Happy Holidays - Library Hours

Happy holidays and best wishes for the new year. We look forward to seeing you in 2011.

Southwestern College Library will reopen for the spring semester on Wednesday January 12, 2011 at 8:00 a.m..

Library hours during winter break and spring semester.

Extended Library Hours in December

It's the final week of the semester and the library can provide a place to study for your final exams and help with that final research paper.

Extended Library Hours - Main Campus


Monday December 13.... 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Tuesday December 14.... 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Wednesday December 15.... 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Thursday December 16.... 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Friday December 17.... 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

December 18 – January 11...... Winter Break – Closed

Got a Question? Need an Answer?

Try our Online Reference Chat Service

Real People - Real Help - Real Fast

24 hours a day, 7 days a week


http://www.swccd.edu/~library/ask.htm

How to access the library from off campus

For off campus access to resources on our Articles and Databases website complete our Password Request Form at

www.swccd.edu/~library/PasswordRequest/.

Currently enrolled students will receive a list of usernames and passwords within minutes, that can be used to access library resources.

Enjoy access to the library 24 hours a day and 7 days a week from home and other off campus locations. For more information visit the library's website www.swccd.edu/~library

Access Science: Nobel Prizes & Video

What's New in AccessScience


The 2010 Nobel Prizes
AccessScience celebrates the 2010 Nobel Prizes with special content and articles on this years Physics, Chemistry, and Medicine prize-winners. To learn about this year's prizes winners in Science, visit our Articles and Databases webpage and click on Access Science. From the AccessScience homepage select the Biographies tab to view the Nobel Prize information.


Video Biographies
AccessScience and the Franklin Institute team up to present an ongoing series of informative video biographies on groundbreaking scientists. To access this resource visit Access Science from our Articles and Databases website, then select the Multimedia tab and then the Video Biographies tab.

To read and listen to Access Science resources visit our Articles and Databases webpage and click on Access Science. Select the Off Campus Access link for information on how to access this resource from off campus locations.

Spring Semester Library Credit Courses

Need to improve your library research and information literacy skills? Enroll in a one unit Library Research Skills course. During the spring 2011 semester the library will be offering two one unit courses.

LIB 110 Simplified Research: Print and Electronic a comprehensive introduction to library resources in both print and non-print forms.

LIB 151 Research Using the Internet a hands-on introduction to the Internet as a research tool.

Courses begin in January, contact the Admissions & Registration Office for enrollment information.

Extended Library Hours in December

Are you looking for a quiet place to study for your final exams? Need to finish up that final research paper? The library hours will be extended begining next Monday December 6.

Extended Library Hours - Main Campus

Monday December 6.... 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Tuesday December 7.... 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Wednesday December 8.... 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Thursday December 9.... 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Friday December 10.... 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Saturday December 11.... 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Sunday December 12.... Closed

Monday December 13.... 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Tuesday December 14.... 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Wednesday December 15.... 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Thursday December 16.... 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Friday December 17.... 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

December 18 – January 11...... Winter Break – Closed

Have a Cell Phone? Text a Librarian?

Have a question? Text us!
We now offer free text message reference services.
(standard message rates apply)

Text us at 66746 and start your question with swclib
Example: swclib What are the library hours on Saturdays?


We will respond as soon as possible.

Save us in your contacts and send us questions when your on the go!

Thanksgiving Holiday

The library will be closing at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday November 24 for the Thanksgiving holidays.

We will reopen on Monday November 29 at 8:00 a.m.

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

This Week in CQ Researcher

Death Penalty Debates by Kenneth Jost,
November 19, 2010

Is the capital punishment system working?

Public support for capital punishment in the United States remains strong on paper, but opponents say it is weakening in practice. The number of new death sentences fell in 2009 to its lowest point in four decades and seems likely to end even lower in 2010. The number of executions has also fallen to half the number or fewer than in the 1990s.

Critics and opponents of the death penalty say prosecutors may be seeking the death penalty less often because of the costs of a capital trial, sentencing and post-conviction proceedings. Jurors may also be worried about the costs of the system, the delay between sentence and execution and the risk of executing an innocent person. Supporters of capital punishment counter that the costs and delays result primarily from obstructionism by death penalty lawyers and that the risk of a wrongful execution is all but nonexistent.

• Does the death penalty deter capital crimes?
  
• Does capital punishment cost more to administer than it is worth?
  
• Do capital defendants have adequate legal representation in court and after sentencing?
  

To read this article and others visit our Articles and Databases webpage and click on CQ Researcher. Select the Off Campus Access link for information on how to access this resource from off campus locations.

Got a Question? Need an Answer?

Try our Online Reference Chat Service

Real People - Real Help - Real Fast

24 hours a day, 7 days a week


http://www.swccd.edu/~library/ask.htm

Need Off Campus Access to the Library?

For off campus access to resources on our Articles and Databases website complete our Password Request Form at www.swccd.edu/~library/PasswordRequest/.

Currently enrolled students will receive a list of usernames and passwords within minutes, that can be used to access library resources.

Enjoy access to the library 24 hours a day and 7 days a week from home and other off campus locations. For more information visit the library's website www.swccd.edu/~library

Extended Library Hours in December

Are you looking for a quiet place to study for your final exams? Need to finish up that final research paper? The library hours will be extended during the month of December. Extended hours begin the week before and during the week of final exams.

Extended Library Hours - Main Campus

Monday December 6.... 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Tuesday December 7.... 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Wednesday December 8.... 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Thursday December 9.... 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Friday December 10.... 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Saturday December 11.... 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Sunday December 12.... Closed

Monday December 13.... 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Tuesday December 14.... 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Wednesday December 15.... 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Thursday December 16.... 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Friday December 17.... 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

December 18 – January 11...... Winter Break – Closed

ARTstor: New collection agreement

Coming soon to ARTstor will be the archive of architectural photographer Julius Shulman (1910–2009). This archive will span his career from 1936 to 1997 and documents the development of modern architecture in Southern California. Shulman's most famous work is the photograph for Case Study House No. 22, the Stahl House designed by architect Pierre Koenig. In this seminal image, two stylish women are shown chatting in a living room as the glass-walled, cantilevered structure of the house juts out over the side of Laurel Canyon, revealing the bright lights and street grid of Los Angeles below.

Over the course of his career, Shulman created one of the most comprehensive visual records of the development of modern architecture within the urban fabric of Los Angeles and the changing landscape of Southern California. The collection in ARTstor will represent highlights from the Julius Shulman photography archive, which comprises more than 260,000 negatives, prints, transparencies, and related printed material.

To view ARTstor from off campus locations you need to create an ARTstor account at http://www.artstor.org/ from any computer on the Southwestern College campuses.

This Week in CQ Researcher

Blighted Cities by Thomas J. Billitteri, November 12, 2010

Is demolishing parts of cities the way to save them?

Dozens of cities, including Detroit, Flint, Mich., and Youngstown, Ohio, have been ravaged by staggering declines in population and vast neighborhood blight. Some planners are advocating controversial “shrinking-cities” strategies aimed at demolishing thousands of derelict structures, converting blighted blocks to open space or other uses and providing incentives for residents of decrepit neighborhoods to move to healthier ones, in part to save on municipal-service costs. But critics say demolishing parts of cities is the wrong way to save them, and they point to failed urban-renewal efforts of the 1960s as evidence.

Meanwhile, progress is slow in cities that are trying to remake themselves. Funds for demolition and cleanup are tight, and residents fear being forced to relocate – a practice city officials deny advocating. Moreover, intractable urban problems such as poverty and unemployment make the prospect of reducing blight especially daunting.

• Do property laws unfairly favor owners?
  
• Is shrinkage a sound strategy for the most troubled cities?
  
• Should people living in blighted and depopulated neighborhoods be forced to move?
  

To read this article and others visit our Articles and Databases webpage and click on CQ Researcher. Select the Off Campus Access link for information on how to access this resource from off campus locations.

Library Closed - Veteran's Day

In observance of Veteran's Day the library will be closed Friday and Saturday. We will reopen on Monday November 15 at 8 a.m.

Some library resources are available through our Online Library.

Additional help is also availabe from our live online chat service located on our Ask a Librarian website.

Check It Out

The Shallows : what the Internet is doing to our brains
by Nicholas Carr
New Book Shelf QP360 .C3667 2010

Science and technology writer Nicholas Carr latest book explores how the tools of the Internet age are altering the way people find and use information. Carr spends much of the book exploring how technology has shaped human habits of information consumption. Written language, for instance, made the poet-historian's memory less crucial. With Gutenberg's printing press, reading became widespread and the human brain, ever plastic, adapted to new demands. Now, the shift to online information is causing further neural changes.

Carr maintains that the Internet encourages distraction and superficiality. The sheer volume of information overwhelms anyone's ability to absorb it. So instead of becoming absorbed, users browse from link to link to Twitter feed, gaining a broad but shallow appreciation of the available information. His take on the problems of the plugged-in brain is sure to spur debate, though -- both online and off.

Check out , The Shallows : what the Internet is doing to our brains available now in the library on the New Book Shelf New Book Shelf QP360 .C3667 2010

Internet Resource: Wolfram Alpha

Touted as a "computational knowledge engine" that searches its own extensive database in an attempt to answer a user's question. This site responds to queries written in sentences rather than keywords. The mathematical abilities of WolframAlpha are excellent, but you can look up information on anything stocks, weather, health, linguistics, people, organizations, sports, music, and much more.

Here are some examples of interesting searches:

1)“What is the largest land mammal?” the answer is here.


2) What are the chemical structures of Taxol? Buckminsterfullerene?

Or try searching the free text search window, give it a try, type in a date, city name, a calculation or ask for the median wage of an accountant. Give it a try..

Credo Reference E-Books

This award winning online reference solution offers 511 reference related electronic book titles from over 70 publishers. This link will take you to the complete list of titles that you can access through Credo Reference.

How can students access Credo Online Reference? Visit our Articles and Databases website and select Credo Reference. If you need access from an off campus location, use the Password Request Form and submit your request, currently enrolled students will receive access information within minutes by email.

Additional information regarding off campus access for currently enrolled students can be found at our Off Campus Access Information website.

Got a Question? Need an Answer?

Try our Online Reference Chat Service

Real People - Real Help - Real Fast

24 hours a day, 7 days a week


http://www.swccd.edu/~library/ask.htm

Halloween Fun and Safety Information

USA.gov features links to Halloween facts, healthy Halloween treats, safety tips, pumpkin carving tips and the history of Halloween.

Have a safe, happy and fun Halloween.

ARTstor: Architecture from Europe and the Middle East

New photos of ancient through medieval archaeological and architectural sites throughout Europe and the Middle East by Sites and Photos are now available in the Digital Library. The images provide broad and in-depth documentation of the ancient world, including Classical, Megalithic, Islamic, Crusader, and Gothic archaeology and architecture, as well as Greek and Roman painting, sculpture, mosaics, and decorative arts.

To view the Sites and Photos collection: go to the ARTstor Digital Library, browse by collection, and click "Sites and Photos;" or, if you are at Southwestern College or have an ARTstor account, simply follow this link: http://library.artstor.org/library/collection/sitesandphotos


To view ARTstor from off campus locations you need to create an ARTstor account at http://www.artstor.org/ from any computer on the Southwestern College campuses.

Issues and Controversies in American History

October's featured cover story is the Iran-Contra Scandal which focuses on the actions of Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North in pursuit of two secret Reagan administration initiatives: weapons sales to Iran in exchange for the release of American hostages in the Middle East; and diverting the proceeds to the "contra" rebel army in Nicaragua seeking to overthrow the leftist government. Was North a criminal, or a scapegoat?

With Issues and Controversies in American History, history comes to life as this database builds a deeper understanding of how historical events have shaped our nation by exploring the key players and the battles they fought.

Visit the library's Articles and Databases website http://www.swccd.edu/~library/articles.htm and select Facts.com Issues and Controversies in American History to use this online resource.

Select the Off Campus Access link for information on how to access this resource from off campus locations.

Have a Cell Phone? Text a Librarian?

Have a question? Text us!
We now offer free text message reference services.
(standard message rates apply)

Text us at 66746 and start your question with swclib
Example: swclib What are the library hours on Saturdays?



We will respond as soon as possible.

Save us in your contacts and send us questions when your on the go!

Check It Out

Body language in business : decoding the signals by Adrian Furnham .
New Book Shelf BF637.N66 F88 2010

This book provides an essential guide to unspoken messages in the workplace, signals we send and receive, messages we transmit and decipher, and “statements” we make about ourselves nonverbally. Body language is the most primitive system of communication that we share with other species in the animal kingdom.

In this book the author poses and answers the question what does it entail to communicate via body language. Secondly, it covers the issues of how body language can be used and, regrettably, sometimes abused, to communicate. Finally, how to apply these facts and observations to the world of work and business.

Check out Body language in business : decoding the signals, available now in the library on the New Book Shelf BF637.N66 F88 2010

SIRS Researcher

H-1B Visas & American Workers
U.S. unemployment remains stubbornly high and the disappearance of the American middle class have both become prime mid-term election issues. One of the problems that may contribute to both is the expansion of the H1-B worker visa program. This program allows skilled immigrants to work in the United States on a temporary basis, and enables American companies and universities to hire foreign scientists, engineers, and programmers.

Some research shows clearly that importing labor adds significant benefits to state and local economies. The influx of workers enlarges the tax base, and there is job growth through additional goods and services consumed by the workers.

Still, some argue that the H-1B law lacks adequate safeguards to protect natively-born workers from being displaced, and may be abused by some industries to provide artifically cheaper labor.

Although requirements say employers must pay the "prevailing wage," numerous loopholes mean there is little real-world wage protection for either U.S. citizens or the H-1B guest workers. Moreover, employers almost never have to certify that no qualified U.S. workers are available before hiring an H-1B. Certification is nearly an automatic rubber stamp.

To read and research additional information on the topic of H-1B Visas try SIRS Issues Researcher now available on the library's Articles and Databases website at http://www.swccd.edu/~library/articles.htm.

Select the Off Campus Access link for information on how to access this resource from off campus locations.

Got a Question? Need a Answer?

Try our Online Reference Chat Service

Real People - Real Help - Real Fast

24 hours a day, 7 days a week


http://www.swccd.edu/~library/ask.htm

Check It Out

Babies Without Borders: Adoption and Migration Across the Americas by Karen Dubinsky
New Book Shelf HV875.58.A45 D83 2010

While international adoptions have risen in the public eye adoptions between North America and Latin America have been overshadowed and, in some cases, forgotten.
This book looks at three areas of the western hemisphere—Canada, Cuba, and Guatemala—and includes adoption history from the 1960s and 1970s.

The author Karen Dubinsky expands the historical record while she considers the political symbolism of children caught up in adoption and migration controversies in Canada, the United States, Cuba, and Guatemala.

Dubinsky, an historian and adoptive mother (Guatemala) writes critically about the institution of international adoptions. Integrating the personal with the scholarly, Babies without Borders exposes what happens when children bear the weight of adult political conflicts.

Check out , Babies Without Borders: Adoption and Migration Across the Americas available now in the library on the New Book Shelf New Book Shelf HV875.58.A45 D83 2010

Have a Cell Phone? Text a Librarian?

Have a question? Text us!
We now offer free text message reference services.
(standard message rates apply)

Text us at 66746 and start your question with swclib
Example: swclib What are the library hours on Saturdays?


We will respond as soon as possible.

Save us in your contacts and send us questions when your on the go!

SWC Library Memories

Southwestern College is celebrating its fifty-year birthday!

Original Library building (1961 - 2002), now houses the Cesar E. Chavez One-Stop Center.

New Library dedication and ribbon-cutting (2003)

What's New In Access Science

A tiny source of hope for the Gulf region?
Could a new microbe be helping to contain the spread of millions of gallons of oil from BP's disastrous Deepwater Horizon spill? Scientists discovered the microbe while studying the underwater dispersion of millions of gallons of oil spilled into the Gulf following the explosion of BP's Deepwater Horizon drilling rig. Learn more about petroleum microbiology and how these hydrocarbon-hungry microorganisms are already aiding in the cleanup of oil spills.

Anolis lizards illuminate island biodiversity as more than 100 species now inhabit the Caribbean islands. Some thought they tiptoed slowly into such diversity, but it turns out they evolved rapidly, taking the region by storm.

To read these interesting articles and others visit the library's Articles and Databases website http://www.swccd.edu/~library/articles.htm and select Access Science.

Select the Off Campus Access link for information on how to access this resource from off campus locations.

Got a Question? Need an Answer?

Try our Online Reference Chat Service

Real People - Real Help - Real Fast

24 hours a day, 7 days a week


http://www.swccd.edu/~library/ask.htm

Check It Out

Revolution of hope: the life, faith, and dreams of a Mexican president by Vicente, Quesada Fox.
New Book Shelf F1236.9.F69 A3 2007

Published less than a year after his presidency came to a close, this wide-ranging overview of Fox's life unfolds at a furious pace, as he catalogs his many personal and professional achievements. Vicente Fox’s presidency of Mexico is historically significant for ending that country’s decades long one-party rule by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). The book initially focuses on Fox's early life, offering insight into his upbringing, details about his family life and vivid descriptions of the poverty that beset the country in the future president's formative years. Though his family was by no means wealthy, his father's career as a ranchero earned enough for Fox to study at a Jesuit school in Wisconsin.

In this memoir, he unravels his encounter with Arnold Schwarzenegger (Fox had his own "Schwarzenegger problem," as his mother was not a native Mexican citizen), offers his timely opinion on Barack Obama, discusses his differences with George W. Bush and he presents a passionate argument for globalization.

Check out Revolution of hope: the life, faith, and dreams of a Mexican president, available now in the library on the New Book Shelf F1236.9.F69 A3 2007

This Month in Global CQ Researcher

Wildlife Smuggling by Rob Kiener, October 2010

Can disappearing species be saved from poachers?

Traffickers are slaughtering some of the world’s most beloved endangered or threatened animals for their body parts – including elephant tusks, tiger penises and bear gall bladders – to supply the booming black market in souvenirs, trophies and traditional Chinese medicine. Other animals are shot by African hunters to meet the burgeoning demand for “bushmeat,” both to feed the hungry in refugee camps and to satisfy the tastes of city dwellers. Thousands of other animals, including exotic birds and rare monkeys, are trapped to meet the growing demand for exotic pets. Using satellite phones, helicopters and the Internet, the increasingly sophisticated smugglers – often part of organized crime syndicates – generate up to $20 billion annually, making wildlife trafficking the world’s third-most-lucrative illegal trade.

Experts suggest two controversial solutions: banning all ivory trade and “farming” tigers and other exotic species to supply the seemingly insatiable demand for their body parts. While international conservation treaties have slowed the carnage, experts say tougher enforcement is needed before some of the Earth’s last wild creatures disappear forever.

To read this article and others visit our Articles and Databases webpage and click on Global CQ Researcher. Select the Off Campus Access link for information on how to access this resource from off campus locations.

The Library Catalog is another good source for locating information on this issue

This Week in CQ Researcher

Journalism Standards in the Internet Age
by Tom Price, October 8, 2010

Are the news media sacrificing ethics online?

Press critic A.J. Liebling of The New Yorker wrote in 1960 that “freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one.” A half-century later, everyone with an Internet connection owns a virtual press. And many of them scorn the journalism standards that have guided America’s mainstream media since before Liebling penned his famous aphorism.

Among those standards: accuracy above all else, plus fairness, balance, thoroughness, independence, civility, decency, compassion and responsibility – along with a clear separation of news from opinion. Now, operators of some news-like websites unabashedly repeat rumors and throw accuracy to the wind. Vile, anonymous reader comments on mainstream media websites mock civility. Add the pressures of Internet speed and shrinking news staffs, and serious journalists wonder what kind of standards – if any – will prevail during the next 50 years.

• Should journalistic websites permit anonymous comments?
• Should news media be held legally responsible for all material on their own websites?
• Should news media allow their reporters to express opinions?

To read this article and others visit our Articles and Databases webpage and click on CQ Researcher. Select the Off Campus Access link for information on how to access this resource from off campus locations.

On November 2: Get Out and Vote!

Every vote counts. Make sure yours does.

On Nov. 2, 2010, California will hold a General Election. Many positions are up for election, such as California’s governor and the United States Senator. We will also have a chance to cast our vote for local measures and seats in different positions, such as our very own SWC Governing Board. Voting is a hard earned right we have as United States citizens.

For voting details, go to the County’s Registrar of Voters. You may register to vote (you have until October 18, 2010 to register to participate in this fall’s elections), check the status of registration, find your polling site, see a sample ballot, read the statements from candidates, etc. Go to: http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/voters/Eng/Eindex.shtml

Who may register to vote?

· A U.S. Citizen

· A resident of California

· At least 18 years of age on or before the next election

· Not in prison or on parole for a felony conviction

· Not declared mentally incompetent by court action

Also, visit the library’s exhibit on the third floor, Get Out and Vote, to see a sample of the collection’s resources on the issue of voting.

Check It Out

Do one green thing : saving the earth through simple, everyday choices / by Mindy Pennybacker
New Book Shelf: GE195.5 .P46 2010

This straightforward guide provides multiple lists on good and bad choices for dozens of products and uses. From an opening chapter on just why bottled water is the wrong choice in very nearly every instance imaginable to sections on fish, meat, and produce, Pennybacker includes not only “Choose it/Lose it” tablesbut also clearly elucidates why one should reach for canned wild salmon caught in Alaska
as opposed to its farmed equivalent from the eastern seaboard.

As a former editor for The Green Guide, a National Geographic Web site,
Pennybacker has the ecoqualifications to back up her assertions, and she also includes plenty of source notes and Web site references. Most importantly, she assumes nothing about her readership other than a curiosity about green
living, and tackles everything while creating her lists from unionmade
goods to humane living conditions to cancer-causing ingredients. The format and language are clear, and the outlook is determined as Pennybacker lays it all on the line for those eager to change,and leaves readers with no excuses for not starting immediately.
(reviewed by Colleen Mondor for Booklist 2/15/2010)

Check out Do one green thing : saving the earth through simple, everyday choices, available now in the library on the New Book Shelf GE195.5 .P46 2010

Got a Question? Need an Answer?

Try our Online Reference Chat Service

Real People - Real Help - Real Fast

24 hours a day, 7 days a week


http://www.swccd.edu/~library/ask.htm

ARTstor - Editorial Cartoon Collection

ARTstor has collaborated with Columbia College Chicago to share more than 3,200 images of drawings and sketches by John R. Fischetti in the Digital Library. John R. Fischetti (1916 - 1980) was a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist whose work appeared in the New York Herald Tribune, the Chicago Daily News, Chicago Sun-Times, The New York Times, and Stars and Stripes. Fischetti's political cartoons satirized local politics, social issues, and current events, including the Watergate scandal, the energy crisis, the economy, and terrorism. The John Fischetti Manuscript Collection at Columbia College Chicago includes over thirty notebooks containing drawings and sketches illustrating Fischetti's creative process from 1960 to 1980.


To view the John R. Fischetti Cartoon Archive (Columbia College Chicago): go to the ARTstor Digital Library, select the orange "GO" button in the upper right side of the website, then browse by collection, and click "John R. Fischetti Cartoon Archive (Columbia College Chicago);" or, if you are on campus or have an ARTstor account for off campus access, simply follow this link: http://library.artstor.org/library/collection/columbiacollege_fischetti


To view ARTstor from off campus locations you need to create an ARTstor account at http://www.artstor.org/ from any computer on the Southwestern College campuses.

Check It Out

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
New Book Shelf call number 3212


Author Haruki Murakami often borrows titles of music for the titles of his books. Norwegian Wood refers to a Beatles song, “Norwegian Wood, (This Bird Has Flown) that was written by John Lennon, and was inspired by a love affair. When Haruki Murakami published his novel, in the late 80s, he became so popular in Japan that he chose to leave his country for a while settling in Europe and in the USA.

It is not a surprise that Japanese readers liked his novel so much, - especially the younger generation – because it is essentially a love story that spoke to many of his readers. The book is set in the 1960s Tokyo in a university where students like many other students around the world at that time were protesting against the present society. The main protagonist, Toru, is torn between Naoko, a beautiful but emotionally wounded young woman and Midori, who is full of life. As he faces love, death, loyalty, experimentation and then love again, we see a sharp picture of the 60s Japanese society through the eyes of Toru.

reviewed by —Erika Prange, Faculty Librarian Southwestern College.


Check out Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami, available now in the library on the New Book Shelf 3212.