Thursday, September 29, 2011

Alabama Immigration Law Goes into Effect

Due to a new immigration law in Alabama, law enforcement will be required to make citizenship checks that will be costly, ineffective, and time consuming according to a legal expert ("Immigration Law: Court Upholds Key Parts of Tough Alabama Law," The Christian Science Monitor, September 28, 2011). US District Judge Sharon Blackburn prevented other provisions of the law to be implemented, but schools will need to review legal status of students wanting to enroll.

Review selected library titles related to immigration at LSC-CyFair Branch Library. Click the title of a listed item, select the "Request" button in the listing, and enter your library card number and PIN for each title you want to reserve for pick up at the library. Call the library at 281-290-3219 to check your PIN if you do not remember it. Use these subject words and phrases to find more in the library catalog:
  • illegal aliens 
  • United States emigration and immigration
  • United States immigrants
U.S. Immigrant book cover U. S. Immigrant and Immigration Policies in the Twenty-First Century: Making Americans, Remaking America by Louis DeSipio and Rodolfo O. de la Garza - Westview, 2011.
call number: on order
"An accessible overview of U.S. immigration and an incisive examination of the current legislative and legal debates over immigration and settlement policies." - publishers summary excerpt

American Immigration book cover
American Immigration: A Very Short Introduction by David A. Gerber - Oxford, 2011.
call number: 304.873 Ger
"A fascinating and even-handed historical account, this book puts into perspective the longer history of calls for stronger immigration laws and the on-going debates over the place of immigrants in American society." - publishers summary excerpt

Immigration book coverImmigration edited by Debra A. Miller - Greenhaven, 2010.
call number: 325.73 Imm
"Examines the current treatment of illegal immigrants, and potential changes to the U.S. response to illegal immigration. Also looks at how U.S. immigration policy could be reformed to mitigate the problem." - publishers summary excerpt

Friday, May 13, 2011

Transmission of HIV Cut Significantly with Preventative Drug Therapy

A large clinical study of 1800 couples in nine countries proves use of antiretroviral drugs by HIV-positive individuals "can reduce transmission of the virus to partners by 96%" ("Anti-HIV Drugs Prove Highly Effective in Preventing Transmission of Virus," Los Angeles Times, May 13, 2011). However, the uninsured are on waiting lists for these types of drugs due to a lack of government funding.

Review selected library titles related to HIV and AIDS at LSC-CyFair Branch Library. Click the title of a listed item, select the "Request" button in the listing, and enter your library card number and PIN for each title you want to reserve for pick up at the library. Call the library at 281-290-3219 to check your PIN if you do not remember it. Use these subject words and phrases to find more in the library catalog:
  • AIDS (disease)
  • HIV infections
Saturday Is for Funerals book cover Saturday Is for Funerals by Unity Dow & Max Essex - Harvard University Press, 2010.
call number: 614.599 Dow
"In broad strokes, the authors cover the transmission and diagnosis of the disease, how drugs are researched and introduced on the market, and the humble and elaborate initiatives that have been so successful in Botswana: circumcision as well as HAART (Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy)." - Publishers Weekly review excerpt

The HIV Pandemic book cover
The HIV Pandemic: Local and Global Implications edited by Eduard J. Beck ... [et al.]; managing editor, Lynn-Marie Holland - Oxford University Press, 2008.
call number: 362.196 Hiv
"This ambitious book, written by 165 authors from 30 countries, offers a multi-country comparative study that examines how the response to the common, global threat of HIV is shaped by the history, culture, institutions and health systems of the individual countries affected. Increasingly the shift of health systems has been from prevention only as the main containment strategy, to a strategy that includes scaling up HIV treatment, and care and prevention services, including antiretroviral therapy." - publishers summary excerpt

HIV/AIDS book coverHIV/AIDS: A Very Short Introduction by Alan Whiteside - Oxford University Press, 2008.
call number: 614.599 Whi
"HIV/AIDS is without doubt the worst epidemic to hit humankind since the Black Death. . .Despite rapid scientific advances there is still no cure and the drugs are expensive and toxic. In the developing world, especially in parts of Africa, life expectancy has plummeted to below 35 years. . .There have been unprecedented breakthroughs in understanding diseases and developing drugs. . . This Very Short Introduction tackles the science, the international and local politics, the fascinating demographics, and the devastating consequences of the disease, and suggests how we must respond." - publishers summary excerpt

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Facebook Strengthens Anti-Bullying Campaign

A new "social reporting feature" on Facebook provides help to those users who feel they are being bullied online. ("Facebook Backs Obama Anti-Bullying Campaign," The Wall Street Journal (blog), March 10, 2011). A recent White House conference included discussions of this new safety tool that requests other users to remove offensive content or gets help from other users about bullying online. This article mentions that the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (PDF file) says that at least 10% of school-aged children are "bullied on a regular basis."

Review selected library titles related to bullying prevention at LSC-CyFair Branch Library. Click the title of a listed item, select the "Request" button in the listing, and enter your library card number and PIN for each title you want to reserve for pick up at the library. Call the library at 281-290-3219 to check your PIN if you do not remember it. Use these subject words and phrases to find more in the library catalog:
  • bullying
  • cyberbullying
  • hazing
  • school violence
It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living edited by Dan Savage and Terry Miller - Dutton, 2011.
call number: 306.766 Itg (NOTE: In processing)
"After a number of tragic suicides by LGBT students who were bullied in school, syndicated columnist and author Dan Savage uploaded a video to YouTube with his partner Terry Miller to inspire hope for LGBT youth facing harassment. . . It Gets Better is a collection of expanded essays and new material from celebrities, everyday people and teens who have posted videos of encouragement, as well as new contributors who have yet to post videos to the site." - publishers summary excerpt

Understanding School Bullying: A Guide for Parents and Teachers by Mona O'Moore - Veritas, 2010.
call number: on order
"The handbook summarizes current knowledge; guides schools in the development, implementation, and evaluation of effective anti-bullying philosophies; recommends anti-bullying programs; and supports a culture of problem solving that draws on research and experience." - publishers summary excerpt


A Girl's Life (DVD) with Rachel Simmons - PBS Distribution, 2009.
call number: on order
"Researcher/author Rachel Simmons discusses the challenges facing young women as they grow to adulthood in the 21st century. To gather information, Simmons interviews parents, psychologists, teachers, social workers, and teens about what it means to be an adolescent girl in today's world and what messages girls receive from media and society. The core of the video consists of Simmons's interviews with four teenage girls in which she closely examines issues of body image, academics, cyber bullying, and violence." - School Library Journal review excerpt