Lichtenberger Engineering Library

May 12 2020

DeStress Fest Day 5 Recap!

Posted on May 12, 2020May 12, 2020 by Carol Johnk

Missed anything from today’s Destress Fest? This is the last day for our DeStress Fest. We hope it helped make your days a little easier and, well, less stressed! If you’ve missed anything, head to our website and check it out!

Need some humor to start the day? How about a cheesy Dad Joke? Check our DeStress Fest webpage at 9:00 a.m. every weekday for a new joke to groan at!

Today’s joke:
What are the strongest days of the week?
Saturday & Sunday, the rest are weak-days!
(you may groan now!)

We had our final meditation session this morning. A representative from Student Wellness lead us through guided meditation to help you discover new ways to help you relax. Today’s session was led by Haley Hines. She taught a body scan method as a way to “get out of our heads.” This method pinpoint places in the body where you may be feeling stressed and tense. The Student Wellness Center has a Koru mindfullness program which you may access here. They’d love to talk with you!

Who doesn’t love chocolate and peanut butter together? Well, today’s recipe is for a yummy Chocolate PB Cake in a Mug! Easy and tasty! We want to see your results – so post your photos here. The crazier the mug – the better!!!

At 4:00 p.m. each week day we have posted an Inspirational Quote for the day! It’s getting late in the day and you could no doubt use a bit of inspiration!

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope or confidence.” Helen Keller

Do you have a quote that you have found to be especially helpful? We have a board where you can share it. It might just be what someone else needs to hear!

Didn’t make Show and Tail last Friday? We have a board where we encourage you to post pictures of that special pet that is driving your crazy or making you smile!

We hope DeStress Fest has helped you have a better week!
We’ve enjoyed sharing it with you!

May 11 2020

DeStress Fest Day 4 Recap!

Posted on May 11, 2020May 11, 2020 by Carol Johnk

Missed anything from today’s Destress Fest? Enjoy this recap and then be sure to join us tomorrow!

Need some humor to start the day? How about a cheesy Dad Joke? Check our DeStress Fest webpage at 9:00 a.m. every weekday for a new joke to groan at!

Today’s joke:
There’s a fine line between a numerator and denominator!
(you may groan now)

At 11:00 a.m. join us for a Live guided meditation session! A representative from Student Wellness will lead you through guided meditation to help you relax, so you are ready to face the rest of the day! Don’t worry if you haven’t tried meditation before, the sessions are short – 10 to 15 minutes. And no, you don’t have to be able to sit in a lotus position to participate! This is a live session so registration is required – you’ll get an email with the session’s link an hour before the session begins. Register here for Tuesday’s session! The representative will be available for questions following the session. Today’s session was led by JoAnn Daehler-Miller. She focused on the Gatha method which was developed to train minds to not just be learning minds, but also observing minds. This method helps relieve stress and anxiety – just what is needed during finals week!

Who doesn’t love a Snickerdoodle cookie? Well, today’s recipe is for a yummy Snickerdoodle Cake in a Mug! Easy and tasty! We want to see your results – so post your photos here. The crazier the mug – the better!!!

It’s getting later in the day and your motivation is wavering. At 4:00 p.m. each week day check out our Inspirational Quote for the day!

“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity” — Sun Tsu

Definitely an appropriate quote for this week! Do you have a quote that you have found to be especially helpful? We have a board where you can share it. It might just be what someone else needs to hear!

Didn’t make Show and Tail last Friday? We have a board where we encourage you to post pictures of that special pet that is driving your crazy or making you smile!

Join us tomorrow for DeStress Fest Day 5!

May 08 2020

DeStress Fest Day 3 Recap!

Posted on May 8, 2020May 8, 2020 by Carol Johnk

Missed anything from today’s Destress Fest? Enjoy this recap and then be sure to join us Monday!

Need some humor to start the day? How about a cheesy Dad Joke? Check our DeStress Fest webpage at 9:00 a.m. every weekday for a new joke to groan at!

Today’s joke:
Did you hear about the mathematician who was afraid of negative numbers?
He’d stop at nothing to avoid them!

Today’s recipe is for a yummy Birthday Cake in a Mug – this recipe also includes instructions on how to make it vegan! It may not be your birthday – but celebrate anyway! We want to see your results – so post your photos here. The crazier the mug – the better!!!

It’s getting later in the day and your motivation is wavering. At 4:00 p.m. each week day check out our Inspirational Quote for the day!

“Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging.” This inspiring quote comes from Joseph Campbell.

Do you have a quote that you have found to be especially helpful? We have a board where you can share it. It might just be what someone else needs to hear!

Didn’t make Show and Tail this afternoon? We have a board where we encourage you to post pictures of that special pet that is driving your crazy or making you smile!

Join us Monday for DeStress Fest Day 4!

May 07 2020

DeStress Fest Recap Day 2!

Posted on May 7, 2020May 7, 2020 by Carol Johnk

Missed anything from today’s Destress Fest? Enjoy this recap and then be sure to join us tomorrow!

Need some humor to start the day? How about a cheesy Dad Joke? Check our DeStress Fest webpage at 9:00 a.m. every weekday for a new joke to groan at!

Today’s joke:
What does an atom say when it loses an electron?
“Man, I really gotta keep an ion them!”

At 11:00 a.m. join us for a Live guided meditation session! A representative from Student Wellness will lead you through guided meditation to help you relax, so you are ready to face the rest of the day! Don’t worry if you haven’t tried meditation before, the sessions are short – 10 to 15 minutes. And no, you don’t have to be able to sit in a lotus position to participate! This is a live session so registration is required – you’ll get an email with the session’s link an hour before the session begins. Register here for tomorrow’s session! The representative will be available for questions following the session. Today’s session was led by JoAnn Daehler-Miller and focused on an exercise which is useful for high stress and anxiety times. It helps with focus, but also provides energy to help finish that paper or project! Register for tomorrow and see what helpful mindfulness practice will be presented!

Need a snack boost in the afternoon? We’ve got you covered, there, too! Every week day at 1:00 p.m. a new Cake in a Mug recipe will be posted! We encourage you to try the recipes and then go to our DeStress Fest page and post a picture of your creation – the crazier the mug, the better!

Today’s recipe is for a yummy Coffee Cake in a Mug – this recipe also includes instructions on how to make it gluten-free! We want to see your results – so post your photos here. The crazier the mug – the better!!!

It’s getting later in the day and your motivation is wavering. At 4:00 p.m. each week day check out our Inspirational Quote for the day!

Today’s quote is from Nelson Mandela. “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”

Do you have a quote that you have found to be especially helpful? We have a board where you can share it. It might just be what someone else needs to hear!

AND!!! Friday, May 8, at 2:00 p.m. (CDT) we will have a Live “Show and Tail” event! Register here and then share that “co-worker” who is keeping you company! All pets with tails are welcome – fish, lizards, birds, cats, dogs, turtles, whatever is keeping you company now! Zoom meeting information will be sent to registrants an hour before “Show and Tail!”

Can’t make Show and Tail? We have a board where we encourage you to post pictures of that special pet that is driving your crazy or making you smile!

Join us tomorrow for DeStress Fest Day 3!

May 06 2020

DeStress Fest Day 1 Recap!

Posted on May 6, 2020 by Carol Johnk

Missed anything from today’s Destress Fest? Enjoy this recap and then be sure to join us tomorrow!

Need some humor to start the day? How about a cheesy Dad Joke? Check our DeStress Fest webpage at 9:00 a.m. every weekday for a new joke to groan at!

Today’s joke:
Two windmills are standing in a wind farm.
One asks, “what’s your favorite kind of music?
Thee other says, “I’m a big metal fan.”

Need a snack boost in the afternoon? We’ve got you covered, there, too! Every week day at 1:00 p.m. a new Cake in a Cup recipe will be posted! We encourage you to try the recipes and then go to our DeStress Fest page and post a picture of your creation – the crazier the mug, the better!

Today’s recipe is for a yummy Chocolate Mug Cake – give it a try and let us see your results!

It’s getting later in the day and your motivation is wavering. At 4:00 p.m. each week day check out our Inspirational Quote for the day!

“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” Henry Ford.

We have a board where you can share inspirational quotes that have helped you.

Friday, May 8, at 2:00 p.m. (CDT) we will have a Live “Show and Tail” event! Register here and then share that “co-worker” who is keeping you company! All pets with tails are welcome – fish, lizards, birds, cats, dogs, turtles, whatever is keeping you company now! Zoom meeting information will be sent to registrants an hour before “Show and Tail!”

Can’t make Show and Tail? We have a board where we encourage you to post pictures of that special pet that is driving your crazy or making you smile!

Join us tomorrow for DeStress Fest Day 2!

May 05 2020

Information about Returning Library Material

Posted on May 5, 2020May 5, 2020 by Carol Johnk

It’s getting to be time to return the library materials you have checked out. Here are the options which are available as of now.

Returning Materials

While details are still being finalized, we are offering several opportunities to help our patrons return materials. We are partnering with the Big Ten, ILA/ACRL, and a few public libraries in the area on this initiative and will also receive materials from their patrons.

To help our library patrons, especially graduating students, return library items, we are offering these options during the month of May:

Libraries’ Drop Boxes are available at many libraries across the state and the US, check out the map here – https://ui-libraries.github.io/Library_Dropoffs/
Scheduled drop off by emailing lib-engineering@uiowa.edu. If have equipment, such as laptops or tools to return, we highly recommend scheduling a drop off to ensure the security and safety of the item.
Request a UPS shipping label, for those who do not have access to a library drop box and live 30 miles or more outside of Iowa City.

As always, if you have any questions, please contact us! You may email us at: lib-engineering@uiowa.edu. We have online chat available Mon-Fri from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. You may access this by going to our homepage and clicking on the link “Chat with a Librarian.” During those same hours you may text us at 319.250.2176.

May 04 2020

Take a Break With DeStress Fest!

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Carol Johnk

Take a Break With DeStress Fest!

It’s the end of the semester and we are all feeling it. STRESS.

But, have no fear – we are here for you!

We’re here and you are there, so what can we do to help you feel less stress and anxiety? Have a DeStress Fest, of course!

Starting Wednesday, May 6^th through Tuesday, May 12^th, we will be hosting a virtual DeStress Fest! We have activities you can do while maintaining physical distancing but still connecting with others online. The event will feature a LIVE pet show and “tail,” LIVE Guided Meditation Sessions, plus daily dad jokes, mug recipes and inspirational quotes.

On Friday, the 8^th, at 2 PM, we’ll be having a “Show and Tail” zoom session!! Be sure to register HERE ahead of time so that you receive the Zoom link an hour before the session. Then, come and share your pets and a tell a story (tale/tail) about your pet! Remember – birds, lizards, turtles, bunnies, etc., all have tails, too! So get registered to participate in “Show and Tail!” If your pet is shy and doesn’t want to appear live (or you aren’t able to be join us during the LIVE portion of Show and Tail) there will be a space on our virtual bulletin board where you can share a picture and a brief story about your pet!

Posted EACH DAY on our social media pages (@UIEngLIB) and on our DeStress Fest webpage:

9:00 AM: There will be a new “Dad Joke” posted! Groaning and eye rolling is encouraged!

11:00 AM: Guided Meditation Session! Student Wellness is providing a live meditation at 11 AM each weekday during DeStress Fest! Each session will include a brief intro about meditation, a 10 minute practice, and then a brief overview of the Student Wellness mindfulness Program. More information on the mindfulness program can be found here.

You may register for the individual sessions at the links below. An hour before each session for which you have registered you will receive an email with the Zoom link.
May 6: Register here.
May 7: Register here.
May 8: Register here.
May 11: Register here.
May 12: Register here.

1:00 PM: A new Mug Cake recipe every day! Make it and share your photos on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages(@UIEngLib) and the DeStress Fest webpage– we want to see those tasty cakes – and the crazy mugs you might have!

4:00 PM: An Inspiration Quote will be posted. You’ll be able to share quotes that have helped you through online learning! We will have a virtual wall on our webpage where you’ll be able to share those quotes that have helped you with the challenges of the end of this semester.

Did you miss something during the day? Don’t worry – check our blog each day and find out what your friends have shared throughout the day!

Check DeStress Fest each day!

Don’t let the stress get you down!
Take A Break With DeStress Fest!!

Apr 22 2020

50th Anniversary of Earth Day!

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Carol Johnk

Happy 50^th Anniversary, Earth Day!!

Climate Action is the theme for Earth Day 2020!

Most of us know about Earth Day/Earth Month, and many are concerned about the impact society has on our planet Earth. The Earth Day Network wants to”build the world’s largest environmental movement.” Their webpage says:

Earth Day Network’s mission is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Growing out of the first Earth Day in 1970, Earth Day Network is the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 75,000 partners in over 190 countries to drive positive action for our planet.

Dr. Hanna Reid is currently working with the Climate Change Group and the Biodiversity Team at the International Institute for Management. In the first chapter of her book, Climate Change and Human Development, she talks about what global impact we can expect from climate change over the coming years. Among other warnings, she says we should expect warming over land areas and at high northern latitudes, and less warming over the Southern Ocean and parts of the Atlantic Ocean. She warns of increases in the depths of thaw experienced over most permafrost regions and decreases in sea ice but also increases in heat waves and heavy precipitation. Reid also says we should expect changes in tropical cyclones. This book moves through theories, evidence, and effects on everything from oceans, fresh water, forests, and jungles. This title is also available online.

It is sometimes easy to forget that “Society can change climate, and climate can change society.” That is the first sentence in the 3rd chapter of The Future Is Not What It Used to Be : Climate Change and Energy Scarcity by Jörg Friedrichs (available online). Humans need food, drink, and shelter. Humans depend on fresh, clean water. Food depends on agriculture which relies on fresh water and fertile land. Shelters also rely on stable ground. Climate change has consequences for our fresh water, agriculture and fertile land, not to mention our oceans and the fish many rely on to survive. Rising sea levels affect lands and washing away shorelines and islands. In the final chapter, Friedrichs concludes that we tend to focus on mitigating damage caused by global warming caused by industrial society. We often don’t think our industrial society might be unsustainable. He goes on to discuss “resilience thinking” and “ontological securitization” as different ways to look at mitigating climate change.

There are so many ways we can help help make/keep the Earth green. Green technology includes innovations such as power supplies, solar power, wind power, and waste management. Living green includes using LED light bulbs, cutting down or eliminating plastic use, and energy-efficient and sustainable housing. Growing your own food – or buying from Farmer’s Market, reducing the use of pesticides, using bicycles or energy efficient cars are also ways to help the earth stay green.

Check out InfoHawk+, and see how many resources we have available! You can narrow your search to the Engineering Library if you wish. Additionally, you can choose to display only online results.

And remember we are here for you! We are available to Live Chat (link on our website) from 8:30 to 5:00 Monday through Friday. You may text us at 319.250.2176, during those same hours. We are available by email us at lib-engineering@uiowa.edu. If your question is more involved, our librarians are available to schedule a zoom session with you.

Explore the library resources! As we all take time to do spring-cleaning, we can add “spring-greening” to our list!
Happy 50^th Planet Earth!

Resources:

Wong, Kaufui Vincent. 2016. Climate change. New York, New York : Momentum Press. Engineering Library QC903 .W653 2016. Full text also available online.

Reid, Hannah. 2014. Climate change and human development. London : Zed Books. Engineering Library QC903.2 D44 R45 2014 Full text also available online

Friedrichs, Jörg. 2013. The future is not what it used to be : climate change and energy scarcity. Cambridge, Mass : MIT Press. Engineering Library QF903 .F74 2013. Full text also available online.

Earth Day. 2020. The Earth Needs Us Now More Than Ever. EARTHDAY.ORG

Other Resources:

Smil, Vaclav. 2008. Energy in nature and society : general energetics of complex systems. Cambridge, Massachusetts : MIT Press. Engineering Library QH510 .S63 2008 Full text also available online.

Check InfoHawk+ for our many, many resources!!

Mar 25 2020

Color Your World!

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Carol Johnk

Looking for a relaxing, creative activity while social distancing? Does anyone in your household like to color? We have some of the best coloring pages around – and they are all FREE!!!

If you go to InfoHawk+ – the University of Iowa Libraries search engine – and search for coloring books, you’ll find you get over 400 results. But, on the left is a tab where you can sort your results by relevance and “full text online” – and voilà – you have a manageable list! The online resource link will take you to coloring book which you may then save and print!

We’re pretty much all working from home and wishing we had better office chairs. It’s no surprise that office chairs have patents – but did you know there are patent coloring books? Print a copy of your office chair and color it to be exactly the way you’d like it to be! Use your imagination! Fluorescent colors, smiley faces, cartoon characters – well, you get the idea! Go to “Selected Works of Paulina Borrego” where there is a drop down – “jump to category.” Click on that and select “Patent Coloring Books.” Have fun scrolling through the many collections of patents and get coloring!

You’ll also want to check out the Open Culture website. They have “free coloring books from world-class libraries & museums.” Their list includes coloring books from The Met, New York Public Library, Smithsonian, Biodiversity Heritage Library, the Royal College of Physicians, and SO many more!!

Maybe you and/or your kids are into the outdoors – there are coloring books for you, too!

The US Fish & Wildlife service has coloring books, too. Head to their website, search “coloring books” and you’ll come up with a whole list of available, downloadable pdfs.

More into agriculture? You an access Biosecurity for Birds Coloring Book through InfoHawk+ – find the link to full text and you’ll be ready to download!

Resources:

University of Iowa Libraries InfoHawk+. Limit search to “library catalogs,” search “coloring books,” narrow search by selecting “full text online” on the left side of the screen.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Homepage. Search color books. Last updated March 19, 2020.

United States. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Biosecurity for birds coloring book. 2006. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Free Coloring Books from World-Class Libraries & Museums: The Met, New York Public Library, Smithsonian & More. Feb. 7, 2017. Open Culture : The best free cultural & educational media on the web. Date Accessed: March 25, 2020

University of Massachusetts Amherst. Selected Works of Paulina Borrego. bepress. Date Accessed: March 25, 2020

Mar 20 2020

Looking for Some Online Music & Video Entertainment?

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Carol Johnk

Need a break from all the usual streaming channels? We have access to online music and videos you can explore and enjoy!

Interested in music and the performing arts? Head over to this Alexander Street website for free access to links for all sorts of music and performing arts! This website has videos of operas, dance (all kinds!), Broadway musicals, jazz music, world music, and, oh, so much more!! If you like music and performing arts of all types – this is an amazing site to get lost in! They also have a section of Smithsonian Global Music for Libraries – this includes books and songs for children. These links are fully searchable by genre, places, artists, film, theater and more!

Are you into silent films? Alexander Street also has a link for silent films – including The Great Train Robbery. The Great Train Robbery from 1903, is an American silent short western film written, produced, and directed by Edwin S. Porter, a former Edison Studios cameraman. This collection has silent films from Monkey Shines filmed in 1890 to Brandford City v Gainsborough Trinity filmed in 2016.

(Confession time – I may have found some fun steel drum music to listen to while writing this!)

Looking for educational videos and documentaries? Try Kanopy. This site has everything from the Criterion Collection, Political Documentaries, Critical Race & Ethnic Studies, Italian Studies, the Great Courses, and many more! Check out the many, many videos available to watch for free!

Here’s another great website for movies! There is everything available from thrillers, westerns, sci-fi, romance, musicals, documentaries, and more, more, more! Check out the University of Iowa Academic Film Streaming! Hard to imagine you won’t find something there that you haven’t seen, but have always meant to watch!

Looking for academic video streaming? Swank is another great resource. It includes feature films, documentaries, foreign films, and TV shows!

The University of Iowa Libraries