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November Update

October 29, 2025
graphic showing a medal of award of excellence
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. 

November (aka the official start of sweater and soup season) has definitely arrived in the Pacific Northwest! By this time of year, your schedules have probably become routine, but there is always something new to discover at UW Libraries. Even though family weekend is over, our UW Family Trivia Contest runs through the end of the month. Visit our latest exhibits and register to attend the popular “Going Public” event as well as new Open Scholarship Labs and other free workshops throughout the month.  Please consider nominating an outstanding librarian for the 2026 UW Awards of Excellence. New students–don’t forget to read this helpful post: Top Ten Things I Wish I Knew My First Year, especially before finals! 

Operations Update

Due to unpredictable noise impacts from the Suzzallo Façade and Seismic project, the Smith Room will be closed through September 30, 2026. It may re-open earlier if work finishes ahead of schedule.

News and Stories

photo of KUOW interview
U.S. Documents Librarian Cass Hartnett talks about UW Libraries’ annual public Constitution reading.
  • Incoming ARL President: Dean of University Libraries, Simon Neame has been elected vice president/president-elect by the Association of Research Libraries.  His term as president will begin January 1, 2027. Read the announcement. 
  • KUOW/Seattle Now: U.S. Documents Librarian Cass Hartnett talks with KUOW’s Patricia Murphy about UW Libraries’ annual public Constitution reading. Listen to the interview

“Alaska Native Resilience” Garners Western History Association Awards

Congratulations to Holly Miowak Guise whose book Alaska Native Resilience: Voices from World War II , published by UW Press, was awarded three prizes from the Western History Association: the 2025 Robert G. Athearn Award for best book on the twentieth-century West, the 2025 John C. Ewers Award for best book on North American Indian Ethnohistory, and the 2025 Robert M. Utley Prize for best book on the military history of the frontier and western North America. Discover more 2025 award-winning books from UW Press.

  • UW Librarian, Faculty and undergraduate students collaborate to create a new digital archive dedicated to preserving feminist knowledge and stories at UW Bothell and Cascadia College Library. Read the story.

Featured Resource

bar chart showing different consumer products at different levels
Chart for illustrative purposes only, not an actual output from real data.

Dewey Data 2025 Company Profile: Valuation, Funding ...NEW for the 2025-2026 academic year — Dewey Data! Imagine your research paper focuses on US consumer habits and you need to find out how many Frito Lay brand potato chips consumers purchased in all states. You can access consumer data sets like this, and many other types of data with Dewey Data! Provided by UW Libraries, Dewey is a research platform that provides access to third-party datasets across a variety of data categories including foot traffic, construction permits, healthcare, workforce, consumer behavior, and transportation. University of Washington faculty, students, and researchers are eligible for access and must register an individual account. Learn more.

Learning Workshops and Lectures

event graphic showing different icons that communicate harassment and the text/title of event

  • 11/17- Going Public: Navigating Online and Professional Harassment, Panel Discussion (In-Person) Join Emma Spiro, Katherine Cross, and Kate Starbird for a discussion on how scholars can continue to do meaningful, public-facing work while protecting their well-being, supporting their communities, and sustaining trust in research. The discussion will be followed by a Q&A and a brief reception.
  • 11/20- Scholar’s Studio:Come and see what your fellow students are researching! Hosted by the UW Libraries Research Commons and The Graduate School’s office of Graduate Student Affairs, Scholars’ Studio gives UW graduate students and postdoc students the opportunity to share their research across disciplines, make connections and build presentation skills. Scholar’s Studio features up to 10 short presentations (5 minutes each and includes a Q&A with presenters followed by a reception. Presenters receive feedback on their presentations through feedback forms distributed to audience members.  
First Wednesday Concert
Join us Wednesday, Nov 5, 2025, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m:

Fun Fact

Did you know that UW Libraries and UW School of Music host a monthly lunchtime concert series? Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in the North Lobby of Allen Library to hear UW students perform a variety of music, live in the Library. Your cheese sandwich never felt so classy!

Be sure to check the calendar to confirm the performance schedule.

Exhibits

NEW

Out of Scope: Unexpected Artifacts in Special Collections

Explore unexpected artifacts that have made their way into Special Collections!

Photo of vintage matchbook coversCultural organizations such as libraries, museums, and archives rely on a collection development strategy known as ‘scope‘ to shape their collections based on priorities outlined in their organization’s mission. Based on priorities outlined in their organization’s mission, the scope may center around a geographical focus, historical period, etc. Despite these guiding parameters, out-of-scope material inevitably makes its way into an organization’s collections. Out of Scope highlights unique and intriguing items found in Special Collections.

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.

Orotone photograph of Mount Rainier and Mirror LakeThe 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.

paper making in ChinaFrom 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

Save the Date

A New Web Site Is Coming! UW Libraries anticipates launching its new web site mid-December, during the interim session. A detailed announcement with expected changes and new features will be posted as soon as the launch date is confirmed. For the most recent updates, check/bookmark UW Libraries Operations Update page.

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