In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. day, UW Libraries encourages you to explore resources within our collections and across campus that reflect Dr. King’s work and collective efforts to combat racism, inequality, and injustice in our community and beyond.
MLK visit to Seattle – Seattle Labor History ProjectAt the invitation of his friend, Reverend Samuel B McKinney, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. came to Seattle in November 1961. The visit proved to be much more controversial than expected. Rev. McKinney tells the story in a dramatic video interview.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Streaming Video Guide from UW Bothell Library: a virtual display highlighting streaming videos in our collections that touch on themes related to fights for racial and social justice in the United States since the mid-20th century. More specifically, we have grouped the videos by their specific themes to enable “browsing” across this display. Examples of titles include:
Whose Streets? “Told by the activists and leaders who live and breathe this movement for justice, Whose Streets? is an unflinching look at the Ferguson uprising.”
I am Not Your Negro “Using James Baldwin’s unfinished final manuscript, Remember This House, this documentary follows the lives and successive assassinations of three of the author’s friends, Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., delving into the legacy of these iconic figures and narrating historic events using Baldwin’s original words and a flood of rich archival material.”
UW Libraries Reading Groups with a Social Justice Focus
REAL Lit[erature]:
Real Lit is an online, peer-based book club led by UW Tacoma Library, in collaboration with the Center for Equity and Inclusion. In the context of the chosen book, students, staff, and community participants share their perspectives and collective experiences. Real Lit is open to anyone in the UW community. Learn more.
Community Reads:
Hosted by the UW Bothell/Cascadia College Library, this annual program facilitates quarterly events and/or creative projects in the Library centered around common books or other media. Our intention is to choose readings and other media which will cultivate engagement among the campus community around topics of equity, social justice, and anti-oppression. This program is open to everyone. Learn more.
Happy New Year, Huskies! This month, take advantage of important new resources, and join us in person for the Wellness Room open house and annual New Year celebration at the Tateuchi East Asia Library. Grad students – don’t miss your opportunity to share your work at the winter quarter Scholar’s Studio, and be sure to check out the Student Programs section of our new web site to learn more about Libraries student programming.
– FUN FACT –
How many hours have Huskies used the new recording studio in Suzzallo?
*answer at bottom of post
News and Stories
Wellness Room Open in Odegaard Library: Learn about the new space designed just for students! The new Wellness Room in 326 Odegaard offers a quiet and comfortable area to unplug, recharge, and relax. With a different areas dedicated to specific wellness practices, books, yoga mats, and wellness tech, it’s a great place to decompress and re-center when the stress starts to build. Read the story, and Save The Date for the Open House on January 20!
Enhanced Libraries Search- Test the BETA: UW Libraries has launched a new, optional beta version of Libraries Search with several exciting features that will help users navigate to and discover resources, including the Research Assistant artificial intelligence (AI) feature. Your feedback provides valuable input to help inform the future product.
Evaluating Information Guide –Updated for 2026! This recently updated guide gives you strategies, tips, recommendations, and resources to navigate a challenging information environment to help you identify reliable sources from misinformation and incorrect facts.
AI Guides
Generative AI: How to fact check ChatGPT and Other AI Tools
AI Knowledge and Ownership includes information on how to deal with false information generated by AI, commonly referred to as “AI hallucinations.”
SpaceNews – Now you can access the most trusted and comprehensive source of news and analysis of the companies, agencies, technologies and trends shaping the global space industry. Available to UW academic users via UW Libraries subscription.
Tuesday, Jan 20, 2026, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m Students, staff and faculty – Celebrate the opening of the Odegaard Library Wellness Room! Stop by for some relaxing tea, conversation and try out the furniture and amenities of the new space. All UW students, staff and faculty are welcome. A current Husky Card is required to enter Odegaard Library.Event link.
Thursday, Jan 29, 2026, 3:30 – 5 p.m Join us for a festive New Year celebration featuring East Asian cultural performances along with presentations from other international traditions. Enjoy light refreshments as we ring in the new year and honor the rich cultural heritage of East Asia.
Thursday, Jan 29, 2026, 7 – 9:30 p.m. Peter Blecha is the director of the Northwest Music Archives, an award-winning author, a founding curator at MoPop, and a longtime staff historian at HistoryLink.org. Blecha’s newest book, Stomp and Shout: R&B and the Origins of Northwest Rock and Roll, draws on his deep knowledge as a leading expert on Pacific Northwest music history to chronicle both well-known and overlooked icons of the early Northwest Sound. Event link
Programs, Workshops
Scholar’s Studio (Grad and Post Doc Students) – Submissions Due Jan. 29! Submit a proposal to give a 5-min. low stakes and fun lightning talk about your capstone, research, or pedagogy! Scholars’ Studio is an opportunity to practice communicating your work in front of a supportive general audience — without using a lot of technical or academic jargon. Learn more and apply.
Digital Scholarship Project Help Office Hours: First Tuesday of the month – next session February 3. Learn about getting started with digital projects at UW. We offer consultations for research and course related projects. Examples include support for digital publishing, building digital exhibits, and more! We can help you find the right tools, resources and instruction whether you’re just getting started or are working on an on-going project. This service is available only to current UW faculty, students, and staff. First Tuesday of the month, and help online by appointment.
Pressbooks Accessibility Office Hours: next sessions January 15 and February 18. Drop in at any time during our office hours to get help checking and resolving accessibility issues on your UW Libraries Pressbooks project. The UW Libraries provides access to the Accessibility Authoring Tool. Get help with this tool and ask questions about accessibility in your Pressbook!
Stories of these beacons of light can be found throughout Special Collections. Stop by and check out Sentinels of the Sea, featuring selections from Special Collections offering a glimpse into the Pacific Northwest’s rich maritime history. Through Mar 2, 2026, Allen Library lobby
This two-part exhibit is a celebration of the United States constitution’s 250th founding anniversary in 2026. Winter Quarter 2026 features agencies centered around the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Spring Quarter 2026 features departments and agencies focused on science and technology.
Learn how archivists define the scope of their collections, and see some of the fascinating, unexpected artifacts have made their way into Special Collections! Read more about the exhibit and check the calendar for curator talks and tours. Through Sep 18, 2026 Location: Allen Library (ALB), Special Collections (Basement level)
Rainier, Tahoma, Nutselip… the mountain is known by many names. A Pacific Northwest icon, Mount Rainier holds a unique place in the region’s culture and lore. Its massive peak is the dominant land form on the horizon for more than a hundred miles in any direction, rising far above the surrounding Cascade Mountains. Beginning in the late 19th century, European and American visitors explored the area, and activism led to the establishment of Mount Rainier National Park in 1899. Through Friday, Aug 28, 2026, Allen Library (ALB), Special Collections (Basement level)
This exhibit highlights rare works from the Tateuchi East Asia Library Special Collections, showcasing how innovations in papermaking, printing, and design across East Asia transformed the form of books and the cultures they shape. Through March 31, 2026, Location: Gowen Hall (GWN)
*ANSWER TO FUN FACT TRIVIA: Students and faculty have booked over 134 sessions in the recording studio totaling over 250 hours!
Stories
Digital Preservation Milestone
January 9, 2026
Over 1 Million Files Preserved
UW Libraries preservation repository, created in 2016, has just crossed the 100 TB mark, which represents the digital preservation of over one million files! Behind the numbers, however; this milestone reflects the prioritization and dedication to preserving UW Libraries materials for generations to come, including books, photographs, newspapers, government papers, audio recordings, films, and videos and more.
What is a preservation repository?
The preservation repository is the storage infrastructure in which digital content is preserved. The majority of files in the repository are from UW Libraries’ Special Collections, including the examples above, as well as born-digital files that were created by a computer or other digital technology (phones, cameras, etc.). The increasing number of born-digital files reflects the significant change and shift in the way people use digital tools to do their work, research, and document their lives.
A Job That Never Ends
While the term “digital preservation” on its own may seem as simple as saving a file on a server, it is actually an array of many different activities to process, maintain and update files to ensure users can access them for years to come, often adapting for software and hardware that may become obsolete, and protecting files from corruption or bitloss. This work is ongoing, requiring the expertise of dedicated staff to continually process materials and assess the integrity of the repository.
‘A Dark Archive’: Not what you think
The preservation repository is what is referred to as a “dark archive.” While disappointing to some, a dark archive is not the secret library of Darth Vader – it refers to a preservation repository that has limited access to reduce the risk of accidental or intentional edit, corruption, or deletion of digital files. When you access a digital file online via the UW Libraries catalog, Special Collections Digital Collections, Special Collections’ Internet Archives, in ArchivesWest and other online platforms, it is actually a copy of the preserved file. Files sit patiently in the preservation repository as they are monitored for any changes in their bitstream until a researcher or department requests the preservation copy from the Digital Preservation Librarian. A copy of the digital file is then restored from the preservation repository, processed, and delivered to the user or department.
Explore Digital Materials
UW Libraries digital collections are immense, covering a wide range of subjects and materials. Many students do not realize these collections exist, until prompted by their instructor or a librarian. To help inspire your next discovery, here are a few examples that illustrate a small selection of the amazing digital materials you can access in our collections:
Art and Culture
Doris Chase was an artist who specialized in dance/sculpture films that explore dance performance and sculpture. Digitized Doris Chase films, audio and video recordings are available on the Internet Archive.
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The Crocodile Cafe Collection contains over 3,000 hours of live recordings from 2002 to 2007 by audio engineer Jim Anderson of over 2,000 bands and artists. Genres include punk, indie rock, sludge metal, emo hip pop, and power pop, including The Harvey Danger concerts, online in Soundcloud
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The Jacobs Research Funds supports anthropological and linguistic research on living Native Americans. Recent additions to the preservation repository include digital content from the
The namesake for the Jackson School of International Studies, Henry M. Jackson served Washington state for six terms in both the US House of Representatives and in the US Senate. Henry M. Jackson photographic and graphic materials are preserved in the preservation repository.
Environment and Nature
The Mountaineers photograph album collection depicts some of the first major expeditions of the Mountaineers including the first major outing to Mt. Olympus in 1907. Other areas represented in the collection include Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker/Glacier Peak, Mt. Stuart/Mt. Daniel, Mt. Adams, Canada, Montana and various locations in the western United States.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 46: records began in 1914 and digitized records from 1917-1996 are available online in Digital Collections.
If you need more inspiration, or guidance on how to use digital materials in your research work, ASK US – our team can help you think through a project, recommend tools and resources to get you started! Explore student projects.
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Stories
Making Space for Wellness at Odegaard Library
January 7, 2026
Hey Huskies! We know you contain multitudes—the stress of classes, the excitement of campus life, friend dynamics, work responsibilities and endless study sessions. Carrying all those multitudes can get heavy! Aligned with campus-wide efforts to support student care and well-being, UW Libraries newest addition will help to lighten your load, even if only for a few minutes between classes.
UW Libraries staff constantly review current trends and research to meet changing user needs. New literature and data connects student wellness and academic success. The Association of College & Research Libraries listed supporting student wellness, well-being, and mental health as a top trend for academic libraries in 2024.
Your New Multi-Use Sanctuary
We’ve taken an underused quiet study space and transformed it into a flexible, multi-purpose Wellness Room to support your mental and physical wellbeing. Unlike most other wellness spaces on the UW Seattle campus, which are single-use, the Odegaard Wellness Room prioritizes multiple activities in one place.
Students who contributed to the design phases of the room in 2025 gave us positive feedback, with several reporting they felt more relaxed and ready to take on the day after engaging with the activities and furniture. This is your dedicated space to recharge, rest, relax between classes, and decompress from the pressures of academic life.
Stressed Out? Enjoy a new place to chill out!
The Wellness Room is intentionally designed with four activity areas based on student and staff feedback, allowing you to choose how you want to self-regulate:
Meditation & Mindfulness: Grab a yoga mat or use one of the items from our Mindfulness Kit (like a buddha board or gratitude card deck).
Relaxation, Rest, and Re-Focusing: Find comfortable chairs and furniture to simply take a breather. Use items from the Focus Kit like crossword, Sudoku, and logic puzzle books to reinvigorate and re-focus you.
Craft & Creativity: Get hands-on with our Creativity Kit! You can dive into puzzles, coloring books, art markers, and origami.
Sensory Soothing: Use sensory furniture, fidget toys, or items from the Sensory Kit (like a wobble cushion or textured worry stones) for self-regulation.
You can check out the four Wellness Kits at the Information Desk on the 2nd floor.
Wellness Room Collection
The room also includes a small book and card deck collection with ideas for mindfulness and de-stress activities. Items in this collection should remain in the room and cannot be checked out. For similar materials that can be checked out, visit the Life Skills Collection on the 2nd floor of Odegaard Library.
Bring Your Best Buddies (The Companion Cats, that is)
The Wellness Room is the perfect place to enjoy the circulating wellness resources you already love! These resources are tools for emotional regulation, sensory self-regulation, and time management.
You can check out items from the Wellness Technology Collection for in-building use only at the Information Desk on the 2nd floor, including:
Our famous animatronic Companion Cats (Purrcival and Clawdia, who have already boasted over 100 checkouts!) for a sweet calming friend and furry companionship without the allergies.
A Purrble co-regulating pet for breathing breaks
Lumie Light Therapy Lamps for an extra dose of light when the days get dark
White Noise Machines for when it’s too quiet to think
Cellphone Lock Box for a crucial break from scrolling
Quick Vibe Check & Guidelines:
To ensure this space remains a sanctuary for everyone, we have a few guidelines:
Take a Study Break: The Wellness Room is not a study space.
Go Tech-Free: We highly encourage you to make the Wellness Room a technology-free space, unless you are accessing meditation or other relaxation material.
Be Space Considerate: If someone is using a space or equipment, kindly wait for them to finish without interrupting. Spread out, give people adequate personal space.
Be Noise Considerate: This is a designated quiet space. Please keep speaking, chanting, and music to a minimum, and remember to leave the room as nicely as you’d like to find it.
Keep Items Safe Please keep all furniture and equipment inside the room, and return any library-placed items when you finish using them.
Thank You!
In addition to Libraries’ programmatic funding, several philanthropic funds were instrumental in helping to create the Wellness Room, including UW Parents Collections and Programs Endowed Fund and the Anne Neider Library Endowment.
Ready to experience a moment of peace and fun? Come visit the new Odegaard Wellness Room and take that well-deserved break in Room 326!
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Stories
New Exhibit: Out of Scope
December 14, 2025
Explore Unexpected Artifacts in Special Collections
As a library department focused on research, many of the artifacts accumulated by Special Collections over the past century don’t always get their exhibit spotlight like we think they should! Now on display are many of these fascinating, sometimes mysterious artifacts in the collection, highlighting unique stories and histories with ties to the University and our region at the new exhibit – Out of Scope, Unexpected Artifacts in Special Collections
What is “Out of Scope”?
Like most museums, a libraries’ special collections are often defined by their “scope,” that is, certain criteria and parameters that guide collection development. For University of Washington Libraries, that scope is textual materials (vs. artifacts) focused on University history (i.e. photographs, books, faculty papers, research artifacts, etc.) as well as materials that document local and regional histories – cultural, civic, environmental, etc. Smaller collecting areas include rare books and book arts, costume textiles, and atlas and travel collections. Where museums collect materials that tell a story for the viewer, research Libraries collections are meant for direct engagement with materials for research purposes, allowing the user to create something new through the discovery of new information or perspectives from primary sources.
The Great Unknown
Many of the out-of-scope materials came to the Libraries as part of larger collections, but those particular items were not well documented, and their origin story is unknown. There are also some “mystery” items whose purpose and use are also unknown. Come and see the exhibit, maybe you will have the answer!
Something New To See
“This first rotation of the exhibit represents just the tip of the iceberg,” says Director of Special Collections, Lisa Oburg. “Because many of the materials are extremely fragile, they are not intended to be kept on display for long periods of time. We plan to rotate the materials throughout the year so visitors have the opportunity to see many different items from the collection.”
There are currently more than 200 items on display. While all are encouraged to view the exhibit in person to get the full “scope” on these artifacts, here are a few highlights…
Student Life
1870s- UW’s first “yearbook” – students etched their predictions about the future on to parchment stored in a custom-made log, created from a giant Washington Elm that was removed from campus
Athletic programs, one sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes!
FUN FACT: Changing Scope When materials come to Special Collections, sometimes they include non-textual items that are outside the scope, but the Library keeps them because they are part of the given collection. When the collection scope changes at an institution, collections often can move to other institutions. For example, The Burke was the de facto campus museum until it reevaluated its scope to indigenous and natural history. When it shifted its scope, some of those “out of scope” materials were moved to UW Libraries Special Collections or the Museum of History and Industry.
Film and sound technology of the past
Wax cylinder recording, the 1800’s version of a record or CD
Moviescop -to view 16mm film reels
Tapes! VHS, cassettes, and more!
UW Medicine
Antique medical instruments, kits, medicines (what’s in the green jar?)
UW School of Nursing Dolls and Hats – legend has it that these dolls, each representing nursing uniforms from different eras, were on display at UW Nursing School and were transferred to Special Collections at an unknown date, along with school documents and actual nursing uniforms. Nurses used to be identified by their hat type, each style representing their individual nursing school. The handmade model hats in the display reflect this out-of-style requirement.
Local Matchbooks – a standard amenity at most restaurants and businesses in the mid-century; you can see a variety of matchbooks from Canlis, 13 Coins, Dahlia Lounge, Benihana and many more!
Out of Scope Gallery Talks!
Explore unique materials in the collection and the exhibit with insights and stories from the curators all year long!
Special Collections is located on the basement level of Suzzallo and Allen Libraries. The exhibit is in the Special Collections Reading Room, and can be viewed during open hours (Monday through Friday, 1 PM – 4:45 PM)
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Stories
December Update
December 9, 2025
The end of fall quarter is here, and 2026 is just around the corner! A sincere THANK YOU to all who consider supporting UW Libraries in your annual philanthropy; your gift supports every student and a global community of teaching, learning and research! Speaking of giving… check out our story below on UW Tacoma Library’s Food for Finals wish list and consider the perfect UW gift with UW Press’ 40% off Holiday Sale! Whether you are going home, taking a trip or staying on campus, enjoy your break and take advantage of free access to streaming media, games and more (see “Boredom Busters” below!). Just in time for the new year, we are excited to announce a new web site as well, so if you aren’t already, be sure to follow @uofwalibraries to stay informed about this and other upcoming events, new resources, exhibits and more.
Hours During Interim/Quarter Break
Know before you go– be aware of adjustments to hours for end-of-quarter and interim break for all libraries.
Built Environments, Drama, Music and Tateuchi Libraries will be closed from December 15, 2025 – January 4, 2026 as the buildings they occupy will be closed.
News and Stories
A New Quarter, A New Web Site! During the week of December 15, 2025 (interim break), UW Libraries will be launching a new website– a comprehensive redesign of the website. The change will be significant in terms of navigation, reflecting input from extensive user testing and feedback to address common questions of usability and discoverability. Learn more about the new website launch.
Support UW Food Insecurity Programs – sadly, hunger is a barrier to academic success for many students who struggle with food insecurity. You can help by donating to these campus food programs:
UW Press publishes unique and compelling work (both fiction and non-fiction) with regional, national and global impact. With a wide range of topics, you’ll find something for everyone on your list. Take advantage of this special holiday savings today and give a gift that is uniquely “UW” for the holidays, that next birthday, or “just because” Now through January 2, 2025, browse our site and use the promo code WINTER25 at checkout to receive 40% off your purchase and free domestic shipping. Happy holidays, and thank you for supporting the University of Washington Press! Order/ Learn More.
Break Time Boredom “Busters”
Have some “down time” during the academic break, and not sure what to do? Explore these FREE entertaining Libraries resources!
Streaming Media:From foreign films, documentaries, musical and dance performances, public broadcasting archives and more, there are thousands of online videos to explore that you won’t find on your typical streaming services!The Game Collection at Odegaard Library contains board, card, and tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs). The collection is located on Odegaard 1st floor, just inside and to the left of the main entry doors.Good Reads is a collection of fiction and nonfiction books for students to read for leisure. All the books in the Good Reads collection have been published within the last five years, so find your new favorite book here!Digital Collections: From old UW yearbooks and campus photos, vintage ephemera like postcards, menus, magazines, posters, rare books, manuscripts, maps and so much more to spend a few hours (or a few days) going down the “rabbit hole” of wonder and delight that is UW Libraries Special Collections – AND UW Libraries ethnomusicology collections!
Exhibits
Out of Scope: Unexpected Artifacts in Special Collections– through Sep 18, 2026 Location: Allen Library (ALB), Special Collections (Basement level)
Learn how archivists define the scope of their collections, and see some of the fascinating, unexpected artifacts have made their way into Special Collections!
LAST CHANCE TO VIEW: Right to Read: Banned books and the First Amendment- through December 12 Location: ground floor Suzzallo Library: Our first amendment right protects our freedom of speech, but what about our freedom to read? The exhibit Right To Read: Banned books and the First Amendment discusses the complex nature of banned books in the United States. Learn more.
The Mountain is Out – Ongoing through Friday, Aug 28, 2026 Location: Allen Library (ALB), Special Collections (Basement level) Rainier, Tahoma, Nutselip… the mountain is known by many names. A Pacific Northwest icon, Mount Rainier holds a unique place in the region’s culture and lore. Its massive peak is the dominant land form on the horizon for more than a hundred miles in any direction, rising far above the surrounding Cascade Mountains. Beginning in the late 19th century, European and American visitors explored the area, and activism led to the establishment of Mount Rainier National Park in 1899.
From Brush to Type: The Evolution of Bookmaking in East Asia – through Mar 31, 2026, Location: Gowen Hall (GWN) This exhibit highlights rare works from the Tateuchi East Asia Library Special Collections, showcasing how innovations in papermaking, printing, and design across East Asia transformed the form of books and the cultures they shaped. Exhibit details
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An example of how a map is built by using separate layers or focuses in an environment. Learn more about GIS and GIS research services
The University of Washington Libraries has recently joined the BTAA-Geospatial Information Network (GIN). The Big Ten Academic Alliance Geoportal is open to all with the goal to support the geospatial research community by increasing discoverability and access to geospatial resources. This work is facilitated through building and maintaining a collective open-source spatial data infrastructure featuring metadata optimized for spatial discovery platforms. The resources in the portal are selected and curated by librarians and geospatial specialists at fifteen research institutions in theBig Ten Academic Alliance. The resources include GIS datasets, web services and digitized historical maps.¹
UW Libraries representatives to the GIN are Matthew Parsons, Geospatial Data & Maps Librarian, and Allison Anderson, GIS Infrastructure Support Specialist. We are excited to begin working with our fellow BTAA colleagues and contributing to the mission and vision of the GIN.
UW Libraries has added over 3,500 Washington-related web services to the GIN
Working together with Karen Majewicz, Associate Director: Technology & Data Curation, BTAA Geospatial Information Network, UW Libraries has added over 3,500 Washington-related web services to the GIN, which included importing all the GIS data layers for regional data portals (i.e. WA Geospatial Open Data Portal) into the BTAA-GIN Geoportal.
What is GIS?
“A Geospatial Information System (GIS) is a technology that is used to create, manage, analyze, and map all types of data. GIS connects data to a map, integrating location data (where things are) with all types of descriptive information (what things are like there). This provides a foundation for mapping and analysis that is used in science and almost every industry. GIS helps users understand patterns, relationships, and geographic context. The benefits include improved communication, efficiency, management, and decision-making.”²
UW Libraries Map Collection
The UW Libraries map collection is part of the Government Publications, Maps, Microforms & Newspapers (GMMN) unit located in the ground floor of the iconic Suzzallo Library. The map collection comprises over 280,000 items in total (maps, digital data, aerial photography, monographs, etc.).
A strength of the collection is the nearly 100,000 aerial photographs of Washington State, dating between 1942-2003.
Compare aerial images of the same geographic area over time with tools like the Washington State Department of Ecology Shoreline Aerial Photos.
The map collection also serves as a provider of GIS services to campus. Map collection GIS staff include myself (Matt), Allison, a GIS Graduate Staff Assistant, and a Student Lab Assistant. Together we assist with data discovery and use, provide classroom instruction sessions, offer workshops, do minor software troubleshooting, and host events. To learn more about our services and collections, you can visit our Geospatial Data Resources Guide and our Map Collection web page.
For the past ten years, our team has hosted the Annual UW GIS Symposium to highlight and celebrate the transformational role of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and data visualization technologies across the University by featuring keynote speakers and short talks from the UW GIS faculty, students and staff. Each symposium is subsequently published as an Annual Proceedings and hosted on the Libraries’ Manifold platform.
We are looking forward to increasing the exposure of the UW Libraries map collection holdings through participation in the GIN and to continuing to contribute resources to Geoportal.
Learn more about the research institutions involved and the sources of the geospatial records.
Recognize an outstanding librarian: Do you know a UW librarian who has been integral to your teaching, learning and research experience at UW? Nominate them for the Distinguished Librarian Award by November 30! Learn more about the nomination process.
November (aka the official start of sweater and soup season) has definitely arrived in the Pacific Northwest! By this time of year, your schedules have probably become routine, but there is always something new to discover at UW Libraries. Even though family weekend is over, our UW Family Trivia Contestruns through the end of the month. Visit our latest exhibits and register to attend the popular “Going Public” event as well as new Open Scholarship Labs and other free workshops throughout the month. Please consider nominating an outstanding librarian for the 2026 UW Awards of Excellence. New students–don’t forget to read this helpful post: Top Ten Things I Wish I Knew My First Year, especially before finals!
Operations Update
Due to unpredictable noise impacts from the Suzzallo Façade and Seismic project, the Smith Room will be closed through September 30, 2026. It may re-open earlier if work finishes ahead of schedule.
News and Stories
U.S. Documents Librarian Cass Hartnett talks about UW Libraries’ annual public Constitution reading.
Incoming ARL President: Dean of University Libraries, Simon Neame has been elected vice president/president-elect by the Association of Research Libraries. His term as president will begin January 1, 2027. Read the announcement.
KUOW/Seattle Now: U.S. Documents Librarian Cass Hartnett talks with KUOW’s Patricia Murphy about UW Libraries’annual public Constitution reading. Listen to the interview
Congratulations to Holly Miowak Guise whose book Alaska Native Resilience: Voices from World War II , published by UW Press, was awarded three prizes from the Western History Association: the 2025 Robert G. Athearn Award for best book on the twentieth-century West, the 2025 John C. Ewers Award for best book on North American Indian Ethnohistory, and the 2025 Robert M. Utley Prize for best book on the military history of the frontier and western North America. Discover more 2025 award-winning books from UW Press.
UW Librarian, Faculty and undergraduate students collaborate to create a new digital archive dedicated to preserving feminist knowledge and stories at UW Bothell and Cascadia College Library. Read the story.
Featured Resource
Chart for illustrative purposes only, not an actual output from real data.
NEW for the 2025-2026 academic year — Dewey Data! Imagine your research paper focuses on US consumer habits and you need to find out how many Frito Lay brand potato chips consumers purchased in all states. You can access consumer data sets like this, and many other types of data with Dewey Data! Provided by UW Libraries, Dewey is a research platform that provides access to third-party datasets across a variety of data categories including foot traffic, construction permits, healthcare, workforce, consumer behavior, and transportation. University of Washington faculty, students, and researchers are eligible for access and must register an individual account. Learn more.
11/17-Going Public: Navigating Online and Professional Harassment, Panel Discussion (In-Person) Join Emma Spiro, Katherine Cross, and Kate Starbird for a discussion on how scholars can continue to do meaningful, public-facing work while protecting their well-being, supporting their communities, and sustaining trust in research. The discussion will be followed by a Q&A and a brief reception.
11/20-Scholar’s Studio:Come and see what your fellow students are researching! Hosted by the UW Libraries Research Commons and The Graduate School’s office of Graduate Student Affairs, Scholars’ Studio gives UW graduate students and postdoc students the opportunity to share their research across disciplines, make connections and build presentation skills. Scholar’s Studio features up to 10 short presentations (5 minutes each and includes a Q&A with presenters followed by a reception. Presenters receive feedback on their presentations through feedback forms distributed to audience members.
Join us Wednesday, Nov 5, 2025, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m:
Fun Fact
Did you know that UW Libraries and UW School of Music host a monthly lunchtimeconcert series? Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in the North Lobby of Allen Library to hear UW students perform a variety of music, live in the Library. Your cheese sandwich never felt so classy!
Cultural organizations such as libraries, museums, and archives rely on a collection development strategy known as ‘scope‘ to shape their collections based on priorities outlined in their organization’s mission. Based on priorities outlined in their organization’s mission, the scope may center around a geographical focus, historical period, etc. Despite these guiding parameters, out-of-scope material inevitably makes its way into an organization’s collections. Out of Scope highlights unique and intriguing items found in Special Collections.
Right to Read: Banned books and the First Amendment- through– December 12 Location: ground floor Suzzallo Library: Our first amendment right protects our freedom of speech, but what about our freedom to read? The exhibit Right To Read: Banned books and the First Amendment discusses the complex nature of banned books in the United States. Learn more.
The Mountain is Out – Ongoing through Friday, Aug 28, 2026 Location: Allen Library (ALB), Special Collections (Basement level)
Rainier, Tahoma, Nutselip… the mountain is known by many names. A Pacific Northwest icon, Mount Rainier holds a unique place in the region’s culture and lore. Its massive peak is the dominant land form on the horizon for more than a hundred miles in any direction, rising far above the surrounding Cascade Mountains. Beginning in the late 19th century, European and American visitors explored the area, and activism led to the establishment of Mount Rainier National Park in 1899.
From Brush to Type: The Evolution of Bookmaking in East Asia – through Mar 31, 2026, Location: Gowen Hall (GWN) This exhibit highlights rare works from the Tateuchi East Asia Library Special Collections, showcasing how innovations in papermaking, printing, and design across East Asia transformed the form of books and the cultures they shaped. Exhibit details
Save the Date
A New Web Site Is Coming! UW Libraries anticipates launching its new web site mid-December, during the interim session. A detailed announcement with expected changes and new features will be posted as soon as the launch date is confirmed. For the most recent updates, check/bookmark UW Libraries Operations Update page.
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Stories
Top Ten Things I Wish I Knew My First Year
October 29, 2025
UW Libraries are so much more than study space and books! Students often tell us they wish they had known more about Libraries’ services at the start of their UW journey. So check out these tips and remember, we’re here to help–just ASK US!
1.Librarians (humans) can help you find things that Google can’t. Really. Also, Peer Educators provide student-to-student help on how best to navigate the Libraries’ vast resources and services.
2. Get help with digital and online content creation projects (audio/video production, data visualization, data mapping and more!) through the Libraries’ Open Scholarship Commons!
3. Connect Google Scholar with your UW Libraries account to see which results can be accessed through UW Libraries with a direct link to the resource in the catalog!
4. Students never need to pay for an article. UW Libraries provides access to thousands of databases, journals and books — online and through Interlibrary Loan. Be sure to bookmark the A-Z Databases guide on our website!6.
7. Interlibrary Loan can deliver materials from almost any Library worldwide!
8. You can chat with a librarian 24/7 for help online (like at 2AM when you can’t find something!)
9. There are 15 UW Libraries to study at and explore (including Bothell, Tacoma and Friday Harbor!)
10. Learn about different study and collaboration spaces:
You can reserve individual and group study spaces throughout the libraries. Learn more.
Quick Zoom? Check out the Zoom pods, available on a first-come basis in many libraries (Suzzallo, Odegaard, Foster, and Engineering)
Need to record? Check out the fully-equipped Recording Studio in the Open Scholarship Commons, or the Sound Studio/Media Lab in Odegaard– free to use for all students, faculty, and staff of the University of Washington and can be reserved on a first come, first serve basis
Bonus Tip: Libraries FREE Workshops and Events!
The Libraries offers all kinds of FREE workshops, special events and discussions all year long. Whether you are a first year student or a PhD, the Libraries can help you improve your research skills, connect with others and help you better navigate all the Libraries resources and tools.
“I didn’t know that libraries and librarians are so resourceful and that it could be a good idea to have a chat with a librarian and go through library resources instead of struggling to find information on your own online. If I knew this earlier I would have made good use of it.” – undergrad survey response
To find out about Libraries events, bookmark the calendar, Follow us and/orsubscribeto weekly calendar alerts.
UW’s Health Sciences Library (HSL) was established in 1949 to support the newly formed School of Medicine (founded in 1946). The library expanded into its current location in 1973, and over the years, the space has seen many transitions–from a collection of 52,000 physical volumes, to housing hundreds of baud terminals (the ancestor of modern computer terminals) and eventually, a small number of Macs and PCs, mostly used by Libraries’ staff. HSL’s first computer lab opened in 1987, significantly expanding access to desktop computers and electronic information for all users. Since then, the HSL has continued to evolve, upgrade and add capacity with increased computers and seating, and spaces dedicated to collaborative work, teaching, presentations, and exams. For more than 75 years, the HSL has been a critical service to UW health sciences, especially when it comes to helping our communities – both on campus, and throughout the region, adapt to and access new pathways to electronic health information.
In 2025 HSL is evolving again with the opening of the newly remodeled Health Science Library Commons! Students, faculty and staff will enjoy a brand new lounge area for collaboration and study as well as a variety of new computer labs and classrooms designed for testing and teaching.
In the HSL Commons Lounge, users will be able to study, eat, or just hang out and relax. There is comfortable seating for groups, round tables and a study “bar” window, all with plenty of outlets.
The lounge also has access to a keycard-accessible wellness room designed for individual use (prayer, rest, pumping, etc.) and an all-gender restroom.
The Commons is the first phase of a multi-year project that includes improvements to approximately 60,000 GSF distributed across classrooms, laboratories, offices, study, special use, general use, and building support for Health Sciences.
There are six different testing and classroom areas. The largest classroom has 115 seats, each equipped with desktop computers. The space can also be divided into two separate classrooms, each equipped with 85-inch monitors, cameras/soundbars and wireless content sharing and collaboration tools. The smaller rooms have seating ranging from 3-8 seats, all with desktop access.
BEFORE
AFTER
The changes to the HSL spaces over time have been quite significant, adapting to the needs of the research community, and creating a more welcoming, comfortable and tech-friendly experience for all users. The remodel effort, which began in Spring 2024 and was completed in September 2025, is the first phase of a multi-year projectto advance inter-professional instruction and education technologies essential for supporting in-person experiential learning, distance and distributed learning, and meet current and future accreditation requirements for each of the Health Sciences schools. The project scope includes improvements to approximately 60,000 GSF distributed across classrooms, laboratories, offices, study, special use, general use, and building support covering Levels 2 through Level 7 of the Health Sciences Building.
The Library is hosting an open house event on October 16, and all are welcome (with UW ID) to come and explore, mingle with colleagues and tour this amazing new space. We hope to see you there!
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. day, UW Libraries encourages you to explore resources within our collections and across campus that reflect Dr. King’s work and collective efforts to combat racism, inequality, and injustice in our community and beyond.
NEW for the 2025-2026 academic year — 
