Posted on June 25, 2018March 15, 2021 by libraryvoices

De stress with Origami

School can be difficult, and sometimes exactly what can help all the bottled stress is trying something completely different. So next time you feel as if you need a break from studying, try some of these easy DIY projects! You don’t have to be an expert on paper craft to appreciate the ancient art of folding paper that is origami. All of the projects listed below are rated on a scale from one to five, with five being the most difficult and one being the simplest. For the purpose of this activity, i.e de-stressing, all projects are rated three and below. Here is a list of some easy projects to get started with!

Supplies:

Square pieces of paper approximately six inches by six inches. You can use origami paper but any other thin sheet will work as well, such as printer paper. If you do not have a square piece of paper follow instructions here to make some. One of the reasons that makes origami so great is that it requires very few materials, and thus is accessible to a wide audience.

Fun and simple origami projects:

The Classic Crane:

Video Instructions: Crane Video Instructions
Written Instructions: Crane Written Instructions
Difficulty Rating: 3 on a scale of 5
Additional Notes: An ancient Japanese legend holds that if you fold 1,000 paper cranes in one year you will be either granted a wish, or receive good luck. While 1,000 is likely unattainable for the busy college student, try out this project if you have 5 minutes to spare. Additionally, paper cranes can make beautiful decorations using patterned paper or strung together!
Image found here

Jumping Frog:

Video Instructions: Frog Video Instructions
Written Instructions: Frog Written Instructions
Difficulty Rating: 3 on a scale of 5
Additional Notes: If you’re looking for a fast, and entertaining project to take up some time, look no further than the jumping frog! This project will only take you less then 5 minutes, yet this creation is something that you can play with for a long time after-just don’t become too distracted!
Image found here

Lotus Blossom:

Video Instructions: Lotus Video Instructions
Written Instructions: Lotus Written Instructions
Difficulty Rating: 2 on a scale of 5
Additional Notes: The lotus project not only creates something beautiful but also something functional as well. This project makes a wonderful addition to any study space and serves as a great place to hold items, as well as for decoration. Additionally there are many more origami creations that build off of the lotus design, making this a useful project to know overall if you are interested in pursuing more origami .
Image found here

Butterfly:

Video Instructions: Butterfly Video Instructions
Written Instructions: Butterfly Written Instructions
Difficulty Rating: 2 on a scale of 5
Additional Notes: The origami butterfly is a project like the crane that can be turned into a beautiful decoration as well as a fun occupation of time. They stick well to walls with any form of adhesive and can be used to liven up any space. Try this project with a variety of different papers to explore different crafting styles.
Image found here

Wallet or Envelope:

Video Instructions: Wallet Video Instructions
Written Instructions: Wallet Written Instructions
Difficultly Rating: 1 out of 5
Additional Notes: The origami wallet/envelope is the simplest project featured on this list, but it is one of the most versatile. In addition to being a great de-stressing project, the product of this activity will yield a useful item that can be easily used to hold anything from flashcards to extra pens.
Image found here

Overall Tips:

It is easy to become overwhelmed whenever you decide to pick up a new craft, especially where specific terms are concerned. Origami is no different and when reading over instructions getting lost in the terminology is one quick way to becoming confused. Below I have listed several resources that you can turn to for any clarification about names or types of folds.

Rather then explaining what corners to fold where at the start, origami instructions often use the term “valley or mountain” to refer to which way the paper should be creased/standing. Look here to find out the basics of this differentiation.
All origami projects that feature the creation of a 3D object, such as a box or basket, rely on a step called a squash fold. In basic terms the “squash” refereed to in the name is simply the neat art of learning how to delicately smash your paper. Look here for much more information and projects containing the squash fold.
Finally here is a breakdown of all different terms/folds you may find in any instructions and how to properly execute them.
Image found here

Searchable websites featuring hundreds of other origami projects:

If you want something a bit more difficult, or just feel like something different then the projects featured above, I recommend taking a look through any of these sites.

Happy Folding!

: Image found here

Posted on June 5, 2018September 17, 2020 by Zoe W.

Working at the Campus Library

I’ve been working at the Campus Library for over two years and truly love my job. One of my favorite parts of the job has been getting to know and interact with everyone that works here. Each position in the library has its own duties, while every individual has their own stories.

This post shares testimonies from ten of our amazing Circulation and Reserves Student Employees that have worked between Fall 2015 and Spring 2018. Circulation employees pull and shelve materials, interact with patrons at the Information desk on the first floor, search for missing items, and all sorts of other circulation tasks. Reserves employees assist faculty at the Reserves department on the third floor, pull materials for processing, creates scans for courses, and creates Course Reserve records. All of our student employees assist with the second floor children’s literature displays and with this blog.

Further posts covering the other areas of the library will be coming soon!

Zoe

Jessica

Andrea B

Khabir

Stella

Andrea P

Nora

Emily

Molly

Kathy

If you are a UW or Cascadia student and ever have the opportunity to apply for a job at the Campus Library, I strongly encourage you to seize that opportunity! Open positions will be posted here: http://guides.lib.uw.edu/bothell/employment.

Posted on May 25, 2018 by libraryvoices

A Student’s Guide to UWB: (Part Two) Study Space

As a full-time student, club officer and a part-time on campus employee at UW Bothell, I find myself spending a lot of my time at school.

But of course, even if you don’t spend that much time on campus, you most likely find yourself looking for any of the following…

Food
Study Space
Calculators, Phone/Laptop Chargers, Computers… Need something?
What to do on campus

Lucky for you, there are places at UWB that offer all of those.

Don’t forget to be on the lookout for the rest series coming soon!

Welcome to A Student’s Guide to UWB

Posted on May 22, 2018 by libraryvoices · 2 Comments

Approaching Organic Chemistry (from someone who hated Organic Chemistry)

Organic chemistry (AKA “o chem”) is known to be one of the most challenging classes any chem/bio undergrad and pre-health professional needs to take. One of the main reasons why I immediately hated o chem was because everyone around me and their best friend hated o chem. O chem is known as that subject that many premeds (students on the path to applying to medical school) struggle in, or as the class that sifts out the “lesser” premeds from the “more worthy” ones. THIS IS A LIE!

Organic chemistry does not have to be the worst class you’ve ever taken, it’s all in your hands. Unfortunately I had to learn this lesson the hard way during my first quarter of organic chemistry at UWB. I thought I would share a few things I learned about how to approaching studying organic chemistry (a few may even be applicable to other classes) as well as some silly o chem memes that might make any o chem student laugh.

Before I get into the tips, I’ll give a very brief explanation of what organic chemistry is for those who have not heard of it before. Organic chemistry is a subdivision of chemistry which deals with organic reactions and the paths one might take to “creating” them (building them). Organic compounds are any that contain the carbon atom. The carbon atom is very unique because it is very particular when it comes to bonding, carbon loves having four bonds, because of this special property many reactions are possible. Carbon is found all throughout living things, we are made of almost 99% carbon, it’s so important that we’ve dedicated an entire year/series of classes to just reactions involving it. As you can imagine, organic chemistry plays a very big role in understanding what happens inside of as well as around us (which is why I imagine it is on the MCAT and why medical and dental schools would want their incoming students to have taken the class/series).

And now… Here are a few tips I came up with that helped me be a better o chem student:

Make a list – of the topics you learned and of those you still don’t understand. This helped a lot when if came to studying. I like to look at lists and check things off as I go along my studying, so that I can focus on other topics that I may not understand as well.
PRACTICE!! – Don’t be lazy, just do it. Over and over and over again. It will get tiring and repetitive and you might want to scream a little after practicing so many mechanisms (the step by step sequence of basic/elementary reactions by which overall chemical change occurs), but it’s one of the best ways to understand and improve your abilities with the topic.
Change your perspective – I often felt like there was no point to taking this class. Why am I taking this weird class when in reality all I want to do is be a doctor and help my patients with any concerns they may have? I didn’t realize that organic chemistry would actually change my way of thinking, studying, and problem solving. If you compare organic chemistry to medicine, they’re both a little similar in the sense that (once you get past all the memorization of reactions) you’re constantly solving puzzles and applying everything you know to get an answer.
Look for help – your professor is there to help you! Don’t be afraid to reach out to them or attend their office hours, professors LOVE it when students do this. Or, find a few students you work well with and study in a group, this has worked amazingly well for me. Visit the QSC (Quantitative Skills Center) for particularly tricky problems or questions you may have, they have tutors there who are students that previously took the class and understand what you’re going through.

Organic chemistry can be a very overwhelming topic because there is so much to learn, but it all comes down to how you’re teaching yourself the topics and your organization with it. Make the most of your studying by focusing on synthesis (Organic synthesis is a special branch of chemical synthesis and is concerned with the intentional construction of organic compounds via organic reactions, or in English… synthesis is really a bunch of organic reactions that when properly put into a specific order will yield a desired organic product compound(s)) problems. Better yet, make up your own synthesis problems or change just a small part of it (one additional double bond can make a HUGE difference)! I’m happy to say after almost completing the entire o chem series (I’m currently taking o chem 3), that o chem is manageable, and it’s changed the way that I study and even approach problems. Organic chemistry is very visual and should involve you drawing out the compounds and any ideas you might have for solving a retrosynthetic problem (reverse of synthesis).

Thousands of students before you have been able to pass the class, although o chem may seem like it’s the end of a good GPA, you’ll feel amazing once you’re finished with it! Happy studying to all the o chem students out there!

…the o chem memes!

docs — Photo by https://me.me/t/organic-chemistry

what i learned in ochem is — Photo by https://me.me/t/organic-chemistry

im diene — Photo by https://me.me/t/organic-chemistry

desc-me_andreap — Photo by Organic Chemistry Memes on Facebook

Posted on May 13, 2018 by vuukat

UWB/CC Library Terminology

Do you know the difference between Open and Closed Reserves?

How about the job of a Technology Consultant?

Do you know what it means when you have an item that has been “recalled”?

If you answered no to any of these, or all of these questions, never fear! A UWB/CC library glossary is here! This glossary includes terms that employees in the library often use as well as terms that might pop up for you on your library account or searches.

“Booking” – For media reserves, instructors are able to reserve in advance for their classes so that they are able to obtain the item in time
Book “Stacks” – Main book collection on the third level of the library

tumblr_inline_ocjfwlTCT01u3mtz6_500 — Gif found here

Call Number – A label usually on the spine or bottom corner of a library item that indicates its location in the library
Catalog – Inventory of all items that are found in the library
“Checking In” – When checking in library materials, you are returning them to the Circulation Desk or any of the book drops
“Checking Out” – When checking out library materials, you are borrowing them and taking them out of the library for a period of time

Loan Periods – varies, but generally:
- Undergraduates – 4 weeks
- Graduates – 12 weeks
- Staff Faculty – 12 weeks

Vintage Read GIF by US National Archives-source — Gif found here

Circulation Desk – Main desk where you can check library items in and out, learn more about your fines or your library account, and ask any questions about the college campus
College/Career Material – Short loan (7 days usually, sometimes Library Use Only) items that generally help with test preparation, such as the SAT/ACT
Dawg Prints – Printing service for all UW students
Fines – If you are unable to return a library item on time, or lost the item, you will be charged money in your library account

Billing Fee ($30) – Charge for the library staff’s processing
Replacement Fee (Standard for UW Libraries: $150; Standard for Summit Libraries: $90) – Charge to replace the item
Overdue Fee ($10) – Charge for not checking in the item in time

Holds/Requests – When placing a hold or a request on an item, it would take around a day to a week for the item to be sent to the library that you chose to pick up at

Information Technologies (I.T.) – Department that helps out with rentals for materials of film/video and photography
In Library Use – If any library material has the label “In Library Use Only,” it means that you are not allowed to take it outside of the library!
Interlibrary (ILL) Loan – Borrowing an item that is from another library not owned by the University of Washington
Library of Congress Classification – Classification system that is used to organize and arrange book collections
Media Reserves – DVDs that are reserved for class courses
Online Access – If a library item (typically an article) is entitled “Online Access,” this means that you have access to it online
“On Reserve” – Term meaning that an item is being used for a course (or multiple courses) and has a shortened loan period to maximize availability

Closed Reserves – Items that are behind the Circulation Desk usually have a shorter loan period (usually 2-4 hours)
(Regular) Reserves – Typically longer loan periods (usually 72 hours); because they are in an open area in the library, students do not have to check them out to use (as long as they simply return them in the baskets)

Patron – Anyone that goes into the library, whether they are students, non-students, or faculty members

Periodical – A publication (journals, magazines, newspapers) that is published periodically through regular intervals
Reading Room – The quietest room in the Quiet Study Zone on the third level of the library

“Recalled” – When an item that you check out is “recalled,” it means that someone has placed a hold on it, shortening your loan period

Items due in more than 2 weeks will have its due date changed to 2 weeks from the date that it was requested
Items due in 2 weeks or less will keep the original due date

Recreational Reads – Designed for recreational reading interests of students, created by the library staff members

All books are available for a 4 week loan period, with unlimited renewals
The collections are organized by 5 sections: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Children and Middle School level, Audio Books, and Comics

Reference Desk – Desk where you can seek help on finding specific books and research topics, and additional resources on any topic
Renew – Extending a due date of most UW-owned items

You are able to renew books for as many times as you want, UNLESS someone places a hold on the book; the loan period becomes shorter if the book is wanted by another patron
- Additional information about renewals can be found here
You are unable to renew any course Reserve items, however you are able to check items in and out as much as you like
You are unable to renew Interlibrary loans

Research/Writing Material – Short loan (7 days usually, sometimes Library Use Only) items that are able to help with writing papers, improve spelling or grammatical skills, and work citations
Reserves Department – Department on the third floor of the library; works to provide items required by classes at UWB and Cascadia
Study Rooms – Rooms that you can reserve if you need space to study individually or meet up with groups

Types of Study Rooms
- Group Study Rooms
- Media Group Study Rooms
- Individual Study Rooms

Technology Consultant – Helps patrons with any technological issues with laptops or computers on the first floor of the library, laptop loans (in and out of the library), and questions on UW Net IDs
Topics Material – Short loan (7 days) items that are based on any general topic or current issue, and countries; provides books of opposing viewpoints
UW Net ID – Stands for University of Washington Network Identification; this is basically your account username for accessing your personal UW information (Hint: Your Net ID is your email without the “@uw.edu”)

If there is a term that is not above, here are some additional resources that may help you!

Library Voices

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