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Dean’s Note: Welcome Back!
Welcome, Bearcats, to UC! I hope you had a rewarding summer and are excited to begin the new academic year. This new academic year, the university welcomes over 54,000 students! That equates to 43,500 undergrads, 11,000 graduate students and 9,600 online students. Whether you’re a freshman, a returning student, or a faculty, research or staff member, the University of Cincinnati Libraries faculty and staff are here to work with you as you achieve your academic goals. This volume of Source is a Welcome Back issue, highlighting our work this summer preparing for the academic year, as well as announcing new collections, events and services designed to connect students, researchers and…
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What we did over the summer…to prepare for the academic year
Vacations, beach time and cookouts – while most students were away from campus enjoying summer, we were busy working on projects to prepare library spaces, services and collections for the start of the academic year. Highlights of our work this summer: New Spaces CECH 4th floor renovation – Renovation began to the College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services (CECH) Library’s 4th floor reading room to support students and the academic community by creating a more dynamic, flexible and welcoming environment. Scheduled to reopen in Spring 2026, the renovated 4th floor will offer: In the meantime, the 3rd floor of the CECH Library remains open. Introducing the Science Library…
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Expand Our Impact: An interview with frequent library collaborator Christopher Platts
Christopher Platts, assistant professor of art history, is a frequent collaborator with the Libraries. His work with the DAAP Library, Archives and Rare Books Library and the Preservation Lab, is a perfect example of how we’re achieving our Expand Our Impact Strategic Direction through enhanced UC and external partnerships and collaborations. Following is an interview with Christopher about some of his projects and research focus. How long have you been at the university and what is your research/teaching focus? I have been at the University of Cincinnati since autumn 2021, when I moved from the east coast (Connecticut). I teach in the art history and museum studies programs in the…
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Dean’s Note: Investments in Strategic Priorities
When rare opportunities for additional funding present themselves, it’s important to be ready with project ideas that are shovel ready. Such an opportunity presented itself this fall and UC Libraries rose to the challenge. The university is transitioning to a new budget model, which necessitated a spend down of under spent funds, largely the result of hiring delays. To take advantage of this opportunity, UC Libraries faculty and staff were invited to submit funding proposals for projects that aligned with our Strategic Directions: Enrich Our Collections, Expand Our Impact, Strengthen Our Organization and Support Our Students. Approximately 20 proposals were received which addressed facilities, staffing, collections and technology. Our leadership…
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Dean’s Note: Announcing the University of Cincinnati Libraries Strategic Plan, 2024-2027
Shortly upon my arrival at the University of Cincinnati Libraries, we began a participatory and data-informed process to draft a Strategic Plan. Through town halls, retreats, info sessions, surveys, discussions and debate we examined what is going well in the Libraries along with what opportunities exist for improvement and growth. This spring we embarked on an exercise to begin to determine and articulate our Values. We asked ourselves what are our organization’s core beliefs that will motivate our work and guide our efforts. How we work together will guarantee success of the plan. In developing our plan, we also concentrated on our role within the university and greater community. The…
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Charting a path forward: Our Strategic Directions
With the launch of the University of Cincinnati Libraries Strategic Plan, 2024-2027, we are increasing our impact by focusing on four strategic directions: Enrich Our Collections, Expand Our Impact, Strengthen Our Organization and Support Our Students. Enrich Our Collections Enrich and curate library collections that enable intellectual endeavors and inspire new discoveries. Expand Our Impact Expand our impact as a trusted academic and research partner through promotion, engagement and collaboration. Strengthen Our Organization Strengthen an inclusive library enterprise through an investment in our people, practices and spaces by creating a shared purpose with active participation and accountability. Support Our Students Support academic readiness, create access and foster success and belonging…
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Health Sciences Library offers Systematic Review Cohorts
Three librarians from the Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library (HSL) – Melissa Previtera, Don Jason and Lynn Warner – launched a pilot 15-week Systematic Review cohort, which began this summer and wrapped up in September. This collaborative course invited teams and individuals to learn the systematic review process while working on a project with the advice and guidance of the librarians. The cohort consisted of six in-person meetings supplemented with Canvas modules. Topics covered included preparation and protocols, comprehensive searching, using Covidence and writing – all the required steps of completing a review from determining the research question to dissemination of the work. The goal was that this piloted…
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UC Libraries and the Learning Commons partner to Support Our Students
This fall, UC Libraries partnered with the Learning Commons to provide opportunities for tutoring and focused study sessions in the Walter C. Langsam Library. UC Libraries naturally attracts students who come to study and collaborate, making it a perfect location to integrate Learning Commons services. The After Hours program offers academic coaching, tutoring and writing support from 5-8pm conveniently in Langsam Library. Interested students can schedule to meet with a tutor who will meet them in the library. The Learning Commons put stickers on certain tables and pillars throughout the 4th floor of the library with information and a QR code for scheduling and to indicate where they are located.…
