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Announcing Scholar@UC
It is with great fanfare that we announce the name of UC’s Next Generation Digital Repository: Scholar@UC. A digital repository makes accessible, enables re-use, stores, organizes and preserves the full range of an institution’s intellectual output, including scholarly, historical and research materials. Scholar@UC is part of UC’s emerging Research Hub and is being developed in partnership with UC Libraries and UCit. Scholar@UC initially will support direct deposit by faculty and staff of digital materials and data that are a result of their scholarly work and research, as well as deposit of faculty-approved student work such as theses and senior capstone projects. Scholar@UC is now in an early-adopter phase. Fourteen UC…
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A Note from the Dean: Recent Activity of the Mellon Grant Project
In late 2012, the University of Cincinnati Libraries were awarded a $58,000 Scholarly Communications and Information Technology Program planning grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to define and describe the key skills and competencies required to support a robust digital scholarship program. The grant project, entitled “Knowledge & Skill Capacity for Digital Scholarship: A Global Benchmarking Study,” is a joint collaboration with co-principle investigators University Librarian Vivian Lewis of McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada), Dean of Libraries Jon E. Cawthorne of West Virginia University, Lisa Spiro, the Executive Director of Digital Scholarship Services at Rice University, and myself. This is UC Libraries first Mellon Grant and more can be…
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Exploring Digital Humanities at UC
By Arlene Johnson, Associate Senior Librarian, Digital Humanities Strategist, Selector and Liaison for the Romance Languages and Literatures Department Exactly what is digital humanities? Many definitions have been expressed in scholarly publications (see http://www.libraries.uc.edu/digital-scholarship/digital-humanities-social-sciences.html), but a simplistic definition is that digital humanities represent the intersection of traditional humanities research and digital/computer-based technologies. As of fall semester 2014, there is a group at UC exploring this very question at the university. In May 2014, the University of Cincinnati Libraries launched a Strategic Plan. As an outcome of the collaborative planning process, ten strategic initiatives have been identified to be undertaken in the 2014/15 academic year. Exploring Digital Humanities/Digital Scholarship (DH/DS) is…
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A View into Special Collections
By Steve Marine, Associate Dean of Digital Initiatives, Special Collections, Preservation and Grants UC Libraries’ special collections provide scholars, both local and global, access to rare books and other rare materials such as maps, pamphlets and journals, that are found in few other libraries. In addition, UC Libraries’ special collections consist of unique primary source materials such as the personal archives of notable people, photographs and historical artifacts and the official records of the university and many regional institutions. Such collections are sources for new discoveries and catalysts for novel research. UC Libraries’ flagship special collections location is the Archives and Rare Book Library located on the 8th floor of…
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Why UC’s Colors are Red and Black
By Greg Hand. An excerpt from the script of a UC History lecture: http://youtu.be/VBrZrge6KAo An 1881 editorial in the Academica, UC’s early student newspaper, called for colors: “The great majority of American colleges and universities have selected certain colors or combinations of colors, which, for want of an adequate term, we may designate as their ‘colors.’ These colors are of great use in intercollegiate contests in distinguishing the members of different colleges. They also have the effect of creating in the student a feeling of loyalty to his Alma Mater. Each year finds it more difficult to select colors that are not pre-occupied. We, therefore, commend this matter to our…
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UC Libraries Recognized for Our Participation in LAUNCH Transition Program
Lorna Newman, head of the Interlibrary Services and Access Department in Langsam Library, was recently presented with a plaque recognizing UC Libraries’ partnership with Sycamore High School and its LAUNCH program. The Launch Transition Program is housed on the campus of the University of Cincinnati and provides young adults aged 18-21 with an opportunity to be immersed in a community of same-aged peers. Launch participants work on the university campus and the surrounding Clifton area with an opportunity for multiple work placements towards developing vocational aptitudes. The goal is to help Launch participants gain self-advocacy, personal independence and problem-solving skills. Opportunities are provided for authentic application of academic skills. Sycamore…
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Exhibiting the Top Illustrated Children’s Books
Schackleton’s Journey, Harlem Hellfighters, Poems by Haitian Schoolchildren and Time for Bed, Fred – these are just some of the books included in the new UC Libraries exhibit featuring the top illustrated books of 2014 as compiled by the New York Times Book Review. On display on the 4th floor of the Walter C. Langsam Library beginning December 4, the exhibit includes images from the top 10 illustrated books along with illustrations by the same artists from titles found in UC Libraries, including The Silver Donkey, Only a Witch Can Fly and Edwin Speaks Up, all available in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) Library. About…
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Thank You
As you gather with friends and families on Thanksgiving and think of all the things you are thankful for in your own lives, the librarians, staff and students of UC Libraries would like to express their gratitude for the people, places and activities that make working at UC worthwhile – and even fun. Below are just some of the things that make our jobs worth setting the alarm clock for. I am thankful to have returned to my hometown a year ago for my challenging and exciting position as Digital Archivist, and to be surrounded every day by such fantastic colleagues. Eira Tansey Digital Archivist/Records Manager, Archives and Rare…
