Finals studying and decompressing at the library

Finals week can be very stressful, and it doesn't help that this year's schedule is so close to the holidays.  Never fear, Lane Library is there for you this time of year.  We have a variety of study spaces, longer hours, and reference help.  When it is time for a little escape, we offer snacks, hot beverages, crafts and puzzles.

Origami fish being festive in the stacks

Whether it is to study or take a much needed break, we have what you need starting this Saturday. 


Study options: 

• Optimal spaces:  Whether it is a place for group studying with a whiteboard, quiet studying in the stacks, or typing out that paper, we have a variety of study locations that help you escape any distractions you might find in the dorm.
• Extended Hours at the library: 
  

              Friday, December 13: 7:30 a.m.-10:00 pm
              Saturday, December 14: 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
              Sunday, December 15: 10:00 a.m.-1 a.m.
              Monday-Thursday, December 16-19: 7:30 a.m.-1 a.m.
              Friday, December 20: 7:30 a.m.-5:00 pm

• Reference help:  Even when the best laid plans are made, sometimes those last minute research needs crop up.  As librarians, we are here to help, so please come find us in our offices when you are stumped.  If it happens after hours, please check out the library research guides for specific guidance in your area of study.  

 Stress Relieving activities: 

• Snacks and hot beverages: When the time is right for a break, stop by for coffee or tea, with a little popcorn and cookies.  
• Origami:  We will provide the paper and instructions, you find your zen spot with mountain and valley folds galore.
• Snowflakes:  Need some window decorations to get into that holiday spirit?  Puffy paint and a little wax paper will go a long way.
• Watercolor cards: Want to make a holiday card for that special someone?  We have the supplies, you simply need your creativity.
• Puzzles:  We will have puzzles out on the table
• Coloring Contest:  Sharpen those crayons for the annual coloring contest, complete with bragging rights for the winner.

With so much going on, we look forward to seeing you at Lane Library!

Google-fu!

We recently had a "Google Advanced" workshop at the library. We could have also called it "Google-fu" - as wiktionary defines it: "Skill in using search engines (especially) Google to quickly find useful information on the Internet." Thanks to everyone who came out! It was perhaps one of our best attended workshops and for good reason - we all use search engines, usually google, many times a day. The search functions we discussed in the class allow you to search more quickly and with more accuracy. Click through the class Prezi below to find out what beginner, intermediate, and advanced googlers should be able to do:

Here are my favorite tricks -

• Site:  Searches within a domain. Example, “site:harvard.edu” or “site:gov”. Extremely helpful when you need government statistics or data, or just want academic results (site:edu). This is an example of what I would enter into the search box - "wi poverty statistics site:gov"
• ~ Finds synonyms of your term and searches with them too. "recipe Halloween ~dessert” searches for the word dessert and cookies, cakes, candy, etc.
• .. Number or publication date range, example: “$1..$5” or “1994..1998”. For instance, if I wanted to buy a vest that costs between $20 and $40, I would enter "vest $20..$40"
• In Google Images, click and drag an image file from your computer into the search box to search or images like it. 
• Use “ctrl + f” to find words on a page. Only 10% of users know this very useful and time-saving trick. Try it now! Hold down the "ctrl" and "f" keys at the same time ("command" and "f" on Apples). A small search box will appear in your browser, type in "10%" and it will highlight that phrase on this bullet point.

Graphic by HackCollege.com

For more information on Advanced Google functions, be sure to read through the above graphic and check out these links:

https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/136861?hl=en

http://www.google.com/help/features.html

Historical Ripon College Basketball Pictures

To mark the beginning of both the men’s and women’s basketball seasons this past weekend, the Ripon College Archives has digitized portions of its basketball photograph collections and has made them available via the Recollection Wisconsin Digital Collections website.

See: http://content.mpl.org/cdm/search/collection/Ripon      Search: Basketball

Ripon College Basketball team 1917

 

Although both Coaches Lauren Johnson and Ryan Kane are in their first and second seasons, respectively, basketball has a long history at Ripon, having been played intercollegiately since at least 1907. Organized football, baseball and track were the first sports to gain traction at Ripon College in the 19th century. It wasn’t until 1896 that the West Hall basement was remodeled to allow enough space for basketball games.

Tip-off during intramural basketball game

ca. 1935