The college hosted Barack Obama yesterday, right here in Republican country. Turns out that his maternal grandfather was from El Dorado, graduating high school here in 1935. We (my daughter Rachel and Administrative Assistant Sheryle) stood in line with 3,000 folks in a brief blizzard (snow and 53 mph gust, sustained winds of 25-30 mph, 18 degrees: yeah, it was a blizzard, even if it ended after 3 hours -- another perfect day in Kansas).
I appreciated his clarity, grace, humor, and the ideas for programs to care for and unify Americans. The governor was here and endorsed his candidacy the day after she was the Democratic response to the State of the Union Address. And yes, she seemed stiff on TV that night, but was back to normal yesterday - she's actually an animated and excellent speaker!
Later Senator Obama and Gov. Sebelius went to lunch at Suzie's Chili Parlour downtown, one of my favorite hangouts. If you caught the Nightline segment on Obama last night, you saw scenes from my hometown. Look for "Barack on the Trail."
Caucus in El Dorado is next Tuesday, Feb. 5th. I'll be there.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Barack Obama comes to town...
We're abuzz with the excitement of hosting a top Presidential candidate today at the college. No matter your politics it's a thrill to have this occur here in this small town northeast of Wichita. Our biggest claim to fame was the oil discovered in time to assist in the World War I victory. And the only reason I can imagine Obama is stopping by is the connection to his family history:
"Barack Obama's grandparents, Stanley and Madelyn Dunham, were Kansas natives. Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, was born at the military base in Ft. Leavenworth while his grandfather served in the Army during World War II" (college news release). And I have it from Lisa Cooley, curator at the Butler County History Center and Kansas Oil Museum (they share space and staff) that Obama has kin buried here, and that a great, great (not sure how many greats) grandmother was crowned Queen in the annual Kaffir Corn Festival held here in El Dorado prior to the great depression.
I'm curious and will ask Lisa, who happens to be my niece, if any other major candidate has EVER campaigned here in town.
Anyway, we welcome Barack Obama with a brutal wind and 20 degree temperatures outside; with lots of political feeling (the movie marquee across the street has some strange comment about the nation of Bush); and with a warm crowd in the gymnasium. More later!
"Barack Obama's grandparents, Stanley and Madelyn Dunham, were Kansas natives. Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, was born at the military base in Ft. Leavenworth while his grandfather served in the Army during World War II" (college news release). And I have it from Lisa Cooley, curator at the Butler County History Center and Kansas Oil Museum (they share space and staff) that Obama has kin buried here, and that a great, great (not sure how many greats) grandmother was crowned Queen in the annual Kaffir Corn Festival held here in El Dorado prior to the great depression.
I'm curious and will ask Lisa, who happens to be my niece, if any other major candidate has EVER campaigned here in town.
Anyway, we welcome Barack Obama with a brutal wind and 20 degree temperatures outside; with lots of political feeling (the movie marquee across the street has some strange comment about the nation of Bush); and with a warm crowd in the gymnasium. More later!
Friday, January 25, 2008
January Book of the Month
Especially for Rachel....
A bestselling author and business guru tells how to improve your job satisfaction and performance.
In his sixth fable, bestselling author Patrick Lencioni takes on a topic that almost everyone can relate to: the causes of a miserable job. Millions of workers, even those who have carefully chosen careers based on true passions and interests, dread going to work, suffering each day as they trudge to jobs that make them cynical, weary, and frustrated.
It is a simple fact of business life that any job, from investment banker to dishwasher, can become miserable. Through the story of a CEO turned pizzeria manager, Lencioni reveals the three elements that make work miserable -- irrelevance, immeasurability, and anonymity -- and gives managers and their employees the keys to make any job more fulfilling.
Get this book by linking through our library catalog here at Butler, and using your Pipeline account to check it out.
Have a good weekend!
More on "In Cold Blood"
Look at the state site for the One Book, One Community project this year.
The Kansas Center for the Book is presenting a linked website to the 2008 Kansas Reads In Cold Blood.
Roy Bird, the director of the Kansas Center for the book, shares that "On the website you can find a Truman Capote biography and book review; a bibliography of books and films about Capote and In Cold Blood; discussion questions for a book discussion; program ideas; and links to other related websites."
"The web page also has posters and bookmarks that can be downloaded. Posters are being mailed to public libraries. If you would like a poster contact kcfb@kslib.info."
"Order information for Kansas Reads In Cold Blood T-shirts and book bags are on the web page, too! Tees and bags are $15 each. Order from Coffey County Library."
This is the second year for Kansas Reads. I happen to like their blog... and I love the fade effect on their website!
Now I just have to take the book home and read it...
The Kansas Center for the Book is presenting a linked website to the 2008 Kansas Reads In Cold Blood.
Roy Bird, the director of the Kansas Center for the book, shares that "On the website you can find a Truman Capote biography and book review; a bibliography of books and films about Capote and In Cold Blood; discussion questions for a book discussion; program ideas; and links to other related websites."
"The web page also has posters and bookmarks that can be downloaded. Posters are being mailed to public libraries. If you would like a poster contact kcfb@kslib.info."
"Order information for Kansas Reads In Cold Blood T-shirts and book bags are on the web page, too! Tees and bags are $15 each. Order from Coffey County Library."
This is the second year for Kansas Reads. I happen to like their blog... and I love the fade effect on their website!
Now I just have to take the book home and read it...
Friday, January 18, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
One Book, One Community: El Dorado Reads "In Cold Blood"
This is the fifth year of our program which selects one book for the community to read and discuss together. We were a little dismayed when the state librarian chose "In Cold Blood." Upon reflection, it's a good choice for El Dorado, with the prison holding BTK here in the community, and the death of Emily Sandler just two months ago. Murder, capital punishment, the criminal mind, small towns in Kansas... well, you get the picture.
Here's the events at the Public Library; they have public performance rights for the film showings:
1) We’ve ordered 15 copies of In Cold Blood, so there will be plenty of copies to work with, if we want to add that information to the poster or site.
2) Our first movie is Tuesday the 29th. We’ll be doing a small “kickoff” for OBOC with refreshments and we’ll be showing Capote with discussion of the movie to follow.
3) The second movie, In Cold Blood is Tuesday the 5th. There will be refreshments and discussion of the movie after.
4) Our last movie will be Tuesday the 12th. We’ll be showing Infamous, again with discussion of the movie and refreshments. Anyone with an interest in Harper Lee is also encouraged to attend.
a. All the movies will be shown at 6pm in the Clymer room. Everyone is welcome, but the movies are rated R, so minors will need to be accompanied. Reading the book isn’t necessary for participation in the movie events but we hope they’ll consider checking out a copy. Contact Tammy at 321-3363 for more information.
Here in the college library, Martha Gregg will lead a book discussion at 12 noon on Feb. 21 in the L.W. Nixon library on the second floor of the 600 building. All are welcome. We have 6 books to loan out, and copies of the movies for personal viewings on DVD.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Welcome back, Faculty!
Good morning. It's good to have you all back on campus.
I’m still in the process of making New Year’s resolutions. I was going to pick one until I learned that, according to a recent study, people working on changing more than one thing at a time in their lives were more successful. So: which diet? How much time to I devote to a variety of concerns, like the bathroom makeover? How do I save more money this year? How many books to read?
My daughter read 156 books last year… of course the fact she works in a bookstore exposes her to the best and brightest of both new and classic books.
I hope you’ll resolve to make it a reading year. Or a least a year to use the library in all its glory: whether books, perhaps by downloading the audio version; databases of incredibly important information; or bringing your class in to get the kind of instruction they only dream about.
News you can use:
No surprise that our database use continues to rise…final tally for last year will be somewhere over 16%.
New database : Theatre and Drama. Theatre in Video contains more than 250 definitive performances of the world's leading plays, together with more than 100 film documentaries, online in streaming video - more than 500 hours in all.
Trials: Gale and EBSCO database trials continue until Feb. 15. You are encouraged to use and review as many of these resources as possible. The products range from Novelist, CINAHL, Academic Search Premier, and Auto Repair Reference Center to Small Business Resource Center and Biography Resource Center. There are 55 EBSCO products (links are grouped by type of library or by individual new product) and 6 Cengage Learning/ Gale products.
We're updating the old and providing new tutorials, including Searchpath, which is designed to help you find and critically evaluate information resources.
So:
Any questions? Contact me. I may not speak as clearly and well as Dr. Vietti, but she's my model, and I'll answer your library questions.
Have a great semester.
Singing,
Micaela
I’m still in the process of making New Year’s resolutions. I was going to pick one until I learned that, according to a recent study, people working on changing more than one thing at a time in their lives were more successful. So: which diet? How much time to I devote to a variety of concerns, like the bathroom makeover? How do I save more money this year? How many books to read?
My daughter read 156 books last year… of course the fact she works in a bookstore exposes her to the best and brightest of both new and classic books.
I hope you’ll resolve to make it a reading year. Or a least a year to use the library in all its glory: whether books, perhaps by downloading the audio version; databases of incredibly important information; or bringing your class in to get the kind of instruction they only dream about.
News you can use:
No surprise that our database use continues to rise…final tally for last year will be somewhere over 16%.
New database : Theatre and Drama. Theatre in Video contains more than 250 definitive performances of the world's leading plays, together with more than 100 film documentaries, online in streaming video - more than 500 hours in all.
Trials: Gale and EBSCO database trials continue until Feb. 15. You are encouraged to use and review as many of these resources as possible. The products range from Novelist, CINAHL, Academic Search Premier, and Auto Repair Reference Center to Small Business Resource Center and Biography Resource Center. There are 55 EBSCO products (links are grouped by type of library or by individual new product) and 6 Cengage Learning/ Gale products.
We're updating the old and providing new tutorials, including Searchpath, which is designed to help you find and critically evaluate information resources.
So:
Any questions? Contact me. I may not speak as clearly and well as Dr. Vietti, but she's my model, and I'll answer your library questions.
Have a great semester.
Singing,
Micaela
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