October Update

Welcome, Huskies! Fall is in the air, campus is buzzing with activity, and UW Libraries is here to help you prepare for the first day of class and the year ahead!  Be sure to bookmark UW Libraries Self-Guided Tour as well as the helpful introductory Faculty Guide and Student Guides for great resources and tips on all the things you’ll want to know as a new, returning or graduating student. We hope you will join us for the 20th Annual Constitution Reading, a well-loved tradition with some new and special additions as well as Open Access Week events.  There are also some great new exhibits and an interesting line-up of learning workshops on open access, humanities data, efficient publishing and more. Have a fantastic first week back, and remember – if you have research questions, we have answers– just ASK US!

International Open Access Week: Who Owns Our Knowledge? October 20 – 26

Join us for a series of events throughout the week, hosted by UW Libraries Open Scholarship Commons

• Gaming the System: Open Access Week Game Corner, Monday, Oct 20, 2025, 1 – 4 p.m.
• Group Viewing of “Knowledge is Power: Who Owns It, Who Shares It, and Why Libraries Matter”, Tuesday, Oct 21, 2025, 12 – 1 p.m
• Publishing on the Cheap, Wednesday, October 22, 1:00-2:00 p.m. in person  or online
• The People’s Data Workshop: Accessing and Analyzing Government Data Sources,  in person  or online
• Open Access Demystified, Thursday, October 23, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
• Collaboration Studio: Welcome to Critical Gaming – Let’s Play Open!, Thursday, October 23, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
• NIH Open Sharing Requirements: How to Navigate Your New Responsibilities, Friday, October 24, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

News and Stories

What’s happening around Suzzallo Library?: The covering around Suzzallo is due to a major seismic improvement project to preserve and protect the beloved campus icon, and ensure the building’s structural integrity and safety for the next 100 years.  Work is scheduled through August 2026.  More information and project updates.

Recognize an outstanding librarian: Do you know a UW librarian who has been integral to your teaching, learning and research experience at UW?  Nominate them for the Distinguished Librarian Award by November 30! Learn more about the nomination process.

Featured Resource:

UW Libraries Undergraduate Researcher Tutorial has a new topic: Critical AI Literacy. This tutorial  supports students in critically reflecting on AI in personal, research and academic contexts, and investigates several guiding principles for developing AI Literacy. Relevant AI information has also been added to all Tutorial topics: Strategic reading; Evaluating information; Information sources & databases; Search skills & strategies; Citation practices; Publishing & sharing research and Finding your balance.

Community Events and Exhibits

First Wednesday Concert Series, Allen Library, October 1,  12:30 – 1:30 p.m. – Students of the UW School of Music perform in this lunchtime concert series co-hosted by UW Music and UW Libraries.

Tadoku Club, Tateuchi East Asia Library, Every Thursday 2-3 PM- Tadoku Club is a reading group for Japanese language learners of all levels. Participants choose books at their own level from the “easy reads” collection and enjoy reading independently in a supportive environment. The club offers a relaxed setting to build confidence, improve reading skills, and share the joy of reading with others.

New Exhibits

Right to Read: Banned books and the First Amendment- through– December 12
Location: ground floor Suzzallo Library: Our first amendment right protects our freedom of speech, but what about our freedom to read? The exhibit Right To Read: Banned books and the First Amendment discusses the complex nature of banned books in the United States. Learn more.

The Mountain is Out – Ongoing through Friday, Aug 28, 2026
Location: Allen Library (ALB), Special Collections (Basement level)
Rainier, Tahoma, Nutselip… the mountain is known by many names. A Pacific Northwest icon, Mount Rainier holds a unique place in the region’s culture and lore. Its massive peak is the dominant land form on the horizon for more than a hundred miles in any direction, rising far above the surrounding Cascade Mountains. Beginning in the late 19th century, European and American visitors explored the area, and activism led to the establishment of Mount Rainier National Park in 1899.

From Brush to Type: The Evolution of Bookmaking in East Asia – through  Mar 31, 2026, Location: Gowen Hall (GWN)
This exhibit highlights rare works from the Tateuchi East Asia Library Special Collections, showcasing how innovations in papermaking, printing, and design across East Asia transformed the form of books and the cultures they shaped. Exhibit details

***WORKSHOP***Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, 3:30 – 5 p.m. Based on the Tateuchi East Asia Library’s fall special collections exhibit curated by our librarians, this workshop offers a rare, close-up look at manuscripts, woodblock prints, and movable type books. Participants will explore the techniques and innovations that shaped book culture in China, Japan, and Korea. Learn more and register.

Perpetuate – Oct 1 – Friday, Nov 7
Location: Allen Library (ALB)
“Perpetuate” is an installation by artist  Lucia Hwang that explores the persistence of human history and memory through the lens of discarded media and ancient symbolism. Constructed using recycled CDs and VHS tapes—once powerful tools of documentation and storytelling. More on this exhibit.

Learning Workshops and Office Hours

The Humanities Data Exploration Workshop Series: From Foundations to Practice (Series Kick-Off)
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2025, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. This series is designed for the data-curious in the humanities. Join this yearlong workshop series that builds your data skills step by step. Across quarterly sessions, participants move from basic concepts to applied practices in a supportive, hands-on environment. Event details.

Storytelling Fellows: Podcasting online workshop
4 sessions: October 17 to November 7
Curious about what you can do with a podcast? Open to UW  graduate student/faculty/staff members, this hands-on program is designed to highlight the interests and accomplishments of UW community members, using digital-storytelling skills and technologies. This totally free, four-week online program will take fellows through the start-to-finish process of envisioning and creating a podcast suitable for an online portfolio, professional presentation, or academic project. Event details

Fun Fact: 

Q: How many instruction sessions do UW Librarians teach each year?

A: 681 sessions reach over 17,000 students!! 

Learn more: 2025 fact sheet

Save the Date

OSC Public Scholarship Lab: Publish & Protect Your Research in a Flash with Manifold (Online)
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2025, 1 – 2:30 p.m.

OSC Public Scholarship Lab: Exploring Research and Teaching with Humap (In-Person)
Wednesday, Nov 19, 2025, 1 – 2:30 p.m.

Missed It?

Stories and news from previous updates:

New “Chill” Space in the Tateuchi East Asia Library: The Tateuchi East Asia Library is pleased to introduce the Chill & Recharge Area, a comfortable space on the main floor designed to support student well-being. There is comfy seating, relaxed lighting and access to the growing collection of graphic novels, including Korean webtoons and Japanese manga. Stop by the new space (Gowan Hall 3rd floor) to take a break, relax, and reset—no reservation needed!

New Recording Studio!

Located near the Open Scholarship Commons on the first floor of Suzzallo and Allen Libraries, the new recording studio supports creativity and collaboration for all types of audio-visual projects. Watch the video to learn more.

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