Technology Training Offered at UH Libraries
Starting in January 2014, the University of Houston Libraries will launch a series of technology training courses for the entire UH community.
New technology courses will be taught by Ravi Brahmbhatt, who recently joined UH Libraries as its new technology trainer.
Courses will be taught by Ravi Brahmbhatt, who recently joined UH Libraries as its new technology trainer. He will develop curricula and instruct classes on various software and hardware available at the Libraries.
This position was created to address the need for structured beginning, intermediate and advanced-level technology training at the University of Houston.
The soon-to-be-released spring schedule will include courses on Microsoft Office. Courses are open to all UH students, staff and faculty.
Brahmbhatt will offer a flexible schedule of in-class training during day, evening and weekend hours to accommodate as many users as possible.
After an initial assessment period, Brahmbhatt will schedule a monthly training calendar to include a wide range of technology training in hardware and software, including Adobe Creative Suite and other programs needed for scholarship and research.
Brahmbhatt’s technology teaching philosophy is based on practical, personalized instruction. With so much information to absorb, a classroom setting provides an optimal learning experience because students can ask questions, participate in hands-on exercises and tasks, and get immediate, specific clarification.
This tailored approach to technology teaching gives UH scholars and researchers the opportunity to learn quick tips that will save them time when conducting research, such as streamlined data collection in Excel.
“Our goal is to help students with research support,” said Lee Hilyer, head of Information and Access Services at UH Libraries. “We give students the tools to use their time more effectively in crafting and presenting research.”
Brahmbhatt received his MBA from the University of Houston Bauer College of Business. He has an extensive background in business consulting, marketing and information technology. He has previously served as an adjunct professor of business computer skills at Houston Community College.
For more information on courses and how to register, contact Ravi Brahmbhatt at rpbrahmb@central.uh.edu.
UH Libraries Strengthens Hispanic Collections
In 2012, the University of Houston was designated as an Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education. It is one of three Tier One public research universities in the nation with this designation, and the first such Texas institution.
The University of Houston Libraries, in its commitment to student success, has created a key position, Hispanic Collections archivist, that will serve the teaching, learning and research needs of a diverse population.
Lisa Cruces joins UH Libraries in this role designed to document the influence of Hispanic history and culture in Houston.
She will work with the directors of Arte Público Press, the Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage Project, individuals and organizations to strengthen collections and promote visibility through exhibitions and programs. In addition to managing archival material, Cruces will provide classroom instruction, reference service and web-based access tools for users of the collections.
“I’m so excited to have a Hispanic Collections archivist coming on board,” said Pat Bozeman, Emily Scott Evans Endowed Professor and Head of Special Collections. “UH Libraries needs to be in the forefront of actively collecting and preserving the history and culture of Houston’s Hispanic community.”
Cruces joins UH Libraries’ Special Collections from the University of Notre Dame’s Hesburgh Libraries. She received her MSIS with a specialization in archives and academic librarianship from the University of Texas in 2012.
“Cruces brings to the position a background in and a passion for Hispanic studies,” said Mary Manning, university archivist. “Her energy, enthusiasm, and knowledge put her in an excellent place to strengthen and develop the University of Houston’s burgeoning Hispanic Collections.”
Cruces is a member of the American Library Association (ALA), the Society of American Archivists and the Society of Indiana Archivists. She has received numerous awards, including the ALA – Association of College and Research Libraries Librarian Scholarship. Her most recent presentation at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Southwest Archivists was titled A Case Study of Archives in Central America: El Archivo Nacional de Panamá.