The Criterion Collection at Reeves

Over the past few years, the DVD collection at Reeves Memorial Library has grown by leaps and bounds.  Much of the growth has been due to a generous donation of over 1,000 new items. One area of the collection that deserves to be highlighted is the large number of titles released by the Criterion Collection.

For those unfamiliar with the Criterion Collection, it is "a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films ... dedicated to gathering the greatest films from around the world and publishing them in editions that offer the highest technical quality and award-winning, original supplements" (description taken from the Criterion website).  If standard DVD and Blu-ray releases are sirloins and New York strip steaks, Criterion releases are filet mignon.  Their catalog currently includes over 900 titles, spanning a wide range of genres and featuring both American and foreign films, from mainstream hits to indie films.  Many of their releases provide cinema buffs with their first chance to see a film that had previously been unavailable for many years.

One great feature of their releases is the superb cover art, which has inspired a slew of fan-created fake Criterion covers that have been posted in a popular tumblr.

Reeves Memorial Library currently has about 140 Criterion titles available.  Recent additions include Charlie Chaplin's classic The Gold Rush, the landmark Holocaust documentary Shoah, and the hallmark French New Wave film Pierrot le fou.

If you're a Criterion fan, you can visit their website and set up a My Criterion account, which allows you to create lists of your favorite films, and to keep track of the Criterion films that you've seen.  Many of these user-created lists are featured on the Criterion Collection website.  Reeves Memorial Library has a My Criterion account that we use to keep track of the titles that we own, as well as our wish list for future purchases.  We also have a list of recommended teachable films from the collection, "Criterion in the Classroom."

Check out the Criterion Collection at Reeves Memorial Library and discover some of the greatest films ever made.

Our Chat Reference Service is Out of This World!

Considering our recent post about the Buzz Lightyear that was left in the library (we're happy to report he has been reunited with his playmate), it's not surprising that someone signed into Reeves Library's online chat reference service this afternoon as Emperor Zurg.  For those of you unfamiliar with the film Toy Story, Zurg is the sworn enemy of Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, and Buzz believes he is poised at the edge of the galaxy with a weapon that can destroy an entire planet.

Here are a few choice excerpts from the beginning and end of today's reference transaction:

Emperor Zurg: "Hello."

Me: "Hello, Emperor Zurg. This is Adam Pellman of Star Command. How can I help you?

Zurg: "I greatly acquire assistance from your establishment of literary content. Where would you happen to find books on [confidential topic, although you can rest assured that it had nothing to do with space warfare] ...  My... er... cousin the Dark Lord of All requires such reading materials."

...

Zurg:"Emperor Zurg, sworn enemy of the Galactic Alliance, greatly appreciates the assistance of human Adam Pellman of Star Command. I can now finish my homework! I will consider saving you as I take over the world."

Me: "Glad to help, and thanks for sparing me. Good luck with your ploy for galactic domination. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

Zurg: "That is all for today. Thank you!"

 This exchange was really fun for me, so I'd like to thank Zurg (whoever you are) for brightening my day.  It also shows that even galactic villains can benefit from a college education, and I applaud the emperor for his commitment to lifelong learning.

First week's hours

Welcome back!

Our hours for the first week of classes are:

Monday-Thursday      8:00 a.m. - 8:50 p.m.
Friday                         8:00 a.m. - 4:50 p.m.
Saturday                     9:00 a.m. - 4:50 p.m.
Sunday & Monday     CLOSED

To infinity & beyond!

Buzz knows that books can take him places, but right now he just wants to go home! A young man accidentally left him at the library yesterday. If you know Buzz's playmate, please let him know that his buddy is waiting patiently for him at Reeves.

Kids these days

From the book The Burg of Greene in Pictures Seen

Setonian Day

The library has been hosting cyber cafes for parents of our new students when they visit campus on Setonian Days. Parents have a little downtime to drop by, grab a cup of coffee, and check their email on an iPad.

We're happy to have you with us! Enjoy your visit and come back soon (and often)!

Collection management

As we prepare for our move and transition next summer, we are busily "weeding out" old, tattered, and/or superseded books. As usual, we try to send as many of these as possible to Better World Books.

This is our latest shipment, ready for pickup-- 105 boxes worth!

More to come.