More News June 11, 2020

After almost three months’ closure, starting Monday, June 15, 2020, you can now check out books from the Rivera and Orbach Libraries’ circulating collections via drive-up Contact-Free Curbside Delivery.

 

This service is available for UCR faculty, students, and staff, as well as those from other UC campuses who are located closer to Riverside. You may also walk (bike, skateboard, etc.) up to use this service, as long as you wear a mask and observe social distancing.

Returns

To return items, you may use the drive-up book return in Lot 1 or the book drops outside the Rivera or Orbach Libraries at any time.

The physical libraries are still closed to the public, other than this drive-up service.  See Library Resources and Services for Remote Users.

Exceptions

Books that are available digitally through the HathiTrust Emergency Temporary Access Service are not available for Curbside Pickup. In order for UCR (and the other UC campuses) to keep this HathiTrust Emergency Temporary Access, we cannot loan any of those books if they are in our library. However, approximately half our UCR collection is available for Curbside Delivery.

Other materials not available for Curbside Pickup include physical Course Reserves, physical Interlibrary Loan (ILL) items, and materials from Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA). However, patrons may request digitized reproductions of SCUA items here. 

Health and Safety

The library prioritizes the health and safety of our staff and library patrons.

• We require all library staff and patrons to wear masks while in the building, or during Curbside Delivery.
• We require all library staff and patrons to practice physical distancing of at least 6 feet.
• Library staff will wear gloves when handling, processing, and delivering books to library patrons.
• Returned items will be quarantined for 72 hours before being returned to the shelves.
• Library staff regularly practice recommended hygiene practices (hand washing for 20 seconds, use of sanitizer, wiping down commonly used surfaces, etc.).

Update Aug. 27, 2021: Curbside delivery of books will end on Friday, Sept. 3.

More News May 20, 2024

April 22-26, the UCR Library’s Creat’R Lab hosted its 2nd annual Maker Week, which included the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fair.

The event, co-sponsored by Blackstone LaunchPad and ASUCR, showcased the creativity and technical prowess of UCR students. The top 3 student projects, chosen by a panel of judges, were awarded prizes.

Senior Ernest Romero, representing a team of bioengineering students, secured first place and a $200 prize with his group’s pediatric smart harness to support and monitor movement. The harness, designed for children with cerebral palsy and similar conditions, integrates three types of sensors to monitor improvements in things like heart rate, step count, and pressure distribution.

"Our project is a senior design project sponsored by Dr. Kokkoni from the bioengineering department,” Romero shared. “The majority of our work was done in the Creat’R Lab and the Robotics Lab, where we focused on sewing and assembling our different sensors."

Acknowledging the collaborative effort, Romero added, "It wasn't just me who won. This award is a testament to our entire team's hard work."

Other projects in the fair included:

• Sam Sheikholeslami’s automotive racing parts and apparel brand (2nd place)
• Sethya Pugal’s security system (3rd place)
• Lilianna Angel’s cosplay masks
• Samatha Graham’s handmade jewelry

Dr. Francisca Reyes, Campus Director of Blackstone LaunchPad, emphasized the diversity and creativity among the participants: "It's great that we had a diverse group of students from different backgrounds. It's important for other students to see that innovative and entrepreneurial ideas can range from technical to creative."

Brendon Wheeler, Maker Services Coordinator for the Creat’R Lab, praised the event, noting, "The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fair was a great representation of what our students are capable of. We’re thankful for our partnerships with Blackstone, ASUCR, and the UCR Library, which played a crucial role in supporting our students’ innovative projects."

The success of Maker Week underscores the UCR Library’s commitment to fostering an environment where students can collaborate, innovate, and bring their ideas to life. As the Library continues to support innovative projects with resources like the Creat’R Lab, Robotics Lab, 3DXP Lab, and STAR Lab, the future looks bright for UCR’s budding innovators!

More News January 22, 2018

Rancho Mirage based novelist Michael Craft has generously donated his papers and professional archive to the UCR Library’s Special Collections department.

Craft has published 14 novels, including the highly acclaimed Mark Manning mystery series, three of which were honored as finalists for the Gay Men’s Mystery genre by the Lambda Literary Awards (Name Games in 2001, Boy Toy in 2002, and Hot Spot in 2003).

University Librarian Steven Mandeville-Gamble recently discovered Craft’s works, read every single book, enjoyed them immensely, and purchased a complete, partially autographed set for our Special Collections and University Archives.

Mandeville-Gamble and Director of Distinctive Collections Cherry Williams both felt that Craft’s papers would be an excellent addition to the library’s collections, expanding the list of notable authors’ papers that we currently hold while also diversifying the collection into a different and very interesting genre.

"Over the years, I'd been building a private archive of correspondence and such related to my writing, wondering what would become of it. So when UCR reached out, asking if I would consider donating my professional papers, it was an easy answer: an instant yes,” Craft said. “I’m truly honored to join the company of noted authors who are archived in the University of California’s library system.”

“The UCR Library is honored that Michael Craft has chosen UCR as the home for his literary papers,” Mandeville-Gamble added. “As a multiple award-nominated author of mystery fiction set in Chicago, Wisconsin, and the Coachella Valley, having his papers come to UCR helps ensure that the UCR Library is a key partner in preserving the cultural and literary history of the Inland Southern California region and in documenting the creative output of the people of this unique region.”

More News March 18, 2019

The UCR Library is pleased to welcome Karen Raines as the Special Collections Public Services Coordinator, effective March 18, 2019.

Karen will be working in the Special Collections Department located in the Rivera Library. She will be reporting to Cherry Williams, Director of Distinctive Collections.

Karen earned her Masters of Arts Degree in History from Sacramento State University. Karen has over five years of experience working as the Collections Manager and Curator and Jane Clark Cullen Fellow for the Mission Inn Foundation.

Additional experience includes working at the University of Riverside as Graduate Success Coordinator and Graduate Teaching Assistant. During her three years as Grad Success, she was responsible for the University Teaching Certificate and Teaching Assistant Development.

Please join us in welcoming Karen to the library!

More News June 08, 2022

The UCR Library is delighted to announce Dr. Phoenix Alexander will serve as the UCR Library’s new Jay Kay Klein and Doris Klein Science Fiction Librarian beginning August 1.  

As the Jay Kay Klein and Doris Klein Science Fiction Librarian, Dr. Alexander will be responsible for the development, stewardship, and promotion of the Eaton Collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy — one of the world's largest, richest, and deepest collections of science fiction, fantasy, horror, utopian literature, and related genres. 

Dr. Alexander currently serves as the Science Fiction Collections Librarian at the University of Liverpool, Special Collections and Archives where he manages the largest collection of cataloged science fiction in Europe. 

Prior to his work at the University of Liverpool, Phoenix completed his Ph.D. in the departments of English and African American Studies at Yale and worked as a curatorial assistant at Yale’s Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library for three years, alongside his studies. 

Phoenix also is a scholar and writer of science fiction. His work has been published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Black Static, Safundi: The Journal of South African and American Studies, and Science Fiction Studies. A full member of the Science Fiction Writers of America, his expertise in science fiction writing has allowed him to serve as a judge for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, an award given annually to the best science fiction novel first published in the United Kingdom.  

Dr. Alexander’s demonstrated expertise and passion for science fiction, as well as his commitment to social justice and including marginalized communities in his work, complements, and will continue to advance, the UCR Library’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through the Eaton Collection. 

We invite the UCR community to join us in welcoming Phoenix to UCR when he arrives on August 1! 

More News April 30, 2021

UC Library Search will replace Melvyl on July 27, 2021. What do you need to do to prepare for this change?

How can you learn how to use UC Library Search?

UC Library Search is user-friendly and will strongly resemble the discovery portal you have been using for the last three years. Think of it as an upgrade that will allow you to search for materials across all 10 University of California campuses and the local UCR catalog, all in one place.

UCR librarians will make training materials available after July 27, 2021. Look for workshops on how to use UC Library Search in the fall. Our librarians would also be happy to teach a workshop during your class time. Contact Teaching and Learning Services for more information.

What will happen to your library account? Do you need to do anything? Do you need to turn books back in?

No. Melvyl accounts will become UC Library Search accounts. You do not need to take any action, unless you have saved lists, saved searches, or bookmarks to Melvyl records.

If you have personal saved lists saved in Melvyl, what should you do to keep them?

Melvyl saved lists will not be moved to UC Library Search. Before July 27, log in to Melvyl by clicking “Sign In.” Enter your username and password. Click on your account name, and select “My Personal Lists” from the drop-down menu. From there you can access your saved lists. You can email your lists to yourself, or you can click on the “Cite” button and export them into citation management software.

What do you do with your saved searches?

Melvyl saved searches will not be moved to UC Library Search. Before July 27, log in to Melvyl by clicking “Sign In.” Enter your username and password. Click on the “Saved Searches” link in the gray menu bar. Before July 27, you should make a note of your search terms if you wish to reproduce them later in UC Library Search.

What do you do about links or bookmarks to Melvyl records?

Melvyl links will not redirect to UC Library Search. If you have links to Melvyl records, either in your browser bookmarks, iLearn, Yuja, or elsewhere, you can log in to Melvyl and save them to a list, which you can then email to yourself or export into citation management software.

More News September 24, 2024

We’ve curated two digital collections perfect for fall.

Hispanic Heritage Month
Dive into these e-books from our Hispanic Heritage Month collection that celebrate Hispanic culture, history, and voices. Explore the collection.

Banned Books Week
Explore titles that have faced censorship challenges in our Banned Books Week collection, a testament to the power of free expression and access to diverse perspectives. Discover the collection.

---

Check out these collections and more at ucr.overdrive.com or download the Libby app and add the UCR Library as a “library”.

Students, faculty, and staff can use their UCR credentials to access these books for FREE from their computer, phone, laptop, or tablet!

• Read more about Patent & Trademark Services

More News January 30, 2017

Most 16 year-olds are taking the SAT and starting to apply to colleges. Victoria Scott is already living the dream as a first-year student here at UC Riverside.

The youngest of three children raised by a single mother in Berkeley, California, Victoria showed academic promise very early in life. “I went straight from preschool to first grade. I also skipped my junior year of high school,” she explained. “Starting in seventh grade, when I got bored during summer break, my mom would send me to community college to take elective classes. So I started earning transfer credits very early.”

She applied and visited four different UC schools before deciding to become a Highlander. UCLA’s campus was too big and she didn’t feel “at home” there, whereas Berkeley was too close to home. Victoria felt that moving away from her hometown would allow her to branch out and do things on her own. With the rest of her family based in northern California, “My mom wanted me to come here to be close to my grandma, who lives in Palm Springs,” Victoria smiled. “Plus, the financial aid package here was really good, so that means I won’t have to take out any student loans.”

Victoria works at the Rivera Library Circulation/Reserve Desk, helping patrons check out library materials including course reserves, organizing books, answering phones, and assisting patrons with directional and informational questions. “She is smart, gifted, and a diligent worker. She is never late and exceeds expectations,” Access Services Desk Supervisor Leslie Settle said of Victoria. “She even had her car stolen from the dorm during finals week, right before Christmas, and was still able to be positive, report to work and excel in school. She is one remarkable young lady.”

 “Working at the library was a job I wanted to acquire before I even stepped on campus,” Victoria stated. Not having spent much time in libraries before college, she figured that knowing where the textbooks are and how to check them out would be a valuable skill to learn. “Working at the library makes it easier to navigate,” she said. “It’s given me a sense of responsibility. I primarily work with other students, but there’s always a supervisor on staff, so we can call on them if we need to,” she added. “I like UCR because everyone is willing to help you.”

The giving nature that Victoria sees in her UCR Library colleagues is mirrored in her own generous spirit. In addition to being a student employee at the library, Victoria also works in the Financial Aid Office and volunteers with an on-campus program called KID (Kindling Intellectual Development). “In KIDS we travel to homeless shelters on Wednesday and Thursday nights and work with kids between the ages of one and twelve,” she described. “Over winter break, around Christmas time, our lesson plan covered what they’re thankful for, making Christmas trees, and teaching them the importance behind Christmas.”

Victoria has plans to found her own service organization on campus before she graduates. “My organization will teach the youth science and technology, to inspire them to learn, advance their knowledge, and change our communities. My goal is to run my program through an elementary school,” she explained. “I love kids! Kids are my favorite thing in the world. They make my days fun, energetic, and happy!”

Aligned with her helping nature, Victoria’s decision to major in neuroscience or biology was inspired by her family’s experience. “My stepbrother was in a motorcycle accident and he suffered significant loss of brain and body function. That experience sparked my curiosity and persuaded me to want to study and learn more about the brain,” she said.  Because she came to UCR with a lot of transfer credits, Victoria plans to take a quarter off sometime during her senior year to start applying for medical school.

Before that time, however, Victoria plans to do a medical mission in Haiti. “I would go for one week with a doctor during spring break, to provide them with IVs, blood transfusions, wrap up their ankles, and anything else they need assistance with,” she explained. Victoria is excited about the prospect of cultural immersion as well as the opportunity to serve others. “It would be an incredible and eye-opening experience to go to a third world country and provide them with healthcare that we take for granted.”

In addition, Victoria hopes to study abroad, but has not yet decided whether to go to Mexico, Spain, Italy or France. “I want to go several places,” she said. “I was also thinking about doing a Semester at Sea, because you get to cruise either the Atlantic, Caribbean, or Pacific. You do your studying on a ship and then, when you’re off the ship, you have time just to explore.”

With a service-oriented spirit like Victoria’s, the more places she can visit, the more people she will benefit with her skills and her presence.

More News February 10, 2020

One of only nine living Tuskegee Airmen, retired United States Air Force Colonel Charles McGee has kicked off 2020 with fanfare befitting a centenarian.

On Feb. 2, he presented the coin for the on-field coin toss for Superbowl LIV at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, FL, along with three other 100-year-old World War II veterans. The NFL ceremony acknowledged the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II and celebrated 100 years of professional football.

During the 2020 State of the Union address on Feb. 4, the U.S. President recognized McGee, announcing his recent honorary promotion to Brigadier General. McGee saluted as the audience gave two standing ovations while 13-year-old Iain Lanphier stood beside his great-grandfather, smiling proudly up at his hero and inspiration. Lanphier hopes to join the U.S. Space Force, the newest branch of the Armed Forces, inspired by McGee’s achievements.

His noteworthy life and military career are represented in the Charles E. McGee papers (MS 272), which are available at the UCR Library in Special Collections and University Archives on the fourth floor of the Tomás Rivera Library. McGee donated his collection of military documents, administrative records, photographs and artifacts to the UCR Library in 2015. A small portion of the collection has been digitized and made available online through Calisphere. “We are currently in the process of completing the digitization,” said Tiffany Moxham, Assistant University Librarian for Content and Discovery. “It should be up before summer.”

A Cleveland, Ohio native, McGee enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942 and became part of the Tuskegee Airmen, earning his pilot’s wings and graduating from Class 43-F in 1943. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first group of African-American military aviators (fighter and bomber pilots), who served in World War II after training at Tuskegee Army Airfield and Moton Field in Alabama. Before the Tuskegee Airmen, no African-American had been a U.S. military pilot. McGee was stationed in Italy with the 302nd Fighter Squadron of the 332d Fighter Group.

In his 30 years of military service, he flew 409 aerial fighter combat missions, including service in WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War -- one of the highest counts recorded by any Air Force fighter pilot. McGee retired from active duty in 1973 with many service awards.

Additionally, in 2007 President Bush and the U.S. Congress awarded the nation’s highest civilian award, the Congressional Gold Medal, to McGee and all other Tuskegee Airmen, both living and deceased. In 2011, McGee was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio. George Lucas consulted McGee for his 2012 feature film Red Tails, named after the distinctive markings of the Tuskegee Airmen’s aircraft. McGee also earned the Eagle Scout award from the Boy Scouts of America in 1940.