In Class with Go Big Read

The Go Big Read program is looking to identify instructors who would like to use the 2013-2014 selection, A Tale for the Time Being, 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.

"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 Ruth Ozeki’s public presentation is scheduled for October 28, 2013 beginning at 7:00 PM in Varsity Hall, Union South.

Enjoy the Nightlife!

Join bat experts and enthusiasts at the Wisconsin Bat Festival, Saturday, June 1 (10:00 AM - 6:00 PM  & 7:00 - 10:00 PM). The festival will feature opportunities to learn about different bat species and enable you to discover, and contribute to, the essential conservation efforts being made worldwide.

New this year will be a "Bat Science Night" in which to observe bat research techniques as part of monitoring efforts made by local bat researchers.

The Wisconsin Bat Festival is held at the Warner Park Community Recreation Center.  See directions here. All proceeds benefit the Wisconsin Bat Conservation Fund. Festival entrance fees are $5.00 per adult (16+); children free (with paying adult).  See flyer.

To learn more about bats, visit the following links:

Wisconsin Bat Monitoring Program

Organization for Bat Conservation

Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, Bat Conservation Endowment Fund

Spring Intersession and Summer Hours

Steenbock Library welcomes you during the following hours of the spring intersession and summer (May 20-September 2) :

Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Saturday-Sunday:  Closed

Holiday Exceptions:
Monday, May 27 (Memorial Day):  Closed
Thursday, July 4 (Independence Day): Closed
Monday, September 2 (Labor Day): Closed

As all campus libraries observe different building hours during this spring/summer period, we encourage you to verify hours of access before planning your trip to campus or a specific library location.

Additionally, do consult our staff should you need assistance finding and using our collections and services.  We are happy to provide reference assistance from the Information Services Desk or by email, phone, or appointment.

Library Resources for New Graduates

Congratulations on your achievement!  Our staff wishes you the best and hopes that your time with us was well-spent.  And did you know that there are library resources you can continue to access once you have left UW-Madison?

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

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

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

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

Bike to Work Week (May 13-17)

The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin encourages you to discover a fitness and transportation solution with its spring "Bike to Work Week" event (May 13-17).

Visit the Federation Website to view the Madison area calendar of events where you can tune up that bike, snack, and socialize with fellow cyclists.

Do consider participating in this year’s "Wisconsin Bike Challenge". Register, log your miles and win prizes!

Blow off some Steam!

Take a study break with us.  Free, coffee (hot) and lemonade (cold) will be available Saturday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 14 beginning at 7:00 PM (while supplies last).  The beverage service, located in our vending area on the first floor is provided by University Housing in cooperation with Steenbock Library.

During the day (Monday, May 13-Friday May 17), Steenbock will also have bubble-blowing equipment available for use on our front deck from where you can also hang-out on our new patio furniture as the weather improves this week.

For a list of extended library hours and finals week activities at the various campus libraries, visit the special, "Study Strong" pages.

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

Look Ma...I'm at the Library!

Tell your friends and family where you study with a free, library postcard! 

Take a break, select and write your postcard, then drop it off in our dedicated drop-box.  We will take care of the postage and send it on its way. 

The original images that inspired each of the four different postcard designs were supplied by University Archives.

Look for our postcard-writing station near the front entrance during finals week.

UW Family Gardening Day (May 11)

Put some spring in your step with a visit to our neighborhood this Saturday.  From 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM, the D.C. Smith Greenhouse and the Allen Centennial Gardens will welcome campus and community guests to find inspiration for gardens, large and small, with tours, demonstrations, and hands-on activities.

As Steenbock Library dwells handsomely between these two destinations, our staff will be ready to supply guests with information about the collections and services we supply to those with--and those who aspire to have--a green-thumb.  Partners in this endeavor to share information and resources of interest to campus and community include library staff from Wisconsin’s Water Library and the Dane County Master Gardeners.

Look for our information kiosks, outside, near the front entrance to the library.  In case of rain, you will find us in Room 240.  When you enter our building, you will also have an opportunity to browse a modest selection of titles from our gardening collections.  We also have some gardening-themed Pinterest boards to showcase selected titles.  Do note that these boards supply a visual teaser to what we have and not every item in our collection.  Speak with our library staff for assistance finding more!

Read the Gardening Day press release!

Steenbock Library | Seed Saving

Steenbock Library | Enabling Gardens

Steenbock Library | Community Gardens

What's in your Garden?!

Save the date for two opportunities this coming weekend to consult with experts and select the plants best suited to your gardening style and available space.

"Plant Sale with the Pros", Olbrich Gardens

The staff of Olbrich Botanical Gardens hosts its "Plant Sale with the Pros", Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11, from 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM (Friday) and from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM (Saturday).  Look for tents, 3330 Atwood Avenue.

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

Native Plant Sale, Arboretum

The Friends of the Arboretum hosts its annual Native Plant Sale, Saturday, May 11, 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 2013 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! Experts will be on hand to help you locate species and to answer questions.

A Tale for the Time Being

The next Go Big Read has been selected!

Interim Chancellor David Ward and a review committee of campus faculty, staff and students have selected Ruth Ozeki’s A Tale for the Time Being as the 2013-2014 common book selection for the UW-Madison campus.

Interim Chancellor Ward invited the review committee to consider those nominated titles that examined issues of our global connections.  This beautifully-crafted novel brings the life of troubled Japanese school-girl, Nao, to the attention of author, Ruth, within the flotsam and jetsam--a Hello Kitty lunchbox--washed ashore in British Columbia.  Alternating between Nao and Ruth, through Canada, Japan and the United States, and intersecting with critical historical and world events, the reader is deeply-moved as each protagonist reconciles what is, and what may be, within her time and place.

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.

Read the press release.

Hoe, Hoe, Hoe!

Spring is here--finally (fingers crossed)--and the green-thumbs among us are preparing their gardening spaces and deciding what, and when best, to plant.

If you are similarly inclined to dig in, come browse Steenbock’s gardening collections.The library has books suitable for the novice and practical gardener as well as academic texts examining garden history and landscape design.

The library also has a collection of seed catalogs useful for recording ideas to particular garden products and locating suitable vendors. Current issues of these seed catalogs can be browsed in-house and are located on the first floor near the rear stacks and vending area (older copies are in filing cabinets).

To get you oriented to the stacks, you can generally find gardening books shelved in the vicinity of call numbers SB300…and SB400…on the first floor of the library.

Otherwise, do speak with our librarians to assist you with using the campus library catalog to determine specific titles and call numbers within your topics of interest.