Kate Lapinski

Graphic Novels: More Than Stories

Graphic Novel Symposium, In the Collection / By /

Next month’s Graphic Novel Symposium can’t come soon enough. As you probably know, we have a considerable collection of graphic novels, comic books and Manga in our library.  But did you realize the collections includes lots of nonfiction books that cover a wide range of academic subjects too?  These titles can serve as accessible entry points into complex concepts, and are good resources for deeper engagement with material.  Some students may appreciate the liveliness that graphics and artistry bring, while others may better grasp difficult theories through illustration.  With that in mind, here are some useful books to check out, grouped by subject:

PHILOSOPHY- … For Beginners series

HISTORY- Still I rise, a graphic history of African Americans; Malcom X for beginners; Fax from Sarajevo: a story of survival; Palestine; Best of Enemies: A History of US and Middle East Relations; The Gettysburg Address: A Graphic Adaptation; The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation

MATH & SCIENCE – Manga Guides to biochemistry, linear algebra, databases, statistics, molecular biology, relativity, physics and calculus;   Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species

LITERATURE- Edgar Allen Poe; Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles; Studs Terkel’s Working; The Graphic Canon, Volumes 1-3. Volume 1 starts with the Epic of Gilgamesh to Dangerous Liaisons.   Volume 2 starts with Kubla Khan and goes to The Picture of Dorian Gray.  Volume 3 contains The Heart of Darkness through Infinite Jest.

Future Moraine Students Do Research (and Have Fun!) at the Library

General Information / By /

On Thursday afternoon, the library welcomed 2 groups of summer campers and their counselors for a little time travel learning.   The younger set enjoyed stories and coloring, while the older kids went through issues of Life magazine from decades past, and made collages about how the things they use every day have developed in the past 40 to 80 years.   At first, the children were a little concerned that the initial project did not involve using a computer, but once they were reassured that they were doing research just like people did in the past they studied the magazines and made many great observations.

Are you interested in vintage fashion or do you love old cars?  The issues of Life Magazine in the library’s collection are a great window into the past, and can certainly make you reflect on how far we’ve come as a society–all those cigarette ads!  Two months’ worth of issues are bound together and our collection starts in Jan-Feb 1938.  They are shelved behind the coffee shop, next to the more recent magazine and journals.   Come browse through them and escape into the past, just like our little scholars did today!

Work in progress Finished Products

World Refugee Day: June 20

General Information / By /

There are over 43 million refugee and internally displaced people around the world.   The United Nations established the 20th of June as World Refugee Day “to honor the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children who are forced to flee their homes under threat of persecution, conflict and violence.”  The UN Refugee Agency identifies three current emergencies that require the attention of compassionate people around the world: An urgent appeal for Syria, Central African Republic, and South Sudan.

Author Khaled Hosseini is a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador who devotes time to spreading awareness about the plight of refugees.   Check out books written by Hosseini here.

70th Anniversary of D-Day

In the Headlines / By /

June 6, 1944 – June 6, 2014

Friday marks the 70th Anniversary of the Invasion of Normandy.  As people all over the world honor the sacrifices made on that momentous day, here are a couple of great resources that will let you see, hear, and watch the story unfold:

1944: D-Day and the Normandy Invasion, by The National Archives and Records Administration     See photos, top-secret documents and much more, including the handwritten “In Case of Failure” note that General Eisenhower wrote on June 5 and his June 6 “Order of the Day” statement to all the soldiers, sailors and airmen of the Allied Forces. Listen to President Roosevelt’s radio address to the nation about the Invasion.

The National WWII Museum’s D-Day 70th: Timeline     Starting at 0015 hours (that’s just after midnight in military time), this site will take you through the day in the words and photos of those that were there.   This rich resource is a great tribute and includes many videos, photos, and digitized artifacts!

If these sites make you want to go deeper, check out some of the materials we have in our collection on D-Day.

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