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Winter 2025 Finals Week Stress Relief
Fun FREE Stress-Relieving Events at the UCR Library for UCR Students
The UCR Library's Finals Week Stress Relief is back, Monday, March 10 - Thursday, March 20.
This quarter, we have FREE craft events (we're supplying everything that you'll need), food giveaways, contests, and more—just for students! Our partners this quarter are ASUCR Internal Affairs, The Well's Active Minds, the Academic Resource Center (ARC), and Basic Needs.
Please note: Only currently enrolled UCR undergraduate and graduate students are able to participate in Finals Week Stress Relief events.
Winter 2025 Finals Week Stress Relief Events
Instagram Contests
- Mon., March 10 - Fri., March 14 | 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.
MONDAY, MARCH 10
- Paint & Sip (craft event)
- 2 - 3 p.m. | Rivera | While supplies last | Enjoy a juice box while you paint and keep the artwork that you paint!
- Surprise Snack Giveaway with ASUCR Internal Affairs
- Time is a SURPRISE | Rivera & Orbach | While supplies last
TUESDAY, MARCH 11
- Stained Glass Art: Pendant Making (craft event)
- 2 - 3 p.m. | Orbach | While supplies last | Make a small pendant made of stained glass!
- Surprise Snack Giveaway with ASUCR Internal Affairs
- Time is a SURPRISE | Rivera & Orbach | While supplies last
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12
- Therapy Fluffies with The Well's Active Minds
- Noon - 2 p.m. | Rivera & Orbach | Spend some time with animals in Rivera or Orbach! Please note: Orbach will have just dogs, Rivera will have cats and dogs.
THURSDAY, MARCH 13
- Pots & Plants (craft event)
- 2 - 3 p.m. | Rivera | While supplies last | Paint a plant pot, choose your seeds, then plant your seeds using the soil we're providing.
- Spin It to Win It
- 3 - 4 p.m. | Rivera | While supplies last | Spin the wheel and answer a trivia question for prizes!
FRIDAY, MARCH 14
- Hand Pi(e) Giveaway
- 3:14 p.m. | Rivera & Orbach | While supplies last | Grab a hand pie for Pi Day!
- Pi Day Spirograph Art (craft event)
- 3:14 p.m. | Orbach | While supplies last | Make a spirograph design and learn some of the math behind it (or just enjoy making art) for Pi Day!
SUNDAY, MARCH 16
- R'Finals Study Jam (Tutoring) with The Academic Resource Center (The ARC)
- 4 - 8 p.m. | Orbach | No reservations are needed, come on down! Tutoring will be available for a variety of subjects.
MONDAY, MARCH 17
- Good Luck on Finals Giveaway
- 2 p.m. | Rivera & Orbach | While supplies last | Grab a green Ring Pop and a Lucky Charms Cereal Bar for St. Patrick's Day!
TUESDAY, MARCH 18
- Soups On
- 2 p.m. | Orbach | While supplies last | Grab a bowl of soup, choose from chicken noodle or tomato!
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19
- Healthy Snack Giveaway with Basic Needs
- Noon | Orbach | While supplies last
THURSDAY, MARCH 20
- Bingo
- 2 - 3 p.m. | Orbach | 5 winners receive a $20 Amazon gift card!
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.
Library Finals Week Hours
Study 24 hours in Orbach from 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 13 through 7 p.m. on Friday, March 21
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, March 13
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, March 14
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, March 15
Service hours for Rivera & Orbach: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Study Hall for Orbach Library: 10 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday, March 16
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, March 17 - Thursday, March 20
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, March 21
Hours for both libraries: 7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. (Orbach ends 24-hour Study Hall)
Fall 2024 Finals Week Stress Relief at the UCR Library
Fun FREE Stress-Relieving Events at the UCR Library
The UCR Library's Finals Week Stress Relief is back, Monday, Dec. 2 - Thursday, Dec. 12.
This quarter, we have FREE craft events (we're supplying everything that you'll need), food giveaways, contests, and more—just for students! Our partners this quarter are The Well's Active Minds, the Academic Resource Center (ARC), and Basic Needs.
Please note: Only currently enrolled UCR undergraduate and graduate students are able to participate in Finals Week Stress Relief events.
Fall 2024 Finals Week Stress Relief Event Series
Instagram Contests
- Mon., Dec. 2 - Fri., Dec. 6 | 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.
MONDAY, DEC. 2
- Mindfulness Jars (Craft event)
- 2 - 3 p.m. | Orbach | While supplies last | Keep your jar!
- Surprise Snack Giveaway
- Time is a SURPRISE | Rivera & Orbach | While supplies last
TUESDAY, DEC. 3
- Bagel Break (Giveaway)
- 11 a.m. | Rivera | While supplies last | Grab a bagel and cream cheese!
- Jeopardy!
- 2 -3 p.m. | Orbach | While supplies last | Participate to win an Amazon gift card, there will be two rounds!
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 4
- Therapy Fluffies with The Well's Active Minds
- Noon - 2 p.m. | Rivera & Orbach | Spend some time with animals in Rivera or Orbach!
THURSDAY, DEC. 5
- Collage Time! (Craft event)
- 2 - 3 p.m. | Orbach | While supplies last | Use paper strips to make a collage that you'll take home with you!
FRIDAY, DEC. 6
- Bingo
- 2 - 3 p.m. | Orbach | Winners receive an Amazon gift card!
SUNDAY, DEC. 8
- R'Finals Study Jam (Tutoring) with The Academic Resource Center (The ARC)
- 4 - 8 p.m. | Orbach
MONDAY, DEC. 9
- Finals are NACHO Problem (Giveaway)
- 2 p.m. | Orbach | While supplies last
TUESDAY, DEC. 10
- Crunch Time! Fuel Up With Cereal! (Giveaway)
- 1 p.m. | Orbach | While supplies last | Grab a bowl of cereal!
- Finals Rock Painting
- 2 - 3 p.m. | Rivera | While supplies last
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 11
- Healthy Snack Giveaway with Basic Needs
- Noon | Orbach | While supplies last
THURSDAY, DEC. 12
- Surprise Snack Giveaway
- Time is a SURPRISE | Rivera & Orbach | While supplies last
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.
Library Finals Week Hours
Study 24 hours in Orbach from 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5 through 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13
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, Dec. 5
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, Dec. 6
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, Dec. 7
Service hours for Rivera & Orbach: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Study Hall for Orbach Library: 10 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 8
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, Dec. 9 - Thursday, Dec. 12
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, Dec. 13
Hours for both libraries: 7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. (Orbach ends 24-hour Study Hall)
Spring 2025 Finals Week Stress Relief Event Series
De-Stress at Rivera & Orbach Libraries During Finals
The UCR Library's Finals Week Stress Relief is back, Monday, June 2 - Thursday, June 12. This quarter, we have craft events, food giveaways, contests, and more! Our partners this quarter are The Well's Active Minds, Basic Needs, and the ARC!
Please note: Only currently enrolled UCR students are able to participate in Finals Week Stress Relief events (undergraduate AND graduate students).
Spring 2025 Finals Week Stress Relief Event Series
Instagram Contests
- Mon., June 2 - Fri., June 6 | 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.
MONDAY, JUNE 2
- Sand Art Event
- 2 - 3 p.m. | Rivera | *While supplies last | We have bottles and sand for you to make your sand art!
TUESDAY, JUNE 3
- DONUT Give Up: Donut Giveaway
- 11 a.m. | Orbach | *While supplies last | Grab a glazed or chocolate glazed donut!
- Bingo
- 2 - 3 p.m. | Orbach | *5 Winners receive an Amazon gift card
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4
- Spin It to Win It
- 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Rivera | *While supplies last | Spin the wheel and answer a trivia question for prizes!
- Tote-tastic Tote Bag Decorating
- 2 - 3 p.m. | Orbach | *While supplies last | We have tote bags, paint pens, and markers. Keep the tote bag you decorate!
THURSDAY, JUNE 5
- Therapy Fluffies with The Well's Active Minds
- Noon - 2 p.m. | Rivera & Orbach | Please note, cats and dogs will be in Rivera. Orbach will only have dogs.
- Make Your Own Beaded Animal Keychain
- 2 - 3 p.m. | Rivera | *While supplies last
FRIDAY, JUNE 6
- Finger Painting
- 1 - 2 p.m. | Orbach | *While supplies last | We're supplying the paint and paper for your finger painting creations!
SUNDAY, JUNE 8
- R'Finals Study Jam (Tutoring) with The Academic Resource Center (The ARC)
- 4 - 8 p.m. | Orbach
MONDAY, JUNE 9
- Corn Kick: Esquites Giveaway
- 2 p.m. | Orbach | *While supplies last
TUESDAY, JUNE 10
- Boba Boost: Boba Giveaway
- 11 a.m. | Rivera | *While supplies last
- Virtual Kahoot!
- 2 p.m. | RSVP on Eventbrite to save your seat. Play via Zoom to win an Amazon gift card.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11
- R'Pantry Pop-Up Food Giveaway with Basic Needs
- Noon | Orbach | *While supplies last
THURSDAY, JUNE 12
- Throwback Thursday: Lunchable Giveaway
- 2 p.m. | Rivera & Orbach | *While supplies last | Grab a Lunchable, Gogurt, and Capri Sun!
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.
Library Finals Week Hours
Study 24 hours in Orbach from 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 5 through 7 p.m. on Friday, June 13
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, June 5
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, June 6
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, June 7
Service hours for Rivera & Orbach: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Study Hall for Orbach Library: 10 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday, June 8
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, June 9 - Thursday, June 12
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, June 13
Hours for both libraries: 7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. (Orbach ends 24-hour Study Hall)
Library acquires award-winning Science Fiction novelist's papers
Astrid Bear, the daughter of award-winning Science Fiction novelist Poul Anderson and his wife Karen, recently donated their papers to the UCR Library.
The collection includes 73 boxes of correspondence, manuscript drafts, notes, diaries, personal records, artwork, memorabilia and ephemera from various conventions and events.
“I am absolutely delighted that the Eaton Collection at UC Riverside is the custodian of my parents’ papers, preserving and making them available for scholars long into the future,” Bear said. “The Eaton Collection is one of the premier university SF/F collections in the world, and I am very happy that the Poul and Karen Anderson papers are part of it.”
A Danish-American author born in Bristol, Pa., Poul Anderson earned his undergraduate degree in Physics at the University of Minnesota, which provided a strong foundation for his science fiction writing. He published more than 50 novels and contributed to over 60 anthologies, receiving seven Hugo Awards, three Nebula Awards, a John W. Campbell Memorial Award, among others throughout his highly-decorated career. He also served as the President of the Science Fiction Writers of America from 1972-1973 and was named a Grand Master in 1997.
Karen Anderson co-wrote several books with Poul, including “The King of Ys” series. She was also a prolific publisher of fanzines and a very active contributor.
“Poul and Karen were both integral members of the science fiction and fantasy communities in California. Poul was one of those few authors who found success writing in both genres, and the collection represents that very well,” explained Andrew Lippert, Special Collections Processing Archivist, who processed the collection in 2019. “One of his most highly regarded works, which won the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus, is the novella ‘The Queen of Air and Darkness,’ which might be one of the first successful blendings of sci-fi and fantasy.” Few authors have won all three awards for a single piece, Lippert said.
Lippert and the Jay Kay and Doris Klein Librarian for Science Fiction, Jacqueline “JJ” Jacobson, included this novella in the library’s 2019 exhibition, 50x50: Celebrating the Eaton Collection’s 50th Anniversary.
The Andersons’ shared an interest in history, particularly northern European medieval themes, which found its way into some of Poul’s writing, according to Lippert. They were also founding members of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) and both maintained active roles within the community and fandom.
“We are delighted to have the Anderson collection join the papers of Anne McCaffrey, Gregory Benford, Gardner Dozois, and others as part of the Eaton collection at UCR,” Lippert said.
Astrid Bear notes, “The knowledge, respect, and enthusiasm shown by the UCR staff during the donation and cataloguing process was quite wonderful.”
Poul Anderson passed away in 2001, followed by Karen in 2018.
New archival collections available for summer quarter 2017
Special Collections & University Archives staff 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 UCR Library's newly processed archival and primary source collections. Check out the list below 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 is open to the public on weekdays from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. Check here for closures or other changes to our regular hours.
For questions, email specialcollections@ucr.edu.
Newly Processed Collections – Summer 2017
0.42 linear ft. (1 box)
This collection contains correspondence, science fiction convention programs, and a floppy disk from science fiction author Vernor Vinge. The correspondence mostly concerns other authors and publishers sending Vinge their works for his review or comments.
0.42 linear ft. (1 box)
The Abbie Voorhies De Verges papers contain photographs, newspaper clippings, correspondence, certificates, and other material from Abbie Voorhies DeVerges, a nurse in the Air Force who worked at the Tuskegee Army Air Field during the Second World War.
0.42 linear ft. (1 box)
This collection contains materials related to the publication and distribution of Dreams and Nightmares, a fantasy and science fiction poetry magazine edited by David C. Kopaska-Merkel. Items in the collection include original page proofs for a number of issues, art and poetry submissions, and correspondence and records related to some distributors of the magazine.
0.21 linear ft. (1 box)
This collection contains signatures of British nobility and members of the British royal family and includes some signed letters and government documents. Notable signatures in the collection include those of Queen Victoria, Prince of Wales Albert Edward (later Edward VII), Princess May of Teck (later Queen Mary), and multiple Dukes and Duchesses.
0.21 linear ft. (1 box)
This collection consists of correspondence from 19th century British politician Charles Philip Yorke to various family members and fellow politicians. The collection also contains letters from Yorke's brother, Sir Joseph Sydney Yorke, to Charles. Most of the correspondence concerns British political events of the early 1800s, most notably the ministries of Henry Addington and William Pitt the Younger.
0.21 linear ft. (1 box)
This collection contains correspondence written by clergy members from the Church of England during the 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily from bishops of various dioceses. Correspondence in the collection concerns mostly regular church business.
18.35 linear ft. (45 boxes)
This collection consists of notes, proofs, manuscripts, and other material related to the written works of Patricia Beatty, an award-winning author of children's books including Lupita Manana and Charley Skedaddle. The collection also includes materials on books Beatty co-authored with her husband John Beatty.
2.5 linear ft. (2 boxes)
This collection contains administrative records, press clippings, and other material from the Riverside Youth Concert Series, an organization in Riverside, California that provided affordable fine arts performances to local children from 1962-1978.
2.25 linear ft. (2 boxes)
The Collection on Philip K. Dick consists of press clippings, publications, short stories and manuscripts regarding Philip K. Dick, an American novelist who has published almost entirely in the science fiction genre. His works have been published in numerous literary magazines, such as Galaxy, Amazing Stories, and Fantasy and Science Fiction. The collection also consists of newsletters from the Philip K. Dick Society, and photographs and press booklets from the film Blade Runner.
9.67 linear ft. (9 boxes, 2 flat folders)
This collection consists of the professional and personal papers of actor and science fiction writer George Nader, including manuscript drafts, photographs, financial information, audio cassettes, and a film poster. Notable manuscripts in the collection include Nader's unpublished work The Perils of Paul, and Trio of Forever Friends, an autobiographical work written by Nader's partner Mark Miller about their friendship with actor Rock Hudson.
0.42 linear ft. (1 box)
This collection consists of documents, programs, and fliers from conferences and events on turfgrass management held mostly in California in the 1950s and early 1960s.
0.21 linear ft. (1 box)
This collection contains publications written and co-written by Walton B. Sinclair, a pioneer plant biochemist who worked at the Citrus Experiment Station in Riverside beginning in 1932 and was a professor emeritus of biochemistry at the University of California, Riverside. Publications in the collection focus on Sinclair's research regarding the biochemistry of various citrus fruits, as well as an article Sinclair wrote regarding the state of higher education in the Southern United States.
0.21 linear ft. (1 box)
The George A. Zentmyer papers is a collection of newsletters, monographs, and magazines related to UC Riverside professor emeritus George A. Zentmyer’s research on phytophthoras, which are a genus of plant-damaging molds that can cause damage to crops and natural ecosystems. The collection also includes obituaries for Zentmyer, and a booklet from his funeral service in 2003.
0.42 linear ft. (1 box)
This collection includes documents, correspondence, photographs, and other material regarding Christena L. Schlundt, Professor Emerita of Dance and founding faculty member at the University of California, Riverside (UCR). Materials in the collection include items pertaining to the UCR Department of Dance, the study of dance, and modern dancers and choreographers like Ted Shawn and Barton Mumaw.
0.21 linear ft. (1 box)
This collection contains documents regarding Boysie E. Day, a former professor of Plant Physiology at UC Riverside. Items in the collection include a biography of Day, as well as an unpublished manuscript written by Day about a sailing expedition he took in the Pacific.
1.25 linear ft. (3 boxes)
The Riverside School Study collection is a collection of reports and newsletters that document the joint research performed in the late 1960s by the Riverside Unified School District and the University of California, Riverside on the relationship between the desegregation of public schools and emotional adjustment and academic achievements of children. The collection also includes publications and guidelines for educators placed in newly desegregated school environments.
2.5 linear ft. (4 boxes, 1 flat folder)
The George Boyce papers consists of the professional papers and manuscripts of George Arthur Boyce, a Native American historian and former Director of Navajo Education for the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs. This collection documents his work with Navajo education and includes materials from his research and photographs depicting Navajo schools and students. Additionally, the collection includes oversize posters of day school budgets and Navajo translated newsletters.
2.92 linear ft. (8 boxes)
The John DeChancie papers is a collection of documents consisting of manuscripts, page proofs, and correspondence relating to the literary works of American comic fantasy and science fiction writer, John DeChancie.
0.42 linear ft. (1 box)
The collection contains press clippings, letters, and other material related to the research of historian John Hunt, focusing on the people and landmarks of Desert Hot Springs, California.
1.58 linear ft. (1 box)
The collection consists of an album of photographs depicting the Allison V. Armour expedition to the Yucatán peninsula in Mexico, a research expedition undertaken in 1895 by curators from the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. Photographs in the album focus mainly on the Mayan ruins visited by members of the expedition, with additional photographs of local scenery and the expedition group.
0.42 linear ft. (1 box)
The collection consists of a photograph album of nearly 200 black and white images taken by photojournalist Enrique Díaz Reyna of the festivities relating to the 1920 inauguration of Mexican President Álvaro Obregón.
0.5 linear ft. (2 boxes)
This collection contains lantern slides published by the London Missionary Society regarding David Livingstone, the noted explorer and medical missionary who traveled to Africa in the 19th century. The lantern slides in this collection depict Livingstone’s life in color illustrations and are accompanied by a pamphlet that provides descriptions of the slides. The collection also includes a handwritten piece on David Livingstone by an unknown author.
0.42 linear ft. (1 box)
This collection contains several items related to composer William Berwald, including photocopies of several of his compositions, performance programs, articles, and a copy of a manuscript remembrance of Berwald written by his daughter.
4.67 linear ft. (4 boxes)
The collection consists of television scripts from Seasons 1-5 of the Canadian-American science fiction television series, Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda (2000-2005), also known as Andromeda, which was based on unused material from screenwriter Gene Roddenberry. The collection also includes a script of an unaired episode from Season Two. The majority of the scripts are rough drafts and written before their air date.
0.42 linear ft. (1 box)
This collection contains programs, newspaper clippings, fliers, posters, and other materials related to minority issues both on and off the UC Riverside campus in the late 1960s. Topics addressed in the collection include information on ethnic studies, African American students, Mexican American students, protests, and related campus events. The collection also includes items related to civil and labor rights issues happening off campus affecting students, on topics such as housing discrimination, farm worker strikes, and politics.
Special Collections & Manuscripts
Special Collections at the UCR Library consists of archival collections and related books documenting a wide range of subject areas that reflect the research needs and interests of the UCR community. This includes over 275 manuscript collections of both personal and family papers and organizational records, along with over 50,000 books, journals, and other print materials related to those collections.
Publications Based on Research Conducted in SCUA
This list highlights publications that have used or cited materials held by Special Collections & University Archives.
We hope you find this list to be a valuable resource for your own research. We regularly add new publications to this list, so please check back often.
How the UCR Library transformed the life of alumnus Carlos Rodriguez '90
As the first person in his entire family to attend college, Carlos Rodriguez ’90 was a true pioneer when he arrived at UC Riverside for orientation in 1985.
“Since then everyone has followed me,” Rodriguez said. After he blazed the trail, both of his sisters went to college and graduate school. “All my cousins have gone on to college, as well, all the younger ones.”
As his career clearly demonstrates, there’s no wonder that forging new paths in uncharted territory comes so naturally to Rodriguez. From pioneering work with early internet databases and ejournals in the mid-1990s at UCR, to reimagining library learning environments for an enhanced student experience at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, to his current role as the Dean of the University Library at California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA), Rodriguez continues to chase the horizon.
Originally a pre-engineering major, Rodriguez came to UCR planning to transfer after two years to either UCLA or UC Santa Barbara.
He began working in the library as a student employee shelving books. “Back in the 80s, people checked out books,” he laughed.
Having developed a strong peer network and relationships with faculty and staff, Rodriguez ended up changing his major and staying at UCR instead of transferring. It wasn’t until an internship with a credit union that he realized he preferred a culture of learning and service-based organization over a traditional corporate environment, and so his career in higher education and libraries was born. “I wasn’t in it for the money. I was in it to help other people,” he said.
As he approached graduation, Rodriguez realized he might enjoy a permanent career in the library. During his senior year, he transitioned from a student employee position into a part-time staff role, which is when he met two influential mentors, librarians Nancy Huling and the late John Tanno.
In Rodriguez’s first year as a science librarian, Tanno nominated him for a leadership and career development program for underrepresented racial and ethnic minority librarians with the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). “John was really supportive of diversity. There wasn’t a lot of diversity back then,” Rodriguez said. “He saw leadership potential in me early on.”
Rodriguez credits the small, tight-knit community at UCR for advancement opportunities like this. “If I had been a student assistant at UCLA, I probably wouldn’t have had the same opportunities that I had at UCR,” he said.
Ultimately, Rodriguez went on to get his Masters in Library and Information Science from UCLA. He came back to UCR as a Science Librarian before advancing through a variety of library positions, including the Associate Dean of Technology and Information Services at Grand Valley State.
Rodriguez helped the library at Grand Valley State shift from being library-centric and collection-centric to learner-centric. “Every decision we made, we asked ourselves, ‘Does this benefit the learner?’ The reason we’re here is for our students. We need to meet their needs.”
From Grand Valley State, Rodriguez returned to California to serve as the Dean of the University Library at Cal State LA. One of his goals at CSULA has been to transform the library’s physical space to make it less intimidating for their diverse, predominantly first-generation student population. “We’re changing the perception from ‘you’re visiting the library’ to ‘this is your library, and you own this space,’” Rodriguez explained.
In Rodriguez’s opinion, the library plays an active role in student success, research, faculty partnerships, and community engagement. “Libraries can provide opportunities for people to learn, grow, discover, create, and really transform how they see the world,” he said. “Libraries are probably one of the most important institutions at universities to do that.”
Another vision turned reality is the creation of an Academic Success Center, which is the cornerstone of Rodriguez’s capital improvement strategy for the Cal State LA Library. He plans to design a physical space around a suite of student services with a central student-led concierge to direct users toward the best solution for their needs.
What’s next for this innovative thinker? “I’m happy where I’m at now, but UCR is the only other place that I’d want to work at because of the students and what they’re doing. It’s a place I’d like to return to one day.”
The UCR Library is committed to enhancing the student learning experience, which includes supporting the professional development and advancement of our student employees. This article is the first in a series of stories following the success of former UCR Library student employees. We are incredibly proud of the alumni talent that was cultivated here, at the UCR Library.
New archival collections available for fall quarter 2017
Special Collections & University Archives staff 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 UCR Library's newly processed archival and primary source collections. Check out the list below 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 is open to the public on weekdays from 11:00 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 2017
1.92 linear ft. (2 boxes)
The collection contains photographs, notes, articles, and other materials from explorer Edna R. Webster and her daughter Marjorie Webster. The majority of materials in the collection relate to Edna's exploration and study of Mayan ruins on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, and Marjorie's interest in Atlantis and its possible connection to Mexico.
2.54 linear ft. (5 boxes)
This collection consists of the papers of author Jean Paiva, including manuscript drafts, notes, research, and short stories. Materials in the collection also include literary contracts, earnings statements, and correspondence between Paiva and other authors, editors and literary figures.
0.83 linear ft. (2 boxes)
The collection consists of materials relating to the political career of John Phillips, who served as a California state legislator from 1932-1942, then as a member of the House of Representatives from 1943-1947. Items in the collection include correspondence, reports, pamphlets, and other documents related to Phillips work and research on topics like government food subsidies, universal military training, and the Republican Party platform.
1.42 linear ft. (2 boxes)
The Sunkist Growers Inc. records consists mostly of agreements between various growers and the Fruit Growers Supply Company and the Exchange By-Products Company, which were parts of the organization that provided wholesale supplies and developed markets for citrus by-products like oil and citric acid. The collection also includes brochures, photographs, and a photo album including research information from the University of California Citrus Experiment Station.
1.46 linear ft. (2 boxes)
This collection consists of the personal and professional papers of Betty Clark Moore, a biologist and former research associate at UC Riverside. Materials in the collection include correspondence, photographs, research notes, and scientific publications written by Moore and others.
11.5 linear ft. (20 boxes)
This collection contains correspondence, notes, and other material from J. Lloyd Eaton, a physician and book collector whose collection of science fiction, fantasy, and horror publications formed the foundation of the Eaton Science Fiction & Fantasy Collection at UC Riverside. Included in his papers are the index card catalogs Eaton kept documenting his collection, which include his notes on many of the works.
0.42 linear ft. (1 box)
This collection consists of photographs and postcards from John W. Dady, depicting various Native American tribes and ranches in the Midwest and California during the early 20th century.
0.23 linear ft. (1 box, 1 flat folder)
This collection contains photographs, slides, and programs from races held at the Riverside International Raceway, a race track in Riverside, California that was in operation from 1957-1989.
1.25 linear ft. (2 boxes)
The collection contains two scrapbooks of news clippings, correspondence, political mailers, and other materials related to efforts to pass two ballot propositions related to state bonds in the June 2, 1970 election in California.
7.19 linear ft. (6 boxes, 1 flat folder)
This collection contains records and research on the date palm industry and date palm farming throughout the 20th century, including photographs of date palm farms, brochures, and newspaper clippings. Additionally, the collection contains photographs, programs, correspondence, and pamphlets pertaining to the United States Department of Agriculture Date Station, and items from date palm researchers Walter T. Swingle, and Roy W. Nixon.
2.17 linear ft. (4 boxes)
This collection includes materials from Alfred M. Boyce, an entomologist and first dean of the University of California, Riverside's College of Agriculture. Items in the collection include agricultural research, photographs, information on the Citrus Experiment Station, and materials related to the publication of Boyce's memoir, Odyssey of an Entomologist: Adventures on the Farm, at Sea, and in the University.
0.42 linear ft. (1 box)
The collection contains working papers, articles, proposals, and other documents on solar sails created by Carl A. Wiley, an engineer and mathematician that authored one of the first accounts of how solar sails could be assembled in orbit and used as spacecraft propulsion devices.
0.21 linear ft. (1 box)
This collection contains correspondence from numerous British artists during the 19th and early 20th century received and collected by British painter Edith Hipkins. The majority of the correspondence consists of personal letters sent to Hipkins and her father, musician Alfred J. Hipkins.
4 to Explore: December selections from Special Collections
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 December in 4 to Explore:
1932 Diary
December resolutions by a young woman
John Donne
1633 first edition of the collected poems
Mexican Inauguration Photos
Beautiful 1920 album of President Álvaro Obregón
The California Water Atlas
Published by the state in the 70s to make government data accessible
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 the 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!