Uncategorized – Page 33

De-stress with Virtual Travel

Final exams are now upon us. This time is stressful under the best of circumstances, but students – and faculty – are now faced with the added challenge of adapting to an entirely online mode of learning.

The Archer Library recognizes the importance of taking time to de-stress, regroup, and refresh during these difficult times. While we can’t be there for you face-to-face, we wanted to provide you with some virtual distractions.

You may be feeling a bit of cabin fever, so why not take yourself on a virtual vacation? You deserve it!

Walk among the ruins of Machu Picchu, visit an empty Sistine Chapel, or tour some of the world’s most famous museums here.

Feeling adventurous? Explore the Carlsbad Caverns, the caves of Lascaux, or scuba dive in a coral reef.

For a slower, more relaxed outing, take in the calm beauty of nature hikes or just sit and enjoy some backyard wildlife.

If you’re missing the library atmosphere, check out some of the world’s most beautiful libraries here.

Remember that library staff are still here for you! If you need assistance, visit the library’s home page for links to our various online services.

Library Services Available Online!

Archer Library resources and services are still available to you online. Access thousands of electronic journals, e-books, primary resources and even films all from the comfort of your own home through the library website.

Staff are available to assist you with your reference questions 7 days a week from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. via chat, email, or zoom. Need help finding resources, questions about copyright or citing sources? We’re here to support you.

For up to date information on our Services go to https://uregina.libguides.com/covid-19/

Read your Textbooks Online!

Access up to seven e-books at one time from participating publishers including Nelson, Cengage, Sage, and Norton at no cost until April 30, 2020! Go to this research guide and click on the link titled: Textbooks from Nelson Canada, Pearson Canada, Cengage and other publishers. Create an account using your University of Regina email address and find and view your course materials.

Starting March 23 Archer will Transition to Online Services Only

To ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff, starting March 23, Archer Library will transition to online services. This means:

We will be fully available to answer your research or study questions via chat, email, text (306-993-1116), phone (306-585-4133) or through ZOOM between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The Library building will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to allow students with no other options to access remaining computers.
There will be no in-person services available (circulation, reference, or directional support).
Reserve items and Textbook for All materials will not be available to borrow.

For more information on services go to https://uregina.libguides.com/covid-19 Continue to check this page for updates to Library services.

The Library of Babel

Hear the sound of music reverberating throughout Archer Library! Join us for the University of Regina New Music Ensemble’s presentation of The Library of Babel on Friday, March 20 at 2:00 p.m. in the Archer stairwell.

The Library of Babel is a work by Canadian composer Jordan Nobles, based on the book by Jorge Luis Borges.

The University of Regina New Music Ensemble is under the direction of Helen Pridmore. The Library of Babel consists of 9 players who will be performing in the Archer stairwell, situated at different levels. The audience is encouraged to view the performance on the various floors of Archer Library outside of the stairwells.

Composer’s notes on the work: The Library of Babel is inspired by the short story by Argentine author (and librarian) Jorge Luis Borges. In the story the characters live in a universe in the form of an infinite library. Each room of this library contains shelves of books with a seemingly random series of letters. It is theorized that the endless collection of books would contain every possible combination of letters, therefore every work ever written, and everything that ever could be written, including, somewhere, the index to the library itself. While my work is somewhat more finite it does have a series of melodic cells to be performed at the musician’s discretion which are taken from an actual melody that never reveals itself.

Gömböc Unveiling

Do you know what a gömböc is? Do you want to see one in person?

The gömböc is an object that always comes to rest in the same position, having only one stable point of equilibrium. Its existence was theorized in 1995 by Russian mathematician Vladimir Arnold. The most well-known solution was proven in 2006 by Hungarian scientists Gábor Domokos and Péter Várkonyi.

In November 2019, Dr. Domokos approached the University of Regina Library about donating a gömböc with a unique serial number to the University of Regina. Since 2007, uniquely-numbered gömböc models have been gifted to esteemed individuals and institutions around the world. In receiving the gömböc numbered 1911, the University of Regina will become the second institution in Canada to house a unique gömböc (joining the University of Toronto)!

The gömböc is a tangible proof of mathematical theory, made material through the ingenuity of modern science. The gömböc has attracted attention in the fields of engineering, geology, biology, and even in the fine arts.

Join us to see this object in person during Pi Day celebrations on Friday, March 13, 2020 at 1:00 in the RIC Atrium. Refreshments provided!

Don’t forget to stay after the unveiling of the gömböc to witness the pie-eating contest, and enjoy some free pie courtesy of the Mathematics, Actuarial Science, and Statistics Student Society (MASS).

*Facts about gömböc taken from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6mb%C3%B6c

Feature Collection: Music for March

This month the Archer Library hallway display case is featuring Music for March, highlighting one of our many wonderful library collections!

Did you know you can borrow music (recordings, scores, sheet music,
song books, etc.) from the library?

Check out the M Section on the third floor of Archer for books, or come chat with us at the Help Desk for more information!

Just for fun: Does the line of music at the top of the display ring any bells?

Behind the Scenes: Micromaterials

Way up on the 6th floor of the Archer Library, overlooking splendid views of Wascana Park, is our micromaterials collection.

Hidden within the reels of microfilm and drawers of microfiche cards are the archives of major newspapers, government documents, historical documents, and publications from a wide variety of disciplines.

All of our micromaterials are searchable in the library’s search engine, Quick Find. If you find any micromaterial sources in our catalogue that you want to access, please visit staff at the Help Desk for assistance.

Upcoming Workshop–Using Open Textbooks

Panel Discussion: “Using Open Textbooks – Instructor and Student Experiences”

The University of Regina’s Open Textbook Publishing Program in collaboration with Archer Library is pleased to announce the second of three workshops on open educational resources. A panel of instructors and students will provide their personal perspectives on using open textbooks as teachers and as learners, and will share their thoughts on the future of open educational resources.

When: Wednesday 26 February from 10:30 – 11:45am

Where: LY 107.33 (Archer Library)

A panel of instructors and students who are using open textbooks in their courses will provide their personal perspectives on their experiences. Participants will learn about the benefits and realities of using open textbooks, as well as the challenges and potential areas for improvement. Panelists will also share their thoughts on the future of open educational resources. This panel discussion will be moderated by Cara Bradley, Research& Scholarship Librarian, University of Regina.

For more information on this workshop, please contact open.textbooks@uregina.ca.

Behind the Scenes: The Basement

There are hidden worlds within libraries that the public usually never gets to see. One of the Archer Library’s secret spots is the basement storage, filled with rows upon rows of archival treasures, carefully curated in boxes.

Although it’s a large space, it can give one the feeling of claustrophobia as you walk through the densely packed shelves. The dim lighting and grey concrete walls give it a thrillingly eerie quality. There’s always the temptation to frequently look behind you, just in case…

Regina author Gail Bowen was obviously inspired by this creepy setting and used it as the scene of a murder in Burying Ariel, one of the books in the Joanne Kilbourn series. You can find Burying Ariel – and other works by Bowen – in the Archer Library. Don’t worry – you won’t have to go into the basement to find them!