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The race is on
Do you enjoy watching all of those reality shows on television? You can stop being a spectator and join in on the fun by participating in The Amazing Library Race. Modeled after the reality show "The Amazing Race," teams will have two days to complete roadblocks, detours and challenges based on their knowledge of rap and hip-hop music. Similar to the popular TV show, the participants will face elimination rounds and alliances. The race is open to all UB undergraduate and graduate students. The winning team will receive prizes worth up to $50. For more information, go to the UB Libraries Web site at http://ublib.buffalo.edu.
You don't need to be an expert on rap and hip-hop to join the race, though you can get an introduction to this genre of music by searching the World Wide Web or a database. Simmons College http://web.simmons.edu/%7Emorrow/hiphopweb.html#ref provides an extensive list of sites related to the history and culture of hip-hop. Links to listservs, newsgroups, online magazines and artists' personal Web sites will introduce you to the world of rap and hip-hop. For the latest news or studies on the effect of hip-hop on contemporary culture, search InfoTrac, an online UB Libraries database available at http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/e-resources/eai.html.
Once you've enhanced your music knowledge, you might want to learn more about the original television program "Amazing Race" and the adventures of its contestants. CBS.com http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race4/index.shtml, serving as the official Web site for the series, offers week-by-week synopses of the show's episodes and tracks each contestant's place in the race. Special features include video clips, photos, a description of the history, climate and special sights of each destination, and even a glossary with "race" terminology.
The Amazing Race Links http://www.sirlinksalot.net/amazingrace.html directs you to the latest news and best sites about the CBS series. Fans can read bios about race members, join associated clubs and forums, and play online reality games. Many of the links offer you the chance to take part in the mental challenges inspired by the real competition aired on CBS.
While UB's Amazing Library Race may not take you to the beautiful and exotic locales featured in the television program, you'll find navigating through the Libraries can be both educational and fun. Join the race by e-mailing cat2@buffalo.edu, or clicking on the Libraries Web site at http://ublib.buffalo.edu. It's your opportunity to conquer your intellectual roadblocks.
—Laura Taddeo and Cindi Tysick, University Libraries