Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Winter Intersession (Dec 24, 2009-Jan 18, 2010)

Steenbock Library will observe the following hours during the winter intersession:
  • Thursday - Sunday, December 24 - 27: CLOSED

  • Monday - Tuesday, December 28 - 29: 8:00am - 5:00pm
  • Wednesday, December 30 (State Furlough Day): CLOSED
  • Thursday - Sunday, December 31 - January 3: CLOSED
  • Monday - Friday, January 4 - 8: 8:00am - 5:00pm
  • Saturday - Sunday, January 9 - 10: CLOSED
  • Monday - Friday, January 11 - 15: 8:00am - 5:00pm
  • Saturday - Sunday, January 16 - 17: CLOSED
  • Monday, January 18 (MLK Day): CLOSED

Tuesday, January 19 (Spring Semester Classes Begin): 8:00am - 1:00am

Campus libraries open by date/time.

Donate Your Copy

Have you finished reading Go Big Read’s inaugural selection, In Defense of Food?

If so, and if you do not anticipate needing it for future use or wish to keep it, please consider donating your gently-used copy to students who will use it in their spring semester classes.

Donate your copy by dropping it off in any campus library return box.

Questions regarding this process (donation/redistribution) can be sent to the Go Big Read program. Thanks!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

What to Read Next

If you ever struggle to come up with what to read next (apart from required texts), consider a list of titles generated by campus librarians.

While the staff was not able to meet for its annual book discussion given the campus “snow day”, it did manage to compile a bibliography of its recommendations. Use the bibliography to find something to distract you from the local wintry scene or to discover that gift of a “little something” for friends and family.

Consult with your campus or public libraries to find available copies.

Handy links:

MadCat
Don’t forget UW System search and borrowing options!

LinkCat, South Central Wisconsin Library System

WorldCat (find library copies nationally, some internationally)

Monday, December 14, 2009

Stress Busters

Take a break from your studies and get those creative juices flowing with a brief stress-buster. You will find, on first and second floors of Steenbock Library, some activity baskets filled with an assortment of origami papers, coloring/doodling pages, crossword puzzles and knitting materials. A magnetic poetry board and jigsaw-puzzle table can also be found on second.

The library will also play host to a generous contribution from the Kronshage, Cole and Sullivan Community of hot chocolate and coffee during the evenings, (December 16-21; between 7:00-11:30 PM, while supplies last). Look for the hot beverage service on the second floor (entrance level).

For a list of extended library hours and finals week activities at the various campus libraries, visit the special, Stay Up Latte pages.

The staff of Steenbock Library wishes you the best for a successful finals week and end of term.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Library Resources for New Grads

If you have completed your university studies--we congratulate you on that achievement. And, do you know that there are library resources you can continue to access once you have left UW-Madison?

Visit the Wisconsin Alumni Association Library Resources page for information about publicly-available online collections and association membership benefits that also include online access to two sizeable, article databases.

Information is also available from our libraries’ website about borrowing privileges for residents (Wisconsin) and non-residents and fee-based document delivery services.

If you remain in the state of Wisconsin, you will also be able to use Badgerlink, a project of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning that supports access to quality online information resources. See the Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.

Wherever you go, get to know your local public and academic libraries where you will be able to visit and to access many of their resources, in-house and online.

Monday, December 07, 2009

Career Collections

As you begin your search for an exciting career opportunity, do consult the library’s online guide to Job Hunting on the Internet.

This guide supplies links to resources for helping you prepare your resume and cover letter, tips for networking and interviewing, sources to help you research potential employers and sources for retrieving current job listings—including those opportunities that may not be advertised.

College Library also maintains a Career Collection of more than 1,000 books on writing resumes and cover letters, preparing for interviews, job hunting, and choosing and preparing for a career. This collection is located in the center area of the third floor of College Library.

In addition to College Library’s Career Collection, there are many other career guides to particular fields that can be found in the various libraries. Steenbock Library has career guides in its book stacks that are in keeping with the other collections we support for CALS, SOHE and VetMed. Speak with your librarians for assistance locating these resources OR try using the MadCat catalog, “Words Anywhere” or “Title Words” searches. Example searches may include combining the term (with wildcard) “career?” or “job?” with specific discipline. (For example: career? fashion)

Friday, December 04, 2009

Study Spaces

As you prepare for your final projects and exams, do note the various areas of Steenbock Library that can accommodate your preferences for quiet, study space or areas for group work.

For those sporting a laptop, each floor can connect to the wireless network; there are also additional wall outlets to power the laptop. If you should need to use your cell-phone, we ask that you set your phone to a silent indicator and take calls to the stairwells or entrance. Seeing as we are entering a stressful time of the semester and that there will be more people in the building, we encourage everyone to be mindful of others so that all areas of the library prove conducive for productive work.

First floor (book stacks)
Visit the first floor to find the library’s group study rooms (that can be reserved using the Study Room Reservation System). Additionally, there are many large tables to accommodate group work. Snack machines (including one for hot beverages) can also be found here. A small bank of computers accesses online resources and the MS Office suite of software; for additional software, visit the InfoLab on second.

Second floor (entrance level)
The second floor (or entrance level) hosts the DoIT InfoLab as well as library circulation and reference services where you can seek assistance from staff. The floor offers some relaxed seating and tables for reasonably-quiet group study.

Third floor (journal collections)
The third floor affords table seating and individual study carrels. While it is generally a quieter study area than the first floor (for instance), the open atrium with its view of second, does permit some sound to carry.

Fourth floor (journal collections, government documents, University Archives)
This floor has been designated as the quiet study floor for this building. While there will be some staff working in this space between the hours of 8:00-5:00, the library endeavors to preserve this space for quiet study needs. Large tables and individual carrels are available.

Wishing you the best for a successful end of term!

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Tree and Wreath Sale (Dec 4-6)

Time to deck the halls with the Forestry Club’s annual tree and wreath sale!

The Forestry Club will be holding its 33rd annual sale this coming weekend, December 4-6 in the UW-Stock Pavilion. Tree species include Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, and White Pine. Wreaths are made from Fraser Fir.

Proceeds from this sale event support student educational opportunities within the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology.

The Forestry Club thanks you for your continued support of this event.

Hours:

Friday, December 4: 8:00AM - 8:00PM

Saturday, December 5: 8:00AM - 8:00PM

Sunday, December 6: 9:00AM - 3:00PM

Monday, November 30, 2009

UW Local Food Event & Panel Discussion (Dec 3)

What are the benefits of buying local? Where can one find local foods? What businesses support local growers?

Inspired by the ‘Go Big Read’ initiative, student volunteers have organized a panel presentation to examine these questions and to learn how to become more conscientious consumers in a discussion of local food.

Come to this event to ask questions of local growers, restaurant owners, farmer’s market vendors and other groups committed to supporting local agriculture such as Buy Fresh, Buy Local, Willy Street Co-op, and F.H. King Students of Sustainable Agriculture.

The panel event and discussion will be held in the Open Book Café, College Library, Thursday, December 3rd at 5:00pm.

Call for Course Reserves (Spring 2010)

It’s that time of year…the course reserves deadline for spring semester is fast approaching!

To ensure that your reserve materials are available in time for the first day of class, we invite you to submit your course reserve materials by our deadline date: December 20, 2009.

For more information, visit the Steenbock Course Reserves page, phone 263-8331 or email.

If you are a student, do note that you can access your e-reserve content by logging in to your MyUW and selecting the Library/Reserves link listed with your registered classes. Similarly, you can access these same library links from within Learn@UW. Should your instructor have placed materials for you to use at one of our campus libraries, visit the MadCat catalog to run a Course Reserves search.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Cranberry Consciousness

The cranberry, a fruit native to North America and ubiquitous during this time of year given its association with traditional Thanksgiving holiday feasting, is Wisconsin’s leading fruit crop.

Today, growers in 18-19 Wisconsin counties can account for nearly 60% of the nation’s cranberry harvest.

Visit the following links to learn more about cranberry production, its contribution to the state’s economy and its versatility as a food product (recipes!).

Library Resources:

Cookery:

There are several cookbooks available from the Steenbock collection to feature cranberries. Run a MadCat, “Words Anywhere” search to view those titles.

Agricultural Statistics:

Wisconsin Cranberry Industry:

United States Cranberry Industry:

Friday, November 20, 2009

Thanksgiving Week Hours

During the week of the Thanksgiving holiday, campus libraries will observe some changes from their regular hours of operation. Do plan ahead should you need to visit the libraries or to pick up items from their collections. Steenbock Library hours are posted on its home page (lower right on screen) and on its detailed hours page. Hours of operation for all campus libraries can be found by browsing the list of libraries at the campus libraries page.

Do note that this year the campus will be closed during the Friday following the Thanksgiving holiday (November 27) to observe mandatory furlough.

Online resources, with the exception of chat and immediate email contact, will be available twenty-four hours, every day, and can be accessed from off-campus as well.

We wish you well on your travels and for a pleasant long weekend.

Behind the Scenes...

Ever wonder what’s going on behind the scenes with your search engine? Take a look at this clever ad (from Weetabix, admittedly) for some amusing insight.

And, once you’ve had a chuckle, do consult with your librarians--accomplished search engines in their own right--for satisfying your information needs.

We look forward to working with you in person or via our email and chat services. It never hurts to Ask!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Food Systems at War (Nov 19)

In conjunction with Go Big Read, Kellen Backer, History of Science dissertator, will present a public lecture, “Food Systems at War: Canned and Frozen Food Production during World War II” in the HSLC Auditorium 1335, Thursday, November 19 (noon – 1:00 PM). A question and answer session will follow the lecture. Those who attend are invited to donate a canned good item to benefit area food pantries.

Of related interest:

UW Digital Collections has released Recipe for Victory: Food and Cooking in Wartime a digitized collection of books and government documents that highlight the national campaign to promote gardening and food preservation on the home-front--instrumental to the plan for victory during World War I. Many of the documents and texts that have been digitized for this collection can be found at Steenbock Library.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Short Course Welcome

Steenbock Library welcomes CALS Short Course students to campus.

The Farm and Industry Short Course, founded in 1885, is a 17-week program of study designed to prepare its students for great careers in agriculture.

The library, with its collections, staff and proximity to the residence halls, is prepared to assist students with finding and using resources to complete class projects.

The library also supplies lab and group study spaces and access to recreational materials from our entire campus library system.

Photo courtesy of University Communications.

International Education Week (Nov 16-20)

The most indelible experience from my undergraduate years was a year I spent abroad. One step off the plane and my life would never be the same. Not only did I augment my comprehension and fluency with another language but also my ability to cope with change and to feel comfortable in my own skin.

During International Education Week (November 16-20), you may wish to explore what programs are available to take you abroad. The Division of International Studies also has a blog (Badgers Abroad) where staff, students and alumni share information about their various experiences.

Wisconsin Public Radio program “Here on Earth” will also explore what it means to demonstrate “global-competence.” Be sure to listen to its Tuesday (November 17) broadcast.

Additionally, it is important to note that there are often internships, loans and scholarships available that can help to defray the cost of international opportunities. See the Financial Information pages posted on the International Academic Programs site.

Other study abroad opportunities are listed at the CALS Study Abroad site.

Friday, November 13, 2009

C is for Cookie

This week marked Sesame Street’s 40th Birthday (November 10th, to be precise). In order to celebrate this noteworthy achievement in children's programming, and likely the fact that many of us did come to associate the letter “C” with “cookies” (thanks to one shaggy, blue muppet), I encourage you to bake a few for yourself this weekend (cookies not muppets!) from recipes gleaned from Steenbock’s cookbook collection.

Use the MadCat catalog or speak with your librarians for assistance locating titles. Should a title be checked-out to another library user, do consider a UW-System search or visit one of our area public libraries. Again, campus librarians are happy to help you find available copies.

A few selections from the collection:

Author: Baggett, Nancy, 1943-
Title: The All-American Cookie Book
Call Number: TX772 B25 2001

Author: Desaulniers, Marcel.
Title: Death by Chocolate Cookies
Call Number: TX772 D47 1997

Author: Zenker, John J., 1900-
Title: Cookie Cookery
Call Number: TX772 Z45 1969

Title: Blue Ribbon Cookies / edited by Maria Polushkin Robbins.
Call Number: TX772 B58 1988

Title: Cookies: Step-by-Step Techniques / by the editors of Sunset Books and Sunset Magazine.
Call Number: TX772 .C658 1985

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Nominate a Title! (Go Big Read)

If you have enjoyed sinking your teeth into Go Big Read’s inaugural title, In Defense of Food then now is the time, and your opportunity, to suggest a good read for year two!

An ideal book selection will have the following qualities:

  • Be readable (relevant, engaging, and well-written)
  • Appeal to individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences
  • Encompass sufficient depth and scope to generate discussions from different points of view
  • Be conducive to teaching and learning with opportunities for integration into academic programs
  • Lend itself to a variety of activities and programming (maybe even an author visit!)

The tentative deadline for submitting a recommendation is November 18 (although this deadline may be extended).

The Go Big Read Steering Committee will sort through the nominations for the Chancellor’s sub-committee, who will then make the final selection. (Incidentally, In Defense of Food was selected from among nearly 400 nominated titles).

Monday, November 09, 2009

What goes Where?

When you enter Steenbock Library this week, you will notice a sign, survey form and box inviting you to submit your suggestions and ideas regarding building services and facilities—where they are and how you may find and use them in-house. Specifically, and for starters, the survey form will ask you to tell us how you would like to see our entrance floor arranged (furniture, work-spaces, etc.)

Use symbols (some we’ve created for the form) and others you create to illustrate elements on a floor plan.

Thank you for your time and assistance. We value your feedback in making our Steenbock spaces work for you.

Thursday, November 05, 2009

Annie Get Your Glue Gun!

Craft is hot and the pleasures of DIY (Do It Yourself) are beyond measure. Take stock of the trend by reviewing such texts as Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft and Design with its accompanying, soon-to-be-released-on-DVD documentary (by two Milwaukee artists/film-makers). Of related interest, check out Craft in America (and accompanying video series) and the insightful broadcast from Wisconsin Public Radio’s “To the Best of our Knowledge” program “Reconsidering Crafts”.

For the DIY crowd (Do It Yourself) and indie craft artisans, there are any number of titles from campus library collections (many to be found in Steenbock stacks) that can inform your creative endeavors. Run a search of the MadCat catalog (try a “Words Anywhere” search) on your craft or hobby-of-interest or speak with your librarians for assistance. Should titles from our campus collections be out to other users, do consider searching the UW System or Madison public library.

Should you be looking for that fun and original item for yourself or for a gift, save the date for Madison’s own Craftacular. Many of these craft artists, in addition to others nationally and internationally, also enjoy a Web shop presence through Etsy.*

*Note: I have supplied this information merely for fun and interest. I do not profit personally from such endeavors.

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Got Comments, Suggestions?

Did you know that Steenbock Library has a suggestion box? Feel free to drop a note there anonymously should you wish to share information with us regarding your experiences with our facility, collections and services. Recently, we received a very kind note from a student who indicated that despite the long hours he/she had needed to spend studying; it was nonetheless a pleasant experience at Steenbock. We are grateful and pleased that this student found our library accommodating and comfortable.

A while back, we had received the suggestion to adopt a cat for the library. While many of us would enjoy the comfort of a pet, we need to be mindful of the many people who visit the library--and the extent to which a cat, or other pet, could create distraction and/or aggravate any health concerns is the reason we cannot pursue this particular request. But, we may be able to do other things to make your experience here a satisfactory one.

In addition to our suggestion box (located on the small table across from entrance, beneath display monitor) or even replying to this blog post, there are other means by which to share information with us.

If you wish to make a purchase recommendation for books and journals, be sure to complete our online recommendation form.

Additionally, you may send us email (particularly if you would like a reply), phone or speak with a staff member or liaison to your academic department. Contact us with your questions, concerns and suggestions!

Managing Citations with RefWorks (Today, Nov 4)

Have you discovered RefWorks?! Use this citation manager to organize a personal database and to format bibliographies with ease.

The drop-in workshop will cover RefWorks’ essentials, including organizing, searching and sorting records, importing records from MadCat and journal databases, and preparing bibliographies. Hands-on practice will be encouraged.

Managing Your Citations with RefWorks
Wednesday, November 4 (3:00-4:00 PM)
Room 105, Steenbock Library

No registration is necessary in order to attend, and all workshops are free to students, faculty and staff.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Knit Wit

I see them everywhere…on the bus, in the lecture hall, at the coffee shop…knitting. While there have always been aficionados of the craft, knitting has found a brave new audience of artists, crafters and do-it-yourself-ers who can appreciate some good ol’ lambswool (among other fibers) and the satisfaction to be found in producing one’s own clothing and decorative items. And, what’s more, there is a burgeoning marketplace of new texts, to add to the collected classics, to inspire the contemporary knitter.

A short skein from the Steenbock collection follows below. Be sure to speak with library staff to locate these and other titles from campus collections. Should titles from our campus collections be out to other users, do consider searching the UW System or Madison Public Library.

Author: Chin, Lily M.
Title: The urban knitter / Lily M. Chin.
Publisher: New York : Berkley Books, c2002.
Call Number: TT820 C48493 2002

Author: Gibson-Roberts, Priscilla A.
Title: Knitting in the old way : designs & techniques from ethnic sweaters / by Priscilla A. Gibson-Roberts and Deborah Robson ; illustrations by Priscilla A. Gibson-Roberts.
Publisher: Fort Collins, CO : Nomad Press, c2004.
Call Number: TT825 G52 2004

Author: Newton, Deborah.
Title: Designing knitwear / Deborah Newton.
Publisher: Newtown, CT : Taunton Press, c1992.
Call Number: TT820 N555 1992

Author: Righetti, Maggie.
Title: Knitting in plain English / Maggie Righetti.
Publisher: New York : Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Griffin, 2007.
Call Number: TT820 R54 2007

Title: Vogue knitting : the ultimate knitting book / by the editors of Vogue knitting magazine.
Publisher: New York : Sixth & Spring Books, c2002.
Description: 280 p. : col. ill. ; 27 cm.
Call Number: TT820 V624 2002

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Tales from Planet Earth, Film Festival (Nov 6-8)

Tales from Planet Earth is a three-day film festival featuring environmental films from around the world. From the fanciful to the profound, the films selected should engage audiences in thoughtful discussion of environmental issues and the film media to capture and to examine those issues.

The festival is a public outreach event from the Center for Culture, History, and Environment within the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.

The festival kicks off at the Wisconsin Union Theater (Friday, November 6, 7:00 PM) with keynote address from MacArthur "Genius Grant" recipient and founder of Sustainable South Bronx, Majora Carter.

All festival events are free and open to the public as space/seating accommodates.

View film schedule; speaker schedule.

Monday, October 26, 2009

e-Book Readers, Product Comparison

With a new, yet growing market for portable e-Book readers, the UW-Madison Library system decided to partner, this year, with two faculty members to pilot the use of one particular product (Kindle DX) as a means by which to access required texts.

For the individual who may be in the market for such technology, Harry McCracken from Technologizer (Reviews, News and Opinion about Personal Technology) has produced a “cheat-sheet” product comparison of nine e-Book readers.

Alumni Access to RefWorks

Campus Libraries are pleased to announce that UW-Madison alumni will now have access to RefWorks.

Accessing RefWorks:

If you no longer have an active UW-Madison NetID and password, contact AskRefWorks to obtain the UW-Madison RefWorks Group Code. In order to verify alumni status, you will need to provide your uwalumni e-mail address. Click here to sign up for this free e-mail address.

  • Click Go to Login.
  • Log into your RefWorks account with your log-in name and password.

Updating Your User Status:

In order to help us track the number of alumni participating in this program, please change your RefWorks user status to "alumni".

  • Log into your RefWorks account.
  • Click Update User Information in the Tools menu.
  • Select Alumni in the Type of User drop-down menu.
  • Click Update.

Accessing Other Library Resources:

Due to licensing agreements with our resource providers, only currently-enrolled students, faculty and staff are permitted remote access to many library online resources, including online journals, article databases, and the FindIt links in your Refworks account.

Refer to Visitor Information for details regarding on-site and off-campus access to library resources. Consider document delivery services.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Writing Center Assistance

The Writing Center can help you with the mechanics of organizing your thoughts and materials to complete writing assignments for your classes. The center offers several options for individual consultation including email, face to face instruction, and live chat conferencing.

The Writing Center office is located in Helen C. White Hall, Room 6171. Drop-by assistance is offered at several campus locations including College and Memorial Libraries and several residence halls (including Lakeshore).

The Writing Center may also have a free class that fits your needs. Click here to view the class list.

(Writing assistance for the community can be obtained from Madison Public Libraries).

Steenbock librarians are happy to help you find information to inform your papers and projects and to assist you with using a citation manager to organize citations to the research literature and to format bibliographies/reference lists. (Citation managers include such products as EndNote and RefWorks). Contact us!

Friday, October 16, 2009

Equipment Checkout System

Need to borrow a laptop computer or camera equipment?

Visit the Equipment Checkout System to find available laptops (Macs or PCs) and camera equipment (still or video) from campus lab locations.

The system site will indicate a location and the number of laptops or cameras available from that location. Tabs link to policy information and to a search form for confirming the return date.

Should you need access to other or additional audio-visual equipment, College Library maintains a useful list of contacts and services.

NatureBreak


Take a break, from business as usual at your computer, and experience a bit of nature (some quite curious) with NatureBreak’s video blog and social network.

The NatureBreak site, created by a wildlife film-maker, invites its members to share videos, photos and stories about experiences out-of-doors (generally necessitating that actual break from one’s computer).

Join its free community to receive updates and to post to the site.

Google for Academic Research (Oct 16)

Power search with Google to quickly locate quality resources!

This free, drop-in workshop will give you hands-on practice using Google, Google Scholar, Google Patents, and Google Book Search. You will also learn to use Find It and Refworks with Google Scholar and to evaluate your search results to get the best information from the Web.

Google for Academic Research
Friday, October 16 (noon-1:00)
Steenbock Instruction Lab, Room 105

No registration is necessary in order to attend.

Visit the calendar for a listing of other library workshops offered this fall.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Study Room Reservation System

Reserve a group study room online with the Study Room Reservation system. This online system enables you to search for rooms by date and location, find amenities and policy information regarding use of the rooms and place reservations, as needed, at College, Ebling, Memorial Steenbock and Wendt libraries.

In order to place the reservation, you will need to log in with your NetID and password.

Reservations cannot be made for Steenbock Rooms 240 and 340 using the Study Room Reservation System. Should you wish to reserve either of these larger spaces for your group, phone 262-9635 or visit the Information Services/Reference Desk, Monday-Thursday (10:00 AM - 8:00 PM) and Friday (10:00 AM - 5:00 PM). During the weekend, speak with staff at the Circulation Desk.

Now Available! Portable Energy Meters

Thanks to Madison Gas and Electric, students, staff and faculty can now check out a "portable energy meter" from Steenbock Library. The model for the two available energy meters is the "Watts Up?" Standard. These are the same type of meters that are also available from Madison area public libraries.

Madison Gas and Electric supports an energy meter website with a video demonstrating the use of these energy meters.

The meters can be checked out for two weeks at a time, and you can use "Place Requests" in MadCat to have them sent to the campus library of your choice.

The Schwerdtfeger Library (space science and engineering) also has energy meters; these meters are the Kill a Watt model.

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Friends Used Book Sale (Oct 7-10)

In conjunction with the Wisconsin Book Festival, the Friends of UW-Madison Libraries will host a used book sale, October 7-10, in Room 116 of Memorial Library.

A preview sale, with $5.00 admission, will be held from 5:00 until 9:00 PM, Wednesday, October 7. The regular sale, which is open to all at no charge, will be held from 10:30 AM until 7:00 PM on Thursday and Friday, October 8-9.

On Saturday, October 10 (10:30 AM – 2:00 PM), you can bring a bag and fill it for $3.00.

For more information on the sales, including how to donate books or volunteer for the spring book sale, please call 608-265-2505, e-mail the Friends, or visit the Friends book sale page.

Monday, October 05, 2009

Wisconsin Book Festival (Oct 7-11)

Need an opportunity to feed the mind and stir the soul? If so, consider taking a break to sample the bountiful harvest of author presentations and book discussion forums that comprise the annual, fall Wisconsin Book Festival.

The theme for the book festival this year is that of “courage” and what that may connote for writers and their readers—as they step outside their comfort zone to examine a world of ideas, learning to honor and to appreciate the other—be it a place, an experience, or a point-of-view.

Featured speakers include: Lynda Barry, Wendell Berry, Jane Hamilton, Gregory Maguire, Lorrie Moore, Agate Nesaule, Harvey Pekar, Michael Perry, among many others.

See the full list of presenters.

View the schedule of events.

UW-Madison Libraries and the Friends of UW-Madison Libraries are among the festival sponsors.

Friday, October 02, 2009

A Novel Way to Travel

According to Susheila Nasta, editor and founder of Wasafiri magazine, "reading is a passport to travel elsewhere. “

In the spirit of that adventure, she has recommended several of her favorite titles (with plot synopsis) in a recent article from The Guardian. I am pleased to note that all ten of the recommended titles are available from campus libraries.

Use the MadCat catalog or speak with your favorite librarian to confirm availability. Should one these titles be checked-out to other library users, do consider a UW-System search or visit one of our area public libraries. Again, campus librarians are happy to help you find available copies.

1. The Lonely Londoners by Sam Selvon

2. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison (other editions, multiple copies on campus)

3. Baumgartner's Bombay by Anita Desai,

4. Austerlitz by WG Sebald

5. Paradise by Abdulrazak Gurnah

6. The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende (other editions, multiple copies on campus)

7. Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh

8. Mr. Potter by Jamaica Kincaid

9. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

10. The Emperor's Babe by Bernardine Evaristo

Thursday, October 01, 2009

What to Eat: A Seven Discourse Meal

Sink your teeth into Agroecology’s fall lecture series, What to Eat: A Seven Discourse Meal. This lecture series, inspired by Go Big Read’s selection In Defense of Food, invites campus area experts for insightful discussion about food culture, production and sustainability. For more information, download the poster or visit the Agroecology web site. The series also celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems. All presentations begin at 4:00 PM.

The lecture series is made possible with support from the Bradshaw-Knight Foundation.

Lectures:

Thursday, October 1
Room 2103 Chamberlain Hall
Wisconsin Farmers: What to Eat
Speakers:
Bill Bruins, President of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau and dairy farmer, Waupun
Richard Cates, Member of the DATCP Ag Board and pasture-based beef farmer, Spring Green
Louise Hemstead, Chief Operating Officer of Organic Valley Coop and an organic dairy farmer, La Farge
Tom Lochner, Executive Director, Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association

Introduction by John Shutske, Associate Dean, Cooperative Extension, CALS
Reception to follow

Tuesday, October 6
Room 2103 Chamberlain Hall
CALS Faculty: What to Eat
Speakers:
Brent McCown, Gottschalk Distinguished Professor of Horticulture
Franco Milani, Assistant Professor of Food Science
Susan Nitzke, Professor and Chair of Nutritional Sciences

Introduction by Irwin Goldman, Vice Dean, CALS

Tuesday, October 13
Room 270 Soils Building
Changing Tastes: Sustainability, Demographics and the Marketplace
Speaker:
Arlin Wasserman, Vice President, Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, Sodexo Corporation

Introduction by Jack Kloppenburg, CIAS co-director

Tuesday, October 20
Room 270 Soils Building
Fertility, Fertilizers and Food: In Defense of Haber
Speaker:
Phillip Barak, Professor of Soil Science, UW Madison

Introduction by William Bland, Chair, Soil Science

Tuesday, October 27
Room 270 Soils Building
Healthy Land, Food, and Eaters: An Ecological Approach to Health
Speaker:
Angie Tagtow, managing editor, Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition

Introduction by Gregg Mitman, Interim Director, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies

Wednesday, November 4
Room 270 Soils Building
Growing Food and Knowing Food: The Traceability of Sustainability
Speaker:
Hugh Campbell, Director of the Centre for the Study of Food, Agriculture, and Environment at Otago University, New Zealand

Introduction by Michael Bell, Chair, Agroecology Program

Tuesday, November 10
Room 2103 Chamberlain Hall
The Seasonal Connection: From the Land to Your Plate
Speaker:
Monique Hooker, Wisconsin chef, storyteller, and author of Cooking with the Seasons

Introduction by Julie Luke, Associate Director of Dining and Culinary Service, University Housing
Reception to follow

Managing Your Citations with EndNote (Oct 2)

This workshop will explain the basic features of EndNote including organizing databases and records, importing records from MadCat and research literature databases, and formatting bibliographies. Its Web companion, EndNote Web, will also be featured. (EndNote Web is free to campus users courtesy of UW-Madison Libraries).

Managing Your Citations with EndNote
Friday, October 2, (11:30 AM -1:00 PM)
Room 105

Should you not be able to attend the October 2 workshop, two additional workshops are scheduled for October 23 (noon – 1:30 PM) and November 17 (3:00 – 4:30 PM) at Steenbock Library. Check the campus libraries workshops page for more information and dates for all upcoming library workshops.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Compiling a Lit Review in Life Sciences (Sept 30)

Drop by Steenbock Library this Wednesday afternoon for a workshop designed for those beginning a literature review for a research project, proposal, dissertation, or publication. Specifically, this workshop will focus upon resources and techniques useful for seeking and retrieving the life sciences literature. Participants will learn the key steps for conducting a search and have an opportunity to explore the core databases that are important for mining the academic literature in these fields.

Compiling a Lit Review in the Life Sciences
Wednesday, September 30 (4:00-5:15 PM)
Room 105, Steenbock Library

No registration is necessary in order to attend; all workshops are free to students, faculty and staff.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Managing Citations with RefWorks (Sept 30)

Have you discovered RefWorks?! Use this citation manager to organize a personal database and format bibliographies with ease.

The drop-in workshop will cover RefWorks’ essentials, including organizing, searching and sorting records, importing records from MadCat and journal databases, and preparing bibliographies. Hands-on practice will be encouraged.

Managing Your Citations with RefWorks
Wednesday, September 30 (noon – 1:15 PM)
Room 105, Steenbock Library

No registration is necessary in order to attend, and all workshops are free to students, faculty and staff.

Should you not be able to attend the September workshop, another is scheduled for October 22 (3:00-4:15 PM) at Steenbock Library. Check the campus libraries workshops page for information and dates for all upcoming library workshops.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Banned Books Week (Sept 26-Oct 3)

Celebrate your freedom to read during Banned Books Week 2009.

Some of the most profound and inspiring works of literature have faced challenges to their access from groups or individuals who have felt threatened by their content. How many have you read?

Check out the lists of the most-banned or challenged books by year or by decade (1990-1999). This data has been compiled by the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.

Food for Thought Festival (Sept 26)

The annual Food for Thought Festival, sponsored by the REAP Food Group, will celebrate healthy food traditions and the quest to eat sustainably by tapping the seasonal harvest of local producers.

Saturday festival events will be held just off the Capitol Square on Martin Luther King Blvd. from 8:00 AM until 1:30 PM. Enjoy cooking demonstrations, information tables, tasty samples, activities and raffle prize opportunities.

Special guest, Michael Pollan, will speak at the festival at 10:00 am. Seating for his Saturday festival talk (speakers’ tent) may be limited.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Go Big Read, Author Lecture Tonight!

Plan to attend the free Go Big Read/Humanities Without Boundaries public lecture, In Defense of Food: The Omnivore’s Solution this evening, September 24 (7:00 PM), Kohl Center.

No tickets are required for this event; it is FREE and open to the public. Doors open at 6:00 PM.

Special events parking will be available for $5 after 4:30 PM in the following lots: 91, 46, 29, 88. See map.

For those who are unable to attend the event at the Kohl Center, there will be a live video stream (7:00 PM, Central Standard Time). Details can be found at the Wisconsin Alumni Association website.

Author Michael Pollan will also be on hand, Friday, September 25 (3:30 PM) for a panel discussion in the Wisconsin Union Theater. The author will be joined by Andrea Bloom, Susan Lampert Smith, and John Vrieze.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Whet Your Appetite with New Food Books

This year’s Go Big Read title, In Defense of Food, has sparked animated debate regarding what we consume and how it is produced and absorbed--quite literally and figuratively--into our bodies and our cultures, (traditions and expectations).

As an academic library devoted to the robust examination of these ideas, Steenbock Library collects titles about food--be they of popular interest (cookbooks, essays) or academic (nutritional analyses, farm production, foodways).

In order to explore what new titles we are adding to the stacks, be sure to follow the New Food Books feed generated by staff librarian, Bev P.

Speak with librarians at our Information Services/Reference Desk for locating these and related titles.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Extend Your Library Access

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month with Madison Public Library!

Madison Public Library invites all Madison residents to sign up for its free library card. This additional library card will give you access to the public library system’s materials and resources which include its research databases, job and business resources, magazines, media, and popular reading collections.

While campus and public library systems are not set up for mutual book retrieval and return, there are many public branch libraries throughout the city to make for a convenient visit. The public library system is a great way to extend your reach to library materials and to supplement that which you obtain from the campus system.

During September, Madison Public Library will also be giving a small gift to everyone who signs up for a new library card.

For more information on signing up for a library card, visit one of Madison’s nine public libraries or visit its FAQ page for borrowing materials.

It's Good For You!

In conjunction with Go Big Read, Ebling Library will host an exhibit of historical interest: It’s Good for You! 100 Years of the Art & Science of Eating (September 22, 2009 - March 31, 2010).

The exhibit will explore such themes as the history of the food pyramid, the story of Victory Gardens, the confusion inherent in diet advice, the "voice of authority" in cookbooks and nutrition literature, the marketing of food products, and the evolution of hospital diets.

An opening reception will be held, September 22 from 4:00-6:00PM, in the Historical Reading Room (Third Floor, Ebling Library).

Friday, September 18, 2009

SociETAS Panel, Go Big Read (Sept 21)

The SociETAS Seminar (Department of Community & Environmental Sociology) will host a panel discussion on Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, September 21 (noon -1:00PM) in the Buttel Conference Room (3rd floor, Agriculture Hall).

The featured panelists are Jack Kloppenburg, Jill Harrison, and Madeleine Fairbairn.

For more information about the panelists, visit the SociETAS site.

Go Big Read, Author Lecture (Sept 24)

Save the date! Plan to attend the Go Big Read/Humanities Without Boundaries public lecture, In Defense of Food: The Omnivore’s Solution on Thursday, September 24 (7:00 PM), Kohl Center.

No tickets are required for this event; it is FREE and open to the public. Doors open at 6:00 PM.

A host of sponsors….the Center for the Humanities in partnership with the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation; the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies; the Center for Culture, History, and Environment (CHE); the Wisconsin Initiative for Science Literacy; the Bradshaw-Knight Foundation; UW-Madison Libraries; the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences; the Distinguished Lecture Series; UW-Madison Athletics; and the Research, Education, Action and Policy on Food Group (REAP)...are pleased to announce this public lecture by Michael Pollan.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Influenza Updates (Campus) and Research

UW-Madison has supplied the campus community with an Influenza Information and Prevention site to provide news, information, self-care and prevention strategies.

Additionally, librarians with Ebling Health Sciences have produced a Swine Flu/2009-H1N1 Research Guide to provide quick access to information resources from the CDC, WHO, and the State of Wisconsin.

The guide also supplies links to consumer health information, international and foreign language resources, and additional sites with which to keep current on developing health events.

Suggest Questions for Pollan Lecture

For those of you who have been reading the Go Big Read selection, In Defense of Food, are there any questions you would like to ask the author?

Due to the scale of the author event at the Kohl Center, the question and answer period will be moderated. If you would like to suggest a question, please post it as a comment to the original Go Big Read blog post by September 21. Please also consider including some very brief information about yourself. The moderator will select a representative group of questions and ask them of Michael Pollan during the event.

Save the date! Michael Pollan will speak at the Kohl Center on September 24, 2009. This event is free and open to all; we hope that you will attend.

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Stay Connected with Go Big Read

"Go Big Read" has joined the Facebook community. Become a fan to engage with the issues sparked by your reading of Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food. Go Big Read is also blogging and tweeting.

"Go Big Read" is UW-Madison’s first common book program where students, staff and the community are invited to read the same book and to participate in a variety of related events in-and-out of the classroom.

C Helen Party (Sept 10)

Campus libraries are the place to be--not only as spaces for serious study, but as interesting social spaces for group work and the occasional party.

Check out the fun when College Library (Helen C White) hosts its house party, September 10 (7:00-11:00PM).

The schedule of events includes a courtyard carnival, poker tournament, dance party, Ninja Tag and more--with plenty of free snacks on the side.

Enjoy!

Friday, September 04, 2009

Assignment Calculator

Calendar your steps to completing class assignments. The Assignment Calculator, hosted by College Library, enables you to enter your start and anticipated end dates to generate a step-by-step plan of action for developing your topic, finding and evaluating resources, and beginning the writing process. Each stage of the plan will suggest strategies for successfully completing that stage.

When you come to that stage of needing to pull together information from library collections (books and journal articles), do speak with a librarian for assistance. Library staff is happy to answer your questions about how to use our databases to find what you need.

Of related interest and support, check out the services offered by the UW-Madison Writing Center:

Monday, August 31, 2009

Go Big Read! Get your Copy!

Go Big Read 2009” will be UW-Madison’s first common book program where students, staff and the community are invited to read the same book, then participate in a variety of related programs in-and-out of the classroom.

The inaugural year selection is Michael Pollans’ In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto.


Your options for obtaining a copy to read include the following:

Library Copies:

Campus Libraries and Madison Public Library have ordered additional copies for check-out.


Student Copies:

First Year Students who wish to participate can get a free copy. Copies will be available following the Chancellor's Convocation on September 1st at the Kohl Center. Any First Year Student not attending the Convocation, can pick up a copy at the Center for the First Year Experience Office.

Students enrolled in courses that are using the book will get free copies. Copies will be delivered to courses during the first weeks of class. Should students miss their in-class delivery, their copies can be requested from Circulation desks at participating libraries (Chemistry, College, Ebling, Memorial, Steenbock and Wendt).

Other students can purchase a copy of the book for $5.00 at Newell's Deli, Memorial Union, and Breese Terrace Union. After August 25th, copies can also be purchased at Carson's Carryout in Carson Gulley Commons and Ed's Express in Gordon Commons.


University Community Copies:

University staff, Wisconsin Alumni Association members in current-standing, Wisconsin Union members, and Friends of UW-Madison Libraries can purchase a copy for $8.00 at Newell's Deli, Memorial Union, and Breese Terrace Union. After August 25th copies can also be purchased at Carson's Carryout in Carson Gulley and Ed's Express in Gordon Commons.

Campus and community bookstores offer the title for purchase (many at a discounted rate).


Other formats/accessible copies:

Should you need access to an alternative format for the book, do note that College Library loans copies of the book in audio format and that other accessible editions can be requested by contacting the Go Big Read program (email: gobigread@library.wisc.edu)

Free Library Tours and Workshops!

Steenbock Library offers free tours and drop-in workshops to students and staff!

Come learn about library resources and services that can make your work easier. We offer a variety of workshops to satisfy many interests, whether that be that to harness a citation management product or to search more effectively using Google or the MadCat Catalog.

Plan to attend any of the workshops on the current fall schedule (and printable PDF). If you cannot attend one of these particular workshops, we can arrange individual or small group sessions. Send us your request using our online form.

All workshops are free and include hands-on time to explore the resource. No reservations are necessary. We look forward to seeing you there!

Friday, August 28, 2009

Ride the Drive (Sunday, August 30)

Grab your bike (walking shoes or rollerblades, too) and explore a bit of downtown Madison with this Sunday’s Ride the Drive event!

Ride the Drive will feature a car-free, six-mile loop (8:00am-2:00pm) from John Nolen Drive to East Washington, around the Capitol Square to State Street and back. As there will not be any particular start or stop, you will be able to join the fun at any location.

Live music, “comfort stations”, food venues and more will line the route.

Enjoy!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

National Community Gardening Week (Aug 23-29)

The US Department of Agriculture has declared August 23-29 to be "National Community Gardening Week"!

According to Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, “Community gardens provide numerous benefits including opportunities for local food production, resource conservation, and neighborhood beautification… But they also promote family and community interaction and enhance opportunities to eat healthy, nutritious foods. Each of these benefits is something we can and should strive for."

Get to know your community gardens! The Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin, works with more than thirty-one community gardens in the Madison area.

If you are interested in learning more about community gardening initiatives, consider browsing Steenbock Library collections. Run a MadCat catalog search to find these resources (HINT: try using “community gardens” or “community gardening” as a search term).

Among these resources are the following:

City Bountiful: A Century of Community Gardening in America

Closing the Food Gap: Resetting the Table in the Land of Plenty

Community Garden Book: New Directions for Creating and Managing Neighborhood Food Gardens in Your Town

You can also learn more, or find a community garden in your area, by visiting the American Community Gardening Association’s web site.

Do also explore links from the USDA's People's Garden Project.

With thanks to Amanda W for selected titles. For additional library resources, see her original blog post.