“Respect & Protect”

“Respect & Protect.” This is the motto of the National AIDS Trust (NAT), the organization helping to spread the facts about HIV/AIDS on December 1, which is World AIDS Day.

According to the NAT’s international statistics, there are approximately 33 million people worldwide living with HIV, the virus that can lead to AIDS. With such alarming statistics, it’s important to understand the facts, and to understand how you can protect yourself and others from the spread of this disease.

On December 1, Kutztown University student organizations will be hosting events to create HIV/AIDS awareness. This includes a table in the SUB, and joining together to create a human red ribbon. These are events no student, staff, or faculty member should miss as they are important educational tools that can save lives. They not only teach you how to protect yourself from HIV/AIDS, but to respect those who have the disease as well.

Stop by the table in the SUB, check out the World AIDS Day Website, and read some books the Rohrbach Library has so you can learn the facts and have some common myths about the disease busted. It is only through education that everyone will learn how to truly respect and protect themselves and others from this worldwide epidemic.

Fore more information on World AIDS Day, click here. Also, for more information about the events taking place at KU, contact the Student Volunteer Coalition at volunteer@kutztown.edu.

-CS

National American Indian Heritage Month

November is National American Indian & Alaska Native Heritage Month. Many people don’t learn that this is celebrated in November and, if they do, they hear the short title which is National American Indian Heritage Month. According to the Library of Congress Web site, this month, “celebrates and recognizes the accomplishments of the people who were the original inhabitants, explorers and settlers of the Unites States.”

In 1986, Congress delegated November as National American Indian Heritage Month. Congress then authorized a proclamation issued by President Ronald Reagan declaring November 23-30, 1986, as American Indian Week. The Library of Congress Web site says that the proclamation and the law delegating November as the month to celebrate this, “recognized American Indians as the first inhabitants of the lands that now constitute the United States as well as making mention of their contributions to American society.” Native Americans made many contributions to society, such as food, medicine, clothing, literature and folklore. The Web site also says Congress chose November because this month concludes the traditional harvest season and ends in Thanksgiving.

According to the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs Web site, this year’s theme is “Pride in Our Heritage with Gratitude to Our Elders.” This department will team with the U.S. Park Service to present special programs and exhibits in Washington, D.C., to honor the Native Americans and their contributions to society.

But how do you celebrate this month if you can’t make it to D.C. at such a busy time of the semester? You can start by heading to the Rohrbach Library and checking the catalog for our books on Native American culture. Also, the Multicultural Center is hosting a Native American Celebration on Tuesday, November 10, from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in the Student Union Building’s Multipurpose Room. This celebration will feature the Piscataway Nation Indian Singers and Dancers. Whether you do one of these or both, you will be sure to acquire a wealth of knowledge about an important part of US past and current history.

-CS

El Día De Los Muertos – Una Celebración

Come join the Rohrbach Library Voices and Choices Center and the KU Spanish classes as they celebrate el Día De Los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead.

The Day of the Dead is a celebration of life and death that is popular in North, Central, and Latin American countries like Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala, Brazil, and others. This celebration occurs around the beginning of November. Although it coincides with our Halloween celebrations, the Day of the Dead celebration is quite different.

The Day of the Dead celebration doesn’t involve spooky stories about ghosts haunting you. Rather it’s about remembering those whom you’ve lost. People make offerings to those they’ve lost, and they present these offerings either in their homes or at the grave sites. It is not uncommon for people to bring the favorite meal of the deceased to the grave site and to eat the meal there. In some cultures, people even sleep on the grave sites. In some countries, offers are made to family members who have emigrated to other countries; this is not the traditional practice, but it an emerging trend.

The most famous depictions of the Day of the Dead celebration come from José Guadalupe Posada, whose pictures of skeletons engaged in typical daily activities and dressed in clothing poke fun at death while at the same time making us acknowledge that it is in fact a part of life.

Day of the Dead celebrations are often colorful, with bright flowers, sugar skulls, and papiér maché skeletons. There is also a famous traditional dish that is prepared — Pan del Muerte, or Bread of the Dead. You can see some of these decorations on display, along with posters and pictures, in the Rohrbach Library’s Voices and Choices Center’s Day of the Dead display. In addition to a display in the Rohrbach Library, you can also visit the Language Lab in the DeFrancesco building to check out the display created by Spanish professor Dr. Dawn Slack’s classes.

Dr. Dawn Slack; Dr. Linda Matthews, associate library dean; Professor Bruce Jensen, multicultural support and reference librarian; and Professor Michael Weber, technical services and reference librarian have created a wonderful Day of the Dead display in the library. In addition to sugar skulls, colorful posters, flowers, and artwork from communication design professor Kevin McCloskey’s “ASARO of Mexico” collection, there will be a fact sheet available for your reference. You also will get the chance to sample some Bread of the Dead.

But that’s not all that Rohrbach Library is doing for this celebration. There will be life-size papiér maché skeletons on display, too. These skeletons were created by Yolanda Reyes, a local artist who had her skeletons on display a few years ago at the Reading Public Museum’s Day of the Dead feature.

Setup for the displays begins today. The displays will be available for you to view over the next few weeks. Look for upcoming information about your chance to sample some Bread of the Dead.

For more information about el Día De Los Muertos, visit the LibGuide designed for the celebration. You will find basic facts about it, as well as books, videos, articles, and news feeds full of information.

So check out the LibGuide and the display, and enjoy el Día De Los Muertos. It truly is as much a celebration of life as it is a celebration of death.

-CS

Today in History

1793*
Eli Whitney applied for a patent for the cotton gin.

1886*
The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in New York Harbor by President Grover Celveland.

1919*
Congress passed the Volstead Act, or the National Prohibition Act, over President Woodrow Wilson’s veto.

1922*
Benito Mussolini took control of the Italian government.

1940*
Italy invaded Greece during WWII.

1958*
Pope John Paul XXIII was elected.

1962*
Nikita Khrushchev told the U.S. that he ordered the dismantling of Soviet missiles in Cuba.

2009
You filmed a YouTube video for Rohrbach Library. What am I talking about? I’m talking about SnapShot PA!

On Wednesday, Oct. 28, the Rohrbach Library will be participating in SnapShot-PA, a statewide initiative aimed at capturing the impact that Pennsylvania libraries have on their communities on a typical day. Patrons can stop by the library from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Oct. 28 to record a brief video telling us why they are in the library and how they use the library’s services and resources. Some of the videos will be posted to YouTube, and the results (statistics, photos, videos, and comments) from all participating libraries will be posted online on the SnapShot-PA Web site: http://snapshotpa.org. For more information, please contact professor Karen Wanamaker, Education Librarian, at ext. 3-4709.

*Information taken from Infoplease.com.

-CS

October 28th is SnapShot-PA Day

On Wednesday, Oct. 28, the Rohrbach Library will be participating in SnapShot-PA, a statewide initiative aimed at capturing the impact that Pennsylvania libraries have on their communities on a typical day. Patrons can stop by the library from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Oct. 28 to record a brief video telling us why they are in the library and how they use the library’s services and resources. Some of the videos will be posted to YouTube, and the results (statistics, photos, videos, and comments) from all participating libraries will be posted online on the SnapShot-PA Web site: http://snapshotpa.org. For more information, please contact professor Karen Wanamaker, Education Librarian, at ext. 3-4709.

Love Your Body Day

The KU Women’s Center invites you to celebrate National Love Your Body Day today, Tuesday, October 20, from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. in the Student Union Building’s Multipurpose Room.

Organized by the National Organization for Women (NOW), Love Your Body Day is a day for women to accept and love themselves for who they are. In this day and age of the media showing us women with bodies that are impossible for us to ever attain, either because they are entirely too thin or Photoshopped to remove imperfections, it is important for us to take a step back to be happy with ourselves, and to enjoy that fact that women come in all kinds of beautiful shapes and sizes.

Although this day is geared toward women, it’s important for men to come out and support the women in their lives. Men can also take away a lesson in how to learn to love themselves for who they are, and to be happy with their bodies.

Here is the schedule of events, taken from the Love Your Body Day Facebook page:

All Day Events
Information available on the benefits of chocolate, ingredients in makeup, condoms, STDs, healthy eating and snacks, cosmetic surgery, tobacco awareness, bra-sizing, breast cancer, and more! Other all-day events include an interactive, collaborative Love Your Body Day banner, making “positive thoughts” mirror stickers and tissue paper flowers.

Yoga
10 – 11 a.m.
Professor Walke, Instructor/Associate Director of Act 101, offers an introduction to Yoga through a series of sun salutations.

Attraction’s Tell-Tale Signs
12:15 – 1:15 p.m.
Discusses how body language plays a role in attraction, dating, and relationships. With a reported 93% of communication coming from body language, learn how each part of the body and face can show you if someone is attracted to you.

Youthful You Institute of Lehigh Valley Health Network
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Learn safe sun habits and sun damage prevention tips to keep your skin beautiful and healthy. The UV facial analysis machine, as seen in recent skincare commercials, shows a detailed report of skin damage from the sun.

Goddesses Have Hips
11 a.m. – Noon
Embrace the goddess in you! Presented by Planned Parenthood, this program emphasizes positive body image and self-esteem.

The Doll Project
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
A lively presentation from Denise DiJoseph focusing on the time-honored and controversial fashion icon – the Barbie doll – and its positive empowerment by reminding us that we are all unique works of art. DiJoseph explains how participants chose their artistic muse based on personal attributes and interests to produce altered Barbies that express realistic body image and messages of social change. The presentation shares original journal entries and prototype dolls and includes an exhibit of sculptural and assembled works by DiJoseph and students from girls’ clubs and teens residing at the Chester County Youth Center shelter and detention facilities.

PicturePerfect
3 – 4 p.m.
This year’s featured film, PicturePerfect explores the impact of the media on young women’s physical, psychological, and emotional health.

To learn more about any of the topics discussed at Love Your Body Day, check out the books in the Rohrbach Library and in the Women’s Center lending library. There are also plenty of great articles on these topics in the Rohrbach Library databases. Come in and ask a reference librarian how you can learn more about women’s health.

-CS

National Coming Out Day

Sunday, October 11, is National Coming Out Day. According to About.com, Robert Eichberg and Jean O’Leary founded National Coming Out Day on October 11, 1988, to celebrate the first gay rights march on Washington, D.C. The first march occurred in 1987. This is a day to embrace diversity and to promote awareness of the need for equal rights for the LGBT community.

KU is helping to celebrate National Coming Out Day. Look for a display at the Rohrbach Library’s Voices and Choices Center this weekend. Also, the GLBTQ Center is organizing a bus trip to Washington, D.C., for the annual march on Sunday. Contact Kathleen Hoffmann, GLBTQ Center coordinator, at 484-646-5807 for more information.

This is not just a time for people to be open about their sexuality, but it is also a time to be an ally and show support for members of the LGBT community. For more information about how you can be a part of National Coming Out Day, contact the GLBTQ Resource Center.

-CS

Thinking About Grad School?

Do you know what you want to do when you graduate? Not sure if you want to jump right into a career or go to grad school full-time? Or work and attend part-time? And if you do go to grad school, where will you go and what will you study? And what financial aid is available?

If these are some of the questions you have about your future, then you should check out the KU Career Development Center’s “Thinking About Grad School” session on Thursday, October 8, at 11 a.m. in room 250 in the Student Union Building.

Can’t make that time? Just schedule an individual appointment with the Career Development Center to talk about this, or stop by the office and pick up a Grad School Guidebook. This guidebook, and all the others publishing by the Career Development Center, are also available on the web site.

For more information about the Career Development Center, check out http://careers.kutztown.edu or call 610-683-4067. You can also stop by the office, which is in the Stratton Administration Building, room 113.

-CS

Career Research Help

Have a quick question about your resume, cover letter, or those infamous job and internship searches? Then you’re in luck! KU’s Career Development Center is holding walk-in hours for quick questions on Thursday, September 16.

Typically you must make an appointment to discuss these things, but on Thursday Career Development is offering something similar to what Rohrbach offers at its Research Help Desk. Career Development will let you walk in without an appointment and ask your questions. Of course you can always make an appointment and sit down with a career counselor to discuss any questions or concerns you may have about the job search, resumes and cover letters, or even deciding whether or not to attend grad school. But if you just need a quick answer, then Thursday is the day for you.

In addition to career counselors being available to answer questions, there are many other great services you can take advantage of. For example, the career counselors regularly host information sessions on finding a job, writing resumes and cover letters, and networking. There is even a session on the forms you will be expected to fill out your first day of work. Career Development also hosts senior orientation sessions that are going on now; check for when your college’s orientation is scheduled to take place.

Not only does the center offer information sessions, but it also offers mock interviews with counselors and with real employers, resume and cover letter review services, and an etiquette dinner.

If you are just starting your job search and still don’t know what’s right for you, then stop by the center and check out its career guide collection. The center has its own lending library, but if there’s a book they recommend that they don’t have yet or is already checked out, then you can either get it in Rohrbach Library or order it via Rohrbach’s interlibrary loan.

It’s just as important to know what career services are available to you as it is to know what research services are available to you. So take advantage of the career services KU offers so you can stay ahead in the job search.

Career Development Center
113 Stratton Administration Center
Phone: 610-683-4067
Fax: 610-683-4069
Email: careers@kutztown.edu
Web site: http://cdc.dept.kutztown.edu/

Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30, Tuesdays 8:00-6:00

-CS

Fall Involvement Fair

Thanks to everyone who stopped by our table at KU’s Fall Involement Fair last Thursday!

Opinion Groups: Several of you signed up to be a part of our opinion groups this year. We will be contacting you with more information in the future. Other students who are interested in signing up to offer opinions on library resources and services at various focus groups should contact Dr. Linda Matthews, Assistant Dean of Library Services, at 610-683-4805.

Raffle Winner: Congratulations to Hollei Keifer, the winner of our gift basket. It was great to see so many entries in our raffle box! Watch our blog and Facebook pages for more opportunities to win in the future!

There are so many ways to get involved with your library. We hope to see many of you physically or virtually during this year. You can use RSS feed to keep up with our blog postings and can also join our Facebook pages! We love to hear from you, so keep in touch!