Welcome Message from Claire Stewart, Dean of Libraries
Welcome, and welcome back! The University Libraries is so happy to see so many students and faculty back on campus, in our physical classrooms, and visiting us in our library locations. The Libraries faculty and staff are eager to dig in with you on your classes and your research, and keen to do everything we can to keep you safe and healthy this year. A reminder that with the 8/25 update to the University’s face covering policy, face coverings are required in library spaces.
I thought I would pass along some of my personal faves and things I’m excited about right now:
• If you took a summer break from research or study, I hope you’ll try out the improved Quick Search on our home page. (Try one of my favorite test searches: “octopus garden” and marvel at how far into our collective consciousness that phrase has penetrated)
• Have you tried our Proxy Bookmarklet or LibKey yet? These things are magic –when you encounter articles in the wild (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), try reloading using the Proxy Bookmarklet or use the LibKey one-click to see if we subscribe and you can get it for free. And if we don’t, DEFINITELY don’t pay for it yourself, send us a request via ASKus – we have a fantastic and fast Interlibrary loan service that can probably get it for you. This entry in our FAQ covers all of these options.
• Three of us in Libraries administration just completed the two-day Racial Equity Institute Phase I workshop, and it has shaken me to my core. I thought I knew, I thought I understood better the origins and the reach of racism in our country, but I only really knew a tiny, tiny part. Next up on my reading list: The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee. And I highly recommend this excerpt from Race: The Power of an Illusion: How the Racial Wealth Gap was Created. If you want to watch the whole thing, we have it in our collection.
• Last year the Libraries completed and launched a new strategic plan that will carry us through 2022. We have made a strong organizational commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and took care to emphasize DEI goals throughout our new plan. We hope you will partner with us as we do this work together to build a more just and equitable future.
We are here for you; have a great year, be safe, and don’t forget to reach out!
Claire
Professor and Dean of Libraries
University of Nebraska–Lincoln