Odum Library Blog

Jeannette and Charles Kessler have given the VSU Archives and Special Collections over fifty items from their extensive travels in East Asia. Items include Bainchiang pottery from 1,000 to 3,000 years old, woven antique textiles from Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, and other countries, and collection of Tibetan photographs.Jeannette was a teacher and Charles was an accountant who worked and traveled in East Asia from the 1980s-2000s. Their valuable and large gift represents an exciting gift for the VSU Archives and Special Collections.

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We have copies of federal and state of Georgia tax forms here at Odum Library, in the Reference area on the second floor.  This year the forms have a new location:  behind the Reference Desk all the way back to the southwest wall, in the Government Documents area. We can’t advise you on how to complete your tax return, but we can help you get to the forms,  instructions, and schedules.

Find links to commonly requested forms and publications, including fill-in PDF versions of federal forms 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ.  There you’ll also find accessible tax publications available in large print and Braille formats and answers to frequently asked questions.  All this information–plus more–is available from IRS.gov.

Remember that you can also e-file through the IRS web site.  It’s free if your annual income is less than $57,000, and you’ll find information there about electronic form complete and paid electronic filing.

At Odum we also have plenty of Georgia 2011 Individual Income Tax booklets that include 500 and 500EZ forms and instructions. To find online Georgia state income tax forms and further guidance, go to the Georgia Department of Revenue site.  If you need tax publications from other states, check out this interactive map provided by the Federation of Tax Administrators.

Welcome back to campus! Now that the semester has begun, what are your plans for living well in the new school term and year?

The most popular new year’s resolutions include getting fit, putting your financial life in order, and volunteering more often.  Find links to advice for achieving your goals, all courtesy of the government information site USA.gov.

Some people seem to be especially successful following their resolutions, judging from their long lives:  Healthfinder.gov explains why some people live to be 110 and older.  You’ll also find advice for managing stress more effectively, quitting smoking, and monitoring your health with online interactive tools.

The CDC  (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) will even help you plan a healthy menu and suggest a fruit or vegetable of the month for you!

Image of dried fruit, courtesy Centers for Disease Control

However you start off the new year, we’re glad you’re back here at VSU!

You can see our most recently added children’s books at this link:  http://odumkids.blogspot.com/

Mousing over a book on this virtual shelf will show you some information about the title, including a tag with the reading grade level and our call number.

The Odum Library Media Center will open up its new iMac lab on Monday, Jan 9th 2012. This new iMac lab is the result of the Library replacing the old iMacs (recently housed in front of the IT Helpdesk) with new and faster PCs. The focus of the iMac lab will be the creation of digital media content. Students needing to create simple videos or audio tracks will have another resource at their service. The hours for the lab will follow the media center’s regular operation hours – 8am to 7:00pm M-F. If you have any questions concerning the iMacs please call 333-5863

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No doubt many of us are done with work and shopping and ready to relax and just enjoy the holidays. If you’re not yet to that point–or even if you are–these holiday tips from various U.S. government agencies can help you save money, handle holiday chores, and brighten your season.

USA.gov is posting 12 Days of Holiday Tips that include buying safe toys, recycling, and avoiding weight gain. For help entertaining children as well as keeping the spirit of the season, see these Holiday Tips for Kids from Kids.gov.

The White House Historical Association, the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, and various federal agencies offer commemorative holiday ornaments and souvenir and gift items.

Constitution Ornament available from the United States Capitol Historical Society

Suggestions for other gifts include annual National Park and Recreation Area passes; NASA souvenirs, toys, and apparel; official flags flown over the U.S. Congress; and the Library of Congress shop’s books, prints, apparel, and novelties for history and book lovers, where you can purchase this tribute to President Lincoln:

Bobblehead of President Lincoln, courtesy Library of Congress

This year’s White House holiday season theme is  “Shine, Give, Share,” in tribute to the U.S. military troops, veterans, and families.  You can view the White House’s holiday decor and watch online slide shows of current and past First Family celebrations, including First Family pets in the White House, and videos and photos of the 2011 National Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Finally, as Christmas Eve draws closer, remember that NORAD (the North Atlantic Aerospace Defense Command) lets you track Santa’s world flight in multiple languages. See these FAQs to learn the dimensions of Santa’s sleigh, how old Santa is, and more.  Admire the beauty of the night sky in this November 8 lunar eclipse photo, posted by NASA:

Lunar eclipse over North Carolina, copyright David Cortner

Why go to the movies when you can read one instead?

Courtesy of Zach Weiner @ Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal

For the sake of comparison, consider:

Going to the movies:

• The national average for movie tickets is going on $8.
• You’ll watch about 30 minutes of previews and 2 hours of entertainment.
• You can buy really expensive snacks or feel immoral for sneaking them in.

Reading a book:

• Books offer hours and days of enjoyment!
• They’re free for checkout at the library!
• You can read them over and over!
• You can read them anywhere, not just in a dark room with soda and popcorn all over the floor.
• This holiday season, you can read them at home while you’re trying to avoid interaction with extended family members.
• We can’t guarantee it, but there probably won’t be anyone kicking your chair while you read.

So, what are you waiting for? The library is open this week. Come check out a movie you can read (we also call them books). Here are some of our movies in book form:

Atonement by Ian McEwan

The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Scott Pilgrim (comic book) by Bryan Lee O’Malley

True Grit by Charles Portis

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

(Did you notice that we didn’t mention the Ilighttway series? Oh… until now. Oops.)

Of course, we don’t have anything against watching movie-movies if that’s what you prefer. Check out some of our newest DVDs here.

On December 6, 1941, Japanese aircraft bombed the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Today is  National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, which annually marks the event that immediately precipitated the U.S. entry into World War II.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the declaration of war against Japan Dec. 8, 1941. Courtesy National Archives and Records Administration Still Picture Branch.

Please remember to visit Odum Library’s first floor exhibit of materials about World War II in honor of all who have served in the armed forces, on display through fall semester.

GALILEO, the University System of Georgia Virtual Library initiative, offers links to resources about National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

USA.gov provides additional government material about Pearl Harbor and its remembrance, including links to photos, videos, and historical documents from the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration.