UH Librarian Named Fulbright Specialist

Malone joins a distinguished list of U.S. scholars and professionals who are awarded grants to engage in short-term, collaborative projects at universities in over 140 countries.

Her research focus will be matched with an overseas host institution, where she will work on a specified cross-national topic that aims to strengthen institutional development needs.

Malone, a liaison librarian who provides collection development, instruction, outreach and research support to UH faculty in foreign languages and ethnic studies, said that being chosen as a Fulbright specialist is an honor.

“It’s going to open opportunities that I’ve never had before,” Malone noted. She encourages library science colleagues to pursue the global opportunities that the Fulbright program offers.

While the exact nature of her project is yet unknown, Malone seeks to investigate the intercultural landscape of academic information literacy.

“I work closely with international students here,” Malone said. “I’d like to explore the different types of libraries they experience in their home countries.” Culture has a significant influence on the ways in which international students seek and use library resources, services and programs, and Malone aims to implement new strategies in meeting diverse learning and research needs.

“No matter what the grant project is, wherever I go, I plan to learn from the culture so that I can bring what I learn here and implement ways in which we can better serve our students,” Malone said, whose keen interest in improving services and programs for students, combined with a commitment to professional development, reflects a top-tier level of character and curiosity. She constantly asks herself, “Where do I need to grow? In what direction do I need to head? What comes next? There’s always more I feel like I can do.”

Exhibition Reveals UH Students’ Artistic Mastery

The Seventh Annual University of Houston Libraries Student Art Exhibition opens next week, featuring 30 selected works from rising UH artists.

The Architecture and Art Library received over 90 submissions from a wide range of undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students enrolled in studio art, art history, architecture, media production, environmental design, applied math and biology, to name a few.

“The exciting variety of contending pieces served as an appropriate reflection and representation of the staggering diversity that comprises the UH community,” said Chris Conway, Architecture and Art Library supervisor.

Kathryn Kelley (MFA ’06), a regionally-based, multidisciplinary artist and instructor, graciously served as judge and curator of this year’s exhibition, which will be on display on the third floor of the M.D. Anderson Library.

The opening event is Wednesday, February 12th at 3:00 p.m. The public is invited to experience this stunning collection of original artwork created by UH students, and to mingle with the artists and curator Kelley.

The exhibition will be on display through April 25th.

UH Libraries Expands Digital Collections

The University of Houston Libraries provides broad access to a wide variety of resources that aid in teaching, research and collaboration. One of those resources is the Digital Library, a comprehensive online environment that facilitates the discovery of unique digitized materials.

The need for deeper access to archival collections and primary resources has expanded in recent years, and will continue to grow as more and more scholars and researchers seek materials in digital format. Visits to the UH Digital Library have increased from just over 41,000 to almost 89,000 between FY 2012 and 2013. Improved access, long term preservation, and efficient storage have emerged as ongoing issues to confront as more archival collections are digitized.

To manage new and ongoing efforts in digital initiatives, UH Libraries has appointed a digitization operations librarian in the Metadata and Digitization Services department. Drew Krewer, an imaging and information professional with experience in the digitization of photographic archives and the management of digital objects, will coordinate with Special Collections and other units to manage digital projects from inception to completion, and will assist in the development of procedures and workflow for digital collections.

Find digital collections of materials documenting the University of Houston, city of Houston, and state of Texas, as well as other historically and culturally significant materials, online at the University of Houston Digital Library.

Liaison Librarian Supports English Teaching and Research

A new English librarian will join the University of Houston Libraries in March, cultivating excellence in collaboration with UH faculty and increasing awareness and usage of library resources and services for students.

As the world of research grows increasingly complex, the librarian’s role in helping students navigate through the maze of print and electronic resources is essential in shaping the path for academic success. Jesse Sharpe will provide teaching and research support for scholars in the UH department of English, bringing expertise in effective search techniques and the delivery of information literacy instruction.

“We are excited to bring Jesse on board,” said Christina Gola, Head of Liaison Services for Instruction and Outreach, and Miranda Bennett, Head of Liaison Services for Collections and Research Support. “He has a strong background in English literature and information literacy, as well as experience providing library services to undergraduates, graduates, and faculty. With his impressive record of scholarship, including work on several digital humanities projects, he will be a great addition to the Liaison Services team.”

Sharpe joins UH Libraries from the University of Bridgeport Magnus Walhstrom Library.

Explore the Dynamic Culture of UH Libraries

The University of Houston Libraries continues to implement programs and services in support of the teaching, learning and research needs of our scholars, faculty, staff and the Houston community.

The focus on strengthening our culture of excellence was the impetus for a comprehensive employment web site that reflects the vibrancy and dynamic environment of the Libraries, said Beth German, web services coordinator.

The new site, released this month, is dedicated to professional opportunities at the UH Libraries. It provides a unique perspective for those interested in contributing to a culture of service and collaboration, innovation and assessment, and continuous learning.

The design and user experience of the web project itself reflects a high level of creativity and teamwork that is representative of the UH Libraries culture.

Explore the UH Libraries culture, strategic directions and organizational structure.

UH Libraries Enhances Instructional Design Strategy

To better serve the learning objectives and research needs of students and faculty, the University of Houston Libraries will enhance its library instruction program.

A new instructional design librarian, Ashley Lierman, joins UH Libraries Liaison Services next month. Lierman will establish general and course-specific learning objects, instructional modules and other library instruction materials, and will provide leadership in developing a comprehensive online learning plan that includes e-learning objects accessible through course management systems and the library web site.

“Liaison Services is very excited about the addition of Ashley Lierman to the instruction team,” said Kerry Creelman, coordinator of undergraduate instruction and outreach. “Ashley brings instructional design skills, with strengths in learning theory and instructional technologies, that will help us advance our online learning plan and better meet the information literacy needs of our students.”

Lierman brings over a decade of expertise in information literacy education and digital technologies. She received an MS in library and information science from Drexel University in 2010. Her most recent presentation, “Small Institution = Big Opportunities,” was part of the Collaborating with Faculty panel at the PA Forward Information Literacy Summit.

Planned Service Outage on Sunday January 12

The University of Houston Libraries will undergo necessary server maintenance on Sunday, January 12, starting at 7am and expected to run to 1 pm.

All library online resources will be unavailable including: library website, catalog, databases and journals, digital library, finding aids, and weblogs.

Maintenance should be completed before the library opens at 1 p.m. We apologize for the inconvenience.

New Initiatives in Metadata and Digitization at UH Libraries

The University of Houston Libraries is boosting its application of technology in metadata and digitization with a new metadata librarian.

Andrew Weidner will provide consulting and support for both UH Libraries and UH campus repository metadata needs and data management services; assist with creation and maintenance of descriptive, technical, and preservation metadata for UH Digital Library collections; and participate in exploring, evaluating and recommending alternative metadata and emerging technologies that can be applied in the Libraries’ broader discovery environment.

“Metadata and Digitization Services Department is excited about the arrival of Andrew Weidner,” said Annie Wu, head of Metadata and Digitization Services. “His addition will help advance us in our application of new initiatives and technology in UH Libraries digital efforts.”

Weidner received his MS in Library and Information Science from UNT in 2011. His most recent publication, “Workflow Tools for Digital Curation,” appeared in Code {4} Lib Journal.

 

 

 

 

UH Libraries 7th Annual Student Art Exhibit – Call for Artists

The Architecture and Art Library is now accepting artwork for the UH Libraries’ seventh Annual Student Art Exhibit, a competitive juried exhibit that will be on display in the M.D. Anderson Library February 12 – April 25, 2014.

The exhibit is open to all UH students enrolled spring 2014 – any classification or major. Students are welcome to submit up to three entries. Requirements of submissions: 2D in any medium, ready to hang with wires/brackets or on foam core, not to exceed 5’x5’, 5 pounds, or extend more than 4” from the wall. Sculpture with pedestals, no more than 20 pounds total. All work must fit inside a library elevator.

Students should submit their work to the Architecture and Art Library, located in the College of Architecture. Deadline for submissions is January 31st, 2014. Artists must complete a waiver form, as well as an exhibition agreement for each work submitted.

For more information, contact archlib@mail.uh.edu.

French Scholar Uncovers World of Barthelme in Houston

University of Houston Libraries Special Collections recently welcomed a French scholar to its reading room for an extensive look into the world of Houston’s literary luminary, Donald Barthelme.

Aurélie Delevallée, a Ph.D. student at Université de Toulouse 2 – Le Mirail, traveled to Houston to investigate the late postmodernist writer’s mix of visual and textual elements in his illustrated works.

Delevallée became intrigued by Barthelme’s writing after reading “Me and Miss Mandible” in an undergraduate class on contemporary lit at Université d’Artois – Arras. The course curriculum included the works of Raymond Carver and Grace Paley too, but there was something about the Barthelme piece that drew her in.

“I just loved it,” Delevallée said. “It was my first time as a student that I felt I had something to say. I wrote a commentary that I gave to the teacher, out of the blue.”

Now pursuing a Ph.D. in English with a concentration in contemporary American literature, Delevallée has explored Barthelme for some time, having written two master’s theses on the prodigious writer as well.

Immersed in the life and work of Barthelme, Delevallée realized that eventually, the momentum of her research would take her deeper into his literary legacy.

UH Libraries Special Collections is home to Barthelme’s papers. Materials include typescript drafts, galley proofs, correspondence from Barthelme’s friends and colleagues, photos, art, collage sources, and work from students of Barthelme during his tenure at the UH Creative Writing Program, acquired from the writer’s widow, Marion Barthelme, in 2002.

“I knew I definitely had to come here to have access to all this incredible material,” Delevallée said.

Through a university program called AMID, and the French Association of American Studies (AFEA), Delevallée secured a travel grant to Houston that would allow her to stay for a brief period and work in the Special Collections reading room. She contacted Julie Grob, coordinator for digital projects and instruction in Special Collections and the curator of the Barthelme papers, as soon as she knew she would arrive in Houston.

She was overwhelmed upon her initial visit. “Entering Special Collections for the first time, I thought ‘I’ve been preparing for this for such a long time,’ and since Barthelme passed away in 1989 I knew this would be the closest to him I could get,” Delevallée said. “I only knew him through his writings and what people wrote about him, and then, wow, suddenly I could touch the typescripts, the paper on which he wrote the stories that I like so much.” Interestingly, Barthelme often disposed of working drafts of manuscripts; the collection holds almost-finished versions with slight corrections.

Delevallée uncovered a priceless trove of Barthelme particulars, including the sources of his collage stories and a firsthand glimpse into the circle of writers and artists with whom he collaborated.

In fact, Delevallée was delighted to be able to speak with a few of those friends and colleagues while in Houston, including Karl Kilian, who had invited Barthelme to present at Brazos Bookstore on several occasions.

Serendipity brought Delevallée to the writer Olive Hershey, one of Barthelme’s last students. She had been searching for a place to stay while in Houston and visited a prospective location. The owner of the home asked her which American writer she was here to research and when she told him, he informed her that his wife happened to be one of Barthelme’s last students and she knew him very well.

Delevallée gathered information that will allow her to hone her dissertation on Barthelme’s illustrated works, his collage short stories, two comic books and two illustrated novels. He used the practice of assemblage to mix Victorian and contemporary elements that commented on and served as counterpoints to the texts. Delevallée sees a comparison between Barthelme’s use of text and image, and the cultural phenomenon of the cabinet of curiosities, a popular practice during the Renaissance era involving the collection and exhibition of heterogeneous elements.

Joseph Cornell, the American artist who created boxes of visual poetry with discrete, commonplace objects shaped into new meaning, revived the practice of assemblage in tandem with the surrealist movement. Barthelme was influenced by the artist and had organized an exhibition featuring Cornell’s works.

During her time exploring Barthelme’s provenance of inspiration, Delevallée has uncovered more food for thought. “When I come back home, now that I know there is all this mixture of these elements, I have to figure out how it is going to feed my own research and analysis,” she said. The journey of discovery continues.