Alright Brain...It's all up to you.

We hope you had a happy Thanksgiving holiday! Now, before you panic about those three papers & four exams coming up, read our survival tips. They're short and sweet.

Our Best Advice:

Take care of your computer & files. Please, please, please for the love of all that is holy SAVE any paper you're writing on a library computer and save it frequently. Don’t walk away from a library computer without saving your files to a thumb drive, your GoogleDocs, or emailing them to yourself (or all three). The library computers don't automatically save your work, and the TempStore drives on our computers are wiped clean every night. If you lose your work, we will want to get it back for you, but we won't be able to.

When Studying or Writing a Paper:

Avoid temptation. Give yourself the best chance at success by creating a study zone for yourself now: Before finals sneak up on you. My little brother deflated his basketball one year because he knew he wouldn't be able to finish his 15 page paper without that added incentive. I personally like the method of deleting shortcuts to games from my desktop. What this means is that I am not tempted to open a game too often because I have to go into the program menu to get to it. Whatever you decide... reduce your stress by creating a temptation free zone in your study area.

The library is a good temptation free zone...If you move into the library, we ask you to please keep the headphones low enough so they don’t drive the next person crazy and put the trash in the bins to help out our janatorial staff. The library has an added bonus: personal help from a research guru (AKA your librarian). We can save you time and frustration at the best of times, and we’ve probably had more sleep these last few weeks than you have. Walk up, IM, email, or call. We're here to help.

Secret Tip

Speak with your professors. I know sometimes it's scary approaching people in authority, but believe me... they are not cops! They want you to succeed and if you make the effort to ask for help they will come through for you. The trick is to show them what you've got as opposed to asking them to re-explain the entire semester of material. So...

• Stuck on a paper? Show them what you've written so far (even a rough outline!) and they may be able to jog your mind into a coherent argument, or maybe point you to that 5th source you need in your bibliography!
• Didn't understand a lecture? Show them the notes you took or explain what you did understand. This will allow them to "fill-in-the-blanks".
• Test studying? Outline what you've focused on to make sure you're on the right track.

Anyway you look at it, asking for help shows your professor that you are serious about succeeding in their class, and they are far more likely to help you with a question if you are proactive and come in during their office hours. Bring a pen and paper and take notes while they talk.

Last Tip

Find Rest. Cooler temperatures = more sick people. That's because we are all inside and sharing more germs. Don't skimp on your sleep. Lack of sleep leads to a lower immune system and a higher chance of getting sick. Catch those Zzz's!

Source: "Alright Brain... It's all up to you." - Homer Simpson

“Thanksgiving, man! Not a good day to be my pants."

You're almost there... Thanksgiving break is just around the corner and you can do it!
Hopefully you are planning to enjoy the break, eat some great Thanksgiving food and relax. Before you head out of town, why not check out some of the cool materials we have at the library?

We have traditional fare for Thanksgiving:

Baker, James W. Thanksgiving: The Biography of an American Holiday. Durham, N.H: University of New Hampshire Press, 2009. [Call No. 394.2649 B167t 2009]

This is the first in-depth study of the most American of holidays, the author sweeps away lingering myths and misconceptions to show how this celebration day was born and grew to be an essential part of our national spirit.

Curtin, Kathleen, and Sandra L. Oliver. Giving Thanks: Thanksgiving Recipes and History, from Pilgrims to Pumpkin Pie. New York: Clarkson Potter/Publishers, 2005.

This book explores the delicious, fascinating history of Thanksgiving, complete with trivia, recipes, and an amazing collection of archival imagery of the holiday's history.

We also have a few non-traditional choices as well...

Westhoff, Patrick C. The Economics of Food: How Feeding and Fueling the Planet Affects Food Prices. Upper Saddle River, N.J: FT Press, 2010.

What are the hidden relationships between the food on your plate and the gas in your car? Will economic recovery lead directly to massive inflation in both food and energy? What do food prices have to do with world hunger? Find out here!

Wissing, Douglas A. Indiana: One Pint at a Time : a Traveler's Guide to Indiana Breweries. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society Press, 2010.

This year, Doug spoke on the VU campus about his experiences in Afghanistan. Here's his newest book about something completely different! A travel guide to our craft breweries, interweaving their stories with Indiana architecture, ethnicity, and regional specificity, connecting the dynamics of today with the luster of the past.

We want you to be safe too... so here's a link to Let's Talk Turkey—A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey: Every facet of getting a turkey from the store to the dinner table is included—buying fresh vs. frozen, safe thawing methods, stuffing, roasting, storing leftover turkey and reheating the leftovers.

We also want you to impress your family and friends... especially that know-it-all-uncle!

Thanksgiving Facts and Statistics  – Last year, the major pumpkin-producing states brought us 1.1 billion pounds of pumpkins. Read more Thanksgiving fun facts from the Census Bureau.

and here's a lesson with some "real world" use: Turkey Carving 101.



We also want you to be healthy during the holiday... Check out PubMed articles about the effects of the holidays on our health:

Hull HR, Hester CN, Fields DA. The effect of the holiday season on body weight and composition in college students. Nutr Metab (Lond) 2006;3:44. doi: 10.1186/1743-7075-3-44.

If you're staying on campus... don't despair!

VU Campus Thanksgiving Dinner -Harrison Hall Basement. 11am-1pm November 25th. Eat Thanksgiving Lunch with CCF! They would like to send a warm invitation out for RA's, Campus Police, International Students, VU Maintenance & VU faculty/staff. Join them for a great meal on campus! The meal is fully provided and completely free!Sponsored by Christian Campus Fellowship (882-1261).

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Source: Title Quote by Kevin James

I'm looking over your shoulder... only because I've got your back.

Meet our new librarian!

She's new! Well.. kinda new... since August new... Whatever, you should meet her!

Name: Ariela Berstein

Job title: Information Services Librarian

Location in Shake Library: Shake Library Room 117, the Reference desk, wandering the Computer Commons,  fighting the vending machine.

Tell us what you do in 75 words or less: I deal with electronic databases & make sure they work. I buy materials [books, dvds etc.] for the Business/Public Services and Technology divisions. I go into classes & show students our resources & how to get an A on an assignment. I do website maintenance, beta testing, & I run our Facebook page too [Like us!]. I also work on the reference desk answering people’s questions in person, on the phone, via chat or email.

Choose one service that your department provides that you want the VU community to be aware of: Group study rooms! We have two nice study rooms you can check out for 4 hours. They’re great for groupwork or when you need to practice a presentation.

What is your favorite website? www.thedoghousediaries.com . I love these comics! They are hilarious and I eagerly anticipate their musings on all manner of things: From color swatches to their commentary on the love life of sandwiches.

What is your favorite book in the Shake Library collection? Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (C527g, 1^st floor -fiction) has been a favorite for a number of years. I love the mix of history, art and mystery. I also love movies and music and I’m really excited about two new books we got at the library. Sondheim on music: minor details and major decisions by Mark Eden Horowitz. (782.14 S698h 2010) and Complete guide to film scoring: the art and business of writing music for movies and TV by Richard Davis (781.542 D263c 2010). The second looks at the history of film scores, how the process works, and also has interviews with some of the most amazing composers today.

When I'm not at work, you can find me... Stuffing my face, planning vacations (5 continents and counting!), on ColbertNation, donating via Kiva, or teaching myself to play guitar.

One thing few people know about you… I have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Title Source: the Colbert Report.

Smart Investing (AKA stuff they don't teach you in school, but that you'll use everyday)

Today's post is all about real life. Sure you have a paper to write, but once it's turned in are your really going to talk about interracial adoption again? Maybe, maybe not. What I 100% guarantee is that you will have to deal with your money. Not just getting it out of an ATM, or deciding how much to spend on your new honey's Christmas present. No, I'm talking about how do you save for your spring break trip? How do you budget so you have enough money at the end of the month? How do you make sure you have some savings for an emergency bus ride home?

Well, there are a lot of tools to help you learn more about smart investing. These tools are geared towards you and they help you learn and plan in fun interactive ways. So without further ado here they are:

Are you female? If you are, you should check out LearnVest. Aimed at women, this website will help you achieve maximum financial health through its dynamic Checklists, fun “bite-size” daily newsletter (takes 2 minutes to read), and straightforward, easy-to-read content. You can take their boot-camp series or you can just use their calculators and tools. They send you really useful tips on decorating, traveling and banking efficiently while on a budget. I like that they don't fill up your inbox and that they keep everything simple. 

Are you in the military? If you are, you know that financial preparedness is a key component of military readiness. FINRA developed SaveAndInvest.org as a financial education program to improve the saving and investing knowledge of military service members. Here you will find an online resource center that serves as a centralized, trusted source for unbiased information on saving and investing, including original content, interactive tools/games, links to financial education resources, frequently asked questions, and more. These resources are aimed at military personnel that are deployed and at home.

FINRA or The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority is the largest independent regulator for all securities firms doing business in the United States. FINRA’s mission is to protect America’s investors by making sure the securities industry operates fairly and honestly. They have extensive information for investors in easy to follow formats geared towards everyone (men, women, young, old). Here you will find information on how to protect yourself from scams, as well as calculators to help you save for college, big purchases and retirement. You'll also find lots of information on how to choose a banker or financial advisor too.

But wait! Don't forget you can also find lots of great resources at Shake Library. Titles like:


Making the most of your money now : the classic bestseller by Jane Bryant Quinn. [Call # 332.024 Q7m 2010]


New Money book of personal finance : saving, planning, investing, and borrowing-- all the information you need in one easy-to-follow guide edited by Sheryl Hilliard Tucker and the editors of Money magazine. [Call # 332.024 N532m 2002]


AARP retirement survival guide : how to make smart financial decisions in good times and bad by Julie Jason. [Call #332.024 J39a 2009]

Busy family's guide to money by Sandra Block, Kathy Chu & John Waggoner. [Ebook]

Bridal bargains : secrets to throwing a fantastic wedding on a realistic budget by Denise & Alan Fields. [Call # 395.22 F461b 2009]

Lastly, hopefully you will learn lots about credit and how to protect yourself by checking your Credit Report. Don't be fooled by gimmicks on TV. You can get this information for free. Here is a video from the Federal Trade Commission to set the record straight.

"One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain"

It's really quite hard to find a good definition for music. Each one usually leaves out something you're deeply passionate about: Whether it's the power of the lyrics, the sensation of the melody, the creativity in the composition. Words are never quite enough.

Here are some resources and freebies available for you to further explore Music at Shake library.

We have CDs at the library. Yep, when searching VU WebCat for a book for your next paper why not try searching to see if we have your favorite band? It just might make your studying easier!

Want Alt Rock? We have: Plastic Beach by Gorillaz [CDM 1304]
Want Country Gospel? We Have: Downtown Church by Patty Griffin. [CDM 1315]
Want Rap? We have: The Stimulus Package by Freeway & Jake One. [CDM 1314]
Want Underground Dance? We have: Heligoland by Massive Attack.  [CDM 1313]
Want Garage Rock? We have: Pictures by The Len Price 3. [CDM 1340]
Want Psychadelic Rock? We have: Valleys of Neptune by Jimi Hendrix. [CDM 1348]
Want Soul? We have: The Sea by Corinne Bailey Rae. [CDM 1370]
and over 1000 more...

When you find a CD you want to checkout, just come up to the Lending Services Desk and give them the call number (it'll start with CDM).

We also have books to help your learn a new instrument. You can always learn how to play a song you like from YouTube videos, but if you want to teach yourself from scratch or just get a bit better why not see if we have a title for you? Something like:

Guitar all-in-one for dummies by Jon Chappell (published in 2009). Available through the library as an ebook! or how about...

Picture yourself drumming: step-by-step instruction for drum kit setup, reading music, learning from the pros, and more by Jon Peckman. (Published in 2007). Also available as an ebook from the library.

Can't get your hands on an instrument that big? well how about...Harmonica playing made easy : a complete step-by-step instruction book for the beginner by the editors of Consumer Guide [Call number: 788.82 H288h 1994]

Learning an instrument or playing one has been shown to increase your intellectual capacity. Many studies have shown that students who play music have generally higher test and IQ scores than students who aren’t musical. Other studies have proven that practicing musicians of any age are more alert, which can lead to better memory retention. Want to learn more about Music and the Brain? Check out our "Find Articles" webpage and use PubMed to search for articles like this one: Brain tuned to music. PubMed is a free digital archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature. It's developed and managed by the National Library of Medicine.

We also provide you with access to Grove Music Online which includes the full text of the 29-volume print edition of the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, the 4-volume New Grove Dictionary of Opera and the 3-volume New Grove Dictionary of Jazz plus specially-commissioned articles only available online. You can access this resource by going to our "Find Articles" webpage and clicking Oxford Music Online.

Want to listen to music for free? Maybe you've already heard of these two, but just in case you haven't:

Grooveshark is an internationally available online music search engine, music streaming service and music recommendation web software application, allowing users to search for, stream, and upload music free of charge that can be played immediately or added to a playlist [Source]

Pandora is an automated music recommendation and Internet radio service created by the Music Genome Project. Users enter a song or artist that they enjoy, and the service responds by playing selections that are musically similar. [Source]

We hope you explore these resource and continue your appreciation of music! Have a suggestion? Leave us a comment.

“Where words fail, music speaks.” - Hans Christian Anderson

PS: The title of the blog post comes from a Bob Marley Song