Science Library

The University of Georgia dedicated its science library Friday for Shirley Mathis McBay, the first Black student to receive a Ph.D. from the university and the first woman to earn a doctorate in mathematics from UGA.

McBay went on to a long and distinguished career as an educator, administrator and advocate who worked tirelessly to promote the participation and advancement of minorities and women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

She began her career as a math professor at Spelman College and then became dean for student affairs at MIT and chair of the National Science Foundation’s committee on equal opportunity in science and engineering. She later launched the Quality Education for Minorities Network, a nonprofit that she led for more than 20 years.

Beginning with the fall 2022 semester, access to UGA Libraries locations will be limited to members of the UGA community and other educational affiliates during late-night hours.

A construction project this summer at the University of Georgia’s McBay Science Library may disrupt quiet study for a time, yet access to books and library services will continue throughout the construction period.

The project entails upgrades to the library’s entryway, service desk, and entry floor study spaces, and is expected to be completed prior to the beginning of the fall semester. In addition, the work includes a permanent exhibit to honor Shirley Mathis McBay, the first Black student to receive a doctorate from UGA and national leader in promoting quality STEM education for people of color.

Update as of 12/7/21: 

University System of Georgia Board of Regents has approved the naming of the UGA Science Library for the Shirley Mathis McBay, the first African American to earn a doctorate from UGA.

At the Libraries, we are excited and honored for our facility to be chosen for this recognition. The legacy of Dr. McBay will live on through the STEM students we serve at the Shirley Mathis McBay Science Library.

From UGA Today:

UGA Libraries’ course reserve services allow faculty to enhance their instruction with additional readings and supplementary research materials, while cutting down costs for students. For faculty planning Spring 2022 courses, course reserve services and support are currently open, and requests submitted by December 3 are guaranteed to be completed and accessible by the first day of spring semester classes.

Long before Joro spiders began spinning webs across the Georgia landscape, pests, from fire ants and the boll weevil to the kudzu vine, have bugged the state’s farmers, business owners, and residents.

Those pests, past and present, and the ways that scientists, government officials and others have battled them, will be highlighted in a new exhibit on display by the University of Georgia’s Russell Library for Political Research and Studies.

EITS will conduct network maintenance that will result in complete outages of campus Internet access and campus information systems on Saturday, October 23, 2021 from 6:00 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. This outage is expected to cause a major disruption to library services and resources, both on campus and off campus.

Please make note that unlike previous planned network maintenances where there were intermittent outages, this maintenance will result in a complete outage of access to services. UGA students faculty, staff, and students should be aware of interruptions to library services, which will impact those accessing resources on campus or at home.

Need help getting started on that thesis or figuring out how you can take your class project to the next level? The UGA Libraries are here to help! Fall into Research sessions will familiarize you with the tools and services available to help you with your research, from citing sources to creating maps or other data visualizations.

University of Georgia Libraries locations, including the Miller Learning Center, will expand hours of operation this fall to provide more in-person options for students and patrons during the 2021-2022 academic year.

The Miller Learning Center, the busiest academic building on campus, will be open for 24-hours a day on weekdays, beginning August 18. During weekends, the building will close at midnight Friday night and reopen at 10 a.m. Saturday morning, closing again at midnight Saturday night to reopen at 10 a.m. Sunday morning, before returning to the 24-hour schedule.