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UNDERGRADUATE LIBRARY

217.333.3477 | 1402 West Gregory | Urbana, IL 61801

Campus/Community Questions

Most Recent 15 Questions Answered

Question 1:

Why is it so hard to find the movie that I am looking for in the media section? How are these movies organized? I just don't understand. -Concerned Movie-Lover

Answer :

Dear Concerned Movie-Lover: You are not alone in looking for a little guidance when browsing the undergraduate library’s vast and impressive media collection. There are several tools the library provides to assist you in finding movies that meet your interests. One tool is the library catalog. The same catalog that allows you to search for books and reserve items also provides access to the entire undergraduate media collection and you can browse without ever having to enter the library. Our media collection is not organized alphabetically by title or author but rather by call number so you will need to use the following tools to assist you in browsing the collection. Already know what movie you’re looking for? From the home page of the Undergraduate Library (http://www.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/) click on Movies under FIND. This will immediately limit your search to DVDs and videos (Quick limit: Films/Videos). This search feature works well if you know the name of the title or any words in the title of a movie. The Residence Hall Libraries also maintain their own collection of media items so be sure to check the location listed in the catalog. If you want to simply browse the collection you can use the Advanced Search feature. On the right side of the screen you should see an icon that reads, More Limits. This will bring you to a new screen where you can search the entire collection (by selecting Location: Undergraduate Media Collection) and further limit your results according to language. Next, click on the Set Limits icon and you will be returned to the search screen. Notice the writing in red that reads Search Limits are in Effect! Now enter DVD or VHS in the first search box and Search By: Note Words. You can then sort your results by title, author (director) or date. You also have the opportunity to add any additional terms in the other search boxes to limit your results. For example, you can also search by Subject Words for a particular actor, director or movie genre, such as comedy, horror, documentary, and television programs. Another way to browse the media collection in the catalog is by using the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH). The Library of Congress assigns subject headings to films that you can browse using the Quick Search feature. Under Search By: select Subject Headings. Helpful subject headings may include feature films and documentary films. The subject headings for feature and documentary films are further subdivided by country which can help you find films in a particular language and about a particular country. If you prefer to physically browse the collection, you can use the new Dewey Movie Guide displays located next to the media collection. Have fun exploring the collection and watch out for additional media guides coming soon to the website! -QB

Sources :

Undergraduate Library Website: Searching the Media Collection - http://www.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/mrc/SearchingMediaCollections.html

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Location :

Date Answered :

7/16/2008

Question 2:

If I jumped into a pit of lava whilst wearing magma protective armour followed by a rabid pair of badgers with assualt rilfes and swords as the world imploded upon itself, would I miss Halo 3? (Hint: The answer is VERY obvious, and it's not yes.)

Answer :

Dear Jumper, QB imagines that the answer is an emphatic "no." Should you wish to save money, you may check out said game at the Undergraduate Library free of charge. Also, QB will be sleeping with the lights on tonight, worrying about heavily armed badgers. Jamming a chair under the doorknob, QB

Sources :

Halo 3

Call Number :

GAME 794.822 H16203

Location :

Undergraduate Library

Date Answered :

5/29/2008

Question 3:

I was yelled at for drinking a Rockstar because it wasn't "spillproof." What makes an Espresso Royale coffee cup spillproof that a can a Rockstar does not share in having?

Answer :

Dear Rockstar, An Espresso Royale coffee cup, besides being made of deliciously biodegradable corn products, is outfitted with a jaunty lid. Should the unthinkable spill occur, this timeless device will keep the vast majority of a receptacle’s liquid in the receptacle and off of other surfaces. A Rockstar energy drink, perhaps as a result of excessive partying, does not bear a lid. As such, it is considered to be more spillable than its warmer cousin. In the future, you may consider purchasing a cup from the Espresso Royale for a nominal fee. You may then place your Rockstar in the aforementioned cup, and bring the party to the UGL. QB has provided the URL of the E-R website below. Caffeinated but not carbonated, QB

Sources :

http://www.espressoroyale.com/

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Location :

Date Answered :

5/29/2008

Question 4:

When will the Wendy's in Champaign open back up? The one on Prospect said it was opening in Feb but its not open yet.

Answer :

Dear Salivating, QB is delighted to inform you that the Wendy’s fast food restaurant in Champaign is once again operational. The smell of deep-fried chicken and creamy malted desserts now permeates the strip of concrete and asphalt that is Prospect Drive. The restaurant appears to be a popular one; the line in the drive-thru window during the dinner rush is quite lengthy, so QB recommends satiating your salt jones at a non-peak time. QB has selected some items from the Undergraduate Library’s collection that you may find pertinent to your French fried forays. Good eats, QB

Sources :

Don’t eat this book : fast food and the supersizing of America Fast Food Nation McLibel [videorecording] : two worlds collide SuperSize Me

Call Number :

614.59398 Sp94d 349.10973 Sch396f DVD 659.29 M459b DVD 394.10973 Su76

Location :

Undergraduate Library

Date Answered :

5/29/2008

Question 5:

How much chalk per year does Altgeld Hall and the Math Department use?

Answer :

Dear Math enthusiast: QB traveled up the quad to Altgeld for this question. QB felt very at home in Altgeld as it was originally known as the Library Building; the University Library was housed in Altgeld from 1897- 1927. Wendy G. Harris, Department of Mathematics Director of Budget and Resource Planning, told QB that the Math department uses approximately 270 boxes of chalk each year. In the spirit of this question, QB was inspired to do a little math problem... Each box holds 12 pieces chalk so if the math department uses 270 boxes per year that is 3240 pieces per year. Each piece of chalk is 8.255 centimeters long. Approximately, 2 centimeters of each piece of chalk is thrown away due to the fact it is too small to write with. Therefore, the math department uses 20,266.2 centimeters of chalk per year. After a little experiment, QB estimates that the average math problem uses .4 centimeters of chalk. According to the Altgeld Business Office employees, many of the professors "wear" chalk during the semester and leave chalk footprints in the business office. This must be taken into account and subtracted, so QB estimates 27 centimeters of chalk is "worn" instead of being used in problems. This means that about 50,598 math problems are done on Altgeld chalkboards each year!! QB hopes you enjoy your chalky answer.

Sources :

1. UIHistories Project: A History of the University of Illinois by Kalev Leetaru 2. Wendy G. Harris (and other Altgeld business office employees)

Call Number :

Location :

1.http://uihistories.ncsa.uiuc.edu/cgi-bin/narrative?ID=88 2. Department of Mathematics Business Office (221 Altgeld)

Date Answered :

10/4/2007

Question 6:

Where are the magazines located?

Answer :

Magazines are located on the lower level of the undergraduate library. If you enter the undergraduate library from the West entrance and go down to the bottom level, turn to the right (South) and on shelves 1-10 you will find magazines and periodicals. Magazines at the undergrad are bound into books every year, but you will find current individual issues in boxes at the beginning of each collection. The Undergrad subscribes to a number of magazines, such as People, Cosmopolitan, The New Yorker, Ladies’ Home Journal, Men’s Health, Vogue, as well as a plethora of academic periodicals. Additionally, a large number of periodicals can be found online by searching the Online Research Resources from the Library Gateway.

Sources :

http://www.library.uiuc.edu/orr/

Call Number :

Location :

Lower level of the Undergraduate Library

Date Answered :

10/2/2007

Question 7:

How can I climb up the bell tower @ Altgeld Hall and take a couple of photos?

Answer :

Dear Would-Be Climber, QB thinks that it would be highly enjoyable to rappel up the walls and into the bell tower, but predicts that the administration would frown upon that sort of thing. Also, QB blushingly admits to not knowing much about rappelling. If you're willing to forgo the climbing equipment, you can take a guided tour of the bell tower from 12:30 til 1:00 Monday through Friday any week that school is in session. If that time doesn't work for you, you can contact Sue Wood at 217-333-6068 to try to schedule an alternate tour time. Also, keep an ear out for special concerts. QB particularly likes the selection of holiday carols played near the end of fall semester. As for the photos, your trusty analog or digital camera should do the trick. Don't have your own? Don't worry. QB heard through the grapevine that the Undergraduate Library checks out digital cameras for up to a week. Way sweeter than buying your own camera just for the bell tower tour, eh? Hummin' "Carol of the Bells," QB

Sources :

http://www.uiuc.edu/chimes/

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Date Answered :

9/28/2007

Question 8:

Why doesn't the Question Board post any new questions? I'm starting to get worried.

Answer :

Dear Worried, Thanks for your concern. QB has been on a clandestine mission, and cannot provide you with any details. But fear not! QB has returned, and the world is a better place. Yours always, QB

Sources :

Button, J. The Radicalism Handbook: Radical Activists, Groups and Movements of the Twentieth Century. Cassell, 1995. 303.484 R118 Cole, R. The Encyclopedia of Propaganda. M.E. Sharpe, Inc., 1998. Combs, C. and M. Slann. Encyclopedia of Terrorism. Facts on File, Inc., 2002. Q303.62503 C733e Polmer, N. and T. Allen. Spy Book: The Encyclopedia of Espionage. Random House, 1997. 327.1203 P766s

Call Number :

See above

Location :

Undergrad Reference

Date Answered :

9/10/2007

Question 9:

The Library has a GREAT collection of T.V. series -- Where is the one & only season of "My So-Called Life"? Please try to get it if possible. THANKS!

Answer :

Dear TV Lover, Your so-called Question Board submission has been referred to the librarian who orders videos and DVDs. ;) QB agrees that "My So-Called Life" would be a worthy addition to the Undergrad’s collection! Since the series is in-print and widely available, it has a good chance of getting ordered. Please feel free to submit more requests for materials in the suggestion box at the Information Services desk. Nostalgically yours, QB

Sources :

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

Call Number :

Location :

World Wide Web

Date Answered :

9/10/2007

Question 10:

Where can I get information on organizations here at the U of I that host events that have anything to do with sexual awareness? -Duke

Answer :

Hi Duke! There are a number of great organizations at UIUC that offer information and host events regarding sexual awareness. Two good places to start searching are the Registered Student Organizations Office in the Illini Union, room 208, http://www.union.uiuc.edu/involvement/rso/a-z_list.aspx, or at the McKinley Health Center, http://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu. To get you started, here are a few Registered Student Organizations: Colors of Pride President: Victor Benitez, vbenitez@uiuc.edu Purpose: Colors of PRIDE is a RSO for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students of color, allies, and anyone with an understanding of racial diversity. Our goal is to address specific issues that a LGBT person of color faces, create awareness within our campus and cultural communities, and offer a much needed racial minority perspective to the overall LGBT community. Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance President: Alexandra Beiriger, abeirig2@uiuc.edu Purpose: Promote equality of all people regardless of age, race. gender. religion, sexual orientation, etc Midwestern Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally Collegiate Conference President: Patrick Hale, phale@uiuc.edu Purpose: To host a Midwest regional conference exploring LGBT issues and politics in 2008. National Organization for Women (NOW) student chapter President: Amber Kirchhoff, akirchh2@uiuc.edu Purpose: Work for the equal rights and treatment of women. PRIDE President: Gary Yen, garyyen@uiuc.edu Purpose: To bring together members of the LGBTQA community at UIUC to raise awareness about LGBTQA issues. Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment (PAVE) President: Conor Oswald, coswald2@uiuc.edu Purpose: To educate the campus community on the facts and issues surrounding sexual assault and in doing so we intend to empower survivors of sexual assault to know that there is no shame in being a survivor. Student American Civil Liberties Union President: Colin Bishop, cbishop@uiuc.edu Purpose: To educate and agitate for civil liberties at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Students for Access to Emergency Contraception President: Michael Cruz, macruz2@uiuc.edu Purpose: To promote greater access to Emergency Contraception. Additionally, there are some great informational handouts at McKinley Health Center (also available online) regarding sexual awareness. Topics include: Healthy Sexuality, What You Should Know About Sex and Alcohol -But were afraid to ask, Masturbation: Questions and Answers, Male Sexual Function/Dysfunction, Women’s Health, HIV Testing, How to Use a Condom and Spermicidal Jelly for Intercourse, Anal Sex: Questions and Answers, Menstrual Cramps, LGBT Sexual Health Thanks for your question!

Sources :

McKinley Health Center, UIUC http://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu./ Registered Student Organizations, Illini Union, http://www.union.uiuc.edu/involvement/rso/a-z_list.aspx

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Date Answered :

8/30/2007

Question 11:

My professor (B. Levine) said yesterday that many streets in the US named "Race Street" are named thus because they were originally the boundary between the White and Black parts of a town during segregation. He suggested that Race St. in Urbana was one of those streets, but this does not agree with my understanding of the cities' history. My understanding is that the cities were always segregated by the east-west running railroad tracks in the north of the towns, with the Black population forced to live north of the tracks. Race Street runs north-south, not east-west. Did Urbana originally have a racial border on the west of town as well as on the north of town? What is the origin of the name for Race St. in Urbana?

Answer :

Dear Authority Questioner, The Champaign County Historical Archives at the Urbana Free Library seemed like the perfect place to bring your question. The terrifically helpful librarians shared some information about Urbana's early days. First of all, Race Street is written onto the original "plat" -- a map of the town before it existed. This plat was drawn by Noah Bixler in 1832, and bears a heavy resemblance to a plat he drew for a town called "Lancaster.” We don’t know exactly why Bixler chose the name “Race Street” (or “Goose Alley,” for that matter), but we can safely assume it had nothing to do with skin color. Any African Americans who might have lived in Urbana in the early 19th century were certainly not numerous enough to have their own section of town: a census published in 1851 recorded only two "colored" males living in all of Champaign County. Streets named "Race" can be widely found in older communities. The name may derive from "raceway," which The New Oxford American Dictionary defines as "a track or channel along which something runs, in particular a water channel, esp. an artificial one of running water in which fish are reared." For example, Race Street in what is now Frenchtown, NJ led to a mill as early as 1736. As for segregation in Urbana, a 1961 news article described a League of Women Voters study, reporting that "97.6 per cent of 128 apartment owners interviewed refused to rent to Negroes" and "most communities have two or three sections in which Negroes may live, but Champaign-Urbana has only one." This section was the northeast side of Champaign, which is still commonly called the "North End," although some find this designation offensive. At the time, it began north of University Ave and encompassed the area from Goodwin Ave east to the Illinois Central tracks. So the railroad tracks appear to have initially formed the western segregated boundary, although the neighborhood now stretches from Wright to Neil. During the 1930s, while federal and local policies advanced segregation, the Illinois Central Railroad offered jobs to African Americans. This attracted people from the South. According to Allen Rivers, who moved to Champaign-Urbana in 1919 and became Champaign's first black police officer in 1935, these newcomers naturally wanted to live close to their jobs. They moved to what was then "Germantown," and the German residents soon sold their property and moved elsewhere in the community (where African Americans were restricted from following). However, a UI student named Janet Andrews Cromwell wrote a thesis on "The History and Organization of the Negro Community in Champaign-Urbana, Ill" in 1934 that disputed the idea that African Americans initially moved to the neighborhood voluntarily. "On the whole, the Negro sections in any town are usually the districts which are located in the areas least esteemed for residential purposes." This may explain why poor and middle-class African Americans could rent and buy property in an initially white section of town: landlords and property owners decided that it was less valuable than other areas. In 1968, federal legislation outlawed the practices that enforced housing segregation, and some families quickly moved to other parts of town. However, most residents continued to live in the area. Although recent data showing African American housing distribution in Champaign and Urbana proved difficult to find, the neighborhood remained a segregated enclave for decades after legal housing discrimination ended. In any case, feel free to let your professor know that Urbana did not name its streets to promote a racist agenda. Keep asking questions! QB

Sources :

Cunningham, JO. History of Champaign County. 1984. "Everything's in the name." Urbana Courier. Aug 7, 1974. Fauntleroy, Millicent. "Champaign-Urbana's North End is people." Urbana Courier. Aug 5, 1974 "Frenchtown, NJ History," http://www.frenchtowner.com/ League of Women Voters, Champaign County, Illinois. A Community Report--Twenty Years Later: The Status of the Negro in Champaign County. 1968. Rexroat, Paul. “Housing Report: Segregation Here Worst in Illinois.” Urbana Courier. Oct 20, 1961. Roehm, Frances E. Champaign County, Illinois 1850: A Historical Overview. 1986. Thompson, Cheryl. "Jobs in 'Germantown' led to segregated 'Negro' area." News-Gazette. June 20, 1988. Thompson, Cheryl. "North End plagued by drug, poverty, housing problems." News-Gazette. June 19, 1988

Call Number :

Location :

All items found in the Champaign County Historical Archives at the Urbana Free Library

Date Answered :

8/20/2007

Question 12:

Please provide information on how to procure copies of undergraduate transcripts at UIUC campus. Please indicate fee for each transcript, methods of payment acceptable, and mailing address to which request and payment should be sent. What identifying information like year of graduation, class, college, social security number.. Must be included in the request. Thank you for your assistance in this matter. Sincerely, R.A. Rosenstein LAS UIUC 1961

Answer :

Dear R.A. Rosenstein, The University of Illinois Transcript Unit is the place to fulfill all transcript wants and needs. A transcript includes a student's courses, grades, GPA, and degree. It bears the Registrar’s signature and is on secured paper. For students that attended the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign from Fall 1982 to the present, it usually takes about 5 business days to process. If a student attended the university prior to Fall of 1982 it can take up to 2-3 weeks as they are archived in a secure location. Transcripts are $5 each and are available to current students and alumni with no outstanding fees to the university. The following information must be included in your request: -Full name -Any previous names -Social Security Number (not required but helpful for identification purposes) -Date of birth -Last date of attendance -Current mailing address -Telephone number -E-mail address (if available) -Address(es) where transcripts should be mailed -Student's signature There are 3 methods by which a transcript can be requested: mail, fax, and in person. When ordering by mail you can pay by check, money order, or credit card (including the card number and expiration date). When ordering by fax you must pay by credit card. Finally, when ordering in person, you can pay by cash (exact change only), check, money order, or credit card. The University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign Transcript Unit contact information is as follows: Transcript Unit University of Illinois 901 W. Illinois Street Urbana, IL 61801 Phone: 217-333-0210 Fax: 217-333-3100 E-mail: transcripts@uiuc.edu office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday More information, including a detailed explaination of the transcripts, is available on the Transcript Unit’s website: http://www.oar.uiuc.edu/current/transcripts/request_former.html. Best of luck with your transcript procurement process. -QB

Sources :

University of Illinois Transcript Unit Website

Call Number :

Location :

http://www.oar.uiuc.edu/current/transcripts/request_former.html.

Date Answered :

8/1/2007

Question 13:

How can I rent movies at the library?

Answer :

Dear Movie Fan, The Undergraduate Library serves the University of Illinois with the majority of the university’s media collection. This collection of DVDs, VHSs, CDs, cassettes, and laser discs is located directly to the left on the lower level of the Undergrad. "The collection serves the instructional and curricular needs of the campus community at all levels, as well as the individual study, scholarship, cultural enrichment and recreational needs of students, faculty, and staff." When you get to the library or even from the comfort of your room at home you can check out the online catalog (Click on the Movies link on the Undergraduate homepage: http://www.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/) and write the call number of the movie you want so you can find it more easily on the shelf. Also on this catalog it tells if the movie you are looking for is available or checked out. If you can’t seem to find that item that you really want to watch in the catalog feel free to ask for help at the Information Services Desk or at the Reference Desk (the Reference librarians are online with the screenname Askundergrad too!). If the library doesn’t have what you are looking for you can make a request that the library purchase it. To request a purchase, email Mary Laskowski at mkschnei@uiuc.edu with the title, author or director, addition or year, and distributor information if known. If the item is needed for a specific course please include that information as well for fastest processing. Sometimes in the catalog you will see something that says "Temporarily at Undergrad Reserves." These are movies placed on reserve for a class and that means that you can check them out for in library use only. If you’re thinking to yourself, where do I watch these reserve movies or I really want to see that VHS but I don’t have a VCR anymore...don’t worry the library also has media viewing booths located on our lower level. There are booths for all of the formats that the library currently carries. They are available on a first come first serve basis. The library even sells $1 earbuds if you forget yours at home or if you just need a new pair. Undergraduate students may check out 5 media items at a time. Graduate students, faculty and staff may check out an unlimited number of media items. All students, faculty, staff can check out media items for a 1 week loan period. Never fear if you have not gotten to watch your movie within that week you can stop by the desk or call (333-3477) to renew them (up to 2 times). Late fees are $1 per item per day. All media items are checked out at the Undergraduate Information Services Desk and must be returned there as well. Don’t forget your i-card, you have to have it to check something out :) ! And if you have any other questions feel free to stop by the Information Services Desk for help!

Sources :

1. Undergraduate Library Media and Reserves Services website 2. UIUC online catalog

Call Number :

Location :

1.http://www.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/mrc/mrc.html 2.http://www.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/ , movies link

Date Answered :

7/27/2007

Question 14:

How do I become a campus tour guide who walks backwards and talks about campus?

Answer :

Dear Potential Tour Guide, The campus tour guides are generally hired for the following summer and school year in late March or early April, by the Office of Admissions and Records. The positions are advertised through college offices different departments on campus as well as ads in the Daily Illini. If you have any questions about the hiring process or the position, you can contact the Campus Visitors Center. You may also directly contact Jennifer Piercy Coordinator at the Campus Visitors Center. Her contact information is as follows: Jennifer Piercy Office of Admissions and Records Coordinator, Campus Visitors Center 919 W. Illinois St. Urbana, IL 61801 (217) 333-0824 (217) 244-8416 (fax) While you are waiting for the hiring next spring, you can practice walking backwards...be careful at the busy times, it might help to have a friend with you. Also you can brush up on your campus history at Kalev Leetaru’s UI History Project site (http://uihistories.ncsa.uiuc.edu/). Good luck!

Sources :

1. Jennifer Piercy, (jwpiercy@ad.uiuc.edu) 2. UIHistories Project (http://uihistories.ncsa.uiuc.edu/)

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Location :

Date Answered :

7/26/2007

Question 15:

Who were or is Robert and Alice Campbell?

Answer :

If you’ve heard of Campbell Hall, located on Goodwin and University or the Alice C. Campbell Alumni Center located on Illinois and Lincoln or the Alice Curtis Campbell Endowed Chair at the College of Law, then it’s no wonder the Campbell name rings a bell -- literally: They also helped raise funds for new bells in Altgeld Hall. Robert C. Campbell and Alice Curtis Campbell are both alums of the University of Illinois. Robert C. Campbell received a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the College of Business in 1954; Alice Curtis Campbell earned a juris doctor degree in 1943 from the College of Law. In 1993 the couple donated $5 million to build a new broadcast center, now called Campbell Hall, located at 300 N. Goodwin Ave. in Urbana. It houses WILL AM, FM and TV. By 1998, WILL radio had begun broadcasting from Campbell Hall. In 2006, the Alice Campbell Alumni Center was completed and named in recognition of a $5 million gift from leading donors Robert and Alice Campbell. They also provided the lead gift to establish the Michael Aiken Endowed Chair, supported the James Newton Matthews Scholars program, and have encouraged individual students. In 2006 they received The University of Illinois Distinguished Service Award for their work in giving back to the school.

Sources :

WILL http://www.will.uiuc.edu/about/history.htm ACES Alumni News http://www.acesalumni.uiuc.edu/news.html Inside Illinois, News Bureau http://www.news.uiuc.edu/ii/01/1018/gifts.html http://www.news.uiuc.edu/ii/02/0502/achievements.html http://www.news.uiuc.edu/NEWS/06/0426commencement.html Electrical and Computer Engineering Alumni News http://www.ece.uiuc.edu/alumni/w02-03/alum_center.html

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Location :

Date Answered :

7/13/2007