At Ynez Library, we are champions of curiosity. At its core, our mission for nearly four centuries has been to advance the learning, research, and pursuit of truth. Our efforts are motivated and powered by working collaboratively, embracing diverse perspectives, championing access, aiming for the extraordinary, and always leading with curiosity.
There are plenty of opportunities for visitors to experience our collections. Ynez ID holders may bring up to four guests into the library. For more details, click on the following icons (图标).
Visitors Interested in using our libraries, but are not a Ynez student, faculty, alum, or staff? You're in the right place. | Exhibits Library exhibits tell the unique stories of our diverse and deep collections. Many are open to the public. | Tours Browse upcoming library tours. Some tours are open to the public; others are open to Ynez ID Holders and their guests. | Events Many library events are open to the public, including academic meetings, forums, lectures, etc. Check Admittance information first. |
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
Many of our libraries are home to rare and unique materials, which are available to all researchers.
• Our special collections are open to all without a fee, by appointment.
• Please contact the holding library to learn more about accessing their special collection items in person.
• Different libraries have different holdings, so you may want to start by using our search tools to find materials relevant to your research.
After moving to the United States in 1901, 19-year-old Bob Douglas found a job as a doorman in New York. Later, a co-worker took him to visit a basketball court, and he was amazed by the athletic prowess on display. At that moment, Douglas, who had enjoyed playing sports as a child, was determined to create a basketball team and provide greater opportunities for New York City's Black athletes.
He needed to find a place for his team to play. When asking a ballroom owner, William Roach, for permission to use one of the dance floors, Douglas was replied with "you guys will break up my place". After promising to take on all the financial risk, he finally persuaded Roach to change his mind and called the team "Rens".
However, their ballroom had fewer seats and attracted fewer people than others, so Douglas had to pack the house to generate profits and keep his team alive. They traveled the country playing any opponent that would agree to schedule them, during which they repeatedly faced discrimination and unfair treatment and the players were often banned from hotels and restaurants.
No matter the obstacle, the Rens just kept strict practicing. They helped change the game of basketball by focusing on quick passing, which let the players move faster, play a more fluid (流畅) game and keep winning. In 1925, the Rens shocked the world by defeating the Original Celtics, the most dominant team of their day. During the 1932-33 season, the team won 88 straight games, a professional basketball record that remains unbroken.
Unfortunately, the Rens disbanded (解散) in 1949. But in time, they were recognized for the important role they played in advancing Black athletes in basketball, ensuring that although the Rens aren't a household name, their story will never be forgotten.
Plastic is everywhere, from the Arctic ice to vital organs in the human body. In fact, previous estimates suggest that the average person swallows a credit card-worth of microscopic plastic particles(颗粒) every week. But new research shows that this could actually be an understatement.
Microplastics are plastics smaller than 5 millimeters, found in industrial waste, beauty products, and formed during the degradation of larger plastic pieces. Over time, they break down into even smaller nanoplastics. These tiny particles can pass through our intestines and lungs into our bloodstreams, reaching vital organs like the heart and brain.
While the idea of eating plastic is unsettling in itself, the major concern here is that these plastic particles contain chemicals that can interrupt our body's natural release of hormones, potentially increasing our risk of reproductive disorders and certain cancers. They can also carry toxins(毒素) on their surface like heavy metals.
In the past, researchers have shown bottled water can contain tens of thousands of identifiable plastic fragments in a single container. However, until recently, only the larger microplastics were detectable with available measuring tools, leaving the area of nanoplastics largely a mystery.
Using Raman microscopy (显微镜学), capable of detecting particles down to the size of a flu virus, the team measured an average of 240, 000 particles of plastic per liter of bottled water, 90 percent of which were nanoplastics, a revelation 10 to 100 times larger than previous estimates.
These plastics likely originate from the bottle material, filters used to "purify" the water, and the source water itself. "It is not totally unexpected to find so much of this stuff, " the study's lead author, Columbia graduate student Naixin Qian, said in a statement. His team hopes to expand their research into tap water and other water sources to better inform our exposure to these potentially dangerous particles. "The idea is that the smaller things get, the more of them I reveal, " he added.
I came across an image recently of a distance runner with a message that told readers to persevere (坚持) at all costs. It reminded me of a conversation I had. My colleague's teaching assistant was asking for my advice. He wanted to know when to quit something. He described how he'd been playing an online game with people for some time. It hadn't been very fun lately, but there was always that small chance of a reward (upgraded equipment, etc).
I inquired further about his relationship with the players and his gains from the game. I then discussed the sunk cost dilemma, a concept I studied in advanced school due to its personal impact. In high school, I applied to five universities, planning to choose the cheapest one. SUU offered the best scholarship, and after paying a $100 commitment fee, I heard back from another school with an even better scholarship. Despite the new offer, I stayed committed to SUU, believing that switching schools, even if it meant acknowledging the "wasted" $ 100, would have been the wiser financial choice.
A rational (理性的) decision maker is not ruled by past investments, but weighs future outcomes. I didn't focus on future outcomes when weighing colleges. I focused on the money I sunk into SUU. Rather than evaluating future career options, I focused on the fact that I'd already taken elementary education courses.
I'm not the only one that's fallen prey to this. I wear clothes I dislike simply because I spent money on them (and that money won't come back). Unhealthy relationships last because of the invested time (leading to more unhappy years). However, time, effort, or money that you've invested doesn't mean you should continue. Society often stresses perseverance — never quit, never give up, don't waste. However, only you know your right path. Walking away can be the toughest choice. You might realize a path you're on is no longer the right one or never was.
We all do procrastination （拖延）. No matter how well-organized you are, chances are that you have found yourself wasting hours on small pursuits when you should have been spending that time on school-related projects. However, do they really work?
Knee-jerk reaction and recommendations to procrastination can focus on making lists, downloading apps, setting timers, etc. If simply making a list could solve the problem of procrastination, then there wouldn' t be so many articles on it or conversations about it with doctors.
When we look at a task, such as doing homework or preparing a presentation, we do an internal assessment. If not, our brain center responds by telling our body to avoid the situation causing us anxiety. In this way, procrastination will provide us with a circle-stressful task, perceived threat, but once the task is finished, you will feel better. This is a short-term solution in fact. Then, ultimately we want to finish a work and feel good, what can we do?
That' s because we live in a busy world where tasks will roll your way. Be aware that you are procrastinating and don' t pile up the act of procrastination with the act of self-deception（欺骗）. Know yourself and your moods. Scheduling tasks during times of high energy will help us be most productive and lessen the opportunity for procrastination.
If you are motivated by funny stickers on your papers, then you should pair the rewarding activity with the task you have been procrastinating.
A. Learn from negative thoughts.
B. What' s more, reward yourself after the task.
C. It means a mismanagement of your emotions.
D. Procrastination frequently happens in daily life.
E. Therefore, we need to figure out its internal roots.
F. If the task is easy to handle, we can do it as soon as possible.
G. Fortunately, you will find many ways to deal with procrastination online.
"What's your name? " My fifteen-ear-old daughter, Jessica, asked a stranger on the street. Her eyes sparkled with 1 and her face wore a broad smile. I wish she could make it because she has a disability with autistic (自闭症的). I stood nearby, waiting 2 for any potential result.
To be honest, the 3 nature of hers is a result of her disability. Ever since Jessica was real young, she had 4 right up to strangers on the street and 5 a conversation, never expecting to be refused. Children with autism don't relate well to others. As her mum, my thoughts are 6 . On one hand, I tried my best to prevent her from 7 others. On the other hand, I don't want her to be discouraged. Happily, when Jessica talks with someone, it always 8 me that people patiently answer her, although they must sense she's a bit different.
What about this time? Would this man respond kindly or just 9 her and walk away? A few minutes later, Jessica skipped to me. Obviously, it was a successful 10 . Jessica shared with me the 11 they had talked about, which would certainly 12 my daughter's day. The man just treated her like an ordinary girl, nothing special from others.
As we continued on our way, I felt a renewed sense full of 13 for the future. Despite my daughter's problem, an equal 14 the kind people gave her created a moment of 15 interaction.
The tourism phenomenon fueled by Harbin, in Northeast China' s Heilongjiang Province, shows no sign of fading. Most recently, the ice city （lead） to fierce competition among tourism authorities in several cities as they try to change the Internet potential （engage） into real tourist footfall. More （interest）, the video of the leaders of local tourism dancing with performers has entertained millions of netizens （网民）.
These diligent efforts made by Harbin （attract）tourists to the city were joined by netizens across the country, playfully discussed about the exceptional skills （possess）by their own heads of tourism bureau, all to achieve similar success in their own cities.
Starting from January 9th, the official account of the Department of Tourism of Henan Province has seen increase in the number of videos being posted, more than 30 clips released per day. So the tourism authorities in Shanxi and Shandong provinces find a must to promote their enriched tourism resources on social media. Winter, the traditional tourism off-season, draws new tourism fever, （signal） the fast tourism development in China.
注意：1 词数80个左右；题目已给出，不计入总词数；2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
I WANT YOU
My family moved from Toowoomba, Canada to London in 1950. My mother was in great pain from the 1950s epidemic of polio (小儿麻痹症). She wished to visit specialists in London. The day before we boarded the ship, Father bade a tender farewell to his five-year-old "friend" at the dock(码头), an Australian cattle dog, Spider, who was loved by us all. Father's friend Sandy was to be his guardian while we were overseas.
Six weeks later a letter arrived from Sandy, giving my father the news that Spider had run away just two weeks after we had sailed. I will always remember my father's face crumbling and his eyes glistening as he read the letter. We tried to comfort him, knowing in our hearts how useless this was. Sandy has advertised constantly on ABC radio and other local newspapers. Despite some "sightings" in the dock at first, the dog was never found later. It seems Spider decided to search for us elsewhere.
We sailed back two years later and re-established our home in Toowoomba. My father immediately began his own searching for Spider. Several months passed but there was still no news concerning Spider. The dog was gone, possibly shot or dead from starvation or exhaustion.
One cold morning eight months after our return, my father had a call from an old lady who said she was putting food out "for a very old dog". In the night the food disappeared. This had been going on for a few weeks. That was enough for my father to interrupt my homework and we set off immediately. When we arrived at the old lady's house, she invited us into an old bush. Sadly, she then told us that the "dingo dog" hadn't been around for a few days. My father had a strange look in his eye. He put two fingers to his lips and did his special whistle(口哨) for Spider.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150个左右；2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1: Suddenly there was a bark in the bush.
Paragraph 2: From then on, Spider and my father would hang out at the dock.
