UC Libraries Fall Events – poetry, exhibits, dogs and games!

fall events

Poetry readings, exhibit openings, lunch & learns, dogs and game night! There’s something for everyone. UC Libraries Fall Events provide an opportunity for people to engage with and learn about library collections and resources. Grab a friend or colleague and come to an event or two or three. All events are free and open to all to attend.

  • Sept. 29, 5:30-7PM, DAAP 5000 Level & Ella Lipnik on 3000 Level: Reception for Fotofocus exhibit in the DAAP Library. Dare to Stare: 19th-Century Circus and Sideshow Portraits. Exhibit curated by Theresa Leininger Miller
  • Oct. 7, 4:30pm, Walter C. Langsam Library 6th floor east stacks: Poetry Stacked
poetry stacked logo
  • Oct. 15, 6-7:30PM, Walter C. Langsam Library Digital Scholarship Area: Great Library Guess Off. The Guesspionage™ -style challenge will highlight UC Libraries-specific statistics, such as percentage of students who utilize library resources, as well as available statistics on student wellness that contribute to belonging and academic success (i.e., reported sleep, stress levels, and study habits).
  • Oct. 19, 2PM-3PM: Open Access Week Panel. Details coming soon.
  • Oct. 20, NOON-1:30PM, Stanley J. Lucas, MD, Board Room, Health Sciences Library: Winkler Center Lunch & Learn. Medical Illustration: The American Civil War and Now, and the opening of the Daniel S. Young Exhibit. Speakers: Kris Ramprasad, MD, MA (history), retired associate professor at UC; Sydney Seeto, second-year medical student at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and Sophie Laye, second-year medical student at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
daniel young medical illustration
  • Oct. 22, 2PM-3PM: Open Access Week Workshop. Details coming soon.
  • Oct. 23, NOON-2pm, Science Library‘s Intersect Space: Celebrating Dr. Kenneth Caster: Legacy, Archive & Library Collection. Reception follow. Co-hosted by A&S Geology Department.
  • Oct. 28, 3PM, Science Library‘s Intersect Space: Oesper Research Talk – “Rudy W. Thomas: The Hands Behind the Oesper Collections.” This talk will present the life and career of Rudy W. Thomas, longtime demonstrator and restoration specialist for the University of Cincinnati’s Department of Chemistry.
  • Nov. 18, 4:30PM, John Miller Burnam Classics Library: Poetry Stacked
  • Nov. 19: 4:30PM, Max Kade German Cultural Center (CCH 5105): Archives and Rare Books Library & German Studies Present: The Printer and the Courtier: The Circulation of “Pennsylvania German” Books in Enlightenment Germany, a talk by Jennifer A. Merriman, Ph.D. Candidate, College of William & Mary.
  • Dec. 1, 3PM, Water C. Langsam Library: Fuzz Therapy for Finals (Dog Therapy). Unwind before finals with UC’s own Sammy the therapy dog and other registered therapy animals from Pet Partners.
service dog

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Check out the newest exhibits in UC Libraries

Exhibits highlight the services, collections, places and people of UC Libraries. The newest exhibits on display in the Walter C. Langsam Library showcase chemistry caricatures and open access.

chemistry caricatures

Caricatures in Chemistry: By William B. Jensen

On display on the 5th floor lobby of the library, this exhibit features original, hand-drawn caricatures by Dr. William B. Jensen (1948-2024), Ralph E. Oesper Professor of the History of Chemistry at the University of Cincinnati and curator of the Oesper Collections from 1986 until his passing.

The exhibit was curated by Mark Chalmers, science and engineering librarian and Oesper curator, and was designed by Ashleigh Stout, UC Libraries communication design co-op student.

Available online via JSTOR, the online collection contains the 33 original, hand-drawn caricatures of notable chemists and physicists Jensen penned between 1970 and 1974. They are held by the Oesper Collections in the History of Chemistry. The collection was scanned and digitized by the UC Libraries Digital Initiatives Team. The humor and whimsy captured in the caricatures invite viewers to look a little closer and discover the stories behind the faces.

At the exhibit there are handouts featuring three of the chemists.

Open Access At UC

Open access describes any publishing model that provides barrier-free electronic access to scholarly content. Open access content is not behind a paywall or gated in any other way and is available to anyone with an internet connection, making it more equitable. The exhibit, on display on the 4th floor lobby of the library, defines open access, shows the scale of open access at UC and demonstrates the benefits to students.

open access

UC Libraries supports open access at the university through a variety of
services and programs, including:

  • Open Publishing Infrastructure
  • Scholarly Dissemination Planning
  • Article Processing Charge Support
  • Self-archiving Support

The exhibit was curated by Melissa Moreau, scholarship communication librarian, and designed by Ashleigh Stout, communication design co-op student. More about UC Libraries Open Access initiatives can be found on the Libraries website. At the exhibit, there is a handout for those wishing to learn more about Open Access.

Read Source to learn about the news, events, people and happenings of UC Libraries

source header image

Read Source, the online newsletter, to learn about the news, events, people and happenings in UC Libraries.

In this issue of Source, Liz Kiscaden, dean and university librarian, looks back at the accomplishments of the most recent academic year while also looking head to the fall semester. We celebrate the many accomplishments of the UC Libraries faculty and staff, the 2026 UC Open Research Day and announce the 2026 Zero Textbook Cost Grant cohort. Two collections are highlighted in this issue: The Werner H. Von Rosentiel papers and the Oesper History of Chemistry collection while the Winkler Center display illuminates Covington, Kentucky as the “X-Ray City.” This issue of Source concludes with a year in photos.

Read these articles, as well as past issues, on the website. To receive Source via e-mail, contact melissa.norris@uc.edu to be added to the mailing list.

Celebrate National Library Week with UCBA Library

Celebrate National Library Week with UCBA Library

Happy National Library Week, UCBA! The theme for this year’s celebration of libraries is “Find Your Joy!”.

This week, we invite our campus community to take a moment to think about where they find library joy, whether that comes through discovery, learning, creativity, or connection. National Library Week is a time to recognize the important role academic libraries play in teaching, research, and lifelong learning. From scholarly collections and digital resources to technology and expert support, the library remains at the heart of our campus.

To celebrate, we are hosting a variety of fun events and activities throughout the week. Be sure to check out the message monitors inside and outside the library, where we have curated some of our most joyful library moments from over the years.

Monday – Thursday Events

  • Find Joy in Unexpected Places: Students are invited to explore the library and keep an eye out for a hidden gifts of joy. Each day, one small squishable surprise with a National Library Week message of encouragement will be tucked away somewhere in the library. Finders keepers!
  • Guess the Bookworms: How many gummy bookworms are cozied up in the jar? Students can stop by the library and submit their best guess through Thursday this week. We’ll review guesses on Friday and the student with the closest guess wins the entire jar of bookworms!
  • Book Blooms Display: Fresh reads for a new season! Browse our spring book display, check out a book, and grab a treat to enjoy along the way.
Celebrate National Library Week with UCBA Library

Wednesday | 12 pm – 2 pm

  • Spring Fling: Visit our table at the Student Life and Success Spring Fling for freebies, treats, and a chance to say hello.
Celebrate National Library Week with UCBA Library

Thursday | 2 pm – 3 pm

  • Coffee, Cookies & Community: Books in the Nook Finale: Faculty, staff, and students are invited to stop by to enjoy coffee and cookies, and take a moment to recharge in the library’s wellness space or anywhere in the library. This gathering also marks the final Books in The Nook event of the semester and is a perfect opportunity to reflect and connect as the semester wraps up.
  • Thursday is also Take Action for Libraries Day, a time to rally support and show appreciation for libraries and the work they do.
Students and staffed reading and relaxing in the Nook
Faculty, staff and students enjoying the Books in the Nook silent reading party.

We hope to see you around the library this week. We also encourage you to show some love to your local public libraries. We are truly fortunate to have such an outstanding library system in the greater Cincinnati area.

Thanks, and see you in the library!

UCBA Library Joy Abounds

Langsam Library offering extended hours during exams

Need a place to study for exams? Working late on a class project? The Walter C. Langsam Library has extended building hours beginning Sunday, April 19 through exams. Sunday – Thursday, the building is open until 3am. The Desk@Langsam will maintain regular hours. The Exam hours are listed on the Libraries website.

Good luck, Bearcats, on exams!

studying in langsam library

The Preservation Lab will display “Preservation of all shapes and sizes” at their annual open house Thursday, April 30

Join us for the Annual Preservation Lab Open House, Thursday, April 30, 2-4pm, 300 level of the Walter Langsam Library. “Preservation of all shapes and sizes” will include tours of the lab, demonstrations of projects and treatments, cookies, bookmarks and stickers!

preservation lab open house flyer

Want a sneak peek of the work of the Preservation Lab? Stop by Langsam Library’s 4th floor on Tuesday, April 21, 10-11:30am and Thursday, April 23, 2-3:30pm to learn about housing complex materials and relax with a hands-on activity.

Formed in 2012, the Preservation Lab is a book and paper conservation lab. The Preservation Lab provides the full suite of preservation services to the University of Cincinnati Libraries and, for a fee, to other cultural heritage institutions. The Preservation Lab’s expertise is in book and paper conservation, with services available in general circulating materials repair, single-item conservation treatment, housing, exhibition prep, and preservation consulting.

preserved book on cradle

The Preservation Lab Open House is free and open to all to attend. Those driving to campus can park in the Woodside Drive/Library Garage or Campus Green Garage off of Martin Luther King Drive.

RDS announces UC Open Research Day and the Undergraduate Research Summer Learning Community

UC Libraries provides access to a wide range of Research Data and GIS services and resources for the campus community. Informationists and librarians assist researchers in managing and preserving research data, finding and acquiring external data and in utilizing GIS techniques and software. Research and Data Services (RDS) announces two programs this summer to engage with research experts — UC Open Research Day on May 27 and the Undergraduate Research Summer Learning Community running June 3 through July 22.

research and data services
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Introducing the renovated CECH Library Reading Room

Join us for a Grand Opening Celebration


CECH Library Reading Room Grand Opening Celebration
Tuesday, April 21
2:30-4:30pm (brief remarks at 3pm)
400 Level of Teachers-Dyer Complex, 2610 University Circle

The start of spring semester saw the opening of the CECH Library Reading Room. Located on the 400 level of the Teachers-Dyer Complex, and totaling more than 3,000 square feet, the reading room is accessible via the staircase in the CECH Library or directly with a Bearcat ID. It offers a variety of seating, library collections and a reservable study room (400B) with adaptive lighting and study and focus tools.

At the Grand Opening Celebration, tour the space, enjoy refreshments, hear remarks from UC Libraries and CECH and enjoy the refreshed space. At 3:30pm, venture downstairs to the 3rd floor CECH MakerLab for an informal showcase of innovative Making and STEAM kit projects created as part of the School of Education’s digital pedagogical support initiative.

cech library reading room

The Grand Opening Celebration is open to all, so bring a colleague and a friend.

cech library reading room

And the winners are…results of the 2026 International Edible Books Festival

The University of Cincinnati Libraries celebrated the International Edible Books Festival on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The event marked the 25th year of UC Libraries participating in Edible Books — and it was a momentous occasion!

extra yarn edible book
Best Student Entry – Ellie Alfieri, Extra Yarn

This year, saw an impressive 24 entries from students, librarians and staff, along with family, friends and retirees. There are few restrictions in creating an edible book – namely that the creation be edible and have something to do with a book. Today’s entries covered all genres – from fiction to non-fiction, animals, food, classics, contemporary titles and more.

Contemporary fiction Seared on the Heart, The Song of Achilles, Holes, The Names, Intermezzo, along with classics Frankenstein and The Tell-Tale Heart were well represented. Non-fiction titles Feeding Ghosts, The Hidden Lives of Trees and Dirt: The Scoop on Soil were sure to educate and delight.

And the winners are…results of the 2026 International Edible Books Festival



Numerous children’s books made people smile with The Hundred Dresses, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, Do You Have a Hat?, Great Sharky Shark, Extra Yarn and The Day the Crayons Quit.

Food-themed titles I am Grateful for Chicken Pot Pie (which was a virtual entry), Cakes and Ale, Triceramisu and Amaze! Rocky Road Cookies were delicious.

This year also saw two sets of identical entries — the fan-favorite Heated Rivalry and the popular book about to be a film Remarkably Bright Creatures.

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New exhibit highlights Cincinnati’s Foodshed

Two exhibits on display on the 4th and 5th floor lobbies of the Walter C. Langsam Library feature the work of Cincinnati’s Foodshed: An Art Atlas, a visually stunning and thought-provoking exploration through the past, present and future of the Cincinnati Tristate region’s food economy. The exhibit features timelines and storymaps to celebrate the people, innovations and businesses that have shaped the local food movement.

cincinnati's foodshed art atlas logo

Food mapping is one way to analyze data and share stories of how the physical environment intersects with the lived experience of food access. The exhibit displays maps created in partnership with neighborhood associations and by walking the area.

rivers, canals & commerce graphic from the exhibit

The exhibit promotes the availability of UC Libraries Research & Data Services – informationists and librarians that can assist researchers in managing and preserving research data, finding and acquiring external data, and in utilizing GIS techniques and software. People wanting to create their own map or work with spatial data and need assistance, can work with GIS research consultants available to help.

A bibliography of related UC Libraries resources is available for takeout at the exhibit for people who want to learn more about the topics covered in the exhibit.

Cincinnati’s Foodshed: An Art Atlas was written by Alan Wight, PhD. The exhibit was curated by Alan Wight and Amy Koshoffer, assistant director of RDS. It was designed by Reece Guthier, communication design co-op student.

The Langsam exhibits correspond with a similar exhibit on display in the Karl J. Schlachter and Robert A. Deshon Library for Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP). Cincinnati’s Foodshed: Art, Ecology and Community features a selection of works from the book. The exhibit is on display at the entrance to the library.

daap food atlas exhibit