UH Libraries News | University of Houston Libraries (2024)

University of Houston Libraries is pleased to welcome Katy Allred in a new project role of assistant university archivist.

Please describe your responsibilities in the new role. How will your work support the University’s upcoming centennial?

In preparation for the UH centennial in 2027 and the anticipated increase in demand for access to and use of archival University materials, I will be arranging, describing, and preserving collections of personal papers and organizational records within University Archives. We will prioritize collections that document UH students, faculty, administration, colleges, programs, organizations, departments, and milestones. I will also assist with accessioning new materials and identifying materials that are good candidates for digitization. I will continue to do general reference work in the Reading Room to support researchers as well. Since starting my new role, I have already processed materials in the Sidney Berger Papers about the Houston Shakespeare Festival, which will celebrate its 50^thanniversary this summer. Soon, I will begin work on UH President’s Office Recordsand Student Organization Records.

Please share a bit about your background and professional interests. How do these inspire and shape your approach as an archivist?

I am originally from Bossier City, Louisiana, but my wife and I have lived in Houston for 8 years. I earned a BFA in Communication Design from Louisiana Tech University in 2010 and worked in graphic design for several years. I completed my MLIS remotely at the University of North Texas and graduated in August 2021. Before this role, I worked as a project archivist in UH Special Collections beginning in March 2020. I am especially interested in processing backlogs, developing policies and best practices for processing hybrid and born-digital archival collections, and making archival collections and spaces more accessible, more discoverable, and less intimidating. It’s important to me that all users feel like they belong in a reading room and can confidently access and use archival collections. I work with those goals in mind especially when I describe materials, write finding aids, assist researchers, and talk to potential patrons at outreach events.

What are some insights you’ve gained while processing archives?

In my previous role as a project archivist, I processed the Dorothy Hood Papers, the José María Velasco Maidana Papers, the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Papers, the Margo Grant Walsh Papers, the PFLAG Houston Records, and a few other small collections. I enjoy processing because I love structure and making things usable, but I also love getting to be creative. Every collection requires creative problem-solving to create an accessible structure because every collection is different. Lives are messy, and I’ve learned that our records usually reflect the messiness, despite people’s best efforts. I approach each collection using what I’ve learned from the last one, all while knowing I’ll have to do things a little differently and be ready to learn new lessons to make the next collection navigable and understandable. It keeps me on my toes. I am looking forward to the challenges University Archives has in store!

With a tropical flourish, University of Houston Libraries celebrated high-performing employees at the 2024 Library Excellence Awards this week. Now in its 24^th year, the joyous event, held at the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion in MD Anderson Library, recognizes the exceptional work and talent of UH librarians and staff. The annual tradition is supported through the generosity of the John P. McGovern Foundation.

Kerry Creelman, associate dean for collections strategies and discovery, opened the ceremony. Pinch-hitting for interim dean Christina Gola, Creelman emphasized the importance of Libraries colleagues gathering to show appreciation for one another and to acknowledge professional wins of the past year. The many individuals who helped produce the awards event, including all nominators, members of the awards committee (Jeannie Castro, Jamie Duke, Alma Gallo, Julie Grob, and Natalia Kapacinskas), Dwendol Nelson, Mauricio Lazo, Melinda Colmenero, Devianee Vasanjee, Beryl Sang, Jessica Rodriguez, Michael Caldwell, Larry Schmidt, Santi Thompson, and members of the employee engagement committee, were recognized for a superlative job. Eight Libraries student employees who won scholarships were also honored.

The Student Achievement awards were presented to Claire Garza-Gonzalez and Vinh Nguyen Han Nguyen, two Coogs whose accomplishments demonstrate their commitment to the Libraries’ mission for UH. Garza-Gonzalez works in the William R. Jenkins Architecture, Design, and Art Library. An art major, she applies creativity to problem-solving: last year, she created signage incorporating illustrations, QR codes, and humor to inspire timely book renewal. She is described as polite, cheerful, and always on top of her tasks.

Nguyen helps users in the computer labs. His efforts prevent technical issues on computers and printers. He works well with others in Library Technology Services, provides training to fellow student workers, and backs them up on issues at the circulation desk. He is known as a problem solver who is not only able to follow instructions but to research complex questions that are thrown at him, and to try new things to achieve results.

This year’s McGovern Outstanding Student is Allison Young, who began in Special Collections as an undergrad and continues as a graduate student. Knowledgeable, capable, and productive, Young has contributed to the processing of a silver collection, a zine collection, and an architectural collection; trained other student employees; and added her creativity to the department blog, several pop-up exhibits, and a department zine. Her dependability makes her invaluable, and serves as a model for other student employees.

Larry Schmidt is the McGovern Staff Rookie of the Year. Schmidt has excelled in his position and built great rapport with colleagues in the short time he has been at UH Libraries. Nominators praise his work effort, emphasizing how he routinely exceeds expectations, brings dedication and creativity to the job, and shares a can-do spirit. Schmidt has a welcoming and friendly demeanor he conveys to coworkers and library users, and exudes positive energy and enthusiasm.

The McGovern Librarian Rookie of the Year is Kate McNally Carter who has been an essential part of Open Education Services since arriving in 2022. Her nominator praises her high-quality job performance, noting her commitment to student success and to making higher education more affordable through open pedagogy and open educational resources. Carter has refined and expanded programmatic offerings, developed relationships with campus partners, and strengthened collaborative opportunities in the Libraries. Carter shows care and intentionality when working with colleagues, faculty, and students.

Greg Yerke and Susan Ryan received Staff Achievement awards. Yerke performs multiple services that bring unique archival materials to internal and external audiences. An integral part of the Libraries’ exhibition and on-demand digitization programs, Yerke works with colleagues to bring exhibition ideas to life and connect scholars with high-quality digital files of Libraries collections.

Ryan is recognized for showing care and thoughtfulness as she moved from one library department to another. Since the beginning of the year, Ryan has learned the responsibilities of a new position while actively sharing the expertise she gained over the years with colleagues, helping them succeed in taking on new roles and workflows. Her efforts have allowed the Libraries to continue offering services that benefit users every day.

The McGovern Outstanding Staff awardee, Roberto Gomez, is an inclusive and empathetic leader who, as one nominator stated, “understands that building a strong team means supporting and contributing to the success of others.” In his short time at UH Libraries, Gomez has taken the lead on several projects resulting in improved processes and support for Libraries users and colleagues. Gomez was praised for his ability to analyze problems and find solutions. His ability to build effective teams and identify solutions is evident with a recent promotion to a managerial position.

Stefanie Lapka and Cherie Turner were honored for Librarian Achievement. Lapka went above and beyond with her librarianship, professional enrichment, and service over the past year, moving into a new role and building strong relationships with faculty and staff, consulting with faculty and students on research, and teaching. She was active in scholarship and service, producing a publication and serving on committees locally and nationally. Lapka was selected for the Network of the National Library of Medicine Region 3 Leadership Pathways program, a professional development opportunity that brings recognition of her work and indicates a promising future in the profession.

Turner has a proven record of success at the Libraries and in the profession as an advocate for transparent and data-driven decision-making who shares her expertise locally and nationally to advance library assessment best practices. Of note was her service on the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Statistics Survey Revision task force which is indicative of the professional respect Turner holds in the ARL community. She is regularly sought out by colleagues in the Libraries and across the country to work on projects due to her consistent and effective counsel and her ability to produce solutions.

Ariana Santiago is the McGovern Outstanding Librarian, noted for making high-impact contributions in librarianship, professional enrichment, and service. She has held several leadership roles in the organization. In her first full year as a department head, she guided foundational services and workflows while also stepping into an interim leadership role to ensure continuity during a time of organizational change. Santiago was well suited for these opportunities because of her effective leadership acumen, thoughtful and pragmatic approach to problem-solving, and ability to collaborate with colleagues. Beyond the Libraries, Santiago was elected among her local and national peers to serve in high-profile roles, including representative to the UH Faculty Senate and member of the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC) steering committee.

This year’s Outstanding Group is the Agents of Change exhibition team, Mary Manning, Bethany Scott, and Greg Yerke. They demonstrated exceptional creativity, professionalism, fortitude, and attention to detail throughout the process. Despite a tight timeline and setbacks, the team collaborated well, with colleagues in the Libraries and UH Center for Public History, to produce a cohesive and engaging exhibit.

The Libraries’ Digital Humanities Core Facility team was selected for the Trailblazer Award for Leading Organizational Change. Linda Garcia Merchant, Taylor Davis-Van Atta, Emma Fontenot, Andrea Malone, and Danny Fuller, in coordination with the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Data Science Institute, developed the infrastructure to provide researchers with web and cloud hosting for digital projects, thus addressing a gap in service offerings for scholars in the humanities and social sciences. They also devised a micro-credentialing program to build digital humanities and project management competencies among researchers, both faculty and students. These initiatives have helped campus researchers be more competitive for funding. The team has been lauded for their intentionality in critical work that serves the University’s research priorities.

Joyce Gabiola received the Dean Dana C. Rooks and Dr. Charles W. Rooks Diversity Award for demonstrating a commitment to expand opportunities for students and enhance accessibility to library resources and services for all users. Gabiola takes a multifaceted approach to providing a welcoming environment for students, faculty, and community members. They’ve partnered with faculty to serve as a student intern mentor, and created co-curricular experiential learning opportunities within Special Collections. Gabiola is empathetic and considerate in matching student interests with projects that can benefit them, and advocates for inclusive collection development policies. They engage extensively with the local community to promote awareness of the Libraries’ scholarly resources and to grow the richness of the archives.

View photos from the 2024 Library Excellence Awards.

A student-curated exhibit at University of Houston Libraries features the humanitarian legacy of memorable Houston news personality Marvin Zindler (1921 – 2007).

Marvin’s Angels: A Beacon of Hope in Houston and Beyond was curated by Research for Aspiring Coogs in the Humanities (REACH) scholar Ryan Banda as a visual component of her immersive research project. “This has been a very rewarding experience as it helped to elevate my understanding of what it’s like to work in the archives and the necessary research that goes into curation work,” Banda said.

UH Libraries Special Collections acquired the Marvin Zindler Papers in 2021. Mentored by archivist Vince Lee, Banda discovered objects and files pertaining to Zindler’s storied career in broadcasting by exploring boxes of primary source materials in the archives.

“Prior to working with Special Collections, I had no preconceptions about Marvin Zindler,” Banda said. “I had the opportunity to not only learn about Zindler but to recognize emerging themes that I would want to research.”

One notable theme highlights Zindler’s work through Marvin’s Angels, a group of local business owners and community members who generously provided free aid and specialized services to individuals in pressing need. The efforts of the group reached a global scale. Banda chose to investigate this theme and selected primary source materials providing context and description in support of her research idea. “Archival documents allow the voices of particular individuals and organizations to be recognized within history,” said Banda.

REACH is a year-long introductory research experience for undergraduates in humanities disciplines, and is supported by the Cougar Initiative to Engage and the Office of Undergraduate Research and Major Awards (OURMA). REACH connects students to existing UH humanities projects and allows them to develop research skills through first-hand scholarly inquiry and through participation in OURMA research programming. Banda was one of the REACH participants who presented her findings at Undergraduate Research Day in April 2024.

Banda, an anthropology major, offers this advice to undergrads interested in humanities research: “Have fun with it! Learning about history through primary source materials further connects the researcher and their topic of research, making the work more personalized in a way. [Accessing] history through digital databases and from the work of others is fascinating in itself but getting to handle and utilize physical primary documents is a whole different experience. I recommend everyone give it a try.”

Marvin’s Angels is on display at MD Anderson Library floor one.

University of Houston Libraries supports student success by awarding scholarships each year to outstanding Libraries student employees. For the 2024-25 academic year, philanthropic support for the Libraries scholarship fund empowered eight talented students to receive a cumulative $20,200.

“Our student employees provide invaluable support and vibrance within the Libraries,” said Christina H. Gola, interim dean of Libraries. “The Libraries’ ability to award these scholarships serves to elevate their talents and hard work as they pursue their academic and career goals. We are so appreciative of our scholarship donors who recognize the impact scholarships have on the success of students and the confidence it gives them to achieve their dreams. Congratulations to all of our scholarship recipients, and a big thank you to our donors.”

Featured here are five scholarship awardees who graciously shared a bit about themselves.

Nine Abad is a junior pursuing degrees in Political Science and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and is a recipient of the Belle Griggs Johnson Scholarship. Abad was recently featured in Celebrating UH Libraries Student Employees: “I love working in Special Collections because there is a litany of individual and intimate stories that people can engage and research using primary resources that are unique.”

Chinasa Anokwuru was awarded the Belle Griggs Johnson Scholarship. She is a second-year medical student at the TilmanJ.FertittaFamilyCollege of Medicine who works at the Medical Library. Anokwuru is passionate about making health care accessible for everyone. She served as a student leader during her first year by working at a rural clinic in Santa Ana Honduras with a team from the College of Medicine.

“This school year, I was looking forward to the clinical immersion part of my program. It has been so wonderful going to the clinic and seeing patients. I hope to be a surgeon after I graduate. I chose to work at the library because I wanted to promote a scholarly environment for my classmates and I, and to serve as an advocate so that we can get the resources we need to advance in our careers.”

Claire Garza-Gonzalez works at the William R. Jenkins Architecture, Design, and Art Library and is a John P. McGovern Library Scholar. A senior art major, Garza-Gonzalez looks forward to a career in art education and therapy. The scholarship will facilitate on-campus living for Garza-Gonzalez, who embraces the importance of community and connection among peers at UH.

“The Libraries scholarship will be an invaluable asset on my educational and personal journey! It will help ease the burden of tuition and enable me to focus on making a positive impact in the world through creativity. I chose to work at the Libraries because I have always loved libraries and felt at home in them. I also previously worked at the Lone Star College CyFair Library and it was an amazing experience. Whenever I’m traveling I like to find the nearest local libraries and explore them.”

Kelan Smith is a John P. McGovern Library Scholar and works in Information and Access Services at MD Anderson Library. In addition to pursuing a degree in Sports Administration, Smith enjoys basketball and fitness at the UH Recreation and Wellness Center, and plays bass guitar.

“I have always grown up around books and libraries. My mom has been volunteering as a Friends of the Library Bookstore volunteer and board member for several years at the Harris County Library in Cypress. When I go back home, I help her run the bookstore. After college, I plan to get an entry level job with a professional sports team and work my way up to a scout. Many of these entry level jobs are not paid, or minimum wage, so minimizing the amount of student debt I will take on is a huge goal of mine. I am extremely grateful for this scholarship for helping me get closer to this goal.”

Andrea Tribble is a junior pursuing a degree in African American Studies, and is a John P. McGovern Library Scholar. Tribble was recently featured in Celebrating UH Libraries Student Employees: “One of my favorite things about working in Special Collections is knowing that I’m contributing to the sacred practice of preservation.”

University of Houston Libraries is pleased to welcome Armin Lopez (they/them) as the new resource description librarian.

Please describe your role. How does your work align with the student success and research priorities of the University?

I will be creating bibliographic records for items such as books according to cataloging standards such as Resource Description & Access and best practices from the Library of Congress. Records will contain descriptive information, subject terminology and classification, and authorized or controlled access points for names and titles. This information contributes to student success by giving users tools to find, select, and access different items in the library’s collection that may help them complete assignments or supplement their learning. Additionally, items can be differentiated or brought together according to author name, title, subject or other data which can help users identify and access relevant library materials for their research needs.

Please share a bit about your background and professional interests. How do these inspire and shape your approach as a librarian?

I grew up in the Houston area and am excited to join UH Libraries. My background lies in music, specifically viola, and I received a BA in Music with a minor in Psychology from Sam Houston State University in 2021. As an undergraduate student, I learned more about what librarians do and the need for effective searching to access library materials. After graduating, I began an MLS from Texas Woman’s University which I completed this past December.

My professional interests in resource description lie in optimizingdescription for improved access, managing outdated terminology and practices, and ensuring that bibliographic records are respectful and inclusive of all identities and beliefs. I developed these interests while interning with the Fennel Music Library at Interlochen. The students and faculty at this institution had great interest in celebrating diverse composers which informed the library’s collection development, the priorities of the cataloging team, and resulted in the creation of a diverse composers LibGuide. Additionally, we worked with many older materials which often containedoutdated content or practices that we worked to mitigate.My experiences in these areas impactthe way I approach description and consider the diverse needs of users, especially when adding notes andassigning subject headings.

What are one or two things you’d like faculty and students to know about resource description?

Cataloging standards and practices are constantly evolving. This means that as catalogers, we are consistently learning and training on new resource description practice developments. Bibliographic records, both new and preexisting, can go through changes that may improve discoverability or the way resources and creators are represented. While resource description is important in organizing the collection for the library, our biggest priority is to help users as best we can. As a new librarian, I am especially interested in learning how faculty and students use our catalog and how our records could be optimized.

The Digital Humanities Core (DHC), a partnership between University of Houston Libraries and the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Data Science Institute, welcomes applications for the summer 2024 Micro-credential in Digital Humanities program. This program allows researchers to apply successful strategies to the planning, implementation, and development of digital humanities projects and funding proposals.

This summer’s program encompasses two scaffolded tracks:

• Badge I: Foundations of DH Project Development (June 3-14, 2024)
• Badge II: Intermediate DH Project Development (prerequisite: Badge I or equivalent experience) (June 10-14, 2024)

The program is open to all UH faculty, librarians, and doctoral students. Successful completion of one of these badges ensures year-long access to the expertise, infrastructural resources, training, and programming offered by the DHC. The application deadline is May 1.

Application form

For more information, contact dhcf@uh.edu.

In honor of National Library Week and National Student Employment Week, we’re featuring the outstanding and talented student assistants of University of Houston Libraries. Student employees are crucial to what we do, providing vital daily contributions toward the services, collections, and spaces we offer to the UH and scholarly community. As we spotlight a few of our student employees through social media and in this online space, we recognize and appreciate the individual and collective efforts of all Coogs working at the Libraries and the University.

Andrea Tribble is a junior in African American Studies who works in Special Collections, where she supports university archivist Mary Manning in the organization, description, and accessibility of collections. She also engages with researchers and fulfills reference requests for archival materials.

“I have been working at the Libraries since the fall 2023 semester, when I started as an intern handling a collection of lecture recordings from the early-to-mid 2000s that were facilitated by the African American Studies department,” Tribble said. “One of my favorite things about working in Special Collections is knowing that I’m contributing to the sacred practice of preservation. Ensuring that the intellectual material, university history, and community records that we come into contact with are cared for properly and made accessible has been something I’ve come to take great pride in.”

Kira Giannetti is a sophom*ore Computer Engineering student who works as a sound engineer in the Hamill Foundation Studio, mixing and mastering sound and voice productions for singers, podcasters, and musicians. When asked what she enjoys about working at UH Libraries, she said “I love getting to know the talents at our school.”

Zach Harper is a first-year Music Education major who works at the Music Library as a circulation assistant. He has book shelving duties and generally helps maintain a welcoming environment for visitors and employees.

“I love being surrounded by so much music and musical knowledge all of the time,” Harper said. “It makes the nerd in me very excited. I love the staff at the Music Library; all of my coworkers and supervisors support and encourage one another everyday. I love the calmness and environment of the Music Library. And finally, I love the people that come into the Music Library. Helping them find whatever they need or introducing them to something makes my day a lot of the time.”

Nine Abad is a junior with double majors in Political Science and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies who works in Special Collections. Abad’s duties include processing, organizing, and handling collections primarily in the LGBT History Research Collection, as well as assisting researchers and visitors with requests.

“I love working in Special Collections because there is a litany of individual and intimate stories that people can engage and research using primary resources that are unique and one of a kind,” Abad said. “Working at the Libraries is also incredibly gratifying, especially when helping researchers and talking to donors. I also love the atmosphere of the library, the friendliness of the staff, and the intricacies of the stories that shape the archives themselves.”

Sarah Nguyen is a student in Management Information Systems who works as a sound engineer at the Hamill Foundation Studio, producing and editing song, vocal, and musical projects.

“I love how comfortable the environment is,” Nguyen said. “Everyone inside and outside of the studio is a blessing to work with.”

University of Houston Libraries Special Collections archivists attended the recent Old, Weird Houston: A Celebration of Our City’s Hidden Histories event to display iconic, regional primary source materials with an unconventional flair. Hosted by Orange Show Center for Visionary Art in collaboration with Archivists of the Houston Area (AHA!) and UH Center for Public History, Old, Weird Houston is “a local alternative history fair and symposium that preserves, interprets, and shares the hidden histories of unusual and creative people, institutions, and events that have made our city one of the most diverse and livable in the country.” The event brought together history scholars and enthusiasts in an accessible and engaging format.

The display reflected the work of archivist Katy Allred, who created hand-drawn signs for the table and helped plan and organize the selections, particularly The Art Guys Records. Other materials represented Houston Gorilla Girls Records, Marvin Zindler Papers, Ima Hogg Symphony Programs Collection, and Texas Music Collection. Attendees experienced distinctively Houston-esque items such as a “Slime in the Ice Machine” t-shirt, a vintage photo of Ima Hogg on a horse-drawn float at a No-Tsu-Oh parade, and mail art sent in the 77008. Photos and ephemera related to the Axiom, the epicenter of Houston’s late 80s, early 90s underground music scene, were included, part of the Julie Grob Axiom Records. (Grob is an archivist and coordinator for instruction at UH Special Collections, and was Axiom’s booking agent and publicist).

These and other items of historical and local significance are available for viewing and research at UH Special Collections. Visiting UH Special Collections

We continue to document, honor, and amplify the voices of women and to ensure their stories are never forgotten.

University of Houston Libraries and UH Hewlett Packard Enterprise Data Science Institute are pleased to host an online keynote via Microsoft Teams by Darius Johnson, a graduate student at Goucher College, on Monday, March 25 at 12 noon. Johnson is the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Digital Justice Public History Fellow at Chesapeake Heartland and works at the intersection of digital technologies, public history, and historic preservation. In his talk, Labor of Love: Making Digital Work for Me, Johnson will share his current work in digital humanities and engage in conversation with attendees. Following Johnson’s talk, the Digital Humanities Core graduate research assistant Shine Trabucco will facilitate a Q&A. The event is open to all and registration is required. RSVP

The UH Digital Humanities Core is a partnership between UH Hewlett Packard Enterprise Data Science Institute and UH Libraries. The online keynote is part of the 2024 DH@UH Symposium.

Older posts