Due to security concerns surrounding the NATO Summit, the following CARLI member institutions in the Chicago downtown/loop area will be closed Friday May 18 - Monday May 21.  They include:
Columbia College Chicago
School of the Art Institute
Roosevelt University
Loyola University
National Louis University
Robert Morris University 
John Marshall Law School
DePaul University
East-West University 
Harrington College of Design 

Other institutions may decide to close at the last minute, so you are advised to plan/call ahead if you have research needs during this time period. A list of CARLI member institutions with contact information can be found here.

Harold Washington Library Center is scheduled to be open during that time, although street closures in the area will be in effect.

Without your U-Pass, you might feel like you're stranded in your apartment this summer. Hopefully with a few tools we can remedy that situation.

1. Use the CTA's many resources.
The website itself, http://www.transitchicago.com/, is completely full of helpful advice including information on closures/reroutes and links to their apps. Two things I use regularly on my smartphone- train tracker, I just have it bookmarked on my phone, (http://www.transitchicago.com/traintracker/) but you could use an app instead, and bus tracker, which I use both the web and text versions (http://www.ctabustracker.com/bustime/home.jsp.)





2.Car sharing: i-Go/Zip cars
i-go (http://www.igocars.org/) cars are parked throughout the city and great if you just need to make a few random day trips. Columbia even participates in their University and College program, when you sign up you can get a discount: http://www.igocars.org/!
Zipcar (http://www.zipcar.com/) is a similar car sharing business and they also have a University discount program: http://www.zipcar.com/universities/.



3. Bike!
Chicago is a very bike friendly city, get you wheels tuned up, grab a helmet and check out some of these resources. Google will map the best route for you to take on your bike if you need some help with directions. For example, I mapped a route from Columbia College to Wrigley field, and here is a link to the suggested route: http://g.co/maps/nuwwe. The CTA is also very bike friendly and if you need to you can bring you bike on a train during certain hours, or on a bus at any time (http://www.transitchicago.com/bikeandride/). The chainlink is a Chicago-specific bike community with tons of info about biking in Chicago, if you sign up, their weekly email updates are great to keep an eye out for Chicagoland bike tours and events (http://www.thechainlink.org/). And last but not least, Chicago's Bike to Work Week takes place June 11-15, but the event is kicked off on June 9th. Here are two sites to get your fill of information about Bike to Work Week: http://www.activetrans.org/bikepitstops and http://ow.ly/aV9cr.

Congratulations to all of our graduating students!  We know you have put in many long hours in your years at Columbia and wish you the best of luck as you embark on the next journey! Special acknowledgments and many thanks to our graduating Library student workers without whom we could not provide the level of service that we do:

Circulation                                                      
Jisung Kim, BA - Film and Video
Benjamin Leaf, BA - Photography
Brandon Marshall, BA - Fiction Writing
Zach Pint, BA - Film and Video
                                 
College Archives and Digital Collections                                  
Thatiana Oliveira, MFA - Photography
Abby Tebeau, BFA - Photography

Library Administration
Sirseal  Gipson, BA - Marketing

Reference
Hayley Hochstettler, BA - Film and Video

Technical Services
Jerica Hucke, BA - Theatre
Agnes Pogorecka, BFA - Fashion Design
Terence Reynolds, MFA - Creative Writing
Miles Robinson, BA - Film and Video

Are your parents in from out of town? Show them a little of Chicago's best this weekend!

• Willis Tower
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  On May 3rd, The Ledge at Willis Tower celebrated its 39th birthday! Missed it? No worries, it’s great to go there any day.
  
  
• Chicago Cultural Center & Park Grill
  
  
  
  
  Here’s an activity pod made for parents!
  
  First, visit the Chicago Cultural Center (78 East Washington Street)! This beautiful landmark is the nation's first free municipal cultural center, is one of the city's ten most popular attractions and it’s considered one of the most comprehensive arts showcases in the United States, presenting more than 800 free cultural programs a year. As home of two magnificent stained-glass domes, free music, dance and theater events, films, lectures, art exhibitions and family events, there’s always something going on.
  
  Then, move across the street and have a bite at the Park Grill!
  
  
  
  
  Yes, it IS under the BEAN!!!
  
  
• Marylin statue in Pioneer Court
  
  OK, this one is outdoors but it’s the last chance to look up…I mean, at Marilyn’s dress!
  
  
  
  
  She's slated to leave Pioneer Court on Monday, May 7th!
  
  
• Tulips on the Magnificent Mile
  
  Also, if you can stand it, take a stroll along the Mag Mile… and look at the floral fabulousness…such as Tulipa Maggie Daley!
  
  
  
  
  
  

1. In the Services tab on the Library website, click How much do I owe?
2. Enter your Library Borrower ID.  This is the 11-digit number on the back of your Columbia ID card.  It starts with 22711...
3. Enter your last name and Login.
4. Your fines will be listed.
5. Back on the Services tab, click Pay Fines.
6. Login with your Oasis number.  Pay with an eCheck or Credit Card.

Monday through Thursday the week of finals grab a free cup of coffee from the first floor of the Library! Starting at 5pm each evening and brewing until 8pm, get that jolt of caffeine you need to make it through your last study session or paper.We are here to help you make it through that last crazy week of the semester.

Alumni on 5: Alumni in the Library Exhibitions

"Games, Wars + Summits"

The Library is once again staying open late on Friday nights! This week is the first of Finals Fridays when the Library will be staying open until 8pm. The last three Fridays of the semester (4/20, 4/27, and 5/4) we will be open from 8:00am to 8:00pm. Reserve textbooks and computers are always accessible for use and Librarians will be available to help with any research questions. Come join us and finish off those last few projects!