Thursday, September 30, 2010

Every year libraries across the US dedicate the last week of September to Banned Books Week (BBW). This event is based on the principle of intellectual freedom: the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular (American Library Association). This year BBW is celebrated from Sept. 25 to Oct. 2 with a theme suggested by Voltaire: “Think for yourself and let others do the same.”

The books featured during Banned Books Week have been targets of attempted bannings. Fortunately, while some books were banned or restricted, in a majority of cases the books were not banned, all thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, booksellers, and members of the community to retain the books in the library collections.

Would your life have been different if you hadn’t read one of these often-challenged books? This year, these books made the list of top 10 challenged books. Check one out from the Rio Hondo College Library and celebrate Banned Books Week!


Tuesday, September 21, 2010


Author Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez withLibrary staffer Rudy Martinez

Award-winning author Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez was on campus on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 16, as part of the College's “El Grito” celebration of Mexican Independence Day. Speaking to the Wray Theater audience about her stint in the newspaper and publishing industries, Ms. Valdes-Rodriguez shared her experiences as a former staff writer for both the Los Angeles Times and The Boston Globe. She also signed copies of her novels, including Dirty Girls on Top, a copy of which Rudy has donated to the College library.

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Have you noticed how packed the Library has been since the start of the Fall 2010 semester?

Library statistics show that during the first full week of the semester, from Aug. 23-28, 2010, a total of 10,027 people walked through the library gates – an increase of 13.8% from 2008 when the first week’s gate counts were last recorded in the old Library building. Each person entering the library is counted as one entry each time.

This increase is particularly impressive given the current construction going on in the lower quad area right in front of the Learning Resource Center building (LRC) that has forced students, faculty and staff to navigate circuitous routes between the upper and lower quads.

Even more important, the Library was able to provide a much-needed service to students who needed to get a head start on studying for their classes. Textbooks on reserve were checked out a total of 955 times during the first 8 days of the semester, representing increases of 21.6% and 44% over the equivalent periods in 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Note: Fall 2009 gate counts are unavailable for comparison since the automated gate counter was not operational during the first week that the Library was open for business from Aug. 24-29, 2009, in the then-brand-new LRC. However, it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to predict that this semester’s numbers are close to (if not better than) those of Fall 2009.