“We Were Always Here”: Uncovering and Preserving the LGBTQ+ Experience through the Williams-Nichols Collection
Posted: April 16, 2024 Filed under: Archives & Special Collections, Art Library, Collections, donor, Ekstrom Library, Exhibits, Louisville History, People, University of Louisville Libraries 1 Comment
When it comes to collecting, David Williams knows a thing or two. The Louisville native and activist established the Williams-Nichols collection in University Libraries’ Archives and Special Collections in 1982. Since its founding, the collection has grown to hold thousands of books, video and audio recordings, memorabilia, and more that document the LGBTQ+ experience—especially in Louisville.
“We know very little about LGBTQ history in Louisville and most other places outside of San Francisco and New York,” Williams says. “It’s very important that people know there has always been this community here. It has been here since the founding of the city probably, but especially since 1970. We’ve collected stories and newspaper accounts of stuff before 1970, and we’re basically just scratching the surface. But we were always here, and this collection brings all that together.”
Williams traces his interest in history back to his childhood. Born in Louisville, Williams attended Catholic schools (St. Agnes, St. Xavier, Xavier University, and a year at Notre Dame), and his early life laid the foundation for his lifelong commitment to understanding and preserving the past. “My grandmother loved to collect just about everything. I remember going up to her house in Illinois and, in the basement, she had tables and tables full of newspapers and magazines stacked up high … There is a history of ‘packrat-ism’ in our family, so founding the archive was natural to me.”
It was in the 1980s that Williams found himself drawn into the gay rights movement in Louisville. Inspired by the need for community organization in the face of discrimination, Williams became involved in various LGBTQ+ groups where he witnessed first-hand the challenges and triumphs of the movement.
He cites 1981 as the beginning of his collecting LGBTQ+ artifacts. That is when the political climate around the rights of Louisville’s queer residents took center stage. Sam Dorr, a branch manager at a local bank in Louisville’s Highlands neighborhood, was involved with Dignity Integrity, a local social group for gay and lesbian Catholics and Episcopalians. When Dorr was elected president of the group, he informed his bosses at the bank that there was a possibility he would be on the news periodically to talk about gay rights. Although his bosses seemed okay with it at first, a week later they came back to Dorr with an ultimatum—to resign from Dignity Integrity or resign from the bank. When Dorr refused to do either, they fired him.
“It was his firing that prompted a lot of his friends in the community to start thinking about organizing,” Williams recalls. “By the spring of 1982, that’s what they did. They started a group called Gays and Lesbians United for Equality (GLUE). GLUE wanted somebody from Lambda Louisville, of which I was also a part, to come to their meetings once a month. Somehow I got volunteered.”
Among the various LGBTQ+ rights groups that were active in Louisville in the early 1980s, numerous newsletters, letters, posters, and other publications from the movement began to circulate. Williams realized someone should be saving the memorabilia. “I thought, somebody needs to be collecting this stuff or else it’s just going into the dump. It came natural to me, being a packrat.”
On November 17, 1982, Williams founded the Williams-Nichols Archive, named in honor of Williams and his former partner, Norman Lee Nichols. For the first four years, Williams focused his attention on gathering newsletters and flyers. After a breakup in 1986, he began collecting more earnestly. “That’s when it really took off and more people within the community started giving me stuff. I started boxing it and filing it, and it went from there.”
Since then—and thanks to Williams’ efforts and generosity—the collection has grown exponentially and is now one of the largest repositories of LGBTQ+ history in the nation. Among the many items, of course, Williams has a few favorites. “I’m always thrilled to find something new and interesting. Recently, a prized donor gave us some glasses from Gordon’s Golden Horse which was the first gay bar in Louisville in the 1950s. It was on the 600 block of 4th Street. I didn’t even know that these existed. It’s a real treasure.”
Another favorite item from the collection is Alicia Pedreira’s famous Isle of Lesbos shirt. “In 1998, Alicia and her girlfriend were coming back from an LGBT event on the Belvedere. Alicia was wearing this shirt that said, ‘Isle of Lesbos,’” Williams recalls. A passing photographer snapped a photo of the couple and wound up submitting it to the photographic exhibit at the Kentucky State Fair. When Pedreira’s place of employment learned of the photograph—and the shirt Pedreira was wearing—she was terminated.
“This was the spark for the passage of the Fairness Ordinance. Before this, we had been trying to get it passed, and it failed over and over again. We had six solid votes, but we needed the seventh,” Williams says. “Steve Magre, an alderman for Germantown, heard her story and was very moved by it. He proved to be the seventh vote that we needed to get the Fairness Ordinance passed. So that t-shirt is our prized treasure in the collection.”
Williams’ personal favorite item is a book of poems written by his late lover, Norman Nichols. “[Norman] left a lot of memorabilia, including some of his t-shirts. He also left some poems which I put into a book and had published.” The book, Subway Stops, is a collection of poems Nichols wrote while living in San Francisco. “Some of the poems are pretty risqué, like something you’d see in a subway late at night.”
Although its focus is primarily Louisville and Southern Indiana, the Williams-Nichols collection boasts an eclectic mix of artifacts. In addition to ephemera from 20th-century Louisville, the collection has a first edition of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray along with a notecard handwritten by Wilde; a letter written by famous lesbian writer and expat, Gertrude Stein; and a series of gay magazines from across Asia and Europe.
Williams sees the Williams-Nichols collection as a crucial aspect of supporting research and education around LGBTQ+ history. “When I was growing up and I became aware of my gay inclinations, there was no place to go to learn what was going on with my body or if there were other people like me. I went down to the Louisville Free Public Library and fished around, but all I could find were these sociological tomes that were pretty condemnatory of homosexuality. There were no gay novels, no gay history, nothing like that.”
His recollections reinforce the importance of documenting and preserving LGBTQ+ history in Louisville. The Williams-Nichols collection supports representation of queer Louisvillians to prevent them from feeling alone like Williams did in his youth. “This collection helps to remind people that we are everywhere, as the slogan says. We are your neighbors, your sons and daughters, and TV personalities and radio personalities. This has been an eye-opener for people to realize that we’re in all aspects of life. The collecting is a thrill, but we want to leave a legacy, and we want to leave things for other people to discover in the future.”
One of the largest collections of LGBTQ+ artifacts in the United States, the Williams-Nichols collection is housed in Archives and Special Collections on the lower-level of Ekstrom Library. Items from the collection will be on display alongside Fairness Campaign records (also housed in ASC) as part of the upcoming exhibit, Fairness Does a City Good! A 25 Year Retrospective, which celebrates the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in Louisville. The opening reception for the exhibit is April 18, 2024, and it runs through December 2024.
Materials from the Williams-Nichols collection are also featured in the Bridwell Art Library’s current exhibit, Design Activism. Through the lens of the AIDS crisis, Design Activism explores how everything from hand-made signs to nationwide advertising campaigns can be used as tools for activism and education.
Please feel free to browse more of Archives and Special Collections’ LGBTQ+ Collections.
New Employee Spotlight: Kristina Bloch, Engineering Librarian
Posted: April 2, 2024 Filed under: Ekstrom Library, People, University of Louisville Libraries Leave a comment
With lots of activity around the J.B. Speed School of Engineering, University Libraries are pleased to introduce Kristina Bloch, our new Engineering Librarian. With a background in STEM education and a passion for innovation and research, Kristina is ready to redefine the roles of libraries in engineering.
Kristina’s path to librarianship, however, was not predetermined. “I just finished school for my doctorate in December,” she shares. “I fell in love with researching and realized that I had a talent for helping my classmates do work through the peer review process and just finding information in general.”
Drawing from her diverse experiences in school libraries and STEM education, Kristina brings a fresh perspective to University Libraries. “I’ve always enjoyed being with kids and their natural curiosity,” she muses. “But I realized there’s more to it. I like working with adults and the process of coaching and learning through that.”
Kristina is excited about supporting collaboration and inclusivity among scholars across the university. “My number one goal is to remove barriers for research,” she states. “I want to build partnerships so library services are integrated within not only the curriculum but also through different outreach programs as well.” Focusing on bridging the gap between knowledge and access, she aims to empower students and faculty to reach their full potential.
But holding the Engineering Librarian position isn’t Kristina’s only tie to UofL. “My dad played football at UofL and my mom played tennis, and that’s how they met. But they also said that neither one of them ever went to the library when they were here, so it’s funny to them that I’m here in this library that they never went to.”
Kristina urges the campus community to get to know more about University Libraries. “Reach out to us!” she encourages. With her unique blend of experience and passion, we look forward to the lasting impact Kristina will have on University Libraries and the University of Louisville community. Please join us in welcoming her.
Challenging the Status Quo: Margaret Mattingly’s Legacy in STEM Education
Posted: March 22, 2024 Filed under: Collections, People, Photographic Archives, University of Louisville Libraries | Tags: education, social justice, womens-history Leave a commentBy Melissa Rothman
Throughout history, countless women have been driving forces behind social justice movements. However, their vital roles and stories are often overlooked in mainstream accounts of our collective journey. In celebration of Women’s History Month, we spotlight one such trailblazer from our institution’s past: Margaret Mattingly, who, in 1937, became the first female graduate of the Speed School of Engineering.
UofL Archive’s digital collections provide an invaluable window into our campus history and a glimpse of the many milestones we’ve achieved through the years. As our primary digital repository for UofL photos and documents, we have the opportunity to uncover and recognize students who have left small, yet lasting marks on our community. This repository houses thousands of rare images such as this poignant photograph of Mattingly working alongside her all-male peers in 1936.
While this image implies a progressive outlook of our university culture during this period, the original article featuring this photo hints at the difficulty surrounding Mattingly’s personal struggle. Within the account of the Speed School’s co-op program success, the journalist acknowledges Mattingly’s academic achievement, noting her scholastic ranking in the upper third of a class of thirty boys. However, her accomplishments often seem overshadowed by frequent references to the employment prospects of “the boys.” Despite these challenges, Mattingly embarked on a career as a chemical engineer at The Seagram Co. before transitioning to become an educator. The reasons for this shift are subject to speculation, but it’s reasonable to assume that pursuing a role in a male-dominated field presented considerable obstacles.
Gender norms of the past imposed numerous obstacles for Margaret and other female students in their academic pursuits. For instance, although we see Margaret wearing pants in the photo, it’s worth noting that UofL regulations prohibited women from wearing slacks on campus for over three decades after Margarette graduated. A 1967 article published in The Louisville Cardinal illustrates the associated risks women took when speaking out for their rights. The photo depicts three women confidently striding in the prohibited attire, yet their faces are obscured to prevent potential backlash for their advocacy. While the caption labeling them as “The Young Criminals” may seem excessive, Doris Stokes, the dean of women, is quoted as upholding the regulations, insisting that “women must be dressed as women,” despite shifting cultural norms beyond campus. Stokes’ motives are subject to interpretation; she may have genuinely supported these principles or merely adhered to tradition due to the expectations of her position. Regardless, this underscores the complexity of the issue and the layered power dynamics that needed to be dismantled to instigate meaningful change.
Like many social movements, women faced a delicate balancing act in achieving their goals. Striking this balance involved navigating between conforming to societal expectations and pushing back just enough to catalyze change. Another Courier Journal article published in 1936 presents a stark contrast to the image of Mattingly working with her fellow engineering students. On “The Woman’s Page,” Mattingly is depicted in a tin wash tub, participating in a dramatization of “The Wreck of the Hesperus,” a narrative poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Accompanying images also showcase other performances for UofL’s “stunt night,” sponsored by the Sigma Kappa Sorority. Collectively, these sources offer a nuanced understanding of Mattingly’s identity and shed light on how women navigated the gender norms of the era in their quest for equal rights.
While Mattingly may not be celebrated in history books as a Nobel Prize-winning engineer, her contribution was profound and enduring and extended well beyond her time at the Speed School. As a lifelong teacher, the true extent of her influence on students and the subsequent ripple effects are immeasurable. For example, in 1961, the Courier Journal published an article covering a science fair co-organized by Mattingly at Assumption High School, where she taught Chemistry and Mathematics. Although this was “the first event of its kind for girls in the [Louisville] area” and marks a small victory in advancing social change, this milestone is tarnished by the language and tone adopted by the journalist. The writer states that “Though [the girls] projects were not generally as advanced as those at the St. Xavier High School boy’s science fair, the girls would have charmed the socks off the proverbial mad scientist.” The article not only diminishes the students’ accomplishments but also reinforces the social expectation that women can be charming but not intellectually capable.
Despite all these obstacles, Margaret never wavered. Evidence of this persistence can be found in a 1971 letter to the editor of the Courier Journal where she advocates for desegregation efforts. She emphasized the importance of communication in resolving controversies surrounding desegregation and advocated for “Project Understanding,” an initiative aimed to enhance race relations by facilitating conversations among community members and organizations in Louisville. Additionally, Mattingly continued her involvement in volunteer work as an educator teaching literacy in prisons, tutoring inner-city kids as well as children of agricultural workers in Florida’s sugar cane fields and orange groves.
As Audre Lorde eloquently stated, “Revolution is not a one-time event.” While it’s important to celebrate well-known figures like Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, and Michelle Obama, it is crucial to recognize that lasting change emerges from a multitude of actions, both large and small. Mattingly’s legacy of activism and service underscores the importance of ongoing efforts to promote gender equality and social justice. University Libraries offer a wealth of resources for exploring women’s history and contemporary gender-related issues, both locally and globally, reflecting our commitment to fostering understanding and inclusivity in academia and beyond. For a comprehensive list of resources and databases on Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, we invite you to visit our subject guide.
Melissa Rothman is the Library Specialist for Undergraduate Research in Ekstrom Library’s Research Assistance and Instruction department.
Explore Digital Resources for Celebrating Black History Month
Posted: February 20, 2024 Filed under: Databases, University of Louisville Libraries | Tags: Black history Leave a commentBy Angel Clemons
Whether it’s reading a biography, watching documentaries, or admiring old photos, University of Louisville Libraries offer access to online resources that help you honor and amplify Black voices.
Oxford African American Studies Center
The Oxford African American Studies Center provides the most comprehensive collection of scholarship available online to focus on the lives and events which have shaped African American and African history and culture. This database includes more than 10,000 articles by top scholars in the field. The core content includes:
- African American National Biography
- Dictionary of African Biography
- Encyclopedia of African American History, 1619-1895
- Encyclopedia of African American History, 1896 to the Present
- Black Women in America, Second Edition
- The Oxford Encyclopedia of African Thought
- The Dictionary of Caribbean and Afro-Latin American Biography
Over 2,500 images, more than 700 primary sources with specially written commentaries, and nearly 200 maps have been collected to enhance this reference content.
Black Studies in Video
The Black Studies in Video database is a collection of documentaries, interviews, and archival footage exploring the black experience through history, politics, art and culture, family structure, gender relationships, and social and economic issues. The collection includes documentaries on leading artists, writers, musicians, playwrights, and performers, such as Toni Morrison, Langston Hughes, Huey P. Newton, Frantz Fanon, Zora Neale Hurston, Richard Wright, Eldridge Cleaver, August Wilson, Bobby Seale, Ethel Waters, Amiri Baraka, and Robert F. Williams. You can browse the database by people, themes, and topics and view videos by filmmaker, country of origin, production date, producer, and other features. You can also cross-search all video transcripts, liner notes, bibliographic data (including series, title, country of origin, publication date, narrator, production staff, and more), and many other indexed fields, including person discussed, year discussed, and all the browse options listed above.
Black Thought and Culture
The Black Thought and Culture database is a collection of nonfiction writings by major American black leaders—teachers, artists, politicians, religious leaders, athletes, war veterans, entertainers, and other figures—covering 250 years of history. It includes over 100,000 pages of non-fiction writings in the form of letters, speeches, essays, political leaflets, interviews, and transcripts. The collection includes the words of Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. Du Bois, Carter G. Woodson, Alain Locke, Paul Robeson, Booker T. Washington, Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, Sammy Davis, Jr., Ida B. Wells, Nikki Giovanni, Mary McLeod Bethune, Carl Rowan, Roy Wilkens, James Weldon Johnson, Audre Lorde, Thurgood Marshall, A. Philip Randolph, Constance Baker Motley, Walter F. White, Amiri Baraka, Ralph Ellison, Martin Luther King, Jr., Angela Davis, Jesse Jackson, Bobby Seale, Gwendolyn Brooks, Huey P. Newton, James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Randall Kennedy, Cornel West, Nelson George, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Bayard Rustin, and hundreds of other notable people.
Approximately 20 percent of the items are previously unpublished and fugitive, such as:
- The transcript of the Muhammad Ali trial
- A full run of The Black Panther newspaper, with full-color images of every page as well as searchable text
- 2,500 pages of exclusive Black Panther oral histories owned by the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation
- Selected audio files, heard here for the first time.
Black Drama
The Black Drama database contains the full text of more than 1,700 plays written from the mid-1800s to the present by more than 200 playwrights from North America, English-speaking Africa, the Caribbean, and other African diaspora countries. Many of the works are rare, hard to find, or out of print. More than 40 percent of the collection consists of previously unpublished plays by writers such as Langston Hughes, Ed Bullins, Willis Richardson, Amiri Baraka, Randolph Edmonds, Zora Neale Hurston, and many others. The database is enhanced by additional materials including playbills, photographs, posters, sketches, miscellaneous artwork, and ephemera. The Libraries have access to the first, second, and third editions of Black Drama.
Beyond Aesthetics: ‘Design Activism’ and the Tranformative Power of Graphic Design
Posted: February 15, 2024 Filed under: Archives & Special Collections, Art Library, Collections, Exhibits, Louisville History, People, Primary Sources, University of Louisville Libraries Leave a commentBy Justin Davis
In today’s world, graphic design is more than just creating aesthetically pleasing visuals. It is a powerful tool that can be used to create awareness, educate people, and bring about social change. Design activism is the use of graphic design to make a difference, whether informing people about a social issue or rallying people behind a cause.
According to a 2022 Design Without Borders survey, “97% of freelancers believe creatives have the power to make a real social impact.” However, that number should be 100%. Design activism can make a real difference, especially for marginalized communities. From hand-written signs to nationally distributed educational campaigns, each work in this exhibition hopes to show the power that graphic design can have through the lens of LGBTQ+ rights.
A new exhibition entitled “Design Activism,” currently on display at Bridwell Art Library, has been curated from Archives & Special Collections through their Williams-Nichols collection by Vincent Young, a graduate student in Critical and Curatorial Studies and Bridwell Art Library employee. The Williams-Nichols collection holds 500 linear feet of Kentucky and Ohio River Valley LGBTQ+ history. It contains books, manuscripts, photographs, audiovisuals, and realia collected primarily by Louisville activist David Williams and his partner, Norman Nichols.
Recently, Williams visited the Art Library to see the exhibit which explores how graphic design was used during the AIDS crisis to educate people and create awareness. It is a powerful reminder of how graphic design can be used for activism and education. The work on display ranges from hand-written signs to nationwide advertising campaigns, all created to bring about social change.
“Design Activism” is about creating beautiful designs and designs that can make a difference. It is about using design to create awareness, educate people, and bring about social change. Whether you are a graphic designer, artist, or just someone who wants to make a difference, Design Activism is something we can all strive for.
“Design Activism” is currently on display at the Bridwell Art Library.
UofL Librarians Help Researchers Create a Better World Through Data
Posted: February 6, 2024 Filed under: Ekstrom Library, Librarianship / Archivy, Research Tips, Technology, University of Louisville Libraries | Tags: ai, artificial intelligence, data-visualization, education, technology 1 Comment
UofL librarians Tessa Withorn and Lidiya Grote are highlighting the ever-evolving landscape of data during International Love Data Week (February 12 – 16) with their new resource guide, full of resources and learning opportunities for researchers. This year’s theme, My Kind of Data, sponsored by the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), sheds light on the transformative potential of data in creating a more equitable, inclusive, and compassionate world.
Access to diverse and reliable datasets is crucial for meaningful research and impactful analysis. Through University Libraries, researchers at all levels have access to many resources to explore and engage with data to pave the way for positive change.
But understanding the data is just the first step. To maximize the impact of their work, researchers must communicate it in ways that resonate with their audiences. Digital tools like Microsoft Power BI and Tableau Public empower researchers to create visually stunning representations that enhance their audiences’ understanding of the data at hand. For those seeking additional support and guidance in crafting creative and effective designs, the Digital Media Suite in Ekstrom Library offers assistance in elevating the visual storytelling of data.
Take Physics and Astronomy student, Trevor Butrum, whose image above is from the Orion, Horsehead, and Flame nebula. Butrum worked on a project in Dr. Benne Holwerda’s class to answer the research question, “Does the simulated data from Simba match the collected data of the GAMA, G10-Cosmos, and 3D-HST surveys?” The visual below represents Butrum’s observation: “It seems that Simba doesn’t match the measured dust mass values at Redshift at z0. Simba seems to miss low dust masses around 0-5MD and over predicts medium dust masses around 6-7Md for Redshift z0.”
Engineering student, Lara Thomas, created the following data visualization around research on ChatGPT and was nominated by Dr. Campbell Bego. Thomas explored several types of figures to capture what was known to be a trend in the data, namely that student experience level was related to their ethical opinions of ChatGPT. Thomas tried several graphical options and made an important switch to plotting percentages instead of frequencies which really highlighted the trend. The image below was used in an abstract proposal for the ACC Meeting of the Minds, a conference for undergraduate students to share research and creative projects, and was also used in an American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) paper submission. (If you have students who create data visualizations and want to share them, applications are now open for the April 2024 ACC Meeting of the Minds.)
So you’ve collected data, created an eye-catching graphic, but now what? Collaboration is key in the world of research, and University Libraries work hard to meet the research needs of students and faculty across programs at UofL. ICPSR encourages researchers to contribute to open repositories to promote transparency and accessibility. At UofL, researchers can contribute to advancing collective knowledge by sharing it ethically, responsibly, and by learning more about best practices for data management.
To celebrate Love Data Week 2024, check out the following free online workshops from participating universities. On Tuesday, February 13, researchers may attend “AI love my data: A workshop on using generative AI tools for research management” to explore the potential of generative AI tools in research data management using Microsoft Copilot as a key example.
On Wednesday, February 14, researchers may also learn how data and social justice intersect at “What’s Love Got to Do with It? Qualitative Research and Social Justice,” where Jamie Fader, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and qualitative researcher at Temple University, will present on the role of love in qualitative studies. Fader’s work challenges the conventional emphasis on objectivity and urges participants to consider love’s potential to enhance validity and equity in their work.
If you want to find out more about how researchers can create a more compassionate world through data, check out the following resources:
- Advancing Research on Disability
- Celebrating Juneteenth with Data
- The GIS mapping project of Redlining Louisville
- ICPSR Resources for Instructors
- Open Data Flint
- Resource Center for Minority Data
“My Kind of Data” highlights the potential of data not only as a research tool but as a catalyst for positive change. Through University Libraries, individuals can explore, visualize, and share data to make our world more informed and equitable. Join us in taking a step closer to a kinder world shaped by the collective efforts of researchers who are committed to making a difference.
UofL Librarians Present On Open Textbooks, Medical History, and More at the Celebration of Teaching and Learning
Posted: January 31, 2024 Filed under: Ekstrom Library, Kornhauser Health Sciences Library, Librarianship / Archivy, People, Teaching Ideas, University of Louisville, University of Louisville Libraries | Tags: education, libraries, library, open educational resources, webinar 2 Comments
Four University Libraries faculty members will share their expertise on a range of topics at the University of Louisville’s 2024 Celebration of Teaching and Learning on Friday, February 2.
Lidiya Grote, Assistant Professor and Social Sciences Teaching and Faculty Outreach Librarian, will join fellow educators in an interdisciplinary panel, “Adopt, Don’t Shop: A Roundtable Discussion on Open and Affordable Textbooks.” Participants will discuss using open textbooks and library resources as primary materials in their courses. The group will explore the benefits and challenges of integrating open educational resources and shed light on the transformative impact of using open and affordable materials in higher education.
Alexandra Howard, Assistant Professor and Business and Entrepreneurship Librarian, will present “Representation Matters: Diversifying Course Content with Library Resources” alongside Dr. Farooq Durrani, Dr. Thomas Lambert, and Dr. Anne Marie Zwerg-Villegas, which aims to provide perspectives on how diversity, equity, and inclusion can be further integrated in higher education. Howard will also give a lightning talk, “The Library as a Partner in Engaged Learning.”
Mary K. Marlatt, Assistant Professor and Health Sciences Library Archivist, will examine the development, instruction components, and lessons learned from a synchronous online course that explores the history of the U.S. healthcare system. Marlatt, alongside Cynethia Bethel-Hines, will discuss the viability and impact of this form of teaching in “Teaching Medical History in the 21st Century.”
Tessa Withorn, Assistant Professor and Science Librarian, will present “Cut the Crap!: Teaching Source Evaluation with an Online Library Tutorial” alongside Dr. Sanaya Stocke. The presentation will address a common frustration among educators: students’ reliance on unreliable sources for assignments. Withorn and Stocke will discuss how they developed an interactive online tutorial for a lower-level Biology course to help students learn to evaluate various sources using lateral reading. This talk will offer valuable perspectives on information literacy in an increasingly digital academic landscape.
New Employee Spotlight: Alex Glynn, Research Literacy and Communications Instructor at Kornhauser Health Sciences Library
Posted: January 26, 2024 Filed under: Kornhauser Health Sciences Library, Librarianship / Archivy, People, Services, Technology, University of Louisville Libraries Leave a comment
The path that led Alex Glynn into medical research at University Libraries was anything but conventional. As he put it, “ending up here was an accident of COVID.” Previously, Alex worked in marketing for an organization in Florida to raise awareness around climate change and the human stories behind its effects. At the onset of the pandemic, Alex found a role in medical writing and research manuscripts. His responsibilities expanded into respiratory infections which gave him an insider perspective on the field of infectious diseases.
This unexpected passion for medicine made him realize how his diverse background could support research and information in health sciences. As a humanities person in a predominantly scientific field—Alex studied English literature as an undergraduate student—he nonetheless found the world of medical research fascinating and shared his experience of breaking stereotypes. “I’ve been told humanities is a useless skill, but [in health sciences], they’re hard to come by.” Alex’s writing background helped him create guides like Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Medicine Portal which demonstrate his keen awareness of the changing nature of libraries. In the age of rapidly advancing technology in the medical field and beyond, “so much of what we do now is electronic,” he explained.
As Research Literacy and Communications Instructor at Kornhauser Health Sciences Library (KHSL), Alex helps to support the University of Louisville’s health and medical programs. One of the most rewarding aspects of his role is the support and sense of purpose he receives from library colleagues and the UofL Health community. “From day one, it was repeatedly made obvious, We’re glad you’re here.” His move to UofL opened his eyes to the important medical research being done at the university which has emerged as a hub of life-saving research activity.
The positive and collaborative environment at KHSL has contributed to a fulfilling work experience for Alex who likes to pay it forward by being especially helpful to library patrons. Encouraging students, faculty, and researchers to make the most of library services, Alex urged laughingly, “Please actually talk to us.” He stressed that libraries provide all kinds of assistance and support; they’re not just limited to books.
Alex’s career trajectory is an example of the evolving needs of library users in the contemporary academic landscape. Evident by his unorthodox pathway into medical research and getting ahead on cutting-edge technology like artificial intelligence, Alex epitomizes the adaptability and agility that are crucial for the success of our libraries and the medical community. In his role, the emphasis on electronic resources, open access, and AI reflect the evolving demands of libraries in the digital age.
Please join us in welcoming Alex.
New Ask a Librarian Chat Experience
Posted: January 3, 2024 Filed under: Ekstrom Library, Services, Web Site | Tags: Ask a Librarian Leave a comment
By Tessa Withorn
Starting in January 2024, the University Libraries will have a new Ask a Librarian chat experience. While you’re using the library’s website, you’ll get a friendly reminder that librarians and research assistants are here to help. You’ll be able to chat with us live Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm.
New Chat Features
Follow up emails
If we can’t answer your question in the moment or if we need to follow up with you later, we’ll create a ticket from your chat and follow up with an email to the address you’ve provided.
Email a transcript
You can send a transcript of your chat with the information and links we talked about so you can go back and find them again later.
Feedback
We’d love to hear from you about our service! Our new system allows you to give a rating to your experience and add comments to let us know how we’re doing.
Search FAQs
If we’re offline, you can search our knowledge based of Frequently Asked Questions to find the information you need, or send us an email and we’ll follow up the next business day.
How We Can Help You
Finding sources – We can help you find specific articles, books, journals, data, media, and other research materials from the library and across the web. We’ll help you figure out whether they’re available online, on a shelf in one of our libraries, or in another facility. If an item isn’t available, we can help you request items through our interlibrary loan service to get you the materials you need.
Getting started with a research project – We can suggest relevant databases, keywords, and other search strategies to find research materials for your topic. We may suggest and help you schedule an appointment with a librarian who has expertise in your subject for more in-depth assistance.
Using the library – We can find and share information on our website for using other library services like our hours, book borrowing limits, finding and reserving study spaces, recommending a purchase, scheduling an instruction session, and more.
Account help – We can connect you with staff in our Access and User Services department for help with renewing books, checking on interlibrary loan requests, and other issues related to your accounts.
Troubleshooting – If you encounter a broken link or have trouble accessing one of our databases, we can help resolve or report the issue.
The new Ask a Librarian chat goes live on January 8, 2024.
“I wouldn’t have graduated without this job”: Graduating Library Student Workers Reflect On Their Roles
Posted: December 14, 2023 Filed under: Ekstrom Library, People, University of Louisville Libraries Leave a comment
As the end of the semester approaches, it is a significant time for three library student workers who are set to graduate this week. Beau Howard, Bri McCrea, and Hevin Ramsey sat down to reflect on their experiences, lessons learned, and the community they built while working at University Libraries over the past four years.
The popularity of employment at Ekstrom Library among students stems from its reputation as the heart of academic and recreational student activity on campus. Each semester, dozens of students apply for a library job. “It’s cliché to say, but I always wanted to work at the library because in high school, it was the one place where I could get peace and quiet,” says Hevin. “So I knew coming into college that if I didn’t get a job at the library, I didn’t want to work anywhere else.” Beyond the studious atmosphere, students are drawn to University Libraries for their resources, academic ambiance, and the opportunity to be a part of a community that values learning, growth, and community.
“I’ve made a lot of friends working in the library, so it was always fun to be at work. But it was also a place where I could study while I worked. It was a good environment for that because I couldn’t just get up and leave whenever I wanted,” adds Beau, a communications major. The endless possibilities at the libraries make them a coveted workplace for students seeking a conducive, supportive, and intellectually stimulating environment.
“Working at the library also helped me because, as a photography major, a lot of my work requires interacting with people and getting to know them, so it was a bit of a sociological advantage too,” says Hevin.
Beau, Bri, and Hevin say that being able to empathize with and understand patrons’ experiences and challenges made their roles at the libraries that much more fulfilling. “I’ve learned how to work with all different types of people,” Bri says. “I’ve been here for so long, I’ve helped literally hundreds of people. Sometimes it’s challenging, but it’s definitely valuable experience.”
“It takes some patience to understand that not everyone is a student and not everyone is from Louisville or even Kentucky. Sometimes we’re the first people that someone who is from another country meets on campus, and I like knowing that I can help them get around or find what they’re looking for,” says Hevin.
Beau remembers applying that empathy. “As a student, I get it. You have a printing problem. You have to get a paper done. I understand. So it’s nice to be at a place where when they call and are having trouble explaining something, because I’m also a student—I get it. I know how to help you out.”
“It’s really nice to be in a position where we can say, we can actually help you with this and not have to transfer you three different times because we know what you need,” adds Hevin.
When asked about favorite memories from their time at the library, they were not short on material. Hevin recounts an incident involving someone in a gorilla suit handing out rubber ducks. Bri recalls one unusual phone call. “I remember one Saturday morning, a patron called the front desk and asked for Russia’s phone number. I told them I could try to find the U.S. Embassy’s phone number there, but it is, like, three o’clock in the morning, and I don’t know who is going to answer the phone.”
But uncommon interactions are, paradoxically, often the norm when working the service desk and often rewarding experiences. The students remember helping patrons fill out paperwork for housing, immigration visas, and other non-academic services. “I have helped people print out a lot of resumes,” Bri says. “I actually had one person come back and say, ‘Hey, I got that job!’ And it was so exciting for all of us.” These interactions highlight the diverse and unexpected experiences the students had while working at Ekstrom Library.
Beau, Bri, and Hevin say they learned practical skills beyond customer service. “I learned how to be able to talk on the phone without being scared,” says Beau. “I hated it at first, but I learned.”
“I feel like I’ve trained about 75% of the people who work here,” says Bri. “I’m looking at all these people and thinking, if I didn’t do something right, they might still not know how to do it. But thankfully, I feel like I did a pretty good job on a lot of things. I don’t think they would keep letting me train people otherwise.”
Hevin talks about her individual contributions to the library. “I did a lot of stuff for the newspapers here. It’s one of those things that people literally don’t know about. If someone says they want to read the New York Times or Washington Post,I’m the one who gets those papers ready for patrons. I was the one who would sort through them and shelve them. And no one even knows.”
Learning to collaborate with co-workers was a big steppingstone. Bri remembers a large-scale cataloging project for the Student Government Association’s (SGA) DVD Collection. “We had to go through and make sure all the DVDs were organized correctly, make sure we had all the physical DVDs and all the cases. I remember that took the entire summer, and there were five of us working on it, all doing different things on different days. And we did it!”
Hevin, who spent time helping with the Robotic Retrieval System (RRS), learned a lot about working with professional staff too. “People would come in and ask for a book but not know where it is, like five books in the RRS, so I’d have to ask Alice to keep an eye out for certain books, or ask someone for help finding interlibrary loans or missing items upstairs. So you’re collaborating not just with student workers but staff members too. And in some cases, faculty.”
“I’ve started joking that working at the library was like joining a sorority. I’ve gotten such a big sense of community from the staff members as well as student workers that I honestly don’t think I would have graduated if I wasn’t working here,” says Bri.
Their commitment to being a welcoming and inclusive presence at the library naturally lends to the community they have found among fellow student workers. The supportive environment they describe in the library is a product of the friends they have made which transform co-workers into a “close-knit family.”
“There are times when other student workers and I stayed after work for hours helping each other with school projects because, it’s like, we’re not going to get this done if we don’t hold each other accountable. I’ve gained a lot of really good friendships from working here. In general, it’s been a well-rounded job because it’s helped me balance school and work and friendships.” Bri continues, “Sometimes it can feel like you’re going through so much either in school or outside of school, and you get to talk to your co-workers about it, and they sort of become your brothers and sisters,” says Bri. “I warned everyone I’m working with tonight that I will probably cry at some point because it’s my last shift.”
In addition to gaining valuable friendships, they say they’ve learned many lessons about themselves and their peers while working at the library. “Some people have never been to a library and that makes me sad,” says Beau. “Some people come in and are like, ‘Is it really free to check out a book?’”
Hevin adds, “I’ve gained a large love for libraries in general by realizing that this is a place where people can come for almost anything … not only books but also phone chargers, laptops, movies instead of having to pay for streaming.”
“I can’t imagine not going to the library. I actually want to be a librarian full-time after college,” says Beau. His affinity for libraries began as a teenager, and he knew that the opportunity to work at Ekstrom Library would provide valuable experience to propel his professional endeavors. He says that his time as a student worker deepened his appreciation for the role of libraries and allowed him to witness the positive impact librarians, library staff, and student workers can have on individuals and communities.
““[The library] is just an epicenter of information but also like a literal home. It is the one place where, because it’s open late, people can study or just have a place to be warm and have somewhere to eat,” says Hevin. “I’ve seen people literally get a study room and have a blanket and take a nap, which—I get it. It’s in the middle of campus, it’s free, it’s open 24 hours, and it’s open to anybody.”
With graduation on their minds, the conversation turned toward future endeavors. Beau acknowledged the diverse network he has built and expressed excitement about the different paths his colleagues would take.
In a few words, the students sum up their overall experience working at the library. Bri says, “I made so many connections. Like, I met my future roommate here, which is nice.”
Community seems to be the overarching theme for their time at the library. Hevin notes, “There are so many diverse majors that work here. I’ve worked with pre-med majors who were EMTs. I’ve worked with Speed School students who are about the start their co-ops. I’ve worked with social work students. It’s crazy, the different types of people you meet. And really cool English majors.”
Bri laughs. “If I ever need a mural done, I know to call Hevin.”
“You do have a pretty diverse professional network to have immediately graduating college. You know what I mean? Like Bri said, EMTs, engineers, artists, writers, that’s a pretty good start.”
As these graduating seniors bid farewell to University Libraries, they reflect on what they will miss most.
“I genuinely think this is going be the probably the biggest part of college that I’m most nostalgic for,” says Hevin.
“I’m a very nostalgic person,” adds Bri. “This is the first time I realize that I’m not going to be able to sit at the circulation desk again. Now I’m emotional. I’m never going to be in the backroom bothering my co-workers again.”
“This is the job I’ve had since I was a freshman,” says Hevin. “It’s literally the only job I’ve ever had. I called my mom after my last day and told her, ‘I’m leaving. I’m literally leaving. You don’t understand. This was my dream job.’”
The stories of Beau, Bri, and Hevin show just how profound an impact working at University Libraries has had on their time as undergraduates. Beyond routine tasks and responsibilities, their experiences reflect a shared sense of community, personal growth, and the overall positive influence University Libraries have had on their lives. As they prepare to graduate, their words of nostalgia and gratitude echo the sentiment that the library was more than their workplace—it was a home, a source of support, and a place where friendships flourished. As they transition into the next stage of their lives, we express our gratitude for their dedication to University Libraries and the campus community. Please join us in congratulating them and wishing good luck as they embark on the next chapter.
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