Dean of University Libraries, Xuemao Wang
Last month’s issue of UC Libraries’ newsletter Source featured two articles about the libraries’ process and progress in building capacity. Below is one of those articles in its entirety.
Finding the Talent: Building Capacity through Organizational Strategy and Partnerships with the Broader University Community
UC Libraries celebrated Black History Month with a cultural program filled with poetry readings, theater performances and delicious cuisine.
The event was titled “Celebration of Excellence in Black History.” It was part of UC Libraries’ “Bridges to Diversity and Inclusion” initiative. The event was extremely well attended and guests included students, faculty, staff and administrators from across UC. Here is a multimedia slideshow that features highlights from the event: https://animoto.com/play/VYYiygBRepyAv4wXUj3RwQ
The program started with a presentation on the origins and foundations of Black History Month. Dr. Karen Cudjoe shared inspirational and empowering quotes from Black leaders. Her presentation also featured a mosaic of Black excellence that showed the impact Black people have made in the fields of: education, politics, business, civil rights, athletics, arts and culture.
Afterwards, Don Jason introduced UC Libraries’ Diversity Journaling Initiative. This initiative encourages UC students, faculty and staff to attend diversity programs on campus and write about them. Everyone at the event received a diversity diary.
Next, the event featured poetry readings by Nick Wantsala and Jenny Wright—Black Buttafly. The poetry was a mix of classic poems written by Lewis Latimer and original spoken word poems.
The poetry was followed by a theater performance presented by Donna Davis and Akosua Favors from the Soul Consciousness Theater Group. The performance highlighted the contributions Black inventors have made on society. It gave the audience a glimpse of what daily life would be like if we did not have inventions created by Black people. Meshia Anderson and June Taylor-Slaughter researched all of the inventors mentioned in the theater performance. They compiled their research into two eye-catching display boards that were showcased at the Black History Month event.
The final portion of the program featured presentations from student and community groups. These presentations highlighted the history and mission of each organization. The presentations also talked about the exciting programs and events hosted by the different groups. Here are the organizations that presented:
After the formal program concluded, everyone shared in a delicious soul food meal.
UC Libraries would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of Meshia Anderson, Program Coordinator, program participants and everyone who helped make the event a success. UC Libraries would also like to extend a special thanks to the UC Provost’s Office for the grant that made this event possible.
The “Celebration of Excellence in Black History” event occurred on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 from 2:30- 4:30 PM in Langsam Library. It was hosted in Room 462, UC Libraries’ new state-of-the-art teaching and learning facility.
Don Jason and Meshia Anderson
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 Friday, April 1, 2016, from 1-2pm in Langsam Library’s 5th floor lobby. UC Libraries is seeking people interested in creating an edible book for the enjoyment (and consumption) 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. Continue reading
By: Sydney Vollmer
Nine. NINE Hamlet adaptations worldwide listed on iMDb (Internet Movie Database)! The adaptations range from a traditional version filmed in England to a modern-day (well, 2000s), New York City adaptation. I’ve listed the films below in chronological order. Before I get started, let me make it abundantly clear that I have never ever seen any of these movies. The closest I’ve come is The Lion King, and even that was years ago. Even so, I’m going to make comments on these given the little information I have. What I find most interesting is the progression of ratings: Unrated, G, PG, PG-13, R. What?? Did they not show fighting and death in the G-rated version? If not, they royally screwed with the storyline.
1948: UK
2h 35m
Unrated
The first adaptation noted was filmed in the UK in 1948. Hamlet was played by actor Laurence Olivier. The only other particularly notable talent in the movie was Jean Simmons who played Ophelia. Other than that, there’s not much to say about this one. Continue reading
Read Source, the online newsletter, to learn more about the news, events, people and happenings in UC Libraries.
This latest issue of Source includes an article about recent renovations to the entrances of two library locations, a Q&A with two employees, Hong Cheng and Bob Freeman, and A Note from the Dean: Finding the Talent. There are announcements of Dean Wang joining the SPARC Steering Committee and that Scholar@UC is open for self-submissions, as well as a list of spring events in UC Libraries. Read these articles and more.
Source is available on the web at http://libapps.libraries.uc.edu/source/ and via e-mail. To receive Source via e-mail, contact melissa.norris@uc.edu to be added to the mailing list.
Speakers, performances and cultural food favorites will be center stage at “Celebration of Excellence in Black History,” scheduled for February 24, 2:30-4:30 pm, Langsam Library 462. Continue reading
UC Libraries welcomes to campus February 29 and March 1 as the next expert in the Digital Humanities Speaker Series Dr. Élika Ortega, a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Digital Research in the Humanities at the University of Kansas. Dr. Ortega will present a series of talks and hands-on workshops, all free and open to the public, in the Walter C. Langsam Library. Participants are encouraged to come to any or all sessions that are of interest to them and to their work.
By: Kevin Grace
It is February again, a month notable for honoring presidents and for looking forward to spring. February is also a time when we reflect on the heritage of African Americans in the United States and take time to acknowledge that part of our nation’s history.
UC’s 1934 Basketball team including first African American player, Chester Smith
Depending on the media, we also term February as Black History Month, and it had its beginnings in 1926 when “Negro History Week” was created by historian Carter G. Woodson. Woodson’s intent was to celebrate it in February because both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass had their birthdays in this month., and as he stated, “If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.” Continue reading
After an innovative, transformative and event-filled 2015, UC Libraries is starting the new year off strong.
The Libraries are undergoing a great deal of physical change, from the accessible new entrance of the Geography-Mathematics-Physics Library to the updated service desk and learning commons on the 4th floor of Langsam Library.
The new Langsam Service Point under construction
Behind the scenes, our librarians and staff continue to plan and host events and educational opportunities for UC students and library users, like those sponsored by the Libraries’ Diversity grant. The Libraries’ online resources are constantly being refined to provide the best possible access and content for students and faculty, such as the BoardVitals Question Banks recently acquired by the Health Sciences Library. In addition, we are making it possible for UC’s faculty and researchers to archive and make available online their scholarly output with Scholar@UC, UC’s digital repository. Want to know more about the opportunities for faculty, staff and student workers? New positions are posted on the Libraries’ website.
This year, look for posts from me about the new and exciting projects and events at UCL, my local, national and international involvement with the library community, and my personal thinking on UC Libraries’ Strategic Plan going forward.
Thank you for reading and welcome back!
Xuemao Wang
Dean and University Librarian
UC Libraries is proud to be a part of the Provost’s Strategic Hiring Opportunity and Dual Career Assistance programs. In a recent article in UC Magazine, library employees Bill McMillin, Tiffany Grant, Don Jason, Hong Cheng and Robert Freeman are included in a feature of new employees that “have joined UC with support from Provost Office funds dedicated to recruit the best and brightest in their fields as well as to attract and support faculty who have partners who can bring their own academic expertise to campus.” You can read all about it online in UC Magazine.
