Annual Impact Report 2022/23

BY THE NUMBERS

11,372

Interlibrary loan items requested by UC San Diego Library users

176

New collections added to our digital collections

An 18.5% increase from last year

$98 Spent per person on campus on collections*

LIBRARY EXPENDITURES

*Equivalent to only three à la carte articles from an academic journal publisher Through the UC Libraries’ collective negotiation and commitment to open access, this investment instead provided access to millions of articles, journals and books.

5 out of 7 41

Undergraduate college general education sequences have integrated information literacy instruction with the Library Disciplines in which classes were taught, in addition to unique workshops and firstyear general education requirements

The busiest hours in Geisel Library are from 2-4 p.m.

SPACES

• Library spaces are open 66% the amount of all hours in the year

• 4,352 seats available: 1 for every 8 undergraduate students

• 60,272 study room reservations made

• 1,471,525 annual gate count for both buildings: Equivalent to 17.5 visits for every person on campus

• 47,723 questions answered at the Geisel Service Hub kiosks: An average of 11.4 questions per hour

DIGITAL SPACES

38.5%

1,278,319

Reference questions answered via chat or email, more than double the percentage prior to the pandemic

TOTAL GIFTS AND ENDOWMENT INCOME

Visits to the Library website, equivalent to 15 visits per person on campus

The busiest hours in WongAvery Library are from 1-3 p.m.

TRANSFORMING GEISEL LIBRARY

The much-anticipated renovation of Geisel Library’s 2nd (main) Floor was unveiled in Fall 2022. The redesign of the space is the culmination of the Geisel Library Revitalization Initiative, which launched in 2015 thanks to a $3 million lead gift made by philanthropist Audrey S. Geisel. The initiative was established to transform and rejuvenate the Library’s most heavily used interior public spaces to meet the evolving needs of users in an increasingly digital environment.

In 2016, Audrey’s Café and lounge opened, marking the completion of the initiative’s first phase. Two years later, the renovation of Geisel’s 8th (top) Floor concluded the second segment. The final and most extensive chapter, completed in September 2022, shaped the Library’s new approach to service delivery and renewed our vision for how we as a library spark inspiration, creativity and a passion for learning. Like the other two phases, the changes were informed by several assessments of contemporary user needs and traffic patterns, as well as feedback from students, faculty and staff.

Here’s a look inside the 2nd Floor renovation:

• When entering the building, visitors are now greeted by the Meet Spot. Formerly home to the large circulation desk, the design of this space was inspired by its original use as a reading lounge when the building opened in 1970.

• Another noticeable new addition near the entrance is the 1,000-square-foot exhibition gallery that was built to showcase our unique collections and creative works by students, faculty and alumni. Over the years, this space has served many purposes. Most recently, it was occupied by several printing stations and our information desk. Before that, the area was home to our card catalog.

• The center of our new vision for service delivery, the Service Hub, is grounded in an innovative user-centered philosophy of service crafted by our employees. The Hub brings together our lending, technology, research and access teams who help students with everything from addressing research questions to finding a quiet place to work.

• Located within the Service Hub, students can access technology items 24 hours a day, 5 days a week (24/5) using the BorrowBot, a new self-service lending kiosk.

• A 70-seat classroom was added across from the Service Hub. Previously an employee work area, the interactive room was created

to address a pressing need for library instructional space while also generating a new location for student study when classes are not in session. It is equipped with smart technology and flexible furniture to enhance group discussion and active learning.

• The renovation nearly quadrupled the existing 24/5 study area, which now encompasses both the 1st and 2nd Floors in Geisel East — something students have requested for many years.

Other important additions include:

• New consultation rooms where librarians and other Library employees can meet with and assist students, faculty and researchers

• The Nest, a cozy study nook named in honor of Joan B. Freitas (1929-2019) and Archie E. Freitas (1930-2017), which includes a pop-up gallery space for exhibits

• A gender-neutral restroom and a lactation room

• More than 160 seats, creating additional locations for students to study and collaborate

Approximately 18,700 square feet of Geisel’s entrance, lobby and central corridor were remodeled, with 7,800 square feet of employee workspace converted into public user space.

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

How do we adapt Library spaces to users’ needs?

We proudly partnered with UC San Diego’s student government, Associated Students (AS), on initiatives that helped meet our campus population’s ever-evolving needs. These initiatives align with the Library’s mission to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice, honoring the varied experiences of our students.

• The Library and AS launched a menstrual equity pilot program in March 2023, making Geisel Library one of the first places on campus to offer free menstrual products. Liane Barkhordar, a student senator, led the initiative and pitched Library leadership on the idea. “I chose to launch the period pilot program at Geisel Library because it’s a central hub for campus and a place where all students go.” AS provided start-up funding, and the Library handles installation, product delivery and stocking in cooperation with campus Facilities Management.

• To better serve caregivers across campus, the Library funded four new changing stations: two in Geisel Library and two in WongAvery Library. Initially requested by AS representative George Lo, these stations were installed in June 2023.

• In Fall 2022, the Library added new furniture to Geisel Library’s outdoor forum level with the goal of creating additional spaces for students to gather, study and socialize. In partnership with then-AS president Manu Agni, the Library placed five tables and 20 chairs that have remained popular since installation.

How Our Spaces…

Help Students Stay Active

New furniture wasn’t the only addition to Geisel’s forum level this year. In collaboration with UC San Diego Recreation, the Library began hosting yoga classes in this space in April 2023. Held weekly throughout the academic quarter, these classes are free to anyone with a Recreation Activity Pass, which is complimentary to all UC San Diego students.

Make Civic Engagement Accessible

The Seuss Room in Geisel Library served as the UC San Diego voting center for the statewide general election from October 29-November 8, 2022. This location, offered in partnership with the County of San Diego, helped make voting accessible for our campus population, who could easily vote between classes, club meetings and study sessions.

Where do art and science intersect?

Our data curators have the privilege of working with university researchers from a wide range of scientific disciplines as they prepare data for the Library’s Research Data Collections repository. The visually stunning nature of some of these data sets inspired the Library to launch its annual Art of Science contest in 2021, a program that celebrates and brings awareness to the beauty that can emerge from scientific exploration. In Fall 2022, the Library curated the first Art of Science exhibit, where winning images from the contest were displayed at the San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) in Balboa Park (the same images were also displayed on campus at WongAvery Library). This exhibit highlighted our new community partnership with The Nat and the ways in which both organizations celebrate the intersection of art and science.

How do we showcase faculty coursework and research?

To honor Black History Month, the Library collaborated with music professor and industry practitioner King James Britt to curate the exhibit Blacktronika: Afrofuturism in Electronic Music. This display highlighted the Department of Music’s course of the same name, which Britt developed and continues to teach at UC San Diego. The popular course focuses on researching and honoring the people of color who have pioneered groundbreaking genres within the electronic music landscape. The exhibit included an assortment of Britt’s course materials, a selection of vintage and modern electronic instruments of interest, and ephemera associated with Britt’s career and current research.

How can we come together to combat health misinformation?

The contagious nature of health misinformation can be detrimental to individuals and their communities. That’s why the Library and partners of the San Diego Circuit libraries (Circuit), developed a campaign to help community members identify and protect themselves from health misinformation. The collaborative effort was made possible by a $25,000 grant awarded to Circuit by the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) in August 2022. As a part of the project, a digital communications toolkit was developed to help library workers across San Diego County and beyond launch their own online public education campaigns. Created by Circuit librarians, the toolkit includes multilingual fact sheets in 10 languages and sample social media content to be shared by local and national libraries with their communities. In April 2023, the project team also launched public transit advertising for this campaign, including Spanish and English ads across 27 bus benches or trolley stops in San Diego County.

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

1973 Guardian Tour of China

In August 1973, the Guardian Newspaper — an independent weekly newspaper established in New York City — sponsored a 21-day tour of China for 21 Americans. Participants were recruited from newspaper subscribers and by word of mouth. This digital collection of photographic slides captures the daily lives of people and scenes from cities and villages in Northeast China and other regions during the Cultural Revolution. The images also chronicle the people-to-people exchange between China and the U.S. before the two countries established diplomatic relations.

American Friends Service Committee-U.S.-Mexico Border Program Records (USMBP)

USMBP was established to monitor local law enforcement practices, support immigrant labor rights, promote understanding of immigration, and support strategic litigation that would have an impact on immigration policies. In support of this advocacy work, this collection contains abuse complaint case files, dated 1977-2001, from individuals in and around the San Diego-Mexico border region reporting violence, harassment and abuse by law enforcement officers. These records document the work of the organization primarily between 1982 and 2003. Almost 700 abuse and complaint files are available online.

American Institute of Wine & Food Culinary Collection

In 1991, the American Institute of Wine & Food donated half of its library, about 400 volumes, to UC San Diego. Those volumes focused largely on European cuisine and culinary history from the 17th to early 19th centuries. UC San Diego continues to add materials that support the campus’ academic interests in Mexico, the Pacific Rim, Latin America, California and the American West. This collection now numbers almost 8,000 volumes and continues to grow. All objects illustrate an aspect of how food and drink reflect the cultural environments in which they exist. The full text of some 300 volumes is available online.

inSite Archive: Casa Gallina Project

This collection consists of digital photographs, emails, planning documents, publicity materials and publications developed for Casa Gallina — the sixth edition of the inSite art collaborative located in the neighborhood of Santa María la Ribera in Mexico City. The records for Casa Gallina complement the other inSite Archives records held by Special Collections & Archives in both digital and paper formats.

Robert Erickson Sound Recording Collection

Co-founder of UC San Diego’s Music Department, Robert Erickson gained recognition for his innovative compositions blending live performers with tape-recorded sounds. His repertoire features the use of invented musical instruments and explores extended vocal and instrumental techniques. This digital collection encompasses distinctive recordings of Erickson’s own compositions, as well as rare or unique recordings that piqued his interest. The eclectic selection ranges from ethnic music to works and lectures by his contemporaries, along with some noteworthy student projects.

Stuart Collection Photographs

Since 1981, the Stuart Collection at UC San Diego has sought to enrich the campus and community’s cultural, intellectual and scholarly life by building and maintaining a unique compilation of site-specific works crafted by prominent contemporary artists. This digital collection includes photographs capturing all the existing pieces within the Stuart Collection. It also includes comprehensive documentation of the construction process, installations, models, maquettes, proposed designs, drawings and more.

UC San Diego LGBT Campus Historical Collection

This digital collection documents the experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community at UC San Diego, offering a reflection of the diverse activities and interests of students, staff, faculty and alumni. The contents encompass a range of materials such as correspondence, proposals, reports, speeches, flyers and photographs.

1973 GUARDIAN TOUR OF CHINA

UC SAN DIEGO LGBT CAMPUS HISTORICAL COLLECTION

STUART COLLECTION PHOTOGRAPHS

INSITE ARCHIVE: CASA GALLINA PROJECT

NOTEWORTHY GIFTS AND ACQUISITIONS

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

19th Century Mexican Recetario

A Mexican cookery manuscript written on woven paper. The collection includes more than 280 recipes, notably for dishes that have their origins in Veracruz, Puebla, Chiapas and Oaxaca.

Archive of Poet Gloria Frym

Born in 1947 in Brooklyn, New York, poet Gloria Frym studied writing with Robert Creeley at the University of New Mexico and later moved to San Francisco to teach creative writing at the New College of California. Frym has taught creative writing in the San Francisco county jail system, at the California College of the Arts, Western Connecticut State University and the Naropa Institute. The papers (2007-2023) contain correspondence with colleagues and family members; manuscript drafts for published collected works, poems, and prose works; notebooks (1973-2005); teaching materials; biographical materials; and a video recording of a Frym reading.

Six Mois à Travers l’Océanie by J. Halligan

This book describes a French voyage from Tahiti to Australia in 1848, intended to aid missionaries and whalers scattered among the different archipelagos. A chapter is devoted to the mutiny on the Bounty.

On Decoration for the Tea Ceremony

According to the Ogasawara School

A painted manuscript scroll created between 1780-1850 depicting 21 different layouts for the Japanese tea ceremony according to the Ogasawara School (pictured below). Illustrations include tea bowls and other equipment used to prepare and serve tea, tables, side dishes and decorations of the tea room.

COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY

Alumni Authors Take the Spotlight in Signature Event Series

A Conversation with Rex Pickett ’76

On November 9, 2022, the Library hosted a panel discussion featuring novelist, screenwriter, filmmaker and playwright Rex Pickett ’76. Pickett is the critically acclaimed author of “Sideways” and his play based on the novel, which was later adapted into an Oscar-winning film.

Pickett was joined in conversation by Brian E. C. Schottlaender, UC San Diego’s University Librarian Emeritus; Caryn Radick, Digital Archivist at Rutgers University; and Audrey Geisel University Librarian Erik Mitchell. They discussed his most recent novel, “The Archivist,” a murder mystery that takes a deep dive into the archiving world set in a fictional Geisel Library. The book was inspired by Pickett’s experience working with Special Collections & Archives when he donated his personal papers to the Library in 2012.

WATCH

these conversations on the UCTV Library Channel. uctv.tv/library-channel/videos

Libraries at Cambridge University and UC San Diego Partner to Broaden Awareness and Use of East Asian Collections

A Conversation with Kim Stanley Robinson ’74, PhD ’82

On April 17, 2023, the Library partnered with the UC San Diego Academic Senate Committee on Campus Climate Change to host a discussion featuring Kim Stanley Robinson ’74, PhD ’82. The conversation delved into his bestselling climate fiction novel “The Ministry for the Future,” which follows a group of individuals whose mission is to act as advocates for the world’s future generations as “ministers for the future.”

Inspired by the book’s narrative, the event commenced with presentations from four students who assumed the roles of “ministers” envisioning the future of the San Diego region. Drawing on their research, activism and expertise, these students articulated their visions, outlining ways in which UC San Diego can contribute to safeguarding the environment for present and future generations. Participants included:

• Minister of Atmosphere, Ke’La Kimble, PhD candidate in analytical and atmospheric chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

• Minister of Health, Emmet Norris, PhD student in geoscience, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

• Minister of Finance, Emma Rodriguez ’23, business economics major, Thurgood Marshall College

• Minister of Energy, Alex Andriatis, PhD candidate in physical oceanography, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

UC San Diego Library’s Signature Event Series is made possible through the philanthropic support of our sponsors and Library Associates. Become a Library Associate today! lib.ucsd.edu/lib-associates

UC San Diego Library and Cambridge University Library launched a multi-year partnership that aims to broaden the awareness, access and use of the extensive East Asian collections held by the two institutions. In June 2023, representatives from both universities convened at Cambridge University Library for a signing ceremony to commemorate the official commencement of the WongAvery East Asian Collections Collaboration.

With the sponsorship of the Avery-Tsui Foundation, the two universities will foster interlibrary collaboration, initiate and support research visits by scholars seeking to use the respective collections, as well as create and promote activities that highlight the collections and expertise held within the libraries.

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

New Hires

Carla Altomare, Mellon Grant Project Coordinator

Carlos Arguelles, Service Desk Technician

Estefania Campillo, Academic HR Analyst

Camille Cannon, Internal Communications Manager

Sarah Chapman, Project Lead/Imaging Specialist

Jen Cormier, Events and Outreach Coordinator

Kris deKlerk, Customer Experience Specialist

Laura Fouladi, CDL Acquisitions Coordinator

Maya Garcia, Service Desk Technician

Sharon Garcia, Customer Experience Supervisor

Carly Garzon Vargas, Student Employee Supervisor

Bridgette Hines, Tech Lending and Reserves Specialist

Jade Johnston, Library Administrative Office Assistant

Casey Macolino, Customer Experience Specialist

Zemirah Ngow, Life and Health Sciences Collection Strategist

Michelle Pardo, Customer Experience Specialist

Vanessa Rocha, Purchasing and Fiscal Assistant

Karla Sanchez, Customer Experience Specialist

Jordan Souza, Customer Experience Specialist

Natalie Tagge, Assistant Program Director for Research Advisory Services

Angela Wang, East Asian Language Acquisitions and Metadata Specialist

Michelle Woo, Chinese Language Metadata Specialist

Kelly Zamingir, Customer Experience Specialist

New Roles

Alanna Aiko Moore, Head of Community Engagement

Elizabeth Briceno, Specialized Circulation Manager

Ingred Mogilner Chamberlin, Circulation Operations Manager

Jason Chodur, Metadata and Extraction, Transformation, and Loading (ETL) Specialist

Franzyna Esquer, Engagement Specialist

Roxy Haji, Assessment Specialist

SuHui Ho, Strategic Outcomes and Assessment Librarian

Daniel Ibarra, Financial Analyst

Bobby Ortiz, Reserves and Tech Lending Specialist

Tamara Rhodes, Lead for Inclusive Design

Carina Silva-Sarabia, Library Acquisitions Specialist

Laura Schwartz, Program Director for Content Acquisition and Resource Sharing

George Tiong, Virtual Services Lead

José Manuel Santacruz Vaca, Customer Experience Specialist

Retirements

Dennis Kelliher, Collection Management Metadata Coordinator

Pat Tung, Stacks Maintenance Specialist

From left: Laura Fouladi, Casey Macolino, Laura Schwartz, Michelle Woo, Bridgette Hines, Jen Cormier, Carina Silva-Sarabia, Carla Altomare, George Tiong, Karla Sanchez, Jason Chodur, Angela Wang, Kelly Zamingir, Kris deKlerk, Jordan Souza, Michelle Pardo, Natalie Tagge, Sarah Chapman, Jade Johnston, Ingred Mogilner Chamberlin, José Manuel Santacruz Vaca

Launched in Fall 2022, the Library’s 2022-2027

Strategic Plan serves as our roadmap for investment and assessment. Aligned with the goals of UC San Diego’s Strategic Plan, the Strategic Plan for Inclusive Excellence, and the vision, strategy and initiatives of Academic Affairs – specifically that of Collective Impact – the plan positions the Library to work in direct service to the academic mission of the university.

Mission

UC San Diego Library stewards knowledge and empowers users to analyze and interpret information in order to advance transformational research, teaching, learning and creative endeavors.

Vision

As a trusted leader in the democratization of knowledge, we make information accessible in order to inspire innovation, foster critical inquiry and advocate for social justice.

Values

UC San Diego Library is a user-centered, future-focused organization built on collaboration and a commitment to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.

Pillars of Concentration

• Democratize knowledge

• Enable innovation and inquiry

• Advance diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and social justice

• Focus on responsible stewardship

democratize focus advance enable

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ON THE COVER

Geisel Library made from 38,850 LEGO bricks on display at LEGOLAND California in the MINILAND San Diego exhibition that opened in March 2023.