If you're looking for something different from the conventional "beach read," check out Listverse's "Top 10 Books That Changed the World," "10 More Books that Changed the World," and "Another 10 Books That Changed the World." Of course, the titles selected are highly subjective--and the author acknowledges that--but I found the justifications for each quite interesting. I'm a little disappointed the author so heavily depended on Wikipedia, though, and not sources like Contemporary Literary Criticism (online access, PSU only), Norton critical editions, or Cambridge companions.
A few titles from Listverse's selections:
Either/Or (1843) - Soren Kierkegaard (Listverse description)
The Second Sex (1949) - Simone de Beauvoir (Listverse description)
Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand (1957) (Listverse description)
Lady Chatterley's Lover (1928) - D.H. Lawrence (Listverse description)
If This is a Man (Survival in Auschwitz) (1947) - Primo Levi (Listverse description)
Things Fall Apart (1958) - Chinua Achebe (Listverse description)
Catcher in the Rye (1951) - J.D. Salinger (Listverse description)
Moby Dick (1851) - Herman Melville (Listverse description)
A Study in Scarlet - (1887) - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (first "Sherlock Holmes" mystery) (Listverse description)
Do you have other titles to recommend?
TimeTreeWeb website: http://www.timetree.org/
Penn State Live recently posted this article... it explains the Time Tree of Life a lot better than I can! -- The book will soon be available at Penn State University Libraries.
University
Park, Pa. -- Beginning this week, scientists and nonscientists now have
easy access to information about when living species and their
ancestors originated, information that previously was difficult to find
or inaccessible. Free access to the information is part of the new
Timetree of Life initiative developed by Blair Hedges, a professor of
biology at Penn State University, and Sudhir Kumar, a professor of life
sciences at Arizona State University. The Timetree of Life project
debuted this week with the simultaneous release of a major online
resource called "TimeTreeWeb" (http://www.timetree.org),
and a book titled "The Timetree of Life" (Oxford University Press),
which is written by a consortium of 105 experts on specific groups of
organisms and is edited by Hedges and Kumar. Nobel laureate James D.
Watson, co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, comments in his foreword
to the book, "I look in wonder at The Timetree of Life, at the breadth
of life that it covers, and the extraordinary data presented in it."
"The ultimate goal of the Timetree of Life initiative is to chart the timescale of life -- to discover when each species and all their ancestors originated, all the way back to the origin of life some four billion years ago," Hedges said. Many researchers long have studied the times of origin of individual species in order to piece together a Tree of Life, but now the Timetree of Life project provides a synthesis of the time-calibrated Tree of Life, in addition to adding much new information from previously unpublished scientific studies.
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.
.
One fifth of "The Timetree of Life" book contains new data, published for the first time, which fill many gaps in the family tree of life down to the taxonomic level of "family" (groups of species). For example, the book's chapter on stingrays and sharks is the first published timetree analysis of the existing molecular data about these animals. Almost all of the previously published data reviewed in the book became known only recently, in the hundreds of scientific articles published during the past five or ten years.
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.
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Each chapter of "The Timetree of Life" book is a review of the evolutionary history of the families within a particular group of organisms, such as mosses, ferns, fungi, beetles, sea urchins, frogs and toads, turtles, owls, primates, and many others. The chapters each contain a photograph of a representative organism, a color-coded timetree showing how the families are related and when they split from their closest relative, and a table with divergence times. Each chapter of the book was subjected to a rigorous scientific review by other experts in the respective field..
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.
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Support for developing TimeTreeWeb has come from the U. S. National Science Foundation, the Astrobiology Institute of the U. S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Science Foundation of Arizona, and the Biodesign Institute of ASU.
Penn State Live recently posted this article... it explains the Time Tree of Life a lot better than I can! -- The book will soon be available at Penn State University Libraries.
New initiative traces the beginning of species' life on Earth
Wednesday, June 10, 2009"The ultimate goal of the Timetree of Life initiative is to chart the timescale of life -- to discover when each species and all their ancestors originated, all the way back to the origin of life some four billion years ago," Hedges said. Many researchers long have studied the times of origin of individual species in order to piece together a Tree of Life, but now the Timetree of Life project provides a synthesis of the time-calibrated Tree of Life, in addition to adding much new information from previously unpublished scientific studies.
.
.
.
One fifth of "The Timetree of Life" book contains new data, published for the first time, which fill many gaps in the family tree of life down to the taxonomic level of "family" (groups of species). For example, the book's chapter on stingrays and sharks is the first published timetree analysis of the existing molecular data about these animals. Almost all of the previously published data reviewed in the book became known only recently, in the hundreds of scientific articles published during the past five or ten years.
.
.
.
Each chapter of "The Timetree of Life" book is a review of the evolutionary history of the families within a particular group of organisms, such as mosses, ferns, fungi, beetles, sea urchins, frogs and toads, turtles, owls, primates, and many others. The chapters each contain a photograph of a representative organism, a color-coded timetree showing how the families are related and when they split from their closest relative, and a table with divergence times. Each chapter of the book was subjected to a rigorous scientific review by other experts in the respective field..
.
.
.
Support for developing TimeTreeWeb has come from the U. S. National Science Foundation, the Astrobiology Institute of the U. S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Science Foundation of Arizona, and the Biodesign Institute of ASU.
Research Penn State recently featured the "probing question": How is the computer age changing libraries?
As someone who works in a library every day, the answer seems obvious to me! But, I think the answer here is interesting to all. Some of my favorite passages (but be sure to check out the whole article!)...
As someone who works in a library every day, the answer seems obvious to me! But, I think the answer here is interesting to all. Some of my favorite passages (but be sure to check out the whole article!)...
If everyone can now carry a virtual library in his or her pocket, what happens to actual, real-life libraries? How are digital media changing libraries?
"The image of a library as a staid and outdated place is untrue," says Lisa German, assistant dean for Technical and Collections Services at the Penn State University Libraries. "Libraries are vibrant places, full of life and change," and with the rise of digital media over the last two decades, libraries have evolved accordingly.
"People are coming to libraries--at least to Penn State's libraries--as much as they ever have, if not more so," [German] says. What's changed is the way in which students use the library space.
Michael Furlough, assistant dean for Scholarly Communications at the Libraries, sees today's students collaborating more than their predecessors. Able to do solitary research from anywhere, students increasingly take advantage of the social aspects of the library, such as open study spaces and group meeting rooms. ... Digital media have helped transform libraries into communal spaces for students to research, discuss, and study together--which, notes Furlough, has made them much louder places than you may remember.
Massive digital databases have allowed researchers to re-discover overlooked knowledge, to make new connections among and within disciplines, and to find work they never knew existed.
As German and Furlough see it, one future role of the library and librarians will lie in helping students navigate a vast and shifting sea of information--a sea that only grows wider and deeper as digital media proliferate.
[L]ibrarians... still are invaluable guides for travelers exploring an ever-expanding virtual storehouse of information.
The winners of the Webby Awards were announced yesterday and I noticed a few blog.li.og.ra.phy favorites in the winner columns!
Notably, TED in the category of Best Use of Video or Moving Image and FactCheck as the people's choice for best website in Politics. The Huffington Post was the Webby winner in the Politics category. The Guardian (UK) was the winner in the Newspaper and Podcasts categories, with the New York Times was selected as the People's Voice winner in the Newspaper category and Webby winner for Best Copy/Writing, among others.
Even better, looking through the list of Webby Award winners and nominees I discovered some cool new websites!
Exporatorium (The Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception)
Evidence: How Do We Know What We Know? A Case Study in Human Origins -
Science and Education nominees
I can't say it any better than they do: "This project uses case studies to examine how scientists construct a functional understanding of the world by gathering, assessing, and making use of scientific evidence."
SmARThistory - Education Webby winner
"[A]a free multi-media web-book designed as a dynamic enhancement (or even substitute) for the traditional art history textbook." Fun and educational!
Wired Science blog - Science People's Voice winner
Even though I love Wired magazine (People's Voice winner in the Best Copy/Writing category), I don't regularly read the science blog. Some very cool stuff here, even for a non-scientist like me. It also makes good use of photos and video, which gets a thumbs up in my book. (If it wasn't so time consuming, I would do it here more often!)
The Atlantic - Magazine Webby winner
I'm a fan of the magazine, but never spent any time on their website. A great place to look for research ideas or get your research project started!
Less research-related, but still highly recommended is...
NPR Music - Webby and People's Voice winner
NPR is also Best Radio Webby winner and Best Podcast People's Voice winner
This is the 13th year the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences has honored excellence on the Internet with their Webby Awards. So much good information, so little time!
Notably, TED in the category of Best Use of Video or Moving Image and FactCheck as the people's choice for best website in Politics. The Huffington Post was the Webby winner in the Politics category. The Guardian (UK) was the winner in the Newspaper and Podcasts categories, with the New York Times was selected as the People's Voice winner in the Newspaper category and Webby winner for Best Copy/Writing, among others.
Even better, looking through the list of Webby Award winners and nominees I discovered some cool new websites!
Exporatorium (The Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception)
Evidence: How Do We Know What We Know? A Case Study in Human Origins -
Science and Education nominees
I can't say it any better than they do: "This project uses case studies to examine how scientists construct a functional understanding of the world by gathering, assessing, and making use of scientific evidence."
SmARThistory - Education Webby winner
"[A]a free multi-media web-book designed as a dynamic enhancement (or even substitute) for the traditional art history textbook." Fun and educational!
Wired Science blog - Science People's Voice winner
Even though I love Wired magazine (People's Voice winner in the Best Copy/Writing category), I don't regularly read the science blog. Some very cool stuff here, even for a non-scientist like me. It also makes good use of photos and video, which gets a thumbs up in my book. (If it wasn't so time consuming, I would do it here more often!)
The Atlantic - Magazine Webby winner
I'm a fan of the magazine, but never spent any time on their website. A great place to look for research ideas or get your research project started!
Less research-related, but still highly recommended is...
NPR Music - Webby and People's Voice winner
NPR is also Best Radio Webby winner and Best Podcast People's Voice winner
This is the 13th year the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences has honored excellence on the Internet with their Webby Awards. So much good information, so little time!
I very much enjoyed reading the article "Class Gifts: The Beloved, Bizarre, and Bulldozed" in the May issue of the Penn State Alumni Association's AlumnInsider online magazine. Many graduates have decided to honor the University Libraries by
donating books, study spaces, and other items for the Libraries. Many
thanks to these Classes for their contributions!
This year the University Libraries are celebrating 150 years of service to the Penn State community. If you would like to make your own contribution, you may donate here.
Spring 2009 graduates, don't forget to join the Alumni Association and to check out the Alumni Library.
Class of...
1994 - Extended Hours Room in Pattee Library
1989 - outdoor study lounge at Pattee Library
1985 - Library book fund
1984 - Library book fund
1979 - Library book fund and improvement to facility
1977 - Library book fund and improvement to facility
1976 - Library book fund and improvement to facility
1975 - Library book fund and improvement to facility
1974 - Library book fund and improvement to facility
1973 - Library support funds
1972 - Library support funds
1968 - Libraries Program Endowment; $100,000 to the Campaign for the Library at their 25th reunion
1966 - Library endowment in memory of Charles A. "Rip" Engle at their 25th reunion
1964 - American cultural heritage collection for Library
1962 - Library book fund
1960 - Library book fund
1959 - American contemporary literature collection for Library
1957 - Library book fund
1953 - record album collection for the library (earmarked for a proposed radio station)
1936 - contribution to Library scholarship
1935 - Library book fund
1932 - Library books
1912 - class ivy at Library (when it was in the Carnegie Bldg)
1911 - busts of Fred Lewis Pattee and A. Howry Espenshade in Pattee Library
1910 - clock in the library (Carnegie Bldg)
1907 - collection of books from the Atherton Library collection; nuclear engineering books donated in 1962 at class' 55th reunion
This year the University Libraries are celebrating 150 years of service to the Penn State community. If you would like to make your own contribution, you may donate here.
Spring 2009 graduates, don't forget to join the Alumni Association and to check out the Alumni Library.
Class of...
1994 - Extended Hours Room in Pattee Library
1989 - outdoor study lounge at Pattee Library
1985 - Library book fund
1984 - Library book fund
1979 - Library book fund and improvement to facility
1977 - Library book fund and improvement to facility
1976 - Library book fund and improvement to facility
1975 - Library book fund and improvement to facility
1974 - Library book fund and improvement to facility
1973 - Library support funds
1972 - Library support funds
1968 - Libraries Program Endowment; $100,000 to the Campaign for the Library at their 25th reunion
1966 - Library endowment in memory of Charles A. "Rip" Engle at their 25th reunion
1964 - American cultural heritage collection for Library
1962 - Library book fund
1960 - Library book fund
1959 - American contemporary literature collection for Library
1957 - Library book fund
1953 - record album collection for the library (earmarked for a proposed radio station)
1936 - contribution to Library scholarship
1935 - Library book fund
1932 - Library books
1912 - class ivy at Library (when it was in the Carnegie Bldg)
1911 - busts of Fred Lewis Pattee and A. Howry Espenshade in Pattee Library
1910 - clock in the library (Carnegie Bldg)
1907 - collection of books from the Atherton Library collection; nuclear engineering books donated in 1962 at class' 55th reunion
Maybe you're not familiar with this Jackie DeShannon song, but during finals week on a college campus I think sleep is something we could all use a little bit more of.
Since sleep is an issue that has plagued me for my entire life, it's a subject I am always interested in. So, now seems like the perfect time to write about a series of guest columns about sleep and our natural circadian rhythms by Leon Kreitzman on the New York Times' Wild Side blog.
The first, "Larks, Owls and Hummingbirds" (April 21, 2009), explains that 70-80% of us are 'hummingbirds' and are easily able to reset their internal clocks, but the remaining early-rising 'larks' and late-to-bed 'owls' have difficulty doing so. This article could make an excellent starting point for your research, as it includes references to numerous studies on the subject, as well as recommended books and articles.
The second article, "Let's Hear It For the Bees" (April 28, 2009), discusses honey bees' sophisticated circadian "clockwork" that allows them to keep track of the time of the day different flowers open, but also the time of the season each flower blooms. You can read more about the honey bee elsewhere on this blog.
Find recommended reading and other items in Penn State Libraries by using our "Citation Linker." If you need help deciphering a citation or locating an item, just ASK! at Altoona or ASK! at alll PSU Libriaries.
Since sleep is an issue that has plagued me for my entire life, it's a subject I am always interested in. So, now seems like the perfect time to write about a series of guest columns about sleep and our natural circadian rhythms by Leon Kreitzman on the New York Times' Wild Side blog.
The first, "Larks, Owls and Hummingbirds" (April 21, 2009), explains that 70-80% of us are 'hummingbirds' and are easily able to reset their internal clocks, but the remaining early-rising 'larks' and late-to-bed 'owls' have difficulty doing so. This article could make an excellent starting point for your research, as it includes references to numerous studies on the subject, as well as recommended books and articles.
The second article, "Let's Hear It For the Bees" (April 28, 2009), discusses honey bees' sophisticated circadian "clockwork" that allows them to keep track of the time of the day different flowers open, but also the time of the season each flower blooms. You can read more about the honey bee elsewhere on this blog.
Find recommended reading and other items in Penn State Libraries by using our "Citation Linker." If you need help deciphering a citation or locating an item, just ASK! at Altoona or ASK! at alll PSU Libriaries.
Penn State's yearbook, La Vie, is now available to everyone online as part of the Penn State University Libraries' Digital Collections. Browse or search cover-to-cover images of yearbooks from 1890-2000 on the Libraries' website at http://www.libraries.psu.edu/digital/lavie/. Find your self, find your friends, or simply turn back the pages of time! If you're like me, you might have bitter-sweet feelings about not having your picture taken for the yearbook!
For more details, see the announcement on our website!
Tip: When searching for a name, say "Joe Paterno," you will likely get better results if you use the "Advanced Search" option and enter the name on either the "All of the words" or "The exact phrase" line. This is especially helpful if you are searching across all issues. There are currently 180 pages referencing Joe Paterno, including the Dedication of the 1969 issue to the "Coach of the Year."
Some print copies of La Vie are still available for purchase. For more information, see the La Vie student organization web site. Issues for 2001-2005 will become available in La Vie Online 2010.
In a related story from Penn State Live, "Penn State Alumni Find Themselves and Others on the New Digital La Vie."
For more details, see the announcement on our website!
Tip: When searching for a name, say "Joe Paterno," you will likely get better results if you use the "Advanced Search" option and enter the name on either the "All of the words" or "The exact phrase" line. This is especially helpful if you are searching across all issues. There are currently 180 pages referencing Joe Paterno, including the Dedication of the 1969 issue to the "Coach of the Year."
Some print copies of La Vie are still available for purchase. For more information, see the La Vie student organization web site. Issues for 2001-2005 will become available in La Vie Online 2010.
In a related story from Penn State Live, "Penn State Alumni Find Themselves and Others on the New Digital La Vie."
Yesterday The Guardian, a London-based newspaper, ran an article called, "Native Americans find their voice: The Comanche and Arapaho are just two of the tribes fighting to ensure their languages are passed down to future generations." In related news, Research Penn State recently published the article, "What is lost when a language dies?"
According to the Research Penn State article, "roughly half of the world's 6,000 languages will vanish within 100 years." But, according to John Sanchez, assoc. professor of communications, most of the 570 Native American tribes are attempting to preserve more than 300 native languages still taught and spoken through grassroots educational initiatives and academic scholarship. In one example provided by the Guardian article, the author suggests that there may be "fewer than 100 native Comanche speakers are still alive and none is under 60."
Even if a Native American language class is not offered near you, you can help save dying Native American languages through study and sharing. So, what is lost when a language dies? See the article to find out!
For more, explore the Native American History collections at the Library of Congress' American Memory Project to see and hear rare audio and video recordings, as well as photographs, documenting Native American language, music, and dance. Find more recordings via "Save Our Sounds" at the American Folklife Center.
Find more in the Penn State University Libraries' collection by checking out the Smithsonian Global Sound database [PSU only] for song recordings. Or, check out books and recordings on Native American language from the Libraries' physical collections. (Hint: You will probably get better search results in The CAT if you search for the phrase 'Indians of North America' instead of Native Americans and the term languages or language$ (truncated, search both variations) instead of language. You could also search for items on a particular tribe.)
Indeed, Native American words are often a part of our everyday life (see also, Tracks That Speak: The Legacy of Native American Words in North American Culture). Others may be interested in studying the Navajo and other "code talkers" in World Wars I and II. Or, for a general overview, check out The Praeger Handbook on Contemporary Issues in Native America (E98.S67J65 2007 v.1-2).
According to the Research Penn State article, "roughly half of the world's 6,000 languages will vanish within 100 years." But, according to John Sanchez, assoc. professor of communications, most of the 570 Native American tribes are attempting to preserve more than 300 native languages still taught and spoken through grassroots educational initiatives and academic scholarship. In one example provided by the Guardian article, the author suggests that there may be "fewer than 100 native Comanche speakers are still alive and none is under 60."
Even if a Native American language class is not offered near you, you can help save dying Native American languages through study and sharing. So, what is lost when a language dies? See the article to find out!
For more, explore the Native American History collections at the Library of Congress' American Memory Project to see and hear rare audio and video recordings, as well as photographs, documenting Native American language, music, and dance. Find more recordings via "Save Our Sounds" at the American Folklife Center.
Find more in the Penn State University Libraries' collection by checking out the Smithsonian Global Sound database [PSU only] for song recordings. Or, check out books and recordings on Native American language from the Libraries' physical collections. (Hint: You will probably get better search results in The CAT if you search for the phrase 'Indians of North America' instead of Native Americans and the term languages or language$ (truncated, search both variations) instead of language. You could also search for items on a particular tribe.)
Indeed, Native American words are often a part of our everyday life (see also, Tracks That Speak: The Legacy of Native American Words in North American Culture). Others may be interested in studying the Navajo and other "code talkers" in World Wars I and II. Or, for a general overview, check out The Praeger Handbook on Contemporary Issues in Native America (E98.S67J65 2007 v.1-2).
First, there has been so much I have wanted to tell you about! A million apologies for not posting in awhile--more coming soon. I promise!
I wanted to share this news with you now. Penn State Live recently posted a news item (full article) about the Penn State University Libraries' involvement in helping to develop Google Book Search:
Obtaining a copy from another library until our copy is returned is simple! Once you establish an account in ILLiad, just click on the link and the request form will be completed for you. Then, simply review and submit. Items typically arrive within one week.
See how Google Books is already integrated into our catalog, The CAT: New in The CAT: Google Book Preview and Cover Art
Related: 12-University Consortium Joins Google Digitization Project and Photo Album
I wanted to share this news with you now. Penn State Live recently posted a news item (full article) about the Penn State University Libraries' involvement in helping to develop Google Book Search:
"Penn State University Libraries is sending its first shipment of books to Google this month to be digitized as part of the CIC/Google Book Search project. Among the volumes are Penn State's distinctive English and American literature collections. When complete, the multi-year project will have digitized upwards of 10 million books from the collections of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), the academic arm of the Big Ten Conference.This is exciting news for Penn State Libraries users! When complete, it will allow patrons to search the contents, or "full text," of many of our books and help faculty, staff, and students find the books most relevant to their research more quickly. Books that have been sent to Google for digitization will display "Being digitized-Click here to request via Interlibrary Loan" and include a link to the Interlibrary Loan request form in ILLiad.
The project, Google Book Search, is digitizing books from publisher and library partners to make them discoverable and accessible online. For out-of-copyright books in the public domain, users will have access to the full text of the book online. For books still in copyright, the Google Book Search will enable users to obtain bibliographic information so they may find the actual texts at the library or bookstore. In some cases, portions of the text will also be available online."
Obtaining a copy from another library until our copy is returned is simple! Once you establish an account in ILLiad, just click on the link and the request form will be completed for you. Then, simply review and submit. Items typically arrive within one week.
See how Google Books is already integrated into our catalog, The CAT: New in The CAT: Google Book Preview and Cover Art
Related: 12-University Consortium Joins Google Digitization Project and Photo Album
Since this very well may be the last post for 2008, I thought I would share of of the more intriguing "top 10" lists I've seen during the year-end wrap-up. This one comes from Stepcase Lifehack: Top 10 Web Apps in 2008
A number of these I am not familiar with, so they'll be a new year's resolution!
A number of these I am not familiar with, so they'll be a new year's resolution!
