Commons Knowledge

Your UNB Student ID Card acts as your Library card, Athletics Centre membership and you may even be asked to present it when writing tests and exams. It also entitles you to discounts in the community such as “student” bus rates.

The Student Technology Centre (near Tim Hortons) is currently holding ID Sessions Monday to Friday from 8:30 am until 8:30 pm. Don’t bring cash - there is no fee for your first ID card. The day-long sessions will continue until Sept 12; then cards will available on demand as staffing permits.

Returning students will need to have their IDs updated with a 2008-2009 validation sticker, available from the Business Office (when you pay your tuition) or the Library (with a tuition receipt). The replacement fee for lost or damaged cards is $10.00, payable at the Circulation Desk of the Library.

Effective immediately WCL230 (the old 2nd floor computer lab) is now open for student use. We've just completed the renovations and you're going to love it. Inside are 8 Dell PCs, 2 brand new iMacs (with big 20" flat screens), 3 scanners, a printer, a Smartboard and all new furniture! By the time you add the scenic view, it's the best computer lab on campus! Enjoy it but make sure you treat it nicely!

How about Persian, Ibo or Urdu? If so, we are pleased to be offering library tours in your native language!

The tours will begin this Thursday at 5:00 p.m. with Ibo, Bangla, Hindi and Urdu.

On Friday, Sept 26 we’ll have a tour in Persian at 12:30 p.m. and another in Mandarin at 2:00 p.m.

You can let us know you’re coming by pre-registering by e-mail to reference@unbsj.ca (or just meet near the reference desk at the scheduled time) Hope you can join us!

Well, I would have liked for it to go into my living room (but we have really efficient security ‘round campus). Instead, we have it tucked away in the ISS offices while we redesign and test a brand new version of the Campus Information Display. (A.K.A. CID 2.0)

Acting on the advice received from everyone who responded to our survey this summer, we’re in the process of totally re-designing the display. (You’re going to love the result) Our thanks to everyone who completed the survey; we got some really great ideas!

Thinking of the survey, congratulations go out to Laura Green the winner of the Dell laser printer. Back in August, we drew Laura’s name at random from more than 200 respondents who completed the survey. Enjoy the printer Laura!

Is Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 BC – 210 BC), the first emperor of a united China. He came to us as a generous donation from Mr. Stanley Unobskey, via the Downeast Heritage Museum. Qin Shi Huang was a fascinating fellow, read more about him here

Although a controversial figure in history, two of Qin Shi Huang’s achievements are well-known today. During his reign, an early version of the Great Wall of China was started and his burial site is guarded by a Terracotta Army. Thousands of life-size statues of warriors, chariots, horses and officials dating from 210 BC were discovered (in 1974) near Xi’an, in the Shaanxi province of China.

Our statue is a replica made by modern craftsmen from the same clay as his ancient army. He's traveled a long way to stand guard inside our library and we think he adds a mysterious, urbane feeling. We enjoy him . . . Thank You, Mr. Unobskey!

To kick off this school year, we've changed our bi-weekly prize from coffee certificates to bookstore certificates! Win yours by correctly answering the following (tricky!) question. . .

According to the historian Sima Qian, construction of Qin Shi Huang’s final resting place began in 246 BC. That being the case . . . How old was the emperor when work began on his mausoleum?

E-mail your answer, along with your name to wcl@unbsj.ca. All correct answers will be entered into a random draw for a $10 gift certificate to the bookstore. The winner will be announced early next week. . . Good Luck!

The Writing Centre appointments have been filling up like crazy. (When I looked this morning, there are only a handful of appointments available between now and this time next week.) So . . . they are adding additional evening and weekend hours with two new writing consultants . . . Robin Sutherland and Lindsay Bell. (They’re actually not new-new; just returning-from-last-year new!)

Robin will be working Monday- Thursday evenings (from 5 – 9 pm) and then Lindsay works from 1 – 5 pm on Saturday & Sunday. Let’s see, that means an additional 28 appointments a week. Even with the extra hours . . . you’d be wise to plan ahead and book early!

Be sure to “welcome” Robin & Lindsay when you see them!