The Office of Academic Affairs is working with the deans of colleges and areas to pull together a presenatation on academic quality for the July meeting of the Board of Regents. Here’s a list of the academic quality indicators of the University Libraries over the last ten years, namely from 1996 to 2006.
Category Archives: General
University Libraries’ Academic Quality Indicators
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Best Reference Books of 2005
Encyclopedia Latina. 4 vols. Grolier. 1826p. ed. by Ilan Stavans & Harold Augenbraum. illus. index. ISBN 0-7172-5815-7. $449. 
“En boca cerrada no entran moscas.†Literally, a closed mouth does not attract flies. This example of dichos, defined here as sayings or witty aphorisms, is just one of 650 spectacular entries consuming 1.2 million words which generated, to quote editor Ilan Stavans (Amherst and PBS’s La Plaza), 26,000 emails. A diverse cast of contributors – academics, artists, journalists, even chefs – have combined their talents to describer Latina life and culture in the U.S., from the age of conquest to the present day. There is extensive coverage of broad themes like literature, music and politics, but also specific articles on mambo, lowriders and pachucos. Articles include excerpts from literature, poetry, speeches and recipes. Approximately 150 articles are biographical, from Oscar Acosta, a 300 pound Chicano lawyer to Emiliano Zapata. Spectacular color plates in each volume, a collection of primary documents, and a detailed index make this a rich and accessible resource.
Job of a Lifetime
Job of a Lifetime is a bi-monthly College and Research Libraries News column which was created to inform librarians and potential librarians about innovative and unusual positions in academic and research librarianship. It includes profiles of librarians in unique placements (including the Smithsonian, and the Semester at Sea program). The library’s own Haiwang Yuan was featured in the November 2005 article.
When Yuan began, the position was brand new and the use of the Internet in libraries was taking off. He recalled, “The dean of libraries had created this new position, but I had to create what I was going to do. I had a blank ticket and at first a lot of people were doubtful. ‘What is Haiwang doing in there, twiddling his thumbs?’ I laid out how I would develop, design, and maintain the Web site of the WKU Libraries. Then I created a plan and a timeline, including what day I was going to finish what. When they found out all that was involved, the question changed to, ‘does he sleep?’â€
Writing Center in Helm Reference Room All Summer
Just register, then access the schedule by selecting “Helm Library†from the drop-down “location†menu at the top of the schedule page. Sign up for appointments by viewing the schedule, clicking on the block of time you want, filling in the purpose of your appointment, and clicking the “save†button at the bottom of the appointment form. You should get an appointment confirmation sent to your email address within minutes of making the appointment.
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Best Reference Books of 2005
Antisemitism. 2 vols. ABC-CLIO. 828p. ed. by Richard S. Levy. illus. index. ISBN 1-85109-439-3. $185. 
The appearance at this university of “Living On,” a touring exhibit of the stories and portraits of Tennessee Holocaust survivors, refugees and liberators reminds us all of the pain inflicted by the proponents of Antisemitism. The editor traces anti-Jewish sterotyping and hatred to the Diaspora. This hostility towards Jews has produced an enormous body of literature. Yet the term Antisemitism is only a century old, appearing first in Germany in 1879. Even younger is the study of Antisemitism as a distinct field. The 612 alphabetically arranged articles were written by 200 scholars in 21 countries. 1,200 of these are syntheses of 1,000-2,000 words on national literature, literary figures and even seminal texts like Mein Kampf. The scope of articles ranges from antidefamation efforts in the United States to anti-Jewish prejudice in Vichy France. Despite the charged nature of the subject of this work, the focus remains on the search for truth. Even Lindbergh gets a new look.
No Such Thing as a Free Lunch?
Please consider joining us on Thursday, June 8th from 9:00-12:00 at the Kentucky Museum for our 2006-07 Volunteer Orientation. There are many volunteer opportunities available at the KY Library and Museum. Step into Kentucky’s past! We will be serving breakfast and lunch so please preregister by calling 745-6082.
Writing Center in Helm in the Summer
Here is an update about the Writing Center. They have been temporarily using the Learning Center in DUC this week, and will be there on Friday as well. Next week they will be back in their regular location in Cherry Hall. However, since Cherry will be closed for the summer, the Writing Center tutors will be using their auxilary location in Helm for the summer.
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Nancy Heathman’s Portrait of Johnny Depp
The striking portrait of Johnny Depp hanging in Cravens Library (opposite the elevator) is by the talented Nancy Heathman, a student worker in the Government Documents/Law unit. Nancy chose the charismatic Depp as her subject because of his Kentucky connection, among other reasons! Born in Owensboro, Depp spent his first few years in Kentucky. The portrait combines a number of techniques: Collage newsprint which was scanned and manipulated in Photoshop.
View the portrait across from the elevators on the fourth floor of Cravens, and see more of Nancy’s work.
Libraries’ Faculty and Staff at WKU’s First Amendment First Celebration
WKU’s School of Journalism & Broadcasting hosted a First Amendment First Celebration in Mass Media and Technology Hall on Thursday April 20, 2006. It was an American Democracy Project that combined panelists and featured speakers in a daylong discussion of the importance of First Amendment freedoms and encouraged students to embrace those freedoms.
A Banned Book Exhibition in the MMTH was held as part of the celebration. Contributing to the exhibition were Nancy Marshall and Paula Bowles, library staff, as well as Kelley Coppinger, Mark Simpson, and Josh Armstrong who created the video shown at the exhibition.
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Library Student Personnel Office Web Page
The office of Library Student Personnel has information available for those seeking employment as library student assistants. Applications, employment requirements, and job listings are a sampling of the resources located on this page.
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