Library closed for 2-week December holiday period

Since many campus departments that provide essential services will be closed, both the Davidson Library and the Arts Library will be closed for the two-week December holiday period.

Closure dates are Sunday, December 20, through Saturday, January 2. We will resume our regularly scheduled hours on Sunday, January 3, when the Davidson will be open from 10 am – midnight, and the Arts Library from 2 pm – 10 pm.

We apologize for the inconvenience but note that this two week stretch is historically a low use period for the libraries. We hope that reopening on Sunday, January 3rd will assist those who need to use library resources and services prior to the beginning of classes on January 4th.

Looking for a Place to Work With a Group?

Check out the new Group Commons room in Davidson Library. New comfy furniture has just been added!

The room is located on the first floor of Davidson Library, in-between the back entrance to the library and the central elevators.

This room is designed for groups to work together, so it is OK to talk with each other. If you are looking for a quiet place to study, please try the designated Quiet Study Room on the 2nd floor, or the quiet study floors (5th-8th). Posters have been put up indicating quiet study floors and group/talking areas.

Online Congressional Hearings (1824-1979) Available Through the Library

The UC Santa Barbara Library is happy to announce that we now have access to the LexisNexis Congressional Hearings Digital Collection. This collection includes abstracting, indexing, bibliographic information, and searchable full-text PDFs for Congressional hearings from 1824-1979. You can access this resource by selecting Lexis-Nexis Congressional from our A-Z list of databases.

More information about this resource can be found on the Lexis-Nexis wiki.

“Find It” in the Library

You may have noticed a magnifying glass icon with the words “Find It” when you search the Library’s online catalog. This is a new feature, currently in beta mode, to help you locate the floor and stack section where their item is located.

We hope you like it and find it helpful.

Nobel-Winning Alumna Remembers the Library

UCSB Alumna Carol W. Greider

UCSB Assistant University Librarian Brian Mathews recently interviewed the UCSB community’s newest Nobel Prize winner.

Twenty-six years ago, Carol W. Greider was a regular visitor at the UCSB Library, often spending three or four hours a day here studying, including weekends. “The UCSB Library was very welcoming. It was a great place to sit, study, and think,” she reminisced. “While the library has many great resources, it was more than just a place to get books or articles, it was a place to hang out.” She recalled many evenings when the building was packed with students all working on assignments and how it was “a very encouraging atmosphere.”

When asked about the influence that UCSB had on her career she commented that it was a “defining point” for her. She praised the College of Creative Studies for enabling her to start working in a lab right away during her freshman year. “It was at UCSB that I first became interested in biochemistry. I was able to structure my own curriculum, explore different subjects, and find out what I really liked,” Greider said. She was particularly drawn to the type of problem-solving used in biochemistry and, after experiencing success in this area, was encouraged to pursue graduate school.

This Nobel Laureate didn’t dream of being a scientist. “I didn’t grow up with chemistry sets or science kits as a kid,” Greider said. Her father encouraged her to “do what you love” and that passion for biology was shaped during her years at UCSB. “I found the type of work environment that I not only thrived in, but really enjoyed,” she said. When asked what advice she would pass along to other UCSB undergraduates, she replied, “Feed your curiosity. Find the type of work you enjoy doing and then follow that path.”

Related Links:

• 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
• UCSB Alumna Carol W. Greider Shares Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
• A Conversation with Carol W. Greider: On Winning a Nobel Prize in Science

Writing a Paper on Our Computers?

Most of our computers now have the full version of Microsoft Word. The only exceptions are computers with scanners and those set up just to find reserve materials. So, finding a computer to use is much easier now!

The most reliable way to save your work is to use a USB thumb drive. We highly recommend this method, as it is the best way to protect yourself from losing your work. Also, if a computer loses power or has to be rebooted anything that is saved to our computers will be lost.

If you have e-mailed a file to yourself and want to edit it, you MUST either save it to a USB drive or to our computer BEFORE making any changes. If you do not do this, your changes won’t be saved.

UCSB students can also save files to U-Storage space. To do this, see the directions below:

• U-Storage SFTP Instructions
• U-Storage Web Instructions

Good luck with your papers. Don’t forget to Ask a Librarian if you need help with your research.

Massages at the library? Yes!

In the 2008/2009 school year, 275 of you enjoyed FREE 3 minute massages.  Have you gotten one yet?

The Wellness Center and the Library are offering free massages to students every Tuesday from 12-1pm. Show up in the New Books area in the front lobby, show us your Access Card, and enjoy three minutes of bliss.

Library Receives Second NEH Grant to Document Historical Recordings

The University Library has been awarded a second National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant to further develop an online encyclopedia of all the recordings made by the Victor Talking Machine Company (which later became RCA Victor) between 1900-1950.

Read more here: http://www.ia.ucsb.edu/93106/2009/October/NEH.html

Enrico Caruso’s 1904 recording of the aria “Recondita Armonia” from Puccini’s “Tosca.”

What Are You Reading For Fun?

It’s always interesting to hear what people are reading for recreation.   What are you reading these days, UCSB?

Comfortable Study Spaces in the Arts Library

Looking for some peace and quiet?  Check out the comfortable study spaces in the Arts Library. No food and drink allowed, but we’ve got comfy chairs, wireless internet access, and some good old-fashioned quiet whenever you need it.