News
Dear UW Undergraduate Students : We are experiencing the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and racial injustice and violence together, but in very different ways. We hear your concerns, we stand with you, and we are humbled by your resilience. Although this year is not like any other year, the UW Libraries is here to support you whether you’re in Seattle, Wenatchee or Taipei–wherever you are, we got this, Huskies! We know you might be missing Odegaard Library for study spaces,…
To our UW Community, Libraries are essential to research, teaching and learning at UW. We acknowledge how challenging the ambiguity of this time is, and the desire to confirm plans and expectations for Fall quarter and beyond. Our planning teams have been working hard to develop a phased reopening approach, aligned with public health requirements and UW Safe Start guidance. The Libraries is operating under its Phase 2 prevention plans. The Libraries Phased Reopening Chart provides clarity around what to expect,…
UPDATED 10/7/2020 This post is intended to help answer the most common questions from faculty and to highlight available resources to help prepare for Fall quarter. When in doubt, ASK US. Teaching Support: Besides textbooks/course reserves, the Libraries provides additional teaching support including online DIY modules and videos covering information concepts and assessment you can imbed; collaborative workshops tailored to your course; and connections to campus teaching & learning partners focused on pedagogy and teaching technology. Re-opening and access to…
Thank you to our colleagues at University of Guelph Libraries for sharing their language documenting these challenges. We have adapted it with permission. As we approach the fall 2020 quarter, library staff are working hard to provide alternative access to our traditional print course reserves collection. A significant portion of the books on reserve are print copies of required textbooks, and students cannot access them without coming into the library. To support instructors and students over the next several months,…
As the community continues to move toward Phase 2 re-opening efforts, you may start to see some local public libraries offering solutions for curb-side pick-up of books. Many of our users are wondering when this type of service will be available for UW Libraries. While UW Libraries planning teams are actively discussing the implementation of curb-side pick-up service, we will not be able to offer it immediately upon UW moving into Phase 2. While UW Libraries planning teams are actively…
Whether you are planning courses for summer or fall quarters or beginning to take a deep dive into your research this summer, the Libraries stands ready to help! The UW Libraries is in year one of a three-year pilot exploring new digital scholarship tools. Use these tools to help teach new knowledge creation skills in your classes and to share your scholarship openly with a broader audience. Here are our top 3 digital scholarship tools and tips: 1) Create a…
Dear UW Community: Thank you to our UW leadership across all three campuses, President Ana Mari Cauce and Laura Cañate, UW MBA ’18, for your powerful words. We recognize the clarity of this moment and share a commitment to anti-racist work across the UW Libraries. Speaking on behalf of UW Libraries to all individuals and communities of color— including our UW employees, users and partners—we mourn with you and support the calls throughout our region and across the nation for…
This post was updated on 7/6/2020 We know our UW community is eager for information to help plan for summer quarter and beyond. The UW Libraries is working in close partnership with University leadership and community partners to assess and plan for return-to-work/return-to-school following the new UW Safe Start protocols. Our decisions will be guided by our shared values and mission of providing access and excellence while ensuring the maximum health and safety for Libraries’ staff and our users. We…
Why choose online alternatives to standard textbooks or physical course readings? 1) Ease of use. These existing resources are immediately available and avoid potential delays (sometimes of several weeks!) that may occur in trying to source and license new electronic materials for courses. 2) More equitable access. In accordance with existing UW guidance, all classes (online or in-person) this fall should “ensure that all students can complete their coursework, even if they are unable to attend in-person classes due to…
The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) recently announced that UW Libraries, Special Collections has been awarded the CLIR ‘Recordings at Risk’ Award.* The award provides a grant of over $30,000 to help with the digitization of recordings – ‘at risk’ due to their fragility, lack of equipment to play them, as well as environmental factors. The award recognizes projects involving underrepresented communities, and will fund the project: Digitizing the Independent Media Center World Trade Organization Videotape Collection to…