With Libraries buildings closed, many students, staff and faculty are missing their favorite place to study, access to computers and software, and their friendly librarians at the reference desk; but Libraries staff are working remotely every day to connect you with the tools and support you need. As Ari Hock, a UW PhD student realized when spring quarter began—the staff and tools he relied on from the UW Libraries are still here to help—wherever you are.
Hock is pursuing his PhD in learning sciences and human development within UW’s College of Education. For a capstone project in his educational psychology class last quarter, Ari relied on the Libraries’ Media Arcade for access to tools like the Adobe Creative Cloud, and to learn new skills to complete a video for his capstone project, exploring artists’ process and inspiration. But he soon realized the Media Arcade was much more than just a computer lab with software.
Ari Hock
“Being a grad student and doing my own research can be kind of scary and isolating when you are working alone all of the time, says Hock. “Working in the Media Arcade inspired me to consider different perspectives. It provided a place to work with people who aren’t in my program with different areas of expertise and ideas. Being able to connect to that energy helped me to push myself to learn more. I would rather be there (in the Media Arcade) than pay for a subscription to work by myself; it just feels more collaborative.”
In addition, Hock also worked with Libraries staff to help teach a 6th grade class lesson on podcasting and digital media.
“For me, using the Libraries–be it remotely or in person– is much more than getting meaningful content and resources, it’s about building relationships to support my work,” says Hock.
In the wake of COVID-19, and remote learning in spring quarter, Ari wasn’t sure if he would be able to get support from the Media Arcade, but when he reached out, UW Libraries Media Arcade Technician, Bryan Shipley, was there to help.
“I was having trouble accessing the cloud resources I needed, and it wasn’t a simple issue. Bryan went the extra mile to identify the problem and work with the vendor to help fix the issue so that I could continue working,” said Hock.
In spring quarter, Ari is building on the video production skills he honed in the Media Arcade to create instructional videos for the College of Education, helping faculty to produce their own videos for remote learning. Check out Ari’s video on how to use captions with Panopto.
While we all look forward to the day when campus life returns to a more routine state, there is one thing that won’t change—UW Libraries teams—from the Media Arcade in Suzzallo, to any one of our sixteen Libraries – are still here to help. Libraries staff are meeting and advising students and faculty remotely through ZOOM meetings and personal consultations over the phone and via email.
If you have questions about digital media production, the UW Libraries’ Media Arcade staff are available via Zoom, chat or email to help advise on projects and troubleshoot a broad range of technical questions that students may have at home. To learn more about how the Media Arcade can help you, visit their website or contact [email protected].
PS: April 19- 25th is National Libraries Week. If YOU have a story about how the UW Libraries have helped you – make a video for the 2020 student video contest (it could be worth $1,500!), email or tweet it to us. We would love to hear from you!
#YourLibrary #UWTogether
Stories
HathiTrust Expands Access to Materials for UW Libraries
April 6, 2020
Updated 7.20.2020
On March 31st, HathiTrustannounced that it is offering an Emergency Temporary Access Service (ETAS) which will allow students, faculty, and staff from eligible member libraries to access a significant amount of online materials that are currently unavailable to them in library collections.
The importance of HathiTrust to Libraries re-opening strategy: As we consider multiple options for re-opening, any approach for a gradual re-opening will be balanced with the importance of the Universities’ HathiTrust partnership that currently provides electronic access to more than 1.7 million books in our print collection that are not physically accessible while the Libraries’ buildings are closed. Please note that this access is a temporary benefit for UW members during this emergency situation. Once the UW Libraries restores access to our physical collections, this temporary online access will be shut off and will not be available to students who continue learning remotely (out-of-state, or internationally). For this reason, we advise faculty to work with subject Librariansto identify course materials that will be consistently available regardless of Libraries’ operations and access to physical materials
What is HathiTrust?
HathiTrust is a membership-based partnership of academic and research institutions offering a collection of over 17 million titles digitized from libraries around the world. It is the largest set of digitized books managed by academic and research libraries — under the aims of scholarly, not corporate, interests.
Why does the ETAS matter for Huskies?
With UW Libraries buildings closed, there is no access to physical materials at this time, which has been a challenge for students, faculty and staff, including Librarians.
With this additional access to HathiTrust, users can now access 5.4 million of the UW Libraries print materials and items in the public domain (out of copyright) through the digital collections in HathiTrust.
How does it work?
To access, go to hathitrust.org, click the yellow LOG IN button, select “University of Washington” as the partner institution, and sign in with your UW NetID. For more instructions, see our UW Libraries HathiTrust Research Guideand also HathiTrust User Information. Books currently available to you through ETAS have the label “Temporary Access.” You will be able to read the book online, within a web browser. There is no option to download the work in full. You can also “check out” a copy for an hour at a time. Your access will renew automatically at the end of that hour, unless another user requests the book after that hour is over.
Please note–this access is temporary. The members of the UW community only have this online access for as long as the current emergency situation persists.Once the UW Libraries reopens and access to our physical collections is restored, this temporary online access will be shut off. For this reason, we still advise faculty with our motto “first alternatives, then equivalents” to ensure consistent access to course selects and other materials.
Why aren’t these materials already accessible to HathiTrust members like UW?
These items are in-copyright and the UW Libraries owns a print copy (not an online copy) that may be available on a bookshelf in a UW library building.
What is available to UW via HathiTrust during normal operations?
From HathiTrust Digital Library you can also read full-text digitized versions of books that are freely available in the public domain (not in copyright). On January 1, 2020, the copyright expired on nearly 50,000 books with a publication date of 1924. Browse the HathiTrust 1924 Publication Collection. These books are marked “Full View.” You will be available to view, download, search, and add to a collection. Most items will have images of scanned pages and a plain text version. If the item is still in copyright (not in public domain), you have the “Limited (search-only)” option to view. These items have a “Search inside the text” option that will find the frequency and page number of specific words and phrases, which may help you determine if the work is worth finding elsewhere. For more information, see UW Libraries HathiTrust Research Guide.
How does HathiTrust and UW Libraries work together during routine operations?
UW Libraries partnership with HathiTrust is critical to our every day work at the Libraries. It is a reciprocal relationship — our users have access to millions of titles through HathiTrust digital collections, and we contribute back to it. This work is ongoing–to preserve and digitize UW Libraries collections through digitization and preservation replacement(creating digital surrogates, and creating physical facsimiles). When a book is no longer able to be shelved safely due to age and deterioration (what we sometimes refer to as a “brittle” book), we confirm if the book is available digitally via the HathiTrust. If it is, often the book will be boxed by Conservation staff, and a link provided to the digital copy through the Libraries’ catalog. The HathiTrust provides full-text, searchable access to out-of-copyright books. If the subject librarian decides to retain a brittle book in the collection and the book is determined to have enough potential use or research utility and is not replaceable by other means, a preservation facsimile (or occasionally preservation microfilm) is made, along with a high-quality digitization of the book that is deposited in the HathiTrust for both access (if out-of-copyright) and digital preservation.
For more information, please read HathiTrust FAQs for Member Libraries and for Users.
###
Stories
Documenting COVID-19 – A Service of UW Libraries Special Collections
April 6, 2020
The University of Washington Libraries Special Collections brings together the most rare and unique resources held by the larger University of Washington Library community. From papyrus to born digital, our holdings span history and the globe and offer boundless opportunities for exploration and discovery.
While many people associate our work with physical materials—our digital archives represent around 10% of our collection, and we are continually adding to it and creating new collections in real time. This work covers, among other things, documentation of web sites; current events as they are happening such as the 2017 Womxn’s March; and collecting electronic records from regional organizations.
At this unprecedented time in our history, documenting the impact of the novel coronavirus to our region is an active and ongoing effort.
Special Collections staff are still working, albeit remotely. We are galvanized in our role as stewards of the University’s history and our cultural heritage. Documenting the COVID-19 pandemic is an important part of our job right now, and a service we are honored to perform.
A digitized copy of The Daily Seattle Times’ coverage of the 1918 flu pandemic.
Unlike the influenza pandemic of 1918 during which news was primarily conveyed by newspaper, today we have twitter feeds, websites, streaming video and a variety of other online news sources.
Special Collections has an active website archiving program in partnership with the Internet Archive. Since 2013, we have routinely captured the content contained in over 500 URLs documenting the wide range of our communities with the focus being on the Pacific Northwest. Many of the websites captured by this ongoing program are now documenting local reactions and initiatives in response to the novel coronavirus. These sites are updated regularly. For example, the Mountlake Terrace News is one local site regularly captured.
In addition, Special Collections is contributing local website URLs to an effort by the International Internet Preservation Coalition (IIPC) to capture websites from around the world related to the novel coronavirus pandemic; our contribution will be websites from communities and institutions of the Pacific Northwest. As one might imagine, there are many websites to be captured and there is currently a backlog of website URLs to be crawled, but they will be captured and made available in due time.
Our work in Special Collections is ongoing. In addition to preserving the past, we also collect for the future. One day, when the crisis has long since passed, tomorrow’s scholars will be looking back at these materials for insight, context and answers—answers that can be found in the documentation of our region’s response, captured by UW Special Collections.
Ann Lally, Digital Collections Curator for Special Collections, working from home.
For more information about the COVID-19 archive, please contact me, Ann Lally, Digital Collections Curator for Special Collections: [email protected]
###
Stories
UW Libraries donates N95 respirators and personal protective equipment (PPE) to UW Medicine Emergency Response
March 26, 2020
The needs of our health care workers are top of mind right now, evermore so with consideration of our own UW medical community. Many libraries and museums stock protective gear for collections processing and disaster response and there is a growing effort among institutions to donate these critical supplies during this unprecedented time of need.
The UW Libraries responded to the call, delivering 350 N95 respirators, 3,200 nitrile gloves and 18 safety glasses to UW Medicine via the Emergency Response Fund, which accepts in-kind donations of approved PPE. Stephanie Lamson, Director of UW Libraries Preservation Services, and UW Libraries facilities manager Brad Van Horne worked with other UW Libraries staff to collect, package, and deliver these critical supplies.
“Knowing that we had respirators and gloves that could be used during the shortage, it was just a matter of time and coordination to effectively pull everything together,” said Lamson. “I’m glad that the Libraries could help contribute in some small way to help support UW Medicine and the caregivers who need these supplies right now.”
UW Libraries PPE supplies are loaded on to a truck for delivery March 25th.
Typically, PPE supplies are kept by collecting institutions like libraries and museums primarily for disaster response. For example, in the event of a water leak or earthquake, preservation teams may need to enter contaminated spaces to retrieve materials, requiring PPE.
Part of the UW Libraries existing PPE supplies were originally donated through a collections disaster workshop with Seattle Heritage Responders, sponsored by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) and Seattle Heritage Emergency Response Network (SHERN) and funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The workshops were held at the Seattle Art Museum and UW Libraries in 2018.
Many other libraries and museums are also donating their PPE or contributing to the effort in other ways. Learn more.
###
Stories
Course Reserves: Online Alternatives vs. Equivalents
March 25, 2020
As we head into our online spring 2020 quarter, we know that instructors and students are searching for ways to access course texts and readings. At the same time, for the health and safety of all, UW Libraries’ physical spaces are closed to staff and users until further notice, and there is no access to physical library collections. The Libraries is asking everyone to work under an assumption that students will not have access to physical materials that would have been available for courses for spring 2020.
When it comes to previously-planned physical texts and course reserves materials, we are encouraging a motto of “first alternatives, then equivalents.”
Alternatives: We encourage all instructors to consider online alternatives to planned physical course texts and DVDs — alternatives include open textbooks, and e-books and streaming media already licensed by UW.
Why choose alternates over equivalents?
1) Ease of use. These resources are immediately available and will avoid potential delays that may occur in trying to source equivalent materials.
2) More equitable access for all. In particular, open textbooks provide students with equitable access to content in many subjects; they are available for free online; and students can have copies printed locally at low cost.
Information about these alternatives may be found on the “Online Resources for Teaching” and “Streaming Video” sections of the Libraries Services for Remote Learning page.
Equivalents: At this time, new course reserves requests are limited to electronic resources. For previously-submitted requests for required physical materials, librarians and staff are working to identify equivalent onlinee-book/streaming resources that are available from publishers. However, data show that online equivalents don’t exist for all physical texts; and, when equivalents do exist, licensing them will take additional time, so they may not be available for course use immediately.
The Internet Archives recently announced the creation of a National Emergency Library, opening up more than 1.4 million ebooks to address the increased global demand and need for electronic reading and research material to serve the nation’s displaced learners.
Why is this action important? Are others following suit?
Understanding the anticipated need for increased e-resources, earlier in the month, the UW Libraries officially endorsed the move to open the Internet Archives. The new National Emergency Library is a huge development in supporting our faculty and students in teaching and learning online in spring quarter. HathiTrust is also planning to expand fair use access to its corpus to ensure that the academic communities of its members can continue to utilize HathiTrust for teaching and learning. UW Libraries will continue to post news about access to these types of resources on our UW Libraries COVID-19 web page.
As a Librarian, how does this impact your work to facilitate e-book orders for classes?
UW Librarians have been fielding ebook requests for required textbooks over the last week. Before the Emergency Library was announced, Librarians faced a common challenge– in many cases, there was simply no multi-user ebook available for the Libraries to order — this changed dramatically with the opening of the National Emergency Library.
History Librarian, Theresa Mudrock says this has made a real difference, but challenges still exist.
“Today, I was able to inform 10 instructors that the books they needed were now available, whereas yesterday they were not,” said Mudrock.
“That said, this increased access will not address all of our needs for e-resources, particularly for certain disciplines.”
“All of us across the UW Libraries are working hard to identify alternative solutions and provide best practices for selecting e-resources which we will continue to document on our Libraries Services for Remote Learning Page,” noted Mudrock.
Some groups are criticizing the Internet Archive’s move to create the Emergency Library- what is the response to this criticism, and what are the facts?
The Internet Archives posted a new blog outlining its response to criticism, fact-checking misinformation about the Emergency Library. Updated FAQs are also posted here.
What should students and faculty be aware of when requesting ebooks?
Your librarian is the key to finding if an ebook is available. They can check to see if we already own a copy, check the National Emergency Library and other ebook collections, and if need be, order a multi-user ebook for your class needs. Keep in mind not every book will be available so flexibility is the key. Your librarian may also be able to suggest substitute readings.
Moving to Online Learning: Top 5 Resources For Faculty
March 20, 2020
The UW Libraries is committed to supporting UW students, staff, and faculty to prepare for online teaching and research in Spring 2020. We are continually evaluating our services and working with partners across the university to support faculty during this time of significant change. Please see also our LIBRARIES RESOURCES FOR REMOTE LEARNING page, accessible through on our main COVID-19 page. This page provides a centralized resource for finding tools and support for both students and faculty.
In addition to many remote resources that we routinely provide, we are working on some additional ways to adapt and respond to a remote teaching and learning environment. With the abundance of the information being shared, we want to make it easy for you to find what you need from the Libraries.
Our top 5 resources to help support a transition to remote teaching and research:
1. Research Guides Librarian-curated “Research Guides” provide links to subject specific journal databases, ebooks and more.
2. Our Librarians:
Subject librarians have expertise in specific areas and are available for remote consultations via phone, email, or online (e.g. Zoom). Contact your UW Seattle, UW Bothell, or UW Tacoma Subject Librarian to schedule a consultation.
Chat with a librarian 24/7! This service is staffed by UW Librarians but at peak service times or off-hours you may be chatting with a librarian from another academic library.
3. E-Resources for your class. We are expanding purchasing of e-resources to support remote teaching. When requested and available we will be purchasing multi-user e-books and removing restrictions on duplicating print reserve items. Check-out our ebooks guide here. Before you make course reserve requests, a few important things to note:
Not all resources are available to purchase for online, educational or classroom use.
With Libraries buildings closed, students will be unable to borrow physical copies of library course reserve textbooks — a challenge especially for those who are unable to afford the expense. Traditionally, textbook publishers do not sell e-books to libraries, but check out our Resources for Remote Learning -Online Resources for Teaching to see what you can do — and how the library can help.
You may want to explore alternatives like Open Educational Resources (freely available, openly licensed materials) for use in your course. Use the search tools available on our guides UW Seattle OER Guide , UW Bothell OER Guide , UW Tacoma OER Guide to find existing open textbooks or create and publish your own open resources for your course. Curious about creating or revising existing OER? Sign up for spring quarter Pressbooks workshops (there is one happening next week!) https://tinyurl.com/uwpressbooks
4) Streaming Video: The Libraries already provides access to thousands of streaming videos that you can use to support online learning. We are also expanding purchasing of streaming media as much as possible including strategies to expand the corpus of films, documentaries, and other streaming media available to faculty to use in their classes.
5) Libraries in Canvas. The Libraries supports instructors using Canvas in many ways, including a “UW Libraries” page which can be added to the navigation of any Canvas course. For more customized content or assistance, instructors can add a Subject Librarian to their course using the “Librarian” Canvas role. The Libraries also provides instructors with research-specific course content via the Canvas Commons repository.
Other Important Things to Know:
UW Bothell and Tacoma Libraries may have campus-specific resources and guidance. Be sure to check UW Bothell and UW Tacoma Libraries websites for the most up-to-date information.
The Libraries works very closely with the Center for Teaching and Learning, and this page Teaching during the coronavirus outbreak is a great resource to address many questions outside the Libraries, including CANVAS.
Thank you for your patience and support as we navigate these unusual circumstances, and please continue to share your ideas and questions by contacting us here.
#YourLibrary – We are here to help!
Stories
A Message from the Dean: FAQ and Libraries Response To COVID-19
March 15, 2020
Lizabeth (Betsy) Wilson is the Vice Provost for Digital Initiatives and Dean of University Libraries at the University of Washington in Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma.
This post was updated on 3/21/20 6:40PM .
Along with many other public institutions, businesses and community members in our region, UW Libraries has been working continuously to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak in accordance with the University’s and Public Health – Seattle & King County guidelines. We recently announced additional changes to operations this week – all tri-campus Libraries are closed to the public effective 5PM March 17th. We are working at the forefront of this response, together with the University leadership and other partners, developing new policies and procedures and evolving our approach in real-time based on new data and information as it becomes available. While the University remains open, facilitating remote coursework and alternate ways to conclude the quarter, this is certainly not business as usual.
Changes will continue to happen quickly, and at times, without notice. We acknowledge the challenges of an unpredictable environment and the hardships that everyone in our community is facing in finding alternative options for working, studying and simply living life in this new normal. It’s not easy. That said, I know that the collective ingenuity, creativity and generosity of our community will prevail, helping us all to move through these challenges together. I am inspired by the work that is happening in the Libraries and across campus that demonstrates this resolve and perseverance.
When it comes to operations planning and ensuring the safety and well-being of our staff and users, many factors go into the decision-making process and approach. When changes happen, we expect questions. To provide some context and insight into our process, a few of the most frequently asked questions are highlighted here:
How do you make the decision to close Libraries?
Recent closures reflect real-time decision making – where information and input received changes the approach from one day to the next. Balancing the critical needs of students during finals week with the ever-evolving situation in our community is an hour-by-hour, day-by-day assessment.
Last week, a very limited operational schedule was implemented, considering the current student demand, available staff, new information, and our robust capacity to use an online service model. The decision allowed for some modicum of technology access for those students who need it as well as faculty consultations for teaching and learning through finals week.
Based on site evaluations, even in this limited capacity, it was untenable to support stronger recommendations from public health for social distancing, and together with UW’s tri-campus leadership, the decision was made to close all Libraries.
Given that the University has provided free access to collaboration tools, it is possible for all students and faculty to continue collaborative work remotely in order to complete required work through the end of the quarter.
Is the policy the same for UW Tacoma and UW Bothell Libraries?
At this time, UW Tacoma and UW Bothell have announced closures to campus Libraries. Campus web sites should be consulted for the most up-to-date information on operational changes. That said, depending on the circumstances, campus Libraries may make different decisions at different times in consideration of the unique nature of the campus environment, capacity and governance structures.
How can Libraries support faculty and students?
While physical buildings will be closed for onsite use, the Libraries will fully staff our digital services such as 24/7 chat services, research consultations offered through Zoom, and so on. We are confident we will be able to provide high quality support for teaching, research and clinical care, albeit remotely.
We are also expanding our bandwidth for working with faculty as they move their courses to online modalities. We’re expanding purchasing of ebooks of class readings and streaming media to support remote teaching. Services and guidance for both students and faculty are outlined on the Libraries Services for Remote Learning. This page provides one, centralized resource to help support you as we move into a completely online spring quarter.
These modified operational changes allow us to continue to serve students, staff and faculty but also reduce risks for our users and our staff.
Where else can students access computers and technology equipment?
The student-run UW Student Technology Loan Program is allowing students to continue to check out equipment through the end of the quarter.
Will the Libraries re-open at the start of the quarter?
At this time, the Libraries will continue with its existing operational plan until the beginning of spring quarter.
As the University’s policies for classroom learning evolve, the Libraries will work in coordination to reassess and evaluate when and how to adjust operations as the situation evolves. We have not yet made a decision on whether or not to adjust our operational plan for spring quarter. Priorities and decision-making are continually evolving as the situation evolves – on our campus, in our local community, and at the national/global level. We are taking steps to prepare and think through a variety of scenarios that include a case for extended remote services during spring quarter. Above all, the health and wellbeing of our staff and users are at the center of these decisions.
How are Libraries staff able to work remotely?
The Libraries already had an existing and robust online service delivery model with a host of online services, and a campus community adept at accessing collections and services remotely. Many of our Librarians routinely work remotely via online chat, phone or email consultations, so that part of our work remains unchanged.
Thanks to the University of Washington’s robust infrastructure – IT, communications, professional expertise across diverse industries, and lightning fast work to make teleworking capabilities available, it was possible to execute a remote workforce plan essential for a successful and timely response across the University, including the Libraries. The majority of our staff our working remotely to provide a continuity in service that is possible as outlined here.
How can UW Libraries work with other Libraries to share information and tools?
By responding as quickly as possible to our colleague’s questions and participating in industry forums to share what we have learned through the process, we hope to contribute to the documentation on best practices that are being developed and honed in real time. I want to underscore however, that every institution is unique. The size of an organization (and/or its user base), the timing of the academic year or other external factors, the existing infrastructure to execute system-wide implementation of new policies and procedures—these are just a few factors that could influence planning in a particular context. As with most solutions, there is no one singular approach that is going to be right for all, but we can help each other by sharing resources, tools and insights as we move forward collectively along the same path.
I have a question about Libraries operations- where can I go?
First, be sure to check out Libraries’ COVIV-19 web page and Libraries Services for Remote Learning. We welcome input, questions and opportunities for collaboration as we continue to learn from and respond to this unprecedented situation. If you have new ideas for how the Libraries can improve digital and remote services, or any other questions, please send your comments to us.
Thank you.
I would like to extend a huge thank you to UW Libraries staff, facilities crews and UW leadership for their support, guidance and overtime hours spent helping our community manage and respond to COVID-19.
As a reminder, the Libraries Coronavirus Update page is the best source for real-time updates and changes to UW Libraries operations.
###
Stories
The Top 5 Things You Should Know About the Census
March 5, 2020
UPDATED 3/31/2020
April 1st is Census Day! The 2020 Census kicked off mid-March and runs through July 2020. UW Libraries is here to help you understand all the ins and outs about the Census, how to do it and why it’s important. Check it out:
1. The COVID-19 pandemic won’t change a lot about how you fill out the census.
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, you might be wondering where you should be counted or what might have changed about the census. The answer is not too much. Due to your ability to complete the census online, you can do your civic duty from the comfort of your own home and continue to help stop the spread of COVID-19! If you are wondering about where to count yourself continue reading below and visit this site that will help you know where you should be counted.
2.You should participate in the Census.
Responding to the census is required by law, however, you should complete your census form for many other reasons as well. The results of the census help to determine how many seats your state has in the House of Representatives. If your state is counted incorrectly, it might not gain another seat, even if its actual population merits one. The results are also used by state governments to redraw the boundaries of their congressional and state legislative districts. Not only does responding to the census make sure you are represented fairly, but it also helps to create data that can be used to impact funding for things like federal financial aid, school safety, student wellness programs, and more! In fact, because UW is a public institution and receives federal funding, the census results will directly impact us in many ways.
3. You can complete the census online, but beware of email scams!
This year is the first year that households are invited to complete the census online instead of on paper. Beginning around March 12th households throughout Seattle and the country will begin to receive these invitations in the mail. These invitations will have instructions for how to fill out the census online. It is important to note that the Census Bureau will NEVER send you anything through email, so just keep an eye out for a letter in the regular old snail mail!
4. How you complete the census depends on where you are living on April 1st.
The Census Bureau defines where you live as where you sleep most of the time. So, If you live with your parents, you will be counted in their household. If you live in the dorms, you will get an email from housing and food services that will let you know what you need to do. This still applies to those of you who might have moved home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although you might be at home with your parents on April 1st (Census Day) you will still be counted at the dorms. Similarly, if you live in Greek housing, the Census Bureau will be contacting each of the houses to make sure you are also correctly counted. If you live with roommates or housemates off-campus you can fill out the online form together. If you choose this option you will need to coordinate with them and decide when to fill it out together. You could even make a party out of the occasion! However, if you are all busy and can’t find time to get together you can just individually fill out the form, only answering the questions about yourself and skipping the rest. The Census Bureau wants to count everyone who is living in the U.S. on April 1st, so International students should fill out the census as well. For more information about this please read this press release from the Census Bureau about how to be counted correctly.
5. It only takes 10 minutes to complete.
It only takes 10 minutes. Perhaps you need a break from studying or have a spare 10 minutes during your day, then fill out the census! The census helps to shape so many things about our future, the future of our university, and the future of our country. It’s really important and 10 minutes is worth being able to shape our future.
If you would like to learn more, visit the census website here. You can also read this blog post written by President Cauce about the importance of participating in the census, and check out UW Libraries Digital Exhibit and Guide: Census 2020!
Stories
HEALWA: The On-Call Library for Washington State Healthcare Practitioners
February 14, 2020
Medicine, more so than many other disciplines, is a rapidly changing field. According to some estimates, medical knowledge doubles every few months, up from the fifty years it took to double in 1950.1 Using evidenced-based resources to provide the best care is imperative in the healthcare industry. Yet, unless healthcare workers are affiliated with an academic medical center or clinic, (or work in a large hospital system) they may not have access to a medical library and the up-to-date information, tools and subscription-based resources they need. From a small urban clinic to the sole provider serving a rural community, to your local hospital; HEALWA is an essential tool for healthcare professionals.
The HEALWA project (“Heal” Washington) was created in Washington State to ensure that providers, regardless of their location or size, can access these critical tools. HEALWA is a portal to online resources for selected medical professions in Washington State. It is funded by a portion of the professional license fees. HEALWA provides online access to journal articles, databases, and other tools needed for evidence-based practice and research.
However, the HEALWA initiative is much more than a collection of tools and resources. We are also educators and advocates working to increase awareness and access to HEALWA for all medical professions.
Currently, 27 professions are served by HEALWA representing a wide range of providers and specialties and 219,287 eligible users. As part of our mission, we are continually working to increase outreach and access to HEALWA across the state. One of our most recent focus areas is Eastern Washington. Working in collaboration with the National Network of Libraries of Medicine Pacific Northwest Region (NNLM PNR) and Washington State University (WSU) Spokane, HEALWA partners taught webinars and workshops and engaged with stakeholders across the region to introduce and increase access to HEALWA.
HEALWA, UW and UW LIBRARIES
The project is conducted under a contract between the University of Washington and the Washington State Department of Health. It was started by a former director of the UW Health Sciences Library, Sherri Fuller, and Peter Dunbar, a former president of the Washington Medical Association. They approached the legislature and were successful in getting the original legislation passed in 2007, and the HEALWA website launched in 2009. Today, HEALWA continues to be managed by our own UW Health Sciences Librarians’ who are uniquely qualified to create and maintain the online library that is HEALWA.
“HEALWA is managed by our own UW Health Sciences Librarians’ who are uniquely qualified to create and maintain the online library that is HEALWA.”
Each biennium, the legislature approves our funding to continue, and additional professions are also added by legislation, as a result of partnerships between HEALWA and the professional associations of the provider groups.
When students graduate, if they are licensed in Washington, they will have access to HEALWA.
Tania Bardyn, Associate Dean of University Libraries and Director, Health Sciences Library, is the Principal Investigator for HEALWA
Patricia Devine, Community Outreach Coordinator, is responsible for the day-to-day operations of HEALWA.
Densen, Peter. “Challenges and opportunities facing medical education.” Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association 122 (2011): 48-58.
PS: April 19- 25th is National Libraries Week. If YOU have a story about how the UW Libraries have helped you – make a video for the 2020 student video contest (it could be worth $1,500!), email or tweet it to us. We would love to hear from you!
