Serving the Community College of Vermont & Vermont State University
Serving the Community College of Vermont & Vermont State University
Curated collections featuring new and noteworthy books, films, and resources on important topics.
“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words await another voice.”
– T.S. Eliot
As we step into the new year, we reflect on the opportunities for growth and transformation that lie ahead. The tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions serves as a powerful way to channel our aspirations into tangible goals. Whether it's enhancing personal health, mastering new skills, or fostering a more positive mindset, self-improvement is a continual journey that requires intention, effort, and resilience. This month's virtual display features books and videos to inspire, inform, and guide you in the year ahead.
“We feel cold, but we don’t mind it, because we will not come to harm. And if we wrapped up against the cold, we wouldn’t feel other things, like the bright tingle of the stars, or the music of the aurora, or best of all the silky feeling of moonlight on our skin. It’s worth being cold for that.” – Philip Pullman, The Golden Compass
– Philip Pullman, The Golden Compass
The world has been a bit heavy as late, so for this month the VSCS Libraries have decided to focus our virtual display on winter-themed (or just good-to read-in-winter) fiction and recreational reading. See our virtual display, pull up a chair in from of the fire, and join us in reading a good book.
National First-Generation College Celebration Day is an annual event that takes place on November 8th to honor the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965. National first-generation day is a call to celebrate students, faculty and staff who are the first in their family to pursue a four-year undergraduate degree in the United States.
In honor of National First-Generation College Celebration Day 2024, the VSCS Libraries, in conjunction with the VTSU Johnson Academic Support Office present the following virtual display of books written by first generation authors.
“It is important to understand that there are many different ways of seeing the world and expressing the wisdom of Native belief...No one voice speaks for all voices.”
– Joseph Bruchac, Abenaki
National Native American Heritage Month is celebrated in November to recognize the history, culture, and achievements of the original inhabitants of the United States and their descendants. See our virtual display for select VSCS Libraries materials by Native American authors and filmmakers, or that explore the culture, achievements, and struggles of Native people and communities in Vermont and across the United States.
“The Latina in me is an ember that blazes forever.”
– Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
National Hispanic Heritage Month is annually celebrated from September 15 to October 15 to recognize the contributions and influence of Hispanic and Latino/a/x Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. The theme for 2024 is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.”
See our virtual display for select VSCS Libraries materials by Hispanic and Latino/a/x authors and filmmakers, celebrate the culture and achievements of Hispanic and Latino/a/x Americans, or explore the challenges faces by Hispanic and Latino/a/x American communities in the United States.
“When people struggling against an injustice have no hope that anything will ever change, they use their strength to survive; when they think that their actions matter, that same strength becomes a force for positive change.”
– Susan Stryker, Transgender History: The Roots of Today’s Revolution
First established in San Francisco in 2021 (on the 55th anniversary of the Compton's Cafeteria Riots), Transgender History Month celebrates the history and cultural milestones of transgender people.
See our virtual display for select VSCS Libraries materials highlighting transgender history history and the transgender experience.
“Without ice cream, there would be darkness and chaos.”
– Don Kardong
July is National Ice Cream Month. In honor of this, the libraries are dedicating our July Virtual Display to materials about Ice Cream and other Summery topics (beach reads, outdoor recreation, barbecue, etc.) Enjoy your summer!
“Do not allow people to dim your shine because they are blinded. Tell them to put on some sunglasses, because we were born this way.”
– Lady Gaga
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan.
See our virtual display for select VSCS Libraries materials by LGBT+ authors and directors or that celebrate LGBTQ+ history and culture.
“Do not be bound by this age; aim to create a new age that will delight people throughout the world.”
–Masayoshi Son
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The theme for 2024 is Advancing Leaders Through Innovation. See our virtual display for select VSCS Libraries books, ebooks & streaming films that celebrate AANHPI communities' rich heritages and numerous contributions to society.
“Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about things.”
– Flora Lewis (American journalist, 1922-2022)
For the academic year 2023-2024, Vermont State University is now providing education to a total of 729 (out of 5,065 students) (about 14.39%) self-reported as multilingual, using more than one language in their life. 293 multilingual students of them are considered a minority, having a Hispanic ethnicity, or a non-white race. 766 students (15.12% of total student population) are classified as “International Students”- including students from non-English speaking countries and those from Canadian, UK, Australia, and English-speaking countries.
This virtual display was prepared by the VSCS Libraries in conjunction with VTSU Multilingual Students Services to accompany Intercultural Artifacts Exhibitions happening at the campus libraries beginning April 16th. Take a look at the books and videos we highlight—and stop by the libraries to check out the artifact displays!
“The World is three days: As for yesterday, it has vanished, along with all that was in it. As for tomorrow, you may never see it. As for today, it is yours, so work in it.”
– Hasan of Basra
April is Arab American Heritage Month. The theme for 2024 is Celebrating Arab American Resilience and Diversity.
See our Virtual Display for select VSCS Libraries materials by Arab American authors & directors and that highlight Arab American contributions to our society.
“I'm no longer accepting the things I cannot change...I'm changing the things I cannot accept.”
– Angela Davis
March is Women's History Month. The theme for 2024 is Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, recognizing women throughout the country who understand that, for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and institutions.
See our Virtual Display for select VSCS Libraries materials that highlight this struggle.
“I am even more certain that to create dangerously is also to create fearlessly, boldly embracing the public and private terrors that would silence us, then bravely moving forward even when it feels as though we are chasing or being chased by ghosts.”
– Edwidge Danticat
February is Black History Month. The theme for 2024 is African Americans and the Arts, highlighting the many impacts Black Americans have had on visual arts, music, cultural movements, and more.
See our Virtual Display for select materials from the VSCS Libraries collections celebrating Black art and artists.
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
