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Posted by: Jennifer Harbster
As summer approaches and the days heat up, we get an influx of “Why is it hot in the summer?” questions in our reference queue. In the Northern Hemisphere, our summer months (June-September) are usually hot because of the tilt of the Earth’s axis. It is popular belief that it is hot in the summer because the …
Posted in: Uncategorized
Posted by: Donna Scanlon
Our guest author today is Ellen Terrell, Business Reference Specialist, with another in our “Favorites from the Fifth Floor.” We get many questions about business from around the country and often we utilize credit reference books. The most well known, and one I have previously written about, is Dun & Bradstreet. This title has gone …
Posted in: Business, Favorites From the Fifth Floor
Posted by: Jennifer Harbster
Have you noticed people wearing the paper red poppies that veterans sell each Memorial Day? This tradition can be traced back to Miss Moina Michael of Athens, Georgia. She had the inspiration on November 9, 1918 to make the red poppy (Papaver rhoeas) the symbol of remembrance for the sacrifices of fallen soldiers during World War I. Her …
Posted in: Biography, Heritage Months, Holidays, and Today in History, Women's History
Posted by: Donna Scanlon
Masking tape, transparent (cellophane) tape, duct (or duck) tape… we use tape when we paint, wrap gifts, mend things, and create clothing. Yes clothing! My daughter made a dress from duck tape for her junior prom – it is quite the competition. Where did it all begin? An engineer by the name of Richard Drew …
Posted in: Business, Heritage Months, Holidays, and Today in History, Inventions
Posted by: Jennifer Harbster
If you were having a dinner party and could invite any three people, who would you invite? My guest list would include Einstein, Marilyn Monroe, and Martin Gardner. If you know of Martin Gardner’s work, then you know why I would want him at my dinner party. He was a great thinker and could discuss …
Posted in: Astronomy/Mathematics, Biography
Posted by: Jennifer Harbster
It may sound clichéd, but as a librarian, one of the best gifts you can give me is a book. For Christmas one year, I received a re-issue of Rachel Carson’s 1965 Sense of Wonder . This book is an expansion of her 1956 essay “Help Your Child to Wonder” published in the July issue …
Posted in: Biography, Heritage Months, Holidays, and Today in History, Women's History
Posted by: Donna Scanlon
The 2010 calendar in my office is from The Economist. It is quite colorful and full of little tidbits of information and has, on more than one occasion, provided me with ideas for this blog. The entry on the calendar for today is “1st McDonald’s Opens, San Bernardino, California, 1940.” Those of you who may …
Posted in: Business, Heritage Months, Holidays, and Today in History
Posted by: Donna Scanlon
In these tough economic times, many U.S. states and the Federal government have pulled together a number of great resources for their residents to use in getting career help. In an effort to help get the word out, we have begun an effort to compile websites in the areas of general resources, resume help, job …
Posted in: Business
Posted by: Donna Scanlon
Our guest author today is Gulnar Nagashybayeva, Business Reference Specialist, with another “Favorite from the Fifth Floor.” May 10, 1876 was the opening date of the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia where industrial exhibits of 37 nations were displayed in over 250 pavilions for six months until its formal closure on November 10, 1876. It was …
Posted in: Favorites From the Fifth Floor, Heritage Months, Holidays, and Today in History