The Researching Librarian
by Jing Liu ~ June 11th, 2006“The Researching Librarian” website might be of interest to librarians who would like to perform research. Helpful web resources can be found there.
华裔作家Paul Yee的儿童书
by Jing Liu ~ June 11th, 2006Paul Yee 是著名的第三代华裔儿童书作家，生于沙省长于温哥华，现居住在多伦多。Paul Yee毕业于不列颠哥伦比亚大学(UBC)历史系， 由于学习和工作的关系，他深入温哥华唐人街的早期移民当中，为其日后文学创作搜集到大量素材。他的作品多次获得不同的褒奖，包括Governor General’s Literary Award， the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award及the Ruth Schwartz Award。以下介绍他的几本儿童书。
1、Ghost Train (1996)
Choon-yi出生时就少一条胳膊，妈妈不喜欢她，她从小就没得到母爱；父亲却非常非常地爱她，确保她有一个快乐的童年。CHOON-YI画得一手好画，并以此赚钱补贴家用。为了赚钱，爸爸决定去北美修建铁路。两年后的一天，她收到了爸爸寄来的钱和信，希望早点见到她，CHOON-YI高兴地收拾行装，搭乘第二天去北美的客船。不幸的是，当CHOON-YI到达目的地时得知爸爸因工程意外而离开了人间。她伤心难过，从此失去了世上最爱她的爸爸。在梦中CHOON-YI见到了爸爸，爸爸让她拿起画笔画下蒸汽列车、画下爸爸,还有那些华工用鲜血和生命建成横贯加拿大的铁路、、、、、、
2、Roses Sing on New Snow (1991)
Maylin在她父亲的餐馆里帮工，每周7天都不得空闲。由于她精湛的厨艺使得餐馆闻名温哥华，但男尊女卑的家风使厨师的荣誉被她两个懒惰的哥哥享受着。一天为欢迎来自中国南方的总督而举行了烹饪大赛，Maylin的哥哥决定拿她的最新佳肴Roses Sing on New Snow参赛。当两个哥哥和总督没办法复制她的名菜佳肴时，人们才明白烹饪艺术不仅仅是菜谱和配料那么简单。
3、The Boy in the Attic (1998)
凯明从遥远的中国来到这个陌生的北美大都市，任何东西对他来说都新鲜而又陌生。爸爸、妈妈每天都要外出找工作，把他一个人孤独地留在家里。有一天，凯明在他家的阁楼里结识了和他同龄、神秘的Benjamin。整个夏天他俩天天在一块玩耍，但凯明从没向任何人提起他新认识的小朋友。凯明的爸爸找到了新工作，他们全家要搬离这座城市。凯明不愿离开，因为他舍不得他的新朋友Benjamin，他也无法劝说Benjamin和他们一起搬走。当凯明知道他的新朋友的秘密后，他意识到要在这个新国度创造自己的生活，他必须学习新语言、结交更多的朋友。此书的插图由顾雄教授绘制。
4、Tales from Gold Mountain (1989)
由八个故事组成的这本书描写了早期北美大陆的华裔移民的真实生活，既可笑又可悲、既浪漫又朴实。它反映的是坚韧不拔、乐观向上的华人移民克服歧视和逆境，在北美新大陆建造属于自己的新家园。这本书适合学龄孩子阅读。
5、Dead man’s gold and other stories (2002)
通过十个幽灵的故事反映早期北美华裔移民生活，适合六年级以上的孩子读。
6、Jade Necklace (2002)
Yenyee的父亲是中国南方的一个渔民，她的玉石项链也没能保佑父亲逃脱大海吞噬。家境因为失去父亲而更困难，Yenyee被送往加拿大当佣人。此书是通过这个女孩子的经历来反映早期华人的生活。
除故事书外，Paul Yee还著有关于加拿大华人历史的《Struggle and Hope–the Story of Chinese Canadians》，图文并茂，史实详尽，是让孩子了解加拿大华人历史的难得的好书。
注：本文曾刊登于《环球华报》 Note: This article was originally published in Global Chinese Press
Using Blogger to get teachers started with e-learning
by Jing Liu ~ June 9th, 2006by Keith Burnett
UC Irvine Needs 5 New Librarians
by Jing Liu ~ June 9th, 2006Research Librarians
(revised posting with modified required qualifications)
The University of California, Irvine Libraries seek a minimum of five Research Librarians to join an enthusiastic staff in building a research library of excellence for a young and rapidly growing university ranked nationally in the top universities. Research Librarians specialize in one or more subject areas and usually perform a combination of collection development, reference, and instructional duties. The exact combination of duties and the specific subjects to be assigned are flexible and will be influenced largely by the profiles of the most qualified applicants. Subjects that are especially needed are history, criminology and law, and French and Italian. Other subject areas that are also of interest include African-American Studies, Classics, Education, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), Psychology, and Women’s Studies.Deadline for Applications
Applications received by July 10, 2006, will receive first consideration, but applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.
To Apply
Qualified applicants who wish to be considered for this position should send their letters of application, complete résumés, and the names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers of three references, with a statement of each reference’s professional relationship to the applicant, to:
Library Human Resources
UC Irvine, P.O. Box 19557
Irvine, CA 92623-9557
e-mail: hr@lib.uci.edu
confidential fax (949) 824-3270
拥有四代读者的Dr. Seuss
by Jing Liu ~ June 8th, 2006美国著名的儿童书作家Theodor Seuss Geisel开创了儿童文学新纪元！ 1991年去世时，他的46本儿童书已卖出2亿多册，最后一本Oh, the Places You’ll Go!至今仍在最畅销书名单上。他的作品被翻译成20多种语言甚至盲文。生于马塞诸萨州的富有家庭，听着母亲的故事和歌谣长大，Geisel选择母亲娘家的姓氏为笔名–Dr. Seuss。从Dartmouth College毕业後，他肩负父亲 的期望，去牛津大学攻读文学博士。然而他厌倦了经院式的生活，擅自将留学计划改为游历欧洲。回到美国後，他曾为几家杂志社提供卡通漫画。并开始创作儿童书。起初人们认为他的书对孩子来讲太稀奇古怪，他的第一本书《And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street》就被28家出版商拒绝过，直到 被Random House相中。Random House的前总裁这样说：“我出版过许多伟大作家的作品，如William Faulkner、 John O’hara，但在我的作家名单上只有一个是天才，他就是Ted Geisel”
1954年，生活杂志发表了一篇有关学生文盲的报告，认为学生的书很枯燥，所以学生才不爱读书。这引起了Dr. Seuss的注意，他总结出400个他认为对学 生学习最重要的单词给出版商；出版商告诉他最好能用250个单词写一本孩子爱看的书。9个月后，Dr. Seuss只用了其中的220个单词就完成了这本让人津津乐 道的The Cat in The Hat。
Dr. Seuss的所有作品都是他自己写、自己画。他的书读来朗朗上口，让人领略到文字的魅力以及想像和创造的乐趣。当孩子大声朗读：“Would you? Could you? In a car? Eat them! Eat them! Here they are!”时，怎能不自得其乐呢？Dr.Seuss经久不衰，拥有整整四代读者！我的一次朋友聚会就是用他的书玩游戏，看谁能说出他的全部作品。没想到这个游戏老少皆宜，在场的都读过Dr. Seuss，都曾经是或仍然是Seuss迷。下面是他的几本代表作。
THE CAT IN THE HAT 1957
妈妈在阴雨绵绵的一天外出了，两个小孩在家无事可做，无聊地看着窗外。门铃突然响起，进来了CAT IN THE HAT。它以各种魔术技巧带给两个孩子惊心动魄的表演，同时也把家里搞得乱七八糟。妈妈快回来了，THE CAT IN THE HAT又用它的魔力将家收拾得干干净净，然后悄然离去。此书句子简洁压韵，图画滑稽可笑，读它如同看卡通片一样精彩。
GREEN EGGS AND HAM 1960
Sam-I-am试著推销最新烹饪产品Green Eggs and Ham，他用尽各种方法：in a house，with a mouse；in a box，with a fox；with a goat，on the boat，但都没有成功。最后被他无休止劝说的犹豫者迫于压力，不情愿地尝试了，却发现Green Eggs and Ham异常好吃。和所有其他Dr. Seuss的作品一样， 此书有风趣压韵的文字、卡通式的图画，同时还有更深的寓意：解放思想，勇敢尝试。
FOX IN SOCKS 1965
那只滑稽的、穿着袜子的Fox和他可怜的玩伴Mr.Knox带给读者数不清的欢笑。Fox满肚子的鬼主意，每次都答应玩个简单点的，每次都越玩越邪呼。直到Mr. Knox报怨：”I can’t blab such blibber blubber! My tongue isn’t made of rubber.” 但是最後他也能赶上Fox先生玩的节奏了。这本书老少皆宜，很像中国的绕口令。
OH， THE PLACES YOU‘LL GO
是Dr.Seuss的最後一部激励人心的作品。它告诉小读者和老读者们，人生总会有障碍和不开心的事，尤其在翻开人生新篇章的时候。他用轻松诙谐的语气道出人生真谛，对我们移民家庭来说尤为珍贵。
可以说Dr. Seuss的每一本书都是成功的文学作品，是学习语言的好帮手。 他的书不仅孩子和学生们喜欢，就连成年人也爱不释手。
注：本文曾刊登于《环球华报》
Note: This article was originally published in Global Chinese Press
Assistants for a Summer Institute Pilot China Program
by Jing Liu ~ June 8th, 2006ATTENTION UBC GRADUATE STUDENTS
The Institute of Asian Research, UBC, is looking for Program Assistants for its Summer Institute Pilot China Program. Program Assistants will be required to work for a total of 27 hours during all of the following times: Tuesday July 18 (2-3pm), Thursday July 20 (1-5pm), Friday July 21 (1-5pm), Thursday July 27 (9-6pm), Friday July 28 (9-6pm). Program assistants will assist in implementing two simulation cases for business and government executives learning about China. They will role-play various characters during the simulation. Program assistants must be UBC students, and should have some knowledge of Chinese language and/or culture. Program assistants will be paid $12-$15 per hour, depending on qualifications. If you are interested, please contact Eleanor Gill at gille@interchange.ubc.ca, or 604-827-4565.
儿童电子书
by Jing Liu ~ June 7th, 2006儿童书的形式日趋多样，不仅有我以前介绍的布质书、塑料书、有声书、纸板书、捉迷藏书等，而且现在有了儿童电子书(e-book)。我指的是不用特殊装置，直接上网浏览的那种。这类电子书的优势在于能随时浏览、多媒体互动，能让E-Generation的孩子们更能体会到学习的乐趣。另外，对于我们移民家庭来讲，大人陪孩子读(听或玩)电子书，也可以提高自身的英文。
儿童电子书依内容又分故事、童话、生活、学习、游戏等。如果有兴趣可去列治文公立图书馆的网址瞧瞧Tumble Book Library的电子书.电子故事书(Story book)
Caillou Series 凯幼系列已经是颇具名望的儿童故事，它让孩子在游戏和玩乐中学习各种知识和做人的道理。它不仅以图画书、玩具、电视剧的形式出现，现在又有了电子书，如Caillou & Gilbert和Caillou Tidies His Toys。电子书的效果与动画电视片的唯一区别就是配有文字，被读到的字会改变颜色。
Bad For Them, Good For Me
这是一本无比滑稽的电子故事书。让孩子从琐碎的家庭事务中学到反义词，同时以孩子的口气及语调读出来。等小读者对书中的反义词熟悉了，便可以和书中的小主人公玩抓反义词的游戏。
电子童话书(Fairytale)
Jack and the Beanstalk
妈妈让Jack去集市将奶牛卖掉，Jack却在途中将牛卖给一位奇怪的老头，换来一些色彩斑斓被称为有魔力的豆。回到家里，妈妈非常生气，将豆扔出窗外。Jack追出去，却听到细细叫声“埋了我们”。Jack找到那些小豆并埋进土里。不久，长出小苗、小苗成了小树，长啊长啊，高过了房顶，穿过了云层，最后长成了巨树。Jack爬上顶端，他看到了他从没看过的世界、见到他从没见过的人、发生了他意想不到的事、、、
易读电子书(Easy Readers)
My Tooth Is About To Fall Out
孩子都有掉牙的经历，这本电子书以简练、压韵的字句，将掉牙描写得诙谐有趣。读完后，还可以学单词的发音、玩数数游戏。
生活学习书(Life learning)
这类电子书主要的目的在于通过读书让孩子了解生活知识，诸如社区服务、分享、网络浏览的安全等。以下是其中的几本书：Helping out Is Cool; Light In The Darkness; Little Red in Cyber Space.
游戏书(Game)
主要培养孩子的色彩分辨能力、记忆力、语言和算术能力等。游戏有拼图、冰球及气球，色彩声音配合得当，让小家伙们玩得有滋有味、爱不释手。
Have fun, little one!
Note: This article was originally published in Global Chinese Press
注：曾刊登于《环球华报》
Toastmasters – 10 Tips For Successful Public Speaking
by Jing Liu ~ June 7th, 2006Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and healthy. It shows you care about doing well. But, too much nervousness can be detrimental. Here’s how you can control your nervousness and make effective, memorable presentations: 1. Know the room. Be familiar with the place in which you will speak. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.
2. Know the audience. Greet some of the audience as they arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to a group of strangers.
3. Know your material. If you’re not familiar with your material or are uncomfortable with it, your nervousness will increase. Practice your speech and revise it if necessary.
4. Relax. Ease tension by doing exercises.
5. Visualize yourself giving your speech. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear, and assured. When you visualize yourself as successful, you will be successful.
6. Realize that people want you to succeed. Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative, and entertaining. They don’t want you to fail.
7. Don’t apologize. If you mention your nervousness or apologize for any problems you think you have with your speech, you may be calling the audience’s attention to something they hadn’t noticed. Keep silent.
8. Concentrate on the message — not the medium. Focus your attention away from your own anxieties, and outwardly toward your message and your audience. Your nervousness will dissipate.
9. Turn nervousness into positive energy. Harness your nervous energy and transform it into vitality and enthusiasm.
10. Gain experience. Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. A Toastmasters club can provide the experience you need.
VISIT A TOASTMASTERS CLUB! Toastmasters clubs meet in the morning, at noon, and in the evening in approximately 70 countries worldwide. No matter where you live, work, or travel you are more than likely to find a club nearby. If you’d like to learn more about joining Toastmasters, follow the How to Become a Member link.
A Google Smorgasbord
by Jing Liu ~ June 7th, 2006SLA WCC and CASLIS present:
A Google Smorgasbord
Come learn about the latest Google developments while you meet and mingle with colleagues from SLA and CASLIS on a sunny Vancouver patio!
Thursday, June 22, 2006
5:00 – 8:00 pm
Terminal City ClubYour ticket includes a fabulous canape buffet. There will be a cash bar.
PROGRAM DETAILS
5:00 pm: Registration. Cash bar opens.
5:15 pm: Canape buffet opens.
5:45 pm: “A Google Smorgasbord” (panel discussion)
7:00 pm: Mingling, networking, nibbling and noshing
8:00 pm: Wrap-up
PRESENTATIONS
Geoff Peters: How Google Shapes Online Popularity
The craft of making websites that rank highly on the Google search engine has been shrouded in mystery until recently. Whether you have a personal interest web site or a business, Search Engine Marketing/Optimization is a topic that all webmasters should know about. Geoff will explain some basic techniques that led to his success on Google with his web sites. These techniques include: focusing on creating valuable and original content, keyword targeting, and linking.
Kay Cahill: Making Google Tools Work in an Information Setting
As more and more products and services emerge from Google Labs, how can information professionals make these tools work for them? Are they just flashy novelties designed to catch the eye and keep attention on Google, or are they genuinely useful ways of interpreting search results and delivering information?
Eugene Barsky – “Google Scholar and the Future of Searching”
During this 20 minute overview we will look at the context in which Google Scholar has been developed, its strengths and weaknesses, and its subject coverage. We’ll also see how different libraries work with this tool.
SPEAKERS:
Geoff Peters recently graduated with a joint major in Computing Science and Business from SFU. He has worked as a software developer for Nokia Mobile Phones and Canada Safeway IT. He is the creator of Googleduel.com, a web site which uses the Google search engine to analyze the popularity of people, products, and names on the Internet. He is also the webmaster for FoodVancouver.com, a popular Vancouver dining guide. Geoff’s personal web site is at http://www.sfu.ca/~gpeters/
Kay Cahill is Vancouver Public Library’s Training and Virtual Services Librarian. Originally from the UK, she graduated from the Information Studies program at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth in 2004 before moving to Canada. Recent projects include developing and delivering IT and information literacy programs, monitoring and reporting on technology trends, and collaborating in the implementation of new technologies and software to enhance library services.
Eugene Barsky is Physiotherapy Outreach Librarian at the new Irving K. Barber Learning Centre at UBC, where he enjoys every moment implementing new Web 2.0 technologies into his outreach work with BC practicing physiotherapists. Previously employed by QLT Inc, a Vancouver-based pharmaceutical company, he has an intriguing experience doing regulatory intelligence research in biotech industry. Eugene is the winner of 2005 SLA Scholarship and 2006 C. William Fraser Prize (Health Librarianship). Eugene’s blog – http://weblogs.elearning.ubc.ca/physio/
REGISTRATION:
To register, complete the online registration form and mail it, with your payment (cheque made out to SLA WCC), to:
Deb Hutchison, Vancouver Director
West Vancouver Memorial Library
Vancouver BC
V7V 1J8
Fees:
$21 for SLA and CASLIS members, students, and unemployed
$35 for non-members
VENUE
The Terminal City Club is located at 837 Hastings Street. Note that there is a dress-casual dress code – please, no jeans.
Thanks to our program sponsor Micromedia ProQuest
We are indexed by Google!
by Jing Liu ~ June 6th, 2006We just agreed to stay low-profiled at our first meeting two weeks ago. Now we are on Google, and cited by some library blogs in China.
