UGL 101: Self-Checkout Machines

Posted on December 6, 2012 by HJL

If you’ve been studying (oh so quietly) on the lower level of the UGL recently, you may have noticed some new hardware on your way in or out.

Self-check machines are next to the lower level lobby doors.

Those shiny new machines are self-checkout machines where you can check out books or media. Long gone are the days of waiting in line to borrow season three of Lost. Now, armed with your iCard, you can easily check them out yourself.

The machines are super easy to use. Just follow a few simple steps.

1. Scan your I-Card.

Make sure your i-Card is pressed flat against the scanner bed.

Your iCard is your ticket to the UGL’s entertainment options.

2. Scan your books or media, with the spine of the item sitting in the dip of the scanning area. When you hear a “thump” your item is ready.

The bottom of the case should face towards the machine.

Make sure it’s facing this way, so the machine can desensitize your items.

3. The screen will prompt you to select whether or not you’d like a receipt.

It doesn’t matter what you choose, but you do have to make a choice.

4. If you have DVDs or video games, finally, you’ll want to insert them into the unlocker next to the machine. Make sure you hold it with the front of the case facing up, and top of the case going into the machine first. Check to make sure the case will open once the machine gives the case back to you.

The locked side of the case should be to your right.

The unlocker will eat your dvd and spit it back out, ready for you to use!

5. You’re all done! Wasn’t that easy?

If you have problems with using the machines, or just have questions in general, look for the staff member on the lower level to help you. You can ring the bell on the cafe table near the media area for help. And you can always look for our friendly librarians, making the rounds in their “Ask a Librarian” vests.

End of the semester survival guide

Posted on November 29, 2012 by HJL

You might have missed it, but Chambana saw it’s first snowfall of the season this week. And that means that the end of the semester looms ever closer. Please, don’t panic. Follow our survival tips to make to the end of the semester with [most of] your sanity in tact.

Don’t worry. This doesn’t have to be you.

1. Have a plan. Maybe you’re an incessant list maker. Maybe you like to draw flow charts. Maybe highlighting and littering the margins of your class syllabi with notes is your way of organizing. Do you have a planner that Mom gave you when you left, and now is hidden under a pile of unwashed clothes in your room? Now would be a good time to bust it out. Whatever works for you, do it. Figure out what you have to get done and when each item is due. Write it down. Put it somewhere you’ll see it. This will help ensure you don’t forget about anything important.

2. Plan a study sesh. You’re probably not the only person in your class stressing about that comprehensive final in three (Really? Just three?!) weeks. Join forces to divide and conquer. If you want to get really ambitious, create yourself a Jeopardy game board and challenge each other. Losing team buys the pizza.

3. Stay healthy. With all the things you have to do, sometimes you feel like you don’t have time to eat or sleep. But nothing is more important to your brain health than keeping yourself well-nourished and getting a good night’s sleep.

4. Take a break. Sometimes, your mind just needs to kick back and play frisbee. So schedule yourself some downtime in between the madness. Indulge in your favorite movie (don’t forget the popcorn), play a video game (we’ve got a lot in the UGL you can check out), or get some facetime with your BFF you haven’t seen in days. You want to work hard, but don’t forget to play, too.

Stay strong, Club UGL. You’ll make it.

Spotlight on: Academic OneFile

Posted on November 1, 2012 by HJL

screenshot: Academic OneFile page with search box and limiters

If you’re not already knee-deep in papers and projects, you probably will be soon. Library databases are one of the best resources to find credible, reliable information. But we know sometimes getting started can be tough, especially if you’ve never used a database before. So we’re here to help.

One database you might consider to get started is Academic OneFile. This is a general-subject database, meaning it has information from a lot of fields. You can access it easily through the UGL’s Find Articles Guide. (If you’re off campus, don’t worry! You can still use the databases. All you need is your NetID and password.)

When you first get in to the database, you’ll see a screen that looks like this:

screenshot: searchbox above limiters, with search tips on right-hand side

The homepage for Academic OneFile

You’ll have a search box and a few ways to limit the results you’ll see. Sometimes it’s best not to select any of the things below the search box until you’ve seen results first. To optimize your database search, use keywords. Most of the time you’ll have more than one keyword you need to use, too. To get more search boxes, all you have to do is click on “Advanced Search” in the yellow bar above the search box.

screenshot: Advanced search is last option on main menu

screenshot: Advanced search has multiple fields for multiple keywords, and Boolean operators as well.

The advanced search page will give you some more options. Once you’ve entered your keywords, click search.

On your results screen, you’ll see ways to help you narrow down the results you have. On the left side of the screen, you have options to select the type of source, subjects, and/or publication dates.

screenshot: limiters are in a sidebar on the left-hand side of the results page

Once you find an article you like, you can click on the title to see more information. On this page, you’ll also have options to help you save the results you want to use. On the right side, there are tools you can use to save, email, print, or cite that article.

screenshot: when viewing an article record, options for saving, printing, and citing are on the right-hand side

This is just a brief look at what you might see using Academic OneFile. If you have questions or problems, come talk to a librarian! You can use our Ask-a-Librarian chat, visit us in person at the Research Desk, or come to Office Hours @ the UGL.

Find other posts in the Spotlight On… series here.

Office Hours @ the UGL

Posted on October 11, 2012 by HJL

Research and Writing Help you can Believe in!

It’s that time of year. The leaves are turning orange and red, the sun is setting a little earlier, and you’re getting busier. Papers are getting assigned, projects are almost due, midterms are almost upon us. Because we want you to rock the socks off all your classes, the UGL is here to help you in any way we can. Starting this month through December 4th, you can visit us for some one-on-one research and writing help during Office Hours @ the UGL.

You always have the option of stopping at the Research Desk or chattin’ us up through IM, but if you need some one-on-one research time away from the noisy traffic of the library, Office Hours is here for you. Every Monday from 2-4 and every Tuesday from 7-9, UGL librarians are waiting in room 291 to answer all your burning research questions. We can help you with any part of your research process, too, whether you’re just getting started, need more sources, or don’t know if the ones you have are credible. Quick question or in-depth research? We’ll help with both. And bonus: Writers Workshop tutors will be there too. So you can come get help with your research and your writing, all in one stop!

The best part? You don’t need to make an appointment. Just stop in and let us know how we can help you. To make sure you get the most out of your visit though, here are a couple tips:

First, if you have a specific assignment you’re working on, bring any assignment details you have with you. The more we know about what you have to do, the better we can help!
Second, if you’ve done any work on the assignment so far, make sure to tell us, so we can start from the best possible place.

Don’t let your research get the better of you. Visit Office Hours @ the UGL and get help you can believe in!

UGL 101: Collaboration Rooms

Posted on September 27, 2012 by HJL

UGL 101: an introduction

Started a study group for that Chem class? Have a group project you need to get done? Just need a space to work with your buds? The UGL has your back.

One of our most popular features is our 11 collaboration rooms. These rooms are available for student use anytime the UGL is open. We’ve even tricked them out for you: in addition to a table and chairs, each room has a TV, a DVD player (some also have VCRs), jacks for your headphones, and most have a hookup for your laptop. Some of the rooms also have whiteboards, and dry erase markers are available for checkout at the Circulation Desk.

So how can you get into one of these primo study spots? Simple. If you’ve used these in years past, you’ll be stoked to know you no longer need to check out a key! Yeah! But we still recommend you reserve your spot. Just call or come to the UGL to reserve the room you want (and make sure at least one person in your group has their I-Card handy, as you’ll still need to show you’re a student). Make sure when you reserve the room, you know how many people will be in your group and if you’ll need any specific equipment—that way we can set you up in the best one for your group.

A couple things to remember: We’re still booking these in two-hour time slots (they’re in demand, so we’ve gotta share with everyone), and we ask that you don’t sign up for more than two 2-hour blocks a week. Cool? Cool. If you have any questions, we’ll be happy to answer them at the Circulation or Research desks. And remember they fill up fast, so don’t wait until the last minute to make your reservation, or we may be booked.

Coming soon: an online reservation system. Check back with us soon for all the deets about how to reserve your room online.

One of our collaboration rooms, just waiting for you!

We Want You! (To register to vote!)

Posted on September 17, 2012 by HJL

Image of the Voter Registration Machine in the Lobby of the Undergrad Library

Voter Registration Machine, conveniently located in the lower level lobby of the UGL

In 2008, college students played a vital role in propeling Barack Obama into the White House, and into history. Turning out in numbers larger than any since 1972 when the vote was first offered to 18-year-olds, the Millenial generation showed that they have the power to impact the world.¹ Are you registered to vote for this year’s election? Whether you are or not, stop by the UGL this week and find out what you can do to make sure your voice is heard.

This week (through Thursday) you can register to vote at the UGL. Representatives from the Champaign County Clerk’s office will be here from 2-8 PM to help you join the ranks of Illinois voters. They’ll be set up on the right as you enter the upper level of the UGL, just across from the Circulation desk. In addition to helping you register, they can also answer any questions you might have about the registration process, voting, polling places, absentee ballots, etc.

Registering is a cinch! Just come prepared. You will need your driver’s license as well as basic information: address, phone number, previous voting address, and any prior name(s).

If you miss the voter drive, don’t worry! The UGL can still help you do your patriotic duty. We have a voter registration station [pictured above], conveniently set up in the lobby of the lower level. Here, you can fill out the form electronically, print it, and drop it in a secure box. You’ll need all of the same information for the electronic form as you do for the registration drive (so be prepared to provide your driver’s license number).

There are few dates you’ll need to keep in mind if you aren’t able to register to vote during this week’s drive. The last day you can register to vote is October 9th. That means that if you want to use the registration machine the UGL, give yourself a week or so to make sure your form can get processed. Also, if you’re planning on voting by absentee ballot from your hometown, your request has to be received by October 30th. Questions about how that’s done? Stop by the Registration Drive and get those answers and many more!

¹Lipka, S. and Wideman, R. (2008). Young Voters Overwhelmingly Favored Obama, Swinging Some Battleground States. Chronicle of Higher Education, 55(12), A21-A23.

UGL 101: Reserves & My Account

Posted on September 3, 2012 by HJL

UGL 101: An Introduction

So you made it through your first week of class, hopefully with only one wrong turn or two on the way. Now you just have to make sure you have everything you need to have a successful semester. Here at the UGL, we can help with that!

We have plenty of space for you to study, either by yourself or with a group. We have computers, printers and scanners to help you get the semester started on the right foot. You can also check for course resources. Many instructors will put books or films on reserve for classes, and the UGL can help with that, too.

If you need a book (or media item) that your instructor has put on reserve, first you’ll need to search the reserves. You can get to the reserves search page from the UGL homepage:

screenshot: course reserves link is directly under Easy Search box.

Make sure you know the name of your instructor or the class number (you can search by either). Once you’ve located your reserve item, make sure you write down the Call Number if it’s a book or media item. Books and media are kept at the Circulation Desk (when you go to pick it up, bust out that call number, which is what the library staff need to find the item on the shelf), but there are also reserves online—which you can access from the comfort of your own computer. (Don’t have a computer? You can borrow a laptop or MacBook from the UGL, too, and use them for 2 hours.) Most book and media items on reserve can be checked out for 2 hours at a time, and must be kept in the library.

If you’re having trouble finding a course item on reserve, check out our Reserve Tips page, or Ask A Librarian.

Once you’ve mastered searching for and borrowing books, don’t forget to set up your library account, aka My Account. With this account, you can check due dates for borrowed materials, check the status of requested items, and renew your checked out items, among many other things. Find the link to My Account from the UGL homepage.

The My Account link is located in the center menu of the UGL homepage.

Once you get to the login page, simply fill in the basic information. It will be helpful to have your iCard on you, because you’ll need the “Library” number listed on the bottom right.

Screenshot: Your "borrower ID" is the 'Library' number on your I-Card. Choose U of I as your I-Share library.

Once you’ve signed up, you can use My Account to stay on top of all of your Library activity. And of course, you can always stop by and see us in person. We’re here to help you every step of the way!

Was this info helpful, but it didn’t answer all of your burning questions about how things work in the UGL? Never fear! We’ll be bringing you a series of “UGL 101” posts on all the “must know” stuff about the library. Stay tuned! (Or leave us your questions in the comments, and we’ll get back to you!)

Undergraduate Library Blog

Information and Updates on Getting the Most out of the UGL

Author Archives: HJL