Don't Forget the Annual Carmichael Library Book Review Competition

Enter the annual Book Review Competition!

Deadline: February 22, 2010
Winners will be announced on Honors Day, April 21, 2010

About the Competition

The Carmichael Library Book Review Competition was established in 1982 to foster student interest in critically reading and evaluating a recent work of fiction or non-fiction. The winners of the competition receive an award certificate with a monetary prize, and they are recognized at the Honors Day ceremony in the spring.

Rules

Participants should be discriminating in their selection of a book which will lend itself to thoughtful critiquing (i.e. formula books such as Harlequin romances should be avoided.) Any undergraduate student at the University of Montevallo may enter the competition. There are two divisions: Division I for freshmen only and Division II for all undergraduate students.

Freshmen may enter either, but not both divisions.

Reviews must be:

• Evaluative book reviews, not descriptive summaries nor plot outlines
• Composed for a general audience. (See the Book Review Competition notebook at the Circulation Desk for model reviews)
• Typed, double spaced
• Submitted to the Library Director's office by February 22, 2010
• Accompanied by two cover sheets:
  • A cover sheet giving your name, mailing address, telephone number, and the division entered
  • A cover sheet/title page (without your name) giving author, title of the reviewed book, publisher, date of publication and division entered

If, in the opinion of the judges, no review merits an award, none will be given.

Division Information

Division I - Freshmen only
Up to four prizes of $25.00 each are offered.

• Books must be fiction or non-fiction. If non-fiction, they should be non-technical books intended for the general public. Only one review may be submitted
• Books reviewed must have been published between 2005 and 2010
• Reviews must be between 500 and 800 words long

Division II - All undergraduates eligible
Two $100.00 prizes will be offered, one for fiction. Only one review may be submitted.

• Books must be fiction or non-fiction. If non-fiction, they should be non-technical books intended for the general public. Only one review may be submitted
• Books reviewed must have been published between 2007 and 2010
• Reviews must be between 1,000 and 1.500 words long

For details, contact Patsy Sears at 665-6103. Rules for all entries are available at the Circulation Desk and the Reference Desk.

Open Session Reminder--UM Presidential Search

At 3:30 p.m. in the Montevallo Room of Anna Irvin Dining Hall, there will be an open session with the UM Presidential Search Committee that will last until 5:30 p.m.

If you wish to share your thoughts with the committee, you will need to sign-in as you enter through the back door of the Montevallo Room. Comments should be limited to no more than three minutes so that everyone who wishes to speak will have a chance to do so.

iPod-compatible eAudiobooks Now Available!

We've got some big news regarding our eAudiobook service. Carmichael Library now has access to hundreds of iPod/iPhone-compatible audio books! Finding out which of our audio books can be played on your iPod is easy. First, you'll need to establish your NetLibrary account. Check out our audio book FAQ page for more information on how to get your account.

Once you've made your way to the NetLibrary website, click the eAudiobooks link on the right-hand side of the screen:















On the screen that follows, click the Format drop box and choose MP3. You're not required to enter a search term if you just want an entire list of iPod-compatible audio books. (As of today, there are over 950 of them available.)










Once you've clicked into a title, you'll get an information screen with download size, playback time, and more information about your book. Follow the on-screen instructions to download your book. If at any time you experience a problem, or if you have a question about our eAudiobook collection, feel free to contact me, Jason Cooper, directly at cooperjd@montevallo.edu or (205) 665-6114.

New for January 2010

Here is a small sample of the latest additions to our audio book collection.

Google Speaks: Secrets of the World's Greatest Billionaire Entrepreneurs, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, by Janet Lowe (2009).

Lowe profiles what some call the prototypical 21st-century company, Internet giant Google. In less than 15 years, creators Sergey Brin and Larry Page built what was supposed to be a simple search engine into a megaprofitable operation with over $16 billion in annual revenues.

Every Secret Thing, by Laura Lippman (2009).

Kicked out of a birthday party, 11-year-olds Alice and Ronnie walk home and encounter a baby left in a carriage. Their earnest desire to do a good deed ends tragically, however, and seven years later they are released from "kid prison" to start their lives anew.

Shoptimism: Why the American Consumer Will Keep on Buying No Matter What, by Lee Eisenberg (2009).

Eisenberg investigates the forces that compel Americans to shop till they drop, taking a critical look at an often downplayed aspect of American economic prosperity.

The Julius House, by Charlaine Harris (2010).

In Georgia, former librarian Aurora Teagarden is overjoyed when her new husband, rich and handsome Martin Bartell gives her a house as a wedding present. Intrigued, too, as the house once belonged to a family which simply disappeared. But when she tries to satisfy her curiosity with a bit of snooping, she is nearly killed by an ax-wielding attacker. Which sets her to thinking, whom exactly did she marry?

The Olive Tree: A Personal Journey Through Mediterranean Olive Groves, by Carol Drinkwater (2009).

Drinkwater takes listeners on a magical journey through the Mediterranean basin--across France, Morocco, Algeria, and Sicily--to explore the origins and splendor of the olive tree and the wonders it has produced throughout history.

Happy listening from Carmichael Library!

Library to be Closed Thursday, January 7th

We've just received this news from the Office of the President:

The University of Montevallo will be closed Thursday, January 7, 2010 due to the high likelihood of inclement weather and potentially dangerous road conditions...

Please continue to monitor your email and/or the University of Montevallo website for Friday status and any additional weather-related announcements.

Additionally, Shelby County public schools, as well as several other area schools, will be closed tomorrow. The Shelby County Reporter has more information on their website.