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When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows ... by Steven Pinker From one of the world's most celebrated intellectuals, a brilliantly insightful work that explains how we think about each other's thoughts about each other's thoughts, ad infinitum. It sounds impossible, but Steven Pinker shows that we do it all the time. This awareness, which we experience as something that is public or "out there," is called common knowledge, and it has a momentous impact on our social, political, and economic lives. Common knowledge is necessary for coordination, for making arbitrary but complementary choices like driving on the right, using paper currency, and coalescing behind a political leader or movement. It's also necessary for social coordination: everything from rendezvousing at a time and place to speaking the same language to forming enduring relationships of friendship, romance, or authority. Humans have a sixth sense for common knowledge, and we create it...

Curiosity Stream offers something for every inquisitive mind! Hundreds of high-quality documentaries on science, history, nature, and tech documentaries. Available now through COM Library's Academic Videos Online (AVON) Stream them on AVON now!  Want more on AVON? Try the How to Use AVON guide.  http://dlvr.it/TNjXfW

I bet you think you know how to evaluate information.  Just for giggles, ask yourself these questions: * Do you know how to tell if that article you found in a Google search is college appropriate? * Do you know how to tell if something is scholarly or not? * Is everything you read in the library's databases considered scholarly?  Is it all peer reviewed? * Do you have to cite a table you copied/pasted into your PowerPoint presentation? * What do you look for to determine if something is fake news or not? * Is all news media trustworthy and considered factual? If you don't know the answer to one or more of these questions, consider coming by to check out the books on display for Information Literacy Awareness month.  The library will be featuring both physical books and eBooks on this topic through October 31st.  For more information, check out these library guides: Media Bias, Find Your Sources, College Level Research, Propaganda, Fake Ne...

How can AI enabled databases make your research easier? It depends on the database, but AI features in databases can: * Help with brainstorming your question. * Provide summaries and key takeaways of books and articles.  * Get direct links to sources that answer your research question.  * Find more sources that are likely to support your topic. * Save your question so you an access it again. You can learn how to use our AI enabled databases step by step using our brand new guide!  https://libguides.com.edu/DatabaseAI /> Good to Know  Several database require that you create a free account and be logged in to use the AI features:  * Ask Chron * JSTOR * OneSearch * ScienceDirect   http://dlvr.it/TNfbWm

Just on time for National Cookbooks Month! Our latest guide is Cookbooks & Recipes. Get cookbooks, recipes, books from chefs that include recipes and watch how it's done videos. Here are a few examples of what you can find in the guide. Some resources must be accessed on campus or login with your COM account to access campus. * The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook (eBook) * Texas Eats: the new lone star heritage cookbook, with more than 200 recipes (print book) * Try Thai Tonight Series (Season 1-5) (stream it on AVON) * How to Make Martha Stewart's Chicken Pot Pies (YouTube)   http://dlvr.it/TNf8QP

The issue of book banning is making headlines again now that school is back in session. Supporters of book challenges argue that schools should not expose children to sex, violence, drug use, race, or other topics they deem inappropriate for certain age levels. They argue that pulling books out of the school library is not book banning because students can get these books outside of school. Opponents of book challenges argue that removing books from schools is censorship and un-American. They say that reading controversial books and discussing controversial topics promotes critical thinking, encourages empathy, and provides a wider understanding of the world. What do you think?  Should certain books ever be banned in school? Watch the debate on Films on Demand (49:40). With 27 documented viewpoints, the library's Opposing Viewpoints database is a great place to get more information on what people think about this hot topic.   For more articles, videos and books/eBoo...