Seven Wonders of Illinois

Have you heard about the Seven Wonders of Illinois recently released by the Illinois Bureau of Tourism? Seven interesting sites around the state have been selected, and you can watch a video that introduces them here. Each of the sites are listed below, with links to more information about them. Much of the information is available from sources in the Todd Library. Take a look; you may discover your next summer road trip!

Wrigley Field, Chicago – The historical home of the Cubs is one of the wonders in our area. The Todd Library has a book with many photographs, Wrigley Field: A History of the Friendly Confines that will give you a better look at the location.

Baha’i House of Worship, Wilmette – This distinctive house of worship is another area wonder. To learn more about the Baha’i community in Chicago, check out the entry in one of our e-reference sources, Encyclopedia of Chicago.

Starved Rock State Park, Utica – Starved Rock State Park offers hiking, camping, boating, and lots of other activities. The park has 18 canyons and many interesting rock formations. To learn more about the geology of Starved Rock State Park, stop by the Todd Library and take a look at the book Time talks: the geology of Starved Rock and Matthiessen state parks.

Allerton Park and Retreat Center, Monticello – Run by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It features a Georgian-style mansion on 1,500 acres of land. It was once the private estate of a family with connections to Chicago. A complete history of the site is available online, and the homepage features some great photos.

Black Hawk State Historic Site, Rock Island – This site includes a nature preserve, hiking trails, and a prairie restoration. To learn more about the man it is named for, take a look at the biography of Black Hawk available from one of the Todd Library’s databases, American National Biography.

Rend Lake, BentonRend Lake is located about five hours south of the Chicago area. It was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Illinois Department of Conservancy District. Rend Lake’s demographics page includes a timeline and many facts and figures about the project.

Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway, Alton, Grafton, Hartford, and Elsah – This is the area where the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois rivers meet. Did you attend any of the Lewis and Clark events at Waubonsee? The byway begins in an area with some Lewis and Clark history. Stop by the Todd Library to check out one of our books on Lewis and Clark, including Lewis and Clark through Indian Eyes.

We have lots of information on these and other interesting travel locations available in the library. Stop by and let us help you learn more about the wonders that interest you!

Jhumpa Lahiri

Have you ever heard of Jhumpa Lahiri? She is an Indian-American writer who won the Pulitzer Prize in fiction for her short story collection, Interpreter of Maladies in 2000. You may recognize the title of her book The Namesake that was the basis for the current movie of the same name. Try reading her book, before you see the movie. It’s a story of a Bangledeshi immigrant family, but in many ways speaks of us all–of our hopes and dreams, love, family, and wanting to fit in. It is a book you won’t want to miss, from an author that you need to know.

Website of the Week

MEDLINEplus [http://medlineplus.gov/] has extensive information from the National Institutes of Health and other trusted sources on over 600 diseases and conditions. There are also diagrams, a medical encyclopedia, a medical dictionary, information on prescription and nonprescription drugs, health information from the media, and links to thousands of clinical trials. It’s nice place to get some basic information about medical conditions and diseases. I also like it because I find it very easy to use.

The Pulitzer Prizes (2007)

[Links with * link you to the story/article, via the library’s resources – may need to login if accessing from off-campus]

Journalism

PUBLIC SERVICE
The Wall Street Journal

“Awarded to The Wall Street Journal for its creative and comprehensive probe into backdated stock options for business executives that triggered investigations, the ouster of top officials and widespread change in corporate America. “

BREAKING NEWS REPORTING
The Staff of The Oregonian, Portland

Here is one article from a series entitled Kim Family Saga: *Kati Kim retraces tragic journey. Michelle Roberts, The Oregonian, January 19, 2007.

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
Brett Blackledge of The Birmingham (Ala.) News

One story from the award-winning series: College chief’s family makes $560,000 in 2-year system. Brett J. Blackledge, The Birmingham (Ala.) News, May 21, 2006

EXPLANATORY REPORTING
Kenneth R. Weiss, Usha Lee McFarling and Rick Loomis of the Los Angeles Times

One from the award-winning series called “Altered Oceans”: *Burning Breezes. Author: Kenneth R. Weiss, Los Angeles Times August 17, 2006

LOCAL REPORTING
Debbie Cenziper of The Miami Herald

One from the award-winning series House of Lies: *HOUSING CHIEF BUILT POWER, INCOME. Author: DEBBIE CENZIPER, Miami Herald, The (FL), December 17, 2006.

NATIONAL REPORTING
Charlie Savage of The Boston Globe

*Bush Challenges Hundreds of Laws – President Cites Powers of his Office. Author: Charlie Savage, Boston Globe, April 30, 2006

INTERNATIONAL REPORTING
The Wall Street Journal Staff

“Awarded to The Wall Street Journal Staff for its sharply edged reports on the adverse impact of China’s booming capitalism on conditions ranging from inequality to pollution.”

FEATURE WRITING
Andrea Elliott of The New York Times

One in the award-winning series called An Imam in America: *A Muslim Leader in Brooklyn, Reconciling 2 Worlds. Author: Andrea Elliott, New York Times, March 5, 2006

COMMENTARY
Cynthia Tucker of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

One in a series of Commentaries: Living proof of immigration’s marvelousness
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Cynthia Tucker, May 14, 2006

CRITICISM
Jonathan Gold of LA Weekly

One in a long series of food/restaurant reviews: Out of the Flames. Jonathon Gold, LA Weekly, February 6 2006.

EDITORIAL WRITING
Arthur Browne, Beverly Weintraub and Heidi Evans of the New York Daily News

One of a series of 10 articles: $400M for Lawyers Lawyers? The Sick and Dying of 9-11 Deserve Better. Arthur Browne, Beverly Weintraub and Heidi Evans, NY Daily News, Sept. 3, 2006

EDITORIAL CARTOONING
Walt Handelsman of Newsday, Long Island, NY

“Awarded to Walt Handelsman of Newsday, Long Island, N.Y., for his stark, sophisticated cartoons and his impressive use of zany animation.”

BREAKING NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY
Oded Balilty of the Associated Press

“Awarded to Oded Balilty of The Associated Press for his powerful photograph of a lone Jewish woman defying Israeli security forces as they remove illegal settlers in the West Bank.”

FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
Renee C. Byer of The Sacramento Bee

Awarded to Renée C. Byer of The Sacramento Bee for her intimate portrayal of a single mother and her young son as he loses his battle with cancer.

Letters, Drama and Music Awards
[if we own a copy, the link will take to our catalog record for the item]

FICTION
The Road by Cormac McCarthy (Alfred A. Knopf)

DRAMA
Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire

HISTORY
The Race Beat by Gene Roberts and Hank Klibanoff (Alfred A. Knopf)

BIOGRAPHY
The Most Famous Man in America by Debby Applegate (Doubleday)

POETRY
Native Guard by Natasha Trethewey (Houghton Mifflin)

GENERAL NONFICTION
The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright (Alfred A. Knopf)

MUSIC
Sound Grammar by Ornette Coleman

Special Citations

  1. Ray Bradbury
  2. John Coltrane