Distract yourself with these Man Booker Prize Longlist Titles

Looking for something good to read that isn't a textbook? The 2010 Man Booker Prize for Fiction longlist was announced yesterday, and the amazing books selected will be available from the library very soon. Click the Check Availability links to check which books have arrived and which books are still on order,and snatch up a copy!

• Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter Carey - Olivier is a young aristocrat, one of an endangered species born in France just after the Revolution. Parrot, the son of an itinerant English printer, wanted to be an artist but has ended up in middle age as a servant. When Olivier sets sail for the New World - ostensibly to study its prisons, but in reality to avoid yet another revolution - Parrot is sent with him, as spy, protector, foe and foil. Check Availability

• Room by Emma Donoghue - The story of a mother, her son, a locked room and the outside world. Jack is five and his upbringing is far from ordinary. Jack’s entire life has been spent in a single room that measures just 12 feet by 12 feet, as far as he’s concerned, Room is the entire world. Check Availability - currently on order

• The Betrayal by Helen Dunmore - Leningrad in 1952: a city recovering from war, where Andrei, a young hospital doctor and Anna, a nursery school teacher, are forging a life together. Summers at the dacha, preparations for the hospital ball, work and the care of sixteen year old Kolya fill their minds. The extraordinary sequel to ’The Siege’. Check Availability- currently on order

• The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson - A scorching story of friendship and loss, exclusion and belonging, and of the wisdom and humanity of maturity. Funny, furious, unflinching, this extraordinary novel shows one of our finest writers at his brilliant best. on order Check Availability

• The Long Song by Andrea Levy - Told in the irresistibly wilful and intimate voice of Miss July, with some editorial assistance from her son, Thomas, is at once defiant, funny, and shocking. The child of a field slave on the Amity sugar plantation, July lives with her mother until Mrs. Caroline Mortimer decides to move her into the great house and rename her ’Marguerite.’ Check Availability- currently on order

• C by Tom McCarthy - C follows the short, intense life of Serge Carrefax, a man who, as his name suggests, surges into the electric modernity of the early twentieth century, transfixed by the technologies that will obliterate him. Check Availability- currently on order

• The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell - In 1799, Jacob de Zoet arrived on the island of Dejima, the Dutch East India Company’s remotest outpost in Japan. His task is to uncover evidence of corruption but while cold-shouldered by his compatriots he becomes intrigued by a local woman but each is betrayed by someone they trust and are caught up in a tectonic shift between East and West. Check Availability - currently on order

• February by Lisa Moore - In 1982, the oil rig Ocean Ranger sank off the coast of Newfoundland during a Valentine’s night storm. In the early hours of the next morning, all 84 men aboard died. Helen O’Mara is one of those left behind when her husband, Cal, drowns. Check Availability - currently on order

• Skippy Dies by Paul Murray - Ruprecht Van Doren is an overweight genius whose hobbies include very difficult maths and the search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. Daniel ’Skippy’ Juster is his roommate. In the grand old Dublin institution that is Seabrook College for Boys, nobody pays either of them much attention. Check Availability - currently on order

• Trespass by Rose Tremain - In a silent valley stands an isolated stone farmhouse, the Mas Lunel. Its owner is Aramon Lunel, an alcoholic. Into this closed Cevenol world comes Anthony Verey, a wealthy antiques dealer from London. From the moment he arrives at the Mas Lunel, a frightening and unstoppable series of consequences is set in motion. Check Availability- currently on order

• The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas - At a suburban barbecue, a man slaps a child who is not his own. This event has a shocking effect on a group of people, friends and relatives who are all directly or indirectly influenced by the slap. Check Availability

• The Stars in the Bright Sky by Alan Warner - The Sopranos are back: out of school and out in the world, gathered in Gatwick to plan a super-cheap last-minute holiday to celebrate their reunion. Check Availability - currently on order

New eBooks

Below is a selection of new eBooks added to the collection this week:

• A practical guide to stage lighting - Construct and Implement Your Own Lighting Designs with the most trusted guide to stage lighting! Check Availability

• Alice in wonderland and philosophy : curiouser and curiouser - Probes the deeper underlying meaning in the Alice books, and reveals a world rich with philosophical life lessons. Check Availability

• Changing stations : the story of Australian commercial radio - The first full-scale, national history of commercial radio in Australia. Check Availability

• Defiant birth : women who resist medical eugenics - Tells the personal stories of women who have resisted medical eugenics - women who were told they shouldn't have babies because of perceived disability in themselves or because of some imperfection in the child. Check Availability

• Digital photography - Takes a refreshingly practical, focused approach to cover exactly what you need to know to develop a creative, competent style and a seamless photography workflow. Check Availability

• Quality caring in nursing : applying theory to clinical practice, education, and leadership - An invaluable resource to nursing students, nursing scholars, clinical nurses, nurse educators, nurse researchers, and nurse leaders. Check Availability

• Spiritual resources in family therapy - Illustrates ways to tap spiritual resources for coping, healing, and resilience. Check Availability

• The vulnerable country : Australia and the global economy - Begins with historical analysis of the interaction between politics and economics, covers the credit crunch of 2007 and culminates with the current global financial crisis. Check Availability

• Video production handbook - Suitable for students and beginning videographers, shows the full production process, from inception of idea to final distribution. Check Availability

Click on Check Availability to access these titles.

The full list of new eBooks can be accessessed here and more information on eBooks is here.

Why on Earth would I need... a CSU ID Card?

A question we get asked a lot here in the Library is "why would I possibly need a student ID card?"
Well, the short answer to that question is that all students (including DE students) need to have a student ID card because your library record is tied in with your ID card, so, 'no card' = 'no library record.'

The longer (and infinitely more interesting) answer is that your ID card is your free pass to a heap of great resources that will help you get the most out of your study:

Borrowing books, DVDs etc.
Having a student ID card entitles you to borrow items like books and dvds, whether you're studying by DE and placing requests to have items posted to you, or an on-campus student visiting the library.

For more information about borrowing from the Library, see the Borrowing FAQ and our Watch-it! Tutorials for more details.

SmartSearch
SmartSearch is an information gateway that provides all CSU library patrons with a single user interface for accessing and searching a variety of electronic resources. Via the gateway you can access - Internet sites, databases, other library catalogues, statistics, atlases and reference materials.

Visit the SmartSearch page for more details.

Requesting copies of book chapters or journal articles
All students can request copies of book chapters and journal articles (*subject to copyright restrictions) to be scanned and emailed to them. However, please note that on-campus students will need to come into the library if the book or journal is held on your home campus.

This Watch-it! Tutorial will show you how to place a copy request.

To access the 24-hour space in the Learning Commons
The Library currently has 3 learning Commons (Bathurst, Orange, Albury-Thurgoona, and another planned for Wagga campus) that offer 24-hour spaces for ---- so whether you're an on-campus student wanting to get in some extra study-time, or a DE student on campus for residential school, your student card acts as your personal 'key' to gain entrance to the building.

To join another university library as a reciprocal borrower
If you're a DE student who lives near another University, you can join up as a reciprocal borrower, which means that you can borrow from their collection rather than having items sent to you by CSU. See the University Library Australia site for more details.

Don't have a library card? You can find out more about getting an ID card on the University's CSU Card page.

Celebrating National NAIDOC Week

http://www.naidoc.org.au/

The 2010 National NAIDOC theme is 'Unsung Heroes - Closing the Gap by Leading Their Way'. Many unsung Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have made huge contributions to Australian society. 'Unsung heroes' recognises the part played by the quiet achievers in the Indigenous community, both now and in the past.

NAIDOC Week saw a variety of celebrations held across CSU.

Thurgoona Library Commons and Wagga Library used the opportunity to embrace Indigenous culture with displays highlighting some of the great resources available to students and staff across CSU. Indigenous Student Services provided various artefacts to give a cultural experience to the displays. At Thurgoona visitors were invited to visit the indigenous students services unit Winan-Gidyal which means "learning knowledge".

Traditional bush tucker was the central feature of the NAIDOC Week celebrations at Bathurst. Students and staff were invited to partake in tastings of marinated kangaroo, kangaroo rissoles, damper, and quandong cordial or jam. Spokesperson for the NAIDOC Week celebration, Ms Elise Hull, who works at CSU’s Truskett Library, said “I believe that NAIDOC Week is important, not just at Charles Sturt University but throughout Australia, because it’s how Indigenous people can celebrate their culture through food, art, activities, and music. Everyone needs to take a proactive interest in different cultures, and NAIDOC Week is a fantastic way for non-Indigenous people to learn about Indigenous people and their culture in a friendly and open environment”.

New eBooks

Below is a selection of new eBooks added to the collection this week:

• 'Sorry, lads, but the order is to go' : the August offensive, Gallipoli 1915 - Recreates in compelling detail the five days of the August offensive. He describes the complexity behind the battles and how they affected the men who were directly involved. Check Availability
• 3D game textures : create professional game art using Photoshop - Concentrates soley on texturing, and provides an in-depth guide to game texturing with hundreds of high-quality examples. Check Availability
• An introduction to ethics - Examines the central questions of ethics through a study of theories of right and wrong that are found in the great ethical works of Western philosophy. Check Availability
• Biostatistics for animal science - Designed to cover techniques for analysis of data in the animal sciences. Check Availability
• 505 unbelievably stupid web p@ges - Reveals the Internet’s weirdest, funniest and overall dumbest websites. Check Availability
• Australia's battlefields in Viet Nam: a traveller's guide - A traveller's guide to the Australian battlefields and cemeteries in Viet Nam written for people actually holidaying in Viet Nam as well as the wannabes who think they might go to Viet Nam. Check Availability
• Beaded jewelry : create your own style - Beaders at any level from novice to budding jeweler will find this book to be a great jumping-off point to replicate the latest trends or create their own styles. Check Availability
  
• Brokeback Mountain - A love story between two closeted cowboys at the heart of American mythology, film spectatorship and genre. Check Availability
• Labor and delivery nursing : a guide to evidence-based practice - With this book, nurses will gain the confidence and competence to approach labor and delivery challenges with care and efficiency. Check Availability
• King of thieves - The story of the most spectacularly successful shoplifting gang in history, who plundered stores in England and Europe in the 1960s and 1970s - the Kangaroo Gang. Check Availability
• Studio photography - Offers a practical and accessible guide to the fundamental techniques for successful studio photography. Check Availability

Click on Check Availability to access these titles.

The full list of new eBooks can be accessessed here and more information on eBooks is here.

Electoral roll makes a mockery of election

George Williams in a National Times article writes that Australia is heading to a federal election, but our electoral roll is being left behind. All evidence points to the fact 1.4 million Australians are missing from the roll and will be unable to vote. (Text adapted from AustralianPolicyOnline). Click here to read the full article

New eBooks

Below is a selection of new eBooks added to the collection this week:

• A field guide to student teaching in music - A practical guide focused on the link between music education coursework and the field-based aspects of the student teaching experience. Check Availability
• Agricultural survey methods - This book brings together the knowledge of academics and experts to increase the dissemination of the latest developments in agricultural statistics. Check Availability
• Biochemistry of plant secondary metabolism - This exciting new volume provides an up-to-date survey of the biochemistry and physiology of plant secondary metabolism. Check Availability
• Breaking barriers to learning in primary schools : an integrated approach to children's services - Takes an expert and informative look at the integrated children’s services agenda in practice in today’s primary schools. Check Availability
• Chemistry for pharmacy students : general, organic and natural products chemistry - A student-friendly introduction to the key areas of chemistry required by all pharmacy and pharmaceutical science students. Check Availability
• Chocolate science and technology This book provides an overview of the science and technology of chocolate manufacture from cocoa production, through the manufacturing processes, to the sensory, nutrition and health aspects of chocolate consumption. Check Availability
• Game art complete : all-in-one : learn Maya, 3ds Max, zBrush, and Photoshop winning techniques Artists can learn hundreds of tips, tricks and shortcuts in Max, Maya, Photoshop, ZBrush - all within the covers of one complete, inspiring reference. Check Availability
• Longevity and Social Change in Australia - Increased longevity will be a key determining factor in the shape of Australian society in the 21st century. It also poses a series of challenges, opportunities and policy issues for society in general and for government in particular. Check Availability
• The media student's book - A comprehensive introduction for students of media studies, covering all the key topics and providing a detailed, lively and accessible guide to concepts and debates. Check Availability
  

Click on Check Availability to access these titles.

The full list of new eBooks can be accessessed here and more information on eBooks is here.

And the Oscar goes to.... YOU

Life in a Day is a historic cinematic experiment in the making - a collaboration between producer Ridley Scott (of Alien and Gladiator fame), director Kevin McDonald (State of Play and Last King of Scotland), Youtube, and the 6.8 billion people on Earth.

The idea is simple. A user-generated feature film, shot in 24 hours by you. On July 24, you will have 24 hours to capture your life on film - the most compelling footage will be integrated into Life in a Day.

Those who have their footage included will be credited as co-director when the film premieres in January 2011 at the Sundance Film Festival.

For all the details, see http://www.youtube.com/lifeinaday

New eBooks

Below is a selection of new eBooks added to the collection this week:

• 3D Movie Making : Stereoscopic Digital Cinema From Script to Screen - Hollywood is going 3D! Join the revolution with this primer to all of the essential skills for live action 3D, from preproduction through distribution. Check Availability

• Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion. Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care - Provides rapid access to up-to-date information in the fast-paced emergency room or critical care environment. Check Availability

• Children's Rights and the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility : A Global Perspective - The first global analysis of national minimum ages of criminal responsibility. Check Availability

• Data-Handling in Biomedical Science - Packed with worked examples and problems, this book will help the reader improve their confidence and skill in data-handling. Check Availability

• Essentials of Nursing Leadership and Management - Prepares nurses to respond as leaders and managers in today’s workplace. Check Availability

• Foundations of Sports Coaching - A comprehensive introduction to the practical, vocational and scientific principles that underpin the sports coaching process. Check Availability

• Manual of Intensive Care Medicine - Remains the leading quick-reference guide to both medical and surgical intensive care. Check Availability

• People, Planet, Profit : How to Embrace Sustainability for Innovation and Business Growth - Looks at the challenges faced by key players such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Nokia, Nike, Amazon, and Walmart. Check Availability

• Single-Camera Video Production - Provides an overview of the entire video production process and is especially geared to present production techniques used in single-camera video production. Check Availability

• Technology of Cheesemaking - Covers the science and technology underlying cheesemaking, as practised today in the manufacture of hard, semi-soft and soft cheeses. Check Availability

• The Wines of Burgundy - Details all the major vintages from 2006 back to 1959 and includes thousands of recent tasting notes of the top wines. Check Availability

Click on Check Availability to access these titles.

The full list of new eBooks can be accessessed here and more information on eBooks is here.

Spotlight on Indigenous Resources

NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee) Week celebrations are being held across Australia during July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week should not only be celebrated by Indigenous Australians, but by all Australians. As this is a great opportunity to embrace Indigenous culture, your Library is highlighting some of the great resources available. Some are free to access and others are available to CSU Staff and students.

eBooks: available through the CSU library catalogue

• Indigenous Health and Wellbeing: the importance of country
• Closing the Accountability Gap: the first step towards better Indigenous health
• Decolonising Indigenous Rights
• Gaps in Australia's Indigenous Language Policy: dismantling bilingual education in the Northern Territory
• Indigenous Partnerships in Protected Area Management in Australia: three case studies
  

DVDs: available through the CSU library catalogue

• Forgotten Children
• Going Back to Lajamanu
• Samson and Delilah
• The New Black
• Modern Indigenous Culture
• 15 Years of Native Title

Podcasts: freely available online

• ABC Indigenous audio
• Radio National Indigenous Culture
• Radio National Awaye
  
• ANU - Indigenous Studies
• 98.9 FM Indigenous Radio

Blogs: freely available online

• National Indigenous Television blog
• Nationa Indigenous Times blog
• Aboriginal Art blog
• Thriving in the Desert
  

Videos: freely available on YouTube

2010 Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest

The results are in for the 2010 Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest! Here's the winning entry:

"For the first month of Ricardo and Felicity's affair, they greeted one another at every stolen rendezvous with a kiss--a lengthy, ravenous kiss, Ricardo lapping and sucking at Felicity's mouth as if she were a giant cage-mounted water bottle and he were the world's thirstiest gerbil." (by Molly Ringle)

Not quite what you were expecting from a contest winner? Well that's because the Bulwer-Lytton contest celebrates the worst of fiction writing, by calling on entrants to pen the first sentence to the world's worst novel.

"The wood nymph fairies blissfully pranced in the morning light past the glistening dewdrops on the meadow thistles by the Old Mill, ignorant of the daily slaughter that occurred just behind its lichen-encrusted walls, twin 20-ton mill stones savagely ripping apart the husks of wheat seed, gleefully smearing the starchy entrails across their dower granite faces in unspeakable botanical horror and carnage – but that’s not our story; ours is about fairies!" (by Rick Cheeseman)

The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction contest has been sponsored by the English Department at San Jose State University since 1982 and definitely makes for entertaining reading. You can read this year's winners and dishonorable mentions, as well as the history of the contest on the Bulwer-Lytton website.

"Cynthia had washed her hands of Philip McIntyre - not like you wash your hands in a public restroom when everyone is watching you to see if you washed your hands but like washing your hands after you have been working in the garden and there is dirt under your fingernails -- dirt like Philip McIntyre." (by Linda Boatright)