DECEMBER 3.2003 NEWS 7 Making the Whole World a Library... One Book ata Time By Stephanie Morgan Notice any good books just lying around lately? There’s a good chance you may have. It seems the bookcrossing phenomenon has hit - Prince George, though it centers mainly around the university. Bookcrossing ~ is a website (http://www.bookcrossing.com), that is endeavoring to create a worldwide ‘library’, accessible to all. The site makes it very easy to display your own bookshelf, however, the Bookcrossing has become, in a sense, a new way of life for some people. It creates reading groups in towns of people that may have never known each other. ultimate goal of bookcrossing is not to make an internet database of books one has read. Bookcrossing is trying to create a more ideal society by creating a world-wide library. Bookcrossing is making the world a library by encouraging its members to release books into “the wild” by leaving them in places where people will see them. UNBC has become the largest “drop zone” in Prince George, with over half of the drops being placed here. Many people may have noticed books laying in the Doug Little Lounge, or in the Tim Horton’s area. These books often have stickers on the front cover proclaiming their “freeness” to the world, but there are a few things you must Opportunities make all the difference Pursuing your MSW? A career with a difference as a Canadian Forces Social Worker can benefit you--and those who need your carel We offer full-time positions for MSW graduates. If you have your BSW, we can even pay for you to complete your master’s degree. After graduation, know before you pick up that free book. You have to keep passing it on. It’s very “Pay it forward” in its utopian ideals, howev- er these books are often ones that people have still liked that they are giving away. It’s nice to see where these books end up as they pass bétween friends or strangers. _ If you go to the website after finding the book, there is explicit directions there on what to do. The idea is to leave a journal after you've read the book. Input the BCID on the front page where directed and fill in the boxes as you go along. It’s quite simple, and the design is very easy to use. Bookcrossing has become, in a sense, a new way of life for some people. It creates reading groups in towns of people that may have never known each other. It bridges cultural boundaries with literature, and through that bookcrossing has definitely become an ideal “haunt” for some people. : On bookcrossing one can easily meet new people, and form new “book clubs”. Though Bookcrossing is, itself, a “book club” of sorts, there are groups forming *because* of the website. People who meet online, or pass books into the wild in their city, may be invit- ed to join in a group in their hometown. So next time you see a book sitting by itself on a bench, don’t hesitate to pick it up. You never know...you may just find yourself involved in this new endeavor. FREE! | | I'm not lost! Please pick me Up, _ yead me, and help me with my journe - (See inside) Les possibilités font toute la différence Vous étudiez en vue d'une maitrise en service social (MSS)? Une carriére différente en travail social dans les Forces canadiennes pourrait vous profiter, ainsi qu’aux gens qui ont besoin de votre aide! Photo by Marion Francecini Rock | announces. $60 million for Quebec universities By Dave Weatherall, Quebec Bureau MONTREAL (CUP) -- Minister of Education Allan Rock had some good news for Montreal-area uni- versities yesterday when he announced the federal govern- ment will contribute over $40 mil- lion to research through the Canada Innovation Strategy. "It's a contribution to universi- ties that will help defray the indi- rect costs of research and allow for the excellent work they do to con- tinue,” Rock said. "So I think it's a very important contribution for the government to make." The funding is designed to help offset the indirect costs of scientif- ic, technical and health research, such as the lighting, heating, ani- mal care and libraries, and will be broken down as follows: the first Nous offrons aux détenteurs d’une MSS un emploi a plein temps. Si vous avez un baccalauréat en service social, nous pouvons 2 méme vous payer pour terminer votre maitrise, Aprés vos études, vous racevrez un salaire concurrentiel et des avantages appréciabies, tout en contribuant au moral et au bien-étre du personne! militaire et de leurs families. you'll earn a competitive salary with great benefits while you contribute to the 100,000 of these indirect morale and well-being of military personnel and their families. $ : i costs will be refunded at 80 per cent by the federal government; the next~ $900,000 at 50 per cent, the follow- ing $6 million at 40 per cent and the balance at 20 per cent. "This kind of financial support is essential to both maintain the current research programs we have at Concordia and encourage new ones. Without the money, we 1 800 856-8488 : would be in a very difficult posi- www.forces.gc.ca tion." To learn about all the opportunities available, contact us today. Pour obtenir de plus amples renseignements, veuillez communiquer avec nous dés aujourd'hui. Strong. Proud. Today’s Canadian Forces. Découvrez vos forces dans les Forces canadiennes.