September 10, 2007

9/11 Resources at the Thompson Library

Anniversaries are often times of recollection and reflection. As we commemorate the sixth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks on America, you may find yourself remembering where you were when you first heard about some planes crashing. I was in my office; my wife Kim called and told me that an airplane had smashed into the World Trade Center. I said it might have been an accident, but when she called back and told me about the second tower being hit, my hope vanished that it was simply a terrible mishap. Kim was a month pregnant with our firstborn son Ronan, and I wondered what sort of world we were bringing a child into.

As you reflect on the September 11 attacks and their consequences, I invite you to use the resources of the Thompson Library to deepen your knowledge and understanding. The Thompson Library has a number of books and videos about that horrible day and its long aftermath. Whether you are looking for accounts of the attacks themselves, analyses of their causes, or interpretations of their significance today, there are materials here that you can use.

One personal recommendation: the film United 93, about the passengers who rose up and fought their hijackers, literally to the death. It's not easy to watch, but it's one of the most riveting action movies I've ever seen. I hate calling it an "action movie," because it is infinitely better than 99% of the explosion-packed fluff that comes out of Hollywood, but I don't know what other genre it would fall into. It successfully conveys the confusing situation decision-makers on the ground found themselves in, and the courage and will to survive of the passengers in the air. The implicit deal in hijackings had been that if you cooperated with the terrorists, you'd get out alive. Once the passengers on United flight 93 learned that their captors weren't going to keep their end of this wicked bargain, they knew they had to act. All civilized people owe respect and gratitude to these passengers - ordinary people - who refused to be passive victims.

Posted by pgstreby at 03:33 PM | Comments (0)

August 31, 2007

UPDATED: Archives to Open THURSDAY Evenings

For the Fall, 2007 semester, the Genesee Historical Collections Center will be open on Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Daytime hours remain the same: Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., with occasional closings for various reasons.

The Archives was originally open Tuesday evenings this Fall, but the evening hours are being shifted to Thursday, effective this week.

For more information, contact Paul Gifford at pgifford@umflint.edu, or at (810) 762-3402.

Posted by pgstreby at 01:50 PM | Comments (0)

Thompson Library Closed Labor Day Weekend

The Thompson Library will be closed Saturday, September 1 through Monday, September 3, in observance of Labor Day. Regular hours resume on Tuesday, September 4.

Posted by pgstreby at 01:47 PM | Comments (0)

June 21, 2007

Important Info on Dial-up from ITS

ITS has implemented a new dialup Internet service for the faculty, staff, and students of the U of M Flint campus. This new service has been put in place to replace the U of M Ann Arbor service which will be discontinued on July 2, 2007. If you currently use the dialup service you will need to install new software in order to connect to the Internet from home. Instructions on how to install the new software can be found on Quicknote #51 located here: http://www.umflint.edu/its/helpdesk/quicknotes/QN51.htm

Note: UMCE’s National and International dialup access will be discontinued as of July 2nd, 2007 as well. For more information regarding this change, please visit the ITCS website located here: http://www.itcom.itd.umich.edu/dialin/natdial.html

If you have any questions, please contact the ITS Helpdesk @ 766-6804.


ITS Helpdesk

Posted by pgstreby at 04:40 PM | Comments (0)

March 14, 2007

Unlawful File Sharing

You may have seen this message from the University's Chief Information Technology Security Officer in Ann Arbor:

    On Friday, March 9, and Saturday, March 10, the University of Michigan received notification that the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) intends to sue or receive settlement from more than a dozen members of the U-M community engaged in unlawful peer-to-peer file sharing of music over the Internet. The RIAA has designated these individuals through IP addresses, and the University is in the process of identifying and notifying them.

    This action is part of an increased effort to curtail unlawful peer-to-peer file sharing. As a result, individuals who engage in this practice are more likely than ever to be identified and sued by the RIAA. Most have settled these lawsuits out-of-court, typically for $4,000-$4,500.

    The University does not condone unlawful peer-to-peer file sharing. Individuals who engage in it are violating a variety of University policies including Standard Practice Guide 601.7 - Proper Use of Information Resources, Information Technology, and Networks at U-M. This reminder also has been sent to all faculty and students.

    Faculty, staff, or students who have installed peer-to-peer file sharing programs on their computers and are concerned that they might be unwittingly sharing files illegally should visit the University of Chicago's useful web page that describes how to disable file sharing on a variety of programs (http://security.uchicago.edu/guidelines/peer-to-peer/).

    U-M maintains a web page (http://www.copyright.umich.edu) that describes the University's position on illegal sharing of copyrighted materials and also includes a growing list of FAQs. All members of the University community are encouraged to study the materials on this page.

    Lawful downloading of music is possible through sites such as Apple iTunes, MSN Music, Rhapsody, Ruckus, etc. Details about a number of these sites are available at:
    http://mp3.about.com/od/wheretobuymusic/a/all_profile.htm and http://mp3.about.com/od/freemusicdownloads/tp/freeandlegalmp3.htm.

      Paul Howell
      Chief Information Technology Security Officer

Don't make yourself the target of a lawsuit - remember that copyright law applies to everybody!

Posted by pgstreby at 09:48 AM | Comments (0)

November 28, 2006

Some Electronic Resources to Try While the Reference Books Are Being Digitized

While most of the Thompson Library's reference collection is off to sunny California for digitizing, now is a good time to try out some of our electronic reference resources. Books in the Gale Virtual Reference Library are rapidly being added to Mirlyn; a dynamic list of them is available in this "canned search" (also read the pros and cons of using canned searches).

We also have a six-month trial to the clumsily named Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems. Forget the crummy name (think of it as EOLSS) - it's got sixteen reference encyclopedias you can search:


  • Encyclopedia of Biological, Physiological and Health Sciences
  • Encyclopedia of Chemical Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources
  • Encyclopedia of Development and Economic Sciences
  • Encyclopedia of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
  • Encyclopedia of Energy Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources
  • Encyclopedia of Environmental and Ecological Sciences, Engineering and Technology Sources
  • Encyclopedia of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Engineering and Technology Sources
  • Encyclopedia of Human Resources Policy and Management
  • Encyclopedia of Institutional and Infrastructural Resources
  • Encyclopedia of Mathematical Sciences
  • Encyclopedia of Natural Resources Policy and Management
  • Encyclopedia of Physical Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources
  • Encyclopedia of Regional Sustainable Development
  • Encyclopedia of Social Sciences and Humanities
  • Encyclopedia of Technology, Information, and Systems Management Resources
  • Encyclopedia of Water Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources

These are just a few examples - we have lots of other electronic resources on our website. Ask a librarian for help any time you need it. It's what we get paid to do!

Posted by pgstreby at 04:01 PM | Comments (0)

June 30, 2006

Trial resources

We have two new trials going on at the library: the Black Studies Center and Business Source Premier/Business Source Complete. Go to the Trial Resources page and try them out. Your feedback - or lack of it - will help us decide whether to subscribe to these resources.

Posted by pgstreby at 03:25 PM | Comments (0)

February 24, 2006

New look for the blog

This is a new, improved look for the library blog. Further tinkering is likely. I also changed the name, since "The Thompsonian" sounded too much like a high school yearbook.

What do these words mean, you ask?

Quodlibet (KWADlaBET) 1. an academic debate or exercise, esp. on a theological question 2. a humorously incongruous musical medley

Quiddity 1. the essential quality of a thing 2. a trifling distinction; quibble

The new name is not set in stone; I'm very open to improvements.

Posted by pgstreby at 04:24 PM | Comments (2)