Library Directions: Volume 14, No. 1 a newsletter of the Spring-Summer, 2004 University of Washington Libraries Letter from the Director Library Directions is produced twice a year by Libraries You’re the top! You’re the Colosseum, staff. Inquiries concerning content may be sent to: You’re the top! You’re the Louvre Museum, Library Directions You’re a melody from a symphony by Strauss, University of Washington Libraries You’re a Bendel bonnet, a Shakespeare sonnet, Box 352900 You’re Mickey Mouse. Seattle, WA 98195-2900 You’re the Nile, You’re the Tower of Pisa, (206) 543-1760 You’re the smile on the Mona Lisa. ([email protected]) You’re the top! Paul Constantine, Managing Editor —Cole Porter Susan Kemp, Editor, Photographer Diana Johnson, Mark Kelly, Stephanie Lamson, Mary Mathiason, Mary Whiting, Copy Editors It is with great joy that I share with you the exciting news that the University Library Directions is available online at of Washington is the recipient of the 2004 Excellence in Academic Libraries www.lib.washington.edu/about/libdirections/current/. Award. This is the highest honor an academic library can receive. We are Several sources are used for mailing labels. Please pass indeed the top! multiple copies on to others or return the labels of the unwanted copies to Library Directions. Addresses con- taining UW campus box numbers were obtained from The award recognizes the accomplishments of an entire library staff as they come together as the HEPPS database and corrections should be sent members of a team to support the mission of their institution. The UW was cited for excellence in all to your departmental payroll coordinator. three criteria areas: • Creativity and innovation in meeting the needs of the community In This Issue: • Leadership in developing model programs which other universities emulate • Substantial and productive relationships with faculty and students Letter from the Director............. this page To what do I attribute our success? Red Carpet, Please: UW Libraries is the Top!.......................p. 1 1) First, the investment that the University has made in the Libraries over many years, especially in a Elizabeth Risser, Development services offi cer time of constrained resources. My special thanks goes to President Lee Huntsman, Acting Provost David The McKinstry Graduate Fellowship: Thorud, the Board of Deans, and the Regents for their ongoing support. Sharing a Passion for Libraries ..........p. 2 Joyce Agee, assistant director of Development 2) Second, the margin of excellence enabled by the Kenneth S. Allen Library Endowment established The “Library by the Sea”: over ten years ago by Paul Allen. The cumulative power of the Endowment has helped turn what was Friday Harbor Library..........................p. 4 once a very good library into an excellent library. Almost every Libraries program cited for excellence Maureen Nolan, Friday Harbor librarian was either seeded or nurtured with funding from the Allen Endowment. The World’s Largest Book Joins the Book Arts Collection............p. 6 3) Finally, the superb librarians, staff , and student assistants who dedicate themselves to serving the Sandra Kroupa, book arts librarian mission of the University and connecting people with knowledge for life. They have earned this award by what they do day in and day out. News and Events..................................p. 7 In this issue of Library Directions, you will read more about how the dedicated and creative Libraries Awards and Recognition.....................p. 9 staff works to keep your library the top in the country. Learn about the McKinstry Graduate Fellowship, which enables the Libraries to further its commitment to diversity and inclusion in its staff , services, and collections. Journey back to the beginning of the last century when the “library-by-the-sea” was On the Cover: established at Friday Harbor Laboratory. Follow its development into one of the premier marine libraries in the world. Read with amazement the story of the world’s largest book and how it ended up Various faces and functions reflect the at the UW. Join me in congratulating Betty L. Wagner on her retirement after a record-setting 53 years dedication and depth of service that have of excellence as the head of the Architecture and Urban Planning Library. won the University of Washington Libraries the 2004 Excellence in Academic Libraries Please join us on Monday, May 17, at noon on Red Square to cheer the accomplishments of the top Award from the Association of College and university library in the country. To paraphrase Cole Porter, “We’re the top! We’re the University of Research Libraries. See story on page 1. Washington Libraries.” 1 Red Carpet, Please: UW Libraries is the Top! by Elizabeth Risser, Development services offi cer documentation that President Lee Huntsman and research. An acknowledged leader in What makes a great library? One that creatively submitted on the Libraries behalf. assessment, the Libraries has employed a variety of initiatives that align its goals with meets the needs of the community? Is a leader In his nomination letter to the ACRL Board, the University’s mission. The Libraries staff in developing model programs that other President Huntsman said, “It is meaningful development program is a model for the universities emulate? With staff who form innovation that sets the Libraries apart. What University, and the result is a superlative meaningful and productive relationships with distinguishes the staff of the Libraries is its faculty and students? collaborative approach to creating the library staff. It should come as no surprise that the of the 21st century. The excellent staff is recent Northwest Association of Schools and According to these three criteria, the University Colleges accreditation report singled out the of Washington Libraries is a great library—in managing the transition to a highly digital Libraries for excellence. fact, the best in the country. This past January, environment while preserving the Libraries traditional strengths. These are achievements Libraries Director Betsy Wilson received The Libraries UWired program received in which any university president could be the exciting news that the University of special mention from the selection committee. justifi ably proud.” Washington Libraries was the recipient of the Librarians have led the UWired collaboration 2004 Excellence in Academic Libraries Award, The Libraries was selected for its success that has transformed the University’s approach which recognizes the top university research at developing technological initiatives and to teaching, learning and technology. In library in the country. This is the highest honor leading the academic community in the UWired, the Libraries works collaboratively an academic library can receive. implementation of new library programs with other campus offi ces to promote and and services. It was lauded for developing support effective uses of technology by exemplary programs, including innovative students and faculty. digital collections and services, information It’s a very proud day for literacy for the University campus, an Libraries Director Betsy Wilson feels that what the UW Libraries and a red-letter assessment-centered culture, model makes the Libraries truly great is the staff. “This “ strategic planning efforts, and creative staff award goes to the superb librarians, staff and day for the University. development and training. student assistants who dedicate themselves to serving the mission of the University of Universities around the country look to the Washington and connecting people with ” UW Libraries for programs and services to knowledge for life,” said Wilson. “They have The award is presented by the Association of emulate on their own campuses. A continual College and Research Libraries (ACRL), an stream of researchers and visitors from other earned this award by what they do day-in and day- organization comprised of 12,000 members institutions use the University of Washington out. It’s a very proud day for the UW Libraries in North America, and funded by Blackwell’s Libraries and consult its librarians for their and a red-letter day for the University.” Book Services—the venerable international expertise in information literacy, online The president of ACRL and a Blackwell book seller based in London. Awards are given services, assessment and evaluation, and representative will travel to Seattle to each year for the best university, college and collaborative innovation. community college library. The Libraries present the award to University President Lee was selected as the winner in the university The Libraries has won widespread national Huntsman in a University-wide ceremony on category. recognition for groundbreaking use of digital May 17. Additional details of the event will technologies in the service of learning be announced in the coming months. “The University of Washington Libraries is a dynamic, impressive and collaborative organization,” said Mary Reichel, chair of the 2004 Excellence in Academic Libraries Selection Committee. “It truly is leading the way for all academic libraries as the library of the 21st century.” The award recognizes the entire staff of a university library for programs that deliver exemplary services and resources to further the educational mission of the institution. The Libraries was nominated by its peers, and the selection committee was very impressed by the 2 The McKinstry Graduate Fellowship: Sharing a Passion for Libraries by Joyce Agee, assistant director of Development of Advocates. His energy and focus will give Jill and Joe McKinstry share a passion for a new impetus to the Council’s major gift libraries. Jill is head of the University of fundraising efforts over the next four years. Washington’s Odegaard Undergraduate Jill and Joe are accustomed to moving ideas Library and has worked as an academic into action. For many years, with their librarian for seventeen years. She approaches daughter Sarah and their son Jake, they her work as both a career and vocation. “I have have worked with Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization, to build simple, affordable housing around the world.