Remembering writer and friend of UK Libraries, John Egerton

 

UK Libraries lost a great friend and supporter with the passing of award-winning writer and journalist John Egerton.  John graduated from UK and later worked in the UK public relations office.  His writing focused on the south with specific emphasis on race relations and the civil rights movement, education, and other cultural topics including southern cuisine. 

John was presented the UK Libraries Award for Intellectual Achievement at our Annual Dinner last spring.  In his remarks he offered a passionate and thoughtful case for the importance of libraries now and in the future.  I found a particular passage to be inspiring and thought I would share it with you (it is also quoted in the latest edition of “Speaking Volumes.”

“Anytime I find myself in the company of librarians, friends of libraries and lovers of books, I feel at home.  There could be no more essential institution to me than the library.  Without it, I could never have become a writer, nor could I explain or justify now the way I have spent my days and years. 

Libraries are to me - to most writers – what hospitals are to doctors or courthouses to lawyers, or garages to mechanics.  They are the places where a practitioner’s skill and instinct and judgment are brought to bear against an unanswered question or an unsolved problem.  Libraries are my proving ground, and whatever I have accomplished as a writer I attribute in substantial measure to institutions such as these, and to the people who give them life.”

SC Learning Lab offers unique undergraduate opportunities

Learning Lab Manager, Stacie Williams is off to a terrific inaugural year with the Special Collections Learning Lab.  Under her mentorship the 2013-2014 interns are thriving and already enhancing their research skills and student success.

SC Learning Lab intern Dominique Luster’s proposal has been accepted for a poster presentation at Harvard University’s National Collegiate Research Conference, taking place January 23-25, 2014 in Boston. The conference is open to undergraduates from around the country with the goal of sharing research and facilitating dialogue about challenges and opportunities in the current research construct.

Luster’s research is based on her work processing the Ron Nickell Playbill collection as part of her Learning Lab duties. Her poster is titled “The Look of American Beauty from the 1950s to the Present,” and is using archival advertisements found in the Playbills. Luster is a senior graduating in May 2014 and is a theater major with an interest in dramaturgy and archives. 

The Learning Lab is a Special Collections initiative that aims to introduce students to archival concepts and practice, additionally encouraging them to create a final scholarly work based on the UK collections. Learning Lab Manager Stacie Williams is reporting three additional projects from this year’s interns, and all will present their findings and collections to the rest of the campus community during a reception at King Library in April (date and time TBA).

Class project exhibited in Lucille Little Fine Arts Library

Professor Miles Johnson’s A-E200 (Art Education) class introduces students to the value of art as a tool for social awareness. Each semester, Professor Johnson orchestrates a group painting on a barrel. He and his students have painted several rain barrels for the Bluegrass GreenSource in Lexington. 

UK librarian creates government information endowment

A primary mission of UK Libraries is to assure that students, faculty, and the citizens of Kentucky have access to the information they need.  Thanks to a generous gift from one of our own faculty colleagues, future generations will have rapid and easy access to government information and resources. 

After receiving last year’s Paul A Willis Outstanding Faculty Award and a cash gift, Sandee McAninch decided to re-invest the award funds into the area of UK Libraries where she had spent her professional career and had received national recognition for her work – Government Documents.  With an endowment established, this year Sandee made a substantial additional gift to the endowment.  

The Sandra McAninch Endowment in Government Information will assist UK Libraries in cataloging, preserving, and providing access to federal government information and resources.  A government documents librarian for many years, Sandee’s hope is that her gift will not only serve UK Libraries, but also increase awareness about the importance of preserving and providing access to government information throughout Kentucky and the nation.

Sandee, her husband Glen, and daughter Kelly (a Ph.D. candidate in Communications at the University of Illinois) were also present for the signing of the endowment agreement.

Graduate assistant helping develop national database

Angelia Pulley, a graduate assistant in the William T. Young Library Reference Services Department, has been invited to participate in the development of an online national database at the University of California, Berkeley called The Living New Deal (http://livingnewdeal.berkeley.edu/), the first national survey of all New Deal public works and a general clearinghouse for information about the New Deal.

Angelia worked with Dr. Randolph Hollingsworth, Assistant Provost and Adjunct Professor in History; Jennifer Bartlett, Head of W.T. Young Library Reference Services; Sandee McAninch, Regional Depository Librarian; and Mary McLaren, Government Documents, to help create an educational display for the UK Libraries’ Works Progress Administration archival materials last year. As part of the project, she created a research reflection blog (http://kywpa.wordpress.com) focusing on the WPA in Kentucky. Materials on the blog will be merged into The Living New Deal project’s national database and map.

Additional information about UK Libraries’ role as a Center of Excellence for WPA materials is available in the WPA Research Guide (http://libguides.uky.edu/wpa) and at UKnowledge, UK’s institutional repository, “Putting America Back to Work During the Great Depression: Preserving and Improving Access to the Works Progress Administration Records for the Future,” http://uknowledge.uky.edu/wpa/.

UK Libraries shares digital preservation experience

Mary Molinaro, Associate Dean for Library Technologies, was an invited panel member at the Aligning National Approaches to Digital Preservation: an Action Assembly held at the National Library of Catalonia in Barcelona, Spain in November.  Mary has been a key participant in the Library of Congress Digital Preservation Outreach and Education Program (DPOE).  In Spain she spoke about the impact of such efforts on states like Kentucky and how programs such as DPOE can be expanded to help libraries and archives of all sizes address digital preservation needs.

UK Libraries participates in the dedication of new library in China

On November 18^th the Agricultural Information Institute of the Chinese Academy of Science (CAAS/AII) dedicated a beautiful new library building with a great celebration.  The building is the culmination of many years of planning and reorganization.

UK Libraries participated in the effort by hosting Dr. Jeizheng Pi and Mr. Yantao Kou for the month of April in 2011.  They came to Kentucky to observe UK Libraries so they could develop new services for their new library facility.  While at UK they interacted with over 70 library faculty and staff and met many Chinese students presently attending UK. 

The new library building was completed in August.  Dr. Xiaxue Meng, Director of the Agricultural Information Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, invited Toni Greider, Director of International Programs for UK Libraries, to participate in the dedication of the facility.  Toni recorded a congratulatory video message that was viewed during the dedication program in China.

Mr. Kou is now Dr. Kou having received his Ph.D. in August, 2012.  Dr. Pi is on a temporary assignment in Guangxi near the Vietnam border.

Transitions

Sue Smith stepped down as Director of the Science and Engineering Library.  She will now devote full-time as the Engineering Librarian.  Valerie Perry, Director of Branch Libraries, will administer the Science and Engineering Library on an interim basis.

Students experience art through book arts

 At the Lucille Caudill Little Fine Arts Library, students in Natasha Giles’ Art Studio 102 class were treated to a visit by photographer and book artist, Mary Rezny.  Students in sections of this UK Core class have an assignment every semester to create a book. 

After a presentation about artists’ books in the Little Library collection, Mary talked with students about her professional career and how she has branched into the book arts.  Recently, Head of Special Formats Cataloging Kerri Baunach completed the original cataloging of Mary’s 14 books for our collection. 

Previously, she had cataloged the two books by Mary Rezny that include photographs from the Horse Mania public art project, insuring access to this local author/artist’s titles.  One of Mary’s works, “Perpetual Amaryllis”, is pictured above.  We now have 126 records for artists’ books in InfoKat, and they are housed in the closed stacks area of the Little Library.

UK Libraries accepts Ron Eller Collection

UK Libraries Special Collections now holds the papers of Appalachia scholar and historian Ron Eller.  A standing room only crowd on November 8 heard Appalachian historian Chad Montrie review the significance of Professor Eller’s research, publications, and public service.  The Eller Collection is a major addition to UK Libraries’ unique holdings that support Appalachian Studies and research about the region.  

Associate Dean for Special Collections Deirdre Scaggs offers welcome

UK librarians receive 2013 SLA Kentucky Chapter Awards

Dr. Stacey Greenwell received the 2013 Larry Besant Professional Award in recognition for her contributions to the Kentucky Chapter, the Association and to the field of librarianship. Her notable accomplishments included creating the SLA Academic Division, chairing two of the largest SLA divisions, leading Association committees, and sharing her knowledge through scholarship and presentations for many professional organizations.

Alex Grigg received the 2013 SLA Kentucky Chapter Outstanding Member Award in recognition of his active support of the KLA/KYSLA Joint Spring Conference, his leadership roles in professional organizations and his support of fellow librarians. He has served as Joint Spring Conference Business Manager, chaired the SLA Information Technology Division, Treasurer for the SLA Kentucky Chapter.

Family Weekend

 UK Libraries welcomed visiting families at the Boone Center on Family Weekend last month.  Hosted by the UK Parent Association, Family Weekend is packed with activities on campus and around Lexington and grows bigger every year.

ExploreUK adds new collections

Sarah Dorpinghaus, Digital Projects Manager, announced this week new additions to ExploreUK including a microfilmed copy of William Walter Cleary’s Civil War diary and the Union Army commemorative photographic album (2008av023).

 “The diary dates from June 1862 to April 1864 and was kept by William Walter Cleary while employed as a clerk in the Second Auditor’s Office of the Confederate States Treasury Department. Entries in the diary discuss family news, Cleary’s journey through Kentucky and Tennessee in the fall of 1862, the Richmond Bread Riots in March 1863, local reaction to George Stoneman’s cavalry raid on Richmond in May 1863, Cleary’s brief service in Company D of the 3rd Infantry, Local Defense Troops, the arrival of Confederate wounded following the battle of Chancellorsville, and news of the Vicksburg and Gettysburg campaigns.”

General John Fulton Reynolds (1820-1863), Union General killed at Battle of Gettysburg June 30, 1863,

The photographic album (dated circa 1861-18640 includes 50 photographs in an album and 5 loose photographs. These prefabricated commemorative photograph albums were available for sale during the civil war and contained pictures of Union officers and soldiers.

Subjects of the photographs include Abraham Lincoln and many majors, generals, and soldiers in the Union Army.

Transitions

Elizabeth Laumas has been hired as a Library Technician in Acquisitions.  She has a M.A. in Library and Information Science from the University of Kentucky and previously worked at Transylvania University as a cataloging supervisor.  She will begin her new position December 9^th.

 Jacqueline Doucet has been hired as the Library Technician Senior in Interlibrary Loan, Lending Unit.  She has served as a Library Technician in Interlibrary Loan since August, 2008.  She began working in her new position as the ILL Lending Unit Manager on November 18^th.

Carolyn Sears announced her plans to retire from UK on January 2, 2014.  She has worked in UK Libraries as an Account Clerk III since February, 2003 processing library material invoices. We congratulate Carolyn wish her a very happy retirement.  

Upcoming Viva Mexico Events in UK Libraries

On November 8th, The King Library Press will present Taller Martín Pescador: A Private Press in Mexico, a lecture by Juan Pasco.  Mr. Pascoe's lecture will be delivered by Dr. Paul Holbrook, Director of The King Library Press and will be prefaced by remarks about the connection between the Taller Martín Pascador and The King Library Press.  On November 9th, a printing workshop will be held during which participants will print a folio of historic leaves from 16th century Mexican Presses.

·         lecture 7 p.m., Great Hall, Margaret I. King Building, free and open to the public

·         workshop, 8:30 a.m., The King Library Press, $35.00 (includes continental breakfast and lunch)

·         to register call 859-257-1742 or email PEHolbr@post.harvard.edu

On November 11th UK Libraries will host a showing of Blossoms of Fire, a film that celebrates the extraordinary lives of the Isthmus Zapotecs of southern Oaxaca, Mexico (the area of Mexico that produced the huipiles on display in the Young Library Atrium).  The video will be introduced by UK historian Dr. Francie Chassen-López. 

The program begins at 2 p.m. in B-108c , William T. Young Library and is free and open to the public.

Paul A. Willis Outstanding Faculty Award Winner Selected

At its recent fall meeting the UK Libraries National Advisory Board selected Tari Keller as the 2014 recipient of the Paul A. Willis Award.  Tari began her career at UK in 1977 as a cataloger.  When the transition to an electronic library catalog began in the early 1980’s, Tari became UK Libraries’ first Systems Librarian.

  

In his nomination letter UK Librarian Kelly Vickery noted:

“Tari’s acumen as a systems librarian is recognized throughout the state of Kentucky and nationally.    During her career she has given over fifty-six presentations on Integrated Library Systems at state, regional, national and international meetings.  For the past fourteen years Tari has been the chair of the CPE Kentucky Virtual Library (KYVL) Voyager consortium which provides guidelines and oversight of the shared Voyager server for nineteen institutions in Kentucky. “

“Due to her extensive work and experience with KYVL, in 2004 she was invited by the Partnership Among South Carolina Academic Libraries (PASCAL) consortium as an advisory to provide guidance on their migration to a shared ILS.  She is recognized as an expert in the running of the Voyager Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC),  WebVoyage’ (a.k.a. InfoKat) and, in 2011 she was invited by the Ex Libris Southwest Users’ Group to give a webinar on OPACs during their regional meeting in California. “

Tari will receive her award at the 2014 UK Libraries Annual dinner to be held in April.  Thank you, Tari, for your contributions to the profession and for your service to UK Libraries.

UK Libraries hosts Digital Forensics Workshop

  Sarah Dorpinghaus arranged and hosted a Society of American Archivists workshop at UK Libraries.  The workshop, Digital Forensics for Archivists, was attended by several UK Archivists and many other archivists from across the state. The course explained the roles and relationships between the main layers of technology required to read a string of bits off of a physical storage medium and treat it as a file.

Specifically, the workshop explored how to identify various forms of data that may be “hidden” on the physical storage medium; how to use write blockers and create disk images in order to prevent accidental manipulation of volatile data; how to identify and extract the data that a file system uses to manage files; how to apply digital forensics tools and methods to collections of records; and how to identify and compare alternative strategies for providing public access to data from disk images.

Outstanding Staff Award recipients recognized at Spindletop Hall

Last week 46 outstanding staff from across the campus gathered at Spindletop for lunch with President Eli Capilouto and other campus leaders.  UK Libraries three Outstanding Staff Award recipients were among the group along with Senior Associate Dean Mary Beth Thomson representing UK Libraries administration.

Congratulations again to our outstanding staff members Ed Brown, Eugenia Kempster, and Laura Hall; the three people in the front standing closest to President Capilouto!

Judy Sackett joins Nunn Center

Since its founding in 1973, use of oral histories in the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History has been exceptionally high.  During the last several years, digital access to the Nunn Center Collection has increased that use by researchers world-wide exponentially.

To meet the growing demand for access, senior UK librarian Judy Sackett is joining the Nunn Center to assume primary responsibility for reference and access to the collection of more than 9,000 oral history interviews.  Judy will also assist with accessioning and special projects.

Judy will continue her leadership in UK Libraries diversity initiatives including her coordination of the successful Association of Research Libraries Career Enhancement Program (CEP). The ARL CEP is a fellowship program that recruits library and information science (MLIS) students from traditionally underrepresented racial and ethnic groups into careers in research and academic libraries.

Welcome!

Carrie Poll will begin working in the Office of the Dean on November 11 as a Staff Support Associate II.  She earned a B.A. degree in Art History from the University of Kentucky and has worked in the Circulation Department since June 2010.

 Sarah Olson began last week as Editorial Assistant at the University Press of Kentucky.  She earned a B.A. degree from the University of Illinois and previously worked as a publishing intern at Common Ground Publishing in Champaign, Illinois.

Lisa Beatty began work last week as a Library Technician in Serials.  She earned a B.A. degree in Arts, English Language and Literature from Chaminade University.  She previously worked as a Library Technician at and SGT Yano Library in Hawaii and the Aliamanu Military Reservation Library.

Observations and Reflections

I recently had the opportunity to speak at two very enjoyable events.  Members, friends, and supporters of UK’s Spindletop Hall gathered October 22 to celebrate its placement on the National Register of Historic Places.  Recognized during the program were UK’s College of Design students who conducted the research to make the nomination and selection possible.

Using archival material from Explore UK and oral history interviews from the Louie B. Nunn Center, I shared with the audience some of the lesser known stories about the grand residence.  For example, who knew that after purchasing the property UK explored the idea of moving the UK College of Law to Spindletop?  Best reason to move - parking!

Friday evening I was honored to be the keynote speaker at the Golden Wildcat dinner sponsored annually by the UK Alumni Association.  Gretchen Bower, Event Coordinator for the Alumni Association, arranged a wonderful dinner and program that included funny and poignant stories from members of the class of 1963.

During their four years at UK the class of ’63 witnessed the opening of the UK Chandler Medical Center, the doubling in size of the Margaret I. King Library, the first addition to the Student Center, and the construction of the Chemistry-Physics Building.  

Celebration of Mexico at UK Libraries

Blossoms of Fire Black Velvet

Visit the atrium of the William T. Young Library or lobby of the Science Library and you will see a space bursting with color as we showcase indigenous clothing from southeastern Mexico.  The huipiles (pronounced Huipil ['wipil] – from the Nahuatl word huīpīlli [wiː'piːlːi]) is the most common traditional garment worn by indigenous women from Mexico and other parts of Central America.   These loose-fitting cap-sleeve tunics are generally made from two or three rectangular pieces of fabric joined together with stitching, ribbons, or fabric strips, with an opening for the head and arms.  The garments are decorated with both hand and machine embroidery and come from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in southeastern Mexico. 

The combined physical exhibits showcase 14 huipiles mostly from the collection of Dr. Francie Chassen-López  of the History Department with a few from Dr. Monica Udvardy and Dr. Karen Tice.  The virtual exhibit will include additional huipiles from the collection of Dr. Chassen-López.  The Huipil display in Young Library and Science Library will be available until November 22^nd.  

The Huipiles exhibit joins “A Glimpse of Ancient Mexico”, exhibiting Mexican Codices displayed on the walls of Young Library’s Rose Street entrance and “Mexican Medicine from the Aztec and Mayan People” in the display cases in the entrance to the Medical Library.  Both exhibits include descriptions by Dr. Chris Pool of the Anthropology Department.  “A Glimpse of Ancient Mexico” will run through December 15^th and “Mexican Medicine from the Aztec and Mayan People” will be available for viewing until November 15^th.  All of these exhibits are part of the UK Libraries’ contribution to the Arts and Sciences Passport on the World program, ¡Viva Mexico!