A Cozy Winter's Reading...

Are you looking to dig into some reading (apart from your required texts)?  If so, take a break and consider the list of titles generated by campus librarians during their annual book discussion.  While you wait to dig out, use the bibliography to find something to distract you from the anticipated local wintry scene.

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

Handy links:

UW-Madison Library Catalog
Don’t forget the option to borrow from UW System Libraries!

LinkCat, South Central Wisconsin Library System Catalog

WorldCat (find library copies nationally, some internationally)

Winter Break Hours and Online Access

As you enjoy your winter 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 login and 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.

Should you plan to visit campus, do note that the libraries will be open during the winter recess, but the hours will vary. Plan ahead and visit the list of library locations to see "Who’s Open".

In a nutshell:
Winter Break Hours at Steenbock (December 23, 2012 - January 21, 2013)
Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 6:00PM
Saturday - Sunday  CLOSED

Note exceptions--the library will be closed the following days:

Monday-Tuesday, December 24-25 (Christmas Holidays)
Monday-Tuesday, December 31-January 1 (New Year's Holiday)  
Monday, January, 21 (MLK Day Holiday)  

FREE Hot Chocolate and Coffee!!!

As a special gift to cheer you up on finals week, Steenbock Library and University Housing are providing FREE hot chocolate and coffee!!! 

The beverages will be served from December 15 to December 18 starting at 7 p.m. and continuing while supplies last.

So, take a study break at Steenbock Library and enjoy a warm cup of hot chocolate or coffee!  Also, check out what other finals week events are going on at the other UW-Madison Libraries!

Letters to Santa

Write a letter to Santa to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation! Daily, and until December 23rd, members from the UW Wishmakers organization will stop by its Steenbock letter-writing station to collect letters.

For each letter written, Macy’s department stores will donate $1.00 to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions; the UW-Wishmakers is a student branch of this organization.

Annual CALS Auction

Do you like auctions?  How about supporting a good cause?  Then check out the annual CALS Student Association auction! 

The annual CALS Student Association holds an annual online auction to raise money for CALS leadership and community outreach activities.  The bidding is scheduled to start on Sunday, December 2 and continues through noon on Saturday, December 8.  Winners can pick up their auction items starting December 9 at the CALS Student Association office in the Stock Pavilion. 

Click here to see the great variety of items that you can bid on!

Portfolio Showcase, UW Design Studies

Visit the Ruth Davis Design Gallery for this year’s annual Portfolio Showcase!

Each academic year, students in Textile and Apparel Design and Interior Design are invited to submit portfolios of their best work to faculty for review--a required process of these respective degree programs.

Examples from these portfolios, which may include sketches, garments, computer-drafting and installations, will be placed display in the gallery from December 7 until January 8.  A public reception will be held on Friday, December 7 (5:30-8:00 PM).

What:  Portfolio Showcase
When: Public Reception, Friday, December 7 (5:30-8:00 PM)
Where: Ruth Davis Design Gallery, Nancy Nichols Hall (SOHE), 1300 Linden Drive
Gallery Hours: Tuesday (10:00 AM-4:00 PM); Wednesday-Thursday (10:00 AM-6:00 PM); Sunday (noon-5:00 PM)

Facebook page

Give the Gift of UW-Madison

Check out the "Give the Gift of UW-Madison This Season" gift guide's holiday gift ideas!

One gift idea is the beautiful annual holiday card sold by the School of Veterinary Medicine.  Skilled local artists donate their works to appear on the cards. 

This year's card features "Sleddoggin'" by Marcia Sparks.  When you purchase the holiday cards, the money is used to support the treatment of animals at the UW-Madison Veterinary School and its hospital.

Another great UW-Madison gift idea is a Babcock Dairy Store gift box.

The Babcock Dairy Store offers a wide variety of gift boxes containing combinations of cheeses, summer sausage, coffee, and more.  Many of the gift boxes feature UW-Madison and Wisconsin Themes such as Bucky's Favorites and America's Dairyland. 

And what says Wisconsin better than cheese?

Click here to see the many great ways to give the gift of UW-Madison this holiday season!

Photos from http://www.news.wisc.edu/gift-guide/ and http://babcockhalldairystore.wisc.edu/shop/americas-dairyland/

Green Fire and Panel Discussion (Dec 5)

Save the date to attend a special screening of Green Fire, a feature-length documentary film about the life and legacy of Aldo Leopold. The film is narrated by Curt Meine, Nelson Institute alumnus and Leopold Scholar.  Following the screening, there will be a panel discussion moderated by Dick Cates, CIAS. Scheduled panelists include:

• Paul Johnson, past chief of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Curt Meine, Aldo Leopold Biographer and Scholar
• Stanley Temple, Emeritus Leopold Chair in Wildlife Ecology
• Joy Zedler, Professor of Botany and Aldo Leopold Chair in Restoration Ecology
• Michael Bell, CIAS Director 

What:  Green Fire, Agriculture and the Land Ethic: Leopold’s Legacy, Screening and Panel Discussion 

When:  Wednesday, December 5, 2012 (7:00 PM) 

Where:  Biochemistry, Room 1125 (420 Henry Mall)

This event, a CIAS Culture of Agriculture event, is free and open to the public. 

"We reached the old wolf in time to watch a fierce green fire dying in her eyes. I realized then, and have known ever since, that there was something new to me in those eyes – something known only to her and to the mountain. I was young then, and full of trigger-itch; I thought that because fewer wolves meant more deer, that no wolves would mean hunters’ paradise. But after seeing the green fire die, I sensed that neither the wolf nor the mountain agreed with such a view."

--Aldo Leopold, "Thinking Like a Mountain," Sand County Almanac with Essays on Conservation from Round River

Of related interest do consult the Aldo Leopold Archives, UW Digital Collections.

Print an event poster. (PDF)

Annual Poinsettia, Tree and Wreath Sale (Nov 30-Dec 2)

The UW Forestry Club and the UW Horticulture Society will team during this coming weekend 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, November 30: 8:00AM - 8:00PM
Saturday, December 1: 8:00AM - 8:00PM
Sunday, December 2: 9:00AM - 3:00PM

UW Forestry Club, 2012 Tree Sale
(Trees are grown and harvested near Hancock at a family-owned tree farm).

Fraser Fir: $50
Balsam Fir: $40
White Pine: $30
Fraser Fir Wreaths: $22

UW Horticulture Society, 2012 Flowering Plant Sale
A selection of poinsettias and cacti will be available for purchase at the sale. Plants are also available for pre-order (submit your email request to uwhortclub@gmail).

4" Poinsettia:  $5
6.5" Poinsettia:  $12
8" Poinsettia:  $20
4" Christmas Cactus:  $5
6" Christmas Cactus:  $12

Exploring American Indian Agriculture (Nov 26)

Mark your calendar for a special CIAS Culture of Agriculture event!  On Monday, November 26, Dan Cornelius Technical Assistance Program Specialist with the Intertribal Agriculture Council (and UW alumnus) will present a history of American Indian agricultural practices and tribal food systems, current challenges, and opportunities for innovation.

What: Exploring American Indian Agriculture and Food Systems, Past, Present and Future

When:  Monday, November 26 (6:00 PM)
Where:  DeLuca Forum, Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery

This event is free and open to the public.
Print the event flyer (PDF).
Check in with the event’s Facebook page.

Demonstrate your Knit Wit

Libraries are as much places for building community and fostering creativity as for pursuing quiet study and reflection.  Join us for both when Steenbock Library hosts its 'production socials', Fridays, November 2-December 14, from noon until 1:00 PM.  During these socials, we will produce 7"x9" squares to be stitched together into blankets to be donated to recipients identified by Warm-Up America.

Bring your lunch and join us in Room 240 (Steenbock Library).  Our entire community of library-users is welcome. Should you not know how to knit or crochet, never fear!  We have staff available to teach you a basic stitch suitable for the project.

Then, head to the stacks.  Should you be looking for some additional, creative inspiration, consider a short skein of titles from the Steenbock collection.

Author:  Richard Rutt
Title:  A History of Hand Knitting

Author:  Anne L. MacDonald.
Title:  No Idle Hands: The Social Historyof American Knitting

Author:  Lela Nargi
Title:  Knitting around the World: AMultistranded History of a Time-Honored Tradition

Author: Susan M. Strawn and Melanie Falick
Title: Knitting America: A Glorious Heritage from Warm Socks to High Art

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.

Thanksgiving Week Hours, Campus Libraries

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' "Who's Open" page.

Special note, from the Library Technology Group, regarding off-campus, online access:

Due to campus IT maintenance, login services will be unavailable from 9:00 am through 1:00 pm Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2012.
Most services that require a UW-Madison NetID authentication will not function during this time.
Most importantly for Library patrons, off-campus users will be unable to access Library databases during this time. Access to databases from campus buildings should not be affected.

In addition, Library patrons will not be able to use their NetIDs to check their Library Catalog account for book requests, fines, or other information. They will be able to check this information in MadCat (our legacy catalog) using their 11 digit campus ID number.

Additional information, including a partial list of other campus services impacted by this maintenance, is available on DoIT's Scheduled Outage page.

Happy travels; enjoy the long weekend.

Electronic Lab Notebooks (Nov 14)

Save the date for this new drop-in workshop!  UW-Madison Chemistry alumna Kristin Briney will discuss your options for electronic lab notebooks, the pros and cons of switching to an electronic notebook, and the important features to consider when choosing a product. The workshop will include demonstrations of available notebook software.

What:  Electronic Lab Notebooks Workshop
When: Wednesday, November 14, 2012, (12:00 - 1:00 PM)
Where: Chemistry Building Room 9341 (9th Floor Lounge)

With thanks to the Chemistry Library for the content of this blog post.

Friends Book Sale (Nov 7-10)

In conjunction with the Wisconsin Book Festival, the Friends of UW-Madison Libraries will host a used book sale, November 7-10, 2012 in Room 116 of Memorial Library.

A preview sale, with $5.00 admission, will be held from 5:00 until 9:00 PM, Wednesday, November 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, November 8-9.

On Saturday, November 10 (10:30 AM – 1:00 PM), you can bring a bag and fill it for $4.00.

For more information on the sales, including how to donate books or to volunteer for the next book sale, contact the Friends, or visit the Friends' book sale page.

Everything has a Story, WBF (Nov 7-11)

Feeling a bit lost and looking to find a great read to bring you home?  If so, discover what you have been missing by seeking out the annual Wisconsin Book Festival.

The theme for the book festival this year is that of "lost and found" and how writers and their readers might interpret what are often deeply personal instances of either condition. 

Featured authors include: Ayad Akhtar, Jerry Apps, Dean Bakopoulos, Kambri Crews, Edwidge Danticat, Beverly Gordon, Patricia McCormick, Michael Perry, and Richard Russo among many others.

• See the full list of presenters
• View the festival events guide
• Download a Program and Schedule

Do also plan to visit College Library's Open Book Cafe on Saturday (November 10) for an exhibit of printed matter including posters, stickers, zines, journals and books.  This "Dane County Print Explosion" is sponsored by the Wisconsin Book Festival, the Rainbow Bookstore Cooperative and College Library.  For more information, click here.

Cast Your Vote!

Election Day is Tuesday, November 6! 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.  Information regarding voter registration can be found on the Government Accountability Board site.

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

Learn more about election activities with the Libraries.

Exercise your Craftivism!

Knit (or crochet!) for a cause when Steenbock Library hosts a 'production social', Fridays, November 2-December 14, from noon until 1:00 PM.  During these socials, we will produce 7"x9" squares to be stitched together into blankets to be donated to recipients identified by Warm-Up America.

Bring your lunch and join us in Room 240 (Steenbock Library).  All students, staff and our community of library-users are welcome. Should you not know how to knit or crochet, never fear!  We have staff available to teach you a basic stitch suitable for the project.

The library has received yarn donations, hooks and needles from local knitting retailers and staff, but additional donations are also accepted!  We are asking for worsted or bulky weight yarn suitable for a blanket.  Acrylic, cotton or wool--we can work with it all!  Any donations that are not used for the blankets will be saved and used for other library-hosted knitting events and projects.  If you would like to donate yarn or blanket squares, please contact Ariel N.  The library will be accepting donations through mid-December and blanket squares through finals week.  Donations can be dropped off at Steenbock or Chemistry Libraries. 

When: Fridays, November 2 until December 14; noon-1:00 PM.

Where:  Room 240, Conference Room (second floor, entrance level).
The room will be open from 11:30 until 1:30 should your schedule require some variation.

Finals Week 12/17-12/21 Time-of-day to-be-determined: Blanket Making

International Game Day at Steenbock

Steenbock Memorial Library is celebrating International Games Day @ Your Library by hosting a game day!

This Saturday, November 3, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Steenbock will have a gaming area on first floor stocked with a variety of new and classic board games.  There will also be ice cream! 

So, if you're looking for a fun time and tasty ice cream treat, head to Steenbock this Saturday!

Scary Movie Night at Steenbock Memorial Library

To celebrate Halloween, Steenbock Memorial Library is having a scary movie night!

The evening will feature The Little Shop of Horrors, a humorous scary movie about a harmless little Venus flytrap that becomes a giant man-eating menace!  The movie will be shown on Halloween night, Wednesday October 31, at 7:00 p.m. and then again at 9:00 p.m.  The showings will take place on the first floor in the space near office room 119.  Snacks will be provided!

So, stop by on Halloween night and enjoy a showing of The Little Shop of Horrors!

Photo credit: 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/asw909/2033463375

Raise the Woof with Dogs on Call

What better way to relieve the stress of studying than to meet wet-nose to nose with a wiggling, wagging member of the canine corps, Dogs on Call?! "Dogs on Call" is a local member of Pet Partners--an organization devoted to improving human health through the existing bond between people and companion animals. These companion animals are specially-trained to gently-interact with their human counterparts in any number of environments including schools, hospitals, libraries and special-care facilities.

Steenbock staff welcomes Dogs on Call and their companion handlers to the library, Monday, October 29, from 6:30-8:00 PM. The dogs will be available for a pat near the front, main entrance to the library (second floor).

Please visit the sites for Dogs on Call and Pet Partners to learn more about their services.

Food Day with Slow Food UW

Celebrate Food Day 2012 with Slow Food UW!  National Food Day (October 24), as conceived by CSPI and a coalition of leaders in the movement toward just and sustainable food-ways, presents an opportunity to appreciate a good meal and to engage with the issues and policies that speak to heath, hunger, and agricultural practice. 

Slow Food UW events include:

• Introductory remarks from Barlett Durand regarding products from Black Earth Meats as well as his involvement with Red Meat Market
• "Meet your Meat" spin board for prizes
• Information table and raffle with REthink Wisconsin to support its Farm Mobbing project
• Free samples from Bloom Bake Shop (bacon brownies and other treats--including options for vegetarians)
• Visit from Bucky Badger
• Free swag from the Office of Sustainability and We Conserve

When:  October 24 (11:30 AM - 2:00 PM)
Where: Slow Food UW Café (1127 University Avenue)

Eat Real!  Health + Sustainable + Affordable + Fair

Third Annual Prospective Graduate Student Online Chat

On October 23 from noon until 1:30 p.m., the UW-Madison Graduate School is hosting its third annual online chat for prospective graduate students.

This year's topic is entitled "High Impact Application: Make An Impression with your Graduate School Application."  The chat will be located at http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/chats.  Prospective graduate students attending the chat may ask questions about the application process, how to write a statement of purpose, who to pick to recommend you, what the campus and Madison are like, and more.  Questions will be answered in real time by panelists representing the Graduate School and a variety of the programs it offers.

If you're a student considering graduate school, click on here on the 23rd to join the chat and ask your questions!

Fallout

In keeping with this year’s Go Big Read selection, Radioactive: A Tale of Love and Fallout, Ebling Library has organized an exhibit featuring articles, books and various ephemera from its collections and those from other campus libraries and the Radiology Department that speak to the history of x-ray technology, the occupational hazards of working with radiation and radioactive materials, and the legacy of the Curie’s research.

An opening reception will be held on November 1 from 4:00 until 6:00 PM in the Historical Reading Room/Third Floor Gallery.  Rumor has it that something "glowing" will be served!

Exhibit Information:

Fallout: The Mixed Blessing of Radiation and the Public Health
November 1, 2012 - April 1, 2013
Historical Reading Room and 3rd Floor Gallery

Manage Your Research Data, Workshop

Are you frustrated by the challenge of organizing your research data?  Do you need to submit a data management plan as part of your grant application?  If you can say yes to either query, then save the date for a free, drop-in workshop at Steenbock Library devoted to examining some practical solutions that you can implement immediately.  

What:  Manage Your Research Data

When:  Thursday, October 25 (4:00 PM)
Where:  Steenbock Library, Room 105 (first floor instruction lab)

All workshops are free and generally include hands-on time to explore resources.  No reservations are necessary in order to attend. Questions encouraged.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Research Seminar for Undergraduates

Interested in biosciences? Considering graduate school?

UW alum and current University of Utah doctoral student Amelia Barber
will present her research on using zebrafish to model E. coli septicemia.

She will also share information on her decision to pursue a graduate degree, helpful tips for choosing a graduate program in the biosciences, and what her experience in graduate school has been.

If you are thinking about a research degree in the biological sciences,

come listen in and bring your questions!

Room 340, Steenbock Library. 2:30-4 pm.

Get Spooked for a Good Cause

Photo by Jeff Miller, from
http://photos.news.wisc.edu/photos/2687/view

October is here and Halloween is just around the corner. What better way to celebrate this ghoulish time of year than visiting a haunted house?  And better still, what if having a bit of Halloween fun can help others?

As advertised on eCALS, this year's annual UW Saddle and Sirloin Haunted House is a great way to enjoy an exciting Halloween adventure while supporting a good cause!  On October 18th and 19th from 7 - 10 p.m., the Old Horse Barn on 520 Elm Drive will be transformed into a
haunted house.  Admission is $1 or a non-perishable food item, and all
admission fares will be donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank of
Southern Wisconsin.  Lights-on hours will be 7-8 p.m. for children (and
perhaps nervous grownups), and then from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. the lights
will go out and the hardcore haunting will begin!

So, if you look forward to a good hair-raising haunting at Halloween and
you want to help a good cause, be daring...your spooktacular experience
awaits at the the UW Saddle & Sirloin Haunted House.

Celebrate Agriculture with a "Class-Grass" Concert!

Hey music lovers!  Here's an opportunity to experience a unique new spin on classical and bluegrass music with an agricultural flavor! 

The CALS Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems is co-sponsoring a pair of concerts on Saturday, October 13th at and Sunday October 20th that celebrate the culture of agriculture.  The first concert will be at 3:30 p.m. in St. Boniface Catholic Church at 105 Church Street in Lime Ridge (near Reedsburg), and admission will be $8 regular and $5 for students at the door.  The second concert will be at Mills Hall on the UW-Madison campus and tickets will be $10 regular and $8 for students at the door.

The concerts will feature the Graminy class-grass quintet.  CALS professor Michael Bell plays the mandolin, joined by Shauncey Ali with the fiddle and viola, Chris Powers with the guitar, Chris Wagoner with the fiddle, and Mary Gaines with the cello.  At these performances, Graminy will debut a new bluegrass piece entitled Germinations: A Bluegrass Symphony in D. 

For more information, check out the eCALS News post and the CIAS web page about the upcoming Graminy concerts. Co-sponsors include: the Wormfarm Institute, the Aldo Leopold Foundation, Wisconsin Farmer's Union and the Milk Marketing Board.

Print an event poster!

An Evening with Lauren Redniss (Oct 15)

Save the date to attend the free, Go Big Read author event.  Author Lauren Redniss’s public presentation is scheduled for October 15, 2012 beginning at 7:00 PM in Varsity Hall, Union South.

Interim Chancellor David Ward and a review committee of campus faculty, staff and students selected Radioactive: A Tale of Love and Fallout as the 2012-2013 common book selection for the UW-Madison campus. The Chancellor had invited the review committee to consider those nominated titles that explored aspects of "innovation" and "discovery". With its imaginative and luminous composition, Radioactive more than satisfies that charge as it examines the love, work, and legacy of Marie and Pierre Curie.

"Go Big Read" is UW-Madison’s 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.

• Visit the author’s site for the book.
• Submit a question for the author event.

For additional information about how to access the book--including alternative formats, click here.

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

RefWorks Subscription

UW-Madison Libraries will end its subscription to RefWorks on June 30, 2013.  While the Libraries are committed to providing support for citation management tools, a recent assessment of its budget has forced this decision to discontinue campus-wide licensing.  Please see a message from the Libraries’ Interim Director, Ed Van Gemert.

Steenbock and other UW-Madison librarians are available to provide assistance during this coming year to help you to select another citation management tool and to transfer your references from RefWorks.   

In order to assist you in this process, information about transferring records can be found on the pages to Citation Managers.  Information about other citation management tools, to which the Libraries will continue to provide support, can also be found on these same pages.

Look for free, drop-in workshops during this academic year to orient you to alternative tools.  Should the date and time for these particular workshops not work for your schedule, contact Steenbock librarians to schedule individual or small group sessions. 

• View the workshop calendar
• Request instruction from Steenbock staff

 Please send your questions or concerns to Steenbock Library staff at asksteenbock@library.wisc.edu

Live Coverage, President visits Campus

Should you not be able to join the crowd on Bascom Hill for President Obama’s address, we invite you to join us at Steenbock Library where a live stream of the event will be shown in Room 340.

Library staff will open the room at 2:00 PM with coverage to begin shortly thereafter.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Banned Books Week 2012

Celebrate your freedom to read during Banned Books Week 2012 (September 30-October 6).

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 (2001-2011). This data has been compiled by the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.

• About Banned and Challenged Books

• Timeline: 30 Years of Liberating Literature

• Banned and Challenged Classics

World Dairy Expo (Oct 2-6)

“Market Fresh”

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 all things dairy.

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

Or, follow on Facebook!

Wisconsin Science Festival 2012

'Unleash your curiosity and discover your inner innovator' with the Wisconsin Science Festival, September 27-30!
Visit the festival website to plan your day.  While most events and programs will take place at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery, there are several other area venues including the Chazen and the Madison Children’s Museum that will be hosting special events. 
The festival affords an amazing opportunity to dabble creatively in the sciences with hands-on activities, demonstrations, exhibits, films, lectures, workshops, and more.  Importantly, too, you will meet the individuals behind the art and science who will share an infectious enthusiasm for what they do—whether that is their work in the lab, field or studio.  Ask plenty of questions!

And, do look for your campus librarians! They will be staffing an "Ask a Science Librarian" table during the Town Hall Street Fair.  What with our interest in the sciences and science literacy, how could we resist but to be there where the action is—we look forward to seeing you there!

Follow the fun via Facebook and Twitter.

Stick it to the Flu!

Why risk becoming ill or passing an illness on to others?  Reduce your risk with a free, seasonal influenza vaccination.  From October 1 until November 16, students can visit University Health Services, Monday-Friday, (9:00 AM – 4:30 PM)--no appointment necessary--to receive the injection.  Students will be asked at the clinic (333 East Campus Mall, 6th floor) to present their UW-Madison student ID card.  The clinic also advises students to dress for the event, so-to-speak, with either a short-sleeve shirt or one with sleeves that will easily roll to the shoulder.

Additional walk-in clinics are available during the following dates around campus:

• Friday, September 28:  The SERF (noon to 5:00 PM)
• Monday, October 8:  Union South (9:00 AM to 2:00 PM)
• Tuesday, October 9:  Chadbourne Hall (4:00 to 7:00 PM)
• Tuesday, October 16:  Dejope Hall (4:00 to 7:00 PM)
• Thursday, October 25:  Health Sciences Learning Center (noon to 5:00 PM)
• Tuesday, November 6:  Dejope Hall (4:00 to 7:00 PM)

Slow Food Cafe

Craving a delicious lunch?  If so, then mark your calendars for Wednesdays at the Slow Food Café!  The staff with the Café offers a selection of home-made, sweet and savory lunch items using ingredients sourced locally.  Lunches are served from 11:30 AM until 2:00 PM at the organization’s downstairs space in The Crossing, 1127 University Avenue.

Slow Food UW is non-profit organization run by students and volunteers committed to an appreciation of healthy and sustainable food-ways. Follow Slow Food UW on Twitter or Facebook.

Annual Plant Sale

The UW Horticulture Society is hosting its annual indoor plant sale, September 14 - 16 at the Stock Pavilion.
Society members will be selling a variety of houseplants including cacti, succulents, and orchids. Sale hours will run from 9:00 AM until 7:00 PM, Friday through Sunday. 
Proceeds from the plant sale fund society activities, travel (of horticultural interest), speakers and special programming for meetings. Add a lively, air-freshening touch to dorm, home or office décor!

Food for Thought Fest (Sept 15)

The 14th 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.

Saturday festival events will be held just off the Capitol Square on Martin Luther King Blvd. from 8:30 AM until 1:30 PM. Enjoy cooking demonstrations, information tables, tasty samples, activities and raffle prize opportunities.   
New this year will be a "Food Camp" where you can learn cheese-making, hoop-house construction, and what to do with all of your tomatoes, among other skills.  Click here to view the festival schedule.

Helen C House Party (Sept 13)

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 annual house party, Thursday, September 13 (8:00 PM-midnight).

The schedule of events includes carnival games, human foosball, student group performances, miniature-golf and more--with plenty of free snacks on the side.

Enjoy the evening and be sure to look for Steenbock Library on the mini-golf course!

Top 10 Things to Know: UW-Archives

10. We’re right here on campus! Located on the fourth floor of Steenbock Library, the Archives is open to the public Monday through Friday, 8:00-4:30! Planning a trip to the Archives? Call 262-5629 or email in advance.

9. Researching a topic related to campus history? Many of our collections are cataloged into the library’s online catalog. Click here to begin a search.

8. Some of our most useful "foundation" resources have been digitized and are available online through the UW Digital Collections Center’s UW-Madison Collection.

7. Our collections include approximately 3,500 films, 1,200 oral history interviews and almost 1.5 million photos. That’s a whole lotta campus history! We can provide digital copies or facilitate viewing/listening to the original item depending on the format and your project needs.

6. Is your department or group celebrating an anniversary? Hosting a retirement event for an honored faculty or staff member? Planning a reunion? The UW-Madison Archives can help! Find out how, here.

5. Although we LOVE working with our colleagues over the hill, we’re not the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS). Located on Library Mall, the WHS archives collects and shares materials that document Wisconsin history. It’s importation to note that their collections do include materials related to campus so check both the UW-Madison Archives and WHS Library-Archives when researching such a topic.

4. We are actively collecting! In general, we collect materials that document UW-Madison, UW Extension, and UW System and Colleges administration history. As faculty and staff retire or move out of office space, sometimes materials of historic value are left behind. Feel free to call us (or share our contact information with colleagues) if you discover something "archives worthy". We are more than happy to meet and review your materials for potential inclusion in our collections.

3. Did you know we have a records manager who works with University departments to curate and manage "official business records" of the University? Contact Records Management or visit for more information.

2. Love social media? So do we! We’re on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and more. Follow us from the Archives home page.

1. We love a good history mystery! Got a question? A research challenge? Shoot us an email and we’ll do our best to find the answer. For more information about the UW-Madison Archives, visit our home page.

With thanks to Vicki T. for this blog post.

Take a Tour!

Come see what Steenbock Library has to offer with a tour of our facility. During an hour-long tour, Steenbock librarians will introduce tour participants to collections and service points.

Each tour will depart from the Information Services/Reference desk, second floor, across from the library’s main entrance.

Schedule:

Tuesday August 28:  2:00-3:00 PM and 3:00-4:00 PM

Thursday August 30:  2:00-3:00 PM and 3:00-4:00 PM

Thursday September 6:  2:00-3:00 PM and 3:00-4:00 PM

If you are unable to attend any of the scheduled tours, above, or wish to schedule a tour for a particular group, (class, research unit, new staff or dorm residents), do complete an online request form or phone our Library Instruction Coordinator at 263-2385 (or email).

The Mindset List

Welcome to college, Class of 2016!

Beloit College has released its annual Mindset List. While it is important to note that this list does not wholly account for knowledge and experience, it does serve to capture a state of affairs--be it from popular culture, technology or political situation--within the lifespan of the traditional, incoming college student.

It certainly lends itself well to discussion and to reflection upon where we've been and where we may be heading. Enjoy!

To learn more about the "minds" behind the Mindset List, take a look at a 2010 article from the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Get Acquainted; Plan an Orientation

Are you new to campus or do you have new staff or incoming graduate students? If so, you may wish to consult with your Steenbock library liaison to plan an orientation to library collections and services.

Steenbock librarians are happy to meet with new staff and students--be it for an individual consultation, small-group workshop, or as participant in a department welcome event. Complete a request form.

Additionally, library liaisons can provide the following services:

• Assist with library services and policies (e.g., Interlibrary Loan, UW System search and retrieval…etc.),
• Assist with customizing email alerts to keep you informed about new articles matching your topic criteria or with tables of contents to your favorite journals,
• Provide in-depth reference consultations--at our office or yours--(e.g., help with strategy and database choices, work with your citation management product…etc.),
• Supply customized instructional sessions and course Web pages for your students,
• Consult on questions related to publishing your research (e.g., identify target journals, manage copyright, measure research impact, or investigate open-access publishing options).

Watch for our Steenbock Drop-In Workshops and Tours | August/September Tours

Or see the campus-wide libraries’ Workshops/Classes/Tours calendar.

Get Your Employee Bus Pass!

Steenbock Library is pleased to serve as one of the pick-up sites for the UW-Madison Employee Bus Pass. The bus pass remains subsidized yet this year, 2012-2013, by Transportation Services and UW Health. Eligible employees must present a valid UW Wiscard ID* or UW Hospital ID at one of the distribution locations in order to collect a bus pass.

Distribution for the 2012-2013 bus pass will take place between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM at the following locations (do note dates):

• August 13 - 17: Memorial Library, West Corridor, Room 124
• August 20 - 24: Health Sciences Learning Center, Atrium
• August 27 - 31: Steenbock Library, Room 240
• September 4 - 7: WARF Building, Room 132

If an employee misses the initial distribution period for the complimentary bus pass, he/she can obtain one from Transportation Services after September 7, 2012.

For information about the distribution sites for the ASM Student Bus Pass, visit this link for more information.

* Faculty and staff who need a new or replacement ID card must present personal photo identification such as a driver's license, passport, or state ID to staff with the Wiscard Office, Union South. The Wiscard Office can produce a Faculty/Staff ID card once the employee's department has entered the appointment information (and proper authorization has been established) in the database. Visit the Wiscard site for more information.

Call for Course Reserves, Fall Semester

The fall semester quickly approaches as does our Course Reserves deadline!

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: August 10, 2012.  Materials received after this date will be processed in the order in which they are received.

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

In Class with Go Big Read

The Go Big Read program is looking to identify instructors who would like to use the 2012-2013 selection, Radioactive, with their classes during the coming fall and spring semesters.  Instructors can apply for free copies of the book, for use with their classes, by completing a request form.
See a listing of courses that plan to participate.

"Go Big Read" is UW-Madison’s 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.

For additional information about how to access the book--including alternative formats, click here.  Visit the author’s site for the book.

Save the date!  Author Lauren Redniss’s public presentation is scheduled for October 15, 2012 beginning at 7:00 p.m. in Varsity Hall, Union South.