Your source for what's new at Mizzou Libraries
Starting at 10 am on Sunday, November 30, Ellis Library will be open for 24 hours every day until 7 p.m. on Friday, December 19.
For a complete listing of hours, including for all specialized libraries, visit library.missouri.edu/hours.
If you are an undergraduate student who completed a research project in the last few semesters, you can submit your work to the Mizzou Libraries Undergraduate Research Contest.
You already did the hard work! Now just submit it; it’s so easy!
You submit your already-complete project as-is, and the only extra work is including a brief Research Process Statement with details about your research process.
A “research project” can be a traditional research paper, a musical composition, a work of art, a video, a web page, or other creative work.
Not sure what to submit? Check out past submissions for inspiration.
The deadline for submission of all materials is January 31, 2026. Winners will be announced in February 2026.
Questions? Contact Rachel Brekhus, brekhusr@umsystem.edu
Ellis Library will have limited hours during the Thanksgiving recess. For a complete list of the hours of Ellis Library and the specialized library hours, visit library.missouri.edu/hours. If you need research help, Ask the Librarians services will be available during much of the break.
For a complete list of the Bookmark Cafe hours, visit Campus Dining Services.
Thanksgiving Recess
November 22-25 (Sat-Tue) 10 am-7 pm
November 26 (Wed) 10 am-5 pm
November 27, 28 (Thu, Fri) Closed
November 29 (Sat) 10am–7pm
Starting at 10 am on Sunday, November 30, Ellis Library will be open 24 hours for the remainder of the semester. Starting at 2 am each night, students will need to move to the ground floor of Ellis Library and show their student ID.
Jennilyn Wiley, a seasoned librarian with a background in business and accounting, has been appointed head librarian of the Missouri School of Journalism’s Journalism Library. She will oversee a historic collection that includes over 30,000 print books, the world’s largest academic photojournalism archive, and a 4,000-volume journalism fiction collection.
Wiley brings diverse experience from roles in auditing, software training, and academic librarianship, most recently serving at Auburn University. Her expertise in data analysis, entrepreneurship, and interdisciplinary research positions her to lead the library into a new era of “knowledge management.”
Dean David Kurpius and Vice Provost Kara Whatley praised Wiley’s unique skill set and commitment to supporting students and faculty. Wiley, who holds a doctorate in communication and information from Kent State, says her lifelong connection to libraries inspired her career shift. She emphasizes the growing importance of libraries in the age of generative AI, where access to reliable, scholarly resources is more critical than ever.
Visit the School of Journalism’s announcement for more information.
Did you leave your laptop at home? Forgot your phone charger? Need a camera? The Checkout Desk at your library can help you out. A list of the available equipment can be found here. All equipment is available with your student ID. Materials can be renewed in person at the desk. There is a $2 fine for every hour it is returned late.
So, the next time you are studying all day at the library and your phone dies, don’t worry! Just head over to the Checkout Desk at your library.
By: Annalise Miller
If you are a fan of late-night studying in Ellis you may be aware of one of the big changes this year – the closing of most areas of the library after 12:00 a.m., leaving only the ground floor open all night. Because of this change, service desk operations have been adjusted and the desk on the ground floor by the west exit now remains staffed all hours to support students and maintain safety and access once the rest of the library closes.
The ground floor of Ellis Library is filled with cozy study spots perfect for staying focused through the late-night hours and early mornings, until the rest of the library opens at 7:00 a.m. Much of this late-night seating is centered around the Bookmark Café, a favorite spot for Mizzou students and library patrons. The café serves everything from pastries and sandwiches to tea, smoothies, and a wide selection of coffee and espresso drinks, making it easy to refuel without leaving your study session.
Dining Dollars are accepted at the Bookmark Cafe, which is open Monday – Wednesday from 7:30a.m. – 8:00p.m., Thursday from 7:30a.m. – 5:00p.m., and Friday from 7:30a.m. – 4:00p.m.
If you plan to study in Ellis after 12:00 a.m., make sure that you bring your ID and grab a latte from the Bookmark Cafe before it closes. Happy studying, Tigers!
Written by: Jariyatu Abdul Rashid
The Mizzou Libraries are not just a place to borrow books; they’re a hub for research support. Sure, it has quiet study spaces and shelves stacked with books, but behind all of that is a network of resources designed to make your academic life easier. The library has tools to help with doing assignments, preparing for a presentation, or working on projects. Most of us take some courses that involve lots of writing, at least once, before graduation. And let’s be honest, writing usually comes with research. Even if you’re not in an English class, plenty of courses require some form of research, whether it’s a lab report, a case study, or a group project. Fortunately, the library has exactly what we need; research resources, knowledgeable librarians, and materials that go far beyond what you can find on your own.
Databases: Here’s the thing, Google is fine for quick answers, but when you need credible, peer-reviewed sources, the libraries have your back. Through the Find a Database page, you can access collections that cover every subject imaginable.
Some of the most popular ones include JSTOR, great for humanities and social sciences, PubMed, perfect for health sciences and biology, PsycINFO, a must for psychology majors, and Business Source Complete for business, marketing, and economics.
Normally, these databases and articles are locked behind expensive paywalls, but as a Mizzou student, you get them for free. That’s a huge deal when you’re trying to impress your professor with solid sources. For example, instead of citing a random blog post, you can pull a peer-reviewed article from JSTOR or PubMed that gives your paper credibility. Also, in many classes, using peer-reviewed resources is required for research.
Research Guides: If you’ve ever felt lost about where to even start, the libraries also have Research Guides created by subject librarians. Think of them as roadmaps for your major. Instead of digging through endless options for resources, the guides point you straight to the best ones for your field. For example: Political Science majors can find guides for government and policy research. Biology students can access resources for lab studies and medical research, and Business students can dive into market data, company reports, and industry trends. It’s like having a librarian whispering, “Here’s where to look first.” These guides can save hours of wasted time and frustration. Personally, I wish I had known about them earlier. My first research paper would have been a lot less stressful if I had followed a guide instead of clicking through random websites.
Here’s another thing I wish I knew earlier: you can schedule a research consultation with a librarian. Yep, a real person will sit down with you (in person or online) and help you brainstorm keywords, find sources, and even figure out if your sources are reliable.
It’s basically like having a research coach, and it can save you hours of frustration. Imagine spending three hours searching for articles on your own, only to come up empty-handed. A librarian can often point you to the right database or search term in minutes. They’ve seen it all before, and they know the shortcuts.
Citations: Citations are the part of research papers that nobody enjoys. Formatting in MLA, APA, or Chicago style can feel like learning a new language. Luckily, the libraries offer workshops on tools like Zotero which organize your sources and automatically generate citations. Imagine finishing your paper and having your bibliography done in seconds- it’s a total game-changer. The organization also means if you’re working on a big project or even a thesis, you won’t lose track of where your information came from.
Here’s the truth: The libraries aren’t just a place to cram before finals or to grab coffee at Bookmark Café. They’re a resource that can make your life as a student so much easier. Instead of panicking over where to find credible sources, you can use the libraries’ tools and people to get ahead. The next time you’re staring at a blank Word document, don’t just rely on Google. Check out Ellis Library’s Research Help page, explore a subject guide, or book a consultation. Not only will your research be stronger, but you’ll also save yourself a lot of stress.
International Open Access Week is October 20-26! This year’s theme, Who Owns Our Knowledge?, invites us to reflect on how research is shared and who has access to it.
Explore open access through our recorded workshops:
Check out the library guide to learn more about why open access is important, how you can publish your work openly, and how to retain your copyright.
Written by: Allison Boedges
In the hushed, less-crowded upper levels of the library you can find quiet stacks of books, unclaimed study rooms, cozy reading nooks, and, in the west tower of the 4th floor, a very special collection of old, rare, and precious books and materials. Hardworking librarians collect, curate, and carefully maintain a vast collection of books, maps, diaries, and original prints. Formats include graphic novels, parchment, papyrus, and cuneiform tablets dating back hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of years. All of these materials are available for students and provide perfect resources for any class work, research projects, or independent study – especially for any projects needing primary resources.
How can I use these resources?
Special Collections can be accessed via appointment by anyone, regardless of student status. Simply navigate to the Special Collections and Archives homepage (https://library.missouri.edu/specialcollections/), and once there you can choose to create an appointment with either Special Collections or the Archives. Please note the hours of
availability and read the instructions provided to allow for the best possible experience for both you and the staff. Special Collections alone has over 200,000 items, many of which are rare, unique, and valuable. While some are stored in Ellis Library, other materials are off site in climate controlled settings. When making your appointment, it is recommended to book 3 days in advance to allow for the materials you need for your research to be pulled from storage and brought to the Special Collections Reading Room.
Which location should you choose?
Special Collections and the University Archives differ in terms of content. The Archives are the official location of all the University of Missouri records, manuscripts, and papers. This includes photos from student organizations, collections of publications from certain professors, details about students and curriculum, and even things like posters from past University Concert Series (like this one from 1989-90). The purpose of University Archives is to store and preserve all of these very important records, while making them available and easily accessible. Special Collections on the other hand, is the University’s extensive collection of rare and old text, art (like the pictured meander book), maps, and artifacts – materials that are incredibly valuable but generally have little to do with the University itself.
Whether you are doing research, working on class assignments, or fulfilling a personal interest, the Special Collections and Archives have something for you. Make an appointment and get started on your next essay or your passion project with the Missouri Libraries Special Collections.
Written by: Libby Gremaud
Have you ever needed a book in the library but couldn’t understand what the random numbers and letters in the call number meant? Have you ever gotten lost in the stacks while looking for a book? The call numbers can be confusing for someone who isn’t familiar with them, but once you learn how it works, you can find any book you want in the library!
The library uses a few different systems of call numbers. If it begins with a letter, it is a Library of Congress call number, which is the main system used in academic libraries. These organize the books into subjects, with each grouping of numbers representing a more specialized topic. For example, the letter J is for Political Science books. The second letter represents an even more specific topic. In particular, JC is the subcategory of political theory under the broader category of J for political science. What is convenient about this system is that similar topics will be located next to each other in the library.
A few collections in Mizzou Libraries use a different system like the Dewey Decimal system, which are all number codes.
To figure out where the book you’re looking for is, first see whether it uses the Library of Congress system or the Dewey decimal system. The Library of Congress sorts its books alphabetically, so the letters that appear at the front are going to be important for finding where the book would be located. This list guides you to where in the stacks they are located:
After going to the floor where your book is located, look at the signs on the ends of the stacks to figure out which aisle your book is in. The books are sorted by ascending number order which comes after the letters in the call number- make sure you read each number as a whole number. 300 versus 3000 would be decently far apart in the stacks. Those numbers will be printed on the spines of the books, so once you have the right aisle, go down the row and read the spines. When you’ve found the correct number, down to the last digit, there’s your book!
If your book uses the Dewey Decimal system, there’s only a few places in the library where it might be. For the most part, books with these numbers are in 4 East or the Depository. The Depository is where all of the overflow books are located, which is off campus and doesn’t have public access. In order to retrieve a book from the Depository you have to request it and it will be sent to the library for you to pick up. If the call number for your book is 353.8, that means it will go to the Government Documents section of the library, which is located in 1 East.
While finding a book may seem difficult, once you figure out how the call numbers work, you’re good to go! Of course, if you ever need help finding your book, feel free to visit the Peer Navigator desk on the first floor or ask for help through the Libraries Chat. For more information on how to find a book, visit the Locate a Book Using its Call Number: How to Find a Book page on the library website.