Search

• Read more about Using the Library

More News October 08, 2019

Join us as we celebrate these recent achievements by the following UCR Library employees.

Dan Szilagyi, Manager of Cyberinfrastructure recently completed the UC Information Technology Leadership Academy (UCITLA), taught by faculty at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. UCITLA is an intensive learning experience that consisted of two three-day sessions in February and May 2019, along with a team project that was completed in between sessions. Szilagyi participated in the fourth UCITLA cohort.

Participants learned about strategic leadership, innovation and change management; networked with peers to support collaboration and innovation initiatives across the UC system; and prepared to guide staff through change, challenge and opportunity.

UC Riverside’s CIO Danna Gianforte nominated Szilagyi for UCITLA 2019. He said, “UCITLA was excellent and eye-opening, particularly in the area of innovation. The people were amazing to work with.”

***

Elisha Hankins, Orbach Library’s Access Services Desk Coordinator recently completed her Professional Academic Advisor Certification Course (PAACC), a 10-month comprehensive professional development program that teaches the history, practice and art of academic advising, including the crucial role that academic advisors play in student success, building student-centered and responsibility-sharing relationships, and honing the advisor’s conceptual, informational and relational skills.

Hankins’ role keeps her working closely with dozens of library student employees in Access Services, which is what first piqued her interest in PAACC. “A traditional academic advisor only interacts with their students once per quarter, and that’s if their students are proactive. I work with my students 20 hours a week. PAACC gave me tools and resources to use in my current job,” she said.

“The people that I end up hiring tend to be the ones who want to be world-changers or world-shakers, the ones who want to make a difference,” she added. 

The PAACC program also provided skills for working with library patrons. As Hankins explained, “Because we work at the Circulation Desk, people think we’re their best friends, so they’ll tell us their life stories. So we can put these skills into practice with the patrons we assist, as well.”

***

Cataloging Librarian Ruben Urbizagastegui recently published “Analysis of El Niño Coastal phenomenon by the method of associated words.”(Ciência da Informação. 2019, v. 48, n. 2.). In this paper, he compared two articles about the local weather phenomenon that affects the coasts of Peru and Ecuador. “El Niño causes a mess all over the world, with typhoons in India and droughts in Australia and California,” he explained. “But the Incas already knew of this phenomenon and knew how to control it.”

The articles he contrasted were written by two of the most prestigious newspapers in Peru -- one government-owned and the other privately owned. He noted the impact of socio-economic influence on the written word. “We analyzed the information, expecting to find two different perspectives, but we found only one,” he said. “In other words, the newspapers don’t care about the people. They do what they do to protect their own interests.”

Urbizagastegui has worked at the UCR Library for 30 years and has published eight books in that time. Additionally, he regularly reviews articles for five or six different library scientific journals. Most of his work has been published in Spanish or Portuguese on issues that affect marginalized communities.

***

In May 2019, Raul Aguilera, Access Services Assistant (Evenings) at Rivera Library completed his Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree with San Jose State University. He began his career as a work-study student at Orbach Library in January 2014, while working toward his Bachelor’s degree in English at UC Riverside (class of 2015).

“Originally, I wanted to be an English professor,” Aguilera said. As a student, he saw the value of the services that the library provided and the research that librarians do; so he began to envision a different career path in academia. Aguilera believes that his life experience as a UCR student gives him an added perspective about which kinds of library services would be most valuable to our patrons.

“I really like giving service, and if someone leaves the desk happy, I feel like I’ve accomplished something,” he added. “I think that’s just part of my nature, being able to contribute in a higher capacity, going above and beyond whenever I’m able to.”

***

Judy Lee, University Programs Teaching Librarian co-wrote a chapter,“Remembering Consciousness is Power: Working to Center Academic Library Outreach in the Service of Social Justice, Asian and Pacific Islander American Ethnic Visibility, and Coalition-Building,” in Cura, Yago S, and Max Macias. Librarians with Spines: Information Agitators in an Age of Stagnation: Volume II. Los Angeles: Hinchas Press, 2019. Lee co-wrote the chapter in collaboration with Melissa Cardenas-Dow, a former colleague at the UCR Library who is now a librarian at California State University, Sacramento.

Librarians with Spines is the second volume in a radical book of essays and chapters on library issues and topics related to emerging and marginalized communities, and is available for purchase on Amazon.

 

More News August 18, 2025

The UCR Library is excited to share that our Trailfinders collection has been fully digitized and is now available online through Calisphere. 

This unique collection documents the history of the Trailfinders, a private school for boys and wilderness organization founded by Harry C. James in Hollywood, California in 1915.

The materials include organizational records, correspondence, notebooks, scrapbooks, photographs, and 16mm silent films that capture the spirit of outdoor adventure and community at the heart of the Trailfinders experience. From detailed camp logbooks and snapshots of mountain hikes to camp traditions and flapjack contests, the collection offers a vivid look into early/mid 20th-century outdoor education in Southern California.

Together, these materials preserve the legacy of Harry C. James and the Trailfinders organization, providing a valuable resource for researchers, educators, and anyone interested in the history of outdoor education and recreation.

Explore the full collection online: Trailfinders Collection on Calisphere.

More News April 10, 2017

Chancellor Emeritus Raymond L. Orbach visited his namesake library on the morning of Friday, April 7.

Escorted by University Librarian Steve Mandeville-Gamble, Deputy University Librarian Ann Frenkel, and Associate University Librarian Alison Scott, Chancellor Emeritus Orbach was treated to a pre-launch tour of the Creat'R Lab.

While there, he met with Medical Library Programs Coordinator Tiffany Moxham and Engineering Librarian Kat Koziar to learn about exciting developments in their respective divisions of the UCR Library.

Orbach was inspired to learn that the library has grown into an interdisciplinary hub and matchmaker, where various departments and their leadership are working together to advance the university, students, faculty, and the Inland Empire.

He was equally pleased to learn of the role the library played in the development of UCR’s School of Medicine (SoM). Medical Librarian Tiffany Moxham described how she has been a key partner in shaping practitioner development and providing research support to clinicians, residents, and others in the SOM community.

Perhaps most exciting for Orbach was when he heard about the collaborations being built with campus and community partners, thereby reducing the silo effect common at many large institutions. Orbach shared that this was his ultimate dream for UCR, and was thrilled to see the growing entrepreneurial ecosystem on campus, including the Creat’R Lab and EPIC (Entrepreneurial Proof of Concept and Innovation Center,) – a collaboration between UCR and Riverside city and county.

Orbach also commented that when he was Chancellor, he wanted to reverse the flow of traffic in the region (i.e. make Riverside the center of economic growth). If recent campus collaborations are any indicator of progress, he might see his wish come true as industry begins to call Riverside home, and UCR a partner, all of which is thanks in part to the UCR Library and a rich legacy of campus leadership.

More News October 24, 2016

The African American Collections Advisory Board held its second Annual Meeting at Raymond L. Orbach Science Library on Saturday, October 22, 2016

University Librarian Steven Mandeville-Gamble and Associate University Librarian for Collections & Scholarly Communication Alison Scott welcomed AACA Board members and special guests at the start of the meeting.

The full-day program included panels and discussions on topics related to best practices in collecting and preserving the history of the African American experience and methods of documenting issues ranging from local to international impact, including:

• Community-Based Approaches to Documenting People of Color, led by Catherine Gudis, Director of the Public History Program at UC Riverside, University & Political Papers Archivist Bergis Jules, and Rose Mayes, Executive Director of the Fair Housing Council of Riverside County
• Activism & Public Policy, led by Nemata Blyden, Associate Professor of History and International Affairs at George Washington University, Meredith Evans, Director of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, Alison Scott, and Alexander Wilson, Jr., Vice President of External Affairs for Black Student Union and African Student Programs Representative on UCR Diversity Council.
• Afro-Futurism / Post-Colonial Endeavors, led by JJ Jacobson, Jay Kay and Doris Klein Librarian for Science Fiction, and Cherry Williams, Director of Distinctive Collections

“Hosting a national-level conversation like this helps to make sure that these voices are present and heard in our research, teaching and learning,” explained Alison Scott, Associate University Librarian for Collections & Scholarly Communication. “This is how the library’s communities can help us ensure that we’re building the kinds of collections and programs that meet our community’s needs. It involves looking back to make sure we document history, understanding emerging needs, and being part of the community.”

The program concluded with closing thoughts and feedback from Bergis Jules, Steven Mandeville-Gamble, Alison Scott, and Cherry Williams.

Board members in attendance were Abdul Alkalimat, Hardy Brown, Tamar Evangelista-Dougherty, Ruth M. Jackson, Yolanda T. Moses, Kenneth E. Simons, Ralph W. Smith, and Patricia Smith-Hunt, in addition to the panelists named above.

Special guests included MJ Abraham from Riverside’s Center for Social Justice & Civil Liberties, Director of Development for Campus-wide Initiatives Samantha Lang, and Milagros Peña, Dean of UC Riverside’s College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS).

More News August 29, 2024

As Hispanic Heritage Month approaches (observed September 15 - October 15), it’s important to recognize the lasting impact of Tomás Rivera on the UC Riverside community. 

Tomás Rivera was the first Mexican American and minority chancellor in the University of California system and his influence continues to shape our campus. The Tomás Rivera Library, named in his honor, reflects his lasting impact on UCR and the Hispanic community.

Born in Crystal City, Texas, in 1935, Rivera was the son of migrant farmworkers and spent part of his early life working in the fields. He pursued higher education, eventually earning an M.A. in Spanish Literature and a Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literature all while working as a high school teacher.

Rivera’s writing often gave a voice to those overlooked, addressing issues of identity and labor. His most recognized work is his novel ...y no se lo tragó la tierra (...and the Earth Did Not Devour Him). Published in 1971, the novel captured the lives of Mexican American migrant workers. 

As chancellor of UCR from 1979 to 1984, Rivera was a champion for increasing educational access for underrepresented communities. His efforts were driven by a firm belief in the power of education to bring about social change. His leadership helped guide UCR towards becoming the inclusive and diverse institution it is today.

The Tomás Rivera Archive, housed in our Special Collections & University Archives, helps preserve his legacy. This collection includes manuscripts, correspondence, and photographs that provide valuable insights into his life and work. The archive serves as an essential resource for those studying Rivera’s impact on literature, education, and UCR. You can view select digitized photographs and documents from the collection on Calisphere. 

Although he passed in 1984, Tomás Rivera remains a figure of significant importance. His dedication to education and social justice continues to inspire our community. The Tomás Rivera Library, along with his archive, stands as a living testament to his life’s work, ensuring that his influence on UCR and beyond will endure for generations.

• Read more about Medical Education

More News December 17, 2025

STEM Teaching Librarian Mary-Michelle Moore, housed in the UCR Library’s Teaching and Learning Department, plays a key role in helping STEM students build research and information literacy skills.

Need help refining a research question? Looking for the right STEM database? Stuck on citations or trying to learn Git or R? That's where Mary-Michelle Moore comes in. Since joining UCR Library as STEM Teaching Librarian in June 2024, she's been supporting students at every level, from foundational research skills to technical tools.

Mary-Michelle came to UCR from other UC and Cal State institutions, where she held various roles including a position at the UCLA Lab School, circulation coordinator, and a library liaison to the social sciences and STEM, among others. Her diverse background made her well-suited for interdisciplinary library work. "My undergrad is a Bachelor of Science in Archaeology, so I know a little bit of everything—bio, geology, chemistry—and I realized I really liked working with the sciences," she said. She later earned her MLIS from Rutgers University.

At UCR, Moore collaborates with colleagues to make the Library's STEM support more visible. She helped launch libstemteam@ucr.edu, a shared email where students and faculty can send any STEM questions without figuring out which librarian or staff member to contact. She also offers Lib STEM Team Office Hours during the quarter to assist graduate students and faculty.

Moore has planned creative engagement activities like a Pi Day spirograph event tied to mathematical patterns and an Ada Lovelace Day Wikipedia editing workshop highlighting women's contributions to computing. These activities reflect her goal of offering approachable, memorable experiences that bring students into the Library.

This fall, Mary-Michelle became the first librarian to teach UGRD 040, a new 2-unit course launched in fall 2025 and developed by the Library’s Teaching & Learning Department. Mary-Michelle’s inaugural course, Optimize Your Research Skills, was designed with undergraduate STEM students in mind. In the course, students explore scientific information, evaluate reports and government data, and prepare a final research poster. "I was so excited to get to do it first," she said.

Mary-Michelle is also a researcher herself, studying how students learn information literacy online and how librarians are portrayed in science fiction and fantasy. Her recent project analyzing Hugo Award–nominated works drew on materials from Special Collections & University Archives. Outside the Library, she combines conference travel with long-distance running, working toward completing a race in every state.

---

How Mary-Michelle Can Help 

• Develop and focus research questions.
• Identify discipline-specific STEM databases.
• Offer guidance on citations and reference management.
• Support upper-division coursework, posters, and early research projects.
• Assist with tools related to Git, R, and Carpentries content.

Need STEM help? Contact Mary-Michelle at marymichelle.moore@ucr.edu or email the Lib STEM Team at libstemteam@ucr.edu.
 

More News July 24, 2017

We are delighted to announce that Megan De Leon has joined the UC Riverside team effective Monday, July 24, 2017 as the Associate Director of Development for the UCR Library.

UC Riverside is in the midst of its first comprehensive development campaign, "Living the Promise," working to raise $300 million to enable the university to advance its impact in life-changing research, student success, teaching and learning, community development, and more. Megan's role will be instrumental in helping the UCR Library meet – and exceed – its campaign goal.

Megan has extensive experience in higher education, having served as Assistant Campus Director of Enrollment for the School of Business at the University of Redlands. She holds a M.B.A. from the University of Redlands and a B.A. from Cal Poly Pomona.

She also is an accomplished public speaker and president of a local Toastmasters club.

Megan will work closely with Director of Development Sam Lang to increase philanthropic investment in the UCR Library, thereby supporting the excellence of our faculty, students, staff, and community partners.

More News June 06, 2016

Though only in his second month at the UCR Library, Kent LaCombe is already in the midst of several projects designed to help better preserve and provide access to the library’s rich collection of water-related materials. As the Water Resources Librarian he is responsible for managing and curating the library’s unique contemporary and historic materials devoted to all aspects of water resources held in both the Special Collections’ Water Resources Collections and Archives (WRCA) and in the general collection.

LaCombe’s educational and professional background make him well-positioned to oversee the growth and evolution of a collection that currently boasts more than 200,000 technical reports, 1,500 specialized newsletters, 5,000 maps, 200 manuscript collections, and 45,000 historic photographs documenting water history. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental History from Kansas State University where his dissertation focused on freshwater ecosystems, specifically environmental change in Lake Huron during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Before coming to UCR LaCombe was an Assistant Professor of Libraries at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he served as an embedded liaison librarian in the School of Natural Resource Sciences. LaCombe also holds an M.L.S. from Emporia State University and has extensive experience working in libraries, archives, and museums. Most notably he served as the Assistant Director of Vermont’s Brownell Library and was the Search and Sorting Supervisor at Kansas State University’s Hale Library.

LaCombe has often described this position as a “dream appointment” for him that perfectly matches his specialized abilities, experience, and long-term professional goals. He views this position as the perfect vehicle for applying his expertise and passion for both information science and water studies. Through everything from resource visibility, promotion and teaching to donor cultivation, he is prepared to drive the building, enhancement, maintenance, and delivery of the library’s world class water resources collection. The library is pleased to welcome LaCombe to our team and with him at the helm we are excited to witness the new and exciting directions that this world class research collection is headed.