Preparation for Graduation

It's December and a lot of students will graduate this month. Unfortunately, there may be a few who think they will graduate but won't. Not graduating may be attributed to factors that may include owing the school money, not earning enough credits or failure of a class,etc. To help avoid situations like this do a self assessment on yourself.

A self assessment includes many things related to your education. First, make sure you have a copy of the SSCC Student Catalog and Handbook for the semester that you started school. This will tell you the requirements and number of hours required for your particular degree. Refer back to this when choosing your classes. Second, visit the Counseling for more help. Third, periodically check your transcript to make sure all the classes you have taken and paid for have are listed. Fourth, go by the business office to see if you have may have any outstanding balances. Fifth, make copies of EVERYTHING for yourself.

PLEASE, do your self assessment before the semester you think you are going to graduate. Just yesterday, I did my second graduation clearance for a young man that thought his tuition had been paid - it wasn't. I also did a clearance for a student who had to come back to school because the school had no record of a degree she already earned.She did a double major and luckily she had the copy of one of the diplomas although the school had no record of it. Unfortunately, she never received the second diploma and there was no record of that either. Don't let either of these situations be you.

Remember, during the semester in which you plan to graduate apply for graduation and get your clearance form signed by the appropriate offices!

Holiday Photos

The upcoming holiday season is often the best time for many photo opportunities. It's a time where many family members are usually together. Many photos can be taken, just don't take too many before dinner - people are HUNGRY! And everyone hates a bad photo. SSCC libraries can help!

We have several books on the Martin campus to help you take better photos. Most people have a digital or 35 mm camera. We have books on both types of cameras. If you want to learn how to create a perfect photo, photograph children or scan pics, check out the display cases.

If you simply like looking at photos, we have several atlases of photos. I may not be able to take the best pictures but I admire anyone else who can. Looking at others may give you an idea of a background or a pose.Learn about still or motion photography right here at SSCC.

The Voter's Have Decided

The 44th President of the United States of America was elected last night. Barack Obama is now the President-elect. The is a historic event for the entire nation because he is the first African American president. I believe it was also historic in the number of people that turned out to vote. Many people, although they have been eligible to register to vote in the past,didn't vote in past elections. The number of first time voters was quite surprising.

If you would like to learn more about the inauguration, voting process, electoral college,Mr. Obama or Senator McCain, please come by the library. We have the history of our government right here at our fingertips at SSCC.The more informed you are, the better able you are to make educated decisions.You may read something in one of our books or online resources that inspires you to run for office one day.

Student Appreciation Days (Fredd Campus)

Every year, in the fall, we hold Student Appreciation Days at the Fredd campus. It is our way of thanking the students for coming into the library. It also brings in students that have not been in the library, previously.Because the Fredd campus houses our technical programs, a lot of students are not aware of the books and materials that may help them in their programs of study. Instructors may also request book and/or audiovisual material that would benefit their students.

This year the book that students will receive is From the Heart:Seven Rules To Live By written by ABC anchorwoman Robin Roberts. She has words of wisdom that can be applied to everyone's life. In addition to receiving the book, students will also receive a stress ball, small backpack, a calculator and a pencil.

Student Appreciation Days will be held on October 27-28,2008 from 9:30-1:30. We hope to see you there!

Register to Vote

If you haven't registered to vote and you live in AL, it's not too late. In the state of Alabama you can register up to October 24, 2008 to be eligible to vote in the upcoming Presidential election. You may register to vote if you meet the following basic criteria:
Be 18 years or older
Be a U.S. citizen
Be a citizen of the city and county and which you register

There are a few more criteria that may make you ineligible to vote. Those have to do with felony convictions (if your rights haven't been restored) and mental capacity. You can read more about those on your voter registration form.

Here are a few websites that may help you register or learn more about the candidates:

http://www.sheltonstate.edu/content2.aspx?PageID=482

http://www.declareyourself.com/voting_faq/state_by_state_info_2.html

http://www.rockthevote.org/

http://www.sos.state.al.us/Elections/GetRegForm.aspx

Banned Book Week

Banned Books Week is celebrated the last week in September. It has been celebrated since 1982. This year it will be celebrated September 28- October 4. We are not actually banning books in the SSCC libraries. We are celebrating the freedom to read books that have been "banned" or "challenged". Books that have been banned means that the material was removed at one point and time. A challenged book means that someone or group tried to have the materials removed.

Why are books banned or challenged?
There are many different reason books have been banned. Books can be "banned" for these reasons and more: anti-family, nudity, offensive language, and unsuited to age group.

Why are we allowed to read banned/challenged books?
The 1st Amendment to the Constitution protects the freedom of expression. This is freedom of speech,press and assembly. Through freedom of press, people can express themselves freely through publication.

What are some books that have been banned?
The Bible
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

There are many other books that have been placed on the banned list. You may be surprised to find books that you've read on the list. For a complete list go to:

http://staging.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/archive/bannedbooksweek73008archive.cfm

Come into the SSCC libraries and celebrate your freedom to read. Check out a banned book, today!

Helpful Info for Beginning of Semester

It's the fall semester and we have a lot of new students. If you see someone that looks lost, you may want to ask them if they need help finding something. We all had a first day here and didn't know where things were located. Here's a quick guide to help you with with your SSCC experience:

Library 391-3925; 2nd floor
Admissions Office 391-2214; first floor
Financial Aid 391-2218; first floor
Learning Center 391-2984; second floor
Bookstore 391-2222; first floor

We at the Brooks-Cork and Lewis Libraries hope that you have a great semester. Please come by for all your library needs. We have audiovisuals, study rooms and over 50,000 books on our shelves.

Help In Finding Your Classes

It's the beginning of second split term and many new students have trouble finding their classes. Here's something to help:
1. Teacher's offices (on the second floor) are numbered 2500-2700
2. If you come up the main stairwell and turn to your right, the classrooms start with the number 2800 and go up.
3. If you come up the main stairwell and turn to your left, the classrooms start with the number 2400.

If you see any employee of the college, they should be able to help you reach your destination. Don't be afraid to ask for help!

Welcome Back!

The summer semester has started and we hope you enjoyed your break. Shelton State Libraries are open Monday through Friday all summer semester. The Martin campus library is open 7:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m. The Fredd campus library hours are 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

If you're looking to do some leisurely reading this summer, remember to take a look at our best sellers. Best sellers are books (both fiction and a few nonfiction)by popular authors. We have books by James Patterson, Eric Jerome Dickey, Janet Evanovich and Nicholas Sparks to name a few. Of course, we still have books, computers and audiovisuals to suit your academic needs.

Please come by and see us! We welcome your visits!

National Library Week

During the week of April 1-19, Shelton State Libraries celebrated National Library Week (NLW). NLW is a celebration of libraries contributions to society. It has been observed nationwide since 1958.

Shelton State Libraries celebrated by doing a Read A Book campaign. Each student that checked out a library book had the opportunity to place their name in a drawing for a prize. Prizes included free food from Chick-Fil-A, a gift card from Wal-Mart, and a desk lamp from Office Depot.

As we celebrated NLW, we continued to conduct our surveys. Several students have wanted to know if we really look at the results from the surveys. The answer is yes. Your responses allow us to see how we can serve you better as well as the areas we're doing well in. Your surveys, responses and comments are valuable to us.

It's Survey Time!

It's spring and that means survey time for the SSCC libraries. The survey allows us to see how we are serving you. It lets us know things we need to improve on and things that you are finding to be satisfactory. You can also provide suggestions for books or items that you would like to see in the libraries.

To take the survey, click on the link on the library homepage. This will automatically take you to the survey. It will only take a few moments of your time.We truly welcome your comments and suggestions. If you take the survey, be sure to ask for your REWARD! Our goal this year is to have 200 people take the survey. Please, help us reach our goal!

Spring Is Here

Spring if officially here! Spring is a wonderful time of year. The grass is getting greener, flowers are blooming and the days are longer. You see more people out for walks and children riding their bicycles. It's also a great time to begin a garden or plant flowers.

Both SSCC libraries have books to help those of you that don't have a green thumb! If you're like me, you stick to houseplants and food bought from the grocery store. However, if you do have a green thumb or want to achieve a green thumb - we can help!

Books in the libraries range from how to plant flowers to growing herbs. Once you've grown your herbs or food, check out our many cookbooks!

African American Audiovisuals

We're near the end of Black History Month. African Americans have contributed a lot to society.Contibutions include helping to free slaves to inventing the streetlight to creating hair products. I could list thousands of contributions made by african americans starting from the beginning of time to the present.

The SSCC libraries houses a number of audiovisuals highlighting african americans. We have videotapes of interviews with authors such as Alice Walker and Maya Angelou and playwright August Wilson. Speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King are also available on videotape. We also have the Eyes On The Prize Series that was broadcast on PBS.

To find audiovisuals by or about african americans go to www.sheltonstate.edu/library. Click on library catalog and go to the search box. In the search box type in african americans(av). This will bring up a list of avaiable audiovisuals. Audiovisuals are available for in library use only for students. Faculty may check out items to be used in class.

Of course, we have plenty of books,too!

History Behind the History

February brings about some interesting days - Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day and this year is also a Leap Year. February is also the month we celebrate Black History or African American History Month. It's not just the history of those descended from Africa,it's everyone's history.!

When was it started and why February?

Black History Month was started by Dr. Carter G. woodson in 1926. It actually started as Negro History Week and was held the second week in February. Later it was expanded to a month. The month of February was designated because both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass were born in this month.

The first library for African Americans opened in 1905 in Louisville, Kentucky. The entire staff was african american. In 1908 it became endowed by Carnegie. The head librarian was the Rev. Thomas Fountain Blue. To find out more information on the first library to serve african americans go to this website: www.lfpl.org/western/htms/sepflame.htm

Reading

In our country, reading is an essential part of life. Many take for granted the fact they are able to read. Unfortunately, for many Americans, illiteracy is a problem. There are many adults that are not able to read at a functional level. There are many reasons people are not able to read. Some of those reasons include, but are not limited to, unable to finish education, learning disability, or english is a second language. If you know someone who has difficulty reading, many communities provide reading instruction/GED programs for adults.

Adult education is housed on the Fredd campus. Adult education students are entitled to a Readers Club card. The Readers Club card entitles GED students to check out books, paperbacks, vertical file materials, and pamphlets. We invite all adult education students to participate in this free service. SSCC libraries strives to help all students in their academic endeavors. We hope to see you in either the Fredd or Martin campus.

Spring 2008

The spring semester is here. For a lot of students it means finding classes you need for your major, hoping the class is not cancelled, and then trying to find the room where the class is located.For instructors it means preparing for lectures, creating tests and grading papers. Whether you're a student or an instructor, the library is here to help you meet your academic needs.

Instructors (full and part time) are welcome to bring their classes in for tours of the library. Simply contact one of the librarians. During the tour, students learn where books are and about the services we provide. Studants are also able to get library cards and AVL cards. Instructors are also able to put study helps on reserve and use the audiovisual equipment. Audiovisual equipment includes, but is not limited to videocassettes, DVD's, and video data projectors.

Students are able to use our online catalog to find books, journals or periodicals they need for their studies. We also have study rooms for groups or if you need a quiet place to study. Students may check out reserve materials from their instructors for a one hour time period. We also have bestsellers when you get tired of studying and need a break!

We're here to help you meet your academic needs, let us help you!