Science Constellation@UW-Madison (Dec 29)

The UW-Madison campus welcomes the community to visit its constellation of science venues.
Come learn what there is to discover when Wednesday Nite @ the Lab welcomes Dave Nelson, Biochemistry and Tom Zinnen, Biotechnology Center, to describe these exciting destinations and how this constellation model can serve to enhance communication between university researchers and lifelong learners.

Wednesday Nite @ the Lab programs meet in Room 1111 (Auditorium) of the Genetics/Biotechnology Center building, 425 Henry Mall, from 7:00- 8:15 PM.

Wisconsin Agricultural Economic Outlook Forum (Jan 19)

Economists and commodity specialists from UW-Madison and UW-River Falls will be on-hand to review the financial status of the state’s farm sector and its emerging issues and opportunities during the fourth annual forum, January 19 (12:45-4:00 PM) at the Pyle Center.

Register to attend the forum by January 12, 2011. For those unable to attend the event at the Pyle Center, there will be a live webcast made available from the site. The site also supplies links to a tentative agenda and the report and webcast from the previous (2010) forum.

The forum is hosted by UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and UW-Extension, Cooperative Extension with sponsorship provided by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, the Wisconsin Farmers Union and the UW-Madison Office of University Relations.

What Library Staff are Reading

One of the fun requests that we receive at our library reference desk is for suggestions to meet recreational reading interests. If you ever struggle to come up with what to read next (apart from required texts), consider a list of titles generated by campus library staff.

Use our reading list 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 librarians for additional recommendations and to locate available copies from campus or public libraries.

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)

Donate Your Copy (Go Big Read)

Have you finished reading the Go Big Read selection, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks?

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!

Late Nights at the Libraries

Be sure to check the "Stay Up Late" pages for a list of extended library hours and finals week activities at the various campus libraries.

Steenbock Library is pleased to announce that it is piloting 24-hour study during the 2010 final exam period. Beginning, Thursday, December 16 and running through Wednesday, December 22, the library will be open for 24 hours of each study day.

Should you need to come and go from our building during this extended-hours period, we always advise using the "buddy system" and walk or share a ride with friends. Additionally, and as need be, do consider using SAFE Nighttime services.

The library will host a generous donation from the Lakeshore Residence Halls of coffee and hot chocolate during the evenings, (December 17-22; between 7:00-11:30 PM, while supplies last).

Look for the hot beverage service on the first floor (vending alcove).

Steenbock Library staff and the Lakeshore Residence Hall community wish you the best for a successful finals week and end of term.

Christmas Bird Count

Beginning December 14 and running through January 5, bird enthusiasts will take to the fields and woodlands to record their sightings of particular bird species--a brilliant example of citizen science in action where engaged volunteers partner with researchers to document particular phenomena.

If you are interested in getting involved with this year’s count, see the Audubon Society’s information for participants.

For more information about bird species, do consult the online edition of Birds of North America. This comprehensive reference tool details the life histories of more than 716 North American species. The online edition, a product of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the American Ornithologist’s Union supplies descriptive text, image collections, audio and video to reveal aspects of behavior and habitat. For locating additional library resources devoted to ornithology, see the Ornithology Research Guide.

Should you wish to document your bird sightings year-round, consider registering with the eBird community--a project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society to record bird abundance and distribution.

Try an E-Reader (Pilot Project)

Would you like to borrow a Kindle or an iPad to do a bit of light reading? If so, you will want to place a request to borrow one of ten pre-loaded devices from College Library.

In order to place a request, simply complete the E-Reader Request form. College Library staff will contact you when your preference (or first available) for either device is available. At this time, the e-reader devices are only available for a two-week loan period, without renewal (although you can place another request).

Please note that due to the popularity of this service, there will likely be a waiting period. The e-books currently available on the reader devices were selected to satisfy recreational reading interests; the catalog of titles can be viewed at Library Thing.

As a pilot project to explore building a collection of popular e-books, College Library also invites undergraduates to suggest new titles to add to this e-book collection (recommendations can be submitted with the request form).

For more information, see the E-Reader Overview.

24-Hour Study, Finals Week

Steenbock Library is pleased to announce that it will pilot 24-hour study during the 2010 final exam period. Beginning, Thursday, December 16 and running through Wednesday, December 22, the library will be open for 24 hours of each study day.

As there has been much interest for a late-night study location on this end of campus, we welcome your feedback about this service and our facility. Please reply to this post or drop a message into our "suggestion box" near the entrance, on the table beneath the large display monitor.

Should you need to come and go from our building during this extended-hours period, we always advise using the "buddy system" and walk or share a ride with friends. Additionally, and as need be, do consider using SAFE Nighttime services.

The library is also happy to host a generous donation of coffee and hot chocolate from the Lakeshore Residence Hall community. This free, hot beverage service will be in place from December 17 through December 22 beginning at 7:00PM each evening and continuing while supplies last.

The staff at Steenbock Library wishes you the best for a successful end of term!

Hours (December 13-26, 2010):

• Monday - Tuesday, December 13 -14: 8:00am - 1:00am

• Wednesday, December 15: 8:00am - 12:00am

• Thursday - Wednesday, December 16 - 22: 24 Hour Study

• Thursday, December 23: 12:00am - 6:00pm

• Friday - Sunday, December 24 - 26: CLOSED

Suggest a Book for the Next Go Big Read!

Planning is already underway for the next Go Big Read. If you have enjoyed reflecting upon the immortality of HeLa cells with this year’s selection, the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, then we welcome you to suggest a similarly-engaging read for year three.

An ideal book 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 deadline for submitting a recommendation is January 6, 2011.

The Go Big Read Review Committee will sort through the nominations on behalf of the Chancellor’s sub-committee, which will then make the final selection.

See the list of suggested titles as it grows...(updated daily!)

Suggest your book here.

Call for Course Reserves (Spring 2011)

Steenbock’s course reserves deadline is fast approaching!

To ensure that reserve materials are available in time for the first day of class, we invite faculty and staff to submit their course reserve materials by our deadline date: December 20, 2010.

For more information, visit the Steenbock Course Reserves page, phone 263-833, email or complete an online request form.

For students:
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.

Poinsettia, Tree and Wreath Sale (Dec 3-5)

The UW Forestry Club and the UW Horticulture Society will team during the first weekend in December to offer the campus community a selection of trees, wreathes, poinsettias and other plants popular during the winter holidays. Details on plants and pricing follow below.

Hours and Location (Stock Pavilion):
Friday, December 3: 8:00AM - 8:00PM
Saturday, December 4: 8:00AM - 8:00PM
Sunday, December 5: 9:00AM - 3:00PM

UW Forestry Club, 2010 Tree Sale
Fraser Fir: $50
Balsam Fir: $40
White Pine: $30
Fraser Wreaths: $22

UW Horticulture Society, Poinsettia Sale
A selection of poinsettias (with wrapping service) and the UW Hort Society Cookbook will be available for purchase at the sale. Poinsettias are also available for pre-order (visit the UW Horticulture Society site for more information on how to submit your email request).

4″ Poinsettia: $8
6-1/2″ Poinsettia: $20
7″ Mumsettia: $25
4″ Xmas Cactus: $8
6″ Xmas Cactus: $12

Where to Study Now

We are pleased that you have come to study at Steenbock. Do note the various areas of our building that can accommodate your preferences for quiet, study space or areas for group 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 get 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 works to preserve this space for quiet study needs. Large tables and individual carrels are available.

Thanksgiving Week Hours, Campus Libraries

During this 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 again this year the campus will be closed during the Friday following the Thanksgiving holiday (November 26) to observe a 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 to enjoy a pleasant long weekend.

Savoring Cranberries

Question: Which state produces the most cranberries?

Answer: Wisconsin!

In fact, the cranberry, ubiquitous during this time of year given its association with traditional Thanksgiving holiday feasting, is Wisconsin’s leading fruit crop. (View the USDA NASS Cranberry Forecast and Statistics page).

Consult Steenbock’s research guide to the American Cranberry to discover some great resources regarding cranberry cultivation, marketing, and use (including links to online recipe sites).

Additionally, Steenbock librarians have placed some selected cranberry-themed titles from our collection on the display rack, first floor, opposite the stairwell and outside study rooms 107, 108. Feel free to check them out!

Live in Harmony, Yeo Valley Rap

Yeo Valley, an organic dairy in the UK, has launched an upbeat series of commercials that put a fresh spin on milk marketing. Visit its YeoTube to view these and more including the "Yeo Valley Rap".

The sun is up, the milk is chilled... (see lyrics)

Congratulations to a U.S. Professor of the Year!

Steenbock Library extends a message of congratulations to Teri Balser, Associate Professor of Soil Science and Director of the Institute for Cross-College Biology Education, on being named a U.S. Professor of the Year, a title that recognizes excellence in the teaching and mentoring of undergraduate students.

Only four professors from around the country are selected annually to receive this honor which is based upon measures of four criteria: his/her "impact on, and involvement with undergraduates; a scholarly approach to teaching and learning; contributions to undergraduate education in the school, community and profession; and support from colleagues and current and former students."

See the full news release!

Get Assistance from the Writing Center

The Writing Center can help you with the mechanics of organizing your thoughts and resources 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 Center website also features a handy "Writer’s Handbook" that provides examples, strategies and tips for getting started, avoiding common grammatical errors and citing your resources accurately.

The Center may also have a free class that fits your needs. Click here to view the fall 2010 class list.

Do you use a Citation Manager? Take the Survey!

UW-Madison Libraries is looking to assess your use of citation management tools (EndNote, Mendeley, RefWorks, Zotero, etc.). Your participation is encouraged and appreciated even if you do not use these tools regularly. The survey should take less than five minutes to complete--and your reply to survey questions will remain anonymous.

The deadline for completing the survey will be November 30, 2010.

Take the survey!

Job Hunting on the Internet, Workshop (Nov 12)

Discover resources and strategies for job hunting on the Internet/Web. The workshop will cover resume writing resources, databases for job postings, tips for finding non-advertised jobs, and methods for researching potential employers. There will be time for hands-on exploration.

Job Hunting on the Internet
Friday, November 12 (noon – 1:15 PM)
Steenbock Instruction Lab, Room 105 (first floor, downstairs!)

No registration is necessary in order to attend.

Of related interest:

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.

CALS Career Services, Workshops

CALS Career Services offers a series of workshops, for undergraduate and graduate students, about the job-seeking process. Consult the Career Services events calendar for these and other opportunities.

• November 16, (1:20-2:10 PM): Freshman Resume/No Experience Resume, Room 116 Ag Hall

• December 1, (9:55-10:40 AM): Closing the Sale: Selling Yourself in an Interview, Room 116 Ag Hall

• December 10, (3:30-4:20 PM): BuckyNet Unleashed!, Animal Sciences Computer Lab, Room 204

All Campus Food Drive

Beginning Monday, November 8 and running through Friday, December 3, students and staff are invited to donate non-perishable food items on behalf of the "Share Your Holidays" end-hunger campaign. This effort, as coordinated by NBC 15, the campus Office of Visitor & Information Programs and other campus organizations, supplies necessary food items for the Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin.

Campus donation sites include the following:

• Red Gym (Campus Information Center), 716 Langdon Street
• Welcome Center, 21 N. Park Street
• DoIT TechStore, 1210 W. Dayton Street
• Weeks Hall (main lobby), 1215 W. Dayton Street
• Wisconsin Alumni Association, 650 N. Lake Street

Additional donation sites will soon be added by participating groups and in specific building locations, including Memorial Library, Student Services/333 East Campus Mall and the School of Business.

Those who wish to make a monetary donation can do so through the Second Harvest site, "Share Your Holidays" campaign page.

See the campus press release.

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.

(For more information about this program’s history, take a look at A History of the Farm and Industry Short Course, 1885-2010)

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.

Campus Theft Alert

Campus police have reported an increase in theft--particularly of unattended items in open study spaces. As you study at Steenbock, we, the library’s staff, advise you to never leave your personal and valuable possessions unattended whether you are using the lab or have been seated at a table or in a group study room. Targeted items for thieves have included backpacks, laptops and purses or wallets.

As a preventable crime, campus police remind students and staff to never risk theft by leaving possessions unattended for even a short period of time in a public space and that the loss of these personal items can contribute to other vulnerabilities--including the risk for identity theft/fraud.

Additional information can be found at the UW Police Department Website or the SafeU site.

Forward Thinking

On November 1, library staff from UW-Madison and the UW System launched a beta edition of "Forward" –a reinvention of our library catalogs and a fresh approach to resource discovery.
Find links to Forward from the Websites to campus libraries and Steenbock. Set your search for UW-Madison or for the UW System and UW Digital Collections.

As of the November 1st date, two campuses (Madison and Whitewater) can already place requests for UW System items directly within Forward. The development team anticipates that more campuses will be able to do so soon during Forward’s public beta period which runs through December.

While you give it a try, be sure to send your thoughts and suggestions to the development team by clicking on the Feedback button links.

Plan Your Trip to the Polls

Election Day is Tuesday, November 2! Are you ready to cast your vote?

The polls are open from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM. In order to vote in Wisconsin, you need to be registered and you can still do that at your polling place on Election Day.

Use the following links to find your polling place.

Where Do I Vote? (City of Madison)

Voting on campus (dorm polling locations)

Sources for information about the candidates and issues:

Wisconsin Vote

Google Scholar Alerts

For those who enjoy Google Scholar, do note that it now enables you to set an alert--that is, to save a particular search strategy on a topic, specific article, or author and have Google send you an email notification when more articles are added to its database that match your criteria.

It’s as simple as running your search, then clicking the envelope icon "create email alert". If you are interested in "cited by" information for a particular article, run the search for that article, click "Cited by" beneath the search result, then click the envelope icon "create email alert".

• See the Help pages for more information.

Additionally, consider setting your Scholar Preferences to include a link to Find It at UW-Madison and a link to export your records to a preferred Citation Manager (EndNote, RefWorks, etc.) The Find It at UW Madison link will map you to local holdings for particular articles--either in full-text online or as available in print from campus libraries. (When using Google Scholar on-campus, you should see this Find It at UW-Madison link).

If you are using Google Scholar from off-campus, select Scholar Preferences from the Google Scholar search page, and search for the name of your library in the Library Links section (for example, enter UW Madison).

Select boxes for your campus library system and the Open WorldCat Library Search.

Select your preferred Bibliography Manager from the drop menu near the bottom of the Preferences page. Once selected, links will appear with your retrieval to enable you to export citations to that manager.

Click to Save Preferences.

(Do note that selecting a link to a full-text article from off-campus will require you to login with your UW-Madison NetId).

Manage Your References!

Citation Managers are software products that can help you to perform the following tasks:

• Create and organize a personal research database of references gathered from databases.

• Format manuscripts and reference lists instantly in a variety of styles (MLA, APA, Turabian, etc.)

• Share your databases with classmates and colleagues.

In order to decide which product will work the best for you (and you may even find it useful to use more than one), visit the online chart to compare features or consult the flyer, "Which one is right for you?"

The libraries support several products (EndNote, RefWorks & Zotero) and offer free workshops to students and staff. Visit the workshop schedule for November, browse the workshop calendar by topic (look for citation managers) or ask to speak with your librarian consultants.

• EndNote & EndNote Web Consultants
• RefWorks Consultants
• Zotero Consultants

Every Purchase Matters

October has been designated as National Fair Trade Awareness Month by TransFair USA, a third-party certifier of fair trade products in the United States and member of Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International which looks to alleviate poverty by securing sustainable, fair practices on behalf of small producers and agricultural workers.

And, do note that, earlier this year, WISPIRG’s Fair Trade Campaign also managed to secure the city of Madison the distinction as "First Fair Trade State Capital" and 16th "Fair Trade City" in the United States.

So, how can you make your purchases matter? Look for fair trade certified products in campus shops and local businesses. You may also wish to "save the date" for the 14th Annual Fair Trade Holiday Festival, Saturday, December 4, 2010 at the Monona Terrace.

• Where to Get Fair Trade Products in Madison, Willy Street Coop
• Where to Buy Fair Trade Certified Products, TransFair
  

Go Big Read, Author Event (October 25)

Plan to attend the free, Go Big Read public lecture with Rebecca Skloot, October 25 (7:00 PM), at the Kohl Center.

Rebecca Skloot’s book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, compassionately recounts the very human origin of HeLa cells and their astounding contribution to modern medicine.

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

• Read the Response from Damon Williams, Vice-Provost for Diversity and Climate (as posted to the Go Big Read blog, October 20).

Putting the Wisconsin Idea Online (Oct 19)

The Wisconsin Idea is the principle that our efforts here, as students and staff, should inform and enrich our communities beyond the university. UW-Madison researchers are now able to fulfill this guiding principle by using the Web to reach Wisconsin residents and an interested audience worldwide.

On October 19, faculty, staff, students and librarians will have an opportunity to discuss efforts to archive and to impart the product of one’s research online.

Visit the site to view the schedule of featured speakers and to submit your registration. Registration for this day-long event is free.

Putting the Wisconsin Idea Online
October 19, 2010 (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM)
Memorial Library Commons (Room 460)

This event coincides with Open Access Week 2010.

Spam!

On a recent drive across southern Minnesota, I could not help but notice billboards advertising the Spam Museum in Austin, Minnesota, birthplace of this much-maligned but rather ubiquitous tinned meat product. And, charmingly, I might add, Spam made a recent "Word of Mouth" blog post at the Guardian in which the author considered the enduring appeal of this product, offered some insight on its history, and supplied a snippet from the famous Monty Python sketch in which the characters bicker about their choice of Spam-enhanced meals.

As Spam continues to make many a dinner table, consider some fine examples for its preparation from Steenbock’s cookbook collection.

Author: Burckhardt, Ann
Title: A Cook's Tour of Minnesota
Publisher: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Historical Society Press, c2004
Call Number: TX715 B9497 2004

Author: Wyman, Carolyn
Title: I'm a Spam Fan: America's Best-Loved Foods
Publisher: Stamford, CT: Longmeadow Press, c1993
Call Number: TX370 W95 1993

Title: Great-Tasting Recipes with SPAM Luncheon Meat
Publisher: Lincolnwood, IL: Publications International, c1996
Call Number: TX749 G8225 1996

Should you wish to research other food products, food trends and traditions of thrifty cooking, come chat with your Steenbock librarians for assistance finding these topics and more.

Book Discussions, Go Big Read

As you read the Go Big Read selection, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, do plan to attend a book discussion forum. There are many discussion forums planned in a variety of venues, on campus and off, including one for this coming Monday, October 11 at Steenbock Library. The Steenbock Library forum will begin at 6:30 PM in Room 340.

Discussion forums provide a great opportunity to wrangle with the issues raised by a book as those issues are examined by a community of readers who bring their knowledge, experience and reflections to the table. For students, insight drawn there can often make for a more satisfying reading experience and serve to help you with related class exercises. It is also just plain fun to hear what others have been thinking.

Of related information, consider this list of related articles and reviews (as shared via RefWorks).

Save the date! Rebecca Skloot will speak at the Kohl Center on October 25, 2010. This event is free and open to all; doors open at 6:00 PM with the presentation to begin at 7:00 PM. We hope that you will attend!

Shane Hamilton Public Lecture, WHEATS

The WHEATS 2010 Planning Committee has invited Shane Hamilton to speak on Friday, October 8, as a kickoff lecture for WHEATS, (Workshop for the History of Environment, Agriculture, Technology, and Science). His presentation, entitled, "Where's the 'C' (for Capitalism) in WHEATS" will explore political economy as a lens by which to examine and draw together the research literature from history of agriculture, environment, technology, and science.

This public lecture will begin at 4:00 PM in the CHE Theater (Room 123/125) of the Bradley Memorial Building, 1225 Linden Drive.

Shane Hamilton is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Georgia and author of Trucking Country: The Road to America's Wal-Mart Economy (Princeton University Press, 2008).

• See the flyer for this lecture event.
  

Informing Consent, Exhibit

In conjunction with the Go Big Read selection, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Ebling Library has compiled an exhibit of texts, magazines, newspapers and photographs examining issues and ethics of human subject experimentation, tissue use, and policies to protect the rights of patients. Additionally, the exhibit lends insight into the world of Henrietta Lacks and the science of HeLa.

Materials for this exhibit have been drawn from campus collections in the University Archives, Ebling, Memorial and Steenbock Libraries and the W.M. Keck Laboratory for Biological Imaging.

Free and open to the public, this exhibit, "Informing Consent: Unwitting Subjects in Medicine's Pursuit of Beneficial Knowledge," will run until March 31, 2011 in the Historical Reading Room and Third Floor Gallery, Ebling Library (Health Sciences Learning Center).

What's Your Question? Go Big Read

For those of you who have been reading the Go Big Read selection, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, do you have 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 October 18.

Please also consider including some very brief information about yourself. The moderator will select a representative group of questions and ask them of Rebecca Skloot during the event.

Save the date! Rebecca Skloot will speak at the Kohl Center on October 25, 2010. This event is free and open to all; doors open at 6:00 PM with the presentation to begin at 7:00 PM. We hope that you will attend!

A Cozy Shelter Yarn Bombing

The School of Human Ecology’s Design Gallery is sponsoring a "yarn bombing" of a bus shelter at the intersection of State and Johnson Streets.

This "cozy shelter" installation is slated to begin on September 30th and will be completed by October 1st, to coincide with the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Gallery Night. Members of Madison’s Knitters Guild have loaned their talents, in garter-stitched what-nots, to this installation, with yarn products distributed and collected by staff with the Sow’s Ear. This installation project has been coordinated by Professor Diane Sheehan and Lisa Frank, Interim Director of the Design Gallery.

See the Wisconsin Radio Network report!

Be sure to visit; it will leave you in stitches!

Wisconsin Solar Tour (Oct 2)

Open the door to renewable energy...

If you are interested in exploring alternative energy solutions, come take of tour of area (south-central region) homes and businesses that have incorporated wind, solar and geothermal technologies into their design and energy production--electricity, space and water heating.

On Saturday, October 2, business and home sites will be open from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM.

(All tour sites are free and open to the public; stop by and chat with business and home owners about how they have made that transition to renewable solutions to their energy needs).

For more information, visit the Midwest Renewable Energy Association Solar Tour Web site.

World Dairy Expo (Sept 28-Oct 2)

"Crowning Achievements - Golden Opportunities"

The annual World Dairy Expo, hosted at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, provides an opportunity for producers, industry representatives, and members of academic and professional organizations to meet, compete, showcase and exchange ideas regarding the dairy sector.

Information, for all dairy enthusiasts who wish to attend this unique event, can be found at the Expo’s General Information page.

Congratulations are also extended to UW-Madison’s Dairy Judging Team who received top honors in the 90th Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest! See the news release. The team, coached by Ted Halbach and Brian Kelroy, includes: Kelly Sime, Brian Coyne, Chelsea Holschbach, and Ben Sarbacker.

Madison ZineFest (Oct 2)

College Library will play host this Saturday (October 2) to three events in conjunction with the Wisconsin Book Festival.

Check out the annual Madison ZineFest--a day devoted to selling, trading and sharing self-published works of art and literature. The Zine Fest will run from 11:00 AM until 6:00 PM in the Open Book Cafe. There will more than 40 exhibitors from across the country with samples of their zines. For more information, see the "About" page.

At 12:30, graphic novelist Barbara Slate will present the "Barbara Slate Workshop for Teens: You Can Do a Graphic Novel!" To register for the workshop, click here.

At 3:00 PM, she will meet with teachers to discuss how to incorporate graphic novels into the classroom curriculum.

Friends Book Sale (Sept 29-Oct 2)

In conjunction with the Wisconsin Book Festival, the Friends of UW-Madison Libraries will host a used book sale, September 29 - October 2, in Room 116 of Memorial Library.

A preview sale, with $5.00 admission, will be held from 5:00 until 9:00 PM, Wednesday, September 29. 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, September 30 - October 1.

On Saturday, October 2 (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.

Wisconsin Book Festival (Sept 29-Oct 3)

Need an opportunity to feed the mind and to 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 "beliefs" and what that may connote for writers and their readers--as they step outside their comfort zones to examine a world of ideas, to articulate and to share what they hold dear, and to honor and to appreciate the other--be it a place, an experience, or a point-of-view.

Featured speakers include: Deborah Blum, Fabu, Lauren Groff, Michele Norris, Mukoma wa Ngugi, Gary Shteyngart, Monique Truong, among many others.

See the full list of presenters.

View the schedule of events.

The Friends of UW-Madison Libraries is among the festival sponsors.

Banned Books Week (Sept 25-Oct 2)

"Think for Yourself and Let Others Do the Same!"

Celebrate your freedom to read during Banned Books Week 2010.

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 (2000-2009). This data has been compiled by the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.

• Books Challenged or Banned 2009-2010

• About Banned & Challenged Books

• Number of Challenges by Year, Reason, Initiator & Institution (1990 - 2009)

Food for Thought Festival (Sept 24-25)

The 12th annual Food for Thought Festival, sponsored by the REAP Food Group, will celebrate healthy food traditions and the quest to eat pleasurably (of course!) and sustainably.

During the Food for Thought Forum on Friday, special guest Ann Cooper (the Renegade Lunch Lady) will deliver a keynote address, "Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed Our Children" to be followed by a discussion panel with area school and food service professionals.

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. Ann Cooper will also appear in the Main Tent for a presentation and book-signing.

Research Tips & Tricks

Visit the Research Tips & Tricks page to explore a five step path to finding, evaluating and citing the information you use to complete your papers and projects. Visit each research step sequentially or select the step that best addresses what you may wish to know or to review about that particular process. Content within the steps is often supplemented by a short video clip.

A link to the Research Tips & Tricks page can be found from the UW-Madison Libraries home page in the lower, center Help column.

More Books, More DVDs, More Library Access!

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month--a fine occasion to visit the 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.

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

PubMed for the Life Sciences (Workshop, Sept 17)

Learn to successfully search PubMed (MEDLINE) by using its signature features--Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), limits, citation matcher, and My NCBI from where you will be able to save searches and search results and to customize topic/journal alerts.

No registration is necessary in order to attend; workshops are free to students, faculty and staff and include time for hands-on practice.

PubMed for the Life Sciences
Friday, September 17 (1:00-2:00 PM)
Room 105 (first floor, Steenbock Library)

Library Drop-In Workshops--Free!

Steenbock Library offers free tours and drop-in workshops for 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 is 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 (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!

Book Retrieval, At Your Service with MadCat

Campus libraries can deliver books to the library locations that are most convenient for you. Search the MadCat catalog for the book(s) you need. From each item record, click the "Place Requests" link (at the top of page) in order to generate the request.

Once you have logged in with your NetID or campus ID number and last name, select "retrieve from shelf." On the following screen, you will be prompted to select a library pick-up location.

Please allow 1-3 days for items to reach their destination. You may check the status of your request by logging in to "My MadCat Account." An email message will be sent when your items are available for pick-up.

Compiling a Lit Review in the Life Sciences (Today!)

Drop by Steenbock Library this Friday (noon-1:15) for a workshop designed for those beginning their 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
Friday, September 10 (noon-1:15 PM)
Room 105, Steenbock Library

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

This workshop is part of the Graduate Support Series.

Pyramid of Conservation

The state of Minnesota’s power utility, Minnesota Power, maintains an online guide to improving home energy efficiency—a "Pyramid of Conservation". As a useful construct on its Power of One; One Home site, the Pyramid demonstrates the principles guiding wise energy use and steps one can take, with increasing attentions and investments, to achieve its apex where alternative energy solutions may be put in place.

Of related and local interest, Madison Gas & Electric and Focus on Energy supply guides and tip-sheets for home and workplace energy-saving efforts.

And, should you wish to get started on assessing your own home energy use, be sure to check-out one of the portable energy meters available from Steenbock Library. While there has been considerable demand, please do not hesitate to add your request to the queue by using the "Place Request" feature from the MadCat record.

Wisconsin Welcome

Welcome to UW-Madison! There is a lot happening on and near campus this weekend and throughout the month of September. Check out the schedule of campus events, tours and meet-ups.

Should you be in Madison during the Labor Day weekend, you may wish to take in the Dane County Farmers’ Market at the capitol square on Saturday morning then hang around for the annual Taste of Madison (which will start at 2:00PM, Saturday, and run through Sunday).

Lots of food and live entertainment--what more can you ask?!

Helen C House Party (Sept 9)

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 9 (7:00-11:00PM).

The schedule of events includes a courtyard carnival, arts and crafts, student group performances, Ninja Tag and more--with plenty of free snacks on the side.

(And, be sure to keep an eye out for some of your Steenbock librarians who are happy and willing volunteers for the occasion).

Enjoy!