living Room is a hotspot for those needing wireless access, it also houses a number of desktop computers with full Internet access (yes, that means MySpace and Facebook), as well as the 2007 Microsoft Office Suite, including Access, Excel, Powerpoint, Publisher, Word. All of these computers are wired to a black and white printer (15 cents a page) and a color printer (75 cents a page).

We do try to create a noiseless environment in the library, especially in the quiet study area--yet talking is acceptable in The Living Room. This is a student space, and we hope students will work together to make it their own. Please let us know what you think.

New Instructional Design Technology Specialist

2008-02-22T10:39:00.001-08:00

It is with great pleasure that I announce the arrival of Rhonda Bauerlein to our campus community as the Instructional Design Technology Specialist. Rhonda has been working at Grossmont College since 2001 as a Learning Resource Systems Specialist where she was responsible for the coordination and oversight of the library database and personal computers. In that position, she installed software and provided training and assistance to faculty, staff and students. She also maintained the library’s website and created new sites as needed. Prior to this, Rhonda developed curriculum for a Multimedia Technology program at Pikes Peak Community College and taught classes on the integration of animation, audio, video, and pictures in multimedia presentations. She also established and coordinated a Multimedia Instructional Design Center at Pikes Peak. Rhonda has a very strong technical background in the computer industry prior to her shift to academic settings. She has a Certificate in Computer Programming, a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Colorado, and a year of coursework towards an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction specializing in Educational Technology from the University of Colorado.

Connie Elder
Dean of Technology and Learning Resources

Connie Elder has been appointed as Dean of Learning & Technology Resources

2008-01-25T09:41:00.000-08:00

After completing the search for the Dean, Learning & Technology Resources, Ms. Connie Elder has been identified as the successful candidate for the position. Ms. Elder has a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Rhode Island, a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from West Virginia University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from West Virginia University.

Ms. Elder has been a member of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District for 18 years. In those 18 years she has played a wide variety of roles and contributed to the growth and development of several subsystems. She has held such roles as Interim Manager of Instructional Computing Services (Grossmont College), Interim Associate Dean of Instructional Computing Services (Grossmont College), full time instructor in the CIS Department (Cuyamaca College) where she has been the Coordinator of the Computer and Information Science Department for eight of her eleven years at Cuyamaca. She possesses a combination of academic preparation, computer industry, teaching and administrative experiences that enable her to contribute to the development and maintenance of this position with minimal start-up time.

From 2003 – 2006 Ms. Elder was the Co-Principal Investigator for the National Science Foundation Grant that developed the Institute for Telecommunications Technology here at Cuyamaca College. I believe Ms. Elder’s educational preparation, professional experiences and demonstrated commitment to students and the mission of community colleges makes her uniquely suited for the position at Cuyamaca College.

Cristina Chiriboga, Ed.D
Vice President, Instruction
Cuyamaca College

Amistad

2007-11-09T11:37:00.000-08:00

Susan Haber's History 108 class - Early American History -recently covered a unit on slavery. In her online forum, Professor Haber asked students if they'd seen the movie Amistad, directed by Steven Spielberg. The Amistad was a slave ship bound for Puerto Principe, Cuba in 1839. Before it reached its destination, a number of the slaves, led by a man named Cinque, managed to break out of their irons and take over the ship. They ended up killing the captain, Ramon Ferrer, and a mulatto cook. Then they ordered two Spanish dons - Pedro Montes and Jose Ruiz - to sail the ship to Africa. Yet Cinque's plan was foiled when sailors on a U. S. Coast Guard brig, the Washington, took control of the ship. U.S. officials ended up towing the Amistad to New London in America, so the slaves could be put on trial. Yet in 1839 the African slave trade was already illegal in America. Meanwhile, abolitionists were stirring up controversy about the domestic use of slave labor. In the end - after a series of trials - the Supreme Court ruled "the Negroes were 'kidnapped Africans, who by the laws of Spain itself were entitled to their freedom.' They were not criminals: the 'ultimate right of human beings in extreme cases is…to apply force against ruinous injustice.' The Africans could stay or they could return to Africa. (http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/trialheroes/Tappanessay.html).

For more information about the Amistad case, as well as reviews of the film, check out Amistad Trials 1839 - 1840. Or come into the library and watch the film (DVD HIST 108).

When the Library is Closed...

2007-11-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

First of all, for all of you who are facing difficulties due to the fires, you have our condolences. It's tough to try to deal with the day-to-day realities of school when you are faced with unexpected hardships. As most of you know, during the fires we were forced to close the library. Of course there are other times when the library is closed. See our hours for more information on this. Yet, just because the library is closed, that does not mean you don't have access to the Cuyamaca College Library. The Cuyamaca College Library website serves as both an informational resouce about the library--an it is a library, a virtual library. For example, through Netlibrary, you have access to ebooks, full-text books online. Through Infotrac you have access to magazines and journals. Through Proquest, you have access to newspapers, such as the San Diego Union Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times. Unlike the olden days, you should be able to complete an academic paper without even stepping foot into the library--though we hope you will still stop by!

QuestionPoint: a New Live 24/7 Online Reference Service

2007-09-24T16:00:00.000-07:00

The Cuyamaca College Library has recently joined a 24/7 online reference coop called QuestionPoint, a service offered through OCLC (Online Computer Library Center). QuestionPoint is simple to use. Just go to the Cuyamaca College Library website and click on Ask a Librarian: Live 24/7 Online Reference. You will then be asked to fill out a form, before clicking on 'connect.' After that, a librarian from somewhere around the globe will pick up your request and proceed to conduct a live chat session to serve your information needs. Not only can QuestionPoint librarians answer your reference questions on the spot, they also have the ability to 'co-browse' the Internet with you. This means they will be able to show you specific websites and subscription databases, as well as how to use them. Through this feature, you will also have the ability to share Internet resources with remote librarians. For example, Cuyamaca College library users can log in to locally-owned subscription databases, eReference books, and eBooks. From there, the remote librarian will be able to jump in and conduct a mini-lesson on how to use any of these sources. QuestionPoint librarians will also have access to our policy page to help with questions specifically pertaining to the Cuyamaca College Library. Questions that can't completely be answered by remote librarians will be forwarded to a Cuyamaca librarian for follow-up.

This pilot project is being offered by the San Diego and Imperial Counties Community Colleges Learning Resources Cooperative (SDICCCLRC), a consortium of libraries from nine colleges in the San Diego and Imperial Counties region. These libraries have traditionally shared media resources. Now librarians in this group are working together to monitor QuestionPoint for San Diego area users. After hours QuestionPoint's 24/7 cooperative will pick up reference requests. Most 24/7 librarians will answer questions from somewhere in the United States, but students will occasionally encounter a librarian from another country.

So give this service a try and let us know what you think!

Kari Wergeland

Finding a Specific Chapter in an eReference Book

2007-09-18T15:39:00.001-07:00

Do you find yourself avoiding electronic books--just because it feels like too much of a hassle? It's not as bad as you think. Once you get used to poking through an eReference book, you might even come to appreciate some of the features it has to offer.

This is the first installment in a series of posts on how to use eReference books more effectively.

Let's take a look at Gale's The Sixties in America Reference Library edited by Tom and Sarah Pendergast.

1. Go to the Databases A to Z page, located on the Cuyamaca College Library website under ‘More Sources’.

2. Click on: The Sixties in America Reference Library (Note: if you are trying to access this book from a remote location, you must use your Cuyamaca College username and password).

3. You can now go to a specific a chapter. To do this, click on ‘eTable of Contents.’

4. Then click on your chosen chapter.

5. The contents of the chapter should appear on the screen.

eReference is the Wave of the Future

2007-09-14T13:35:00.000-07:00

The other day a sales representative for several publishing companies dropped by my office so I could preview some new titles. The first thing he asked was if we were still purchasing hard copy books. When I said “Yes,” with a note of surprise in my voice, he told me that some libraries will no longer look at print materials for their reference collections. The Cuyamaca College Library is not ready to take this leap just yet. But we have invested in a number of eReference books, and they do have some advantages over print materials.

The first advantage is access. eReference books are available to our users 24/7—and some titles are automatically updated by the publisher for a set period of time, say...five years. So an eReference copy is often more up-to-date than a print copy. Of course these electronic resources are accompanied by all sorts of useful tools, such as an email feature that allows students to email articles to themselves. In addition, the entire text of these books is searchable by keyword, something impossible to do with a hard copy book. However, some find eReference books difficult to use, especially if they need to read for long periods of time. And eReference resources aren’t always user-friendly to folks who aren’t regular computer users.

Still, the writing is on the wall, er...in cyberspace. eReference is the wave of the future. Because of this, I have decided to present a series of articles on these books. Some will highlight specific titles, and some will offer tips on how to use eReference materials more efficiently. For now, take a look at what we’ve got on our Databases A to Z page, linked to the library website. Special note: if you are trying to access these databases from outside the library, you must use your campus username and password.

-Kari Wergeland

Library Welcomes New Interim Dean

2007-09-11T15:52:00.000-07:00

Connie Elder has taken over the Interim Dean of Learning and Technology Resources position, recently vacated after Larry Sherwood retired this fall. She brings a wealth of experience to the LRC, including leadership, teaching, and technology know-how. Many will already recognize her as an well-known figure on campus. She has been a full-time instructor in the Computer and Information Science department for a number of years. Along with her regular teaching duties, she has served as the department coordinator. In addition, she was instrumental in helping the college obtain a $882,804 Institute for Telecommunications Technologies (IT2), National Science Foundation grant. Before joining the Cuyamaca College faculty, she served as the Interim Associate Dean for Instructional Computing Services at Grossmont College. Meanwhile, a search is underway to find a permanent replacement.