March is Women's History Month!

National Women's History Month "is an American observance held during the month of March to recognize and celebrate women's contributions to culture, history, and society. It grew from International Women's Day , a global celebration of women's achievements celebrated each year on March 8, and the Women's History Week celebration, which was first held in Sonoma County, California, in 1978. In 1987, US Congress officially established the month of March as Women's National History Month (Harmon, 2025)". 

Learn more about Women's History Month by exploring the library databases on women such as Shirley Chisholm, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and Marie Curie and so many more amazing women.

Watch Films with Kanopy

Check out some of the award-winning films available through Kanopy and learn more about amazing women throughout history.

Free Tax Help!

Employees from the Department of Revenue and volunteers from free tax assistance groups will be at the UCC Library, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday, February 28 to guide you through electronically filing your federal and state income taxes for free using the new IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon options.

Computers & WiFi

The UCC Library offers the use of public computers and WiFi internet connections. Demand for computers will be high, so you are encouraged to bring your own if you have one.

Mobile Phones & Tablets

Both IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon are mobile friendly, so you can complete your return on your phone or tablet, as well.

Further Information

For more information on this program, please click here.

Here are some helpful tips to make your experience as productive and enjoyable as possible: 

Tip 1: Use the IRS’s eligibility checker prior to coming to the library. https://directfile.irs.gov/ 

You will not be eligible if you have any income from these sources:  

• Foreign income,  

• Dividends or Capital Gains,  

• Retirement (retirement income not from an IRA will be eligible starting in March),  

• Self-Employment and Gig economy (Uber Eats, Door Dash),  

• Rental Income,  

• Gambling or Lottery. 

Tip 2: Create an ID.me account if you do not have one for IRS. https://directfile.irs.gov/ (Before you begin, take a clear photo of your ID and save to your photo library.)  Watch this 5 Easy Steps to Register an ID.me Account with IRS video to learn how.  

• You must be at least 18 years old to create an ID.me account.  

• Address and phone number are editable but not the email address. 

Tip 3: Create a Revenue Online account if you do not have one for Department of Revenue. https://www.oregon.gov/dor/programs/individuals/Pages/direct_file_OR.aspx Watch this How to Set Up and Log In to Your Revenue Online Account for Individuals video to learn how. 

Tip 4: You will need access to your smartphone (text message) or email for verification purposes for both ID.me and Revenue Online.  

Tip 5: Bring all eligible documents.  

• Forms W-2 (wages from a job) 

• Forms 1099-G, 1099-INT (other income) 

• Form 1099-R (retirement income other than IRAs) will be supported later in March. 

• Form SSA-1099 (Social Security benefits) 

• Alaska Permanent Fund Dividends 

• Social security card or individual tax identification number for everyone on your tax return 

• Government picture ID for taxpayer and spouse if filing jointly (driver's license or passport) 

• Canceled check or bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit. 

• Last year's tax return 

Tip 6: Live support is available from IRS staff, Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time inside IRS Direct File. If you have Oregon specific questions, please contact 503-378-4988 or 800-356-4222, or email: questions.dor@dor.oregon.gov 

Malcolm X: Murder In New York

On February 21st in 1965, human rights activist, Malcolm X was assassinated.

We use this day to honor his legacy and as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equality.

Learn more about Malcolm X's work from documentaries such as Malcolm X: Murder In New York via one of our streaming media databases, Kanopy.

Fun fact: Kanopy is available to be streamed on all your digital devices, see this document for instructions and guidelines on how to do this. Don't forget to log in using your UCC ID# for access.

 Making Black America: Through the Grapevine

This four-hour series, hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., chronicles the vast social networks and organizations created by and for Black people-beyond the reach of the “White gaze.” Gates takes viewers into an extraordinary world that showcases Black people’s ability to collectively prosper, defy white supremacy and define Blackness in ways that transformed America itself.

Check out the trailer below, an then head on over and watch the series via Films on Demand, one of the UCC Library's streaming databases.  

Watch the series today by clicking here. Don't forget to use your UCC ID# to log in and gain access.

February is Black History Month

In 1986 the United States Congress passed, and President Ronald Reagan signed, Public Law 99-244, which formally established Black History Month as a federally designated observance. The month is honored with historical, cultural, and educational presentations in several countries with substantial Black minority populations. In the United States, Black History Month (sometimes also known as African American History Month) is observed during the month of February (Issit, 2024). 

Explore eBooks such as this one, Freedom facts & firsts: 400 years of the African American civil rights experience, using the UCC Library Discovery Search. Come to the UCC Library to learn more about black individuals throughout history.

References

Issitt, M. (2024, November 26). Black history month: Overview. In Points of view. Great Neck.

Wynn, L. T. (2009). Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, March (1965). In Freedom facts & firsts: 400 years of the African American civil rights experience (pp. 68-70). Visible Ink Press.

January 27th is Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The Holocaust

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) defines the Holocaust as the systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. During the Holocaust, German authorities targeted groups because of perceived racial and biological inferiority: Roma (Gypsies), people with disabilities, and those of Slavic background (Poles and Russians). Other groups persecuted on political, ideological, and behavioral grounds included Communists, Socialists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and those in the LGBTQ community.

Holocaust Remembrance Day

Holocaust Remembrance Day is a solemn occasion to reflect on the horrors of the Holocaust and to strengthen our commitment to preventing such atrocities from ever occurring again. 

Explore articles and more using the Library Discovery Service to learn about Holocaust Remembrance.

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Gratitude beyond Measure

By Sarah Lyon

By Sarah Lyon

When they give you their sympathies,
You may smile and say thanks,

But they don’t know what you’ve seen.
They don’t know what you’ve lost,
they don’t understand the cost.

Family torn apart,
surviving with a broken heart.

Your story is an incredible one,
One we could only begin to imagine.
One that I can’t even fathom.
But your strength through it all
Is what really outshines and stands tall.

So to you I want to say, you’re amazing.
Thank you for sharing what you’ve seen,
even when you were at the tender age of a
teen.

For that time may have taken so much,
but I’m so glad we’re in touch.

References

Lincoln, M. (2020). Never a Bystander & Other Enduring Lessons for Holocaust Remembrance. Knowledge Quest, 49(2), 44–51.

Celebration!

Celebrate diversity, cultural traditions, and the impact of Muslim Americans throughout history.

Check out this brief article celebrating Muslim American Heritage Month from Gale OneFile News, one of our many library databases! 

Want to learn more about different countries and their cultures? Check out Global Road Warrior, one of the many databases provided to you by the UCC Library. With Global Road Warrior you can easily learn about different countries, their culture, and their customs. You can even find recipes, business etiquette, languages spoken, country demographics and statistics, ethnic groups, stereotypes, society and culture, and lots more!

Winter Term Library Hours

Help us kick off the new year by swinging in and checking out a great new book! 

Hours for the winter term (1/6/25 - 3/21/25) will be as follows:

• Monday: 7:45am - 5:00pm
• Tuesday: 7:45am - 5:00pm
• Wednesday:  7:45am - 5:00pm
• Thursday: 7:45am - 5:00pm
• Friday: 9:00am - 4:30pm 

Do you Still Have Items From Fall Term?

• Library reserve items (textbooks, calculators, laptops, course kits) are checked out for one term only with the due date being the last Friday of term (for fall that was amended to be December 2 because of the holiday). Students must return items at the end of each term, failure to return items within 2-weeks of the term's end will be reported to Student Accounts and a hold will be placed on their accounts.

Late Laptops

• If a laptop is returned late, the borrower may be subject to a 1-week waiting period before they can check out another laptop. This waiting period ensures that library staff have sufficient time to reimage the laptop and make it available to other students who have returned their laptops on time.

Consequences of Circulation Violation

• Failure to comply with library circulation procedures may result in suspension of borrowing privileges.
• Students who keep Reserve items significantly past the time they are due, preventing other students from using the material, may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. 

Happy Winter Holiday!

The Sue Shaffer Learning Commons and Library will be closed for winter holiday from Monday, December 23rd, through Friday, December 27th. 

We will resume intersession hours beginning Monday, December 30th. 

For the complete calendar of hours click here.

Happy December to All!

During Winter Intersession Library, Tutoring, and building hours change. They will be as follows from Monday, December 2, 2024 - Friday, January 3, 2025. For our complete calendar of hours click here.
 

Library & Tutoring

Monday - Thursday: 8am-5pm
Friday: 9am-4:30pm

Building Lobby

Monday - Friday: 7am-6pm

Closures

Winter Break: December 23 - 27
New Year's Day: January 1