Stories

UW Libraries Joins the BTAA-Geospatial Information Network

December 1, 2025

by Matt Parsons, Geospatial Data & Maps Librarian
Reposted and edited from BTAA-GIN Collection Stories

Representation of how a map is built by using separate layers or focuses in an environment — **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.

a screenshot of aerial maps from two different years — **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.

1-sources: https://geo.btaa.org/ ; https://gin.btaa.org/about/guiding-principles/ ; https://geo.btaa.org/

2- https://www.esri.com/en-us/what-is-gis/overview

Stories

November Update

October 29, 2025

graphic showing a medal of award of excellence — **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 Contest runs 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

photo of KUOW interview — *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

“Alaska Native Resilience” Garners Western History Association Awards

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.

The Daily features UW Libraries New Exhibit: “Right to Read: Banned books and the First Amendment

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

bar chart showing different consumer products at different levels — *Chart for illustrative purposes only, not an actual output from real data.*

Dewey Data 2025 Company Profile: Valuation, Funding ... 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.

Learning Workshops and Lectures

11/6- TEAL Digital Scholarship Lecture Series 2025-26: Dating the Undated: Unlocking the Chronology of Premodern Japanese Publications through AI and Microscopic Imaging

11/ 13– Fine-tuning LLMs on Custom Datasets (In Person) and (Online)

Open Scholarship Labs:
- 11/12- Publish & Protect Your Research in a Flash with Manifold (Online)
- 11/19- Exploring Research and Teaching with Humap an introduction to Humap, a digital humanities platform designed to create interactive maps, timelines, and exhibits. In-Person and Online

event graphic showing different icons that communicate harassment and the text/title of event

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.

11/19- Critical Gaming Collaboration Studio: Game Jam – Turning a Draft into a Functional Proposal take a draft proposal from RozForum and work together to transform it into a functional game concept.!

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.

First Wednesday Concert — 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 lunchtime concert 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!

Be sure to check the calendar to confirm the performance schedule.

Exhibits

NEW

Out of Scope: Unexpected Artifacts in Special Collections

Explore unexpected artifacts that have made their way into Special Collections!

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.

F rom 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.

5. Visit the Odegaard Writing and Research Center… before you start a project. They can help you get started and save time!

6. The UW Libraries Undergraduate Researcher Tutorial is definitely worth your time, even if you are not a new student!

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/or subscribe to weekly calendar alerts.

More Tips:

UW Libraries Student Guide – a “one stop shop” of helpful links and resources

Preparing for Finals Week: Top 10 Tips for Success

7 Essential Tips for Research: Advice From a UW Librarian

Stories

Announcing UW Health Sciences Library Commons

October 6, 2025

You’re Invited!

HSL Commons Open House

October 16, 2025

11am-1pm

Stop by the new space for tours and light refreshments anytime between 1-3pm

Guided tours start at 11:30 and 12:30pm

Husky Card Required To Enter Building

add to my calendar

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

the old testing area with small tables, not all with computers

AFTER

modern tables in rows, all fully equipped with tech, new carpet, walls, screens

the previous information desk in the HSL

the new space design for comfortable seating and conversation

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 project to 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!

Learn more about the Commons

###

Stories

October Update

September 23, 2025

campus map with many circles showing library locations — **UW Libraries Self-Guided Tour.** Did you know UW Libraries is a network of 15 different libraries – 13 on the Seattle campus? Take the tour to learn more!

Welcome, Huskies! Fall is in the air, campus is buzzing with activity, and UW Libraries is here to help you prepare for the first day of class and the year ahead! Be sure to bookmark UW Libraries Self-Guided Tour as well as the helpful introductory Faculty Guide and Student Guides for great resources and tips on all the things you’ll want to know as a new, returning or graduating student. We hope you will join us for the 20th Annual Constitution Reading, a well-loved tradition with some new and special additions as well as Open Access Week events. There are also some great new exhibits and an interesting line-up of learning workshops on open access, humanities data, efficient publishing and more. Have a fantastic first week back, and remember – if you have research questions, we have answers– just ASK US!

International Open Access Week: Who Owns Our Knowledge? October 20 – 26

Join us for a series of events throughout the week, hosted by UW Libraries Open Scholarship Commons

Gaming the System: Open Access Week Game Corner, Monday, Oct 20, 2025, 1 – 4 p.m.
Group Viewing of “Knowledge is Power: Who Owns It, Who Shares It, and Why Libraries Matter”, Tuesday, Oct 21, 2025, 12 – 1 p.m
Publishing on the Cheap, Wednesday, October 22, 1:00-2:00 p.m. in person or online
The People’s Data Workshop: Accessing and Analyzing Government Data Sources, in person or online
Open Access Demystified, Thursday, October 23, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Collaboration Studio: Welcome to Critical Gaming – Let’s Play Open!, Thursday, October 23, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
NIH Open Sharing Requirements: How to Navigate Your New Responsibilities, Friday, October 24, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

News and Stories

What’s happening around Suzzallo Library?: The covering around Suzzallo is due to a major seismic improvement project to preserve and protect the beloved campus icon, and ensure the building’s structural integrity and safety for the next 100 years. Work is scheduled through August 2026. More information and project updates.

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.

Featured Resource:

UW Libraries Undergraduate Researcher Tutorial has a new topic: Critical AI Literacy. This tutorial supports students in critically reflecting on AI in personal, research and academic contexts, and investigates several guiding principles for developing AI Literacy. Relevant AI information has also been added to all Tutorial topics: Strategic reading; Evaluating information; Information sources & databases; Search skills & strategies; Citation practices; Publishing & sharing research and Finding your balance.

Community Events and Exhibits

First Wednesday Concert Series, Allen Library, October 1, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. – Students of the UW School of Music perform in this lunchtime concert series co-hosted by UW Music and UW Libraries.

NEW SPACE: Health Sciences Library Commons – Open House/Tours, October 16, 11AM-1PM – Stop by and explore the newly renovated HSL Commons! Walk through this beautiful new space with areas for study, collaboration and relaxation, in addition to a remodeled testing center with multiple technology-rich classrooms open for reservations. Two tours start at 11:30 and 12:30, light refreshments/snacks on hand. Add to calendar

Tadoku Club, Tateuchi East Asia Library, Every Thursday 2-3 PM- Tateuchyi Library image in background Tadoku Club text in front Tadoku Club is a reading group for Japanese language learners of all levels. Participants choose books at their own level from the “easy reads” collection and enjoy reading independently in a supportive environment. The club offers a relaxed setting to build confidence, improve reading skills, and share the joy of reading with others.

New Exhibits

***WORKSHOP***Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, 3:30 – 5 p.m. Based on the Tateuchi East Asia Library’s fall special collections exhibit curated by our librarians, this workshop offers a rare, close-up look at manuscripts, woodblock prints, and movable type books. Participants will explore the techniques and innovations that shaped book culture in China, Japan, and Korea. Learn more and register.

Perpetuate – Oct 1 – Friday, Nov 7
Location: Allen Library (ALB)
“Perpetuate” is an installation by artist Lucia Hwang that explores the persistence of human history and memory through the lens of discarded media and ancient symbolism. Constructed using recycled CDs and VHS tapes—once powerful tools of documentation and storytelling. More on this exhibit.

Learning Workshops and Office Hours

The Humanities Data Exploration Workshop Series: From Foundations to Practice (Series Kick-Off)
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2025, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. This series is designed for the data-curious in the humanities. Join this yearlong workshop series that builds your data skills step by step. Across quarterly sessions, participants move from basic concepts to applied practices in a supportive, hands-on environment. Event details.

Storytelling Fellows: Podcasting online workshop
4 sessions: October 17 to November 7
Curious about what you can do with a podcast? Open to UW graduate student/faculty/staff members, this hands-on program is designed to highlight the interests and accomplishments of UW community members, using digital-storytelling skills and technologies. This totally free, four-week online program will take fellows through the start-to-finish process of envisioning and creating a podcast suitable for an online portfolio, professional presentation, or academic project. Event details

Fun Fact:

Q: How many instruction sessions do UW Librarians teach each year?

classroom in the Open Scholarship Commons

A: 681 sessions reach over 17,000 students!!

Learn more: 2025 fact sheet

Save the Date

OSC Public Scholarship Lab: Publish & Protect Your Research in a Flash with Manifold (Online)
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2025, 1 – 2:30 p.m.

OSC Public Scholarship Lab: Exploring Research and Teaching with Humap (In-Person)
Wednesday, Nov 19, 2025, 1 – 2:30 p.m.

Missed It?

Stories and news from previous updates:

New “Chill” Space in the Tateuchi East Asia Library: The Tateuchi East Asia Library is pleased to introduce the Chill & Recharge Area, a comfortable space on the main floor designed to support student well-being. There is comfy seating, relaxed lighting and access to the growing collection of graphic novels, including Korean webtoons and Japanese manga. Stop by the new space (Gowan Hall 3rd floor) to take a break, relax, and reset—no reservation needed!

New Recording Studio!

Located near the Open Scholarship Commons on the first floor of Suzzallo and Allen Libraries, the new recording studio supports creativity and collaboration for all types of audio-visual projects. Watch the video to learn more.

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Your Email:

Stories

Preservation Internship Spotlight

September 9, 2025

2025 Rare Book and Library Materials Conservation Intern, Hadley Nelson

I had a fantastic summer immersing myself in the work of the UW Libraries Conservation Center, carrying out treatments and learning about the specialties and responsibilities of each team member. I am especially grateful for the mentorship of Senior Conservator Leith Calcote, who provided daily lessons and guidance. I was first introduced to materials, tools, and terminology used in bookbinding and in book and paper conservation, and I created models of sewing structures.

For my internship projects, Leith selected ten books from all over the world of various binding styles and materials, each between 100 – 260 years old. These books demonstrated different types of damage typical of aging books, and we met with curators to develop a treatment plan based on the individual needs and future use of each book. We performed repairs of increasing complexity, each new treatment building on previous methods. Different projects involved an introduction to additional processes such as digitization, papermaking, preparing adhesives, making book cloth, toning paper, and building custom enclosures.

I finished the internship with an expanded understanding of the role Preservation serves in the library system and the university, and the role of a book conservator in this setting. I also completed the internship with more confidence and hope as I pursue conservation, thanks to a supportive team and fascinating projects. It’s exciting to know that because I spent some time learning from them, a few books previously too brittle to touch are now stronger and safer than before, that students and scholars will be able to handle them and learn from them in the future.

______________________________________________________

Hadley Nelson is from the Seattle area and began bookbinding in 2011. She received a BA in Art Practice from Stanford University, where she made artists’ books and paintings, studied art in Paris and Bhutan, and worked in the university’s art library and special collections. In 2019, she studied museology and exhibition design in London through Sotheby’s Institute of Art. Since returning, she has interned with private practice conservators in Seattle and Portland, working on treatments of sculptures, architectural features, murals, and objects. In the fall, she will begin a year-long internship in the conservation department of the Seattle Art Museum.

image of Hadley working with specialized equipment

Stories

August/September Update

August 19, 2025

Get Ready for Dawg Daze with UW Libraries

UW Libraries is always a big part of welcoming students to campus during UW’s Dawg Daze. This year has a terrific lineup of tours and fun activities including game night, karaoke, reading parties and more. View all Libraries Dawg Daze events.

Bookmark UW Libraries Student Guide

A direct link to all the things you’ll want to know as a new OR returning student in fall 2025! Go to guide.

Operations Update: What’s happening around Suzzallo Library?: The construction work in and around Suzzallo Library is due to a major seismic improvement project, with work ongoing through August 2026. More information and project updates.

Welcome back, Huskies!

If you’re new to UW, be sure to sign-up for this blog to get UW Libraries monthly updates to learn about upcoming events, new resources and important news. Fall quarter is also the time of year for our annual community-led US Constitution Reading, celebrating its 20th year! Learn more about this special UW event, and consider making it one of your annual back-to-school traditions! Be sure to check out the new recording studio, mark your favorite upcoming Dawg Daze events, and take some time to learn about (or remember) all the amazing resources available to you through UW Libraries.

News and Stories

Region 5 National Library of Medicine Grant Reinstated:

The University of Washington Health Sciences Library announced the court-ordered reinstatement of the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Region 5 grant, effective through April 30, 2026. The order for reinstatement is in response to the original grant cancellation initiated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in March of this year. Read full announcement.

Now Open: ‘Indigenous North Americans’ Collection

UW faculty, students and staff now have open access to a new 100-book collection centered on Indigenous North Americans, available in digital form to read and reuse at no cost to the reader or author. This collection was created through the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) in alignment with BTAA’s vision for the BIG Collection, which seeks to unite the collections of the BTAA academic libraries into one collection, shared and fully networked. This is the second collection created via BTAA, with plans to launch three more collections over the course of 2025 and 2026.

Since its inception in 2023, books in the collection have been used in over 210 countries with over 400,000 downloads.

BTAA institutions have invested significantly in their shared mission to advance public knowledge through open publishing, and together (BTAA institutions, including UW) they produce roughly 15% of the research publications in the United States. Learn more/ Read the BTAA announcement

New “Chill” Space in the Tateuchi East Asia Library:

The Tateuchi East Asia Library is pleased to introduce the Chill & Recharge Area, a comfortable space on the main floor designed to support student well-being. There is comfy seating, relaxed lighting and access to the growing collection of graphic novels, including Korean webtoons and Japanese manga. Stop by the new space (Gowan Hall 3rd floor) to take a break, relax, and reset—no reservation needed!

What Does Metadata Have To Do With It?

This spotlight features a graduate student’s work to address some of the global challenges faced by cataloging and metadata departments in academic libraries who are working to address inconsistencies and inefficiencies in library metadata, prioritizing ethical descriptive practices, and addressing resource challenges. Read the story.

Featured Resources:

New Recording Studio!

On the Gram

From a living room in Glasgow, Scotland to 1960s campus performances by influential artists, Burmese vinyl and much more, UW Ethnomusicology Archives’ Instagram is full of fascinating finds!

Community Events and Exhibits

Thursday, Oct 9, 3-5pm – 20th Annual US Constitution Reading

Join your fellow students, faculty, staff, community members and distinguished guests for the 20th annual US Constitution Reading! Participants read a short selection of the full text of the Constitution – approximately 1 minute of reading time. Readers can request a specific section, or opt to have one assigned. This is a public event, open to all–instructors are encouraged to bring their classes and staff are welcome to attend and participate with friends, family, & coworkers! The annual constitution reading is one of several events taking place this week held in collaboration with our partners to critically examine the historical and contemporary significance of this consequential document, and its importance within our society. Learn More/Sign-Up To Read

NEW EXHIBIT: Right to Read: Banned books and the First Amendment

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. Get to know your UW libraries while learning about censorship in your own life. Located in the Suzzallo Library, ground floor.

Learning Workshops and Office Hours

Save the Date

Wednesday, Oct 1,12:30 – 1:30 p.m. – First Wednesday Lunchtime Concerts are Back! Students of the UW School of Music perform in the Allen Library North Lobby. View calendar

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Your Email:

Stories

The Secret Life of UW Libraries Catalogers and Metadata Specialists

August 19, 2025

Student Spotlight Series #5: María Fernanda (Fer) Palomares Carranco

By Crystal Yragui, Metadata Librarian & Interim Co-Head, Metadata & Cataloging Initiatives Unit · University of Washington Libraries

You may be surprised to hear that before you can access a library resource when you need it, a lot of work must be done to get that resource into the UW Libraries catalog. A whole department of librarians, staff, and students are quietly working away behind the scenes to get new resources into the catalog and to find innovative ways to enhance the Libraries’ metadata*. This series of blog posts will highlight our brilliant student employees and the work they do to make your tasks of searching, identifying, selecting, and obtaining library resources easier and more effective.

Mini Glossary:

What is metadata?

Simply put, metadata is data that provides information about other resources. Metadata makes finding, identifying, selecting, and obtaining resources for any purpose easier. It can tell you what the content is about, what type of thing a resource is, help explain its origin, nature, and lineage, and provide useful access information.

What is Wikidata?

Wikidata provides deeply structured and reliable, human-checked metadata which drives not only its sister projects funded by the Wikimedia Foundation but all over the Semantic Web (the global internet of linked data). Wikidata is one of the largest open source triple stores (or linked data graphs) available for training AI tools, and is ingested to feed commercial web tools such as Google Knowledge Boxes and more.

What is Linked Data?

“Linked Data is a machine-readable, standard format for storing information. In linked data, each element of information to be linked is given a unique identifier, called a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI). Connections between these elements are encoded using the Resource Description Framework (RDF), in which information is encoded in “triples” which include pairs of objects and the relationship between those objects. These triples are what create the interconnectedness of the data on the web, allowing for computers to extract meaningful connections across the internet, and thus integrate information from multiple disparate sources.”

— Network of the National Library of Medicine

a photograph of María Fernanda (Fer) Palomares Carranco María Fernanda (Fer) Palomares Carranco came to the University of Washington iSchool’s Master of Library and Information Science program with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Mexican American and Latino/a Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Fer joined the University of Washington Libraries Cataloging and Metadata Services Department for Directed Fieldwork with the goal of making library metadata and related workflows more equitable and accessible.

Fer’s work at UW Libraries addresses the broader challenges faced by cataloging and metadata departments in academic libraries across the world at this moment who are working to address inconsistencies and inefficiencies in library metadata, prioritizing ethical descriptive practices, and creatively addressing resource challenges.

Fer’s fieldwork focused on two distinct projects:

Assessing complex, multi-step workflows for metadata application profiles (input forms for describing digital images held by the Libraries), streamlining them into more democratized and easy-to-use spreadsheets.
Working alongside international Wikidata teams to evaluate and implement new data modeling practices to address inconsistencies and inaccuracies in the ways personal pronouns are modeled and shared publicly in Wikidata.

Responding to Staffing Challenges: Improving Workflows and Efficiencies

Fer’s work aided the Libraries in responding to staffing reductions in the Cataloging and Metadata Services Department. She developed new processes to streamline workflows, enabling more library staff to use and update the ContentDM metadata application profiles (MAPs) directly. Rather than relying on multiple documents and scripts, Fer helped her advisor, Metadata Librarian Crystal Yragui, to strip these MAPs down to simple shared spreadsheets, uncovering several inconsistencies and reducing redundancies.

At the end of her directed fieldwork, Fer presented a prototype for the new proposed MAP to the University of Washington Libraries Metadata Implementation Group (MIG) for approval. Her work was approved, and is now informing an ongoing project to simplify the rest of the MAPs.

Improving Accuracy in Data Modeling for Personal Pronoun Information

The University of Washington provides useful background information on using correct pronouns here. The relationship between personal pronouns and other aspects of personal identity is not a simple thing to quantify because it is highly individual and unpredictable as far as machines are concerned. Personal pronouns cannot be reliably determined based on other data points for human beings, such as our given names, sex assigned at birth, gender identity, or appearance. Many people use one set of personal pronouns in one environment, and another set in another. Others are happy to use any personal pronouns. Some people use neopronouns, while others do not. Some want their personal pronouns to be publicly known, and others prefer to keep theirs private.

For this project, Fer jumped in with both feet to tackle serious issues with data modeling and practices in Wikidata for personal pronouns. She learned the Wikidata model from the ground up and helped an international, cross-institutional team to engage the global Wikidata community with ideas for a new data model and best practices for personal pronouns. This work was challenging, and involved putting together multiple complex proposals to detail ethical and technical shortfalls with current modeling and agile solutions that would not only function for the Wikidata graph, but would serve the needs of linguistic user groups all over the world.

The model the team set out to repair was fraught with issues, such as confusion of personal pronouns with other aspects of identity such as gender identity, sex, titles, and honorifics. Personal pronouns had also been modeled inconsistently as Wikidata objects, being classed as exemplars of both linguistic objects called lexemes and as more general objects called items. These objects are shaped distinctly in Wikidata and cannot be used and queried in the same ways. Data modeling inconsistency makes data difficult to manage, query, and clean up for users and data managers.

In Wikidata at the time of Fer’s directed fieldwork, there was an absence of universally-understood best practices regarding the need for references when stating that someone used a particular pronoun, or regulations about using bots to infer peoples’ personal pronouns based on other irrelevant data. This led to widespread assumptions about personal pronouns for items about human beings being recorded in Wikidata and then ingested downstream into the semantic web (read: search engine knowledge boxes like the ones you see in Google). The incorrect connection in Wikidata between personal pronouns and gender identity was leading to automated assignment of both personal pronouns and gender identity values for people, often based on nothing more than a person’s first name. More complex issues of outing (revealing someone’s private sexual or gender identity without their consent) and misgendering (referring to someone in a way that does not reflect their gender identity) were also addressed by the group’s proposals.

Thanks in part to Fer’s hard work, the second proposal put forth by the group as a Wikidata Request for Comment has now reached consensus and is ready to be implemented in Wikidata. The solutions proposed there will begin to solve many of these problems.

So, what does it all mean? Why does it matter?

The impact of these changes, when implemented, will result in more accurate and ethical data and processes, for example:

A male-identifying person named “Sandy” who uses “he/him/himself” for example, who bots assign the pronoun “she” and then assign the gender “female”, will be corrected to reflect the accurate pronoun. Gender references based on pronouns used are no longer valid.

Personal pronoun sets will reflect a consistent data model “under the hood”. This makes searching for peoples’ pronouns in Wikidata neater and more accurate, which has positive implications not only for Wikidata but for all web services which are based on its free, open, structured data (for example, Google Knowledge Graphs).

Restrictions on bot editing combat misgendering by bots making assumptions based on personal pronouns, and best practices provide human editors with concrete guidelines surrounding privacy and standards for references for personal pronoun statements. This will significantly cut down on outing, misgendering, and other harms surrounding personal privacy for the people being described in Wikidata.

With both of these projects, Fer’s Directed Fieldwork demonstrated her readiness to step into the world of professional metadata librarianship, and we are so grateful for the time she spent working with us.

###

Stories

Dawg Daze with UW Libraries!

August 13, 2025

dawg daze logo Welcome, Huskies! UW Libraries is hosting a wide variety of Dawg Daze events to introduce you to our amazing Library resources and programs! Explore our spaces, meet our staff and connect with other students throughout the week including tours, board game events, karaoke, and more! See all Libraries Dawg Daze events below, and find them in your UW Dawg Daze calendar!

Student Connection

Meet other students and have fun!

9/18 Silent Reading Party 3-5pm Enjoy comfy chairs, tea, snacks, in a beautiful room while reading alongside others who share the joy of reading. You can pick from some fun book options from our collection, or bring your own. All reading is welcome- print books, e-books, and audiobooks with headphones! Learn more/add to calendar

9/19 KARAOKE FRIDAY at the Tateuchi East Asia Library 1-4pm: Are you ready to show off your singing skills and have some fun? Come join us for a free Karaoke session at the Tateuchi East Asia Library in Gowen Hall!. No reservations needed! While you’re here, don’t miss the chance to explore our incredible collections of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean materials. Learn more/add to calendar

9/19 Tabletop Game Night at Odegaard Library 5:30-10pm: Join us at Odegaard for an evening of fun and friendly competition at our Tabletop Game Night! Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or new to the gaming world, this event is the perfect opportunity to meet fellow students and start the year off with some laughs and a little bit of chaos. Snacks and drinks provided. Learn more/add to calendar

9/19 Sounds from the Vaults with UW Ethnomusicology Archives 1-5pm: Join curator DJ Vallier as he spins discs from UW’s historic and subterranean Ethnomusicology Archives. From ethereal Japanese gagaku and filigreed Zambian kora to overtone-laden Afghan throat games and 70s funkified Seattle soul, listen to music you’ve never heard and won’t find on Spotify! Learn more/add to calendar

Tours

Tours of the Suzzallo and Allen Libraries: 9/23, 9/24 and 9/25: Get to know the largest libraries on campus, and learn about the rich history behind one of the most iconic buildings on campus, and in the region. Meet in the lobby of the Allen Library (ALB) north wing (under the crows and ravens). Times vary by day. Learn more/add to calendar.

Odegaard Library Tours – 9/18, 9/19, 9/22 and 9/23: Come and meet your new favorite library! Odegaard is a great place for all students to study and meet up with friends. This tour introduces you to all of the unique study spaces, books, computer labs, how to get help, and more. Snacks will be provided. See all dates and times/add to calendar

https://dawgdaze.fyp.uw.edu/event/odegaard-library-tour-for-first-generation-students/

9/26 – Odegaard Writing and Research Center Open House 12-2pm: Visit the Odegaard Writing and Research Center (OWRC) Open House event to learn how you can get support and feedback on any type of writing and research project! The OWRC is here to support you, whether it’s coursework or a major application, a creative essay, poem or a job résumé. Learn more/add to calendar.

Journey through the UW Libraries: Self-guided Tour (open/ongoing) Explore UW Libraries spaces, services, and resources via this online, self-guided tour to explore the Libraries and learn about important library resources and services. Learn more.

Explore Your Options: Learn about the new minor in Textual Studies and Digital Humanities
Monday, Sept. 22, 10:30-12:20, Special Collections Classroom Allen Library South, Basement
(B069)Are you curious about a career in libraries, archives, publishing and preserving cultural materials? This special session gives students a a unique opportunity to explore UW Libraries Special Collections while learning about the minor program in Textual Studies and Digital Humanities, with an emphasis hands-on, project-oriented work with historical materials and archival sources and building skills for a variety of applications and study. Learn more/add to calendar

For Transfer Students

9/25 Undergraduate Research for Transfer Students Panel & Social 3-4:00pm: Are you a transfer student interested in undergraduate research? Get a jump-start on research with this workshop intended for incoming transfer students in all disciplines to get up to speed on the resources and opportunities available for you to engage in faculty-mentored research at UW! In addition, learn about key library resources and services that support all forms of undergraduate research in this interactive session. Snacks will be provided. Learn more/add to calendar

Bookmark it!

You are getting a lot of information at every Dawg Daze event! Don’t worry about remembering every single thing, we’ve got you covered, Huskies! For a quick guide to “All the things” about UW Libraries, be sure to bookmark the UW Libraries Student Guide!

We look forward to seeing you at Dawg Daze 2025!

Stories

Dawg Daze with UW Libraries!

August 13, 2025

Welcome, Huskies! UW Libraries is hosting a wide variety of Dawg Daze events to introduce you to our amazing Library resources and programs! Explore our spaces, meet our staff and connect with other students throughout the week including tours, board game events, karaoke, and more! See all Libraries Dawg Daze events below, and find them in your UW Dawg Daze calendar!

Student Connection

Meet other students and have fun!

I graphic that says "Tours with a Treat" and paw print that says "enter to win"

Students who attend the Odegaard Library tours, the Undergraduate Research for Transfer Students event, or complete the self—guided tour during Dawg Daze can enter a drawing for a $20 e-gift card! Look for the pawprint next to eligible events in this post.

Tours

https://dawgdaze.fyp.uw.edu/event/odegaard-library-tour-for-first-generation-students/embed/#?secret=dJZRqdtDAe#?secret=CedMut1Qqd

UW Libraries Joins the BTAA-Geospatial Information Network

by Matt Parsons, Geospatial Data & Maps LibrarianReposted and edited from BTAA-GIN Collection Stories

What is GIS?

UW Libraries Map Collection

November Update

Operations Update

News and Stories

Featured Resource

Learning Workshops and Lectures

Fun Fact

Exhibits

Save the Date

Get UW Libraries monthly news directly to your inbox! Sign-up for our blog!

Top Ten Things I Wish I Knew My First Year

Bonus Tip: Libraries FREE Workshops and Events!

More Tips:

Announcing UW Health Sciences Library Commons

October Update

International Open Access Week: Who Owns Our Knowledge? October 20 – 26

Join us for a series of events throughout the week, hosted by UW Libraries Open Scholarship Commons

News and Stories

Featured Resource:

Community Events and Exhibits

New Exhibits

Learning Workshops and Office Hours

Fun Fact:

Save the Date

Missed It?

New Recording Studio!

Get UW Libraries monthly news directly to your inbox! Sign-up for our blog!

Preservation Internship Spotlight

2025 Rare Book and Library Materials Conservation Intern, Hadley Nelson

August/September Update

Get Ready for Dawg Daze with UW Libraries

Bookmark UW Libraries Student Guide

Welcome back, Huskies!

News and Stories

Region 5 National Library of Medicine Grant Reinstated:

Now Open: ‘Indigenous North Americans’ Collection

New “Chill” Space in the Tateuchi East Asia Library:

Recommended Reads

What Does Metadata Have To Do With It?

Featured Resources:

New Recording Studio!

On the Gram

Community Events and Exhibits

Thursday, Oct 9, 3-5pm – 20th Annual US Constitution Reading

NEW EXHIBIT: Right to Read: Banned books and the First Amendment

Learning Workshops and Office Hours

Save the Date

Get UW Libraries monthly news directly to your inbox! Sign-up for our blog!

The Secret Life of UW Libraries Catalogers and Metadata Specialists

Student Spotlight Series #5: María Fernanda (Fer) Palomares Carranco

What is metadata?

What is Wikidata?

What is Linked Data?

Responding to Staffing Challenges: Improving Workflows and Efficiencies

Improving Accuracy in Data Modeling for Personal Pronoun Information

So, what does it all mean? Why does it matter?

Dawg Daze with UW Libraries!

Student Connection

Meet other students and have fun!

Tours

For Transfer Students

Bookmark it!

We look forward to seeing you at Dawg Daze 2025!

Dawg Daze with UW Libraries!

Student Connection

Meet other students and have fun!

Tours

For Transfer Students

Bookmark it!

We look forward to seeing you at Dawg Daze 2025!

by Matt Parsons, Geospatial Data & Maps Librarian
Reposted and edited from BTAA-GIN Collection Stories