United_States_Department_of_Veterans_Affairs_Veterans_Day_2009_poster

The Robert R. Muntz Library has created a book display to honor Veterans Day and those who served. The display features books and images related to veterans and their service.According to the Library of Congress (from the American Memory Project), “the Allied powers signed a cease-fire agreement with Germany at Rethondes, France on November 11, 1918, bringing World War I to a close. Between the wars, November 11 was commemorated as Armistice Day in the United States, Great Britain, and France. After World War II, the holiday was recognized as a day of tribute to veterans of both world wars. Beginning in 1954, the United States designated November 11 as Veterans Day to honor veterans of all U.S. wars.”

Some people confuse Memorial Day, which takes place on the last Monday in May, with Veterans Day. Memorial Day was originally set aside to honor those who died in the service of their country. Veterans Day also honors those who died in the service of their country, but it is also a day to thank, honor, and recognize all those who served honorably in the military in peacetime or during wartime; it is a holiday to thank living veterans for their service.

If you wish to learn more about Veterans Day, here are some websites that may be of interest:

In addition, if you wish to read about those who served as well as some histories, the following is the list of books, with call numbers, placed in the library’s display case now. Unless noted otherwise, the regular location for these books is the third floor General Collection stacks.

  • Ken Burns’s PBS documentary The War, which is a history of World War II. This is usually located in the A/V collection. Ask at Circulation if you wish to check it out. Call number: D811.5 .W37 2007. For more details on the documentary, you can also visit the PBS The War website.
  • Eve Bunting, The Wall. This is a children’s book about the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. It is usually located in the CML Room. Call number: CML Easy Fic B9425wa.
  • Sal Lopes, The Wall: Images and Offerings from the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial. This is the big book we have open to display some of the photos. Throughout the month, we will turn pages to highlight different photos, so feel free to come over often and have a look. The book’s call number is: F203.4.V54 W35 1987.
  • Ronald H. Spector, At War, At Sea: Sailors and Naval Combat in the Twentieth Century. V53 .S66 2002.
  • Robert Ackerman, Creating a Veteran-Friendly Campus. UB357 .C735 2009.
  • Stephen E. Ambrose, Americans at War. E181 .A34 1998.
  • Frederick Downs, The Killing Zone: My Life in the Vietnam War. DS559.5 .D69 2007.
  • Lea Ybarra, Vietnam Veteranos: Chicanos Recall the War. DS559.8 .M39 Y23 2004.
  • Helen Benedict, The Lonely Soldier: the Private War of Women Serving in Iraq. This is usually located in the Bestsellers Collection in the second floor. Call number is DS 79.76 .B445 2009.
  • Kate Blaise, The Heart of a Soldier: a True Love Story of Love, War and Sacrifice. This is usually located in the Bestsellers Collection in the second floor. Call number is DS79.76 .B58 2005.
  • David Bellavia, House to House: an Epic Memoir of War. This is usually located in the Bestsellers Collection in the second floor. DS79.76 .B4465 2007.
  • Steve Estes, Ask & Tell: Gay and Lesbian Veterans Speak Out. UB418 .G38 E77 2007.
  • Megan K. Winchell, Good Girls, Good Food, Good Fun: the Story of USO Hostesses during World War II. D810 .E8 W56 2008.

This display will run until the end of November. As always, the books inside the display case are available for checkout. If you are affiliated to the university (or you have a courtesy card), you can request to check out any book in the display case. Just stop by the reference or circulation desks, and we will be happy to open the case.

The Robert R. Muntz Library is featuring a book display in observance of National Hispanic Heritage Month.  National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15 annually. This month celebrates “the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period” (from the site linked above).

We are displaying some books and material that may be of interest. The display is located in the library’s third floor. Like other displays, books  on display are available to be checked out. If you look them up in the catalog, and they show as checked out, they are “checked out” to our display case. Just let us know at the reference desk, and we will be happy to open the case so you can take the book and read it. We really want people to read our books, which is why we display them. Books, unless otherwise noted, are usually in the library’s general collection in the third floor. The books are listed, in no particular order, with their call numbers:

  • Andrew Garrod, Mi Voz, Mi Vida: Latino College Students Tell their Lives. LC2670.6 .M58 2007.
  • Elizabeth Sutherland Martínez, 500 Years of Chicana Women’s History. E184 .M5 M375 2008.
  • David T. Abalos, Latinos in the United States: the Sacred and the Political. E184 .S75 A63 2007.
  • Gregory Rodríguez, Mongrels, Bastards, Orphans, and Vagabonds: Mexican Immigration and the Future of Race in America. E184 .M5 R587 2008. We have a copy in the Bestseller Collection and a second copy in the third floor General Collection. We placed the General Collection copy in the display.
  • Anna Marie Ortiz, Addressing the Unique Needs of Latino Students. LC2670.6 .A35 2004.
  • Rosario Díaz-Greenberg, The Emergence of Voice in Latino/a High School Students. LC2670.4 .D53 2003.
  • Carlos Fuentes, The Eagle’s Throne: A Novel. PQ7297 .F793 S5513 2006.
  • Roberto Bolaño, 2666. PQ 8098.12 .O38 A12213 2008 (Bestseller Collection; this is an English translation).
  • Angeles Mastretta, Mujeres de Ojos Grandes. PQ7298.23.A795 M85 2003.
  • Alberto Fuguet, Por Favor, Rebobinar. PQ8098.16.U48 P6 1999.
  • Mario Vargas Llosa, Death in the Andes. PQ8498.32.A65 L5813 1997 (English translation of Lituma en los Andes).
  • Edwin Williamson, Borges, A Life. PQ7797 .B635 Z953 2004.
  • Alfredo Bryce Echenique, El Huerto de mi Amada. PQ8498.12 .R94 H84 2002.
  • Miguel Angel Asturias, Leyendas de Guatemala. PQ7499.A75 L4 1999.
  • Gabriel García Márquez, El Amor en los Tiempos del Cólera. PQ8180.17.A73 A8 1996.
  • Gabriel García Márquez. Love in the Time of Cholera. PQ8180.17 .A73 A813 2003 (This is the English translation).

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Robert R. Muntz is presenting “Voces Americanas/American Voices: Latino Literature in the United States.” This is an exhibition produced by Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Voces Americanas DisplayThe exhibit shows a celebratory survey of works by Latinos in the past thirty years, and it presents images of authors, books, movie stills, public presentations, and illustrations. It is based on an original exhibition at the University of Houston Library that documented a quarter century of Hispanic publishing in the United States.

The exhibit is available for public viewing from September 21, 2009 to October 17, 2009 during regular library hours.

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U.S. Constitution and Quill Pen

U.S. Constitution and Quill Pen

The Robert R. Muntz Library is featuring a book display in observance of Constitution Day. Constitution Day is observed each year on September 17 to commemorate the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787. As part of the library’s educational mission and to promote learning more about this important document that is the foundation of the United States, we are displaying some books and material that may be of interest. The display is located in the library’s second floor next to the Circulation Desk.

The following books and materials are inside the display case. Like other displays, books and A/V material on display is available to be checked out. If you look them up in the catalog, and they show as checked out, they are “checked out” to our display case. Just let us know at the reference desk, and we will be happy to open the case so you can take the book and read it. We really want people to read our books, which is why we display them. Note that A/V material is usually kept behind circulation. If you wish to check it out (after the display), jot down the call number and request it at circulation. Books, unless otherwise noted, are usually in the library’s general collection in the third floor.

DVDs:

  • You Can’t Say That: “Politically Correct” Free Speech. JC 591 .Y68 2004.
  • Key Constitutional Concepts. KF 5130 .S9 K3.
  • Our Constitution: A Conversation. KF 4550 .O87 2005.

Books:

  • Peter Spier, We the People: The Constitution of the United States. 342.73 S755w (CML-Dewey).
  • Ellen Alderman and Caroline Kennedy, The Right to Privacy. KF 1262 .A97 1997.
  • Jack N. Rakove, Original Meanings: Politics and Ideas in the Making of the Constitution. KF 4541 .R35 1997.
  • Craig R. Smith, To Form a More Perfect Union. KF 4541 .S58 1993.

In addition, the display features highlights of the following online resources. Both are freely available online:

For more information about Constitution Day, you can visit the library. You can also check out these other websites:

When making a book display, I often pick out more books than I can fit in the display case. I still think these books are worth reading. This second list includes the books that did not make it into the display case for the “Learn about Islam and the Middle East” book display we have running until the end of September, which is part of our September Project celebration.

The books on this list are located in the third floor stacks of the library unless noted otherwise. They are listed in call number order. I would like to invite our library patrons to pick up any of these books, and if they do, to let us know what they think and about what they read. Feel free to leave us a comment here on the blog.

  • Joseph E.B. Lumbard. Islam, Fundamentalism, and the Betrayal of Tradition: Essays by Western Muslim Scholars. BP 60 .I7848 2004.
  • Robert Spencer. The Truth About Muhammad: Founder of the World’s Most Intolerant Religion. BT 1170 .S657 2006.
  • Frederick Quinn. The Sum of all Heresies: The Image of Islam in Western Thought. DS 35.74 .E85 Q45 2008.
  • Michael Scheuer. Marching Toward Hell: America and Islam after Iraq. DS 35.74 .U6 S34 2008.
  • Maxine Rodison. Europe and the Mystique of Islam. DS 36.855 .R613 2002.
  • Albert Hourani. A History of the Arab Peoples. DS 37.7 .H67 1991.
  • François Massoulié. Middle East Conflicts. DS 62.8 .M3213 2003.
  • Roger Owen. State, Power and Politics in the Making of the Modern Middle East. DS 63 .O94 2004.
  • Robert B. Silvers and Barbara Epstein, eds. A Middle East Reader: Selected Essays from The New York Review of Books. DS 63.1 .M490 1991.
  • Kenneth M. Pollack. A Path Out of the Desert: A Grand Strategy for America in the Middle East. DS 63.2 .U5 P67 2008.
  • Jimmy Carter. Palestine Peace Not Apartheid. DS 119.7 .C3583 2006.
  • Arthur P. Clark and Muhammad A. Tahlawi, eds. A Land Transformed: The Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia, and Saudi Aramco. DS 204 .L36 2006. (located in Oversize Collection, third floor stacks).
  • Jonathan Curiel. Al’America: Travels Through America’s Arab and Islamic Roots. E 169.1 .C853 2008.
  • Edward E. Curtis IV, ed. The Columbia Sourcebook of Muslims in the United States. E 184 .M88 C65 2008.
  • Mahmood Mandani. Good Muslim, Bad Muslim: America, the Cold War, and the Roots of Terror. E 840 .M346 2004.
  • Aslam Syed, ed. Islam: Enduring Myths and Changing Realities. H1 .A4 v.588 (part of the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences).
  • Valérie Marcel. Oil Titans: National Oil Companies in the Middle East. HD 9578 .M628 M37 2006.
  • Tarek S. Zaher and M. Kabir Hassan. A Comparative Literature Survey of Islamic Finance and Banking. HG 173 .F52 v.10 no.4 (this is part of the Financial Markets, Institutions and Instruments series).
  • Rosemarie Skaine. Women of Afghanistan in the Post-Taliban Era: How Lives Have Changed and Where They Stand Today. HQ 1735.6 .S385 2008.
  • Gilles Kepel and Jean-Pierre Milelli, eds. Al Qaeda In Its Own Words. HV 6431 .A4613 2008.

As part of its activities for the International September Project, the Robert R. Muntz Library has created a book display on “Learn About Islam and the Middle East.” The September Project is “a grassroots effort to encourage events about freedom and democracy in all libraries in all countries during the month of September.” With that goal in mind, and as part of our educational mission, we have created the display. In addition, the display gives us a small opportunity to recognize the Muslim observance of Ramadan and provide complementary readings to go along with the “Legacy of the Middle East” exhibit which runs until September 11, 2009.

Though Islamic societies are present around the world, we have chosen to highlight the Middle East to coordinate with the traveling exhibit. We could have created an exhibit of Islam around the world as well (maybe this can be a project for next year). For instance, did you know that Indonesia has the largest national Muslim population? We recognize that the diversity of Islamic societies is more than what we reflect in our small display.

This display will run through the month of September. It is located in the library’s third floor.

This is the list of books featured in the display case. When not in our display, these books are usually located in the third floor stacks, unless otherwise noted. They are presented in LC call number order:

  • Rukhasana Khan, with illustrations by Patty Gallinger. Muslim Child: Understanding Islam Through Stories and Poems. 297 K4535 MU (CML-Dewey).
  • Philip Wilkinson. Islam. 297 W6873IS (CML-Dewey).
  • Joseph E.B. Lumbard, ed.. Islam, Fundamentalism, and the Betrayal of Tradition. BP 60 .I7848 2004.
  • The Qur’an. (Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik, translator. English Translation of the Meaning of Al-Qur’an). BP 109 .K45 1997.
  • I.A. Ibrahim. A Brief Guide to Understanding Islam. BP161.2 .I27 1996.
  • Thomas W. Lippman. Understanding Islam: an Introduction to the Muslim World. BP161.2 .L56 1995.
  • Ira G. Zepp. A Muslim Primer: Beginner’s Guide to Islam. BP 161.2 .Z46 1992.
  • Reza Aslan, No God But God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam. BP 161.3 .A79 2005 (Bestseller Collection).
  • Paul Findley. Silent No More: Confronting America’s False Images of Islam. BP 170 .F56 2001.
  • M.R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen. Islam and World Peace: Explanations of a Sufi. BP 170 .M83 2004.
  • Bernard Lewis. The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror. BP 182 .L48 2004.
  • Roy P. Mottahedeh. The Mantle of the Prophet: Religion and Politics in Iran. BP 192.7 .I68 M67 2000.
  • Justin Marozzi. Tamerlane: Sword of Islam, Conqueror of the World. DS .M37 2007.
  • P.M. Holt, et.al., eds. The Cambridge History of Islam. DS 35.6 .C3 1977 V.1A.
  • Ira M. Lapidus. A History of Islamic Societies. DS 35.63 .L37 2002.
  • Hugh Kennedy. When Baghdad Ruled the Muslim World: the Rise and Fall of Islam’s Greatest Dynasty. DS 38.6 .K463 2006.
  • Zachary Lochman. Contending Visions of the Middle East: the History and Politics of Orientalism. DS 61.8 .L63 2004.
  • Martin Sicker. The Pre-Islamic Middle East. DS 62.2 .S54 2000.
  • William L. Cleveland. A History of the Modern Middle East. DS 62.4 .C53 2004.
  • David Fromkin. A Peace to End All Peace: the Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East. DS 63.2 .G7 F76 2001.
  • Jimmy Carter. The Blood of Abraham: Insights into the Middle East. DS 119.7 .C358 2007.
  • Hooman Majd. The Ayatollah Begs To Differ. DS 318.9 .M35 2008 (Bestseller Collection).
  • Benazir Bhutto. Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy, and the West. DS 389.22 .B48 A3 2008 (Bestseller Collection).
  • David R. Farber. Taken Hostage: the Iran Hostage Crisis and America’s First Encounter with Radical Islam. E 183.8 .I55 F37 2005.
  • National Geographic Atlas of the Middle East. G2205 .N34 2008. (Reference).
  • Elsa Marston. Figs and Fate: Stories About Growing Up in the Arab World Today. M3744FI (CML-Young Adult).
  • Marjane Satrapi. Persepolis. PN 6747 .S245 p4713 2003.
  • Marjane Satrapi. Persepolis 2: the Story of a Return. PN 6747 .S245 p4713.

Note that the books on the display case, except for the atlas (a reference book), are available for check out. If you see a book you wish to read, feel free to visit the reference or circulation desks, and we will be happy to open the display case for you so you can check it out. We do want people to check out and read these and other books in our library.

As always, if you need assistance locating other books or finding further information on these or other topics, feel free to stop by our reference desk or visit our website.

As part of its activities for the International September Project, the Robert R. Muntz Library will present a screening of the film Persepolis. The film is based on the popular autobiographical graphic novel Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. The author directs the film with Vincent Paronnaud. The film tells the story of a young girl growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. The idealistic dreams her family and her hoped for with the defeat of the Shah are shattered when the Islamic fundamentalists take over and create another tyranny.The young girl refuses to remain silent at the injustices she sees. Her parents send her off to Vienna to protect her and give her a better life. However, living in Vienna is challenging as well as she faces growing up away from home, a different culture, and disappointments. The return home shows her how her homeland has changed, too much, and she must decide where she truly belongs.

The screening will take place on Wednesday September 9th, 2009. The event starts at 7:00pm in library room LIB 401.

The event will open with remarks by two UT Tyler scholars. Dr. Kazem Mahdavi will speak on the time period and provide some historical context of the time in Iran. Dr. Paul D. Streufert will speak on the genre of graphic novels and how Persepolis exemplifies the genre and its literary qualities. The film will be screened right after the scholars speak. There will be time after the end for questions and comments from the audience.

Here is a sampling of what the reviews have said about this award-winning film:

  • R oger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times says, “while so many films about coming of age involve manufactured dilemmas, here is one about a woman who indeed does come of age, and magnificently” and says the film’s story is told “carefully, lovingly and with great style” (Full review).
  • Writing for the Los Angeles Times, Carina Chocano says that it is  “a familiar story set in an unfamiliar context, it’s a paean to the universality of human experience, a testament to the endurance of individuality during great political and fanatical upheaval, and a reminder that even the most complex situations, identities and stories are heartbreakingly simple” (Full review).
  • And Stephanie Zacharek, writing for Salon, tells us that “‘Persepolis’ is all about the ways people find to get on with life, even when their governments work hard to prevent them from doing so. It’s also, quite simply, a resonant and universal story about coming of age” (Full review).

The September Project is “a grassroots effort to encourage events about freedom and democracy in all libraries in all countries during the month of September.” The September Project started out four years ago focusing on September 11, but it has evolved to include events during the month of September focusing on issues of freedom and democracy.”

This event is free and open to the public.

In addition, we are also inviting visitors to take a moment and view the Humanities Texas exhibit “The Legacy of the Middle East.” The exhibit is being displayed in the library’s reading room on the second floor. See details on the exhibit here.

The Robert R. Muntz Library is proud to present the exhibit “The Legacy of the Middle East.” This exhibit was created to honor the centennial anniversary of the unification of Saudi Arabia. Produced by Humanities Texas, this exhibit tells how “as early as 12,000 years ago, people in the Middle East began to domesticate animals, plant and harvest crops, use metal, make glass, construct monumental buildings, and organize cities and states. Using photographs, drawings, maps, charts, and replicas of artifacts, the exhibit tells the story of the great cultural revolution that began when hunters and gatherers settled down and began farming.” The exhibit features 20 panels with with 175 images and replicas.

The Muntz Library is featuring this to coincide in part with the celebration of Ramadan and as part of our educational mission.  The exhibit is also part of our activities for the International September Project. Since 2004, libraries around the world have organized events about freedom and issues that matter to their communities during the month of September. This grassroots project favors free over fee, public over private, and voices over silence. This is the second year that the Muntz Library has participated in the September Project. The library will also host other events, displays, and activities during September leading to Banned Books Week at the end of the month.

“The Legacy of the Middle East” is free and open to the public during library regular hours. It is produced by Humanities Texas, and it is made possible locally by the UT Tyler Friends of the Arts.

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We wrap up our July theme of celebrating American Independence with a feature for researchers on United States History. This week we are featuring United States History: A Multicultural, Interdisciplinary Guide to Information Sources by Anna H. Perrault and Ron Blazek as our Reference Book of the Week. This is a tool that librarians often use; I am recommending it to our students and researchers as well. I think students will find it specially useful. This second edition has been expanded, and it now features sources on diverse topics such as the Asian experience, religion, science and technology, and popular culture. This is in addition to what readers already expect in a guide like this. It is a great guide to resources in topics like politics and government, economic history, and military history. In addition to reference books and print sources, the expanded coverage in this edition also includes online databases, Websites, CD-ROM titles and even microform items. There are some older standard works, but most of the coverage emphasizes resources with publication dates from the 1980s to 2002.

The guide features 1,250 major entries. It is divided in two parts. First, there is an introductory section for general sources. The second part then covers specific topics in United State History. You get bibliographical information for the items listed as well as a very good annotation that not only tells you what the book or material is about, but it also considers the audience for a particular work and gives small hints on how the particular work is useful, say as a supplement to another work or topic.

The way to make a resource like this work is find the items you are interested in. For most materials, you can then look them up in the library catalog to see if the library owns them. If not, you can do an Interlibrary Loan request. For instance, you could use this book to help you find other good books on Civil War maps or on Native Americans and civil rights. To help readers further, the book also features an “Author/Title Index” and a “Subject Index” in the back. The book is published by Libraries Unlimited, which is known for its subject guide books. If you need a good place to learn more about United States Independence or any other U.S. topic, this is a very good place to start.

This book is located in the library’s Reference Section in the second floor. The call number is E 178 .P45 2003.

Welcome to another edition of Reference Book of the Week here at The Patriot Spot. Following the July theme of  celebrating America’s independence, we are featuring a great work on the topic: The Encyclopedia of the American Revolutionary War: A Political, Social, and Military History. This five-volume set is a standard work for learning about the American Revolution.

The work features over 1,000 signed entries arranged in alphabetical order. Each entry includes a small list of references for further reading as well as cross-references to other terms in the work. Entries are written by scholars from a variety of disciplines. The work also features illustrations and maps. You can learn about prominent persons, key battles and events, cultural and political developments of the time. The fifth volume in the set is a compilation of primary source documents from the era. This last volume makes a very good complement to the rest of the work. Not only can you read essays about the various events, people, places, and so on, but you can also read some of the writings of the time.

The work overall covers the time span from the end of the French and Indian War to George Washington becoming the first President of the United States. Unlike other narrower works, this encyclopedia looks at the War of American Independence from a wide perspective considering not just the war itself but the political and social issues as well. You can find this excellent work in the library’s Reference Collection in the second floor. The call number is E 208 .E64 2006.