The library is a great place to further your knowledge about
current controversies and research hot topics from popular
culture.
The library is a great place to further your knowledge about current controversies and research hot topics from popular culture.
Whether you’ve just seen the movie Master and Commander and now want to read Patrick O’Brian’s books, or you want to learn more about something you’ve read, seen on TV, or heard on the radio – the library is an excellent place to start your search.
The popularity of the controversial best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown has brought plenty of people into the library looking for more information about various aspects of the book.
The library has a number of books about Leonardo Da Vinci and his paintings; Leonardo Da Vinci, Origins of a Genius by David Alan Brown and Leonardo Da Vinci by Jack Wasserman are both large format, richly illustrated books which detail the artist’s work. Leonardo’s life is recounted in Serge Bramly’s biography Leonardo, Discovering the Life of Leonardo Da Vinci.
We also have a number of books about Mary Magdalene and the role of women in the Christian church. Several of the titles are: Hidden Women of the Gospels by Kathy Coffey and Jesus and Woman by Lisa Sergio.
Our library system has ordered copies of a book mentioned in The Da Vinci Code: Holy Blood, Holy Grail by Baigent, Leigh and Lincoln.
Even though our library system owns nearly 100 copies, a popular book like The Da Vinci Code will probably be checked out and have a waiting list. Remember that you can add yourself to a waiting list for any book that is not in or have a book sent to the Morgan Hill Library from any library in the Santa Clara County system.
If the waiting list on a title is too long, be sure to check the Best Seller collection for popular books. This collection is provided by the Friends of the Library organization, items cannot be reserved and books check out only for one week instead of the regular three weeks.
You can keep up with coverage of controversial topics in a variety of magazines and databases that the library subscribes to, for instance Newsweek magazine from Dec. 8, 2003, has an in-depth cover article about the Da Vinci Code.
Databases put a huge number of sources at your disposal. A key word search using the words Vinci and code netted 50 hits in the Big Chalk database, 60 hits in Ebsco Masterfile Premier, and 48 hits in Opposing Viewpoints – all of these hits correspond to full text articles from diverse authoritative sources such as major newspapers, magazines and academic journals.
Another great thing about the databases is that you can access them from your home or work internet by going to our website www.santaclaracountylib.org , clicking on databases and authenticating using your library card and PIN numbers.
The library has controversial books from all political persuassions. Come in and check out best-sellers from a broad spectrum of writers from Michael Moore to Bill O’Reilly, Molly Ivins to Ann Coulter.
We have the new book of selected Ronald Reagan’s letters, Reagan: A Life in Letters and you can also get Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton. Your library is an up to date information source, come visit us today.
This column was written by Jeff Grubb from the Morgan Hill Library. Questions and suggested topics for At the Library, which appears in Tuesday editions, should be directed to Nancy Howe, community librarian, by calling 779-3196 or nh***@**********************ca.us
