Don't Creep--It's Taken!

Don't Creep--It's Taken!
Originally uploaded by thehubatwts

While the Hub cubbies are popular at all hours, they are especially in demand during Dead Week. Apparently this student had grown weary of others repeatedly peering around the whiteboard to see if the space was available.

With the opening of the Hub in March 2007, we added rolling chairs, a desktop computer, and a whiteboard to each of the study carrels in the basement of the Young Library. The addition of these few items made all the difference--from run-of-the-mill study carrel to much-sought-after Hub cubby!

Think Med School!

Think Med School!
Originally uploaded by thehubatwts

Here's an amusing motivational note from one of the Hub's whiteboards after what appeared to be an all-night study session. Spring Break starts tomorrow here--Happy Friday all!

In Case You Were Looking for the Next Meeting

Zombie Attack Planning
Originally uploaded by thehubatwts

The whiteboards in the Hub often make me laugh. Today I learned that in addition to the CS215 study group, zombie attack planning is to be held in the student computer lab. Check out some of our best whiteboard art and commentary in thehubatwts photo stream on flickr.

Where are you, Mister Golden Sun?

Where are you, Mister Golden Sun?
Originally uploaded by thehubatwts

A group of students had some fun with the Hub's student message board earlier this week. I wish I had captured the entire board as it was rather elaborate.

When Calculus gets you down, sometimes all you can do is draw a cute little bunny.

Statistical Analysis of Whiteboard Use

It's another cold, snowy day in here Kentucky. This made me laugh so I thought I would share. While much serious work is done on the whiteboards in our information commons, particularly around exam time, other times I think our breakdown is more like this.

See a few of our favorite images of whiteboards past at the Hub.


image via GraphJam

Best.Erasers.Ever, Part II

Long-time followers of this blog may remember when I proclaimed I had found the best whiteboard eraser ever. I realize this may seem trivial, but for those of us surrounded by whiteboards in a busy commons environment, the perfect eraser is so very important.

Last week I learned that the aforementioned "best eraser ever" was no longer available from our office supplier. This news was mildly devastating, as we are now entering dead week, easily our busiest time of year. Thankfully we called around and found another magnetic whiteboard eraser.

While the new erasers have only seen a weekend's worth of use (and a very busy weekend at that), I think they could easily deserve the title "best eraser ever." My criteria are pretty simple--magnetic, lots of fuzzy stuff, nice ergonomic design. What really sets these erasers apart though is that they have the ability to store two markers. This is fabulous for something like our student message board, where magnetic markers are essential.

Sparco Magnetic Jumbo Eraser, 97250

Get your study on . . . SOON!

Get your study on . . . SOON!
Originally uploaded by thehubatwts

It's likely that your library is as quiet as mine is today. Our students start fall break tomorrow to coincide with the Thanksgiving holiday, so many have already left campus for the week. Unbelievably finals are less than three weeks away. Where did the semester go? Here is a previous semester photo of the student whiteboard--someone reminds her fellow students that it's time to get your study on...soon! Indeed.

Happy Thanksgiving!

No, I didn't put a student up to this

Students have a lot of fun with our whiteboards. Alice has captured many of the creative, beautiful, or just plain weird things we've seen on the boards (check out the Hub's flickr). This is the best we've seen yet on our Student Message Board:


Here's a closer look at the things one can enjoy in the Hub (private computer areas and TWO computer labs).


More things that one can enjoy, though "please obey the rules and throw away your trash!"


Of course we all need to "remember to have fun, smile and say hello to people so people will say students at UK are the best students I have ever met on any campus!!"

After all, the Hub is THE PLACE TO BE!

Wow, this is priceless. I'd love to meet the student who did this. How very cool.

Photos by Alice Wasielewski

Student Message Board

The Hub's entrance features a large whiteboard with a big sign designating it the "Student Message Board." We've taken pictures of fun messages from time to time--sometimes the messages are intended for one person meeting another (our idea behind the board) but we also get a lot of fun sports-related and other humorous graffiti. I enjoy watching the board and do occasionally add my own sentiments to it.

Pictured is an example of yet another way we use the board--to have a conversation with students. With 25 whiteboards at the Hub, you can imagine that we run through a fair number of markers. A student expressed concern about the situation and we responded (thank you, Alice!).

Fun with Signs

I suppose it's a requirement to do something for Talk Like a Pirate Day. One of my former student workers shares his birthday with this ar-wesome holiday. Let's just say the "walk the plank" jokes are wearing a little thin on him (happy 23, Podge!). Anyway, in keeping with our fun atmosphere at the Hub, I did a little something at the desk.

In general, I'm surprised at the number of students who pay attention to our signs. The "No Shushing" sign really gets a lot of attention, especially from a few student groups who meet regularly at the Hub. The intent of the sign was to direct people who want a quiet space away from the basement (designated quiet study areas are on the third and fifth floors). Several students seem continually amused with the sign--in fact, I've even spotted "No Shushing" graffiti on our whiteboards that no library staff fess up to writing! On rare occasions we have had to ask some students to keep it down just a little, but we certainly didn't shush them.

In general, the whiteboards are a continual source of education and amusement for me. It's very rare that I have to erase something (phone numbers or things that *really* aren't fit to print). For the most part, the boards are used for student work--equations, debate lists, vocabulary words, sentence diagramming, anatomy drawings--really interesting academic work. Then there are the "Chemistry/Math/Louisville sucks" sentiments or the "I Love the Hub" sentiments (I promise I'm not the one writing those!). And that's just the beginning--I've seen more neat little drawings, odd haiku, and random expressions....We're going to start posting a regular whiteboard photo to our flickr set. I think you'll be amused as well.

(Photos by Alice Wasielewski)

Best.Erasers.Ever

I've seen few posts comparing whiteboard markers and erasers. Sure, it seems rather mundane, but most commons environments have lots of whiteboards. At the Hub, we have 20 rolling easel whiteboards, five whiteboard "cubicle walls," a giant student message board, and a cafe sign. As a result, markers and erasers are not a trivial matter.

We tried an assortment of markers in our first semester (Spring 2007). Thanks to our Student Computing Labs Manager, we found the perfect markers and erasers. Perfect, in that both are magnetic. The markers include teeny erasers on the cap. While the markers are expensive, they seem to last pretty well and we keep the eraser caps as spares once the markers are spent. The erasers are a simple ergonomic design and are surprisingly inexpensive. Plus they have the added bonus of looking like mice. How cute.

TUL Dry Erase Markers, 12 pack
Office Max Brand Magnetic Marker Board Erasers