Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Liaison Services

Have you met your liaison? Summer session can be a good time to get acquainted. Steenbock liaisons serve as principal contacts for each department and program the library supports.

Library liaisons can provide the following services:


  • Provide in-depth orientation for new faculty, staff, graduate students, and project and research assistants.
  • Assist with library services and policies (e.g., Library Express, faculty runner cards, UW System search and retrieval…),
  • Customize email alerts to keep you informed about new articles matching your topic criteria and tables of contents of your favorite journals,
  • Provide in-depth reference consultations—at our office or yours--(e.g., help with strategy and database choices, customize your own alerts…),
  • Supply customized instructional sessions and course web pages for your students,
  • Consult on questions related to publishing your research (e.g., identifying target journals, managing copyright, measuring research impact, open access publishing),

Find liaisons by Department/Program/Center

Find liaisons by Name

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Bike to Work Week (June 6-11)

The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin encourages you to discover a fitness and transportation solution with its spring “Bike to Work Week” event (June 6-11).

Visit the Federation website to view the Madison calendar of events where you can tune up that bike, snack, and socialize with fellow cyclists. The Federation also supplies brief resource articles at its site to "Bicycling 101" and "Commuting".

Do consider participating in this year’s "Commuter Bike Challenge". In order to participate, university departments and units can register online. Once a workplace is registered, the Bicycle Federation will send out additional information regarding participation, including logging one’s daily commute. See who has already signed up. Prizes and recognition will be granted to workplaces, not only for participating, but also for the following accomplishments:

  • Highest number of participating employees
  • Highest average number of days biked per participating employee
  • Highest average number of miles biked per participating employee
  • Most miles biked per workplace

See the flyer.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Emergency Response Exercise (May 26)

Campus staff and its corps of emergency responders will be conducting a full-scale, realistic emergency response exercise in the vicinity of the Bradley Residence Hall (1900 Willow Drive) and UW Lot 34 (1480 Tripp Circle) on Wednesday, May 26 (5:00AM until 4:00PM).

In order to mitigate any alarm, university police officers and volunteers will be on hand to supply information and to redirect pedestrians and traffic in the area during particular phases of the exercise. Questions regarding this exercise can be directed to the UWPD at (608) 264-COPS.

See the campus press release.

Taking it with You

As you enjoy your semester break, be sure to also satisfy your need for information with a visit to the libraries’ website.

Even when you’re off campus, simply select the resource you need to use from the site. Resources requiring authentication will prompt you to log in with your NetID. (In some instances, apart from NetID, you may still be asked to submit your University ID number and last name as a password). Once you have entered either of these two pieces of identifying information, you will be able to use the resource as if you were here on campus.

Campus libraries will be open during the late spring and summer, but the hours will vary. Plan ahead and visit the list of library locations to see "Who’s Open".

Monday, May 17, 2010

Getting Here (Detours)

Now that the spring semester has come to a close and we are in the throes of high construction season, it will be important to note changes to street access and to campus bus routes, 80 and 85.

As recently reported by University Communications, and as of Monday, May 17 (through mid-August), Route 80 campus buses will travel W. Johnson to Lake Street, Lake to Langdon, and Langdon to North Park Street. Buses will collect passengers at the Route 85 stop in front of Memorial Union.

Both the 80 and 85 buses will travel south on Park to University Avenue, take University west to North Charter, turn right onto Charter, then left on Linden Drive. Riders can catch either bus at the University Avenue stops at Park and Mills streets.

The Route 85 bus will take Linden Drive to Babcock, Babcock to Observatory, and turn right. It will stop at the intersection with Charter Street then resume its regular recess route.

Both campus bus routes are observing recess hours. Plan your arrival by visiting the service charts for Bus 80 and Bus 85.

Visit the Transportation Services site for additional updates regarding construction zones and concerns to parking and navigation.

Resources for New Graduates

Congratulations graduates! Be sure to extend your access to our campus library system with a visit to the Wisconsin Alumni Association’s Library Resources page. This page supplies information about publicly-accessible online collections and association membership benefits that include access to two sizeable, article databases. If you have been a RefWorks user, do note that you will also be able to take your account with you. See the Alumni Program details page for more information.

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 from the Wisconsin DPI, Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning that supports access to a collection of online 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 often be able to visit and to access many of their resources, in-house and online.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen

When is it a good idea to consider purchasing organic produce? According to the folks with the Environmental Working Group, you may wish to splurge (that is, buy organic) on those produce items that otherwise bear a heavy pesticide burden when grown using contemporary “conventional” methods.

In tough economic times, it may not always be an option to shop organic 100% of the time, therefore one strategy is to pick and choose your food products wisely using such tools as the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 shopper’s guide.

The Dirty Dozen for 2010 (buy these organic)
1. Celery
2. Peaches
3. Strawberries
4. Apples
5. Blueberries
6. Nectarines
7. Bell Peppers
8. Spinach
9. Kale
10. Cherries
11. Potatoes
12. Grapes

The Clean 15 for 2010 (lowest in pesticides when grown conventionally)
1. Onions
2. Avocado
3. Sweet Corn
4. Pineapple
5. Mangoes
6. Sweet Peas
7. Asparagus
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Cantaloupe
12. Watermelon
13. Grapefruit
14. Sweet Potato
15. Honeydew Melon

Coffee and Hot Chocolate!

The library will host a generous contribution from the Lakeshore Residence Halls of coffee and hot chocolate during the evenings, (May 8-11; 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, May 07, 2010

Plant Sale with the Pros, Olbrich Gardens (May 8)

The staff of Olbrich Botanical Gardens will host a “Plant Sale with the Pros”, Saturday, May 8, from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM (3330 Atwood Avenue—look for tents). (Olbrich members can enjoy a pre-sale, Friday, May 7, from 11:00 AM until 6:00 PM).

The sale will feature Wisconsin-hardy annuals, perennials, ornamental grasses, shrubs and more. Master gardeners and Olbrich’s horticulturists will be available to answer questions. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Olbrich Gardens.

Schumacher Horticultural Library, located in the Visitor Center adjacent to the Bolz Conservatory, will also host a book sale of new and used titles during the plant sale event.

Thursday, May 06, 2010

Native Plant Sale, UW Arboretum (May 8)

The Friends of the Arboretum will host its annual Native Plant Sale, Saturday, May 8, from 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM. Look for tents near the Visitor Center. Should you wish to plan your list of must-have plants, do consult the 2010 Species List (soil and lighting requirements are listed).

While every effort is made to supply a quantity of each species, the Friends cannot guarantee that everything will remain available, or in the quantities desired, upon your arrival.

My rule of thumb (green thumb, that is!)—get there early! Many volunteers will be on hand to help you locate species and to answer questions.

Wednesday, May 05, 2010

Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of Mexican forces over those of an invading French army in the City of Puebla, 1862. This particular event is celebrated in Puebla, and in the United States as a day of heritage and pride. It is that latter sentiment, one of heritage and pride, which inspires many area restaurants to offer special menus and festivities. If you prefer to prepare a meal yourself, though, consider picking up a title or two from our collection. Among that collection are the following:

Author: Long, Janet
Title: Food Culture in Mexico
Call Number: GT2853 M6 L66 2005

Author: Kennedy, Diana.
Title: The Art of Mexican cooking: Traditional Mexican Cooking for Aficionados
Call Number: TX716 M4 K44 1989

Author: McCann, Anne Lindsay Greer.
Title: Creative Mexican Cooking: Recipes from Great Texas Chefs
Call Number: TX716 M4 G74 1985

Author: Sierra, Isabel (María Isabel Sierra Velasco)
Title: ¡Que viva México!
Call Number: TX716 M4 S54 2007

Use the MadCat catalog or speak with your librarians for assistance locating these and related 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.

Monday, May 03, 2010

Final Exam Period Hours

Steenbock Library will be open during the following hours of the final exam period (May 7-16):

  • Friday (May 7): 8:00am - 1:00am
  • Saturday - Sunday (May 8 - 9): 10:00am - 1:00am
  • Monday - Thursday (May 10 - 13): 8:00am - 1:00am
  • Friday (May 14): 8:00am - 7:00pm
  • Saturday - Sunday (May 15 - 16): CLOSED

We wish you all the best for a successful end of term.

Gone to the Dogs

University Health Services invites you to take a study break and romp with some friendly dogs on Library Mall, Wednesday, May 5 (from 3:30-5:00 PM).(Rain date will be Friday, May 7).

This annual "Pet Therapy" event, hosted by the Counseling & Consultation Services unit of University Health Services, will also afford an opportunity to chat informally with counselors about any end-of-term stress and how to manage it.

In order to schedule a free, individual session with a counselor, students are asked to call 608-265-5600. Students may also use that same number to schedule 50 minutes of massage therapy ($40.)