News
Many university libraries suspend their Interlibrary Loan (ILL) services during the holidays, making it difficult for us to fill our patrons’ requests.
The November 2024 Image of the Month, Food collected at UAB for Thanksgiving distribution, November 1986, has been posted.
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.
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.
“The ability to make decisions, communicate and govern effectively is on the line without access to political communication. We need to be able to understand what information is meant to inform, to influence, and to interfere.” —Brooke Becker, media literacy librarian for UAB Libraries
Social media posts, viral videos, emails, news articles — the incoming tide of seemingly limitless information can seem overwhelming at any time, but especially during an election season, says Brooke Becker, media literacy librarian for UAB Libraries.
“To find stable footing in that flood, it’s important to cultivate skills to determine if what you’re consuming is accurate,” she explained.
The intent of political advertising is to rally votes, generate enthusiasm for a candidate or issue, define (or redefine) a candidate’s image, and provide general information. Each of these enables constituents to make informed decisions — a crucial aspect of democracy, Becker says.
“The ability to make decisions, communicate and govern effectively is on the line without access to political communication,” Becker said. “We need to be able to understand what information is meant to inform, to influence, and to interfere.”
Consuming inaccurate information can negatively impact one’s ability to make important decisions around issues such as health, finances, business, and education — in all aspects of life, Becker explains, not just during an election season. Understanding how to determine a reliable source from an unreliable one enables consumers to make informed decisions.
Becker stresses that one of the key factors to remember in the era of social media and email is that “clear and effective communication isn’t just about exchanging information quickly.” The most important factor is the quality of a piece of information.
“Great communication requires making valid points while providing accurate examples that others can easily follow and understand,” she said.
Positivity, negativity and neutrality
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“Great communication requires making valid points while providing accurate examples that others can easily follow and understand.” |
Understanding the basic intent behind a political advertisement is crucial, Booker explains. A key component is understanding whether an ad is positive (presenting the candidate, campaign or policy in the best light), negative (emphasizing deficiencies), or neutral (presented without clear bias for or against). Here are a few questions she recommends asking when viewing an ad:
- What is the ad about?
- Is it positive, negative or neutral?
- What do you learn from it?
- Who do you think created it?
- Who do you think is the target audience?
Remember regulatory rules
The regulations on political advertisements also are necessary to keep in mind, Becker says. According to the American Bar Association, lying in political advertisements is legal — political ads are considered political speech, which is protected by the First Amendment: “The rationale behind this is that voters have a right to uncensored information from candidates, which they can then evaluate themselves before making their decisions at the ballot box,” according to the ABA website.
There are some caveats: Certain advertisements in newspapers and broadcast media require disclaimers, per the Federal Election Commission. Search engines have their own sets of specific policies (see Google’s online), and social media is governed by the terms of each platform’s specific usage agreements.
“Being familiar with the regulations around political ads and the channels you see them on is crucial to being able to separate fact from fiction,” Becker said.
The CRAAP Test
The humorously named CRAAP Test is an easy and unique way to evaluate the media one consumes, Becker says: Be sure to note an advertisement’s Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose of Sources.
- Currency: Is the source up to date? Time-sensitive topics need current information; pay attention to words like “today” or “Tuesday” and be sure to connect them to a specific date.
- Relevance: Sources should address the intended audience’s needs.
- Authority: Consider whether the author or publisher is considered trustworthy in their field and evaluate credibility by validating their expertise or reputation in a specific industry.
- Accuracy: Check that the information is supported by evidence and cited correctly; look for documented sources with specific facts and precise details.
- Purpose: Ask the question, “Why does this information exist?” Consider the motive behind publishing; the most reliable sources explain or pass along information, rather than work to persuade or sway.
Bonus tip: Remember the SIFT Method
Using the SIFT Method is another way to ensure you can differentiate between the good, the bad and the ugly when evaluating media sources, Becker explains. Developed by Mike Caufield at Washington State University, Vancouver, the method encourages consumers to Stop, Investigate, Find and Trace information when reviewing for mis- or disinformation.