Adam Cardinal Maida Alumni Library

CC: Creative Commons

2008-10-29T10:17:00.000-07:00

Understanding Plagiarism Module

2008-10-27T07:32:00.000-07:00

Step One:
Check out headphones at the library front desk. Also get a citation work sheet from Ms. Ayar or Mrs. O. Do you have your database log in sheet and your Library of Congress bookmark?

Step Two:
Use this tutorial from Acadia University to learn the basics:
http://library.acadiau.ca/tutorials/plagiarism/

Step Three:
Visit the Writing Lab at Purdue University: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
Use the links on the upper right hand side of the page to help you complete the citation work sheet. **Due by the end of class**

Step Four:
Need more help with the citations? Madonna University has many resources.
Try them at: http://ww3.madonna.edu/library/citation.htm

Step Five:
Still have time? Great, then watch this:

A link for Mrs. O's class

2008-10-19T19:56:00.001-07:00

Hello Blog Readers!

Please excuse us as we use the blog as an access point for our St. Mary's students today!

Students, click here: http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/evalexpl.html

In case you're wondering what we're studying:

Today we're taking a look at web resources and learning how to determine their quality! You are welcome to use the same tutorial by visiting: http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/eval.html

Special thanks to New Mexico State University Libraries for this great resource!

YouTube and Religion

2008-10-05T14:05:00.000-07:00

Time Magazine features an article on faith and YouTube.

An interesting read.

Happy Polish American Heritage Month

2008-10-01T14:01:00.000-07:00

As you may well know, Orchard Lake Schools is an institution with very deep roots to Poland and Polonia. The month of October is Polish American Heritage Month.

For additional information, follow these great links:
http://www.polishamericancenter.org/heritmo.htm
http://www.polartcenter.com/
http://www.mypolishtimes.com/czaspolski/

Happy Constitution Day

2008-09-16T14:38:00.000-07:00

September 17 is Constitution Day!

For more info, click on this great link from the National Endowment of the Humanities:
http://edsitement.neh.gov/ConstitutionDay/constitution_index2.html#learn

It offers great links to the National Archives and more!

Vatican Museum Exhibit in the US

2008-08-27T10:36:00.000-07:00

http://www.vaticansplendors.com/en/cms/?63

The above link will take you to the online version of the "Vatican Splendors" exhibit, which will be shown in Florida, Ohio, and Minnesota.

Welcome Back to School!

2008-08-19T09:51:00.000-07:00

It may very well be summer time still, but school is back in swing at Orchard Lake Schools. You will be glad to know of the following new and/or upcoming items at the library:

- books on tape have been ordered, including some theological titles
- we have begun to purchase new items that support the Preparatory curriculum
- and we're working on a photo-documentary contest for students (details in the coming weeks)

In the meantime, if you love Fall, then keep an eye on the changing of the leaves forecast.
http://www.fs.fed.us/news/fallcolors/

Three links to look at...

2008-07-16T07:36:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

Three new links for you:

1) PB Wiki is offering a free summer camp for teachers to teach the usage of wikis in the classroom. Sign up or learn more at:
http://blog.pbwiki.com/2008/07/14/join-pbwiki-summer-camp-and-earn-a-free-classroom-wiki/

2) Jeld-Wen Windows is having a competition to help lighthouses. Visit their website and vote for the Grand Traverse Lighthouse...if it wins, it will get brand new windows (that it desperately needs).

3) And lastly, it is the 200th Anniversary of NOAA - the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Visit their website for interesting information and events throughout the country.

Can you pass the Citizenship Test?

2008-07-02T07:34:00.000-07:00

It's almost Independence Day! Can you pass the new citizenship test given to those seeking to become Americans?

Check out this MSNBC article and find out:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25461301/

Summer School: Library Resources for Research

2008-06-24T12:25:00.000-07:00

Here is a brief presentation about using library resources and citing materials.

Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz Coming to Orchard Lake on Pastoral Visit

2008-06-19T09:05:00.000-07:00

Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz will be visiting the campus of Orchard Lake Schools as part of his pastoral visit to the United States on Thursday, June 26.

For additional information visit the Orchard Lake Schools Website.

Studying the Evangelical Movement

2008-06-04T07:44:00.000-07:00

Boston University's Institute of Culture, Religion and World Affairs will soon be launching a study of evangelical Christians in the United States.

Click here for the article on CNN.

Silent Lamp on PBS this Fall

2008-05-30T09:21:00.000-07:00

http://www.silentlamp-merton.org/

Silent Lamp, a documentary about Thomas Merton, will be airing on PBS this fall.

From the website:
"Silent Lamp, is a two-hour feature documentary on the world-renowned mystic and Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, and his views on contemplative life. The intention of the documentary is to bring attention to the spiritual resources that Merton discovered in the solitude of contemplation and to communicate the potential of these resources to act as antidotes to the violence and degradation that is so prevalent in modern societies."

Cable In The Classroom

2008-05-01T09:25:00.000-07:00

Every month the library gets the "magazine" Cable in the Classroom. I say "magazine" in quotes because it is part TV guide, part sales pitch for cable, and part education and information. All in all though, it is a neat way to find out about interesting educaitonal programs and how they can fit into classroom learning.

Here are some of the newer links suggested in this new issue:
The Discovery Channel Website - Human Body: Pushing the Limits
National Geographic Website - Blackbeard: Terror at Sea
The Biography Channel - Classrooms and Study Guides

Enjoy!

Two Interesting Links

2008-04-25T05:33:00.001-07:00

For those with an interest in genetics, visit the National Geographic virtual special called the Genographic Project.
There you will find an interesting report just released indicating that about 70,000 years ago, the human beings may have been close to extinction. A must read for biology and genetics classes.

Interested in science, weird news and the human experience in general? Visit the RadioLab website!
Sponsored by New York City public radio, this great show offers podcasts letting you hear all sorts of fascinating factoids...from why people laugh, to why songs get stuck in your head, or even how the sighting of a goat standing on the back of a cow can lead to fascinating historical discovery. (Thank you Rebecca D. for the suggestion...)

Newsweek Reports on the Papal Visit

2008-04-15T08:14:00.000-07:00

Read Newsweek's articles on the Papal visit:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/131774?GT1=43002

Follow Pope Benedict XVI's Visit

2008-04-14T13:10:00.000-07:00

The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring:
http://www.papaltrip.org
a website dedicated to up-to-date information regarding the Papal visit to the United States.
A blog, mapped out itinerary, news segments, and more can be found there.

Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

2008-04-09T09:27:00.000-07:00

The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life always has new and fascinating information on it. If you participated in the "Understanding Religions Book Club" then you know that the most recent report by the group was often referenced because it makes many powerful points about Faith in the United States.

Click here for the full website and reports.

Catholics in the US

2008-04-05T15:17:00.000-07:00

An AP reporter writes about American Catholics and the diversity of the Church in the U.S.

From Yahoo! News (click link for full article):

Pope will find diverse church in US...

A Gift for National Library Week from Gale Publishing

2008-04-03T09:39:00.001-07:00

To celebrate libraries and their resources, Gale is offering you free access to Books & Authors, our new and innovative online readers' advisory resource for the entire month of April. Its browesable menus and advanced visual search technology allow readers to discover authors and literature to match their interests. And libraries can customize the interface to promote book club meetings, special events and other happenings at their library. What a great way to build your reading community! It's free. Try it now and every day in April.
http://pull.xmr3.com/p/1121-5987/36704568/clickto1_cessmylibrary.com-libraryweek.html

Informing America's Youth

2008-03-26T09:22:00.000-07:00

A few young adult geared news websites providing information on a variety of issues:

Think MTV: http://www.mtv.com/thinkmtv/
The Truth: http://www.thetruth.com/
Life Teen (a Catholic Teen website): http://www.lifeteen.com/
Channel One: http://www.channelone.com/

Holy Week Traditions Around The World

2008-03-19T07:10:00.001-07:00

An interesting Associated Press article about Holy Week traditions around the world:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/609223/easter_celebrations_around_the_world.html

Real newspapers...free

2008-03-11T08:13:00.000-07:00

Nothing quite beats holding a newspaper in your hands and flipping the pages, glancing at bits of news and catching information you might not normally see. But...sometimes you don't have the money or time to invest in a subscription, so here are three magazines/newspapers that are totally free or going to be free and available on the Internet...

Wired Magazine - http://www.wired.com
This gem of a publication offers interesting news and articles on everything from computers to astronomy and tells the behind-the-scenes stories of the tech world. Even if you aren't a "geek" you are likely to find something you like. Everything that is in the print version is available free online.

The Wall Street Journal - http://online.wsj.com/public/us
Not free yet, but promises to be almost entirely free soon. Why almost? Because some advanced features (you day traders should take note) will be for-charge, but most articles and information will be free.

The New York Times - http://www.nytimes.com/
For some items you do need to register...just register...not pay. The online edition of the NYT looks much like the actual paper, making it fun to read this daily paper.

The Detroit Free Press - http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage
The Freep is available totally online. In fact, the online edition might even be better than the print, with blogs written by reporters that provide rich detail and information that is often omitted from the articles in the paper edition.

The Detroit News - http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage
The News main page features a mix of national and city news, unlike it's counterpart (which focuses primarily on the City and State first). The News Online mimics the print edition in layout and front page articles, so you certainly won't feel like you're missing too much by not having the News in print.

Are Americans Unfaithful to Faith?

2008-02-25T13:32:00.000-08:00

This week CNN features an article from Time Magazine that says more Americans are "switching faiths" at an alarming rate:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/02/25/religion.survey.ap/index.html

You don't need Microsoft Office to be effective...

2008-02-20T10:37:00.000-08:00

If you travel a lot, need to work on a collaborative project, or are trying to live a "paper-free" life, then here are two websites for you!

Use these sites to create faux Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents...

http://docs.google.com - you can share documents with other people, track editting, and even save the documents to your desktop as the appropriate Microsoft file. It's magic!

and

http://www.zoho.com/

Zoho offers an even broader array of products, including web conferencing and a planner function.

Yeah for online productivity!

Recommended Search Tool: Stumbleupon

2008-02-04T09:57:00.000-08:00

http://www.stumbleupon.com/

The above link is for a site called Stumbleupon. The tool (which you need to download) will help track your searches and find you other websites similar to what you've been looking for.

You can also find people searching for similar topics and keep track of the resources they find. It makes the research process a bit easier.

Don't Know Much About...Plagiarism

2008-01-25T06:41:00.000-08:00

Plagiarism can sometimes be hard to recognize. Take a look at these sites to ensure that the papers and projects you take part in are not inadvertently plagiarized.

The Plagiarism Education Site - http://www.plagiarism.org/

Online Writing Lab at Purdue University - http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/589/01/

For more information, check out the MLA, Turabian, Chicago or other style manual of your choice.

PowerPoint Is Our Friend...

2008-01-22T10:43:00.000-08:00

Here is a great article from Microsoft's Crabby Office Lady that is geared towards high school teachers. It might also provide inspiration to college and seminary staff, so take a look! Many neat ideas...

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA101757161033.aspx

Understanding Religions: A Book Club

2008-01-17T09:54:00.000-08:00

Here is the upcoming schedule for the Understanding Religions Book Club:

Feb. 28 - I Like Being Catholic: Treasured Traditions, Rituals, and Stories by Michael Leach and Therese Bourchard

Mar. 18 - Rumspringa - To Be Or Not To Be Amish by Tom Shactman

Apr. 17 - First You Shave Your Head by Geri Larkin (Buddhism)

All meetings start at 7:00 PM in the Upper Level of the Library. Please come with your copy of the book and your thoughts, reflections, and questions about the book and the particular religion.

You can join us for one or all of the books. Please reserve your spot by calling 248-706-4211.

WWI - The Blog

2008-01-09T08:26:00.000-08:00

When a grandson pairs his grandfather's World War I correspondence with the power of a today's technology (blogging and the Internet), letters home take on a whole new meaning.

http://wwar1.blogspot.com/

Ancient Rome Comes To Life

2008-01-08T12:48:00.001-08:00

The Virtual Museum of the Ancient Via Flaminia was recently launched. The website virutally reconstructs people and places that existed along the bustling via Flaminia, a heavily used thoroughfare in ancient Rome.

http://www.vhlab.itabc.cnr.it/flaminia/

It's, like, totally pop culture....

2008-01-04T07:36:00.000-08:00

Popular culture drives the overall culture of the U.S., for better or for worse. While many middle school and high school age students easily understand it, it is more difficult for foreign students and in the case of OLS, for seminarians to understand pop culture fully.

So whether you are a parent seeking to understand slang, or a student trying to understand why people quote the movie "Office Space", start here:

A Guide to Internet Slang - http://www.safesurfingkids.com/chat_room_internet_acronyms.htm

The Top 100 Movies of All Time (as featured in Time Magazine) - http://www.time.com/time/2005/100movies/the_complete_list.html

Billboard 200 - The top 200 music albums this week - http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?g=Albums&f=The+Billboard+200

National Public Radio Popular Culture Homepage - http://www.npr.org/templates/topics/topic.php?topicId=1048

TMZ (Popular Media) - http://www.tmz.com/

Technorati (Imagine blogs, news stories, and pop culture all colliding...you'd have this website) - http://www.technorati.com/

Mashable - Covering the pop culture that drives the World Wide Web - http://mashable.com/

David Crumm - January 10 - 7:00PM

2007-12-20T06:15:00.000-08:00

Thursday, January 10 - AN EVENING WITH DAVID CRUMM - 7:00 PM
Lake Level - Adam Cardinal Maida Alumni Library

Join us for a presentation with David Crumm, former Religion Writer for the Detroit Free Press and founder of http://www.readthespirit.com/. How will we communicate with one another about the centrality of faith in our lives in this new millennium? David has created a new multimedia tool to communicate the importance of faith in the daily lives of people around the world. http://www.readthespirit.com/ links writers, filmmakers and spiritual voices around the globe. David will discuss the challenges we all face as well as the good news of this exciting era in which we are called to proclaim the enduring truths of faith.

This event is free and open to the public. Please join us!

A random post...

2007-12-18T21:40:00.001-08:00

Just when you thought technology couldn't get any stranger...

now (thanks to a German Antarctic SubStation) you can listen to the sounds of whales, penguins and other critters communicating via a link to their undersea microphone...

http://www.awi.de/de/forschung/neue_technologien/marine_messsysteme/ozeanische_akustik/palaoa_livestream/

So odd, we couldn't help but share.

Part III of the Homiletics Post: Books and Digital Books

2007-12-12T13:55:00.001-08:00

You thought we had forgotten, didn't you? Well, dear readers, here is the third, final, and brief post related to books on homilies...

First, an e-book on the subject: Preaching Better By Bishop Ken Untener
http://books.google.com/books?id=qOABZ7SwIN4C&dq=tips+for+better+homilies Be sure to check out the other recommended E-Books on the subject at the bottom of the page.

And here are some items from our very own collection recommended by Fr. Michael Woroniewicz, professor of homiletics:
Homietic: Moves and Structures by David Buttrick
Naming Grace by Mary Catherine Hilkert
How To Preach A Parable: Designs for Narrative Sermons by Eugene L. Lowry
The Homiletical Plot by Eugene L. Lowry

Please stop in or email us if you have further questions about resources on this or any topic.

Don't Know Much About...

2007-12-04T08:32:00.000-08:00

the library staff's background...

We're a pretty zany bunch here at the library (yes, that's right...ZANY!). Our backgrounds can help the classes of St. Mary's Prep, SS Cyril and Methodius Seminary and Madonna University. With our past experiences, we can help guide research and enhance what happens in your classroom!

Christine Ayar has a bachelors degree from Central Michigan University in Entrepreneurship and a second degree in Sports Administration. Her Masters of Library and Information Science (MLIS) focused on digital libraries and digital archiving at Wayne State. In Winter 2008 she will start her M.A. in Theology.

Judy Edwards has a B.S. in Education from Wayne State University specializing in Recreation and Physical Education. She also has an Associates Degree in Auto Body Design from Macomb Community College and she worked in the engineering field at GM, Budd Compnay, and Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. Judy received her MLIS from Wayne State.

Mary Gunn has her bachelors degrees in both English and Biology from Eastern Michigan University. Her MLIS from Wayne State focused on academic librarianship and medical librarianship.

Karen Majewski, the rare books specialist, has a bachelors degree and a masters degree in English and a Ph.d. in American Culture.

So as you can see, we can help you with many topics and areas of research. Stop by to see how the library staff can work with you to enhance student learning!

End of Semester Crunch Time...

2007-12-03T14:40:00.000-08:00

It's getting to be that time of the semester...finals, big papers...crunch time!
Here are some resources to help you get through - think of it as an early Christmas present!

An Assignment Calculator from the Univ. of Minnesota - http://www.lib.umn.edu/undergrad/

Subject Guides from the Internet Public Library - http://www.ipl.org/div/subject/

A Better Way to Search the Internet from Ask.Com - http://www.ask.com/

Resources and Databases from the State of Michigan - http://www.mel.org/

And of course, three librarians willing to help with any research task you might throw at them! Stop by to see how we can help!

Sacred Places

2007-11-26T12:30:00.000-08:00

This week's issue of U.S. News and World Report highlights Sacred Places. The issue is available for review at the library or visit their website to see images and parts of the issue.

http://www.usnews.com/

There's free and then there's FREE free...

2007-11-19T09:23:00.000-08:00

Copyright is clearly an issue when it comes to finding information online and elsewhere. Teenagers are being sued for downloading music, people are put in prison for recording movies in movie theatres and then selling them on DVD, libraries post warning signs that copying too much of anything is a copyright infringement.

In response, two credible websites (and more everyday) have been created to provide information that is openly available without fear of an FBI vist. Both feature text, audio, video, books, etc. The quality ranges from professional work to amateur writings, from the popular to the completely obscure.

http://www.archive.org/index.php - The Internet Archive is a fascinating site that is attempting to archive the World Wide Web but also features all sorts of data. In one day the library staff went from watching a Bryan Adams concert to reviewing a book from the 1800s about mollusks.

http://creativecommons.org/ - The Creative Commons. The world does not operate in black and white. The Creative Commons approaches copyright with an understanding of this. The levels of copyright vary on this site...you can just watch or listen, you can use for school, you can download and share, you can download then share then remix and repost...you get it. Better yet, here's their explaination:

Creative Commons defines the spectrum of possibilities between full copyright — all rights reserved — and the public domain — no rights reserved. Our licenses help you keep your copyright while inviting certain uses of your work — a “some rights reserved” copyright.

Find funny, unique, odd, and/or informational items on both sites. Enjoy!

Bring the class to the library or bring the librarian to the class?

2007-11-15T11:02:00.000-08:00

Have you missed us dear readers? Your library staff was attending the Michigan Library Association Annual Conference last week. Instead of boring you with the details of the great class we took on cross-referencing books, we'll just dig into today's post:

WHEN SHOULD THE LIBRARIAN VISIT YOUR CLASS? The librarian will happily visit your classes at the beginning of semesters to say hi and to do a brief (15 minutes) class of interesting websites related to your specific class. We also recommend having us visit your class when it is time for your students to pick a research topic. We can help you and your students figure out a topic to do research on and emphasize topics that the library is particularly strong in (i.e. many books or journals on a specific topic). This helps insure that students are not lacking in available resources.

BRING YOUR CLASS TO THE LIBRARY... Two weeks or more prior to due dates. We can show students how to use databases and train them in finding appropriate resources.

DO THE LIBRARIANS A FAVOR... Bring us your class syllabus. Ask us how we can incorporate library skills training into your class. Your class goals are to provide your students with knowledge that will provide the groundwork for future education. Our library goals are to provide them with the skills to obtain additional knowledge when they are no longer at Orchard Lake Schools and must search on their own.

We enjoy helping your classes! Visit us...often! (Bonus incentive...we often have candy available for your snacking enjoyment.)

Michigan Museums - Visit Them For Free

2007-11-06T13:11:00.000-08:00

Do you love the museums and area cultural events, but are less than thrilled with the prices? Macy's is teaming up with area public libraries to offer free passes for two or four at many Michigan museums. Visit http://www.detroitadventurepass.org/ for more information.

Other sites to check out for upcoming events include:

The Michigan Humanities Council: http://michiganhumanities.org/
The Mid-Michigan Art Guild: http://www.midmichiganartguild.org/

Librarians and Football...No, We Aren't Kidding...

2007-11-05T12:20:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year. The air is cold and crisp, the leaves are changing colors, St. Mary's football team is in the playoffs, and librarians/football fans across the country are screaming at their TVs every Saturday, Sunday and Monday night. The staff of the Maida Alumni Library happens to know one librarian with Indianapolis Colts season tickets...needless to say, she is still recovering from the game versus the Patriots and has lost her voice.

To celebrate this fun time of year, we would like to present "Football Museums and Displays ONLINE"! We know you can hardly stand the excitement. So put on your cleats and start clicking.

Professional Football Hall of Fame - http://www.profootballhof.com/ Lots of neat information plus a multimedia center with downloads, like great computer wallpaper

College Football Hall of Fame - http://www.collegefootball.org/ Take a look at the fun exhibits they currently have...most you have to see in person, but South Bend isn't that far away!

A Bo Schembechler Exhibit - http://www.lib.umich.edu/exhibits/bo/bo.html Brought to you by the Hatcher Graduate Library at the University of Michigan

Michigan and Ohio State Rivalry Online Exhibit - http://www.lib.umich.edu/spec-coll/ohio-mich/ Sponsored by the University of Michigan and Ohio State University

St. Mary's Athletics Home Page - http://www.olsmathletics.com/frames/Main1.htm - Your information center for all things related to St. Mary's Athletic Programs

Hey Michigan State Fans...we are looking furiously for an online exhibit dedicated to Michigan State Football or coaches! If you know of one...email us at library@orchardlakeschools.com

Ah, we know we didn't include Central, Western, and so many other teams (Albion, Lake Superior State, the list goes on and on). Send the links...we'll post them...

MIT Offers Classes for Free

2007-11-01T07:44:00.000-07:00

Most people will never attend MIT...while it is prestigious, it
is also expensive and far away. And, dear readers, though you are all brilliant, it is tough to get into that particular institution. However, MIT and many of the world's top institutions are offering their courses for free as part of an initiative called Open Course Ware.

You don't need to sign up, just click on the class you are interested in and start downloading the readings, audios of class lectures and more: http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm

Other participating schools are located at: http://www.ocwconsortium.org/use/index.html

Our January and February Speakers

2007-10-29T13:10:00.001-07:00

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better - the Maida Alumni Library announces new speakers coming up in January and February.

Thursday, January 10 - 7:00 PM - David Crumm of the Detroit Free Press will present "The Future of the Word". David will talk about his new website www.readthespirit.com , the future of reading as technology changes, and the future of Scripture. This event will kick off ReadTheSpirit.com's "Interfaith Heroes Month" and the Maida Alumni Library's "Understanding Faiths Book Club".

Tuesday, February 12 - 7:00 PM - Kevin Govern from Ave Maria School of Law will discuss "A Catholic Perspective on Advancing The Rule of Law in an Islamic Iraq" - Kevin will discuss the historical, political and religious aspects of achieving Rule of Law in Iraq following the commencement of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

More speakers to be added soon. Times and dates are subject to change, but we will try to provide as much advanced warning as possible should that occur.

Little Known Library Secrets

2007-10-26T12:22:00.000-07:00

InterLibrary Loan - You got a need, we got a lead. Through a system called OCLC, we can access billions of books, journals, magazines, musical scores, sound recordings - you name it. Check out http://www.worldcat.org/ to search this immense catalog. If you find it, call the library and ask to speak to Mary Gunn, our InterLibrary Loan Specialist. She'll put in an order and VOILA! You'll be getting your request in about a week! *

Study Space - You have a group working on a project or you are seeking an alternative to your classroom to mix things up, then come on in, we have plenty of space for you to work with!

Dinner for 30? - Did you know that the downstairs conference room is available for rent? Contact us and we'll put you in touch with Kris Daick, our facilities manager. With great views of Orchard Lake and nice acoustics, it's a good spot to host meetings and dinners.

It's NOT just about books! - January begins many fun events, including a Speakers Series and a Book Club. Jump into alternative forms of learning if books aren't your thing...from journals to the Internet, we have it!

* okay, sometimes it takes a bit longer than one week, but sometimes it takes less!

And our favorite bumper sticker this week comes from Wyoming:

Homilies: Public Speaking aka Part II

2007-10-23T09:42:00.000-07:00

Part I of the three part series on Homilies mentioned a few web resources related to preaching, homiletics and scripture. Now let's take a look at sites that help you with delivery...public speaking training here we come!

http://artofspeaking.org/blog/ - The Art of Speaking
Learn by watching others. This blog offers tips and hints, but also provides video of effective speakers giving presentations.

http://www.successfulcommunication.com/ - Successful Communication
You can join the site or use the free tools that are available. Helpful forms ask you questions that determine if you've covered everything you need as you prepare to speak in public.

http://www.toastmasters.org/ - Toastmasters
An organization with many regional chapters. Free resources on the site are perfect for those who do not wish to join or are short on time.

Or check out some of these titles at the library:
Winging it: Everybody's Guide to Making Speeches Fly Without Notes by Keith Spicer
7 Steps to Fearless Speaking by Lilyan Wilder
Mastering the Art of Public Speaking by Peter Desberg
Plus many, many more

Library Events Online...Catch Up On Events You Miss!

2007-10-22T09:12:00.000-07:00

We are now posting MP3 files of our events on the Internet Archive. Check out the recording of the Tom Grace presentation from October 18.

http://www.archive.org/details/TheSecretCardinalAuthorLecture

Right now we are only posting sound files. We are working towards creating video of our events but that might take a while!

Shop at Amazon and Help the Library!

2007-10-15T12:55:00.000-07:00

Through the Amazon Associates program, you can now shop at Amazon.com by clicking on the above link or the link to the right. A percentage of the money you spend will go towards the library, which we can then use for books, technology, and more. So, during the holidays, while you're doing your shopping, please remember us! You must use the links provided in the blog to have your purchases count towards the donation however.

Much thanks in advance!

You Can Do ANYTHING!

2007-10-10T14:59:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's right...through the power of the Internet, you can do anything. Well, that's not true. But there sure are a ton of online resources that try to show you how do a lot of things...

eHow - http://www.ehow.com/ - How To Do Just About Anything!

How To Do Anything - http://www.howtodothings.com/ - Not as comprehensive as ehow, but some of the topics are a bit, how shall we say...eclectic?

43 Things - http://www.43things.com/ - This site helps you figure out how to do things and even introduces you to people with interest on the same topic. A social networking/interest/support group.

Hey, we don't make this stuff up - we just tell you about it!!!

For those of you who want to do it the hard way...learn How Stuff Works first, and then just try to teach yourself how to do it: http://www.howstuffworks.com/

And if you prefer to watch step-by-step instructions, try doing a search on YouTube - many Martha Stewart wanna-bes are making their own "Do-It-Yourself" videos and posting them online: http://www.youtube.com - check out the great video we found on how to make lasagna....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0LpoU5w8eE - yum!

This weekend, members of our staff might try to make macrame pot holders and/or a hammock stand. :)

Homilies: Websites and Resources

2007-10-09T15:12:00.000-07:00

The librarians at the Maida Alumni Library all agree that it must take a lot of courage to prepare and present a homily. You have to be calm, speak slowly but with conviction, and you need to reach out to a wide range of parish members...from small children to the elderly.

We'll say it flat out: Nope, we couldn't do it.

But for those of you who do give homilies, or are learning to give homilies, here's the first installation in a three part mini-series highlighting resources (yes, we are doing a mini-series...we can't share all our hints at once). And FYI - the library has over 175 books dedicated to the topic of preaching and homiletics!

Catholic Homilies - http://www.homilies.com/
Audio and video of homilies as well as tips for specific types of homilies related to Holy Days and life events, such as funerals, weddings, etc.

ePriest - http://www.epriest.com/
ePriest features best practices of parishes around the United States and offers "Homily Packs" which provide thought provoking questions and comments on readings.

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops - http://www.usccb.org/nab/index.shtml
Weekly readings available at the click of a button - sponsored in part by the Diocese of Metuchen (New Jersey).

So much more to tell you about...Part II will focus on public speaking skills! Part III - the very best books and e-books on homilies.

Visit us on Flickr

2007-10-04T15:25:00.000-07:00

Karen Majeski, our rare books specialist, has been scanning rare and antique prayer cards and pictures. These items come from our rare book collection; precious bits of history that people tucked between pages years ago, only to fall out when we opened them for review!

Check out all the interesting things in the collection:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/orchardlake/

"The Secret Cardinal" Is Here!

2007-10-02T09:34:00.000-07:00

The Secret Cardinal, the newest release by author Tom Grace, is now available for checkout or purchase at the Adam Cardinal Maida Alumni Library.

The novel is $24.95 and a portion of your purchase benefits American Friends of the Vatican Library and the Adam Cardinal Maida Alumni Library.

Meet Tom Grace, have your book signed, and learn more about the facts behind this action-packed novel on Thursday, October 18 at 7:00 at the library. For more book information visit the website at http://www.secretcardinalbook.com/

For event information call us at 248-706-4211.

Globalization and Education: Shift Happens

2007-09-29T18:00:00.000-07:00

This is an interesting PowerPoint that is now almost two years old. It is worth watching. Technology is changing the way we live, work, and interact. A thought provoking presentation:

To see the most up-to-date version, click the screen below. I highly recommend you watch the one above and then the below item as a "part two"

Oh The Places You'll Go!

2007-09-25T13:09:00.000-07:00

Two out of three librarians at the Maida Alumni Library are not terribly good with directions. We get lost. Frequently. On the road, in the stacks, just trying to walk across campus. All right, it's not quite that bad, but it's definitely not GOOD. So for a brief moment, let's talk about online maps and tools.

It's a good idea to compare directions between two sites. If you need a map to pass out for an event, some online tools will provide better images than others.

Want a fun map? A unique map? A map for travel or a map that will show you a unique topic...like wineries in California or libraries in England? You have to check out http://www.wayfaring.com Just try it...it's a fun twist on online mapping.

Now for the usual suspects...

http://maps.google.com - Google Maps
Yes, you know this one. The people who brought you satellite imagery plus maps...if you want to see what the roof of your house looks like, this is the site for you. Remember, sometimes the satellite data is months or years behind so the image might not look quite right. This is true of all the sites listed.

http://maps.ask.com/maps - Ask Maps
Ask is the little Search Engine that could. They are slowly and steadily becoming a competitor in all sorts of neat map technology. Try them out - unique feature - WALKING directions!

http://maps.yahoo.com - Yahoo! Maps
Every mapping website has a neat trick. At Yahoo! you can click a box and see current traffic patterns and accidents on major expressways.

http://www.mapblast.com - Microsoft's twist on mapping. Helps you keep track of locations you've looked up in the past.

http://www.mapquest.com/ - MapQuest excels at providing international directions. If you're driving in Europe you'll want to check this out.

Internet Safety

2007-09-21T07:16:00.000-07:00

In case you missed it, the Internet Safety class held this last Wednesday was quite fun. Of course, I taught it, so I might be a bit biased. Better ask one of the parents who attended!

The course covered Internet Safety as it applies to Social Networking. In other words, learning how kids express themselves on websites like MySpace and Facebook and how to make sure they use the right privacy settings and take precautions to avoid sharing too much information.

Here are some helpful links to Internet Safety information:

http://www1.myspace.com/misc/safetyTips.html - Safety Tips from MySpace

http://www.facebook.com/help.php?tab=safety - Safety Tips from Facebook

2006 Wall Street Journal Article on the Safest Social Networking Sites

http://www.wiredsafety.org/internet101/blogs.html - Wired Safety - A concise and reliable resource on social networking

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/tech/tec14.pdf - The Federal Trade Commissions Internet Safety Guide

Check out our Google Calendar!

2007-09-21T06:57:00.000-07:00

Click the Calendar link to the right to see our Google Calendar. Information about our Book Sale and a presentation by author Tom Grace have been added. More class information to come soon!

October 12-13 - Used Book Sale! Find used books in Polish and English on many topics. Paper Backs: 50 cents, Hard Cover: $1.00. Or pick up a paper grocery bag from one of the librarians and fill it for only $5.00.

October 18 - Tom Grace will join us to describe the facts behind his new book The Secret Cardinal. For more information, visit the official homepage of the book at www.secretcardinalbook.com/.

Times are posted in Google Calendar! October classes to be added soon!

We've got E-Books, YES WE DO! We've got E-Books...How 'Bout YOU???

2007-09-12T12:04:00.000-07:00

I was recently asked about E-Books that are available online. Great idea! Though curling up with your computer is not quite like curling up with a good book, it can help your student with research. Students who struggle with reading comprehension will find E-books available in Audio format to be helpful. ESL students will also benefit from reading along with audio books. Also, the ability to access a book via the Internet if you are unable to make it to the library is very handy.

E-Books allow a viewer to see the book exactly as it exists in the "physical" world. Page numbers, colors, cover art...it is all there.

Here are some links to get you started:

Bookshare.org - http://www.bookshare.org/web/Welcome.html
Bookshare has many large print titles and text-to-audio books available. It's a great site because it has POPULAR titles...many other E-Book resources do not.

Free Classic Audio Books - http://freeclassicaudiobooks.com/
Free. Classic Books. Downloadable to your IPod or MP3 player. It's a beautiful thing...what more can I say?

Adobe Digital Editions - http://www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/library/
A limited collection of free books E-Books available from the folks at Adobe Software Products. You will need to download their E-Book software (for free) but it is worth it for some of the great titles available. Others available for a fee.

International Children's Digital Library - http://www.icdlbooks.org/
Beautiful children's books available in many languages. A must see.

Helping Your Student With Online Research

2007-08-28T18:01:00.000-07:00

Doing great research comes down to finding resources that are valid and useful. It's easy to use a search engine and use the first webpages that come up...but that's sort of like trying to get dressed without the lights on. You might grab a bunch of stuff and not see what it really is. Next thing you know, you're wearing plaid with stripes...or getting low grades. Yikes!

Let's get some definitions out of the way first:
PATHFINDER - A listing of websites, books, journals, or magazine articles that provide insight and a good start on knowledge pertaining to a particular topic.
JOURNALS - Academic work that is peer-reviewed and/or not supported through commercial sponsorship.
MAGAZINES - Non-academic reading usually supported through commercial means.

So let's look at some websites...

http://www.mel.org/ - The Michigan Electronic Library
This site, sponsored by the state of Michigan, allows those with a Michigan Drivers License or library card to use pathfinders and databases.

http://www.ipl.org/ - The Internet Public Library
Great homework help in the TeenSpace section. Superior pathfinders that will get you started on any number of topics. Developed by librarians, kept up to date by librarians.

http://www.bjpinchbeck.com/ - BJ Pinchbeck
What started as a weekend hobby for BJ and his Dad ended up being a website that is amazing.

http://ocw.mit.edu/index.html - OpenCourseWare at MIT
Take classes, at MIT, for FREE. Or simply use the course information as a jumping off point for research.

http://www.loc.gov/index.html - The Library of Congress Homepage
If it doesn't help you with homework, it will atleast fascinate you interesting content.

http://www.nasa.gov/ - The NASA Homepage
They put people in space...they won't steer you wrong on homework.

Not All Search Tools Are Equal...

http://www.noodletools.com/debbie/literacies/information/5locate/adviceengine.html
Use this link to Noodle Tools to give you information on the types of Search Engines out there...