Canine comfort
Stressed about exams? Take a break from studying and spend some time with a furry friend. This weekend, Ruth the comfort dog makes her triumphant return to the Library after the pandemic interrupted a string of six straight appearances. The friendly Australian Shepherd/Lab mix, and her human Mary Brackett of UVA’s center for Organizational Excellence, will spend time with students in the Fine Arts and Brown Science & Engineering libraries where Ruth will spread her special brand of holiday cheer, not asking where you’re from or what your politics are, just wanting a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears or under the chin. See Ruth’s schedule below.
Saturday, December 11
2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Fine Arts Library
Sunday, December 12
2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Brown Science & Engineering Library (Clark Hall)
Ruth and fans in the Charles L. Brown Science & Engineering Library, December 2019.
Quiet writing space
If you crave an atmosphere of quiet in which to work on your thesis or dissertation, come to the Library’s Research and Writing Café in the Harrison/Small (Special Collections) Auditorium on December 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. There will be FREE coffee and snacks! Staff from the Library and the UVA Writing Center will be on hand for consultation. This event is primarily for graduate and professional students, but post docs, faculty, and staff are also welcome. Please register now!
Indulge your inner child
Check out the Brown Science & Engineering Library collection of children’s literature on the shelves to the left of the service desk as you enter the library, featuring gorgeously illustrated award-winners and new discoveries that speak to the child in all of us. Other children’s titles can be found in Clemons Library in the PZ section, classics such as “The Story of Ferdinand,” the bull who wanted to smell flowers instead of being fierce, and seasonal books such as “The Shortest Day,” a beautifully illustrated poem by celebrated author Susan Cooper about the mythic power of the winter solstice.
Festive recipes
Brown also has a collection of books on the history of food and cooking, covering culinary art from American Southern to Jewish to Mexican to Indian to East Asian, and many more. Explore the many forms and uses of mustard in the “Mustard Cookbook” or find out what impact food has had on world events in “A Bite-Sized History of France: Gastronomic Tales of Revolution, War, and Enlightenment.” Learn how a crepe influenced Napoleon’s decision to invade Russia!
Be kind to yourself
Although the festive season is a joyous time of year for many, we recognize that the holidays, especially coupled with the busy close of the semester, can be a time of considerable mental and emotional strain. Please take care of yourself. If you feel you have more stress than you can handle, reach out to UVA’s Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) — they are here to help.