Category Archives: UC Libraries

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

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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, 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.

Announcing GIS Day Wednesday, November 20

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GIS day

Presented by UC’s Departments of Geography and GIS and UC Libraries, GIS Day will feature keynote speaker Trisha Brush, a GIS career panel, along with opportunities to network and learn.

Scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 11am-2pm in the Faculty Enrichment Center (Langsam Library 540E), GIS Day is free and open to all to attend. Registration is requested.

University of Cincinnati announces closure of University Press as of June 30, 2025

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Following seven years of funding support, the University of Cincinnati (UC) has determined that the long-term financial sustainment of the University of Cincinnati Press is not feasible. Funding resources, including start-up funds, have been exhausted and the Press is not in a self-sustaining financial position. Therefore, the University of Cincinnati Press imprint will cease to operate June 30, 2025.

As of July 1, 2025, scholarly print and eBooks will be assigned to the University of Minnesota Press and published regional books, including the forthcoming Thinking About Ohio Series, will be assigned to the Ohio University Press. All inventory and fulfillment services will continue to be managed by Chicago Distribution Center.

The University of Cincinnati Libraries will continue to offer Library Publishing Services for UC faculty authors of open access books, journals and proceedings.

Dean and University Librarian Liz Kiscaden said, “closure of the Press does not diminish its success or impact in innovative scholarly and regional book publishing.” The University of Cincinnati Press was founded in 2017 and reported to the dean of the University of Cincinnati Libraries. It is a member of the Association of University Presses, Library Publisher Coalition and the Open Educational Network. Since its opening, the Press has published over 40 books, 30% in open access, seven academic journals, won nine academic, national and regional book awards and published the UC undergraduate student showcase annually. It was committed to publishing rigorous, peer-reviewed, leading scholarship in print, eBook and open access under the governance of a faculty advisory board.

An FAQ regarding details of the closure and availability of books as of July 1, 2025, will be available on the University of Cincinnati Press website.

Join us at the Langsam Library Accessible Technology Space Open House

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Tuesday, October 22, 2024
10 am to noon
Room 408, Langsam Library

The University of Cincinnati Libraries and Accessibility Resources invite all members of the UC community to check out the newly updated Accessible Technology Space on the 4th floor of the Walter C. Langsam Library.

Join us at an Open House Tuesday, Oct. 22 from 10am-noon, Langsam Library 408. Come by to grab a free snack and enter our raffle for a chance to win a prize.

Can’t make the event or want more info in advance? Check out the UC Libraries Accessible Technology Space web page for details about the updated space. Questions? Contact Debbie Tenofsky at tenofsdg@ucmail.uc.edu. 

accessible tech flyer

UC Libraries names Brian Gray Associate Dean of Collections

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brian gray

Brian Gray will join the University of Cincinnati Libraries on October 21, 2024 as associate dean of collections. In this role, he will join the Libraries’ senior leadership team to be a part of a continuing transformation, working to realize our mission and strategic directions. Gray will be responsible for managing general collections, preservation, special collections and archives within UC Libraries. In addition, he’ll serve as the senior administrator for the Archives & Rare Books Library, John Miller Burnam Classics Library and the Albino Gorno Memorial (CCM) Library.

Gray has an M.B.A in organizational development & leadership from Case Western Reserve University, a masters of library and information science from Kent State University with a focus on management, and a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Akron. He comes to UC from Case Western Reserve University where he served as the collection strategies librarian. Previous roles include the team leader of research services, research services librarian of chemical and bio-molecular engineering and macro-molecular science, as well as head of reference.

“I look forward to working with Brian and welcome him to the UC community,” said Liz Kiscaden, dean and university librarian. “His experience and knowledge of OhioLINK, collection development, reference and research will make him a wonderful associate dean for collections especially as we embark on implementing our new strategic plan.”

Learn about Archives & Rare Books highlights at an Open House October 21st

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The Archives & Rare Books (ARB) Library is hosting an Open House, Monday, Oct. 21 from 1-3:30pm on the 8th floor of Blegen Library.

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Attendees to the Open House can enjoy refreshments and door prizes as they view collection highlights, recent acquisitions and “spooky” books. Library staff will be on hand to meet and greet and ARB’s growing digitization space will be available for viewing.

The Archives and Rare Books Library acquires, processes, preserves and provides access to the University’s Rare Books collection, University Archives, Local Government records, Urban Studies collection and German-Americana collection.

The Open House is free and open to all.

Fall Systematic Review Cohort

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The Health Sciences Library is accepting applications for its second Systematic Review Cohort. Those interested in working through the advanced review process with help from our librarians can learn about the cohort at one of our informational sessions taking place October 14 at 11:30am and October 22 at 10:30am. There is no need to attend both informational sessions – the same details will be shared at each. More details can be found at: https://guides.libraries.uc.edu/ReviewAssistance/cohort.

The application period will close November 1 at 5pm. Please let us know if you have any questions!

Staff Picks: Recommendations from the collections of UC Libraries

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Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, a graphic novel, documentary and historical fiction can all be found in the Staff Picks exhibit on display on the 4th floor lobby of the Walter C. Langsam Library. Highlighting the collections of UC Libraries, the exhibit gives recommendations and blurbs from library staff and includes such titles as: “The Feather Thief,” “Being Human,” “Lincoln in the Bardo,” “Monarch,” “The Glass Hotel” and so much more.

staff picks book covers

A bibliography is available for pickup at the exhibit and displayed below.

Staff Picks was curated by Melissa Cox Norris, director of library communication, and designed by communications design co-op student Lexi Davis.

Happy Reading.

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Hosting an online meeting? Langsam Library has a Teams Room.

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The Walter C. Langsam Library now offers a Teams Room that can be scheduled for online meetings. Located in Langsam 410, the room is outfitted with Teams Room technology designed to facilitate collaboration and video conferencing using Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Webex. 

group meeting in Teams room

Outside of the room, the Room Scheduling Panel shows the room’s availability and allows users to use a QR code to book the room for upcoming meetings. The resource name LANG410 can also be used when scheduling Teams, Zoom or Webex meetings via Outlook.

A Touchscreen Control Panel is placed on the meeting table for easy management of the room’s Teams meetings. It allows users to:

  • Start or join a meeting with one tap.
  • Adjust audio/video settings.
  • Share content or switch between cameras.

A high-quality wide-angle camera is positioned to capture the entire room.

The Rally Bar soundbar has a built-in microphone, speakers and a high-quality wide-angle camera positioned to capture the entire room. When more than one person is in the room, tracking cameras automatically focus on the person speaking.

The Langsam Teams Room is available for use by all UC faculty, staff and students. It is a collaboration between UC’s Digital Technology Solutions (DTS) and UC Libraries and is part of a university-wide initiative to increase collaboration spaces and provide consistent experiences.

More information can be obtained from the DTS knowledge base article on Microsoft Teams Rooms.

CECH Library Book Returns

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Did you know? The CECH Library services two book returns outside of the CECH Library to make book returns easier than ever!  

The first is located just outside the CECH Library entrance on level 3 of the Teachers-Dyer Complex. This book return is serviced immediately upon opening and multiple times a day while the library is open.

The second book return is in the lobby of Edwards 1, next to the WEPA printer. This book return is serviced by CECH Library student employees and staff 2 times a week. Items returned to this book return are backdated upon check in to ensure overdue fines do not accrue between service.  

Library books may be returned to any UC Libraries location during their open hours as well. Special collections such as mixed materials, equipment, and reserve items belonging to the CECH Library should be returned to the CECH Library Info Desk. If you are unsure about the return policy for your item, please call us at 513-556-1430. 

Rachel Hoople
operations supervisor, CECH Library