Celebrating Black stories
To support the continued celebration of Black excellence, we’ve put together a broad list of books and resources to keep Black voices at the centre of our conversations and learning well-beyond Black History Month in February.
If you’re looking for Black voices in your research, contact UTSC liaison librarians to help search and locate relevant sources.
Noisy people
Dear Scarby, Why are people who are loud in the library not kicked out after multiple warnings? - Chris, 4th year & Sajeev, 2nd year
Dear Chris & Sajeev,
While investigating, I found out that the library staff generally give out 2 warnings before they ask noise-makers to leave the library and noisy people are actually asked to leave pretty much every day! Not everyone gets 2 warnings though -- someone who is super loud and won’t listen to a warning is asked to exit the library right away. Conversation in group study rooms is allowed, as long as it’s at a reasonable volume, but no conversation is allowed in the silent study room. Did you know that the library has a ‘report noise’ link on their website under “Quick Links”? I know, when I found that out, it blew my hedgehog mind too! It’s completely anonymous. So, if someone is noisy, put in a report, and the library staff will attend to it asap! Hopefully this will help them keep the noise down in the library!
Yours truly,
Scarby H. Hedgehog
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Study spots
Dear Scarby, I am a first year student here at UTSC and am struggling to find a good spot to study on campus. Can you give me some advice on where the best place to study in the library is? - Searching for the Sweetest Spot, 1st year
Dear Searching, You've asked the right hedgehog! I personally like to burrow in the silent study room on the upper floor. I feel like it is the easiest place to hide out and it's nice and quiet. On a day when I don't mind some noise, and am not looking for absolute silence, I snuggle into couches in the reading room at the entrance of the library. It's also right near the course reserves and I can run in to snatch up a charging cable. One other super comfortable place is the new 'nook' area past the stairs. Again it has those comfy chairs where I can hang out, but what sets it apart are the stationary reading bicycles. Like, who even invented those? You can quietly work your muscles and your brain at the same time. If I'm with my study buddies, I book a group study room. It really depends on how you like to study.
Yours truly,
Scarby H. Hedgehog
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Most borrowed
Dear Scarby, there are so many great things in the library. I have always wondered, what items in the library are borrowed the most? - Fact Seeker, 4th year
Dear Fact Seeker,
If you’ve ever stepped inside the UTSC library, you’re sure to have noticed that it’s quite a large library. With over 300,000 items in the collection, there is a lot to choose from. Although there are a few items that attract the students’ attention the most. One of these items is season one of Game of Thrones on DVD, which has circulated 56 times. The most popular book is also “A Game of Thrones” which has been borrowed 77 times and seems to prove that “the book was better” indeed. The UTSC Library has more than just books and DVDs. There is also a Tech Lending collection. The most popular items from that collection are the lighting to USB cables; each one of them circulates about 400 times a year. The latest additions to the library’s collection include video games and board games. Although they were only added a couple of months ago, I am sure they will be one of the more popular items among students and library users to enjoy! Heck, I’m going to take out Scrabble right now.
Yours truly,
Scarby H. Hedgehog
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UTSC student feedback needed for new library furniture
As part of our ongoing renovations, the UTSC Library is getting some new chairs for our student spaces! We’d love to get UTSC student feedback to help us with this process and have prepared a Padlet where you can rate and comment on possible candidates until Monday, February 14th. Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated!
Mental Wellness Resources for Today and Everyday
Last month, the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) recognized October as Mental Wellness Month. The UTSC Library shared many wellness events and initiatives that were happening on and off campus on our social media platforms. Through mindful walks along the Valley Land Trail to fun at-home self-care videos, the UTSC community came together to prioritize our mental health.