Updates for graduate students and postdocs

 

University Library news

Research Data Services

We're excited to launch a new series of Data Literacy Sessions through Research Data Services! These hands-on workshops help the University of Nevada, Reno community build practical skills in research data management, data analysis, data visualization, reproducible research with R, SPSS, and GIS, and other essential data skills for research. Explore upcoming sessions and register through our training calendar. Looking for additional support? Visit the Research Data Services website to learn about free consultations, workshops, guides, and other resources available to help you throughout your research projects.

Lone Wolf Study Pods now available at MIKC

Did you know the University Libraries recently added six Framery One study pods to the 2nd floor south area of the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center? These new flexible, semi-private study pods are perfect for anyone seeking a space to take a short, quiet study break, attend a Zoom meeting, participate in a video chat or job interview, or take a private phone call. Follow this link to the Libraries' room reservation web page to reserve a pod. And if you need a peaceful place to work or decompress, the Libraries offer a variety of spaces and resources to help you. Learn more about the Libraries’ other quiet spaces.

Teaching & Learning Technologies rejoins University Libraries

After several years operating as “The Office Digital Learning,” Teaching & Learning Technologies (TLT) has reverted to its previous moniker and rejoined the University Libraries organization. TLT continues to provide training and support for various instruction technologies including: WebCampus (Canvas), CircleIn, Kaltura, Top Hat, Turnitin, and Zoom. Our Classroom Technologies team will continue to manage and support the technology located in classrooms and other academic spaces across campus. This fall we are excited to share that UDOIT has replaced ALLY as primary accessibility remediation and reporting tool for WebCampus. Additionally, TLT now provides full-service instructional material remediation for all common file types (i.e., PDF, Word, PPT). For more information and additional updates please visit our semester launch hub or email tlt@unr.edu.

No-Cost & Low-Cost Textbook Courses

The University is expanding its support for affordable textbook courses. Along with being able to look when registering for courses with no textbook costs, students will now be able to also search for low-cost textbook courses – i.e., those with total textbook and related costs of $40 or less.

This program helps highlight our instructors’ important efforts to help keep costs down for students, as well as make it easier for students to take control of their educational costs.

Instructors can find out more about how they can take part and ensure their courses are properly marked at the No-Cost and Low-Cost Textbooks page.

Harry Reid Papers opening this fall

The Harry Reid Papers begin opening to the public this fall: the physical portion of the collection officially opens for all users starting November 1. To celebrate this milestone in one of our largest collections, outgoing Harry Reid Fellow and History doctoral candidate Benjamin Humphries is collaborating with Outreach and Public Services Archivist Elspeth Olson to curate “Preserving Nevada: Senator Harry Reid’s Complicated Environmental Legacy,” an archives exhibit on the third floor of the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center opening November 20, 2026.

 

Preparing for class instruction

Streaming video for classes

The University Libraries provides access to well over 100,000 video titles, to support your teaching needs. To find videos:

If the Libraries does not have the video you wish to use, we can purchase limited-term streaming licenses for courses (as the budget allows, and if the title is available) with the following guidelines:

  • Must be part of a University degree-granting program.
  • Must be required viewing for the entire class.
  • Limit of 5 new streaming titles per course. 
  • Titles are purchased on a “first come, first serve” basis until the annual streaming budget is expended. 

To request streaming films, contact your subject librarian or fill out our online media request form.

Finally, don’t forget that we also have thousands of DVDs as well as players you can check out from the Circulation Desk at the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center. Browse DVD titles. See the Libraries website for more information on streaming video  and on public performance policies.

Library instruction and WebCampus modules

Librarians are available to support research instruction in your classes. Whether your students need an introduction to research and information literacy, or they need to extend or refresh their skills, the Libraries can help. Reach out to your subject librarian as soon as possible with your instruction requests. You can also explore and embed library WebCampus modules on a range of research and information literacy topics, including generative AI.

Instruction sessions with Special Collections

If you are teaching a class, you can schedule a Special Collections and University Archives class session using our online form! Scheduling works on a first come, first served system, and the longer you wait the more likely it is that your preferred times are not available. For departments that make heavy use of the archives, it is also worth exploring the range of template lesson plans we provide. Many students have already had an introduction to archives, especially in more advanced classes – this gives you the freedom to explore some aspect of primary source research in greater depth, such as silences, materiality, or analyzing metadata. Questions? Ask Elspeth Olson.

 

Tips and tricks

Support for Federal Grant Rules

The federal government continues to introduce new and changing requirements for sharing the results of grant-funded research, potentially leaving researchers confused. The Libraries can help out! Check out our open access guide and data management guide to see what you need to consider when publishing as part of a federal grant, including language you can include in your submitted article. If you have more questions about open access publishing and grant funder mandates, email Scholarly Communications & Social Sciences Librarian Teresa Schultz at teresas@unr.edu.

Enroll in the Libraries’ self-paced courses

Interested in learning how to conduct a literature review, or even systematic review, on your own time? The Libraries provides access to short, self-paced WebCampus courses on these topics and more that are available for free to individuals affiliated with the University. Other offerings include courses on APA style, copyright, fair use, finding a journal for publication, and AI in library research. This latter course highlights the importance of evaluating AI-generated content, as well as acknowledging and understanding ethical and perhaps even legal implications when using AI for research.

You will find the full list of courses on the library’s self-paced learning webpage, which will continue to be updated as new courses on topics of interest to the University community become available. The page also provides instructions on how to enroll in a course using your NetID and password.

 

Resource reminders

Ovation

University Libraries offers access to Ovation, which uses VR to create an immersive environment to practice public speaking. Ovation has many simulation scenarios, including job interviews, class presentations, elevator pitches, debates, and even medical exams. Along with the simulator, Ovation will also review and provide feedback for your presentation, scoring you across a large group of evaluative criteria. If you would like to try Ovation, inquire with @One, or stop by the @Reality VR Lab.

ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global

ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global is an excellent tool for graduate students who are preparing to write a thesis or dissertation. This database provides a great way to discover what other graduate students are working as it contains over 5 million graduate works produced at universities around the world. You can also use selections in the drop-down fields to search for works produced in a particular department or with certain advisors or committee members. If you want to search solely for graduate works produced at the University of Nevada, Reno, search ProQuest Dissertations & Theses @ University of Nevada Reno.

Stay on top of journals in your field: try BrowZine

BrowZine lets you easily browse, read, and monitor thousands of scholarly journals available from University Libraries. It is available as an app for iOS or Android devices or through a web browser. With BrowZine you can:

  • Browse titles by discipline or subdiscipline to find journals of interest.
  • Sort journals by rankings.
  • Create a personal bookshelf of favorite journals and articles.
  • Be alerted when a new issue of a journal is published.

Find BrowZine on the Databases list on the library website or go directly to BrowZine.