New Article: The University of Houston’s Liaison Services Advisory Board

Christina Hoffman Gola and Miranda Henry Bennett authored “The University of Houston’s Liaison Services Advisory Board: A case study in leadership development and succession planning” which appeared in the November 2016 issue of College & Research Libraries News.

Malizia Selected for Provost’s Leadership Academy

Michelle Malizia Catalano, director of library services for the health sciences 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 System Board of Regents strategic principles, and is carried out in support of UH strategic goals.

In her role at UH Libraries, Catalano oversees targeted delivery of information services to students, faculty and the public for the forthcoming Health Sciences Library that will be located in the Health and Biomedical Sciences Building II, currently in development. Previously, she served as the associate director for the National Network of Libraries of Medicine South Central Region program, a federal contract held by the Texas Medical Center Library. She has worked in health sciences libraries for over 15 years in a variety of roles, including reference, instruction, technology services, outreach and administration. Her areas of expertise include database searching, instruction, and program planning. She has presented at a number of conferences nationwide on various topics, including health literacy, grant writing, evidence-based practice, searching PubMed/MEDLINE and public health information resources.

Condron Selected for Provost’s Leadership Academy

Melody Condron, resource description and management coordinator 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 System Board of Regents strategic principles, and is carried out in support of UH strategic goals.

In her role at UH Libraries, Condron provides leadership and expertise in bibliographic resources description and management. Her research interests include information organization theory, advances in next-generation library systems, personal digital archiving, and cooperative metadata.

New Digital Collection: Annual Reports from the Hilton Hospitality Industry Archives

The Annual Reports from the Hilton Hospitality Industry Archives digital collection highlights annual reports from the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, from three modern hospitality companies: Hilton Hotels, Sheraton Hotels, and the Hot Shoppes, later renamed Marriott Hotels. Through these digitized pages, one can learn about the dynamic history of these companies and their evolution into world-renowned leaders in hospitality.

The annual reports provide a wealth of information related to their operation and the transition from small hospitality companies to large international corporations. For example, Hilton’s acquisition in 1954 of the Statler Hotel chain forced it to deal with monopoly issues and tax regulations for several years. The reader can also learn about the varied ways hotel companies raised money to fund the expansion of their hotel chains. Both Hilton and Sheraton had aggressive growth programs, both domestically and internationally. The international expansions also show the important role American companies played in the era of the Cold War.

The technological revolution that the world experienced in the mid-twentieth century likewise is reflected in these annual reports. One unique issue that plagued the travel industry in this period were the costs of reservation centers and the long-distance telephone call, a problem that ceased to exist with the advent of digital communications. Other timely issues revealed in the annual reports include the commitment of millions of dollars to install air-conditioning systems in hotels and restaurants and the challenge of the “motor-lodge” to the traditional downtown hotel structure following the advent of interstate highways. The first Marriott, the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington Virginia, highlights the growing importance of automobile accessibility to the hotel business.

The annual reports also reflect the changing nature of American society in the middle decades of the twentieth century. Inside these reports are images revealing shifting consumer tastes and preferences in interior design and fashion. Advances in modes of transportation, from railroad, to propeller airplanes, to the advent of jet age are also shown, providing a unique glimpse into this dynamic period of American history.

The original reports can be seen in the Hospitality Industry Archives located in the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management.

Poetry and Prose: October 12

Visit our Poetry and Prose playlist to hear University of Houston Creative Writing Program first year students read their work at the October 12 event.

MD Anderson Library Extended Hours

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 28 and continuing through Wednesday, December 14, closing at 7:45 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.

Spotlight on Metadata and Digitization Services

Members of the Metadata and Digitization Services team at the University of Houston Libraries discuss the projects, processes, and principles of organizing and describing information for learning and research productivity in the following video collection.

Andy Weidner – Digital Asset Management System

Anne Washington – Scholarly Works Pilot Project

Drew Krewer – On-Demand, Preservation-Grade Imaging

Annie Wu, Melody Condron, Renee Fiorini-McManus – Metadata and Digitization Services Overview

Fall 2016 Paws and Pancakes

The University of Houston Libraries will host recreational end-of-semester 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, December 5
8:30 – 10:30 pm
Elizabeth D. 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 5: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. (concurrent with Finals Mania)
  106-T and behind the Red Elevators
• Tuesday, December 6: 7:00 – 9:00 pm
  106-T and behind the Red Elevators
• Wednesday, December 7: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
  106-T and on the second floor
• Thursday, December 8: 7:00 – 9:00 pm
  106-T and behind the Red Elevators

November 2016 Technology Training

As of November 1, Technology Training classes and workshops will be held in room 106-P in the MD Anderson Library.

Free workshops in Access 2013, EndNote, Excel 2013, HTML and CSS, Photoshop CS6, SPSS, and Word 2013 are being held in November.

The Technology Training program at UH Libraries offers technology courses to current UH students, faculty and staff. View the full calendar and reserve your seat.