TheUW Libraries High School Internship Programis a fun, project-based program for students thinking about college and is one of the only paid internships of its kind in US academic libraries. Students learn how to use various tools to produce digital storytelling, mapping, and information science projects. They leave the program with a portfolio of completed work and make meaningful connections with UW students, faculty, and Libraries staff. UW librarians Elliott Stevens and Kian Flynn developed the program in 2017 in partnership with Seattle Public Library (SPL) librarian Nancy Garrett, who has extensive experience working with youth in the public library setting. This summer session was the fourth iteration of the program. The 2020 session was cancelled due to the pandemic, and this year’s session was 100% virtual via Zoom.
The internship focuses on reaching first-generation college students and groups underrepresented in higher education and librarianship. The goals are to build experience and confidence in the academic setting, learn about librarianship and libraries, and connect young people with academic resources that will help them prepare for college.
The virtual 8-day program ran from July 12th-22nd with nine participants from area high schools — Nathan Hale High School, Shorecrest High School, Rainier Beach High School, and one homeschooled student. Applicants are recruited in partnership with SPL and the Seattle Housing Authority, and they receive a $530 stipend at the end of the program. SPL is an integral partner, providing funding, equipment, and staff support; Librarians Nancy Garrett and Josie Watanabe worked alongside UW Libraries staff as facilitators of the program.
“Nancy Garrett is the most brilliant Youth Services Librarian you’ll ever meet. She is based at the Lake City Public Library and she’s known many of the students since they were kindergartners. Nancy has been instrumental in identifying students. She has provided tons of support during each iteration of the program and helped us to revise it over the years, including advocating for funding.The program would not exist at all without her,” says Stevens.
Libraries staff and volunteers* also contributed many hours to help plan and support the program, including UW Information School grad student Joanna Chern and two former interns who came back as mentors.
The program has three main elements: panel-based discussions, project-based learning, and a final showcase of student work. Panelists included UW undergraduates, UW researchers, and UW librarians. The students learned about the college application process, college life, college research, college libraries, and college librarianship. The project-based work focused on digital scholarship and learning how to use tools like StoryMaps and WeVideo to create digital stories, maps, and podcasts. The Showcase was the culmination of the program. During the Showcase, students talked about their experiences in the internship and shared their maps, podcasts, and videos. While the 2021 projects are not publicly available, past internship projects are viewable online.
“During the Showcase, I really appreciated hearing that the students not only learned from the program staff, but also from one another,” said Stevens.
Students have reported drawing from their internship experience and using their maps and videos to apply for other internships, in college applications, and in classes. The students have also said that the internship has helped them navigate and feel comfortable in college libraries, based on Libraries assessment.
“I loved every single thing (about) this internship. I am so thankful to be a part of such a valuable…experience.” – student participant
And… Many of the interns become UW students!
“This upcoming year, we’ll have three former interns–who are now UW Seattle students–working at the UW Libraries Information Desk at the Research Commons,” says Stevens.
Thanks to the continued partnership with SPL, plans are in the works to continue the program next summer, with the application process starting in April.
*Special thanks to all of the Libraries staff and volunteers who made this year’s high school internship a great success: Nancy Huling, Madeline Mundt, Jessica Albano, Lauren Pressley, Betsy Wilson, Nan Holmes, Stephanie Guerrero, Kathleen Larson, Lauren Duong, Emilie Vrbancic, Michael Mungin, Negeen Aghassibake, and AC Petersen.
Special Collections and Seattle branch Libraries will open September 29th.
Special Collections:
Access will be by appointment only Monday-Friday 1:00 PM – 4:45 PM during fall quarter for both UW affiliates and the public.
Special Collections staff are available to answer research questions via ASK US and the online question form.(i.e. available services prior to opening, confirming materials, citations).Services will expand as staffing permits.
Seattle branch Libraries and Tateuchi East Asia Library:
See the LibrariesCOVID Update page“Reopening Dates” for planned hours of operations for ALL Libraries, including Suzzallo and Allen Libraries and Odegaard Undergraduate Library.
Be Prepared: HathiTrust Emergency Temporary Access Service (ETAS) Deactivation – Why does it matter?
The HathiTrust Emergency Temporary Access Service provides access to over 1 millions online resources while Libraries are closed, but when the UW Libraries reopens, that access will be turned off, per HathiTrust requirements.
Between August 20th and September 20th UW Libraries will be deactivating ETAS, a process that requires multiple changes to over 1.7 million records. During this time, ETAS resources that were previously findable in Libraries Search may not show up in results. Users should instead search for ETAS materials via the Hathi Trust Digital Library(requires login with UW NetID); not Libraries Search.
Starting September 20, 2021, UW access to ETAS will end. If you are planning to use ETAS materials for a course or research, know that you will not have access to some online only materials starting September 20th. Physical books and journals that are part of ETAS will be available to borrow. You can check now (before 8/20) to see if titles are part of ETAS via UW Libraries Search, noted under “View It” See example.
Open Scholarship Summer Series (OSSS) – August 9-13: The Open Scholarship Summer Series is an opportunity for students to explore concepts relating to open source tools and digital publishing. Learn More.
Data Visualization Track 1 – August 9–13: Learn about the fundamentals of collecting, cleaning, and visualizing data and create your own visualizations using open source, in browser data visualization tools. Learn More.
Story Maps Track 2 – August 16-20: Learn about the basics of creating your first story map as well as how to use the open source platform StoryMaps JS to tell stories with geospatial content. Learn More.
Pressbooks
Getting Started with Pressbooks – Wednesday, August 11: Designed for users who are new to Pressbooks. Attendees will learn how to get started — from creating a new book to publishing and exporting offline versions of the text.Learn More.
Pressbooks in Progress: Share Your Work + Ask Questions – Friday, August 13: Have you been wanting to take your UW Libraries Pressbooks projects to the next stage? Feel like you need some inspiration for your book? This is an open time for UW Pressbooks users to bring their projects to share and ask questions. Learn More.
Advanced Pressbooks Publishing – Monday, August 23: 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.
Research Data Management Workshop – August 16-19: Join UW Libraries for an asynchronous workshop centered around Research Data Management Planning. Topics will include getting started with data management planning, funder requirements for data sharing, metadata, tips to help keep you organized, sharing, archiving and preservation, and an introduction to tools and on-campus support to aid researchers. Learn More.
Graduate Student Research Institute (GSRI) – August 23-27: Join UW Libraries for a free asynchronous five-day online workshop for new and returning UW graduate students. This workshop is aimed at helping students learn the tools and strategies they need to research smarter, not harder. Learn More.
Features: Digital Collections, Resources & UW Press
New book: Love for Liberation: African Independence, Black Power, and a Diaspora Underground by Robin J. Hayes. Featuring interviews with activists, extensive archival research, and media analysis, Robin Hayes reveals how Black Power and African independence activists created a diaspora underground, characterized by collaboration and reciprocal empowerment.
Black Studies Center (BSC)is a multidisciplinary gateway to current scholarly and historical material related to Black experience in the United States, wider African diaspora, and the continent. The current version (available through June 30, 2022) includes an expanded collection of historic African American newspapers and the Black Abolitionist Papers. BSC is brought to you by your UW Libraries.
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Stories
Jacob Lawrence in Seattle: UW Students and Libraries Create New Book
Jacob Lawrence in his studio in 1979. UW Special Collections
Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000) is widely recognized as one of the most important American artists of the 20th century. Although he is best known for his multi-panel narratives that he completed whilst living in New York City, the second half of Lawrence’s career was spent at the University of Washington as a Professor of Art from 1971 – 1986. For the first time since his retirement from UW, Lawrence’s work and teaching are now the subjects of a new course at the UW School of Art + Art History + Design, taught by Assistant Professor of Art History Juliet Sperling.
The creation and implementation of this course represent a partnership between UW Libraries and faculty at UW. Students in ART H 400 worked alongside librarians from a variety of specialties*, such as open educational resources, art history, and digital scholarship, to create a class book about the meaning of Lawrence’s work in Seattle. Using the Pressbooks digital publishing tool, students compiled original essays analyzing Lawrence’s artwork that they had created over the quarter into one comprehensive book, Jacob Lawrence in Seattle, that was published at the end of the course. For many students in Art H 400, this was their first excursion into the world of publishing. While there were of course obstacles, student Sam Seaver noted that “everyone involved in guiding us through the Pressbooks process made it feel doable and removed the intimidation for our class.” This course was one of the first-of-its-kind at UW, creating a blueprint for future collaboration with open publishing platforms and digital scholarship within UW Libraries. One student in Art H 400 noted that “this was such a fun, inspiring opportunity! I would have never published a paper on my own, had I not taken this course.”
“this was such a fun, inspiring opportunity! I would have never published a paper on my own, had I not taken this course.”
Building the Collection
UW Libraries Special Collections recently acquired a rare signed copy of Jacob Lawrence’s Book of Genesis, 1989-90. See Nicholas Staley’s piece “Creating Genesis” in the class Pressbook. UW Libraries Fine and Performing Arts Librarian,Madison Sullivan, will be working with Dr. Sperling over the next year to purchase and collect all printed works related to Jacob Lawrence as budget allows. Their goal is to create one of the strongest collections around Jacob Lawrence’s art and work — including growing the collection and tracing Lawrence’s influence across African American art and Black art in the US.
To support this effort, donors can contribute to the
In an effort to expand access to open educational resources, the University of Washington has opened access to Pressbooks software for all students, faculty, and staff. This tool, piloted primarily in use by UW Librarians and faculty, has allowed for students and faculty to independently publish their research free of charge, on an accessible digital platform. In reflection of the importance of Pressbooks in the course, student Kira Sue wrote; “it seems like a moral responsibility to share your research if you are doing work on a project that has been historically under-researched…the promise of publication served as a great motivator throughout the quarter.”
“I loved getting to work with and learn from the UW Library staff. From the very beginning, they were so supportive…”
Students in Art H 400 not only learned how to navigate open educational resource platforms, such as Pressbooks, but they also learned how to efficiently use library resources. From research guides to the online chat with UW Librarians, students in Art H 400 were able to advantageously use campus resources to further their course objectives. Elizabeth Xiong, one of Prof. Sperling’s students in this course, expressed her appreciation of UW libraries in this course by sharing that “I loved getting to work with and learn from the UW Library staff. From the very beginning, they were so supportive of our project, and it was really encouraging. The librarians are all so knowledgeable and graciously took extra time to answer all our questions which stood out to me!”
“I think more classes would benefit from a final project that is collaborative in nature and ends in a publication.”
Art H 400 is set to become a recurring course in UW Art History, with each iteration highlighting a different topic related to Seattle’s vibrant history. Not only will the enduring legacy of Jacob Lawrence be carried forward through the work of Prof. Sperling’s course, but the students in the class are now equipped with knowledge of open educational platforms, such as Pressbooks. In reflection of her work during the past quarter Art H 400 student Monica Ionescu noted; “I think more classes would benefit from a final project that is collaborative in nature and ends in a publication.” As we move into a post-pandemic life, the importance of online tools is only becoming more recognized, as students, staff, and faculty navigate innovative digital worlds. UW Libraries looks forward to continue collaborating with the UW community to make these resources more available and accessible to all.
Not only is Pressbooks free to use for UW students, but anyone (UW affiliated or not) can read Pressbooks online! Learn more about how you can use Pressbooks and other open hosting platforms to enhance your teaching and openly publish your research.
*Contact the Librarians who worked with the class to develop this project:
**Learn more about the Libraries’ Arts, Drama and Music Funds, including the Spieseke/Hatchett Endowed Art Library Fund. If you are interested in learning more about how your gift is a catalyst for student success, contact Shelby Williford, Associate Director of Libraries Advancement ([email protected] | 206-616-6521.
Stories
UW Libraries Reopening Status Update
July 21, 2021
updated 8/31
We very much look forward to reopening Libraries spaces in the fall, and our teams are hard at work to make that happen. After being closed for nearly 18 months, there is A LOT happening behind the scenes at the UW Libraries- both remotely and on site to ensure the Libraries are ready to reopen this fall.
Staffing and hiring: Like many public-facing service organizations, the pandemic caused a monumental reduction to Libraries human resources. In addition to many staff and Librarian positions that need to be filled, the Libraries can’t open in any capacity without a significant student workforce. We are actively recruiting now; however staffing back up to pre-covid levels will take time and some services/hours of operation will be limited until we can adequately hire and train new employees for these open positions. This time period leading up to fall quarter is critical for hiring, onboarding and training while also maintaining curbside pick-up, interlibrary loan and facilitating space preparation for fall.
MaintainingHathiTrust Emergency Temporary Access Service (ETAS) has been essential for hybrid and remote learning during the past academic year. On August 20th, when summer quarter is done, our staff will immediately begin the complex process of deactivating ETAS, involving multiple changes to over 1.7 million records in the Libraries Search. Libraries staff will be working non-stop (including weekends!) to complete this process in time for fall quarter reopening. The Libraries check-out process will not function properly until this transition is 100% complete.
Access: While we transition these records, ETAS will remain “turned on”, which allows our UW community to have maximum access to materials (online resources and physical items via curbside and ILL lending) during this time. After summer quarter ends, the majority of students will still be off campus, therefore this remote access remains essential and will deliver the best possible access to materials until the Libraries reopens. With curbside check-out, interlibrary loan, individual study at the Research Commons, and support from subject librarians for all units, the Libraries is able to facilitate requests for the majority of our users.
While Libraries staff manage the ETAS transition, they will simultaneouslybe working to hire and train new staff and student employees in order to prepare all 16 UW Libraries for reopening in the fall.
Preparing spaces: Bringing students, faculty and the public back into spaces that haven’t been used for such a long time–takes time. While our Libraries facilities teams have done an amazing job maintaining thousands of square feet of spaces across campuses throughout the pandemic (thank you!), there is still a lot to be done for example, moving furniture; cleaning staff and public areas and updating and testing computing equipment. This is happening in nearly every space across the Libraries in order to create the best possible experience come fall.
Not the same Library (better!) – While most Library employees have been and will continue to work remotely through September 10 (per UW telework policy), we have been continually working to design new programs, teach online classes, and bring the best of online & hybrid learning to the UW user community. Thanks to this investment in trying out new models and approaches, we are looking to make changes that allow us to provide more equitable, open and accessible multimodal services. From our physical spaces to our virtual services– expect to experience the Libraries in new ways this fall.
Our Libraries staff is a community within a community. Our employees are students, teachers, caregivers and counselors of all kinds – together forming one Library across three campuses (and an island). Our teams have worked tirelessly over the pandemic to provide our users a continuum of service while learning how to navigate remote work from home and all of the challenges of the past year. Along with our entire UW community, the experience of teaching and learning online has encouraged new ways of working that will bring innovative solutions to our research and learning services for the future.
Thank you for your patience, understanding and support as we continue preparation for fall. We know you miss the Libraries, and we miss you, too. We are excited to see you in September!
Until then, continue to ASK US if you need help or have any questions.
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Stories
July Update
July 1, 2021
News
A Proper Send-Off for Vice Provost and Dean, Betsy Wilson: July 1st is the official last day for Libraries vice provost and dean, Betsy Wilson. On June 24, the Libraries hosted a virtual retirement celebration with Libraries staff, friends, family, and UW colleagues. You can view the celebration, farewell message, and behind-the-scenes highlights in our new blog.
Jessica Albano at the UW Awards of Excellence Ceremony
2021 Awards of Excellence: Congratulations to Jessica Albano Communication Studies, Microforms, & News Librarian for receiving the University’s Distinguished Librarian Award! Congrats also to Nicholas Schockmel, Metadata Specialist on being recognized for his achievement during COVID with the Together We Will Award. See profiles of all 2021 winners.
Suzzallo and Allen Libraries will open on September 22.
Special Collections may be operating in a limited capacity to start. See the Libraries COVID update page for reopening dates of all locations.
Summit and ILL: UW Libraries has resumed filling Summit and Interlibrary Loan requests for physical materials, in addition to articles and book chapters. Check it out.
Graduate Access – Graduates can still access Individual Study Space @ Research Commons with their Husky ID. For details about access, returns, and other helpful tips- Learn more.
UW Bothell and Tacoma Libraries will open on September 20.
Explore the history behind our region’s great outdoor spaces:
From UW Press- Hiking Washington’s History:In this new, full-color edition of the first-ever hiking guide to the state’s historic trails from UW Press, historian and hiker Judy Bentley teams up with veteran guidebook author Craig Romano to lead adventurers of all abilities along trails on the coast, over mountains, through national forests, across plateaus, and on the banks of the Columbia River.
Digital Collections: Mountains and Mountaineering in the Pacific Northwest: Our region has long been known for its access to the great outdoors and enthusiasm for climbing and mountaineering. How did it all start? Explore the history of the original Mountaineers club, Mount Rainier tourism, and more.
Community Events
Book Chat July 28th: “On Earth, We’re Briefly Gorgeous” – “Poet Ocean Vuong’s debut novel is a shattering portrait of a family, a first love, and the redemptive power of storytelling.” Please join us for a conversation about the UW Alumni Book Club’s current selection On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, hosted by UW Alumni Association, UW Libraries, and the UW Bookstore. Learn more.
Workshops
Introduction to Business Library Research: To help students develop business research skills, the Foster business librarians are offering “Introduction to Business Library Research,” a free self-paced workshop in Canvas taking place asynchronously during summer quarter. Learn more.
Getting Started with Pressbooks – Wednesday, July 8. Designed for users who are new to Pressbooks. Attendees will learn how to get started — from creating a new book to publishing and exporting offline versions of the text. Learn more.
Copyright Basics- Thursday, July 15th. What is copyright? Why do we have it? What can you do with it? Join us for a high-level tour of copyright law basics and recommended resources. Learn more.
Advanced Pressbooks Publishing – Monday, July 21. 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.
Digital Scholarship Summer Immersion program (DSSI)- The Digital Scholarship Summer Immersion program (DSSI) is an opportunity to work with new digital scholarship tools
Omeka Workshop – August 3. Learn how to build digital exhibits and get inspired by how faculty and students use this tool for teaching and research. Learn more.
Create the World’s Fastest Book: Manifold Workshop – August 5: Learn how to create the world’s fastest book using the Manifold digital book publishing platform! Manifold offers the opportunity to upload texts, seamlessly integrate images, media, and more into your text, and offers opportunities to annotate texts within the platform. Learn more.
Drop-In Help – No Appointment Necessary
First Fridays: Teaching with Digital Scholarship Tools Open Chat
Come chat with UW Librarians on Zoom to learn about digital scholarship tools used for teaching. Drop by anytime during the hour to learn about options for digital book publishing, online exhibits, website construction, and more!
Digital Scholarship Project Help Office Hours: Open to faculty and students, UW Libraries offers weekly office hours to advise on digital scholarship for research and course-related projects. Examples include digital publishing, building digital exhibits, data research management, and more! Office hours are most Fridays from 2:30-3:30. See calendar.
Coming Up – Save the Date:
The Graduate Student Research Institute (GSRI) is a free and asynchronous 5-day online workshop for new and returning UW graduate students, aimed at helping students learn the tools and strategies they need to research smarter, not harder. Two sessions August 24-September 4. Learn more.
Missed it?
Bonsai trees being created outside UW’s Suzzallo Library – Suzzallo Bonzai as a symbol of peace, resilience, and inclusion through the vision of Dr. Le Shen (UW Chemical Engineering 2020). (Photo Right: A new plaque installed next to the Bonsai trees in front of the Suzzallo Library explains the artist’s vision.
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Stories
A Proper Send-Off for Vice Provost and Dean, Betsy Wilson
On Thursday afternoon, June 24, University of Washington Libraries hosted a special virtual farewell celebration in honor of retiring UW Libraries vice provost and dean, Betsy Wilson. Over 200 friends, family members, colleagues and staff past and present tuned in to the event featuring an amazing opening performance by the UW Libraries’ Singers inside the Reading Room in Suzzallo Library (masked and distanced), and an array of special guest speakers including:
Ana Mari Cauce,President, University of Washington
Mark Richards,Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Washington
Ed Taylor,Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, University of Washington
Betty Bengtson,Director Emeritus, University Libraries
Cynthia Fugate,Librarian Emeritus, University Libraries
Jay Jordan,President and CEO Emeritus, OCLC
Jill McKinstry,Librarian Emeritus, University Libraries
Joyce Ogburn,Professor of Practice at the School of Information and Library Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Linda Ambre,Assistant to Vice Provost and Dean, Director of Facilities Operations and Events
And members of the Libraries Cabinet
During his speech, Provost Richards announced that Betsy will be named Dean Emeritus, solidifying her impact and contributions during an incredible 30-year career with UW Libraries. Betsy addressed attendees during the live event to express her gratitude and reflections on this significant milestone.
“Thank you to all the supporters, university leadership, partners, stakeholders, professional colleagues, friends, and family for joining me today to celebrate the privilege of leading the best academic library in the nation,” said Wilson. “I could not have asked for more.”
Betsy’s contribution to the Libraries teacup collection
In keeping with the time-honored tradition of Libraries retirees, Betsy presented her contribution to the Libraries teacup collection, one of hundreds that have been added to the collection over many years. The teacups are typically used to serve tea and coffee at retirement parties.
The event ended with a celebratory toast led by Lauren Pressley, director of Research and Learning Services for UW Libraries.
“You truly have left your mark on the UW Libraries and the profession,” said Pressely. UW Libraries would not be what it is today without you. You will be missed dearly by your friends and colleagues inside and outside the UW community, but we know you will continue to be a friend, a mentor and an advocate in your new role as retiree and dean emeritus.”
As the event concluded, Betsy had the opportunity to Zoom “chat” with attendees, and she was so touched by the outpouring of congratulations and well-wishes, and the chance to hear from so many friends and colleagues.
As part of Betsy’s send off, UW Libraries and UW Press staff presented Betsy with an array of one-of-a-kind gifts:
A handmade “memory box” with dozens of congratulatory cards and letters, with a special letterpress dedication created by UW Libraries conservation manager, Kate Leonard. Betsy poses with farewell gifts, including a framed certificate from the Orbis Cascade Alliance formalizing her status as Council Member Emeritus and champagne and chocolates, of course!
UW Press presented Betsy with Searching for Betsy Wilson, a customized book jacket complete with “book reviews” written by Libraries Cabinet members, inspired by the biography Looking for Betty MacDonald.
A framed photograph by Lloyd Heath— an alcove in the Smith Room of Suzzallo Library, one of Betsy’s favorite spots in the Libraries. Handmade bookends featuring salvaged finials from the Suzzallo Library renovation project, crafted from an old oak tree that fell onto Allen Library in 2014, inscribed with a special dedication — created by the UW carpentry shop.
Listen to Betsy’s farewell message to the UW community, and consider making a gift to the UW Libraries in her name. Click here to donate
We are sure these gifts will bring back many fond memories of the UW Libraries and UW Press for years to come, proudly displayed in her soon-to-be new hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.
On behalf of Betsy and the organizing committee — to all those who participated near and far– thank you for making this such a special event.
Betsy will indeed be missed by us all. (tissue anyone?)
Photo credits: Benny Souriyadeth for UW Libraries
Stories
June Update
June 8, 2021
News
New Dean Announced: On behalf of the office of the Provost, we are happy to announce that Simon Neame (currently the dean of Libraries at the University of Massachusetts Amherst) has been appointed the new dean of University Libraries. The appointment, pending approval by the UW Board of Regents, is set to begin Sept. 1. Read the official press release. UW Libraries’ Lauren Pressley and Denise Pan have been named co-interim deans until September 1.
Across the UW Libraries, we look forward to continuing to support remote learning in summer quarter through robust online services AND we are excited to welcome our UW community back to campus for in-person learning in the fall! Our re-opening plans are updated on the Libraries COVID-19 update page, including these key dates and news:
What to Know Before You Go – Access, Returns, and more: A guide for all graduating and returning students!
Health Sciences Library will open Monday, September 13.
Odegaard Undergraduate Library plans to reopen on Monday, September 20.
Requests for physical items via Summit and ILL Service are scheduled to return on June 21.
Individual Study Space @ Research Commons(with new space for audio-interactive sessions) will continue 5 days-a-week during summer quarter and will close Friday, August 20to prepare for fall opening (i.e. reconfiguring space for more collaboration, new guidelines, etc.) Reopening date TBD.
Did you know?You have access to journals like Feminist Studies, GLQ: A Journal of Gay and Lesbian Studies, and Transgender Studies Quarterly available online with your UWNet ID!
Film Canon: An exploration of QTPOC representation in American cinema; a spotlight on high-quality, unique and exceptional films that illuminate experiences that have been rendered invisible or marginalized in American mass media.
Dive deep into the world of performance: From Shakespeare to Miller, Digital Theatre Plus gives you streaming access to hundreds of full-length performances and educational resources for the performing arts. Brought to you by the UW Libraries, find plays, musical theater, criticism, theory, and study guides to help you dive deeper into the world of performance.
Workshops and Help Hours
Pressbooks Webinars:
Getting Started with Pressbooks – Wednesday, Jun 9. Designed for users who are new to Pressbooks. Attendees will learn how to get started — from creating a new book to publishing and exporting offline versions of the text. Learn more.
Advanced Pressbooks Publishing – Monday, Jun 21. 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.
Weekly Drop-In Help – No Appointment Necessary:
Media Arcade: Get help with audio, video, and related digital media projects. We can also assist with any technical troubleshooting and hardware issues! See calendar
Foster Business Help Desk: Get help from the Foster Business librarians: All business research questions welcome! No appointment necessary, daily sessions M-F 12:30-1:30. See calendar.
Digital Scholarship Project Help Office Hours: Open to faculty and students, UW Libraries offers weekly office hours to advise on digital scholarship for research and course related projects. Examples include digital publishing, building digital exhibits, data research management, and more! Office hours are most Fridays 2:30-3:30. See calendar.
Beyond Scope and Content: Hidden Histories from the Film Archive
June 7, 2021
Beyond Scope and Content: Hidden Histories from the Film Archive is a new podcast and screening project intended to surface stories from the moving image collections held by the UW Libraries Special Collections. The project seeks to engage faculty and students, historians and film enthusiasts in the compelling visual history of the Pacific Northwest with a focus on the collections of three prolific and talented women from the Northwest: Doris Chase,Ruth Kirk, and Jean Walkinshaw. The podcast is being developed by Hannah Palin, Moving Image Curator for UW Libraries Special Collections and recent UW MLIS graduate Sarah Meidl.
Hannah Palin shares some additional insights on this exciting new podcast series available on most platforms including Apple and Spotify:
What was the impetus for the project beyond the Friends grant? How did you get the idea?
Last year, early in the Covid shutdown, the Libraries offered several classes for staff, one of which was Podcasting for Libraries. I’m an avid podcast listener with a background in film and audio production, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity. When we were asked to develop ideas for the class, highlighting women filmmakers in our collections popped into my head. It seemed like a no-brainer.
When did you start the project?
I completed a trailer for the podcasting class just about the time that the Friends of the Libraries award application was due. Again, no-brainer! I applied for funds to support the work of a student and received the grant award in June 2020. I hired Sarah Meidl, a 2nd year MLIS student onto the project in the fall and four episodes were completed in June 2021.
Why these artists in particular? How did you select which filmmakers to feature?
Three of our largest film collections belong to Doris Chase, Ruth Kirk, and Jean Walkinshaw. All three of them have deep ties to the Pacific Northwest and they were creating from the 1960s through the 1990s. While all three have created award-winning work and gained attention during their lifetimes, I felt like the general public needed to be reminded of their creativity, accomplishments and insight. The podcast format seemed like it would be a great way to highlight their work, get it out to a broader audience, and generate the credit they deserve.
Tell us more about the Film Archive at UW Special Collections — what is in it, what is its history? What else will people find? Why is it important?
Our goal is to collect films that reflect the visual history of the Pacific Northwest, as well as audiovisual materials that support the research interests of students and faculty across the UW. Moving Images from Special Collections have been used in programs featured on Netflix, PBS, and the History Channel. Recent screenings of UW films have been at the Northwest Film Forum, the Museum of Modern Art and Arcosanti. It has become a premiere destination for researchers interested in a variety of topics, notably the Adrian Cowell film and research collection that came to us through the work of Judith Henchy, Head of the Southeast Asia Section at the Libraries. Normally one wouldn’t think of an extensive collection of documentary films about the opium trade in Myanmar as relating to the Pacific Northwest. But Judith has built the Southeast Asia research collections into an internationally recognized body of work, so when Adrian Cowell passed away unexpectedly in 2011, his work needed a home. Judith jumped at the chance to have his work housed at the UW. It’s a fascinating body of work that explored the politics and culture of Myanmar, but also includes footage of Hong Kong and even Jimmy Carter’s White House.
Any interesting history about how/why these collections came to the archives– personal connections with staff/UW?
The three collections featured in the podcast series came to us directly from the filmmakers. Jean and Doris attended the University of Washington during their careers and felt an affinity for the university. Ruth had already donated her manuscript collection when her husband Louis passed away. To her it just made sense to give the UW her films.
In your opinion, what are some of the most interesting moments/images from these films? Anything else you want people to know/remember about these works?
All three women had remarkable careers. Doris Chase moved from painting to sculpture to video art and achieved fame in all three areas. Ruth Kirk focused on archaeology and historic preservation, documenting the work of the Makah at the Ozette dig at Neah Bay for over a decade. Jean Walkinshaw made programs about cultural figures and institutions with strong ties to the Pacific Northwest, from Jacob Lawrence and George Tsutakawa, to Tom Robbins and SubPop Records.
Will you be doing more podcasts like this in the future?
I recently submitted another grant proposal for Season 2 of Beyond Scope and Content to highlight women in our local television news collections. I would like to start with Dorothy Bullitt, the first woman in the United States to buy and manage a television station, Seattle’s KING-TV.
Hannah Palin is the Moving Image Curator at the UW Libraries Special Collections. She has been working on building the film and videotape collections since 2004.
Stories
Summer Tips: What to Know Before You Go
June 7, 2021
Congratulations, you’ve made it through the year! Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions for graduating students, people who are not studying during summer quarter, or whose student status may be changing in summer quarter. As most UW Libraries physical buildings remain closed due to COVID-19, all of the information here has been updated to reflect current operational changes.
Can I access stuff over the summer if I’m not enrolled in classes?
Research Commons: Your Husky ID can still provide access to individual study space at the Research Commons – until it closes for fall preparation on August 20th.
Our online collections, databases, and more can all still be accessed from off-campus during the summer using Husky OnNet or the off-campus proxy. But if you do not continue taking classes in the fall, these library privileges will expire during Winter 2021. See Accounts and Privileges (choose your affiliation and then scroll to the bottom section “Activation/Expiration of Online Services”) for details.
Keep up on the latest research in your field withEMAIL or RSS ALERTS, and social media.
I’m graduating! Anything I should know or do before I go?
YES!Alumni and visitors can also use most of our materials and databases while ON CAMPUS when we re-open; off-campus access is only available to current UW faculty, staff, and students.
*borrowing privileges does not include theMiller Horticulture Library or off-campus access to electronic resources.
When does my off-campus access to library resources expire?
If you are graduating this quarter, some NetID services, like off-campus access, will expire during winter quarter (2022). See Accounts and Privileges (choose your affiliation and then scroll to the bottom section “Activation/Expiration of Online Services”) for details. You can always access resources from on-campus once we re-open.
For more information on Remote/Online resources and answers to common questions about access and services, please see:
Betsy Wilson, Vice Provost of Digital Initiatives and Dean of University Libraries at the University of Washington plans to retire July 1, 2021, after a nearly 30-year career with UW Libraries, 20- years as Dean. As dean, Betsy leads a network of 16 academic research libraries across all three UW campuses, and the UW Press. She took on the additional role of vice provost for digital initiatives in 2013, a role in which she developed an overall strategy on digital issues, including open access and open science. From 1992 through 2000, Betsy was the associate director of the UW’s Libraries for Research and Instructional Services. Prior to that, she was the assistant director of libraries for Undergraduate and Instructional Services at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Betsy has served on numerous industry committees and working groups, including:
President of the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) in 2000–2001
ARL Board of Directors in 2003–2006
chair of the OCLC Board of Trustees in 2003–2007
chair of the Transforming Research Libraries Steering Committee in 2005–2007
chair of the Orbis Cascade Alliance Board of Directors in 2011–2012
chair of the Fair Use and Related Exemptions 2013–2015
ARL’s Kaylyn Groves interviewed Betsy via videoconference in March 2021. The interview follows.
Why and how did you get started in librarianship?
When I was an undergrad at Northwestern, my mother suggested that I get a work-study position in the library. I did, as a circulation assistant. Now my whole family jokes that my mother didn’t think I’d stay in the library for 47 years. It was interesting to see the library go through an automation project, and working at the circ desk was useful because I learned how to use the library. I even taught my friends how to use the library—original peer-to-peer instruction. My interest in the library was piqued even more as a result of my senior honors project. I was a double major in German and art history, researching the Der Sturm group of artists.
The card catalog directed me to Special Collections, which had ephemera of that group. I went to Deering Library and asked the head of Special Collections, Russell Malone, if I could see those materials. He was so excited because I was the first person who had ever asked to see those things. They were wonderful little booklets the artists distributed on the streets of Berlin, manifestos about their beliefs regarding art and politics. So, when thinking about what to do after graduation, the question formed in the back of my mind, “What’s this library science thing?” I asked at the reference desk for information about grad school in library science. They told me not to make my choice based on rankings solely. I ignored that advice and applied to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. They gave me a full scholarship, which was a gift because I had worked since I was twelve. Moving to Illinois was also appealing because I was ready to end my college romance and that would provide an easy way to sever ties.
Ironically, in library school, I avoided every class that had “automation” or “data processing” in the title. My career goal was to be a rare book librarian at the Newberry Library, which I never even got near. I wound up being a VP for digital initiatives. When I started, I had a romanticized view of librarianship. I was very fortunate to have great mentors who trusted me to learn and grow as I went along. Forty years later it’s a completely different world.
What are the highlights of your career?
My overall impact has been to cultivate an environment of collaboration, partnerships, inclusion, and innovation at the University of Washington. Twenty years gives you enough time to shape culture. First, I focused on developing a user-centered library, which we did through assessment.
My overall impact has been to cultivate an environment of collaboration, partnerships, inclusion, and innovation at the University of Washington. Twenty years gives you enough time to shape culture. First, I focused on developing a user-centered library, which we did through assessment.
Then we created the anytime/anyplace digital library and strengthened our Special Collections. All of those accomplishments were predicated on the fabulous staff. As the roles of libraries and librarians evolved, I also helped put the library where it needs to be—integrated throughout the
whole institution.
I’ve overseen a few large capital projects. In my first year as dean, we retrofitted the iconic main library building to make it seismically safe while maintaining its look, even with an earthquake occurring halfway through the project. We’ve won several architectural and library awards. We built an environmentally sound storage facility, and we built a state-of-the-art conservation center and program aided by funding from the Mellon Foundation and others.
That last project is just one example of our now-diversified funding sources. The library used to rely on state and university funding. I branched out. When I started, we had a $10 million
endowment that has grown to $60 million and gives us flexibility to do new projects. We also just finished a capital campaign for the university; the library brought in 148 percent of its goal.
Something I discovered over the course of my career is that I have a propensity for bringing people and organizations together. I was one of the prime architects of the merger of OCLC and Research Libraries Group (RLG) as well as that of the Orbis and Cascade consortia. The combined organizations provide greater value than they did as individual competitors. I also helped bring the Digital Library Federation (DLF) into the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR).
Early on, I had incredible mentors so I have tried to do the same for others.
Early on, I had incredible mentors so I have tried to do the same for others. Hugh Atkinson at Illinois was one of my mentors—he was fabulous. He always used to say “there’s room for everyone to succeed” and “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” When I was in my mid-20s he asked me, “How would you like to be in charge of training the whole state in using the new online catalog?” I said, “Oh, sure.” What did I know? Looking back, I wondered how he trusted me to do that. It was a stretch assignment. When I was done training everyone, he asked me, “What will happen to libraries when the mainframe is on everyone’s desk?” This was a few years before the first personal computer was available. He was prescient. He taught me so much—to trust others and give them opportunities to explore and expand.
…the staff I work with are amazing. They are the brightest highlight of my career.
Finally, the staff I work with are amazing. They are the brightest highlight of my career. I have complete confidence that the next generation of leaders will help us solve looming problems, such as issues in scholarly communication and sustainability. We’ve had some success with open access but I wish we were farther along.
Were there goals that you set as a director that you have not yet reached?
I thought this last year would be a really fun year—and then came the pandemic. We’ve learned a lot and done great work. We pivoted quickly to remote learning and research, which we couldn’t have done without the past 20 years of preparation. Many things are underway now that my successor will have to finish, including building the second phase of our remote-shelving facility and renovating the Tateuchi East Asia Library, which will be a thrill for the next person. We launched our Open Scholarship Commons online in 2020 and will open the physical manifestation of it as soon as we can re-enter the building. Terrific staff and planning will see these efforts through.
I wish we had a sustainable publishing model that would benefit the public good and open research. In the fall of 2000, our then provost Lee Huntsman and I talked about scholarly
publishing. He said, “It’s an economic model that will collapse on itself.” I asked him how long we thought that would take. He said, “Oh, I don’t know, eight to ten years.” But it’s still one issue our field needs to keep working on. And we need to ensure that knowledge can work its way into all of society, not just academia.
(Developing sustainable publishing models) is still one issue our field needs to keep working on. And we need to ensure that knowledge can work its way into all of society, not just academia.
On a related note, two to three years ago, the library assumed responsibility for the UW Press. We are just now starting to see the fruits of that consolidation with open access publishing and joint projects. I wish we were further along. And compensation for people who work in our libraries is still much lower than it should be, given the value they bring to the whole enterprise. This is especially true in places like Seattle where it is so expensive to live. It is troubling because it affects everyone individually and affects what they can contribute.
What advice do you have for individuals who aspire to leadership positions/roles in libraries?
It’s funny, I recently met with a group of students from the iSchool who asked me the same question. I felt like saying, “You’re asking me? My career has been so happenstance.” But when I reflected on it I was able to come up with a few pieces of advice:
• Know what your values are. They will get you through hard times as well as easy ones.
• Do the work. You can’t be a dean right away. You need time and experience to learn and
become humble.
• Find work-life balance. If you don’t do this, you will collapse in on yourself.
• Build your network of personal connections and influence. The ARL Leadership Fellows program, which I helped start, is a great opportunity for this. Fellows build the network they depend on for the rest of their career. Your cohort will always be there for you and will respond quickly when you call on them.
• Cultivate curiosity and optimism. These qualities are key in leadership roles.
• Get out and about on campus and in the field, take inspiration wherever you find it, and
communicate that to your staff.
What key issues do you think research libraries will face in the next five years?
There are so many unknowns about how we re-enter the post-pandemic world. How should we take teleworking forward? What is the role of the physical place? It is a powerful convening
mechanism for people. But there will be more demand for digital delivery of services and expertise as well as collections and knowledge. It will take a while for us to figure out what the library will be in the post-pandemic era, just as it will take time to figure out what the university will be. James Duderstadt used to say, “The future of the library predicts the future of the university.” We have the opportunity to rethink so many things. We need to be courageous about what we stop doing—what we didn’t do this year that no one noticed because remote capabilities are so superior now. That opportunity will enable us to take on new things.
James Duderstadt used to say, “The future of the library predicts the future of the university.” We have the opportunity to rethink so many things.
Pre-pandemic issues that will continue to be important include developing sustainable publishing and scholarly communication; advocating for public policy related to who owns the knowledge and research—all parts of it, from data to publications; and advancing from a piecemeal approach to digital infrastructure toward a shared and holistic approach.
Learning what an anti-racist organization is and how we get there will be critical. We need to move past the phase of reading books and having discussions. We also need to figure out how we measure the progress we make.
What still inspires you about librarianship?
I’ve stayed as long as I have because it is a mission-driven field, and I’ll be able to continue contributing (in retirement). It has inspired me to see library employees coming together to do amazing things, especially through a pandemic. I love the interconnectedness of the field around the globe. My husband used to say, “Marry a librarian and see the world.” We truly have the ability to solve worldwide problems.
This is also a lifelong enterprise. People I met through my first job are lifelong friends and colleagues. My first conference roommate is my current conference roommate, now solely because we enjoy each other’s company. This is a huge gift.
What do you look forward to in the next phase of your life?
I look forward to re-tapping into things I used to do that got lost in the traveling and professional work and intensity of the day-to-day, particularly the arts. I recently joined the Seattle Opera Board, which is a way of bringing my fiduciary and governance experience to something I care about. The opera has been very challenged this year but has done imaginative things, such as recording partially staged operas to stream online. I also want to see if I can still do printmaking and painting. I want to learn how to box. I have Parkinson’s—boxing is one of the best things you can do for it. All the boxing classes are during work hours. Now that won’t matter! I am moving to Louisville, Kentucky, where my sister, nephew, and niece live. It will be hard to leave Seattle after 29 years—I will miss the mountains and cool marine air—but my new home will be walking distance from my sister’s. My husband died two years ago and the pandemic made me realize how important it is to be close to family. Apparently, Louisville is the place for ARL directors to land. David Carlson is retiring there too and Hannelore Rader still lives there. Poor Bob Fox will have more advice than he wants.
From afar, I will be cheering on the next dean and supporting the UW Libraries as it soars to the next level.
