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Stories

Summer Reminders

June 30, 2023

Featured Resource

Global Think Tanks!

In Global Think Tanks, you’ll find data-rich reports from more than 24,000 policy organizations, IGOs, and NGOs. Brought to you by UW Libraries, Global Think Tanks has coverage of 160 countries in multiple languages and is a perfect tool for local and global policy research, including unique content from the Global South.

Operations Updates

  • Temporary Closures: Items from these libraries can still be requested online for delivery/pick up at other campus locations. Subject-specific research help and consultations are still available online.
    • The Tateuchi East Asia Library (TEAL) will be closed June 12- July 19 to facilitate new staff hiring and training. TEAL special collections are not available at this time. The library will reopen July 20 – See hours for Summer Term B.
    • The Drama Library is closed June 12 – September 26 due to seismic upgrades in Hutchinson Hall.
  • Construction on Suzzallo Floor 1: Construction to build out the new Open Scholarship Commons physical space will be active June 6-through the end of August. Noise and construction activity will impact the areas closest to this space. Many alternative study areas are available. Learn more about this exciting project and what to expect when it opens in fall 2023!

A Message for Grads

Be sure to check out our Message for Grads-– Everything you need to know about post-graduation access to resources, retaining Library privileges and more.  Learn more. Also, Library Dubs is here year-round! Take advantage of the Libraries’ graduation photo station just outside the Reading Room in Suzzallo Library. You’ll find our life-size “Library Dubs” mascot along with celebratory graduation props and accessories to create one last memory of your second home (UW Libraries). 

New to UW?

Check out our helpful introductory guides to find helpful links and overviews of all of the resources available to you from UW Libraries.:

Coming Soon…

UW Libraries Open Scholarship Commons! – check out this new video by UW student Gautum Malyala!

Exhibits 

The History of Costume, Special Collections Lobby, Allen Library South Basement.  Learn more 

SEE more stories about this exhibit!

Denizens of the Deep: Sea Creatures Real and Imagined, Special Collections, Allen Library South Basement. Learn more

 

Stories

June Update

June 2, 2023

We know there are so many things to think about at the end of the year, so we’ll keep this short! Above all, we want to extend congratulations to all graduating students — well done!! UW Libraries are proud to have been part of your UW journey, and we hope that you will stay connected with us through your UW Alumni benefits with Library access.  For returning students, don’t miss a preview of the new Open Scholarship Commons and more in this month’s update.

Featured Resource

Subjects

Celebrating Pride Month

Explore the rich history and culture of the LGBTQ community with this extensive list of archival resources including new resources like the Archives of Sexuality & Gender, LGBT Magazine Archive, Queer Pasts and much more.  Read the blog.

Operations Updates

FACULTY: Impact to Libraries Purchasing During UW Finance Transformation

The shutting down of legacy accounting systems as part of UW Finance Transformation and migration to Workday Financial on July 6 means that the Libraries will be severely restricted in its ability to acquire course reserve and rush requests between June 6 and July 10. Please see the full alert and instructions – under UW Libraries Operations Update page.

A Message for Grads – Everything you need to know about post-graduation access to resources, retaining Library privileges and more.  Learn more. 

Odegaard Hours expanded through June 8

Odegaard hours are typically extended at the end of the quarter in support of finals preparation. Check hours.

Stories

Coming Soon… UW Libraries Open Scholarship Commons! – check out this new video by UW student Gautum Malyala!

UW Libraries Wins Awards for Accessibility Work

UW Libraries was awarded a UW Digital Accessibility Award for 100% captioning of our YouTube channel! In addition to this great accomplishment, we are proud to acknowledge Hana Levay, Collection Assessment Librarian, who was awarded an IT Accessibility Trailblazer Award! Hana has done an incredible job co-chairing the Libraries’ Accessibility Working Group, testing and auditing our e-resources, and helping to push our vendors to improve access. See the story in Geekwire and Learn more.

Cover image for Our Voices: A Guide to Citing Personal Experience and Interviews in ResearchOur Voices: A Guide to Citing Personal Experience and Interviews in Research 

Librarians Emily Keller and Lauren Ray are acknowledged for their tremendous support to authors of this outstanding new book by UW student researchers (published via UW Pressbooks) that explores how citing personal experiences in academic research can increase student engagement and success, among other benefits. Learn more. 

The Engine Room of Knowledge: Insights from UW Libraries Donors

An adventurous UW alum couple recently dedicated a special window in the Suzzallo Library Reading Room. Read their story and hear why they  support UW Libraries. Read the story.

UW News Video:  What to wear? UW Libraries explores age-old question

Graduation Photo Ops with Library Dubs!

Take advantage of the Libraries’ graduation photo station just outside the Reading Room in Suzzallo Library. You’ll find our life-size “Library Dubs” mascot along with celebratory graduation props and accessories to create one last memory of your second home (UW Libraries). Get your photos during open hours through Commencement Day. Comment or tag us #UWLibraries for a chance to win a great Library swag bag! 

Events

First Wednesday Concert June 7- : Students of the UW School of Music perform in this lunchtime concert series co-hosted by UW Music and UW Libraries. Learn more here

Destress with Coloring at the Fine Arts Libraries- First Week of June:  prioritize your mental health during finals! Stop by the Art, Drama, or Music Libraries during Finals Week to relax with some coloring time! Materials provided You’re also welcome to bring your own coloring projects and materials.. Learn more.

Recurring/Monthly Workshops

Digital Scholarship Project Help Office Hours- Thursdays in June: Learn about getting started with digital projects at UW. We offer consultations for research and course related projects. Examples include support for digital publishing, building digital exhibits, and more! We can help you find the right tools, resources and instruction whether you’re just getting started or are working on an on-going project. Learn more

Health Sciences REDCAP Trainings

 Provided by the Institute of Translational Health Sciences and UW Health Sciences Library.REDcap

  • REDCap 101- Introduction to REDCap- June 6: Geared towards new or novice users of the REDCap system, this class goes through the entire lifecycle of a REDCap project – from initial setup to data entry and finally exporting your data. Learn more here
  • REDCap 203 – Longitudinal Studies- June 13: Learn how to setup complex longitudinal projects and how to utilize the repeatable instruments/events feature. Take this class if you are planning a complex or longer term project in REDCap. Learn more

 

Exhibits 

The History of Costume, Special Collections Lobby, Allen Library South Basement.  Learn more 

SEE more stories about this exhibit!

Denizens of the Deep: Sea Creatures Real and Imagined, Special Collections, Allen Library South Basement. Learn more

 

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Stories

The Engine Room of Knowledge: An Interview with UW Libraries Donors Doug and Karen Forsyth

May 31, 2023
Doug & Karen Forsyth together smiling at a waterfront
Doug and Karen Forsyth.

Doug and Karen Forsyth are a curious and humble couple with a love for sailing, books, Ancient Greece and the UW Libraries. Karen earned her Bachelor of Arts in General Studies with an emphasis on Native American Culture and a Teaching Certificate in Primary Education at the UW in 1980. Doug is a ‘Double Dawg’, earning his Bachelor of Arts in History (1977) and Master of Business Administration (1981) both at the UW Seattle campus. Doug also recently earned a Ph.D. in Ancient History from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Both spend part of each summer working on archaeological excavations in the Greek islands.

Excavation site with people examining and removing stones from the ground.
Excavating at 6th century BCE sanctuary to Apollo at Despotiko near the island of Paros in the central Aegean.

They have been UW supporters for a long time, making their first contributions just a few years after graduating. As a bold testament to their passion for the Libraries and education, the Forsyths dedicated the sailboat window in the Reading Room at Suzzallo Library.

We sat down with the couple to gain insight into why they support the Libraries and their thoughts on how the UW Libraries is integral to UW teaching, learning and research.

A Love for Books and UW Libraries

“The Libraries is the engine room; they power the whole ship”

Man in a hat holding an ancient lamp he dug up.
Doug holding olive oil burning lamp from Despotiko.

Doug and Karen fondly recall studying in the Reading Room and exploring Suzzalo’s vast collection of books. “We love books,” exclaims Karen. The Forsyths’ experiences as students, the Libraries’ impact on current scholars and their relationships with staff inspired them to endow the sailboat window, one of 56 36-foot tall windows around the perimeter of the Reading Room.

“It’s a special place, one of our favorites. The sailboat medallion is also special to us as we are lifelong recreational sailors having sailed extensively in the Pacific Northwest and the Mediterranean with our two sons. Additionally, we worked with ships professionally in the seafood business,” they explain. “To us, boats symbolize connectivity, such as that which we share with friends, family and the University of Washington.”

Left: Image of sailboat window in the Reading Room. Right: Doug and Karen Forsyth in the Reading Room smiling with their dedicated window.
Left: Image of sailboat window in the Reading Room. Right: Doug and Karen Forsyth in the Reading Room with their dedicated window.

In addition to their own fond memories in the reading room, they appreciate the Libraries impact as a resource for the public good. “It’s more than just the library for the UW, it’s public, we all own it, and the further it reaches out to the broader community, the better. They are doing a great job at that.”

Doug and Karen admire the central role the Libraries plays in advancing scholarship across the UW. “We learned a lot about the impact of the Libraries initially through our work with the Classics department, understanding that the Libraries plays an important role in the research process, providing access to resources and other services. The Libraries is the engine room; they power the whole ship,” Doug emphasizes.

From Collections to Accessibility

The Forsyths agree that the UW Libraries collection is one of the many things that sets it apart from other libraries while also acknowledging the importance of the Libraries’ partnerships to extend access to global collections.

“There’s an instant ability to reach beyond what’s available on campus, which I think is really wonderful.”

Doug and Karen believe that the UW Libraries will continue to grow and serve its users, particularly through outreach and expansion of electronic resources. They express that the Libraries’ accessibility, outreach efforts and commitment to growth showcase the critical role that it plays in serving the university community and beyond.

“It’s not just a repository of past knowledge–they do so many things that people may not even realize,” says Doug, “The UW Libraries today is active and interactive–creating as much as it is archiving–but also teaching, doing community outreach and making accessible all of the electronic information that is constantly being generated.”

Through their own experience as students, engaged alumni and as long-time Library users themselves, the Forsyths have great insight into how and why a gift to the Libraries benefits all users – now and into the future.

Dolphin window in the Reading Room.
Window #26 – Male Dolphin

Make Your Mark

Learn more about how you can join the Forsyths and others in being a catalyst for student success by dedicating a window in one of the most iconic locations in Seattle.

Stories

Celebrating Our Amazing UW Librarians and Staff

May 9, 2023

Annual UW Awards Honor Excellence Across UW Libraries

UW Libraries’ 300+ employees represent a vital team across all UW campuses that together, provide essential services, programs and resources that benefit our university community and beyond. Their collective contributions bring forth new ideas, change and improvements that directly contribute to UW excellence.  Each year, UW honors outstanding achievement through the Awards of Excellence program. In 2023 we are excited to recognize the amazing Librarians and staff in each category. 

Distinguished Librarian Award:

Jackie Belanger – Director, Libraries Assessment and Planning

The award recognizes excellence in librarianship, especially as it benefits the academic community through innovative approaches to professional practice, research, and/or teaching and learning. Additional factors include creativity, leadership, service, scholarship, and demonstration of the University of Washington values of integrity, diversity, excellence, collaboration, innovation and respect.

Starting in her position as Research & Instruction/Arts & Humanities Librarian at UW Bothell and Cascadia College Library and throughout her 11-year involvement in library assessment, Jackie has been essential to the library’s cultural shift towards centering library users in our discussions, policies, and practices. Jackie has played key roles in the collaborative and evidence-based development of library initiatives. Currently, Jackie directs the University of Washington tri-campus Libraries assessment and strategy program, developing goals, policies, procedures, and best practices that evolved from a user-centered approach to her more recent and groundbreaking work in critical library assessment. Within the UW Libraries, Jackie leads many initiatives, but perhaps her broadest reach and impact is made through her role leadership of the strategic planning process. Jackie’s generosity and support of others, through formal and informal mentorship, teaching future librarians, and her active role in equity, diversity, and inclusion discussions within the Libraries make her a valued colleague.  Jackie’s work exemplifies this award through wide-ranging, positive, sustained, and long-lasting impact. 

Additional 2023 Distinguished Librarian Award nominees:

  • Caitlin Maloy, Nursing and Research Services Librarian, Health Sciences Library Caitlin exemplifies her nomination through her creativity in teaching, research and collegiality. Her work with the School of Nursing faculty, staff and students shows her compassion and in-depth subject knowledge. Caitlin is a truly delightful colleague both within the libraries and beyond! Learn more about Caitlin’s work.
  • Je Salvador, Computer Science / Research and Instruction Librarian, UW Bothell / Cascadia College Library Je served as the President-Elect and President of the Association of Librarians of the University of Washington (ALUW). They also were an integral member of the UWB/CC Library Anti-Racist Audit Team that supported and facilitated the audit preparation, process, and post-work with the library staff. Nationally, Je has established a solid record of service and leadership through their involvement with ACRL’s EDI Committee, which they also currently chair. Learn more about Je’s work.
  • Sandra Kroupa, Book Arts and Rare Books Curator, Distinctive and Special Collections –  will embark on her 55th year with UW Libraries in June. A previous recipient of the UW’s Distinguished Staff Award, Sandra’s extensive knowledge and expertise in her field is a treasure, especially for those students who have the pleasure of working with her in the classroom, as illustrated in this most recent 2023 feature on her work with UW’s Textual Studies Program. Learn more about Sandra’s work.

Learn more about the significant contributions of all 2023 nominees: Read full profiles.

Distinguished Staff Award

UW Libraries had a number of staff nominated for both individual and team honors that exemplify excellence across four categories: Collaboration, Innovation Impact, Career Achievement and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

The 2023 nominees:

The following staff acknowledgements represent excerpts and summaries of quotes from nominating parties and/or supervisors.

Innovation

  • Individual category:  Denise Hattwig, Head, of, Digital, Scholarship;  UW, Bothell, and, Cascadia, College, Library. Denise’s work both on the Washington Prison History Project and others across campus is indeed that of great distinction: innovative and collaborative, rigorous and generative, equitable and accessible.
  • Team category: Alan Michelson, Head, Built Environments Library, University Libraries. Alan provided essential analytical expertise to support the development of the College of Built Environments (CBE) Faculty Publications Portal, helping to identify academic best practices and tools to improve systems and automation for capturing faculty publications.

Impact

  • Individual category: Tan Nguyen, Library Specialist I, Central Circulation & Library Account Services. Tan took on a lot of responsibility and extra work to ensure our department continued to run smoothly during a challenging time when we were particularly understaffed. He devised and implemented creative solutions to workflow problems and other areas for improvement, turning this challenge into an opportunity to streamline processes and hone his own skills. Throughout this time, Tan helped maintain a high level of service for the university community. Our whole team felt the impact of his contributions that we will remember for a very long time.
  • Individual category: Marcia Monroe, Access Services Supervisor, UW Tacoma Library: Access Services Marcia’s impact is widely felt at UW Tacoma. She provides outstanding service, working hard to ensure that every person that enters the UWT Library feels welcome and supported.

Career Achievement: Individual category: Marcia Monroe, Access Services Supervisor, UW Tacoma Library: Access Services Marcia has been an essential part of the UWT Library since the Tacoma campus was brand new. She has been integral to the Library getting the highest ranking from students for service quality year after year. She is well-known and respected across campus for her many contributions.

Collaboration: Individual category: Marissa Rydzewski, Library Specialist I – Supervisor, LAW: Law Library – Circulation. Every time Marissa has been offered an opportunity to learn new skills or take on new projects, she has said yes. She has taken on the implementation of the ideas generated by users, employees, and administrators. Marissa’s contributions have impacted the UW Law community at every level.

Congratulations to all of the award nominees. The awards ceremony is held in June. Please join us in celebrating all of their important work by sharing this story!

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Stories

Reaching New Heights: More Accessible Desks for all UW Libraries Users

May 4, 2023
One of the new height adjustable work stations in Foster Business Library.

UW Libraries are continually working to improve accessibility for our users. In honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day coming up on May 18th, we are happy to share some exciting news!  Over the past few years, one of our priority goals has been to outfit at least 10% of the computer workstations at every UW Seattle library branch with height adjustable tables.  We are pleased to announce that we have reached that goal — over 70 of our computer workstations now have electronically-controlled height adjustable desks! 

Adjustable desks are necessary to provide all users with access to workstations. Previous desks were at a fixed height to match our existing seating, but this lack of flexibility presented some issues. For example, they could be the wrong height for library visitors using wheelchairs. Now, with the electronic controls, users can adjust their workspaces with ease.

Starting in 2019, the UW Libraries began to address this deficit. Desks which were previously at a fixed height, or which required manual mechanical adjustment (which is harder to use), were updated. Over each of the last three years, we applied for and were awarded funding from the Student Technology Fee committee which supports many projects dedicated to improving the accessibility of technology across campus. While it would also be beneficial to have study tables that can be height adjustable, we have focused on the computer desks because the grant required a project that supports student technology needs.

ADA guidelines state that at least 10% of computer workstations should be accessible. With the completion of this project, several of our branch libraries such as Art, Drama, Foster and Music have 100% accessible desks for student workstations, and Math has 50%.

LEFT to RIGHT: Hana Levay, Collection Assessment Librarian and co-chair of the Accessibility Working Group with Dan Halligan, Branch Operations Services, Daily Operations Supervisor who helped lead the work to install more accessible workstations.

Enhancing equitable environments for teaching, learning and research is one of the UW Libraries main strategic priorities. Through this work, we have prioritized improving access to library spaces and resources by adding more accessible furniture and other tools that support our values.A full list of our accessible height workstations can be found on the Libraries Accessibility page. If you have any questions about the height adjustable desks or would like to suggest potential areas of improvement related to Libraries’ accessibility, please contact us at [email protected].

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Stories

May Update

April 28, 2023

NEW!
The Economist.com is now available from UW Libraries, adding to the free access to major global news publications you have as a UW student. From news to commentary and analysis on politics, finance, and business, The Economist provides insightful coverage on international drivers of change. The UW Libraries subscription includes full access to daily charts, interactive content, and special reports

The countdown clock to graduation has likely started for many Huskies, and finals are approaching. Be sure to bookmark our Top Ten Tips for Finals and Message For Grads. This month is packed with fantastic events including special student showcases, workshops for Choose Privacy Week and the always popular GIS Symposium. Last but not least (drum roll please)… the 2023 Student Video Contest Winners! 

Operations Updates

Odegaard Hours expanded May 30-June 8: Odegaard hours are typically extended at the end of the quarter in support of finals preparation. Check hours.

UW Seattle Faculty, PhD students and postdoctoral researchers: Have you completed your survey?  You should have received an email during on April 19 with a link to a UW Libraries survey. Your input provides vital information to help us understand how we can better support our user communities. Thank you for submitting your survey by May 8. Learn more. 

A Message for 2023 Grads--As future UW alumni, be sure to check out all of the UW Library benefits and opportunities that are available to you after graduation! Learn more. 

News/Stories  

2023 I HEART Library Video Contest Winners Announced! All of this year’s nominees were outstanding!  There were so many creative and thoughtful videos, it was hard to select a single winner, but Ken Kavin’s “Our Second Home” won our hearts and the $1,500 grand prize!   Kavin’s fun and diverse portrait of library users highlights the idea that UW Libraries truly are a “second home” for our UW community. Be sure to check out all of the winning videos and honorable mentions from the 2023 contest. See the winning videos.

More Accessible Desks! New height-adjustable desks have been installed in libraries across the Seattle campus, just in time for Global Accessibility Awareness Day (May 18th)!  Learn more.

UW Press Spring Sale! UW press announced its Summer Reading Sale, happening now through June 16th! Enjoy a 40% discount and free domestic shipping using the discount code WARM23 at checkout. Learn more.

A Children’s Place: A gift from UW Tacoma’s Professor Belinda Louie helps to create a welcoming space for student parents at UW Tacoma Library.  Read the story. 

Unleashing My Potential: How the UW Libraries Helped Me Flourish as a Student: Han Eckelberg’s  “behind the scenes” story about how the iconic Bruce Lee Ascending artwork found a permanent home in Odegaard Library. Read the story.

Exhibits

The History of Costume,  encompasses the study of clothing and textiles–their development, use, and availability over human history. Special Collections Lobby, Allen Library South Basement.  Learn more 

Denizens of the Deep: Sea Creatures Real and Imagined, librarians and curators from across the UW Libraries bring together items highlighting the breadth of material and content available about the sea, ocean, and sea creatures. Special Collections, Allen Library South Basement. Learn more

Workshops and Events

STUDENT SHOWCASES

UW Libraries Research Communication and Equity Fellowship Celebration and Student Showcase– May 16: Join us to celebrate the academic and creative work of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) graduate students. Each Fellow has created a physical artifact that visually communicates their research. These artifacts take many forms: posters, artwork, visualizations, etc. Students come from across the UW Seattle campus in programs from law to biology. Learn more

Undergraduate Research Symposium Visual Arts and Design Showcase- May 19: The Undergraduate Research Symposium is an opportunity for students of all disciplines to showcase completed or ongoing research or projects. The Symposium happens every spring and is an all day event open to the public. Learn more

CHOOSE PRIVACY WEEK

Reading the Fine Print: a Workshop + Hack-a-thon on Privacy and Terms of Service for Common Research and Classroom Tools- May 2 and May 5: Designed for students, instructors, and researchers alike, this online workshop will help you navigate common language used in Terms of Service and Privacy Policies and will offer Terms of Service; Didn’t Read as a framework for reviewing agreements. Learn more here

Your Digital Self: Assessing and Thinking Through Your Online Safety- May 4: This one-hour online workshop will offer some tools for assessing your level of risk and resources for plugging the leaks, on your computer and your phone. Learn more

Using and Adapting Free Course Materials- May 9: Teaching with Open Educational Resources (OER) reduces costs for students and provides you with more flexibility for adapting materials to suit your teaching needs. In this interactive workshop, Lauren Ray, UW Open Education Librarian, will share strategies for finding and adapting OER for your class. You’ll have a chance to explore OER search tools, see examples of openly licensed course materials in your discipline, and learn about UW Libraries resources for creating and modifying OER for your class. Learn more  

Citation Management for Humanities Research (with Zotero!)- May 3: This workshop, which will be led by Anna Preus (UW English), will focus on practical applications of Zotero for humanities research, including importing citations from web sources, building a citation library, converting citation styles, and storing and tagging documents. Learn more here 

GIS Symposium 2023- May 25: The 6th Annual GIS Symposium highlights and celebrates the transformational role of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and data visualization technologies at the UW and beyond. Learn more

Recurring Events/Workshops

First Wednesday Concert- May 3: Students of the UW School of Music perform in this lunchtime concert series co-hosted by UW Music and UW Libraries. Learn more here

Digital Scholarship Project Help Office Hours- Thursdays in May: Learn about getting started with digital projects at UW. We offer consultations for research and course related projects. Examples include support for digital publishing, building digital exhibits, and more! We can help you find the right tools, resources and instruction whether you’re just getting started or are working on an on-going project. Learn more

Graduate Funding Information Service Hours- Thursdays in May: The Graduate Funding Information Service (GFIS) works with current and admitted UW graduate students. GFIS helps students identify and use different resources to locate funding opportunities for graduate school-related expenses including tuition, research, and conference and research travel. Learn more

Pressbooks: Pressbooks’ suite of products makes it easy to create, adapt, and share educational material. UW Libraries offers several monthly workshops on how to create open textbooks, course materials and more with Pressbooks.

  • Getting started with Pressbooks- May 8: This training session is open to all users of hosted PressbooksEDU networks (including the University of Washington) and is designed for users who are new to Pressbooks. Attendees will learn how to get started with Pressbooks, from creating a new book to publishing and exporting offline versions of the text. Learn more
  • Advanced Pressbooks Publishing Webinar- May 24: This training session is open to all users on hosted PressbooksEDU networks (including the University of Washington) and is designed for users who have some familiarity with Pressbooks and are ready to engage in more complex activities, like adding interactive elements or integrating Pressbooks with supported third-party tools. Learn more

REDcap: REDCap is a secure web application for building and managing online surveys and databases. Courses are provided by the Institute of Translational Health Sciences and UW Health Sciences Library.

  • REDCap 101- Introduction to REDCap- May 2: Geared towards new or novice users of the REDCap system, this class goes through the entire lifecycle of a REDCap project – from initial setup to data entry and finally exporting your data. Learn more here
  • REDCap 201 – Data Dictionary- May 16: Meant for users who want to create or edit larger studies quickly by using the Data Dictionary, this class assumes that you have some working knowledge of REDCap and Microsoft Excel. Learn more
  • ATLAS.ti Training – Basic Skills- May 12:  In partnership with the Open Scholarship Commons (OSC), this workshop will build skills in ATLAS.ti basics. Learn more
Stories

2023 I Heart UW Libraries Student Video Contest Winning Submissions

April 24, 2023

The annual UW Libraries Student Video Contest asks students to create original videos showcasing the Libraries through the lens of student experience. The 2023 results are in, and with so many creative and compelling submissions it was hard to pick the finalists! Congratulations to the first place winner, Ken Kavin, whose video showcased various UW students utilizing a plethora of UW Libraries resources. Between the excellent production quality and the heartfelt content, Kavin’s video definitely made the UW Libraries feel like “Our Second Home.” Additional congratulations to second and third place winners Carlos Alvarez and Zijie Chen, whose thoughtful and creative videos showcased the UW Libraries in unique and exciting ways–but don’t take our word for it, check them out below, and join us on social media to congratulate all of this year’s awardees and honorable mentions!

Winners:

First place | Our Second Home

Ken Kavin (class of 2024)

This film follows the daily lives of UW affiliated individuals and highlights the idea that the UW Libraries truly are “Our Second Home.” The provision of endless resources and spaces allows the UW Libraries to be an integral part of your lives.

Second place | The Student’s Guide to the UW Libraries

Carlos Alvarez (class of 2023)

The UW Libraries has an endless supply of resources to assist students on their academic journey. The stunning production quality and informative content encourages viewers to utilize the UW Libraries resources for research, assistance on essays, and for their overall success at the University of Washington.

Third place | #HashtagUWLibrary

Zijie Chen, (class of  2023)

You can truly feel the #LOVE from this film! Between the wide array of visual shots and short-but-sweet responses from participants, the love for the UW Libraries radiates through and out of this video.

Honorable mentions:

The UW Libraries

Jolie Tran (class of 2024)

The visuals tell it all, in this film! With the use of motion graphics and highly digitalized production, everything you need to know about the UW Libraries’ available resources is on the screen.

UW Library Video Games

Nina Okubo (class of  2024)

This creative submission highlights a resource offered by the UW Libraries that is not often discussed. In addition to providing academic support, the UW Libraries also offers recreational resources for students. This lighthearted film uses creative graphics to share the availability of UW Libraries for activities beyond the scope of academics.

The I HEART UW Libraries Student Video Contest takes place annually in February. If you missed this year’s contest, bookmark this page and save the date for next year! A special thank you to all who participated in the contest this year, and congratulations to all 2023 awardees!

This contest would not be possible without the generous monetary donations from the Library Excellence Fund. Donors of the Library Excellence Fund allow supports a variety of  projects, activities, and programs at the UW Libraries.

Join us on social media!

Stories

Unleashing My Potential: How the UW Libraries Helped Me Flourish as a Student

April 5, 2023

I appreciate the UW Libraries’ strong, ongoing commitment to working with students to grow and apply our knowledge. From books, documents, and media to the librarians’ general information, the UW Libraries allows students to flourish academically.

During one of my favorite undergraduate courses, Photo/Media 340 (WI 2020), students had the opportunity to exhibit our artwork at the Odegaard Undergraduate Library. Emily Ruder and the amazing crew at Odegaard welcomed all our creative environmental art pieces. My work, Bruce Lee Ascending (飛小龍), created to honor our famous alumni, was displayed on the main Odegaard staircase.

In 2022, after others requested making my exhibit permanent, Dean Simon Neame and the UW Libraries staff made it their responsibility to facilitate the installation. From managing installation logistics, to walking me through administrative protocol and paperwork, the UW Libraries went above and beyond to support the effort.

This is but one example of how the UW Libraries inspires and facilitates dynamic growth and change by providing quality services for students developing their skills in any field.

On this Husky Giving Day, I encourage you to join me in supporting UW Libraries to help provide students with the resources they need to achieve their full potential. Your generosity will enable UW Libraries to continue to provide the vital services and resources that have a profound impact on students like myself.

Thank you, UW Libraries!

Han Eckelberg

Graduate student, Master of Communication in Communities & Networks, member of UW Communication Leadership Program

Stories

Values in Practice: Holding Our Vendors Accountable for Accessibility

March 29, 2023

The UW Libraries has been assessing third-party subscription resources for accessibility for three years. These resources are the journal websites or database interfaces that researchers use to find information after being linked from the library catalog.  It has been an enormous learning experience for all of us. We first had to become familiar with accessibility standards for the web and how to test products against those standards. At first, we wanted to determine which of our subscription products were inaccessible. We did this by running a simple keyboard navigation test which could quickly identify resources that were clearly not accessible. While this is not a comprehensive test, it does work well to quickly filter out the least accessible products. We’ve written more about this procedure in the blog posts Improving Accessibility During the Pandemic and Inside and Out: Working with Vendors to Improve Accessibility.

Once we identified the problematic resources, we began contacting their vendors to communicate our findings and work together to improve their products. We have had some wonderful results during this process, as outlined in the blog post Improving Web Accessibility: One Vendor at a Time. Several of the resources we had identified as inaccessible are now much more accessible due to this work.

We are now at a point in our process where we have identified inaccessible products, but the vendors of those products are not able to work with us to improve their products. In some cases, this is because the company is too small and they do not have the resources to make improvements. Other companies might be unconcerned about accessibility and do not consider it critical to their products. We plan to push back on these reluctant vendors to hold them accountable for accessibility improvements. 

Starting on July 1, 2023, we will not allow automatic renewal of subscriptions of inaccessible products.

We have developed a procedure for moving forward with accountability. Starting on July 1, 2023, we will not allow automatic renewal of subscriptions of inaccessible products. We will instead research alternatives to see if there is another product that will meet our needs that is accessible. We will work with the subject librarian interested in renewing the product to see if there are alternate ways to increase the pressure on a vendor to become committed to accessibility, such as discussing the issue in wider social networks that are relevant to the vendor. Finally, if no alternative is available and the resource is essential, we will ask the subject librarian to declare that the resource must be renewed despite being inaccessible due to its uniqueness. Otherwise, our default position is that the resource will be canceled, elevating accessibility to a deal-breaker in our licensing requirements.

We are prioritizing our strategic goal of improving access to physical and digital resources through universal design and accessibility compliance not only by listing it as a goal, but by ensuring vendor accountability and elevating platforms and resources that align with our values.

If you have any questions about this work or any potential areas of improvement you’ve noticed in library resources you’ve used, please contact us at [email protected]. 

Stories

April Update

March 29, 2023
Faculty Guide
Student Guide

Happy spring, Huskies! If you are on campus with friends or family this month enjoying the cherry blossoms, don’t miss a chance to see our newest exhibits in the Libraries.  Undergrads – your research project could be worth $1,000 with the Libraries’ Undergrad Research Award! Save-the-date for storytime, workshops and special film screenings in partnership with the UW Taiwan Studies Arts & Culture Program and our Tateuchi East Asia library.  Our sincere thanks in advance to all who choose to support UW Libraries on Husky Giving Day – make your gift count on or before April 6th (THANK YOU)! This and a lot more news in our April update!

Operations Updates

  • Early Deadlines for Spring/Summer Course Reserves and Purchase Requests for Collections: Please see the UW Libraries’ updated guidance for faculty/instructors regarding earlier-than-usual deadlines for course reserves and purchase requests due to the UW Financial Transformation implementation schedule. https://www.lib.washington.edu/operations/faculty-guidance 
  • Article Galaxy Scholar – A new service of UW Libraries. UW Libraries is implementing a new article delivery service called Article Galaxy Scholar that will provide quick access to articles in a select number of journals that the Libraries no longer has direct access to due to the terms of our current Elsevier contract.  UW users will see a “Request Article” button for relevant journals. See the FAQ.
  • Special Hours on Saturday, April 15th – UW Admitted Student Day: Suzzallo and Allen Libraries and Odegaard Library will be open to all. See hours for each location.

News/Stories 

2023 Undergraduate Research Award:  UW Libraries recognizes the excellence and creativity of students through the annual Library Research Award for Undergraduates. Awards for projects range from $500-$1,000! From written papers to pottery– and all disciplines – all sorts of research projects are eligible.  Deadline for submissions is May 1! Learn more and apply! 

Values in Practice, Holding Our Vendors Accountable for Accessibility: Starting on July 1, 2023, UW Libraries will not allow automatic renewal of subscriptions of inaccessible products. Learn more about the new protocols and how the Libraries is playing a key role in improving accessibility of third party tools and services. Read the blog.

UW Libraries Amazing Student Employees! Almost every aspect of Library operations rely on support from student employees working in libraries across all UW campuses. Last month we celebrated 50 student employees with the Libraries annual student scholarship awards. Learn more about these amazing students and the many ways they support our UW community. Read the story. 

Surveys are coming! UW Libraries assessment team will be conducting surveys in April and May with all UW Seattle Faculty, PhD students and postdoctoral researchers and UW Tacoma undergrad and graduate students.  These surveys are important tools to help us understand how we can better support our user communities. More information coming soon!

Exhibits

New in Special Collections Denizens of the Deep: Sea Creatures Real and Imagined: The ocean inspires great awe and imagination and has served as the impetus for innumerable artistic, scientific, and cultural endeavors. In this new exhibit, librarians and curators from across the UW Libraries bring together items highlighting the breadth of material and content available about the sea, ocean, and sea creatures. Plan your visit.

Featured Resources

  • Wiley Digital Archives: Environmental Science and History:The Environmental Science and History archives focus on critical aspects of anthropogenic change with unique and rare archival collections from global sources. Brought to you by the UW Libraries, this new collection is rich in historical documents, photographs, and maps.

Workshops and Events

**First Wednesday concert series – moved to April 12th.** 

PaperSpace Paper Arts in the Art Library

April 6th and 17th: A pop-up paper-arts based makerspace that encourages the learning of new skills. Sessions will cover 3D and photomontage collage techniques. Materials provided! Learn more.

UW Libraries Storytelling Fellows: Video Digital Storytelling

Apply by April 12th: This 4-week totally free, interactive, online workshop will take you through the start-to-finish process of digital video story production. From script-writing, to editing and everything in between! Course runs April 21- May 12. Open to all UW students, faculty and staff! Learn more.

Partnership with UW Taiwan Studies Arts & Culture Program

In partnership with the Tateuchi East Asia Library, The UW Taiwan Studies Arts & Culture Program and its partners are hosting these special cultural events for kids and adults:

Kids storytime hours and workshops at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture April 15 and April 22:

[Apr 15 & 22 at 1 pm] Kids Workshop: 'Alofo Lover's Bag from Pangcah, Taiwan with Chu-mei Lin (Pangcah / 'Amis, Taiwan)
Kids Workshop: ‘Alofo Lover’s Bag from Pangcah, Taiwan with Chu-mei Lin (Pangcah / ‘Amis, Taiwan). Explore the history behind the ‘alofo (lover’s bags) that are made and widely used by the Pangcah (‘Amis) people, one of the sixteen officially recognized Indigenous communities in Taiwan. Learn more.
“LOKOT: the Fish that Lived in a Tree” with Nikal Kabala’an (Pangcah / ‘Amis, Taiwan). Learn more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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HU Tai-Li Memorial Lecture and Film Screening with Scott Simon (in-person only) April 18th:In memory of Dr. HU Tai-Li, the evening features an in-person screening of the first locally made ethnographic film in Taiwan, The Return of Gods and Ancestors, by Dr. HU Tai-Li, and a lecture by Professor Scott Simon about Dr. Hu’s work and the influence of her pioneering ethnographic documentary practice in Taiwan. There will also be a reception honoring and celebrating Dr. Hu’s contributions on the study of ethnic relations in Taiwan. Learn more.

Drop-In Help: Digital Scholarship Drop-In Help Hours (via Zoom) on Thursdays:

We offer consultations for research and course-related projects. Examples include support for digital publishing, building digital exhibits, and more! We can help you find the right tools, resources and instruction whether you’re just getting started or are working on an ongoing project

Pressbooks

Pressbooks’ suite of products makes it easy to create, adapt, and share educational material. UW Libraries offers several monthly workshops on how to create open textbooks, course materials and more with Pressbooks.

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