T3: Lynda.com Training Sessions

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Diana

The Learning Technology Center and Lynda.com would like to invite you to sign up for some great Lynda events we have planned for Wednesday, April 25th. Our Lynda.com representatives will be on campus and will be offering the following presentations. Registration is required. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this event, please contact the Learning Technology Center.

Get the “Scoop” on Learning with Lynda.com – Ice Cream Social – Register Now
Time: 3:00PM – 3:45PM
Audiences: Everyone
Trying to learn a new skill? Lynda can help! In this afternoon session, students, faculty and staff are welcome to stop by and learn all about what Lynda has to offer. Spoiler Alert, it’s not just for class. Lynda can teach you about different skills for your small business. It can also help you become the EDM Producer that you day dream about in your 8:00am Marketing Class. Come for the Ice Cream, stay to start learning online, on your time!

Check out the other sessions at the LTC’s blog.

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New Stuff Tuesday – April 24, 2018

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Ellen Latorraca

Sputnik's guide to life on Earth

Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth
by Frank Cottrell Boyce
F Cot
Curriculum Collection, Fiction, 2nd floor

Meet Prez, a boy who finds himself in a foster home with The Blythes, a big, warm, rambunctious family who live on a small farm. Meet Sputnik, the alien who looks like a dog to everyone else, but who looks like a wee man in a kilt, a leather pilot’s helmet, and flying goggles to Prez. Sputnik’s mission is to create a list of 10 things that will make Earth worth saving from pan-galactic decluttering. As if that one mission were not enough, Prez enlists Sputnik’s help to find his grandfather who has been moved to a nursing home, as Granddad’s “rememberings” have gone missing.

This middle-grades adventure is replete with runaway mobility scooters, a bit of space/time travel, and a boy with gentle care for a grandparent with dementia.

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T3: Your Data in Google and Facebook

Posted on April 19, 2018 by Diana

Google and Facebook Logos

UW-Madison’s Division of Information Technology (DoIT) has a nice summary of what kinds of information Google and Facebook have collected and stored from your accounts. The following are DoIT’s recommendations for viewing, downloading, and/or changing this data.

What Google Knows

Google also knows a great deal about you. You can request an archive of your data using their “Takeout” service here. Depending on how many of their services you’ve used, the amount of data in the download can be truly staggering. It includes:

  • Where you’ve been, assuming you keep “Location Services” enabled on your phone or other mobile device
  • Everything you’ve ever searched for, at least while logged into a Google account
  • Which apps and websites you use, if you’ve granted them access to Google services or logged into them with your Google login
  • What you’ve viewed and searched for on YouTube
  • Your exercise and other fitness data, if you use a fitness tracker that syncs to Google Fit.
  • The contents of your Google drive, including deleted documents and files.
  • Every email you’ve sent, received, deleted or archived in Gmail.

Google’s general privacy settings also focus on what data is shared with others. The settings for individual services, however, offer a degree of control over what data they can gather. These settings are scattered across the various services too numerous to list here, but here are a few to get you started:

What Facebook Knows

To see everything Facebook knows about you, download your Facebook data here. This data includes:

  • Every text or audio message and every file you’ve ever sent or been sent, via Facebook
  • All the contacts in your phone, if you use the mobile app, and grant it access
  • All the audio messages you’ve ever sent or been sent
  • Where you’ve been, assuming you’re using the mobile app, and have granted it permission to access location services, and that location services themselves are enabled
  • Advertisements you’ve clicked
  • Websites and apps you’ve used via your Facebook login

Facebook’s privacy settings control over what they share about you publicly, and not necessarily what data they gather. Manage your Facebook privacy settings here.

For more information, please read DoIT’s blog post.

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Go Big: Big Read at the Andersen Library

Posted on April 18, 2018 by Nancy Bennett

As we proceed through April, the Big Read continues its strong presence here at the Andersen Library! This month long event, created in partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Arts Midwest, encourages communities to come together and engage in deeper conversations that are prompted by a good book.

The theme for this year’s Big Read is ‘Fiction and Native Justice’, depicting individuals’ native to their country and hardships they’ve endured. Of the 32 titles listed by the NEA, public libraries of South-Central Wisconsin chose The Round House by Louise Erdrich.

Mirroring the efforts of the surrounding communities, the Andersen Library offers a place for staff and students to discuss The Round House, by Louise Erdrich, and explore the themes that it discusses.

A student-created, student-led book group will meet for a final time on April 19, from 6:00pm – 7:00pm in the Andersen Library.

Student Group poster

Staff members of the Andersen Library participate in their own book club every Tuesday, concluding on May 1.

Offering an alternative title by Louise Erdrich, Ellen Latorraca leads a student discussion of The Birchbark House, which will meet for a final time on April 17 from 3:30pm – 4:30pm.

Student Discussion Group poster

Relating closely to the themes of Native Justice, a film screening of the documentary The Burden of Silence was scheduled in Hyland Hall 1000, April 14, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m, but the whether disallowed for the scheduled screening. This film depicts the struggle of Donna Erikson, a native Alaskan woman, as she opens up about being a sexual assault survivor.

The Burden of Silence Image

Lastly, going “big” starts young. The Andersen Library will be hosting a story time and craft session for young children (accompanied by supervision) featuring ‘Thunder Boy Jr.’ by Sherman Alexie.

Thunder Boy Jr Image

For those interested in participating in Big Read events, but unsure of what is offered, feel free to visit the Young Auditorium’s website at https://youngauditorium.wordpress.com/, to find nearby events, or visit the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read website at https://www.arts.gov/partnerships/nea-big-read to find titles that may inspire you!

Also, make sure to visit our big display case in the back of the library.  Created in honor of the Big Read, it is filled with books written by Louise Erdrich and other novels dealing with the theme of Fiction and Native Justice, and all titles are available to check out!  Be sure to get involved, because it only takes is a couple of people and a good book to have fun and learn more about the world around us.

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6th Annual Stuffed Animal Sleepover: Dancing with Dinosaurs

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Ellen Latorraca

photo of children making fossil craft with clay

Did you recently notice a few extra little children and stuffed animals in the Library? Did a disco ball catch your eye when you were trying to study? It’s no surprise! Twenty-five children from ages 2 to 9 years visited Andersen Library on Friday, April 6, 2018, to participate in the library’s Sixth Annual Stuffed Animal Sleepover. The children of UW-Whitewater students, staff, faculty, and the Children’s Center, were invited to participate in dance party fun followed by a story time.

children playing with ballons

Art Education student Emily Wozniak coordinated a craft activity with the assistance of student Library staff members Kayleigh, Katherine, and Gianna, during which children created a fossil using clay. The children then joined in dancing with Rockin’ DJ Ben who got them moving with toe-tapping We Are the Dinosaurs by Laurie Berkner, They Might Be Giants’ I am a Paleontologist,and more.

 

student reading a picture book

student reading a picture book

Ready for a rest, the children then enjoyed stories and action rhymes with UW-W Elementary Education students, Lexie and Samantha, who read book selections for the older children, including What the Dinosaurs Did at School, Groovy Joe Ice Cream & Dinosaurs, and finally, How do Dinosaurs Say Good Night.Librarian Diana Shull led the toddler storytime with Dinosaur Roar, Dinosaur Dance!, Never Touch a Dinosaur, and Dinosaur vs. Bedtime.

Before heading home, the children put their stuffed animals down to nap. Do you think they stayed put once their owners left for the night? Not a chance!  The stuffed animals stayed up all night and managed some mischief with the Library’s resident dinosaurs after hours. Event volunteers created story booklets featuring photos of the children’s stuffed animals’ nighttime antics which the children kept as mementos.

 

stuffed animals reading a book

A big thank you to everyone who helped make the event fun for all!  We are grateful for the many student workers and staff members involved behind the scenes, from blowing up balloons to setting up (Jordan, Sarell, Brenda, Beth, Macaela and Emily C.) to staying in the evening to take wildlife photography and put together photo books (Deronica and Barb, and ECE student Callie).

If this sounds like fun for a little one you know, or if you’d like to volunteer, keep your eyes peeled for next year’s event!

toy dinosaurs on the Library circulation desk

They didn’t know that only Library staff are allowed behind the Circulation Desk.

 

 

 

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New Stuff Tuesday – April 17, 2018

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Carol

Bored and Brilliant

Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self
by Manoush Zomorodi
BF575 .B67 Z66 2017
New Arrivals Island, 2nd floor

Spacing out? Zoning out? This hardly seems like the path to productivity — or creativity.

But Manoush Zomorodi, host of WNYC’s Note to Self radio/podcast explores how downtime (spacing out) can produce creativity in a way that over-scheduling yourself cannot.

So what is the one device the author claims is most likely to siphon off people’s creative juices? Yep, you guessed it. Your smartphone.

Before you hang up, hear her out. She conducted an experiment with tens of thousands of her listeners, who put away their devices — and began to unleash their real potential.

If you’d like to learn more about the author, listen to her Note to Self podcasts.

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Burden of Silence Screening Cancelled

Posted on April 14, 2018 by Martha

Due to inclement weather tonight’s screening of The Burden of Silence in Hyland Hall has been cancelled. You may check out the library’s copy starting on Monday or view the video on YouTube if you wish: https://youtu.be/jpHwBiMg6mE.

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Whitewater is Money Smart

Posted on April 12, 2018 by Nancy Bennett

Money Smart Week General Ad

Money Smart Week 2018 is almost upon us! We all know money does not come with instructions, unfortunately, so let us help you out! No sales pitches, no hidden agendas, no scary jargon — just straightforward help to empower you to be money smart.

We have events addressing every concern and audience. Are you concerned about the cost of your education? Confused about your credit report? Fearful of financial fraud? Our FREE events will address all of these topics, and more. Headline events for Money Smart Week include:

Monday, April 23

11-2:00 — Come play our “Adulting 101” game and win prizes! (It’s easy, we promise.) University Center commons area.

5-7:00 p.m. — A showing and panel discussion of the independent documentary, Broke, Busted, & Disgusted. Summers Auditorium in the U.C.

Broke, Busted & Disgusted Ad

Tuesday, April 24

3-4:00 p.m. — Learn about Financial Fraud: Awareness and Prevention, with an expert presentation from the UW Credit Union’s Loss Prevention Specialist. University Center, room 264.

Wednesday, April 25

11-2:00 — Come play our “Adulting 101” game and win prizes! (It’s easy, we promise.) University Center commons area.

11-2:00 — Students: Get a free, private review & consultation about your credit report and ways to improve your score. Andersen Library entryway.

Thursday, April 26: Staff Day: Retirement Guidance

11-noon — Attend a group session with information on how to “Select, Sign-up, and Save with your 403(b)” at UW-W. A Fidelity representative will provide the session, but UW-W has multiple providers for the optional 403(b) retirement savings plan.

Would you rather have a private consultation? Free, no-sales-pitch, confidential appointments will be available throughout the day with multiple financial providers: Fidelity for the 403(b), the Wisconsin Deferred Compensation (457) plan, or UW Credit Union for Express Credit Checkups. See email from HR for signups.

Friday, April 27

3-5:00 p.m. — Wrap up the week with a relaxing craft. Paint your own mini-bank and take home a personalized place to save your change! Andersen Library.

If you have little ones ages 3-7, they can also attend a story time and craft session geared just for them. Andersen Library entryway, Children’s Area, 4-5:00 p.m. for little ones.

Paint a Bank Ad

Participating in Money Smart Week is a great way to continue practicing what it means to be fiscally responsible. We hope to see you there!

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Childrens Book Sale

Posted on April 5, 2018 by Martha

April showers bring May flowers. April snowstorms bring a sale on childrens books! This month’s selection of sale materials is primarily childrens books and leveled readers. Also included are books on lesson planning, games for children, and several Silver Burdette Ginn Mathematics bag sets.

Most books – $1 each
Paperbacks under 50 pgs – 4/$1
Silver Burdett Ginn Mathematics bag sets – $5 each

Prices fall to $.25 per item on April 25th.

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T3: Alternatives to Google URL Shortener

Posted on April 5, 2018 by Diana

Google Icon
Google will soon stop developing their goo.gl URL shortener service. Although current links will continue to work for the foreseeable future, you will need to change to another shortener service to create shorter URLs.

There are two other good options that let you create anonymous short URLs without creating an account:

(Ow.ly is another option, but now you can only use it by logging into the Hootsuite platform.)

Here’s an excerpt from Google’s announcement:

“Starting April 13, 2018, anonymous users and users who have never created short links before today will not be able to create new short links via the goo.gl console. If you are looking to create new short links, we recommend you … check out popular services like Bitly and Ow.ly as an alternative.

If you have existing goo.gl short links, you can continue to use all features of goo.gl console for a period of one year, until March 30, 2019, when we will discontinue the console. You can manage all your short links and their analytics through the goo.gl console during this period.

After March 30, 2019, all links will continue to redirect to the intended destination.”

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