Focus on Natural Disasters.

Hello everyone,
It's Carl again, and this is another little note from the Lane Library's Tornado Alley, better known as the cataloging department.  If you have been paying attention to the news, it has been hard to miss the coverage about the anniversary of Hurricane Sandy (or Superstorm Sandy as some like to call it).  Against this backdrop, I'd like to focus in one of my favorite books about another natural disaster:  the volcano. 

I first became truly interested in volcanoes in 1980, during the eruption of Mt. St. Helens.  I eagerly watched the pictures on TV and couldn't believe that a volcano could erupt in the United States.  I was almost 12 years old at the time.  Well, that event on May 18th, 1980, caused me to explore volcanoes further and read up on them, which I continue to do up to this very day.

I recently read (and reread) a book about volcanoes that captivated me.  It is titled:  Vesuvius : a biography / Alwyn Scarth.  ISBN: 9780691143903  The book covers the eruptions of Mt. Vesuvius / Somma.  Historical sources and archeological evidence are weaved together to tell an engaging tale of the history of this volcano and the people who lived, and continue to live, in her shadow.  The eruptions of the other volcanoes around Naples are included in this account, and play their part in relaying this story of one of the chief volcanic areas in Europe.  The call number is:  QE523.V5 S23 2009.

Another interesting volcano book is: Super volcano : the ticking time bomb beneath Yellowstone National Park / Greg Breining.  This book outlines what we currently know about the supervolcano that lies beneath this beloved national park.  The call number is:  QE524.B74 S96 2007.

If tornadoes are your thing, The Lane has an interesting read for you.  It is titled: Big weather : chasing tornadoes in the heart of America / Mark Syenyold.  The book follows a band of storm chasers, their life on the road, and what it really takes to capture the power and majesty of tornadoes on film and video.  There were a couple boring chapters, but if you skim them, the overall book was well worth reading.  The call number is:  QC955.5.U6 S75 2005.

We also have a variety of books on Hurricanes and Earthquakes if you are interested in those topics.  So, if you are interested in reading any of these fine books, please check them out of the library.  With that, I wish you all "Happy Reading."

Carl Ziebell
Technical Services Librarian
Lane Library -- Ripon College.