UW Libraries Blog

November 2, 2021

November Update

UW Libraries

We are almost half-way through the autumn quarter! As the countdown to final exams begins, take some time out this Wednesday to relax and enjoy the First Wednesday Lunchtime Concert Series in Allen Library’s north lobby, featuring Students of the UW Strings Program, presented by UW Libraries and UW School of Music.  This month is packed with free workshops and events for all students, faculty and staff; check them out! 

Services  

  • Department Delivery is back! Delivery to campus mailboxes is now available.
  • When will UW Libraries expand hours?  Our goal is to expand hours as soon as possible. Libraries staff have been working diligently since summer quarter to fill vacant positions, and we thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to address labor challenges that impact the Libraries as well as other campus and public institutions at this time. Learn more. 
  • Special Collections Update: A look at the popular new virtual reading room, why appointments are better (and required)  for users, future operations and new exhibits. Learn more.
  • Study Space Survey – Calling all students! The UW Libraries needs your input on campus study spaces. Complete this 2 minute survey and you can enter a raffle for a $10 gift card to the UW Bookstore. Your input will help us to improve the UW student experience! Take the Survey. 
  • Stay informed: The best source for Libraries operational updates and information is the Libraries Operations Update page. 

News and Stories

A New Library for UW Health Sciences! The Active Edge Library (AEL) will be part of the new state-of-the-art UW health sciences education building, currently under construction and scheduled to open in May 2022. Learn more.

 

 

 

Maya Angela Smith

Faculty Feature: Maya Angela Smith. The first of a series of UW Libraries features celebrating Black faculty and student scholarship.  Get to know more about the intersectional work of Maya Angela Smith, Associate Professor of French and the Interim Chair for the African Studies Program, Jackson School of International Studies. Read the profile.  

 

 

 

 

 

Who is #YourUWLibrary superhero? Please consider nominating a Librarian for the annual Distinguished Librarian Award. Finding that essential primary source for your thesis, teaching support for your classes, navigating online resources and answering your digital publishing and copyright questions — UW Librarians are always here for you, Huskies! Now is the time to show your appreciation and support by nominating an outstanding Librarian for the Distinguished Librarian Award, part of the UW’s annual Awards of Excellence program. Anyone may nominate a librarian for the award and Librarians at UW Seattle, Bothell/Cascadia, Tacoma, and the M.G. Gallagher Law Library are eligible. Learn more and nominate your Librarian by December 31, 2021!  Learn more. 

Announcing the 2021-2022, Community Reads program  With Wellbeing as the topic for this year, we hope to offer opportunities for grounding, connection, and reflection amid ongoing traumas experienced by so many in recent months.  We will dive into Undrowned by Alexis Pauline Gumbs, a collection of meditations inspired by marine mammals, to seek ways we can all breathe easier, individually and together. Learn more.

New Exhibits/Spotlights

Unsheltered Seattle, Then and Now:  In conjunction with National Homeless Awareness Month, this showcase highlights primary sources documenting the history of Seattle’s unhoused–from Hooverville to the original Skid Road, these images, books and pamphlets illustrate the increasing and unmet needs our city continues to grapple with. Allen Library first floor display case. See also Listening to Seattle’s Skid Row: Testimony from the Edge on 11/18. 

The Pacific Northwest in the ‘70s – Power to the People: October 25, 2021-Jan 28, 2022. Groove through the ‘70s in this exhibit of photos, ephemera, and publications from the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections. Each quarter will feature different aspects of the pivotal decade that brought the end of the postwar economic boom, an increase in social progressive values, greater political awareness and expanding liberties for women. Special Collections Lobby, Allen Library South Basement (no appointment needed). Learn More. 

Lem’s Bestiary Illustrated by Mróz: On the 100th anniversary of Stanisław Lem’s birth, UW Libraries present an exhibit of drawings created by Daniel Mróz, illustrator of Lem’s science fiction books. The exhibit is accompanied by videos and a display of Lem’s books from the UW Libraries’ Slavic collection. The exhibit is co-presented by Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association, the producer of Seattle Polish Film Festival, and the UW Polish Studies Endowment Committee. Learn more.

Featured Resources, Collections, and UW Press 

November is Native American Heritage Month. Check out the  North American Indian Drama database that contains 256 plays by 49 playwrights representing the stories and creative energies of American Indian and First Nation playwrights of the twentieth century.  Browse published and previously unpublished works with a diversity of tribal traditions and approaches to drama.

UW Press featuring David Williams’ Homewaters: Hear from naturalist David B. Williams at two upcoming events to celebrate his latest book Homewaters. Witty, graceful, and deeply informed, Homewaters weaves history and science into a fascinating and hopeful narrative, one that will introduce newcomers to the astonishing life that inhabits the Sound and offers longtime residents new insight into and appreciation of the waters they call home.

  • Wednesday, Nov. 3, 6 – 7 p.m. with University Bookstore learn more
  • Monday, Nov. 8, 7 – 8 p.m. at Brick & Mortar Books learn more

November Workshops and Events

Community Events

Open Writing Circles Tuesdays 1:30-3:00pm PST:  Are you a PHD or grad student working on a long-term writing project? Join us for weekly meetings on Zoom for 90 minutes of quiet writing time and community with fellow UW writers from across campus! Learn more.

11/7- Readings from the Heart of Europe:  A Conversation on Antanas Škėma’s “White Shroud,” widely acclaimed as Lithuania’s great modernist novel, we’ll discuss this book with special guest Prof. Violeta Kelertas (U. of Illinois-Chicago), one of America’s leading experts on Lithuanian literature.  Readings from the Heart of Europe is a book club led in part by UW Libraries’ Slavic Studies Librarian, Michael Biggins, the American Romanian Cultural Society and Ethnic Heritage Council. Sign up.

11/18 – Virtual Scholar’s Studio. Scholars’ Studio is an excellent opportunity for grad students looking to make connections and build presentation skills. Hosted by the UW Libraries Research Commons and Core Programs in the Graduate School, Scholars’ Studio is a quarterly event featuring up to 10 short presentations (5 minutes each) by UW graduate students and postdocs to encourage the cross-disciplinary sharing of research. Hosted virtually this quarter, presenters receive feedback on their presentations and participate in Q and A. Anyone interested is welcome to attend. Faculty, instructors encouraged to attend! Learn more.

11/18 – Listening to Seattle’s Skid Row: Testimony from the Edge.  Join us for a Reader’s Theater performance and hear the voices of unhoused individuals, caregivers, and more, as we consider the toll that homelessness takes on our community as well as effective interventions. Based on interviews conducted by Josephine Ensign with people working—and living—at the intersection of health and homelessness in Seattle, Listening to Seattle’s Skid Road: Testimony from the Edge was written by Josephine Ensign, DrPH, professor, UW School of Nursing; and Lorraine McConaghy, PhD, public historian; with assistance from Lisa Oberg, librarian, UW Special Collections. See also the corresponding showcase in Allen Library’s 1st floor: Unsheltered Seattle, Then and Now (note above).

Workshops 

#CelebrateFirstGen 

UW Libraries is proud to partner with our colleagues across campus in honor of the National First-Generation College Celebration

Join us on 11/10 for  Finding Your Balance: Balancing Research, Coursework, and Life. As a UW first-generation student, there are a lot of things – whether they are exciting opportunities or necessary obligations – on your plate! This session, open to undergrad and grad students,  is all about balancing your busy school, work, and personal lives, as well as navigating a large university system. We will feature interactive activities and conversations led by first-generation students to explore topics like: self-care, time management, goal setting, library research, communicating with UW faculty and staff, and more. Leave the session with a plan and support.

11/3 – Copyright and the Creative Commons Workshop. Whether you create media or need media to use, the Creative Commons can help you manage rights! Learn copyright basics. Share your work easily. Use other people’s work freely and legally.

11/4 – Hacking the Academy: Simpson Center Showcase. Back by popular demand, come learn about funding opportunities for faculty and graduate students available through the Simpson Center and hear about the projects developed by recent recipients of this Simpson Center  Fellowships.

Pressbooks Workshops: Want to develop your Pressbooks skills or need a refresher? RSVP for one of our upcoming online trainings

11/9 – The Possibilities of Word Embedding in Korean Literature: From Language Analysis to Language Generation | Jae-Yon Lee & Nam-Gi Han (TEAL Digital Scholarship for East Asian Studies): This talk showcases the potential applications of word embedding—the representation of words as vectors—in the study of modern Korean literature. 

11/10 – Fair Use Workshop. Where does copyright protection end and your right to use someone else’s work begin? Join us for an overview of fair use, which is perhaps the most consequential and dynamic copyright doctrine for education and research.

11/15 – Create the World’s Fastest Book: Manifold Workshop. Learn how to create the world’s fastest book using the Manifold digital book publishing platform! 

11/16 – Accessibility and Data Visualization. Learn how to make data visualizations more accessible. 

11/17 – Profiles and Publishing Workshop. Learn the basics of establishing your online presence with author profiles, and discuss the aspects of the publishing process you can control to make it more or less likely to be able to share your work widely. 

11/30 – Introduction to Omeka Workshop.Learn how this tool can help you build a digital exhibition with your images and media? 

Save the Date

11/22-1/4 The exhibit Climate Justice for All will be on view in the Allen Library North Lobby. The exhibit will explore the effects of climate change on disadvantaged populations and communities of color and will discuss solutions through an equity lens. Book displays will be included in the exhibit, and a virtual panel discussion on climate anxiety will be held in mid-December.

Missed it?

  • Watch October’s Constitution Read-Aloud with more than 90 community readers and the corresponding  panel discussion exploring different perspectives on viewing this historical document in a modern context. You can view both via this YouTube playlist. And check out this list of critical readings prepared by the Gallagher Law Library.
  • And Then She Said: Voices of Feminists Past and Present was sown from The Dead Feminists series, a collaboration between local artists Chandler O’Leary and Jessica Spring in the form of a collection of 31 broadsides elevating voices of women throughout history. Viewing is currently by appointment only. Use our Contact Us form to schedule a visit! 

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