Library people doing library things
We’ve had lots of new people join us this year, lots of folks moving up in the world, and some trying new things within the Libraries.
Genevia Chamblee-Smith
Digital Projects Fellow NEW HIRE
Library people doing library things
We’ve had lots of new people join us this year, lots of folks moving up in the world, and some trying new things within the Libraries.
Harry Brewster
Night & Weekend Library Information Specialist NEW HIRE
Sai Jonnalagadda
Part-time Library Information Specialist
NEW HIRE
Sarah Wunder
Part-time Library Information Specialist NEW HIRE
Courtney Strimel
Teaching & Learning Librarian NEW HIRE
Becky Briggs Becker
University Archivist NEW HIRE
Mēgan Oliver
Head of Digital Projects NEW HIRE
Dr. Anthony LaBat
Operations & Processing Associate PROMOTION
Dr. Cindy Thompson
Dean of Libraries PROMOTION
Gail Williams
Interlibrary Loan Manager PROMOTION
Liz Johnson
Senior Library Information Specialist Electronic Resources & Acquisitions TRANSFER
Lynn Gullickson Spencer
Head of Cataloging & Metadata NEW HIRE
Michael Bednar
Merlin/MOBIUS Reserves Library Information Specialist PROMOTION
Bryanna Beasley
Library Information Specialist Music/Media Library PROMOTION
Paul Wagner
Senior Library Information Specialist Supervisor PROMOTION
Tracey Hughes
Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion PROMOTION
Sandy Rodriguez
Associate Dean, Special Collections & Archives
PROMOTION TO LIBRARIAN IV
Kelley Martin
Librarian III PROMOTION
Story of the year
Making History
Preserving history and making it at the same time, the award-winning student project “Making History: The Rise of Gay Rights in Kansas City” found itself at the center of controversy early this year. While on display by the Missouri State Museum at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, a complaint from a congressional aide cut the exhibition short. The censorship of this vital historical content attracted wide attention, including new interest that led to fabrication of a second traveling version of the exhibit. Since its removal, the exhibit has, instead, traveled throughout Missouri, on display at museums, libraries, and community and business centers.
“Making History” reveals Kansas City’s role in the organization of the early gay rights movement, and tells the story of contributions of “ordinary people who accomplished extraordinary things.” It was collaboratively curated in 2016 by students in UMKC’s History department, under the guidance of their professor and UMKC Libraries archivists. The students received a National Council on Public History award for their work.
The journey that the exhibit undertook after being removed from the state Capitol resulted in a number of new ways for users to engage with it and sparked new partnerships and projects.
Grants & Gifts
We’re grateful for the support we’ve received through the year from our many generous donors and library supporters. Make your contribution today.
H. Vincent Jones, Jr. gift for Digital Special Collections
$30,942
Gifts in honor of John Tangeman for Marr Sound Archives
$11,520
Gifts for Gay and Lesbian Archive of Mid-America
$4,615
Gifts from Isaac Rena Jonathan’s American Century Fund
$52,156
Gifts for the Starr Women's Hall of Fame
$38,150
Gift from Dr. Elizabeth Noble for library services
$50,000
Changing
Spaces
We’ve been thrilled to have The Richard L. Sutton, Jr. Geosciences Museum join us on the third floor of the library, moving in their collection of rocks, minerals, and fossils, and making a surprisingly sparkly addition to the library as well as an educational one.
State Historical Society of Missouri
We welcome our partners at the State Historical Society of Missouri’s Kansas City Research Center to the third floor of Miller Nichols Library in the fall of 2021, bringing their collections and services under the same roof as the University Libraries for the first time. And, we are now enjoying one heck of a view from those windows. 
Finding Your Way
An entirely new system of wayfinding signage was devised for the Libraries, focused on improving accessibility and user experience for everyone who visits our spaces. We redesigned and replaced our building directories, floor plan maps, and signage throughout every floor of the library that assists users looking for library destinations from classrooms to technology workstations. The project started at Miller Nichols Library and is making its way to the Health Sciences Library this year.
Private study
3 new private study spaces, including a large conference room that seats up to 12 people.
Technology Experts
Helpful graduate assistants from Digital & Public Humanities
Digital Collaboration Studio
The new Digital Collaboration Studio, another addition to the library’s third floor, is a collaborative effort of that includes the Center for Digital and Public Humanities (a partner of the Libraries). The space supports the use of digital primary source materials and artifacts for teaching, learning, and scholarship.
Large collaboration space
Open work area for groups or individuals
Reservable Spaces
Students and instructors can reserve the collaboration spaces online
Collaboration monitors
Each study station has a screen that you can connect to for sharing and presenting
Recording Studio
Brand new facility that supports audio and video recording
Health Sciences Library
Study and work areas at the Health Sciences Library were improved by painting the entire space for the first time in decades and installing brand new furniture. While we hope to renovate the library more extensively soon, we are glad to make incremental upgrades.
Scholarships & Awards
Hunter Miesner
2022 Friends of the Library Scholarship. May 2022
LaBudde Special Collections
Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Community Engagement. May 2022
Myisha Sims
Winner of Living the Values Award March 2022
Anna Pogorelova
2022 Martha Jane Starr Research Award May 2022
TONY AWARDS
Dr. Anthony LaBat was awarded 3 grants from notable agencies totaling $4,435, to support his attendance at the Georgia Archives Institute
- Missouri State Library
- KC Area Archivists
- UMKC
Building relationships for engaged learning
Celebrating Luyben Music
When a longtime Kansas City destination for instruments and sheet music donated its archive to LaBudde Special Collections, Luyben Music had recently relocated from its historic location, leaving devoted customers without a final opportunity to visit. The students of the UMKC Conservatory’s Advanced Research and Bibliography class stepped in to offer an opportunity for connection.
Assisted by the professors teaching the class and the LaBudde Special Collections team, we were able to celebrate 70 years of Luyben Music, display the photographs, advertisements, articles, and other items in the newly donated collection, give everyone a chance to gather once more, and show the Conservatory students how archives support the communities they represent every day.
Personal Librarians
Our Personal Librarian program is live and taking off, building relationships and creating more engaged learning. This new program offers students the chance to be matched with a librarian, connecting them with a name and face at the Libraries. The goal is to personalize using the Library and all of its resources, making that process more accessible, effective, and even enjoyable for students.
- 20+ Years of experience
- available 24/7, We’re here for you!
- Lowest rates guaranteed
- Easy & Fast Online process
Big Numbers This Year
0
Library visits
0
Website views
Database searches per day
1,266
Full-text article views
366,987
Items borrowed through Interlibrary Loan
12,906
Archival collections viewed online
240,481
0
Students in library instruction classes
0
One-on-one research consultations
0
Cups of coffee*
*rough estimate
