Observations and Reflections

Thank you!  As 2012 comes to a close, it is a good time to reflect on what UK Libraries has been able to accomplish throughout the past year.  In the midst of some challenging budgetary times, we welcomed and served the largest incoming class of students in the history of the University of Kentucky.  We have integrated undergraduate students into the processing and study of our unique Special Collections through the creation of the SC Learning Lab.  In addition, we continue to adapt and expand our collections to meet the needs of a rapidly changing academic environment.  UK Libraries faculty, staff, and student employees have worked very hard to make all of this possible.

I also want to acknowledge the support of faculty and administrators across UK’s campus for their support for UK Libraries during the past year.  That support, along with support from President Eli Capilouto, Interim Provost Tim Tracy, and members of the UK Board of Trustees have been essential in keeping UK Libraries one of the leading public research libraries in the United States.

What is most exciting and encouraging to me is what we have been able to accomplish with the support of our friends and donors.  By this time next year, I anticipate we will be dedicating our newest learning commons on the second floor of the William T. Young Library.  We are in the process of replacing aging and inadequate furniture and equipment in Special Collections and the Medical Library with new infrastructure that will enhance research and learning.  None of this would have been possible without generous private support.

I am extremely grateful for the generosity of our donors and the work and support of the UK Libraries National Advisory Board.  I am anxious to explore new ways we will be able to serve our mission and impact the lives of current and future UK students. 

If you have not already done so, I encourage you to make a calendar year end annual gift to UK Libraries.  You can make a secure gift online via credit card by visiting our giving website http://libraries.uky.edu/Giving.  You may also contact Greg Casey, UK Libraries Director of Development, (greg.casey@uky.edu or 859.218.0707) and he will be happy to assist you. 

UK Libraries Provides Resources for New Entrepreneurs

Peter Hesseldenz, Patricia Hartman, and Andrea Spain recently attended “Romance or Ruin:  Musings on the Restaurant Biz,” a workshop sponsored by Business Lexington which was designed to inform new entrepreneurs about the ins and outs of starting a restaurant.  After a panel discussion, Peter, Patricia, and Andrea set up laptop computers and met with some of the new entrepreneurs to show them the resources that UK Libraries have to offer. 

Many of the attendees took time to discuss their business plan needs.  A few made appointments to talk later in more depth.  In preparation for the workshop, Peter, Patricia, and Catherine Price set up a LibGuide page specifically for the event – it can be viewed here:

http://libguides.uky.edu/content.php?pid=129926&sid=3362047

Mary Beth Thomson Named Senior Associate Dean

Beginning in January, Mary Beth Thomson will assume expanded administrative responsibilities within UK Libraries.  As Senior Associate Dean for Collections, Digital Scholarship, and Technical Services, Mary Beth’s responsibilities will include being in charge of UK Libraries in the absence of the Dean and representing UK Libraries at meetings when appropriate and as needed.  In consultation with the Dean, Mary Beth will plan for and provide administrative oversight during the preparation of the UK Libraries Strategic Plan and she will take a leading role in monitoring progress regarding UK Libraries strategic initiatives. 

In consultation with the Dean and the Associate Deans, Mary Beth will assist in preparing Executive Committee meeting agendas and monitoring progress of administrative initiatives as well as working with the Dean, the Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration, the Executive Committee and the Faculty Council, in the preparation of UK Libraries’ budget.

I want to thank Mary Beth for taking on these additional administrative responsibilities allowing me to focus more closely on specific strategic goals and development for UK Libraries.

Online Conference Proceedings on UKnowledge

You can find recorded proceedings of two conferences held at UK online, thanks to UK’s institutional repository, UKnowledge.  The first is for the Bale Boone Symposium organized by the Gaines Center for the Humanities.  The schedules for the Bale Boone Symposium from 2010 through 2012 are available online and the videos of the presentations can be accessed through the site. 

Adrian Ho

The proceedings of the Defaults in Morphological Theory Conference also reside on UKnowledge.  In addition to viewing the videos of individual sessions, visitors can download the presenters’ abstracts and slides.  UKnowledge tracks the download rates and keeps the presenters informed of the statistics regularly. 

 UKnowledge welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with UK colleges and departments to create online conference proceedings.  If you would like to inquire about this free library service, please feel free to e-mail Adrian Ho, Director of Digital Scholarship, or phone him at 859.218.0895. 

http://uknowledge.uky.edu/

Doug Boyd Presents at USC Shoah Foundation Meeting

Dr. Doug Boyd, Director of the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History was invited to participate in an international conference on the potential and challenges of opening digital eyewitness archives for research, education and the media – Preserving Survivors´ Memories - Digital Testimony Collections about Nazi Persecution. History, Education and Media.  

The conference took place November 20-22 at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin, Germany and was hosted by The Foundation “Remembrance, Responsibility and Future” (EVZ) together with the Freie Universität Berlin and in cooperation with the USC Shoah Foundation Institute, Los Angeles, USA.  Doug participated in a panel presentation and discussion Oral History in the E-Humanities Landscape and featured an in-depth discussion of the Nunn Center's creation and implementation of OHMS (Oral History Metadata Synchronizer) as a model for enhancing access to archived oral history.

http://nunncenter.org/tag/kentucky-oral-history/

UK Libraries Participates in GSP/GSA Day

On Monday, December 17, Stacey Greenwell and Shawn Livingston represented UK Libraries at UK’s annual Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program/Governor’s School for the Arts (GSP/GSA) recruitment event.  UK welcomed nearly 300 prospective students and their families to campus at this full day event. 

This annual event seeks to recruit Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program and Kentucky School for the Arts participants and is one of UK’s largest and most successful recruitment events.  UK Libraries provided information at a table and also led a tour of the William T. Young Library for prospective students and their families.

UK Libraries 2012 Holiday Luncheon

UK Libraries celebrated the end of the fall semester and the beginning of the holiday season with its annual holiday luncheon in the Student Center Ballroom.  UK Libraries employees, custodians, building operators, and everyone who plays a key role in the daily operation of UK Libraries attended.  Also, for the first time, we welcomed our colleagues from the University Press of Kentucky.

Thanks again to the holiday luncheon planning committee ( Jen Martin, Lindsey Callico, Shell Dunn, Megan Mummey, Peggy Phillips and Carrie Poll) and to Brittany Benningfield, Jessica Pearl French, and Ruth Bryan for providing seasonal music.  Special thanks as well to Lewis Warden for providing photographs of the festivities.