Category Archives: UC

UC Libraries seeks books good enough to eat for the International Edible Books Festival April 1st

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

Dragons Love Tacos. Edible book by Lexi Davis, 2025 Best Overall

It’s time once again for the fan-favorite International Edible Books Festival scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, 2025, 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 swag.

Looking for inspiration? View images from last year’s Edible Books on the Libraries Facebook page.

Interested in creating an Edible Book? Complete the entry form by Wednesday, March 25.

Join your research peers at the 2026 Undergraduate Research Summer Learning Community 

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box of donuts

Do you have summer plans yet?  We would love for you to join us in the library for research fun and skills.  The 2026 Undergraduate Research Summer Learning Community is a great way to learn about research, acquire research skills and meet other undergraduates either interested in or currently doing research.  This year the community will run from June 3 to July 22 and meet every Wednesday morning from 9:30 am to 11 am.  The first session will include a celebratory meal and networking to kick off the 8 weeks of skills, friends and fun.  Each session will be facilitated by a mentor engaged in undergraduate research support and will be offered as both in-person and virtually via zoom.  In-person sessions will also have donuts and coffee. The final session will be in-person and feature an Opportunities Fair and more networking time. You can register and learn more information about the program and weekly topics by visiting the URSLC webpage.  Email askdata@uc.edu for more information and if you have any questions.   

Classroom of students. They sit in groups at tables that each have a computer monitor at the wall near them

The URSLC is sponsored by UC Libraries and is offered in collaboration with the TRIO McNair Scholars, University Honors Discover program, and the CEAS Office of Professional Development & Community Impact.  The program is free and open to any undergraduate (UC and beyond) interested in research. 

UC Libraries celebrates Open Education Week March 2-6 with launch of the Zero Textbook Cost Grant Program

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open education week graphic

In response to the growing cost of course materials, the University of Cincinnati Libraries is launching the Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Grant Program. Available to UC faculty to apply, the aim of the program is to incentivize and support the adoption of either open educational resources (OERs) or library resources into general education and high-enrollment courses at UC. The program will provide material support in the form of grants for adopting, adapting, creating or maintaining zero-cost course materials and will build resources and infrastructure for success within UC Libraries and the UC community at large. 

The ZTC Grant Program supports the integration of OERs and existing library resources into course curricula with the goal of replacing paid textbooks and course materials with the zero-cost model and maximizing student savings. To ensure this, the program is committed to providing financial, structural and instructional support to address common barriers to engagement.

Grants will be awarded in four categories: Adoption, Adaptation, Creation and Maintenance. They will have a staggered launch with Adoption, Adaptation and Maintenance grants launching in March 2026 (with awards administered in FY 2026–2027) and Creation grants tentatively scheduled for launch in October 2026.

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Significant Changes to the NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan requirements starting in May

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Starting May 25, 2026 the NIH will require researchers to submit a data management and sharing plan based on updated elements. See for more details – NOT-OD-26-046. 

The background for the changes as listed in the guide is “to clarify common areas of confusion in the research community while streamlining and simplifying DMS Plans. Since the DMS Policy went into effect in 2023, NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices have evaluated over 1,100 DMS Plans and found that while the majority were acceptable either initially or after minor revisions, many included extraneous details and exceeded the recommended DMS Plan length. NIH is revising DMS Plan elements and requiring the use of the corresponding format page to aid compliance monitoring.”

If you have questions about the new format or general data management questions, email askdata@uc.edu.

Here is a comparison of the current and the updated version questions.

2020 versionAfter May 25, 2026 version
Data Type: briefly describe the scientific data to be managed, preserved, and shared[100 words max] Asks for the key types of scientific data anticipated to be generated during the project to be included in a table, along with information on the repository (or an example repository) where the scientific data may be managed and shared.  
Related Tools, Software and/or Code: specify if needed 
Standards: indicate what standards will be applied to the scientific data and associated metadata  
Data Preservation, Access, and Associated Timelines:  describe what repository will be used, persistent identifiers to use, and when the data will be available.Element 1. Answer Yes or No: Will there be maximum appropriate sharing of scientific data underlying peer-reviewed publications and other findings resulting from the work supported by this award (including preprints, refereed papers reported at conferences, and other findings)?  
Access, Distribution, or Reuse Considerations: describe any applicable factors affecting subsequent access, distribution, or reuse of scientific dataElement 2. Answer Yes or No: Will the scientific data underlying peer-reviewed publications be shared by the time of publication or, for other findings, by the end of the period of performance, which includes no-cost extensions?   Element 3. Answer Yes or No: Will shared scientific data be made available for at least as long as required by applicable data repository policies and/or journal policies?
New Element for 2026 – Element 4: [300 words maximum] If you answered “NO” to elements 1, 2, or 3, or if you anticipate that sharing will be limited in some other way, please describe these limitations and the ethical, legal, or technical factors for them (see for example FAQ B.5 and other relevant FAQs). Your response should specify a particular reason(s) for limiting sharing.
Oversight of Data Management and Sharing: indicate how compliance with the Plan will be monitored and managed, frequency of oversight, and by whom (e.g., titles, roles).Answer Yes or No: If scientific data derived from human research participants will be shared, will privacy, rights, and confidentiality of participants be protected as outlined in NOT-OD-22-213, including whether any scientific data will be shared using access controls? 
New Element for 2026 – For studies subject to the NIH Genomic Data Sharing Policy (GDS) (e.g., using NIH funds to generate large-scale human genomic data): Answer Yes, No, or Not Applicable: Will you share all large-scale human genomic and associated data in a NIH-designated repository according to the accelerated timelines expected in the GDS Policy?. If “no,” address in element 4. If “no,” address in element 4. Answer Yes, No, or Not Applicable: Do you anticipate that when sharing large-scale human genomic data that you will be able to meet the expectations of the Institutional Certification in the GDS Policy (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-14-124.html; IV.C.5)? If “no,” address in element 4.

Join us March 11 for Poetry Stacked + music

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The University of Cincinnati Libraries and the Elliston Poetry Room announce the poets and composers for the next Poetry Stacked, a semi-regular poetry reading series. This session is a musical collaboration, and will be held in the Albino Gorno Memorial (CCM) Library, 600 Blegen Library.

At the next event, scheduled for Wednesday, March 11 at 4pm, three poets will read their original work:

poets Taylor Byas, Jim Palmarini and Luca Campagnoli
  • Dr. Taylor Byas, Ph.D. is a Black Chicago native currently living in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her debut full-length, I Done Clicked My Heels Three Times from Soft Skull Press, won the 2023 Maya Angelou Book Award, the 2023 Chicago Review of Books Award in Poetry and the 2024 Ohioana Book Award in Poetry. Her second full-length, Resting Bitch Face (2025), was a September pick for Roxane Gay’s Audacious Book Club. She is represented by Noah Grey Rosenzweig at Triangle House Literary.
  • Jim Palmarini has been facilitating and participating in public poetry readings for more than 40 years. He currently hosts the Word of Mouth Cincinnati series, now in its 12th year, at Over the Rhine’s MOTR Pub. His work has appeared in numerous journals, online and in print, including Shellys, ClayDrum, Jawbone and For a Better World. His narrative poem, “Welcome to the Reading”, was included in the Fall, 2023 edition of The Cincinnati Review.  
  • Luca Campagnoli is a fourth-year fiction writer and poet majoring in creative writing at the University of Cincinnati. His work is forthcoming or has appeared in Solid State, Mr. Bull and Short Vine Journal. He serves as president of the university’s Writer’s Circle and Poetry Collective. He also works at Household Books, an independent bookstore in Cincinnati. 
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UCBA Library’s Research Lightning Talks 

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This year’s Research Lightning Talks will take place in Walters Hall, Room 100 on:

Tuesday March 3, 2026  
2:30-3:30 pm 

These 7-minute presentations showcase current research of UC Blue Ash faculty, spark conversation, encourage collaboration, and inspire action within the UC Blue Ash community. 

Presentations:

  • Incorporation of Alternative Milks in Biochemistry Lab Experiment – Daniel Landfried, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
  • AI Art: Is it Art? – Adity Mutsuddi, Associate Professor of Computer Science
  • Making Physics Labs More Accessible – Dean Stocker, Associate Professor of Physics
  • Girl in Disorder: Painting, Memory, and Visual Identity – Nicole Trimble, Associate Professor of Media Communication & Techology

To register, visit: Faculty & Staff and Students 

Research Lightning Talks flyer
Event information

Welcome to the library: Celebrate recently updated spaces that elevate access, collaboration and services

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Join UC Libraries this spring at events to celebrate newly updated spaces that foster an adaptive, accessible and productive user experience.

Science Library – February 16

science library

The fall semester saw the opening of a combined Science Library in Braunstein Hall. This thoughtfully transformed space creates a united hub of services, spaces, technology and specialized collections dedicated to supporting the teaching and research needs of the Natural Sciences departments within the College of Arts & Sciences. Although its collections focus on the sciences, the Science Library invites ALL to come and enjoy and make use of the revitalized space in the heart of UC’s campus.

Celebrate Our Grand Opening!
We invite you to join us on Monday, February 16 from 2:00-4:00pm for the Science Library’s Grand Opening Reception! Enjoy refreshments, learn about our new spaces and services, be inspired by our special collections displays, explore science through demonstrations and more!

DaVInci @ Langsam – April 2

The Data Visualization and Interaction at Cincinnati (DaVInCi) team led by Jillian Aurisano, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, has created a collaborative space in the library. DaVInCi@Langsam is designed to support collaboration in research and teaching at UC. It offers a large display screen and specialized software that allow everyone in the room to share content and interact. Ongoing research is exploring new ways to heighten interaction with displayed content on the expansive display.

Drop into the DaVInCi@Langsam Open House
Check out the possibilities of the collaborative space at an open house on Thursday, April 2 from 9:30-11:30am, Langsam Library’s 4th floor. Enjoy refreshments while viewing demos of the technology and learn how to reserve and use the space.

CECH Library Reading Room – April 21

The beginning of spring semester brought with it the opening of the renovated College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services (CECH) Library Reading Room. Located on the 4th floor of the Teachers-Dyer Complex, and totaling more than 3,000 square feet, the reading room is accessible via the staircase in the CECH Library or directly for those with a Bearcat ID.

Bathed in natural light, the renovated reading room features flexible, soft seating arrangements in the room’s south and north ends and four large study tables with integrated lighting (coming soon) and power access. An inclusive, reservable study room (400B) features adaptive lighting and study and focus tools.

Celebrate the CECH Library Reading Room Opening
Tuesday, April 21, 2:30-4:30pm, CECH Library Reading Room, 400 Teachers-Dyer Complex. Tour the space, hear remarks from UC Libraries and CECH and enjoy the refreshed space.

Books In The Nook Kickoff Event

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Whether you’re trying to carve out a little reading time in a busy schedule, hoping to start reading more, or looking for a quiet spot where your students can catch up on assigned reading, we’ve got you covered! Join us for Books in the Nook, the UCBA Library’s silent reading parties for all faculty, staff, and students, where we offer a peaceful, focused environment to cozy up with a good read. Don’t have a book on hand? No worries, we’ve curated a suggested reading list for you.

Be sure not to miss our kickoff event on Wednesday, February 11, with light snacks and giveaways while they last!

Events will be held 2-3pm on these dates:

  • Wednesday, February 11
  • Thursday, February 26
  • Wednesday, March 11
  • Thursday, March 26
  • Wednesday, April 8
  • Thursday, April 23

New to The Nook? It’s located in the UCBA Library and was created in partnership with  Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and the UC Student Wellness Center.

The Nook area of the UCBA Library includes whiteboards, comfy seating and wellnees tools like puzzles and fidget gadgets.
The Nook, located in the UCBA Library, offers a cozy and relaxing space for visitors.

Bookish Bits

As part of the Books In The Nook event, we’re starting a Bookish Bits series where faculty, staff and students share their thoughts about their reading habits. This week’s question:

What’s the last book you read?
Submit your answer.

  • Michelle Leonard, UCBA Librarian: Divergent by Veronica Roth. My youngest son started reading the print version and our family starting listening to the audiobook version together. 
  • Christian Boyles, UCBA Collections Services Manager: Waiting by Ha Jin. Takes place in post-Great Leap Forward China and follows a military doctor, his wife, and the woman he actually loves.  Social and legal hurdles conspire to make a simple divorce and a chance to move on nearly impossible.  
  • Pam Adler, UCBA Library Operations Manager: The Stalker by Sarah Alderson. A psychological thriller about a person being stalked, feeling watched and followed.

UC Libraries GIS Services attends the Urbanism Club Meeting

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a slide from the introduction to GIS workshop offered by the urbanism club The title of the slide is GIS Tips, Tricks, and secret tools followed by a GIS help session.

The UC Libraries GIS research consultants attended the Urbanism Club in support of the club’s Introduction to GIS session. GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems and is the process of collecting, analyzing, and managing data with spatial attributes. Fenley Jones, Kayra Koprulu, and Jaclyn Mauro were great hosts and put on an incredibly informative session that covered access to software, how to increase your knowledge base through trainings, and how they personally use different tools. It was really great to see the various ways students are using GIS resources and how the club supports students who are interested in learning more about GIS. To find out more about the club, visit their campuslink page. And the club will be offering additional GIS sessions on March 9th and April 13th.

Weiye (in grey sweater) and Andrew Ho (in red shirt), UC Libraries GIS Research Consultants

The UC Libraries GIS services is available to help students and researchers plan GIS projects, access software, understand how create visualizations such as maps and analyze spatial data. The lab is located in 412 Langsam and is open in the spring during the following hours:

  • Mon 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM 
  • Tues 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM 
  • Wed 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM 
  • Thurs 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM 
  • Fri 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM 

Weiye Li (Left – Phd student – Geography & GIS) and Andrew Ho (Right – Undergraduate – Planning) look forward to meeting you and learning about your GIS interests.

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

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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, writes about a new global library collaboration with the library at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana. We announce the opening of two renovated library spaces: the Science Library and the CECH Library Reading Room as we bid a fond farewell to Crosley Tower. We highlight library services in the CECH Library to improve accessibility and our expanding Evidence Synthesis group. Library collections are on display in the Chem Bio building renovation featuring the Oesper Collection and online in a new exhibit by the Archives and Rare Books Library about the Bronson v. the Cincinnati Board of Education. Spring is events season in UC Libraries, and we feature those currently on the calendar.

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.