The Goldstein Chronicles 1.1: "The LUV Collection"

by Rob Stephens

Hello, loyal Goldstein Library fans! Here at the Goldstein, we're always looking for fun ways to serve FSU, so today I am starting the inaugural issue of The Goldstein Chronicles, a diary of the comical, whimsical, and capricious occurrences from our library. Here it is:

1.1: The LUV Collection

Shelf reading: grunt work of libraries. A rite of passage: all librarians spend days of their lives grabbing spines and putting the word back in order. But it's also zen: order and space, the beauty of the mundane, dusty hands. And every once in a while, during the practice of reading shelves, one stumbles upon a flaw that is perfect, like the one I found today.

The section I am currently shelf reading is located in the Goldstein's Juvenile (JUV) collection, ranging in LC call number from LSL JUV PZ 7 .K46825 to LSL JUV PZ 7 .S2492.

In case you don't know, the "LSL" stands for "Library Science Library," the old school name for "the Goldstein Library" (we prefer Goldstein Library now, thank you!). "JUV" stands for the Juvenile Collection (as opposed to our EASY collection or PROF [professional] collection, for example).
  
As you might imagine, shelf-reading in this area can be particularly mind-numbing because the smaller call numbers are so close together. However, today I came across a special book entitled Shadow People by Joyce McDonald, pictured left,

And that's where the magic happened, because you see, Shadow People is shelved incorrectly. To the right is a close up of the call number:






where is the LUV collection??

[NOTE: If you haven't already got the (admittedly really cheesy / awful / lightly comic / hilarious / bibliophile-only / SPINE-breaking) joke, this book is listed not as being in the Juvenile collection, but in the LUV collection. Didn't know we had that here]

I was forced ask myself, in a moment of existential crisis, "Do we have a LUV collection? What do I do? What does it all mean?"

So, first I decided to investigate: why is this book placed in LUV? Here's an excerpt from the inside cover:

"four seemingly different teenagers [...] are thrown together by a chance meeting at a deserted camp. Or maybe it isn't chance. For there are bonds that tie them to each other, bonds of loneliness, of frustration -- and of anger [...] These five voices combine to tell the chilling tale of what happens in a small town when teenage fury is unleashed."
   

huh?

"Teenage fury" sounds like the opposite of the LUV collection. But who am I to challenge the ways of the catalogue? (I'm just a GA / I need no sympathy...) At least there are "bonds..."
  And then, after wandering about the Goldstein, looking for this "LUV" collection and realizing that the collection had no home, I decided that I needed to create a home for LUV.


Attempt 1: The LUV Collection Shelf (LSL LUV PZ 7 .M478418 SH 2000 through LSL LUV PZ 7 .M478418 SH 2000)





No, that's no good. A one book collection? (I'm not scouring the entire collection to find another...).

How about this?

Attempt 2: The LUV Collection


That's better. Ok, I'm just kidding of course. This book belongs in JUV! But I do wish we had a LUV collection... maybe I can convince Goldstein to do a LUV display...



(that's better)

 

Goldstein Must Reads

Reason #3 to Visit The Goldstein Library This Fall:

by Rob Stephens

Oh yeah - we've got some great collections in The Goldstein, and we want you to check them out! Here are some highlights and new additions that are particularly awesome:

#1: Graphic Novels

Did you know that Goldstein has an entire collection of graphic novels? These awesomely illustrated books and novels are a great way to spend your free time! Here is a favorite graphic novel that's being checked out a ton by all ages and sizes: Level Up by Gene Luen Yang, a Printz Award winner. This book follows Dennis Ouyang as he struggles "with bad grades, a video game addiction, and his father's death." The book is stellar, and as of now... available for checkout too!

On the other side of the graphic novel spectrum, we have a series of books by Saddleback Educational Publishing that retell American History in graphic novel form. One example is The Fight For Freedom, 1750-1783 which traces the turmoil and triumph of the American Revolution. Very educational, and a great way to take a fresh look at US History!

 

#2: Expanded Information Technology Collection

Over the past year, The Goldstein has especially focused on expanding and updating its Professional Collection, in particular with regard to the information technology section. Needless to say, it is important to stay on top of all the latest technological developments if you are in a computer, information, or communication field, and The Goldstein Library is the place for you!

 Pictured right is one of our most recent examples, Programming Android, a resource that teaches "Java programming for the new generation of mobile devices.." If you're considering creating a new app for Android phones, this is a great resource. 


Another example of a recent acquisition is David Powers' Adobe Dreamweaver CS5.5 : designing and developing for mobile with jQuery, HTML5, and CSS3: Studio Techniques, pictured left. Acquired just in 2011, this book provides information on creating websites and applications that work on mobile platforms using Dreamweaver CS5.5.


And there are tons more where those came from!




#3: Novels for ALL Ages
We've got an EXCELLENT collection here at The Goldstein Library of novels that I'm sure you'd be interested in, including (but not limited to): 

- The entire Harry Potter Series
- The entire Twilight Series
- The entire Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants series
- The entire Hunger Games series
- Novels from the Redwall series, including a graphic novel version of Redwall
- Why We Broke Up
- Novels from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit
- Novels from the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series
- AND SO MUCH MORE!

If you're looking for something to read while taking a break from studying, come by, and we'd be more than happy to help you find a fun novel!

#4: Award Winners

The Goldstein Library has a few extra special shelves that you should check out: the award winners. Right in the front of Goldstein, there are shelves specifically for Newbery Medal Winners, Caldecott Medal Winners and Honor Books, and Other Award Winners. If you're looking for a book that you know is going to be an absolute hit, then grab one of these! One example of such a book is Chris Raschka's A Ball for Daisy (pictured right), which won the Caldecott Medal in 2010.  

Goldstein Fall Events

Reason #2 to visit The Goldstein Library  in the Fall:

by Rob Stephens

You may not know it, but this fall the Goldstein Library will host AMAZING Events that are fun and free -- you might even win prizes! Below is a short list of some of the most exciting events this semester. 

Of course, we can't list everything here , so be sure to follow us on Twitter (@goldlib) or "like" us at Facebook.com/GoldsteinLibrary to get full updates on Goldstein Library events!

Event 1: Banned Books Week, Sept.30 - Oct. 6
Here at the Goldstein Library we believe in freedom of information. As proof, here's an

amazing painting hung in the library  entitled "Information Should Be Free" by our very own Library Director, Pam Doffek:

You might guess, then, that we'll be displaying all our banned books that week, and having some fun times in Goldstein, including a Stump-the-Librarian contest, awesome displays of literature we think you should read that was previously (or is being) banned, and tweets from banned books. It'll be a rockin' time!






Event 2: FREE Coffee Fridays (and other free food...)


YES! Every Friday we have FREE Coffee! Why buy coffee, when you can come get it from us for free? To the right is a picture of one patron taking advantage of Free Coffee Fridays:

As for food: this Friday, August 31, we'll be having FREE PANINIS to celebrate Panini month. Come by and get a hot pressed lunch. And no worries -- we'll let you know whenever there is free food around here!



Event 3: Talk like a Pirate Day, Sept. 19th

Goldstein will change their famous slogan for a day!

Arrrrrg -- yep, you heard right, that's the Goldstein Library's best impression of Captain Hook. Wednesday, September 19th -- mark it on ye calender maties, else ye walk the plank! 

That's right, we're encouraging FSU students to come by the library that day and give us their best pirate-talk. In fact, come dressed as a pirate, for all we care!



Event 4: Clubs/Make Up Your Own!
This semester in the Goldstein, there is some big talk about clubs in the works, in particular: SCRABBLE! and a BOOK CLUB!

GA Rob Stephens will be heading up some Scrabble nights this semester that may just turn into a club or a tournament. 

And several students have been by inquiring about a Goldstein book club this fall, so if you're interested, email Rob at rjs09e@my.fsu.edu. All are welcome!

Also, if you're ever interested in creating your own club or event in Goldstein, shoot us an email and we can try to make it happen for you!

Goldstein Library Hot Spots

Over the next few days, The Goldstein Library Blog will be Writing about The Top 5 Reasons you should visit us in the Fall.

Reason #1 to visit The Goldstein Library  in the Fall:

 

by Rob Stephens 

Over the summer, we got to work, folks, revamping Goldstein to make it more friendly for you! And we've got a couple of hot spots you need to check out because they are, in the words of Austin Powers, "smashing baby, yeah!" Here they are:

Hot spot #1: The Alcove

Need a place to cozy up and read The Hunger Games? Check out the alcove, with new benches and fancy desks with stools.

   

Hot spot #2: The Cave

Having a meeting and need a cool place to skype, use a computer, or use a whiteboard? Check out The Cave, an excellent venue for any meeting!

Hot spot#3: "Schwing" Desks

We have some great space at Goldstein, just look at these awesome "schwinging" desks! These butterfly-style work spaces are a great place to come with a group and work on a project.  

Hot Spot #4: The Back Study Area

An amazing place to study, or just chill out and have some fun!  Perhaps you'll come by for our new couch, which we're claiming is the comfiest on all of FSUs campus for studying. Or perhaps you'd like to calm your mind by doing a free puzzle? Maybe drawing is your thing: come draw something gorgeous (or just scribble) on our whiteboard tables!

Hot spot #5: Displays

The displays are rocking in Goldstein! Our GA in charge of displays, Meredith, is always making Goldstein look great. For this semester, Meredith is planning displays about Labor Day, Tomie De Paola's Birthday, National Hispanic Heritage Month, among many others. Here are two examples of Meredith's work:

Catch a Book on Screen this Summer!

Honoring the Life of Neil Armstrong

No More Dead Dogs

by Rob Stephens

Eight Grader Wallace Wallace shares one thing in common with George Washington: he cannot tell a lie, not even a little white lie. And so when his literature teacher asks his opinion about a class book, Wallace “feels compelled to inform his teacher that it was one of the worst books he’s ever read. Why does the dog in every classic book have to croak at the end?” (Book cover).

If you’ve  ever asked yourself the same question after reading classics like Old Yeller and Where the Red Fern Grows, then this is the book for you. Come by the Goldstein Library to check out this fun and excellent novel by award-winning writer Gordon Korman!

Big Bad Wolf? No - Big Bad Pig!

We've all heard the classic tale of the three little pigs and the big bad wolf, and most of us have probably heard the wolf's side of the story as well. Fewer of us have probably read Eugene Travizas and Helen Oxenbury's story about the three little wolves and the big bad pig. 

In this tale, three upstanding young wolves work very hard to create sturdy homes, but the big bad pig utilizes various forms of power tools and explosives to demolish them. Will any house be able to stand up to this armed and dangerous piggy? 


Come by and read the book to find out!

LMNO Peas

Who doesn't love a good alphabet book? LMNO Peas by Keith Baker is about all the "work and play" the alphabet peas get into.  Baker uses the alphabet to stand in as part of the environment, having the peas interact with the letters as they go about their work and play.  For the letter M, the miners are mining down into the M, while for the letter K, the kayakers are kayaking down the K.  Each letter also has its own texture, for example, the letter P has paint dripping down the letter.  

Baker also uses little details on each page to keep the reader intrigued.  Whether you are trying to find the little red lady bug hidden on every page or understand the play on words, like the difference between a King of the Kingdom and the King of Rock 'n' Roll, Baker captures the readers eye on every page.

Check out some other cool ABC books the next time you are in the Goldstein Library.

A is for the Americas by Cynthia Chin Lee and Terri de la Peña

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.

Gone Wild by David McLimans

The Graphic Alphabet by David Pelletier

 http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6949680-lmno-peas