Author Archives: Melissa Cox Norris

Join us April 11 for “Protests, Boycotts, Lawsuits and Persistence: Reflections on Police Reform and Public Pressure in Cincinnati”

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DETAILS: Thursday, April 11, 3:30pm, Walter C. Langsam Library FEC 540E – with remarks by Linda Newman, Iris Roley and Al Gerhardstein.

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Cincinnati in 2000 – 2002 was alive with ideas for change and disagreement on how to make it happen. The presenters will discuss protests, boycotts and other activism that pressed for progressive goals including police reforms. Tension among the reformers, deep frustration with racial discrimination and economic oppression will also be the basis for reflection. One outcome of these efforts was the Collaborative Agreement and broad citizen engagement on public safety issues in Cincinnati that have been cited as a national model. The current state of the Collaborative Agreement will be reviewed as well as ongoing efforts to improve public safety while reducing arrests and mass incarceration. Opportunities to get involved in justice issues will also be shared.

  • Linda Newman was a leader in the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati (CJC), and one of the persons sued by the Cincinnati Arts Association which sought to end a boycott by artists the Coalition organized.
  • Iris Roley has served as the Program Director of CBUF for the past 24 years and also remains engaged in the implementation of the Collaborative Agreement.
  • Al Gerhardstein is a civil rights attorney and has represented the Cincinnati Black United Front (CBUF) for the last 24 years.  He remains engaged in the implementation of the Collaborative Agreement.

In 2022, prominent civil right attorney, Al Gerhardstein donated his papers to UC Libraries. Housed and available for study and research in the Archives and Rare Books Library, the extensive collection includes briefs, pleadings, depositions, trial transcriptions, newspaper, magazine and journal articles, as well as correspondence and speeches spanning Gerhardstein’s career and notable legal cases.

The event is free and open to all and is presented by a mini grant the UC Libraries RESPECT (Racial Equity Support Programming to Educate the Community Team).

Preventing Systemic Discrimination of Persons with Disabilities:  How You Can Initiate the First Steps

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When/Where: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm, Tues., April 9 and Wed., April 10, Room 462 Walter C. Langsam Library

Join UC Libraries for two workshops aimed at educating and promoting change and empathy related to the systemic discrimination of persons with disabilities – “Preventing Systemic Discrimination of Persons with Disabilities: How You Can Initiate the First Steps.” Matthew Sauer, assistant director of accessibility resources at UC Clermont College, will facilitate hands-on activities and develop individual stories to give attendees a foundation in the systematic discrimination of persons with disabilities and challenge them to determine what transformations and next steps they will take for themselves. The result of the workshops will be to envision a strategy for building a culture of inclusion at the university and in UC Libraries with the hope that the feedback from these sessions will lead to annual events regarding the impact of eliminating systemic intolerance in favor of equity. 

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Check out library Spring Break reduced hours, March 9-16

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Most University of Cincinnati Libraries locations have reduced hours for Spring Break, March 9-16. Check the library website for a list of hours by location.

Have a safe and rejuvenating Spring Break, Bearcats!

spring break vine with lemons

Devhra BennettJones joins UC Libraries as Winkler Center Archivist/Curator

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On February 19, 2024 Devhra BennettJones joined the University of Cincinnati Libraries as the archivist and curator of the Henry R. Winkler Center for the History of the Health Professions.

Devhra is a certified archivist and holds a Master of Science in Organizational & Human Resources Development from Abilene Christian University and a Master of Arts in History from our own University of Cincinnati. Previously, Devhra worked in the Cincinnati area at both the Lloyd Library & Museum and the American Jewish Archives. Devhra is actively engaged with the Society of American Archivists and the Society of Ohio Archivists and brings a wealth of knowledge to UC Libraries.

“The main thing that I am looking forward to in the new position is the opportunity to contribute to the preservation of medical history and to provide access to the rich historical collections held by the Winkler Center,” said Devhra. “It is an honor to work here!”

About the Winkler Center

winkler center

The Henry R. Winkler Center for the History of the Health Professions is an archive and exhibit facility chronicling the history of the health sciences primarily in the Cincinnati area. The Winkler Center’s over 35,000 volumes of rare and classic works on health history however broaden that scope to include Europe and date back almost 500 years. In addition to its archival collections, books, and medical objects, the Winkler Center also presents public and educational programming, and workshops throughout the year.  

Poetry Stacked presents “Talkback Ekphrastic”

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In November 2023, faculty and student artists from UC’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) joined the poets of Poetry Stacked to create three paintings spontaneously while immersed in the reading’s live audience.

To complete the creative loop of that dynamic collaboration, the Elliston Poetry Room and the University of Cincinnati Libraries are hosting Talkback Ekphrastic, a two-part discussion and workshop about art, poetry, inspiration and process on Thursday, March 21 at 6:30pm in the Elliston Poetry Room, 646 Walter C. Langsam Library.

The event kicks off with the official, public debut of the Poetry Stacked paintings. Kyle Angel, adjunct instructor in DAAP, will provide opening remarks about the collaboration, followed by a talkback/Q&A with Kyle and the other artists.

After that, the discussion will transition from the painted ekphrastic to the written, where Alecia Beymer, poet and assistant professor/educator in UC’s Department of English, will share an introduction to ekphrastic poetry (poems written about works of art). Alecia will then facilitate an ekphrastic writing exercise with the gathered audience, asking participants to draft poems inspired by the three art pieces created at Poetry Stacked.

The event concludes with a short open mic for anyone to share their work and where the artists (who are also writers!) might share some of their poetic work.

Refreshments will be provided. The event is expected to last 75 minutes and is free and open to all to attend, including students, staff faculty and the community. More information about Poetry Stacked is available on the Libraries website.

UC Libraries seeks books good enough to eat for the International Edible Books Festival

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Know of a good book to eat?! Create an Edible Book for UC Libraries International Edible Books Festival!

It’s time once again for the fan-favorite International Edible Books Festival scheduled for Monday, April 1, 2024, 11 a.m. on the 4th floor of the Walter C. Langsam Library. UC Libraries is seeking people interested in creating an edible book for the enjoyment of all in attendance. There are few restrictions – namely that your creation be edible and have something to do with a book – so you may let your creativity run wild.

As in previous years, entries will be judged according to such categories as “Most Delicious,” “Most Creative,” “Most Checked Out” and “Most Literary.” Those awarded “Best Student Entry” and “Best Overall” will win UC merch.

If you are interested in creating an edible book, e-mail libraries@uc.edu by Monday, March 25 with your name and the title of your creation.

Looking for inspiration? View the Facebook album to see photos from the previous festivals.

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

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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, writes about moving forging a path as we create our strategic plan. Readers can access the Strategic Plan to give a sense of what we accomplished in 2022/2023. Collections play a prominent theme in this issue, including in a new DAAP Library exhibit, Rediscovering Catherina van Hemmessen’s Flagellation of Christ: Women as Artists, Patrons and Rulers in Renaissance Europe, that features prints, books and manuscripts from the collections of UC Libraries and in the acquisitions of Blue Books in the Archives and Rare Books Library. Collaboration is another theme of this issue when we write about Poetry Stacked Beyond the Bookshelves and the efforts of several librarians and staff to present for school children participating in the College Mentors for Kids program. And don’t miss the article about the lost mural in the CEAS Library.

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

Join us Wednesday, March 6 for an afternoon of poetry…and dance!

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The University of Cincinnati Libraries and the Elliston Poetry Room announce the next roster of poets for Poetry Stacked, a semi-regular poetry reading series held in the 6th floor east stacks of the Walter C. Langsam Library.

At the next event, scheduled for Wednesday, March 6 at 4:30pm, three poets will read their original work:

poet images
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New Library Exhibit Explores Decolonizing the Library Catalog

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decolonizing the library catalog

A new exhibit on display on the fourth floor lobby of the Walter C. Langsam Library explores “Decolonizing the Library Catalog.” An important purpose of a library catalog is to ensure discoverability of materials. In addition to keywords that may or not be present in the book title or other parts of the record, subject headings are assigned to indicate the topics of library resources. Subject headings are created and maintained by a group of authorities, such as the Library of Congress, to help users find materials on a given topic. Headings are generally based on standard, contemporary American English-language usage and are intended to reflect current literature. (Adler). Subject headings can be problematic when they center whiteness, include outdated or offensive terminology and omit concepts related to people’s experiences. The display explores these issues, includes examples of problematic subject headings and lists ways in which people are working to update and improve the Library Catalog.

“Decolonizing the Library Catalog” was curated by Susan Banoun, team leader in eResources & Access, Mikaila Corday, eResources Department, and Olga Hart, coordinator of library instruction. It was designed by Francesca Voyten, communications design co-op student. The exhibit is sponsored by the Libraries RESPECT (Racial Equity Support Programming to Educate the Community Team) in honor of Black History Month.

To learn more, a print bibliography is available at the exhibit and posted below as an image.

Spotlight on Library Databases

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library databases

UC Libraries provides access to hundreds of research databases available online for searching and downloading of information. Last year, there were 4,627,063 database searches and 2,191,398 full-text article downloads. Below is a list of new databases for 2023/2024.

For more databases, browse the list of A-Z databases online.

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