All Abroad!

Last week, the library had the privilege of hosting Crystal S., a friend of our very own Ms. Atkinson and a brave soul indeed. Just after graduating from UIUC, Crystal took a chance, bought a plane ticket to Guatemala, and began a life in central America. Last Thursday, she visited Uni to tell about her adventures and to offer words of wisdom to students considering a future move abroad. From stories of Guatemala and its native people to learning the language to how she found work (and eventually built a successful career), Crystal's lunchtime visit was enriching and entertaining-- albeit all too brief!

Lunching AND Learning? What a cool library!

Crystal explains Guatemala's annual giant kite festival.

Raise the roof for the awesomeness of adventures abroad!

It's a Happenin', Hoppin' New Year

We have been busy bees here at Uni. Even with the good weather, many days have looked like so:

They know the importance of being earnest.

With every nook and cranny occupied, like this:

Off to a studious start!

And like that:

Windows: bad for surreptitious eaters, great for librarians!

We've hosted drama classes:

Fing's students do a table read of his very own play.

And witnessed use of the new glass marker boards for highly educational purposes:

Subbies Rule-- at least until the Freshmen get a hold of the markers.

We've even had advice requested -- and granted -- from the Dragon:

Ah, the age-old dilemma of a crush...We've all been there!

 

With these auspicious beginnings, we can't wait to see what the rest of the year holds!

And We're Back!

Just like that, summer has ended and school has started. The first bell of the 2015-16 year rang at 7:55 this morning, letting students (and teachers) know to make their way to Uni Gym for our annual opening day assembly. Summer may have gone quickly, but it's always good to see students, books, and students reading books.

A number of physical changes greeted library visitors upon their arrival (see previous post). While students were quick to notice the removal of the reference books and addition of the glass marker boards in the main room, the shorter shelves in the fiction room, and the reduction of shelves and thus addition of light in the non-fiction room, they often missed the biggest change. Can you tell what it is?

The calm before the storm: the library at 7:20am.

New Year, New Book-- so many choices!

The fifth hour crowd takes shape.

Paul helping two subbies with very specific typewriter inquiries.

The ol' H&B-- Hustle and Bustle, that is.

Freshmen already taking their studies seriously.

The Fiction Room Girls return, a year older and wiser.

101 Boxes (not dalmations, thank goodness)

On this, Day One of the Great Library Facelift, six brave souls ventured from the cool UGL into the soupy June air, traversing campus to lend a hand boxing up Uni's books. In a mere hour and a half, Pam, Mitch, Bernita, Madeline, Lonnie, and Lori tackled half the collection, assembling and labeling boxes, transferring books, and keeping everything in order-- an important detail considering we'll reshelve in two weeks. Here's to 101 more (or however many it takes to finish) tomorrow!

Now those are labels!

Lori has let there be light!

Uh oh-- we lost Madeline!

Bernita's sweet smile of victory over the 600s.

Pam and Mitch v. the Fiction Room: that manga doesn't stand a chance.

Mucha PechaKucha

Marx. Baudrillard. Foucault. Each made an appearance in the library this week thanks to Mr. Ernstmeyer's Philosophy class, as they presented PechaKucha talks about these thinkers and their thoughts. (For those of you saying, "Pecha Whata?" check out this site.)

Bruce Considers Karl.

Patrick, Foucault, and the art of coercion.

Baudrillard's simulacrum as told by Alice.

One good simulacrum talk deserves another, and Kai is up to the challenge.

No Beret Required

Last night saw Uni's first ever evening open mic-- and it happened in the library, natch. Inspired by National Poetry Month, fueled by olives, bread, cheese, and fizzy drinks, and surrounded by the notes of Miles Davis's Kind of Blue wafting through the dusk, our enthusiastic students shared words that matter. Whether their own poems and reflections or those of Sierra DeMulder, T.S. Eliot, Robert W. Service, Billy Collins, and Charles Bukowski, these words -- and, more importantly, the communal experiencing of them -- made the evening special indeed. Here's to many more!

 

 

Printing: Now in 3D!

Need a bicycle part? Or a cell phone case? Or a thingamajig? We got just the tool for the job! Uni's 3D printer, generously donated by alum Blaine Garst, has been getting lots of use this year, though not everyone knows how to use this awesome piece of equipment. Thanks to seniors Ansel and Noah and their Agora Unleashed talk, Make and Take (or Give): 3D Printing and Modeling for Your Life, we now have an idea of where to start!

Mr. Russell checks out the very important thingamajig.

Ansel explains modeling software.

Bicycle parts, orbs, and thingamajigs-- oh my!