Announcements
Announcements
Learn the details of critical appraisal during a four-part training series spanning March-April from UAB Libraries’ Clinical, Academic and Research Engagement team; each session is available at no cost to faculty, staff and student researchers.
Critical appraisal is a systematic process for evaluating research to determine its trustworthiness, value and relevance using transparent methods to assess data in published research.
All workshops are virtual and take place 11 a.m.-noon.
March 19 — Introduction to Critical Appraisal
This essential introductory workshop is designed to sharpen participants’ abilities to evaluate medical research critically. Register online.
March 26 — Study Designs: Strengths and Weaknesses
This workshop will deepen participants’ understanding of research study designs and their implications in medical science. Register online.
April 9 — Assessing Risk of Bias
Participants will learn to elevate research evaluation skills and identify and assess bias in medical research. Register online.
April 23 — Statistical Analysis and Interpretation
Participants will unlock the power of statistics in medical research. Register online.
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Employees and students interested in learning how to use UAB’s 3D printers can sign up for one of 10 upcoming training sessions offered by UAB Libraries this spring. Completing a training session is required before users can begin printing their own projects — but at just 1.5 hours long and offered both online and in-person, the rewards far outweigh the relatively small time investment, said Technology Labs Manager Patrick Boggs, who leads the training session.
“3D printing lets users be creative in so many ways,” Boggs said. “Lots of people print for fun — they make game figurines or intricate pots for plants, things like that — but what’s special about printing at UAB is that we’re uniquely placed to help with research and other campus initiatives.
“Folks at UAB have discovered really unique ways to incorporate 3D-printed items into their projects, like making molds for silicone tools used in heart research, or cases for GPS units the football team uses. The options really are endless.”
Sign up for a training that works for you
During the training, Blazers are given access to printer queues for both Sterne Library and Lister Hill Library 3D printing via 3DPrinterOS. 3DPrinterOS is a cloud-based system that lets users monitor the ongoing print queue to see when printers are available and check the progress of their jobs; several of the 3D printers managed in 3DPrinterOS have cameras attached so users can watch how their prints are coming along. Users also automatically receive a time-lapse video of their items being printed via email once the objects are complete.
Sessions continue through April 18; you also can find them on the Campus Calendar.
Introductory 3D Printer Training
- Feb. 6, noon-1:30 p.m., Lister Hill Library Virtual Reality Studio (110)
- Feb. 12, noon-1:30 p.m., LibLab (Sterne Library 112)
- Feb. 21, noon-1:30 p.m., virtual
- March 6, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., LHL Virtual Reality Studio (110)
- March 21, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., virtual
- April 3, noon-1:30 p.m., LHL Virtual Reality Studio (110)
- April 9, 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m., LibLab (Sterne 112)
- April 18, noon-1:30 p.m., virtual
Introductory SLA 3D Printer Training
- Feb. 25, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., LHL Virtual Reality Studio (110)
- March 25, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., LHL Virtual Reality Studio (110)
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Through a continued membership with Unity Academic Alliance, UAB students and employees can earn industry-recognized certifications in programming, artistry and game development from Unity, a real-time software development platform used to create content for virtual, augmented and mixed-reality, AI-driven simulations, and 2D and 3D video games.
The membership enables UAB students, faculty and staff to request no-cost, voucher-based access to Unity courseware, practice test content and certification exams. Available certifications include Certified Associate Programmer, Certified Associate Artist and Certified Associate Game Developer. Certification vouchers are available on a first-come, first-served basis; UAB’s Unity Academic Alliance membership will conclude when all vouchers are claimed.
“Unity developers remain in high demand in a variety of industry, from engineering, to film, to animation,” said Kevin Hebert, associate dean for Technology and Technical Services in UAB Libraries. “When we launched this program in spring 2024, we saw huge interest, so we know folks are interested in the skills these certifications encourage. We’re excited to offer it again and continue to support students as they combine what they learn in class with specific skills to develop portfolios for their post-graduation job search.”
Certified Associate Game DeveloperHow to get started
Blazers can begin earning Unity certifications by requesting vouchers through the UAB Libraries partnership; remember, the number of certifications available is limited and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Once an employee or student has selected a learning pathway (Programmer, Artist or Game Developer), they can request courseware, practice test and certification exam vouchers through UAB Libraries.
Employees also can request Unity Academic Alliance member portal access to view curricular frameworks and other materials to support instruction and classroom use of Unity for different applications.
Visit the Unity Academic Alliance page in the Library Technology Labs research guide to learn more.
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Join librarians from UAB Libraries’ Clinical, Academic and Research Engagement team to learn how to use three key tools available at no cost to faculty, staff and student researchers.
Curious what else is available to bolster your research skills? Researchers also can access nearly 650 more research tools and information databases online at no cost through UAB Libraries.
CINAHL
CINAHL is an index of English-language and selected other-language journal articles about nursing, allied health, biomedicine and health care.
By the end of a workshop, you’ll be able to:
- Build a basic search by developing search concepts
- Use Boolean Operators to connect search concepts
- Use Automatic Term Mapping in a search (Advanced course)
- Utilize Medical Subject Headings (Advanced course)
- Use Field Codes in a search (Advanced course)
Open workshops (all online):
- Jan. 23, noon-1 p.m. — Introduction to CINAHL
- April 16, noon-1 p.m. — Introduction to CINAHL
EndNote
EndNote is a bibliographic management platform designed to help users collect citations in one place and update them easily and quickly from one style to another.
By the end of a workshop, you’ll be able to:
- Create and organize a library of citations
- Send citations from various databases to EndNote
- Use EndNote to find PDFs of your citations
- Insert and edit EndNote citations in a Word document
Open workshops (all online):
- Jan. 28, noon-1 p.m. — Introduction to EndNote
- Feb. 20, noon-1 p.m. — Introduction to EndNote
- March 20, noon-1 p.m. — Introduction to EndNote
- April 9, noon-1 p.m. — Introduction to EndNote
PubMed
PubMed is one of the most robust medical literature databases, comprising more than 37 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals and online books.
By the end of a workshop, you’ll be able to:
- Build a basic search by developing search concepts
- Use Boolean Operators to connect search concepts
Open workshops (all online):
- Feb. 11, noon-1 p.m. — Introduction to PubMed
- March 19, noon-1 p.m. — Introduction to PubMed
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Many university libraries suspend their Interlibrary Loan (ILL) services during the holidays, making it difficult for us to fill our patrons requests.
For that reason, UAB Libraries will suspend our ILL services for borrowing between Friday, December 20, 2024 at 5:00 pm and Wednesday, January 1, 2025.
During that time, new requests cannot be accepted, but previously requested materials may be picked up as usual, and previously requested photocopies will be e-mailed as usual.
Patrons may check the status of their requests at any time. Some requested materials may not arrive until after the new year.
We will resume normal ILL operations by mid-day on Thursday, January 2, 2025. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
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Many university libraries suspend their Interlibrary Loan (ILL) services during the holidays, making it difficult for us to fill our patrons’ requests.
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Blazers who need a laptop to complete coursework or take online exams can check one out from new kiosks located near the HUB Desks at Sterne Library and Lister Hill Library. Portable power banks also are available for on-the-go studying around each library if other power sources are unavailable.
In Sterne, six 13-in. Macbook Pro laptops and six 13-in. Dell Lattitude 5440 laptops are available, along with 12 portable battery chargers. An additional six 13-in. Dell Lattitude 5440 machines and 12 battery banks are available in Lister Hill.
“We hope these kiosks make it even easier for students to hunker down and focus on their homework or exams while in one of our libraries,” said Patricia West, assistant dean for Public Services in UAB Libraries.
Any UAB student or employee with a current ONE Card can check out devices for a four-hour period on a first-come, first-served basis; one laptop and one battery pack can be checked out simultaneously. All laptops are compatible with Proctor Testing software for online exams, and students can print from the laptops using UAB Libraries’ WEPA printers in both Sterne and Lister Hill. Each machine resets and clears all personal information and data when returned to the kiosk; laptops and battery packs should be returned to the kiosk from which they were borrowed.
There is a $25 late fee per item per day, and borrowers are responsible for a $1,500 replacement cost if not returned.
In addition to the laptop and battery kiosks, UAB Libraries’ has a robust collection of circulating technology available for checkout from the Sterne and Lister Hill HUB Desks, the LibLab at Sterne, and the Lister Hill Library Virtual Reality Studio — including additional laptops, headphones, webcams, iPads and creative tablets, portable projectors, charging cables, and more. See the full collection online.
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Three displays from UAB Archives on the third floor of Lister Hill Library exhibit a curated selection of materials highlighting both the history of UAB and the Birmingham community.
One case features unique items from Birmingham’s history, including materials on arts and entertainment, tourism, society and culture, and business — and a selection of items spotlighting the city’s Mardi Gras festivities from the past 130 plus years.
The second case holds materials related to Martha E. Pugh, one of just three women in a class of 67 to graduate from UAB’s medical school in 1965. Pugh donated materials from her time at UAB to the UAB Archives in 2007.
The third case features material related to Charles McCallum Jr., D.M.D, M.D., UAB’s third president and former dean of the School of Dentistry and vice president of Health Affairs. The selections highlight McCallum’s decades-long service to the university — including the establishment of both UAB Football and the UAB Archives.
Displays are viewable by appointment only 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; email uabarchives@uab.edu to schedule.
See a selection of featured items below.
“Mardi Gras Souvenir March,” by Phil Memoli, 1899.
This rare sheet music was printed in Birmingham and was dedicated to the grand marshall of the Birmingham Carnival Society, which held annual carnival celebrations beginning in 1896. The first Mardi Gras parade in BHM was held in March 1886 and was sponsored by the German Society of Birmingham.
UAB President McCallum takes the field at a Blazer football game, circa 1991
Football at UAB was established during McCallum’s presidency. He authorized the creation of a club-level football program in 1989, and in 1991 announced that the university would field a NCAA Division III team. In 1993, the team was moved into competition at the Division I-AA level, again under the leadership of McCallum. In 2013, McCallum was inducted in the UAB Athletics Hall of Fame in honor of his long devotion to Blazer Athletics.
Sterne Library Director Dr. Jerry W. Stephens shows Dr. Charles A. McCallum Jr., the new computer terminal at Sterne Library.
When Mervyn H. Sterne Library acquired a new computerized cataloging system in 1994, the system was named “Scotty” in honor of McCallum, a long-time library supporter. The former university president helped fund the acquisition of the system during his presidency from 1987-1993.
UAB selected as a top university, 1992.
In the Sept. 28, 1992, issue of “U.S. News & World Report,” UAB was selected in the magazine's annual best colleges collection as the No. 1 Up and Coming University in the nation. To celebrate, UAB staff placed a banner on the 13th Street pedestrian bridge over University Boulevard.
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- Spotting the spin: How to evaluate political communications in an election season
- Libraries agreements save more than $1.1 million for UAB authors who publish open access
- See a new exhibit featuring vintage political campaign materials from 1936-2000 — then create your own for a chance to be displayed in Sterne Library
- 3 new collections you can explore in Alma Digital, UAB Libraries’ new digital collections platform