Technology Tuesday: 3d Pens

Image from PC Magazine; click for original source

In a world where 3D printing already allows us to use a printer to create anything we can dream up, 3Doodler takes things a step further by letting you draw solid sculptures in real time.  

This new 3D Printing Pen called 3Doodler lets you wave your pen through the air - and a trail of heated gel - the "ink" - will follow.  Once the gel hits the air, it cools, freezing in midair.  Though the pen hasn't hit the shelves quite yet, kids reading Crockett Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon and dreaming of their drawings coming to life may be one step closer to seeing their dreams become reality.  

February Book Club: Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter and The Help

Griffin Book Club

When: Wed., February 20 at 11.30
Where: Griffin Library conference room
What: Bring your own lunch & discuss Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin!

Find the book now:
Check your local public library
Check out a Kindle
Amazon
Amazon Kindle
Nook

Flint Book Club

When: Thurs., February 28 at 12.30

Where: Flint River library

What: Come for pizza and a discussion of The Help by Kathryn Stockett!

Find the book now:
Check your local public library
Check out a Kindle
Amazon
Amazon Kindle
Nook

Happy 200th Birthday to Pride and Prejudice!

Pride and Prejudice turns 200 today!  First published on January 29, 1813, Jane Austen's novel of money and marriage has endured over the years to become a modern classic.  Though Pride and Prejudice describes a very 19th century courtship, its themes of love, independence and family bonds still resonate today.  In fact, the novel has become so much a part of our times that nowadays you can catch heroine Elizabeth Bennet doing anything from killing zombies to dancing with a gospel choir on the beach. 

Want to learn more about Jane Austen and her most famous novel?  Check out these links from the British Library and  GALILEO, the library's online academic article resource!

Jane Austen: Author Page

Database: Literary Reference Center

What's on it: Biography, analysis, plot summaries, reviews, links to full novels.

Pride and Prejudice Book Discussion

Database: NoveList

What's on it: Discussion questions, analysis, similar books

Jane Austen Manuscripts

Database: British Library

What's on it: Scans of Jane Austen's writing in her original handwriting.

Book Club Meetings: Griffin and Flint

Start off the new semester with Book Club!  Both the Griffin & Flint River Book Clubs are having lunch meetings where you can catch a quick bite and book talk between classes.

Want to know more?  Mark your calendar with the info below!

Griffin Book Club
When: Wed., February 20 at 11.30
Where: Griffin Library conference room
What: Bring your own lunch & discuss Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin!

Flint River Book Club
When: Thurs., January 31 at 12.30
Where: Flint River Library
What: Bring your own lunch & learn more about the Book Club, what we do, and to plan our reading schedule for the semester!

Get through finals week with these handy web tools!

Finals stress getting you down?  You don't have to go it alone - you can find tons of free software on the web to help you organize, research and spice up your final projects.  Here's a sampling of some of what's out there.

Workflowy: Organize Your Brain
Website: https://workflowy.com/

What is it?: Workflowy is a fantastic tool for the scatterbrained and for list-lovers.  It has a simple interface that lets you organize your to-do list and keep your life on track.




Write or Die
Website: writeordie.com

What is it?: If you need that extra push to keep you writing, Write or Die gives the ultimate threat - if you don't keep writing, it'll start deleting everything you've typed, one word at a time.  A great website for last-minute papers.

Prezi
Website: http://prezi.com/

What is it?: A cleaner, cooler, jazzier way to do powerpoints.  Prezi has an easy to use interface that lets you make beautiful presentations and save them online.  For an example, check out this video the SCTC Libraries made using Prezi:



NoodleTools
Website: SCTC Portal to NoodleTools

What is it?: Citations! Need help pulling together a bibliography?  Type your information into NoodleTools, select what style you want your citation to be in, and NoodleTools will generate a bibliography for you.  Using NoodleTools requires a log-in - get in touch with your library staff for the password!

Crash Course: Biology and History made easy

Cramming for a bio test?  Need a quick refresher on World War I?  The VlogBrothers John and Hank Green are here to help!

Crash Course: Biology and History take the basics of each subject and divide them into quick, digestible 10-minute chunks.  From the skeletal system, to ancient Egypt, to the basic working of plant cells, these videos make bio and history fun and easy to process.

Check it out for yourself!  Below you'll find one of my favorite episodes, 12 straight minutes of Alexander the Great!


    

Spooky Storytelling Competition

Think you have what it takes to spin the most blood-chilling tale on the Southern Crescent campus?  Join us at the Griffin Library for a Spooky Storytelling Competition!  From 4.00 PM to 5.00 PM on Halloween Day, you'll have the chance to read your most terrifying original story to a captive audience.

Prizes will be given to the most spine-tingling story tellers, with a $30 gift card going to the first place winner, a $20 gift card to second, and $10 gift card to third place.  Come celebrate Halloween in spooky style!