More News July 21, 2017

Recently, our UCR Library facilities team completed the installation of upgrades to five study rooms on the second floor of Tomás Rivera Library, which are designated as the “David W. Musso Quiet Study Rooms.”

These improvements were made possible by the generosity of David W. Musso, a UCR Class of 1959 alumnus. During his time at UCR, if Musso wasn’t practicing on the football field, one could find him in the library, where he jokes that he spent most of his academic career. As a result, Musso has fond memories of the library and argues that it is the “heart” of the campus.

The renovations to Study Rooms 206 through 210 took several weeks for Head of Facilities, Dave Schuster, and Senior Building Maintenance Workers Robert Wong and Rocco Berges to complete.

Updated features include new sound-proof carpeting, ceiling tiles, and door sweeps, which allow students to speak at regular volume without their noise negatively impacting students in neighboring study rooms. “The sound-proofing is really good,” commented Wong. “We actually took decibel measurements to make sure it was working.”

Additionally, all of the David W. Musso Quiet Study Rooms have Idea Paint, which allows students to write directly onto one designated “Idea Wall”; a basket of dry-erase markers and erasers for brainstorming on the Idea Wall; and 32-inch flat screen TVs with HDMI, VGA, and audio connectors to foster group collaboration. Each room has also been freshly repainted and cleaned.

Additionally, Room 206 also has Idea Paint on the table surface, as well as on the Idea Wall itself.

Room 210 has seating for six people; Rooms 206, 207, and 209 can accommodate up to eight people; and Room 208 has seats for 12 students.

Beginning in August 2017, patrons will be able to reserve the David W. Musso Quiet Study Rooms through the library website.

University Librarian Steven Mandeville-Gamble recently confirmed that an additional five quiet group study rooms will be added in the near future, thanks to Mr. Musso's continued support.

If you are interested in supporting the UCR Library, please contact Clyde Derrick, Director of Development.

More about our benefactor:

Currently a resident of San Jose, David W. Musso was born and raised in Moreno Valley, California. While enrolled at UC Riverside, Musso belonged to the football team, Big “C” Society, German Club, and served as the ASUCR Treasurer. After graduating in 1959 with a degree in Physical Sciences - Mathematics, Musso served in the US Army. In 1960, he received an award for the highest grade in a computer programming course across the entire Army. He later earned his MBA from the University of Arizona and then spent more than 30 years working for IBM, where he specialized in the IBM 709 computer, before retiring in 1997.

• Read more about Archives Fair

More News May 30, 2019

The UCR Library is pleased to announce the acquisition of several new online databases, archives, reference works, and more.

These new resources, selected by librarians in the Collection Strategies Department, will enhance the library’s existing distinctive collections, support emerging areas of research at UCR, and provide access to valuable research and teaching resources.

These new resources include:

PrepSTEP by Learning Express

PrepSTEP is an online collection of test preparation materials, including practice exams, assessment quizzes, and skill-building exercises.  Tests covered include the GRE, MCAT, LSAT, CSET, and more.

ProQuest Historical Newspapers

• Los Angeles Sentinel, 1934-2005
• Baltimore Afro-American, 1893-1988
• New York Amsterdam News, 1922-1993

Archives of Sexuality and Gender

The library now has access to the complete Archives of Sexuality and Gender collection, which includes primary sources for the historical study of sex, sexuality, and gender. 

• Parts 1-2: LGBTQ History and Culture Since 1940
• Part 3: Sex and Sexuality, Sixteenth to Twentieth Century

Sabin Americana, 1500-1926

This digital collection, drawn from Joseph Sabin's famed bibliography, Bibliotheca Americana: A Dictionary of Books Relating to America from Its Discovery to the Present Time, features a collection of more than 29,000 books, pamphlets, serials, and other documents

American Historical Periodicals Collection Part 6

This sixth collection of historical periodicals from the American Antiquarian Society was added by the library in addition to Sets 1-5.  The entire collection is now available on the Gale Primary Sources platform, and is cross-searchable with other Gale primary sources.  The collection includes unusual and short-lived magazines as well as better-known titles with long runs, covering the colonial period through the twentieth century.

Garland Encyclopedia of World Music

This comprehensive online reference source for world music features more than 9,000 pages of materials and 300 audio recordings.  The encyclopedia also includes musical illustrations, photographs, drawings, song texts, score examples, charts, and maps.

Eighteenth Century Collections Online, Part II

This database expands on the library’s access to Eighteenth Century Collections Online, Part I.  The complete collection consists of every significant English-language and foreign-language title printed in the United Kingdom during the eighteenth century, as well as thousands of important works from the Americas.  Materials in the collection include books, pamphlets, sermons, sheet music, and more.

Archives Unbound African Collection

This library has purchased the Archives Unbound African American Collection, which includes 13 discrete collections of primary source materials.  Selected titles include:

• Ralph J. Bunche Oral Histories Collection on the Civil Rights Movement
• Fannie Lou Hamer: Papers of a Civil Rights Activist, Political Activist, and Woman
• Rastafari Ephemeral Publications from the Written Rastafari Archives Project
• James Meredith, J. Edgar Hoover, and the Integration of the University of Mississippi

For a full list of collections included Archives Unbound, please click here.

More News January 29, 2025

Andrew Morales, the UCR Library’s Research Services Assistant, has always been passionate about learning and helping others find the information they need.

Growing up in Southern California, Andrew was an avid reader from an early age. “Even in kindergarten, I’d carry books everywhere,” he recalls. “I had memorized some of them because I’d gone through them so many times.”

While he once considered a career in law, Andrew found his calling in libraries. He started as a library page in a public library and worked his way up. “In public libraries, you do a little bit of everything,” he says. “I worked on collection development, children’s programs, adult workshops, and even tax help and computer classes. The variety was great, and it taught me how to meet the diverse needs of a community.”

Now at UCR, Andrew has a mission to help students—particularly those from underserved backgrounds—navigate the research process. “Not every student knows how to research or even where to start,” he explains. “I want to help level the playing field. It’s about showing them how to search effectively, how databases work, and how to find what they really need—not just what comes up first.”

His role involves everything from guiding students through research challenges to coordinating workshops and managing the Library Support and Poster Printing services in Orbach Library. “Sometimes students come in with just their assignment prompt, and other times it’s something bigger—like accessing an old newspaper that’s only housed in a special archive,” he says. “It’s all about helping them break down those obstacles.”

Andrew also brings creativity to student programming through UCR Library internal committees like the one for Finals Week Stress Relief planning. “We’ve done things like food giveaways, trivia games, story hours, and bingo for students during finals. The students are appreciative. It’s nice to see them relax and have fun during a stressful time,” Andrew says.

With a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science, Andrew’s plan is to eventually become an academic librarian. For now, he’s happy making an impact in his current role. “I’ve always been the person in my family who people turn to when they need information,” he says. “Even if I didn’t know the answer, I’d figure it out. That’s what I try to do for students now—help them overcome obstacles and access the tools they need to succeed.”

More News September 29, 2014

Head librarians from both campuses articulate policies to jointly manage valuable collection of historical documents.

By Bettye Miller

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Cal State San Bernardino and the University of California, Riverside will co-house and share a valuable collection of water related-documents and materials.

The chief librarians from both universities, Cesar Caballero, dean of the CSUSB John M. Pfau Library, and Steven Mandeville-Gamble, University Librarian for UC Riverside, signed a memorandum of understanding on Sept. 24 that the two institutions will jointly house and manage the Water Resources Collections and Archives (WRCA).

The agreement, which was signed at the Pfau Library, lays out the policies and procedures on the collection and is an addendum to an MOU the universities signed in 2010, which enabled the collaboration, Caballero said.

The WRCA, which previously was housed at UC Berkeley, is a one-of-a-kind resource. It contains historical and contemporary water-related materials of great value to water agencies, governmental bodies, environmental groups, engineering firms, attorneys, historians and researchers.

The collection will be of great interest to students, faculty and researchers from both campuses and also researchers throughout both the University of California and the California State University systems, Caballero said.

“This is a world-class collection and will offer a lifetime of learning as a resource. It is extremely valuable,” Caballero said.

The WRCA collection will be divided between both libraries and jointly managed by Mandeville-Gamble and Caballero. The joint management of the archives will expand accessibility both in the state and nationwide, Caballero said.

“The agreement underlines the importance of the WRCA, which will complement and strengthen other collections at CSUSB and UCR along with the UC and CSU systems,” Caballero said.

Mandeville-Gamble said the agreement took on even more significance because of the state’s ongoing drought, which is unprecedented in the state’s written history.

He said the two universities are committed to studying issues affecting water in all aspects including environmental, public policy and social issues.

“It’s absolutely essential if we’re going to solve water issues. We’re in this together,” said Mandeville-Gamble, who added that the collection “will serve as a roadmap for greater collaboration between the two universities regarding water issues.”

The co-housing of the collection will work well with both universities as both institutions have strong backgrounds in water resources. UCR has a number of water policy experts in the School of Public Policy. CSUSB is home to the Water Resources Institute, which serves as a regional center for research and public policy analysis and houses the Joseph Andrew Rowe Water Resources Archives.

This photo of the junction of the All American Canal and the Coachella Canal was taken by Walter Leroy Huber and is part of a collection of the engineer’s correspondence, documents and photographs in the Water Resources Collections and Archives.

The WRCA collection is comprised of approximately 4,138 linear feet of published circulating materials, and more than 3,000 linear feet of special collections and archives.   Approximately 5,545 linear feet of printed circulating materials are also housed in off-site storage facility near the UC Berkeley campus.

The original archive contained approximately 200 archival collections, 200,000 technical reports, 1,500 specialized newsletters, 5,000 maps and videos, 2,200 serials, 25,000 land photographs, 45,000 aerial photographs of coastlines, and digital resources in the form of CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, and websites.

Since 2011, the archive has gained another 2,500 books, electronic documents, and thousands of hard-to-find publications such as conference proceedings, association publications, technical reports and bulletins, and meeting minutes that deal with water resources in California and the West.

More than 15,000 people visit the WRCA website every year, and another 80,000 visit the California Water Districts & Associations list. UCR librarians scan more than 6,000 pages of material from the collection for researchers and government employees across the state.

The collaboration of the two universities came about in 2010 when the statewide Water Resources Center was to be closed because of budget cuts. The University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Center sought a new location to house the archives, which led CSUSB and UCR to develop an innovative and collaborative plan for joint management of the collection.

The acquisition of the new collection also coincided with the California State University system-wide Water Resources and Policy Initiative, which is centered at Cal State San Bernardino. The WRPI facilitates water-related research capabilities within the 23 CSU campuses.

Water policy experts in the UCR School of Public Policy conduct research on critical issues related to the interactions between water policy, water quality and water scarcity. They also contribute policy-relevant input to dialogues at the local, regional, national and international levels.

Founded in 1999, the Water Resources Institute of Cal State San Bernardino is an academic partnership with the Southern California communities that it serves. The institute is driven by the vision that sustaining water resources rests on sound research, analysis and public policy collaboration. The institute is active in the areas of science, public policy and history, and serves as a regional hub for providing information on water resources.

 

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.

More News November 30, 2021

Over the past several months, UCR Library has acquired several major online resources.  These electronic resources make a wide variety of full text journals, magazine collections, and primary source collections available to UCR faculty, students, and researchers.  These exciting new acquisitions include:

Emerald Insight https://www.emerald.com/insight/

The Emerald eJournal Premier collection from Emerald Insight includes more than 300,000 full-text articles from 322 journals covering business, science & technology, engineering, social sciences, healthcare, public policy, and library science.  Emerald Publishing journals are double-blind peer-reviewed and reflect Emerald’s mission to inspire positive change in society and addresses real-world problems. 

Art Magazine Archives & Artforum

Art Magazine Collection Archive from Ebsco presents a collection of three leading art magazines — The Magazine ANTIQUES, ARTnews and Art in America — covering contemporary art, visual art, fine arts and more.  Research areas represented in these magazines include ancient art, architecture, art preservation, and contemporary art.  Articles and cover pages are fully indexed and advertisements are individually identified, making this a valuable resource for those studying visual arts, art history, and culture.

Access Art Magazine Archives via EBSCOhost: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?authtype=ip,uid&custid=s4138829&groupid=main&profile=ehost&defaultdb=ara

The Artforum (later Artforum International) archive from ProQuest is the digitized version of the leading magazine for coverage of contemporary international art, with content dating back to the magazine’s first issue in 1962 through 2020.  Artforum covers art in all media, from painting, sculpture, and installations, to body art video & audio art, and performance art.  Also covered are related topics such as architecture, film, fashion, music, and photography.

Access the Artforum Archive via ProQuest: https://www.proquest.com/artforum/advanced/arts/fromDatabasesLayer?accountid=14521

 

East India Company Archives: India Office Records from the British Library, 1599-1947

https://www.eastindiacompany.amdigital.co.uk/

The East India Company archives from Adam Matthew Digital offers access to a unique collection covering the entirety of classes IOR/A, B, C, D, E and G of the India Office Records held at the British Library, London.  Containing royal charters, correspondence, trading diaries, minutes of council meetings and reports of expeditions, among other document types, this resource charts the history of British trade and rule in the Indian subcontinent and beyond from 1599 to 1947.

From the Company’s charter in 1600 to Indian independence in 1947, East India Company tells the story of trade with the East; politics; and the rise and fall of the British Empire. It records the challenges of a globalising world and sheds light on many contrasting narratives – from records of powerful political figures, through to the lives of native populations and the individual traders who lived and worked at the edge of Empire.

For an overview of what is included in the archive, see https://www.amdigital.co.uk/primary-sources/east-india-company.

More News April 22, 2024

During winter quarter 2024, the UCR Library collaborated with Dr. Alejandra Dubcovsky and her History 197 students on a ‘revolutionary’ project.

From March 15 through March 28, 2024, a poster exhibit near the Information Desk in the Tomás Rivera Library was on display that offered different perspectives on the American Revolution.

Dr. Dubcovsky aimed to deepen students' understanding of the American Revolution by allowing students to explore it from diverse angles, with their research culminating in a poster exhibit.

“There are so many primary materials available and they cover all sorts of topics, from fashion to food, from warfare to everyday life, and from women's experiences to the role of political discourse,” Dr. Dubcovsky explained. “Students can always find something of interest in the American Revolution!”

Key to this exploration were the efforts of Social Sciences Teaching Librarian Michael Yonezawa and Arts and Humanities Teaching Librarian Robin M. Katz. They collaborated with Dr. Dubcovsky to design a library instruction session for the class that not only introduced students to valuable library resources but also helped them engage directly with primary sources.

Dr. Dubcovsky credited this collaboration as critical to the project's success, stating, "The library and librarians were instrumental in the success of the students' research projects. Michael and Robin then went above and beyond (as usual), and held individual meetings with each student; these one-on-one meetings allowed students to ask specific questions and resolve particular research queries."

Student Kasen Milhon-Martin appreciated the one-on-one session. “I met with Michael Yonezawa and he was incredibly helpful and walked me through using the databases…it was also really helpful to talk through my topic while looking for sources to use.”  

Another student in the class, Jacob Spencer, expressed how the library’s resources proved invaluable. "The library was the linchpin in my work…giving me free use of internet databases like Gale's Sabin Americana and JSTOR were immensely helpful."

Jacob was unaware of how easy library services like Interlibrary Loan were to use until this project, noting how smooth the process was.

“I needed a book that UCR didn't have, but through the interlibrary loan system, I was able to get it without any problems,” Jacob said. “It's such a wonderfully useful facet of the library that I most definitely will turn to should I need something that I can't pick right off the shelf at Rivera.”

Another History 197 student, Bailey Hellman, shared their enthusiasm for the accessible presentation of historical research through posters: "It's really nice to be able to see something that you have spent so much time working on being displayed. A lot of academic papers are difficult to read, so something like a poster makes historical work more digestible and accessible."

Bailey was surprised by all of the databases accessible to the UCR community for free through the UCR Library, "There are so many sources in those that don't come up with a simple Google search––and I couldn't have written my paper without them. It made everything so much easier," Bailey said.

Haydn Marshall, another student in the class, successfully tracked down the full original text of the Heritable Jurisdictions (Scotland) Act of 1746 in a book in the Rivera Library. There is a free online version from the UK Parliament’s website, but it only goes back to 1991 and not all of the original text is included. Haydn was able to leverage library resources to find the full original text version.

“I gave some advice, but I didn’t point out this specific title,” Robin M. Katz said. “This is just one example of the many students who had a chance to hone and demonstrate tremendous skill and initiative.”

Robin continued, “This story also shows how meaningful it is for us librarians to see students’ final projects – most of the time, we teach a session, or have a research consultation, or answer a question and we don’t know where the research leads. Getting to reconnect with Haydn and see his fantastic work and hear his insightful argument was a real highlight of the quarter for me.”

This exhibition not only showcased students' hard work but also underscored the library's vital role in fostering academic research and information literacy.

“Working with instructors to support students' information literacy development is one of our primary missions,” said Director of Teaching and Learning Britt Foster. “And being active creators of information, as with these posters, is the perfect example of this, as students are bringing together primary and secondary sources to tell these stories in new ways.”

• Read more about Fines & Fees

More News November 13, 2023

Unwind at the UCR Library During Finals Week!

Staff at the UCR Library understand how stressful final exams can be, so we're excited to announce our Fall 2023 Finals Week Stress Relief (FWSR) event series, scheduled Monday, December 4 - Thursday, December 14. These events are a great opportunity for us at the UCR Library to engage with students and for students to unwind and enjoy a relaxed and engaging atmosphere. Only currently enrolled UCR students are able to participate in Finals Week Stress Relief events. 

In addition to our on-site events and virtual Kahoot! games, we have some exciting contests lined up and our curated list of virtual stress relief activities to help you unwind any time. 

Fall 2023 Finals Week Stress Relief Event Series

Instagram Contests

• Mon., Dec. 4 - Fri., Dec. 8  |  Follow us on Instagram and comment on our daily contest posts for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card. Winners will be chosen at random.

Scavenger Hunt

• Mon., Dec. 4 - Fri., Dec. 8  |  Complete our scavenger hunt in Orbach Library to be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card, library swag, or a 3D printed keychain! The scavenger hunt will take you on a quest to find Scotty Bears hidden throughout Orbach. You'll need to take a photo of each one, make sure to leave the Scotty Bears where you find them, and upload a photo of each to our Google Form. Use this Google Form to learn more and to complete the scavenger hunt starting Mon., Dec. 4. You'll have until Fri., Dec. 8 to complete the hunt!

VIP Study Room Contest

• Mon., Dec. 4 - Wed., Dec. 6  |  Enter our VIP Study Room contest on Instagram by commenting on our VIP Study Room post (it will be up Dec. 4 - Dec. 6). Two lucky student winners, chosen at random, will each get a study room (one in Rivera and one in Orbach) on Sun., Dec. 10 from 1 - 7 p.m., along with a UCR Library tote bag full of treats! 

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 4

• Mindfulness Jars (Craft Event)
  • 2 - 3 p.m.  |  Orbach  |  *While supplies last
• Surprise Snack Giveaway
  • Time is a SURPRISE  |  Rivera & Orbach  |  *While supplies last

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5

• Spin It to Win It
  • 2 - 3 p.m.  |  Rivera  |  *Win prizes while supplies last

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6

• Bingo
  • 2 - 3 p.m.  |  Orbach  |  *Winners receive an Amazon gift card

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7

• Therapy Fluffies with The Well's Active Minds
  • Noon - 2 p.m.  |  Rivera & Orbach  
• Surprise Snack Giveaway with ASUCR Internal Affairs
  • Time is a SURPRISE  |  Rivera & Orbach  |  *While supplies last

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8

• Squeegee Painting 
  • 2 - 3 p.m.  |  Rivera  |  *While supplies last

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10

• R'Finals Study Jam (Tutoring) with The Academic Resource Center (The ARC)  
  • 4 - 8 p.m.  |  Orbach  

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 11

• Slice Through Finals (Pizza Giveaway) with ASPB 
  • 2 p.m.  |  Rivera  |  *While supplies last

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12

• Finals are NACHO Problem (Nacho Giveaway) 
  • 2 p.m.  |  Orbach  |  *While supplies last

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13

• Virtual Kahoot! 
  • 2 p.m. & 6 p.m.  |  RSVP on Eventbrite to save your seat. Play via Zoom to win an Amazon gift card. 

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14

• Surprise Snack Giveaway
  • Time is a SURPRISE  |  Rivera & Orbach  |  *While supplies last

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Virtual Stress Relief Activities

Need virtual stress-reducing activities now? Our FWSR committee has curated a list of activities and services available remotely through online platforms that you can enjoy all quarter long! Visit our Virtual Stress Relief Activities page for more information. 

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Library Finals Week Hours

Study 24 hours in Orbach from 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 7 through 7 p.m. on Friday, December 15

During Study Hall, Orbach Library will be open for studying, scanning, and printing, including the use of public computers. The borrowing of materials and equipment (reserves, books, calculators, and/or chargers) will NOT be available during Study Hall.

Thursday, December 7
Service hours for Rivera & Orbach: 7:30 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Study Hall for Orbach Library: 12 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.

Friday, December 8
Service hours for Rivera & Orbach: 7:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Study Hall for Orbach Library: 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Saturday, December 9
Service hours for Rivera & Orbach: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Study Hall for Orbach Library: 10 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Sunday, December 10
Service hours for Rivera & Orbach: 1 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Study Hall for Orbach Library: 9 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.

Monday, December 11 - Thursday, December 14
Service hours for Rivera & Orbach: 7:30 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Study Hall for Orbach Library: 12 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.  

Friday, December 15
Hours for both libraries: 7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. (Orbach ends 24-hour Study Hall)