Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Radioactive

Are you ready for the next Go Big Read?!

Interim Chancellor David Ward and a review committee of campus faculty, staff and students have selected Lauren Redniss’s Radioactive: A Tale of Love and Fallout as the 2012-2013 common book selection for the UW-Madison campus. The Chancellor 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.

For more information about the book, visit the author’s site for the book. And, do consult with campus and area public libraries for available copies.

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. Go Big Read will welcome your participation with this new title during the forthcoming academic year.

See the press release.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Battitude (May 12)

Spread your wings at the Wisconsin Bat Festival, Saturday, May 12 (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM). The festival will feature opportunities to learn about different bat species from experts Rob Miles and Dave Redell, and enable you to discover, and contribute to, the essential conservation efforts being made worldwide.

And, this year, meet author and illustrator, Brian Lies.  His children’s books include Bats at the Beach, Bats at the Library, and Bats at the Ballgame.

The Wisconsin Bat Festival will be held at the Warner Park Community Recreation Center.  See directions here. All proceeds will benefit the Wisconsin Bat Conservation Fund. Festival entrance fees are $8.00 per adult (16+); children free (with paying adult).  See flyer.

To learn more about bats, visit the following links:
Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, Bat Conservation Endowment Fund

Paint Your Garden

While you’re in our neighborhood, be sure to take a lunch or study break to soak in the color of the beautiful Allen Centennial Gardens, easily spotted through the library’s north-facing windows (corner of Babcock and Observatory Drives).

These 2.5 acres of teaching gardens, managed by staff affiliated with the university’s Department of Horticulture, surround what was formerly known as the 'Agricultural Dean’s residence.'

Today, the gardens feature a variety of landscaping designs and plant-communities--including experiments with culinary herb and kitchen gardens.

The gardens also afford volunteer and internshipopportunities! Students and members of the public who are interested in contributing their time to a variety of gardening tasks are invited to contact Ed Lyon, Head Gardener, with that expressed interest and availability.

Keep up with what's happening in the Gardens with its blog and Facebook page.  Learn more about the 2012 "Paint Your Garden" theme, here.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Study Nights are for the Dogs! (April 18)

If you're looking to take a study break and feeling hungry, be sure to stop by the library for some bagels. CALS Week--brought to you by the CALS Student Council--features this night of studying and refreshments with special guests, Dogs on Call.

While a meet-n-greet with the dogs will be held on the library main entrance level, the bagels will be served, from 6:30-8:00 PM, on the first floor. Students who attend can also sign-in to get points for their student organization as part of the CALS Week participation competition.

When: Wednesday, April 18 (6:30-8:00 PM)
Where: Steenbock Library (first & second floors)

CALS Week Silent Auction

There is still time to get in on the CALS Week Silent Auction! Visit the auction website to register and bid on awesome gift certificates, tees, decorative items and foodie treats.

Local businesses and restaurants have contributed generously to this event! CALS Student Council hosts this auction to raise funds to support its programming for CALS students.

Bids will be accepted until midnight, Friday, April 20, 2012. Winning bidders can pay and collect their items in the CALS Student Council office at the Stock Pavilion beginning Sunday, April 22 (winners will be notified regarding time of day).

CALS Week 2012

CALS Week Events:

Tuesday April 17:

CALS Day for Kids
CALS Student Organizations run a fair to intrigue and inspire local elementary-school children.

WHERE: Stock Pavilion
WHEN: 8:30 AM-2:30 PM

CALS Research Symposium
Students, faculty, staff, and community members are invited to attend the annual CALS Undergraduate Research Symposium. To kick-off the event, Dean VandenBosch will address to undergraduates beginning at 10:00. CALS undergraduates will share their research in fields as diverse as forest and wildlife ecology, biochemistry, limnology, and everything in between! Students will be presenting in Find poster sessions in the atrium and oral presentations in the Ebling Symposium Center.

WHERE: Ebling Symposium Center, Microbial Sciences
WHEN: 10:00 AM-3:00 PM

Wednesday April 18:

Study Nights are for the dogs!
Got exams? Join CALS for a study night complete with Helper Dogs on the 1st floor of Steenbock Library! If that isn't enough to distract you, we will be serving bagels for our studious attendees.

WHERE: Steenbock Library (entrance and first floor)
WHEN: 6:00-8:00 PM

Thursday April 19:

Guest Speaker: Shelly Mayer
As a professional in dairy industry and a CALS mom, Shelly will speak with us about "Defining Yourself within the Dash", a personal reflection of her path and the local and global challenges facing today's graduates.

WHERE: Ebling Symposium Center, Microbial Sciences
WHEN: 5:00-6:00 PM

Saturday, April 21:

CALS Olympics!
Saturday afternoon will be filled with classic events like chocolate milk flip club, egg races, pudding scramble, egg toss, and tug of war.

WHERE: Jorns Courtyard
WHEN: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Raise the Woof! (April 18)

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 and CALS Student Council welcome Dogs on Call to the library, Wednesday, April 18, from 6:30-8:00 PM. The dogs, accompanied by their companion handlers, will be available for a romp and cuddle near the front, main entrance to the library.

Please visit the sites for Dogs on Call and Pet Partners to learn more about their services. Dogs on Call was also recently-awarded a grant from the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association to support its R.E.A.D work.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Canine Campus Crawl (April 22)

The UW Pre-Vet Club hosts its annual Canine Campus Crawl on Sunday, April 22 (9:30 AM –). This dog-friendly, 2.5 mile run/walk serves as a fundraiser for the Dane County Humane Society and the club. The run/walk departs from Lot 60.

Participants should register by April 12 to enjoy a discount. This pre-registration fee is $15 for one person (no dogs) or $20 for one person (up to two dogs). Registration fees for the day of the event are $20 for one person (no dogs) or $25 for one person (up to two dogs).

An additional $1 donation gets you a photo shoot with your dog!

For more information, see the information packet.

Visit the Facebook page.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

You Belong@Your Library, DIY READ Posters

As part of National Library Week festivities (April 9-13), bring a copy of your favorite book to MERIT Library to pose for a personalized READ Poster. The library will take photos between noon-6:00 PM, Monday through Thursday and noon-5:00 PM, Friday. Posters will be produced at 11x17 in size and cost $5.00 per pose (additional copies are $1.00). Do bring your campus print/photocopying debit-card to pay for the poster printing.

This year, there are lots of additional backgrounds from which to choose (see examples in flyer) and MERIT staff will use the video studio (Room 109) of Teacher Education (two flights down from library) in which to capture your photo.

For more information, contact MERIT Library.

Find more campus library week activities, here.
"You Belong @ Your Library"

Monday, April 09, 2012

Breakfast on the Farm (April 15)

The annual Breakfast on the Farm will be served Sunday, April 15 from 8:00 AM until noon at the campus Stock Pavilion (1675 Linden Drive). Breakfast will include hearty fare with ice cream for dessert.

Tickets can be purchased at the door; $7 for adults, $6 for seniors (65+), $5 for students (K-UW) and $3 for children (5 years and younger). A dollar discount will be granted from the price of breakfast with a donation of a canned food item. All donations go to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Southern Wisconsin.

This event, sponsored by the Association of Women in Agriculture, includes an educational area, petting zoo, and entertainment in keeping with its theme, "Educating America, One Meal at a Time".

Come hungry; stay for the fun!

Science Expeditions (April 14)

Madison is a city of science with venues engaging all levels of learning. On Saturday, April 14, UW-Madison rolls out the red carpet to welcome its community to explore and discover during the 10th Annual Science Expeditions.

All UW-Madison campus events are free and open to the public. Begin your expedition with Science Exploration Stations in the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery then venture to neighboring "Spectaculars". A free trolley shuttle is available to take guests to satellite, open-house venues--including Steenbock Library!

View the Science Expeditions schedule for the day and directions on how to get there.

Thursday, April 05, 2012

UW Stem Fair (April 12)

Attention campus STEM researchers! Reserve your space at the UW STEM Fair! This event, which will be held April 12 from 1:00-4:00 PM in the Engineering Centers building, is a great opportunity to recruit undergraduates to work in your research lab.

For those interested in hosting a table, contact Maria McGinnis, CALS Career Services, by email or phone (608-262-3460).

For students, this fair presents an awesome opportunity to gain experience working in a lab environment. Save the date!

View the event flyer.

Monday, April 02, 2012

Thousands of Books; Low Prices!

The Friends of UW-Madison Libraries will host its 33rd semi-annual used book sale, April 11-14, in Room 116 of Memorial Library.

A preview sale, with $5.00 admission, will be held from 5:00 until 9:00 PM, Wednesday, April 11. 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, April 12-13.

On Saturday, April 14 (10:30 AM – 1:00 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.

Print flyer (PDF)