National Library Week – Flashback Friday

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Michelle McKinney

We’re wrapping up our National Library Week celebration with a Flashback Friday slideshow of our time spent in the UCBA Library, both old, temporary and new spaces, over the last several years. We can’t wait to reconnect in person again.

: Michelle McKinney (L) and Heather Maloney (R) co-present a Poster Presentation on Working with Wiki at the 2007 Academic Library Association of Ohio Annual Conference.

: Lauren Wahman (L) and Heather Maloney (R) in the pre-renovation library space. October 2009.

: Lauren Wahman teaching a library instruction session. April, 2011.

: (L-R) Stephena Harmony, Lauren Wahman, Heather Maloney and Michelle McKinney on a hard-hat tour of the library space during the renovation. April 2013.

: The Library Staff fully committed to the workout gear through the decades theme which includes a bookcart. October 2013

: The Library may have been haunted for the college-wide Halloween celebration, but it’s never a scary place. October 2013.

: Librarians Lauren Wahman and Heather Maloney take part in the 2015 Commenncement Ceremony.

: Heather Maloney (left) and Michelle McKinney (right) posing with the Bearcat at the UC Serves Kick-Off. May 2014.

: When the lights/power go out…take a librarian selfie. (L-R) Kellie Tilton, Michelle McKinney and Lauren Wahman. 2014.

: Faculty members Heather Maloney, Lauren Wahman and Kellie Tilton during an Extraordinary Excellence workshop. 2014.

: Library Director Heather Maloney and Student Assistant Stacey Marshall staff the library table during the Resource Fair. September 2015.

: Heather Maloney and Kellie Tilton with their UC Serves team. May 2015.

: Library Faculty celebrating National Library Week 2016 and serve as host to the library’s Whiteboards and Wine event.

: The library staff get a bit stir crazy sometimes. April 2020.

: UCBA Library faculty and staff celebrating National Library Week 2017.

: Lauren Wahman with Rockdale Academy students during UC Smiles event. November 2017.

: Pam Adler celebrates 20 years of service at UC. September 2018.

: (L-R) Kellie Tilton, Heather Maloney, Michelle McKinney and Lauren Wahman take their meeting outdoors. May 2017

: Heather Maloney (left), Director of the UCBA Library and Jen Ellis, Associate Professor of Nursing, pose with the items collected during our Spread the Warmth Drive. December 2017.

: “I was told by the photographer that this is her view when she passes by my office. I am quite tall.” -Christian Boyles, February 2018.

: Lauren Wahman and Christian Boyles and the Tournament of Titles and decked out in PJs for National Library Week’s Sleep In and Read theme. April 2018.

: In honor of National Boss’s Day (October 16, 2018), the UCBA Library faculty and staff celebrates Heather Maloney, UCBA Library Director. She found her office door decorated and was presented with flowers and snacks to enjoy throughout the day. October 2018.

: Artists and their spinart work (left to right): Christian Boyles, Lauren Wahman, and Michelle McKinney. August 2019.

: The library’s newest team member, Elizabeth Hartlaub, has yet to fall victim to the team’s photo escapades so she shared this photo. She was featured in the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County’s “Worker Wednesday” that highlighted staff around the system. March 2019.

Celebrating Our Library Cats, Dogs and Fish

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Michelle McKinney

There are many libraries that serve as home to library cats. Now that we’re working remotely from home, our furry friends and four-legged family members have been given a promotion to co-worker and library cat/dog. In honor of National Library Week, we’d like to introduce our newest colleagues. They have made our work-from-home environment much more fun (and maybe a little more frustrating at times?).

: Seamus (right) and Fiona (left). These are our loving, energetic border collies. They are absolutely thrilled we’re home with them so much now but would still like more play time. – Heather Maloney

: Grey Cat is excited about her new role as co-worker, ready to jump into any task. She, however, will only tolerate about an hour of meetings before she begins howling for more attention. We’re working with HR on these issues. – Kellie Tilton

: Jake, Pete and Ozzy. They have been very entertaining co-workers! It’s not everyday at work that you have someone sit on your computer, try to eat your ear buds, and then take a nap in your lap! 😄 Fun fact: All three were adopted together from The Ohio Alleycat Rescue on the same day thus tripling our cat population overnight. – Elizabeth Hartlaub

: Yuri and Gabby. Gabby is 21 years old, scrawny as a twig, but very loving and tough as nails. Yuri is our 7 year old one eyed dynamo who has the biggest personality of any pet I’ve ever had. They’re OK as co-workers, a bit demanding for attention and food. They do encourage me to order new books about tuna, laser pointers, and the benefits of sleeping 21 hours a day. – Christian Boyles

From the Virtual Desk of…Heather Maloney

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Michelle McKinney

The latest From the Virtual Desk Of…Heather Maloney, leads us to our Library Director’s virtual workspace.

: This is my second at home desk. My desk was upsized after the first week (our bedroom dresser used to be in this space) to a former Lego table. Because we’re going through a home renovation and everything is temporary right now, we’re going for the “let’s make it work for now” design style.

: Keeping it all pretty simple. Yes, that’s an enormous jar of almonds, my favorite work day snack. It’s a little harder to snack healthy when working from home, and there are homemade cookies in the kitchen. Also, at the base of my large monitor is a small flower my oldest daughter picked for me, and I can’t seem to part with it.

: A few of my favorite things….chocolate and books! Oh, and always trying to drink a lot of water to balance out that chocolate intake.

: At work, I have pictures of my daughters on my desk but at my home office, I get to see them every day. I think they have a whole new respect for their teachers now that they’ve had to deal with mom coordinating and checking in on all the home school work.

: This was my first work from home desk just on the other side of the room from my current desk. Way too small but an awesome view and great light! This is now my husband’s work from home space. The morning of this picture he saw a bat on the roof so the girls are getting the full story.

by Heather Maloney

National Library Week: Our favorite S.W.A.G.

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Michelle McKinney

The UCBA Library continues to celebrate National Library Week. The library staff pulled out, and in some cases, dusted off, some of our favorite library S.W.A.G. (souvenirs, wearables and gifts). These items have been collected from various library conferences, purchases from our favorite bookish vendors and gifted to us by our friends and loved ones.

: I love tote bags. The tote on the left is from Lane Library and is used to haul books to/from home. The tote on the right was picked up at the American Library Association’s Annual Conference. I will not admit to the number of totes I’ve uncovered since being home. I will say, that when the world opens up again, I plan on including tote bags in my Little Free Library donations. – Michelle McKinney

: I may only have this one librarian tshirt, a gift from my mom, but it sure is awesome. -Lauren Wahman

: I love enamel pins but I don’t like to wear them on my clothes. I picked up the Slay pin from the American Library Association’s Annual Conference and the other two were gifts from fellow book friends. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to display them and will be creating a framed cork board for the pins I keep at home. – Michelle McKinney

Special Edition: From the Virtual Desk of … UCBA Student Assistants

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Michelle McKinney

The library faculty and staff are not the only ones working from home. Our student workers have also been working remotely in addition to continuing their studies online from home.

Bre’s study and work space.

Student Worker: Bre

Major: I am an electronic media technology major

Time at UCBA Library: I’ve been with the library for about 11 months

Description: Unless weather permits sitting outside, I work at my desk, surrounded by a few of my favorite things.

Casey’s study and work space.

Student Worker: Casey

Major: I am double majoring in English and History.

Time at UCBA Library:

Description: Unless weather permits sitting outside, I work at my desk, surrounded by a few of my favorite things. My dog’s name is Kibo. I thought Kibo was a cool name and later learned that it means “hope” in Japanese.

Faculty Research Lightning Talks: Meet David Freeman

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Michelle McKinney

The UCBA Library’s 3rd Annual Faculty Research Lightning Talks on March 10, 2020 featured four presenters and their discipline-based research projects via short, 15 minute presentations. In our Meet the Presenters series, each presenter shares some insights into their research project.

David Freeman| Associate Professor of Mathematics| Math, Physics & Computer Science Department
Presentation: Geometry from Symmetry

David Freeman discusses his research.

Research Project
My research has been focused on the concept of symmetry. Here I use the word “symmetry” to denote a way to transform an object into itself (e.g. a reflection or rotation). My goal is to understand all possible objects that admit certain types of symmetries.

Are there any opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration with your research? If already cross-disciplinary, are there opportunities to expand it?
Yes, at least to some extent. I am very interested in the philosophy of mathematics, and I am hoping to eventually contribute to the ongoing debate about the ontology of mathematical objects (such as the ones I study). I am also quite interested in mathematically-inspired artwork. I believe there are many opportunities to express mathematical ideas through visual (and other types of) art.

What are your next steps with your research?
My long term goal is to prove a conjecture that has motivated the work I’ve already been doing. This conjecture pertains to the classification of certain mathematical objects that exhibit a high degree of “coarse” symmetry. For all I know the conjecture may end up being false, but I am somewhat optimistic that it is true. I’m not sure if a proof is within reach, but I’m willing to give it a shot. In general, this is the nature of many mathematical research projects: one group of mathematicians will pose a conjecture, and then some other group will prove (or disprove) the conjecture.

Forthcoming Publication

David Freeman, Enrico Le Donne. (Forthcoming). Toward a quasi-Möbius characterization of Invertible Homogeneous Metric Spaces. Revista Matemática Iberoamericana.

By Lauren Wahman

Recreational Reading Recommendations

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Michelle McKinney

The UC Blue Ash Library is celebrating National Library Week. To kick off the week, we’d like to share a few of our favorite books. Every recommended title is available in either ebook or audiobook format from the Public Library of Cincincinnati and Hamilton County (PLCHC). Although physical library locations are closed, ebooks and audiobooks can be accessed and downloaded for free in the comfort of your own home with your PLCHC library card.

Pam Adler and cover of Breaking and Entering

Pamela Adler’s Recommendation

Name: Pamela Adler, Public Services Assistant
Book Recommendation: Breaking and Entering: The extraordinary story of a hacker called “Alien”
Author: Jeremy N. Smith
Book Description: This taut, true thriller takes a deep dive into a dark world that touches us all, as seen through the brilliant, breakneck career of an extraordinary hacker – a woman known only as Alien.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: A page turning real life thriller, the sort of book that may leave you feeling both invigorated and vulnerable.

Elizabeth Hartlaub and cover of The Tale of Despereaux

Elizabeth Hartlaub’s Recommedation

Name: Elizabeth Hartlaub, Library Operations Manager.
Book Recommendation: The Tale of Despereaux
Author: Kate DiCamillo.
Book Description: Despereaux, a most unassuming and tiny mouse, shows that even the smallest among us can be great heroes against all odds.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: Author Kate DiCamillo weaves a charming story using a “classic” fairy-tale approach that will delight children of all ages.

Heather Maloney’s Recommendation

Name: Heather Maloney, Library Director
Book Recommendation: The Power
Author: Naomi Alderman
Book Description: Now in possession of a new kind of power, this novel explores how the world begins to change when girls and women experience and wield this power in different ways.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: I’m not usually into science fiction but this story really pulled me in and is a relatively quick read. It made me consider our world now and how it might be if evolution took a strange and powerful turn for one gender. The page turning plot will keep you on your toes and linger with you long after you read it.

Michelle McKinney and cover of She Came To Slay

Michelle McKinney’s Recommendation

Name: Michelle McKinney, Reference and Web Services Librarian
Book Recommendation: She Came to Slay
Author: Erica Armstrong Dunbar
Book Description: This biography of Harriet Tubman is “An illustrated tribute to one of the most exceptional women in American History.”
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: I listened to the audiobook version and found it perfectly paced and engaging. This is a very easy-to-read and enlightening book on the life of Harriet Tubman.

Name: Kellie Tilton, Instruction Technologies Librarian
Book Recommendation: Midnight Riot /Rivers of London (Rivers of London/Peter Grant series, Book 1)
Author: Ben Aaronovitch
Book Description: Police procedural meets Hogwarts in modern-day London.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: Fun, twisty and just a touch creepy, this book (and the rest of the series) provides a new spin on magic in every day London, with a lowly policeman that gets stuck in the middle.

Name: Christian Boyles, Collection Services Manager
Book Recommendation: Normandy ’44: D-Day and the Epic 77 Day Battle for France
Author: James Holland
Book Description: A stirring narrative by a pre-eminent historian, Normandy ’44 offers important new perspective on one of history’s most dramatic military engagements and is an invaluable addition to the literature of war.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: I enjoy historical accounts that tell the story from multiple viewpoints. It was a fascinating read detailing how the Allies and Axis prepared for the invasion and how the fighting was for those on the frontline and behind the lines. In spite of the amount of information, it is a quick and lively read.

by Pam Adler

From the Virtual Desk of … Michelle McKinney

Posted on April 16, 2020 by Michelle McKinney

The next From the Virtual Desk Of… tour brings you to my home office. I’m Michelle McKinney, Reference and Web Services Librarian, and I share an office with my husband, Keith, and two sons, Kam and Jameson. I’m usually stationed at the desk throughout the day while my coworkers come and go. It’s been really nice to get time back that was lost to commuting so our days get off to a much smoother start. It’s also nice to have windows and sunlight in the office (although I do daydream a bit more as I’m often watching squirrels, rabbits and neighbors moving about outside).

: My favorite spot: my reading chair surrounded by my books. Our office/library/craft room gets great light and the aromatherapy diffuser I use helps keep a cozy and calm atmosphere.

: Our first grader has weekly meetings with his classmates and daily online assignments. He requested his own personal desk in the office.

: It’s normal for our first grader to find unusual reading spots like this one underneath my desk.

: When they aren’t working on school work, our boys enjoy playing games at their table.

: My personal library supply kit and my collection of bookmarks. I enjoy photography as well, hence the camera themed-holder.

: The library/office also serves as my craft room. I have knitting, crocheting, sewing and scrapbooking supplies interspersed throughout the room.

: A few of my favorite books encased in my Maya Angelou bookends. That’s Hedwig peeking out there.

: More favorite items: a homemade pillow with an MLK quote, my book wagon and literary photo comprised of text from Thoreau’s Walden.

Faculty Research Lightning Talks: Meet Chris Gulgas

Posted on April 14, 2020 by Michelle McKinney

Chris Gulgas| Associate Professor of Chemistry| Chemistry Department
Presentation: A Student Discovery Involving a Chemical that Changes Color Leads to a New Organic Laboratory Experiment 

Chris Gulgas discusses his research.

Research Project 
A new organic laboratory experiment was designed and developed based upon the independent research of two undergraduate students investigating solvatochromism.  Bromothymol blue was found to exhibit a significant red shift across a series of solvents.  An organic laboratory experiment was then created to allow students to discover this effect as a class using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy.  Students built skills in recognizing functional groups and intermolecular interactions as well as analyzing data trends.  The undergraduate research process, design of the experiment and results from the first year of implementation into the curriculum were presented. 

A slide from Chris’ A Student Discovery Involving a Chemical that Changes Color Leads to a New Organic Laboratory Experiment presentation.

What excites you most about your research? 
I am most excited about student-driven discovery that can be developed into something useful for learning.  Students were able to identify an unpublished property of a substance we had on hand, using equipment on hand.  This discovery turned into an experiment for all organic laboratory students to benefit from in learning about solvent properties and the nature of light. 

What are your next steps with your research?  
I’d like to identify another compound that exhibits similar behavior for comparison and reinforcement. 

Additional Resources 

Reichardt, Christian (1994). Solvatochromic Dyes as Solvent Polarity Indicators. Chemical Reviews. 94 (8). 2319-2358.

by Lauren Wahman

From the Virtual Desk of….Christian Boyles

Posted on April 9, 2020 by Michelle McKinney

Like all of us, the Librarians and Staff at the UCBA Library have settled into a new routine of working at home. We invite you to see how we keep the (virtual) lights on at the Library while still providing support to our UCBA community.

I’m Christian Boyles, the Collection Services Manager at your UCBA Library. Here’s a quick tour of my new workspace.

: Here is my repurposed dining room. One of the things I am enjoying about my new workspace is having windows and loads of natural light.

: This is a close-up of my desk. My wife is working on a 1000 piece Will Moses puzzle of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. We don’t have many large flat surfaces at home, so the dining room table is pulling triple duty at the moment.

: I even brought a book cart home with me with all my processing supplies, files, and notes.

: I also have two new co-workers, Yuri and Gabby, who frequently demand meetings with me.

: It’s a good thing they’re pretty lazy and sleep through most of their shift.

: Since the weather has been good, I’ve been able to bring my laptop out to my patio and have a nice cup of tea in the sun.

Thanks for stopping by my office and I hope you are doing well, staying healthy, and I hope to see you soon again in the Library.

by Christian Boyles

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