Celebrate Black History Month with these resources!

This month (and every month) you can dive deeper into Black History through the many resources available at the library.

We have a number of eBooks available in our collection through EBook Central. Here are some highlights!

Cover of book depicting two Black women, one holding a protest sign
Sisters in the Struggle : African American Women in the Civil Rights-Black Power Movement by Bettye Collier-Thomas and V. P. Franklin

Cover of Reconstructing the Dreamland : The Tulsa Race Riot of 1921, Race Reparations, and Reconciliation
Reconstructing the Dreamland : The Tulsa Race Riot of 1921, Race Reparations, and Reconciliation by Alfred L. Brophy and Randall Kennedy

Cover of Race and Radicalism in the Union Army
Race and Radicalism in the Union Army by Mark A. Lause

Cover of Transcending the Color Line : The Sociology of Black Experience in America
Transcending the Color Line : The Sociology of Black Experience in America by Bobby E. Mills

The Library of Congress has an impressive collection of photographs and primary documents. While items can be searched, they’re also grouped in thematic categories. You can explore the African American History section here.

The book Black Lives in Alaska by UAA Professor Dr. Ian Hartman explores the historical legacy of Black Alaskans which spans before statehood. This is the second of Dr. Hartman’s book. You can find it here at the Consortium Library or at your local public library branch.

Also locally focused, Black in Alaska is a photo and interview project that explores contemporary stories of Black Alaskans, featuring individuals from around the state.

A couple of other highlights in our collection include Black Art: A Cultural History, which explores the artistic achievements of the African diaspora throughout history and it has been updated to include the first two decades of the twenty-first century; and America on Fire: the untold history of police violence and Black rebellion since the 1960s, which examines the history of policing and protest from the civil rights era to today.

These resources just scratch the surface! We hope you continue to explore Black history all year round and reach out to us if you need any help finding particular resources!

This word or that word? That is the question.

As the Spring Semester is in full swing, you might be starting to research topics for upcoming assignments and papers. One of the first steps in the research process is choosing a topic, identifying keywords, and beginning to search for resources.

If you are having trouble choosing keywords, you can find useful Self-Guided Help Tutorials under the Research Help Tab on the Library website.

The following tutorials/LibGuides are a great starting point if you are new to research and the library:

Navigating different information retrieval systems can be different. The tutorials above will guide you on how to search effectively, regardless of whether you are using our library website and catalog or an internet search engine.

If you are still having trouble after reviewing the above tutorials and need more help brainstorming topics and /or keywords, do not hesitate to reach out to a librarian; you can always Ask Us! or Schedule a one-on-one meeting with a Subject Librarian.

Be aware that if you need help editing your writing, the UAA Learning Commons, which is located on the first floor of the APU/UAA Consortium Library, is home to the Writing Center. There, you can connect with a tutor either in-person or online by appointment.

Good luck with all your research endeavors!

 

 

Apply for the Consortium Library Award!

Submit an undergraduate project that you worked on this semester utilizing library resources and you will be considered for the annual Consortium Library Award – you could win $500! Applications are being accepted now through May 5, 2026 and winners will be awarded in the spring.

The award recognizes and honors undergraduate research papers or projects that demonstrate significant use of the Library’s collections or services. To apply for the award, you’ll submit your project and a reflective essay through an application portal. UAA and APU undergraduate students can submit a paper or project from the summer 2025, fall 2025, or spring 2026 semesters.

Not sure if you should apply? If you can answer “yes” to any of the following questions, you’re eligible!

  • Did you use the Consortium Library for a research paper or project in an undergraduate class at UAA or APU?
  • Did your use of the Library’s collections or services help increase the breadth and significance of what you learned?
  • Did your skills as a researcher grow as a result of completing this paper or project?
  • Does your paper or project include a complete, consistently formatted bibliography, reference list, or works cited?
  • Did you complete your paper or project in summer 2025, fall 2025, or spring 2026?

To learn more about the award and the application process, visit this page. We hope that you will apply!

Did you know we have Maps?

The UAA/APU Consortium library has a plethora of Maps available to students and public patrons a like.

Below are locations for where you can locate Maps physically in the library:

1st Floor ARLIS (The Alaska Resources Library & Information Services)

2nd Floor Map Area Between the General Collection A-N.

2nd Floor Alaskana Collection located in the South East corner opposite the General collection P-Q. 

2nd Floor Government Documents located between the Alaskana Collection.

It is important to note that the maps can be catalogued either using Library of Congress Classification (LCC) numbers or Superintendent of Documents Classification (SuDocs) numbers. 

If performing a search in our Catalogue or Quick Search here are some keywords you can use in your search query:

  • cartography AND (insert location)
  • cartography AND (insert type of map)

Examples of types of maps: 

Climate Maps

Historic Maps

Physical Maps

Thematic Maps

Topographic Maps

  • cartography AND visualization
  • cartography AND visualization of spatial data
  • geography
  • maps
  • nautical charts (maps charting waterways)

Interested in Journals that discuss Geography and Cartography, check out the Journals below:

Geography is available via  JSTOR.

Geography and Environment is available via ProQuest.

Geography, Environment, Sustainability is available via DOAJ.

The Consortium Library also has useful LibGuides at your disposal:

Maps at the Consortium Library

Geography LibGuide

Geography and Environmental Studies Archival Collections LibGuide

Mapping and Surveying Archival Collections LibGuide

Can’t find what you are looking for, don’t hesitate to ASK US!

 

 

What’s For Dinner?

Are you struggling to figure out what to cook for dinner? Are you heading to a party and need to bring a dish? 

The Consortium Library can help you out! We have access to several cooking magazines.

Bon appétit has “articles on cooking and entertaining, including recipes, kitchen tools and serving suggestions for all occasions”. In their November edition, the article “Show Off With Sides” has recipes sure to please those with discerning tastes. A few of their yummy suggestions include recipes for Sweet and Spicy Squash with Scallion Oil and Golden Sweet Potato Rolls. 

Not a gourmet, try the magazine Real Simple, a magazine that “provides good-to-know information for those who are looking to make life easier”. Their November issue has an article on “5 Easy Dishes”. Why not try their “Air Fryer “Stir-Fry” with Beef & Veggies”, a great way to try out your air fryer. 

Food & Wine magazine is “for those interested in various aspects of food, wine, entertaining, and travel. Topics include home, travel, what’s new, and healthy eating”. In their article, “Northern Exposure” from their December 25/January 26 edition, learn about foods from Greenland or read “Roasts with the Most” and get a recipe for Duck à l’Orange.

 How do I find out if the Consortium has a magazine that I want to read?

It is easy, just go to the Consortium Library home page, click on the Search Collections and choose Journal Titles, in the little box put the name of your magazine and voila. You are ready to cook.

Alaska Digital Library also has cooking magazines. You can find them at the ADL or use the Libby App. You will need your library card number (Wolf Card/ student ID) and your PIN (not your password). Don’t know your pin, ask the Circulation Desk for help.

Want to feel paper in your hands rather than reading online? Come browse our collection of cookbooks. No dinner is complete without a recipe from the quintessential baker extraordinaire, Martha Stewart. The Consortium has several of her books. If you are just starting out as a cook try “Martha Stewart’s Cooking School : lessons and recipes for the home cook” or  “The Martha Stewart Cookbook : collected recipes for every day”. Do you prefer sweets to savory? Try “Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes : 175 inspired ideas for everyone’s favorite treat”.

Are you having a vegetarian guest for dinner and think all vegetarian food is tasteless? Try the cookbooks from the Moosewood Restaurant, a vegetarian favorite. These books range from traditional recipes in the “The New Moosewood Cookbook” to “Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home : fast and easy recipes for any day”  and wraps up with recipes from around the world with “Sundays at Moosewood Restaurant”.

Stop by the Reference Desk for more delicious suggestions.