Camera phones will be high-precision scanners.

In a September 2005 article, NewScientist.com reported that NEC and NAIST are developing software for camera cell phones that will allow one to scan documents. Imagine the copyright issues ...

Stay tuned!

Chad Mairn, Librarian, Clearwater Campus.

Best Book Reviews

At the Clearwater Campus SPC Library, we are continually searching for books to purchase that support topics for research and the curriculum of courses taught at SPC. Often we do not get feedback about the usefulness of the books that are added to our collection. To help us get some commentary on our additions and encourage readership of the new books, Mrs. Eleanor Vassel, who teaches Comp II came up with the idea of having her students check out and review some of our new books as an assignment. She has chosen the two best written reviews for her review assignment, and we are publishing them on our Blog. The books reviewed were 1776 by David McCullough, a Pulitzer Prize winning author and The Truth About the Drug Companies by Maria Angell, M.D.

Congratulations to Brandi Smith and Sarah Ranes for well-written reviews.

Justice Talking

Justice Talking, a collaboration of National Public Radio and the New York Times Learning Network, is an excellent resource that provides "civic education in the real world." The web site includes a Constitution Guide, Teaching Materials, and several forums discussing current issues (e.g. Education Policy, Voting Rights, Civil Liberties, Free Speech, Web Censorship etc.).

Enjoy!

Chad Mairn, Librarian, Clearwater campus.

"The War of the Worlds" Writing Contest Winners!

The Clearwater campus library recently offered a writing contest, asking students to choose 1 of 7 War of the Worlds book covers and explain why/how it best represented this novel.

Our winners:
$20 Barnes & Noble gift card, Yuri Samardek
$5 Follett gift card, Mary McCook
SPC coffee mug, Zabrinna Panesso
Congratulations!
Yuri Samardek chose a Bantam Cover illustrated by Chris Hopkins. The first place essay is below ...

The picture intrigues with the skyline at night with uninvited aliens. The colors are dark, gloomy and cold. The water is so calm; suspicious silence makes the attack different, unpredictable. You are scared because you don't know what tomorrow will bring. You are not even sure if tomorrow will come. Bad events happen at night, even wars....

Unknown objects shaped like spiders make you feel terrified. You realize [they] came from another unfriendly world. Probably aliens developed their cyber spiders knowing human's dislike [of these] creatures. Only the way they look makes you feel that nothing good is going to happen. [A] modern city skyline represents human wealth and, maybe, the ability to resist. You don't see people running and dying on the streets. [The] picture implies that people are dying. I think the implication of death is better for [a] book cover than a real image of dying people. The cover would not be taken seriously if it would show a village or couple of buildings. It's global and real. It also gives you a bit of excitement, skyline attracts your eye. The epitome of human progress is under attack!

Coffee, Tea, A Book and Thee...Friends of the West St. Petersburg Community Library Host Bookstore Grand Opening

Saturday, November 5th marks the official opening of Pinellas County’s newest Friends of the Library Bookstore. Located in the new West St. Petersburg Community Library, the bookstore is adjacent to the Circulation Desk on the ground floor.

From 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, the recently elected Board of Directors will welcome the public to a “Coffee, Tea, a Book, and Thee” event in the multipurpose room.

Hardcover and paperback books, including current fiction, cooking, health, and travel are offered at bargain prices. The library is located at the southeast corner of 8th Avenue North and 67th Street in St. Petersburg. For more information call the library at 341-7174 or Ms. Bennett-Manross at 341-7181.

The War of the Worlds (1953) in 30 seconds, re-enacted by bunnies.

Did you miss SPC's showing of The War of the Worlds film on October 31st? Then check out this 30 second re-enactment of the classic 1953 film at http://www.angryalien.com/1005/wowbuns.asp.


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Chad Mairn, Librarian, Clearwater campus.