Cochrane Library

For my essay I met with Peter Alter, a historian and the archivist at the Chicago History Museum (CHM) since 2010. Peter was exceptionally helpful and patient in answering all of my questions. The archives at the CHM house many important collections relating to life in the Chicago region that go back as far as 1683. Having used their research center, I have always been impressed at how user-friendly their searchable database is, and how quickly they are able to locate the folders requested…

Why are books banned? Why are books banned or challenged? There are many ways a book can be challenged or banned. A book can be banned or challenged by violence or negativity which means that books that include violence are censored. Some books have been deemed for negative or depressing features. As well as being banned by the profanity, racial issues. By examining the book “Night” by Elie Wiesel, and reading over the racial issues and the work of violence that is implemented into this book, I…

other reasons. Some books are based off of real life complications, such as, family problems, drug or alcohol addictions, and many more drawbacks we face in the real world. Jodi Picoult's book, My Sister’s Keeper, should not be banned in High School libraries because it teaches students about the obstacles one has to overcome in order to achieve independence. To begin with, Banned books are books that are censored for the good of the people. They are censored mostly for young adults and…

We shuffled through the library trying to find the perfect book until we came across the book, “Stella Luna”. The book fit all the children’s requests and it is one of my personal favorites as well. Before making my final choice, I referred back to the article “Understanding Children’s…

other students making up the remaining five percent of the student population. The library contains roughly 15,000 volumes including books, magazines, newspapers, DVDs, and audiobooks. The library also features an adjoining computer lab with thirty desktop PCs. The library is centrally located within the school building. 2. Selection Policy…

Fresh from the sting of England’s strict rule colonial America established itself with cries of freedom and liberty. The ‘American dream’ is an often debated term- generally believed to encourage entrepreneurship, tolerance and liberty. While debated, the mark of a country’s intentions can be seen in whom they respect or whom they deem to be important or relevant. Colonial America struggled to adhere to their desire for freedom. What seemed a black and white definition was in actuality only…

Reading is our greatest Teacher Dr. Seuss once said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you 'll go.” In my life reading has allowed me to escape the world around me and learn and understand not only myself but also the world and the purpose of life as a whole. By the time I was in 6th grade I had many books, but I also wanted to fit in. One day I thought it would be a good idea to sell all my books so I could go shopping for new…

Cyber-Safety Regarding Identity Theft What is Identity Theft? • Identity theft is a crime in which an imposter obtains key pieces of personal information, such as Social Security or driver 's license numbers without that person’s knowledge or permission, to get a benefit or to cause harm. • An identity thief takes on another person’s identity by using their personal information, which includes the person’s name, address, date of birth and email and social media log-in details. It is illegal…

Mark Twain and Jack London’s San Francisco Earthquakes Earthquakes are devastating tremors that cause serious damage. Mark Twain and Jack London describe two earthquakes they witnessed in San Francisco. In Mark Twain’s essay, he uses a satirical and humorous approach when describing human reaction towards the sudden earthquake, through a first point of view, and carefully chosen descriptive words. Jack London, on the other hand, focuses mainly on the effects the earthquake had on the city.…

Mark Twain and Jack London both wrote stories titled “The San Francisco Earthquake”, which tell of their experiences in San Francisco during an earthquake. Both men were physically present in San Francisco during the earthquake, and witnessed the effects of the earthquake firsthand. Although both Twain and London experienced a similar event, the two writers approached the subject very differently in their writing in order to portray their messages. Mark Twain describes his experience of the…