Tag Archives: library staff

Welcome, Aja Hickman, HR Coordinator

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Aja Hickman

Aja Hickman

On Monday, September 18, 2017, Aja Hickman joined UC Libraries as our new human resources coordinator.

Aja holds a BA in anthropology from Miami University. She comes to UC Libraries from the Kroger Company where she served for two years as an administrative recruiter supporting 120 stores nationwide.  Additionally, Aja served as professional development chair for the Kroger Company’s HR Cultural Council. In this role she was involved with many strategic training and development initiatives.

As UC Libraries’ HR coordinator, she will work closely with search committees and applicants. She will serve as primary leave administrator and provide administrative support to the HR operations.  In addition, Aja will also work closely with Regina Bourne, director of human resources and organizational development (OD), to assist with upcoming OD programs and initiatives.  We are so delighted that she is joining the Business/HR team!

Reporting back from the Archives Leadership Institute

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By:  Eira Tansey

Archives Leadership Institute

Twenty-five archivists, five and a half days, and untold quantities of coffee: these are the basics that make up the annual Archives Leadership Institute (ALI). ALI is a week-long leadership training institute for a cohort of 25 archivists, selected each year following an extensive application and review process. The institute is funded by a 3-year grant from the National Historical Publications & Records Commission (NHPRC), and is currently located at Berea College (Kentucky). Continue reading →

UC Libraries’ Ben Kline to Talk at “I Am An American” Event

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ben kline

Ben Kline performing at Cincy StoryTellers. Photo from the Cincinnati Enquirer

Ben Kline, assistance director of the Research, Teaching and Services Department, was invited to participate in this summer’s “I Am An American” nation-wide event sponsored by the USA Today Network. Ben will reprise his talk, “Barn’s On Fire,” he gave during last summer’s Cincy Story Teller’s Project. It promises to include funny stories from his time growing up on an Ohio farm and a nice lesson in the acceptance of our original gifts.

The event happens on Tuesday, July 18, 7:00-9:00pm at the Madison Theatre in Oakley. Tickets are required. The event will be live-streamed across the country!

“I Am An American” is part of a USA TODAY Network initiative celebrating our country’s diversity through the stories that bind us together. This summer, storytellers from a variety of lived experiences will share stories on stage. For more information, visit https://tickets.usatoday.com/e/i-am-an-american-cincinnati.

Shakespeare, Beethoven, Bearcats and More – All in Latest Issue of Source

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sourceRead 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 with Xuemao Wang, dean and university librarian, about how UC Libraries is utilizing Organizational Development to help bring about transformational change. Kevin Grace, university archivist and head of the Archives and Rare Books Library writes about the Enoch Carson Shakespeare Collection and how it will be a part of autumn 2017 Shakespeare celebrations in Cincinnati. Another great reading collection, the Cohen Enrichment Collection, is also featured in this issue.

Other articles in Source include an update on two UC Libraries Strategic Plan initiatives – eLearning and Digital Literacy and the Digital Scholarship Center, a recap of the most recent annual Cecil Striker Lecture and the addition of Beethoven’s “Life Mask” in the Albino Gorno Memorial (CCM) Library. 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.

Mark Konecny Selected as an OhioLINK Open Textbook Network System Leader

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UC Libraries’ Mark Konecny, scholarly communications library publishing coordinator, was selected by OhioLINK as one of seven member librarians, faculty, and staff to become the OhioLINK Open Textbook Network (OTN) System Leaders. As system leaders, Mark and his peers will coordinate OhioLINK OTN awareness and advocacy initiatives regarding open educational resources and open textbooks as part of OhioLINK/Ohio Department of Higher Education affordable learning initiatives for higher education.

OhioLINK recently joined the Open Textbook Network, a high-profile and growing collaboration of schools, universities, and institutions that promotes access, affordability, and student success via open textbooks. Continue reading →

Welcome, Kathi Miniard, Executive Staff Assistant

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Kathi MiniardWe are pleased to announce that Kathleen (Kathi) Miniard joined the UC Libraries’ Administration Office on June 5 as the new executive staff assistant.

Kathi comes to the university from Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, and has over 20 years of executive administrative experience, which includes positions within Fifth/Third Bank,  Great American Insurance, The Christ Hospital, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.  

As the executive staff assistant, Kathi will provide administrative support to the associate deans, the library chief technology officer, and to the University of Cincinnati Press director. Kathi sits at the front desk of the Library Administration Office where she keeps a candy jar to welcome all visitors.

Two Librarians Recognized for Excellence

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Each year, The Office of the Provost and the Office of Research collaborate to present the Dean’s Award for Faculty Excellence, which recognizes faculty members who represent excellence in all its forms. Each Dean nominates faculty from their respective units whom they deem worthy of this honor. This year, Dean Xuemao Wang recognized the work of Elna Saxton, head of Content Services in the Walter C. Langsam Library, and Tiffany Grant, interim assistant director for research and informatics at the Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library. Below is more about their awards. Congratulations, Elna and Tiffany!

elna saxton

(l to r) Dr. Patrick A. Limbach, VP for Research; Elna Saxton; and Peter E. Landgren, Interim Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

Excellence Award for Faculty-to-Faculty Research Mentoring 2016-2017 – Elna Saxton

Elna has a long history of mentoring faculty members who work as part of her team.  She encourages them to develop their positions and skill sets and provides encouragement and other support to them.  Elna’s support of faculty in her unit is unconditional, even if that means they need to leave her team to move on to other career objectives within University of Cincinnati Libraries or elsewhere.

“Receiving this award is an honor and reflects on the many successful colleagues that I’ve had the good fortune to work with.  It is very rewarding to work with new faculty and engage with their professional and career development,” said Elna.

Tiffany Grant

(l to r) Dr. Patrick A. Limbach, VP for Research; Tiffany Grant; and Peter E. Landgren, Interim Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

Award for Faculty Excellence 2016-2017 – Tiffany Grant

Tiffany has served as co-PI on the NIH Informationist Supplement grant “The Relationship Between Vortices, Acoustics, and Vibration in Vocal Fold Asymmetries”, working collaboratively with Dr. Khosla and his team.  Dr. Grant also coordinated the writing of and now implementation of the Faculty Development Grant UC Libraries received this year for the pilot of Electronic Lab Notebooks at the University of Cincinnati.  Last fall, Dr. Grant also invited the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) to come to the University for a series of workshops for UC faculty and staff.

“I am profoundly grateful to have been considered for such an honor. I truly enjoy the work that I do and those that I work with. My work in the Libraries has been tremendously rewarding, and I’m thankful for the continued support of my Health Sciences Library and University of Cincinnati colleagues. Any “excellence” that I may have achieved has largely been due to your example and support,” said Tiffany.

Welcome, Nick Wantsala, Technology and Equipment Specialist

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We are pleased to announce that Nick Wantsala joined the Research, Teaching and Services (RTS) Department on March 27 as the technology and equipment specialist for The Desk @ Langsam.

Nick Wantsala

Nick Wantsala

Nick comes to UC…from UC. Nick joined the old Circulation and Multimedia Services Department in 2011 as a student assistant. He was promoted to senior student assistant during his time with the department and helped many fellow student assistants throughout the strategic merge of departments that resulted in The Desk @ Langsam. Nick has interned at Fox19 and was the president of the UC African Students Association. After graduating in 2015 with a degree in communications, Nick joined RTS as a temporary student supervisor, then became the temporary employee for the old equipment assistant position.

As the technology and equipment specialist, Nick will manage daily operations of the circulating equipment collection and the Center for Excellence in eLearning’s faculty and staff mobile technology collection. His primary responsibilities will be the circulation, maintenance, inventory, and the education of and communication with users in relation to these materials. Nick will also be collaborating with librarians working on eLearning and digital literacy, as well as providing user services Monday-Friday at The Desk @ Langsam. He will work with staff in RTS, ILS, the STRC, Library IT, and CEeL to further investigate and curate new technologies and devices that will best aid our students as they engage in cutting edge learning.

Digital Archivist Eira Tansey Named an Archives Leadership Institute Cohort

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Eira Tansey

Eira Tansey

Eira Tansey, digital archivist and records manager in the Archives and Rare Books Library, has been selected as an ALI17 cohort member. The Archives Leadership Institute (ALI) is a program funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), a statutory body affiliated with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), and is being hosted at Berea College for the years 2016-18. ALI will provide advanced training for 25 archival leaders each year, giving them the knowledge and tools to transform the profession in practice, theory and attitude.

“The Archives Leadership Institute is a well-regarded program in the American archives profession that brings together archivists of diverse backgrounds and work experiences to learn leadership skills together at a week-long institute every summer,” said Eira. “All ALI participants commit to working on a practicum at their home institution, and I have committed to working on increasing documentation of student life within University Archives at the Archives and Rare Books Library.”

Eira joins an elite group attending ALI as only 25 people are accepted each year. More about the Archives Leadership Institute is available on its website.

Welcome, Rebecka Lindau, Head of the Classics Library

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Classics Library Reading Room

Classics Library Reading Room

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Rebecka Lindau started March 1 as the Head of the John Miller Burnam Classical Library.

Rebecka comes to UC Libraries from the Lorenzo de Medici Institute and the Center for Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies (Marist College Branch Campus) where she has been a Lecturer in Classical Studies since the Fall of 2015.  Prior to that she worked at the American Academy in Rome Library. From 2011 to 2013 she was responsible for the digital development of that library and its web design and maintenance. From 2007 to 2011, she was the Drue Heiz Librarian, responsible for the staff, collections (including rare books and manuscripts), selection, preservation, access, circulation, technical services, research consultation, digitization, web design, guides and tutorials. From 2001 to 2007, Rebecka was a subject specialist  for Classics, Hellenic Studies, Linguistics and German at Princeton University and prior to that, from 1997 to 2001 she was subject specialist for Classics, Hellenic Studies and Philosophy at New York University. Continue reading →