More News May 06, 2019

During winter quarter 2019, the UCR Library collaborated on a survey with ASUCR and their Student Voice Committee to learn how we can improve students’ academic experience.

463 undergraduate and graduate students participated in the survey and identified these top five obstacles to student success at UC Riverside:

1)      Difficult classes (32%)

2)      Time management (25%)

3)      Cost of textbooks (15%)

4)      Lack of study spaces (8%)

5)      Not owning a laptop (4%)

The UCR Library and its partners directly address three of these challenges:

Cost of textbooks:        Library course reserves and the Affordable Course Materials Initiative (ACMI) can help offset the high cost of textbooks.

Lack of study spaces:         Both Rivera and Orbach Libraries provide a variety of study rooms that students can reserve online, including the recently updated and soundproof David W. Musso Quiet Study Rooms.

Not owning a laptop:         Students can borrow a laptop from one of the new ITS-managed Laptops Anytime self-service kiosks in the Rivera and Orbach libraries, or check out a laptop from the Circulation / Reserves Desks.

The library also offers some support to address students’ two most pressing challenges – difficult classes and time management.

Difficult classes:

• Make an appointment with a librarian to request individual research assistance.
• In-class presentations to find and use research resources, and gain expertise on digital tools and technologies. Students can suggest that their instructors contact the library directly to request this service.

Time management:

• The library offers workshops every quarter on a variety of time-saving topics, including citation management and other research tools and techniques.
• Individual how-to consultations on digital tools or other technology: use the ‘Ask Us’ button on the library’s homepage to find a library consultant, or visit one of the Info Desks for general questions and guidance.

If students feel stressed by their academic challenges, the library offers stress-relieving resources, too:

• Visit the Creat’R Lab in Orbach Library to make something fun and creative.
• Open up a Rivera Library maker box to color, play with Legos, or make other crafts.

The library’s staff are its greatest resource to assist students with their most pressing concerns. “Librarians and their individual expertise can be extremely helpful,” said Dani Cook, UCR Library’s Director of Teaching & Learning.

Those who are interested in offering philanthropic support for student success at UC Riverside are encouraged to speak with Jernine McBride, Associate Director of Development, to learn more about the UCR Library's Student Success Fund.

• Read more about Accessing Special Collections & University Archives (SCUA) Materials

More News November 22, 2016

It’s hard to believe that Fall Quarter 2016 is already drawing to a close, but suddenly we find ourselves with Finals Week only days away.

UCR Library is committed to creating a supportive atmosphere for our students, and final exams can tend to breed a lot of stress. That is why we present our Finals Week Stress Relief event series at the end of every quarter. These events give library employees an opportunity to get to know our students better, and for our students to let off steam together in a safe and fun way.

This quarter, we have crowd favorites returning to the line-up, such as the Therapy Dogs, as well as a few new activities.

Finals Week Stress Relief will kick off on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. The full schedule of events can be found on our Events page.

In addition, there is a contest to win a VIP Study Room. Details for the contest are available on our Facebook page.

Volunteers are always welcome to help run the events. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Sahra Missaghieh Klawitter or Elisha Hankins to find out how to get involved.

More News July 14, 2021

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.

For questions, email specialcollections@ucr.edu.

Newly Processed Collections - Summer 2021

Philip Flint papers (WRCA 248)

This collection consists of research materials for Flint's dissertation, printed materials; statistics, tables, and graphs; as well as a small amount of correspondence and personal material. Related subjects include nitrogen nutrient levels, arctic tundra, and the International Tundra Biome.

Joan Simpson Collection on Philip K. Dick (MS 081)

The collection consists mainly of letters, poems, and story drafts written by science fiction author Philip K. Dick to Joan Simpson, who he was in a relationship with for most of 1977. Letters in the collection focus mostly on Dick's relationship with Simpson, including their breakup in November of 1977, as well as reflections about his life and experiences. Also included in the collection are some correspondence from Dick to reviewers and publishers about his works and others, and personal correspondence and invitations sent to Simpson.

Anne R. Dick Collection on Philip K. Dick (MS 083)

The collection contains correspondence and related materials from author Philip K. Dick compiled by his third wife and biographer Anne R. Dick. Items in the collection are from the period after their divorce, and consist mostly of personal correspondence, along with some items related to Anne's biography of Philip K. Dick.

More News March 29, 2022

Please extend a warm welcome to Scott McAvoy, the UCR Library’s new Marker Services Coordinator. 

Scott joined the UCR Library on March 15 and is an expert in 3D design, data manipulation, and modeling. His work spans a wide range of disciplines, including archaeology, medicine, and GIS. 

As the Maker Services Coordinator, Scott’s key responsibility is overseeing the daily operations of the Creat'R Lab, which include assisting Creat’R Lab patrons, supervising student employees, implementing and maintaining specialized equipment, and facilitating outreach activities such as meetups and workshops for students and faculty.

Scott received a BA in History and MA in Educational Technology from San Diego State University.

More News August 28, 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 fall quarter 2019 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 - Fall 2019

Ira J. Condit Papers (UA 084)

The Ira J. Condit papers contain scrapbooks, notes, correspondence, photographs and articles written by Ira J. Condit, an American horticulturist who studied subtropical fruits including the fig, olive, and avocado. Includes meeting minutes from the Citrus Experiment Station (1915-1929) as well as information on the avocado and ficus genus, particularly figs. Of note is an album of photographs documenting a trip Condit took to China in 1934. The album contains photos of Condit and others as well as various plant specimens.

https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8183cwx/

Howard S. Fawcett papers (UA 362)

The Howard S. Fawcett papers contain articles, magazine and newspaper clippings, correspondence, periodicals, transcripts of radio broadcasts and other material gathered on Howard S. Fawcett, a University of California, Riverside professor and noted pioneer in phytopathology. The bulk of the papers consist of writings and research related to citrus diseases.

https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8w95gk0/

Eliud Martinez papers (UA 002)

This collection includes photos, DVDs, a floppy disk, notes, course materials, correspondence, conference materials, writings, and legal documents. The materials in this collection relate to the personal life and professional interests of Eliud Martinez, Professor Emeritus of Creative Writing and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Riverside.

https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c89029mv/

Frank C. Vasek papers (UA 365)

The Frank C. Vasek papers contain articles, reports, correspondence, photographs, and other material from Vasek's tenure as life sciences professor at the University of California, Riverside. The bulk of the collection consists of information on plants from California and other areas.

https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8rj4qwq/

More News November 01, 2017

This month in 4 to Explore, your Special Collections librarians and archivists have selected four new items and placed them on hold in the reading room.

Here's what you can see this November in 4 to Explore:

I'isniyatam (Designs)
A self-published 1977 Cahuilla word book

Thanksgiving Day
A Cuban artist's book of Carvajal Marrer's poem

The Faerie Queene
The first edition of all 12 books of Spenser's epic

Folding Paper
A "book" that's folded paper in a box!

Why you should try 4 to Explore:

Special Collections materials are kept in closed stacks, which means you can’t see the shelves and browse. You also can’t check things out and take them home. So, 4 to Explore is a great way to experience first-hand some of the collections that truly make UCR Library unique.

4 to Explore will give you the chance to visit a reading room, like the ones that are used for archival research or by rare book scholars, and to get a sampling of our collections without having to submit a request ahead of time.

You’ll be asked to show photo ID and to check your bags – but don’t worry! Our UCR Library staff will explain everything to you when you arrive.

We will also have rotating exhibits of items from the collections on display.

Where to find 4 to Explore:

Department: Special Collections & University Archives

Where: Take elevators to 4th floor of Rivera Library

Hours: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, Monday - Friday

Bring: Photo ID

Don’t bring: Food or drinks

Who: Everyone is welcome. 4 to Explore is more of an individual experience, but we can usually accommodate up to two people using the same item at the same time, so feel free to bring a friend.

What to expect: Staff will help you sign in and feel comfortable in the reading room. It should take about 5-10 minutes for you to get up to the 4th floor and get settled. Then you can stay and enjoy as long as you like!

More News November 12, 2019

We are delighted to announce that Mary Anne Eliazo joined the UCR Library as our Infrastructure Systems Engineer, effective November 12, 2019.

Mary Anne will be located in Cyberinfrastructure team office on the first floor of Orbach Library, reporting to Dan Szilagyi, the Manager of Cyberinfrastructure.

Mary Anne earned her BS in Business Administration and Commerce from the University of Santo Tomas.

Most recently, Mary Anne served as a Systems Engineer for the City of Irvine. Prior positions include Senior Systems Engineer at Glidewell Laboratories, and Technical Lead at IBM.  She brings significant experience in computer systems engineering.​

Please join us in welcoming Mary Anne to the library!

More News September 23, 2016

UCR Library will open a new exhibition on Monday, Oct. 24, titled, “Orange Roots: The Remarkable Story of Two Trees, a Pioneer Town, and the University of California, Riverside.”

The exhibition will be located at the Tomás Rivera Library, and will be on display through June 2017.

A welcome reception in honor of the exhibition’s opening will be held on Thursday Nov. 10 at the Tomás Rivera Library, from 2-4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. The reception will include a talk by Susan Straight, professor of creative writing at UCR, and a citrus-tasting station where guests can sample different varieties of citrus fruits. The citrus-tasting station will be organized by Tracy Kahn, UCR’s Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection Endowed Chair. Free parking will be available - those interested in attending should email Carole Meyer-Reith at carolem@ucr.edu.

“‘Orange Roots’ brings to life the exciting history of Riverside, and how the Washington Navel orange tree revolutionized citrus,” states Krista Ivy, UC Riverside librarian and curator of the exhibit.

The “Orange Roots” exhibition will showcase the remarkable history of Riverside’s citrus heritage. It will feature photographs, historical documents, and ephemera from the UCR Library Special Collections & University Archives, the UCR Citrus Variety Collection, the UCR Department of Biological Sciences, the Riverside Metropolitan Museum, and the Riverside Public Library.

“Orange Roots” will present the rich tale of Riverside’s citrus heritage from its early pioneer days, to the establishment of UCR.

“Notable pioneers such as Eliza Tibbets and Matthew Gage, along with the labor and expertise of various immigrant groups and Native Americans, launched Riverside into the national spotlight in the late 19^th Century,” Ivy explains.  They helped to transform the dry landscape of Riverside into lush citrus groves. “Riverside’s international role and importance in citriculture would continue to grow with the establishment of the Citrus Experiment Station and later the University of California, Riverside.”

More News April 21, 2020

Curious about how to find, analyze, and use archival materials from your laptop or computer? Want to learn more about digital archival resources at UCR and beyond?

Starting on Tuesday, April 29, staff from the UCR Library's Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) department will offer Virtual Office Hours twice each week until Thursday, June 4, 2020.

Interested students, faculty or UCR affiliated researchers can join SCUA virtual office hours on Tuesdays from 10 - 11:00 a.m., or on Thursdays from 2 - 3:00 p.m.

All are welcome, whether you have questions about your homework, research, or you just want to learn more. You can also email at specialcollections@ucr.edu if you would like to schedule an in-depth research consultation.

Attendees can participate individually or in groups (for instance, several classmates working on the same project).

If interested in attending, please RSVP on Eventbrite (use your UCR email address) to get the link to join.

All participants are expected to follow and uphold UC Riverside's Principles of Community.