Student Success

Culminates Multiyear Effort to Unite Library Collections and Services in Central, State-of-the-Art Space

This article was originally published in UCSB’s The Current. 

The new Sara Miller McCune Arts Library will open to the public on Monday, December 2. 

The creation of this thoughtfully designed and vibrant new space with state-of-the-art technology on the main Library’s 1st floor Mountain Side was made possible by the generosity of philanthropist, arts lover, and longtime UCSB donor Sara Miller McCune. The gift was made in collaboration with McCune’s social science publishing company, Sage Publishing. 

UCSB Library has announced the recipients of the sixth annual Library Award for Undergraduate Research (LAUR).

UC Santa Barbara Library is pleased to announce the much-anticipated opening of the new UCSB Makerspace on January 8. Located on the first floor, Ocean Side, of the Library, the Makerspace is open to all UCSB students, faculty, and staff for academic, research, or personal exploration.

B Arriaga was hired as the Library’s first Makerspace Student Assistant in spring of 2022 and transitioned to a limited-term Makerspace Assistant position after graduating in fall of 2022. As a queer and neurodivergent person, B was looking for a role that suited their talents and provided a welcoming and creative learning experience, both of which the position offered. 

On June 1, 2023, seven UCSB undergraduate students were recognized at the fifth annual Library Award for Undergraduate Research (LAUR) ceremony. The awardees demonstrated deep engagement with the Library’s collections, resources, and services while producing a scholarly or creative work. First-place winners received an award of $750 and second-place winners received $500. 

On June 2, 2022, six students were recognized at the fourth annual Library Award for Undergraduate Research (LAUR) ceremony. The awardees demonstrated deep engagement with the Library’s collections, resources, and services while producing a scholarly or creative work. To be eligible for the award, students have to submit not only a final research or creative project, but also a bibliography and a reflective essay describing their research process. 

When the UCSB Library and campus closed suddenly in March 2020 because of the growing COVID-19 pandemic, the expected duration of closure was estimated at a mere three weeks.

Over the past 15 months, our community has experienced a multitude of personal and professional challenges and opportunities, among them the transition to the virtual workspace.

On June 3, the Library celebrated the six students who received the third annual UCSB Library Award for Undergraduate Research (LAUR), which recognizes students who produce a scholarly or creative work that makes expert and sophisticated use of the collections, resources, and services of the UCSB Library.

The awards were highly competitive this year, with more applications received than ever before. 

UCSB Library is excited to launch summer book clubs to bring the campus and community together to connect with others who love literature and engage in peer-led discussions on interesting topics.

The summer book clubs will focus on the five books nominated for the UCSB Reads 2022 shortlist, which will be announced in mid-June.