Sciences Library News

Nov 30 2017

Winter Exhibit

Posted on November 30, 2017November 30, 2017 by Sara Scheib

Stop by the Sciences Library to see our new winter exhibit: Colors of Winter.

We normally think of the colors of winter as rather dull and drab, at least until the first snowfall. But the plumage of birds and coats of small mammals often change dramatically during the winter months, allowing them to blend in better with their surroundings.

In our cases, you’ll find birds and other animals in their winter colors, and their summer colors for comparison. Come check it out! And as always, many thanks to the Museum of Natural History for loaning us several specimens from their collections.

Nov 08 2017

New Reaxys

Posted on November 8, 2017November 8, 2017 by Sara Scheib

Reaxys is switching to a new, dramatically streamlined interface which defaults to a “Quick Search” with keyword search functionality, as well as the ability to search by drawing a structure or reaction. You can see the Promo for the New Reaxys interface or go to the Reaxys Support Center for more in-depth documentation, FAQs, manuals, video tutorials, and access to training webinars.

The legacy interface will only be available until January 31, 2018, so you may want to try the New Reaxys soon. If you have any questions, would like to learn more, or want a demonstration of the new interface, please contact the Sciences Library for assistance.

Oct 30 2017

Halloween Exhibit

Posted on October 30, 2017November 1, 2017 by Sara Scheib

Are you ready for Halloween? Check out our “Creepy Creatures” exhibit at the Sciences Library and get in the Halloween spirit!

Many thanks to the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History for loaning us the specimens for our displays.

Sep 22 2017

EndNote Workshop Rescheduled

Posted on September 22, 2017October 13, 2017 by Sara Scheib

Yesterday’s workshop, “Saving Time (and Citations) with EndNote” has been rescheduled for Monday, October 16 at 2 – 2:50 PM in the third floor computer room. We apologize for any inconvenience. If you need assistance with references, citations, or EndNote, private appointments and webinars are also available. Please contact Sara Scheib for assistance.

Sep 08 2017

New Exhibit: Go Hawks!

Posted on September 8, 2017November 1, 2017 by Sara Scheib

Introducing our new exhibit: Go Hawks!

In Iowa City, Herky is famous, but you may be less familiar other members of his family. Red-tailed hawks, Cooper’s hawks, and others are often spotted in Johnson County. These beautiful birds are accomplished predators, feeding on smaller birds and small mammals. Come see two impressive specimens up close at the Sciences Library.

Red-tailed Hawk egg — Red-tailed hawk egg

Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk — Harlan's red-tailed hawk

Many thanks to the Museum of Natural History for the loan of the hawks and hawk egg, to the University Archives for the homecoming buttons, and to wildlife photographer James Scheib for the beautiful photos.

Sep 08 2017

Fall Workshops at the Sciences Library

Posted on September 8, 2017September 22, 2017 by Sara Scheib

The following workshops will be offered at the Sciences Library during the Fall 2017 semester. Our workshops are open to everyone and there is no need to register. They will be held in the computer room on the third floor of the Sciences Library. If you have any questions, please contact Sara Scheib.

Foolproof Searching Secrets – Thursday, September 28 at 10 – 10:50 AM
This is your chance to learn how to search like a librarian! Bring your questions and learn how to save time and effort by applying some simple search strategies. You’ll learn which resources are the best bets for different types of information, how to improve your search results, and how to refine your results when you get overwhelmed. And you’ll learn how to evaluate the quality of the information you find, no matter where you find it.

Lions and Tigers and Predatory Publishers, Oh My! – Wednesday, October 4 at 1:30 – 2:20 PM
In this workshop, you will learn strategies for navigating through the jungle of scholarly publishing. Have you ever wondered how to identify and avoid predatory publishers? How to publish open access without sacrificing impact? And how to control your identity as a scholar? This workshop will provide answers to these questions and more. Bring your own questions too!

Demystifying Metrics: H-Index, Impact Factor, and More – Wednesday, October 11 at 2 – 2:50 PM
Learn how bibliometrics like h-index and impact factor are calculated, how they’re used, and what they really mean. Learn to use tools like Journal Citation Reports, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar to measure your scholarly impact.

Saving Time (and Citations) with EndNote – Monday, October 16 at 2 – 2:50 PM
In this workshop you will learn how to save time by using EndNote to import references from popular databases, organize and share your references, and automatically format in-text citations and bibliographies/reference lists in Microsoft Word.

If you’re interested, but unable to attend these workshops, private appointments and webinars are available. Contact Sara Scheib for more information.

Aug 28 2017

Eclipse 2017 Event

Posted on August 28, 2017August 28, 2017 by Sara Scheib

The solar eclipse viewing event at the Sciences Library was a huge success! Thanks to all who attended and many thanks to our partners, the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Museum of Natural History.

In the end, we gave away over 1000 pairs of eclipse glasses! If you wish to recycle your glasses, you can bring them to the Museum of Natural History. Astronomers Without Borders will donate them to other countries for future eclipses.

Hundreds of people visited our courtyard to watch the eclipse as a community. The clouds parted just enough to give everyone a great view of the peak of the eclipse at 1:12 PM, when 92% of the Sun was obscured by the moon.

Some also came inside to watch NASA’s live stream of the eclipse, following the path of totality across the country from Oregon to South Carolina.

Have you caught eclipse fever? The next total eclipse will be July 2, 2019 and will be visible in South America. Your next chance to see a total solar eclipse in the United States will be April 8, 2024! I can’t wait!

Jul 19 2017

Solar Eclipse – 8/11/2017

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Sara Scheib

Have you heard the news? On Monday, August 21, 2017, a solar eclipse will be visible in the United States! During this rare event, the moon passes between the Sun and Earth, blocking our view of the Sun. While some areas of the country will see a total solar eclipse, in Iowa City, we will see a partial eclipse. At the maximum at 1:12 PM, 92% of the Sun will be obscured by the moon.

To learn more about this exciting phenomenon, check out our guide or stop by the Sciences Library to see our new exhibit. And on August 21st, join us at the Sciences Library for an Eclipse Viewing Party!

May 04 2017

Finals Week at the Sciences Library

Posted on May 4, 2017May 5, 2017 by Sara Scheib

Study for finals at the Sciences Library! We’ll be open from 8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Friday. The following special activities will be available all week! (Mon. May 8 – Fri. May 12)

Missing Mascot Mug Giveaway!
Keep an eye out for our mascot, Chauncey, while you’re looking for a quiet corner to study. If you find him, bring him to the service desk. You’ll win a free Sciences Library mug!
Treats!
Fill your free coffee mug with free coffee and tea. And when you need a snack, make sure to try Pam’s famous homemade mini-brownies!
Toys and Games!
Ready for a break? We have building toys like Legos and K’Nex, card games like UNO and Phase 10, and coloring pages and crayons to help you relax.
Quiet Study Space and Friendly Staff!
As always, our quiet study spaces will help you focus on your work. And if you have questions, our friendly staff is always happy to help.

Feb 24 2017

New Exhibit: Library Technology Through the Years

Posted on February 24, 2017 by Sara Scheib

The Sciences Library has a new exhibit, relating to this semester’s theme: Our Lives Online. The exhibit, “Library Technology Through the Years”, showcases items from the University Archives collection that have been made obsolete by new forms of media and online streaming. In our cases, you’ll find an antique typewriter, an Edison phonograph record, a Barbara Streisand 8-track, an Asteroids Atari game cartridge, and so much more. Check out our exhibit and take a walk down memory lane! How many of the items do you remember?