UK Libraries Welcomes New and Returning Students for the Fall 2023 Semester

UK Libraries is excited to welcome new and returning students to campus for the start of the Fall 2023 semester. As the new year gets under way, we would like to remind all of our users of the world-class collections, resources, services, and spaces available across UK Libraries. 

Across our seven branch locations you can find resources that span study spaces, labs and maker spaces, equipment and software for technological and creative projects, incredible physical and digital collections, and individually tailored research and scholarship services.

We offer subject support, individual consultations, and general research help to meet all your informational needs, at every level, and at every stage of the research or information-gathering process. Connect with us in person or by using the embedded Ask Us chat box at the bottom of every web page.

Our librarians, archivists, and staff members are eager to work with you to accomplish all of your academic goals. With our experience and expertise, we can help you discover a world of information, create innovative new knowledge, and forge long-lasting connections with peers, mentors, and collaborators.

We are thrilled to begin a new year and offer our support as you begin or continue your UK journey. Together, we can push the bounds of what’s possible. 

Below, find what you can look forward to in the coming year.

K-Week

K-Week kicks off on Wednesday, August 16, and we have a number of exciting activities to introduce new students to UK Libraries locations, services, and information specialists. 

• Trivia: Our annual “Are You Smarter Than a Librarian?” trivia event will take place on Friday, August 18 from 12:30 pm - 2 pm in the Basement of William T. Young Library. Bring a friend and form a team to compete with our Subject Librarians in categories spanning Young Adult book series, UK history, song lyrics, and pop culture. Winners take home UK Libraries-branded swag and free Donatos Pizza will be provided. RSVP for the event to ensure you have a spot.
• Passport Activity – Our Passport Adventure activity will lead you to every corner of UK Libraries, revealing the many resources and services available to students across our seven branch locations. Completing four or more tasks makes you eligible for a UK Libraries-branded deluxe swag bag with items to make your school year smoother. Pick up a card at the Ask Us desk on the First Floor of Young Library. Passport submissions will be accepted through Friday, September 29.
• Spin to Win – Visit the Welcome Desk on the First Floor of Young Library and give our wheel a spin to win UK Libraries-branded swag. With each spin of the wheel students will learn about library spaces, services, and resources and get to know our information experts.
• Orientations – UK Libraries will be tabling at college orientations across campus. Stop by to say hi and discover how our librarians and archivists can help you make use of the Libraries’ spaces, services, and information resources.

New Resources & Updated Spaces

• New Furniture – The Atrium on the Second Floor of William T. Young Library features new lounge chairs ideal for reading, study breaks, and socializing with friends. One of many delightful and unique spatial features of UK Libraries, the Atrium is an airy, light-filled space situated beneath soaring skylights. The Special Collections Research Center has also added new lounge chairs to the Lobby and semi-private seating to the Great Hall. 
• New Electronic Resources – UK Libraries has added Academic Video Online to our electronic resources. A valuable resource for students, faculty, and researchers, Academic Video Online provides access to over 70,000 videos, including documentaries, interviews, and instructional videos across a wide range of subjects. We have also added AM Explorer, a comprehensive database of primary source materials containing millions of pages of historical documents, photographs, and other materials that cover political and social movements, arts and culture, and daily life throughout American history, among many other subjects.
• OpenAthens – UK Libraries is now using the OpenAthens platform to manage access to electronic resources, including databases, electronic journals, and other subscription resources. The OpenAthens platform will better support our growing research community by expanding access to electronic resources, creating a more seamless search and discovery experience, and improving security.
• EndNote & LibKey Nomad – New versions of EndNote and LibKey Nomad are ready for use in the Fall 2023 semester. Our video tutorials have been updated to include new features available with EndNote 21, such as Cite While You Write capabilities across multiple word processing programs. For downloads and more information, visit our EndNote Library Guide. LibKey Nomad provides one-click access to available library resources even when you're not searching through the library's website, and is now supported on multiple browsers. For more information, see our LibKey Nomad Library Guide.
• Consultation Room Equipment – Consultation rooms in Young Library and the Lucille Caudill Little Fine Arts Library have updated their technological capacities with new AV equipment, including the Collage screencasting app and touchscreen digital whiteboards. You can find your Subject Support Expert and schedule a consultation through our Research Help page.

Fall Events

• Research Workshop Series – The Fall 2023 Research Workshop Series kicks off on August 24. The online event will introduce users to time saving research tools including LibKey Nomad, EndNote Click, and Browzine, along with other services and resources available from the Medical Center Library.
• Clements Lecture-Symposium – On Tuesday, September 12, author and historian Jill Lepore will deliver the 2023 Earle C. Clements Lecture-Symposium. Drawing from her book The Deadline: Essays, Lepore will reflect on the relationship between America's past and its fractious present. The event is free and open to the public, and RSVPs are requested. 
• King Library Press Wayzgoose – The King Library Press Wayzgoose (Open House) will take place Thursday, September 21 on the Veranda between the Special Collections Research Center and the Fine Arts Library and feature fine printing demonstrations, free snacks, and handmade book art. The event is free and open to the public.
• King Library Press Book Arts Weekend – The Fall 2023 King Library Press Book Arts Weekend will feature Philadelphia-based artist Rebecca Gilbert. On Friday, October 27, Gilbert will offer a free public lecture in the Great Hall of Margaret I. King Library on her current project, A Dance of Death in Two Parts. On Saturday, October 28, Gilbert and Kentucky artist Joanne Price will host a workshop on the ruling machine, a specialized piece of precision equipment used during the heyday of commercial trade engraving. The cost to attend the workshop is $45 per person ($25 for students). Workshop space is limited and requires a reservation. Contact Dr. Paul Holbrook at (859) 608-9623 for more information or to reserve a space
• Curiosity Fair – The 2023 UK Curiosity Fair will take place Wednesday, November 1 in the Gatton Student Center Grand Ballroom. An annual community event, the Curiosity Fair features student and faculty-created “Curiosity Stations” with short, interactive demos that highlight ideas from a variety of disciplines. The event is free and open to the public.

Make sure to check out our Upcoming Events page throughout the semester to stay up to date on everything going on across UK Libraries. 

Milestones & Accomplishments

• Librarians Reinette Jones, Kopana Terry, and Jennifer Barlett and History professor Dr. Vanessa Holden wrapped up their first semester of work on the Freedom on the Move Project. UK Libraries has taken a lead in developing the digitization, description, and submission processes for the Cornell University-based project that aims to create a database containing every runaway slave ad published in the United States. The first Kentucky ads clipped by students during the Spring semester are expected to be uploaded into the database this month.
• The Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Stay tuned for more information on all of the ways we are planning to celebrate this significant milestone this fall.
• A team of librarians from the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History won an “Award of Excellence” from the East Tennessee Historical Society for their project collaboration with the Tennessee Valley Authority Retirees Association (TVARA). The award-winning project comprises a collection of interviews with former TVA employees and chronicles the variety and breadth of TVA’s work in community and economic development, river and natural resources management, and agricultural and fertilizer development.