Diana DiPierro

New to the Collection: “The Shining” DVDs

In the Collection, Music and Video / By Diana DiPierro / October 26, 2015

If you are looking for a good horror film to curl up on the couch and watch this Halloween, check out “The Shining” DVDs. It is available in two different versions. You might ask “What is the other version? I only remember the famous Stanley Kubrick/Jack Nicholson one!”

Here’s a little back story: apparently Stephen King didn’t really “approve” of Stanley Kubrick’s version, as he felt the adaptation leant itself more towards the supernatural elements versus the important themes of his novel, such as the alcoholism of the lead character. King’s novel was almost autobiographical as he was struggling with alcoholism, so the story was very personal to him. Therefore, in 1997, King decided to produce his own adaptation for television, starring Rebecca De Mornay and Steven Weber (of “Wings” fame). King’s adaptation focused more on the lead character’s alcoholism, and also had a stronger female lead in the wife, as opposed to Shelley Duvall’s portrayal in Kubrick’s version. While King’s version was panned by critics, I think it’s a good idea to watch both adaptations of his novel and decide for yourself which you prefer.

To watch a video of the differences between King’s novel and Kubrick’s adaptation click here.

To find Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” in our collection click here.

To find Stephen King’s television adaptation in our collection click here.

And if this doesn’t suit your fancy search for “Horror films” at our library and check out other scary DVDs for Halloween!

Changes Coming to FAFSA Filing in Late 2016

In the Collection, In the Headlines / By Diana DiPierro / October 12, 2015

Starting next Fall (around October 2016) it will get easier to apply for student financial aid! Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, students and families will be able to submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) starting October 2016, instead of having to wait until after January 2017.

“Under the current aid rules, students planning to attend college next September can’t file a FAFSA until January. They will probably apply later, since the FAFSA requires information from their family’s 2015 tax return, which is due in April. When the new rules go into effect next fall, students planning to attend college in September 2017 will be able to file the FAFSA as early as October 2016. They will do so using data from (already filed) 2015 tax returns. This means they have information about their federal aid eligibility as they consider where to apply to college. By filing the FAFSA earlier, they also maximize their chances of getting money from state aid programs that ration aid by giving grants only to those who apply early”(Dynarski, 2015). The change occurred by not having to use the prior year’s tax return information, instead using income from two years earlier.

*While the change is still a way off, if you have any questions or concerns regarding this or current FAFSA procedures, don’t hesitate to contact our Financial Aid Office in Building S, Room 107, or call them at 708-974-5726.

To read more about this, check out “Applying for Financial Aid Is About to Get Easier” from The New York Times, and “FAFSA Reform” from Inside Higher Ed. You can also check out the resources MVCC Library has by searching “Student aid” at our website.

Citing Research Papers Using The Purdue OWL

Reference Desk Questions, Student Resources, Website Review / By Diana DiPierro / September 1, 2015

Preparing research papers can be tough; citing them can be tougher, especially with different citation styles. APA, MLA, Chicago Manual of Style, oh my! Do I have a resource for you! Check out Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab (OWL). This was my go-to resource after having returned to graduate school after a twenty year absence from college. The link above takes you to its home page; once there, you can click on “Research and Citation” or click here. One of the reasons I like this site is it explains the difference between the three (3) most commonly used citation styles: APA ”(American Psychological Association) style is most commonly used to cite sources within the social sciences;” MLA “(Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities;” and Chicago Manual of Style. Remember to always use the style your instructor has requested in the syllabus!

Another part of the site I like is the individual “Formatting and Style Guides” under each citation style. Screen shots are given of how certain parts of the research paper are supposed to look using that particular citation style. For example, in-text citations, footnotes and endnotes, reference list, and an actual sample paper. Check this site out, and refer to it often!

Happy 45th Earth Day!

In the Collection, In the Headlines / By Diana DiPierro / April 22, 2015

While spring has not really sprung here in Illinois quite yet, today (April 22^nd) we celebrate Earth Day! According to Earth Day Network’s website, today is the 45^th anniversary of the environmental awareness day. “The first Earth Day, on April 22, 1970, activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement.” If you search MVCC’s library website for the subject “environmental protection” many resources result, including MVCC’s own Sustainability Manager Stephenie Presseller’s streaming video and podcast, “Walking the walk : my enduring sustainability journey.” Check these resources out if you get a chance and Happy Earth Day!

March – Books One and Two

Graphic Novel Symposium, In the Collection / By Diana DiPierro / April 8, 2015

March is a graphic novel trilogy chronicling the civil rights struggles of Congressman John Lewis. Coinciding with the release of Book Two, Rep. John Lewis, co-author Andrew Aydin, and artist Nate Powell guested on The Rachel Maddow show last night for an interesting discussion.

If this further piques your interest, then check out March, Book One in MVCC’s library catalog.

Check Out Graphic Novel Creator Gareth Hinds

Graphic Novel Symposium, In the Collection / By Diana DiPierro / March 12, 2015

For those of you who find reading Shakespeare hard to understand as I do, discovering a different adaptation of his work might be helpful. Continuing our graphic novel theme, today I am highlighting acclaimed graphic novel creator Gareth Hinds. He has created and illustrated several Shakespearean texts including Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, King Lear, and other anonymously written epic poems and mythological tales. Our MVCC Library has Beowulf in its catalog which you can find here. “…Grendel’s black blood runs thick as Beowulf defeats the monster and his hideous mother, and red fires rage in the hero’s final battle against a ferocious dragon. From lightning-paced contests of muscle and will to the funeral boats burning on the fjords, all are rendered in glorious and gruesome detail. Told for more than a thousand years, Beowulf’s heroic saga finds a true home in this graphic novel edition” (Candlewick Press, cover flap, 2007). If you are a fan of Hinds’ work, and would like to see more of it in our collection, check out his website for other titles. If you would like to recommend other titles for our collection fill out the “Suggest an Item for the Library Collection” form on our website.

January 28, Data Privacy Day | Erasing David DVD

In the Collection, In the Headlines / By Diana DiPierro / January 28, 2015

Today, January 28, is “Data Privacy Day.” Taken directly from StaySafeOnline’s website, “Data Privacy Day (DPD), celebrated annually on January 28, is an international effort centered on ‘Respecting Privacy, Safeguarding Data and Enabling Trust.’”

With the advent of technology, we are losing our right to privacy more and more as companies are being hacked, personal identities are being stolen, and our own government is tracking cell phone usage. New to MVCC’s library is a DVD titled Erasing David. It is a documentary that was filmed in England, but its topic is highly translatable to anybody around the world who does not protect personal data. The filmmaker, David Bond, decided to disappear from his regular everyday life and see how long it would take a pair of private detectives to find him using his personal information that they could get their hands on. Scarily and astonishingly, it did not take them long to find him.

You might also like to check out the “Erasing David” website. On it you’ll find ways to protect yourself online, on social network sites, etc., and educational materials on privacy. It’s our right, so let’s protect it!

New English as a Second Language (ESL) Titles in Catalog

In the Collection / By Diana DiPierro / November 24, 2014

Moraine Valley Community College Library has added new English as a Second Language (ESL) titles to its catalog. Materials range from flashcards, to crossword puzzles, to books on Internet resources, and books with accompanying CD-ROMs. We have a little bit of everything for ESL students and teachers, so keyword search at our library website with the subject heading “AVL Program” and brush up on the English language.

Lapham’s Quarterly

In the Collection / By Diana DiPierro / October 14, 2014

New to the MVCC Library collection is a journal series by Lewis H. Lapham entitled Lapham’s Quarterly. Each issue focuses on a singular topic such as animals, death, youth, etc., and collects writings from the past and present exemplifying how much our present time is still influenced by our past history. Included in the journal issues are writings from prolific authors such as Shakespeare, Aristotle, Tolstoy, and Twain, in addition to reproductions of paintings by the world’s greatest artists illustrated throughout. While this journal series will appeal to Art, Communication/Composition, History, and Literature students, the appeal is widespread with topics to interest many.

Check out Lapham’s Quarterly in our collection today: LQ : Animals, LQ : Comedy, LQ : Communication, LQ : Death, LQ : Family, LQ : Intoxication, LQ : Magic Shows, LQ : Politics, LQ : Revolutions. Check back often for new issues being added to the collection by doing a keyword search for Lapham’s quarterly. To learn more about this interesting journal you can also peruse the Lapham’s Quarterly website.

24 Hour Comics Day | Chimera Comics La Grange

Graphic Novel Symposium, Local News and Info / By Diana DiPierro / October 3, 2014

If you enjoyed the Graphic Novel Symposium at MVCC Library a couple weeks ago, check out Chimera Comics in La Grange for its 24 hour Comics Day. It’s this Saturday, October 4 from midnight until 11:59 PM. This is the Facebook post from the La Grange Business Association describing the event: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10152533336554737&id=154666604

Check it out if you have time!