eBooks

Winter break is upon us and the library will be closed until Jan. 10th, 2011, the first day of the spring semester. While we're closed you can still access our online resources from off-campus, including nearly 17,000 electronic books across all disciplines. From the library catalog simply click the maroon electronic resources button, select the link for Columbia students, enter your student ID and birthdate and voilà!

Have a wonderful break and see you in the spring. 

Encyclopedia of Cocktails

A comprehensive collection of recipies for all manner of cocktails, complete with a full ingredients appendix and a section on bartending basics. Perfect for whipping up something special over the holidays.

Difford's Encyclopedia of Cocktails
by Simon Difford
Find it in the library at call number TX951.D52 2009

Arranged

A charming film about two young women teachers in Brooklyn - one an Orthodox Jew and the other Muslim - who are both struggling with the idea of arranged marriages.

Arranged
directed by Diane Crespo and Stefan Schaefer
Find it in our video collection at call number PN1995.9 .D7A77 2007

Geography: A Very Short Introduction

Part of the series of tiny books aiming to provide a brief overview of a given topic, Geography covers the core elements of the field, the types of work geographers do and what the future may hold for the descipline.

Geography: A Very Short Introduction
by John Matthews & David Herbert
Find it in the library at call number G70 .M376 2008

Snowboarder

Snow is here and the slopes are (mostly) open. Catch the latest snowboarding tips, tricks, news and gear suggestions - not to mention some stunning photos - in between trips up the hill.

Snowboarder
Find the current issue of Snowboarder in our Reading Area. Back issues of all our magazines are located along the back wall of the library in alphabetical order and can be checked out for one week at a time. Online access to Snowboarder is available via the Full-text and Print Magazines search available on our homepage.

Rick Steves' Europe

Every episode from the first ten seasons of public television's acclaimed travel series by the lovable Rick Steves. Whether you're planning a trop to across the pond or interested in some armchair travel, this series is for you.

We also have several books by Rick Steves, including the 2010 edition of Europe Through the Back Door and Europe 101: History and Art for the Traveler.

Rick Steves' Europe
by Rick Steves
Find it in our Video Collection at call number D909. R53 2009

The Shallows

Originally published as an article titled "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" in The Atlantic magazine, this book expands upon the author's central question about the impact the Internet has on individuals and society as a whole.

The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to our Brains
by Nicholas Carr
Find it in the Library at call number QP360 .C3667 2010

The Survival of the Bark Canoe

A quintessential John McPhee book in how he weaves a masterful story about a seemingly mundane topic; in this case bark canoes.

The Survival of the Bark Canoe
by John McPhee
Find it in the library at call number VM353 .M28 1975

California Natural History Guides

Introductory guides to myriad natural history topics that relate to California, including field guides on everything from birds to geology and topic guides ranging from fire to Native Californians.

California Natural History Guides
published by the University of California Press
These guides are shelved throughout the library according to their relevant subject. Find call numbers by searching the online catalog.

Bosnia

A collection of traditional music by Muslim Bosnians recorded before the strife of the 1990s, these tracks give voice to the confluence of Turkish influences from the east and European influences from the west.

Bosnia: Echoes from an Endangered World
recorded and compiled by Ted Levin and Ankica Petrovic
Find it in our Audio collection at call number MW EU BN .B67 1985

American Artist

Monthly coverage of trends, techniques, styles and news relating to American artists (primarily painters and drawers). 

American Artist
The current issue of American Artist is located in our Reading Area. Back issues of all our magazines are located along the back wall of the Library in alphabetical order and circulate for one week at a time. Electronic access to American Artist is available through our Full-text and Print Magazine search, which is also available from our homepage.

Election 2010

Election Day (Nov. 2) is less than a week away and absentee voting is already underway. Here are some resources for information on the numerous races and propositions on our ballots.

Build Your Ballot Summaries and analysis of State-wide races and propositions from the Los Angeles Times.

Capital Public Radio has aired a series of reports exploring the different State-wide propositions 
League of Women Voters of California offers non-partisan analysis of the State-wide propositions

The California Channel provides interviews of the candidates for the California Supreme Court.

Finally, Follow The Money provides local campaign finance information

A Paradise Built in Hell

Using examples from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake up to September 11 and Hurricane Katrina, this book investigates the positive side of humanity and communities that grow out of devastation.

A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities that Arise in Disaster
by Rebecca Solnit
Find it in the Library at call number HV553 .S59 2009

Photo:Box

Iconic photos by more than 200 famous photographers from around the world. Pictures are grouped by broad categories and include descriptions and brief biographies of the photographers.

PHOTO:BOX
edited by Roberto Koch
Find it in the Library at call number TR655 .P48913 2009

River Basins of the American West

A collection of stories about the great watersheds of the Western United States. These explorations of water issues throughout the region were originally published in High Country News.

River basins of the American West: A High COuntry News Reader
edited by Char Miller
Find it in the Library at call number GB991 .W3R58 2009

A Platter of Figs

A mouth-watering collection of seasonal recipes, from Mustard Rabbit in the spring to chicken tagine in winter.

A Platter of Figs and other recipies
by David Tanis
Find it in the Library at call number TX725.A1T335 2008

Waiting on a Train

The well-regarded account of a year spent on trains throughout the United States in an effort to understand the public policy status (and future) of passenger rail service in America.

Waiting on a Train
by James McCommons
Find it in the Library at call number HE2741.M196 2009

Standard Deviants

Hip, well-regarded DVDs on dozens of mathematical topics from pre-algebra and algebra to geometry, statistics and calculus.

Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Amazing Algebra, Geometry, Statistics & Calculus
by the Standard Deviants
Find these DVD sets in the QA (mathematics) section of our Film collection

Skeptic

An engaging scientific and educational publication that aims to promote science-based knowledge and the healthy skepticism of ideas, concepts and theories.

Skeptic
The current issue of Skeptic is located in the Reading Area of the Library. Back issues of all our magazines are located along the back wall of the library and circulate for one week at a time. Electronic access to Skeptic is available through the Full-text and Print Magazines link, available on our homepage.

What the Dog Saw

A collection of New Yorker articles by the brainy author of The Tipping Point, Outliers and Blink.

What the Dog Saw
by Malcolm Gladwell
Find it in the Library at call number

What to Read When

An extensive collection of reading suggestions for children organized by age and category, such as adoption and spirituality.

What to Read When
by Pam Allyn
Find it in the Library at call number LB1139.5 .R43A45 2009

Bright Wings

Scores of classic and contemporary poems related to birds set alongside striking illustrations of the birds at hand.

Bright Wings
edited by Billy Collins
Find it in the Library at call number PR1195 .B5B75 2010

Medicine for the Outdoors

A comprehensive first aid guide for wilderness situations, this updated fifth edition includes information on a host of medical issues and a handy index for locating what you're looking for.

Medicine for the Outdoors
by Paul S. Auerbach, MD
Find it in the Library at call number RC88.9 .O95A94 2009

Mind and Life

A collection of conversations between the Dalai Lama and scientists collected during one of a series of Mind and Life conferences held in McLoed Ganj, India.

Mind and Life
edited by Pier Luigi Luisi
Find it in the Library at call number BQ4570 .M37L85 2009

A Question of Command

A broad history of counterinsurgencies from our own Civil War through to contemporary Iraq and Afghanistan. This text differentiates itself from others by arguing that the focus in addressing counterinsurgencies should be leadership, not the traditional areas of 'hearts and minds' efforts.

A Question of Command
by Mark Moyar
Find it in the Library at call number U241 .M69 2009

A New Literary History of America

From campaign speeches to Steamboat Willy and Ernest Hemingway, this volume includes hundreds of pieces that shaped our country's sense of literature.

A New Literary History of America
edited by Greil Marcus and Werner Sollors
Find it in the Library at call number PS92 .N39 2009

Hope for the Hopeless

The 2008 album by folk singer-songwriter and Stanislaus County native Brett Dennen. We also have his 2006 album So Much More.

Hope for the Hopeless
by Brett Dennen
Find it in our Audio Collection at call number MPF D428 .H66 2008

Beautiful Losers

An independent documentary about an artsy, DIY-ish group of folks connected through a gallery in New York City.

Beautiful Losers
directed by Aaron Rose
Find it in our Video collection at call number N6536 .B438 2009

GOOD

An eye-catching magazine aimed at positive, community enhancing efforts and ideas. Need more? Check out their vibrant online presence at www.good.is.

GOOD
Find the current issue of GOOD in our Reading Area. Back issues of all our magazines are in alphabetical order along the back wall of the Library.

Animal Liberation

The recently updated classic that helped fuel the animal liberation movement, the 2009 edition includes current examples and research.

Animal Liberation
by Peter Singer
Find it in the Library at call number HV4708 .S56 2009.

The Art of Eric Carle

Part autobiography and part portfolio from the author and illustrator of the classic kids book The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

The Art of Eric Carle
by Eric Carle
Find it in the Library at call number NC975.5 .C36 2002

Ad Infinitum

A biography of the Latin language that explores its broad importance to western culture from the Roman empire up to modern science and law.

Ad Infinitum
by Nicholas Ostler
Find it in the Library at call number PA2057 .O88 2007

A Whale for the Killing

Famed Canadian author Farley Mowat's account of his (doomed) efforts to save a trapped fin whale on the south coast of Newfoundland. According to the forward, Mowat's masterful telling of this terrible story inspired Greenpeace to refocus its efforts on saving whales in the early 1970s.

A Whale for the Killing
by Farley Mowat
Find it in the Library at call number QL795 .W5M66 2005

Julia & Julia

Meryl Streep stars as cooking legend Julia Child in this drama based on a true story (two true stories, as the case reminds us) of her inspiring another Julia to pursue a foody life.

Julia & Julia
directed by Nora Ephron
Find it in our Video collection at call number PN1995.9 .D7J84 2009

Fireflies, Honey, and Silk

An etymological exploration of a few of the many ways insects and humans interact in productive and often wonderful ways.

Fireflies, Honey, and Silk
by Gilbert Waldbauer
Find it in the Library at call number SF517 .W35 2009

Flight

This 2007 novel by Native American author Sherman Alexie follows a time traveling teenager that's in search of his identity. Listen to an interview of the author discussing the book on National Public Radio back when the book came out.

Flight
by Sherman Alexie
Find it on the shelves at call number PS3551 .L35F57 2007

A Museum of Thier Own

A memoir by Wilhelmina Cole Holladay, the driving force behind the National Museum of Women in the Arts and the museum's founding president.

A Museum of Their Own
by Wilhelmina Cole Holladay
Find it on the shelves at call number N858 .N36H65 2008

The Cove

Winner of the Academy Award for best feature-length documentary, The Cove uncovers Japan's illicit dolphin hunting trade.

The Cove
by Louie Psihoyos and Fisher Stevens
Find it in the Video collection at call number QL737 .C432C68 2009

Health Matters

A collection of five health related PBS documentaries covering such topics as depression, heart disease, Alzheimer's, obesity and cancer.

Health Matters
includes:
The Truth About Cancer
The Hidden Epidemic: Heart Disease in America
Depression: Out of the Shadows
FAT: What No One is Telling You
The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer's
Find it in our Video collection at call number RC46 .H4 2008

Naive Decision Making

Covering similar ground to the popular Irrational Exuberance and Freakonomics, this title takes a more scholarly approach to the math behind our everyday lives.

Naive Decision Making: Mathematics Applied to the Social World
by T.W. Körner
Find it in the Library at call number QA279.4 .K67 2008

Lowside of the Road

A biographical look at Tom Waits, an artist with an unmistakable low, throaty voice that makes his countless fans swoon.

Lowside of the Road: A Life of Tom Waits
by Barney Hoskyns
Find it in the Library at call number ML420 .W13H67 2009

Set

The album that helped propel Youssou N' Dour to international stardom and also put urban Africa music on the map. Featuring the Senegalese artist and his band the Super Etoile de Dakar.

Set
by Youssou N' Dour
find it in the Library at call number MW AF SG .S36 1990

Golden Roots of the Mother Lode

A publication of the Tuolumne County Genealogical Society that uses each issue to explore a different topic related to local history and genealogy.

Golden Roots of the Mother Lode
Find all issues Golden Roots of the Mother Lode along the back wall of the of the Library in alphabetical order.

Knife in the Water

Roman Polanski's first feature length film displays many of the characteristics that have come symbolize the Polish directors films.

Knife in the Water
by Roman Polanski
Find it in the Library at call number PN1995.9 .F7K59 1962

The Essential Tillich

Selected writings by famed Protestant thinker and existential theologian Paul Tillich. A good starting point for those new to Tillich and a handy reference for readers more familiar with his work.

The Essential Tillich: An Anthology of the Writings of Paul Tillich
edited by F. Forrester Church
Find it in the Library at call number BT75.2 .T482 1999

The Galápagos

A visually stunning tour of the islands and wildlife that helped spur Darwin to his theory of evolution.

The Galápagos: Exploring Darwin's Tapestry
by John Hess
Find it in the Library at call number QL345 .G2H47 2009

The Taliban and the Crisis of Afghanistan

A collection of essays exploring the complex cultural, political and religious forces behind the Taliban's emergence and persistence.

The Taliban and the Crisis of Afghanistan
edited by Robert D. Crews and Amin Tarzi
Find it in the Library at call number DS371.3 .T354 2009

This Land Was Made for You and Me

A young adult biography of Woody Guthrie that Pete Seeger saw as "The best book about Woody ever written!" Page 99 devotes a brief paragraph to the "old ghost town in the Sierra foothills" that gave it's name to our institution.

This Land Was Made for You and Me
by Elizabeth Patridge
Find it in the Library at call number ML3930 .G88P37 2002

The Land of Green Plums

Nobel Laureate Hurta Muller's novel about life in Ceausescu's Romania known for its striking portrayal of the terror/ennui paradox.

The Land of Green Plums
by Hurta Muller
Find it in the Library at call number PT2673 .U29234 H4713 1998

Bite Me

A scholarly survey of food in popular culture that considers the relationship between what we eat and the world around us.

Bite Me: Food in Popular Culture
by Fabio Parasecoli
Find it in the Library at call numberGT2850 .P274 2008

Blue Gold

Missed last week's showing of Blue Gold? Borrow this award-winning documentary that predicts water will soon be fought over much like oil is today.

Blue Gold: World Water Wars
by Sam Bozzo
Find it in the Library at call number HD1691 .B58 2010

Human Cargo

A critically acclaimed look at refugees and the reasons why people are forced to leave their communities often to face dismal living conditions.

Human Cargo: A Journey Among Refugees
by Caroline Moorehead
Find it in the Library at call number HV640 .M66 2006

Shane

This classic Western novel gained widespread acclaim for its simplicity and strong characters. Like the movie that followed, its been a genre standard for decades.

Shane
by Jack Schaefer
Find it in the Library at call number PS3537 .C223 S5 1984

Vital Signs 2010

One of many well-researched publications from the Worldwatch Institute, Vital Signs is their annual report on progress towards a sustainable society.

Vital Signs 2010
by The Worldwatch Institute
Find it in the Library at call number GE140 .V58 2010

Gloryland

A novel following the life of Elijah Yancy, an African-American born in South Carolina on Emancipation Day who ends up stationed in Yosemite National Park while serving in the army.

Gloryland
by Shelton Johnson
Find it in the Library at call number PS3610 .O383 G56 2009

Radiohead and Philosophy

Part of the Popular Culture and Philosophy series that looks at musicians, video games, tv shows, movies and more through the lens of philosophical concepts.

Radiohead and Philosophy: Fitter Happier More Deductive
edited by Brandon Forbes and George Reisch
Find it in the Library's collection at call number B68 .R34 2009

African Art from the Menil Collection

A catalog and accompanying essays on some of the African pieces from the extensive collection of John and Dominique Menil. The Menil Collection is based in Houston, Texas.

African Art from the Menil Collection
edited by Kristina Van Dyke
Find it in the Library at call number N576 .H68A534 2008

Is God a Mathematician?

Surveying the elegant mathematical explanations for everything around us, this readable look at history through a math lens covers many of the big names and ideas you've heard of plus many of the lesser-knowns that help explain our world.

Is God a Mathematician?
by Mario Livio
Find it in the Library at call number QA8.4 .586 2010

Wetware

Are cells simply molecular circuits that perform logical, computational operations much like computers and other electronics? Read one (expert's) opinion amid the backdrop of the nascent field of systems biology.

Wetware
by Dennis Bray
Find it in the Library at call number QH581.2 .B736 2009

Breaking out of New Orleans

Twenty-five tracks of 1920s jazz from four of the many groups that called The Big Easy home.

Breaking out of New Orleans
including Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, Original Tuxedo Orchestra, Jazzola Eight and AStoria Hot Eight
Find it in the Library's Audio collection at call number MJ Z9 .B73 2004 v.1

Tears of the Desert

A memoir from a Sudanese woman who lived through years of war and devastation in Darfur.

Tears of the Desert
by Halima Bashir and Damien Lewis
Find it in the Library at call number DT159.6 .D27B37 2008

Earth

A geology publication featuring news and research about the environment and energy issues.

Earth (formerly Geotimes)
Find the current issue of Earth in our Reading Area. Back issues of all our magazines are located along the back of the Library in alphabetical order and can be checked out for one week. Electronic access to Earth is available through the Full-text and Print Magazines link on our homepage.

Water in the 21st-Century West

A refreshing collection of essays on the pressing topic of water by the folks at High Country News.

Water in the 21st-Century West
edited by Char Miller
Find it in the Library at call number TD223.6 .W475 2009

Travel in the History of Architecture

Exploring the major themes and styles of architecture from the Egyptians to today.

Travels in the History of Architecture
by Robert Harbison
Find it in the Library at call number NA200 .H37 2009

Welcome to the Aquarium

A longtime teacher talks about life in the classroom and her views on child development. If nothing else, it has a wonderful cover of young person artwork. Be sure to also check out To Be and To Have if you like kids and/or movies.

Welcome to the Aquarium
by Julie Diamond
Find it in the Library at call number LB1733 .D53 2008

Satire TV

A collection of essays exploring the role satire plays in modern political discourse.

Satire TV
edited by Jonathan Gray, Jeffrey P. Jones and Ethan Thompson
Find it in the Library at call number HE8700.76 .U6S37 2009

Lords of Finance

A disquieting look at the power wielded by a handful of elite bankers and the real-world repercussions their decisions have on our lives.

Lords of Finance
by Liaquat Ahamed
Find it in our collection at call number HG172 .A2A43 2009

Crimes and Misdemeanors

One of a dozen Woody Allen movies recently added to our collection, Crimes and Misdemeanors also stars Alan Alda, Mia Farrow and Anjelica Huston.

Crimes and Misdemeanors
directed by Woody Allen
Find it in our video collection at call number PN1995.9 .C6C73 1989

Fire in the Grove

The tragic story of the Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire, which devastated Boston when it took the lives of 492 people in November, 1942.

Fire in the Grove
by John C. Esposito
Find it in the Library at call number TH9448 .F57 2005

Travel as a Political Act

Travel guru Rick Steves takes us all over the globe as he explores the virtues of traveling to effect and support positive political change.

Travel as a Political Act
by Rick Steves
Find it at call number G155 .A1S6675 2009

Scientific American Mind

Popular psychology topics explored in the same hip, brainy fashion as its more general cousin, Scientific American.

Scientific American Mind
The current issue of Scientific American Mind is in our Reading Area. Back issues of all our magazines are located along the back wall of the Library is alphabetical order.

The Wisdom of Whores

An epidemiologist specializing in HIV prevention explores the trials and tribulations of international disease prevention.

The Wisdom of Whores: Bureaucrats, Brothels and the Business of AIDS
by Elizabeth Pisani
Find it in the Library at call number RA643.8 .P57 2009

100 Views of the Golden Gate

Capturing the iconic bridge and its beautiful surroundings in all sorts of weather and lighting.

100 Views of the Golden Gate
by Harold Davis
Find it in the Library at call number TG25 .S225D38 2008

Opposing Viewpoints

Collections of essays representing both sides of controversial topics, from debt and addiction to Islam and censorship.

Opposing Viewpoints
Each volume includes dozens of authors contributions
Books in the Opposing Viewpoints Series are located along with other books on a given topic. To see a complete list, search the catalog for 'opposing viewpoints'. (You could also simply click the link.)

Tending the Wild

Exploring the land management practices of native Californians and how we might apply such techniques in our modern society.

Tending the Wild
by M. Kat Anderson
Find it in the Library at call number E78 .C15A676 2006

Silent Spring

An American Experience DVD on Rachel Carson and her famous book that exposed the dangers of unregulated pesticide use on the environment.

Silent Spring
Find the DVD in our Video Collection at call number QH545 .P4R23 2007. The book is available at call number SB959.C3 C.1.

Culinary Calculations

A guide to basic math that's particularly relevant for culinary professionals. Includes a handy glossary and useful tables with common formulas for use in the kitchen.

Culinary Calculations: Simplified Math for Culinary Professionals
by Terri Jones
Find it in the Library zt call number TX911.3 .M33J56 2008

Print

A hip magazine for anyone interested in the many flavors of visual design, every issue of Print is loaded with tips, news, ideas and and creative solutions for the designer in all of us.

Print
The current issue of Print is available in our Reading Area. Back issues of all our magazines are located along the back wall of the Library in alphabetical order and up to five issues can be checked out for one week at a time. Online access to Print is available through the Full-text and Print Magazines link on the Library's homepage.

Northern California Bouldering

Columbia College's Arboretum is the first location listed in SuperTopo's new rock climbing guide for all of Northern California.

Northern California Bouldering
by Chris Summit, Kevin Swift and Chris McNamara
Find it in the Library at call number GV199.42 .C2S86 2009 (the Arboretum is below Toyon.)

EMS 2: The Life of Your Job

A collection of stories and anecdotes about life as an EMT.

EMS 2: The Life of Your Job
by Devin Kerins
Find it in the Library at call number RA645.5 .K47 2004

The Best of Randy Newman

A CD with many of the popular singer/songwriter's best known songs, including such hits as 'You've got a friend in me' and 'Political science'.

The Best of Randy Newman
by Randy Newman
Find it in the Library at call number MP N485 .B47 1999

Short Films ...How to Make and Distribute Them

A well-organized guide to the entire process of creating short films along with several pages of resources.

Short Films ...How to Make and Distribute Them
by Nathan Parker
Find it in the Library at call number PN1995.9 .P7P315 2007

The Roads that Built America

A colorful look at the history of the Eisenhower Interstate system and its impact on our nation and culture.

The Roads that Built America: The Incredible Story of the U.S. Interstate System
by Dan McNichol
Find it in the Library at call number HE355.3 .E94M36 2006

Skiing

In between classes (and hitting the slopes), check out Skiing for tips, reviews, gear guides and more for everything powder-related.

Skiing
The current issue of Skiing is available in our Reading Area. Back issues of all our magazines are along the back wall of the Library in alphabetical order. Electronic access to Skiing is available through the Full-text and Print Magazine search on our homepage.