A Monthly Newsletter From Your MPTC Librarians
Library Hours Change
We are so close to entering the holiday season and different festivities! For the Thanksgiving Holiday the libraries hours will change. On Wednesday, November 27th all libraries will close at 4pm. Then we will be completely closed Thursday, November 28th and Friday, November 29th. Our normal hours will resume on Monday, December 2nd. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your campus’s librarians. We hope you all have a safe and enjoyable Holiday!
Using the Library Databases Tutorial Video
Are you looking for a library database but not sure where to start? The library has a video for people needing help finding an article or using the library databases. Click here to access the video.
How to Evaluate Sources
As we get closer to that time of year when assignments are due, we want to highlight a resource for when you are stuck on collecting sources! Underneath the Evaluating Sources tab on the library website, there is a link to the Purdue Owl Website for evaluating sources. This is a great reference point for the steps you can take to critically evaluate if the article, book, or website you are interested in using is the best fit for your project. It is important to always evaluate the content you are reading for accuracy, currency, and objectivity before citing it in your homework. If you have questions or are struggling to find appropriate resources, please reach out to any librarian on your campus and we can guide you in the right direction.
Joke Time
Q: How do libraries make sure novels stay warm?
A: They give them book jackets.
Source: https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/books/book-jokes
😁
Staff Book Bytes
Fiction and Nonfiction Book Reviews
Recommendations by Rosemary Froeliger and Erika Fleisner. Click the links below and place a Hold through our Catalog!
Fiction:
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
The story starts out in 1972 when the remains of a human are found in the bottom of a well in Pottstown, PA in the Chicken Hill neighborhood. Along with the body, a mezuzah is found. The case is interrupted by Hurricane Agnes. The area is damaged and the investigation of the found remains is halted. The story goes back to the 1920s and 1930s when one of the main characters, Moshe Ludlow becomes a theater and dance hall owner while running a grocery store that has been in his wife’s family for years. The town’s Jewish families (there were 17 total at one time) are moving away. This leaves a population of African American people who have lived in the same neighborhood as the Jewish families. One of the Ludlow’s African American employees, Nate Timblin has a young nephew, Dodo he would like the couple to hide and take care of, so he does not have to be institutionalized because he is deaf, and authorities think he needs to be in such a place. As the story goes on, read more to find out what happens to the Ludlows, Nate, and Dodo, as well as other characters in the book.
Non-Fiction:
Women, Money, Power: The Rise and Fall of Economic Equality by Josie Cox
This book takes a unqiue and historical approach to analysis how different factors influence women’s equality within the United States, specifically tied to economic equality. Starting with some of the most tumultuous times in our history, the Great Depression and World War II, Josie Cox dives into the history of many different women who pushed forth women’s rights yet remained unnamed in our history books. From the early proponents of the first birth control to advocates during the Civil Rights movement to how a global pandemic has influenced the perception of women in the work force, there are many feminist narratives brought to light in this book from the past and present.
This is an excellent read and easily digestible for any reader no matter their experience in reading texts on history, gender study, or power dynamics. Highly recommended for those interested in an overarching arching discussion of women’s rights and influence in the United States as well as questioning where society may be going next.
New items at the library!
Curious about what has been added to our collection over the last year? Check this link to see all of the library’s current materials through our Catalog! You can change the year and limit by location to see each campus.
Past Newsletter Issues
Library Resource: PrepSTEP For Colleges
As you are all now getting into the hard work of your classes, some students may need a refresher on core skills. Whether that is practice math problems, grammar questions, or computer skills, PrepSTEP, formerly called Learning Express, is a library resource that can give you an extra boost when you need it! Once you create a personal account by providing a first name, email address, and a password, you will be able to review videos, eBooks, flashcards, practice questions, and more! If you have any questions or issues with accessing this resource, please reach out to your librarians!
Citation Generator KnightCite
We all know that creating citations can be one of the more tedious parts of any assignment! The library has several tools to help provide examples and generate citations for you. So, if you are not familiar with the APA citation format the library is here to help! KnightCite is a website that allows you to select the citation style you intend to use and input the important information to generate a citation! Compare the generated citation with an example from the Purdue Owl website to ensure accuracy and you will be on the right track to a completed Reference page in no time.
Library Purchase Request Form
If you are looking to purchase a book or other materials for your department and want the library to house those items for circulation, you can do that. You can fill out a “New Library Request” or contact Library Coordinator, Hans Baierl. The information can be found here.
Staff Book Bytes!
Fiction and Nonfiction Book Reviews
Recommendations by Rosemary Froeliger and Erika Fleisner. Click the links below and place a Hold through our Catalog!
Fiction:
The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
If you were ever the kid that could sit in a corner and get lost among pages of a great story for hours, this book is for all the grown-ups that want to feel some of that magic again! Readers follow the story of what happens when two teenagers go on a magical, secret, and dangerous adventure only to be thrust back into normal everyday life with no memory of their magical home or their new mission. Until one day, fifteen years later, when all lost things must come home, the now adult men need to save their Queen, the magical land hidden in West Virgina, and rediscover their memories they gave up helping others. Even though this could be marketed as a fantasy adventure novel, this story really focuses on the development of the characters as they are forced to make difficult choices repeatedly and grow through tragic times. Yet they still maintain the hope and love of those around them. If you enjoy found family elements sprinkled with magic, hope, and are looking for that happily ever after, then this is the next page turner for you!
Non-Fiction:
There is No Ethan by Anna Akbari
Author Anna Akbari dated online before and the relationships would end for different reasons. In 2011, after she signed up for an account on OK Cupid, she did not know what she would find. Then she met Ethan Schuman. The more Akbari revealed herself to Schuman, the more she felt connected, developing an emotional relationship. Whenever they were to meet, Schuman had something come up to prevent them from meeting. After failed attempts to meet, Schuman became suspicious that Schuman was not what he seemed to be. Akbari connected with two other women who were also online dating him. After digging into who Ethan is, they discovered Ethan is not at all who he claimed to be. Why would someone emotionally take advantage of someone the way Ethan did? To find out who Ethan really is, read this book. You will not look at online dating the same way again.
Library Displays: Constitution Day
Don’t Miss Out, Stop by Your Library!
If you haven’t been to the library lately, now is the perfect time to go check out your campus’s book displays! We try to display new and interesting titles every month so if you ever need a place to start to find that next read, check out the book displays! For September, we will also have a Constitution Day display with some informational materials and a free copy of the United States Constitution for you to take home. If you do not see anything that interests you on display, ask your librarian and we will be happy to give you some recommendations!
Reserves Collection
Library Reserves Collection
Each of the three campus libraries have a reserves section for various programs and academic departments. This includes supplemental study materials, anatomy and physiology models, audiovisual items, and study kits. Faculty and staff can reach out to their campus librarians to put items on reserve for students. Items have various checkout time periods including library use only. Please reach out to your campus library for more information.
Library Hours
Now that Labor Day has come and gone, here is a reminder of your campus library hours and future closures for the Fall semester! The Fond Du Lac and Beaver Dam libraries are open Monday through Thursday starting at 8 am and closing at 8pm. The West Bend library is open 8am to 6pm, Monday through Thursday. All three campuses are open 8am- 4pm on Fridays and closed on the weekends.
These are the following holiday hours for the Fall 2024 Semester:
Wednesday November 27th – the libraries close at 4pm.
Thursday November 28th and Friday November 29th – Libraries closed for Thanksgiving.
Saturday December 21st– Wednesday January 1st – Libraries closed for Winter Break.
Staff Book Bytes!
Fiction and Nonfiction Book Reviews
Recommendations by Rosemary Froeliger and Erika Fleisner. Click the links below and place a Hold through our Catalog!
Fiction:
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Lily Bloom, recently lost her father and goes to a rooftop area of an apartment building near where she lives in Boston. There, she encounters a man who is attacking a patio chair. After a while, he notices her sitting on the ledge of the building. After some encouraging from the man, she steps down from the ledge. This is how she met her future husband, Ryle Kinkaid, a successful neurosurgeon. Lily’s memory goes back to her first love, Atlas, who was a homeless young man living in an abandoned house behind hers. After many years later, she is reacquainted with him at his local restaurant. After a series of events, Lily decides what to do with the future of her marriage and how to raise her daughter.
With harvest season in full swing, you may be looking for some creative ways to use up that surplus of lavender or those pesty dandelions in your yard. This book breaks down a wide variety of crafts you can use in your home and on yourself. The author goes into detail about all the different ingredients you may need, their benefits, tools to process, and how to best preserve and harvest the plants. Everything from face masks to laundry detergent, this book has easy-to-understand recipes and suggestions for you to get creative and create your own!
Have a Librarian Visit Your Students!
We are so happy to welcome back students to campus this Fall! With a new semester starting, we would like to remind everyone that each campus has a librarian available to present on a variety of topics to any class. If you have students that are brand new to MPTC, we can cover all the different tools and services available to help students succeed. For students that are getting into the nitty gritty of their programs with research assignments, presentations, and professional exam preparation, librarians can cover a variety of information literacy skills targeted towards using the library databases, creating citations, and more! We encourage faculty to reach out to your campus librarians to discuss your students’ needs and to arrange a classroom visit or library tour. If you are a student that needs extra one-on-one guidance, please reach out via phone or email and we can discuss the best options available for you. Hope you all have a great Fall Semester!
Computer Assistance Referral Forms
Library employees can assist students who are struggling or want to refresh their computer-related skills. This is an appointment-based service that is one-on-one, either in person or virtually through Microsoft Teams. Help includes navigating in MS Office software, opening and saving files, and any other basic technology/computer related questions the student has. Students are welcome to submit a form for themselves or faculty are encouraged to submit forms on behalf of students showing a need for assistance. If interested, please see the referral form by clicking on the link below.
The Library Fiction Collection
Looking for a new novel to read but not sure where to go? All three of MPTC campuses’ libraries have a fiction collection. From popular Mysteries to the newest Romances, each library is always looking out for our campus readers with new titles added frequently. Any current student, employee, and community user can check out books for a two-week period with the option for renewals. Books can be requested from other campus libraries as well. Please click on the link to browse the library catalog for fiction titles and if you have any recommendations, please don’t hesitate to contact your librarians!
Staff Book Bytes!
Fiction and Nonfiction Book Reviews
Recommendations by Rosemary Froeliger and Erika Fleisner. Click the links below and place a Hold through our Catalog!
If you are interested in historical fiction, especially the World War II era, you may enjoy this read. The book starts in 1937 in Berlin, Germany. Sixteen-year-old Sophia Alexander is living a normal life with her younger sister Theresa and her parents. However, her mother is in a sanitarium since she is sick with Tuberculosis. Sophia visits her mother the most out of her family. Eventually, her mother’s health takes a turn for the worse and passes away. Sophia’s father is a highly respected surgeon, owns his own hospital and a house adjacent to it. Sophia chooses to become a nurse after high school. She also spends time with nuns in the local convent. She goes to nursing school and becomes a nurse. She helps her father at this hospital as war breaks out in Europe. Sophia decides to work on becoming a nun. During this time, she assists her pregnant sister and her husband to travel to Switzerland, which is a same zone for anyone who has Jewish heritage. As the war rages on, Sophia’s life is upturned in different ways. She is also challenged by an American airman to whether a lifetime of sisterhood is her true calling or not. To find out more, pick up this book to read!
This book is an excellent overview of often ignored and understudied women’s health conditions. The author begins by providing a brief overview of the historic sexism prevalent in the medical community as well as addressing the impact of racial biases and limitations of modern research on women’s health. Then she provides an approachable definition of what is considered “normal” and the basics of female anatomy before diving into specific diagnoses. Each section that follows breaks down a specific condition with easy-to-understand language and categories on symptoms, process for diagnosis, and treatment options medicinally and holistically. The author has a unique tone of reassuring and non-judgmental while being very informative, which many patients end up lacking when visiting their own medical professionals. This is an excellent book for any nursing or medical student to read to understand the health of the reproductive system and, more importantly, how to communicate with patients. For individuals that have struggled or are curious about their own health and diagnoses this is also extremely beneficial as a jumping off point in one’s own healthcare journey.
Library Summer Hours
The school year is coming to an end and our hours will be changing for the summer break! The week of May 20th the library will be open Monday through Friday 8am – 4pm.
From May 27th through August 2nd, the Library will be open Monday through Thursday 8am to 5pm. We will be closed on Fridays.
The Library will be closed at 11am on Tuesday May 21st for employee training and completely closed on Monday, May 27th, and Wednesday July 4th for the holidays. If you have any questions please let us know!
Graduating this Spring?
Graduating this semester but still interested in utilizing the library? Students’ accounts are active for 18 months after they graduate to access college resources, such as myMPTC and library research tools. Stop by and ask your campus librarians about what resources you can continue to use as a community member!
Long-Term Laptops Due
If you or a student you know has a long-term laptop checked out from any of the campus libraries, please know that they are due at the end of the semester to be updated. If you need a laptop over the summer get in touch with your librarian to discuss different options!
Staff Book Bytes!
Fiction and Nonfiction Book Reviews
Recommendations by Rosemary Froeliger and Erika Fleisner. Click the links below and place a Hold through our Catalog!
Meeting your hero isn’t always all that it is cracked up to be and Nicky Hunter begins to discover just that as she is brought in to chronicle her favorite author’s dying days and all that is revealed. Sebastian Trapp’s legacy is nothing compared to the mystery behind his first wife and son’s disappearance that captured all readers. Nicky doesn’t know who to believe, is she living in the home of a killer or is there something else at play? Interviewing the new wife, daughter, former assistant and the author himself, will bring her into a story she won’t ever forget and her own secrets will be revealed! A true page turner, readers are on edge as every character’s truth becomes revealed and suspicion is cast on everyone. If you liked The Guest List by Lucy Foley then is the next read for you!
Assume Nothing is narrated by the author, Tanya Selvaratnam. She is from Sri Lanka who is a writer and is involved in various forms of art. She met former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman at the Democratic National Convention in July 2016 He was very charismatic and was an advocate of women’s rights, or so he appeared to be. After a few encounters with Schneiderman, Selvaratnam and he started dating. Not too long afterwards, Selvaratnam experienced verbal and some sexual abuse from him. He never introduced her to others as an independent person but rather an extension of himself. She tried to get out of the relationship and talked to reporters about the abuse. She did this so he wouldn’t do this to another woman again. Read this book to find out what happens to both Schneiderman and Selvaratnam.
