Check it Out!

Library Spring Break Hours

The week of March 17th-21st, all three of the campus libraries will be open Monday-Friday from 8am-4pm. There will be no evening hours. The building hours will be Monday-Thursday, 7am-10pm, Friday from 7am-5pm, and that Saturday from 8am-12pm.

Women’s History Month Titles

With Black History month ending in February, Women’s History month kicks off in March! We would like to highlight resources in the library that can help you learn more about women’s impact on our world and their legacies.  By clicking the link attached here, you will be able to browse the catalog for all three campus libraries’ collections related to women’s history. Learn about the first female doctors, police officers, and the lives and accomplishments of women around the world.  Interested in checking a title out? Click the Request It button on the right side of the screen to pick up the title at the library of choosing! 

For more information about Women’s History month check out the National Women’s History Alliance webpage: https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/womens-history-theme-9-2024/ 

Films on Demand

There are many different learning platforms and tools the library has to offer. Films on Demand (FOD) are one of those resources. FOD has thousands of films and videos to choose from. They are educational and feature many documentaries. This is a different way of learning about a topic of choice or one that is assigned. One can cite the source from the video and share it with oneself or others. One can create an account and can access the resources off campus once logged into FOD. 

Fiction:
House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

If you are a fan of found family tropes or just need a good comfort read, then I will always recommend the House in the Cerulean Sea! Readers follow Linus Baker, a perfectly average man living his day-to-day life as a detail orientated caseworker for Magical Youth. Sent on a special project to investigate an orphanage by the sea, readers fall easily into a world like our own but with a magical twist as special beings and children are all tracked and managed by the government.  After meeting Thalia, the gnome, Phee, the sprite, and other magical children and their caretaker Arthur, Mr. Baker discovers the joys that truly arrive when you break down your own bubble, take up the space you deserve, and let different parts of the world into your heart. This story is filled with hope and heart, a perfect read!

Non-Fiction:
Small-Town Wisconsin by Mary Bergin

The author featured many different small towns in Wisconsin to write about. She featured some area restaurants, festivals, hotels, landmarks, and different bodies of water/travel destinations. The municipalities found in the book have populations of 5,000 or fewer. The book is divided into different geographical state regions. There is a map along with the name of the municipality. One such municipality, Pardeeville is mentioned along with the annual Watermelon Festival. The fest includes a watermelon carving contest. The photos in the book are vibrant and inviting. It makes one want to visit that place.  

Fair Trade Valentines Display

Go to your campus library to check out the Fair-Trade Valentine display and get a tasty treat!  

Learn all about how Moraine Park Technical College was named the first Fair Trade technical college in the U.S. in May 2015 as well as how fair trade supports farmers and artisans in developing countries. From coffee beans to chocolate treats, information is available about all the ways fair trade products can be a positive shopping choice!  

Specialty computer software in the library – AutoCad, Photoshop, etc.

Now that school is back in session, students may need certain software for class requirements. The library has computers with different specialized software on it. For more information, please see the link below. For additional information, please reach out to your campus library employees. 

Romance Reads

With winter and freezing temperatures still bearing down on us, now is the perfect time to pick up a festive read for the Valentines holiday! Each campus has a variety of fiction titles in all genres. For the Romance genre, we have many popular authors like Nicholas Sparks, Emily Henry, and more! Cozy romance to romantasy and everything in between, there is something for anyone looking to escape into the pages.  Stop by and ask your librarian for a recommendation today!  

Long Island is the continuing story of Eilis Lacey from the first book, Brooklyn. This story continues with Eilis, now last name Fiorello after marrying Tony. Eilis has lived in America for 20 years now and is married with two teenage daughter and son. After finding out from an Irishman that his wife is pregnant with her husband’s baby and the baby will be delivered to her family’s house, Eilis reevaluates her life and wonders if she is making the right decisions. She decides to leave Long Island to spend time with her 80-year-old mother in Ireland. This story is told by three narratives, Eilis, her friend Nancy and former love-interest, Jim, both living in Ireland. Eilis must make choices that will impact her children, Tony, others, and herself. It is helpful if Brooklyn is read before this book to better understand the story. To find out what happens, pick up this book and read on.

Non-Fiction:
A History of Fake Things on the Internet by Walter J. Scheirer

While social media and the internet have become such an integral part of our everyday life, technology and its constant use is a relatively new phenomenon for humanity! Author Walter J. Scheirer addresses how, even though the tools used to spread misinformation or fake images are all virtual now, there is a long history of society spreading myths and memes. Looking through the lenses of computer hackers, digital artist, media-forensics specialist and AI researchers, the author argues that the fear pushed forth about fake things on the internet is also connected to creativity and the questioning of the world around us. He asserts that there is much to learn from the fake content as it represents the growth and change of our society and culture. This book has a very interesting perspective and recommendations for how the world can move forward with its ever-evolving technology and ends on a surprisingly hopeful note! I recommend it for anyone who is looking to place these times we live in into a historical context and challenge their own perspective.  

Library Winter Break Hours

With the end of the Fall semester in sight, the library hours will be adjusted for Winter Break! Our last day open for 2024 will be Friday, December 20th when we close at 4pm. We will re-open on January 2nd after the holidays. From Thursday, January 2nd to Friday, January 17th, the library will be open from 8am –4pm for anyone who would like a quiet place to prepare for the Spring Semester or looking for their next Fiction read! 

Our normal hours will resume on January 20th , check here for the most updated hours information for each campus.  We look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

Student Laptops Due!

If you currently have a laptop checked out from any campus library, this is a reminder that they are all due by December 20th. You can return the laptop to any library, and it will be sent to its home campus. If you have a need for another long-term laptop for the Spring Semester, please check back with your librarians on Monday January 13th as we will be doing technology updates over winter break. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your librarians! 

Finals Assignments and Last-Minute Assistance! 

The end of semester is approaching quickly, but have no fear, the MPTC library staff is here. That is, to help with students’ last minute class projects; whether it be research papers, presentations, or any other assignments. Students can stop into their campus library or contact library staff with help virtually. We are here to help! 

This book is the perfect who-done-it mystery for those that are fans of dystopian and science fiction media like Black Mirror. Set on a picturesque island, the last survivors of society live harmoniously together monitored by the three remaining scientists that protect them and a voice in their heads ensuring that they are never alone.  Everyone goes throughout their day contributing to their community and never questioning anything that their scientists say. Except for the main character Emory, who just wants to find a place where she belongs and protect her daughter. Then when secrets start to be revealed and a murder is committed, they have very limited time to put the pieces together before the protection of their island falls and they all succumb to the deadly fog blanketing the earth.  

If you enjoy high stakes and immersive world building, then this is the ideal next mystery read for you!  

Non-Fiction:
The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, And Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson

If you are a fan of historical fiction, especially the American Civil War era, this book is for you! In late 1860, Abraham Lincoln was announced the next president of the United States. With the country divided with many states joining the Confederacy and other parts of the Union, tensions are heated up, heading towards a war. The story includes details of the days leading up to Lincoln winning the presidency, the battle of Fort Sumter, the personal tragedies, horrendous mistakes, and enlarged egos. Along with being introduced to Major Robert Anderson, who led his men at Fort Sumter, there will be other characters described that played a role into the story. To learn more about this unsettling period of history, give this book a read! 

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. 

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.

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.

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.  

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.  

Non-Fiction:
101 Easy Homemade Products for your skin, health and home by Jan Berry

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.

https://www.morainepark.edu/experience-mptc/services/library/student-computer-assistance-referral-form/

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!

Fiction:
Only the Brave by Danielle Steel

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!

Non-Fiction:
It’s Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (But Were Never Told )
By Karen Tang, MD, MPH

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!

Fiction:
End of Story by A.J. Finn

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!

Non-Fiction:
Assume Nothing: a story of intimate violence

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.