News: 2020

Digital Newspaper Milestone

The Texas Digital Newspaper Program on The Portal to Texas History has reached 8 million newspaper pages! The Texas Digital Newspaper Program on The Portal to Texas History has reached 8 million newspaper pages! Many newspaper titles in this set of 1 million pages paralleled each other in date, representing the year 1940, from across different parts of Texas. The beginning of World War II is revealed through headlines in these newspapers. The Cleburne Times-Review offers a headline-synopsis of historical events, with its earliest 1940 headline reading, “U.S. Protests British Seizing Mail,” and with the latest 1940 headline stating, “U.S. Warned to Avoid Hostility with Europe.” The Cleburne Times-Review was a daily newspaper, and as is characteristic of daily newspapers from this period, they invested heavily in wire service coverage of the war overseas. A weekly newspaper, El Democrata represents the same time period in 1940, published in San Diego, Texas. The January 19, 1940, headline article titled, “La Justicia Para Los Cuarentones,” details the problems of layoffs amongst people in their 40s due to technological modernization and a lack of more recent training for people who have been working since their late teens and early 20s. The article elaborates on the need to solve the problem because people’s lifespans were increasing, even while their employment options were decreasing. This heavily represents the depression-era quandary many people found themselves in as they handled unemployment in the midst of a terrible economy. Another weekly newspaper, The McKinney Examiner, strikes a serious but optimistic note in its January 4, 1940 issue. This issue discusses March of Dimes donations, raising of defense taxes from the federal government, and FDR’s new year cheer. Notable in this issue is that it combines national news pieces with hyper-local information, such as an area murder trial of a man convicted of killing a “City Motorcycle Officer.” Included below the fold, however, is a mention about the Finnish military fighting Russia, which by January 1940, was in a non-aggression pact with Germany and preparing to divide up Poland. The above items just represent one small set of newspapers that allow us to peer into the window of history, to understand how people were dealing with the world at different points in time. Other fun factoids in this most recent set of 1 million newspaper pages are: The Port Lavaca Wave was the title whose pages made up the 8 millionth page! New titles added in this 8 million pages include The Mount Vernon Optic-Herald, The Galveston Tribune, The Denton Record-Chronicle, The Matagorda County Tribune, The Alvin Sun, The Henderson Daily News, and The Hudspeth County Herald. The Texas Digital Newspaper Program collection has been used more than 5.4 million times! The shortest newspaper title to be added to this set is The Sunny South, from Waco. This entire newspaper title was only published as a total of three issues, of which we were able to digitize two issues from microfilm. This newspaper title briefly replaced the Waco Daily Examiner for three days in 1884. Eight million pages of newspapers represents a lot of Texas, U.S., and world history, unlocked through easy navigation and full-text searching on The Portal to Texas History. We thank all of our generous partners and grant funders for their contributions to making this newspaper collection freely accessible to the world. If you would like to learn more about partnering with us, please visit the Texas Digital Newspaper Program! Ana Krahmer, Ph.D. Director, Digital Newspaper Unit

Posted: 11/18/2020

Gettin' Spooky

Posted: 11/02/2020

First Chair Chats

We are proud to present First Chair Chats, a Digital Music Collective at UNT Libraries focused on discussions that are reshaping the music landscape today and tomorrow. As Bob Dylan sang, “The times, they are a-changin’.” To this end, we are proud to present First Chair Chats, a Digital Music Collective at UNT Libraries focused on discussions that are reshaping the music landscape today and tomorrow. Special guests from music pedagogy, production, protection, and preservation will join the UNT Music Library staff in exploring some major changes on the horizon, and how each group is responding to these new opportunities. Episode 6- Womxn Leaders in Music Honoring International Women’s day for this First Chair Chats, our invited speakers will explore the role of women identifying figures involved in different aspects of the music industry. During this conversation, we will discuss how the current scene has changed for women and continues to evolve under the lens of the pandemic. Morgan Davis- Music and Arts Librarian Susannah Cleveland- Head of UNT Music Library Megan Heber- Executive Director, Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas Meena Malik- Musician, Arts Consultant, and Cultural Organizer Courtney Wright- Jazz Saxophonist and Composer/Arranger Episode 5- Video Game Music and You In this extended episode, the First Chair Chats team has partnered with the UNT Media Library to examine how universities have been responding to the increasing interest in video games and their accompanying music and sound. Our invited experts will explore topics about the history of video game music, collection management and cataloging in music libraries, designing music and sound with accessibility in mind, the players perspective, composition techniques, pedagogy, and working in the industry. Part 1: Ludomusicology, Libraries, Accessibility, the Players Perspective Adam La Spata, UNT Music Library Joshua Dieringer, Cataloger and Arranger Alice Sujana, UNT Music Library Drew Schnurr, Composer Dana Plank, Musicologist Tim Summers, Musicologist Diane Robson, UNT Media Library Stuart Heath, UNT Media Library Part 2 Composition, Pedagogy, Working in the Industry Bruce Broughton, Composer Matt Hopkins, Composer Eli Rainsberry, Composer Richard Vreeland, Composer Episode 4- Local Music One of the many highlights of living in Denton is the treasure-trove of live, local music heard in bars, restaurants, and music halls. Like many industries, the ongoing pandemic has disrupted the performing arts industry. To better understand the challenges local musicians are facing, as well as their creative solutions, Dr. Brian Wright of the UNT College of Music partners with the UNT Libraries to moderate a discussion featuring a panel of guests, many whom are UNT Libraries faculty and staff. Episode 3 - Great Ideas and Lessons Learned We are excited to announce the continuation of our First Chair Chats series! Several invited guests from the UNT Libraries and the UNT College of Music will discuss Great Ideas and Lessons Learned about online music education under the lens of the pandemic. April Prince - Principal Lecturer in Music History Gaby Alvarado - Flute Instructor and Music Processing Graduate Services Assistant Blair Liikala - Director of Recording Services and Christopher Walker - Administrative Coordinator for Jazz Studies Eric Nestler - Distinguished Teaching Professor of Saxophone Our presenters were invited for their experiences with teaching large courses, addressing technology challenges, and teaching music literature courses with large amounts of course materials. Episode 2 - Music & Coronavirus Join Jeffrey Snider, Julie Giroux, Andrew Trachsel, and Rachael Zipperer for a comprehensive chat on how the current coronavirus pandemic has affected musicians and how creative artists are handling this issue. Adam La Spata, Ph.D. - UNT Music Special Collections Jeffrey Snider, D.M.A. – UNT Associate Professor, Vocal Studies Julie Giroux – Emmy Award Winning Composer Andrew Trachsel, D.M.A. – UNT Associate Professor, Wind Studies Rachael Zipperer – UNT Archivist Episode 1 - Music & Copyright Join Maristella Feustle, Rebecca Geoffroy-Schwinden, Kevin Hawkins, and John Murphy as they discuss the current landscape of copyright law, and how recent changes to policy will impact works both new and old. Maristella Feustle - Music Special Collections Librarian Rebecca Geoffroy-Schwinden - Assistant Professor of Music History Kevin Hawkins - Assistant Dean, Scholarly Communication John Murphy - Professor Emeritus of Jazz History, former Chair of the Division of Jazz Studies

Posted: 10/13/2020

Crafting with History

UNT Libraries Special Collections is hosting a series of events geared to ignite your creativity based on pieces that can be found in our archives. UNT Libraries Special Collections is hosting a series of events geared to ignite your creativity based on pieces that can be found in our archives. Quaranzine September 28 – December 4, 2020 The University of North Texas Special Collections department invites you to make a quaran-zine! Sept. 28 - Dec. 4, join us on the Facebook Craft a Quaranzine event page, or share your #UNTquaranzine with @UNTSpecColl on Twitter. We’ll be sharing ideas and submissions on our pages throughout the event. A zine (pronounced “zeen”) is a self-published magazine, often associated with DIY culture, that can be about any topic and made by anyone. Zines come in many forms, and you don’t have to be an artist or a writer to make one, you just have to have something to say. You can make your quaranzine with supplies you probably already have wherever you’re social distancing. All you need is paper, scissors, and whatever materials you want to fill your blank zine pages. It’s up to you create the content of your zine. Your zine could be a way to exhibit your creative writing or art, a comic about your experience living in a UNT dorm during the COVID pandemic, an informational message about a cause close to your heart, or a critical review of the last show you watched – that’s the beauty of zines, they can be about anything you want. When you’ve finished your zine, you can make copies to distribute among your community, digitize it to share on your website or blog, donate it to the UNT University Archive, or keep it just for yourself. We encourage participants to talk about your zine making process, connect with other zine makers, and share photos of your zines in the discussion on this event page. If you’re sharing your quaranzine elsewhere on social media, please tag us @UNTSpecColl and use #UNTquaranzine. By making a quaranzine about your experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, you can help UNT Special Collections document our community’s experience through this unique and accessible medium and have fun expressing yourself while we all spend more time apart. If you’d like to donate a digital copy of your zine to the University Archive’s COVID-19 Response Collection, use the Keeper App. To donate a physical zine, contact University Archivist Rachael Zipperer. Create Your Own Bestiary October 26 – December 4, 2020 The University of North Texas Special Collections department invites you to craft a mythical beast! Oct. 26 - Dec. 4, join us on the Facebook Craft a Bestiary Beast event page, or share your #UNTbestiary with @UNTSpecColl on Twitter. We’ll be sharing ideas and submissions on our pages throughout the event. Do you love dreaming up new animals? Can’t get enough of mermaids, dragons, and unicorns? Then you should join in with our Create Your Own Mythical Beast activity! This craft is inspired by bestiaries, also known as bestiarum vocabulum, which are books filled with illustrations of animals, both real and imagined, that became popular in the Middle Ages. In addition to illustrations, bestiaries also featured stories that communicated the symbolism of each animal that was featured. To participate in the event, draw, collage, paint, or otherwise create a brand new animal straight from your imagination or reimagine your favorite real animal. When you’re done, share your creation with us on Twitter or Facebook by tagging us @UNTSpecColl and using the hashtag #UNTbestiary. Need some inspiration? Be sure to check the discussion in the Facebook event where we’ll be sharing examples of bestiaries and other resources about these amazing manuscripts. We can’t wait to see what you come up with! Fold A Love Letter January 25 – February 26, 2021 Write a love letter inspired by correspondence in Special Collections. More information coming soon!

Posted: 10/08/2020

Mod City: The John Rogers and Georgette de Bruchard Collection Digital Exhibit

Posted: 10/06/2020

Willis Library Renovations

Starting in spring of 2019 and extending into 2020, Willis Library will undergo various renovations. Starting in spring 2019 and extending into 2020, Willis Library will undergo various renovations. Students, faculty, and community members curious about the changes can keep up with updates on the upgrades here. If you have questions, please contact Mary Ann Venner, Associate Dean for Public Services or view our Campus Map for other library locations. All Floors Now Open All floors in Willis Library are accessible during the library’s hours of operation. September 16, 2020 Lower Level Now Open The Lower Level in Willis is now open. Our First Floor renovations continue as we install furniture, set up computers and printers, and our new Library Services Desk. Please check our Continuity of Library Services guide for updates on our services and spaces. August 19, 2020 First Floor Renovations Parts of the first floor will remain closed until the end of the summer. Access to the building, center stairwell, and elevators will be available. Although the Library Services Desk is not available on the first floor, we have service points on the first and second floors to provide assistance. Printer and scanner access is now available on the second floor. May 12, 2020 Second Floor Reopening, Lower Level Closed The second floor of Willis Library reopened on Monday, April 27. The Lower Level will remain closed until the end of May. April 29, 2020 Second Floor Closure Willis Library’s second floor is closed for renovations beginning Monday, March 9, 2020. The third floor will reopen on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. March 3, 2020 Third Floor Closure Willis Library’s third floor is closed for renovations beginning Friday, February 7 through Wednesday, March 4. Materials may be requested using our Online Holds service. Requested materials can be picked up at the Willis Library Services Desk. February 6, 2020 Third & Fourth Floor Closure Update The Music Library Service Desk has reopened. Music books and periodicals are now accessible, however, the south side of the fourth floor remains closed until February 13. UNT Special Collections and the Sarah T. Hughes Reading Room will reopen Monday, February 3. The south side of the third floor is closed. The north side of the third floor will close Thursday, February 13. Even though the collections in the closed areas are not accessible, items can be requested through our Online Holds service. Requested materials can be picked up at the Willis Library Services Desk. January 31, 2020 Floor Closure Update Fourth Floor - Part of the fourth floor will reopen on Thursday, January 30. The entire floor will reopen on Thursday, February 13. Third Floor - Beginning Thursday, January 30, part of the third floor will be unavailable. The entire floor will close on Thursday, February 13. During the closure of the third floor, patron access to the stacks will be unavailable. However, materials may be requested through our Online Holds service. January 23, 2020 Fourth Floor Closure Music Library - During the closure of the fourth floor, December 16, 2019, through January 24, 2020, we will provide circulation, access to reserves, and reference services from the Willis Library Services Desk on the first floor. Special Collections - The Sarah T. Hughes Reading Room will be closed for renovations Monday, December 16, 2019, through January 24, 2020. Please contact Special Collections if you have any questions. December 12, 2019 Power Outage On Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15, 2019, Willis Library will be closed for electrical power upgrades. This will impact the UNT Libraries website where the catalog and many of our online resources will not be available due to the work being done over the weekend. We hope to have all resources restored by Monday, December 16, 2019. The fourth floor will be closed beginning Monday, December 16, 2019. December 5, 2019 Upcoming Floor Closures Due to the ongoing renovation of Willis Library, the fourth floor will be closed beginning December 16, 2019, through approximately January 24, 2020. The third floor is scheduled for tentative closure beginning January 20 through March 1, 2020. While this work is taking place on the third and fourth floors, the stacks will not be available to the public. However, workflows are being created to retrieve materials and provide services during this time. Further information will be provided as details are made available. November 13, 2019 Outages and Notices Beginning Monday, October 14, there will be scheduled power outages to our air conditioning system in sections of Willis Library. These outages may affect the air climate in the building. On Thursday, October 17, Willis Library will experience a two-hour water service outage from approximately 5:00 am - 7:00 am as part of the ongoing renovation and upgrade of the building’s mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems. All restroom facilities will be closed during this time, so plan accordingly! Due to a scheduled power outage, Willis Library will be closed at the end of the fall semester from Friday, December 13, to Sunday, December 15. October 10, 2019 Water Service Outage Willis Library will experience a two-hour water service outage on Thursday, October 10, from approximately 5:00 am - 7:00 am as part of the ongoing renovation and upgrade of the building’s mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems. All restroom facilities will be closed during this time, so plan accordingly! October 9, 2019 Willis Library Power Outage and Building Closure Electrical changes are being made as part of the ongoing MEP building upgrades. In order for this work to be accomplished, Willis Library will be without power on Saturday, September 28, 2019, from 4:00 am – 10:00 am. All websites and web services will be unavailable during this period. In preparation for this outage, Willis Library will be closed from 1:00 am – 10:00 am on September 28. The electrical closet work near the stairwells on each floor will be completed by October 4, 2019. September 23, 2019 Willis First Floor Changes Several changes are coming to the first floor. Walls will be removed from the southwest side of the floor. The front and side walls of the Willis Forum will also be removed. As a result, the first floor student printing stations have been moved to the left of the center stairwell. There may be some noise throughout the building associated with the physical construction and this process may cause a level of disruption. August 14, 2019 Overhead Conduit Installation - North Wall The MEP team continues installing dust barriers on the second, third, and fourth floors of Willis Library. The barriers extend from the center electrical rooms to the north wall and branch to the mechanical closets at each end. Overhead conduit installation will begin on Tuesday, July 30, 2019, and is expected to be completed by Monday, August 8, 2019. While this work is taking place on the third and fourth floors, several rows of stacks will not be readily available. If materials are needed from the third floor, please contact the Willis Library Services Desk. If materials are needed from the fourth floor, please contact the Music Library Service Desk. July 31, 2019 The Study The Libraries’ café, The Study, is closing Wednesday, July 31, 2019, at 5:00 pm. All retail items are reduced excluding the coffee bar and tea. July 25, 2019 Overhead Conduit Installation - South Wall The MEP team has started installing dust barriers on the second, third, and fourth floors of Willis Library. The barriers extend from the center electrical rooms to the south wall and branch to the mechanical closets at each end. Overhead conduit installation will begin on Monday, July 22, 2019, and is expected to take approximately one week. While this work is taking place on the third and fourth floors, several rows of stacks will not be readily available. If materials are needed from the third floor, please contact the Willis Library Services Desk. If materials are needed from the fourth floor, please contact the Music Library Service Desk. July 19, 2019 Sidewalk Closed Due to excavation work on the west side of Willis Library, the sidewalk on the north side of Highland Street will be closed from the Music Building through the Library Mall entrance. The sidewalk is expected to be closed for approximately six weeks. July 12, 2019 Highland Street Book Drop Closed Due to the construction on the west side of Willis Library, the Highland Street book drop is closed until September. You may return your library books to the book drop on the north side of the entrance to Willis Library, the inside book drop on the first floor of Willis, or the Library Services Desk. If you have any questions please contact us at circ@unt.edu or (940) 565–2413. The water fountains and restrooms in the northwest corner of the building on all floors are now available. July 10, 2019 Highland Street Closure The City of Denton will close the Crumley side of Highland Street on Monday, June 24, in order to install equipment needed to supply the fire control on the Lower Level. On Tuesday, June 25, the city will cut across all of Highland Street to Willis. Due to this vehicle, access will be diverted from Avenue C through Avenue A. On Wednesday, June 26, the city plans to patch the area. During the time the crews are on site, various lanes will not be available. Work will continue on all floors building the center electrical rooms and electrical closets. June 21, 2019 Physical Construction Begins A new electrical room is being built in the center of each floor of the library. Four electrical closets are being constructed near the stairwells on each floor. A dust barrier has been placed around each area where the construction will take place. Please do not enter the areas that have been isolated with barriers. There may be some noise throughout the building associated with the physical construction and this process may cause a level of disruption while it is taking place. Stairwells should be passable during this project, however, restrooms in the northwest corner of the building on all floors will be unavailable. June 14, 2019 Loading Dock Excavation of the loading dock area began today. For safety reasons, the back door has been locked from the outside. In the event of an emergency, please do not use the dock as an escape route. All other emergency exits will be available. There may be some noise throughout the building associated with the excavation process. It is not expected to be for long periods of time or cause major disruptions. During the initial excavation, the water fountains and restrooms in the northwest corner of the building on all floors will be unavailable. It is estimated that this will last approximately one week. May 16, 2019 Willis Library Abatement and Shifting Materials To prepare for the start of upgrade work in the building beginning June 1, abatement is taking place on each floor of Willis Library. We are also in the process of shifting materials on the 3rd and 4th floors. If assistance is needed in locating materials, please check with the staff at one of our service desks. May 15, 2019 Highland Street Book Drop Temporarily Closed Due to construction on Willis Library drainage, the south sidewalk will be closed for a few days beginning Thursday, March 28. All sidewalk traffic on the south side of Willis will need to cross Highland Street between the Business Leadership Building and Crumley Hall. During this process the Highland Street Book Drop will be inaccessible. Please visit one of our library locations to return library materials. Please note: The book drop reopened April 2nd. March 28, 2019 Willis Library Hold Shelf Has Been Moved The Willis Library First Floor Hold Pickup Shelf has been moved from the North wall to the right side of the Library Services Desk. As a result, the UNT Press Display has been removed from this location. All items from the UNT Press Display are shelved in the stacks according to their call numbers. You may search the Library Online Catalog to locate them. March 22, 2019 MEP Project The Mechanical, Electric, and Plumbing (MEP) project providing upgrades to the building has begun. The first phase of this project will impact the third floor due to the expansion of the mechanical room. You may experience some intermittent noise during this period. Peak times of the work will take place between 4 am – noon. When the third floor work has been completed, work will progress to the rest of the floors. Please note: Stairwells should be passable and restrooms accessible during this project. March 20, 2019 Back Dock Removal Due to the back dock removal, there may be intermittent noise throughout Willis Library during the duration of this project. March 19, 2019 Library Departments Moving to the Lower Level of Willis Library Beginning Friday, March 15, the offices of our librarians and staff in the Undergraduate Engagement & Research and the Research Support Services Department will be moving to our new space on the lower level of Willis Library, Room 080. We hope to be settled in the new space by Friday, March 29, 2019. March 15, 2019 Restroom Remodel Project As part of our ongoing library renovations, the Libraries recently remodeled one of the women’s restrooms located on the second floor of Willis Library. March 14, 2019

Posted: 09/16/2020

Special Collections Coursework Development Grant Winners

The University of North Texas Special Collections announces winners for the 2020 Special Collections Coursework Development Grant. Special Collections accepted applications in June for the second annual Special Collections Coursework Development Grant. The grant was established in order to partner with faculty to develop assignments for Fall 2020 courses that will utilize collections held by Special Collections. Due to the current COVID-19 crisis, the grant scope was shifted to the use of digitized materials available in the Portal to Texas History and UNT Digital Library. The winners are: Dr. Todd Moye, Robnett Professor of U.S. History and Director of the UNT Oral History Program Dr. Paula Lupkin, Associate Professor, Art History Students in Dr. Moye’s “History of the Present” course will work with Special Collections staff, namely Rachael Zipperer, University Archivist, to document the UNT community’s responses to and experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic by contributing to the University Memory Collection. They will examine existing items in the University Memory digital collection, discuss archival philosophies and best practices, and ultimately archive digital items of their own choosing. Drawing upon digitized artifacts, photographs, and records from UNT’s Texas Fashion Collection and John Rogers and Georgette de Bruchard Collection, Dr. Lupkin’s project supports two related design history class projects. Using Omeka, an online digital platform, CVAD graduate students and undergraduate art history majors will collaboratively produce exhibitions: one on the role of Neiman-Marcus in shaping fashion culture in Dallas and the Southwest, the other on the paradigm-shifting fashion designs of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Central to both exhibition projects is an immersion in primary sources, work with archivists, and the development of original research in design history. Dr. Moye and Dr. Lupkin were each awarded $500 in research and professional development funding. Congratulations Dr. Moye and Dr. Lupkin! The Special Collections Team is looking forward to working with you on your coursework activities!

Posted: 08/11/2020

UNT's Spring 2020 Theses and Dissertations Now Available

Posted: 07/02/2020

Dean's Innovation Grant 2020

The University of North Texas Libraries’ Dean’s Innovation Grant, formerly known as the Green Light To Greatness Award, provides funding to research and projects within the UNT Libraries. The University of North Texas Libraries’ Dean’s Innovation Grant, formerly known as the Green Light To Greatness Award, provides funding to research and projects within the UNT Libraries that promote scholarship and contribute to the gathering of knowledge that helps improve our libraries, our university, and the community. Dean’s Innovation Grant 2020 Awardees Breakout Session for Civic Education and Engagement Development Brea Henson, Coby Condrey, Robbie Sittel, Diane Robson Project Description: In partnership with the University of North Texas Media Library, the Political Science Librarian, Government Documents Librarian, and Collection Development Liaison Librarian will create a breakout resource for use by students, staff, and faculty with a goal of increasing civic literacy. Investigators will host virtual play sessions with pre- and post- play surveys to determine whether civic education and engagement development (GEED) breakout sessions improve civic knowledge and activity among the UNT community. This or That: An Innovative Approach to Passive Surveys for Continuous Improvement Jonathan Mount, Garrett Rumohr, Jeff Guintivano Project Description: This proposed project intends to implement an innovative form of student feedback solicitation using rapid, simple, single-question unsupervised surveys conducted passively in various locations within the UNT libraries facilities. These surveys, consisting of a single, binary, comparative question that can be answered in a matter of seconds, will allow for large sample sizes while minimizing resources spent recruiting and compensating respondents. By synthesizing these answers, we can then create aggregate datasets that accurately approximate the student population’s needs and preferences regarding services, materials, facilities and technology at the UNT Libraries while providing a model for inexpensive, responsive, flexible survey design. Expanding AV equipment Holdings in the Music Library w/The Spark Kristin Wolski, Blaine Brubaker, John Leutkemeyer, Judy Hunter, Sabino Fernandez Project Description: This project aims to fill a technology need to support music students by expanding audio equipment holdings at The Music Library and The Spark so that students can produce higher quality sound recordings. After discussing real-life applications of recording needs with College of Music faculty, staff, and students, the Music Library has identified a need for students to obtain higher quality sound output, as well as video capturing, in variety of situations. The investigators will explore additional applications of a/v equipment needs in the College of Music throughout the project. Improving Subjects in the Digital Collections with Data Hannah Tarver, Chassidy Miles, Rachael Zipperer Project Description: This research project would use qualitative and quantitative methods (e.g., card-sorting, focus groups and surveys) to gauge user expectations for the purpose of formulating better guidelines to assign image keywords. Given the number of photographs and other images just in the Libraries’ Special Collections (as well as the rest of the Portal), metadata plays a crucial role in the visibility of our online materials. Funding would provide support for data collection (through researcher training and participant incentives), and for dissemination of results in the digital library community (i.e., conference presentations). MEI at UNT: Towards a Semantic Presentation of Music Scores Maristella Feustle, Adam La Spata, Susannah Cleveland Project Description: MEI at UNT is a pilot project designed to encode sample scores from the Libraries’ Lully Collection using the Music Encoding Initiative’s XML format. Over the course of the year, we will encode, at minimum, three early prints or manuscripts to help define workflow, time management, and potential hosting prospects. This pilot will help inform an application for an external grant that will result in the encoding of all 27 scores in the Lully Collection. Gadget Lending Project: Filling Gap in Equipment and Technology Needs Seti Keshmiripour, Briana Knox, Emily Akers, Jonathan Mount Project Description: This project seeks to expand the collection of equipment available for checkout at the Libraries in order to better support students’ academic and creative endeavors. The Libraries will conduct a survey to gauge student interest in a variety of different equipment items. Based on survey responses, the Access Services Department will purchase new equipment items to be circulated at the Willis Library Services Desk. Staff will research practices of other institutions offering special equipment checkouts and use the findings to develop a set of circulation policies and procedures. Escape/Breakout Room for UNT Libraries Juvenile Collection Jo Monahan, Matina Newsom, Diane Robson, Robbie Sittel Project Description: This project will create a breakout game with a goal to increase visibility and knowledge of the juvenile collection specifically for students and College of Education (COE) faculty. Investigators will promote play of this breakout to students and faculty in COE with a pre and post-test to measure success. Trans Accessible Libraries Julie Leuzinger, Coby Condrey, Clark Pomerleau Project Description: Current research highlights some of the barriers to information that transgender individuals face. Additionally, their needs are significantly different from others in the LGBQ+ community. Given that this population is hidden unless self-identified, this project will use findings documented in recent studies addressing information seeking behaviors of transgender persons and their perceptions of the library to provide more equitable access to our services and collections. Pre and post assessment of collection usage and LibGuides use will determine the success of the project. Funding will address gaps in our collection, provide outreach materials, and cover conference registration to share our results. Dean’s Accessibility Grant 2020 Awardees Increasing Music Accessibility for Patrons with Print Disabilities Blaine Brubaker, Kristin Wolski, Sabino Fernandez Project Description: This project aims to make music creation and study more accessible by supplying patrons with visual impairments with specialized music notation software and hardware, such as Dancing Dot’s GOODFEEL suite and a braille display. The study of music is a visual one as much as it is an auditory one. With the advent of composing using music notation software and digital scores, it is crucial that all users are able to participate in digital music composition, online discussions of music, and study digital scores. Spanish Translation Pilot Project Jaimi Parker, Julie Judkins, Morgan Gieringer Project Description: UNT Special Collections proposes a pilot project to translate and present selected digital resources online. This pilot project will include a sample of Special Collections products including finding aids, digital exhibits, and basic information about using Special Collections digital resources in Spanish. This grant will allow us to take on the task of researching what similar institutions are doing to translate similar materials, the best methods for translating these materials, and collect usage data to determine whether or not we should continue the effort to translate more digital materials to reach the Spanish speaking population.UNT Special Collections proposes a pilot project to translate and present selected digital resources online. This pilot project will include a sample of Special Collections products including finding aids, digital exhibits, and basic information about using Special Collections digital resources in Spanish. This grant will allow us to take on the task of researching what similar institutions are doing to translate similar materials, the best methods for translating these materials, and collect usage data to determine whether or not we should continue the effort to translate more digital materials to reach the Spanish speaking population. Making Music Accessible in Digital Libraries William Hicks, Susannah Cleveland, student assistant Project Description: Musical A/V content in the UNT Digital Libraries poses a unique accessibility challenge. Recordings are often restricted due to (possibly invalid) copyright concerns, videos often contain multiple works in a single file (making information seeking difficult), contain multiple languages (or none at all), and may contain videography that may or may not have contextual relevance. Legal requirements and remediating advisory techniques are generally vague. This grant explores ways of making Digital Collections Music Items more accessible to a broad audience. Creating Accessible LibGuides Meranda Roy, Jenn Stayton, Utsav Ranjit Project Description: This project aims to develop a collection of accessible LibGuides and a community of practice that will support guide editors. It will address best practices in LibGuides design, accessibility, and instruction techniques through a continuous evaluation approach. Funds are requested to provide accessibility training opportunities, create materials that raise awareness of accessibility issues, instructions for creating LibGuides content within accessibility guidelines. The goal of this project is to develop a community of practice beginning with the owners of the most frequently used guides and to establish models of accountability and instruction that will promote accessible guide creation moving forward.

Posted: 06/26/2020

Dean's Innovation Grant 2019

Posted: 06/16/2020

UNT Libraries Release Discover Soft Launch

Posted: 06/05/2020

University Archive Asking for Submissions to COVID-19 Response Collection

Posted: 05/20/2020

Applications Accepted for Special Collections Coursework Development Grant

The University of North Texas Special Collections invites applications for the 2020 Special Collections Coursework Development Grant. The University of North Texas Special Collections invites applications for the 2020 Special Collections Coursework Development Grant. We are interested in partnering with faculty to develop assignments for Fall 2020 courses that will utilize materials held by Special Collections. Special Collections is especially interested in exploring opportunities to collaborate with teaching faculty in the STEM disciplines. Due to uncertainty concerning the novel coronavirus outbreak's impact on the Fall semester, we are limiting grants this year to projects that utilize digitized materials from one of Special Collections’ 116+ digital collections. Assignments must be able to be completed online or in a virtual environment. Due to limited seating capacity in the Special Collections Reading Room, applicants should plan for any consultations with Special Collections’ staff in correlation with the assignment(s) (i.e. student consultations for research assistance) to take place virtually so as to comply with social distancing measures. Read descriptions of projects from the grant’s inaugural year. Activities and assignments eligible for this grant may include, but are not limited to: Bibliographic description Document or photograph analysis Creative writing exercises Creation of digital exhibits and websites Documentary film-making Applications will be accepted through June 30, 2020. The successful projects will be announced by July 10, 2020. To apply, please submit your draft course syllabus and a 1,000 word maximum statement that details: What specific collection(s) held by UNT Special Collections you are interested in using How a collaboration with Special Collections would enhance your course The assignment you are proposing The expected learning outcomes for the assignment Applications should be emailed to Julie Judkins by Friday, June 30, 2020. Two grants of $500 each will be awarded. Funds will be made available as research and professional development funding. This funding may be expensed for research (books, supplies) and professional development (conferences, seminars, travel, etc.) Awardees will be required to meet with Special Collections staff in advance of the Fall semester to coordinate their coursework activity. If social distancing measures are still in place, this meeting will take place either by phone or Zoom. Please contact specialcollections@unt.edu with any questions or for assistance locating relevant materials for your desired project. Some notable collections to consider: NBC 5/KXAS news archive UNT University Photography Collection Denton Fracking Referendum Collection Photography: Byrd Williams Photography Collection Clark Family Photography Collection Mildred Schaeffer Zichner Photography Collection John Rogers and Georgette de Bruchard Collection The Black Academy of Arts and Letters Records LGBTQ Archives, including but not limited to: Dennis Vercher Collection The Dallas Metroplex Chapter of the Names Project Foundation Collection Dallas Voice Newspaper Mica England Collection The Civil War and Its Aftermath: Diverse Perspectives UNT Center for Media Production Collection Denton Chamber of Commerce Collection Robert Ray Vaughn Sunday School Artwork Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution The Coursework Development Grant is supported by the Toulouse Archival Research Program Endowment.

Posted: 05/06/2020

Don't throw your history away!

Cleaning out closets and storage areas in your home? If you have found old scrapbooks, letters, photos, books, art, home movies or records of local businesses or organizations, DON’T THROW THEM AWAY! Many people have had time recently to clean out closets and storage areas in their home. If you have found old scrapbooks, letters, photos, books, art, home movies (the kind on reels or the kind you play in a VCR) or records of local businesses or organizations, DON’T THROW THEM AWAY—please get in touch with UNT Special Collections! While we are unable physically meet with you until campus reopens, we are happy to talk via phone or zoom meeting about what you have and provide advice on safely preserving your collections. If you are interested in donating materials to our archive, we are happy to talk to you about our collecting interests and whether UNT Special Collections may be a good home for your materials. The primary mission of the UNT Special Collections department is to collect and preserve unique and historically significant information. Here is a short list of what we collect and what we don’t collect. This list is not exhaustive, if you have something you would like to discuss with us that is not on this list please feel free to reach out to us at specialcollections@unt.edu. Subjects & Materials Types We Collect UNT Student Life Scrapbooks, letters, postcards, photographs from student’s time at UNT Records of student clubs and organizations Flyers and handbills from campus events and concerts UNT Faculty Faculty research papers Manuscripts (published and unpublished) Correspondence Texas History Texas maps 19th and 20th century photography and real photo postcards (especially when people and places are identified) Ephemera (ticket stubs, advertising pieces, labels, etc) Broadsides Pre-1850 books about Texas Pre-1900 books printed in Texas Books about Texas city and county history (old or current) Texas newspapers Military History Letters Photos Audio/visual recordings Regiment or battalion ephemera (newsletters, booklets, menus, etc) Women’s History Woman owned business records Women’s manuscripts and personal papers Records of clubs or organizations for women (meeting minutes, club handbooks, newsletters, etc.) Latinx History Latinx owned business records Latinx manuscripts and personal papers Records of clubs or organizations for the Latinx community (meeting minutes, club handbooks, newsletters, etc.) LGBTQ History LGBTQ owned business records LGBTQ manuscripts and personal papers Records of clubs or organizations for the LGBTQ community (meeting minutes, club handbooks, newsletters, etc.) Personal Archives Home movies Family photos Genealogical records Photography Examples of historical photography such as daguerreotype, tin type, carte de visite and cabinet cards Fine art photography Photographer’s collections of prints, slides, negatives or digital photography Books Records and ephemera related to the history of photography Book and Printing History Books printed before 1800 Books printed in the US before 1850 First editions Signed editions Association copies Children’s books Pop-up and moveable books Miniature Books Books 3 inches or smaller in spine height

Posted: 05/06/2020

New Databases Available

The UNT Libraries now have access to several new databases! We now have access to three new databases! We have two new Gale Primary Source Collections: Indigenous Peoples: North America covers the historical experiences, cultural traditions and innovations, and political status of Indigenous Peoples in the United States and Canada. Beginning with the sixteenth century and going well into the twentieth century, researchers can access manuscripts, drawings and sketches, photographs, maps, legal materials, population census records, newspapers from various tribes and Indian-related organizations as well as indigenous language materials, including dictionaries, bibles, and primers. Topics of interest include trade and communication, Arctic exploration and tribes, the Iroquois Confederation, Canadian Indian treaty policy, Dawes Severalty and the allotment system, Indian language and linguistics, water and fishing rights, civil rights, the American Indian movement, and much more. Public Health Archives: Public Health in Modern America, 1890-1970 documents the rise of the twentieth-century public health system in the United States through correspondence, reports, pamphlets, ephemera, and more. For scholars in the fields of American history, American studies, history of science and medicine, public health studies, sociology, political science, psychology, and economics, it documents through primary sources that record the evolution and impact of public health legislation, policies, and campaigns at the local, national, and federal levels, opening for researchers a new window on the roles played by key organizations and individuals to advance public health practices and outcomes. EBSCO Wildlife & Ecology Studies Worldwide is an index to scientific and management literature on wild mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians from journals, conference proceedings, theses, dissertations and other publications. Major topic areas include studies of individual species, habitat types, hunting, economics, wildlife behavior, management techniques, diseases, ecotourism, zoology, and taxonomy. March 11, 2020 We now have access to several new databases! Gale Directory Library The Gale database Associations Unlimited is now part of the Gale Directory Library. This resource provides directories on companies, publishers, associations, and organizations. You can browse and search each title individually, or you can search across all the titles in the collection. Additional directories can be purchased to add to our current collection if needed. ReferenceUSA ReferenceUSA provides directory information for more than 12 million U.S. businesses. The information is compiled from the following public sources: more than 5,600 Yellow Page and Business White page telephone directories; annual reports, 10-Ks, other financial information provided by the SEC, Chamber of Commerce information, and other sources. Quick Search: search by company name, city, and state. Custom Search: search by company name, yellow page heading, SIC and NAICS codes, geographic location, headquarters/branch, or by business sales volume. It is possible to compile lists of companies for projects in Marketing, Finance; or for company and industry analysis. Met Opera on Demand Met Opera on Demand provides access to more than 450 Met performances including dozens of Live in HD productions, classic telecasts from the 1970s, ’80s, ’90s, and ’00s, and hundreds of radio broadcasts back to 1936. Note: This database is limited to 10 simultaneous users. February 10, 2020

Posted: 03/11/2020

Center for Media Production Collection

The Center for Media Production Collection is a collection of historical video footage made between 1980 through the early 2000s at the University of North Texas. The Center for Media Production Collection is a collection of historical video footage made between 1980 through the early 2000s at the University of North Texas. The Special Collections department has just completed the first phase of a project to digitize these fragile and unique tapes, both to preserve the content they contain and make the recordings accessible through the UNT Digital Library. Over 400 tapes were digitized in the first phase of this project and are now available to view online. Many films were produced by the Center for Instructional Services, such as A Prescription for Life: Child Auto Restraint, Things about Shapes, and Recreational Sports. The Center for Instructional Services’ goal was to train the faculty and staff of NTSU to ensure the best experience for students, while also informing students of the resources available for them. Other footage includes historic events from the university’s past, slide shows of art for an art appreciation class, and dance recitals. Along with the training videos, there are videos about the programs offered for students, such as The Cooperative Training Program, which places students with internships that are directly related to their major, and The Center for Marketing and Design, which was a program for students interested in the fashion industry. The annual Art Wear student fashion show is also recorded in this collection. The 1986 Conference on the Literary Arts, sponsored by the UNT Center for Texas Studies, is well documented in this collection of recordings. Jim Lehrer, Horton Foote and Sandra Cisneros participated in this conference as well as actors and musicians including Robert Duvall and Steven Fromholtz. The Center for Media Production Collection has a few series of videos that represent the School of Music in the 1980s. One series, called Composition in the Twentieth Century, follows composers and students in the music program while preparing for a concert. Another series, called Cage Documentary, includes footage of John Cage, a famous American composer, guest composing for a concert at North Texas State. The Jazz Lecture Series, begun in 1982, contains live performances interspersed with lectures and questions from the audience. The lecture series featured prominent jazz artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Ron Carter, and Michael Brecker. A portion of this collection includes footage of b-roll, or supplemental video that makes a film more interesting. Although it may seem unimportant, this is what gives a majority of the videos life. Without it, the videos would only include interviews and would make it harder to tell the story without it. The Center for Media Production Collection is available for viewing and research on The Portal to Texas History. Additional videos will be added in a second major digitization project to begin in spring 2020. More information about this collection as well as others is available through our website or by contacting UNT Special Collections.

Posted: 02/19/2020

UNT Libraries to Develop the First Cyber Knowledge Bank

The University of North Texas is creating an international data trust, which is expected to improve the measurement and analysis of open access book usage through a $1.2 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The University of North Texas is leading a team with members from around the world to create an international data trust improving the measurement and analysis of open access book usage. The new data trust, funded through a $1.2 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, will be the first of its kind for scholarly publishing, enabling universities and publishers to share and analyze data on open access works. As a pioneer for open access, UNT was the first public institution in Texas to adopt a policy in support of open access and has hosted an annual Open Access Symposium since 2010. “Advancing accessibility to research is a priority for UNT as a Tier One research university,” said Diane Bruxvoort, dean of UNT Libraries. “We are proud to remain on the forefront as leaders in open access.” OA materials are free to read online and are distributed without licensing restrictions. Allowing unrestricted access to scholarly research enables students, professors and scholars to use the most up-to-date and relevant information for their work. Currently, there are no systematic practices for collecting data on how and where these materials are used. The two-year project, led by UNT librarian Kevin Hawkins and conducted in partnership with the Educopia Institute, Curtin University, University of Michigan and the Book Industry Study Group, is designed to facilitate academic data sharing by compiling ebook usage data and standardizing analysis and reporting tools. “Open access to scholarly literature has developed more slowly for academic books than for journals,” said Hawkins, who serves as assistant dean for scholarly communication at UNT Libraries. “The data trust will be designed to ensure responsible use of ebook metrics and will be a vital source of insight into the ways scholarly books are being accessed and used, and the impact of the knowledge they contain.” Media Contact: Heather Noel

Posted: 02/17/2020

New Acquisition of the Teel Sale Collection

UNT Special Collections is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Teel Sale Collection. The collection includes drawings, prints, collages and artist’s books as well as sketches and research materials used in preparation of her work. UNT Special Collections is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Teel Sale Collection. The collection includes drawings, prints, collages and artist’s books as well as sketches and research materials used in preparation of her work. Sale is an artist, writer, and teacher, and has had a career of national and international shows (drawing, painting, printmaking, and performance art). She has served as art editor of Trilobite Press, book designer for university presses, book reviewer for Texas Books in Review, and visiting artist/lecturer at colleges and universities nationwide. Sale was a faculty member (drawing, painting, and honors) at the University of North Texas from 1975 through 1989. Sale’s Newfoundland Series, a collection of 18 laser print collages, was purchased by the UNT Union in 2001 and can be seen on the second floor of the Union near the Golden Eagle Suite. UNT Special Collections holds eight original artist books donated between 1986-2007. The newly acquired Teel Sale Collection includes over 200 works of art on paper, including large linocut prints, embossed prints, drawings and collages dating from 1972-2020. Sale’s most recent work, Eel Road, is a collection of poetry published by Trilobite Press. In 2019 a multidimensional art installation inspired by Eel Road was exhibited by Bihl Haus Arts in San Antonio. This installation prints and papier-mache sculpture at Gloria Sanchez-Hart and Nancy Oakly Klapp. The filmmaker William E. Mackie documented the installation in a short film titled, “Eels.” The acquisition of the Sale Collection is a part of UNT Special Collections continued collection development initiative to collect the work of UNT faculty and creative work of artists in the North Texas region. Archival Processing Coordinator, Sam Ivie, accompanied Head of Special Collections, Morgan Gieringer, on the trip to acquire the Sale collection. Ivie will lead the processing team who will work to catalog and describe this large collection over the next year. Once processed, the Teel Sale Collection will be available for access by appointment in the UNT Special Collections reading room. Sale currently lives in Ennis, Texas where she continues to produce art and poetry.

Posted: 02/10/2020

Artist Lecture: Keliy Anderson-Staley

Posted: 01/14/2020

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