New Digital Collection: the Emilio R. Ypiñia Journals

The Emilio R. Ypiñia Journals is a manuscript collection consisting of five distinct journals authored by Emilio R. Ypiñia (1905-1936). A self-educated Mexican national born in Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico, Ypiñia immigrated to Houston, Texas, following the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Each volume contains approximately 100 pages and 10-20 poems, essays, and journal entries authored throughout the 1930s, the bulk in 1933.

There are approximately 50 distinct poems and sections of prose in the collection, as well as variations of certain works. Each “Scholastic” bound volume reveals Ypiñia’s observations of the world around him and his reflections on society, spirituality, international relations, and world history. A few of the specific topics mentioned include: masculinity, Asian philosopher Confucius, and the inequalities present in his local Houston neighborhood, Magnolia Park.

The original materials are available in UH Libraries Special Collections in the Emilio R. Ypiñia Journals.

December 2015 Technology Training

Workshops in Photoshop, PowerPoint, Excel, Prezi, Google Docs, and Adobe Acrobat are being held through December 16 at the University of Houston Libraries.

The Technology Training program at UH Libraries offers free technology courses to current UH students, faculty and staff. Classes are held in the Learning Commons Training Labs on the first floor of the MD Anderson Library.

View the full calendar and reserve your seat.

UH Librarian Chosen for Provost’s Leadership Academy

Kelli Getz, assistant head of Acquisitions at the University of Houston Libraries, has been selected to participate in the UH Cougar Chairs Leadership Academy (CCLA).

Provost Paula Myrick Short launched the CCLA to address the need for leadership and professional development in UH academic departments. The year-long program prepares individuals for departmental leadership roles, with a curriculum that is based on UH Board of Regents strategic principles, and is carried out in support of UH strategic goals.

“The Cougar Chairs Leadership Academy provides a unique opportunity to develop leadership skills alongside selected faculty members from across the UH campus,” Getz said. “In addition to developing better leadership skills, I will be cultivating relationships with campus colleagues. Ideally, this will serve as a vehicle for discovering new ways that the library can assist UH faculty members in their research, as well as identifying opportunities for intra-campus collaborations.”

“I am so pleased that Kelli Getz was selected for the Cougar Chairs Leadership Academy, and I’d like to thank Provost Short for establishing this program to strengthen and support our UH leaders,” dean Lisa German said.

Getz has served as assistant head of Acquisitions at UH Libraries since 2007. She actively contributes to the advancement of the profession through presentations and publications, and has held several appointments to committees at campus, regional and national levels, including extensive work with the American Library Association (ALA). She currently serves as secretary of the North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG) Executive Board, and was selected as a participant in the 2015 Texas Library Association (TLA) TALL Texans Leadership Development Institute.

UH Librarian Selected for ARL Leadership Fellows Program

Annie Wu, head of Metadata and Digitization Services at the University of Houston Libraries, was selected as a 2016-2017 fellow of the Association of Research Libraries Leadership Fellows program.

The ARL Leadership Fellows program is designed and sponsored by ARL member libraries to facilitate the development of future senior-level leaders in large research libraries and archives. The program engages library staff who have the desire and potential for leadership at ARL libraries.

“I believe that the ARL Leadership Fellows program will further enrich my knowledge and skills in leadership and career development, and will allow me to achieve my ultimate goal of contributing to the success of research libraries,” Wu said. “Twenty-first century librarianship is dynamic and changing. We are facing challenges with the impact of cultural and technological transformation. The ARL Leadership Fellows program will give me exposure to current issues affecting research libraries, increase my awareness and understanding of the challenges, and prepare me to respond to these challenges with strategic vision.”

“The Association of Research Libraries’ program is highly competitive, and Annie Wu’s selection as an ARL Leadership fellow is a reflection of her terrific executive leadership potential,” dean Lisa German said. “I am so pleased that she was chosen. I look forward to her continued advancement as a leader and as a merited representative of the University of Houston.”

Wu has worked in both academic and corporate environments since graduating from the MLIS program at the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1998. She has held supervisory and management roles for over 15 years. Prior to UH, Wu was the operations manager at the Technical Information Center of Corning Incorporated. Before joining Corning Inc., she was the cataloging supervisor at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington Randall Library.

Wu actively contributes to the advancement of librarianship through scholarly publications and presentations. She holds a record of service in national and state level committees and interest groups, as well as in local libraries and communities.

Wu was previously selected as a fellow of the ARL Leadership and Career Development Program (LCDP), an 18-month program designed to prepare mid-career librarians from traditionally underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups to take on increasingly demanding leadership roles in ARL libraries.

Take a Study Break at UH Libraries

The University of Houston Libraries will host end-of-semester recreational activities for students as a break from the stress of finals.

Illuminate Your Own Manuscript (new)

Unwind with a bit of coloring to make your own illuminated manuscript. As a part of our traditional fall Finals Mania, UH Libraries Special Collections will be sponsoring a coloring stress-relief activity designed to give students a study break and to highlight the interesting and unique material found in Special Collections.

Monday, December 7
7:00 – 9:30 pm
Special Collections, second floor MD Anderson Library

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Finals Mania

Enjoy a late night breakfast in the MD Anderson Library, including pancakes, turkey sausage, snacks, beverages, and more! Free with your UH ID.

Monday, December 7
8:30 – 10:30 pm
Rockwell Pavilion, second floor MD Anderson Library

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Paws and Relax

Local organization Faithful Paws will bring certified therapy dogs to the MD Anderson Library for four days of stress relief. Drop in for petting, snuggling and treat-feeding with these gentle and friendly canines.

Monday, December 7: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 8: 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Wednesday, December 9: 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Thursday, December 10: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Rooms 106P and 106T in the MD Anderson Library

Annie Wu Featured in Community Newspaper

Annie Wu, head of metadata and digitization services at the University of Houston Libraries, was recently featured in the “Figures in the Chinese Community” column of the Southern Chinese Daily News.

Wu provides the following translation:

Ms. Anping Wu has been in the States for over 20 years. She was an assistant professor in China University of Political Science and Law before she came over to United States. She is currently the Head of Metadata and Digitization Services at the University of Houston Libraries. Ms. Wu is very dedicated to community services. She is currently the President of Hunan Club of Houston and co-chair of American Hunan Association.

New Extended Hours for UH Library

You asked, we listened! The University of Houston MD Anderson Library will be open 24 hours starting the week before finals.

Students who have final projects instead of exams can now take advantage of 24-hour access to the MD Anderson Library beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, November 30th and continuing through Wednesday, December 16th, closing at 5:45 p.m.

Also new this year will be 24-hour access on Friday and Saturday nights. The library will be continuously open 24 hours a day for over two weeks, giving students additional space and resources to complete their semester projects or to study for exams.

Students must bring their university ID for entry between midnight and 7:00 a.m. during the extended hours period. View complete library hours.

Mary Manning and University Archives on Channel 26

Material housed in University of Houston Libraries Special Collections was featured on a Fox Channel 26 news story, The History of UH, during the November 6 broadcast. Reporter John Donnelly visited the campus and spoke with Mary Manning, university archivist and curator of Performing and Visual Arts. View story

Mary Manning on KPFT Houston

University archivist and curator of Performing and Visual Arts Mary Manning discussed Special Collections on the November 2 episode of KPFT Houston Open Journal. Listen

Video of October Poetry and Prose

Check out recorded readings from the October Poetry and Prose.

Mat Johnson, UH English faculty and author of Loving Day

Alex Parsons, UH English faculty and author of Leaving Disneyland