Author Archives: Michelle McKinney

UCBA Librarian Judges Edible Books

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By Michelle McKinney, Reference and Web Services Librarian

When Melissa Norris asked if I would like to serve as a judge for the 2016 Edible Books contest held on April 1st at the University of Cincinnati Libraries’ Langsam Library, I happily (and hungrily) agreed.

This was my first time attending the event let alone judging it. I was completely blown away by the creativity and complexity of some of the entries. It was truly a challenge for me and fellow judge, Michael Alfieri, to fairly assess and assign winners for 15 categories which included: Most Gruesome, Most Literary, Most Whimsical and Best Overall.

All those in attendance had the chance to taste the literary creations which included cheese balls, fruits,  veggies, cakes and cookies. Did I mention how tasty the entries were as well?

For more information about the participants and the International Edible Books Festival, read the News Record article. View the entries and the winners on theLibraries Facebook page.

 

UCBA Fun Facts: Personal Lending Policy

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Question: What is your policy on book lending?

Heather

Heather Maloney, Library Director: I share! Unless it’s a library book then I’m a little more protective. 😉

 

 

Michelle Michelle McKinney, Reference/Web Services Librarian: It depends on the book and who I’m lending it to…I’ve lost a few faves over the years and those folks can’t borrow from my anymore. 

 

KellieKellie Tilton, Instructional Technologies Librarian: I am an advocate of book lending! But only if I know the person well enough to know the book is coming back at some point. 

 

LaurenLauren Wahman, Instruction Librarian: No policy. All of my books come from the Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County. 

 

 

julierobinsonJulie Robinson, Library Operations Manager: Hardly ever. Streamlined my collection to keep mainly my absolute favorite hardcovers and first editions which I NEVER lend and the rest I borrow from the library.

 

pamadler Pam Adler, Public Services Assistant: Depends on the book. I rarely loan my hardcovers but if I have an ebook it’s yours to borrow. 

 

Exploring the UC Libraries

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by Kellie Tilton

As many may know, the University of Cincinnati contains 13 awesome libraries amongst the three campuses of Uptown, Clermont and Blue Ash. As a librarian at the UCBA Library on the Blue Ash campus, I’ve been to Langsam Library numerous times and have visited a few others due to various meetings. In the two and half years I’ve worked for UC, however, I hadn’t really had the opportunity to really explore many of these collections. Over spring break, I had the chance to get the behind-the-scenes tour in eight of the 13 libraries.

By walking ten minutes across (and up!) the Uptown campus, I went from delighting over the DAAP Library’s vast snowglobe collection to admiring one of the Archive and Rare Books Library’s pre-printing press manuscripts. The resources available to all UC students, faculty and staff in the UC collections are vast, fascinating and one of the many great things about the University of Cincinnati.

If you have a chance, be sure to go seek out the many gems in the UC Libraries! To see some of my adventure, check out the photos below!

UCBA Fun Facts: Giving Bad Reviews

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Question: How do you feel about giving a bad or negative review?

Heather

Heather Maloney, Library Director: Reading opinions can be very personal (especially if reading for leisure) so I keep it constructive and from a place of my own personal preference.

 

Michelle Michelle McKinney, Reference/Web Services Librarian: I like reading them if I don’t like a book. Sometimes I can’t find the words to describe why I don’t like a book and reading other people’s negative review helps. 

 

KellieKellie Tilton, Instructional Technologies Librarian: I think if the reviews are given critically, I’m okay with them. I also appreciate when reviewers acknowledge the difference between issues they personally had with a book and the issues that are problematic on a more general level. 

 

LaurenLauren Wahman, Instruction Librarian: I appreciate honesty and understand that not everyone is going to like the same books as me. 

 

julierobinsonJulie Robinson, Library Operations Manager: I try to keep it concrete and give specific examples, but just because I don’t care for a book doesn’t mean someone else won’t love it. I never want to discourage anyone from picking up a book. 

 

pamadler Pam Adler, Public Services Assistant: Reviews/opinions. I will give my opinion, good/bad/indifferent if asked. 

 

 

UCBA Fun Facts: Favorite Reading Snack

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Question: What’s your favorite reading snack?

Heather

Heather Maloney, Library Director: I’m not much of a snacker when I read but a glass of wine or cup of tea is always nice. 

 

 

Michelle Michelle McKinney, Reference/Web Services Librarian: Peanut M & Ms

 

 

KellieKellie Tilton, Instructional Technologies Librarian: Water?

 

 

 

LaurenLauren Wahman, Instruction Librarian: No favorites, just usually have water near me.

 

 

RachelRachel Lewis, Technical Services Manager: ALL things FOOD!

 

 

julierobinsonJulie Robinson, Library Operations Manager: If I get sucked into a good read, I don’t even know if people are around, much less a snack!

 

 

pamadler Pam Adler, Public Services Assistant: Nothing. I’ll have water or coffee but rarely any food while reading.

 

 

 

 

 

UCBA Library celebrates Women’s History Month

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by Lauren Wahman and Heather Maloney

whm-display

The UCBA Library celebrates Women’s History Month and the many contributions of women from past to present.  The display highlights a wide variety of books and media from local to global covering politics, activism and social change, science, art, literature, and business.

Stop in this month and borrow a book or DVD from the display!

Additional resources to explore Women’s History Month:​

UCBA Fun Facts: Do You Have An E-reader?

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Question: Do you have an e-reader?

Heather

Heather Maloney, Library Director: I do read on my iPad occasionally — print books give my eyes a break after so much screen time. 

 

Michelle Michelle McKinney, Reference/Web Services Librarian: Yes, I own a Kindle Touch and use the Kindle app on my laptop and iPhone. 

 

 

KellieKellie Tilton, Instructional Technologies Librarian: Yep!

 

 

 

LaurenLauren Wahman, Instruction Librarian: Of course! A Kindle and an iPad Mini. 

 

 

RachelRachel Lewis, Technical Services Manager: Yes (Kindle Paperwhite)

 

 

julierobinsonJulie Robinson, Library Operations Manager: Kindle app on my iPad…super convenient. Still enjoy a “real” book in my hand, but having the library at my fingertips is very addictive!

 

 

pamadler Pam Adler, Public Services Assistant: Yes! I love my Kindle.

 

 

 

 

 

UCBA Fun Facts: Favorite Childhood Book

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Question: What’s your favorite book from childhood?

Heather

Heather Maloney, Library Director: It was a Helen Keller biography and had the sign language alphabet in the back. 

 

 

Michelle Michelle McKinney, Reference/Web Services Librarian: The Peanuts Comics by Charles Schulz

 

 

KellieKellie Tilton, Instructional Technologies Librarian: Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery

 

 

LaurenLauren Wahman, Instruction Librarian: Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

 

 

RachelRachel Lewis, Technical Services Manager: The Berenstain’s B Book

 

 

julierobinsonJulie Robinson, Library Operations Manager: Savage Journey by Allan Eckert

 

 

pamadler Pam Adler, Public Services Assistant: Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. I still have the book from my childhood.