Guess the SCUAians!

Holiday fun times!

As archivists and special collections folks, we are all about the old stuff.

In honor of our noble profession, I will be posting photos of SCUA (Special Collections and University Archives) staff as young'uns. Jen cleverly photoshopped them as black and whites to make the I.D.ing that much more challenging.

Your job? Guess who we were! Think of the bragging rights if you guess correctly!

In the UNLIKELY case that not everyone in the University Libraries (and fanbase) knows who were are, here is our staff listing! We have also made David Gwynn in ERIT an honorary SCUAian.

Our first contestant:



This mystery SCUAian wants to help YOU (yes, you!) find and use all of the wonderful materials here in Special Collections and Archives. Come on up to the second floor!

From Beth Ann Koelsch (Here's a hint: This photo isn't me.) Please put your answers in the comment section....

Green Leaks of the Month

Two recent library green things to mention (thanks Ann & Audrey for heads-up):

1) Check out the new Recycling Large Green Bin in the Vending Machine Room in the Basement. The following items can be placed in it: VHS tapes, Cell Phones, DVDs, Floppy Disks, Computers, Batteries, CDs.

NOTE: you cannot place computers purchased with state funds in this bin.

2)The UNCG Office of Sustainability has given the library a handful of flatware now located in the Jackson Library Staff Room in an effort to reduce the usage of disposable eating utensils. Please try to use these or your own reusable mugs, flatware and dishes whenever possible. (remember - reuse before recycling!)

Green Leak for the Month - Just in Time for Thanksgiving!

If you're looking for a good read during your Thanksgiving travels - or a way to carve out some quiet space during reunions - take a book with you! [Unless you are the one driving.] Check out the "See a Book - Read a Book" bookcase in the Jackson Library Staff Room for a wide selection of novels, mysteries, thrillers - you name it. All books are free. If you see a book you'd like to read, then take it. If you have books to share, bring them. I found a copy of The New York Times' 60-Minute Gourmet for my very own.

Go find your treasure!

UNCG image to the buildings

By Zhongming Xu

I Arrived at UNCG for two weeks. All on campus is fresh to me. I don't know what to talk about? Let me talk about buildings of UNCG.

According to my observation, buildings of UNCG have three characteristics: the color of the buildings; the height, and building materials.

About color, I have observed that only two types of colors are being used on the buildings, brown and white. Strictly speaking, only one kind of color throughout the campus, though the white building, Jackson library, is an exception. Why the Jackson Library tower building uses different color?

I have asked many people with whom I met so far, but no one could tell me why. Perhaps I have not met the person who might answer my question. In order to find the answer, I will continue to ask. I hope I will know the answer before I leave UNCG. For the question of color, I guess that, since UNCG built, the University made a clear rule. All the buildings must use one color. This reflects University tradition. It is a kind of cultural heritage. This view is supported from IPC Director, MR. Elliot As to the question why Jackson library tower is a white building, I can only think that library is the culture and learning center of the University. It must reflect the central position of the Library.

About building height: Actually, as the color of buildings, also is the same. All buildings on campus are no more than five floors in height. Jackson library is the tallest building in the campus, with nine floors. I understand the fact in the height of library tower is taller than other university buildings marking it a prominent on campus. It is more important in the position of University.

About building materials, through the observation of University project under construction, using steel structure materials are being used for internal support; wood or synthetic materials for walls, and the same color for outer-walls. So I may say, these buildings are environmental construction; all the materials can be recycled; even when building will be dismantled at some point, the building materials won't have much construction waste. In China, we currently still use concrete as main material, but environmental protection buildings already have built in e University campus of American. So the gap of between the two countries is obvious. Thus, I also think the world expo 2010 Shanghai, all exhibitions are green building. These are our ideal and goal of urban construction in future. We need to think and do a lot.

Rule consciousness

By Zhongming Xu

Before I came to the United States, many friends told me that the United States is one country of the rules and credit. In China, rules and credit are the profits of tools. The rules and credit are often trampled and abused.

Friends may ask, where are rules and the credit of American consciousness? Here I have a story. Langping should be known to most people. She was a coach of USA's volleyball team. One time she brought USA’s volleyball team to play game in China. After the game when she was heading to U.S., she did not bring her passport when she needed to enter the America. The U.S. HSD in accordance with relevant laws didn't let her to entry; she had to return to China for more than a month to wait to get her related formalities before the Department allowed her to enter the United States territory. This is completely legal equality in a flat surface of the typical case. In the United States, people must obey the law, and no one had the privilege. I don't know this kind of circumstance will be happening in China. Perhaps the HSD also abided by laws, not let Langping to enter China without her passport. Perhaps there is a leader to take a telephone to solve. What do you think would be?

Since I came to UNCG, I have the deepest feelings of the people to obey the rules with honesty and positive attitude. Legal consciousness had deeply rooted in every American’s mind; law-abiding is every citizen's responsibility and obligation, and strictly enforcing the law is guaranteed that can become the thorough popular feeling.

So I think when the motherland will have harmonious situation. From the historical development and 5,000 cultural inheritance observed, when our legal system was fully functioned, we would be a powerful country, such as Qin, Han and tang, etc. Now after the legal system was built, we have relatively perfect legal system, but there is the lack of certain aspects which caused our legal system with different degree of damage, such as unreasonable legal system, law enforcement system not rigorous, etc. How can true equality under the law with everyone? It is the process of constructing a perfect legal system in our society. We must further strengthen the work on this aspect.

We all wish to have a strong motherland; it continually makes progress, even little progress. We would feel heart-felt joy if our country became a powerful civilized society.

Green Leak of the Month: Create Gift Bags from Old Newspaper

Need a crafty project when stuck inside on a hot summer day? one projects that your kids might enjoy ... or crafty adults ... which is economical and green! If you have lots of newspaper lying around, its great to recycle it, but why not REUSE first. Here are some easy to follow steps on creating gift bags from newspaper. If you want more ideas, you can also make gift bags from envelopes .... or try gift bows from old magazines.

Herbal Healthcare Recipes

Here are some basic recipes to supplement the Staff Development Committee Alternative Health presentations:


Basic Healing Salve

Ingredients

2 oz Comfrey Leaves,Dried
1 oz Calendula Flowers,Dried
2 c Olive Oil
1 oz Pure Beeswax
4 Drops EO Of Tea Tree
4 Drops EO Of Lavender

Directions

Heat herbs in olive oil over low heat for 5 hours. Do not boil or
bubble. You can use a crock pot for this. Strain out all of the herbs
while oil is warm. Put 1 1/4 cups of the herbal oil into a saucepan,
add the beeswax, heat over low heat just until wax melts. Pour into
jars and store at room temp. This is the base for the psoriasis salve,
also makes a great lip balm, or a salve for healing cuts and scrapes as
it will promote healing and has antiseptic properties. To customize it
for psoriasis, eczema, or dry skin, add some herbs!

Eucalyptus Chest Rub

Ingredients

40 drops essential oil of Eucalyptus
10 drops essential oil of Camphor
2 drops essential oil of Wintergreen
1 drop essential oil of thyme
1 ounce Olive Oil
1/2 teaspoon Beeswax

Directions

Preparation: Add the beeswax to the olive oil and heat until the beeswax is melted. Use very low heat or a double boiler to prevent burning the oil. When the wax is melted, remove the oil from the heat then add the essential oils and stir to blend. When the mixture is cool it is ready to use. You can make this using only the eucalyptus oil if preferred.

To use rub a small amount on the chest as needed to relieve congestion.

Herbal Repellent Oil

Ingredients

1 part fresh pennyroyal
1 part fresh thyme
1/2 part fresh basil
1/2 part neem leaf (if available)
tea tree essential oil
citronella essential oil
olive oil

Directions

Pick your fresh herbs. Manually remove any dirt then set them in a sunny place until the herbs are wilted.

Using 1/4 cup as your part, measure 1/4 cup of pennyroyal and thyme, and 1/8 cup basil and neem leaf into a crock pot. Pour in enough olive oil to cover the herbs plus another inch of oil (approximately 1 cup). Turn the crock pot on low temperature and heat the herbs for about 3 hours. An alternative way to prepare your oil extraction is to place the herbs in a clear glass jar and set it in the sun for about five days. Shake it once or twice a day.

When you have finished heating your oil, strain your oil through a cheesecloth lined strainer. Squeeze out as much oil as possible. Measure out how much oil you now have. For each ounce of oil add 10 drops of citronella essential oil and 5 drops of tea tree oil.

Pour into lotion bottle and label.

Pain Reliever Salve

Ingredients

Mix together 1 oz of chickweed (reduces inflammation and aids in healing), 1 oz of
wormwood (a great pain reliever), and 1 ounce of yarrow (an anti-bacterial agent that

also helps relieve pain). The yarrow plant contains achillein and achilleic acid.
These substances reduce the clotting time of blood, so they help stop any bleeding.
Yarrow also has pain-killing and anti-inflammatory properties that are similar to aspirin.

Add the mixture of herbs to 2 pints of olive oil and simmer 3 hours.
Strain and add 3 ounces of beeswax and 1 teaspoon of tincture of benzoin.
Test for consistency before pouring into wide mouth containers.

Teething Gel

Ingredients

1 ounce pure vegetable glycerin
2 drops essential oil of clove


Directions

Add one drop of clove to your glycerin and shake it until it is well blended. Test it on yourself to make sure it is not too strong before adding another drop. For a young baby I use 2 drops. You could use vegetable oil instead of glycerin if you want. Glycerin is very sweet so it makes the remedy a bit more appealing.