I am Malala

The next Go Big Read has been selected!

Chancellor Rebecca Blank and a review committee of campus faculty, staff and students have selected I am Malala as the 2014-2015 common book selection for the UW-Madison campus.

Chancellor Blank invited the review committee to consider those nominated titles that examined issues of service.  As a model of service, Malala Yousafzai has campaigned mightily, and at great personal risk, for the right of girls and young women (all children, really) to pursue their education.  During her address to the United Nations, she stated, "So let us wage a glorious struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism, let us pick up our books and our pens, they are the most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education first."

For more information, visit the publisher’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.

Note: UW-Madison instructors interested in using the book can request review copies by contacting the Go Big Read office.

Blow off some Steam!

Take a study break with us.  Free, coffee (hot) and lemonade (cold) will be available Saturday, May 10 through Tuesday, May 13 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 12-Friday May 16), Steenbock will also have bubble-blowing equipment available for use on our front deck.

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

We wish you the best for a successful finals week and end of term.

AWA Breakfast on the Farm (Apr 27)

The annual Breakfast on the Farm will be served Sunday, April 27 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, $5 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 three canned-food items. All donations will 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.

Come hungry; stay for the fun!

See other CALS Week Events here.

Canine Campus Crawl (Apr 27)

The UW Pre-Vet Club hosts its annual Canine Campus Crawl on Sunday, April 27 (noon -). This dog-friendly, 2.5 mile run/walk serves as a fundraiser for the Dane County Humane Society and the "One Horse at a Time" project. The run/walk departs from Lot 60 (801 Walnut Street).

Pre-registration can be done online. The 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 (beginning at 11:30 AM) are $20 for one person (no dogs) or $25 for one person (up to two dogs).

For more information, see the information packet.

Visit the Facebook page.

All Campus Party (Apr 22-27)

Each spring, the Wisconsin Alumni Association and the Alumni Student Board (WASB) team up with student organizations, University departments, area businesses and national corporations to sponsor the All-Campus Party.

Check out the week of events that include opportunities to enjoy free food and entertainment, outdoor recreation, and contests (with awesome prizes).

CALS Week Food Drive (Apr 20-25)

The CALS Student Association will be running a food drive during CALS Week, April 20-25, 2014.  Look for designated collection spaces in Ag Hall, Animal Sciences, Biochemistry and Steenbock Library.  All items collected will be donated to the Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin.  Please consult the poster at drop-sites for a list of suggested food and non-food items.

See the list of all CALS Week activities and events, here!

Loving of the Land (April 26)

Save the date for the third annual "Loving of the Land" benefit concert!

CIAS, the Nelson Institute and the Agroecology Department welcome you to this third annual night of music. The concert will feature the bluegrass and classical music styling of Graminy with their special guests, Chromatic and Ten, choirs from West High (Madison). 

The concert enjoys additional sponsorship from Wisconsin Public Radio and F.H.King Students for Sustainable Agriculture.

Proceeds from the concert benefit student research in sustainable agriculture and food systems.

Concert-goers will also be welcomed to the event by Master-of-Ceremonies, Stephanie Elkins, host of Simply Folk, Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR).

Date: Saturday, April 26
Time: 8:00 PM
Place: Music Hall, (925 Bascom Mall)
Ticket prices: $10.00 ($5.00 student) in advance; $15.00 ($10.00 student) at the door

Tickets can be purchased from Brown Paper Tickets, the CIAS office (phone 262-8018) or from students in Agroecology.

Digital Salon Exhibition, 2014

Podcasts and Websites and Games, oh my!  Visit the 5th Annual Digital Salon exhibition to see these and more from our creative community of undergraduate and graduate students.

The week-long Digital Salon showcases the artistic and research-oriented projects that take digital form or rely heavily on digital technologies in the production process. The Salon is curated by a committee of UW-Madison faculty and staff.  Look for the "physical" exhibition at College Library, Open Book Café.  The virtual Salon can be accessed by visiting its site, here.  Previous exhibitions can be accessed

The Digital Salon is organized by UW-Madison Libraries and the DesignLab.

Pup it Up!

Take a study break with us as we welcome special guests, Dogs on Call!
Steenbock staff welcomes Dogs on Call (and their companions) to the library, Tuesday, April 8, from 6:30-8:00 PM.  The dogs will be available for a pat, during this special study break, near the front, main entrance to the library (second floor).  We are honored to be one of their many campus stops.

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.  In addition to its membership with Pet Partners, Dogs on Call is a R.E.A.D (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) affiliate with Intermountain Therapy Animals.  Please visit their sites to learn more about their services.

Vote Now! UW Book Madness

Let the voting begin!  Visit the UW Book Madness Tournament site to vote in Round 1.  Round 2 voting will begin on Saturday (March 22) at noon.

Thank you for submitting your brackets in advance. The most accurate bracket, post-voting in the final match-up, will win a gift certificate to the University Bookstore.  See the rules of play here.

Visit the site to learn more about the books in each division, including fun facts and stats.

Voting fine print:

• One vote, per person, per pairing!
• First round voting begins on Thursday, March 20.
• Voting for later rounds begins at approximately noon on these dates:

• Round 2: Saturday March 22
• Round 3: Tuesday March 25 (Sweet 16)
• Round 4: Saturday March 29 (Elite 8)
• Round 5: Tuesday April 1 (Final 4)
• Round 6: Sunday April 6 (Championship)

Book Madness

Let the Book Madness begin!  Fill out your brackets for the second, annual UW Book Madness Tournament!

Download or stop by a participating library (including Steenbock!) to pick-up and to return your brackets.  The most accurate brackets, post-voting in the final match-up, will win gift certificates to the University Bookstore.

All brackets must be returned by March 18 in order to qualify; one submission per person.  Click here to read the complete rules of play.

Beginning March 20, you will be able to vote online for which book in each pairing will advance.

Visit the site to learn more about the books in each division including fun facts and stats that may influence your picks.  The divisions this year are: Books in the Movies, Books on TV; Glass Half-Full, Glass Half-Empty; Required Readings, Guilty Pleasures; Stars’ n Stripes, Union Jack.

#UWBookMadness

Poll Everywhere, including Madison!

 

Looking for something to give a creative boost to your end of semester presentations? Poll Everywhere offers a great resource for anyone looking to stand out with a unique way of engaging audiences. Poll Everywhere is an online application that allows you to create poll questions for students or audiences and display responses in real time. It has many great editing features so you can customize visual appearances, display themes, font and color options. It is totally free for up to 40 responses at a time, which makes it a perfect resource for class presentations, discussions, and group meetings. Poll Everywhere allows for multiple methods of response, from texting, to on the web, and even twitter. This helps make Poll Everywhere very accessible and feasible in most educational settings.  

Poll Everywhere can be utilized in many different capacities, such as opinion questions, tests of knowledge, and determining an audience’s wants or preferences. It is a great way to incorporate technology into a classroom because it can be fun, entertaining, and even help encourage a lively debate. Because responses are recorded immediately, there is a tangible result to actions taken in the classroom, helping it to be a good tool for grabbing and keeping the attention of participants. Poll Everywhere can incorporate pictures, and even has the capability of being integrated directly into a PowerPoint presentation, making its use easy and seamless. It even has a fantastic Poll Everywhere User Guide to help you along the process. 

Poll Everywhere offers a great way for students to improve their class presentations, instructors to engage their students, and is a great alternative to costly clickers. It is truly a versatile resource that allows creativity to open the door to almost limitless possibilities. 

Steenbock Library is offering a Poll Everywhere Tech Talk on February 20 at 12 pm. Poll Everywhere is the perfect way to enhance your presentations and teaching opportunities. Tech Talks are completely free and take just 30 minutes, so it’s the perfect time to stop on by and learn something between classes. Steenbock offers many instruction opportunities and we encourage you to check out the Steenbock Workshop Schedule. We hope to see you at one soon!

A special thank you to Information Specialist Internship Program student Lucas Nicholson, for writing this guest post and designing the PollEverywhere workshop! 

Raise the Woof! (Dec 2)

What better way to relieve the stress of studying than to meet wet-nose to nose with a wagging member of the canine corps, Dogs on Call?!

Steenbock staff welcomes Dogs on Call and their companion handlers to the library, Monday, December 2, from 6:30-8:00 PM. The dogs will be available for a pat near the front, main entrance to the library (second floor) for this special study break.

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.  In addition to its membership with Pet Partners, Dogs on Call is a R.E.A.D (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) affiliate with Intermountain Therapy Animals.  Please visit their sites to learn more about their services.

C. Helen Party (Sept 12)

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 12 (8:00 PM-midnight).

The schedule of events includes arts, crafts and hacks, carnival games, human foosball, student group performances, house party team trivia and more--with plenty of free snacks on the side.

Mindset List (Class of 2017)

Welcome to college, Class of 2017!

Beloit College has released its annual Mindset List (now in its 15th year). 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. Visit the site to learn more about the authors and to explore the project’s media buzz.

And, I am reminded as I sip my own that to this incoming class, "Java has never been just a cup of coffee."

Enjoy!

Harvest Handouts

Enjoy fresh, locally-grown produce from the F.H King Student Farm! 

Every Friday, beginning at 1:00 PM (June-October), student farmers distribute their produce, free, to students and UW-Madison community members.

In order to transport harvest handouts from the Eagle Heights farm location to the distribution site on East Campus Mall, the students are using Full Cycle Freight bikes and trailers.

To learn more about the Student Farm, the F.H King Students for Sustainable Agriculture and their events, projects and opportunities to visit and volunteer, visit the Website and follow them on Facebook.

Undergraduate, Library Research Awards

College Library, in conjunction with the Undergraduate Symposium, invites students to apply for its annual Undergraduate Library Research Awards. The awards celebrate excellence and creativity in using the library to complete an undergraduate research project. (Examples may include a literature review for a lab study, the use of primary sources in a historical research paper, or the background research for a creative arts project).

Up to three Library Research Awards and one Research in Progress Award will be presented at the Undergraduate Symposium. (The Research in Progress Award is intended for projects that will not be completed before the award deadline). Winners of Library Research Awards receive a cash prize of $300. The winner of the Research in Progress Award receives a cash prize of $150.

(Please note: The Financial Aid Office may need to modify your aid package if you were to receive outside aid, such as this cash prize).

The deadline to apply for the 2013 library research awards will be April 5, 2013.

How to Apply--the process:

1. Meet with Kelli Keclik at College Library or with Jessica Newman at Steenbock Library OR attend a drop-in information session to review and discuss your research.

2. Reflect on the various tools and strategies used to locate relevant materials.

3. Review the sample essay and then write a 600-800 word essay describing your research experience, noting the successes, difficulties, and surprises you encountered.

4. Submit an application, a statement of faculty support, a final version of your project, and the essay.

Drop-in information sessions will be offered at College and Steenbock Libraries during the following days/times:

• Monday, March 18, 4:00-5:00 PM, College Library, 1st floor center
• Tuesday, March 19, 5:00-6:00 PM, Steenbock Library
• Tuesday, April 2, 5:00-6:00 PM, College Library, 1st floor center
• Wednesday, April 3, 7:00-8:00 PM, Steenbock Library

For more information, contact Kelli or Jessica.

Share Steenbock on Instagram

If a picture is worth a thousand words, I guess an Instagram photo is worth at least a couple of likes. 

At Steenbock Library, we have just created an account on the filter-friendly mobile app, and we're very excited for what its potential can be. Whether you first heard about the newest social media craze being referenced in a rap song, an article in the Huffington Post, or seen a photo on Facebook, it sure looks like Instagram is here to stay.

Now here at the library, not only is the account going to be used to connect students to the library, I believe that it can show the university and the world, that there are more to libraries than we think. Before joining the ISIP Program (Information Specialist Internship Program) which is part of the UW Library System, I was truly unaware of how much work goes into the library.  After being in the program for two semesters now, I can attest to the interesting and important work the librarians at this school do and hopefully our Instagram will shed some light on this.

So if you have any suggestions for photos or just want to follow someone new on Instagram, remember to look up ASK_Steenbock, give us a like, and talk about what you want to see from us next.

With thanks to ISIP Intern, Matthew J, for this blog post.

Peace Corps Info Table (Feb 13)

Are you looking for an opportunity to put your agriculture, environment or development skills to good use abroad?  If so, consider joining the Peace Corps!  UW-Madison is one of the top campuses supplying the world with volunteers--to the sum of 103 volunteers, currently, in 47 countries.

Stop by Steenbock Library on Wednesday, February 13 (noon-2:00 PM) to pick up some information and to chat with Peace Corps volunteers who have returned from the field.  Get your questions answered!

Look for the information table across from the library’s entrance, second floor. (You can also plan to visit the campus office).

Life is calling. How far will you go?

Facebook

Study Abroad Advising for Biology Majors

Are you a declared biology major interested in studying abroad with International Academic Programs?  This month, Steenbock Library is pleased to collaborate with the Institute of Biology Education (IBE) and International Academic Programs to host a special dual-advising series. 


Here is your chance to meet with an IAP study abroad advisor AND an IBE biology major advisor AT THE SAME TIME!

Click, here, to schedule a dual appointment.

Advising sessions will be held in Study Room 108 (on the first floor of Steenbock Library) during the following dates:

• February 7:  9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
• February 11:  2:30 - 5:00 PM
• February 20:  1:00 – 5:00 PM

Note: This series is provided as one of the pilot programs for the Biology Commons Project--a Joint Educational Innovation Project by the IBE and Steenbock Library.
Visit this link to the proposal to learn more!

With thanks to Jessica N for the content of this post.