Author Archives: Katie Foran-Mulcahy

Renovation Alert: CECH Library 4th Floor

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We’re excited to share that the 4th floor of the CECH Library will undergo a renovation beginning Tuesday, May 27. The space will be closed for the summer and is set to reopen at the start of the fall semester.

This transformation is designed to better support our students and academic community by creating a more dynamic, flexible, and welcoming environment.

Architectural rendering of planned improvements to the CECH Library reading room.

What’s coming:

  • Reconfigured layout for enhanced study, collaboration, and events
  • Modern study tables with integrated power and lighting
  • Comfortable seating, refreshed study room, new carpet, and paint
  • A thoughtful blend of modern design and the existing classic architectural elements

The main level (3rd floor) will remain open, and materials will still be accessible by request.

This project reflects our ongoing commitment to student success and innovation in academic spaces. Stay tuned for updates — and have a fantastic summer.

Katie Foran-Mulcahy (she/her)
Head, College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) Library

ERIC Updates, May 2025

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In March 2025, journal publishers received the following notice from ERIC. This information was also detailed in a prior LiBlog post in April:

The Department of Education is working with the Department of Government Efficiency to “reduce overall Federal spending” and “reallocate spending to promote efficiency” (EO 14222). As a result, the number of records added to the ERIC collection will be significantly reduced going forward. The number of actively cataloged sources will be reduced by approximately 45% starting April 24, 2025. Subject matter was not considered during the process to identify which sources would be made inactive.  Please note that all records currently in ERIC will remain available.

On April 28, 2025, the acting director of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) announced a contract renewal with the AEM Corporation and the continuation of ERIC. The announcement also stated that “no content has been removed or deleted from ERIC” but characterized the future as a “new phase” with a “refined scope”. 

With a 50% cut to its annual budget, the future of ERIC remains uncertain. For up-to-date information on ERIC, see the ERIC Updates page of our Education Complete LibGuide.

Further Reading

Barshay, J. (2025, April 28). Education Department restarts online library ERIC. The Hechinger Report. https://hechingerreport.org/proof-points-restart-eric-ed-library/  

Fitzgerald, S. R., Weaver, K. D., & Droog, A. (2025). Selecting a specialized education database for literature reviews and evidence synthesis projects. Research Synthesis Methods, 16(1), 30–41. doi:10.1017/rsm.2024.11 

Tech & MakerLab Playground at CECH Library

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Join us Wednesday, April 2 from 3-5pm in the CECH Library for our 2nd annual Tech & MakerLab Playground.

This open-house style event will offer a variety of hands-on exploration opportunities with our MakerLab and STEAM Kits. Check out projects from Trends in Learning Technology Innovation students, play with robots, and see demos of our newest MakerLab equipment. We’ll also offer visitors a special sneak-peak of our new Study and Focus Tools Collection.

Light refreshments available courtesy of the CECH Dean’s Office.

We hope to see you at this fun event — celebrating the intersections of learning, tech, and creativity.

See you in the library!

On behalf of Team CECH Library,
k

Katie Foran-Mulcahy
Head, CECH Library

Workshop Series: Teachers Are Makers

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CECH Library is proud to offer a variety of workshops in the MakerLab this semester in support of our pre-service teachers — as well as anyone in our UC community interested in making.

As we did in fall, the library is offering workshops on using the Cricut Maker 3 and Autopress. The Cricut Maker is ideal for cutting paper, vinyl, and more to create custom projects, while the Autopress makes heat transfer projects (i.e. t-shirts and tote bags) quick and easy. Our Intro to Cricut workshop will have two offerings in the spring term, Thursday, February 20 from 3-4:30pm and Thursday, March 27th from 1-2:30pm.

New this spring are MakerLab workshops on 3D printing and sticker making. This equipment for 3D printing and sticker printing/cutting is currently available on a pilot-only basis, but workshop attendees will have special access to these tools during the workshops. Our Tinkercad and 3D Printing workshop will be offered on Wednesday, April 9 from 3-4:30pm and our Sticker Making 101 workshop will be offered on Thursday, April 17 from 1-2:30pm.

Space is limited, so register ASAP to reserve your spot.

See you in the MakerLab!

MakerLab Spring Pilot

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The CECH Library is proud to announce that our newest MakerLab equipment is now available on a pilot basis for students of IDT 4015/7115 course, Trends in Learning Technology Innovation. Co-taught by Sarah Schroeder and Katie Foran-Mulcahy, the course focuses on making and makerspaces in K-12 environments.

IDT 4015/7115 students will assist in piloting the newest MakerLab technology acquisitions, including a Bambu x1C 3D printer, a Roland BN-20A printer/cutter, and an xTool F1 Ultra laser cutter and engraver. Students will also provide feedback on the future service model for the MakerLab. With these students’ assistance and expertise, our newest equipment available to all users in fall 2025.

As always, feel free to visit our MakerLab whenever the library is open, and view our website for a complete listing of equipment currently available for use.

See you in the MakerLab!

Children, Youth and Environments exhibit in CECH Library

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Join us in celebrating 40 years of Children, Youth and Environments (CYE) with a special exhibit in the CECH Library, inviting you to explore the journal’s mission to foster inclusive, sustainable environments for children and youth worldwide.

Managed and published by the University of Cincinnati’s Arlitt Center since 2015, CYE connects a global community of research, policy, and practice, highlighting diverse perspectives on the spaces where young people live, learn, work, and play.

This special exhibit will be available to view in CECH Library through January 2025.

Leslie Kochanowski, PhD
Director of Research & Initiatives | Arlitt Center for Education, Research & Sustainability Managing Editor | Children, Youth and Environments
University of Cincinnati

MakerLab Glow Up

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You may have noticed that our CECH Library MakerLab has had a bit of a glow up in recent months. The first phase of improvements was completed this summer, just in time for the fall 2024 term.

Initial phase improvements in our MakerLab include:

  • Re-organization of the space
  • Improved signage
  • A co-located collection of books and resources about making pedagogies
  • Artist prints from iconic picture book illustrators Eric Carle and Christian Robinson

We hope you’ll join us for the first workshop in our Teachers are Makers series, Intro to Cricut on Wednesday, November 13 at 2pm. This workshop is on-site in our MakerLab so participants can practice hands-on with some of our newest tools and make a project to take home.

We are appreciative for the advocacy and support of our colleagues in the 1819 Groundfloor Makerspace, the Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative, and the CECH School of Education. Thanks for helping us get this “glow up” off the ground and bring new tools and ways of making to our users.

Stay tuned for additional phased improvements. Hope to see you soon in the MakerLab.

Fondly,
Katie Foran-Mulcahy (she/her)
Head, College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) Library

CECH Library Annual Highlights, AY24

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Please enjoy this Microsoft Sway presentation of CECH Library’s key data points and proud achievements from academic year 2023-24. As always, feel free to reach out directly with any feedback, ideas, or questions.

On a personal note, I couldn’t be prouder to lead this team in support UC’s College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services. It’s a privilege and a gift to serve our vibrant, innovative community here at CECH.

Don’t forget to check out our highlights page for the latest CECH Library news on spaces, collections, and innovative services.

With gratitude,
Katie Foran-Mulcahy
CECH Library Head

d/Deaf Children’s Books in the Classroom

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Last semester, the CECH Library collaborated with the American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf Studies Department to expand d/Deaf representation in their children’s and young adult literature collections. After working with ASL 2003 students to create a book selection framework, the ASL Club helped CECH librarians choose which books to add to the library’s collections in February 2024. 

Now that we have these awesome books on our shelves, Elementary Education major Alice Somers shared an exciting update on how she’s using the collection in her kindergarten practicum classroom: 

As an education student completing my kindergarten practicum, I have found myself in a Deaf & Hard of Hearing classroom. I have been able to take the books from this collaboration and bring it into a classroom where the students can see themselves in the literature around them. The students and teachers have shown great interest in the books, and are excited to utilize them throughout the school year! 

Thanks for this great update, Alice! We love knowing that our children’s book collections are being used and enjoyed by children, especially in a way that is affirming of their lived experience.

Katie Foran-Mulcahy 
Head, College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) Library 

Alice Somers 
CECH Library Student Employee 
Elementary Education and Deaf Studies (CECH 2026) 

CECH Library Spotlight: Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli

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CECH Spotlight highlights recommended books in the the UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) Library.

Imogen, Obviously / written by Becky Albertalli (2023)

“True belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world. Our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.” – Brene Brown

Becky Albertalli, most well known for her novel Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda, has written multiple novels that explore different yet positive LGBTQ+ experiences. Her latest novel Imogen, Obviously, focuses on the lived experience of realizing one’s own identity. It follows Imogen Scott, a high school senior who is so sure that she’s straight, at least that’s what everyone tells her. It’s not until she visits her best friend at college, and begins meeting her friends (who all happen to be Queer) that Imogen begins to rethink her identity. 

Albertalli intimately explores the process of self-acceptance, and the anxiety of feeling enough. Imogen, Obviously is a love letter to those who are on their journey of learning to understand their identity. This novel shouts, “You’re enough, you matter, you belong!” For the first time in a long time, I felt the power of seeing myself in the media.

This book is available for checkout in the CECH Library, as well as via the OhioLINK and Search Ohio lending networks.

Review by Alice Somers, CECH Library Student Assistant | Early Childhood Education and Deaf Studies, CECH 2026