Library Newsletter

MONTH 12

YEAR 2011

VOL. #1 ONE

ISSUE #1

DSE Curriculum

Do you find the science subjects very difficult to understand? Or do you

want to practise the answering skills in Physics, Chemistry and Biology? If

your answer is yes, the library can surely help you. There are lots of

exercise books that can be borrowed from the library. You can find them

on the bookshelf 400-500(science) and in the "new books" column. There

are both multiple choice and long question exercises for Physics,

Chemistry and Biology. Some of them even include revision notes and

examination scoring techniques to help you get higher marks in the exams.

This includes various publishers such as Aristo, Solar, Marshall Cavendish

Education and Oxford. As practice makes perfect, these books are really

useful to us when we are studying. However, if you borrow the exercise

books, you should ask the librarians for the attached answer booklet. You

also need to return both the exercise book and the answer booklet at the

same time after finishing reading or else it will be considered as late return.

I hope you all can make use of the library's resources to facilitate your

study.

� World Literature Day

� Second update of wall of free speech

� Battle of the books

� Book Week

� Second newsletter

Upcoming Activities

SPCC Library

SPCC Library

Teacher’s Book Recommendation Mr. Lee Oliver

Title:

The Invisible

Author:

Mats Wahl

“One ordinary Monday morning in May, Hilmer

Eriksson walks into his high school classroom and

discovers that he has become invisible. No one can

see him. No one can hear him.”

I am sure you have all heard the adage ‘Never judge a book by its cover,’ but I must confess that it was precisely the intriguing, unusual picture on the cover of Mats Wahl’s The Invisible that made me pick it up and withdraw it from the school library. A brief scan of the plot synopsis confirmed my choice. Hilmer Eriksson enters his high school classroom one Monday morning, shortly followed by two classmates who dislike him. To Hilmer’s surprise, both classmates proceed to ignore him, rather than bully him, as he expects. In fact, they behave as if he is not there. Hilmer’s confusion increases when class begins and his teacher announces that a detective will be talking to them about a classmate’s disappearance. When Detective

Fors announces that it is he, Hilmer, who is missing, he becomes frantic. No matter how loudly Hilmer yells or what he does, no-one seems to hear or see him. He has become invisible. And he cannot recall what happened on the day he is supposed to have gone missing. Thus begins this intriguing and haunting Swedish novel. The book is a police procedural, a typical Scandinavian mystery and a ghost story in equal measures. It is interesting to note that the novel has been made into a film, produced by the same team that worked on The Sixth Sense, as there are several parallels between that film and this novel, not least the plot twists. However, despite its supernatural premise, this novel bravely grapples with contemporary political issues in modern-day Scandinavia. Hilmer has been the victim of a racially motivated attack, for daring to defend a Muslim boy.

The novel explores the inter-racial tensions in a small Swedish town and unblinkingly examines a community complicit with the crime against Hilmer. Adults who remain silent, or fail to assist Fors in his investigation for fear that negative publicity for the town will damage its plans to promote tourism, are arguably as guilty as those who attack Hilmer. The book, published in Swedish in 2000, over a decade ago, is eerily prescient. The anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant fervour explored in the novel came to the world’s attention in July of this year, when right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breitvik massacred 69 youths at a summer camp in Norway. The novel is not exclusively or parochially political, however. It is also a meditation on loss and the tragedy of a wasted life. The narration alternates between Detective Fors’ investigation and Hilmer’s own perceptions and feelings, as he follows the detective’s progress. Some of the most moving sections of the novel are where Hilmer is described, lurking invisibly in the background as Fors interviews key figures in the town:

And while they were talking, Hilmer Eriksson stood next to them. He

shouted. He pulled at their arms and pointed to

the compost pile…But

Hilmer was invisible, he couldn’t be heard, he

wasn’t noticed. He was

just there, like a powerless witness in the hunt

for himself.

His damaged face.

His ruined lips.

Blood on his shirt.

Only one shoe.

These sections depicting Hilmer’s isolation and powerlessness do become rather mawkish and repetitive over the course of the novel, and the right-wing, racist students are, in some cases, two-dimensionally drawn, but these are minor faults in an otherwise genuinely moving, riveting page-turner. Those who enjoy thrillers, mysteries and the supernatural should enjoy this story. Hilmer Eriksson is a character who haunts you long after you have finished the novel and closed the book.

Teacher’s Book Recommendation Mr. Lee Oliver

Title:

The Invisible

Author:

Mats Wahl

此書寫於 1962 年，以六十年代香港的社會狀況為背

景，處處散發著濃厚的香港本土氣息。當時社會的轉型令

香港工商業興旺起來，巿民的生活水平確實提高了，但精

神生活空虛。在香港這個無根、勢利、金錢掛帥而人均文

化修養奇低的資本主義城市中，文化人的地位也很低微。

不但如此，人與人之間種種矛盾及疏離等問題，知識分子

的內心衝突，以及由物質主義、道德敗壞等等交織而成的

社會情態亦透過此書呈現出來。

作為“中國第一本意識流小說”，作者巧妙地運用

意識流的手法，以內心獨白的方式，以一種迴旋循環的方

式進行，常以酒醉開始，以酒醒作結，藉酒徒醉時或於夢

中的精神狀態將客觀現實世界扭曲或主觀化、情緒化、形

象化，彰顯出現實中潛藏的狂亂、非人性與荒謬，醉眼之

中的世界往往更真實更透徹更露骨。對文字變成廉價貨物

的控訴、對社會物欲橫流風氣的不安、對生活的無奈、對

愛情的痛心、對文學的死心，一一通過一個酒徒展現出

來。如果說這本小說最重要的寫作技巧是意識流，那麼整

本小說最重要的物品就是一瓶瓶、一杯杯的酒了。

作者以「酒」貫穿全文，藉著酒徒的醉與醒，

在現實與夢幻、現在與過去、意識與潛意識，

甚至不同的夢境與現實之間遊走，沒有合乎情

理的聯繫，卻表現了主角以至其他人混亂、無

理、缺乏條理的思想，並透過描繪這種思想聯

繫的形式，去看焦慮的人性和詮釋一個紛亂而

複雜的的社會，把人的意識、以具體、可見的

形象表現出來，把內在、外在、過去、現在交

融在一起，人的內心真實時，反映工商業高度

發展的社會文學和文人的關係，剖釋病態的瘋

狂世界，對荒謬的現實作出深刻嘲諷的同時，

表達出對人性被扭曲的悲哀。

這本書雖然是四十年前的產物，但卻並不

脫節，反而像酒一樣越舊越香，越舊越醇，越

舊越濃。讀畢此書，頭暈暈，眼朦朦，看來這

四十年的美酒以讓我醉倒了。

好書推介好書推介好書推介好書推介 5C 李罡毅 書

名書名書名書名︰︰︰︰酒徒酒徒酒徒酒徒

作者作者作者作者︰︰︰︰劉以鬯

劉以鬯

劉以鬯

劉以鬯

The guide basically includes all necessary processes

like choosing a suitable enquiry question, making

good use of reliable reference books and the mass

media, using a feasible research method, evaluating

results appropriately and presenting ideas in an

organised manner. Some popular global issues, such

as poverty, drug abuse, disability and domestic

violence are also given as examples to illustrate how

social trends and phenomena should be interpreted. It

is definitely a book you should not miss when you are

planning your IES project.

Library Newsletter

Title: Sociology projects: a student’s guide

Authors: David Barrat & Tony Cole

Call number: 301 BAR

Barcode Number: E030905

Liberal Studies may be one of the most

daunting subjects to secondary school

students studying the NSS curriculum.

Many of them are frustrated about the

Independent Enquiry Study (IES), an

individual project about sociology that is

included as School-based Assessment.

Written particularly for students, this

book adopts a comprehensive approach,

teaching readers how to achieve a good

report step by step. With in-depth

analysis, it is not too theoretical or

technical to understand but very practical.

Although it is not produced in Hong

Kong, the tips suggested by the book can

actually be applied to all IES questions.

SPCC Library

IES Book recommendation

Sociology projects: a student’s guide By David Barrat & Tony Cole

Library Newslett

IB Book recommendation Title: The duck that Won the Lottery And

99 Other Bad Arguments

Authors: Julian Baggini

This non – fiction text contains 100 short,

stimulating and entertaining capsules of

philosophy, in which each logical fallacy

is being explained clearly using simple but

relevant everyday examples. Each fallacy

is presented by using a famous argument

that contains it, the fallacy is then

explained and another more subtle

example related to the fallacy is provided.

Each short and punchy chapter focuses on

the bad arguments that people from all

walks of life use all the time. By showing

that many well –known arguments are just

examples of careless thinking, the author

shows us that bad logic is omnipresent.

Let us take example 70 “Nothing but the

truth” to see how the author wittily

dissects an argument and makes readers

do the same with other examples. The

focus of this chapter, “half truths ”, is

introduced to the readers by using Bill

Clinton’s infamous quote, “ I did not have

sexual relations with that woman, Miss

Lewinsky” . Clinton was using the

ambiguity of the term “sexual

relations” to state a half truth, which means that his

statement is totally truthful, just that some other

important relevant truths are not mentioned. This

example further brings out the terrifying fact that half –

truths are actually more powerful than lies, as they ARE

irrefutable truths that can be supported by evidence, and

also stated with total sincerity.

This is a book that would make readers question the way

they think and motivate them to think more deeply, it

teaches readers to spot false dichotomies, gamblers’

fallacies and subtle contradictions, as well as to sharpen

their ability to pick a hole in any argument. I highly

recommend this book to all of you, as it can polish our

critical thinking skills, help us appreciate concepts

relevant to TOK and reflect on the way we think.

SPCC Library

The duck that Won the Lottery And

99 Other Bad Arguments By Julian Baggini

Library Newsletter

MCQs about Library

7. Which year was the library founded? (1 mark) A. 1959 B. 1980 C. 1936 D. 1995

8. How many classroom(s) was there in the old library originally? (1 mark) A. 5 B. 6 C. 2 D. 1

9. Where will the library be located in 2013? (1 mark) A. Calder Path B. The Main Building C. The East Wing D. The Kennedy Road Campus

10. What are the opening hours of the Calder Path Library during school days? (1 mark) A. 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. B. 8:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. C. 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. D. 7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

11. How many seats are there for students to study? (1 mark) A. 50 B. 52 C. 54 D. 56

12. Which of the following is not true about the services provided by the Calder Path Library? (1 mark) A. Off shore book borrowing and

returning service B. Wi-fi service C. Electronic resources service D. Movie watching service

1. The library has an acquisition of ________items. (1 mark) A. 12000 B. 12500 C. 13000 D. 13500

2. How many study room(s)/hall(s) is\ are there in the library? (1 mark) A. 5 B. 6 C. 2 D. 3

3. Which kind of dictionary mentioned below is not found in the Calder Path library? (1 mark) A. Spanish B. French C. English thesaurus D. German

4. How can recommendations of new books be suggested? (1 mark) A. Talk to Ms Wong or Ms Chow

personally B. Fill in a form at the circulation desk C. Write a letter to the library D. Write a letter to the Book lovers’

Club 5. What is the maximum number of books

that a student can borrow at a time? (1 mark) A. 4 B. 5 C. 6 D. 7

6. Students should return the borrowed item in ____ days. (1 mark) A. 5 B. 7 C. 14

D. 30

SPCC Library

Library Newsletter

17. A fine of $_____ each day (excluding non-school days) will be incurred on the borrower for each overdue item (not include the reference book). (1 mark) A. 0.30 B. 0.50 C. 1.00 D. 1.50

18. How much do you need to pay of each overdue reference book per day? (1 mark) A. $1 B. $3 C. $2 D. $5

19. Who are allowed to borrow reference books and examination papers? (1 mark) A. Only F.6 and F.7 students B. Only F.7 students C. Only F.4 students or above D. Only teachers

20. The library provides printing and photocopying services. For colour printing, $_____ per page will be charged; for black and white printing, $_____ per page will be charged. (1 mark) A. 2.00, 0.50 B. 1.50, 0.30 C. 1.00, 0.20 D. 0.50, 0.50

21. What is the portion of a book that can be copied at time? (1 mark) A. One-tenth B. One-third C. Half D. All

22. How many printers can be used in general in the library? (1 mark) A. 3 B. 4 C. 2 D. 5

14. How many washtub(s) is\ are there in each toilet in the library? (1 mark) A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4

15. How many book car(s) you can see in the library in the main entrance and the main hall? (1 mark) A. 4 B. 3 C. 1 D. 2

16. How many librarians (including the head librarian) are there in the school? (1 mark) A. 28 B. 38 C. 48 D. 58

13. How can students know when the seating area will be closed for special purposes? (1 mark) A. Ask the librarians B. Email will be sent to

the whole school C. Ask the teachers in

charge D. Check the schedule of

the day placed at the entrance of the library

How is your result?

If you get:

22 marks= wonderful library

lover;

21-10= bookworm;

9-0= need to go to the library

more

SPCC Library

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

A C C B B D B A D B B

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

C C D C A A A B D C D

Answers for the MCQs about Library

Crossword

Have fun ! ☺☺☺☺

Library Newsletter