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
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].
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 – UWAdmitted Student Day: Suzzallo and Allen Libraries and Odegaard Library will be open to all. Seehours 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
UW Libraries’ student employees are at the heart of what we do.
Almost every aspect of Library operations rely on support from student employees working in libraries across all UW campuses. They help users find resources and other essential tasks, but they also take on leadership roles, advance community education, act as mentors and teach valuable skills to others.
Since 1992, UW Libraries has recognized the achievements of our outstanding student employees through an annual scholarship award, generously sponsored by UW Libraries donors. This year’s 50 recipients demonstrate ingenuity, outstanding customer service and work ethic. The amazing 2023 recipients exemplify how library student employees contribute to UW excellence in so many and often unexpected ways. But don’t take our word for it…
The following excerpts from award recipients’ essays say it all so well…
“As a graduate student in Communication and Multimedia at UW, I never expected to find relevant opportunities at UW Libraries. It wasn’t until I learned about the Open Scholarship Commons (OSC) initiative that I realized the vast scope of the libraries in the university community and beyond. My first project involved planning and implementing two open podcasting workshops, one for UW students and the other for instructors, with the help of two talented colleagues. This was my first time facilitating a workshop, so I was naturally a bit intimidated. However, my colleagues went above and beyond to support me, encouraging me to lead some of the sessions even though I wasn’t sure if I was capable. I not only gained confidence in leading sessions but also found the work to be very fulfilling.”
– Gautam Malyala, Scholarly Communications and Publishing, Graduate Student, Master of Communication in Digital Media
“In the labyrinth of the sub-basement, I’m finding ways to meet people where they are–through their voices in donated collections. As Gifts Program specialists, we build bridges between Huskies and donors from all walks of life, described by their personal arrangements of books. My duties entail more than cataloging gifted books and media; each incoming box is an extension of the donor that holds their lifelong passions. I must treat each book with the respect I would give the donor if we met in person…Serving the Gifts Program under Carolyn Aamot’s supervision has taught me what true support entails–and how I can extend such kindness to others.”
– Jennie Jeon, Gifts Program, Sophomore, Pre-Sciences Major
“A specific project that I am proud of is my update of our College and Career Planning collection. With the supervision of a staff librarian, I added titles that explore, among other topics, navigating university life, mental health, and career guides pertaining to UWT’s specific majors. I put in significant effort to research titles through a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) lens, looking for books that offer perspectives of marginalized populations— namely people of color, women, the LGBTQ+ community, and disabled people. I learned a great deal on how to navigate the extreme responsibility of selecting what information patrons have access to, by assessing community needs through an equitable lens and not one solely based on my own experiences and potential biases.”
– Madison Phares, UW Tacoma Library, Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science
As illustrated in these examples, our student employees make a positive and lasting impact on the Libraries and our entire university community.
Congratulations to all of the 2023 scholarship recipients! (See full list below).
2023 UW Libraries Employee Scholarship Awardees
Abigail Reeb, Central Circulation Services- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science
Amber Mak, Instructional Design and Outreach Services, Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science
Art Dio Kang, Research Commons, Junior, Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics
Artemis Lonán, Collections Analysis and Strategy- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science
Carlos Alberto Manrique Ucharico, UW Tacoma Library – Access Services- Senior, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Systems
Catherine Jensen, UW Tacoma Library- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science
Claire Longcore, Acquisitions & Rapid Cataloging Services- Junior, Bachelor of Science in Economics & Bachelor of Arts in History
Connie Cheng, Odegaard Access and Building Services- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science
Deepika Bhattarai, Government Publications, Maps, Microforms & Newspapers- Junior, Bachelor of Science in Real Estate
Diana Jessica Quintero-Perez, Research Commons- Senior, Bachelor of Arts in Education, Communities and Organizations
Emma Lane, UW Tacoma Library – Access Services- Junior, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Emma Wynne, Assessment, Data Visualization, and Planning- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science
Evan Cullum, Odegaard Access and Building Services-Sophomore, Bachelor of Arts in English & Bachelor of Arts in Scandinavian Area Studies
Gabriel Guo, Research Commons- Sophomore, Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science
Gautam Malyala, Scholarly Communications and Publishing- Graduate Student, Master of Communication in Digital Media
Grace Zackula, Health Sciences Library- Junior, Bachelor of Arts in Public Health – Global Health
Iris Miyagi Rivera, UW Bothell and Cascadia College Library – Library Technology Services- Senior, Bachelor of Arts in Community Psychology
Izak Hosmer-Dillard, Odegaard Access and Building Services- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science
Jennie Jeon, Gifts Program- Sophomore, Pre-Sciences Major
Joe Lollo, Instructional Design and Outreach Services- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science
Jonghyuk Park, Odegaard Writing and Research Center- Sophomore, Bachelor of Arts in Law, Societies, and Justice
Juliet MonetTorres, Central Circulation Services-Graduate Student, Master of Science in Genetic Counseling
Khalid Elhousieny, UW Bothell and Cascadia College Library – Library Technology Services- Senior, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science & Software Engineering
Kimberlie Sullivan, Gifts Program- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science
Liam Patrick Bryant, Special Collections-Graduate Student, Master of Arts in Museology
Maddy Renee Wilson, Odegaard Access and Building Services-Graduate Student, Master of Social Work
Madison Phares, UW Tacoma Library-Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science
Maeve Seyer, Central Circulation Services- Junior, Pre-Sciences Major
Malaika Ashraf, UW Bothell and Cascadia College Library – Access Services-Junior, Bachelors of Arts in Psychology & Bachelors of Arts in Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies
Mathieu Chabaud, Government Publications, Maps, Microforms & Newspapers-Freshman, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
Melissa Fallon, UW Tacoma Library-Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science
Miles Hyun Hairston, UW Tacoma Library – Access Services-Senior, Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science
Natalia Salais, Special Collections-Sophomore, Bachelor of Arts in History
Natalie Brown, Central Circulation Services-Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science
Nestor Amador Guerrero, Special Collections-Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science
Oliver Mauer, Central Circulation Services- Junior, Bachelor of Sciences in Biochemistry
Olivia Frank Andersen, Central Circulation Services- Junior, Bachelor of Arts in English & Bachelor of Arts in Danish
Pavel Lvovich Batalov, Research Commons- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science
Quinn Rundell, Learning Services – Student Success- Senior, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science & Bachelor of Arts in History: Race, Gender, Power
Rachel Oommen, Reference and Research Services- Junior, Bachelor of Science in Public Health – Global Health 40
Shaye Anis, Special Collections- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science
Shrusti Bharatbhai Ghela, Scholarly Communications and Publishing- Graduate Student, Master of Science in Data Science
Sihan Yang, Tateuchi East Asia Library- Junior, Bachelor of Arts in Economics
Sue Hunsaker, Central Circulation Services- Senior, Bachelor of Arts in Art History
Summer Xuan Dai, Tateuchi East Asia Library- Graduate Student, PhD in the Built Environment
Taylor Nishimoto, Libraries Advancement- Junior, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Tianque Gao, Odegaard Access and Building Services- Senior, Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Tina Nowak, Reference and Research Services- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science
Yi Xiang Ngeow, Central Circulation Services- Junior, Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering
Zhuo Pan, Cataloging and Metadata Services- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science
Stories
New Open Access Investments for 2023
March 13, 2023
In support of the UW Libraries Strategic Plan goal to Advance Research for the Public Good, the UW Libraries invested in a number of new open access agreements that will expand open access publishing for UW authors and strengthen the infrastructure for open scholarship.
Article Publishing Agreements
These agreements, sometimes referred to as “Read and Publish agreements,” cover the cost of open access publishing for UW authors with these publishers.
PLOS All Titles – Last year the UW Libraries joined the PLOS Community Action Publishing and Global Equity Model that covered the costs of open access publishing in six of the PLOS journals. Starting February 1, 2023 we expanded the agreement to include all PLOS journals including PLOS ONE. The PLOS All Titles agreement covers 100% of the Article Processing Charges (APCs) for UW corresponding authors.
Company of Biologists – The UW Libraries has entered into a Read and Publish agreement with the Company of Biologists, effective January 1, 2023. The agreement covers 100% of the costs for UW corresponding authors publishing in its five journals – Development, Journal of Cell Science, Journal of Experimental Biology, Disease Models & Mechanisms, and Biology Open.
De Gruyter – UW has entered a Read and Publish agreement with De Gruyter Publishing, effective January 1, 2023. The new agreement covers 100% of the article processing charges (APCs) for UW corresponding authors publishing in De Gruyter’s “hybrid” journals (subscription journals that provide authors the option to pay to publish their articles open access). The waiver does not apply to De Gruyter’s Gold open access journals.
Subscribe to Open and Diamond OA
Subscribe to Open (S2O) and Diamond Open Access are open access models where annual fees support the costs of the open access journal and there are no publishing fees charged to authors. The UW Libraries was an early supporter of Annual Reviews – Subscribe to Open, one of the first S2O agreements. This year we are expanding our S2O and Diamond OA commitments with the following journals:
In addition to journals and article publishing, we are also making investments to support open access e-book publishing. In the past we supported the MIT Press Direct to Open, and University of Michigan Press Fund to Mission programs. We also became supporting members of Punctum Books. We are expanding our investment in open access ebooks by supporting the Opening the Future model with Central European University Press and Liverpool University Press. By joining the Opening the Future model, UW users will get access to collection of e-books and we are supporting the publishing of future open access e-books from these two publishers.
These investments were made possible through Provost Reinvestment Funds dedicated to support the infrastructure for open access and to expand support for open access publishing by UW authors. For a description of our open access agreements visit the UW Libraries Investments in Open Access page.
The end of winter quarter is here, and spring is right around the corner (spring quarter hours now posted)! Be sure to brush up on ourTop Ten Tips for Finals, and don’t forget to take a study break — visit one of the fascinating exhibits or “chill out” with a 90s trivia contest (Happy Birthday, Foster Library!). And remember, if you need library help – ASK US online help is here for you 24/7!
News/Stories
Faculty / Instructors – You will need to submit spring and summer course reserves earlier than normal due to the purchase limitations and deadlines required by the UW Financial Transformation schedule. See new guidance in the UW Libraries Faculty Guide.
Celebrating Women’s History Month: From one trailblazing fellow husky to an international hero of medicine and science, these UW Libraries’ exhibits explore the lives of two amazing women. Learn more.
UW Libraries’ student-centered design featured as academic library best practice: Insights from the development of the Undergraduate Student Tutorial and collaboration with the UW Undergraduate Research Program (URPP). Read the story.
Foster Business Library’s 25th Birthday Celebration continues…
“It Came from the 90s: Throwback Trivia – through March 14th.From music and movies to fashion and pop culture put your knowledge to the test for a chance to win a $30 gift card fromBoon Boona Coffee, now in the University Bookstore. Boo-yah!
I HEART UW Libraries Student Video Contest: Submission Due March 26th!
An annual tradition, open to all current UW students (grad and undergrad), the contest encourages creativity and diverse perspectives in the form of 1 minute videos that illustrate the value of UW Libraries to our UW community. Prizes range from $500-$1,500! Entries are due March 26th – plenty of time to plan, create and edit (no formal video production expertise required!) See examples, entry rules and learn more.
Featured Resource
The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading business and finance news publications. Create your personal account to this renowned global publication at www.ft.com. Don’t forget, UW Libraries also offers personal subscriptions to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Get your personal accounts set up today!
Workshops and Events
Community Reads Visionary Fiction Anthology – Writers Wanted
The UW Bothell Community Reads team is excited to announce a new project. Inspired by Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements, this year’s Community Reads’ selection, we hope to engage in a similar creative effort: Our own community-created anthology. On our Community Reads Visionary Fiction site, you may submit your own visionary writing – fiction or poetry or nonfiction; under your name, a pseudonym, or anonymously – and share it with your fellow community members. We hope that this site will provide a space for our own collective community dreaming, in which we imagine a better world – together.
Graduate Funding Information Service (GFIS): Most Mondays 2-4PM, helps students identify funding opportunities for grad school expenses including tuition, research, and conference and research travel. In addition to drop-in advising hours, students can schedule individual appointments, or can request information by email.
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.
LAST CHANCE! Invisible Cities: The Prints of Giovanni Battista Piranesi and the Art of the Built Environment closes on Saturday March 18th! Catch this incredible exhibit before it’s gone! Learn more.
Women’s History Month: Exhibits Highlight Amazing Women
March 7, 2023
From one trailblazing fellow husky to an international hero of medicine and science, these UW Libraries’ exhibits explore the lives of two amazing women.
Celebrating Seattle Black Women: Daisy Tibbs Dawson
University of Washington’s Special Collections has dug into its own archive to celebrate the life and work of a UW grad who waged peace here in Seattle and abroad.
Daisy Tibbs Dawson (nee Daisy Lee Tibbs) was a local peace activist, community leader, and director of Head Start. She was born in Alabama and moved to Seattle after graduating from high school. She was one of only sixty-five Black students at the University of Washington, where she graduated with a degree in Home Economics in 1948.
on the steps of Suzzallo
In the summer of 1949 Daisy took a detour to Hiroshima, Japan, where she joined Floyd Schmoe and a small group of volunteers to build houses in the still-devastated city. Her unusual adventure captured the attention of Ebony Magazine, which covered her in a feature article for the January 1950 edition.
After returning to Seattle, Dawson married, started a family, and began her long career as an educator. She served as the director of Head Start from 1971 until her retirement in 1984, touching the lives of thousands of children during her tenure. She was also a lifelong member and leader in the Madrona Grace Presbyterian Church and Delta Sigma Theta, a public service sorority.
Visit the Daisy Tibbs Dawson exhibit on the first-floor mezzanine in North Allen Library through the end of March 2023 or view the online exhibit.
The Lady of Radium: Maria Skłodowska-Curie (Marie Curie)
In celebration of the centennial of Maria Curie’s first visit to the United States in 1921, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland has created an exhibit “The Lady of Radium: The Life of Maria Skłodowska – Curie.” The exhibit focuses on the life and legacy of the two-time Nobel Prize winning scientist, her extensive tour of the United States, and her support of Poland’s scientific development.
A pioneer in the applications of radiation within healthcare, Marie Curie is another woman to remember and celebrate during Women’s History Month. Maria Skłodowska-Curie was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1867, during the Russian occupation. Russian oppression of Polish people worsened throughout her childhood and her college education was largely underground as a result.
Dedicated to expanding scientific discovery and access to science, Marie was not only the first woman to be a professor at the University of Paris, but the first female member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences in Krakow.
She and her husband Pierre discovered Polonium and Radium, receiving a Nobel prize in physics. A few years later, Maria would receive a Nobel Prize in chemistry, making her the only person to receive two Nobel prizes in different scientific fields.
Marie advanced cancer treatment research through the use of radium, a practice then known as telecurie therapy. She also became the Director of the Red Cross Radiology Services during WWI, and promoted the use of x-rays across the field of medicine.
In May of 1921, Marie received numerous honorary degrees and awards during her tour through various institutions in the US, and met with President Warren Harding, who gifted her a gram of radium. Eight years later she received an award from President Herbert Hoover to obtain another gram of radium to further her radiology research.
In 1932, Marie founded the Radium Institute in Warsaw, or what is now known as the Maria Sklowdowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology.
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Stories
Student-centered design is key to successful undergraduate library programs
March 7, 2023
UW Libraries tutorial featured as a best practice in new ACRL book
“This second volume of Undergraduate Research & the Academic Librarian: Case Studies and Best Practices provides colleges and universities with a set of models that inspire and enrich undergraduate research, demonstrating the contributions of academic librarians to student success.” —From the Foreword by Janice DeCosmo
As librarians, we are always looking for ways to improve services and resources for our users. One of the ways we do this is by partnering with others to get insight and feedback on student needs. UW Libraries’ Undergraduate Student Success Team adapted a common model of online tutorials to create a unique tool for student success, created in partnership with the UW Undergraduate Research Program (URPP): the Undergraduate Researcher Tutorial. This online tutorial is an online, self-paced tutorial that provides students an opportunity to learn research and information skills not usually taught in the classroom or laboratory setting.
The tutorial is the focus of “A Collaborative, Student-Centered Approach to Designing an Undergraduate Researcher Tutorial” a chapter in the recently published Undergraduate Research & the Academic Librarian: Case Studies & Best Practices. Team members Amanda Hornby, Emilie Vrbancic, and Linda Whang co-authored the chapter with Jessica Salvador, former Associate Director of the UW Undergraduate Research Program.
The book chapter highlights how academic libraries can cultivate partnerships with undergraduate research programs and ethically involve students throughout the tutorial curriculum development process.
“In our experience, intentional partnerships with students and cross-campus programs takes time, but the effort ultimately results in a more inclusive product with far greater reach, impact, and relevance to students.” – Hornby, Salvador, Vrbancic & Whang
We know from assessment data that students often feel overwhelmed in their first years when faced with research projects that require a baseline of knowledge about the research process and how to use library resources. This tutorial “de-mystifies” the process and helps students learn the basics, including how to get started – often the most daunting part of the process.
The tutorial has been well-received by UW faculty and staff, with instructors assigning students the whole tutorial or specific tutorial modules across all disciplines and departments. Through our student learning assessments in courses, we saw UW students commenting on bias in the peer-review process, reflecting on their personal and academic use of information sources, and highlighting the benefits of metacognition and reflection, especially when experiencing feelings of “imposter phenomenon” in research settings.
The USS Team continues to collaborate with the URP, particularly Director Sophie Pierszalowski and Program Manager Allison Perez. The Undergraduate Researcher Tutorial, which has over 30,000 views annually, remains open to all students via Canvas and is integrated into key research-focused courses like URP’s Research Exposed! Approaches to Inquiry. The USS Team updates the tutorial each academic year based on student learning assessments, and each quarter we review the tutorial to further improve EDI and accessibility. In 2023-24, the USS Team and student employees are interested in reviewing tutorial content to ensure all content has a strengths-based approach and to reframe the experience of “imposter phenomenon” among researchers.
UW Libraries Welcomes New Associate Dean and Director
February 16, 2023
Richard S Lewis joined UW Libraries in January 2023 as the new Associate Dean and Director for UW Bothell/Cascadia College Campus Library. In this role, Lewis is responsible for strategic visioning, policy and program development, operations and personnel, and overall innovation and excellence in the UW Bothell and Cascadia College Library.
Richard grew up in Lynwood, WA, and is a UW alum having earned his BA in English at the Seattle campus, before pursuing a Master of Information Resources and Library Science from the University of Arizona. Richard also earned a PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies: Philosophy & Moral Sciences and Media & Communications from the Free University of Brussels. Richard comes to the UW from Prescott College in Prescott Arizona, where he was Library Director for nine years.
What interests you most about this position?
I am intrigued by the complexity and intersectionality of the libraries across multiple campuses– UW Seattle, Bothell, the Cascadia College campus and UW Tacoma. I look forward to learning more about all of the ways our communities intersect with the library, and I value the various perspectives and interests of the people involved, both internal to the library as well as external. It is clear that this job will never be boring!
About The UW Bothell and Cascadia College Campus Library
UW Bothell serves students from diverse racial/ethnic and cultural populations and has a strong commitment to interdisciplinary research and teaching. The UW Bothell and Cascadia College Campus Library is uniquely positioned as a key resource in supporting the teaching, learning, and research needs of both the UW Bothell and Cascadia College communities. As part of the University of Washington Libraries system, the UW Bothell and Cascadia College Campus Library serves a combined 8,500 students. The Campus Library is a critical partner in fostering collaboration across this shared campus environment.
What are you most excited about in the coming year?
The people! All the people working at this library are amazing. Not only have they been very welcoming, but they all have a passion for their work and are wonderfully caring people. There have been some really great conversations around DEI work…where are we, where have we been, and how we move forward with this very critical work. My professional and personal mission here are one and the same: To contribute to a community where people can be themselves, and everyone can connect their passions to whatever it is they are doing.
Also, as many academic libraries consider how to evolve their spaces to meet the needs of their users, UW Libraries are also thinking about this and how we might re-imagine library spaces. It’s exciting to be a part of that process and conversation.
What is something about UWBCC Library you think everyone should know?
Image: “Killer Whale Rattle” by Fred Beltran, part of the UW Bothell Library’s Rose Collection.
The amazing Rose Collection of Northwest Coast Indian and Alaska Native art that resides throughout our library. Also, the great river of crows that fly over the library at dawn and dusk.
What are some of your hobbies / what do you like to do in your free time?
I collect old manual typewriters and fix them up. I love technology, but I am also quite critical of how it affects us personally and culturally. Typewriters can provide an interesting lens on the current communication technologies that we use.
Lewis began typing his dissertation on this typewriter, the first in his collection. Lewis’ Siberian Husky, Atticus, sits in front of the holiday typewriter “tree”.
Bridging Cultures: Professor Takahiro Sasaki’s Visit to UW Libraries
February 8, 2023
(Left to right) Zhijiia Shen, Director of Tateuchi East Asia Library, Simon Neame, Dean of UW Libraries, Professor Sasaki, Paul Constantine, Associate Dean of University Libraries for Distinctive Collections and Keiko Hill, Japanese cataloger/Serials and E-Resources Librarian. Oct. 26, 2022.
In October 2022, the Tateuchi East Asia Library (EAL) welcomed Professor Takahiro Sasaki. Professor Sasaki is the immediate former Director of the Keio Institute of Oriental Classics (Shido Bunko) at Keio University in Tokyo, Japan. He has been teaching and doing research at Shido Bunko for more than 20 years. The multi-day visit included a lecture, class visits, collection assessment, staff training and was part of the exchange program between the University of Washington and Keio University funded by a generous grant from the Tateuchi Foundation.
During his visit, Professor Sasaki spent much time helping us evaluate our Japanese special collection at the University of Washington Libraries to observe our preservation process for premodern Japanese material and to recommend the best training for our staff to improve the UW Japanese book preservation process, as well as future directions for collection development.
Professor Sasaki’s presentation in Allen Auditorium
Professor Sasaki’s scholarly expertise and research in the history of books and Japanese classics has benefited us significantly in development and curation of our collections of premodern Japanese books. In addition to the collection evaluation, he also gave a public presentation to a “packed house” on “The History and Character of Premodern Japanese Books,” which vividly introduced the audience to the invaluable premodern Japanese books in our Tateuchi East Asia Library and his own personal collection, using examples from the special collection. Prof. Paul S. Atkins served as the translator and facilitator. His excellent translation and facilitation significantly enhanced the event. Many library staff, faculty and students from East Asian studies programs on campus, as well as many community friends, attended the presentation. It was a cultural feast for our faculty, students and library staff, and we all learned a lot.
“We had a lovely time with Professor Sasaki in my class,” said Atkins. “Our reading assignment was the final chapters of The Tale of Genji, and he just happened to have a 17th manuscript copy of the final chapter, which he explained to students, with an emphasis on how the shape of the cover reflects the status of the text. He let students take a close look at the books, including their gold covers. He took some questions and the students were thrilled!”
Professor Sasaki met with staff of the Tateuchi EAL and the UW Libraries Preservations Department to discuss prospects for future exchange between our institutions. He also met with faculty and students from the Departments of Asian Languages and Literature, History, School of Art/Art History/Design, and spent many hours with them to discuss Japanese classics and special collections.
In a meeting with Dean Simon Neame of the UW Libraries, Sasaki presented a gift of two precious Japanese rare books and four important Japanese scholarly publications on the history of Japanese books. They are excellent additions to our collection and will benefit our library users for generations to come.
仲文集 (Nakabumi shū)
This rare, hand-written Japanese text (donated by Professor Sasaki) is likely from the late-17th century from the collection of waka (Japanese poems) by 藤原仲文(Fujiwara, Nakabumi) (908-978), one of the 36 famous poets in the Heian-era (794-1185). This copy is one of 36 volume sets (each volume is a collection of each poet’s waka). This is a type of book that a young woman would receive from her family to take to her new home upon marriage, an old custom of the medieval period practiced by high-ranking, aristocratic families. The family would prepare a series, or set of books, such as novels, stories and poems meant to showcase her intellectual status. Because the books were used more for display purposes at a wedding, rather than actual reading, such books are usually in very good condition.
The cover is so called “紺紙金泥 (konshi kindei),” which is a paper dyed in indigo color, and beautifully designed pattern with gold. Mikaeshi (page 2 of the cover) is a paper made from gold and the family crest (probably of the Honda Family) is integrated.
Image 1: 五番綴謡本 (Gobantoji utai bon) 2 volumes (rare book) Image 2: (from left to right) 書を極める 鑑定文化と古筆家の人々 (Sho o kiwameru: Kantei bunka to kohitsuke no hitobito) ; 文字景 センチュリー赤尾コレクションの名品に見る文と象 (Mojikei: Senchuri Akao Korekushon no meihin ni miru fumi to katachi);日本人の読書（Nihonjin no dokusho）; 文人の書と書物（Bunjin no sho to shomotsu : Edo jidai no kanshibun ni asobu
A tour of the Seattle harbor/waterfront.
At the end of his visit, Tateuchi EAL co-hosted a cultural tour of Seattle with one of its donors, who is also a Seattle-area alumna of Keio University.The tour included an exciting outing to many iconic places, including stops at Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, Chihuly Glass and Art museum, the Museum of Flight and a Seattle waterfront cruise. The special day ended with a visit to the Keio alumna’s beautiful home.
Professor Sasaki prepared a thorough report of his visit with many great insights that will help us better understand the Japanese works held at the Tateuchi East Asia Library and UW Libraries’s Special Collections. It will also provide guidance in our efforts to further develop and strengthen these treasures of UW Libraries.
Professor Sasaki’s visit was the first post-pandemic visit through the UW Libraries and Keio University Library exchange program. It was a wonderful experience, and we cherish the friendship and collaboration developed through these informative exchanges between our libraries. It is through such efforts, we as libraries build bridges between cultures across the Pacific. We look forward to continue strengthening the special and long tradition between UW and Keio libraries and between our universities, for which Mr. and Mrs. Tateuchi have helped lay the foundation.
Our special thanks to the Tateuchi Foundation for its generous support and a grant that made this visit possible. We thank Professor Paul Atkins of UW Department of Asian Languages and Literature for his strong support and collaboration.
One of the top East Asia libraries in North America, Tateuchi East Asia Library’s collections include all subject areas in the humanities and social sciences. With the rapid growth of digital technology and digital resources, library special collections play a unique role in supporting teaching, learning and research. As scholarly research becomes increasingly interdisciplinary, libraries become an ever more collaborative space for students and scholars to meet and discuss their learning and research. Professor Sasaki’s visit helped enhance such collaborations and further strengthen our library collection development and preservation.
More About Professor Sasaki
Professor Sasaki is the immediate former Director of the Keio Institute of Oriental Classics (Shido Bunko). He graduated from the Faculty of Letters of Keio University, and later received his master’s and Ph.D. degrees there. After serving in the Research Information Division at the National Institute of Japanese Literature (NIJL), he returned to Keio. He is now a full professor and has been teaching and doing research at Shido Bunko for more than 20 years.
He is a member of the Association of Waka Poetry Studies and the Academy of Middle Ages Literature. In 1995, he was awarded the 21st annual Japan Classic Literature Foundation Prize and was selected for the Keio Prize from Keio University in 2016. He was chosen for the 39th Kadokawa Gen’yoshi Prize in Literature in 2017. A renowned scholar of the history of Japanese books, he was the lead educator for the FutureLearn MOOC courses on “Japanese Culture Through Rare Books” and “The Art of Washi Paper in Japanese Rare Books.”
Through his outstanding scholarship, Professor Sasaki brings an indispensable point of view to the Japanese classics, one firmly based in the field of bibliography, sitting at the crossroads of physical material and cultural context.
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仲文集 (Nakabumi shū)
