Archive for February, 2009

Library Closed Over Spring Break for Recarpeting

Friday, February 27th, 2009

To facilitate the replacement of carpet, the Library will be closed from Friday, March 6 at 5 p.m. through Sunday, March 15. Please note that as much of this work as possible is taking place during spring break.

However, the library catalog and electronic databases will be available throughout this entire time. If students need assistance they can call 708-974-5235 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday of spring break week.

The college certainly apologizes for any inconvenience to faculty and students, but this work needs to be completed as part of the overall renovation work being scheduled during the next several years.

Noted Author Harry Mark Petrakis to Speak

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

On May 5th, 4:30p.m. - 5:30 p.m., award winning author Harry Mark Petrakis will speak in the Moraine Valley Library. Petrakis will speak on American fiction, writing, and two of his recent books, The Shepherds of Shadows (2008), and Legends of Glory and other Stories (2007). Petrakis, a longtime Chicago resident and prolific novelist, is the author of twenty-one books, including novels, short story collections, memoirs, and collections of essays. He has received some of the highest honors and awards in American fiction, including The Atlantic First Award, and The O’Henry Prize. Two of his books were finalists for The National Book Award for Fiction. His novel, A Dream of Kings, was made into a major motion picture starring Anthony Quinn. In addition, two of his works, Pericles on 31st Street and Song of Songs, were made into films directed by Sam Peckinpah and Peter Bogdanovich respectively. Petrakis holds a number of honorary degrees and has lectured extensively as a storyteller at various academic institutions, including Ohio University, where he was McGuffyVisiting Lecturer, and San Francisco State University, where he was Kazantzakis Professor in Modern Literary Studies.

Carbon Trading Markets Podcast

Friday, February 13th, 2009

The library was happy to welcome Dr. Gregory Sierra, professor of accounting and former bank regulator at the Federal Reserve Board. Dr. Sierra spoke about the use of markets to regulate carbon emissions as part of the library’s One Book, One College program.  You can listen to all of our library’s public events at our Library Event Podcast page. You can listen to Dr. Sierra’s lecture here:


Dr. Gregory Sierra discussing CO2 as a pollutant.


Students volunteered to create their own mini-carbon trading market.

Remembering Updike Podcast

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009
The newest edition of the library’s Check it Out Podcast features a discussion about American author John Updike with faculty member Erika Deiters.  We hope you will listen and enjoy. 

Climate Change Teach In Podcast

Friday, February 6th, 2009
The library was happy to hosts the Biology Club’s showing of the National Teach In’s Solutions for the First 100 Days, a student panel discussion, and a letter writing campaign to President Obama.   You can watch the video Solutions for the First 100 Days online.  You can listen to the student panel discussion here:

Showing of the onlne Video, Solutions for the First 100 Days. 

Student Panel Discussion

Letter wrtiting campaign outsident the library.

Obama Panel Podcast Available

Friday, February 6th, 2009
The library was happy to host a panel discussion organized by the MVCC Multipcultural Student Affairs entitled The Meaning of An Obama Presidency.  This was held as part of the Black History Month Events.  You can listen to this event on the library’s Event Podcast page or you can: 

Kevin Navratil, Merri Fefles, Ronny Anderson, Delwyn Jones, Amy Williamson, and Ricky Cobb

Obama Panel in Southtown

Friday, February 6th, 2009

Yesterday’s Daily SouthTown/Star had an article that included our Panel Discussion on the Meaning of the Obama Presidency (held on Wednesday the 4th). I wanted to pass this article along, Obama Presidency New Chapter in Black History. There are some nice quotes from Moraine Valley faculty members in it.

Lincoln Trivia Contest

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth the library is sponsoring an Abraham Lincoln Trivia Contest! There are some signs around and we will put more out over the next few days.

 Each week in February there will be entry forms with trivia questions about Abraham Lincoln’s life available at the reference desk.

 Participants can turn the entry forms in at the reference desk in the box labeled “ABRAHAM LINCOLN TRIVIA CONTEST”.  One entry per person per week.

 Of those with correct answers, one entry will be drawn each week on Monday morning and will be awarded a $5 gift certificate to Espresso Love coffee shop in the library.

 February 2, 9, 16 and 23 names will be drawn, winners will be contacted, and new questions for that week’s contest will be available.