-
Dean’s Note: Looking back and forward
As we enter the mid-point of summer, I find myself both looking back at the previous academic year and forward as we begin planning for fall semester and the new academic year ahead. During 2025/26 we completed a number of initiatives within our Strategic Plan, including: In the coming year, we anticipate completing some projects and initiating others. Some of those include: All these initiatives, both those completed and those underway, are in support of 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. I wish you all an enjoyable rest of summer.
-
Announcing the 2026 Zero Textbook Cost Grant cohort
By Melissa Moreau, Scholarly Communications Librarian In response to the growing cost of course materials, the University of Cincinnati Libraries (UCL) opened applications for the first cycle of its Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Grant Program in March 2026. Available to all UC instructors, the aim of the program is to incentivize and support the replacement of commercial course materials with either open educational resources (OER) or library resources. By eliminating textbook costs, these options offer more than affordability. They support an equitable learning environment by ensuring that all students in ZTC classes have access to the materials they need to succeed. Reflecting the aims of the recently launched Bearcat Affordability…
-
Announcing the Science Library
By Ted Baldwin, Director, Science and Engineering Libraries During the summer and fall semesters of 2025, a significant university investment fueled the vibrant formation of a combined Science Library in Braunstein Hall. This thoughtfully transformed space creates a united hub of services, spaces, technology and specialized collections dedicated to supporting the teaching and research needs of the Natural Sciences departments within the College of Arts & Sciences. Although its collections focus on the sciences, the Science Library invites ALL to come and enjoy and make use of the revitalized space in the heart of UC’s campus. The Science Library boasts a new service desk, new carpeting, expanded and improved lighting,…
-
Prioritizing accessible spaces in the CECH Library
By Madeleine Gaiser, Online Learning & Instruction Librarian Since the fall of 2024, the College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services (CECH) Library has worked towards making their spaces and collections more inclusive and accessible for all learners. Following the update of the Accessible Tech Space in Langsam in 2024, the Study & Focus Tools Collection (SFTC) was launched and the reservable study room (400B) was re-imagined with inclusive improvements as part of the Reading Room renovation. Small Swap with High Contrast Inspired by the keyboards in Langsam’s Accessible Tech Space, high-contrast computer keyboards were installed in the CECH Library Info Commons, one for Mac and another for Windows.…
-
Re-making the MakerLab: A year of creative collaboration in the CECH Library
With nine locations across the uptown campus, UC Libraries serves the university’s many diverse colleges, the College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services (CECH) among them. Located in the Teachers-Dyer Complex, the CECH Library serves the college’s four schools – Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services and Information Technology – and is home to the only library makerspace on campus. In a short span of 12 months, CECH Library’s MakerLab has undergone a multi-phased renewal marked by collaboration, teaching and lots of learning. “I didn’t know much about makerspaces before I started this project,” admitted education librarian Katie Foran-Mulcahy, who also serves as the CECH Library’s head. “But I do know…
-
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…
-
Open Access Publishing Opportunities @ UC
By Brian Gray, Ted Baldwin, Sharon Purtee, Mark Chalmers and Aja Bettencourt-McCarthy What is Open Access (OA)? Open access publishing grew out of a recognition that much scholarship – even work that was publicly funded – was inaccessible to the public as well as many scholars at small or less wealthy institutions due to high subscription costs. Between the mid 1980s and 2000, subscription journal costs rose dramatically, further catalyzing interest in exploring alternative models. As a result of these efforts, scholarly publishing has evolved to include a range of open access options. Open Access Types Description Gold Fully open access journal. An Article Publishing Charge (APC) is usually paid…
-
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…
