May 2016 New Databases

The following databases are now available from the University of Houston Libraries:

Euromonitor Passport
An online market research tool that monitors industry trends and gives strategic analysis and a market size and market share database for all products across all key countries. Passport is Euromonitor International’s global market analysis software platform, which analyses the industry in countries around the world.

Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower
The complete electronic edition of the Papers of Dwight D. Eisenhower combines the full text of all 21 volumes of the print edition, including letters, memoranda, cables, and directives–many of them previously classified–from private collections and public archives in the U.S. and U.K., as well as papers from the Eisenhower Presidential Library, written or dictated by Eisenhower from the years prior to World War II through full term of his presidency.

Presidential Recordings Digital Edition
Presidential Recordings Digital Edition (PRDE), the online portal for annotated transcripts of the White House tapes published by the Presidential Recordings Program (PRP). Created by a team of scholars and researchers at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center, these transcripts are presented in PRDE alongside the corresponding audio, enabling users to read and listen to these conversations simultaneously. This effort at deciphering the presidential recordings and decoding their meaning allows these documents, many of which would remain otherwise inaccessible, to come alive, providing an intimate view of life inside the Oval Office.

Extended Hours for Finals

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, April 25 and continuing through Thursday, May 12, closing at 5:45 p.m.

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

End-of-Semester Events at the Libraries

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

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, May 2
8:30 – 10:30 pm
Rockwell Pavilion, second floor MD Anderson Library

---

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, May 2: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. (concurrent with Finals Mania)
Tuesday, May 3: 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Wednesday, May 4: 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Thursday, May 5: 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Rooms 106P and 106T in the MD Anderson Library

Communications Student Assistant Job Posting

The University of Houston Libraries Office of Communications seeks a creative communications generalist to contribute talents as a communications student assistant. This is an excellent opportunity for a student to gain valuable writing, editing, and graphic design experience while supporting the Libraries’ communications and marketing efforts.

The person in this position will produce content for our news and features blog, email announcements and social media channels. This may include, but is not limited to, profiles and interviews, event information and stories highlighting librarian and staff projects and research. This position will also assist with general administrative tasks as needed.

Duties and responsibilities include:

• Content production and communications support
• Write and edit engaging content for webpages, email, printed materials and social media
• Collect and create visuals (photos, video, graphics) to accompany stories
• Research and gather information
• Fact-check and proofread content
• Create surveys and compile results
• Assist with communications production scheduling

Required qualifications:

• Must be a student enrolled in good standing at the University of Houston main campus
• Excellent research, writing, and editing skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite
• Familiarity with social media
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to consistently meet deadlines
• Ability to take constructive feedback and work with it
• Ability to exercise outstanding communication skills (verbal and written) in a poised and professional manner
• Ability to handle multiple projects efficiently and effectively

Desired Qualifications:

• Major in the Valenti School of Communication
• Interview and/or oral history experience
• Strong experience with Adobe InDesign and/or Photoshop

This is a non-college work study, hourly student position at approximately 10-15 hours per week. Hours are negotiated based on the student’s class schedule. Submit cover letter, resume, and writing sample through Cougar Pathway.

The University of Houston’s Creative Writing Program, 1979-1989

Mary Manning, university archivist at the University of Houston Libraries Special Collections, penned an article for Houston History Magazine.

“The First Decade of the University of Houston’s Creative Writing Program, 1979-1989” (PDF) is a look back on the founding and first decade of one of the top creative writing programs in the nation.

The article also serves as a sneak peek into an upcoming exhibit, Storied: The First Ten Years of the Creative Writing Program. The exhibit’s soft opening will launch on August 31, 2016, with a reception in the Rockwell Pavilion on September 14.

Grant Writing Step by Step Webinar

Michelle Malizia, director of library services for health sciences, was invited to teach a three-hour grant writing workshop for the Texas Department of State Health Services in Austin.

The free workshop, Grant Writing Step by Step, will be held today, April 14, 2016, in K-100 Lecture Hall in Austin and by webinar.

Moreno Recognized for Distinguished Service

Hayley Moreno, resource description coordinator at the University of Houston Libraries, will be honored at the American Library Association (ALA) annual conference this summer in Orlando.  She will be receiving a presidential citation from the president of the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS — a division of ALA).

Moreno is receiving this award for her service to the ALCTS New Members Interest Group (ANMIG). According to Norm Medeiros, president of ALCTS, Moreno “not only led ANMIG with enthusiasm and vigor, but she responded impressively to requests that extend far beyond ANMIG’s scope. Each time she produced amazing results, for which I am incredibly grateful. Awarding the presidential citation is a small token of my appreciation for all she has done.”

The ALCTS Presidential Citation is intended to recognize distinguished achievement of its members. These very special awards honor ALCTS members who make significant contributions to the association and to the profession.

April 2016 Technology Training

Workshops in Access 2013, Adobe Acrobat, Excel 2013, graphic design, HTML and CSS, Photoshop CS6, PowerPoint 2013, resume workshop, SPSS and Word 2013 are being held in April 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.

April 2016 New Databases

The following databases are now available from the University of Houston Libraries:

BoardVitals
Medical exam question banks with expert reviewed board questions for NCLEX-RN, USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2, and USMLE, Step 3.

Data-Planet Statistical Datasets
Provides access to statistical data produced by U.S. federal agencies, states, private organizations, and major intergovernmental organizations. There are up to 2 billion charts, maps, views, rankings, time series and tables available for use in the Data-Planet repository. Data-Planet Statistical Datasets offers powerful capabilities to compare and contrast multiple data series, perform statistical calculations on the data, and customize output views.

Gnomon Workshop
The Gnomon Workshop is a web-based video training solution for the entertainment arts industry. It gives studios and artists access to self-paced video-based training by entertainment production artists working in film, games, and television.

Times Literary Supplement Historical Archive
The TLS historical archive provides searchable access to the full text of the Times Literary Supplement. It includes more than 300,000 reviews, letters, poems, and articles.

Thompson Wins TDL Service Award

Santi Thompson, head of digital repository services, has received the 2016 Texas Digital Library (TDL) Service Award. He is being honored for his dedicated service and significant work in a variety of activities that have contributed to the growth and success of TDL. These activities include:

• Membership in the original TDL Awards Committee, which entailed the development of the award categories, as well as defining the application and award process and then soliciting and reviewing the first award nominations;
• His leadership role as current chair of the TDL Dataverse Implementation Working Group;
• Previous service on the TDL Data Management and Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Metadata working groups; and
• His leadership role in the revision of the Texas Digital Library Descriptive Metadata Guidelines for Electronic Theses and Dissertations.

Thompson has been with the University of Houston Libraries since September 2012. He has published and presented widely in the areas of digital libraries, digital asset management, electronic theses and dissertations, and metadata.