Recognizing Global Accessibility Awareness Day: Fostering Digital Inclusion

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), held annually on the third Thursday in May, promotes digital access and inclusion for the over one billion people worldwide with disabilities. GAAD highlights the importance of creating equitable and innovative digital experiences for all users.

Inclusive Digital Resources

The UCC Library supports digital inclusion through tools and platforms designed with accessibility in mind:

• Niche Academy: offers a variety of instructional video tutorials, including Windows Basics, all featuring closed captioning to support users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Films on Demand: provides accessible educational videos such as a Yoga for Everybody video created with diverse user needs in mind.
• Gale One File: offers additional accessibility tools and features, helping all users interact with academic content in ways that work best for them.

These are just a few of the many resources available that reflect our ongoing effort to make digital learning environments more usable and effective for everyone.

Library Services that Support Accessibility

The UCC Library provides a comprehensive array of services to ensure that students, faculty, and staff with disabilities can fully engage with our resources and facilities. These include:

• Alternative Text Formats: Access to materials in large print, audio, or digital formats.
• Assistive Technologies: Availability of specialized software and devices to support users with visual, auditory, or physical disabilities.
• Private Study Spaces: Quiet areas that support focused, distraction-free learning, you can book online or at the desk.
• Adaptive Equipment: tools such as ergonomic keyboards, mobility aids, and other assistive devices.

These services are provided in partnership with the UCC Office for Accessibility Services, and students are encouraged to reach out early to explore how accommodations can enhance their academic experience.

Digital Accessibility and Universal Design

The UCC Library also leads initiatives to promote digital accessibility and universal design across campus. The Digital Accessibility Guide serves as a valuable resource for students, staff, and faculty. It includes:

• Best Practices for Accessible Content: guidelines for designing documents, websites, and multimedia that are inclusive and user friendly.
• Assistive Technology Information: a breakdown of tools that help individuals access and interact with digital content.
• Training and Educational Resources: Materials to help faculty and staff understand digital accessibility standards and integrate them into their work.

We encourage everyone to explore these tools and consider how accessible design benefits all users. By prioritizing accessibility, we contribute to a more inclusive, effective digital world. Help us on the road to accessibility.

National Gardening Month

“April showers, bring May Flowers” that is because April is National Gardening Month.

This month is a time to start planning your gardens and making them fruitful. We have many books to help you start planning your flower or vegetable garden, such as “Starter Vegetable Gardens”.

Watch shows such as the “Science of Gardening” which is available via Kanopy to help you learn how to get started! Also check our databases for more articles to help plant those wonderful gardens.

Looking for tips on how to get your children involved? Try reading this article by Sharon Cornwall, “Gardening with Children." Want to learn to garden in a new way? Check out “Planting by the Moons Phase” published in the 2025 Old Farmer's Almanac available via Gardening and Horticulture (a Gale OneFile database).

Grief & Wellness

Grief is the word commonly used to refer to an individual’s or group’s shared experience following a loss. The experience of grief is not a momentary or singular phenomenon. Instead, it is a variable and somewhat predictable process of life. 

From “Grief and Guilt” by Layne Prest (2024)

Life has its ups and its downs, its highs and its lows. Different people handle different situations in a multitude of ways. No matter who you are, no matter what you are going through, you are not alone. There is always some to talk to, there is always a reason to go on. 

Resources to Help

The UCC Library has a number of resources to help you understand and process what you are going through. Below you will find a listing of some of these resources (articles, books, eBooks, & films). You can access these digital materials by clicking on the links and logging in with your 800#. For physical resources, please visit us during regular library hours.

It's (very nearly) Inventory Time Again!

Who will be involved with this?

Library Staff are gearing up for our second annual library collection inventory. We will be physically scanning every single item in our library collection. We will also be reaching out to individuals who have items checked out to ensure they are aware of them.

What we need from you!

We are asking you (faculty, staff, students, and community members alike), to see if you have any library items that are past due. If so, please return them to the library as soon as possible. Books can always be returned via our external book drop (in the parking lot), and everything (books, laptops, calculators, etc…) can be returned to our library circulation desk during our regular library hours. 

When will this happen?

The inventory will take place during the month of May. It should not interrupt our normal operations, and we will remain open during our regular library hours. 

Why does this need to be done?

This helps us maintain an accurate list of all library materials currently owned by the college. It also helps us to identify gaps in our collection, and informs us what we need to purchase in the upcoming fiscal year.

Stay tuned for the next update!

Thursday, April 10: Take Action for Libraries Day

This celebratory day is held annually on Thursday of National Library Week.

It's a day to rally advocates to support libraries. A specific action will be announced by ALA's Public Policy & Advocacy Office during National Library Week.

Follow @librarypolicy and @amlibraryassoc on Bluesky and other American Library Association social media channels for updates.

This year, as library funding is under attack, ALA encourages every library advocate to Show Up for Our Libraries by telling Congress to protect federal support for libraries. Use our tools below to take action and go to ala.org/showup for even more ways to take action for libraries.

What you can do right now:

1. Call Your Members of Congress.

Use this form to make a call in support of federal library funding. Enter your address in the form, and then click the call button to receive a phone call that connects you with your elected officials.

Call on Congress to protect IMLS

2. Email Your Members of Congress.

Use this form to email your members of Congress. Enter your address in the form, and then click the "Send email" button to contact your elected officials. Your message can be customized--tell your story!

Email Congress to protect IMLS

3. Help spread the word on social media.

Follow this link for social media graphics and sample social posts to help get the word out!

Social Media Toolkit

National Library Week 2025: Drawn to the Library

Wednesday, April 9: National Library Outreach Day (formerly National Bookmobile Day), a day to celebrate library outreach and the dedicated library professionals who are meeting their patrons where they are.

---

Library outreach at a Community College looks different than it may at a public library. We may not operate a bookmobile, but we offer a variety of services beyond traditional library services. 

Did you know that we offer a digital chat service? Did you know that we offer Library Instruction sessions in your classrooms? Did you know that the library will lend resources (including staff) to help promote the College? 

Do you have an idea of a way the UCC Library can provide more outreach? Tell us! You can reach library staff via the library website, your Canvas course shell, or text (541-835-8146, standard text-messaging rates apply)! You can also fill out the  

Stay tuned for more information tomorrow on Take Action for Libraries Day!

National Library Week 2025: Drawn to the Library

Tuesday, April 8: National Library Workers Day

Today is a day for library staff, users, administrators, and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers. 

About this day:

On January 25, 2003, a resolution was proposed:
That in order to recognize the hard work, dedication, and expertise of library support staff and librarians that the Tuesday of National Library Week be designated National Library Workers Day; and, that on that day, interested library workers, library groups, and libraries should advocate for better compensation for all library workers and, if the day coincides with Equal Pay Day, these individuals, groups, and libraries should recognize both days together.

UCC Library Workers:

Your friendly UCC Library Staff is here to help! They include:

• Liz Teoli-Thomason, Library Director
• Peggy N., Library Specialist
• Austin J., Library Desk Clerk
• Mindy M., Library Desk Clerk

They can help you with course reserves, technology check outs, book recommendations, database tutorials, citation help, research help, and so much more!

Stay tuned for more information tomorrow on National Library Outreach Day!

National Library Week 2025: Drawn to the Library!

Monday, April 7: Right to Read Day

Today is a day for readers, advocates, and library lovers to take action to protect, defend, and celebrate the right to read. The American Library Association (ALA) kicks off National Library Week with the release of its State of America's Libraries Report, including the list of Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2023.

From the American Library Association:

Despite growing pressure, library professionals and advocates stood strong for the freedom to read in 2024—continuing to provide essential services, support their communities, and drive innovation in libraries.
Book challenges remained high, with 72% initiated not by parents but by organized groups and elected officials. Learn more and find out which books faced the most censorship challenges in this year's State of America's Libraries Report. 

For more on the State of America's Libraries, check out the full report here. 

Stay tuned for more information tomorrow on National Library Workers Day!

Celebrate National Library Week at the UCC Library April 6–12, 2025

What draws people to the library? Everything! From books and digital resources to job assistance and creative programming, libraries are essential to thriving communities.

National Library Week, April 6–12, 2025, is a time to celebrate the many ways libraries bring people together, spark imagination, and support lifelong learning.

At the UCC Library, we invite the community to join the celebration! Whether you're a longtime patron or haven’t visited in a while, now is the perfect time to explore all the library has to offer. Our library provides services to students, faculty, staff, and community members alike! We offer Wi-Fi, comfy seating, a safe and cozy space, and access to library collections for all. Current UCC students can check out various technology pieces, and course reserve items to help ensure their success at UCC. Faculty can work one-on-one with a credentialed librarian to help build stronger connections to resources for them and their students. No matter what you're looking for, we aim to provide access to resources that educate, inspire, and connect.

For more information on different services to different groups please see our Library Services page.

Whatever draws you in, the library has something for everyone. Whether you’re preparing for a career change, launching a business, raising a family, or embracing retirement, the UCC Library is here to support your journey. Libraries serve as hubs for learning, creativity, and connection, helping people of all ages explore new ideas and opportunities.

First celebrated in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries of all types across the country each April.

Stay tuned for more information tomorrow on  Right to Read Day!

About the Observance

Each year, on 24 March, the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims is observed.

The purpose of the Day is to:

• Honor the memory of victims of gross and systematic human rights violations and promote the importance of the right to truth and justice;
• Pay tribute to those who have devoted their lives to, and lost their lives in, the struggle to promote and protect human rights for all;
• Recognize, in particular, the important work and values of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, of El Salvador, who was assassinated on 24 March 1980, after denouncing violations of the human rights of the most vulnerable populations and defending the principles of protecting lives, promoting human dignity and opposition to all forms of violence.

For more on this topic from the United Nations, click here.

Want to dig even deeper? Explore articles related to human rights in our library databases. Not sure where to start? Try doing a topic search in our Discovery Service using the main search box on the library home page.

Women's Rights are Human Rights

Continue the celebration of amazing women and learn more about challenges faced, struggles won, and ceilings shattered in award-winning films available through Kanopy. 

Winter Term Reserve Items Due Soon 

Library reserve items (laptops, calculators, and ECE/HDFS textbooks) check out for one term at a time. This assures that the library is able to update all firmware, software, and keep collections accurate. This means that all library laptops, calculators, and textbooks are due on or before Friday, March 21, 2025.

If you need a library laptop, calculator, or ECE/HDFS textbook for Spring Term 2025, they will be available at the start of Spring Term (March 31, 2025). 

Students who do not return library laptops, calculators, and textbooks on or before the due date will have a hold placed on their student account and will be blocked from registering for Summer/Fall Term. In addition, they may be referred to a collection agency and charged a non-refundable fee of $250.

Want to avoid this hassle? Please return your library materials on or before Friday, March 21, 2025.

For further information about laptop circulation please see this page of the library website. 

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.

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. 

What is Banned Books Week?

Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a suddent surge in the number of challenges in libraries, bookstores, and schools. By focusing on efforts to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship. 

The theme for Banned Books Week 2024 (September 22-28) is “Freed Between the Lines.” 

We can find freedom in the pages of a book – but book bans and censorship threaten that freedom, along with many other rights and institutions. During the Banned Books Week, let's share our love of right to read and the freedom found in books. Let's be Freed Between the Lines!

https://www.ala.org/bbooks/banned 

New term, new hours!
Monday-Thursday 7:45am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm

The UCC Library is here for you! 

We're here to help you with research for your assignments, technology, citations, finding and accessing library resources, getting started at the library, questions about the college, and so much more. Stop on by and ask us all your questions, or send us a message via the chat feature or email.
The Sue Shaffer Learning Commons & Library is open to the public and offers comfortable seating, access to the library computer lab, WiFi, and access the physical and digital collections while in the library.

Check out our Library Services page for more information!

We're inviting everyone to discover the incredible resources and opportunities available at the UCC Library by signing up for a library card. 

This year, we’re thrilled to have Optimus Prime from the TRANSFORMERS as our special ambassador, highlighting that there's more than meets the eye at the UCC Library. Whether you're looking to enhance your skills, find valuable information, or connect with fellow avid readers, a library card unlocks a world of possibilities.

Today’s libraries are vibrant community centers offering much more than just books.

Curious about exploring a new hobby or learning a new language? The UCC Library has the resources you need. Interested in starting or growing a small business? We can help!

Did you know that the UCC Library offers eBooks, eAudiobooks, and Streaming Media for college faculty, staff and students? Are you a faculty member - if so, did you know that all of these (and more!) can be embedded directly into your courses?

Getting a library card is easy and is an essential step toward academic success and lifelong learning for all. 

Come visit us and bring home a few treasures!

We're finally ready to part with some of our older library titles, we'd love for you to visit the library and peruse this selection of gently used materials.

Prices are as follows:

Hardcover books: $1.00/ea
Paperback books: $0.50/ea
Other items (DVDs, etc...): $1.00/ea
 

It is cash only, and there are no refunds or returns. 

The Library is open Monday - Thursday 8am -5pm during summer term.

Welcome to Summer Term at the UCC Library! 

During this term, the library will have the following hours:

Monday - Thursday: 8:00am - 5:00pm

We will be closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

What the Library Offers You

As a student you have access to our computer lab and reserve collection. You can also reserve a study pod and ask for reference help from our library staff. 

Need a computer and/or calculator for class? The library has you covered with term-long check outs! 

Need help with citations? Try NoodleTools by clicking here. 

Did you know that you have access to more than 30,000 independent and documentary films with Kanopy? Find out more here. 

The library will also host the Library Olympics on July 24th. Who will take home the gold? Find out by registering here.  

There is a lot happening this term at your library! 

We look forward to seeing you!

This week's hints:

• A celestial event that occurs twice a year, once in the southern hemisphere, and once in the northern hemisphere on Earth.
• During this event, it is the longest day of the year. 
• Culturally, there are variations on how to celebrate this da, but most cultures recognize this event around the theme of fertility.

• Hint 1: A human-powered or motor-assisted vehicle with two wheels.
• Hint 2: Invented in Europe during the 19th century.
• Hint 3: A popular physical activity as well as a sustainable alternative to internal combustion engine vehicles.

Bonus: The UN promotes the usage of this vehicle on June 3rd, for it’s benefits to both human and environmental health.

All UCC Library Items Are Due

June 14th, 2024.

Do you have a ECE textbook, calculator, and/or laptop computer? Do you hate being charged fees? Then return your library items by June 14th, 2024.

• Hint 1: This insect has five eyes, one on either side of their head and three on top.
• Hint 2: These insects communicate with each other through dance.
• Hint 3: A variety of this insect pollinates approximately one third of the food we eat.

Bonus: The U.N. proclaimed May 20th as a day to acknowledge the role this insect has on our ecosystems.

This week's hints:

• The protector of the dead in ancient Egypt. 
• Credited in mythology for creating embalming and mummification. 
• In Egyptian mythology, would escort the deceased into the afterlife. 

With week's hints

• A Roman general and statesman
• Became a dictator in 49 BCE until his assassination in 44 BCE, which was made famous in a Shakespearean play. 
• When he was dictator of Rome, he created a calendar and named it after himself. It  would be used in Europe until 1582, but is still used by the Eastern Orthodox Church. 

This week's hints:

• A Greek poet who is credited to have authored two well known epics.
• Both of his epic poems feature a legendary king named Odysseus. 
• In Dante's Inferno, he is referred to as the "Poet Sovereign" and Alexander Pope considered him to be the "greatest of poets."

Library Poetry Hour

April 25th at 3pm at the UCC Library 

Click here to register.

In ancient Rome, recitationes were a literary practice that involved one or more public readings of a text by the author.

Tomorrow, April 25th at 3pm, the UCC Library will be hosting our own recitationes with our second poetry hour. Come to recite your own work or a favorite. Don't want to share? Come and listen. This event is not exclusive to poetry, come and share a short story or essay instead. 

Need help finding a poem? Click here to access the LitFinder database. Simply type in an author or the word "poetry" and start exploring. 

Above painting: Catullus Reading His Poems to Friends by Stephan Bakalowicz

 How to Use the UCC Library Catalog 

This 19th century artistic rendering of the Library of Alexandria by O. Von Corven, shows that the ancient library has a lot in common with modern libraries found across the world, including at UCC. Stacks of books surround busy readers shuffling through pages, a librarian taking some items down from a bookcase while an eager reader awaits below. Also like UCC, the Library of Alexandria was a research institution, which means that its main focus was on academic inquiry instead of pleasure reading. While this ancient library and our modern one function in a similar way, many things have changed in the field of librarianship. Such as how we catalog our collections, and how our patrons access those collections. Currently, the UCC library uses the Dewey Decimal System, and while we don't have a physical card catalog, we do have a digital one. Read below for steps on how to access and use this catalog. 

• To access the UCC catalog, first visit our website by clicking here.
• Then click on "Databases." A drop down menu will appear, then click on "Library Catalog" on the bottom of the menu. 
• You should see a page that looks like the image below. Type your inquiry in the search bar. This could be a keyword, author name, or title. There are other options in the drop down menu. 

• Lets say that you want to find a book on the Library of Alexandria. After typing that subject in to the search bar and hitting enter, there will be a display of titles with that key word in the record. 

• From here, click on a title that seems to fit your interest. For this example, lets look at the fourth title. 

• If we had a card catalog, this is the information that would be displayed on this item's card. But where is this book located in the library collection? For that we look at the Dewey Decimal Number, or call number, on the bottom of the record. For this item, the call number is "027 BAT." 

• Take this number and find the same number in the bookcases in the library. The collection is ordered from 000 to 999, with the 000's being towards the front of the building. If you get lost, that's okay. Ask a library staffer for help.  

• Here is the book on the shelf. Note how the other call numbers are in order. 
• You have read the book, but you don't want to check it out. That's okay, instead of putting it back on the shelf, we ask that you instead put it on one of these carts, or hand it to a library staffer to re-shelve. 

• Hint 1: Not from the ancient world, but some of his plays take place in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. 
• Hint 2: One of his more popular plays is a comedy that takes place in Athens.
• Hint 3: Died on April 23rd, after a successful career as a writer in London.

A Night at the Theater with Kanopy!

Kanopy is an on-demand streaming video platform for all UCC students, staff, and faculty that offers a world of cinema including films, TV shows, educational videos, and documentaries. The best part? This service is free! 

Explore the ancient world and beyond with Kanopy! With films such as...

First time using Kanopy?

To access Kanopy, go to the UCC Library website. Click on "Databases." A menu will drop down, from here select "All Databases." This page shows all of the databases provided by the UCC Library to students. Click on the letter "K" for Kanopy. Finally, click on "Kanopy." 

If you wish to create a watch later playlist, or start a film and continue watching later,  you will have to create an account. To do this, click the icon in the top right hand corner. Then click "create an account." Follow the prompts. 

Jeopardy Game

Don't forget to register for the Ancient Worlds Jeopardy game, taking place on May 16th at 3pm in the library. You can register here.

Explore the Ancient World at the UCC Library

For the next several weeks the UCC library will be stepping back in time to Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. (But don't worry, we'll still have printing and Wi-Fi available)

Each week will bring a different ancient figure to our Smarty Awards (scroll down to see this week's)

Be sure to check out our display covering ancient history, modern novels set in the ancient world, and regional cooking.

Learn how you, as a student, can explore the ancient world and beyond using our databases.

Finally, on May 16th at 3pm, we will be having our Ancient World Jeopardy game. Register here. 

• Hint 1: A young pharaoh who ruled Egypt for nine years.
• Hint 2: His tomb was discovered in 1922 in the Valley of the Kings. His tomb was so well preserved that he became the most well known Egyptian pharaoh. 
• Hint 3: After his mysterious death, his successors attempted to wipe out the legacy of his reign. 

Take Action for Libraries Day!

On this annual day of action during National Library Week, advocates are joining together to affirm their participation in 2024 elections. Libraries are nonpartisan, but they are not indifferent. The nation’s libraries play a critical role in our democracy, encouraging readers, educating voters and preparing all of us to participate in elections. To launch ALA's new Reader, Voter, Ready campaign, we're asking library advocates to pledge to get informed, get registered, and get ready to vote! Use our action form to sign the pledge and commit to voting:

I am a reader. I am a voter. I will be registered, informed, and ready to vote in all local, state, and federal elections during 2024 and beyond.

Sign the pledge

National Library Outreach Day

National Library Outreach Day (formerly National Bookmobile Day) celebrates library outreach and the dedicated library professionals who are meeting their patrons where they are. Whether it's a bookmobile stop at the local elementary school, services provided to community homes, or library pop-ups at community gatherings, these services are essential to the community. Each year, National Library Outreach Day is celebrated on Wednesday of National Library Week. In 2024, National Library Outreach Day will be April 10. 

National Library Outreach Day is an opportunity for library advocates to make their support known—through thanking library staff, writing a letter or e-mail to their libraries, or voicing their support to community leaders.

National Library Outreach Day is coordinated by the ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services (ODLOS), the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services (ABOS), and the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL).

-American Library Association

Library outreach at a Community College looks different than it may at a public library. We may not operate a bookmobile, but we offer a variety of services beyond traditional library services. For example, did you know that we offer a digital chat service? You can reach library staff via the library website, your Canvas course shell, or text (541-835-8146, standard text-messaging rates apply)! After hours? The library participates in a 24/7 statewide cooperative chat, Answerland, to provide service when we're not at the library.

Library Instruction Request

We also offer library instruction sessions in your classroom! UCC professors can use the Library Instruction Request form to book a classroom session with me, the Library Director. Sessions can be customized to each class and cover any number of topics.

Are there other ways that you think the UCC Library can provide Outreach to UCC students? Let us know by filling out the Library Suggestions/Feedback form here or in the building!

-Liz

Liz Teoli-Thomason | Library Director
Umpqua Community College

(she, her, hers)

National Library Workers Day: Libraries work because we do!

Tuesday, April 9, 2024 is National Library Workers Day (NLWD), a time to recognize library professionals for their expertise and leadership skills in transforming lives and communities through education and lifelong learning. The day also reminds the public that library workers serve as community compasses that lead users to endless opportunities for engagement, enrichment, and development. 

To show appreciation for library workers and the work they do throughout the year, library users are invited to Submit at Star by providing a testimonial about a favorite library employee at ala-apa.org/nlwd. Check out these 10 Ways to Celebrate National Library Workers Day

- American Library Association

Don't forget to stop by the Sue Shaffer Learning Commons & Library to say thanks to the amazing Library Staff! I'm lucky to have such an amazing team to work with! There are our two full-time Library Assistants, Nik & Peggy who help make sure that all of your circulation and trivia needs are met, Sonja & Jackie our two part-time Library Clerks who aid in keeping everything running smoothly during the mornings and evenings, Ivana, Zack, & Seren our dedicated student workers, and even a few volunteers from the UCC Scholars program! Without this team you we wouldn't be able to provide you the stellar service, warm welcomes, kind words, informed assistance, and physical and digital collections that we do. 

Thank you to my amazing library staff for all you do!

-Liz

Liz Teoli-Thomason | Library Director
Umpqua Community College

(she, her, hers)

Hints for this week's smarty award:

• 1 - This week long celebration begins today (April 8th). 
• 2 - Not only dose this week celebrate libraries and library workers, but also our collective right to read. 
• 3 - Is sponsored by the American Library Association. 
• Bonus: See the library blog for a post mentioning the answer! 

National Library Week, 2024

"The American Library Association (ALA) is thrilled to celebrate National Library Week from April 7 to 11. This year’s theme is "Ready, Set, Library!" which illustrates the idea that in an always-online world, libraries give the community a green light to connect with others, learn new skills, and focus on what matters most." - ALA Press Release April 2, 2024.

Right to Read Day

Right to Read Day, is a day for readers, advocates, and library lovers to take action to protect, defend, and celebrate the right to read. Today, the State of America's Libraries Report was released. This annual report discusses many important factors, and also includes the most up to date Top 10 Most Challenged Books list.

Below is from an Introduction to the Report (18 pages; PDF)  by ALA’s Interim Director, Leslie Burger:

Library workers never cease to amaze me, and that’s saying something because I’ve been in the field for quite some time. Toward the end of 2023, I joined the American Library Association (ALA) in a new capacity, as interim executive director, at a time when book bans were plaguing school and public libraries and when library workers were being threatened and attacked for defending the First Amendment freedom to read. The first thing I noticed was that so many libraries across the country were bursting with new programs, new displays, new services, and new ways to serve their communities, whether patrons or students. In the face of adversity, library workers were taking action.

Let’s look for a moment at the hot topic of artificial intelligence (AI) and libraries. Well over 1,000 people took advantage of ALA’s continuing education sessions on AI in 2023. Library workers are learners, first and foremost. When something new looks to shake up library processes, our members eagerly search for answers. When it comes to AI, many library workers are fascinated by the possibilities and determined to avoid the pitfalls. In this edition of the State of America’s Libraries, Leo S. Lo, dean and professor of the College of University Libraries and Learning Services at the University of New Mexico, talks about exciting advancements made possible by AI, such as automated cataloging and chatbots for user support.

Libraries found support at every level of government for efforts to increase access to high-speed internet connectivity. Tribal libraries took advantage of programs that offer deep discounts on broadband infrastructure. The Learn Without Limits proposal, introduced in 2023, offers library patrons and students access to hotspots off-premises. Libraries continue to serve as hubs for people living in areas that lack high-speed internet.

Partnerships with community organizations help put libraries at the center of their communities, and 2023 was full of fascinating examples. For instance, Cleveland Housing Court worked with Cleveland Public Library to open videoconferencing kiosks in four libraries to bring the court closer to the people. In Baltimore County Public Library, a Pop-Up Shops program for local vendors—from candle makers to photographers—provides free space and offers vendor-preparation classes for aspiring entrepreneurs. Schools innovate constantly, including one in El Cerrito, California, where librarians and teachers worked with students on an award-winning global human rights research project.

Some librarians at universities, including University of Iowa and University of Puerto Mayagüez in Puerto Rico, help people apply for trademarks. It’s heartening to find library workers doing amazing work even as they face a barrage of challenges. Libraries have always been magical places, filled with stories, hopes, and dreams. Library workers are the magicians who create that magic.

Stay tuned for more information tomorrow on National Library Workers Day!

Family Friendly Space Now Available to Students

Are you torn between studying and keeping your young ones entertained?

Then come by the library and reserve a space in our recently remodeled Moody Room.

Room features desks for you, play table, reading nooks, and books for them!

To reserve the Moody Room, click here and then select "Family-friendly Room."

For more information about the space click here.

Any questions? Ask library staff.

This week's hints: 

• A Canadian-American actor and comedian. 
• Won a Golden Globe in 1999 for his role in The Truman Show.
• His breakthrough role was in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. 

Last Friday, library staffers Nik and Sonja challenged fellow Riverhawks to Dewey Dash!

Who could put more books in dewey decimal order in under one minute?

Many tired, some succeeded, all had fun!

Did you miss out on the fun?

Want a re-match?

Coming Summer Term 2024: The Library Olympics

Poetry Night at the Library

Thursday, March 21st from 3pm to 5pm 

Recite a favorite, read your own poetry, or just sit back and enjoy a snack.

This week's hints:

• These Items are all due on march 22nd
• If you want to avoid a large fine, you should turn them in.
• Includes books, laptops, calculators, and lab kits. 

This week's hints: 

• A 5th century bishop.
• Was kidnaped by pirates and enslaved 
• People wear green on the day of his death 

LIB 127: Introduction to College Research & Information Literacy

• Do you find research to be difficult 😰 and citations to be menacing 🤔? 
• Do you want to learn how to find high quality information in a fraction of the time ⏲?
• Do you want to know how to analyze, summarize, annotate, and ethically share information 🐱‍👤? 
• Do you need 3 humanities credits and want to take an online course 💻?

Good news, LIB 127 is for you! 

Talk to your advisor about registering for this 3-unit course today! CRN: 46197

This week's hints:

- An American author born on February 27th, 1902. 

- Often wrote novels concerning the plight of the poor working class in America. 

- One of his novels is about two migrant workers during the Great Depression in California. 

Hints for this weeks Smarty Award: 

• Hint 1: A lawyer whose work was focused on expanding legal protection for gender equality.  

• Hint 2: First African American woman to earn a JSD from Yale Law School, and first African American woman to be ordained as an Episcopal Priest.  

• Hint 3: Helped Ruth Bader Ginsburg write the brief that allowed her to win the Reed V. Reed case in 1971, which ruled that discrimination based on sex was unconstitutional. 

This weeks hints: 

1) The fourth installment in a magical book series

2) Four characters must compete in three extremely dangerous tasks.

3) Features mermaids, dragons, and a sphinx. 

The UCC Library will be closed, 

Monday, February 19th, 2024,

in observance of 

Presidents' Day

We will be open Tuesday, February 20th at 7:45 am.

To learn more about President's Day click here.

To learn about our past presidents click here

And, just for fun, to learn more about pets in the White House click here

This weeks hints: 

1. Born in the Year of the Dragon in San Francisco, but raised in Hog Kong

2. Took up martial arts at 13 years old, and opened a martial arts school at the age of 20. 

3. Died young, at ae 32, a month after completing work on a film. 

This week's hints:

1) Along with Italy, this country has the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world.

2) Known as the "land of the dragon" 

3) In late-winter a 15 day long celebration is held to mark the start of a new lunar year.