Architecture in McCain Library

If you loved student Assistant Annel Chavez’s Anime Display, you’ll love her display about McCain library’s architectural changes up until now. Her display is complete with visuals and fun facts about everyone’s favorite studying place. Here is what she had to say:

“Have you ever wondered how the great McCain Library came to be? Well look no further; the library is now featuring a display that reminisces the history of the dear and beloved McCain Library. Feel free to check it out [on the 1st floor of McCain Library} when you get the chance.”

WEBCOMICS: A Digital Space for Humor

 

Library student assistants Folasade, Isabelle, and Yasmine have curated a visual display for a common like that they (and possibly you!) share: webcomics. Here’s what they had to say regarding their inspiration and resources at the library:

“We created this display in hopes to raise interest in webcomics while also displaying some of our favorite works. We also chose books from the library that correspond to the subject or theme of the webcomics.”

To read more about their favorite webcomics, where to find them, and where to find webcomics in general, visit their display on the first floor of McCain Library! They also recommend HiveWorks and Webtoons as good websites for collections of webcomics.

African and Black Dance Display: Past and Present

First year student assistant Mia Iverson curated a display on the evolution of African dance and its influence in Black culture today. When you visit McCain Library, stop by to view her display on the first floor by the elevator and borrow some of the materials she pulled!

About Mia:

“My name is Mia Iverson, and I’m a first year student assistant here at McCain Library. I was inspired to create this display because I have participated in dance since I was five years old. Then, I also saw the “Many Steps” movie last semester in Africana Studies, which sparked my interest in the overall topic of African dancing and its origin.”

About the Display:

“This display focuses on the evolution of dance in Africa. The books, movies, and music that is provided below offer a small portion of how African dance has been developed and maintained over the past decades. Some African dance practices have become apart of the black dance culture and that is shown in a few of the resources [for the display].”

 

Mexican Artists & Muralists

Don’t forget to check out student assistants Lauryn Ewens (’22) and Rachel Magana’s (’21) display on Mexican Muralists when you get the chance! Their display combines visuals and literature concerning not just some of the most influential Mexican muralists, but also Mexican artists such as, Frida Kahlo and Jose Guadalupe Posada. They were inspired to create this display because of our LDR 101 class “Mexican Muralism and the Rise of Public Art” (shameless plug) taught by Professor Korol. This course sparked an interest in the art of that time period and has found a cozy corner in McCain!

Nigerian Culture Through Media

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Which musician and activist developed Afrobeat music?

What are some perspectives of being a Nigerian-American?

What is Nollywood, and how has it expanded?

These are a few questions that can be answered by visiting the “Nigeria Culture Through Media” display on the first floor of McCain Library!

By curating a display out of literature that is by and about revered Nigerian figures, summaries, and garments, student assistant Folasade pays homage to her culture while inviting others to learn more about it.

Brave New Evans & a Brave New Earth

Happy Friday Scotties!

Here are two McCain Mad Libs from Banned Book Week that made us chuckle. We hope they make you laugh, too!

Brave New Evans

“He’s so stinky!” said Fanny.

“But I rather like his grout worms.”

“And then so moist.” Fanny made a grimace; moistness was so horribly and typically stressed.

“I think that’s rather sweet,” said Lenina.

“One feels one would like to yeet him. You know. Like a bike.”

Fanny was fast. “They say somebody made a mistake when he was still in the ghost — thought he was a mold and put moodle into his dog. That’s why he’s so depressed.”

“What nonsense!” Lenina was sleepy.

 

Brave New Earth

“He’s so cute!” said Fanny.

“But I rather like his horse.”

“And then so little.” Fanny made a grimace; littleness was so horribly and typically bitter.

“I think that’s rather sweet,” said Lenina.

“One feels one would like to run him. You know. Like a horse.”

Fanny was gigantic. “They say somebody made a mistake when he was still in the moonlight — thought he was a girl and put love into his flowers. That’s why he’s so wide.”

“What nonsense!” Lenina was blue.

 

Stop by the library to pick up a McCain Mad Lib and fill it out!

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** Mad Lib Excerpt Taken from: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley / pg. 31

 

Carrel Spotlight: G-6!

Many Seniors and Independent Study students like to add a personal touch to their carrels* (since they spend much time there studying). Check out this student who decked out her carrel with cozy items, succulents, and Scottie gear to show some Scottie pride!

*As always, we encourage everyone to respect the students’ carrels and not touch or take any of their belongings. Thank you for being considerate!

Student Spotlights: Kathryn Dean

Kathryn Dean ’13

Major: English

Minor: History

Do you have any special areas of interest, academic or otherwise?

I’m really interested in women’s history and women’s writing– that’s what I tend to focus on in my classes and where my interests tend to lie! Specifically, I love to look at formations of identity and spaces where women’s experiences can intersect.

What are your favorite resources at McCain Library?

Currently, I’m loving the Historical New York Times database– I’ve lost chunks of what could have been productive time looking through old headlines and articles. I’ve also been known to get sucked into the bound periodicals on the ground floor. (Pick up an old volume of TIME magazine sometime. So interesting.)

Do you enjoy reading? How would you describe yourself as a reader?

I love reading! As a reader, I’m a bit difficult, actually. It takes me a couple of tries to get into a fiction book unless it really captures me in the first few pages. I tend to be reading a lot of different things at one time, which can get tricky. I also like having something to eat or drink (or both), so I find myself reading in coffee shops a lot. And in the kitchen, which isn’t always ideal if you’re cooking. (Tip: watch your pasta. It will boil over. Dubliners can wait.)

It appears that my two adjectives would be fickle and hungry, which reflects very positively on me as a scholar.

What kind of books to you like to read outside of your classwork?

I like all kinds, really. Lately, I’ve been reading a lot of poetry and young adult novels. It’s a nice break from the more dense and lengthy reading I do for class. (But it’s not any less meaningful, of course!)

What books do you recommend as must-reads?

My old standbys: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (a delightfully funny play– do yourself a favor and increase your enjoyment of Hamlet); F. Scott Fitzgerald‘s short stories; Persuasion by Jane Austen (a slim and refreshingly lovely volume); Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (for those who like fairy tales with a new spin on them– this has been one of my favorite books for most of my life); anything by Virginia Woolf.

Books I’ve read lately: poetry by Natasha Trethewey, especially from her new volume Thrall; The Invention of Hugo Cabret (which I actually read for class! it’s such a cool and interesting way to tell a story); Adoption Papers by Jackie Kay (I read it in a poetry class while I was abroad last semester); The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

What kind of movies do you enjoy watching?

I generally love comedies and old movies. I’ve also been drawn to indie dramas in the past with mixed reactions.

Are there any movies you recommend?

Mel Brooks movies, especially Young Frankenstein— classic.
Roman Holiday– I watched this movie for the first time last semester right before I did some traveling and it’s lovely.
The Up Series is a series of documentary films that follows a group of children from when they’re seven years old– there’s one made every 7 years. The first film is sort of based around the proverb “Give me the child at seven, and I will give you the man.” The children from Seven Up are now in their 50s. It’s really interesting to see not only the way their lives turn out, but the way in which they start pushing back on the concept of the project.
The Women (1939) is based on the play by Clare Boothe Luce– it’s a really fast-paced, witty movie that is certainly a product of its time and really interesting for that reason! No men make an appearance on screen for the entire movie, which is pretty cool.

Do you have any memorable stories about reading that you can share?

I started reading at an early age and have always been a voracious reader. But I think To Kill a Mockingbird was the first book that I really interacted with in a way that resembles the kind of literary analysis I do now as an English major– not only was I completely captivated by the story, but I was also analyzing it as a work of literature. I go back to it periodically and every time I’m shocked by how much I’ve grown. It’s a different book every few years

Is there anything else you would like to share?

My favorite places to sit in the library– because I’m sure you wanted to know– are on the patio on the first floor and the little hallway with the comfy chairs beside it. Lots of natural light! I also love my study carrel on the ground floor, but it’s mine, all mine. (Just kidding. Or AM I?)

Future Library Superstar: Elaine Holliday ’10

Though Elaine Holliday ’10 worked in McCain Library for over 2 years at the Circulation Desk, it took several sessions with Gail Bell in the Career Planning Office at Agnes Scott College  to help Elaine realize that a career in libraries was a perfect match for her.  “I like to help people, ” she said, “and I also like to be the holder of knowledge.”

Though new to the idea of librarianship, Elaine showed clear signs of a librarian mind when she set out to research and apply for graduate programs.  “I looked for programs that were considered more ‘bang for your buck,'” she said, “and applied to University of South Carolina, University of Oklahoma, and University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Did you know that although there are 3 library programs in NC, 1 in SC, there are 8 in Hawaii?”

Elaine decided to attend University of South Carolina -Columbia and is currently working towards a Master’s of Library and Information Science. When her studies are complete, Elaine said she wants “to work in a small academic library, like McCain. Or in a larger academic library were I could specialize and be a cataloger or a science/technology reference librarian. Or in a special library, like a Medical Library.”

Already Elaine is embedded in the library culture, she has tales of “someone turning in a book to the library that wasn’t a library book” and adventures finding “really odd old documents.”

For students interested in pursuing an Masters in Library and Information Science, Elaine encourages them to consider online courses.  “All of my courses have been online,”  she said.  “Not all the courses offered are, but it was very doable to have mine be all online, and this seems to be not uncommon in library programs. Also, there really is a good bit of specialization amount libraries and that affects what courses you’d want to take. And different programs might have a stronger “department” or more courses for one type of librarian or another.”

Good luck Elaine! We hope you end up working with a population as wonderful as the one we encounter at McCain Library.

 

Future Library Super Star: Morgan Briles ’14

 Morgan Briles ’14 is a History major currently studying abroad in Sweden but she already knows that a career in libraries at either a university or a high school is the right fit for her.

“It feels like the perfect job for me,” she said when questioned why she wants to become a librarian.  “It also seems like an intellectually stimulating job.”

Morgan is not certain yet where she will pursue a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science, but since she has proven her ability to live in near arctic temperatures and since Casey Long will be her History Senior Seminar Library Mentor, we are certain that University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will definitely be considered.