Guest post coauthored by Cecelia Parks (Undergraduate Student Success Librarian), and Alison Booth, (Professor of English and Academic Director, Scholars’ Lab).
Library resources have the capacity to enlighten and empower, but only for those who have the time, know-how, and ability to use them — making equitable access a complex concept. Financial challenges are another pressing issue for college students and can interfere with their education in myriad ways, such as through food insecurity or concerns over the cost of textbook materials.
In recent years the Library has implemented staff-wide practices to improve access, including the adoption of design principles that place accessibility at the center of user decision-making; taking care to emphasize that Library resources are available fully free of change — something not all incoming students are aware of; and providing broad accessibility training for staff. Other focus areas include:
Sure, you can visit the University of Virginia Library to borrow books (we have more than 5 million of them!), to find a cozy study space, or even to use a 3-D printer, but did you know we offer events ranging from workshops to performances for UVA and the Charlottesville community throughout the year?
Below, check out five upcoming events for those who love music, science, crafting, and gaming. All Library events are free.
The Library Sustainability Working Group created a Sustainability Plan this year to support the University’s goals to “advance sustainability leadership and impact by incorporating environmental, economic, and equity considerations in decision-making” by 2030. Grants and special projects
Guest post by Cecelia Parks, Undergraduate Student Success Librarian.
For Women’s History Month, we are highlighting the Collective Biographies of Women, a digital humanities project led by Alison Booth, Professor of English and Academic Director of the Scholars’ Lab. You can access the Collective Biographies of Women here.
Below, Booth answers questions about this massive project, which serves as a database of historical women as well as an annotated bibliography of more than 1200 books.
Q. How would you describe the Collective Biographies of Women (CBW) project?
While Jeffersonian in appearance, the new roofs incorporate modern technology. ... Will Rourk, a technology specialist with the UVA Library, [used] his laser scanner at the roof project to take 3D scans.
The University of Virginia’s Small Special Collections Library is opening its doors for a printing event celebrating America’s 250th birthday, giving attendees their own replica of the original Declaration of Independence.
People can step back in time to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. At the University of Virginia, the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library will host Revolutionary Printing on July 4.
Josef Beery has run printing demonstrations for Rare Book School at UVA for years, after he stumbled into an interest in printing and rare books decades ago as a UVA student. On July 4, Beery will print replicas of the Declaration of Independence for the public at “Revolutionary Printing,” an event that the UVA Library is hosting in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Wednesday afternoon, June 17, the U.S. Green Building Council awarded University of Virginia’s Edgar Shannon Library an award to celebrate advancements in sustainability through better buildings.
