Kimberly Moeller

home Ellis Library, Resources and Services Peer Navigator Corner: Sensory & Seating Maps

Peer Navigator Corner: Sensory & Seating Maps

By Kimberly Moeller   Posted in Ellis Library Resources and Services
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Written by: Sophie Lanzone

Some of you may already be aware of the different seating or spaces within the library, but if you aren’t familiar there are different maps on the library’s website that display what is on each floor, including where quiet spaces, study rooms, seating, and bathrooms are. For example, if you are someone who prefers to work in quiet or uncrowded spaces, the sensory map is the perfect resource to help you find the right places to study.

To find these maps, go to the library’s home page and click “Maps and Floorplans” on the very top. This will list the different libraries, with links to show you different maps for each library. Under the Ellis Library link you’ll find an option for “Ellis Library Sensory Maps.” This gives you the option of looking at quiet spaces, uncrowded spaces, and natural light. The first tab for quiet spaces shows a layout of each floor with highlighted areas that are designated quiet spaces or that tend to be quiet. The tabs across the top of the guide let you click on uncrowded spaces or natural light, and highlight different areas in the library based on these qualities.

Another map that I think is useful to people who prefer specific study accommodations is the seating map, which can be found the same way as the sensory map. Each floor it is color coordinated and highlights several types of seating and where they are located, including soft seating, high/stand-up seating, and regular seating.

If you have any other questions regarding these maps, including how to find them, stop by the Peer Navigator desk and ask for help!

home Gateway Carousel, Resources and Services Peer Navigator Corner: BYOBook Club

Peer Navigator Corner: BYOBook Club

By Kimberly Moeller   Posted in Gateway Carousel Resources and Services
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Written by: Isabella Bickhaus

With so many assignments throughout the semester, I find that traditional book clubs—or any activity with a specific expectation—can be overwhelming. Even if the chosen book is one I truly enjoy, the book club date looms over my head like a Canvas deadline. That’s why I enjoy the format of Mizzou Libraries’ Bring Your Own Book Book Club (BYOBook Club), which centers around a monthly prompt instead of a specific book. This allows readers to come and share details about their own chosen book while adding the recommendations from others to their TBR (to be read) list. 

Some prompts for the Spring 2025 semester include a book with a red or pink cover, a book from any of Book Riot’s Read Harder categories, and a book that contains one of your least favorite things (character, trope, etc.). If you do not want to follow the prompt, you don’t have to. Feel free to bring any book you are willing to share with the group, or take inspiration from a past prompt. If you do want to follow the prompt and are looking for a place to start, look no further than the BYOBook Club Library Guide. This guide includes recommendations for books in general, for upcoming prompts, and for past prompts. The books listed under the Fall 2024-Spring 2025 tab are the books shared at past meetings. Beyond book recommendations, the guide also includes different ways to borrow books, details about local bookstores here in Columbia, and banned book lists.

The BYOBook Club meets in 114A Ellis, a room close to the Lowry Mall entrance of Ellis Library with comfortable booth seating. In addition to snacks, conversation starters about the book(s) you bring can help you guide your discussion about your book. Whether you are an avid reader or interested in getting started, this book club has a spot for everyone.  

Here are the Spring 2025 dates for the BYOBook Club:

  • Wednesday, February 19, from 4-5 in 114A in Ellis (register here)
    • Book with a red or pink cover
  • Wednesday, March 12, time TBA, in 114A in Ellis
    • Pick a book from any of Book Riot’s Read Harder categories
  • Wednesday, April 16, time TBA, in 114A in Ellis
    • “My least favorite ____” (character, book, plot, trope, etc.)
home Resources and Services Peer Navigator Corner: AI Resources for Students

Peer Navigator Corner: AI Resources for Students

By Kimberly Moeller   Posted in Resources and Services
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Written by: Josiah Abbott

Unless you have been living under a rock, you’re aware of the rapid advancements being made in the AI industry. With the broad usability of AI, there are many resources available to students as we strive for academic excellence at Mizzou. A variety of tools, suggestions on prompting, and details on ethical considerations can be found through the Libraries’ AI guide, but I’ve highlighted a few below.

The resources I am covering in this article are beneficial for efficiency when studying, note-taking, or looking for information. I want to add a warning to not use AI for graded assignments unless a professor has explicitly given permission. If you are unclear on whether AI is prohibited or not, first check the syllabus. Professors are supposed to include guidelines on AI usage in it, but if this is not the case, you can also email them. Because of concerns with academic integrity regarding AI, do not use it if it could put your education at risk. 

To begin, I’m sure many of you have seen or even gotten a text from Roary, Mizzou’s AI helpbot. Roary is primarily intended to be used when searching for a process, location, or department to contact. For example, if you need a recommendation on where to study, Roary will give you a list of locations. If you need contact information for the financial aid office, Roary will reply with it almost immediately. Beyond that, Roary can’t do much more. I wouldn’t ask coursework questions as the AI was not trained on that. However, when you have questions regarding life at Mizzou, instead of clicking around the website for 5 minutes, just ask Roary.

Another helpful tool is Notion AI, a note-taking and scheduling tool one of my fellow peer navigators found. What is so unique about Notion AI is that it can search through all input information (notes, schedule, etc.) and answer questions based on that information. Say you remember talking about feudalism in class but are struggling to remember which of your notes it was in. Just ask Notion AI, and it will give you the correct section and title of what you need. Even better than that, instead of rereading the notes, you could just ask the AI to summarize the topics for a quick refresher. Integrating Notion AI isn’t difficult either. It allows you to sync your Google calendar to quickly load in all of your schedule, as well as upload your notes from a variety of formats, including directly from Google Docs.

If you are looking for help starting a research project, Consensus is a useful option that utilizes the Semantic Scholar database of open access research. A powerful research tool, Consensus allows you to enter a question and will search for and pull 20 relevant papers. After pulling the articles, it gives a brief outline of arguments on both sides of the question with a conclusion to sum it up. For each source, it breaks down how many times it is cited, the type of study it is, and has preloaded citations. With a wide range of filters, you can also narrow down the articles it pulls. Even better, Consensus is constantly being updated with new tools, including a consensus meter that gives a breakdown of articles’ stances on the question. Overall, Consensus is my pick for an AI tool to use in order to jumpstart your research.

Finally, a recent breakthrough, DeepSeek AI, blew up the generative AI market recently (January, 2025). It is an open-source AI competitor in a market dominated by closed-source tools. Combining its relatively cheap production costs and similar computing efficiency, it may be the best GenAI on the market. Currently it matches OpenAI’s ChatGPT Pro plan ($200 a month) for a whopping $0. However, this is not a tool I would recommend using straight from the source on their site or phone app. Created and marketed from a Chinese company, this tool comes with concerns about data harvesting and security flaws in the program. However, the open-source nature allows businesses to run it locally where they can tweak parameters for better responses and implement security for individual iterations. Although not a tool an average person should use, I would encourage you to keep an eye on news surrounding it.

home Resources and Services Peer Navigator Corner: Snacks & Drinks in Ellis Library

Peer Navigator Corner: Snacks & Drinks in Ellis Library

By Kimberly Moeller   Posted in Resources and Services
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Written By: Lexi Tucker 

Sometimes you need a quick snack or refreshment while studying at Ellis Library, and this guide will help you find the most convenient options. Whether grabbing a bite, getting a caffeine fix, or filling up your water bottle, Ellis has everything you need to stay energized and focused.  

One feature of Ellis Library that is hard to miss, especially when entering from the West Entrance, is the café. This convenient location offers a simplified menu featuring drip coffee, hot tea, various canned espresso drinks, Pepsi products, and a selection of grab-and-go snack and lunch items. Even if you bring your own food, the cafe provides a microwave, toaster, and bagel cutter during Ellis Library operating hours. The Food and Drink Policy at Ellis encourages smelly, sticky, or messy foods to be consumed in the café area to avoid spills or messes, so please consider what you’re eating before moving elsewhere! The café hours as of Fall 2024: 

  • Monday & Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Thursday & Friday: 8:00 – 4:00 PM 

Convenient self-serve vending machines are also available at Ellis Library. To find them, head down the hallway past the café, leading toward the elevators for the ground through the fourth floor. As soon as you round the corner to the left, two snack vending machines are available with options ranging from $1.00 to $3.00 for either cash or card. You are welcome to enjoy snacks in most areas of the library, but please clean up and be considerate of those around you. 

Another great feature of Ellis Library are the bottle-filling water fountains. One fountain is near the café and the ground floor bathrooms. The second one is near the Circulation desk and men’s restroom on the first floor.  

In general, the policy for drinks at Ellis Library is to have covered containers and to be careful when operating computers or other devices. Alert library staff about any spills at the West Desk to help keep the library clean.  

In conclusion, Ellis Library offers a variety of convenient snack and drink options to enhance your study experience. Whether you visit the café or grab a quick snack from a vending machine, you can easily stay refreshed and focused while making the most of your time in the library! 

home Resources and Services Peer Navigator Corner: Fiction and Fantasy

Peer Navigator Corner: Fiction and Fantasy

By Kimberly Moeller   Posted in Resources and Services
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Can I find fiction/fantasy books at Ellis Library?
Written by: Clementine Arneson

Ellis Library is a research library, so it doesn’t hugely prioritize housing the newest fiction and fantasy books that may have just been released. However, there are options for patrons looking to find something fun to read in their spare time.

As always, if you know that Ellis has a book and you have the call number, you can find the book using our call number location guide on our website. However, just browsing through these sections can be fun and can introduce you to many new reads.

 

Ellis Library also has a partnership with the Daniel Boone Regional Library, with a small section of public library books that can be checked out onsite by Ellis patrons. This shelf is located on the first floor, in room 115, to the left of the north entrance. The selection is relatively small, but this shelf is more likely to have recent releases. As of this writing, romance, thriller, and science fiction novels are pretty well represented in this area.

 

Ellis’s literature section is another place to look. This might require a little more browsing, since our novels, poetry books, plays, short stories, and literary criticism are all located in approximately the same area. These books can be found in the PQ 6 to PZ 4 call number range in the 2 East stacks. These books may not be as contemporary or on trend as the public library’s selection, but we have hundreds of books to browse and choose from. Speaking from my own experience, I have found classics like A Tale of Two Cities and older popular fiction, like The Valley of the Dolls in this section. I have also been able to find some rarer fiction, most recently The House of Childhood.

Finally, the juvenile books section, located in the 4 East stacks is a good place to look. This area does house books for children, but it also has many popular teen fantasy reads, such as Twilight and Harry Potter. Browsing in the call number range JUV AG to JUV ZA should turn up at least a few commonly read titles like these.

If you aren’t finding what you’re looking for in Ellis, the Daniel Boone Regional Library is another great option. It is located a little less than a mile away from Ellis, and has many more new releases and a much larger selection of popular ebooks than Ellis. Students who live in Columbia can apply for a library card online at this link: https://www.dbrl.org/library-card-application. You can also request a book you’re looking for through Ellis’s interlibrary loan service or through MOBIUS. These services utilize a network of libraries and can deliver books from across the state to Ellis Library. You can learn more about these services and how to use them at the following links: https://library.missouri.edu/news/ellis-library/peer-navigator-corner-mobius-lending and https://library.missouri.edu/news/ellis-library/peer-navigator-corner-interlibrary-loan-for-articles. Happy reading!

home Ellis Library Peer Navigator Corner: Unique Media Formats

Peer Navigator Corner: Unique Media Formats

By Kimberly Moeller   Posted in Ellis Library
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Ellis Library and Unique Media
By: Josiah Abbott

I am sure everyone reading this article is aware that Ellis Library houses a large collection of books. If you’ve explored the library due to a project or just fascination, you may have come across journals or perhaps government documents. However, Ellis has an even larger collection of special media, ranging from oversized books to DVDs to children’s books.

First, one of my personal favorite forms of media: oversized books. If the name has not made it clear, these are books that are far larger than typical, to the extent that they often don’t fit in the stacks. I find these to be some of the most artistic and intriguing forms of literature. They are mostly in the large reading rooms on the second floor but can also be found on the east side of the 4th floor. 

Most guests don’t come to a University Library looking for DVDs. However, Ellis has 100s of video DVDs on its shelves. From The Godfather to Napoleon Dynamite, there are DVDs for everyone to enjoy. These have a special location on the east side of the 1st floor. If you don’t have a DVD player, you can check one out at the circulation desk (in addition to external disc drives, or a projector if you want to have a watch party).

Next to the DVDs is a large collection of current journals and magazines, with the loose flimsy volumes from the current year on display before they are bound and sent upstairs to the stacks.  Nearby is a special section of Government Documents, Microfiche (a card made of transparent film used to store printed information in miniaturized form) and reference books (books for consultation; ex. dictionaries, atlases, encyclopedias).

Newspapers are also a quite important piece of media, and certainly one of the most useful sources for any project. Many visitors likely expect newspapers to be in Ellis, and they would be correct. Our newspapers are kept in room 115 on the opposite side of the Lowry Mall entrance from our circulation desk. This is also where the popular reading collection from the public library, DBRL, can be found.

While not often a unique form of media, I think it is important to mention our new books are kept on two shelves in the Colonnade right near the Peer Navigator desk. The display rotates every month, so definitely something to check out every once in a while. 

Finally, we have juvenile media. I was completely unaware that we had any children’s books in Ellis until I began researching for this article, but it turns out we have an entire section dedicated to them. They are kept on the East side of the 4th floor. While juvenile fiction certainly wasn’t something I expected in the University of Missouri’s library system, it is quite refreshing after weeks, months, or even years of dealing with peer-reviewed articles. If you need a break when studying, flipping through an old childhood favorite (or a new one) is a great way to pause and slow down.

Hopefully, this has sparked a curiosity that will lead you to check out various media in Ellis. If you want to learn more about these unique forms of media or need help locating them, you can stop by the peer navigator desk.

home Resources and Services Peer Navigator Corner: New Scanners

Peer Navigator Corner: New Scanners

By Kimberly Moeller   Posted in Resources and Services
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By: Alyssa Westhoff

If you’ve ever found yourself wishing for a quick, high-quality scan of an important document, treasured photo, or a favorite book page, Ellis has updated technology to provide that for you! On the first floor just around the corner to the right from the Peer Navigator desk are two new ScannX scanners available for use. 

These scanners have the ability to process documents up to 18.89 x 14.17 inches per page and books 17 x 11 inches in size. Possible output formats include PDF, JPEG, single/multipage TIFF, PNG, MP3 and Word (.docx). Items can be downloaded onto a USB, put in Google Drive, sent to an email, or transferred to a mobile device with the QR Reader app. These devices make it simple to create digital copies of anything you might need, whether for class or personal use. For example, if you only need a few pages from a book, you can quickly capture and save any specific section without having to check out the entire copy!

The scanner on the left is attached to an automatic document feeder that can scan up to 100 pages at a time on both sides. This is ideal for digitizing large batches of documents, such as research papers, class notes, or archived records. Both scanners have options to edit color, orientation, and overhead lighting depending on the item being scanned. Feel free to stop by the Peer Navigator desk with any questions when creating copies for your personal, academic, or professional needs!

home Engineering Library, Gateway Carousel ELTC Peer Navigator Corner: The Engineering Library

Peer Navigator Corner: The Engineering Library

By Kimberly Moeller   Posted in Engineering Library Gateway Carousel ELTC
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Written by: Brock Schofield

Did you know about Mizzou’s Engineering Library?
When you think of libraries at the University of Missouri, Ellis Library might be the first one that comes to mind. But did you know that Mizzou has six other branches that cater to specific academic needs? Other Peer Navigators have written about the Journalism and Health Science Libraries, but another one of these hidden gems is the Engineering Library, located in Lafferre Hall.

If you’re not an Engineering major, you might not know this library exists, it has been a cornerstone of the College of Engineering’s research since 1905. The Engineering Library is more than just a quiet place to study—it’s a treasure trove of specialized resources.

In addition to an extensive Ebook collection, over 600 full-text International Atomic Energy Agency reports on nuclear engineering, and the Knovel Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Collection with 185 titles. It also houses historical documents, including uncatalogued reports from the Department of Energy and Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Society of Automotive Engineers Technical Papers on microfiche through 1989, making it a valuable resource for
research projects.

Even if you’re not an engineering student, the Engineering Library in Lafferre Hall can still be a great spot for quiet study. It’s a lesser-known space on campus, meaning it often has fewer distractions, making it perfect for focusing on your work in a calm, quiet environment. Whether you need a change of scenery or just a peaceful place to get things done, this library is worth checking out.

When Can You Visit?
The Engineering Library’s hours are designed to accommodate your busy schedule. It’s open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm, Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Sunday from 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Just keep in mind that it’s closed on Saturdays, so plan accordingly if you’re gearing up for a weekend study session.

Whether you’re deep into your engineering studies or just curious about what this library has to offer, the Engineering Library is a resource you shouldn’t overlook. Next time you’re in Lafferre Hall, take a moment to explore the space and discover how it can support your academic journey.

home Ellis Library, Resources and Services Peer Navigator Corner: A Guide to Ebooks

Peer Navigator Corner: A Guide to Ebooks

By Kimberly Moeller   Posted in Ellis Library Resources and Services
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Written by: Josiah Abbott

Whether you are a student or a member of the general public, books are what draw most people to a library. However, in an ever-evolving world of technology, ebooks are beginning to surpass traditional paper in terms of academic and personal use. I’m sure almost every student is familiar with both the blessings and curses of electronic course textbooks. Whether through McGraw Hill Connect or MU Online, many classes include textbooks using this more compact method. 

Before covering online textbooks more in-depth, let’s address more casual ebook experiences. If you are looking for an easy way to read (or listen) on the go, personally, I enjoy Hoopla. It has an extremely user-friendly interface and is incredibly easy to sign up for (all you need are a public library card and an email address). Libby is also easy to sign up for (requires a library card and email) and quite easy to use. One other option that isn’t freely available through a library but you may have come across is the Kindle app. It does a great job mimicking the coloring of physical books but has either a subscription fee or requires you to purchase books individually. All of these are great options each with their benefits and drawbacks, and I would encourage you to check them out for yourself to see which one you like best.

For students, however, online books rather than apps are a necessity and a potentially frustrating one at that. First and foremost, McGraw Hill Connect is likely the most used ebook service at Mizzou. Now, for most students, McGraw Hill should link to Canvas automatically through AutoAccess and there should be no issues. However, if you decide not to use AutoAccess, things become trickier. First, you need to go through Canvas to the McGraw Hill Connect page that will prompt you to purchase the ebook. You can go through them, but if you’ve purchased a copy elsewhere, you also can input a code found in the textbook on that page and it should automatically link up. If you have done these steps to link accounts and it still is not working, you may need to contact IT support and your TA or Professor. Often the issues can be fixed with a bit of troubleshooting, but I’ve occasionally experienced the Professor having trouble syncing and the whole class having the same problem. 

On the other hand, many students will be assigned reading assignments for which they can use an ebook through the University Libraries. If the Professor links the book in Canvas usually it is easy to locate, but since access is based on login, sometimes there are issues. If you can’t access through Canvas for any reason, you can use the Discover@MU search bar on the University of Missouri Libraries home page to search for the book you need. Searching for the title in quotes will redirect you to a list of resources, including the book’s details regarding availability and how to access it. It is the same process for both digital and physical resources, so to only retrieve ebooks, there is an option on the left to limit it to “online only”. To access ebooks, there is a blue link on the book’s banner that says “MU online…”, which will take you to the book in your browser. Depending on the publisher, you’ll either be able to read the book straight away, or you may have to create an account with your UMSystem email address. 

Part of the linking message will also state how many copies are available for use. Just like print books, ebooks are sold as individual copies, and the link to access will state how many there are (see image, “one user at a time”). If you are getting an error opening it, it may currently be in use, and if you are the one using it, don’t forget to close the tab when you finish so someone else can.

If you are having trouble with a book you previously could access, try clearing your cache (go to browser history and there should be a button to clear cache somewhere). If problems persist, there are several ways to get help. Online, you can contact Mizzou’s IT division by going to the live chat button at the top of their homepage, or you can start a chat with a librarian by going to the “Ask us!” pop out on the right side of the library’s homepage. If you would like help in person, you can ask one of the peer navigators at their desk on the first floor near the information commons.

 

home Ellis Library, Resources and Services Peer Navigator Corner: Live Chat Assistance

Peer Navigator Corner: Live Chat Assistance

By Kimberly Moeller   Posted in Ellis Library Resources and Services
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Written By: Lexi Tucker

Do you need fast answers from a librarian without stepping foot in the library? The live chat feature on the University Libraries website has you covered! Throughout your academic journey, there will be times when you need to research a topic, and this process can be daunting. Some students may even feel they don’t know where to start. The live chat function can get you in contact with a librarian (not a chatbot!) who can guide you to databases and other resources that can help you jumpstart this process.

The first thing to know is WHERE the live chat function is. From your device, visit the University Libraries homepage at library.missouri.edu. You should see an Ask Us! tab on the right-hand side, and when you click it, an additional pop-up labeled Ellis Reference will ask you if you need help. Click Chat Now to begin the process. It will ask you for your name and contact information, which is optional, and Your Question* which is the only mandatory field.

Once you ask your initial question, the live chat will partner you with an available librarian. During regularly scheduled hours, the librarians on chat are Mizzou staff rotated throughout the day and week to help you. Live chat assistance is a 24/7 feature, and during late hours for Mizzou staff, the chat is operated by a third-party vendor. The chat is NEVER artificial intelligence, so for questions that the third-party vendor cannot answer, they typically will turn your chat into an email for the librarians to assist you and email you back as soon as possible. For a specific question, let’s say something about Psychology, the staff member may help you connect with the subject librarian.

Another way to use the chat is while you’re sitting in Ellis Library and wanting hands-on assistance. When you ask your question, you can let the librarian know you’re on campus and they may step out of their office or send a colleague to help you in person. So, when in doubt, don’t panic! Utilize all your resources, especially the amazing faculty at the various libraries on campus. They’re just a click away.