Your source for what's new at Mizzou Libraries
It’s the end of the semester, and we all know what that means: Finals.
We want you to be prepared, so here are some tips and tricks to help make things a little easier for you this finals season:
Written by: Mekenzie Moffet
Did you know the Writing Center has officially moved to Ellis Library? Many students aren’t aware of this change, but it’s a great update. Now it’s easier than ever to get help with both writing and research in one place.
The Writing Center is an incredible resource for students who need support with essays, research papers, writing cover letters, or any other kind of writing project. Whether you’re just getting started and needing an outline or putting on the final touches, the Writing Center staff can help you strengthen your writing and build confidence in your work.
In the past, the Writing Center was located in the University of Missouri’s Student Success Center, with additional writing tutors located on the first floor of Ellis Library just above the cafe. This summer, the Writing Center officially moved to its new home inside Ellis Library, Room 115, just to the right of the North entrance, making it even more convenient to get both writing and research help when you’re already in the library studying.
You can drop-in for quick feedback or schedule a one-on-one appointment with a writing tutor. Make an appointment here: https://writingcenter.missouri.edu/
One major advantage of the new Ellis location is that writing help and research support are now in the same place. Since research consultations often also happen in 115 Ellis, you can get help with both your research and writing in a single visit. You’ll also be surrounded by study spaces, quiet reading areas, and plenty of academic resources.
So the next time you’re working on a paper, make an appointment or simply stop by Room 115 and make the most of this great campus resource.
Written by: Isabella Bickhaus
Almost every time I click to read an interesting news article on my phone or laptop, I’m blocked by a paywall. Although I know how to use the library to find academic articles for free, news articles are a lot trickier. This struggle is one I know other students share.
Looking to get your hands on paper? Physical copies of current newspapers can be found in both Ellis Library and the Journalism Library on campus. In room 114 on the north wall, Ellis currently stocks these newspaper and magazine titles:
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Above these shelves are QR codes that provide access to digital versions of some listed newspapers, requiring an MU login. These items cannot be checked out, but there is no limit to in-library use. As tempting as it might be to fill out the crossword puzzles, please also refrain from writing on library copies! The Journalism Library stocks many of the same titles in front of its checkout desk.
If you’re looking for historical newspapers, the ProQuest Historical Newspapers digital database offers full-image copies of ten major historical newspapers. This database spans from 1850s New York Times articles all the way up to Kansas City Call articles from 2010. With over a century of articles, there are a myriad of topics to read about, like privateering in the Civil War, attending the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, and organizing the 1984 LA Olympics. It is easy to narrow your search by date, article type, publication, and more. To learn how to find this database and other resources, check out this page “How Do I Find?” linked on the library’s home page.
To access current newspaper articles, one option for students is Factiva. This database provides access to global, national, and regional news articles from the past two weeks in 28 languages. The layout of this site is more like an academic database site and less like a general-use newspaper website. Because of this, ProQuest has provided a LibGuide on how to successfully navigate Factiva.
Still can’t get your hands on the article you want? Check out this guide from the Journalism Library for more resources. The new browser extension for MU students called Lean Library may also help you skip the paywall. You can also always ask for help either through the Libraries chat, via email, or by scheduling a quick consultation!
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.
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.
Written by: Ahmad Bahir Sherzad
As an architecture student learning about the importance of how principles of architecture affect people’s mood in a space, I wanted to touch on it as a new peer navigator who has walked Ellis Library more times than I can count. In understanding architectural principles and elements, we can have a better understanding of the purpose of different sections of Ellis Library before visiting. In this post, I’ll share a closer look at two of Ellis Library’s most popular study spots – the ground-floor atrium study space and the General Reading Room (201) on the second floor – and how their unique architecture might shape your study experience.
The ground-floor study area near the atrium stairs was added after the original 1915 construction and is now open 24/5. The space consists of a coffee shop-style seating around a small student-run cafe under a structure of stairs that lead to the first floor. When it comes to stratification by the architects of Ellis, the floor consists of many different styled seating options on simple marbled square tiling. It is also crowded with various maps and pieces for spectator viewing on display in booths built into the wall. The head of the space features low-hanging lights and a variety of ceiling heights. Near the doors, the ceilings are raised all the way until the top of the first floor, while under the stairs, of course, they are much lower. The atrium goes from a naturally lit entrance to a cozy, somber, and dark area under the stairs and around the small cafe. All these characteristics create a sense of movement, productivity, and openness to the space.
Diving into the movement, transition, hierarchy, and heart of the ground-floor study space, one can see there is a heavy amount of transitional energy. The main entry is from two sets of large glass doors that lead from the Speakers Circle into Ellis Library. Almost mall-like, the doors are purposely designed to coordinate safety and transition of a vast number of students exiting and entering the library, with one being designated exclusively as an entrance and the other as an exit. Most people enter from glass doors near a large information desk facing into the space all the way towards the back of the study area, where the cafe can be found tucked into the corner. Movement is random in the cafe area, but follows a strict order closer to the desk and openings. The hierarchy of the space is mostly overpowered by the large stairs that lead to the second floor and encompass most of the body of the space. The small coffee tables and booths are given secondary focus, while two large bar-style tables serve as the primary focus when it comes to seating. The space is hectic and loud compared to every other space in Ellis; at no time will you ever hear a pen drop. The cafe in the corner does not pull much of the attention of the space, but rather the heart of the space is the wood and glass-adorned stairs that can be seen from every angle of the atrium. The height of the ceilings upon entrance and the vastness of the stars instantly draw students’ attention and guide them through the space.
The Main Reading Room, originally called the General Reading Room, in Ellis Library at Mizzou was created in 1915 when the library was constructed. The Main Reading Room of Ellis Library is a massive, long, rectangular space defined by two parallel walls. It is organized around a central axis split long ways down the rectangle with rows of brown library tables perpendicular to the walls. When it comes to the stratification of the long linear space, the floor of the Main Reading Room has brown rectangular tables in four long columns filling the vast space, and is surrounded by book-lined walls. The table and chairs are worn by university students over time. As for the body of the room, tall arched windows on the north wall fill the space with natural light, and subtle brown metal molding disguised as wood and white paint cover the vast size of the walls. This stratum creates a feeling of awe and openness in the space. The head of the Main Reading Room features a large, curved ceiling with raised wave motifs and hanging rectangular lights. The curved ceiling immediately creates a sense of awe in any user and adds vastly to the space, honoring its name as the “main” reading room of Ellis Library. The raised ceiling creates a sense of contrast to other spaces in the library. All these create a sense of order, calm, and academic focus.
When it comes to the qualitative aspect of the Grand Reading Room in Ellis Library, the natural light from multiple vast arched windows creates both mood and visibility for students in the space. They allow warm natural light to fill every part of the room, creating a sense of awe and beauty. The light white walls and wood details suggest tradition and purpose. It is a semi-enclosed space within the larger library structure, with three entrances that bring you into a space that is eerily silent compared to the rest of the library, which is quite ironic. The main focus is on the grand windows on one side that define the spatial “heart” of the space. In terms of movement, transition, hierarchy, and heart of the Main Reading Room, the main entry is from the south side between two white columns with a capital on top of both. There is minimal movement in the space due to the silent atmosphere in the room. The movement, or so-called transition, follows the axis, down rows of tables, looking for open seats. The movement at times is also random and hectic across different axes as people look for spaces to inhabit and study, not too close to anyone else. When it comes to the hierarchy of the reading room, the large study tables are the primary focus, and a couple of lounge chairs at the west end are secondary. The heart of the room and even Ellis Library itself are the large windows that draw the eye instantly, define the user’s mood, and set the tone.
Whether you are looking for a more traditional and silent study area or an energizing space, Ellis Library offers both in its intentional designs. To learn more about the history and architecture of Ellis Library, I would highly encourage you to visit the following website, full of archives of Ellis construction photos and of many other study spaces on campus.
Written by: Mekenzie Moffet
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or regular, Ellis Library is one of the best places on campus to study, research, or just relax between classes. To help everyone have a great experience, here are some quick Do’s & Don’ts to keep in mind:
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PRO TIPS:
Written by: Libby Gremaud
Ellis Library has so much more to check out than just books. There are tons of different electronics, and a surprising assortment of other materials that can be borrowed from our Checkout and Information Desk. While some of these items you can only use in the library, lots of them can be taken out of the building so you can use them wherever you like.
If you ever need to use a laptop, you can check out either a Dell or a Mac computer. Both can only be used in the library, but they can be borrowed for up to four hours. You can also check out an iPad 9th generation, which can be taken out of the library for up to 3 days. The iPad comes with a charger, an adapter, and a case. Projectors and flash drives are also available, and they can both be checked out for up to 24 hours.
If your phone or laptop ever dies while you’re on campus, no worries! You can borrow several different kinds of chargers for up to four hours. Supplies such as whiteboard markers, staplers, three-hole punches, headphones, or rulers can also be borrowed from the desk.
One of the best things about Mizzou is that we have so many libraries that all offer something special. If what you need isn’t available at Ellis, it might be at one of our other libraries. The Journalism Library offers CD and DVD players, along with lots of other special cameras and media equipment. If you’re looking for coloring supplies, head to the engineering library, where you can also check out one of the several board games they offer. All of our libraries on campus also allow you to check out umbrellas, which can be handy if you forget yours!
The next time you need something, take a look at our Equipment Lending Guide to see if it is available to be borrowed. These are just some examples of the various things our libraries offer, so make sure to check it out!
Students enrolled in Professor Bossaller’s class on the history of books and media have curated five new exhibits related to the Samir Husni Magazine Collection, a wide-ranging collection of first-issue magazines dating as far back as 1805. The exhibits highlight different themes found within the collection:
We are very excited about these exhibits and we hope that you enjoy them!