Reed Garber-Pearson - Online Learning Librarian, Libraries Instructional Design (LibID), UW Seattle
Reach out! If there’s a library staff member this week that works in an area of interest or speciality that you’re interested in, send them a direct message or reach out via email. You don’t need a specific question to connect with a Libraries staff person.
Kira Wyld - Mathematical and Computer Sciences Librarian, UW Seattle
Check all the libraries on your campus. You might find various branch libraries with a different focus on collections. You’re always welcome to come into any librarian to study. Check around and see our physical spaces!
Elliott Stevens - English Studies and Research Commons Librarian, UW Seattle
When people are doing research, they have a need then they do the research. Just make research a regular part of your practice. See what’s out there, investigate, and let research find you. Also, use Zotero - the citation manager - to say what you find interesting. Save everything with Zotero!
Deb Raftus - Librarian for French & Italian Studies, Spanish & Portuguese Studies, Latin American & Caribbean Studies, and German Studies, UW Seattle
We have wonderful local libraries. Seattle Public Libraries are great! There are so many great resources as well. Find out where your local library is as well on the King County Library System website.
Perry Yee - Senior Online Learning Support Manager, Libraries Instructional Design (LibID), UW Seattle
Make time for yourself and your friends. And the way I make time for myself is to find great places to eat near the UW campuses and in the Pacific Northwest in general. I like to visit Eater Seattle for recommendations on pop-ups, new restaurant openings, restaurant closures, and more. Ask me about bagels!
Kian Flynn - Geography & Global Studies Librarian, UW Seattle
If you haven’t already, the Libraries offers subscriptions for UW students to the New York Times, the Atlantic, the Economist, etc. It is one of the many ways the UW Libraries can save you money while you’re here. Check the e-Newspapers guide for more information.
Leslie Gascon - Collection and Research Services Librarian for the Health Sciences Library, UW Seattle
Go easy on yourself! You’re here to learn. If you’re confused, you’re in the right place. We’ere here to help you.
alyssa deutschler - Information Science Librarian, UW Seattle
When you are interacting with the Libraries website, you will see Ask Us buttons everywhere. That’s our chat service. It will also pop up magically when you’re doing a search. That is staffed by real humans - UW Librarians are excited to help you! So many people volunteering in GSRI staff our system. It’s not a chatbot, they are real life people excited to help you with your questions.
Sally Pine - Biological Sciences & Sciences Research Data Librarian, UW Seattle
There are lots of rules around managing data. We have a lovely Research Data Management workshop offered twice a year. You will learn step-by-step approaches about how to deal with your data as a researcher. There is a new module on data ethics that is great. Check the UW Libraries public calendar and keep an eye out in your email for announcements.
Liz Ochoa - Science & Engineering Librarian, UW Tacoma
You can get reciprocal cards for most of the library systems where you are based on your location. Here are the Pierce County Library options. You can also get free passes to entertainment through your local library. Prioritize yourself and have fun!
Negeen Aghassibake - Data Visualization Librarian, UW Seattle
This tip saved me a lot of time over the years. Take a day and go through all of your digital files. Set up a system that will allow you to keep track of all of my papers and research. Take snacks, play some music, organize your files!
Lauren Ray - Open Education Librarian, UW Seattle
You may notice that a lot of the links we’re sharing in the chat start with “guides.lib.uw” - that’s because we use a platforms called LibGuides to create research guides. A lot of other libraries also use LibGuides. Sometimes, if you don’t find a guide we have here at UW you can just Google “libguides <topic>” and you might find detailed information in guides we don’t have here at our Libraries. You may need to come back to our library website to get into some databases but this is a nifty way to hack the system a bit.
Linda Whang - First Year Experience Librarian, UW Seattle
My tip is to take care of yourself. Get away from the stress of studying and explore what an amazing and beautiful part of the country you’re in. We have mountains, deserts, rainforests, oceans, islands! If you get a chance, see some of it while you’re here. And welcome!
Teresa Jewell - Science and Research Services Librarian for the Health Sciences Library, UW Seattle
I used to lift weights before COVID and my trainer would tell me, “Just let it be hard.” I use that phrase when I’m doing other projects. I tell myself, “I’m doing something difficult” and I recognize that!
Johanna Jacobsen Kiciman - Head of Research Services, UW Tacoma
Being a whole person during graduate school matters. There are book clubs and reading clubs at the Libraries. At the UW Tacoma, we run the Real Lit[erature] Book Club and UW Bothell runs Community Reads. We are deeply proud of these programs. Another tip is that imposter syndrome will flare up. All of us are here to tell you that you belong and you don’t have to do it alone. We do it through community and you are part of that community. We have tools to help you combat that and we have similar shared experiences as previous grad students. You’re in graduate school at a tremendous institution, you deserve it, and we’re glad you’re here.
Open Q&A
Links and resources from chat: