Graphic Novelists Speaking @ Parkland

Come hear J2D2 = John Jennings and Damian Duffy = creators, scholars, and curators of comics, hip hop, and new media art, and authors of the horror science fiction graphic novel, The Hole: Consumer Culture speak at Parkland College.

On Friday, April 23, the graphic novelists will be giving a talk/presentation from 11:00 - 11:50 in the Parkland College Library International Lounge. At noon, there will be a session in the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning on teaching strategies for using graphic novels in the classroom. Register by emailing this address: centerforexcellence@parkland.edu

Read more about this exciting opportunity by clicking here.

These events are sponsored by Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and Parkland Reads.
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Cupcakes Galore!

See all cupcake designs from the 2nd Annual Cupcake-a-Book Contest on the Parkland Library's Flickr page. Click here to see the creative cupcakes from Parkland students, faculty, and staff.

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Cupcakes, Parkland Reads, and the newest READ poster!

National Library Week was a great success at the Parkland College Library. Lots of events took place this week: the 2010-2011 Parkland Reads book was announced. We unveiled our newest READ poster with not just one, but TWO Parkland employees. And, we had our 2nd Annual Cupcake-a-Book Contest.

Our 2nd Annual Cupcake-a-Book Contest was a success. We raised close to $150 for the Garden Hills Homework Club. The winner of the contest was Natalie Kenny Marquez, a Parkland employee. Her winning design was based on the children's book, Madeline. Congratulations, Natalie, a Garden Hills alum!



The Parkland Library Director, Anna Maria Watkin, presented a check to the Garden Hills Homework Club co-founder, Brian Nudelman. Nice check!




Parkland Reads: One Book, One College chose their fourth book this year. The 2010-2011 selection is "Listening is an Act of Love: A Celebration of American Life from the StoryCorps Project." To read more about (and/or buy) the book, click here. Below is a picture of Sherry Cmiel, Parkland librarian and Parkland Reads coordinator, presenting the book.




AND, the newest READ poster was unveiled this week. This year's poster features two Parkland staff members, Larry and Anita Taylor! Their books are "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison and "Up from Slavery" by Booker T. Washington. Come into the library to see the READ poster, or check out a photo of the happy couple below.




Thank you to everyone for making this year's National Library Week one of the best yet!

-Parkland College Library

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National Library Week + National Poetry Month?

National Library Week is April 11-17. National Poetry Month is April. What does this mean? It's time for a poem about National Library Week festivities in the Parkland Library!

The sun is finally back
The skies are no longer bleak
It only means one thing
National Library Week!

Communities thrive @ your Library
Where every one can receive
With so many things to choose from
You'll never want to leave!

So how will we celebrate
This week the nation presents?
Check out the fun we'll have
At these Library-sponsored events!

On the 13th of April
It will go off like a dream!
The second Cupcake-A-Book contest
With kids' books as its theme!

Pick your favorite tale,
or a novel if you want
then decorate your cupcakes
with some sass and flaunt!

Come to the College Center
Between 10 and 2
To make your cash donation
The lucky winner might be you!

To the Homework Club
Goes all those coins and bills
To buy some snacks and fun
For the kids at Garden Hills

On Thursday April 15th
Surprises will be revealed
Who is on the READ poster?
So long it has been concealed!

But off will come the velvet
And everyone will cheer
For this READ poster has two people
Who are looking quite austere!

Then next we will disclose
the Parkland Reads new book
And if we say so ourselves
It's really "off the hook!"

And finally we rest
And wipe away a sad tear
But then think about more cupcakes
for NLW will be back next year!

- Sarah Whittington
Parkland College Library

Click here to read more details about the festivities.
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Celebrate @ Your Library

National Library Week is right around the corner! Parkland Library has activities planned to celebrate the week of April 11-17. This year's theme is "Communities Thrive @ Your Library", which is great for a library located right in a thriving community college!

We invite you to join us in the following:

-- Our Second Annual Cupcake-A-Book contest taking place on Tuesday, April 13 from 10am-2pm in the College Center.

This year's theme is children's books. Pick your favorite story and decorate a cupcake entry to fit with the story's theme, characters, plot, or title. Then come to the College Center and get people to vote with their cash for your entry. All money will go to the Garden Hills' Homework Club, and this year's goal is $300. With your help, we can do it! The entry form must be submitted by April 9.

-- Is there something about the Library you love? Is there a place, person, resource or service that you value and enjoy?

Please tell us about it! We will be putting together a display in the College Center about how our Library helps makes this community thrive, and we need your help. Send comments to swhittington@parkland.edu, or drop them in campus mail to Sarah Whittington, R231.

-- End the week with our annual READ poster unveiling and Parkland Reads book reveal.

Any ideas who could be on the poster this year? One clue: This year's feature is not just a person, but people. Are you wondering what the 2010-2011 book will be? On Thursday, April 15 at 2pm in the Library's Reading Lounge all will be revealed! Enter your name to win a copy of the book(s). Refreshments will be served.

Feel free to share the poster and print it for display in your classroom or office. Faculty: students are particularly invited to take part in the activities.

Help us celebrate by making our community thrive, right here at Parkland College Library!

Parkland Library Featured as Library-a-Week

The Lincoln Trails Library System featured Parkland Library as their newest Library-a-Week blog post. Read the interview with Anna Maria Watkin, library director, by clicking here AND watch a nice video of library photos.

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The Library Gets a Makeover!

The Library is getting a face lift. The dark paneling is gone, and coming soon are new sconces, lighter woods, and a fresher look. As with all renovations expect some dust and noise. Please bear with us as these changes occur. We promise they will be worth it!

In the meantime, check out these photos of the work-in-progress...
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Think You've Got the Skills?

National Library Week is April 11-17, which means the Library's second annual Cupcake-A-Book Contest is just around the corner! On April 13 from 10am-2pm, the book-themed cupcakes will be on display in the College Center. This year's theme is children's books, and after the fabulous creations from last year, we predict quite the competition.

Please fill out your entry form (click here for form) and send it to Sarah Whittington, Library, R-231, or drop it off at the Service Desk. Then check out some of last year's entries and ask a librarian to help you find the children's books. Proceeds will go to the Homework Club at Garden Hills Elementary School, and the winner will become the reigning champion of cupcakes!
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Willing to lighten your carbon foot print but not sure how?

Greeting you as you enter the library is an entire display dedicated to providing you with resources for greening your life. There are books about environmentally responsible remodeling, eco-architecture, electric and hybrid cars, home energy saving how to, conscious lifestyle materials, and a free bookmark with 10 tips for going green here at Parkland! This display will be up for the month of April. Come check it out!

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Elevator Celebration

The library staff are so excited to have the elevator remodeled! Take a look at a few of the pictures taken during the library's ribbon cutting ceremony. We even had a "Happy Elevator Day" cake to thank our wonderful student workers for schlepping books up and down stairs while the elevator was out of commission.