With yet another year coming to an end and with the holidays fast approaching, you might be experiencing a bit of that odd December combination of excitement and burnout. After all, December often brings extended family visits, where your parents or in-laws might be hanging out on a regular Tuesday afternoon. For many of us, as relatives gather for the holidays, there’s a delicate balance between being a good host (or hostee) and wanting to book a hotel room.
Between work, school, and personal responsibilities, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed this time of year – while still craving that activity or moment that will leave us feeling engaged and inspired to end the year with zest. Volunteering for additional work Teams meetings gives you away-time while supporting productivity; browsing holiday sales catalogs quietly tucked into your APA Manual gives you away-time that’s fun but less work-goal-friendly. So where do you turn when seeking that balance between productive and provocative?
Enter library videos: not the library’s own training videos (which you should also watch), but videos that you can access through the library databases. Library videos can provide the perfect guilt-free escape, offering the kind of relaxing entertainment that can help you unwind, but also opportunities for fun and engaging learning. Learn the basics of topics you’ve always been curious about, or dive deeper in an area you thought you’d all but mastered.
While the library has numerous databases containing video content, your best bets for non-academic guilt-free pleasures will be the databases Academic Video Online and Films on Demand. There are two basic ways to search:
1. Search for terms related to your topic of interest in the search box.
- Hot tip: Use quotation marks for an exact-phrase search, such as “scuba diving”. (Hey, these are guilty pleasures! Save “SWOT analysis" or “systematic review" for January.)
2. Browse through the Subject collections to see what’s available in relevant categories.
- To view subjects in Academic Video Online, click on the red “filter” icon above the search results.
- To view subjects in Films on Demand, click on the 3 horizontal lines in the upper-left corner of its homepage.
So the next time your boss, significant other, or mother-in-law asks what you’re doing with that popcorn and crazed grin during business hours, simply inform them that you are getting to know the University Library.
Sports
Whether you want to learn more about how to do a sport, or want to learn about the history of a sport or the lives of great athletes, the library videos have you covered. And it’s not just about general overviews or major league sports. Keep getting (or causing) injuries during pickleball? There’s a video for that. Always dreamed of forming your own axe-throwing league? There’s a video for that. The semesters seasons may be limited, but the possibilities are endless.
I should also point out an anecdote here that testifies to just how comprehensive our video collections actually are. As I was working on this sports section of the blog post, my mind briefly flashed to the infamous “Who’s on First?” baseball comedy bit by Abbott and Costello. I did a quick search (in quotes), not really expecting to find it... and it’s in Films on Demand. (The bit starts at 26:20 of this video segment.)
Equal playing field (01:26:36) - Thirty female soccer players from 24 different countries raise awareness for gender equality by setting two Guinness World Records, playing the highest and lowest elevation soccer matches ever played on Mount Kilimanjaro and The Dead Sea.
Fenway Park (55:33) - Journey through the storied legacy of Fenway Park, from the Green Monster to its awkward diamond and the curse of the Bambino, and learn about the history, traditions, and community of this historic baseball locale.
Groundbreakers (01:55:14) - Celebrate 50 years of female excellence in sports through the eyes of athletes who changed the system. This documentary film weaves together stories of eight famous icons that shaped history in women’s sports.
It ain't over (01:39:14) - This feature-length documentary introduces Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra as one of baseball’s greatest: ten World Series rings, three MVP awards, and 18 All-Star Game appearances, and he caught the only perfect game in World Series history.
Magic and Bird: A courtship of rivals (01:28:09) - This documentary film chronicles the rivalry between Earvin Johnson and Larry Bird that began with the 1979 NCAA Basketball Championship Game and lasted throughout their Hall of Fame careers in the NBA.
No turning back (54:06) - From rock and mountain climbing to caves and water sports, this episode of Expedition Unpacked covers the dangerous moments that nearly stopped one expedition team in their tracks during adventures.
Say hey, Willie Mays! (01:38:37) - Willie Mays transfixed baseball fans with his jubilant persona and contagious smile while helping to erode racial barriers. This documentary follows Mays’ life and shows what it meant to be one of America’s first African American sports superstars.
Sports (52:33) - Learn about four of the 20th century's most influential sports stars: Pele, Muhammad Ali, Billie Jean King, and Tanni Grey Thompson. From the democratization of sport to the battle for equal pay, these icons helped shape the world we know today.
Super hero (23:12) - This inspiring documentary covers five compelling athletes from Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, South Africa, and the United States as they prepare to compete in the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics.
Through the banks of the red cedar (01:08:37) - In 1963, Michigan State Head Coach Duffy Daugherty and 23 African American young men seized the opportunity of a lifetime. Learn how the first fully integrated college football team in America changed the game forever.
Arts & Crafts
You've probably guessed that the library has videos on fine art and architecture. From videos on classical painters to videos on regional and genre architecture, we have plenty of resources to satisfy the need for the historically significant and culturally-refined. But what about the more craftsy side of art? (No, not that kind of craft; sorry, Nicole.)
Whether looking to watch others craft something amazing or to learn how to create something yourself, our library videos are here to help. You can also choose adventures for others in your household. One 2-minute video even shows how kids made a drawbridge castle out of cardboard and construction paper. After all, university students, faculty, and staff can be parents, too. Given that it's the holiday season and even the knit-picky kids are home from school, this could be a win-win.
A time for making (58:33) - Nine artisans on secluded Gabriola Island reveal the differences between mass manufactured and authentic locally handmade through intimate portraits of their work and lifestyle.
Arts & crafts (22:03) - Using unutilized or recycled materials from nature to create something useful is a way of life for the Inuit. Watch as they make tools, clothing, household items, and even devices for transportation from by-products of hunted animals.
Cigar box blues: The making of a revolution (32:27) - Cigar box guitar craftsmen and musicians create unique, low cost, no rules three-stringed instruments crafted from recycled materials. Learn how just three chords, played on their unique DIY instruments, has changed lives.
Home: Craft in America, Season 14 (55:11) - The idea of home crafts has taken on heightened importance in recent years. This video features art and craft processes involved in wood carpentry, bark carving, moccasin making, pottery, and more.
How to bend concrete in 108 easy steps (26:04) - Follow a designer in his efforts to bend industrial material into beautiful furniture. In this video, you’ll learn about the exploratory and physical nature of the concrete sculpting process.
How to draw with oil pastels (14:54) - In this instructional video, you’ll get inspiration from legendary impressionist artist Claude Monet as you learn how to draw with oil pastels.
Inspiration: Craft in America, Season 14 (54:40) - Visit the communities and artists impacting new generations of makers through their work. This video features found objects sculpture, wood carving, yarn weaving, sewing, needlework, ceramics, canvas art, and more.
Jewelry: Craft in America, Season 13 (56:42) - Explore the history, artistry, and impact of personal adornment the masters. Learn about the craft from classic jewelers, recyclable jewelers, modernist jewelers, Native American jewelers, and more.
Quilts (54:42) - Quilts hold history, share culture, and tell stories that would otherwise not be told. The Quilts episode features contemporary masters of this powerful art form.
When you return: The basketweavers (44:18) - On the land in the foothills above California’s Central Valley, join a family of Wukchumni basket weavers as they gather basket materials and weave baskets with friends and family.
Cooking & Baking
Learning to cook and bake from experts is always fun, and the library has videos from all of the modern greats – from Nancy Silverton and Jacques Pepin to the unforgettable Julia Childs. You can also watch videos from individual chefs from your favorite cooking series. “Top Chef” fans will enjoy watching Carla Hall (Hootie-hoo!) or Tiffani Faison, for example, while fans of the scary “Chopped” show can enjoy totally non-frightening videos from Amanda Freitag and Aaron Sanchez.
Not ready for your souffle test? Our content covers the basics, too. For example, Chef Marshall O’Brien explains the differences between various types of knives and demonstrates basic knife skills. Once you’ve mastered the art of cutting, you can learn (or relearn) the fundamental cooking techniques that will turn those chopped veggies and meats into amazing homecooked meals. There’s even a video on kitchen measurements and conversions so that you can finally stop googling ounces to cups or cups to grams every time you brave a new recipe.
There are also multiple series worth exploring. Try searching Academic Video Online for "great chefs of America" or "great chefs of the world" in quotation marks to ensure an exact-phrase search. There are 257 videos in those series alone! You can also try "The Great American Recipe" and find 24 drool-worthy episodes (a few are listed below).
Burgers & poundcake (19:01) - Join Broadway cast members inside their kitchens as they share their favorite recipes. Terence Archie ("Company") and Christina Sajous (“American Idiot”) make poundcake and homemade ice cream, while Jeremy Woodard (“Rock of Ages”) and Lauren Sambataro (“Wicked”) make burgers.
Chef vs. science: The ultimate kitchen challenge (54:36) - A two-star Michelin chef and a leading scientist go head-to-head in the kitchen to see who can produce the best dish. See the art and science behind the amazing transformations food undergoes in the kitchen.
French cuisine (58:42) - Learn about the history and growth of traditional French food items, as well as the special tricks, methods, and techniques needed to prepare traditional and contemporary French cuisine from beginning to presentation.
The kitchenistas (56:11) - This public media award-winning film is about women advocating for healthy food traditions to change communities and transform lives. What started as a seven-week nutrition program seven years ago in National City, CA for women seeking healthier diets has become a Latina-led movement to raise the health, wellbeing, and resilience of the community.
Nachos & biscuits (22:15) - Join Broadway cast members inside their kitchens as they share their favorite recipes. Christiani Pitts ("King Kong") makes nachos while Adam Perry and Charlie Williams ("Frozen") bake biscuits.
Party on a plate (52:57) - Join “The Great American Recipe” host Alejandra Ramos and judges Leah Cohen, Tiffany Derry, and Graham Elliot as ten talented home cooks showcase signature dishes, share heartfelt stories, and share their favorite special occasion and holiday recipes.
Recipes: Beef stew (08:03) - Actor, comedian, and foodie Matt Okine shows you how to prepare a big hearty stew as the perfect antidote to a cool winter's evening. He demonstrates the steps for a recipe that is fast, easy, and inexpensive.
Recipes: Dead simple pancakes (07:56) - In this video, chef and restaurateur Brigitte Hafner explains and illustrates how to prepare simple but delicious pancakes that are cheap, easy, and done in five minutes.
World foods: French cooking (21:36) - Cookbook author and world traveler Paulette Mitchell explains typical French ingredients and demonstrates how to cook and prepare croque monsieur, rustic chicken and potatoes, tuna salade Niçoise, and vinaigrette.
You're gonna need a bigger bakery (24:40) - In this episode of the reality baker show "How She Rolls", Carrie hires a friend to help the company sell biscuits in grocery store chains and he lands their largest deal ever – 1,200 stores. The team has 45 days to figure out how to bake, store and deliver 40,000 additional biscuits every week.
Now that we've provided the tools for productive procrastination, will you end this year with a new recipe? A new athletic prowess? A newly-knit ugly holiday sweater? What hidden-fun videos can you find in the library databases? Please let us know in the comments!
Traci Avet is a librarian who has worked in libraries for over twenty years, and has had the pleasure of experiencing vast card catalogs and due-date card stamping.