Announcing the 5th Annual University of Cincinnati Libraries 2018/19 Annual Progress Report – A Year of Reflection.

annual progress report coverThis past year the University of Cincinnati marked its Bicentennial led by the tenants: To Honor the past. Elevate the present. Bend the future. While
celebrating the Libraries’ vital role in the past 200 years of the university, we also took this opportunity to reflect on our goals, objectives, accomplishments and gaps as the next phase of our strategic direction.

Our year of reflection has resulted in the need for the creation of an emerging, and even bolder, Strategic Framework – one built upon the knowledge of our strengths and challenges, coupled with the needs and perspectives of our users, and that will propel us forward as we strive to become the globally engaged intellectual commons of the university – now and well into the future.

The University of Cincinnati Libraries Annual Progress Report, 2018/2019, available online at https://issuu.com/uclibraries/docs/uclannualreport18_19, makes note of the accomplishments and happenings of the previous year, as well as celebrates the people and donors integral to us fulfilling the work of our mission to empower discovery, stimulate learning and inspire the creation of knowledge by connecting students, faculty, researchers and scholars to dynamic data, information and resources.

Questions? Request a print copy? E-mail melissa.norris@uc.edu.

Happy Reading!

Edith Starbuck Named Distinguished Librarian of the Year at the Midwest Chapter of the Medical Library Association

edith starbuck

Edith Starbuck, information services librarian in the Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library, was presented with the 2019 Distinguished Librarian of the Year Award at the Midwest Chapter of the Medical Library Association’s Annual Meeting held October 4-7 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

The award is publicized and nominations solicited annually from chapter members. Criteria used to evaluate nominees on meaningful and measurable service to the chapter may include leadership, advocacy, scholarship, research, publications, teaching, mentoring, outreach and professional activities. Edith has been a member of the chapter since 1993, serving continuously on committees since 2015 including Co-Chair of the 2018 Ohio Program Planning Committee, Recording Secretary and the Government Relations Committee. Her most recent contribution, and the one in which she was given the award, is taking the lead in establishing an annual scholarship fundraiser and committee.

In 2015 while serving as Awards and Scholarships Committee Chair, Edith learned that the chapter budget had taken a severe hit and funds to adequately support scholarships and awards were lacking. After successfully lobbying the Executive Board to fund certain scholarships, Edith was charged with fundraising to fill the deficit. After two successful fundraising years, Edith then asked the Executive Board to make the Fundraising Committee official so it could be integrated into annual conference planning, agreeing to serve as chair for 2019. With input from committee members Edith developed committee documentation that defined committee member roles, outlined procedures, and established an annual calendar based on the conference planning calendar, thus the Fundraising Committee was made official.

Congratulations, Edith!

Welcome, Katie Hillery, the New Library Services Assistant in the Science and Engineering Libraries

Tuesday, Nov. 12 marks the first day at UC Libraries for Katie Hillery, the new library services assistant in the Science & Engineering Libraries.

Katie has a B.A. in history and classics from Hillsdale College, and recently began the M.L.I.S. program at Kent State University.  She brings a valuable combination of work experience in library operations (public services, technical services) and archives/special collections (including the Hillsdale College archives, Carus Coin Collection, E.O. Grosvenor House archives).

Katie’s primary workspace is in the Geology-Mathematics-Physics Library (Braunstein Hall) where she will provide critical operational support and help to elevate our initiatives with STEM special collections.

Welcome to UC Libraries, Katie!

James Lee Appointed Associate Vice Provost for Digital Scholarship and Associate Dean of Libraries

James Lee

James Lee

James Lee has been appointed associate vice provost for digital scholarship and associate dean of libraries effective November 1, 2019.

“James’ new role is a direct investment from university leadership to support UC Libraries’ growing responsibility to lead our institution’s enterprise-wide digital scholarship and digital integration vision,” said Xuemao Wang, vice provost for digital scholarship and dean and university librarian.

In May 2019, Provost Kristi Nelson and Vice President for Research Pat Limbach jointly announced that UC Libraries’ Digital Scholarship Center (DSC) was selected as one of the first six anchor teams for the Digital Futures initiative. Digital Futures is integral to the Next Lives Here vision in UC’s strategic plan: “It will empower diverse teams of thinkers and doers to push the boundaries of what’s possible,” President Neville Pinto said, “to bend the future in Cincinnati’s direction.” In July 2019, Provost Nelson announced Dean Wang’s expanded responsibilities as vice provost for digital scholarship, describing his new portfolio as “…covering a broad spectrum of areas including the DSC, Scholar@UC and research and data management, but also digital archives and preservation, digital records and assets management, scholarly communication and digital publishing, as well as the rapidly evolving movements of open science, open education resources, open data and open access.”    Continue reading

Shannan Stewart joins the Classics Library as Library Specialist in Classics

Shannan Stewart will be joining the staff of the John Miller Burnam Classics Library as Library Specialist in Classics on November 4. Shannan holds a PhD in Classics from the University of Cincinnati. She received a BA in Classical and Near Eastern Studies from the University of Minnesota and an MA in Classics from the University of Wisconsin. She also studied at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens and at the American Numismatic Society, and she taught various classical civilization courses at the University of Illinois for a number of years. However, since she felt that she belonged in Cincinnati, she now lives here, and in her own words, “for good.” Her professors in the Classics Department are thrilled, describing Shannan as an outstanding student; her dissertation defense was considered one of the best. Shannan is a classical archaeologist with much field experience, including working with the former chair of the UC Classics Department, Brian Rose, in Turkey and Albania and with the current chair, Jack Davis, in Greece. Her book on Hellenistic pottery from Gordion is forthcoming from the University of Pennsylvania Press.

Please join us in welcoming Shannan to the Classics Library and to UC!

Librarians James Van Mil and Hannah Stitzlein take on new roles in digital collection production and management

To meet vital digital collection production and management needs, UC librarians James Van Mil and Hannah Stitzlein have taken on new responsibilities to support digital content, collection and repository service needs for metadata, access, discovery, promotion, ingest/harvest and preservation. Working closely with Sidney Gao, digital lab coordinator, and Glen Horton, head of the development team, they will provide matrix support for content, collections, imaging, repository functional development and technology infrastructure support.

james van mil and hannah stitzlein

James Van Mil and Hannah Stitzlein

James Van Mil has a new title of digital projects and preservation librarian. In this role within the Content Services Team he is responsible for planning and implementing strategies for the life-cycle of digital content. James is a primary contact point for digital collections project management services, UC Libraries digital content strategy and assuring adherence to standards and clarity of workflow for digital preservation.

Hannah Stitzlein has a new title of metadata and repository services librarian. Hannah Stitzlein, in her first year with UC Libraries has had a primary focus on metadata, the standardized description of digital content that ensures future access and data transfer for the libraries digital collections. In concert with metadata analysis and application, Hannah will now begin to provide repository services to further promote use of repository content and enhance discovery of collections.

Suzanne Bratt Joins the CCM Library as Cataloging Specialist

On Monday, Sept. 16, Suzanne Bratt joined the staff of the Albino Gorno Memorial (CCM) Library as the cataloging specialist.

Suzanne graduated with a BA in music from Yale University, and with her PhD in musicology from the University of Pennsylvania. Over the past year, she has worked as a library intern at the Curtis Institute of Music, focusing on cataloging archival materials and processing ILL requests. Previous experience included working at UPenn’s Graduate Student Center as a “Navigating the Dissertation” and “Navigating the Grant” fellow. Suzanne’s research interests include the music of J. S. Bach, early Beethoven, the history of music printing, opera history and early chamber music. Her future interests include pursuing qualifications in music librarianship.

Please join us in warmly welcoming Suzanne to UC Libraries!

Elizabeth Meyer Appointed Head of the Deshon, Schlachter DAAP Library

DAAP Library

Interior of the DAAP Library

Elizabeth Meyer has been appointed head of the Robert A. Deshon and Karl J. Schlachter Library for Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) effective immediately. Elizabeth has been graciously serving as the interim head of the DAAP Library since 2017. In her interim role, Elizabeth has been commended for her commitment to outstanding services and collections at the DAAP library, her creativity and her vision of how to engage with the faculty and students of DAAP to ensure a vital library presence with their innovative programs and research interests.

Elizabeth began working at UC Libraries in 2004 as the visual resources librarian. She holds an MLS from Indiana University, and a BA in art history from DAAP. Her research interests include Cincinnati modernist architecture and historic preservation, and she has continually engaged with the design and architecture communities in the Cincinnati metropolitan area, securing unique papers, archives and special collections that benefit both DAAP and the broader research community.

Congratulations, Elizabeth, on her new role as the Head of the DAAP Library!

Welcome, Melissa Previtera, Health Sciences Library/Winkler Center Academic & Research Services Specialist

On Tuesday, Sept. 3, Melissa Previtera began her position at the University of Cincinnati Libraries as the academic and research services specialist for the Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library (HSL) and the Henry R. Winkler Center for the History of the Health Professions (Winkler Center).

Melissa is a familiar face in UC Libraries having worked previously in the HSL/Winkler Center, College of Engineering and Applied Science Library, and most recently at the College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services Library. In this new role, she will work closely with HSL and Winkler Center faculty as well as members of the Winkler Center Board, College of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy and Allied Health faculty, researchers, staff and students.

Welcome (back), Melissa!

New Faces in the Clermont College Library

Over the summer, two new staff members joined us in the Clermont College Library.

Emily Wages, Operations Manager

Photo of Emily Wages.

Emily Wages

Emily has worked at various libraries and library-related organizations over the years, including King Library at Miami University, Lane Libraries, MidPointe Libraries, and SWON Library Consortium. Emily graduated from Miami University in 2011 with a BS in English Education and a minor in British Literature. In 2014, she graduated from Kent State University with her MLIS. At Clermont College Library, Emily will be managing our public services and student employees.  

Emily loves gardening with native plants, reading, and true crime. She is also a distance runner, currently training to run the Indy Monumental half in November. In the last few years, she has run three full marathons (two Flying Pigs and Columbus) and she plans to run the full Flying Pig again this coming May. She lives in Colerain Township with her husband Quinn, dog Shay, and cat Chili.

Nicole Stamat, Library Specialist

Photo of Nicole Stamat

Nicole Stamat

For the last six years Nicole has worked for the Clermont County Public Library as a library assistant and library assistant specialist. She previously worked for the National Park Service at the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park; as well as the BSA Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM. She obtained a BFA in Art Therapy at Millikin University in 2009 and worked at the Staley academic library. Nicole will also be working in public services and helping with some aspects of our technical services.

She lives in the area with her husband, young son and a hound mix. Her hobbies include fiber arts (most especially knitting), table-top gaming and of course, reading. Her favorite authors include: Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Rainbow Rowell, Laini Taylor and Margaret Atwood.

Please join me in welcoming Emily and Nicole to Clermont College!

Heather Mitchell-Botts
Instruction Librarian