UW Libraries Summer Update
Summer is officially here! Whether you are on or off campus this summer, the Libraries’ “Greatest Hits” Summer Research Series provides many learning opportunities for all levels of researchers, offering (mostly) online sessions on popular Libraries workshops. Check out the line-up, and sign-up now to save your spot! If you’re into whimsy and nostalgia, you’ll be excited to browse the newly digitized Washington Alumnus – UW’s first Alumni magazine – now available online! Looking for Seattle summer recommendations? Keep in mind that UW Libraries exhibits continue through the summer and are a perfect way to beat the heat and get a rare opportunity to view UW Libraries Special Collections materials up close. The final “Out of Scope” curator talk takes place in August. Keep reading for more information on these and all UW Libraries summer news and events.
Good to know: Our monthly update will be on hiatus in July, so look for our next update in August! Happy Summer, Huskies!
News and Stories
Washington Alumnus Now Online!
The Washington Alumnus (the original UW Alumni magazine (1908-1963) has been digitized and is now available online, highlighting Alumni success, campus life and influential partners and commerce throughout the region over the first half of the 20th century. View the Magazine, and learn how this special piece of campus history was preserved for all to access. Read the story.
Odegaard Library 3rd Floor Renovation
The 3rd floor of Odegaard Library is undergoing a year-long renovation project starting in June. The project includes moving furniture, relocating the book collection, breaking down shelving, tearing out the old carpet, putting in new carpet, and returning all the shelving, books, and furniture to their new locations. For more details, See the Odegaard project page for more details.
On Air: UW Labor Archives
Conor Casey, head of the Labor Archives of Washington (LAW) has been a guest on several recent episodes of the podcast Labor Heritage Power Hour! Listen to these podcasts for fascinating conversations on the people and events that have shaped our region’s labor laws and history.
- The Northwest’s Working History, Preserved: UW Labor Archives
- Workers’ Stories Matter: How to Help the Labor Archives Save Them
- Community Art, Lasting Legacy: Uncovering the History of UW’s Pablo O’Higgins Mural
Seattle Hosts AUPresses Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of the Association of University Presses is the premier professional development and networking event for university press and nonprofit scholarly publishers. The meeting was held in Seattle June 13-15, and featured several panels and presentations from from UW Press authors and UW faculty. UW Press staff helped to welcome colleagues with access to UW Press publications from their “Essential Seattle” collection, openly available through the month of June, including an atlas of Indigenous Seattle, walking tours, and selections from books about the city’s histories and cultures.
UW Libraries Special Collections: Sharing the Stories of Our Region
Documentary – Seattle: A History in Short Stories
Filmmaker John Forsen worked with UW Libraries staff in the Government Publications, Maps, Microforms & Newspapers department to identify and photograph newspapers for the latest installment of the documentary series, Seattle: A History in Short Stories
- Article: ‘Seattle: A History in Short Stories’ captures city’s fascinating past – Seattle Times, June 10, 2026
- View Episodes 1 and 2 on YouTube via The Seattle Channel;
- View Episode 3 via the documentary web site.
Exhibit – James A. Wehn: Master of Portraits in Sculpture
The Pioneer Association of the State of Washington is hosting a new exhibition July 1- 26, 2026 featuring artworks by the noted Seattle sculptor James A. Wehn (1882-1973). The exhibit features his bronze, plaster, and stone works depicting prominent historical figures from the Pacific Northwest. The exhibit provides the opportunity to view materials from several local museums and archives, including medallions (commemorative coins) from UW Libraries Special Collections James A. Wehn papers.
Featured Resource
LibGuides on the New UW Libraries Search
Get familiar with the new UW Libraries Search! LibGuides on the New UW Libraries Search highlight the new features and details on the changes, with the full launch planned for Fall 2026:
Learning Workshops and Office Hours
UW Libraries Greatest Hits Summer Workshop Series
Expand your skills this summer just-in-time for the start of the next academic year! This summer workshop series focuses on the tools and topics from some of our most popular learning workshops. We welcome all members of the research community, including graduate students, postdocs, research staff, clinicians, and faculty members. Workshop Home Page
QUICK LINKS:
June 22: From Science to Story: Building blocks of research storytelling – Online– Sign Up
June 26: Introduction to Podcast Mixing – Online
July 8: From Science to Story: Building blocks of research storytelling
July 14: Your Articles, Your Rights – Online
July 24: Introduction to Podcast Mixing – Online
August 18: Navigating Federal Public Access Requirements: Making Your Publications Openly Accessible – Online
August 20: Overview of data visualization software – Online
August 19: Navigating NIH Data Management and Sharing Grant Requirements – Online
August 24: Using consumer LLMs for qualitative analysis: Possibilities, problems, and ponderings – Online
Office Hours
Recording Studio Office Hours, 10AM – Sign-Up for Thursday sessions throughout summer quarter: June 25, July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30, August 13, August 20, August 27
Beginner-friendly support for students, faculty and staff who have quick questions or need and troubleshooting support with audio or video projects, such as help with microphone setup, audio input issues, background noise, recording quality, or basic equipment use. The office hours also include short skill-building sessions, such as introductions to Adobe Audition, Audacity, or Microsoft Clipchamp and basic audio and video editing workflows.
Recording Studio/Recording Kit Open House: June 25, July 23
Learn about two fantastic resources for making media like podcasts, video interviews, video essays, sound recording, and digital oral histories! Take a tour of the Recording Studio, where you’ll learn how to use its microphones and camera and learn how to set up one of the Recording Kits we’ll have ready for checkout in the Fall Quarter. The Recording Kits include tripods, lighting, lapel mics, and a camera and are perfect for media made on campus and off.
Community Events and Exhibits
Special Collections “Out of Scope” Exhibit Curator talks:
- July 7: Labor History in Special Collections Join us for an exhibit talk with Conor Casey, Head, Labor Archives of Washington, who will discuss some of the labor-related artifacts on display and share additional items not included in the exhibit.
- August 11: Rare Book and Book Arts in Special Collections Join us for an exhibit talk with Julie Tanaka, Associate Dean for Distinctive Collections, who will discuss some of the rare books and book art pieces on display and share additional items not included in the exhibit.
Exhibits
Tateuchi East Asia Library
The Deep Time of Korean Literature through Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026
Traditional East Asian Bookbinding Methods through Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026
Out of Scope: Unexpected Artifacts in Special Collections
Learn how archivists define the scope of their collections, and see some of the fascinating, unexpected artifacts have made their way into Special Collections! Read more about the exhibit and check the calendar for curator talks and tours. Through Sep 18, 2026 Location: Allen Library (ALB), Special Collections (Basement level)
The Mountain is Out!
Special Collections’ material related to Mount Rainier will be displayed throughout the year. Through Friday, Aug 28, 2026, Allen Library (ALB), Special Collections (Basement level)
Allen North Mezzanine Displays:
Bilious Pills and Bitter Potions: The Era of Colonial Medicine Featuring instruments and material from Special Collections, this display gives a glimpse into the state of medicine in the colonial era. Allen Library North Mezzazine,
Wednesday, Jun 24 – Friday, Aug 28, 2026
UW Press Book Talks
Thursday, Jul 16, 2026, 5:30 – 7 p.m. at the Washington State History Museum Presents: David F. Martin discussing “Shadows of a Fleeting World”
Join the Washington State History Museum on Third Thursday for an event featuring author David F. Martin. He will present his book Shadows of a Fleeting World: Pictorial Photography of the Seattle Camera Club.
The Seattle Camera Club, composed largely of Japanese immigrants, blended the pictorialist photography style with traditional Japanese aesthetics to create distinctive artistic images. At its peak, the club was among the most active and successful photography organizations in the United States.
Thanks to the extensive preservation of its work, we are able to explore and appreciate the depth, beauty, and cultural significance of this local artistic legacy.
UW Press hosts events throughout the month. View the full UW Press calendar.
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