As the stress of midterm exams begins to mount, remember that College Library can help. Not only are library staff available 24/5 to answer your research questions, the library also partners with GUTS, the Writing Center, and L&S Career Services to help you succeed.

Some hints to get you through to spring break:

1) Ask a Librarian - via chat, phone or in-person. Remember, there are no stupid questions and we're always happy to help.

2) Start your research early - with enough notice we can get articles for you (free) through Library Express.

3) Once you find good research, organize it with a citation manager - free ones include RefWorks (licensed for all campus affiliates) and Zotero (a Firefox plug-in). Both work on the iTunes model - instead of songs you download citation information, create a library, and output correctly formatted bibliographies in your preferred citation style.

4) Keep awake with the coffee available at Open Book.

With these "helpful" suggestions you'll be sure to ace your midterm exams. :)

The UW Libraries recently subscribed to a new online resource, Theatre in Video, which features streaming video of more than 250 definitive performances of the world’s leading plays, together with over 100 film documentaries.

In addition to the plays of Shakespeare, many produced by the BBC, the database also features works by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Molière, Racine, Ibsen, and a number of 20th century American playwrights. The collected documentaries include critical guides to featured plays and also video biographies of artists from Aristophanes to Anaïs Nin. With interviews of actors, authors, and directors, a number of documentaries explore the technical aspects of creating a character and/or mounting a production.

The database is searchable by playwright, actor, director, genre and more. When complete, the collection will offer more than 500 hours of online streaming video and feature productions from the 1930s through the end of the 20th century. Unlike Hollywood adaptations, these videos are the actual original productions, captured and recorded while performed in front of a live theatre audience.

To access this unique collection, see: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.web/theatre-in-video
or from the library’s Web site, click on the “Databases” tab, type “Theatre in Video” in the search box, and follow the link to this valuable resource.

On Wed., February 24 from 6:30-8:30 pm, College Library will be co-hosting an Open Mic/Poetry Reading along with student staff from "Illumination: The Undergraduate Journal of Humanities." If you feel particularly inspired (or just want to listen to others), stop by Room 1250 and join us for the evening.

Instead of sending us your gold, send us your citations. The UW-Madison Libraries sponsors two research awards ($300/$150) in conjunction with the Undergraduate Symposium. To learn more, stop by our drop-in information session on Wed., Feb. 17, from 5-6 p.m. in the 1st floor center.

Do you ever use the College Library website? Whether you do or don't, we want to hear from you! How often do you use our site? Does it contain the information you need? What would make it better? Let us know what you think by taking our brief survey. And if you want to be more involved, sign up for our focus group. If you have any questions or comments (or already know you want to participate in a focus group), get in touch with Kelli Keclik.