Films for Halloween

Photo by Toby Ord

Halloween is just a couple of short days away. Do you need a distraction from your studies? Here are a few suggestions for a Halloween movie night. The best part is you can pick them up right here at the Albertsons Library!

Foggy nights (and days), crisp wind, and the changing environment conjure the time of year to curl up on the couch with a good horror movie, or a bad one for that matter.

Here is list of some horror films we have at the library:

1. The Wizard of Gore: http://boisestate.worldcat.org/oclc/45748056
   Herschell Gordon Lewis is known as the Godfather of Gore, and this film delivers plenty. The gore in this film is far from realistic, and the acting leaves something to be desired, but that’s part of what makes this film so great. Montague the Magnificent has come on the scene, creating masterful illusions for his paying customers. When the lovely volunteers who are subject to these illusions start to die, a news reporter is ready to investigate. This is considered a splatter film, so be warned if you check this one out!
2. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari: http://boisestate.worldcat.org/oclc/50805098
   This silent film focuses on a somnambulist who commits murders under a hypnotist's influence. It is one of the films that hails from the German Expressionist movement, and has influenced some modern film makers. The opening scenes from ‘The Queen of the Damned,’ for example, are shot in the same manner.
3. The Fly: http://boisestate.worldcat.org/oclc/182538990
   

   David Cronenberg’s remake of this film is great! If you haven’t seen this one yet, what better time to check it out than Halloween? A scientist accidentally combines his own DNA with that of a common fly after it gets trapped in an experimental teleportation device he created. The sequel is also on the shelves (http://boisestate.worldcat.org/oclc/182538896).
4. The Last Man on Earth: http://boisestate.worldcat.org/oclc/57070225
   This film is the original! Starring film legend Vincent Price as the only human survivor of a plague that swept the face of the earth, he must defend his home from vampires at night and forage for supplies during the day to survive. Price gives an incredible performance as the tortured, exhausted last man on earth.
5. The Birds: http://boisestate.worldcat.org/oclc/43793579
   This is definitely a classic. When Melanie Daniels arrives in Bodega Bay, the small town is attacked by thousands of birds. Alfred Hitchcock directed the film.
6. Chyonghan Kajok (The Quiet Family): http://boisestate.worldcat.org/oclc/68815536
   When economic tragedy hits the family, they take up residence in an old mountain cottage and open an inn. The guests check in, but they never check out. The family must cover up the serial murders occurring on their new property.
7. The Haunting: http://boisestate.worldcat.org/oclc/47977603
   Adapted from Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House, this psychological thriller tells the story of four people who come to the house to study its supernatural phenomena.
8. Cronos: http://boisestate.worldcat.org/oclc/86081224
   This film was directed by Guillermo del Toro and stars Ron Perlman. Antique dealer Jesus Gris accidentally discovers the ancient Cronos device, which bestows eternal life to those who use it. However, there are certain disadvantages to using the device. A dying industrialist finds and reads the creator’s journal, and sends his nephew to retrieve the device.

If you can’t find what you are looking for, don’t forget about Interlibrary Loan, although they won’t
get here in time for Halloween.

Lizzy Walker,
ScholarWorks

OverDrive app for Nook users

One of the library's eBook providers, OverDrive, has released a free OverDrive app for NOOK users. Go to the NOOK apps storefront to download the app, or read about it at the OverDrive blog.

The Albertsons library provides an extensive list of electronic books to Boise State University students and faculty. These eBooks cover a wide range of subjects and are available to download or read on your favorite mobile device. For information about eBooks, as well as download instructions for your particular device, check out the library's guide on eBooks at http://guides.boisestate.edu/ebooks

The Socratic Club History & C.S. Lewis presentation

Special Collections and Archives recently acquired a gift from Jim Stockton, lecturer in the Philosophy department. The collection will be on view on Thursday, October 25th, at 3:00 pm, in the Frank Church Room, in the Special Collections area on the second floor of the library. He will give a 30 to 45 minute presentation on the Socratic Club’s history and be available to answer any questions.

Jim’s description of the collection:

Meeting regularly from January of 1942 to November of 1969, the Oxford University Socratic Club was one of the most significant academic organizations to affect mid-twentieth century Anglophilic letters. Although the Socratic Club is most often identified with its first faculty advisor and president, literary critic and novelist C. S. Lewis, most of the papers presented, and argued over at club meetings, were delivered by such notable philosophers as G.E.M. Anscombe, A. J. Ayer, John Austin, Antony Flew, Gilbert Ryle, Philippa Foot, Peter Geach, John Lucas, Basil Mitchell, and many others. The Boise State University Socratic Club Collection is a small start on the preservation of rare publications and pertinent documents that speak to the club’s historical significance.

The collection features three original Socratic Digests (issues 2, 3, and 4) gifted by Oxonian moral philosopher Mary Midgley, who, along with her husband analytical philosopher Geoffrey Midgley, were active participants in club activities. Complementing the three original publications are five bound photo-copies of the Socratic Digests published between 1943—1952), obtained by the Albertsons Library staff.

Over the next few years, it is my hope to grow the collection, creating a reputable body of original papers and research notes that will be of benefit to philosophical historians and Lewis scholars alike.

Anonymous Japanese Diary from WWII

Page from MSS 238 – Anonymous
Japanese World War II Diary

Boise State University’s Albertsons Library Special Collections and Archives holds an anonymous diary from a seaman working on a hospital vessel for the Japanese Navy during World War II.

The diary is shrouded in some mystery because its author (or authors), the name of the ship, and the author of the partial English translation are all unknown.

The diary was donated by a former Head Librarian at Albertsons Library, Timothy A. Brown. Mr. Brown received the diary from his cousin, a widow, whose husband had made trips to Japan.  The prior provenance of the diary is unknown.

In an attempt to gather more information about the diary, Tim Brown sent the artifact to the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle, Washington in 2001.

In 2005, the diary was returned stating that the consulate was unable to determine the identity (or identities) of the authors and did not indicate the name of the ship. It was then that Brown donated it to Special Collections and Archives.

Page from MSS 238 – Anonymous
Japanese World War II Diary

The diary contains details of World War II battles, the leisure time activities of the crew and officers, and opinions about the war. Here is a small sample of entries:

15 May 1944 Our ship finally reached its full complement of corpsman total of 96. Officers and crew invited to picnic at Manilla Park. I won a prize in the 100 Meter Run – just two rice cakes. In the afternoon played baseball with the officers – they won … the beer in Manilla is very tasty and had my fill.

20 May 1944 … My own opinion of this war right now is a possible attack by America or England on our home land… I’m sure Japan could not stand such an attack since so many of our troops and naval forces are now employed in the South China Sea.  Even if we do conquer New Guinea and New Zealand our major forces will still be deployed and too far away to defend Japan and the war could be lost.

25 Oct 44 Observed 18 enemy aircraft over Rabaul.  All Army and Navy guns trying to rebel the attack.  All enemy aircraft very smartly keeping outside our 19,000 meter range.  High flying bombers did much damage to base and facilities, staying at least 20,000 meter altitude. Our guns were useless at this range.  After sunset more bombing. Heavy damage to airfield and fuel storage. Many buildings no longer standing. Heavy black smoke covered the whole island…. I was sure I would be killed in this attack. The noise from our guns was deafening. The blast and wind from enemy bombs was terrible, could not stand or talk. Makes a man want to fight with all he has.

Because the translation is incomplete, anybody with Japanese language skills is welcome to come to Special Collections and volunteer their time to finish the translation. The archives are open 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.  An online description of the diary and translation can found on the Northwest Digital Archives.

Kent Randell
Assistant Professor/Librarian/Archivist

Watch out for the Scarlet Macaw!

The Library is partnering with the Campus Read committee in an activity for all Boise State students. We've placed a very handsome Scarlet Macaw in the stacks for students to find. 

If you find the bird, bring him down to the Circulation Desk and fill out a ticket to be entered into a prize drawing. After he is found, he will be reintroduced to the wild and will find another nest in the stacks for another student to discover.

Think about the themes of the book, The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw by Bruce Barcott, and maybe you'll find the Macaw's nesting place. The contest will last until the end of the academic year. 

Good luck!
Mary Aagard
Head, Access Services

eBooks? We have them!

The Albertsons Library has a growing collection of electronic books (e-books) that can be accessed from a computer, available 24/7, and if you forget to turn one in, it'll do it for you--no library fines!

Access our e-book collection as you would any book, via the library catalog: http://boisestate.worldcat.org/advancedsearch

We have a guide just for e-books: http://guides.boisestate.edu/ebooks . If you haven't downloaded an e-book to your computer or mobile device (smartphone, tablet, e-book reader), please let us help!