Unfortunately we are again experiencing issues with the Cloud Library system after last week’s update. We’re working on a fix and will keep you posted. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Meet the Team: Gabriela, Student Employee
Name: Gabriela Ortiz
Year in school: Senior
Major/Minor: Criminology and Criminal Justice
Hometown: Chicago
Hobbies: Play soccer
Post-college plans/What do you want to be when you grow up and why?
My ultimate goal is to work for the FBI one day. I would love to do this because I love to help people out and I feel that this is a unique way to help out, not only an individual but possibly a whole community.
Who is the person that influences you or inspires you the most? Why?
My older brother would be the one who inspires me. For as long as I can remember he has always worked hard to get what he wants. He graduated from one of the worst high schools in Chicago, went off to a technical school for diesel mechanics and soon after went off to the marines for four years. As soon as he came back he was back in school trying to get his degree and working. My brother has never once settled and always tried to go for even better things and I always admired him for that. Not once have I seen him just sit there and do nothing, he has always been on the move.
What has working at Brookens Library taught you?
Working at Brookens library has really taught me to have patience and has really bettered my customer service skills. I have learned how to better interact with people. It has also helped me to be a bit more outgoing outside of the work place.
What is a memorable experience you have had at the library/UIS?
I definitely think that our retreats have been the best experience for me. It has been a time for all of the student workers, as well as supervisors, to bond. They have all been a learning experience as well as very fun ones. The one that stands out the most would be our 2016 retreat. I remember my team had to try to make a turtle out of all of us in the group. I was placed at the bottom and right when Crystal was going to make the shell I moved and she fell on top of me.
Banned Books Week: Celebrate the Freedom to Read with Brookens Library
Banned Books Week at Brookens Library
On Saturday Sept. 24th, the National African American and Culture Museum opened in Washington, D.C. It will stand as a testament to the fortitude of those who refused to be annihilated physically, emotionally and spiritually. Not only did most African Americans’ ancestors suffer physical bondage, but they also suffered intellectual bondage – denied the right, by law, even to learn to read. Just this past week Dr. Carla Hayden was sworn in as the first woman and the first African American to serve as the Librarian of Congress – a symbolic of the move from African American ancestral bondage to custodianship of our nation’s intellectual heritage.
So it is fitting that the grand opening coincides with Banned Books Week, where libraries all over the U.S. honor the freedom to read; a right that applies equally to all U.S. citizens. Please come to Brookens Library and help us celebrate this right that we all enjoy. During the week of September 25th through October 1st., we will have books on display that have either been banned (in a bygone era) or in more contemporary times – challenged. Come take a selfie with your favorite challenged book or share a photo of your book shelf with your favorite challenged books using the hashtags #UISLib #IReadBannedBooks #FreedomToRead.
Share a selfie on Instagram using the hashtag #UISLibBBW and win a pair of our popular clear sunglasses or other great prizes!
Follow UISBrookensLibrary on Instagram.
Learn a Language Using Mango!
Have you ever wanted to learn a new language? Now’s your chance!
Mango is an online language-learning system that can help you learn a variety of languages. Please create a free account to track your lessons. Also available as an app for iPhone®, iPod touch® and Android™. To get started visit:
http://go.uis.edu/LearnALanguage
Cloud Library Update Issues Resolved
All issues have been resolved and Cloud Library is now fully operational. Don’t have Cloud Library? Download HERE
Patrons already using the app, make sure you have downloaded the latest version to ensure Cloud Library is working properly on your device.
Our downloadable eBook and eAudiobook platform 3M Cloud Library is now just Cloud Library. App updates on both android and iOS devices were pushed out yesterday and today. We’re experiencing some issues with the update and are working to correct them. If you update the app, you may experience problems with logging in or checking out a book. We’ll keep you posted on our progress and apologize for the inconvenience.
Meet the Team: Aman, Student Employee
Name: Aman Tummala
Year in school: 2015
Major/Minor: Masters In Management Information systems
Hometown: India
Hobbies: Composing Music & Singing
Post-college plans:
I would like to work in United States for a couple of years and would later go back to my home country to startup my own organization.
Who is the person that influences you or inspires you the most?
I generally take my inspiration from almost everyone I meet, as each and everyone has something very unique to teach and I get to relate myself and learn from them.
What has working at Brookens Library taught you?
Working at Brookens Library has always been a very unique experience for me in terms of work culture and how well employees bond together in helping out anyone who approaches the staff, I personally was able to learn how to interact with a wide range of people, Multitasking, Time management and how to do the work in an organized way.
What is a memorable experience you have had at the library/UIS?
I can’t say it’s just one, I got tons of experiences to share which I could talk about all day … One of the best being the Haunted Library !!! ( Three words to describe would be Fun , Scary & Awesome !)
Meet the Team: Student Manager Taylor
Meet Taylor: Brookens Library Student Manager 
Name: Taylor Vazquez
Year in school: Junior
Major/Minor: English
Hometown: Chicago
Hobbies:
Reading, writing, and watching movies
Post-college plans:
Hopefully get into a MLIS program! I remember being really young and telling my mom that I wanted to be a librarian, not really fully understanding what they did, just that they were the people who gave me books at my local library. It wasn’t a fully actualized dream. Since coming to UIS and working at Brookens, seeing all that an academic librarian does, and realizing all that this job has done for me both academically and personally, I am 100% certain that this is what I want to pursue.
Who is the person that influences you or inspires you the most?
My mom. I do not know what I would do without her, no one puts up with me like she does! She worked very hard to give me the life that I had and instilled in me the importance of an education and being patient with yourself, something I am still working on. I don’t live at home anymore, but I still talk with my mom all the time for advice or to tell her something funny or embarrassing that happened to me. I think my mom and I are very similar in that we are both incapable of having a completely normal day.
What has working at Brookens Library taught you?
So many things. This job helped improve my own research skills considerably and how to help others learn the same skill. Most importantly, I feel Brookens has taught me responsibility and the importance of loving what you do. I am very proud of my position here, I don’t think my UIS experience would be half as good if it wasn’t for the library. I love my job.
What is a memorable experience you have had at the library/UIS?
Working on the Haunted Library team! It’s so much fun conceptualizing the details of this big event and then actually making it happen.
