Off the Shelf
SPRING 2020 INSIDE
University Libraries Partner with Sam Fox School on New MFA Program Staying Connected: Tools for the Virtual Classroom as Courses Go Online Data Services Unit Shares Its Expertise with Campus Community SPRING 2020
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From the University Librarian
I hope this note finds you healthy and well. The spring 2020 semester has been an extraordinary one for Washington University, as our students departed campus and academic instruction moved online in response to COVID-19. To align with these unprecedented changes, the University Libraries also shifted operations, adopting a remote service model that allows us to support users near and far while working to maintain the wellbeing of our staff. I’m grateful to library personnel for their hard work in making this transition as seamless as possible. We are navigating new territory, and staff members across the organization have proven that they’re up to the challenge by quickly developing strategies and solutions for moving forward. Thanks to their efforts, the University Libraries are providing a wide range of online teaching and learning resources for students, faculty, and staff. Our tools and tips for remote instruction are featured on page 8. Elsewhere in the magazine, you’ll find inspiring stories and images from around the University Libraries that are bound to brighten your day. I’m thrilled to share news of our involvement with Washington University’s MFA in Illustration and Visual Culture program. Offered through the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts, the program’s curriculum utilizes the collections in the D.B. Dowd Modern Graphic History Library. Our staff members are also deeply involved with the program. This remarkable new course of study is featured on page 4. The Libraries’ Data Services unit always has innovative projects in the works, as team members lend their skills to faculty and student endeavors. On page 10, Jennifer Moore, head of Data Services, discusses the role of geographic information systems in today’s academic library. As you may have already noticed, Off the Shelf has received a facelift. It’s a wonderful improvement that ties in with our Strategic Plan goal of increasing the University Libraries’ visibility and connecting with users through strong communication and messaging. I hope the magazine provides a bit of escape for you during this challenging time. Stay safe and be well.
DENISE STEPHENS
Vice Provost and University Librarian
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WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
Off the Shelf
A PUBLICATION OF WASHINGTON UNIVERSIT Y LIBR ARIES
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VOLUME 16
ACLU-MO Celebrates Centennial at John M. Olin Library
University Libraries Partner with Sam Fox School on New MFA Program
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Staying Connected: Tools for the Virtual Classroom as Courses Go Online
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SPRING 2020
Data Services Unit Shares Its Expertise with Campus Community
03 | B EC K E T T E V E NT
New Initiatives Aim to Make Textbooks Affordable
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04 | M FA
Staff Picks: What We’re Reading
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On the Job: Reflections from a Curator of Rare Books
10 | DATA S E R V I C E S
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Staff Notes: New Faces, News & Accomplishments
A student in Washington University’s MFA-IVC program. Photo courtesy of Whitney Curtis/WUSTL Photos. ON THE COVER
14 | AC LU
Photo courtesy of Jeannie Liautaud Photography
A Look Back: Events & Exhibitions
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E VENTS & E XHIBITION NOTES
A Look Back 09.18.19
University Libraries Host Data Visualization Panel On September 18, 2019, the Washington University Libraries hosted “Graphic Thinking: A Panel on Data Visualization” in Room 142 of John M. Olin Library. The event focused on the history and future of data visualization and served as a supplement to the exhibit Charting History: Data Visualization Through the Years, which was on display in Olin Library’s Thomas Gallery during the fall semester. The panel included Heather Corcoran, Halsey C. Ives Professor of Art in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts and Interim Dean of University College; Lisa Marie Harrison, art director in the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency’s Analytic Production and Design Center; and Geoff Ward, associate professor and associate chair in the Department of African and African-American Studies. A reception and showcase of data visualization projects followed the panel. Bill Winston, GIS analyst; Lisa Marie Harrison, art director in the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency’s Analytic Production and Design Center; Cassie Brand, curator of rare books; Heather Corcoran, professor in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts; and Geoff Ward, associate professor in the Department of African and African-American Studies, at the “Graphic Thinking” event. ( L E F T ) : The exhibit Charting History: Data Visualization Through the Years was on display in Olin Library’s Thomas Gallery during the fall semester. T H I S P A G E ( T O P) :
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11 .7- 8.19
University Libraries Cosponsor Beckett Symposium
09.10.19
Exhibit Highlights Eyes on the Prize
The symposium “What Is the Word: Celebrating Samuel Beckett” took place in John M. Olin Library and the Mallinckrodt Center on November 7 and 8, 2019. The symposium explored the life and work of celebrated author Samuel Beckett through presentations, readings, and performances by faculty, students, and visiting scholars.
Held on September 10, 2019, in Olin Library’s Room 142, “Looking Back to the Movement” celebrated the seminal civil rights documentary series Eyes on the Prize and the grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities that has supported the University Libraries’ digitization of interviews conducted for the second half of the series.
The University Libraries’ Modern Literature Collection (MLC) is one of the foremost Beckett repositories in the world. The Beckett scholars and enthusiasts who attended the symposium were able to view materials from the MLC’s archive. Held in conjunction with the University Libraries’ fall exhibit Connecting Contexts: The Modern Literature Collection and The Letters of Samuel Beckett, the symposium was cosponsored by University Libraries, the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, the College of Arts & Sciences, the Department of English, the Center for Humanities, and the Performing Arts Department.
Produced by filmmaker and Washington University alumnus Henry Hampton and his company Blackside, Inc., Eyes on the Prize attracted more than 20 million viewers when it aired in the 1980s and 1990s and is considered the definitive work on the civil rights movement. The Eyes on the Prize interviews are part of the University Libraries’ Henry Hampton Collection, which is housed at the Film & Media Archive. “Looking Back to the Movement” featured a reception and short presentations by library staff, as well as a pop-up exhibit of ephemera and film clips. Joel Minor, curator of the Modern Literature Collection, gives a talk during the Beckett symposium. L E F T: Washington University Libraries staff members Tyler Bequette, Irene Taylor, Barry Kelley, Jim Hone, and Alison Carrick at the “Looking Back to the Movement” celebration. F A R L E F T:
FACULT Y BOOK TA LK SERIES
Faculty Book Talks Showcase Campus Scholarship The Washington University Libraries spotlight faculty research each semester though the Faculty Book Talk Series. The series gives Washington University faculty members with recent publications an opportunity to discuss their work with students, colleagues, and members of the community. The talks take place in Room 142 of John M. Olin Library. Each talk includes a brief Q-and-A session with the author and a post-discussion reception. The series is free and open to the public. The faculty members listed here were recently featured.
11 . 21 . 19 | Gayle J. Fritz, Professor Emerita of Anthropology:
Feeding Cahokia: Early Agriculture in the North American Heartland (University of Alabama Press) 02 . 27. 20 | Rebecca Lester, associate professor of sociocultural
anthropology: Famished: Eating Disorders and Failed Care in America (University of California Press)
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University Libraries Partner with Sam Fox School on New MFA Program BY JULIE HALE
Washington University’s new MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture program (MFA-IVC) is giving art students the opportunity to grow as scholars outside the studio. Launched in fall 2019, the two-year program is a
The program was designed, in part, to familiarize incoming artists with the academic world—to equip them with research skills, sharpen their analytical abilities, and get them thinking and writing in the manner of the scholar or the critic. Students in the program log studio hours making art, but they also explore theories of visual culture
collaboration between the Sam Fox School of Design
and illustration history and learn curatorial practices. It’s an
& Visual Arts and the Washington University Libraries.
uncommon course of study that sets the MFA-IVC apart from other
The MFA-IVC is offered through the Sam Fox School. Along with Sam Fox faculty, staff from the University Libraries teach in the program, and the archival illustration collections housed in the D.B. Dowd Modern Graphic History Library (DMGHL), a division of the University Libraries’ Julian Edison Department of Special Collections, are central to the degree curriculum.
graduate fine-arts programs.
An archival advantage John Hendrix, associate professor in the Sam Fox School, teaches in the MFA-IVC and serves as its chair. He feels that the program has no real equal in terms of what it offers. “This exposure to what a library can do and what being inside an archive can mean to your own creative practice is incredibly valuable,”
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This exposure to what a library can do and what being inside an archive can mean to your own creative practice is incredibly valuable... The Libraries are an incredible asset.” J O H N H E N D R I X , C H A I R O F T H E M FA - I V C P R O G R A M
John Hendrix with students from the program. Photo courtesy of Whitney Curtis/WUSTL Photos
he says. “These are things the students need to experience firsthand.
With Joy Novak, head of Special Collections Management at the
Being able to collaborate with the University Libraries in this way was
University Libraries, Lacerte teaches two required courses in the
one of the reasons we wanted to build this program. The Libraries are
MFA-IVC: Special Collections: Practice & Purpose and a modern graphic
an incredible asset.”
history practicum. The materials in the DMGHL are key to their teaching.
An inaugural group of 12 students—illustrators all—was admitted to
Based at Washington University’s West Campus Library, the DMGHL
the program in the fall, and the world of academics and archives is
is a world-class center for the study of 20th-century American
new territory to many of them. Their backgrounds include animation,
illustration. It was established in 2007 by Douglas Dowd, professor
painting, comics, and children’s books. Some of them have been
of art and American culture studies at Washington University, who
working professionally for years, and some are fresh out of college.
serves as its faculty director. The DMGHL houses one of the most
DMGHL curator Skye Lacerte has been working with the students in the archives and enjoys the unique perspectives they have to offer. “They’re illustrators, and so they see things differently than I do,” she says. “I tend
comprehensive collections of the work of artist Al Parker (1906-1985), a Washington University alumnus and one of America’s most innovative and influential illustrators.
to focus on content, while they might notice pencil markings on a piece
Other DMGHL highlights include the Walt Reed Illustration Archive—
or subtle elements related to technique. I love exposing them to items
a trove of illustrated books, original works of art, and thousands
from the past and seeing what they get out of it.”
of periodicals and magazine tearsheets. The collection features
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MFA-IVC students at work in the Frank Design Studio in Weil Hall. Photo courtesy of Whitney Curtis/WUSTL Photos.
examples of work by major illustrators, with an emphasis on the late
The MFA-IVC students work in the Roxanne H. Frank Design Studio,
19th and early 20th centuries.
a collaborative space in Weil Hall with computer stations, areas for
In their courses, Lacerte and Novak assign research and writing projects related to the collections. The ability to provide students with access to the DMGHL makes the program special, Lacerte believes. Exposing them to rare materials related to the history of their chosen medium provides them with valuable context. It also opens up curation as a possible career path. Nadia Ghasedi, associate university librarian for Special Collections Services at the University Libraries, agrees that the program is unique. “It gives students the opportunity to truly embed in special collections and archives,” Ghasedi says. “This is the only program at the university that so formally integrates the University Libraries. It’s a trailblazing program, and we’re thrilled to be partnering on it with the Sam Fox School.”
Evangelizing for visual culture The MFA-IVC program is based in Anabeth and John Weil Hall, which opened in fall 2019 as part of Washington University’s East End
viewing and critiquing work, and a print hub. Approximately half of the MFA-IVC’s curriculum is made up of time in the studio; the rest stresses history and theory. There’s a survey course in comics, cartooning, and animated film, and a class in the history of the periodical. A number of Sam Fox School faculty members—Douglas Dowd, Shreyas R. Krishnan, Heidi Kolk, and Jeff Pike among them—teach in the program. “We’re covering areas inside the field of illustration that haven’t been taken seriously,” Hendrix says. “We are evangelizing for visual culture study. Illustration has often been seen as a kind of dumb field. Like you wait for the client to call you, and then you do what they want. That’s a very crude understanding of what illustration is. There’s so much more to it.” Correcting this misconception is part of the program’s mission—a goal it shares with the DMGHL. Both aim to bring attention to American illustration and the study of visual culture as under-explored areas of inquiry. Because illustrators are shapers of visual culture, Hendrix says, their work warrants scholarly consideration.
Transformation—a construction project that brought new academic
The students in the program are immersed in the theory and
buildings and other improvements to the eastern portion of the Danforth
background of the medium, which they’re learning to evaluate as a
Campus. Weil Hall houses the Sam Fox School’s graduate programs in
cultural force. Through the collections in the DMGHL, they’re able to
architecture, art, and design. The 82,000-square-foot, glass-fronted
see the breadth and scope of the form firsthand and get a sense of
facility is equipped with cutting-edge art and design resources.
how—over the decades—it has impacted everything from advertising and animation to literature, film, and design.
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“Many of the students see through a studio-art lens, an art-making
“We’re able to give students a good idea of what we do as curators and
lens. Of course they’re going to be used to that approach,” Hendrix
to show them how to handle historical records and objects,” Lacerte
says. “But we’re getting them into the library to learn about the
says. “And I think we’re filling a need to prepare people to do that sort
collections and history and curation. We’re building a cohort that we
of work. The scholarship of illustration is a developing field. There are
hope will go out and continue this work.”
illustrators, of course, but there aren’t many who are also critics and
Creators as curators
curators and historians and teachers. Through the program, we’re hoping to change that.”
During the spring 2020 semester, in their modern graphic history
The MFA-IVC is already growing. Hendrix has been considering a new
course, Novak and Lacerte have been focusing on exhibitions and
batch of applications and is preparing to admit next year’s class. In the
outreach. The class is planning a big final project—an exhibit of DMGHL
coming months, he’ll start working with the current crop of students
materials that will open in the summer, in John M. Olin Library. The
on their final thesis projects, and he’s excited about what they might
exhibit will highlight the materials they’ve been focusing on, including
come up with.
the Al Parker Collection and the Walt Reed Illustration Archive.
“Some of them may do 100% visual work, like a graphic novel, but I
For the project, the students split up into small groups, each of which
think some of the students will combine making work with writing
will have its own case in the exhibit. In addition to curating items for
about it in a critical way,” he says. “Some of them are now hooked on
the show, they’ll design accompanying elements like wall text, labels,
research, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with.”
and promotional posters. During a recent class held in the Department
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of Special Collections, the students discussed possible concepts for their cases. Their ideas were a testament to the breadth of the materials in the DMGHL and to what those materials might reveal. One team suggested showcasing the progression of a single illustration, from preliminary sketches all the way through to the piece’s final, archived form—as a tearsheet in the DMGHL. Another group proposed putting together a display of correspondence, business and otherwise, connected to an illustration by Al Parker— everything from fan letters and contracts, to paperwork related to models, art directors, and photographers. The idea was to highlight the workforce—the team that operated behind the scenes to help bring an illustration into being. The exhibit was the sort of hands-on undertaking that could only happen through direct access to archives.
M AT E R I A L S F R O M T H E D . B . D O W D M O D E R N G R A P H I C H I S T O R Y L I B R A R Y U S E D I N T H E M F A - I V C P R O G R A M (C L O C K W I S E F R O M T O P) :
Untitled artwork, Cliff Condak, ca. 1970, Cliff Condak Collection; A Television Notebook, Robert Weaver, CBS Television Network calendar, 1960, Robert Weaver Collection; spring training sketchbook drawing, Robert Weaver, 1962, Robert Weaver Collection
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Online Materials and Tools eBooks and Online Collections libguides.wustl.edu/ebooks
Millions of ebooks are available to Washington University faculty, students, and staff. The Search eBooks box on the library website can be used to locate titles. Searches can
Staying Connected University Libraries Provide Tools for the Virtual Classroom as Courses Go Online
be conducted by keyword, title, or ISBN. A guide to finding and using ebooks, with tips on downloading, printing, and navigating various ebook platforms on a computer or ereading device is also available.
A-Z Database List libguides.wustl.edu/az.php
Our databases put users in touch with a wealth of archival and scholarly materials presented in innovative online environments. These robust digital collections serve as powerful research tools. Popular databases include Academic Search Complete (1975-present), which covers topics in most areas of academic study and provides full-text access to thousands of publications.
In March, as academic instruction at Washington University moved online, the University Libraries
eJournals and Scholarly Articles libguides.wustl.edu/browzine
shifted into virtual-service mode, reaching out to
The University Libraries provide access to two helpful tools,
students and faculty with messages of support
BrowZine and LibKey Nomad, that facilitate the search for
and connecting them with online instructional
ejournals and articles. BrowZine is an app that allows users
resources. University Libraries staff members are now working from home, but they’re continuing to help stakeholders around the world. An overview of services and tools is provided here.
to access and browse ejournals from different publishers on a mobile device or desktop/laptop computer. LibKey Nomad provides one-click access to millions of scholarly articles. For details, visit the URL above. You can also search for ejournals here: library.wustl.edu/research-instruction/ ejournals-ebooks/.
Research Guides libguides.wustl.edu
Washington University librarians have compiled lists of research topics, course guides, and other resources on one helpful page. Subjects include African-American studies, linguistics, life sciences, and sociology.
Open Scholarship openscholarship.wustl.edu
Washington University’s Open Scholarship repository provides free access to the scholarly output of faculty, staff, and students from the university. The repository is supported by the University Libraries’ Scholarly Publishing division. The Open Access Textbooks Collection contains freely accessible textbooks by Washington University faculty for use in formal courses or personal study.
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WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
Information about COVID-19
Visit libguides.wustl.edu/covid19 for trustworthy information and resources relating to COVID-19.
Reference Help and Librarian Consultations
Support for Courses and Instruction
Subject librarians from the Research Services unit have
Students can access class reserves through Ares:
established online chat hours and are available for remote consultations via phone, email, or videoconference. Data Services staff can help with questions related to data management and geographic information systems. They have designated virtual help desk hours and are providing one-on-one consultations via videoconference. Additionally, curators in the Julian Edison Department of Special Collections can assist
ares.wustl.edu/ares Faculty and instructors can integrate materials into their courses with Canvas: libguides.wustl.edu/Canvas For details about copyright and online courses, see library.wustl.edu/rights-issues-online-courses
users with accessing materials online. Visit library.wustl.edu to find out more.
Expanded Electronic Resources Due to COVID-19 A number of publishers have expanded their electronic offerings to support research and learning while access to physical materials is limited. Here are some highlights:
HathiTrust Digital Library
Oxford University Press
Their new Emergency Temporary Access
Free access to higher education ebooks
Service (ETAS) provides authenticated,
and additional resources, including
limited electronic access to materials in
videos, simulations, animations,
Washington University Libraries’ physical
activities, flashcards, quizzes, test banks,
collection. Roughly half of our physical
PowerPoints, and more. All materials
book collections are included.
can be loaded directly into Canvas.
Brill COVID-19 Collection
Project MUSE
Materials related to public health,
and books from various publishers are
distance learning, and crisis research.
currently available for free by searching
Cambridge University Press
Scholarly journals
Project MUSE.
All 700 textbooks published and currently
ScienceDirect
available in HTML format on Cambridge
on ScienceDirect will be automatically
Core are available regardless of whether
entitled to all active ScienceDirect
textbooks were previously purchased.
customers.
JSTOR
256 textbooks currently
They are expediting the release
of a new set of 26 journal archives in public health, making them openly accessible through June 30, 2020. They have granted our request to access over 30,000 ebooks available at no charge.
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Data Services Unit Shares Its Expertise with Campus Community With the rise of technology and digital scholarship, the amount of available information has increased to an unprecedented degree — and so has the need to make sense of it. Washington University Libraries’ Data Services unit helps researchers do just that. The unit supports Washington University students, faculty, and staff in the areas of data management, data curation, data visualization, data analysis, and geographic information systems (GIS).
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Proactive partners
GIS + Libraries
The unit was established in 2013, when Washington
Dorris Scott, social science data
University’s GIS Coordinator’s office became a part of the
curator and GIS librarian, talked
University Libraries system. The creation of the unit was
with Jennifer Moore (left), head
a testament to the growing significance of data to the
of Data Services, about the future
world of scholarship and the importance of GIS, which
of GIS in the academic library
can be used for studying spatial data and has many
setting and why it’s important.
applications, from analyzing voter information to tracking crime patterns and climate change. Today the Data Services unit supports the full Washington
In terms of GIS education and outreach, what unique roles do you think libraries
University campus through consultations, research
can play?
assistance, review, and the teaching of workshops
instruction in classrooms for a long time, hand in hand
and guest lectures. In collaboration with the Research
with the instructors. That’s one way we can be helpful
Computing group at the Becker Medical Library, the
on campus, because we can work on larger topics a class
unit also supports the Washington University School of
is interested in and tailor a workshop or presentation to
Medicine. The Data Services team—unit head Jennifer
fit the materials. For instance, we often go to the Brown
Moore, social science data curator and GIS librarian Dorris
School and provide two-hour presentations on how GIS
Scott, GIS developer Mollie Webb, and GIS analyst Bill
works. We do story mapping workshops for classes in
Winston—is lending its expertise to a variety of endeavors.
the Department of Anthropology and for Environmental
Whether it’s a faculty project on baboon research in Ethiopia that involves digital 3D scanning and capture or an interactive map of campus, the team provides multiple approaches to data science and to the long-term preservation of research. Data Services has partnered
Academic libraries have been doing
Studies. We also provide, through library funding and in association with some other funders, a site license for online resources for those affiliated with Washington University. We provide data sets and resources to find data sets.
on projects with departments and schools across the
The help desk/consultation model is another really
university, including the Brown School, the Institute for
useful thing that academic libraries can do. Also,
Public Health, the Olin Business School, the Sam Fox School
academic libraries can partner with public libraries
of Design & Visual Arts, the Department of Anthropology,
to do presentations to the larger community and do
the Department of History, and the Department of Earth
training. This aligns with Chancellor Martin’s call for us
and Planetary Sciences. Unit members also teach courses
to be Washington University for St. Louis.
in University College’s GIS certificate program.
Mapping out the future Data Services is based on Level A of John M. Olin Library, in a suite featuring state-of-the-art workspaces and resources. Central to the suite is the Research Studio, a collaborative space where students have access to data management tools and software. The Data and Visual Exploration studio is an area designed for 3D data capture and exploration, with photogrammetry equipment, a structured light scanner, and augmented reality and virtual reality headsets. Through dynamic annual events that engage students, faculty, and staff, the unit is working to spread the word about its services. During Geography Awareness Week in November, the team hosts a variety of free workshops exploring the uses of GIS and spatial information in research. Love Data Week, which takes place in February, includes free workshops, a breakfast social, speakers, and more. The team is also making connections through a campus data users
What is the future of GIS in the library setting?
I think that GIS is only growing in popularity.
I see us continuing to provide the support that we do. Certain things are changing, as more tools become available online. I think that we’ll need to be preparing students to use automation more in their GIS work and to use programming skills to pull data sets.
Why is it important for students and researchers to add a geographic perspective to their work?
I think it’s important
because there’s a spatial element to every problem, and when we don’t consider the spatial impact of a problem, we’re leaving out a big part of the puzzle. When I teach GIS, I talk about how it allows us to describe, analyze, and infer. I think that is a great way to break down what GIS can do for us in a spatial sense, and it can be applied in so many ways. I think it’s a great way to think about data, because the visualization is so powerful.
group and a new newsletter, the Data Digest. Social Science Data Curator and GIS Librarian Dorris Scott leads a workshop in Olin Library
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Why do you think it’s important for people
What kind of opportunities have come
to be more geographically aware?
your way since you learned GIS?
If we
I worked
understand the geography of the world we’re living in,
for the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, an
we can better connect to what is happening. I think
environmental nonprofit in St. Louis, as their Food Equity
if we’re going to solve any big problems in the world,
GIS intern. They needed help with creating a foodshed
we have to consider the geographic implications, how
map and a food access map to demonstrate some of the
geography is impacting people, and how the problem is
intersectionality of food access in St. Louis.
associated with geography.
I also worked as a research assistant at the Center for
More than just mapping
Social Development in the Brown School. I was part of a
Austin Tolani, a senior at
access. I was the only GIS person in the room. I was
Washington University, has
actually able to get my name published as an author on
taken a number of courses
the paper we wrote. Last summer, I worked at Spire, a
focusing on GIS. An economics
large national gas company in St. Louis. My big project
and computer science major,
for the summer was to redesign the company’s process of
he has applied his skills at a
reporting pipeline damage. I was on a larger team of GIS
variety of private, nonprofit,
analysts, specialists, and managers. It was really cool to
academic, and governmental
learn what applications GIS has at an enterprise scale.
larger research group looking at issues regarding voter
organizations.
What advice do you have for students who
Dorris Scott talked with Tolani about his experiences
want to develop their GIS skills?
with GIS in the classroom and the workplace.
If they’re
just starting out, the best thing to do is take the
How did you get interested in GIS?
Applications in GIS class. There also are a ton of upper-
I took a freshman Focus program called the Global
level, more specific GIS classes available at WashU. I’m a
Citizenship Program. One of the classes in the program
computer science major, and I was interested in how GIS
was East Asia and the World, and it was all about
relates to programming. I took a GIS Programming class
territorial conflicts in East Asia. A section of the course
taught by Mollie Webb. Finding real world-experience
was taught by Jennifer Moore. We looked at territorial
is also important, because most GIS work is done at
conflicts in Japan, and she introduced us to GIS as a
institutions. Getting an idea of how GIS fits into a larger
tool that can help us understand these conflicts.
workflow is really important.
From there, I absolutely fell in love. I’ve sort of always
The interviews were edited for brevity and clarity.
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had a passion for maps. As soon as Moore provided the basic tools, I saw how much you can do with GIS. I went on to take the introductory class here at WashU, Applications in GIS.
The Data Services Team A B C D
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D
Jennifer Moore, head of Data Services Mollie Webb, GIS developer Bill Winston, GIS analyst Dorris Scott, social science data curator and GIS librarian
To learn more about the unit, visit library.wustl.edu/services/data/
Using Maps to Manage the Stacks Staff members at the Washington University Libraries are using mapping technology to solve the inevitable space-crunch problems that arise from growing physical collections. In response to the need for a mechanism that would allow the University Libraries to visualize the current configuration of collections and evaluate available space, a group of library personnel from Data Services and Collections Services* came together to create a solution. The team proposed the development of a collections space visualization and management tool that would enable library staff to view and manage space designated for collection storage. The tool would also make it possible for staff to model potential new collection configurations. Early in 2019, the group received funding for its proposal through the University Libraries’ Innovation Program. The program supports inventive staff projects that improve library systems and services. Over the past several months, the team has been working to develop the tool, which they envision as a web-based application, with 3D-viewing capabilities, that can be easily maintained by staff. They hope to use it to locate over-crowded and vacant space within the University Libraries and to identify subject area locations. The tool would also aid the Libraries in planning for the future by measuring collection growth over time, improving volume estimates for moving projects, and modeling the impact of collection changes. “This project has been a fun collaboration between library units that don’t often get a chance to work together,” GIS programmer Mollie Webb says. “Our hope is that the resulting application will become a tool that’s part of the everyday technology ecosystem here at the University Libraries.” Phase one of the project, which is now complete, involved testing methods of data-gathering related to library space. Those methods included measuring shelves by hand with a tape measure and SIDEBAR WITH HEADSHOTS
evaluating shelf space with a depth-sensing camera. Additionally, a handheld laser scanner was used to collect geospatial data on Level 3 of Olin Library. The scanner created a 3D-model of shelving on that level.
The Data Services Team
During the first stage of the project, the team also generated a phased
Jennifer Moore, head of Data Services
development plan. Phase two of the initiative is now taking place,
Mollie Webb, GIS developer
as the team evaluates the collected data, develops workflows, and
Bill Winston, GIS analyst Dorris Scott, social science data curator and GIS librarian
GIS analyst Bill Winston collects data in the stacks To learn more about the unit, visit library. of Olin Library.
creates query and reporting mechanisms. They’re also exploring the possibility of using the application in departmental and distributed libraries across the University Libraries system. *Team members: Stephanie Biermann, Eric Joslin, Kate Sathi, Mollie Webb, and Bill Winston
wustl.edu/services/data/.
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Recently on display in the Thomas Gallery, in John M. Olin Library: the exhibit Liberty and Justice for All: ACLU of Missouri, 1920-2020
Photo courtesy of Jeannie Liautaud Photography
ACLU-MO Celebrates Centennial at John M. Olin Library On January 12, 2020, the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri (ACLU-MO) commemorated its centennial with an afternoon of activities at John M. Olin Library. The Washington University Libraries and the ACLU-MO partnered
The roots of ACLU-MO—one of the oldest ACLU affiliates in the country— can be traced back to 1920 and the formation of the St. Louis Civil Liberties Committee, a non-profit group that pledged to protect the liberties laid out in the Bill of Rights. The group eventually changed its name to the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri. In 2013,
on the family-friendly event, which featured an exhibit opening
the organization’s name was again changed—to the ACLU of Missouri.
and community gathering honoring the organization’s milestone
Today, the organization works to uphold and expand the constitutional
anniversary. More than 250 people attended the celebration.
rights and civil liberties of all Missourians. It’s also influencing a new
The University Libraries’ Julian Edison Department of Special
generation. In 2017, the organization teamed up with the Washington
Collections is home to the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri’s
University Libraries to create a collaborative academic internship
Records, 1930-2015. On January 12, the exhibit Liberty and Justice for
program open to students enrolled in any local college or university.
All: ACLU of Missouri, 1920-2020, which draws upon those materials,
In preparation for the 2020 centennial, the interns worked in the
opened in the Thomas Gallery of Olin Library. Organized by Miranda
Department of Special Collections to document the history of the
Rectenwald, curator of local history at the University Libraries, the
ACLU-MO. The internship program gave them a chance to delve into
exhibit presents a retrospective of the work done by the ACLU-MO
the background of the organization and learn about the causes it has
over the years, as it advocated for LGBTQ+ rights and free speech and
championed. The students also had the opportunity to work with
fought against police brutality.
curators and experience first-hand how archives preserve information
Washington University has a special connection to the national ACLU.
and provide a record of the past.
The organization was formed through the efforts of Roger Baldwin, a
The January 12 celebration at Olin Library coincided with special
Massachusetts native who moved to St. Louis in 1906. Baldwin joined
programming planned by the national ACLU in honor of its centennial.
the faculty of Washington University, teaching the institution’s first
The event featured remarks by Nadia Ghasedi, associate university
sociology courses. A social worker and activist, he went on to help
librarian for Special Collections Services, and Tony Rothert, legal
establish the national ACLU in New York in 1920.
director and interim executive director of the ACLU-MO. Joyce Armstrong, ACLU-MO’s first executive director, received a special award for 25 years of service. The festivities also included a buttonmaking table, a photo booth, and story time for youngsters, with books focusing on civil rights. Miranda Rectenwald, curator of local history at the Washington University Libraries, gives a talk during the ACLU-MO celebration. Photo courtesy of Jeannie Liautaud Photography.
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New Initiatives Aim to Make Textbooks Affordable The Washington University Libraries have introduced new initiatives aimed at connecting students with affordable educational materials. The University Libraries have established two working groups to advance the use of open educational resources (OER) among faculty and students at Washington University. OER include a range of freely available learning materials, from open-access textbooks to online readings
“Be Textbook Savvy” is another initiative introduced by the University Libraries that aims to help students trim textbook costs. “Be Textbook Savvy” encourages students to utilize the University Libraries’ collections and services to find textbooks for their classes. Through the University Libraries, students can access millions of course-required books at absolutely no cost. Some are housed in the Danforth Campus libraries, while others can be borrowed from libraries throughout the country or accessed digitally via the University Libraries’ website.
and other digital assets, that can be used alone or in
To spread the word about the program, University
combination with traditional library resources.
Libraries staff have created instructional and
A University Libraries group called Open Educational Resources and Affordable Textbooks at Washington University (OERAT@WU) is working to raise awareness and garner institutional support with campus partners and faculty for implementing OER. Additionally, a team of University Libraries staff is investigating OER as part of the University Libraries’ new strategic plan. In January, OERAT@WU installed an interactive exhibit in John M. Olin Library that gave students a chance to share information about the money they spent on textbooks each semester. OERAT@WU also coordinated an information
informational marketing tools, including a “Be Textbook Savvy” video. The University Libraries have also hosted Textbook Central events—workshops that give students the opportunity to consult with library staff and learn how to search for textbooks in the University Libraries’ collections. The workshops are fun, hackathon-inspired events, with refreshments and prizes. For those unable to make it to the workshops, the University Libraries’ online textbook affordability guide—created for students and parents—offers tips and instruction: libguides.wustl.edu/textbook_affordability.
session for student leaders to discuss the ways in which
For more information about these initiatives,
students could get involved.
contact Cheryl Holland, subject librarian for political
In their enthusiasm for the idea of “free textbooks,” the students created an online list of activities where
science, sociology, education, and library science, at cholland@wustl.edu or 314-935-6626.
volunteers could register to help promote OER campus events. Additionally, Washington University’s Student Union Senate passed a resolution recommending the establishment of a working group of faculty, staff, students, and administrators who could develop a strategy for implementing OER.
C A MPUS AWA RENESS C A MPA IG N
Subject librarian Clara McLeod with students at a Textbook Central event in Olin Library.
A R E C E N T D I S P L AY I N T H E L O B B Y of John M. Olin Library focused on textbook affordability. Entitled
Battling the High Cost of Textbooks? How Much Did You Spend?, the interactive exhibit gave students the chance to share information about the sums they spent on books for class during a semester. Using colored stickers, participants were asked to indicate dollar amounts, as well as their grade levels and areas of study. The exhibit is a part of the campus awareness campaign that’s being conducted by Open Educational Resources and Affordable Textbooks at Washington University (OERAT@WU), a working group at the Washington University Libraries.
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W H AT W E’RE RE A DING
Staff Picks Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland By Patrick Radden Keefe (Doubleday 2019)
From the late 1960s until the implementation of the
Most notable among the perpetrators was Dolours
Good Friday Agreement in 1998, more than 3,500
Price, an active member of the Provisional Irish
people lost in their lives in Northern Ireland during
Republican Army and a participant in the bombing
the religious-nationalist conflict known as the
of London’s Old Bailey Courthouse in 1973.
Troubles. A small number of these casualties—16 men and two women, most of them suspected of being informers—were abducted, killed, and secretly buried by republican and loyalist paramilitaries.
Keefe interweaves her story with that of McConville’s disappearance, adding insights into the Troubles and the conflict’s larger repercussions. The result is not a history book about the Troubles, but a powerful work of nonfiction that can serve as
One of the “disappeared” was a widowed mother of
a textbook study of the human toll of tribal conflict
10 children named Jean McConville. Unravelling the
and civil war, especially on those who engage in
mystery of her fate forms the central narrative of
them with the best intentions.
Patrick Radden Keefe’s riveting book Say Nothing.
Reviewed by Jim Hone, Film & Media Digital Archivist
How Charts Lie: Getting Smarter about Visual Information By Alberto Cairo (W.W. Norton 2019)
In an age of misinformation and fake news,
dubious data sources. Cairo emphasizes that
How Charts Lie provides best practices on how
a chart merely shows what it shows, and that
we can all be smarter in interpreting charts.
we should be cautious in deriving any grand
Alberto Cairo shares simple rules on how to
conclusions when we read a chart. In addition,
accomplish this. He breaks those rules down
he discusses how our own biases play a factor
in an accessible way and backs them up with
in how we read data and suggests that we seek
real-world examples, including visualizations
a “balanced media diet.”
made in the 1800s by Florence Nightingale and more current data visualizations made by notable news entities. Cairo, who is the director of the visualization program of the University of Miami’s Center for Computational Science, mentions the various ways in which charts lie, which could be due to such factors as poor design or
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WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
We should use charts in a way that not only further enriches our knowledge on a topic but also acts as a conversation-starter, Cairo says. His book gives readers the tools to do both. Reviewed by Dorris Scott, Social Science Data Curator and GIS Librarian
S TA FF PROFILE
On the Job
BY CASSIE BR AND
Reflections from a Curator of Rare Books People often ask me what makes a book rare. This is probably the most common—and also the most difficult—question I get as a curator of rare books. There is no concise answer to this question, because there are so many different aspects of a book that can make it rare. So, in response, I usually describe the Washington University Libraries’ Rare Book Collections, which are part of the Julian Edison Department of Special Collections. We have over 70,000 rare books, and our strengths include literature; the material culture of the book—including the history of printing, graphic design, and the book arts—and aspects of American and world history. The collections also feature non-book materials, such as printed artwork and broadsides, including the Declaration of Independence on display in John M. Olin Library. The items that I work with range from materials produced in 2500 BCE (though some of the earliest ones are from the University Libraries’ Manuscript Collections) to works from the present, from one-of-a-kind editions to books printed in large quantities. One of my favorite aspects of my job is sharing these amazing books with other people, and I do that in many different ways. Classes from all over the university schedule visits to view the Rare Book Collections, and this allows me to show off books related to different disciplines and subjects. I always choose books for the classes that relate directly to what they are learning, but I also try to make sure the materials are engaging and fun for students to encounter. After providing guidelines for proper handling, I invite the students to touch the books and interact with them individually, because that interaction makes the experience so much more powerful. For class visits, I’m involved in a range of ways, from simply providing materials for the professor to teach with to acting as a guest lecturer for the class period, but most often the professor and I team teach, each bringing our expertise to the materials. If it’s applicable to the professor’s goals for the class, I try to incorporate a bit of book history into the visit, by looking at the
development of the book as a historical artifact and object. I do this not only because it’s my area of study and expertise, but also because I believe it’s important to think about how the form of the book and its construction shape our reading experience. The book as an object shapes the way we interact with the text. Basically, you can judge a book by its cover, and I can teach you how. Exhibits are another way we share rare books with a larger audience, and I really enjoy coming up with exhibit themes and ideas. I’m currently working on three upcoming exhibits: one on moveable books, one on miniature book bindings, and one that’s a celebration of the anniversary of women’s suffrage. Exhibits are a great way for me to delve into the collections and learn more about what we have and to share those items with an expanded audience or with people who might not know they’re interested in rare books. Coming up with exhibit ideas is the easy part, because there are so many amazing books that I want to show off! The hardest part is writing labels for the items. There’s always so much to say, but for an item label, I try to limit myself to 40 words. I try to choose topics that are timely—such as the anniversary of women’s suffrage—but my main goal in curating exhibits is to engage and inform. I want exhibits to entice people to learn more about the books or topic on display. I have been working with several colleagues to come up with new and inventive ways to engage people with rare books. We have created a series of bookmaking workshops in which we invite students, faculty, staff, and community members to view a showcase of books from the Rare Book Collections and then learn a bookmaking technique. So far, we’ve taught Japanese binding, tunnel books, Coptic binding, and several different accordion techniques. The new WashU Libraries Book Club also allows us to promote our collections and services while reading and discussing books with members of the community. If you have questions about our Rare Book Collections or related events, please contact me. I can be reached at cassie.brand@wustl.edu. SPRING 2020
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NE W FACES
Staff Notes Barbara Alvarez-Bedoya FINANCIAL ANALYST SUPERVISOR
Barbara AlvarezBedoya began work at the Washington University Libraries in July 2019. A former senior analyst for global book royalties at Elsevier Publishing Company, she brings extensive knowledge and experience in accounting, financial analysis, business process improvement, and database management to the position of financial analyst supervisor, a new role at the University Libraries. Alvarez-Bedoya is responsible for a wide variety of complex analytical and administrative duties that support strategic financial planning. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Phoenix. She also holds a master’s degree in accounting and earned a master’s degree in business administration from Lindenwood University.
Jason Bengtson HEAD, LIBR ARY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
Jason Bengtson was appointed head of Library Technology Services (LTS) in December 2019. Bengtson directs the LTS unit in the selection, development, and implementation of library technologies, infrastructure, and technology services. He leads the LTS team of developers, end user support specialists, and other information professionals. Bengtson holds a master’s degree in English and a master’s degree in library and information science, both from the University of New Mexico. The former head of Information Technology Services at Kansas State University Libraries, he has also served as an innovation architect at the Texas Medical Center Library and as head of Library Computing and Information Systems at the University of Oklahoma’s Robert M. Bird Library.
Abigail Bordeaux HEAD, DIGITAL LIBR ARY
In January, Abigail Bordeaux began work as head of the Digital Library. Bordeaux plans, implements, and directs a comprehensive and strategic program for the Digital Library, which encompasses the University Libraries’ Repository Services program; Scholarly Publishing program; Digital Scholarship program; and Digital Library infrastructure, including content strategy, protocols and policies. She has more than 10 years of work experience, having served in the Harvard University Library as library project manager in Information Technology Services and as program manager and library lab liaison. Bordeaux holds a master’s degree in library and information science and a post master’s certificate in archival studies from Drexel University.
Rhiannon K. Iha CHEMISTRY LIBR ARIAN
Rhiannon K. Iha joined the Washington University Libraries staff as chemistry librarian in September 2019. Iha is responsible for the overall planning and operation of the Chemistry Library, ensuring that it provides effective library services to faculty, students, and staff in the chemistry department and to the university community. Iha holds a doctoral degree in organic chemistry from Washington University and a master’s degree in chemistry from Cornell University. She also holds bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and English from the University of Puget Sound. A former adjunct instructor in organic chemistry at Washington University, Iha brings considerable research and teaching experience to the role of chemistry librarian.
Mary Christine Matteuzzi CHIEF OF STAFF
In July 2019, Mary Christine (Christy) Matteuzzi began work as chief of staff for the University Libraries. She provides executive assistance for the University Librarian and
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WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
oversees the office of the University Librarian’s administrative activities and the grants program. She also liaises with university administrative leadership and provides policy and planning support. The former assistant director for research and business administration at Washington University’s Cordell Institute for Policy in Medicine and Law, she has also served as executive coordinator for institutional research and support at the Washington University School of Medicine. Matteuzzi holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and is completing a master’s degree in American culture studies at Washington University.
Audrey McQuillan BUSINESS LIBR ARIAN
Audrey McQuillan was appointed Asa F. Seay Business Librarian in July 2019. Her responsibilities include leading the Al and Ruth Kopolow (Business) Library in its support of the business information needs of those in the Olin Business School and the general university community. McQuillan holds a master’s degree in accountancy from DePaul University and a master’s degree in library and information science from Dominican University. McQuillan brings a wide range of skills and expertise to the University Libraries. Her professional experience includes work as a senior business analyst in the Supervision and Regulation Area at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
Mitsutaka Nakamura
JAPANESE AND KOREAN STUDIES LIBR ARIAN
The University Libraries welcomed Mitsutaka Nakamura as Japanese studies librarian in July 2019. Nakamura provides research and subject liaison services to the Japanese/Korean Language and Culture program in the East Asian Languages and Cultures department and the East Asian Studies program. Nakamura holds a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Wisconsin-
Milwaukee. Prior to joining the staff of the University Libraries, he served as a bibliographic assistant at Columbia University’s C.V. Starr East Asian Library, where he focused on Japanese acquisitions. Nakamura has also worked in various positions in film and media archives as a translator and researcher.
Christie Peters HEAD, RESEARCH AND LIAISON SERVICES
Christie Peters began work as the head of the University Libraries’ Research and Liaison Services unit in October 2019. She is responsible for the operation, planning, management, and assessment of the unit. She also guides the unit as it provides support for scholarly and curricular activities for faculty, students, and the university community. Before joining the University Libraries, Peters led library research support units at the University of Kentucky Libraries and the M.D. Anderson Library at the University of Houston. She holds a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and a master’s degree in the history of technology from the University of Houston.
Walter Schlect
GERMANIC L ANGUAGES AND LITER ATURES AND COMPAR ATIVE LITER ATURE LIBR ARIAN
The University Libraries welcomed Walter Schlect as Germanic languages and literatures and comparative literature librarian in October 2019. Schlect provides research and subject liaison services to the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures and to the Comparative Literature program. Schlect came to Washington University from the GoetheInstitut New York, where he served as librarian. In that role, he was responsible for all areas of the library, including collection development, reference assistance, and the promotion of cultural programming. Schlect holds master’s degrees in library and information science and art history from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.
Dorris Scott
SOCIAL SCIENCE DATA CUR ATOR; GIS LIBR ARIAN
Dorris Scott was appointed social science data curator and GIS librarian in September 2019. Scott serves as a liaison for social science data and spatial data and engages in related instruction, collection development, data management, outreach, and research services for faculty, students, and the university community. Scott came to the University Libraries from the University of Georgia, where she earned a doctoral degree in geography. Her previous work experience includes time as a graduate intern in the University of Georgia’s Maps and Government Information Library and as an analyst for the U.S. National GeospatialIntelligence Agency. Along with proficiency in teaching and instructional design, she brings expertise in GIS, data analytics tools, and social science research methods to her new role.
Lauren Striebel EVENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
Lauren Striebel joined the University Libraries as events and communications coordinator in December 2019. In collaboration with the Communications and Special Events team, she assists with the management and promotion of events at the University Libraries. A former special projects analyst at the St. Louis County Library, Striebel brings nearly five years of library experience to her new position. Her event-organization background includes work as operations assistant at Intersport and in Catering and Conference Services at The Hotel at Auburn University. She holds a master’s degree in sport management from the University of Illinois.
Mitch Sumner
DIGITIZ ATION MANAGER
Mitch Sumner began work as digitization manager in October 2019. He leads digitization efforts for the University Libraries’ diverse and wide-ranging collections. He also develops and manages digital projects for the University Libraries and the wider university. Sumner most recently served as senior library information specialist at the University of Missouri, overseeing the library’s digitization efforts, and has previous experience processing and digitizing archival collections with the National Park Service. He holds a master’s degree in library and information science and a master’s degree in anthropology from Kent State University.
Andy Uhrich
CUR ATOR, FILM & MEDIA ARCHIVE
Andy Uhrich became a part of the University Libraries team in December 2019, when he was named curator of the Film & Media Archive. In that role, he oversees all activities related to the University Libraries’ film and media collections. Uhrich has nearly 20 years of professional experience. He served as film archivist at Indiana University Libraries Moving Image Archive and as an archival assistant at Anthology Film Archives in New York City. An experienced teacher, Uhrich is currently pursuing a doctoral degree through Indiana University. He holds a master’s degree in moving image archiving and preservation from New York University.
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2019 –2020
News Photo courtesy of GSIS
& Accomplishments
IN SEPTEMBER 2019, EARTH AND PL ANETARY SCIENCES LIBR ARIAN CL AR A MCLEOD WAS NAMED RECIPIENT OF THE 2019 MARY B. ANSARI DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD OF THE GEOSCIENCE INFORMATION SOCIET Y (GSIS). McLeod received the award at the society’s annual
meeting, which took place in Phoenix. The award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the area of geoscience information. McLeod has headed the society’s professional development workshop, “Geoscience Librarianship 101,” for more than 10 years. She also has served on many GSIS committees in leadership positions.
Clara McLeod (right) accepts the 2019 Mary B. Ansari Distinguished Service Award from Geoscience Information Society president Cynthia Prosser.
ON OCTOBER 22–25, 2019, THE WASHINGTON UNIVERSIT Y LIBR ARIES HOSTED SAMVER A CONNECT, A CONFERENCE FOCUSING ON THE OPEN-SOURCE PL ATFORM SAMVER A, WHICH LIBR ARIES AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS USE TO HOST DIGITAL REPOSITORIES. The conference took place on the
Danforth Campus, in Bauer Hall, the Knight Center, and John M. Olin Library, and 146 people from across the country attended. Highlights of the conference included workshops; a keynote speech by Heidi Kolk, assistant professor in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts; poster sessions, and presentations. Planning and organization for the event were spearheaded by the University Libraries’ Samvera Connect committee: Associate University Librarian Harriett Greene, Emily Stenberg (co-chair), Mollie Webb (co-chair), Deb Ehrstein, Jen Killion, Phil Suda, Irene Taylor, and Aris Woodham.
AMANDA ALBERT,
AUDREY MCQUILL AN, ASA F. SEAY
ALISON VERBECK, PHYSICS,
INFORMATION LITER ACY
BUSINESS LIBR ARIAN IN THE
ASTRONOMY, AND
COORDINATOR AT
KOPOLOW (BUSINESS) LIBR ARY,
MATHEMATICS LIBR ARIAN,
WAS ACCEPTED AS A MEMBER
WAS ELECTED TREASURER
WASHINGTON UNIVERSIT Y LIBR ARIES, WAS ELECTED
FOR THE PHYSICS-ASTRONOMY-
DIRECTORS (ABLD). ABLD is a working group
MATHEMATICS DIVISION OF THE SPECIAL
LIBR ARY NETWORK COUNCIL FOR F Y20.
of library directors at the top business schools in the United States and Canada. Membership is selective and capped at 50. Through annual meetings and active email list participation, the organization fosters collaboration, networks globally, and shares best practices. The group is dedicated to staying ahead of the curve in the academic business field and to educating the business leaders of tomorrow.
LIBR ARIES ASSOCIATION. The two-year
Additionally, Albert, with Saint Louis University colleagues Jamie Emery and Rebecca Hyde, recently published an article titled “The proof is in the process: Fostering student trust in government information by examining its creation” in a special issue of Reference Services Review focusing on academic libraries and the 45th President.
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OF ACADEMIC BUSINESS LIBR ARY
SECRETARY OF THE ST. LOUIS REGIONAL
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
appointment began in January.
S TR ATEG IC PL A N UPDATE THE WASHINGTON UNIVERSIT Y LIBR ARIES’ STR ATEGIC PL AN was developed in 2018-2019 through input
from faculty, staff, students, and other key stakeholders. The University Libraries have been working to fulfill the objectives set forth in the plan, which includes a revised mission statement, a group of updated organizational principles, and six strategic priorities, supported by 18 goals. The University Libraries are committed to keeping stakeholders apprised of progress regarding the plan. To that end, the University Libraries’ Data Services unit collaborated with the strategic planning team to produce a visualization of the Strategic Plan’s objectives and progress (see below).
As new initiatives and projects are launched to fulfill the vision laid out in the plan, the University Libraries will share details. Visit library.wustl.edu/about/strategic-plan to stay up-to-date.
For information about supporting the Washington University Libraries through annual fund gifts, endowments, or other types of giving, contact Shannon Sowell, senior associate director of development for the University Libraries, at shannon_sowell@wustl.edu or 314-935-5219. Washington University has 12 libraries: the John M. Olin Library and nine distributed libraries on the Danforth Campus, one library at the Medical School Campus, and one at West Campus. Off the Shelf is a publication of Washington University Libraries, published for faculty, staff, and supporters of the Libraries, and colleagues at many other research libraries. Executive Editor: Kimberly Singer Writer and Managing Editor: Julie Hale All photos and images courtesy of Washington University Libraries except where noted.
If you have comments, questions, or address changes, email jhale@wustl.edu or write to: Communications & Special Events Washington University Libraries Campus Box 1061 One Brookings Drive St. Louis, Missouri 63130-4899 Visit the Libraries’ website: library.wustl.edu To see past issues of Off the Shelf online, visit: https://library.wustl.edu/about/off-the-shelf/ Follow us: © 2020 Washington University Libraries This issue of Off the Shelf was designed by Christine (Vavra) Kenney, FA ’04 and printed by ModernLitho, St. Louis, MO.
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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID St. Louis, MO Permit No. 234
Campus Box 1061 One Brookings Dr. St. Louis, MO 63130-4899 CHANGE SERVICE REQUES TED
The exhibition It’s Complicated: Documents of Love showcases items from across the Julian Edison Department of Special Collections. Through archival items like romance comics, greeting cards, photographs, letters, and poems, the exhibit looks back at love over the decades. Romance at Washington University is highlighted through student publications and other materials. The exhibit is arranged into the sub-themes of love letters, poetry, courtship, and heartbreak. Organized by curators in the Department of Special Collections, the exhibit will be on display in the Ginkgo Room of John M. Olin Library when the University Libraries reopen to the public.
From the Archives
Photo of couple at Washington University, 1956. Courtesy of University Archives. // Love letter written by poet May Swenson to her longtime companion, Pearl Schwartz, ca. 1950. Courtesy of the Modern Literature Collection. // Dear Lonely Hearts comic book, October 1953. Courtesy of the D.B. Dowd Modern Graphic History Library. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT
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WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES