UK Libraries sends delegation to Spring Joint Conference

Representatives from UK Libraries recently presented talks and posters at the Joint Spring Conference of the Kentucky Library Association (KLA) Academic Library Section, the KLA Special Library Section, and the Special Libraries Association Kentucky Chapter. The conference was held at General Butler State Resort Park in Carrollton, Ky., April 9-11.

Brittany Netherton, a graduate assistant in the William T. Young Library Reference Services Department, presented her talk “Visibility Abroad!.” Her presentation outlined ways that libraries help respond to the needs of students in study abroad programs by providing specialized information literacy training and by bridging the gap between the home and host institutions.

Stacey Greenwell, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Research, co-presented with Juliane Schneider, Metadata Librarian at Countway Library, Harvard Medical School. Their presentation, "Keeping the Path vs. Off-Roading: How to Adjust Your Career to Changing Conditions, " targeted primarily at students and new professionals, gave attendees the opportunity to share their own experiences and what new directions they would like their own careers to take.  The presentation described the paths each followed and how they both made changes in their careers through finding new opportunities, developing new skills, and creating new career goals.  

Jason Keinsley co-presented a session with Lauren Robinson, graduate student in the Agriculture Information Center.  Also Renae Newhouse, graduate student at the AIC, presented a poster session.

Spread the word about the UK Libraries website study

To improve its website for students, faculty, staff, and researchers, UK Libraries is currently seeking volunteers for a research study to understand better and address issues with its online platform. Undergraduate and graduate students, staff, and faculty, as well as members of the public are all encouraged to participate.

This past fall, UK Libraries conducted surveys to receive patrons' feedback regarding its user needs and satisfaction. Surveys and research studies conducted by UK Libraries in regards to enhancing users' experiences have proved very valuable.

UK Libraries is now conducting a follow-up study focusing on issues raised in the fall surveys and will utilize this research to advance its website. If you are interested in volunteering for the research study, email WEBADMIN@LSV.UKY.EDU.

UPK Authors receive Koppelman Award

University Press of Kentucky authors Justin S. Vaughn and Lilly J. Goren have been named co-recipients of the 2014 Susan Koppelman Award for the Best Anthology, Multi-Authored, or Edited Book in Feminist Studies for their book,  “Women and the White House: Gender, Popular Culture, and Presidential Politics.”

The Susan Koppelman Award, presented by the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association (PCA/ACA), was established in 1985 to honor renowned feminist literary historian Susan Koppelman who edited the first anthology of feminist literary criticism.

The award was presented April 17 at the 2014 PCA/ACA annual convention held in Chicago.

Custodial team for William T. Young Library honored by UK

William T. Young Library is an important building on campus, serving thousands of students, faculty, and staff. Keeping our facility clean is a great custodial team headed by supervisor Elaine Green. Team members include: Jenny Cotton (basement/Hub area), Darlene Jones and Lyda Williams (first floor), Gail Lewis and Heather Hill (second floor), David Ingram (third floor), Opal Gill (fourth floor), Donald Moore (fifth floor), and James Mangano (basement, third, and fifth floors). This team has been named Custodial Team of the Quarter, with the highest inspection scores on campus, by the university for the first quarter of 2014.

This is the second award for the Young team. They were also honored for the third quarter of 2013.  Congratulations and thank you!

Reflections and Observations

Last Monday our UK Libraries community came together to honor the student assistants and staff graduating from UK in the Class of 2014. Including undergraduates and graduate students, the event was an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the importance of student involvement in UK Libraries.

This is always a special event for me because I began my own library career as a graduate assistant in UK Libraries.  Students make the libraries run by contributing to all aspects of the operation across the various locations. Student employees are often the first people visitors to our libraries meet  and provide a valuable link between the student body and the faculty and staff of UK Libraries.

At the celebratory event for the Class of 2014 each graduate selected a book in the UK Libraries collection that held special meaning to them. The book might be a personal favorite or a resource that proved valuable in their studies. For each student, a bookplate was placed in the volume to honor the student and mark their graduation. In this way, their memory will live on as part of the UK Libraries collection.

Whether you happen across a bookplate honoring a former student worker while browsing the stacks, or work with student employees on a daily basis, be sure to express appreciation for all they do. A university exists for the students and our student assistants and staff who work at UK Libraries while completing their studies at UK are a valuable part of our community.