The Archives and Rare Books Library (ARB) will soon begin utilizing new space at an offsite storage facility maintained by the University of Cincinnati Libraries. This will free up much needed collections space in Blegen Library for new acquisitions and newly organized materials. Consequently, ARB staff be taking part in a major collections shift during the weeks of September 16th and September 23rd.
During that time, services at ARB may be disrupted. This includes fielding reference questions and communications. We apologize for any inconvenience during this time but look forward to enhancing collection services following the shift!
Change happens. It’s a fact of life. For lots of reasons. Recent changes to the General Records Schedule, the document providing direction for the disposition of records generated by UC personnel, show that it’s no different for records retention. While slight, the changes were still essential to executing the records management program. What is as important as change happening is that these changes be documented for and shared with relevant stakeholders. Fortunately, at UC a process exists for that. It occurs in three phases: the reason behind the changes, how the GRS is updated, and communication of the changes.
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
All University of Cincinnati Libraries locations will be closed Wednesday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Regular library hours for all locations will resume Thursday, June 20.
In observance of the holiday, learn about “Not Racist” vs. “Anti-Racist” Ideologies as part of week three of R.E.S.P.E.C.T.’s annual 21-Day Anti-Racism Challenge — a three-week long, self-guided learning exercise that focuses on different aspects of systemic racism, and how we can all fight against it. And join us Thursday, June 20th from 10:30AM-11:30PM for a Zoom discussion on the challenge, what was learned and how participants can take further action. Join the meeting here, or through the link found on the LibGuide.
R.E.S.P.E.C.T. (Racial Equity Support & Programming to Educate the Community Team) is a UC Libraries committee charged with developing external programming that explicitly addresses the negative role that systemic racism plays in our society.
All University of Cincinnati Libraries locations will be closed Monday, May 27 in observance of Memorial Day. Regular library hours for all locations will resume Tuesday, May 28. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday.
The Archives and Rare Books (ARB) Library is happy to announce that Catherine Cubera began work at the University of Cincinnati Libraries on May 13, 2024, as beginning librarian and digital archivist. She is charged with developing and implementing digital workflows and policies, digitization of research materials within ARB and working with UC Libraries Content Services Department to support the discoverability and maintenance of digital collections and exhibitions.
Catherine holds a master’s degree in information science from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville (2023). She has worked as a library assistant at the University of North Georgia Library Technology Center, interned at The Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park in Buffalo, New York and was a Public Broadcasting Preservation Fellow at East Tennessee PBS, where she digitized and created metadata for audiovisual media.
Jonathan Kirkwood also joined UC Libraries on May 13, as associate librarian and records manager at the Archives and Rare Books Library. He is charged with managing the University’s records management program as well as appraising and processing collections and conducting reference services.
Jonathan holds a master’s degree in public history from Western Michigan University (2013) and another in library and information science from Wayne State University (2021). He has worked as an archivist, librarian and museum professional for 16 years. Lately, he comes from Sloan Museum of Discovery, in Flint, Michigan, where he served as archivist and curated the museum’s extensive automotive and local historical archival collections.
DETAILS: Thursday, April 11, 3:30pm, Walter C. Langsam Library FEC 540E – with remarks by Linda Newman, Iris Roley and Al Gerhardstein.
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).
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
Announcing the 2022-2023 University of Cincinnati Libraries Annual Report. My tenure as dean and university librarian began in mid-August 2023, a time of great growth at the University of Cincinnati. I’ve spent these past six months learning as much as I can about the Libraries – how 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” supports the university’s NEXT Lives Here Strategic Directions. Documents such as the Annual Report have been key to my education.
In this Annual Report, we look back at the top News & Events, applaud Staff Accomplishments & Milestones and look at the Libraries By the Numbers and Financially. Under the leadership of interim dean and university librarian Lori Harris, we welcomed a significant number of new librarians and staff members who will provide essential library services and research support and help move the Libraries forward. We acquired, processed, preserved and made available collections used for research. We held events to bring people into the Libraries to interact with our facilities and collections. We created welcoming places – both virtual and in-person – for people to study, research and collaborate. And, we provided our expertise to the students, faculty and researchers who rely on UC Libraries for their academic pursuits.
Looking Forward
While we celebrate the accomplishments of the past academic year, we also continue to move forward and plan for the future. This past fall we began the process of developing an updated strategic plan with goals and initiatives that will continue to advance the mission of the University of Cincinnati. This plan will build upon the successes of UC Libraries and respond to the rapidly changing landscape of higher education, as well as the increasingly diverse needs of our students, faculty and researchers. The strategic plan will be completed this summer and will guide our work for the next three years. Stay tuned.
