Worried About Student Loans? Listen to NPR

This week NPR is airing a series on student loans during this economic crisis. There will be a lot of helpful information regarding what students and colleges are doing to account for financial challenges. There is also information regarding federal student loans. To listen or read a transcript go to NPR.org.

Alum Alex Taylor, 2001

Jessica R. Alexander, Reference librarian

Our alum, Alex Taylor, (A. Alexzandra Taylor) worked as a student assistant in the library. Her heart is just as beautiful as she is. She has just left her practice in Houston to move to DC with her husband, Jason Heimberg, and her new baby, Alexis. I went to a goodbye open house at her condo a few weeks ago.

Alex's husband and his brother, Justin, co-wrote a hilarious book, The Movie Plot GeneratorBrothers Heimberg Publishing 2004). It is signed and I have contributed it to our collection. There is a sample plot generator on the website. Check it out.! The brothers also have a movie coming out - Ace Ventura Jr.

Are We A Nation of Prisoners? - Authorative Sources for Study of World Prison Populations

Jessica R. Alexander, Reference Librarian

Today's edition of the New York Times contains a front page article, "Inmate Count in U.S. Dwarfs Other Nations." I won't comment on the political and social positions taken in the article. But it is helpful to know about the sources for the cited statistics. The International Center for Prison Studies at King's College London put the conclusory statistics together. Their website is interesting and has interactive maps. Their statistics are drawn in part from The United States Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics. It has a sub-department called International Justice Statistics. These two DOJ websites are a valuable source for scholarly papers and just arguing with friends or foes!

Library Changes During Finals

The Fred Parks Law Library will extend hours April 28th-May 14. We will be open until 2:00am during this period (no library services from midnight until 2:00am).

The Fred Parks Law Library provides a variety of spaces for study and meetings by currently enrolled South Texas students. Room capacity varies from 2-8 persons. Rooms are available on a first come, first serve basis. Group size has to be appropriate for room capacity.

Several areas of the library are reserved specifically for quiet study during finals. During finals the 1st floor, 4th floor, and 5th floor are ultra quiet areas. Cell phones, beepers, and conversations are not allowed as a courtesy to other patrons.

Food and beverages in unapproved containers are not allowed in the library.