Einstein for a Day
Albert Einstein, one of the world's most brilliant and respected scientists, is best known for formulating the theory of relativity which played a critical part in the development of atomic energy. What may not be widely known is that Einstein had a fine sense of humor.
There is an amusing story about Einstein's visiting universities in a car driven by a chauffeur, giving lectures on relativity. One day the chauffeur said: «Mr. Einstein, I've heard you give this lecture about 30 times. I know it by heart, and I am sure I could give it myself. » «Well, I'll give you a chance», said Einstein. «They won't recognise me at the school. When we get there, I'll put on your cap and you introduce yourself as me and give the lecture. »
The chauffeur gave Einstein's lecture without making a single mistake. On finishing, he started to leave, but one of the professors stopped him to ask a complex question. The chauffeur thought fast.
«That problem is so trivial», he said, «I'm surprised that you have to ask me. In fact, to show you how simple it is, I'm going to ask my chauffeur to come up here and answer your question. »
Learning is a treasure that will follow you anywhere
Libraries have an important part in the cultural development of a country.People have a desire to learn, they seek knowledge.Books satisfy this desire.
Our University has many rich libraries. They are big and light rooms. The libraries also have many reading-rooms, special halls for scientific reference work, for current periodicals, reference books and for other purposes. There are many bookcases and bookshelves with a lot of books on them. You can find million of books by the great scientists, writers and poets, well-known all over the world. Our libraries are the centre of serious study in all fields. Theу are used by University professors and lecturers, by students reading for higher degrees and by those who are engaged in research in their spare time.
Libraries are very important in the life of students. Students go to the library to read books, to look through some new magazines and to prepare for a report. The librarians help the students to find books, which they need. The University’s academic staff goes to the library too. They take text books and teaching aids from there. Sometimes they prepare for the lessons at the library.
Our library is not only a collection of text books, scientific books for reading; it is also with all its current publications, a rapidly growing modern research library. It receives every issue of every periodical or newspaper published in Kazakhstan, Russia and other countries. I think it is difficult to live without libraries and books must be our friends during all our life.
The Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the Nation's library in the USA. It serves not only to members and committees of the Congress, but to libraries throughout the USA and the world and to the scholars, researchers and scientists who use it.
Its foundation was laid in 1815 when President Thomas Gefferson offered his personal library accumulated for 50 years and considered one of the best in the United States at that time as the basis for a great national library.
Now the Library of Congress complex on Capital Hill includes three buildings. The Thomas Gefferson Building, which has been built in Italian Renaissance style, is the oldest of them. It was the largest and costliest (роскошный) library building in the world when it was completed in 1897. It is decorated with splendid sculpture, murals (фрески) created by 50 American artists. Its Main Reading Room is 160 feet high.
The Room houses a collection of 45,000 reference books (справочники), a part of the extensive main catalog of more than 23 million cards and desks for 212 readers. The Computer Catalog Center provides public access (доступ) to the Library's automated catalog.
The simply designed John Adams Building faced with white marble (мрамор) was opened in 1939. Sculptures on its large bronze doors represent 12 famous writers.
The white marble James Madison Memorial Building opened in 1980 more than doubled the Library's available Capitol Hill space. The building which is the official memorial to the Nation's fourth President contains the James Madison Memorial Hall, exhibition areas, eight reading rooms, offices and storage areas for collections which number over 50 million items (предметов).