More News December 17, 2019

Special Collections & University Archives employees are constantly working to process recently acquired collections and make those materials ready for use by students, faculty, and researchers.

Each quarter, we will provide a list of the UCR Library's newly processed archival and primary source collections. Check out this list to see if there are any items that fit your research area, or share with a friend!

Below you'll find brief descriptions and links to the finding aids or collection guides for each new collection. To use any of these materials, simply click the "Request Items" button at the top to submit a request, and log in with our Special Collections Request System. For more on conducting research in Special Collections, see this page.

SCUA will be open to the public during winter quarter 2020 on weekdays from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Check here for closures or other changes to our regular hours.

For questions, email specialcollections@ucr.edu.

Newly Processed Collections - Winter 2020​

Poul and Karen Anderson papers (MS 040)

This collection consists of the personal and professional papers of science fiction and fantasy authors Poul and Karen Anderson. These materials document the writing and publishing process and their involvement with the science fiction community and other organizations such as the Society for Creative Anachronism and Sherlockiana groups. Items in the collection include correspondence, manuscript drafts, notes, diaries, personal records, artwork, memorabilia and ephemera from various conventions and events.

https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8sn0gm2/

 

Lillian Bonham papers (MS 012)

Lillian Bonham was an artist and the second wife of bohemian actor, poet, and social critic Sadakichi Hartmann. Bonham’s papers primarily include her personal diaries, starting as a teenager in rural New Jersey through her adult life with Hartmann in Colorado and southern California, as well as correspondence and art. These materials are a wonderful snapshot into everyday life at the end of the 19^th century and a glimpse into the bohemian culture of the early 20^th century.

https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8z03g6t/

 

African Student Programs (UA 388)

This collection contains press clippings, fliers, and other material documenting the African American student experience at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) and the subsequent role of UCR African Student Programs.

https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c87d2w0b/

 

Native American Student Programs (UA 011)

This collection contains fliers, pamphlets, and other material regarding Native American Student Programs (NASP) at the University of California, Riverside which serves students of Native American descent and heritage. Primarily contains information about NASP related events.

https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt0b69r91j/

 

Associated Students of UCR records (UA 354)

This collection contains documents, publications and other material on the Associated Students of the University of California at Riverside (ASUCR), an undergraduate student government body. The bulk of the collection consists of information on amendments to the ASUCR Election Code and the constitution and bylaws of ASUCR

https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c80z78p3/

 

Jan Erickson collection of oral history interviews (UA 144)

 This collection includes typed transcripts, audiocassettes, and videocassettes from an oral history project conducted betweeen 1992 and 2002 by Jan Erickson, former Administrative Assistant to Chancellor Raymond L. Orbach. The interviews include facts and historical details pertaining to key individuals associated with the campus in an aim to depict the evolution of the University of California, Riverside.

https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8qv3nb4/

 

Alumni and former students collection (UA 332)

This collection contains articles, a business card, and other material on alumni and former students of the University of California, Riverside. Mostly contains information on Commander John Kirk Ferguson, USN (Ret.).

https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c81z49s1/

 

Terry Carr collection on Science Fiction Fandom (MS 359)

This collection contains fliers, correspondence, fanzines, newspaper clippings, ballots, materials related to the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA, and other material on Science Fiction fandom collected by Terry Carr.

https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8mk6k8v/

 

Jaymee Goh papers (MS 427)

The collection contains drafts, notes and other materials related to works of science fiction and fantasy written by author Jaymee Goh, including drafts from her works created at the 2016 Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing Workshop.

https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8sn0gdc/

 

Science Fiction Poetry Association Records (MS 307)

This collection contains publications, ballots, and other material from the Science Fiction Poetry Association. Includes issues of Star*Line and the Rhysling Anthology.

https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt15803548/

 

Charles W. McLaughlin photographs (MS 125)

This collection contains the negatives of Charles W. McLaughlin's photographic work documenting the Inland Empire of Southern California (San Bernardino and Riverside counties). The photographs span more than a sixty year period showing the region's development from a rural/agricultural area to a more urban one. Most of the subject matter is landscapes, architecture, and people within the San Bernardino mountains, but areas and landmarks outside of the Inland Empire are included as well. The collection covers material from about 1850 to 1984.

https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt8d5nf563/

More News May 27, 2025

The ORCA Forum highlights student research, creative projects, and open scholarship across disciplines.

What began as a Maker Week competition transformed into something new: the inaugural Open Research and Creative Activities (ORCA) Forum, held on Friday, May 9 at Orbach Library. This quarterly event, hosted by the UCR Library’s Research Services Department, celebrates student projects across disciplines and academic levels, with a focus on open scholarship and interdisciplinary research.

The shift from a Maker Week-related competition to a presentation-based forum was led by Dr. Jing Han, Digital Scholarship Librarian, who saw it as an opportunity to rethink student engagement. “The transition was driven by a desire to experiment with different models for student outreach and engagement, informed by my previous experiences as a student participating in various presentation events,” said Jing. She also identified a “growing need to promote eScholarship usage on campus.”

That insight connected with Jing’s discovery of Janeway, an open-source publishing platform that supports peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, and other scholarly publications. “During a walkthrough of the Janeway platform with the eScholarship team, I noticed its potential for managing conference submissions and publishing proceedings, though there was no existing use case,” she explained. “As several of these elements aligned, the concept for the ORCA Forum naturally came together.”

The forum was designed as both a platform for interdisciplinary research and a pilot for integrating Janeway into UCR’s open publishing infrastructure. “While the Janeway integration is still in progress,” Jing noted, “the forum successfully offered a meaningful space for students across disciplines and academic levels to share their work and engage with the values and practices of open scholarship.” She added, “I was especially happy to see students bond with one another after the event, many of them forming new friendships and becoming research partners.”

Presenters covered a wide range of topics, from visual poetry to mathematics and political science. In the end, Angeliz Vargas Casillas, a PhD candidate in Mathematics, and Mst Shamima Hossain, a PhD candidate in Computer Science and Engineering, tied for first place. Vargas Casillas presented a project on multiscale mathematical modeling of keloid scar expansion, while Hossain showcased her research on developing an “electronic bee-veterinarian” system to safeguard honeybee populations using technology.

Looking ahead, Jing hopes to scale the event while maintaining its intimate format. “Each student retains the opportunity to present for 10 minutes and engage in meaningful feedback from both judges and the audience.” She also hopes to see Janeway “fully matured to manage submissions and publish proceedings directly to eScholarship, including the establishment of a clear review process.”

The next ORCA Forum is scheduled for summer 2025. In the meantime, Jing is preparing to launch a Digital Scholarship Certificate program and The Reference Desk, a biweekly podcast hosted by Jing and produced by KUCR, featuring UCR faculty and student researchers.

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Stay up-to-date with all things digital scholarship at UCR by visiting library.ucr.edu/digital-scholarship.

More News June 18, 2018

Starting on July 2, 2018, Orbach Library will host the National Library of Medicine's latest traveling exhibition, "Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature."

On a dark and stormy night in 1816, Mary Shelley began writing a story that posed profound questions about individual and societal responsibility for other people. To make her point, the young novelist used the scientific advances of her era and the controversies surrounding them as a metaphor for issues of unchecked power and self-serving ambition, and their effect on the human community. Since that time, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus has become one of the Western world’s most enduring myths. The story provides a framework for discussions of medical advances that challenge our traditional understanding of what it means to be human.

The six-banner traveling exhibition explores the Birth of Frankenstein, the life of author Mary Shelley, the scientific search for the principle of life, and the transformation of the “monster” in popular culture.

Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature began traveling around the United States in June 2015.

For more information, contact nlmtravelingexhibits@nlm.nih.gov or visit us on the web at: www.nlm.nih.gov/frankenstein.

This exhibition was developed and produced by the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

Curated by Susan Lederer, PhD

Images courtesy The Bodelian Library, University of Oxford; Universal Studios Licensing LLC; Courtesy The Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelly and His Circle, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations

More News July 09, 2021

After four years of planning and preparation, UC Library Search is preparing to launch on Tuesday, July 27, 2021.

This new UC-systemwide discovery platform will permanently replace Melvyl and local library catalogs as the integrated search tool for all ten University of California campus libraries.

“This project has involved the collaboration and cooperation of librarians from all ten UC campuses and a tremendous amount of time and energy,” said Tiffany Moxham, Associate University Librarian for Content and Discovery. “We are eagerly anticipating its final form.”

Key changes you’ll find in UC Library Search include:

• Search and get real-time availability for print, digital, and electronic items from all ten UC campuses in the Articles, books, and more search. This is a massive expansion from what patrons can currently find when choosing “Everything” as the search scope.
• Discover and request content not available in the UC system through WorldCat Discovery.
• Manage loans, requests, and more from multiple campuses all in one place in My Account.

We have made monthly announcements leading up to the launch to keep our campus community informed about this change. You can view the archive here, along with additional information about the project.

If you have personal lists or saved searches in Melvyl, take these steps before July 27 to preserve your research data, or it will be gone forever:

• To export saved lists, log into Melvyl. Under your account name, select “My Personal Lists” from the drop-down menu. Email the lists to yourself, or use the “Cite” button to export them into citation management software.
• To preserve saved search terms, log into Melvyl and click on “Saved Searches” in the gray menu bar. Make a note of your search terms if you wish to reproduce them in UC Library Search after July 27.
• To update bookmarks to Melvyl records, log into Melvyl and save your bookmarked items to a list, which you can either email to yourself or export into citation management software. Then after July 27, replace your links with the new URL for these items from UC Library Search.

If you have any further questions about UC Library Search, please contact Tiffany Moxham, Associate University Librarian for Content and Discovery.

More News September 26, 2018

The UCR Library will host a poster contest as part of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day 2018 activities at UC Riverside. 

The UCR Library presents its GIS Day event series in collaboration with the Center for Geospatial Studies, the School of Public Policy, the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, the Department of Environmental Sciences, the Department of History, GradQuant, and Capital Asset Strategies.

GIS Day, first established in 1999, provides an opportunity for people to learn about geography and the uses of GIS. This year, UCR will observe GIS Day on Thursday, Nov. 15.

Both undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to enter posters that highlight their use of GIS. All academic disciplines are eligible, including humanities as well as natural and social sciences.

Acceptable formats

Printed posters and a limited number of dynamic displays (such as Story Maps) will be accepted. Students whose abstracts were accepted must submit their posters for printing, or bring their printed poster, to the Map Collection in Orbach Science Library by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 7. Poster printing fees are waived for the contest.

Collaborations are allowed, as are multiple entries. Please note that for group entries, the first author listed will be eligible for any prizes, should that entry win.

How to enter

Prior to entering, students must submit an abstract before 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1 for review and approval by the GIS Day Planning Committee.

To submit an abstract, please fill out this application form. For questions, you can contact Janet Reyes (janet.reyes@ucr.edu) at the Orbach Science Library’s Map Collection, or call (951) 827-6421.

The committee will notify prospective entrants if their abstract was accepted or declined by Monday, Nov. 5.

Students whose abstracts were accepted must submit their posters by Friday, Nov. 7 to the Map Collection in Orbach Library.

Poster display

Beginning on Tuesday, Nov. 13, the entries will be included in a GIS poster display in the lobby of Tomas Rivera Library.

From 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15, entrants will have the opportunity to explain their posters and answer questions.

The contest’s first, second, and third-place winners will be announced at 4:00 p.m. on Nov. 15 in Rivera Library, Room 140.

Contest prizes will include a variety of items students will find useful.

More News August 30, 2021

We are pleased to announce that the UCR Library joins campus in reopening for fall quarter!

Unfortunately, as the COVID epidemic isn’t over yet, it is important that library patrons follow campus health and safety guidelines. Library staff are prepared to adjust the availability of library spaces and services as conditions change.

Library hours for fall quarter are now available at: library.ucr.edu/about/hours. Changes and updates to library hours will be posted on this page throughout the quarter.

The library will host an Open House on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, Sept. 1-3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. New UCR students can visit and use the study spaces at the Rivera Library or the Orbach Science Library on these dates. Please note that Patrons will not be able to check out books during the Open House; however the Creat’R Lab will be providing contactless 3D printing. See the 3D printing service page for instructions on how to place an order.

Curbside delivery of books will end on Friday, Sept. 3. On Tuesday, Sept. 7, patrons will be able to check out physical print books from inside the library. Sept. 7 also marks the day that the HathiTrust Emergency Temporary Access Service (ETAS), which during the closure allowed access to electronic books that we owned in print, will cease.

The library’s Special Collections and University Archives will continue to be open by appointment only until Sept. 20. Please check their web page for instructions on how to make an appointment.

From Sept. 7-19, the library will be open weekdays only from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Circulation Desks and study areas will be open and available for patron use during these times.

Additional library services, including Instructional Sessions, and longer opening hours will be available starting Monday, Sept. 20. The Information Desks in both libraries, as well as the Creat’R Lab and Poster Printing service in Orbach Library will be open on weekdays. Please check the library hours page (library.ucr.edu/about/hours) for the most up to date schedule information.

Students will be able to borrow Course Reserve textbooks beginning Thursday, Sept. 23 (the first day of fall quarter instruction). UCR Faculty can submit Course Reserve requests through Friday, Sept. 3 using this form.

The library website will be updated regularly with additional information about the fall quarter reopening. Patrons are encouraged to bookmark library.ucr.edu and check back frequently for new updates.

More News November 29, 2019

The UCR Library has supported the Bio 5LA course for more than three decades, according to to Early Experience Teaching Librarian Michael Yonezawa.

However, when the library reorganized its departmental structure in 2017 and the Department of Teaching and Learning (T&L) officially took over course-related instruction, he and fellow T&L colleagues felt that it was time to examine both the student experience and course content.

In 2018, they worked with the academic coordinator for Bio 5LA, Dr. Star Lee, to assess whether students were learning needed skills aligned with course goals. The results indicated that students were able to perform some required tasks without additional instruction, which created space for reimagining the course collaboration.

Yonezawa and T&L colleagues decided to update the lesson plan to focus on higher-level goals related to information literacy and critical thinking, as the previous sessions focused on instrumental skills for finding sources. Yonezawa explained, “It’s one thing, knowing how to find something, but it’s also critical to know how to discern between different types of information to determine whether an article is a quality primary research article.”

In an effort led by Yonezawa, T&L completely revised the lesson plan for Bio 5LA in order to empower students to evaluate different types of information resources, incorporating active learning and new technologies. “There’s no reason why you can’t make learning both effective and engaging,” Yonezawa said. “There are plenty of studies that indicate, if you’re having fun, you’re also learning.”

Teaching & Learning launched a pilot program of the updated Bio 5LA curriculum in summer quarter 2019, and is currently implementing the new course content for fall quarter 2019. “This is not a final stop,” Yonezawa said. “We plan to continue to improve over time based on additional data, feedback, and emergent best practices.”

T&L’s Director, Dani Brecher Cook added, “This project demonstrates our commitment to gathering evidence on how and what students are learning, and redesigning our lesson plans in collaboration with academic departments to meet learning goals. This is a great example of what data-informed teaching can look like.”

Students are welcome and encouraged to share feedback with Yonezawa.

More News June 21, 2024

We are excited to welcome Mary-Michelle Moore to the UCR Library as our new STEM Teaching Librarian in the Teaching and Learning Department.

Mary-Michelle's journey into the library field began during her undergraduate years working at UCLA's Charles E. Young Research Library, where she started as a stackie and later worked in interlibrary loan. "After graduation, I tried a couple of jobs in small companies but they weren't the best fit, so I went back to working in the library," she shared. This decision led her to roles at the UCLA Lab School, UC Irvine's Law Library, and UCI’s main library. She eventually decided to pursue a library degree from Rutgers University.

“At some point, I realized that if I wanted to continue to move up, it was either stay in the paraprofessional space and wait for the head of ILL to retire or get my library degree and switch to the librarian side of the library,” she explained.

Her career has taken her to various institutions, including her most recent position at UCSB in the Teaching & Learning Department, and a part-time role at Allan Hancock Community College as a reference librarian. "I've enjoyed all of my library jobs to date and have learned so much at all of my previous institutions," Mary-Michelle said, reflecting on her journey.

Mary-Michelle's educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology from UCLA, with a minor in Philosophy. Initially, Mary-Michelle had her sights set on an Astrophysics major but made the switch to Anthropology. Her genuine interest in the sciences and humanities has equipped her with a diverse skill set that she brings to her library roles.

When asked about her interest in joining our library, Mary-Michelle explained, "When I was a librarian at CSU Dominguez Hills, I was the liaison to the Natural Sciences half of the College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences, and I really enjoyed the work. As someone who comes from an interdisciplinary science background, the blending of information literacy and science needs for students in the library was enjoyable and appealing."

In addition to her professional excitement, Mary-Michelle has personal ties to the area. "I grew up in Redlands and have family nearby, so in addition to a new work environment, I'm looking forward to seeing my family more often," she said.

Mary-Michelle’s enthusiasm for teaching and her interdisciplinary science background will be tremendous assets to our library. We look forward to the innovative ideas and energy she will bring to our team. Please join us in welcoming Mary-Michelle to our library community!

More News October 19, 2018

A former UCR Library employee was recently named Library Director for the Riverside Public Library.

From 2005-2007, Erin Christmas worked as a library assistant in collection maintenance at the UCR Science Library (now Orbach Science Library).

“While working at UCR, I was inspired by the work the librarians and other library professionals did and decided I wanted to apply to school to be awarded a MLIS,” Christmas said. “The experiences at UCR were incredibly important to me and give me a fuller understanding of the role library’s play for students in academic settings and the public at large.”

Christmas has worked for the Riverside Public Library since July 2016 and had been serving as its Interim Library Director since December 2017. She previously worked as the Assistant Library Director for Santa Clarita Public Library, Branch Manager of the Old Town Newhall Library, and at the San Bernardino County Public Library.

In her 10 months as Riverside’s Interim Library Director, Christmas led the 2018 Riverside Reads campaign, the Toy Lending Library project and the CENIC upgrade projects, which greatly increased internet speeds at the Riverside Public Library. These projects are part of her effort to increase public offerings and expand the library’s community impact.

A leader with more than 10 years of professional library experience in California, Christmas has extensive knowledge in library management, a positive attitude, and a talent for collaborating with fellow city department heads. These assets will serve her well while working toward the creation of a new Main Library for the City of Riverside and continuing the tradition of excellence at the library branches across the city.

“Erin Christmas has proven herself to be a tireless advocate of how the library system in Riverside can change lives,” said Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey. “She understands that the library is an incredible resource for young people starting their educations to adults trying to get back into the workforce.”

Christmas holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from Occidental College and a Master’s degree in Library Information Science from San Jose State University.

She is also active in the California Library Association and writes book reviews for United for Libraries, a division of the American Library Association.

More News April 28, 2017

When UCR alumnus Dr. Mark Glassy heard that the library was putting together an exhibit to honor the 200^th anniversary of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, he couldn’t wait to get involved.

Our Jay Kay and Doris Klein Librarian for Science Fiction, JJ Jacobson and her co-curator, graduate student Miranda Butler had been curating the scholarly exhibit for about six months when Glassy reached out to express interest in collaboration.

“Miranda is a grad student in the English department and the SFCS (Speculative Fiction and Cultures of Science) program, and she knows amazing amounts of things about gothic literature,” Jacobson explained. But Glassy brings something very different to the table: a life-long love affair with monster memorabilia and science fiction.

Glassy invited Butler, Jacobson, and Cherry Williams, UCR Library’s Director of Distinctive Collections, to view his extensive personal collection of models, comic books, and other memorabilia. Jacobson nicknamed Glassy’s home “the monster model mansion,” a nod to the title of his former website, The Doctor’s Model Mansion.

Glassy himself sculpted many of the pieces in his collection, and therefore they are one-of-a-kind. “Mark is willing to lend us some of his models for the exhibit and/or an accompanying display,” Jacobson stated enthusiastically.

“It’s such an honor to be with somebody while they show you what their passion is, what they’ve collected over the course of a lifetime,” Williams commented.

Their collaboration has been a meeting of the minds for several people who truly love the genre. “He’s really, really smart about Frankenstein as an enduring icon,” Jacobson said of Glassy. Their conversations sometimes spark new tangents, she added, which inspire an entirely new vein of research for exhibit content.

“He loves that we want to talk to him seriously about science fiction. All of us are taking our geekdom and our love of science fiction and using it to do something amazing in the world,” Jacobson added. “Mark is a big-time cancer hero, and Miranda is an incredibly insightful and promising graduate student. We know here at UCR that a love of science fiction can coexist with a serious intellectual life. Other parts of the world can be a little slower to catch up.”

The “200 Years of Frankenstein” exhibit is scheduled to begin in September 2018, in Special Collections on the fourth floor of Rivera Library.

Cancer researcher by day, and science fiction enthusiast by night. See more of UCR alumnus Dr. Glassy’s collection here: www.glassyscifiarchive.com