The UVU Library Gets in Shape

One of the most common New Year's resolutions is getting back into shape after weeks of holiday indulgence. If starting an exercise program is on your list of resolutions, we can help! We've ordered several new DVDs for our collection on Pilates, yoga, and other programs. We also have a great consumer health database that can help you find out which kind of exercises are the most effective.

Exercise Videos

Exercise videos can be found in section RA in the media collection on the second floor. Other videos about exercise for athletes or yoga can be found in other sections. Stop by the Reference Desk on the first floor and we'll be happy to help you find what you're interested in.

Because our videos are so popular, we've had to limit checkouts to five videos at a time for three days. If you need a video for longer than that, please call us at (801) 863-8886 so that we can renew them for you.

Health Source: Consumer Edition

Unlike some of our other health databases, Health Source: Consumer Edition is designed for researchers who don't have a medical background. While the articles cover the latest research, they are easier to read and comprehend because they use less jargon. Not only can this database be used to locate information about exercise and exercise programs, it can also find articles about nutrition, sleep, stress, and other related topics.

Happy Holidays from the UVU Library!

Over the next few weeks, our hours change a lot due to holidays and campus closures. Here's a handy guide to when we're open and when we're closed:

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
15	16	17	18	19	20 7:00 AM  to  10:00 PM	21 CLOSED
22 CLOSED	23 8:00 AM  to  5:00 PM	24 CLOSED	25 CLOSED	26 CLOSED	27 CLOSED	28 CLOSED
29 CLOSED	30 8:00 AM  to  5:00 PM	31 8:00 AM  to  5:00 PM	1 CLOSED	2 8:00 AM  to  5:00 PM	3 8:00 AM to  5:00 PM	4 CLOSED

Normal hours will resume Monday, January 6.

The UVU Library Encourages Reading

Finals are upon us and, in those moments when we're not helping students find those last resources they need or answering questions about citations, etc., our thoughts have turned to reading for fun instead of information. Our last displays of the semester will feature novels and books about Christmas so that you can take something interesting home over the holidays. Feel free to take any book off the display and check it out. There's always more where they came from. 

Remember, books check out for three weeks. If you need more time to finish them, call us at (801) 863-8886 to renew them for another three weeks. 

The UVU Library Raises a Glass

This week sees the anniversary of the end of Prohibition. On December 5, 1933, Utah passed the deciding vote to repeal the 18th Amendment. This event inspired us to take a look at our resources about food and drink and their intersection with American History.

America: History & Life

This is our feature database for American history. The articles available in America: History and Life cover social, military, and political history in the United States.

Cookbook Collection

Our cookbooks range the entire world. If you'd like to try and put something new and exotic on your holiday table, check one (or two) out. They're located on the fourth floor, in section TX.

Prohibition Display

Our law librarian has pulled a number of books about Prohibition and put them on display on the first floor of the Library. Books on display are available for check out.

Speaking of food, our Food for Fines program continues through the end of the semester. If you have fines, pay them off the easy way by donating food at the first floor Circulation Desk.

The UVU Library Prepares for a Long Holiday Weekend

As many of you may be heading home for the Thanksgiving holiday, we at the UVU Library would like to send you on your way with something fun to read. You've survived midterms. You're well on your way to finals. You deserve it!

This week's first floor book display is packed (at least for now) with some of our favorite graphic novels and comic books. They're perfect for reading in between turkey and football and visiting. Just like books from our Regular Collection, graphic novels and comic books can be checked out for three weeks.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

The UVU Library May Cause a Chemical Reaction

Paracelsus

This month sees the 520th birthday of legendary doctor and early scientist, Paracelsus. Because Paracelsus was a Renaissance man in the more outre sciences, we wanted to highlight not just our history of science and chemistry collections but also our books about alchemy.

Applied Science and Technology Full Text

We've highlighted this database before, but this is such a useful source of practical information for technology and physical sciences. We also selected it because, like the alchemists, it supports experimentation and unconventional problem-solving.

Book Display

Every week, one of the librarians creates a display of books around a theme. This week, the display features books about the history of chemistry and alchemy. Some of the books on alchemy contain reproductions of the work of the medieval alchemists. Feel free to check out any of these books.

Chemistry Collection

Our collection of books doesn't just include the latest on molecular, organic and inorganic, quantum, and analytical chemistry. You can also find interesting (and highly entertaining) books about the history of chemistry from the ancient Greeks, through the alchemists, to the Scientific Revolution.

The UVU Library Puts the Word Out

Communication and rhetoric are popular subjects here at Utah Valley University. Every week we help students research interpersonal communication, technology and communication, gender differences in communication, and so many other related topics that we wanted to post something that will help give you a leg up the next time you need articles in this area.

Communication Collection

Many of our books about public speaking, communication, and rhetoric can be found on the fourth floor of the Library at section PE. Any books we don't have, we can request for you from another library through our Interlibrary Loan service. Our books can be checked out for three weeks at a time.

Communication and Mass Media Complete

This database is the best place to start for most communications and rhetoric topics. It contains a mix of popular and scholarly literature written by experts in the field and professional writers on a wide range of topics, including language and grammar, public relations, rhetoric in advertising and mass media, and many more.

Communication Research Guide

This research guide does double duty. It points to many resources for communication and rhetoric research as well as resources to help speech writers get started. The guide lists helpful reference books, article databases, and vetted websites.

If you have questions about researching communication, please talk to Kim Rollins, our communications subject librarian. You are also more than welcome to ask at the Reference Desk.

The UVU Library Helps Future Legal Eagles

This week, with the 125th anniversary of the last unsolved Jack the Ripper murder, the UVU Library is taking a look at our legal and forensics resources. Law and law enforcement have come a long way over the past century, and we hope our students will help pave the way over the next century.

Forensics Collection

We have been busily collecting books about forensic science for as long as UVU has had a program. The books are located throughout our Regular Collection as they deal with topics as diverse as chemistry, toxicology, physics, social sciences, and more.

NCJRS Abstracts

The National Criminal Justice Reference Service Abstracts Database contains summaries of 170,000 publications including federal, state, and local government reports, books, research reports, journal articles, and unpublished research from the 1960s to the present. Subject areas include corrections, courts, drugs and crime, law enforcement, juvenile justice, crime statistics, and victimology. Some content may be peer-reviewed.

As always, you can ask us for help with your research at the Library's Reference Desk. If you need help with our legal databases, feel free to ask our legal subject librarian, Ben Wilson.

UVU Library Fosters Innovation

Nobel Prize Award Ceremony. Image via WikiCommons.

The Nobel Prizes were awarded earlier this month, inspiring us to reflect on the many advances in science over the past century. Our display this week shares the stories of many past Nobel winners and we hope that someday, a UVU alum will join their ranks!

Here are some tools that might help students get on a path towards major awards:

Computer Science Books

In addition to hundreds of books on computer programming, Internet architecture, and related topics (fourth floor, section QA 75-76), we've added Safari's ebook collection. This collection is constantly updated, ensuring that you have the latest version.

IEEE Digital Library

This technology and computer science database is the one the professionals use. Find peer-reviewed articles on engineering, robotics, electronics, computer security, and much more.

Text a Librarian

Have a quick question for a librarian? Text it to (801) 362-8176. We'll text you back as soon as we get your message. This service is perfect for quick questions.

If you have any questions about using these and other Library resources, please let us know at the Reference Desk or call us at (801) 863-8840. We're always happy to answer questions.

Archives Month at UVU Library

The Archives is located on the third floor of the UVU Library

October is Archives month and we'd like to turn the spotlight onto some of the special projects our own George Sutherland Archives has been working on:

Mountain West Digital Library

The Sutherland Archives is a regional hub for the Mountain West Digital Library and we frequently contribute digitized documents, photos, and other items to their growing collection.

Currently, Catherine McIntyre and Brent Seavers have been working on the Pioneers in Your Attic project, which directly contributes to MWDL.

Oral History Projects

For several years now, the Sutherland Archives has been working with UVU faculty to record the experiences of veterans, peace activists, and Utah women, preserving their stories for future generations. The oral histories are unique among archives.

Scholars' Open Archive

This project created a website that UVU faculty and staff can use to share their scholarly work with the world. Scholars' Open Archive is indexed by Google, meaning that your work can reach a wide audience. Monthly reports include download and page view statistics.

UVU Institutional Repository

The Sutherland Archives is also hope to UVU's Institutional Repository. We collect photos, documents, news articles, and other items pertaining to the history and development of Utah Valley University. We are happy to accept donations, but please read our collection development policy first: Donations and Forms.

For more information about the George Sutherland Archives, please contact Catherine McIntyre at x8821.

UVU Library Reveals Company Secrets

Business research doesn't have to be hard anymore.
Image via WikiCommons

Company research is among the most challenging assignments we see here at the UVU Library. We've invested in several databases that can make finding stock prices, company histories, market research, and more easily available.

Business Source Premier

Business Source Premier is our go-to database for most business research questions. It contains scholarly and professional articles, as well as news articles. Articles cover marketing, human resources, economics, management, and many more topics.

International Directory of Company Histories

Available in the Reference Collection, the International Directory of Company Histories is the best place to get detailed histories of companies from their founding to the date the book was published. We have a standing subscription to this multi-volume work, so updated histories are available.

Mergent

Mergent contains basic company data, but it shines when it comes to tracking down company financials. It contains historic stock prices, balance sheets, earnings, and copies of some SEC filings. Mergent only contains information on publicly traded companies.


Ben Wilson is our business subject librarian and can answer in-depth questions about company and business research. You can also feel free to stop by the Reference Desk on the first floor or call us at (801) 863-8840 to get some initial help with your research.

Let the UVU Library Inspire You

Jackson Pollock at work. Image via WikiCommons

With UVU's School of the Arts hosting the Arts in Education Conference this week, we took a look at some of the art and art research resources available in the Library.

Art Book Collection

We have artist biographies, critical works, and hundreds of books on painting, drawing, and sculpting techniques. Our art books are located on the fourth floor, in section N.

Art Full Text

Art Full Text is the database for art research. It includes a mix of scholarly and professional literature in visual art. It also includes the latest in art news, so you can use it to keep up on what's happening in the art world.

Dictionary of Modern and Contemporary Art

This dictionary is a key resource for understanding the vibrant and experimental schools of modern and contemporary art. It includes definitions and short biographies of important artists.

Grove Encyclopedia of Materials and Techniques in Art

Learn more about how artists work in various media with this thorough encyclopedia from Oxford University Press. It's a great source to learn the lingo!

Feel free to bring your art research questions to us at the Reference Desk, located in the first floor Information Commons. You can also ask Keith Rowley, our art subject librarian.

Adobe Creative Suite 6

The Library's Macs have Adobe Creative Suite 6 installed for student use. Feel free to stop by the Library to work on your projects, but remember to bring something to save your work on!

The UVU Library Heads Out to the Ballpark

110 years ago this week, the Boston Americans and the Pittsburgh Pirates played the first game of the very first World Series. You might not think of the UVU Library and sports in the same thought, but we have some great resources and collections for baseball--and sports--research.

Dictionary of Sports Studies

This online dictionary, published by Oxford University Press, is the perfect place to get started with your sports research. It contains hundreds of definitions to help you with the lingo.

Newspaper Source

Keep up with the latest sports news and scores with Newspaper Source. This database contains an archive of national and regional newspaper articles, often the best source of information for the wide world of sports.

SPORTDiscus

SPORTDiscus offers a combination of peer-reviewed articles about sports and sports medicine. It's a great place to research the psychology and science of sports.

Sports Collection

Books about sports and games from chess to rugby can be found on the fourth floor of the Library, in section GV.

Our health sciences librarian, Debbie Short, also manages our sports resources. While you can ask any librarian at the Reference Desk for help, Debbie can help with in-depth research questions.

Banned Books Week

The past few months have seen a surprising number of book challenges* in the United States. Sherman Alexie's Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, Lois Ruby's Steal Away Home, Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, and Ralph Ellison's The Invisible Man have all see recent challenges from parents and school boards. These attempts--some as recent as last week--at censorship are the reason that American libraries still have Banned Books Week.

There are numerous resources online to learn about book bans and challenges, but the best place is the American Library Association's Banned Books Week site. The ALA site lists the most frequently banned books and articles with powerful arguments for keeping difficult books on library and school shelves.

The UVU Library has a display planned, which will be available soon. But there are other resources we have on offer:

Children's Literature and Young Adult Literature

Most challenges are directed at children's and young adult books. Children's books are kept on the north end of the third floor. Young adult books are on the fourth floor, in section PZ.

Education Full Text

This database contains resources for teachers or parents who would like to find the latest research showing how reading (even reading challenging books) can help students improve in school and develop lifelong learning skills.

Oxford Encyclopedia of Children's Literature

This online reference book includes short synopses and author biographies, to help researchers learn more about the vast array of books available to young readers.

__________

* A book challenge is when someone requests that a book be removed from a library's collection. Until the book has actually been taken out of the library, it's not officially a banned book.

The UVU Library stays on the right side of the law

The US Constitution was adopted September 17, 1787

It's Constitution Week. With UVU's Constitution Conference, we decided to take a closer look at the legal resources we have on offer here at the Library. Our legal resources not only support legal research for papers and speeches, but also support UVU's paralegal program.

Law Collection

Located on the third floor, our legal collection includes standard works like the Pacific Reporter, Corpus Juris Secundum, and American Jurisprudence. Law books cannot leave the Library, but we have photocopiers on each floor and scanners on the first floor so that you can make copies.

Legal Collection

Created by EBSCOHost, this database offers the latest in law review articles and news. It's a terrific resource for finding out about the current state of legal debates in the United States.

LexisNexis Academic Universe

While LexisNexis Academic Universe does offer some review articles and legal news, it's best used to look up state and federal laws and court cases from the district and Supreme Courts. LexisNexis has a tricky interface, but we're happy to help you navigate your way through it.

As always, you can ask us questions at the Reference Desk. Most of the time, we can answer any research related questions. When it comes to law questions, we are not able to interpret law or give legal advice. If you do have questions about your own legal situation, we can point you towards free state resources.

For the Love of Reading

Lesli Baker, Assistant Director--Public Services, has been involved with UVU's For the Love of Reading Conference since its inception. This conference is a forum on best practices, teaching techniques, and other efforts at promoting literacy. This year's reading conference will be held September 19 and 20 in Deer Valley, Utah. (For more information, visit the For the Love of Reading site.)

With the conference just around the corner, we'd like to highlight a few of our own resources for promoting literacy.

Children's Literature Collection

The UVU Library has a growing collection of books (fiction and nonfiction) written for children K-6. (Books for older readers can be found in the fourth floor general book collection in the PZ section.) These books have been used by new Master of Education students, students learning English as a second language, and by parents looking for something to read to their children. This collection is located at the north end of the third floor. Books in this collection may only be checked out for one week.

Education Full Text

Along with ERIC, Education Full Text is our best resource for researching literacy and teaching methods. The articles in this database come from a blend of trade publications and peer-reviewed journals. Articles cover not only how and what to teach, but give you the science behind how children learn.

For more information about the For the Love of Reading Conference, contact Lesli Baker at bakerle@uvu.edu. For information about library resources, contact the Reference Desk at (801) 863-8840.

The Library can take you to Mexico (with books!)

Image via WikiCommons

UVU's International Center is turning its global spotlight on Mexico this year, and the Library is doing its bit to help. With our databases and more than 1,500 books about Mexico, you can take the first steps of your journey right here on campus.

Business Source Premier

Business Source Premier is our favorite business database. It contains articles about entrepreneurship, marketing, management, and much more. It can be used to learn more about the economic landscape of Mexico.

Encyclopedia of US-Latin American Relations

This online encyclopedia was produced by one of the most trusted names in political science publishing, Congressional Quarterly. This eBook covers the history and politics of the United States' relationship with Mexico and Latin America.

Books About Mexico

Our collection of books about Mexico cover anthropology, history, literature, politics, social sciences, and much more. We have a book for nearly any topic about Mexico and its people that you can think of.

We have no limits on the number of books you can check out from the Library. All books from the fourth floor can be checked out for three weeks.

If you have questions or would like to do more in depth research about Mexico, please contact the Reference Desk at (801) 863-8840.

Get Started at the UVU Library

The UVU Library. Check us out!

Welcome back...everybody!

There's so much that the Library can do to help you succeed, but we're surprised when students tell us they didn't know about this service or that service. We have thousands of books and videos and millions of articles available. Most importantly, we have a staff that's ready and willing to answer your questions.

Here is a quick guide to the Library:

Electronic Reserve

Professors post articles, book chapters, and videos here. If you didn't get a password from your instructor, call us at (801) 863-8886.

Interlibrary Loan

Need something we don't have? Request it through Interlibrary Loan for free!

OneSearch

Search for articles, videos, books, and more with OneSearch. Located on the Library's homepage, all you need to do is type and click the search box. Most of our article databases are included in OneSearch.

Online Research Help

Contact a librarian via text, chat, email, or phone and ask us any research or library-related question.

Research Guides

Stumped for a topic? Our research guides include some suggestions and will give you a jumpstart on that paper or speech.

Study Rooms

We know how important peace and quiet is, so we have places in the Library for your group to get together to study or work on a project where you can get a little noisy.  You can reserve them here.

These are just a few of the services we offer, so stop by the Library today to learn more about us!

Read on at the UVU Library!

Few people know about the rich fiction collections we have here at the UVU Library. Since we have one short week before classes begin, why not try a good read?

Browsing Collection

Housed on the first floor, near the cafe, the browsing collection is packed with recent fiction and entertaining non-fiction. Books from this collection check out for three weeks, but you can call us at (801) 863-8886 if you need a little more time.

New books are arriving all the time. If you've already visited, it's time to come back and see what's new.

Literature Resource Center 

You might not think of a literature database as a place to find your next great read, but the Literature Resource Center has more than literary criticism. You can also find author biographies with their complete works listed (with the series in order!). This database also contains book reviews so you can find out if the book you've been hearing about lately is all it's cracked up to be.

Suggest a Book or Video

Is there a book or video you'd like to see added to our collections? Let us know! We're open to suggestions from students as well as faculty.

Self-Serve at the Library

The Book Drop is located to the west of the Library.

We spend a lot of time here at the Library talking about how we can help you, but there are also several ways you can help yourself. Here are some of the best self-service, well, services we have here at the Library.

EBooks

In previous posts we've talked about our extensive collection of reference eBooks, but we also have thousands of eBooks in our Safari, eBrary, and EBSCO collections. All of our eBooks are in the Library's online catalog. To access them, simply click on the link provided. EBrary also allows you to download books for a limited time. (Safari and EBSCO books must be viewed online.)

OneSearch

Last fall we debuted OneSearch, a database that allows you to search across most of our databases from one interface. OneSearch is available on the Library's homepage in the upper left corner. It uses the same searching tricks that we've taught you in our workshops and offers easy-to-use filters and limits to narrow down your search. We've linked the journal and magazine titles we have access to in OneSearch, so you'll be able to read many of the articles you find.

Self Check Out Machine

If you have already checked something out from the Library, you will be able to used our self check out machine. Located on the fourth floor, the self check out machine makes it easy to check out your books and scoot out the Library. Just swipe your card, put your books in the cradle, and take your receipt when you're done.

The self check out machine only works with books. Videos, DVDs, and CDs still need to be checked out at the Circulation Desks.

Off the Shelf, Episode 2

Librarian Annie Smith explains why Android Karenina by Leo Tolstoy and Ben Winters, and John Scalzi's Redshirts, are the perfect end of summer read.

Hit the Road with the UVU Library

Ford famously said that customers could get a Model T in any
color they liked, as long as it was black.

This week is the 100th anniversary of Henry Ford's birthday, we decided to highlight our automotive sources. Few people know that the UVU Library offers resources specifically designed for mechanics and DIY car fixers--or even for people who just want to find out what might be going on under the hood. So this week, rev up your research engines and hit the open road with the Library.

Automobile Repair Reference Center

This tool makes finding repair guides, schematics, and replacement information for your car easy. A wizard guides you through make, model, and year to find the right information.

Chilton's Manuals

The Automobile Repair Reference Center is great for newer models. But if you have an older car, try the Chilton's Manuals. There are several different series. When you click on the above link to see what's available, you'll need to choose a specific title to see if we have your car covered.

Mitchell's RepairCenter

We recently secured campus-wide access to Mitchell's RepairCenter. This database works differently from our article databases and the Automobile Repair Center above. The above link takes you to the instructions for installing and running the RepairCenter. This database provides highly detailed repair and replacement information. In fact, some professional mechanics have this in their shops.

Be sure to visit our display about the history of the automobile on the first floor. If you have any questions about these resources, ask Tim Rowley, our automotive librarian, or contact the Reference Desk at (801) 863-8840.

Lights, Cameras, and Action at the UVU Library

This week we're turning the spotlight on our media equipment collection. In most surveys, when you ask people about libraries, they think of books. But the UVU Library has been checking out laptops, still and film cameras, microphones, and other media equipment for years. We've even partnered with the Digital Media Department here on campus to make sure that you have access to up-to-date devices.

For students, check out is limited to four hours with no overnight check outs. Some equipment is reserved solely for the use of students enrolled in Digital Media classes. Faculty have more flexibility with regards to check out time and may check out any device we have available.

A complete list of equipment is available here.

If you need some inspiration or how-to knowledge about photography or digital filmmaking, we have a great collection of print and online books available. To access the ebooks, simply search our online catalog. They will appear alongside our print books. All you'll have to do is click the link underneath the author and holdings information.

Please ask at the Reference Desk (801-863-8840) if you have any questions about our photography or film books. For questions about media equipment, call Tony Jaskowick at (801) 863-8675.

Kung Fu Fighting at the Library

Yang Jun, via Wikipedia

Well, reading about Kung Fu anyway.

This week's display shares some of the books the Library has about various styles of martial arts. To learn more about Kung Fu, Taekwondo, and other styles, search the Library's catalog or use some of our online resources:

Dictionary of Sports Studies

This online dictionary contains short articles and definitions for sports, including the martial arts.

Food and Fitness: A Dictionary of Diet and Exercise

This online dictionary focuses on the health aspects of exercise, showing potential martial artists what they need to get into fighting shape.

Martial Arts Books & Media

There are nearly 100 videos and books in the Library's collection about martial arts, but more can be found by searching for specific styles.

SPORTDiscus

In addition to providing articles on dance, sports, kinesiology, and sport medicine, SPORTDiscus also contains peer-reviewed articles about a wide variety of martial arts.

For more information or help with your research, contact the Library's Reference Desk at (801) 863-8840 or our sports librarian, Debbie Short.

Off the Shelf, Episode 1

Looking for something to read? Librarian Annie Smith has a few suggestions:

The UVU Library Unlocks the Mysteries of the Mind

Dr. Sacks was born July 9, 1933.

Because this week is eminent psychologist and scientist Oliver Sacks' birthday, we're highlighting our psychology resources. The Library collects books (print and online) on cognition, neuroscience, psychotherapy, mental illness, and many more topics. We also provide access to a Triple Crown of psychology databases, which provide access to a wide swatch of current and historic psychology articles.

Psychological research is an incredibly diverse area, so if you have questions about your psychology research, contact our psychology librarian, Jacques d'Emal, or call the Reference Desk at (801) 863-8840.

Online Psychology Reference Books

Our online reference books can be found on our Electronic Dictionaries and Encyclopedia page. To access the ones specific to psychology, click on the Psychology and Sociology link. These books are available off campus using your UVID and UVLink password and offer superior access to definitions, topic overviews, and much more.

PsycARTICLES

This database contains the complete archive of 80 journals published by the American Psychological Association, all the way back to volume one, in full text. In addition to being able to read every article in this database, PsycARTICLES' search interface allows for highly specific searching. You can limit to subject age groups, methodology, and more.

Psychology Research Guide

If you're not sure where to begin your research or if you don't have a topic, a great place to get started is our psychology research guide. This gude contains useful reference books and websites, as well as a list of recommended databases.

The UVU Library Preserves the Past

UVU's Dr. William Cobb interviews Ray Hill

The Battle of Gettysburg was fought 150 years ago this week. Historians and archaeologists, among others, have made sure that Gettysburg will not fade from our collective memory. The UVU Library and the George Sutherland Archives are doing the same for veterans of Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, and World War II through our oral history projects.

Working with UVU's history students and faculty, the Sutherland Archives solicits interviews with veterans. These interviews are filmed. The dialog is transcribed. Then both the video and the transcription are uploaded to our online digital archive. While only a few interviews are currently available, Archives staff are busily editing and transcribing more.

Currently available projects:

Vietnam Era Oral History Project
World War II Veterans Oral History Project

The Sutherland Archives doesn't just collect memories. They also collect documents, photographs, and realia (physical objects). To learn more about these and other Sutherland Archives oral history projects visit www.uvu.edu/library/archives/oralhistories.html or call Catherine McIntyre at (801) 863-8821. We welcome new contributors to these projects.

The UVU Library Gets Its Bard On

Chandos' portrait of
William Shakespeare

Four hundred years ago this week, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre burnt down for the second time. The rebuilt version was eventually closed down by Oliver Cromwell's Puritan government. A new version was built and opened in 1997. All these theater anniversaries got us thinking about our theater research resources. Here's a quick run down of what we have on offer:

International Index to the Performing Arts

This database offers past and present research on acting, dramaturgy, stage and costume design, theater history, and much more.

Play Performances on DVD

The Library's media collection contains multiple productions of Shakespeare's plays, as well as performances of plays by hundreds of other playwrights. Videos may be checked out for three days. Students and faculty are limited to checking out five videos at a time.

Theater Research Guide

This guide lists useful reference books, article databases, and high quality websites for research on both performance and play explication (criticism). It includes a very handy database called Inter-Play that helps find plays in anthologies.

William Shakespeare Research Guide

Much like the theater research guide, the guide for Shakespeare criticism includes reference books, article databases, and vetted websites. It focuses on understanding and writing about Shakespeare's work rather than on performance.

If you have questions about researching theater or the performing arts, please ask our subject librarian, Kim Rollins. You can also ask at the Reference Desk at (801) 863-8840.

The UVU Library shows some pride

The Stonewall Riots, a seminal event in American LGBT history, began after a police raid on the Stonewall Inn in June 1969. Almost immediately after the riots, gay and lesbian groups began to organize and fight for gay rights. One year to the day after the police raid, the first Gay Pride Parade was held in cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

June was designated LGBT History Month in commemoration of the riots. Because of focus of LGBT history on social change, our list of helpful sources this week will focus on activism, social justice, and the challenges LGBT individuals face in American society.

American National Biography

Created by Oxford University Press, this online reference book includes detailed history about American politicians, entertainers, veterans, writers, lawyers, artists, journalists, and many more.

CQ's Politics in America

Congressional Quarterly Press is one of the most respected names in publishing when it comes to books about American politics. This online reference book contains background information on important issues in American politics and society. It focuses on legislation and congressional debate.

Encyclopedia of Social Justice and Activism

Created by Sage Publications, a major academic publisher, the Encyclopedia of Social Justice and Activism is a great book to learn about the issues that are (and have been) debated in American society including adoption, gay marriage, and many more.

LGBT Books in the Library's Collection

This link takes you to more than 200 books in the Library's collection that discuss homosexuality and related topics. Books may be checked out for three weeks. There is no limit on the number of books that may be checked out at a time.

Sociology and Social Work Research Guide

This research guide contains reference books, recommended databases, and vetted websites that can help you get started on any topic in sociology and social work.

If you have any questions about research or using library resources, please ask us at the Reference Desk (801-863-8840). For more in depth questions about social sciences research, contact our sociology subject librarian, Jacques d'Emal.

Space is not the final frontier at the UVU Library

Valentina Tereshkova,
the first woman in space

This week marks a lot of anniversaries in space travel. On June 16 1963, Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space. Ten years ago, NASA launched the Mars Spirit Rover. And 30 years ago, Pioneer 10 became the first human-made object to leave the solar system.

In light of these achievements, we're looking at our own science and engineering resources here in the Library.

Applied Science and Technology 

This database contains years of articles in physics, engineering, computing, and other applied sciences as well as the most up to date research.   

Aviation Collection (Airport Campus)

Located at the Provo Airport, our aviation collection not only contains books about aviation and emergency services, but also videos showing you to the proper techniques for taking to the skies.

Aviation Research Guide

Get started on your aviation research with our specially designed research guide. This guide lists useful reference books, databases, and authoritative websites.

Astronomy Research Guide

This guide doesn't just point out what's up there. It also helps you find the best research about astronomical physics, space travel, and much more.

Physics Research Guide

Our physics guide can show you the path to learning how the big things (galaxies) and the very small things (quarks) work.

If you have any questions, please contact the Library's Reference Desk at (801) 863-8840. You can also contact us via chat and text. Visit our help page to find out how.

Helen Keller and Deaf Education

Helen Keller

This week, the UVU Library is looking at the life and legacy of Helen Keller in our book display. Inspired by her determination to earn a college degree, we'd like to share some of the resources we have that can help deaf and hearing impaired students with their research. We'd also like to share some resources that can help students research deaf education.

American Sign Language Books

The Library has a growing collection of books about American Sign Language on the fourth floor. They can be found beginning at call number HV 2474. Any book from the fourth floor can be checkd out for three weeks.

Deaf Studies Research Guide

This research guide lists reference books, databases, and vetted websites that cover the challenges that deaf and hearing impaired persons face in a hearing society. The reference books, found on the first floor of the Library, can give researches important background information. The databases can be used to search for the latest research on this subject. The websites contain important national associations and groups and much more.

ERIC

ERIC, our largest education research database, contains millions of articles and reports about all topics in education. It can be used to find up-to-date research on best practices for deaf education, educational psychology for deaf and hearing impaired students, and more.

UbiDuo Machines

UbiDuo machines are short range devices that can facilitate communication between deaf visitors to the Library and our staff. We use these machines to chat with each other. 

For more help with researching deaf education, contact our education librarian, Lesli Baker, at (801) 863-8286 or call the Reference Desk at (801) 863-8840.

The UVU Library Rocks On

Sir Edmund Hilary (left) and Tenzing Norgay in 1953

May 29 will be the 60th anniversary of the first known successful summit of Mount Everest, by Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hilary. In addition to our weekly display celebrating their achievement, we're also taking a look at the geology and geography resources here in the Library.

ArcGIS

ArcGIS is a one of a kind software designed to help not only geography students, but also students in sociology, business, education, and many more areas. It can be used to find demographic and infrastructure information, as well as topographical data. ArcGIS also offers tools for creating specialized maps.

GeoRef

GeoRef is the premier database for finding geologic data and articles, as well as articles on related topics. This database covers everything from the highest peaks on land to the deepest troughs in the ocean. It also contains articles about minerology, vulcanology, seismology, and much more.

Map Collection

On the fourth floor of the Library, we have hundreds of topographical and political maps available for check out. These maps can be checked out for one week. You can browse through the drawers or search the Library's catalog to find specific maps.

If you have questions about geography or geology research, you can contact the Reference Desk at (801) 863-8840 or call Trevor Young, our science librarian, at (801) 863-6846. For questions about using ArcGIS, contact Carlos Alarco at (801) 863-7369.

Research Religion at the UVU Library

May is Jewish American Heritage Month. While our weekly first floor book display will celebrate the creative work of Americans of Jewish ancestry, online we're looking at our research tools for religion. These tools can not only help you research Judaism, but also Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, and many more.

Religion touches on so many different aspects of life that, depending on what your topic is, you might also try searching our databases is sociology, history, or psychology. For more help researching religion, contact the Reference Desk at (801) 863-8840 or Keith Rowley, our religion subject librarian, at (801) 863-8780.

ATLA Religion Database

Created by the American Theological Library Association, this database contains nearly two million articles, reports, monographs, book reviews, and other items published on topics in religion from 1949 to the present. No other database covers religion in as great a depth as the ATLA Religion Database.

Religion Research Guide

This research guide lists the best reference books to use to get started as well as suggested databases and vetted websites. The databases can help you search through journals and magazines for articles about religion and related topics. The websites, carefully evaluated for accuracy and authority, can help answer questions such as "How many Americans practice X religion?" or "When is Ramadam/Yom Kippur/Easter/etc.?"

Travel Back in Time with the UVU Library

1871 Illustration of Wagon Train Members Camping

This week is the 170th anniversary of the first major wagon trail heading out on the Oregon Trail. According to some estimates, over 400,000 people would follow the trail during the next few decades. In addition to sharing our collection of materials about the Oregon Trail in our weekly book display, we're also spotlighting the George Sutherland Archives collection of historic books and our American history research materials.

George Sutherland Archives

The mission of the Archives is to "[collect] and [make] available materials that document and reflect the history and development of Utah Valley University and the surrounding communities." The Archives has been collecting local history materials for decades and their collection includes overland diaries, historic photographs, and more. The Archives is located on the third floor of the Library.

America History & Life

This database offers access to many full text articles and indexes many more articles on American history, from Precolumbian times to the early nineteenth century. It currently searches through 1,700 unique journals to cover all topics in American history including social history, military history, minority history, and more.

Mountain West Digital Library

The UVU Library and the George Sutherland Archives have been a partner of the Mountain West Digital Library for years. The MWDL digitizes newspaper articles, historic photographs, and documents and makes them available through their portal. They currently offer digital access to more than 700,000 items.

For questions about researching American history, please contact the Reference Desk at (801) 863-8840. For questions about local history or using the George Sutherland Archives, contact Catherine McIntyre at (801) 863-8821.

Visit Strange New Worlds at the UVU Library!

This week the Library is highlighting its science fiction collection. We have hundreds of new and classic titles ready and waiting to take you on voyages of discovery. We've got everything from Jules Verne and H.G. Wells to last year's Nebula and Hugo award winning novel, Jo Walton's Among Others. If you're looking for a great science fiction read, head for the first floor display where more than 30 staff-picked titles are ready to be checked out.

Science fiction provides an excellent lens for analyzing our culture and literature. To help understand and explore that lens, we've collected a number of reference and critical titles on the genre, including these recent works:

• Astounding Wonder: Imaging Science and Science Fiction in Interwar America (Regular Collection: PS 374. S 35 C 484 2012)
• In Other Worlds: SF and the Human Imagination (Regular Collection: PR 9199.3 A 8 Z 545 2011)
• Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction (available online)
• Twentieth Century American Science Fiction Writers (available online)

Many more are available in our Browsing Collection (first floor) and Regular Collection (fourth floor). Book are organized by author and authors are arranged by nationality, so if you need help locating a title please stop by the Reference Desk or ask Annie Smith (subject librarian for literature). We're always happy to hook readers up with great reads.

Wireless Printing

Can't find an open computer in the Library? Not even using the online Information Commons map? You can still print in the Library using the wireless printing network! Here's how it works:

1. Log in to http://print.uvu.edu. 
2. Check your print balance in the upper right corner. (If you need to add more, visit the Reference Desk on the first floor.)
3. Upload your Word, Excel, or PDF document and wait for the upload to finish processing.
4. Select a printer. The printers on the first floor of the Library all have names that start with INFOCOM.
5. Print.

If you have any problems printing, come to the Reference Desk on the first floor or call (801) 863-6932.

The End (of the Semester) is Nigh!

With the end of the semester rapidly approaching, the Library is doing a couple of things to make life easier on our students:

First Book & Fines

Every April, the Library and the UVU Bookstore partner with First Book to send books to underprivileged children. The Library offers an extra incentive to participate by letting students use their donations to pay down their fines. Here's how it works:

1. Buy a children's book at the UVU Bookstore and donate it to First Book.
2. Bring the receipt to the Library's first floor Circulation Desk.
3. The amount of the book will be used to pay off any library fines.

Book donation receipts will be accepted through the end of the semester. If you're not sure if you have fines, call the Library at (801) 863-8886.

Extended Hours

The Library will be open extended hours this weekend, so that students can come in and get a little more studying and a little more writing done. We will be open:

• Saturday, April 20: 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
• Sunday, April 21: 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Reference librarians will be available at the Reference Desk to help with research questions. Tech aides will also be on hand at the Reference Desk to answer questions about MS Office, printing, and other tech questions. 

Online Art Research Tools

The Old Guitarist, by Pablo Picasso (1903).
Picasso passed away 40 years ago today.

This week, the Library is featuring its online art research tools. Here's a quick rundown of what we have available:

Art Full Text

Art Full Text is a premier database for art research. It contains not only scholarly and popular articles, but also articles from trade publications in the visual arts, a highly important source of information about contemporary art. This database can be found on our Visual and Performing Arts research page.

Art Research Guide

In addition to pointing out useful reference books and journal databases, our Art Research Guide lists vetted websites that can help you decipher art jargon, find museums and exhibitions, and keep up on the latest in the visual arts.

Grove Art Online

This online reference tool consists of several major works: the Grove Dictionary of Art and Artists, Benezit Dictionary of Artists, the Encyclopedia of Aesthetics, the Oxford Companion to Western Art, and the Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms. Searching Grove Art Online lets you search across all of these titles for important background information on terminology, artist lives and works, and much more.

As always, you can ask any research questions at the Reference DeskbBut for in-depth art research, contact our art subject librarian, Keith Rowley.

Health Sciences Research Tools at the UVU Library

Are you up to date? Find the latest
research in our databases.

The Library's health sciences research databases are among the most used by students and faculty here at UVU. That's why we strive to have the best we can get! Here are some of the resources you can use for your research:

EBrary

EBrary is a collection of ebooks in health sciences and related topics. It includes dozens of books from the World Health Organization, Springer, Elsevier, and other big names in health sciences publishing. Because we purchased this collection as a subscription, older, outdated content is frequently replaced with new editions. You can begin to use the collection here.

MEDLINE and PubMed

MEDLINE and PubMed are two broad spectrum databases that cover all areas in medicine and allied health. Both contain peer-reviewed articles and are updated with new content daily. To access these and other health sciences article databases, visit our Health Sciences Research page.

Online Reference Books

The Library has been collecting online reference books in a number of topics for several years now, and we have a great collection of general reference ebooks in medicine. Our collection includes the Dictionary of Public Health, the Oxford Companion to Medicine, the SAGE Handbook of Healthcare, and many more. To explore these books, visit our Online Encyclopedias and Dictionaries page.

We also have many standard health sciences and medical reference books in print in our reference collection on the first floor of the library.

ScienceDirect

ScienceDirect is another great resource for finding articles in medicine, nutrition, physiology, and related topics. The journals in this database specialize in cutting edge research

Debbie Short is our health sciences subject librarian. If you have any questions about research in this area, please contact her.

News from the Sutherland Archives

By Catherine McIntyre, Archivist

We have added two brand new collections to our digital collections and oral histories: the Edison Cylinder Project and the Vietnam Oral History Collection.

The Edison Cylinder Project is the brainchild of Professor Mike Wisland of the Digital Media Technology Department. He and several of his students have built a machine that electronically transcribes the sound from the original Edison cylinders, the precursors to records. While many external recordings have been made of the music from Edison cylinders, it is rare to actually digitize the sound directly from the cylinder, thus eliminating much of the crackle and hiss that one might pick up with an external recording. We currently have four jaunty tunes from 1916-1919 in this collection, including the number one hit of its time, “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary,” and saucy little numbers such as “Naughty! Naughty! Naughty!” This collection will continue to grow as we digitize more of Professor Wisland’s Edison cylinders.

Dr. William Cobb interviews Ray Hill

The second of our new digital collections is the Vietnam Era Oral History Collection. UVU history professor Dr. William Cobb has been contacting and interviewing area Vietnam era veterans since 2010. We currently have several transcripts available online, but we will soon be adding the audio of the interviews, as well as maps, photographs, and digitized images of other items that are important to the interviewees such as their helmets, jackets, and other objects. This collection will also continue to grow in size, depth, and importance as a research resource.

We will soon receive a donation of several hundred historical photographs, slides, and negatives from Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo. UVRMC will soon be celebrating their 75th anniversary. We plan to digitize some of the collection in time for their celebration. The collection includes images of older area hospital buildings, personnel, promotional photos, and more that will be useful for research on hospitals, medicine, and the medical profession in Provo. We’re looking forward to making this collection available.

Visit the George Sutherland Archives online.

Who Else is in the Library?

Did you know that the library building is home to more that just the Library? We share space with a number of departments:

Accessibility Services Assistive Technology Lab (1st Floor)

The Assistive Technology Lab helps students with documented disabilities by providing software and other technologies. A full list of their services, hours, and contact information can be found on their department page.

Bytes & Brews Cafe (1st Floor)

The cafe is one of the most popular places in the Library and provides students, staff, and faculty with the fuel to keep going. Their menu is constantly updated with new items, and they frequently offer special deals.

Visual Arts Lab (2nd Floor)

Run by UVU's Printing Services Department, the Visual Arts Lab offers faxing, large scale printing, matte cutting, and much more. They can also print large jobs for you on your department's account.

Writing Center (2nd Floor)

The Writing Center is another popular destination in the Library. The Writing Center offers help to students with questions about citations, writing skills, grammar and spelling, and much more. Additional writing help is also available on the Online Writing Lab (OWL) site.

Deaf Studies Lab (2nd Floor)

The Deaf Studies Lab has the technology to help hearing, hearing impaired, and deaf students communicate. The space is also used to teach classes on (and in) American Sign Language.

Innovation Center (2nd Floor)

The Innovation Center was recently created to help UVU faculty incorporate technology into their classes. They can help with questions about Canvas, Prezi, Google Tools, and many more. The Innovation Center works closely with the Distance Education Department to help faculty learn and share best practices for online education.

Media Services (3rd Floor)

Media Services help us keep the podiums, projectors, and digital signs running. If you're using one of the Library's classrooms and something goes wrong, call them at x1111 and they'll be on their way.

Data Center (3rd Floor)

The Data Center also helps keep the university's technology running, but from behind the scenes. The folks at the Data Center keep the servers running, which keeps UVU's web sites up and running. They also rent virtual server space.

Center for Constitutional Studies Center (3rd Floor)

The Constitutional Studies Center is the most recent department to move in to the Library. They are a nonpartisan group that promotes education and discussion about the US Constitution, Constitutional Law, and other related issues. They frequently host guest speakers and exhibits.

Faculty Center for Teaching Excellence (4th Floor)

The FCTE's mission is to help UVU's faculty improve their teaching skills. They offer teaching circles, where faculty can share ideas and best practices. They also arrange mentorships.

Department of Integrated Studies (5th Floor)

This is an academic department that supports education in cinema studies, American studies, peace and justice studies, and many other emphases.

Who Would Win: Tournament of Geniuses

The fourth annual Who Would Win contest begins next Monday, March 18. This year's contest features some of the greatest geniuses that ever wielded a paintbrush, pen, or microscope. Starting Monday, we will post the matches of the day and you can follow along on our bracket.

In the past, Who Would Win has featured superheroes, bands, and movie characters. All of the people and characters in Who Would Win are represented in the Library's collections.

Need help with research? Find us online!

Did you know that the Library offers several ways to get help with research online? Here are some of the ways you can have your questions answered without leaving your computer:


LiveHelp

LiveHelp is a chat service available directly from the Library's homepage. Just click on the green LiveHelp button in the lower right corner of the page to start chatting with a librarian. (If LiveHelp is closed, you can send us an email by clicking on the envelope icon in the lower right corner of our homepage.)

Online Tutorials

The Library offers text-based and video tutorials on basic and advanced research skills on our tutorials page. The video tutorials are one to two minutes long, while the text tutorials cover research in more depth.

FAQs

Do you have questions about Library policies or procedures? Check our FAQ for questions about library services.

Of course, we're always happy to answer questions in person or over the phone. Don't hesitate to ask!

Online Music Databases

Did you know that the UVU Library offers several online tools for music researchers? All of the following databases can be access from the Library's complete list of databases.

Classical Scores Library

The Classical Scores Library offers access to a growing collection of scores and libretti for operas, symphonies, sonatas, and many more. You can locate scores and libretti by composer, instrument, time period, key, and genre. 

Scores are for individual use only, and not for performance.

Grove Music Online

Grove Music Online contains the full text version of three important music reference books. It is best used to locate biographical and background information on musicians, instruments, music history, and more. Articles are thoroughly documented.

International Index to Music Periodicals

The IIMP is a terrific source for research about music and music instruction. It contains full text for many of the journals and magazines (though not all) that it indexes. It includes both peer-reviewed and non peer-reviewed articles.

Naxos Music Library

The Naxos Music Library is a unique resource that allows you to listen to (but not download) complete works of classical music. 

For help using Naxos Music Library in classes, please contact the Reference Desk at x8840.

If you have any questions about locating scores, recordings, or research about music, please contact our music librarian, Keith Rowley, at x8780.