Spring Break (Hours and Online Access)

Library staff wishes you a terrific spring break but should you still need to work on paper or project do note, with our remote access service, you are never far away from the campus library resources you know and love.

Select the resource you need to use from the Libraries’ homepage. 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 on campus.

Campus libraries will be open during the break but with abbreviated hours. Confirm hours of operation by visiting the list of library locations and note the “Who’s Open” tab. The libraries will also be observing a required state furlough day and will be closed on Friday, April 2.

• Steenbock Library Hours

• Contact Steenbock Library

Staff Reflections

Steenbock Library will soon celebrate the career of one of its own--Robert (Bob). In light of that celebration, Bob was asked a few questions regarding his experience, here, to which he has replied below. We, at the library--friends and colleagues--wish him many, enjoyable adventures in retirement.

How long have you been with Steenbock Library?
I came in October 1982, so not quite 28 years ago. I was so thrilled to become a librarian in the big university after working in a small college (Cornell College). UW Madison has never let me down for a thrilling environment.

What has been your most memorable experience?
In 1992 I received "Librarian of the Year" [award] because of my work in networking databases to workstations in libraries across campus. Since then, librarians all over campus have participated in bringing our libraries to the desktops (and laptops) of students and faculty.

What have you found to be the most satisfying part of your work?
One thing that brought me here was the opportunity to develop teaching methods for library skills. In the 1970s this was an emerging area for improving the way libraries work for our customers. Now, every year we teach thousands of undergraduates and graduate students those library skills. The "teachable moment" resulting in an "I get it!" response from a student (or faculty member) is very moving to me. I love new technology; our libraries are constantly innovating: always new toys to play with.

How has your work changed during the years you have been with Steenbock Library?
'Evolving constantly' is a phrase describing library work. This is the secret of the library, we just never get bored with so much to learn, so many new things to master. The other answer is my work is exactly the same...make the collections of amazing value work for scholars who need more information.

What advice would you like to share with students and staff?
Our campus has librarians of great skill, who are very dedicated to service. For every student and faculty member there is a librarian who knows just what you need for your research. Learn who he or she is, ask for help, acquire the new skills librarians can provide.

What are your plans for the future?
Some things I've been attracted to over the years, but have not had the time to master, learning passable Spanish, improving my music skills. Also, at the instructions of my spouse, getting out of the house for at least two hours every day. Perhaps my dog will enjoy the walks?

A Wiki World

Are you fond of Wikipedia? We know that it is popularly used by students (and staff!) as a place "to get started" with one’s understanding of a particular topic.

Students report that they often use this wiki resource to consider a would-be research topic and to identify resources for more information.

Wikis are collaborative websites where many people can add and edit the content on pages—usually by means of a simple HTML interface. While this collaboration can lend itself well to quality information-sharing, it can also be important to corroborate information—particularly if you are not able to determine who the content editors may be (which can pose a concern, for some in academia, with the use of certain wikis where content providers remain anonymous).

Two particular projects, the Encyclopedia of Earth and the Encyclopedia of Life, have fused wiki technology with expert editors to create resources of peer-reviewed, reliable information. Each encyclopedic resource supplies freely-accessible and fully-searchable content that is written and reviewed by identified educators, researchers and scientists--many within the disciplines treated.

Give them a try today!

World Water Day (March 22)

The United Nations, today, dedicates its World Water Day to the theme of water quality--"clean water for a healthy world." In accordance with that theme, its Water Day site supplies links to event calendars, fact-sheets, photos and videos regarding freshwater essentials and efforts by UN organizations to support resource management and sanitation.

Additionally, the UN Water site supplies reports and news regarding water scarcity, water quality, statistics and water policies.

Should you be interested in finding research literature about topics in hydrology, sanitation and water resources, consult with your librarians for assistance and search the following database products:

• Environmental Sciences & Pollution Management

• Geobase

• Water Resources Abstracts

For more suggestions, see the Water Research Guide (Wisconsin’s Water Library).

By JoVE!

You’ve asked for it; now we’ve got it! Campus libraries now enjoy subscription access to the Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE).

JoVE is a peer reviewed journal that publishes biological research in a video format so that reproducibility and transparency are enhanced. It is this video format that enables the user to examine a lab technique and to understand some of the intricacies of the experiments utilized in the research.

Access JoVE via the E-Journals List (browse A-Z list for complete title—Journal of Visualized Experiments) or by running a journal title search using the Journals tab from the Libraries home page (search by abbreviated or full title).