Open University Blogs

     

The Open University’s Open2.net blog portal is a wealth of information and news on a huge range of subjects. Posts are topical, current and written by OU lecturing/teaching staff.

There are also links back to BBC OU programmes (some are even hosted on the BBC iPlayer if you missed them), with upcoming show lists and some free learning resources available.

New Historical Drama/Fiction in the Library

Kindly donated ………………………………

                                    

New Ian Rankin Books in the Library

Kindly donated ……………………

  

  

New Harlan Coben Books in the Library

Kindly donated……………………..

                

More Free eBooks

 

There are more sites than ever providing free access to online text and audio books. Many of the books are older classics that are “in the the Public Domain” as they are no longer covered by copyright law, however some sites may be hosting material illegally. Check the authenticity of host/editor of the site before you download.

The Online Books Page (hosted by Univeristy of Pennsylvania)- over 30,000 free ebooks from classics to more modern titles. Good subject coverage.

Etext Centre (hosted by the University of Virginia) - one of the original ebook libraries on the web, includes staff recommended lists.

Many Books (uses a similar database list to Project Gutenberg) - modern and classic titles, with good subject coverage.

Microsoft Reader (not all books are freely accessible) - good for free dictionaries to download in multiple languages.

Classic Reader (Public domain books) - Includes books, plays and short stories with some author biographies and portraits. Over 3,400 titles too choose from with easy author/title search function.

There are other sites such as Page By Page Books  which also have free ebook access to classic titles but their editors or hosts cannot be ascetained.

Audio book sites covered by a Creative Commons License (a non profit organisation that provides free tools for authors, artists, and educators to mark their creative work with the freedoms they want it to carry) inlcude -

 Telltale Weekly (free perfomances released five years after their first appearance here or after a hundred-thousand purchases of the recording, whichever comes first. These recordings will be freely available for download at The Spoken Alexandria Project) - covers mostly classic literature.

Literal Systems (professional actors re-tell classic stories) - smaller number of classic books available but quality of recordings makes up for this. Older material is cleared to make room for new titles. Shakespeare’s sonnets may be relisted if demand arises.

 

World Book Day - 6th March 2008

                  

Visit the Official site to see whats going on!

Call into the Library to pick up some freebies, postcards, see the new Quick Reads and take out something new!

Whats happening in Wales and around Conwy? Why not send an e-card to let everyone know???

See what the Welsh Books Council have chosen as their top reads in the

New Staff Reading Group - a Good Read in Good Company!

 

Staff Reading Group

Do you enjoy “a good read” and talking about books?

If you do, you might be interested in becoming part of a staff reading group we’re planning to take place in the library.

The reading group sessions will be aimed at admin/support staff and will probably take place over the lunch hour period (12-1 pm) on a regular basis.

We’ll provide the book packs for you to read and discuss, as well as the room and refreshments.

If you’re interested in being part of the Reading Group, please contact Pat Hebron on Ext. 423 or via email.

Classical comics bring to life Shakespeare in Graphic Detail

The idea for Classical comics came to Clive Bryant on train in October 2006 while discussing The Tipping Pointby Malcolm Gladwell. To cut a long story short, it occurred to him that if they could convert enough young people to appreciate literature by using the comic format of the graphic novel and Manga, and making them as exciting as a Spiderman comic, then they could, possibly, reach those kids and adults who find the classics boring.

These graphic renditions have had endorsements, from the likes of Patrick Stuart and Barbera Romer, founder of The New Globe Theater, New York, amongst overs.

This week saw the publication of Macbeth as an unabridged graphic novel, which is mostly the work of comic book artist Jon Howard, the illustrator of Spiderman comics, who was reluctant to learn Shakespeare himself! The creators have set out to show that it not just about words, even though the language is fantastic. Its also about acting and reacting within frames, as it was intended ,on a stage.

              

Classic comics have produced three versions of each text - Original text, with all of the play poured into speech bubbles. Plain text version, where the Jacobean language is translated into contemporary English, and a Quick text version for those who prefer less of the narrative.

Read more at http://www.classicalcomics.com/index.html

Also see http://www.selfmadehero.com/ for Manga Shakespear and over classics.

Young Reviewers Competition - London Book Review

      LBR Young Reviewers Competition    

The London Review of Books is holding a competition for young reviewers. The prize for the best entry is £1000 and a one-year subscription to the LRB. Prizes may also be awarded for runners-up.

Each entrant should submit one review, praising or unpraising, between 2500 and 3000 words long, of any work of fiction or poetry published after the beginning of 2007. The review must be original, unpublished work (it is allowed to have appeared in a student periodical).

Entrants must be under the age of 26 at the closing date, 2 June 2008.

Please send submissions, along with contact details, to competition@lrb.co.uk (as an attachment), or by post to:

The Editors
London Review of Books
28 Little Russell Street
London
WC1A 2HN

They  regret that they are unable to acknowledge receipt of entries.

Teaching Children to Read

 

In response to a large number of queries at the front desk we hope students find this post useful!

National Literacy Trust       Bookstart   Brit.Assoc.Early Childhood Education

SureStart      Soc.Scientific Study of Reading    UK Nat.Literacy Strategy

Reading Reform Foundation

When and how should you start?

The Whole Language versus Phonics debate

‘Teaching Children to Read’ - House of Commons 8th Report 2005

Topics include phonics, reading for pleasure, early skills and literacy difficulties

Project Happy Child - Bricks and Mortar Reading Skills

Help children and adults to begin reading by concentrating on consonants (’Bricks’) and vowel (’Mortar’) sounds. Each letter is built into simple word group with similar sounds. There are 116 pages of example words and notes available for free!

Teaching Ideas - Literacy

Ideas and resource sharing site for Primary school teachers. Created by teachers for teachers. Literacy skills links include word games, skiming skills, sequencing and how to read to children.

Reading Rockets  

A US based site to help parents and teachers with children struggling to read. Includes resources for print awareness, phonics, vocabulary and spelling.                                       

Reluctant Readers - alternative to book only reading

Can colour help some children to read?

Research to support the use of colour overlays/lenses to help Dyslexic children

Glossary of Literacy Terms for Schools - Dept. of Children, Schools and Families

 Early Learning Books - in the library NL/ER shelves (beside Fiction section)