Academics

Need-to-Know Resources at the University Libraries

The UNC Libraries have over 1.5 million physical items including the typical books, online databases with peer-reviewed journal articles, newspapers, magazines and more to assist you with your classwork.

December 5, 2019

Materials for Research (and Fun!)

Dive into the available digital resources.

Outside of Skinner Music Library Find numerous resources related to performing and visual arts at the Skinner Music Library. The library offers unlimited access to medici.tv, a database of more than 2,000 concerts, operas, ballets, documentaries and master classes and more.

There’s no cap on the number of books you can check out, and books can be checked out for the entire semester for free. Books can be accessed through libraries at the University of Wyoming, Colorado State University, University of Colorado and other Colorado libraries through the platform, Prospector.

RefWorks: A site that simplifies the process of research, collaboration, data organization and writing by providing an easy-to-use tool for citation, bibliography and reference management. Learn more about what RefWorks can do for you.
Google Scholar Library Links: Article-level links to subscription full text for UNC students, faculty and staff. Learn more about this resource from Google.
Students can check out anatomy models of the human body, rocks for geology courses, K-12 teaching kits, such as puppets, for those in UNC’s teacher programs and more.
Fun: Check out DVDs, board games, graphic novels, microphones, headphones, charges, cameras laptops and even passes to Colorado State Parks.

Study Spaces Available

Michener Library has 15 reservable study rooms — with more to come this semester — that can be reserved online. Materials in each study room varies, but students can expect a white board and computer set-up that includes a monitor and laptop connection to AirMedia and/or DVD/VCR players.
Designated quiet floors with study areas are located on the second and third levels in Michener.
A professional recording room is available for recording audio and video that’s located in Michener 217. The room can be reserved up to four hours a day for any member of the campus community.

Reserve a study or the recording room in Michener.
Late Night Study is available during the academic year from midnight to 3 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays in the lower level of Michener Library to cram in some extra studying.

Use the Experts

Each area of study at UNC has a personal librarian to help you be successful. If you need help finding sources or aren’t sure how to start, then the 20 librarians at UNC can help you save time and find the right information.

Brianne Markowski (image at right), a librarian in Michener Library who specializes in topics related to economics, recounted a time when she helped a student with her research on the open-door trade policy that the Nixon administration started with China and how it impacted, if at all, global economic growth.

“China wasn’t publicly sharing much data, so I helped locate the numbers that were available and how to use that data for her research project,” she said.

Markowski has also helped students find relevant data and sources on topics from the economic impact of invasive mussels to affordable housing in Northern Colorado.

Wendy Highby (image at left), UNC’s social-sciences librarian, works with graduate students who are working on their literature reviews for their theses or dissertations. She provides research help at the planning, research, publication and post-publication stages. Ethics are involved in all stages, and students must learn to thoughtfully consider complex issues ranging from plagiarism and fair use to open licensing.

“Mentoring the students and getting to know them gives me hope for the future. These students are caring and committed people; they are preparing themselves for a lifetime of service to people within our community and across the globe,” Highby said. “They will make the world a better place.”

Always learning from the students, she says her job is never boring. “It is an honor to be a guide along a sometimes challenging — but I hope also very nurturing — pathway that is the educational experience at UNC.”

Make an appointment with a UNC librarian.

Get in touch through different channels including live chat, by phone, email or in-person at the staff service desks in the library.

Library Stats

516,250 people visited the libraries, and 71,653 physical items were checked out by staff
Total of 131 desktop computers and 17 laptops available for student use; Michener Library has the largest consolidation of computers on campus
Librarians taught nine credit-bearing information literacy courses, 315 individual “one-shot” instruction sessions, answered 730 questions — 263 of those questions were specialized research consultations
During the fall 2018 and spring 2019 semesters, Michener Library was open 107 hours a week
*During the 2018-19 academic year

Attend a Workshop and Watch Videos

Dissertation Prep and Writing Intensive: This workshop is designed to encourage graduate students to begin, continue and/or complete the writing of students’ proposals, dissertations and/or capstones in a supportive and resourceful environment.

This program received the Colorado Association of Libraries’ Library Project of the Year in 2019.
Zoom Workshop: Online workshops from the Libraries are available via Zoom on a variety of topics like exploring theses and dissertations, advanced citations styles and online scholarly presence. Sign up via the Graduate Student Professional Development workshop series in Canvas.
Explore the UNC Libraries’ YouTube channel for helpful videos on topics relevant to research. Examples of topics include research strategies, collections, databases, archives and topics related to author rights, research impact, and open educational resources.
Digital UNC: Scholarship and Creative Works includes research by UNC undergraduate and graduate students.
Research Guides to help you develop your project.

Software

Students also have free access to popular Mac and PC software programs through the library computers including movie-making programs, Adobe, web browsers, coding software and more.

Other Areas to Explore

Mari Michener Gallery is located on the first floor of Michener Library and is open during regular library hours. View the 2019-20 gallery schedule.
Archives and Special Collections is located in the lower level of Michener and collects, preserves and provides access to unique collections of institutional records, family and individual papers, books and other primary resources. Attend a free, public tour of the UNC Archives.
Coffee Corner at Michener Library sells coffee and snacks inside the library from 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Fridays. The shop is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.