suggestions | Undergraduate Library Blog - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Crowdsource Your Reading

Posted on April 22, 2013 by CN

This does not come close to representing how many books you all posted.

Usually when reading recommendations get posted on our blog, it means a librarian sat down and thought about books for a while (as librarians tend to do) before making a list and posting it for your perusal. It’s fun for us and hopefully for you, too! That’s not how this post got made, however – this week, we thought we’d turn it over to you.

if you visited the UGL in person last week, you may have noticed a whiteboard just inside the doors of the upper level. The whiteboard wanted to know what books had influenced you the most, and as you can see the picture above, lots of you responded! The board stayed up for a few more days after this picture was taken, so even more people wrote down and posted their most influential reads as time went on. Book titles filled up both sides and even started creeping around the edges.

Since you were all so eager to share your recommendations with each other (and showed a lot of variety in your choices) we’ve made today’s readers’ advisory based on the books you posted to the board. If you saw an interesting title on the board, maybe you’ll find it linked below and check it out – and if it’s one of the many we missed, you can look it up in the catalog or ask a librarian to help you find it.

What book has influenced you the most, Club UGL?

Whew! That’s a load of good books right there, and it doesn’t even begin to cover it. If you contributed to the board (and therefore today’s post) thanks for you contributions. If you missed out, feel free to share your recommendations now in the comments, and keep an eye out for future whiteboard questions in the UGL!

Listful Thinking

Posted on April 11, 2013 by CN

April showers bring not only May flowers, but also May caps, gowns, degrees and graduation ceremonies. Many of you will be leaving us forever soon, and we wish you the best! Before you go, though, you should make sure that you’ve gotten the most out of the library during your stay.

We’ve made a handy library ‘bucket list’ to help you explore all the secret levels and unlock all the achievements in your beloved UIUC library system. Be forewarned – the more things you do on this list, the more you’ll understand how awesome the library is, and you may never want to leave.

Image courtesy of homedepot.com

View the Gutenberg Bible fragments stored in the Rare Book Collection
Watch an entire television series from the UGL Media Collection
Go bird-watching in the Main Library (by which we mean check out their Audubon prints!)
Visit the Center for Children’s Books or the S-Collection, find your favorite children’s book, and be transported back to your childhood
Read an entire comic book series from the UGL’s graphic novel collection
Predict your post-college future with divination books from the Mandeville collection
Try to find a book on your own in the main stacks – look out for ghosts, mole people, and low ceilings!
If the main stacks aren’t creepy enough for you, try the stacks in the Math Library
If the Math stacks are too creepy for you, you can just check out the lovely murals in their rotunda!
Ask QB all your burning questions! If you don’t ask now, when will you ever find out?
Publicly defeat your friends at a game from the gaming collection
Get an international perspective on the news in the Communications Library News Lounge
Take a gander at the Sousa Archive’s current exhibitions (then go home and make Sousa’s favorite spaghetti)
Read the plaque next to the Morrow Plots – that’s the weird corn patch next door to the UGL. That corn is part of why the Undergrad is Underground – learn more about it!
Step outside into the UGL courtyard to enjoy the spring sunshine and read all of the words engraved around the upper wall
There are plenty more interesting things in the other libraries on campus – to round out the list, why don’t you try to visit them all?

If you’ve got a few semesters to go before you graduate, you can of course still do the things on this list – you can just do them at a more leisurely pace! If you enjoy completing this list (or if you think of any important library attractions that we forgot) make sure to tell us about it in the comments, on our Facebook page, or on Twitter. Good luck!

Spotlight On… Tell Me More

Posted on February 14, 2013 by HJL

Planning to study abroad? Going to spend Spring Break somewhere south of the border? Just want to impress your pals with your stellar language skills? Then you need the Tell Me More language software.

Getting started learning a new language is muy fácil with Tell Me More. Follow these simple steps:

Image of man standing on top of the world.

1. Start on the Library’s homepage. In the center column, look for the link to the Online Journals & Databases tool.

2. Search for “Tell Me More”.

3. When you see your results, you’ll want to select the second result on the page, labeled “Databases DATABASES”. Click on the “Databases” link.

4. You may then be prompted for your NetID and password. Enter that, and you’ll be taken to the Tell Me More homepage.

5. On the homepage, click on the message near the center: “New user, click here.” You will enter your name, email address and set up a username and password.

6. A screen may pop up asking you to to allow the system to access your camera and microphone. Once you check the appropriate boxes, you should be able to start learning your language of choice!

Click to enter the world of the multi-lingual! Wunderbar!

Some great features about Tell Me More:

You can do reading, writing, speaking, and listening workshops. Learn how to sprechen sie Deutsch the best way for you!
It’s got 37 different types of learning activities/interactions. Impressionante!
It utilizes Spoken Error Tracking System (SETS®) technology, which automatically detects and corrects your pronunciation errors. Work on your acento!
Anytime, anywhere accessibility. Voila! You can learn a language on the go.

Whether you want to learn a new language for business or pleasure, Tell Me More is convenient, easy, and free to you. (And really, who doesn’t love free?)

IRL @ the UGL

Posted on December 17, 2012 by CN

We at the UGL like to think of ourselves as being pretty comfortable with technology. This Web 2.0 thing? We’ve got it down. But we also understand that sometimes, even the most tech-savvy person gets a hankering for the old-fashioned. Sometimes it’s nice to see a pin-board with actual, physical pins in it. The opportunity to take a break from the seemingly endless computer screens in your life and spend time gazing at cheery paper snowmen is one you may be glad to take.

“Well hello! Welcome to the UGL!”

To fill this occasional craving for the traditional, and to make the physical space of the library more visually interesting and informative, there are several displays in different parts of the library for you to enjoy. The themes change every month to keep things fresh and appropriate to the season – this month, the staff and student workers/elves have put together some holiday-focused displays to help boost your spirit during finals. We’ll give you a preview here on the blog, but you should really come in and check them out in person!

UGL employees bust out their mad snowflake-makin’ skills, just for you.

Right when you enter the UGL from the plaza, this happy little case is ready to suggest some seasonal movies for you. If you’re interested in a title you see inside this mini-winter wonderland, just ask at the circulation desk, and we can fetch it for you! Then you can take it home and get just as cozy as you wanna.

We completely understand, but do try not to drool on the glass.

There are tons of food-themed ‘holidays’ in December. We’re not really sure how official ‘National Chocolate-Covered-Anything Day’ is, but that’s not going to stop us from celebrating it! To help you get in the culinary groove, we’ve got some cookbooks lined up in the display upstairs near the circulation desk, full of delicious holiday treats for you to make and share (or hoard). Come gaze upon these tasty cakes and be inspired.

We made a concerted effort to find books that are qualified to be suggested, and now we’ve got whole binders full of suggestions.

The food theme continues in the lower level! Just beyond the media collection, we’ve got more cookbooks picked out in our Y-shaped display. These aren’t necessarily holiday-specific; we’ve pulled together a wide range of cuisines and food types for you to choose from. Moroccan food? Totally covered. Any and every kind of soup? Right here. In addition to the cookbooks, you’ll find binders of suggested titles from a variety of different genres on top of the display. Pick ‘em up, leaf through them, carry them around to help you locate the books on the shelf – just please return them when you’re done, so someone else can find a good read after you!

Celebrate ALL the traditions!

The bulletin board in the lower lobby of the UGL is sponsored by the Library’s Diversity Committee, and each month it showcases diversity in a different area. For the month of December, we’ve got a festive round-up of winter holiday traditions from around the world. Curious about Wren’s Day, or Tsagaan Sar, the Mongolian Lunar New Year? You can learn all about them, right here!

That’s what’s going on IRL at the UGL – we’re happy that you’re reading our blog, but we’d also be happy to see your faces in the library checking out our displays. Come on down and scope ‘em out!

DIY Gifting

Posted on December 3, 2012 by CN

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and the calendars have been flipped to show that most gift-laden of months – December. You know what this means: the holiday season is undeniably in full swing, and there’s about to be some wild present-swapping happening! It’s time to start thinking about how you want to show your friends and family that you care about them.

Buying all your gifts may seem like the simplest answer, but that can be a huge drain on your wallet, and braving the hectic retail environment in search of the perfect stocking-stuffer may well result in lots of bruises and general crankiness. The alternative of making gifts yourself can save you from both overspending and taking terrible trips to the mall, and – not to get all sappy or anything – adds a little bit of extra meaning to your offering. Who wouldn’t feel special after receiving something made by hand, just for them? If that sounds like something you’d like to have a go at, here are some handy library resources we’ve rounded up to help you give it your best!

Greeting Cards
by Sharon McSwiney
If you want to keep things simple, you can try making holiday cards for all your loved ones. You can make them very basic, or, using the techniques in this book, make them quite elaborate and fancy. The best part is how easy it is to send them through the mail, helping you let even your most far-away friends and family know you’re thinking of them.

The Happy Hooker: Stitch n’ Bitch Crochet
by Debbie Stoller
The art of crochet enables you to use a small hook to transform shapeless hunks of yarn into fantastic offerings for your more stylish friends and family members. This book will introduce you to the basic techniques and materials of the craft and provide you with over 40 project ideas to choose from. Think beyond potholders!

SimpleChic: Designer Knits, SuperQuick!
by Jil Eaton
Those of you already initiated into the yarn-based arts may prefer to knit items rather than crochet. If pointy sticks thrill you more than dull hooks, this book has plenty of gift ideas for you to choose from, including adorable elf hats for the babies in your life, or tiny sweaters for your dog, if that’s your thing. We won’t judge you if it is, and your canine pal is sure to love you anyway (and look very sharp!).

Microcrafts: Tiny Treasures to Make and Share
Compiled by Margaret McGuire, Alicia Kachmar, Katie Hatz and friends
When travelling over the holidays, luggage restrictions can sometimes lead to huge bummers. One way to make sure you’re able to carry home all your painstakingly handcrafted gifts is to make them all itty-bitty. Miniature projects abound in this book, and they’re designed to use up crafting scraps left over from your other projects, so you hopefully won’t have to buy lots of new stuff! It’s a win-win, really.

Perfumes, Scented Gifts, and Other Fragrances: Make Beautiful Gifts to Give (Or Keep)
by Kelly Reno
Smell is closely connected to memory, so if you present someone with a made-from-scratch perfume or scented oil, your generosity is not likely to be forgotten. Or, you can make season-specific smells like pine and cinnamon for yourself, and keep the holidays in your heart all year round.

Christmas Gifts of Good Taste
Edited by Ann Van Wagner Childs
Gifts are one part of what makes the winter holidays such an exciting time; food is another. Why not combine the two and give food as gifts? The books in this series combine tasty recipes with charming ideas for presenting them to their recipients. You can also make some extra for yourself, obviously, to reward yourself for your hard gift-making work.

Remember – these are just starting points! Use these books to get some ideas, then adjust them to fit your own style (and the styles of the people you’re making them for!). The most important thing about a hand-made gift is the thought and care that goes into it, and that comes straight from you, not any book. We wish you the best of luck!

(If you decide, for whatever reason, that you don’t want to make gifts yourself, you can check out a certain Pinterest board made by a certain underground library for book-buying suggestions! Your UGL librarians fully endorse books as great holiday gifts – but we may be a little biased.)

UGL Mobile App Student Competition

Posted on November 5, 2012 by RAL

Student Mobile App Competition
Are you as addicted to your smartphone as we are? Do you have apps you couldn’t live without? Or, if you’re like us, is there some app you really wish existed, but doesn’t? Well, if you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be interested in the UGL’s Library Mobile App Student Competition.

Unlike other app competitions, this one doesn’t require any previous programming or app-building experience. We just want your ideas! Students are welcome to work individually or in teams to investigate library-related needs and/or problems that an app might solve, and then develop a design outline and formal proposal. The first round of deadlines is November 17, so if you’re interested, definitely check out all of the competition details. Did we mention there are cash prizes (up to $750!!) and a chance that your app will get developed by library staff? Pretty sweet.

Areas we’re really interested in include:

Services (research, circulation/renewal, course reserves, loanable tech, library website, etc.)
Collections (books, videos, archival materials, e-books, digital media, etc.)
Facilities (physical library building, group spaces, building navigation, locating specific items, etc.)

The UGL already has a few apps ready for you to use. Check out a list of iPhone apps available (for FREE) in the iTunes store. Our popular Minrva app (read more about it here and here) was originally only available on the Android platform, but it’s now ready to go for iOS, too!

If you’ve got a great idea for a new app to add to the mix, check out the competition guidelines and then submit your application! Not only may you come up with a killer new app that helps yourself and your fellow students, but you could end up with some cash-money and a great entry on your resume, too. That’s a competition we can get behind.

Baseball, barbecues, and more!

Posted on June 28, 2012 by EP

In celebration of July 4th (on which day all campus libraries will close so we can all eat until we drop and then stay up late to watch fireworks), here’s some hot-off-the-grill…er, presses, explosively American, red-white-and-blue reads!

One Shot at Forever by Chris Ballard

This is one of those heartwarming stories about a little team with big dreams: in 1971 the Macon, Illinois, high school baseball team – lead by an English teacher with no coaching experience - became the smallest team to make it to the finals of the Illinois state championship, a record that has never been broken. Patriotism, state and school spirit all abound in this summer read!

Imperfect: An Improbable Life by Jim Abbott and Tim Brown

Another baseball read that’s heavy on inspiration. Many of you may know about Jim Abbott, who, born without a right hand, beat the odds, overcame struggles, and triumphed to the highest baseball degree: pitching a no-hitter as a Yankee. Even non-baseball fans will love this one. (Hear more from Abbott, about the book and his life, in his interview with NPR earlier this year.)

Barbecue: The History of an American Institution by Robert F. Moss

This one will make your mouth water, guaranteed. Moss traces the history of barbecue as an American institution: that’s right, folks, it’s more than just a way to make food taste great, it’s a cultural icon! If you like reading about social history, this is a fun, summery, food-based way to do so. And find a few more saucy BBQ reads here!

The Short American Century: A Postmortem edited by Andrew J. Bacevich

A collection of essays based on the premise that the “American century,” declared by Henry Luce as the period of prosperity beginning in 1941, is over. Might sound pessimistic, but this group of distinguished historians does more than just lament the events of the past 70 years, they explain them and offer hope for the changing role of America today and in the future. If you want to get down with some serious thoughts prior to the election, this is the summer read for you!

And, finally, just for fun: Classic G.I. Joe!

Everything old is new again in this 21st century G.I. Joe comic book. Just the thing to get you in the Fourth of July mood!

As always, if you have any questions about these or other books, or anything else library-related, Ask-A-Librarian or comment on this post!

Get Cooking

Posted on April 30, 2012 by EP

School’s (almost) out for summer, so it’s time to pick up that hobby you’ve been putting off all year because you’ve been too busy: learning how to cook. Did you know that the UGL has always had a collection of cookbooks (they’re in the TX call number range)? Thanks to the hard work and discerning eye of one of our Graduate Assistants, we just got a whole bunch of new ones! We’ve been lucky enough to peek at them before they hit (and then quickly fly off of) the shelves, so we’ve had our eyes on a few. Whether you’re staying here for summer classes or even planning to go home for a few weeks (provided you have internet access and can renew the library books you check out…), we’d like to recommend a few of our awesome new cookbooks for you. GET COOKING!

Fan of comfort food? You definitely want to meet Pioneer Woman. Part blogger, part rancher, part Food Network star (new!), Pioneer Woman kind of has it going on. Her cookbook, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes From an Accidental Country Girl, is chock full of good ol’ fashioned yummy things – think loaded potato skins and insanely good looking guacamole. Definitely achievable, even if you’re cooking skills are…under construction.

If you’re feeling ambitious about learning to cook this summer (i.e. you’re graduating and, happily or unhappily, have no big plans for the next couple of months), you might want to dip into Cook Like a Rock Star: 125 Recipes, Lessons, and Culinary Secrets by Anne Burrell. Chef Anne Burrell is a bit of a rock star chef, herself, so she has a right to teach you these things. The recipes use basic, accessible ingredients (hello, “Killer Mac & Cheese with Bacon”), but with Chef Anne’s advice, actually turn out pretty fancy. Wow your friends and/or family.

The Deen brothers, Paula Deen’s adorable and oh-so-Southern sons Jamie and Bobby, will have you drooling before you even start cooking with Y’all Come Eat (to which we say: we’ll be right there!!). Two words: cornbread casserole…or, two other words: cheeseburger pie. If those things don’t get you excited about chowing down, this book may not be for you! And, if you’re already stoked for tailgating when Illini football starts back up, this book–with its selection of tail-gating faves–is most definitely for you.

Do you speak Spanish or have Puerto Rican and/or Latin American roots? You’ll definitely enjoy Daisy: Mañana, Mediodía, y Noche. Daisy Martinez pulls together her family’s recipes with those she’s collected on trips around the Caribbean and Latin America to create a tantalizing menu of flavorful dishes. If you’re fluent in Spanish (the whole book is in Spanish) but know much about Latin American culture, never fear! Daisy also takes the time to introduce you to the key ingredients you’ll need to whip up comida deliciosa para tu familia o tus amigos!

Winning!

Posted on April 23, 2012 by EP

So many books, so little time. How do you choose?

Are you obsessed with award-winning books of all kinds? If so, have you ever done one of those challenges to read all the winners/nominees of a certain award like the Pulitzer or National Book Award? That’s a true sign of obsession right there. Or perhaps you’re like us, and you just don’t have tons of time to read, so you pick up award winners with the hopes that a medal means quality? (Hint: Usually, but not always, since even the esteemed experts who give out book awards are often swayed by their own totally subjective opinion of the books…)

We’re feeling inspired by the announcement earlier this week that, for the first time in 35 years, the Pulitzer Prize committee did not award a fiction winner. Gasp! So let’s look at some of the book awards and winners this year. Hopefully you’ll be inspired to pick up something new and incredible…once finals are over.

Pulitzer Prize

Established in 1917 by Hungarian-born American publisher Joseph Pulitzer, these annual awards are given in the areas of journalism, literature, and music. As mentioned above, there was no winner in Fiction this year, but some of the contenders were: Swamplandia! by debut novelist Karen Russell (which was named one of the top 10 books of 2011 by the New York Times, and was long-listed for the UK’s Orange Prize for Fiction), and unfinished but posthumously published novel The Pale King by David Foster Wallace (set in Peoria, IL!). We’ve highlighted some of the 2012 literature winners below:

General Nonfiction- The Swerve: How the World Became Modern, by Stephen Greenblatt: Are you a lover of history, philosophy and literature? Then this might be the book for you. Best-selling biographer and Harvard professor Greenblatt tells the story of how the discovery of a single work (On the Nature of Things by Lucretius) in the 15th century had a lasting impact on the thought and works of some of the world’s greatest artists, writers and philosophers, from Shakespeare to Darwin.

History – Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention, by Manning Marable: We’ve heard great things about this one. The late Manning Marable reportedly includes never-before-seen information about Mr. X. If you’re already a Malcolm X fan, or want a remarkable introduction to this influential, and infamous, 20th century change-maker, put this on your must-read list.

National Book Awards

The National Book Awards (NBAs), another important American literary prize, is awarded each fall to exceptional works of literature in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry and Young People’s Literature. The awards were established in 1950 by the nonprofit National Book Foundation and are judged by well-known published writers, including past NBA winners, chosen each year. Check out some of the 2011 winners:

Fiction – Salvage the Bones, by Jesmyn Ward: Chosen out of the 315 fiction titles submitted for judging in 2011, Ward’s novel draws on her Mississippi upbringing to tell a tale of family and poverty that takes place during the 12 days leading up to Hurricane Katrina. If you can handle a little heartache, this beautiful story is very much worth it. (Finalists for this award included: debut novel The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht, and The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka, both of which are high on our Summer reading list!)

Young People’s Literature – Inside Out & Back Again, by Thanna Lai: Lai takes us to Saigon at the time of the Vietnam War, shown to us through the perspective of ten-year-old Ha. She and her family flee Saigon when the war breaks out, exchanging the warmth and beauty Ha has known for the very foreign land of Alabama, a move that reflects Lai’s own childhood experience. The novel is actually told in verse, making it atmospheric, simple and stunning. Make it the most unique thing you read this year!

On Display @ the UGL

Posted on April 4, 2012 by EP

Ever wondered what’s up with that colorful bulletin board by the comfy chairs in the lower level lobby, or those big glass cases on the upper level near the new books? These displays offer you an opportunity to learn about something you didn’t know about while you kick back for a moment in the UGL, and they offer us the opportunity to show you some UGL resources that we think are pretty great. Kind of like this blog, but in 3-D real-life format!

Here’s what’s on display @ the UGL this month:

Five amazing poets! And more!

The lower level bulletin board, sponsored by the Library’s Diversity Committee, showcases a multicultural/diversity awareness topic every month. This school year’s themes have included a timeline of LGBT history for LGBT History Month in October, and a historical look at Black Student Organizations and African-American Studies programs for Black History Month in February. This month’s theme is National Poetry Month, with a look at five American poets who come from diverse backgrounds and write about issues such as identity, ethnicity, and the immigrant experience.

Books for the amateur and advanced gamer!

The glass display cases on the upper level are currently showcasing gaming items! In April, we are holding a gaming career night at the UGL (more on that next week), which is part of our gaming initiative. The display features old consoles and games and awesome books on playing, creating, and programming video games of all sorts. This display case always features eye-catching displays – created by some of the insanely talented staff and student assistants – on a wide variety of topics to spark your interest!

Become enlightened with books on Buddhism!

Finally, the small y-shaped bookcase on the lower level near the TV display features books on display surrounding a day, week or month of awareness (such as Eating Disorder Awareness week in February), or a topic of interest to the student assistants who create the display. This month, we’ve got books on Buddhism for Buddha’s birthday which is celebrated on April 8th in Japan, and April 28th, per the Chinese Lunar calendar, in other Asian countries. There are several other important Buddhist festivals that occur in April including Thai New Year (Songkran), Lao New Year (Pbeemai), and Burmese New Year Water Festival (Thingyan). Now’s your chance to read up on them @ the UGL!

As always, want to know more or have suggestions? Use the comments feature, tweet us @askundergrad, or Ask-A-Librarian!

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