holidays

holidays

Social Workers Unite

Social Workers Unite

, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
March is national Social Work Month, and a great time to recognize the work of all those who are and who are studying to become social workers.  From its origins in combating poverty to the modern effort towards equality and justice, social work has been a source of hope to millions.  First celebrated in 1964, this year’s theme is ‘Weaving Threads of Resilience and Advocacy’.  One of the core resources in the field is the Encyclopedia of Social Work, a reference now in its 20th edition.  You can use the print volume in the library – it’s shelved at HV35 .S6 – but it’s also available online, as well.  The current edition takes into account emerging topics like the rise … Continued
African American History Month

African American History Month

, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
Happy African American History Month!  For most of us, this is a time to hear brief biographies of black pioneers and innovators, and experience a slice of American history that can often be overlooked.  It reminds us of the universality of human achievement.  And the library can help with this – sources like Biography in Context offer great overviews of the lives of famous leaders and innovators.  But perhaps this year, you’d like to dig deeper into the African American experience.    One great source for this is the database Black Thought and Culture – including interviews, essays, pamphlets, letters, and speeches, in addition to journal articles, it offers a rich and textured look at primary documentation – black history from … Continued
Ghost of Christmas (Research) Past

Ghost of Christmas (Research) Past

Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
Christmas 1776 found the Continental army at its lowest point.  After losing New York, the American Revolutionary army had fled across New Jersey and into Pennsylvania.  They were underfed and ill-equipped, and had proven vastly inferior to British troops in almost every way.  Washington himself wrote “I think the game is pretty near up.”  That evening, General George Washington led his famous crossing, taking men across the Delaware river to attack the Hessian fortification in Trenton, New Jersey.  This involved a nine mile march through freezing cold (some soldiers didn’t even have boots).  The battle was a complete success, eliminating the garrison, capturing valuable supplies and cannons, and proving that American soldiers could actually defeat regular army troops.  The battle … Continued
Driedels at Chava’s House

Driedels at Chava’s House

Frances Yates 0 Comments
The driedel game, a popular Hanukah activity for children, grew into an adult passion for my mother (Eva Weinstein; Hebrew name Chava חוה, which means “life”), as she collected another and another and another and…until there was a glass-enclosed cabinet full of dreidels, each with a unique story about how and why it was acquired. They ranged from the silly (of the wind-up and walk plastic variety) to the delicious (chocolate ones, only 1 of which has survived the years – well-wrapped in plastic wrap of course!) to true works of art (http://tinyurl.com/GaryRdreidels).  When there is a family member with a “collection” it becomes relatively easy to purchase gifts, as the preferences are well-established. Therefore, the dreidel collection grew exponentially … Continued
Native American Heritage

Native American Heritage

, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
November is Native American Heritage Month, founded in 1990 by Public Law 101-343.  It’s a great time to learn about the rich and incredibly diverse history of our continent’s first citizens.   The first and foremost of our resources are databases.  These include American Indian History Online, which lets you search by region, tribe, person, event, or topic, and includes maps, pictures, documentary videos, and primary sources. Another is Early Encounters in North America: Peoples, Cultures, and the Environment which covers written accounts of interactions between Europeans and Native Americans (fifteenth to nineteenth century). It can be searched by year, location, personal and cultural event, nationality and kinship, flora and fauna, images, or environmental features.   And, of course, we’ve got … Continued