There was a recent interesting article in The Atlantic about the web and the impact it may be having on the way we read. Asking “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” the author, Nicholas Carr, is not some mindless Luddite saying the web is always bad, but he says he can see within himself that he is spending less time doing “deep reading” with books and more time with short pieces of information that he gets from the web. He wonders if our brains could be changing because we are all processing shorter pieces of information. He talks about how technology–the printing press, the typewriter, even mechanical clocks–changed our ways of thinking.
It would be interesting if faculty who have taught over time see this change happening in students–or in themselves as readers. I see it in myself sometimes. I have to consciously choose to stop being on the web and sit and read without distractions. I wonder if students who grew up with the web as part of their lives see any validity in the distinction between “deep reading” and web reading?
The staff at Gleeson Library/Geschke Center is glad you are here!
Our thoughts are on the new school year, transitions and new beginnings. Along those lines, on view at the library beginning today is a display of books and DVDs with a college-life theme. (All of them can be checked out, of course.) You can pick up a list of the books and films, or see the list here.
We’re raffling off half a dozen posters — a couple of them are on view too. Entry forms are on a table by the display.
Also by the display is a notebook where new students can share hopes, dreams, or fears about starting college. Returning students can contribute thoughts or advice about transitioning to college life at USF.
All are invited to write in the notebook or leave your thoughts about college life in a comment below.
Are you a new student at USF? Or just curious about the layout of the Library? Then join us for a tour of the Gleeson Library Geschke Center. On the tour, a staff member will show you around the library and tell you about our services. Tours meet inside the Library in the lobby, across from the Circulation Desk, and last about 30 minutes.
No need to sign up–just show up at any of these times.
The week of August 25th:
Monday 8/25 at 1pm
Tuesday 8/26 at 10am
Wednesday 8/27 at 4pm
Thursday 8/28 at 12:30pm
Friday 8/29 at 11am
The week of September 2nd:
Tuesday 9/2 at 12:30pm
Wednesday 9/3 at 10am
Thursday 9/4 at 12:30pm
Friday 9/5 at 3:30pm
Posted by Randy Souther under
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Books in the Lower Level stacks from call numbers “A” through “BF 38.5″ will be temporarily moved while Facilities Management works in the area (approximately August 18 – September 19). If you need a book that has been moved, please request it at the Circulation Desk for retrieval.
We’ve gotten rid of our 4-year-old computers in the Reference and Periodicals Rooms, replacing 17 Dells and 12 Apples all with new iMacs like the ones pictured above. These computers have been specially configured to run Windows XP in addition to Mac OS X. At startup, you can choose which operating system you would like to use.
We still have 10 traditional Windows PCs available, but suspect that even the die-hard Windows users will be drawn to the gorgeous 20-inch displays on the new computers. (And don’t worry, those funny one-button Apple mice really do have a “right-click.”)
We expect these new systems will offer the best of both worlds, with only minor compromises. Please try them out, ask us if you have any questions, and let us know what you think.
The September selection for the USF Book Club is The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
In addition to winning the Pulitzer Prize, this was one of the more controversial selections chosen by Oprah Winfrey for her book club, so we are bound to have a great discussion next month.
We’re meeting on Tuesday Sept. 9, 2008 from 12 noon – 1 pm in the Seminar Room of Gleeson Library (2nd Fl).
Bring your lunch and invite your colleagues!
To get the book through the library’s free service, Link+, click here.
Link+ takes about 4 business days and the book is delivered to the participating library of your choice, including Gleeson.
Hope to see you there!
The USF Book Club is co-sponsored by the Well Life Dept. and limited to faculty and staff of the University.
