Uni High Library - About Us & FAQs

Who We Are and How We Can Help

About Us | Frequently Asked Questions

About Us

Frances Harris has been the librarian at Uni High since the fall of 1987 and is still not terribly anxious to graduate from high school. She stays because Uni students make her laugh every day and because those Computer Literacy 2 projects just keep getting wackier. She uses the library blog to share some of those finer student moments and to promote all things library-related and techno-geeky. In her spare time, she plays klezmer fiddle in her band, Don't Ask. For the more traditional pedigree, click here.

Runelle Shriver is the Senior Library Specialist at Uni High. She has been at Uni since February 6, 1988 and has enjoyed every second of it. Runelle describes her experience at Uni through this simile: "Life with the students has been like a three ring circus; laughter, surprises, love, hugs, and so many rewarding happenings." Yeah, she really loves it here.

Julia Burns has been the Graduate Assistant at Uni High Library since August 2009. She works on a variety of projects including making book displays and decorating the bulletin board, updating the library website and class projects pages, and helping students find and use library resources.

Isaure Hostetter, Grace Man, and Maritza Mestre work at Uni High Library during their free periods at school. With smiles on their faces, they help us enormously by shelving books, shelf reading to make sure the books are in order (an odious task!), processing new books, helping Natalie with displays, and all the small things that keep our library functioning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can University students use the Uni High Library?

Yes! Uni High Library is a part of the University Library and is happy to serve undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Come in during library hours to use or check out our various resources.

Sometime in the near future, Uni High will begin using security doors, preventing outsiders from entering. When that happens, just ring the doorbell to be let into the building. The library is on the second floor.

How long can I check out books for?

Nonfiction books: 4 weeks

Fiction and graphic novels: 2 weeks

Reference books can be checked out after 3 p.m. and returned by 8 a.m. the next day to Uni students and staff only.

Can I check out magazines from the library?

If you're a Uni student or staff member, yes. We only allow Uni affiliates to check out magazines because they are generally not catalogued and must be returned within three days.

New magazines (on display) may be checked out after 3 p.m. on regular school days and must be returned by 8 a.m. the next day. Back issues may be checked out for three days.

Does the library have old yearbooks?

Yes, we have Uni yearbooks from 1940 to the present behind the desk. They do not circulate, but you may use them in the library. Older yearbooks can also be requested, but that requires us to trek down to the store room and navigate an obstacle course of miscellaneous supplies in order to get to the cabinet which holds these precious yearbooks. Nonetheless, you may also use these in the library if you wish.

How do I use the copy machine?

There are written instructions on the copy machine with illustrations on how and where to place the material you are copying, so we hope you can figure this one out on your own. If not, or if the copier is showing an error message, please ask someone at either of our desks to come assist you.

Does the library have change for a dollar?

No. We do not keep cash hidden behind the desk or in any other secret place, so if you need to use the copy machine in the library, please bring change, or purchase a copy card at Grainger Engineering Library just down the street.

Are there any good books in the library?

Yes, we like to think so. If you're not finding any, you may not be looking hard enough or in the right places. Feel free to ask for help! We can show you many quick and easy tips to using the online catalog and finding exactly what you need, even if you're not quite sure what that is yet. If you're looking for something to read for pleasure, you may want to check out our Recommended Reads wiki, or again, ask for help! We read a lot and could probably offer a few suggestions.

Where's Ms. Harris?

At the moment, we're not quite sure. If she's not sitting at her desk laughing hysterically at her computer, she's either in Computer Lit class, in someone else's class teaching about library resources, at a meeting, out to lunch, looking for remote controls, or just MIA. If you don't see her, e-mail her.

For more information about the library collection, including types of resources available and loan periods, go to the About the Collection page.