Wednesday, November 19, the George A. Smathers Libraries will host an all-day event to showcase the use of geographic information systems (GIS) to the academic community and the public. GIS Day is a global event that celebrates GIS and is held each year on the Wednesday of National Geographic Society’s Geography Awareness Week (November 16-22 in 2008). The Smathers Libraries will provide this opportunity for those curious about GIS to see its applications in action. It will also allow the many departments on campus who use GIS to come together to share the research projects on which they are working. Most importantly, it will highlight the many services and resources in the libraries’ Spatial Information Services Unit available for researchers using GIS.
The event will include speakers from a number of different departments across campus as well as a special guest from the St. Johns River Water Management District who will talk about using GIS in litigation. After the morning presentations will be a cake-cutting ceremony and opening of the exhibit hall area. This area will include information about the many resources in the libraries that support GIS from data and books to GIS consulting services. Also offered will be demonstrations of GIS software, as well as booths set up by various organizations across campus and in the community that use GIS or related technologies.
In addition, there will also be a poster session from 12:30-1:00. The posters will showcase how GIS is used in actual research at the University of Florida. The day will conclude with a geocaching event from 2:30-4:00. Pre-registration is required for geocaching on the GIS Day Web site. Geocaching is a popular hobby that allows people to use GPS technology to locate hidden clues and treasures. Everyone, no matter what level of previous experience, is encouraged to sign up for this event.
For a complete schedule and list of exhibits for GIS Day, please visit http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/msl/gisday2008/ or call (352) 273-2825.
Every November for the past six years, people from all over the nation have pledged to write a 175-page (50,000 word) novel in just one month for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).
The George A. Smathers Libraries, will host a middle-of-the-month “Write-In” to support NaNoWriMo writers as well as those interested in learning more about the month-long event.This special write-in will be Wednesday, November 19, 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. in the InfoCommons on the third floor of Library West.
The evening’s schedule:
6:30 - 7:00 PM - INFORMAL TALK
MARJORIE “M.D.” ABRAMS 2006 Florida Book Awards Bronze Medal Winner, and
author of “Murder on the Prairie,” a North Florida Mystery.
7:30 - 8:00 PM - LIVE ONLINE CHAT
ILONA & GORDON ANDREWS New York Times Bestselling Authors of the Kate Daniels Series (urban fantasy), published by ACE Books.
8:30 - 9:00 PM* - INFORMAL TALK PIERCE KELLEY Author of several Florida-based Mystery Books as well as several works of Non-fiction. *8:30pm - tentative time
9:00 - 9:30 PM - LIVE ONLINE CHAT ANN AGUIRRE Bestselling Author of the Jax Series (science fiction), published by ACE Books.
Coffee and sweet treats provided by Starbucks/Gator Dining
Contests throughout the evening for Book Prizes (some signed by the authors!).
David Colburn, historian and author, will speak about his new book “From Yellow Dog Democrats to Red State Republicans” covering Florida’s political trends and its place in national politics, Monday, November 3 at 2:00 p.m. in Smathers Library, Room 1A on the first floor. The talk will be followed by a reception at 3:00 at the opening of the exhibit “Buttons, Badges and Bumper Stickers – 160 years of Presidential Campaigns” in the Smathers Library second floor exhibit gallery. Colburn will be available for book signing at the reception.
The exhibit includes items from the private collection of John Owen Clark, and opens just in time for the 2008 election. Clark will provide commentary at the reception. Sponsored by the Stewards of Florida History (a support group of the PK Yonge Library of Florida History at UF) and the UF Department of Political Science (Political Campaigning Program), the exhibit is open through December 15, 2008.
“Buttons, Badges and Bumper Stickers” illustrates some key components of presidential election campaigns as they have affected Florida, the nation, and the candidates themselves. The exhibit introduces viewers to the world of campaign memorabilia, from the early ribbons, badges and watch fobs worn to state and national conventions to recent novelty pins.
Featured items include ribbons from the campaigns of Andrew Jackson (1828) and Abraham Lincoln (1860) and an example of a torch carried in turn-of-the-century torch light parades. While the exhibit contains many campaign standards and oddities from candidates who won through to the White House, it also reminds us of the forgotten or unsuccessful bids by Al Smith (first Catholic candidate), James Cox (later founder of Cox Communications) and Barry Goldwater.
The exhibit showcases pins and badges associated with campaign firsts, the evolution of bumper stickers as vehicles for espousing a political cause or candidate, and the rise of negative campaigning. The role of Florida in national politics – exemplified in the stormy and controversial voting returns of the 1876 and 2000 presidential elections – is also prominent. An actual West Palm Beach voting booth complete with butterfly ballot is showcased.
The libraries thank Goerings Book Store for their assistance at the book signing. The events are free and open to the public.
The George A. Smathers Libraries, in collaboration with the Alachua County Library District, presents Frontline’s ‘World – Stories from a Small Planet’ to the Gainesville community. The libraries will jointly host a screening and discussion program at the headquarters branch of the public library, 401 E. University Avenue, on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. Dr. Kristin Joos, Director of the Innovative Social Impact Initiative in the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at UF, will lead discussion and answer questions after an overview presentation of this special collection of films designed to connect communities to the innovative work of social entrepreneurs from around the world. Refreshments will be served.
You have heard of Social Entrepreneurship. You may know of it in terms of fair trade coffee or organic flowers; micro-finance or artisan co-ops; or sustainable business practices. But, have you ever wondered how a person, or a small group of people, is able to come up with an idea that can so radically change the lives of a village or a region? Have you ever wondered if you could have that kind of impact? The Social Entrepreneurs Series, created for the FRONTLINE/World program, features stories of people whose ideas and organizations create new and sustainable markets and services that benefit underserved communities everywhere in the developing world.
On Thursday, November 6, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., a panel discussion will be hosted on campus in Smathers Library (East), room 1A, to further discuss the meaning of Social Entrepreneurship and how individuals can get involved and have a global impact. A selection of short segments from the World series will be followed by a panel discussion. Panelists will include Dr. Kristin Joos, the Change the World: Student Social Entrepreneurs at UF group; and a representative from the UF student Social Entrepreneurs who founded SwaziAID (http://swaziaid.org/). The program will conclude with a discussion of the many opportunities for involvement available to students on campus, in the local community and around the world. The overview program will be shown again after the official program has concluded. Refreshments will be served.
This program is made possible by a grant from the American Library Association and PBS/Frontline. This program is a result of cooperation between the UF Libraries, the Alachua County Library District, the Innovative Social Impact Initiative at UF’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, UF’s Center for Leadership and Excellence, and Change the World: Student Social Entrepreneurs at UF.
2008 Common Reading Program When the River Runs Dry by Fred Pearce. The libraries will hold a reception for Mr. Pearce on Tuesday, October 14 at 4:00 p.m. in Smathers Library (East). It is free and open to the public. Additional activities planned by the Dean of Students Office can be found at http://dso.ufl.edu/nsp/firstyearexperience/commonread/
A companion book, Mirage — Where’s the Water?, written by Cynthia Barnett, will be discussed by the author on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 7:00 p.m. at the Alachua County District Library Headquarters.
Do you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep? Do you find it hard to get up in the morning? Do you wake up feeling irritable and depressed? If you answered yes to any of these questions, come and join us Wednesday, October 15, 12:00-1:00 p.m. in the Library West InfoCommons on the third floor as we share some practical tips for getting enough sleep.
It is tempting to sacrifice sleep to squeeze in more time to study but sleep deprivation actually makes it harder to learn and to focus.Learn how much sleep you really need to be effective, how to establish good sleep hygiene and why it’s important to make sleep a priority. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Laura Jordan at laujord@uflib.ufl.edu or 352-273-2615.
Yesterday’s Digital Literacy Contest in Library West drew a full capacity crowd of 50 contestants who competed in the challenging competition. The winners are as follows:
First place ($150)
Stacey Gray
Second place ($50)
YueFeng Xu
Third place ($20 each)
Alexandra Conti
Jarrod Tredway
Sey Hee Park
Fourth place
Diego Alvarez
Fifth place Catherine Tang
Mitchell Tannenbaum
Co-sponsors for the event were Hungry Howie’s Pizza, the Alachua County Library District and Books, Inc. The contest was created by Purdue graduate Daniel Poynter, www.digitalliteracycontest.org.
Wednesday, Oct 1st, and Tuesday, Oct. 14th, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Alberta’s been gator-napped! Come to the third annual Mystery in the Stacks to play detective, win prizes, find Alberta, and learn about your library resources. Open to the first 25 students. Located in the lobby at Library West.
Librarians in our nation’s 123,000 libraries make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans every day. Now is your chance to tell us why we should shine the spotlight on a librarian at your public, school, college, community college or university library. Nominate your librarian for the Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award!
Up to ten librarians will be honored. Each will receive $5,000 and be recognized at an awards ceremony hosted by The New York Times at TheTimesCenter in December 2008. The deadline is October 15, 2008. Details…
Have you looked through the microscope to find something beautiful?Is your art focused on the tools and concepts of science?The Marston Science Library invites all UF faculty, students and staff to submit artwork to its first annual “Elegance of Science” Contest.Winning entries and select other entries will be displayed on the walls of the Marston Science Library and the Health Science Center Libraries.
The contest is limited to images produced in the course of research or that incorporate tools and concepts from science. Cash prizes include $150 for first place, $100 for second place and $50 for third place winning artwork. All entries must be received by December 19, 2008.
