South College Library Blog

The Library staff had great fun filtering through over 1000 submitted names for our skeleton. Your clever submissions, which often harkened to the grave, pop-culture, medical terminology, and things South College, had us in stitches. But in the end, the Library staff selected the name Cletus, submitted by student Cassie Bond, as our winner. Cassie will be receiving a $10 Amazon gift card. Other names that were contenders included Mr. Shambles, Agent Skully, Knox, Dead-gar Allan Poe, and Parker. Twenty-eight of you submitted some form of Captain Jack Marrow.  

Remember, Cletus is one of the Library's many study-aids for students in the health sciences. You can find others here on our website. If you are specifically looking for study-aids to help you learn anatomy, check out the library's Anatomy & Physiology guide. 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The month and its pink ribbon campaign are dedicated to increasing awareness of the importance of early breast cancer detection. Despite the heightened attention towards breast cancer and the success, in recent years, of the pink ribbon campaign, many individuals are still under-informed about breast cancer and the importance of preventative screening. The South College Library has a mammography guide, which you can use to educate yourself on breast screening, find resources for patient education and skills sheets, and read a useful infographic detailing the importance of getting regular mammograms.  

Breast cancer starts in the cells of the breast as a group of cancer cells that then invade surrounding tissues or spread to other areas of the body. It is estimated that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and for the year 2023, it is estimated that 297,790 women and 2800 men will be diagnosed. When caught early in the localized stage, the five-year relative survival rate is estimated to be 99% (National Breast Cancer Foundation, 2023).  

Signs & Symptoms 

• Change in look/feel of breast or nipple 

• Lumps: mass, growth, or swelling within the breast tissue (majority of lumps are non-cancerous) 

• Cysts: a generally harmless sac filled with fluid rather than a cancerous or benign lump of cells 

• Change in appearance of breast or nipple 

• Discharge coming out of nipple 

It is important to do monthly self-check breast exams to check for any of the above signs and symptoms, as well as scheduling regular mammograms once you reach age 40.  

Risk Factors 

• Older age  

• Genetics 

• Reproductive history 

• Higher weight 

• Alcohol consumption 

There are many ways you can support a loved one who was diagnosed with breast cancer. Spending time with them and doing activities that are not too strenuous, such as a short walk, will help take their mind off things for a little while. Being willing to listen and understand how they feel. Sometimes they just want someone who is willing to listen. If you can, try taking care of some of their errands. This will help ease some of their stress and lighten their load. You can send a note or text telling them that they are important to you and that you care about them. One other way to support them is by offering to take them to appointments. This helps them not feel alone and can help ease the mental load of the diagnosis.  

National Breast Cancer Foundation. (2023). Learn about breast cancer. https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/about-breast-cancer/ 

Did you know that the South College Library provides students, faculty, and staff access to over 100,000 eBooks? Find eBooks related to your academic studies, personal interests, and self-improvement. Do you enjoy reading fiction books? The library’s collection includes novels, collections of short stories, and poetry too. Look for our monthly eBook displays, spotlighting a sampling of our collection, on a campus tv screen near you!

Breast Cancer: Current Trends in Molecular Research by Suman Shankar et al.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer types worldwide and is a leading cause of cancer related deaths in women. In this book, medical experts review our current understanding of the molecular biology and characteristics of breast cancer. The topics covered in this book provide comprehensive knowledge of mechanisms underlying breast carcinogenesis, and are intended for a wide audience including scientists, teachers, and students.

Harry Potter and the Cedarville Censors : Inside the Precedent-Setting Defeat of an Arkansas Book Ban by Brian Meadors

In 2002, the Cedarville School Board in Crawford County, Arkansas, ordered the removal of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books from library shelves, holding that 'witchcraft or sorcery [should not] be available for study.' The Board picked some formidable adversaries. School librarian Estella Roberts, standing on policy, had the books reviewed--and unanimously approved--by a committee of teachers and administrators that included a child and a parent. Not satisfied with the Board's half-measure permitting access to the books with parental approval, 4th-grader Dakota Counts and her father Bill Counts sued the school district in Federal court, drawing on the precedent Pico v. Island Trees to reaffirm that Constitutional rights apply to school libraries. Written by the lawyer who prosecuted the case, this book details the origins of the book ban and the civil procedures and legal arguments that restored the First Amendment in Cedarville.

Flu Hunter: Unlocking the Secrets of a Virus by Robert G. Webster

When a new influenza virus emerges that can be transmitted between humans, it spreads globally as a pandemic, often with high mortality. Enormous social disruption and substantial economic cost can result. The 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic was undoubtedly the most devastating influenza pandemic to date, and it has been Webster's life's work to figure out how and why. In so doing, he has made a remarkable contribution to our understanding of the evolution of influenza viruses and how to control them. A century on, Flu Hunter is a gripping account of the tenacious scientific detective work involved in revealing the secrets of this killer virus. Could a global influenza pandemic occur again? Webster's warns:'... it is not only possible, it is just a matter of when.

Unnerved : Anxiety, Social Change, and the Transformation of Modern Mental Health by Jason Schnittker

Anxiety is not new. Yet now more than ever, anxiety seems to define our times. Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric disorders in the United States, exceeding mood, impulse-control, and substance-use disorders, and they are especially common among younger cohorts. More and more Americans are taking antianxiety medications. According to polling data, anxiety is experienced more frequently than other negative emotions. In Unnerved, Jason Schnittker investigates the social, cultural, medical, and scientific underpinnings of the modern state of mind.

Comic Book Women : Characters, Creators, and Culture in the Golden Age by Peyton Brunet and Blair Davis

The history of comics has centered almost exclusively on men. Comics historians largely describe the medium as one built by men telling tales about male protagonists, neglecting the many ways in which women fought for legitimacy on the page and in publishers‘ studios. Despite this male-dominated focus, women played vital roles in the early history of comics. The story of how comic books were born and how they evolved changes dramatically when women like June Tarpé Mills and Lily Renée are placed at the center rather than at the margins of this history, and when characters such as the Black Cat, Patsy Walker, and Señorita Rio are analyzed. Comic Book Women offers a feminist history of the golden age of comics, revising our understanding of how numerous genres emerged and upending narratives of how male auteurs built their careers. Considering issues of race, gender, and sexuality, the authors examine crime, horror, jungle, romance, science fiction, superhero, and Western comics to unpack the cultural and industrial consequences of how women were represented across a wide range of titles by publishers like DC, Timely, Fiction House, and others. This revisionist history reclaims the forgotten work done by women in the comics industry and reinserts female creators and characters into the canon of comics history.

Gluten : Food Sources, Properties and Health Implications by Howard Rivera

Gluten and gluten-related proteins (prolamin and glutelin) may be present in several cereals, such as wheat, rye, barley, oat and the derivatives of these grains, including malt and brewer's yeast. Despite some specific health implications, cereals are important carbohydrate and proteins source for human diet. Phenolic acids, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber can also be found in wholegrains. Nowadays, cereals have been investigated about its potential use as ingredient in functional foods. Therefore, the development of food products with health benefits is a challenge for the food industry. This book provides new research on gluten's food sources, properties and health implications.

Banned Books Week occurs annually, typically at the end of September or beginning of October. This year, it is happening October 1st – October 7th and it started in 1982 as a response to many book challenges happening in libraries, schools, and even bookstores. The goal of Banned Books Week is to emphasize the importance of open access to information and our freedom to express ideas. During this week, the top challenged books from the previous year get highlighted, and this helps show the harms of censorship. In 2022, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom recorded 2,571 unique titles that were targeted for censorship (Gomez 2023). Books written by and about BIPOCs, as well as books pertaining to LGBT+ issues are among the top materials being challenged. 

You’ll hear both “banned books” and “challenged books” used around in media, but what is the difference? Challenges are attempts to restrict or remove materials due to objections from a person or group. Banning is the actual removal of those materials. One of the top reasons books get challenged is because the challenger believes it is their duty to protect others, usually children, from difficult topics. Materials that are considered sexually explicit, contain offensive language, or not suited for a particular age group are among the top motivations for challenging books. 

Let Freedom Read is this year’s theme for Banned Books Week. The American Library Association chose this theme because it “captures what’s at stake for our democracy: that the safety of our right to speak and think freely is directly in proportion to our right to read.” (Gomez 2023). There are many ways to get involved if you want to spread awareness about banned books or explore different ways you can make a difference. One easy way to join in is to use the hashtag #bannedbooksweek. Using this will help spread awareness and create a conversation amongst your peers about censorship and everyone’s right to openly access information. Another great way to participate is to visit your local library and check out a book that has been previously banned or is frequently challenged. Doing this helps to exercise your right to read as well as help defend against censorship.  

Top Ten Most Banned and Challenged Books 2010 - 2019 

1. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie 

2. Captain Underpants (series) by Dav Pilkey 

3. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher 

4. Looking for Alaska by John Green 

5. George by Alex Gino 

6. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell 

7. Drama by Raina Telgemeier 

8. Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James 

9. Internet Girls (series) by Lauren Myracle 

10. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison 

References 

Ediaz. (2019, July 30). Banned book FAQ. Advocacy, Legislation & Issues. https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/banned-books-qa  

Gomez, B. (2023a, April 24). ALA Releases Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2022 List. Banned books week. https://bannedbooksweek.org/ala-releases-top-10-most-challenged-books-of-2022-list/ 

Gomez, B. (2023, May 3). LET FREEDOM READ During Banned Books Week 2023!. Banned books week. https://bannedbooksweek.org/let-freedom-read-during-banned-books-week-2023/  

Kpekoll. (2020, September 27). Top 100 most banned and challenged books: 2010-2019. Advocacy, Legislation & Issues. https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/decade2019