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A Note from the Dean: Vision and Key Roles as Vice Provost of Digital Scholarship
Welcome to the fall edition of Source. School is back in session and the libraries are once again full with new and returning students, faculty and staff. I am delighted to announce that over the summer I took on an additional title and new responsibilities as the vice provost of digital scholarship. The creation of this new role, under the leadership of Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Kristi A. Nelson, is the reflection of UC’s commitment to the broad implementation of President Neville Pinto’s Next Lives Here, with a focus on our innovative agenda. This role is also a recognition and endorsement of UC Libraries’ contributions to…
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A Note from the Dean: Supporting the Libraries
It’s summer in Cincinnati and while the campus is calmer and the parking garages emptier, there is still a quiet buzz of activity. The first summer semester is winding to a close, new student orientation is in full swing, and construction projects, including the long awaited Faculty Enrichment Center located in the Walter C. Langsam Library, are rushing toward completion before the fall semester begins. It is a good time for reflection. Some of my most memorable moments from this spring share a common theme; they feature the donors, volunteers and faithful advocates who give generously of their time, talents and treasures to the University of Cincinnati Libraries. This year…
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A Note from the Dean: Celebrating the Bicentennial
The University of Cincinnati has kicked off its bicentennial year and all of us at UC Libraries are excited to celebrate along with the rest of the university community. During my participation at the first Bicentennial kickoff event, which was held in front of the Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library and attracted a huge crowd, I felt tremendous Bearcat pride reflecting on the great journey our university has traveled. I was also proud hearing President Pinto mention the distinguished Bicentennial books published by the University of Cincinnati Press, a new division of UC Libraries. In the last issue of Source, I talked about a recent important milestone for the…
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A Note from the Dean: Reflecting on UC’s History and Staff Impact
This fall, the University of Cincinnati will kick off its Bicentennial during the annual Homecoming, paving the way for a year’s worth of events and celebrations in 2019. The University of Cincinnati Press will play a key role in the festivities as publisher of a suite of books related to the Bicentennial that explore the history of UC and its role in the city of Cincinnati. With 200 years of history to meditate on, a hopeful present and the promise of an even brighter future, this is an exciting time at the University of Cincinnati. Like the university, UC Libraries has a long history as we celebrated our 125th anniversary…
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A Note from the Dean: Celebrating Special Collections
In this edition of Source we highlight some of the University of Cincinnati Libraries’ newest endeavors in digital collections. From the latest version of the university’s digital repository, Scholar@UC, to a new archive space for special collections, to our recent membership in the large-scale collaborative repository HathiTrust, UC Libraries has made great strides in increasing our digital footprint and exploring new ways to enhance our user’s scholarship and the ways they can access and utilize our collections. As the materials in our collections become more accessible online, our rare and special collections become even more valuable to the identities of our libraries and the university. Each of UC Libraries’ 10…
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A Note from the Dean: Adapting Libraries for the Future
How do we transform the Libraries’ traditional role from one of a service organization to that of a true partner in the academic pursuits of the university? Traditionally, libraries have been seen primarily as service units. Librarians and staff purchased and disseminated materials and assisted users with reference and other questions concerning the library. While this service role is important, in order for us to remain relevant – to not just survive, but to thrive – libraries need to move beyond that traditional service model into something that is more collaborative and integrated into the academic mission of the university. For academic libraries, this means transforming ourselves from information…
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Interviewing Dean Wang and Liz Scarpelli about the University of Cincinnati Press
Last month, the University of Cincinnati Press celebrated its first anniversary. We caught up with Dean and University Librarian Xuemao Wang and Press Director Liz Scarpelli to discuss the state of the Press and its progress so far. What is your vision for the University of Cincinnati Press? Xuemao: When talking about my vision for the Press, I like to start with an opportunity that surfaced about two years ago. It began with a conversation between me, a former board of trustee member and former UC President Santa Ono about how the University of Cincinnati, an R1 Research University, did not have a strong arm for the dissemination and creation…
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A Note from the Dean: Core Beliefs
Libraries play an important role in academia. At UC Libraries, it is articulated in our mission “to empower discovery, stimulate learning and inspire the creation of knowledge by connecting students, faculty, researchers and scholars to dynamic data, information and resources.” That verb-laden statement describes the Libraries as a place of action. More than a set of buildings and locations, more than our collections, or a bank of computers, or a neutral place to study, the library is an active, responsive environment meant to empower, stimulate and inspire all of our users. We believe libraries should be places for inquiry, deeper thought and the open exploration of ideas. UC Libraries offers…
