Category Archives: Langsam Library

Black History Month spotlight: Lucy Oxley 

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Our second Black History Month spotlight goes to a pioneer of medicine in the Cincinnati area, Lucy Oxley – the first African American to graduate from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.  

Lucy Oxley was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1912. During her childhood, her family moved to Cincinnati, as her father was named rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. As a young girl, Oxley looked up to three of her uncles who became doctors and knew early on that she wanted to be one too. She graduated early from Woodward High School and joined the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine’s six-year undergraduate and medical program.  

Lucy Oxley, MD / Credit: Winkler Center for the History of Health Professions

During her time at UC, Oxley excelled, working hard to earn her spot in the group of top fifteen students who would have the chance to intern at General Hospital (UC Medical Center). However, she was refused an internship spot. When she questioned Dr. Alfred Friedlander about why she wasn’t given an internship, he said to her, “Lucy, you are a negro, and we don’t want you.” Oxley replied, “Well Dr. Friedlander, I wouldn’t change that for anything.” Rising above the prejudice, she went on to complete her internship at Freedmen’s Hospital in Washington, DC, and returned to Cincinnati to join her classmates for graduation on June 5, 1936.  

After graduation, Oxley became a medical director for student wellness at Bennett College in North Carolina, and then Wilberforce College here in Ohio. Following that, she had a daughter, Francine, and returned to Cincinnati where she started her general practice. In 1945 she began working in cancer research alongside fellow UC grad, George Sperti. A few years later she returned to full-time practice in family medicine where she cared for thousands of patients and families.  

Later in life, Oxley was diagnosed with lung cancer but continued to treat patients up until her passing in 1991. She is remembered today for her dedication to those she cared for and for paving the way for young African Americans who aim to make a difference in the medical field just as she did.  

To learn more about Lucy Oxley’s life and contributions to the world of medicine, visit the Source newsletter link:  https://libapps.libraries.uc.edu/source/lucy-oxley-md-a-pioneer-and-servant-leader/

Or watch Drs. Felson and Goodman interview Dr. Oxley as part of the Henry R. Winkler Center for the History of the Health Professions Oral History Series.  https://uclid-uc-edu.uc.idm.oclc.org/record=b1410475  

Join us Feb. 12 for an afternoon of poetry at the next Poetry Stacked

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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, Feb. 12 at 4:30pm, three poets will read their original work:

poets Aditi Machado, Abigail Rudibaugh and Whitney Hendrix

Aditi Machado is the author of three books of poetry, most recently Material Witness from Nightboat; a novel translation from the French; and several pamphlets of nonfiction prose and poetry. Soon-to-be published works include a book-length translation of Swiss poet Baptiste Gaillard’s In the Realm of Motes and the collaborative mistranslation project Ancient Algorithms headed by Katrine Øgaard Jensen. Machado is an Associate Professor at UC and an Advisory Poetry Editor at The Paris Review.

Abigail Rudibaugh is a writer and teacher. Her writing has been published in Pensworth Literary Journal, Noble Pursuit Magazine, and Fathom Magazine. Abigail holds a Masters of Arts in Teaching through the Ohio Writing Project at Miami University as well as a Masters of Fine Arts in Poetry through Sena Jeter Naslund-Karen Mann Graduate School of Writing at Spalding University. She calls Cincinnati, Ohio home with her husband and two daughters.

Whitney Hendrix is an undergraduate senior at the University of Cincinnati. Raised in a small conservative town in Northeast Ohio, she much enjoys the Cincinnati student lifestyle. She will graduate this Spring with degrees in English Creative Writing and Film and Media Studies. Whitney mainly writes poetry but is inspired by all genres and forms of storytelling. Her work explores themes of identity, the mundane every day, memory, and childhood. Most of Whitney’s literary inspiration comes from her dream journal and her favorite fiction novelist Ottessa Moshfegh. 

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UC Libraries Closed Monday, Jan. 20 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

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The University of Cincinnati Libraries will be closed Monday, Jan. 20 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The Libraries will resume normal hours on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. from LIFE Magazine

This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we invite you to join the Libraries Racial Equity, Support & Programming to Educate the Community Team (RESPECT) in commemorating this civil rights legend by checking out these library resources. In addition, just when you thought you knew everything there was to know about Martin Luther King, Jr., History.com has compiled a list of 10 surprising facts that you probably didn’t know. For example, Martin Luther King, entered Morehouse College at the tender age of only 15!

Langsam exhibit looks back at the Cincinnati Subway and Street Improvements project

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The latest University of Cincinnati Libraries exhibit showcases historic images of Cincinnati from the Archives and Rare Books Library’s Urban Studies Collection. On display on the 4th floor lobby of the Walter C. Langsam Library, the Cincinnati Subway and Street Improvements exhibit features photographic prints and negatives from 1920 to 1956 from an extensive archive of the City Engineer, City of Cincinnati.

The collection of over 8,000 photographic negatives and prints were taken by the city’s Rapid Transit Commission as part of a failed subway development project in the 1920s, along with photographs documenting various street projects from the 1930s through the 1950s. It provides a glimpse at the interior views of homes and businesses damaged during the construction and follows the growth of the city through various street improvement projects that took place between the 1920s and 1950s.

The Cincinnati Subway and Street Improvements exhibit was designed by Francesca Voyten, communications design co-op student.

cincinnati subway and street improvements collection exhibit

Acknowledging a job well done

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june taylor-slaughter

In the spring of 2024, June Taylor-Slaughter, research and services specialist in the Science & Engineering Libraries, was working the UC Libraries help-line chat when author D. B. Borton asked an out of the ordinary question.

Borton attended UC in the 1980’s and wanted to use Langsam Library as a setting for a mystery novel she was writing. Unable to recall information about the library carrels, she used Library Chat for answers. Barton said she wasn’t sure if anyone would be able to assist her. Coincidentally, June told her that she was also a student at that time working in Langsam Library. She was able to provide Borton with exactly the details she needed to include in her book. Borton was so grateful and told her she’d send her a copy.

After not thinking about the instance for a while, June was pleasantly surprised one day when she received a copy of Borton’s finished novel along with a hand-written thank-you note – and on the third page of the book, a special acknowledgment.

When asked about the acknowledgment, June said, “It was the best reward from working Library chat. You can help someone with the smallest thing, but you don’t know how much it’s appreciated until it’s acknowledged, so I am humbly grateful. This acknowledgment wasn’t just for me, but also for UC Libraries. I’m really looking forward to reading this book!”

acknowledgments and thank you note
thank you note

Need to study for exams? UC Libraries has multiple locations and options to fit all your needs.

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As we enter Exam Week (Dec. 8-14), check out UC Libraries various library locations to find the spot right for you.

Langsam Library’s three floors offer a variety of study options from quiet (6th floor) to more communal (4th floor). Students can find a spot to meet their study goals at a carrel, group study room, the Langsam Living Room or a high-top table at Starbucks. During exams, Langsam offers extended hours.

langsam library

Is Langsam getting a little crowded? Visit one of our other library locations. Some recommendations:

snag a study room in CECH; work on a comfy couch at the DAAP Library; finish a project in the CEAS Library reading room

The Classics Library and the CCM Library, both located in Blegen, both have quiet Reading Rooms. The GMP and Chem-Bio libraries feature large, open areas with desks and flexible seating options. For those on the medical campus, the Health Sciences Library has three floors of study options.

In addition, to UC Libraries, the university offers multiple study spaces including in college buildings, coffee shops, TUC and other student centers.

Good luck, Bearcats!

Langsam Library offers extended hours through exams

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Need a place to study for exams? Working late on a class project? The Walter C. Langsam Library has extended building hours beginning Sunday, Dec. 1st through exams.

The Desk@Langsam will maintain regular hours.

extended hours. langsam library open until 3am, sunday-thursday, dec. 1-11

Extended Building Hours:

Sunday, Dec. 1: 8am-3am
Monday-Thursday, Dec. 2-5: 8am-3am
Friday, Dec. 6: 8am-10pm
Saturday, Dec. 7: Noon-10pm
Sunday, Dec. 8: Noon-3am
Monday-Wednesday, Dec. 9-11: 8am-3am
Friday, Dec.12: 8am-5pm

Winter Break hours begin Saturday, Dec.13.

UC Libraries closed for Thanksgiving holiday

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turkeys

The University of Cincinnati Libraries will be closed Thursday, November 28 through Saturday, November 30 for the Thanksgiving holiday, with some locations closed the entire holiday weekend and many library locations closing early on Wednesday, November 27 at 5pm. Check the listed hours for each library location’s specific hours.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Cento as Form: Poetry found in the stacks

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Join UC Libraries and the Elliston Poetry Room for a hands-on discussion and workshop about creating Cento poetry.

Thursday, Nov. 14, 6:30pm

Elliston Poetry Room, 646 Langsam Library

Katie Foran-Mulcahy, librarian and head of the College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services Library, will begin the event with an overview of library collections. She will instruct how to navigate the stacks and then give directions on how to proceed with a scavenger hunt to find resources to collect lines from various texts.

Dior Stephens, poet and PhD graduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences, will then lead participants in a workshop to create their own Cento poem. Dior will introduce the Cento form, its history and creative potential, and explain that participants can use lines from any genre of books they find in the stacks to create their own poems.

The event is free and open to all to attend. Come to learn about and create a Cento poem.

cento as form flyer

This special issue of the online newsletter, Source, announces the University of Cincinnati Libraries Strategic Plan, 2024-2027.

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source graphic

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, announces UC Libraries Strategic Plan, 2024-2027. This participatory and data-informed process to draft a Strategic Plan resulted in a renewed mission, Values and four Strategic Directions: Enrich Our Collections, Expand Our Impact, Strengthen Our Organization and Support Our Students.

This special issue of Source includes examples of how we’re already working to achieve the goals articulated in our Strategic Directions:

  • Enrich Our Collections. Social Activist with a press showcases recently acquired work of Amos Kennedy to the collections of the Archives and Rare Books Library.
  • Expand Our Impact. Read about Mac-Anthony Cobblah‘s, university librarian for the Sam Jonah Library at the University of Cape Coast, summer visit to UC Libraries, as well as an article about how three librarians from the Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library launched a pilot 15-week Systematic Review cohort.
  • Strengthen Our Organization. UC Libraries is building its capacity by welcoming new leaders to UC Libraries – Jéanne Brooks & Brian Gray.
  • Support Our Students. Two recent UC collaborations – one with the UC Learning Commons to provide student and tutoring opportunities in Langsam Library and another with the Accessibility Resources Offices to revamp the Accessible Technology Space – are prime examples of how UC Libraries is working for students.

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.