Monthly Archives: March 2013

How golden is silence?

With the results of our library survey coming in and being analyzed, one of the most common issues we’ve come across here at the library is regarding noise control. This is a tough issue to tackle, for several reasons:

  • As modern librarians, we constantly do battle with library stereotypes, which involve a lot of shushing and pointed looks. This negative image has kept people out of libraries for many years–the exact opposite of what we want!
  • Many have expressed their joy in being able to use the library as a communal space, which is suffocated when one is unable to speak freely

Now don’t get us wrong–we know the library is still purported to be a safe and quiet place to study. To help members from both parties feel at ease, we have designated the computer area near the reference desk as more of a moderate noise level zone, but there are several places you can go to find your preferred level of quietude!

The Reading Room

Located through the doors to the left of the main staircase, the reading room is a large, open area, that allows for minimal levels of noise–but not much. There are plenty of tables and sofas for relaxing, and of course studying!

The Silent Study Room

If you swing a left a the top of the stairs, another left, and then walk straight–you’ll find the silent study room in a far corner away from all possible noise. Here is it understood that absolute quiet reigns, and it’s a great place for those who get distracted easily by outside sounds.

Study Carols in the Stacks

Interspersed between our cases of books you’ll find individual desks, for quiet, personalized space. These are also great little hideaways for those who enjoy a secluded place to get work done.

ERC–TBD

The ERC by its nature is a boisterous place where many congregate to work on group projects or grab a quick meal between classes. Because it is so small, it is a challenge to support communal space conversation and the need for a quiet study area. However, currently there is at least one place you can go for some peace and quiet in the ERC!

The General Collection Room

At the far back of the general collection room there are two computers that sit far away from any noise the ERC endures. It is a nice, secluded place to study that can provide just the right atmosphere!

We are in the works for deciding how we can create a silent study space in the ERC and will keep you posted as we do! In the meantime, THANK YOU to all who took the survey and provided candid feedback for us to improve upon. Your suggestions have been spectacularly helpful, and have given us much to think about and act upon in the months to come. Stay tuned!

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Where did the Easter Bunny come from?

Found this great article on the origins of ties between bunnies, eggs, and the Easter holiday! Enjoy!

What Does the Easter Bunny Have to do With Easter

By Trace Dominguez

There’s no story in the Bible about a long-eared, cotton-tailed creature known as the Easter Bunny. Neither is there a passage about young children painting eggs or hunting for baskets overflowing with scrumptious Easter goodies.

And real rabbits certainly don’t lay eggs.

Why are these traditions so ingrained in Easter Sunday? And what do they have to do with the resurrection of Jesus?

Well, to be frank, nothing.

Bunnies, eggs, Easter gifts and fluffy, yellow chicks in gardening hats all stem from pagan roots. These tropes were incorporated into the celebration of Easter separately from the Christian tradition of honoring the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

According to the University of Florida’s Center for Children’s Literature and Culture, the origin of the celebration — and the origin of the Easter Bunny — can be traced back to 13th-century, pre-Christian Germany, when people worshiped several gods and goddesses. The Teutonic deity Eostra was the goddess of spring and fertility, and feasts were held in her honor on the Vernal Equinox. Her symbol was the rabbit because of the animal’s high reproduction rate.

Spring also symbolized new life and rebirth; eggs were an ancient symbol of fertility. According to History.com, Easter eggs represent Jesus’ resurrection. However, this association came much later when Roman Catholicism became the dominant religion in Germany in the 15th century and merged with already ingrained pagan beliefs.

The first Easter Bunny legend was documented in the 1500s. By 1680, the first story about a rabbit laying eggs and hiding them in a garden was published. These legends were brought to the United States in the 1700s, when German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania Dutch country, according to the Center for Children’s Literature and Culture.

The tradition of making nests for the rabbit to lay its eggs in soon followed. Eventually, nests became decorated baskets and colorful eggs were swapped for candy, treats and other small gifts.

So, while you’re scarfing down chocolate bunnies and marshmallow chicks this Easter Sunday, think fondly of this holiday’s origins and maybe even impress your friends at your local Easter egg hunt.

 

Article retrieved from here!

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Are You Interested in Peace?

Then come to tomorrow’s peace conference! It’s sure to be an interesting and wonderful experience for all!

Here is a schedule of the day’s events:

Schedule of the day

8:45    Registration

9:15   Welcome: Sr. Paula M. Buley, IHM, President  and  Introductions: Will Hopkins and Br. Paul R. Demers, SC

9:30   Keynote speaker: Rev. John Dear, SJ  Blessed are the Peacemakers: Making Peace and Practicing Nonviolence in a World of War and Violence

11:00  Workshops—block 1: Benoit Education Building                               

12:00  Lunch in Dion Center (cash)  High school students in DeMoulas Room, Benoit Ed. Building

1:00   Workshops—block 2: Benoit Education Building

2:00   Workshops—block 3: Benoit Education Building

3:15   Closing Ritual in DeMoulas Room in Benoit Education Building

3:30   Marching for Peace   

For more information, please visit http://www.rivier.edu/peaceconference/

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Attention Writers! Join Us for a Workshop!

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Refugee Engagement Month: Exploring the Refugee Experience continues!

On Thursday, March 21st, author and former Rivier professor Terry Farish visits campus for two events:

From 2 – 4 p.m. in the Dion Center Reception Room, Terry will lead a writing workshop on telling a life story, as memoir, a series of poems, or fiction. Participants will draw on memory, oral history, the work of other writers, and the work of one another as they write.   

At 7 p.m. in the Dion Center Reception Room, Terry will read from and discuss The Good Braider. Her novel follows Viola as she survives brutality in war-torn Sudan, makes a perilous journey, lives as a refugee in Egypt, and finally reaches Portland, Maine, where she is hampered by memories of past horrors and the traditions her mother and other Sudanese adults hold dear.   It is not necessary to have read the book to enjoy the event – please attend!

 

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Immerse yourself in Refugee Awareness!

Come to one of this week’s events and learn more about the refugee experience!

  • “God Grew Tired of Us”    

Wednesday, March 13th at 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. in Sylvia Trottier Hall Room 235. 

An optional opportunity for discussion will follow the film.

 

“Winner of both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, GOD GREW TIRED OF US explores the indomitable spirit of three “Lost Boys” from the Sudan who leave their homeland, triumph over seemingly insurmountable adversities and move to America, where they build active and fulfilling new lives but remain deeply committed to helping the friends and family they have left behind.

Orphaned by a tumultuous civil war and traveling barefoot across the sub-Saharan desert, John Bul Dau, Daniel Abol Pach and Panther Blor were among the 25,000 “Lost Boys” (ages 3 to 13) who fled villages, formed surrogate families and sought refuge from famine, disease, wild animals and attacks from rebel soldiers. Named by a journalist after Peter Pan’s posse of orphans who protected and provided for each other, the “Lost Boys” traveled together for five years and against all odds crossed into the UN’s refugee camp in Kakuma, Kenya. A journey’s end for some, it was only the beginning for John, Daniel and Panther, who along with 3800 other young survivors, were selected to re-settle in the United States.” http://www.godgrewtiredofus.com/index.html

  • Refugee Engagement Forum

Friday, March 15th from 1 – 2:15 p.m. in the DeMoulas Room in the Benoit Education Center

This refugee engagement forum will be interactive. The Director of International Services at Lutheran Social Services of NH will lead a discussion of the refugee program in the United States.  Congolese and Bhutanese refugees will be present and will share their experiences. For more information about Lutheran Social Services programs for New Americans, please click here: http://www.lssne.org/Services-New-Americans.aspx

Here is a link to the list of events for the month. We hope to see you at many events!

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Attention Education Majors!

Hey Education Majors! Did you know that Rivier University provides practical and easy to use databases/websites that you can use for teaching a class? Check some of these resources out for any help you may need!

Also, if you’re looking for some great craft ideas, whether for the classroom or for projects you can do at home with your own children, check out the ERC pinterest page! There are boards that include teacher resources, holiday crafts, general craft ideas, and teacher humor–all for your enjoyment!

So what are you waiting for? Take advantage of the wealth of information already at your fingertips!

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