The Library Whiteboard

So far this year, the questions have been light-hearted. 

• Where did you come from?
• Draw a self-portrait.
• What organizations might you join?
• Right now, what are you feeling?

But they won't always be. The prompts are meant to provide you a space to be silly, but also to stimulate discussion.

In the past, prompts have included:

• Draw a picture of your pet(s)
• Is feminism relevant today? Why/why not?
• What inspires you?
• Power is...
• How have you changed since high school?
• Syrian refugees:  What should we do?
• What meal from home do you miss most?
• Why are fewer Americans believing God, praying daily, and attending religious services?

Responses have been thoughtful, offended, offending, encouraging, insensitive, creative, and humorous. Forums like this, where you can respond with casualness and some guarantee of anonymity can be freeing and I hope you'll respond with candor, grace, and a willingness to learn from the experiences of others on campus.

If you've ever entered the 2nd floor entrance to the library, you've seen this board in front of the east stairway. If you've ever wanted to post a question--or if your student organization has ever wanted to post a prompt--please know that we in the library encourage you to send your ideas to Paige [underscore] Mann [at] redlands [dot] edu or add them to the board when asked. I'll soon use the board to ask for suggestions.

Paige Mann
Physical Sciences Librarian

Banned Books Week

September 25 - October 1 is Banned Books Week, a time in which we can celebrate our freedom to read! This year Banned Books Week focuses on diversity, and thus challenged literature focusing on "diverse experiences, including (but not limited to) LGBTQIA, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities" (WNDB, 2016). Events planned over the next several days include a a lunch time Read-Out, a screening of a banned Star Trek episode, and a discussion on Sherman Alexie's work led by the Anti-Racist Book Club.

Banned Books Week events are sponsored by the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Johnston Center for Integrative Studies, and Armacost Library.

Banned Books Read Out
When: Monday, September 26, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Outside the Irvine Commons
Brave members of the community will read from their favorite banned or challenged book. Stop and listen for a spell, or join in the freedom to read. Banned and challenged books will be available for perusal.

Star Trek Screening
When: Tuesday, September 27, 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Where: Library computer lab, #104
Why was "Plato's Stepchildren" banned? Food will be provided during the screening. After, discuss anything Star Trek with expert Iyan Sandri.

Anti-Racist Book Club
When: Wednesday, September 28, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Where: Holt Lobby
Join the Anti-Racist Book Club for a discussion on works by Sherman Alexie!

Banned Books Display
When: All week
Where: Library entrance, 2nd floor
The Armacost Library will highlight banned and challenged literature.


References
We Need Diverse Books [WNDB]. (2016). The we need diverse books YA short story contest. Retrieved from http://weneeddiversebooks.org/the-we-need-diverse-books-ya-short-story-contest/
 

Welcome (back)! The Armacost Library is here to support you.

Borrow
Of course you expect to be able to borrow books from the library, both e-books and in print. But we also have many DVDs--feature films, television shows, and excellent documentary films. More interested in music? We have music available on CDs, streaming, and on vinyl.

Searching for articles (scholarly journals, magazines, newspapers)? The library purchases access to 123 multi-disciplinary and subject-specific databases. Your librarians have created guides to the core databases in each of the major/minor disciplinary programs available at University of Redlands.

Business research guide: http://library.redlands.edu/business

If you can't find what you need at Armacost Library, we can get it for you from another library easily (usually)! We can get most books through our Link+ service, and it takes only a day or two for books to arrive. Look for the Link+ button in the library catalog. Articles can be requested through Interlibrary Loan: When you see the Find Full Text button next to an article in one of our databases, click through to Interlibrary Loan if we don't have the article. Most articles will arrive within days; we'll email to let you know it's available online. We can get almost anything in the world for you; all you have to do is ask.

Study
The Armacost Library offers a variety of study spaces: individual study carrels, large group study tables, soft comfortable seating, and two group study rooms.

Computers and printers are available both in the Library and in the Fletcher Jones Computing Center (computer lab and several smaller collaborative learning spaces) on the first floor of the building.

Research
Your librarians are here to help you with research projects and other assignments. Research assistance is available M-Th 9am-9pm, F 9am-5pm, Sat. 10am-5pm, and Sun. 1-9pm. Ask at the main desk for the librarian on-call. You can also call, chat, email, and make an appointment with your subject librarians. After hours, these subject research guides my help you out.

If you're having trouble finding your way, these floor maps of Armacost Library may help.

Please don't hesitate to contact us, let us know what you need. We're only a few steps, a phone call, a chat window, and an email away.

Good luck with the first week of classes!