How can we improve the ways we measure educational outcomes within UK libraries?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703735804575536322093520994.html
Terry Birdwhistell's UK history blog.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Weekly Review
Asian Collections Grow at UK Libraries (From UK Asia Center Newsletter):
• With grant funding from the Japan Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education, and the support of UK Libraries, the collection of Asian materials in UK Libraries has been growing. Recent additions are in Japan Studies- literature, modern history, animated films, and manga, and Chinese Studies-literature, and early and modern history. In the year ahead, expect to see continued enhancements to collections and access through additional electronic resources, print materials, and an online research guide.
Provost Kumble Subbaswamy Will Speak at Monday’s Faculty Meeting:
• Provost Subbaswamy will offer an update on university administration initiatives at Monday’s faculty meeting. He will also take questions from the faculty.
Partner or Perish?
• We are all familiar with the phrase, “publish or perish.” At last week’s Association of Research Libraries’ meeting in D.C., I often heard the phrase, “partner or perish.”
• Library leaders nationally are concerned about the future funding for research libraries and are vigorously exploring ways to improve libraries even as financial support declines. One important way, of course, is to partner with other ARL libraries in important initiatives like preserving government documents. In addition, we must look to our library colleagues throughout the commonwealth to explore initiatives for working together to provide library resources to the students of Kentucky.
• But even as we look outside UK Libraries for partnerships, I challenge you to also look within our libraries to find new ways to work together to provide better service while reducing expenditures. I look forward to hearing your ideas and suggestions.
Thanks to Beth Kraemer, Heath Martin and Mary Beth Thomson for their contributions to the Weekly Review.
Terry Birdwhistell
Dean of Libraries
• With grant funding from the Japan Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education, and the support of UK Libraries, the collection of Asian materials in UK Libraries has been growing. Recent additions are in Japan Studies- literature, modern history, animated films, and manga, and Chinese Studies-literature, and early and modern history. In the year ahead, expect to see continued enhancements to collections and access through additional electronic resources, print materials, and an online research guide.
Provost Kumble Subbaswamy Will Speak at Monday’s Faculty Meeting:
• Provost Subbaswamy will offer an update on university administration initiatives at Monday’s faculty meeting. He will also take questions from the faculty.
Partner or Perish?
• We are all familiar with the phrase, “publish or perish.” At last week’s Association of Research Libraries’ meeting in D.C., I often heard the phrase, “partner or perish.”
• Library leaders nationally are concerned about the future funding for research libraries and are vigorously exploring ways to improve libraries even as financial support declines. One important way, of course, is to partner with other ARL libraries in important initiatives like preserving government documents. In addition, we must look to our library colleagues throughout the commonwealth to explore initiatives for working together to provide library resources to the students of Kentucky.
• But even as we look outside UK Libraries for partnerships, I challenge you to also look within our libraries to find new ways to work together to provide better service while reducing expenditures. I look forward to hearing your ideas and suggestions.
Thanks to Beth Kraemer, Heath Martin and Mary Beth Thomson for their contributions to the Weekly Review.
Terry Birdwhistell
Dean of Libraries
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Weekly Review
UK Libraries International Initiatives:
• On August 1, Toni Greider was named Director of International Initiatives for UK Libraries. This is a new position that seeks to:
o support externally focused international projects
o support international activities on campus
o Increase the visibility and access to UK Libraries’ international collections
o Initiate international projects for UK Libraries
o Provide intercultural programs for UK Libraries faculty and staff
• During the past two months, Toni has responded to a proposal for a project in Afghanistan, ensured UK Libraries involvement in a project with Iraq, worked with the College of Arts and Sciences on their South African Project, began working on a guide to our international collections, explored programming that includes hosting librarians from other countries, and explored campus contacts to develop intercultural programming.
• This is an opportune time to be exploring international possibilities and Toni brings tremendous experience to this assignment. Anyone with questions or suggestions for Toni should contact her at Toni.Greider@uky.edu) or stop by her office in the Dean’s Office.
The Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History:
The Nunn Center just uploaded the Anne Braden Oral History Project online in conjunction with HIS351 "Sisters in the Struggle: History of Kentucky Women in the Civil Rights Era, 1920s-1970s". This class is examining components of the Anne Braden story in class this semester. Braden was a civil rights activist in Louisville. These interviews were conducted for historian Cate Fosl's award-winning book Subversive Southerner: Anne Braden and the Struggle for Racial Justice in the Cold War South (Civil Rights and the Struggle for Black Equality in the Twentieth Century), University Press of Kentucky, 2002.
http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/b/bib/bib-idx?c=abohkuk&cc=abohkuk;page=simple
Edward F. Prichard Lecture:
UK Libraries and the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History would like to invite you to attend the 27th Edward F. Prichard Lecture with Alessandro Portelli, University of Rome, on Tuesday, October 26 at 3:00 p.m. in the auditorium, William T. Young Library. A reception will follow the program.
Professor Portelli is professor of American Literature at the University of Rome. His most recent book, They Say in Harlan County: An Oral History, is based on more than 30 years of interviews with 150 Harlan County men and women who tell the story of their region from pioneer times, through the dramatic mining strikes of the 1930s and 1970s, up to the present.
The press release can be viewed at: http://uknow.uky.edu/content/they-say-harlan-county
The UK Libraries Weekly Review is also available as a blog: http://uklibrariesbirdseye.blogspot.com/
Thanks to Esther Edwards, Toni Greider, Beth Kraemer, and Doug Boyd for their contributions to the Weekly Review.
Terry Birdwhistell
Dean of Libraries
• On August 1, Toni Greider was named Director of International Initiatives for UK Libraries. This is a new position that seeks to:
o support externally focused international projects
o support international activities on campus
o Increase the visibility and access to UK Libraries’ international collections
o Initiate international projects for UK Libraries
o Provide intercultural programs for UK Libraries faculty and staff
• During the past two months, Toni has responded to a proposal for a project in Afghanistan, ensured UK Libraries involvement in a project with Iraq, worked with the College of Arts and Sciences on their South African Project, began working on a guide to our international collections, explored programming that includes hosting librarians from other countries, and explored campus contacts to develop intercultural programming.
• This is an opportune time to be exploring international possibilities and Toni brings tremendous experience to this assignment. Anyone with questions or suggestions for Toni should contact her at Toni.Greider@uky.edu) or stop by her office in the Dean’s Office.
The Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History:
The Nunn Center just uploaded the Anne Braden Oral History Project online in conjunction with HIS351 "Sisters in the Struggle: History of Kentucky Women in the Civil Rights Era, 1920s-1970s". This class is examining components of the Anne Braden story in class this semester. Braden was a civil rights activist in Louisville. These interviews were conducted for historian Cate Fosl's award-winning book Subversive Southerner: Anne Braden and the Struggle for Racial Justice in the Cold War South (Civil Rights and the Struggle for Black Equality in the Twentieth Century), University Press of Kentucky, 2002.
http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/b/bib/bib-idx?c=abohkuk&cc=abohkuk;page=simple
Edward F. Prichard Lecture:
UK Libraries and the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History would like to invite you to attend the 27th Edward F. Prichard Lecture with Alessandro Portelli, University of Rome, on Tuesday, October 26 at 3:00 p.m. in the auditorium, William T. Young Library. A reception will follow the program.
Professor Portelli is professor of American Literature at the University of Rome. His most recent book, They Say in Harlan County: An Oral History, is based on more than 30 years of interviews with 150 Harlan County men and women who tell the story of their region from pioneer times, through the dramatic mining strikes of the 1930s and 1970s, up to the present.
The press release can be viewed at: http://uknow.uky.edu/content/they-say-harlan-county
The UK Libraries Weekly Review is also available as a blog: http://uklibrariesbirdseye.blogspot.com/
Thanks to Esther Edwards, Toni Greider, Beth Kraemer, and Doug Boyd for their contributions to the Weekly Review.
Terry Birdwhistell
Dean of Libraries
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Weekly Review
Little/Gaines Artist Series:
• On Tuesday, October 5, the Lucille Little Fine Arts Library had the first event of this year’s Little/Gaines Artist Series. Guest artist Ed Franklin is known for his “Doll a Day” scavenger hunt events in Lexington. Franklin creates interesting and often offbeat figures—animals and humans—from found materials in and around downtown Lexington. His art is influenced by 60's and 70's French, Brazilian, and Scandinavian popular culture. Last year he began placing his “dolls” in various locations around Lexington for people to discover. Friends soon encouraged him to provide clues to the dolls’ locations on his Facebook page and interest in the project expanded rapidly.
• Franklin has a dedicated and diverse following from all age groups. Nearly 50 people attended the Little/Gaines event to hear Franklin describe his creative process and his passion for “discovering” Lexington by immersing ourselves in the city through art. Little/Gaines focuses on artistic collaboration and at this event the audience collaborated with the artist in creating “polite graffiti” that can make an impact without defacing the community. The program ended with a doll hunt designed just for the Little/Gaines audience. Dolls were hidden in Little Library and other campus locations nearby.
• The next Little/Gaines Artist program will be Tuesday, October 12 at 7 p.m. in the Niles Gallery featuring Affrilachian Poet and Cave Canem Fellow Bianca Spriggs. A freelance instructor of composition, literature, and creative writing, her program is entitled “Out of Body” and her collaborating artist will be Kremena Todorova, assistant professor and program director of English at Transylvania University.
Regional IEEE Xplore Users Group Meeting:
• On Wednesday, October 6th, UK Libraries hosted the Regional IEEE Xplore Users Group meeting. This included librarians from Miami University, University of Cincinnati, Wright State University, Lexmark, CE Power Solutions, University of Louisville, and several from UK. The meeting gave the IEEE representatives a chance to update users on new features and upcoming developments as well as gather feedback on desired features, applications and issues.
• Following the meeting Barry Holquist and Jalyn Kelley gave two IEEE Xplore training workshops at the Shaver Engineering Library – one for graduate students and faculty and the second for the UK student section and local chapter of IEEE. Both were well attended.
• See http://www.helpwithpcs.com/tipsandtricks/keyboard_shortcuts_windows_xp.htm for more helpful keyboard shortcuts.
Senate Library Committee Will Meet October 22:
• University Senate Council Chair Hollie Swanson will convene this year’s first meeting of the University Senate Library Committee. The SLC is charged with the responsibility for recommending to the University Senate policies to promote the educational interests of the University as a whole with respect to UK Libraries, the faculty body of which is equivalent to the faculty of a college (GR VII.A.1). The SLC is responsible for consultation and advising with faculty of UK Libraries or the Dean of Libraries, on such matters as are referred to it by the by UK Libraries faculty, by the Dean, or by other University personnel, which pertain to improving the effectiveness of UK Libraries as a part of the broad academic program of the University of Kentucky.
• Members of the committee are: Blair Kidwell (BE/Management), Richard Andreatta (HS/Rehabilitation Sciences), Brian Murphy (ME/Internal Medicine), Margaret Bausch (ED/Special Ed & Rehab Cnsl), and Tracy Campbell (AS/History). The Dean of Libraries serves as an Ex Officio member of the committee.
27th Edward F. Prichard Lecture:
• Harlan County has a rich history from its pioneer period, to the mining strikes, to present day. The county's evolution intrigues not only citizens of the Commonwealth, but spectators and scholars abroad as well, including noted oral historian Alessandro Portelli. Portelli will share his findings on the county from multiple interviews with its citizens at the 27th Edward F. Prichard Lecture scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, in the auditorium at the University of Kentucky William T. Young Library. The talk, which is free and open to the public, is titled "Thirty years of field work in Harlan County: oral history and dialogue."
• Alessandro Portelli is professor of American literature at the University of Rome. His most recent book, "They Say in Harlan County: An Oral History," is based on more than 30 years of interviews with 150 Harlan County men and women who tell the story of their region from pioneer times, through the dramatic mining strikes of the 1930s and 1970s, up to the present.
The UK Libraries Weekly Review is also available as a blog: http://uklibrariesbirdseye.blogspot.com/
Thanks to Beth Kraemer, Susan Smith, Esther Edwards, Whitney Hale and Gail Kennedy for their contributions to the Weekly Review.
Terry Birdwhistell
Dean of Libraries
• On Tuesday, October 5, the Lucille Little Fine Arts Library had the first event of this year’s Little/Gaines Artist Series. Guest artist Ed Franklin is known for his “Doll a Day” scavenger hunt events in Lexington. Franklin creates interesting and often offbeat figures—animals and humans—from found materials in and around downtown Lexington. His art is influenced by 60's and 70's French, Brazilian, and Scandinavian popular culture. Last year he began placing his “dolls” in various locations around Lexington for people to discover. Friends soon encouraged him to provide clues to the dolls’ locations on his Facebook page and interest in the project expanded rapidly.
• Franklin has a dedicated and diverse following from all age groups. Nearly 50 people attended the Little/Gaines event to hear Franklin describe his creative process and his passion for “discovering” Lexington by immersing ourselves in the city through art. Little/Gaines focuses on artistic collaboration and at this event the audience collaborated with the artist in creating “polite graffiti” that can make an impact without defacing the community. The program ended with a doll hunt designed just for the Little/Gaines audience. Dolls were hidden in Little Library and other campus locations nearby.
• The next Little/Gaines Artist program will be Tuesday, October 12 at 7 p.m. in the Niles Gallery featuring Affrilachian Poet and Cave Canem Fellow Bianca Spriggs. A freelance instructor of composition, literature, and creative writing, her program is entitled “Out of Body” and her collaborating artist will be Kremena Todorova, assistant professor and program director of English at Transylvania University.
Regional IEEE Xplore Users Group Meeting:
• On Wednesday, October 6th, UK Libraries hosted the Regional IEEE Xplore Users Group meeting. This included librarians from Miami University, University of Cincinnati, Wright State University, Lexmark, CE Power Solutions, University of Louisville, and several from UK. The meeting gave the IEEE representatives a chance to update users on new features and upcoming developments as well as gather feedback on desired features, applications and issues.
• Following the meeting Barry Holquist and Jalyn Kelley gave two IEEE Xplore training workshops at the Shaver Engineering Library – one for graduate students and faculty and the second for the UK student section and local chapter of IEEE. Both were well attended.
• See http://www.helpwithpcs.com/tipsandtricks/keyboard_shortcuts_windows_xp.htm for more helpful keyboard shortcuts.
Senate Library Committee Will Meet October 22:
• University Senate Council Chair Hollie Swanson will convene this year’s first meeting of the University Senate Library Committee. The SLC is charged with the responsibility for recommending to the University Senate policies to promote the educational interests of the University as a whole with respect to UK Libraries, the faculty body of which is equivalent to the faculty of a college (GR VII.A.1). The SLC is responsible for consultation and advising with faculty of UK Libraries or the Dean of Libraries, on such matters as are referred to it by the by UK Libraries faculty, by the Dean, or by other University personnel, which pertain to improving the effectiveness of UK Libraries as a part of the broad academic program of the University of Kentucky.
• Members of the committee are: Blair Kidwell (BE/Management), Richard Andreatta (HS/Rehabilitation Sciences), Brian Murphy (ME/Internal Medicine), Margaret Bausch (ED/Special Ed & Rehab Cnsl), and Tracy Campbell (AS/History). The Dean of Libraries serves as an Ex Officio member of the committee.
27th Edward F. Prichard Lecture:
• Harlan County has a rich history from its pioneer period, to the mining strikes, to present day. The county's evolution intrigues not only citizens of the Commonwealth, but spectators and scholars abroad as well, including noted oral historian Alessandro Portelli. Portelli will share his findings on the county from multiple interviews with its citizens at the 27th Edward F. Prichard Lecture scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, in the auditorium at the University of Kentucky William T. Young Library. The talk, which is free and open to the public, is titled "Thirty years of field work in Harlan County: oral history and dialogue."
• Alessandro Portelli is professor of American literature at the University of Rome. His most recent book, "They Say in Harlan County: An Oral History," is based on more than 30 years of interviews with 150 Harlan County men and women who tell the story of their region from pioneer times, through the dramatic mining strikes of the 1930s and 1970s, up to the present.
The UK Libraries Weekly Review is also available as a blog: http://uklibrariesbirdseye.blogspot.com/
Thanks to Beth Kraemer, Susan Smith, Esther Edwards, Whitney Hale and Gail Kennedy for their contributions to the Weekly Review.
Terry Birdwhistell
Dean of Libraries
Monday, October 4, 2010
Weekly Review
Circulation Manager Appointed:
• Terri Brown has been named Library Manager of the William T. Young Library Circulation Department, effective October 10, 2010. Terri has been employed with UK Libraries in Circulation since 1994. She holds a B.A. in Art History from U.K., and is a graduate of the UKadvance Leadership Development Institute. Terri has been a leader in staff development activities in UK Libraries, with the Kentucky Library Association, and regionally. In 2007 she received the Dean's Award for Outstanding Performance. Congratulations on your new position, Terri!
Unique Collections Available for Research:
• The Frank Fitch Notebooks are now available for research. The Frank Fitch Notebooks span from 1867 through 1873. During this period Frank Fitch, along with his brother Fred, built a furnace in Estill County Kentucky. The seven notebooks in this collection serve as documentation of the construction of that furnace. The collection was processed by Andrew McGraw and supervised by Deirdre Scaggs. A complete finding aid and images of the notebooks are available on the Kentuckiana Digital Library: http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=kyead;cc=kyead;q1=fitch;rgn=main;view=text;didno=2008ms007.
• The Postcard Collection is now available for research. The Postcard Collection was started in 1933 by Margaret Helmsing Tuttle (1895-1988), department librarian at the University of Kentucky from 1926-1963. Impressed by the postcard collection at the St. Louis Public Library, Tuttle suggested the idea of beginning a similar collection to the University of Kentucky Library staff. UK Libraries acquired almost six thousand cards in its first year thanks to contributions from faculty, staff, students and non-University of Kentucky persons interested in the project, and postcards continued to be donated through the next several decades. Notable donors include Dr. Herman L. Donovan (University of Kentucky President from 1941-1956); Dr. Frank L. McVey (University of Kentucky President from 1917-1940) and his spouse, Frances Jewell McVey; and Margaret I. King (University of Kentucky librarian from 1912-1949). The collection was processed by Lewis Warden, Gary Chaffee, James Midkiff, Liz Smith, and Jeffrey Suchanek. A complete finding aid and images are available on the Kentuckiana Digital Library: http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=kyead;cc=kyead;q1=postcard%20collection;rgn=main;view=text;didno=2008MS016.
Printing Issue Resolved:
• Thanks to Jeff (Podge) Rion and Jay Baker, a major printing problem in the William T. Young Library has been solved. Since last January, when Young computers were authenticated, the color printer in the Young basement became the default printer. Numerous solutions for printing to the nearest printer were tried but nothing worked. Unknowing users tried to print their documents and then had to go search for their documents. This impacted not only the users but service desks when users sought assistance in finding their documents. Recently, after additional research, Podge came up with an idea which he and Jay tested. It worked! The fix was rolled out and the problem has been solved. Thanks to Podge and Jay for their persistence.
Women Leading Kentucky Scholarships:
Women Leading Kentucky Scholarships ($1000 - $1500) for Female Freshman, Sophomores & Juniors Attending KY Colleges and Universities. Full Application Deadline: February 1, 2011
Criteria: If you are a female sophomore or junior enrolled FT at a Kentucky college/university, have a G.P.A. of 3.0 or better, and have demonstrated your leadership abilities on campus and/or in your communities, you are eligible for a scholarship award of $1000 - $1500.
Approximately eight (8) students will be selected for scholarships and all will be informed of their selection in April 2011.
Conditions:
1. Selected students must attend a meeting with the Scholarship Committee in April and attend the May 25th Scholarship Award Reception in Lexington, KY, where the scholarship will be presented.
2. Go online to apply.
3. Send a copy of your transcript and an essay of not more than 300 words about why you deserve this leadership scholarship, no later than February 1, 2011 to:
Women Leading Kentucky
P.O. Box 961
Lexington, KY 40588
Go to www.womenleadingky.com to apply for the scholarship award.
Some leaders are born women.
Thanks to Katie L.B. Henningsen, Mary Molinaro, and Beth Kraemer for their contributions to the Weekly Review.
• Terri Brown has been named Library Manager of the William T. Young Library Circulation Department, effective October 10, 2010. Terri has been employed with UK Libraries in Circulation since 1994. She holds a B.A. in Art History from U.K., and is a graduate of the UKadvance Leadership Development Institute. Terri has been a leader in staff development activities in UK Libraries, with the Kentucky Library Association, and regionally. In 2007 she received the Dean's Award for Outstanding Performance. Congratulations on your new position, Terri!
Unique Collections Available for Research:
• The Frank Fitch Notebooks are now available for research. The Frank Fitch Notebooks span from 1867 through 1873. During this period Frank Fitch, along with his brother Fred, built a furnace in Estill County Kentucky. The seven notebooks in this collection serve as documentation of the construction of that furnace. The collection was processed by Andrew McGraw and supervised by Deirdre Scaggs. A complete finding aid and images of the notebooks are available on the Kentuckiana Digital Library: http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=kyead;cc=kyead;q1=fitch;rgn=main;view=text;didno=2008ms007.
• The Postcard Collection is now available for research. The Postcard Collection was started in 1933 by Margaret Helmsing Tuttle (1895-1988), department librarian at the University of Kentucky from 1926-1963. Impressed by the postcard collection at the St. Louis Public Library, Tuttle suggested the idea of beginning a similar collection to the University of Kentucky Library staff. UK Libraries acquired almost six thousand cards in its first year thanks to contributions from faculty, staff, students and non-University of Kentucky persons interested in the project, and postcards continued to be donated through the next several decades. Notable donors include Dr. Herman L. Donovan (University of Kentucky President from 1941-1956); Dr. Frank L. McVey (University of Kentucky President from 1917-1940) and his spouse, Frances Jewell McVey; and Margaret I. King (University of Kentucky librarian from 1912-1949). The collection was processed by Lewis Warden, Gary Chaffee, James Midkiff, Liz Smith, and Jeffrey Suchanek. A complete finding aid and images are available on the Kentuckiana Digital Library: http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=kyead;cc=kyead;q1=postcard%20collection;rgn=main;view=text;didno=2008MS016.
Printing Issue Resolved:
• Thanks to Jeff (Podge) Rion and Jay Baker, a major printing problem in the William T. Young Library has been solved. Since last January, when Young computers were authenticated, the color printer in the Young basement became the default printer. Numerous solutions for printing to the nearest printer were tried but nothing worked. Unknowing users tried to print their documents and then had to go search for their documents. This impacted not only the users but service desks when users sought assistance in finding their documents. Recently, after additional research, Podge came up with an idea which he and Jay tested. It worked! The fix was rolled out and the problem has been solved. Thanks to Podge and Jay for their persistence.
Women Leading Kentucky Scholarships:
Women Leading Kentucky Scholarships ($1000 - $1500) for Female Freshman, Sophomores & Juniors Attending KY Colleges and Universities. Full Application Deadline: February 1, 2011
Criteria: If you are a female sophomore or junior enrolled FT at a Kentucky college/university, have a G.P.A. of 3.0 or better, and have demonstrated your leadership abilities on campus and/or in your communities, you are eligible for a scholarship award of $1000 - $1500.
Approximately eight (8) students will be selected for scholarships and all will be informed of their selection in April 2011.
Conditions:
1. Selected students must attend a meeting with the Scholarship Committee in April and attend the May 25th Scholarship Award Reception in Lexington, KY, where the scholarship will be presented.
2. Go online to apply.
3. Send a copy of your transcript and an essay of not more than 300 words about why you deserve this leadership scholarship, no later than February 1, 2011 to:
Women Leading Kentucky
P.O. Box 961
Lexington, KY 40588
Go to www.womenleadingky.com to apply for the scholarship award.
Some leaders are born women.
Thanks to Katie L.B. Henningsen, Mary Molinaro, and Beth Kraemer for their contributions to the Weekly Review.