Check It Out! Fall 2024 Library Events and Programming

Posted: August 20, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: Archives & Special Collections, Art Library, Ekstrom Library, Events, Exhibits, Kornhauser Health Sciences Library, LSAB, Music Library, Services, University of Louisville Libraries | Leave a comment

Social Media
It’s easier than ever to stay connected with UofL Libraries by following us on social media! Join our online community to stay updated on the latest library news, events, and resources. Discover new books, databases, and tools to support your success both in and out of the classroom. Engage with the libraries through exciting content, including workshops, exhibits, and behind-the-scenes looks at our collections. Whether you’re looking for research tips, study inspiration, or just want to see what’s happening at University Libraries, our social media channels are the perfect way to stay informed and connected. Follow us today and be a part of our online community!

Research and Refuel
Ekstrom Library’s Research & Refuel Series provides opportunities for undergraduate students to discover library resources and services for research and academic success while refueling their bodies and minds. Learn how University Libraries can support your academic success while enjoying snacks and wellness breaks to boost your energy and focus. The University Libraries offer events throughout the semester to help students get acquainted with library services and resources. Wrap up the semester on December 4 at Pause for Paws, a study break on reading day to de-stress and boost your mood by snuggling puppies. We’ll also provide handouts with tips for success on those final assignments.

Craft Circle at the Bridwell Art Library
Sponsored by the Libraries Student Advisory Board, the Craft Circle is a monthly event at Bridwell Art Library that includes craft materials and snacks. It’s a great opportunity to unwind between classes, make new friends, and exercise your creative muscles. This Fall, the Art Library will also feature a study break collection with art-themed puzzles, games, and activities and offer artists’ book reserve program with an interactive, rotating display from their artists’ book collection.

Libraries Student Advisory Board
Help shape the future of University Libraries by joining the Libraries Student Advisory Board (LSAB)! LSAB is instrumental in understanding the needs of UofL’s diverse user community and developing innovative responses to evolving learning and research behaviors. Open to all currently enrolled students, including graduate students, LSAB offers a platform to voice ideas and contribute to meaningful projects like One Book, One UofL and Bridwell Art Library’s Craft Circle. LSAB members meet two or three times per semester and engage in various activities like providing feedback on renovations, website upgrades, and policy changes.

Your Voice, Our Libraries! Join the LIbraries Student Advisory Board today.

Meditation Spaces
Did you know the University Libraries provide dedicated spaces for prayer and meditation to support the wellness of students, staff, and faculty? These spaces are open to individuals of all faiths or no particular faith. At Ekstrom Library, patrons may check our prayer mats from the west service desk for up to four hours with a valid Cardinal Card. Bridwell Art Library and Kornhauser Health Sciences Library also offer dedicated rooms for reflection and peace. Learn more and find your serene environment with our Prayer/Meditation Space Finder.

Fairness Does a City Good! A 25 Year Retrospective
Learn about Louisville’s LGBTQ+ history and explore one of the largest LGBTQ+ archival collections in the United States by visiting Fairness Does a City Good! A 25 Year Retrospective. The exhibit commemorates 25 years since the passing of LGBTQ+ inclusive, non-discrimination ordinances in Louisville and reintroduces stories from the movement that paved the way, highlighting diverse tools and approaches Fairness Campaign supports used to champion a more equitable future for Kentuckians. Discover the local impact of the fairness ordinances, moving personal stories, and effective community organizing strategies in this insightful and celebratory exhibit, open in Archives and Special Collections through December 2024.

A crowd gathers around a speaker for a 1990s event supporting the Fairness Ordinance.

New Exhibit from the National Library of Medicine
Kornhauser Health Sciences Library is excited to announce the arrival of a traveling exhibit on October 14, 2024. Rise, Serve, Lead! America’s Women Physicians celebrates the impact of women in medicine. The exhibit explores the history of women who have broken barriers to become professional physicians and their significant contributions through medical practice, research, activism, administration, and mentorship. The inspiring exhibit showcases nearly two centuries of dedication and service by women physicians who have shaped the field of medicine and paved the way for future generations.

Scholar Services at Ekstrom Library
Ekstrom Library’s Research Assistance and Instruction department is pleased to announce its newest initiative, Scholar Services, which seeks to propel UofL’s research agenda by helping scholars at all levels conduct, disseminate, and evaluate their research. To achieve this, Scholar Services builds collaborative and embedded relationships with researchers through four signature services: Jumpstart Advanced Literature Search, Systematic Review Consultation and Collaboration, Research Impact Reports, and Data Management. The four units identified for the pilot were the College of Education and Human Development, Kent School of Social Work, Speed School of Engineering, and the STEM departments within the College of Arts and Sciences. In Spring 2024, Scholar Services began the expansion of its services to the broader Belknap campus, with plans for a hard launch at the start of the Fall semester. To learn more, and to request a service, visit our website.

Open Access
Affordability is a key barrier to equitable access to higher education, and University Libraries are committed to improving accessibility and reducing the cost of course materials for students. The Affordable Learning and Open Educational Resources (OER) initiative aims to enhance student success, retention, and opportunities for all students. A cross-campus workgroup has developed Course Notes, a system that highlights courses with zero- or low-cost materials. Piloted in Spring 2024, Course Notes saved 2,400 students over $206,000. The Summer ad Fall semesters also saw a 60% increase in participating courses, proving further the program’s success. Learn more here and stay tuned for more information on Open Access Week, October 21 – 27, 2024.

Artificial Intelligence
Want to learn more about AI? Check out University Libraries’ new AI Resource Guide created by Kornhauser Health Sciences Library’s Research Literacy and Communications Instructor, Alex Glynn. Designed for students and faculty, the Generative Artificial Intelligence guide offers valuable insights into widely used generative AI systems like ChatGPT and their applications in health sciences research. Explore potential uses of AI in writing, editing, creating graphics, and more, while also understanding the risks involved. Glynn’s guide is an essential tool for supporting and enhancing research, and it provides users with the foundation to use AI responsibly and effectively.

BEATS Week
BEATS (Business Equity Arts Technology Sciences) Week returns November 11 – 15, 2024! Convened by University Libraries, the College of Business, and AMPED, BEATS Week is hosted in collaboration with nine campus and community partners including the Office of Community Engagement, the Office of Student Involvement, the Office of Research and Innovation, the Cultural Center, University Athletics and more. BEATS Week intends to provide resources to underrepresented entrepreneurs who often encounter inequitable access to professional and business development opportunities. These entrepreneurs including students, a growing demographic often missing from entrepreneurial conversations. This week-long series of panel discussions, interactive workshops, and networking events will connect emerging and established entrepreneurs to each other, to research and resources, and to entrepreneurial ecosystems both within the University and the greater Louisville area. 

A student performs for a crowd at the Red Barn during 2023 BEATS Week.

Students and Libraries Unite: ‘One Book, One UofL’ Fosters Community and Exploration

Posted: September 7, 2023 | Author: | Filed under: Books, Collections, Librarianship / Archivy, LSAB, University of Louisville Libraries | Tags: , | 1 Comment

Maintaining diverse collections that support research, scholarship, and creative activity is one of University of Louisville Libraries’ top priorities. Now, with the help of Courtney Shareef, Strategic Initiatives Librarian and Diversity Resident, the Libraries Student Advisory Board (LSAB) is furthering that mission with a new project: One Book, One UofL. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between students’ intellectual pursuits and the libraries’ abundant resources—while also celebrating the love of reading.

The Board—whose feedback helps the libraries meet the evolving needs of UofL students—was charged in 2022-2023 with selecting an LSAB-sponsored project which would be implemented during the following academic year. They heard presentations from five groups within the libraries in a “Shark Tank”-style pitch process. Ultimately, they selected Shareef’s proposal, One Book, One UofL, as the winner.

Out of recommendations provided by students, one book will be selected this fall as the reading material for a student-focused book club. The Board will then consult with Shareef and Anita Hall, Assessment & Analytics Librarian, as they plan programming for the spring semester to further engage students. “The idea is that students will select a book that resonates with them and we, as librarians, find resources that tie into that book,” says Shareef.

Beyond fostering a love for reading, One Book, One UofL will open doors to a plethora of collections, services, and expertise that enrich students’ learning experiences and support their success. The program will actively foster a sense of community among students as it encourages them to engage with and explore the libraries. Shareef adds, “It promotes an awareness of what [the libraries] offer people. Hopefully, those who participate will come away with more knowledge of all the cool things we do.”

In addition to connecting students with valuable resources, One Book, One UofL will provide them with direct access to librarians. The project’s collaborative nature allows students to leverage their interests into scholarly pursuits to make academic research more approachable, accessible, and engaging.

One Book, One UofL is not just a book club; it’s a journey of discovery, a celebration of diverse passions, and an opportunity for students to connect with their peers in a unique way. With many thanks to Courtney Shareef for her visionary pitch and LSAB for their invaluable insights and advocacy, University Libraries eagerly anticipate the enriching experiences that One Book, One UofL promises to bring the campus community this spring.

For more information about One Book, One UofL, contact Courtney Shareef, Strategic Initiatives Librarian and Diversity Resident, at courtney.shareef@louisville.edu.

For more information about LSAB, contact Anita Hall, Assessment & Analytics Librarian, at anita.hall@louisville.edu.