Molstead Library News

Library Spiderman smashes stereotype

Ever wondered what librarians are REALLY like?

The Librarian by Larry Beinhart, author of the book filmed as Wag the Dog, reveals librarians in action like you never would believe - even older librarians. The hero, David Goldberg, with a team of unlikely superspy lady library science types, thwarts a brutal, radical right wing conspiracy to steal a 21st century presidential election - by the skin of his and their teeth. Not only is this novel a true page-turner but it "is satire that one has to take seriously," one Amazon.com reviewer writes. "Using his skills as a mystery writer, Beinhart takes one through a thrill ride through contemporary politics centering on an attempt to steal a presidential election (sound familiar)? Displaying a disturbing insight into the mindsets of right wing power players, Beinhart makes salient observations about the current political state of affairs but does so in the context of a wild multiple point-of-view story rather than a dry nonfiction essay. This is agitprop at its best. Anyone who likes being entertained while becoming better informed can do no better than to read, preferably back to back, Wag the Dog (i.e. American Hero) and The Librarian. Have your peace of mind disturbed and smile and chuckle at the same time."

WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU??? A statistical profile of new college freshmen

How do you compare yourself with the responses of 289,452 first year students entering 440 four-year colleges and universities in 2004 as reported in The Chronicle of Higher Education (February 4, 2005 issue - page A33) ?

75.3% of them said they were above average in Kindness.....  Only 31.3% claimed Religiousness....  70.1% of men and 85.7% of women agreed strongly that the federal government should do more to control the sale of handguns.....   27.4 of men but only 15.8% of women agree strongly that the activities of married women are best confined to the home and family.......   62.4% considered helping others who are in difficulty an essential objective....... 24.8% said chances are very good they will strengthen religious beliefs/convictions.......   In 2004 21.9% of students considered themselves conservative - 26.1% considered themselves liberal - while 46.4% found themselves in the middle of the road.......  Only 15% considered writing, performing arts, or artistic work as essential educational objectives......  While 74.6% said training for a specific career was a top reason for going to college, 76.8% wanted to learn more about things that interest me.....

To see the full array of responses by students, look at the February 4th issue of The Chronicle in your Molstead Library filed in the current Newspaper shelving or ask your friendly Information Librarian in person, by telephone (208-769-3265), or email at ASK A LIBRARIAN at the Molstead Library website (http://www.nic.edu/library)

WERE YOU BORN AFTER 1972? Social Security and You.....

Are you going to make $50,000 year or more AND be able to save at least $1000 each year and leave it untouched for 50 years - until you retire at least at 70 and are eligible for reduced Social Security benefits (possibly 54% lower than benefits in 2004?).  If you die, will you have enough private insurance to cover your wife and children until they have replaced your income?  If you or one of your children are disabled, do you have enough private insurance to make up for the reductions in Social Security Disability benefits - for the rest of your life?

Your library has 50 electronic and print books plus hundreds of journal articles and reports on all angles of our national social insurance system which provides some protection for folks in their old age and folks with disabilities.  Your friendly Information librarian will help you nail down the most reliable data on the strengths and weaknesses of the Social Security system. What are the demonstrable facts? Who has the best plan to fix this safety net created in 1935?  What are realistic alternatives to the Social Security safety net for Americans who now owe $1.4 trillion in personal debt?

Americans born after 1972 - many making less incomes than their parents - are facing serious financial challenges living longer in retirement unless their income averages more than the 60% of Americans who earn LESS than $50,000/year.   So use your library to get better informed about proposed changes to the Social Security safety net which might affect you and your loved ones - while being better informed could make a difference!

Next Crisis Iran? Alexander Did Pretty Well - How Will Bush 2 Do?

Twenty-five years ago, revolutionary Iran seized the American embassy and taught the United States some things about radical Islamic theocracy. The Vice-President said last week that Iran was numero uno in our national security concerns. What do you know about modern Persia, a country with a 3 thousand year history? How do Iranian perspectives differ from those of the American administration? What are our alternatives to pre-emptive military action in Iran?

Dig into a 2004 book The Persian Puzzle: the conflict between Iran and America, by Kenneth Pollack, to see Iran in the context of the Persian Gulf region and to examine the "behind-the-scenes story of the tumultuous relationship between Iran and the United States." The Persian Puzzle may be on the NIC Library shelves at: E183.8.I55P58 - or reserve it by telephone or using the library computer catalog.

If you want to go deeper, your library has 10 other books just on the Iran / U.S. relationship over the past 25 years, not to mention dozens of other books (electronic and paper) and hundreds of journal articles on its history, art, literature, and peoples. We can also help you identify quality Internet sources about this second arm of the "axis of evil" and it's future relationships with the Western world.