The 2006 spring semester at the Dimond Library is off and running, proudly boasting the 30 cluster computers added in January in the Reference/Hubbard Reading Room. As in past semesters, laptops are available through the Reserve Desk for four non-renewable hour increments, and continue to be popular as the fifth week of classes nears an end. It was the heaviest week of the semester for the 6 wireless and 12 cluster laptops that are available for in-library use only.

The laptops are used by UNH students, faculty and staff throughout the building as many students prefer to take a laptop to a quiet place or work in groups in one of the 5 study rooms or large study areas. Each of the six wireless laptops is nearing the 400 usage count since September 9, 2005. Each of the new top of the line clustered laptops, featuring a CD/DVD disc drive, are nearing the 200 count since they became available the beginning of November, 2005.

Help us keep the word out there that laptops are still available for those students needing quiet and group study options.

Between UNH-Manchester and UNH-Durham, we own the top user reviewed movies on the Internet Movie DataBase(IMDb)?

Multimedia in Dimond has all of the American Film Institute’s Top 100 Movies of All Time

The collection includes hundreds of titles — classic and new!

UNH-Manchester’s regular collection, including their extensive DVD and VHS collection, can be requested by UNH students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Just Just ask at the Loan Desk or over the phone at 2-1535. The turnaround time, generally, is 48 hours (sometimes less!), though this does not include weekends.

Check out some of UNH-M’s newest films at UNHM Library.

Do you have time on your hands and want to watch a movie, but aren’t quite sure what you’re looking for? Here are some of our suggestions for browsing the library’s collection online:

• Keyword: film
• Keyword: video
• Subject: feature film, foreign film, documentary
• Location: limit to Manchester or Videos, DVDs and Laser Discs

You can even limit your search to particular years or languages, or look for a specific actor, actress, or director in the author field!

Some new favorites and recent additions to the collection:
• March of the Penguins
• Wal Mart: The High Cost of Low Price
• Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
• Kung Fu Hustle
• The Pink Panther Film Collection
• Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
• The Life and Death of Peter Sellers
• Crash
• No Direction Home: Bob Dylan
• Millions
• Mad Hot Ballroom

Foreign Film Recommendations:
• Der Krieger und die Kaiserin (The Princess and the Warrior) – Germany
• Amelie – France
• Shaolin Soccer – China
• I Cento Passi – Italy
• Cicade de Deus (City of God) – Brazil
• Divorzio All’italiana – Italy
• Kolya – Czech Republic
• Lucia y el sexo – Spain
• Maria, llena eres de gracia – Colombia
• Rabbit Proof Fence – Australia
• Ponette – France
• Shall We Dansu? – Japan
• Spring, summer, fall, winter– and spring – Korea
• Trois couleurs: blanc, blue, e rouge – Poland
• The White Balloon – Iran
• Y tu mama tambien – Mexico
• Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran – Turkey

Tevision Programs:
• Six Feet Under (Seasons 1-4) — We’re addicted!
• The Office (Seasons 1 & 2 and the Christmas Special) — David Brent will make you cringe, in a nice way.
• The Sopranos(seasons 1-5) – Not for kids, but one of HBO’s most popular and successful series. A compelling and entertaining adult show.
• Firefly (season 1) – Cancelled due to popular disinterest, but critically acclaimed!
• Sex and the City (seasons 1-6) – An HBO classic.
• The Wire (seasons 1-2) – Another original HBO series – gritty and different from the typical network detective shows, according to reviews.

Hot off the press! New TV on DVD at UNH-M:*
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (seasons 1-7) – from the creator of Firefly.
• Curb Your Enthusiasm (seasons 1-4) – starring Larry David, the creator of Seinfeld.
• Oz (Seasons 1-5) – HBO’s prison drama.
• 24 (seasons 1-4) – yet another hit television series.

*These titles are currently in processing, but check back soon.

The Oscars are coming up on March 5th and we don’t yet have all the nominated films, but here’s a list. Please check the catalog for new additions.

Best Picture

• Brokeback Mountain
• Capote
• Crash
• Good Night, and Good Luck
• Munich

Best Director

• George Clooney – Good Night, and Good Luck
• Paul Haggis – Crash
• Ang Lee – Brokeback Mountain
• Bennett Miller – Capote
• Steven Speilberg – Munich

Leading Actor

• Philip Seymour Hoffman – Capote
• Terrence Howard – Hustle & Flow
• Heath Ledger – Brokeback Mountain
• Jaoquin Phoenix – Walk the Line
• David Strathairn – Good Night, and Good Luck

Leading Actress

• Judi Dench – Mrs. Henderson Presents
• Felicity Huffman – Transamerica
• Keira Knightley – Pride and Prejudice
• Charlize Theron – North Country
• Reese Witherspoon – Walk the Line

Supporting Actor

• George Clooney – Syriana
• Matt Dillon – Crash
• Paul Giamatti – Cinderella Man
• Jake Gyllenhaal – Brokeback Mountain
• William Hurt – A History of Violence

Supporting Actress

• Amy Adams – Junebug
• Catherine Keener – Capote
• Frances McDormand – North Country
• Rachel Weisz – The Constant Gardener
• Michelle Williams – Brokeback Mountain

Just a quick note to let you know that the most recent New Hampshire Authors’ Series event with Rebecca Rule and Alexander Parsons will be aired on NHPTV’s NH Outlook on Monday, February 6th at 7:30 p.m.

If you were able to attend the program then you know what a treat is in store and I’m sure will enjoy the video version of a wonderful afternoon.

If you were unable to attend the live interview, be sure to tune in and enjoy the show!

From NHPTV:
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6 UNH AUTHORS’ SERIES: ALEXANDER PARSONS

Writer and humorist Rebecca Rule interviews author Alexander Parsons in this special edition of NH Outlook. Parsons, who teaches fiction writing at UNH, has published two novels and has a third novel in the works. Rule talks to Parsons about the idea-centered novel, teaching, the writing process, martial artist Bruce Lee and more in this fifth interview of the UNH Authors’ series from the Dimond Library at the University New Hampshire.

It’s today!