On Display: Climate Change - Issues and Solutions

Macee

“Human activities are estimated to have caused approximately 1.0°C of global warming above pre-industrial levels, with a likely range of 0.8°C to 1.2°C. Global warming is likely to reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052 if it continues to increase at the current rate.” Special Report: Global Warming of 1.5 ºC (UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2018)

Summer heatwaves and polar vortexes. Sea ice rapidly diminishing and/or melting completely. Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones becoming more powerful. Wildfires burning longer and hotter. “100-year floods” occurring within significantly smaller timeframes. All are issues of climate change exacerbated by a rapidly warming planet.

Companies developing climate action plans to manage research and development, innovation, supply chain practices, and more. Governments passing climate-friendly legislation. Individuals making lifestyle changes, raising public awareness, and voting for candidates who work toward changes. All are efforts toward finding solutions.

We’ve put together a group of books that discuss climate change and its impact on world issues such as migration, economies, public health, human rights, ecosystems, building design, and more. Some examine how corporate practices can contribute positively to managing emissions. Others examine how different sectors – nonprofits, businesses, private citizens – can work separately or together towards solutions.

This display is timely in more ways than one — its beginning runs concurrently with Climate Week, September 23-27, and a slate of activities sponsored by the Bentley Office of Sustainability. Though Climate Week ends this Friday, the book display will be available for perusal in the Library lobby until November 3. You may also browse a list of all books and DVDs on the physical display, and a list of electronic OverDrive titles.

“Now we all have a choice. We can create transformational action that will safeguard the future living conditions for humankind, or we can continue with our business as usual and fail. That is up to you and me.” (Greta Thunberg, World Economic Forum, 2019)

Banned & Challenged Books Week Shines the Light on Censorship

Lisa

September 22 – 28 is Banned Books Week!
Censorship Leaves Us in the Dark. Keep the Light On.

Earlier this month a Catholic school in Nashville, Tennessee banned J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels because of fears that the books’ magical spells “risk conjuring evil spirits into the presence of the person reading the text.” Surprised? You shouldn’t be. In “Harry Potter and 20 Years of Controversy“, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom describes the history of challenges against the beloved series since the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, was published in the United States in 1999.

This isn’t an isolated incident. In 2018, the Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) tracked 347 challenges to library, school and university materials. The graphic below reveals the Top 11 most frequently challenged books of 2018, and you can download the complete list of all titles challenged last year from the OIF’s website.

Please join us in celebrating free and open access to information during Banned Books Week. Visit our lobby to browse a pop-up display of banned and challenged books. While you’re here grab a button to show your support for the freedom to read.

For more information about banned and challenged books, visit the ALA’s Frequently Challenged Books webpage to view the top 10 challenged books by year, banned and challenged classics, Banned Books Q&A, and more. Don’t forget to follow #BannedBooksWeek on Twitter and Instagram to stay abreast of the latest news.

Database of the Month: Academic OneFile

Kimberly

Academic OneFile is a multidisciplinary database providing millions of articles from scholarly journals and other authoritative sources with extensive coverage in key subject areas, such as biology, chemistry, criminal justice, economics, environmental science, history, marketing, political science, and psychology.

To make the most of this database, view the Resource Guide (3 pages in pdf)

In addition here are three tips for the Bentley researcher: Topic Finder, Word Count and Cite.

1. Topic Finder:

Use to generate a visual representation of your search results by topic and subtopic. Topic Finder organizes results based on the frequency of occurring terms, allowing you to hone in on targeted keywords, envision connections between topics, and create new research paths. Use Topic Finder if you’re having trouble coming up with a research topic, when you have an idea for a topic and want to investigate related topics, or when you want to narrow your search results.

Read More

August's Arrivals: New Books, Audiobooks & DVDs

Lisa

Check out the 140+ new books, DVDs, audiobooks, and OverDrive downloadable books we acquired in August. Go to the New Books & DVDs page to browse the new arrivals by subject or format. If you want to put something on on hold simply click the “Request” button and log-in to your library account with your Bentley email address and password.

If you have questions about OverDrive, please view their Getting Started page or visit the Reference Desk for personal assistance.

Textbooks at the Library? Maybe! Here’s How to Check…

Lisa

We are often asked if we have course textbooks. The answer is, “maybe“.

Although the Bentley Library does not purchase textbooks, it is worth checking to see if (1) your professor has placed a copy of the textbook on reserve or (2) your textbook happens to be in the library’s regular book collection.

(1) Check Course Reserves

Sometimes professors put a copy of the class textbook on reserve at the library. You can search course reserves for your textbook by your professor’s last name or the course code. Reserve readings can usually be checked out for 2 hours, but some professors may allow a longer borrowing period.

(2) Search the Library’s Catalog for Your Textbook

Sometimes the library will have a copy of your textbook in the stacks. This is more likely for books that are not “standard” textbooks, such fiction/literature, business titles, popular nonfiction books and biographies. Search the library’s catalog by title and/or author for your textbook. If you do find your textbook, double-check the publication date or edition number to ensure it is the same edition required by your professor.

For More Help…

Have questions about textbooks? Stop by the Reference Desk, call 781.891.2300, send email to refdesk@bentley.edu or contact us using our chat/IM widget.

Find answers to more library FAQs in AskUs, the library’s FAQ database.

Labor Day Weekend Holiday Hours: Sat. 8/31 - Mon. 9/2

Lisa

Isn’t it nice to have a long weekend to recover from the first week of classes?! Please note our special holiday weekend hours:

Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Monday, September 2
Labor Day
CLOSED

The library will reopen at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 3.  For more information about the library, café and help desk hours please view the hours calendar.

Library Hours for Fall 2019

Lisa

Ready or not, it’s time to go back to school! The library’s regular fall semester hours start on Monday, August 26:

Sunday
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.

Monday – Thursday
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.

Friday
7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Saturday
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Please note that our hours will change during the Labor Day holiday weekend, Fall Mini-Break, and Thanksgiving break. Check our hours calendar to view the library, café and Help Desk hours for the entire semester.

Don’t hesitate to stop by, call, chat, or email us if you need help or have questions. Have a great semester!

Passport to the Library: New Student Open House, Friday Aug. 23, 1-4pm

Lisa

Welcome, new Falcons! The Bentley Library staff look forward to meeting you and helping you begin your Bentley journey. All new students are invited to drop in to our open house—Passport to the Bentley Library—during the Academic Resources Expo on Friday, August 23, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. 

As you explore the library on a self-guided tour you will learn about important library services and resources, including study rooms, research help, printing, museum passes, Interlibrary Loan, streaming films, and more! Along the way you will be given fun (and useful) giveaways. If you collect six or more stamps on your library passport, you can enter to win Air Pods and other great prizes.

Follow @BentleyLibrary on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for all the latest library news. Don’t forget to tag us @BentleyLibrary and #BentleyLibrary in your pictures and posts.