American University Library enables educational and research success by:

1. building collections and facilitating access to in-formation across all formats

2. teaching people how to locate, assess, and use information to meet their needs

3. providing welcoming spaces that support a full range of intellectual endeavors

The images featured in this annual

report are taken from a collection of

stamps held in the AU Library’s Special

Collections: The Jack Child Papers, do-

nated in 2012.

Jack Child was an alumnus and former

faculty member at American Univer-

sity. His stamp collection is one com-

ponent of The Jack Child Papers, which

consists of his slide collection and

teaching and professional materials

including course handouts and texts,

drawings, lectures, and syllabi as well

as his research files and manuscripts.

Jack Child’s stamp collection contains

albums, first day covers, and individu-

al postage stamps covering more than

150 years, with an emphasis on Latin

America, the Caribbean, the Falkland

Islands, and Antarctica.

To learn more about this or other items

in AU Library’s Special Collections, or

to support this important work, please

contact the University Archivist at

202-885-3197.

JACK CHILD STAMP COLLECTIONJACK CHILD STAMP COLLECTION

CONTENTSCONTENTS

Welcome from the University Librarian 2

Barlett and Steele Archive 6

The Peace Corps Community Archive 7

Electronic Resource Acquisitions 8

Undergraduate Research Awards 12

Enhancing Student Presentations & Projects 13

Student Satisfaction 14

The American University Library Vision 20

How You Can Support Our Vision 21

University Librarian’s Visionary Fund 22

Friends of AU Library 24

Digital Futures Forum 28

Evolving Approach to Technology 30

Staff & Faculty Profiles 32

Looking Forward 34

Preserving History by

Looking Forward

Enabling Student Success

Supporting the American

University Library

Engagement and

Opportunity

Dear Library Supporters, Friends, and Neighbors,

My first year as the University Librarian at American University has been very rewarding. It is a pleasure to be a part

of such a rich, intellectually stimulating academic environment. Just as the larger university is moving forward to

embrace new and exciting initiatives, such as expanding our campus footprint and AU Project 2030, the Library has

begun its period of innovation and change.

Throughout the past year, we have been brainstorming ways to modernize our library and find new approaches to

meet the needs of a changing student body. The feedback we received from our stakeholders has been ingenious.

Student input is critical to such an endeavor, so we organized student focus groups to learn more about their cre-

ative vision for the library. Our faculty and staff have been a part of this process as well, from strategic all-hands

meetings to the inspiration board, where we share articles, photographs, and ideas about our vision for the future

of the Library.

The first part of this vision will be realized this fall, as we introduce the Research Commons. The idea behind this

concept is to bring together other campus units involved in supporting research on campus. To help us plan this

project, we asked our staff members where they were referring students for help outside the library and asked our

students what they would like to have offered inside the library. We will be “road testing” the project this fall, bring-

ing in highly requested partners like the Writing Lab and Statistical Consulting, and offering them student service

space within the library. The Writing Center from the College of Arts & Sciences will move to the library in January

WELCOME FROM THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIANWELCOME FROM THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIAN

In the same way that a university brings together a variety of disciplines,

we plan to bring together multidisciplinary resources that support

American University’s goal to become a prominent research institu-

tion, as well as our Library’s mission to enable student success.

2

2014. Our goal is to create a one-stop shop for our students, allowing them to address a multitude of research ques-

tions—all in one convenient location, the Research Commons.

In the same way that a university brings together a variety of disciplines, we plan to bring together multidisci-

plinary resources that support American University’s goal to become a prominent research institution, as well as

our Library’s mission to enable student success. Every single person who supports the Library through their work,

their generosity, or their advocacy is an integral part of our mission. I feel fortunate to be working with so many

passionate, engaged supporters and look forward to helping grow that base.

We see the library as a place for engagement and hope that you will take part in some of the many intellectual op-

portunities we are offering. This past year, we showcased groundbreaking research from our American University

faculty at our Books & Beyond session, tapped into the copyright expertise of School of Communications and Wash-

ington College of Law professors at our Digital Futures Forum on the changing landscape of fair use, and launched

the Peace Corps Community Archives, a collection of scholarly research–level material relating to the countries and

individuals involved with the Peace Corps. This steadily growing collection is housed in the University Archives.

More opportunities for intellectual engagement are on the horizon. Our Books That Shaped America discussion se-

ries offers lively conversations, led by American University faculty, about the highly influential 80 books selected

by the Library of Congress. This fall, we will be offering a second series of our popular Bridging Cultures Bookshelf:

Muslim Journeys. Our new Scholarly Communication Colloquium will feature experts from both American Univer-

sity and the larger academic community presenting on challenges for academia in the 21st century. Additionally, we

will be rebranding our Books & Beyond program as the “AU 2030 Research in Progress Series,” to highlight the lead-

ing-edge research being done at American University.

This Annual Report contains more detailed information about a number of these initiatives, including the Research

Commons project, our newest collections (both electronic and paper), and how the Library is putting your dona-

tions to good use. We will also be sharing stories about how the Library is continuing to change and evolve. My phi-

losophy is that you don’t leave the best behind, you bring it with you. As the American University Library embarks

on this process of growth, we plan to hold on to our values and mission. I am delighted to be a part of this progres-

sion and hope that you will be inspired to join us.

Nancy Davenport

University Librarian, American University

3

4

PRESERVING HISTORY BY

LOOKING FORWARD

PRESERVING HISTORY BY

LOOKING FORWARD

“I think it is essential for students to appreciate the value of books

and to read them in hard copy. I require my students to use the li-

brary online search engines for peer-reviewed journal articles in

academic publications. I frequently remind them to take advantage

of the valuable human resources we have in the Library, especially

reference librarians who can help them navigate complex searches

and can educate them about a variety of research materials.”

—Dr. Linda Lubrano, Professor, School of International Service

5

BARLETT AND STEELE ARCHIVEBARLETT AND STEELE ARCHIVE

American University Library received the final installment of the Barlett and Steele Archive this past year. This ex-

tensive collection will be an invaluable tool to researchers interested in the history of investigative journalism and

public policy making in the United States.

Don Barlett and Jim Steele have worked together for more than three decades at The Philadelphia Inquirer (1971–

1997), where they won two Pulitzer Prizes, and Time Magazine (1997–2006), where they earned two National Mag-

azine Awards. Barlett and Steele pioneered reporting methods that are now standard in the profession. In 1972,

they used a computer to analyze more than 1,000 cases of violent crime in Philadelphia. “Crime and Injustice” was

the largest computer-assisted project of its time and was widely replicated by other journalists for years afterward.

The collection tracks public policy making on issues such as bankruptcy, campaign finance, corporate welfare, en-

ergy, health care, Indian gaming, nuclear waste, taxes, and the U.S. economy over the course of several decades. It

brings together information from a variety of sources including corporations, federal agencies, and state and for-

eign governments, which will facilitate further analysis and study. Many of these documents are no longer available

or were never made public.

The Barlett and Steele Archive (1971–2010) con-

sists of materials created and collected for their

research projects and includes raw data on unfin-

ished and unpublished projects as well as leads

on potential stories. The archive contains cor-

porate and government reports, individual and

corporate tax returns, interview notes and tran-

scriptions, and numerous letters from readers.

6

THE PEACE CORPS COMMUNITY ARCHIVETHE PEACE CORPS COMMUNITY ARCHIVE

The University Library is pleased to announce the newly estab-

lished Peace Corps Community Archive (PCCA), an exciting joint

initiative with the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of

International Service. The mission at the heart of this archive is

to collect, exhibit, and provide educational and public programs

that document the experiences and impact of individuals who

served in the Peace Corps and of individuals and institutions in

host countries. The PCCA will serve as a research collection for

use by students and scholars studying a variety of disciplines

ranging from peace diplomacy to public health.

American University has a strong commitment to international

understanding, social justice, interdisciplinary inquiry, and re-

search endeavors that benefit society. The PCCA supports all of

these goals. Additionally, our nationwide collection efforts will

increase awareness of the history of the Peace Corps, as will a

directory of Peace Corps–related collections. AU attracts ser-

vice-oriented students with a global outlook. In 2013, the Peace

Corps ranked AU second among medium-sized universities for

service among graduates. More than 800 AU alumni have served

as Peace Corps volunteers. This scholarly archive will be a re-

source for the future leaders and peacemakers studying at AU, as

well as for the broader academic and Peace Corps communities.

Since the launch of this archive, the University Library has re-

ceived donations from returned Peace Corps volunteers who

served all over the world. The diversity of this collection is one

of its most striking features, allowing researchers to delve into

training materials that volunteers to India used in the 1960s,

photographs from Afghanistan in the early 1970s, or recent film

footage from a volunteer to the Ukraine. The response to this

project has been enthusiastic and we look forward to growing

the PCCA with the help of our supporters.

Those interested in donating to the Univer-

sity Library’s Peace Corps archive can con-

tact University Archivist, Susan McElrath, at

archives@american.edu. To learn more about

the archive, visit http://american.edu/library/

archives/pcca/.

The School of International Service, the

College of Arts and Sciences, and the AU

Alumni Association celebrated the launch

of the University Library’s Peace Corps

Community Archive with the event “Wag-

ing Peace Through a Lifetime of Service”

on March 21, 2013. University Librarian

Nancy Davenport introduced the archive

and encouraged returned Peace Corps

volunteers to donate to the PCCA, telling

the audience, “Your memorabilia will help

to tell the stories.” She noted that the ar-

chives can include a wide variety of mate-

rials, from photographs to letters to field

diaries. While the official records of the

Peace Corps will be retained by the Na-

tional Archives of the United States, the

much more personal history of the Peace

Corps volunteers will be documented by

the University Library.

7

ELECTRONIC RESOURCE ACQUISITIONS

Each year, we augment our collection of electronic resources, adding databases and e-journals that benefit a variety

of disciplines. Our librarians consult with teaching faculty and students to learn which resources are in demand.

Then, the library offers a trial of that resource to the campus community and solicits their feedback. This way we

determine how to meet the research need with the best available journal or database. Some of our most notable new

additions include:

ASKZADOffering access to nearly 1,000 academic journals, 160,000 in-

dexed articles, and more than 7,000 dissertations from the Mid-

dle East in both Arabic and English, this resource is a huge boon

for our School of International Service, as well as our Interna-

tional Business program. AskZad also provides access to the Pan

Arab News Index, a source for nearly 120 newspapers in their

print and web editions.

BOOK CITATION INDEXWith numerous multidisciplinary applications, this index pres-

ents quantifiable statistical data that provide a systematic way

to evaluate science and social science books and their impact

and influence. Book Citation Index contains citation data from

2005 to the present and provides citations for monographs from

across the disciplines, allowing both researchers and university

administrators to better understand the impact of books in the

Humanities and Social Sciences.

CABI GLOBAL HEALTHIntended to support the emerging public health focus at AU, this

resource features key literature within global public health. Cov-

erage goes back to 1973 and features more than 2 million arti-

cles, many of which are exclusive to this database.

ELECTRONIC RESOURCE ACQUISITIONS

8

CONSORTIAL EBSCO E-BOOK ACADEMIC COLLECTIONProviding consortial access to more than 114,000 multidisci-

plinary e-books, this new acquisitions supports our goals of

growing the e-book collection, collaborative collection develop-

ment with the Washington Research Library Consortium, and

saving space in the library.

FUENTE ACADÉMICA PREMIEREssentially the Spanish-language version of Academic Search

Premier, it covers a growing body of scholarly research output

from Latin America to support the Center for Latin American

and Latino Studies. This is also an important resource for our in-

ternational student population.

SIMPLYMAPThis award-winning tool allows users to generate maps and re-

ports from a wide variety of data sources. With research appli-

cations that range from business to socioeconomics to public

health, this resource promises to have a major scholarly impact.

“After my arrival at American University in 2010, the University Library

quickly became an integral part of my teaching and my scholarship. The

wonderful librarians, such as Rachel Borchardt, our science librarian, are

always going out of their way to find out how they can support my work.”

— Matthew Hartings, Assistant Professor, College of Arts and Sciences

9

10

ENABLING STUDENT SUCCESS

ENABLING STUDENT SUCCESS

“The American University Library is a great place, not just for study-

ing, but also for catching an interesting book talk, attending a walk-

in class, or obtaining thorough research help. The Library continually

adapts to meet my requests as a student, and all of the new services

and technology I have access to, really makes preparing for those long

hours of study much less of a burden. Whether I’m reading on one of

the 3rd floor couches, or hunkering down to study on the silent floor

during finals week, the library is my favorite on-campus spot.”

—Christine Weidner, CAS/BA ’14

11

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AWARDSUNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AWARDS

The Library is pleased to announce the winners of the 2013 Uni-

versity Library Prizes for Outstanding Undergraduate and Col-

lege Writing Research Papers and Projects. A $1,000 prize was

awarded in each of two categories: Best Undergraduate Research

Paper or Project and Best College Writing Research Paper or Proj-

ect. The purpose of the prizes are to recognize and award Ameri-

can University undergraduate students who make extensive use

of the University Library’s collections and show evidence of criti-

cal analysis in their research skills, including locating, selecting,

evaluating, and synthesizing information.

The 2013 winner of the University Library Prize for Best College

Writing Research Paper or Project is Lorraine Holmes, who was

recognized for her paper “Popular Characterizations of Vegetari-

anism and Meat as a Symbol in American Culture.” The two hon-

orable mentions in this category went to Claire Karlsson for “The

Boundaries of Country Identity” and Jessica Anderson for “LOL-

ing Out Loud: What Text Slang Means for a Global Society.”

The winner of the University Library Prize for Best Undergradu-

ate Research Paper or Project is Canyon Bosler for her paper “Ac-

cess to Credit and Migration in Uganda: Complements or Sub-

stitutes.” Honorable mentions in this category went to Sagatom

Saha for his research paper “Russian and European Influence

on Energy Security in the Balkans,” and Janetta Deppa for her

paper “Of Global Order.”

Thirty-three students received recommendations from their fac-

ulty sponsors and submitted essays about their research process

as well as their papers. A team of librarians and faculty reviewed

the papers, assessing them against the selection criteria. Re-

viewers agreed that the caliber of the papers was very high and

the selection process was a challenging one. Winners were hon-

ored at an awards ceremony and luncheon on April 30.

SELECTION CRITERIA• Substantial use of library re-

sources and collections in any for-

mat, including but not limited to

printed resources, databases, pri-

mary resources, and materials in

all media;

• Ability to locate, select, evaluate,

and synthesize library resources

and to use them in the creation of a

project that shows originality and/

or has the potential to lead to orig-

inal research in the future;

• Evidence of significant person-

al learning and the development

of a habit of research and inquiry

that shows the likelihood of per-

sisting in the future; and

• Originality of thought, mastery

of content appropriate to class

level, clear writing, and a high

quality of presentation.

Winners and Honorable Mentions of the

2013 Undergraduate Research Awards.

12

ENHANCING STUDENT PRESENTATIONS & PROJECTS

ENHANCING STUDENT PRESENTATIONS & PROJECTS

In keeping with the Library’s work to further the goals

in the university’s strategic plan, many efforts have

been concentrated on enhancing the library and re-

search infrastructure on campus. As part of those ef-

forts, considerable attention has been paid to strength-

ening the research presentation skills of our students

and encouraging them to participate in research fairs,

conferences, and poster sessions.

With funding from the Provost, the Library purchased a

large-format poster printer for the campus community

in October 2012. This new tool has the capacity to great-

ly improve users’ presentation skills and quality of pre-

sentations, and the impact has been seen at the Inter-

national Relations Research Fairs in both the fall 2012

and spring 2013 semesters. In just over six months of

use, a total of 600 posters have been created—roughly

135 prints in the last five weeks of the fall semester and

nearly 500 prints for the spring. Staff at the New Media

Center and Technology Services Desk worked together

to provide design, layout, and formatting assistance for

many of the students using this service. Library staff

members were trained to operate the machine and have

worked to facilitate printing at supply-cost pricing for

students, making the technology more accessible than

ever on campus.

Additionally, library staff created a web resource guide

for the service, compiling documentation on guidelines

for academic posters, best practices for research post-

er fairs, tutorials, and even some downloadable tem-

plates from noted graphic artists. The bulk of the print-

er’s usage came in supporting classwork, particularly for

“Introduction to IR Research” in the School of Interna-

tional Service and the IR Poster Session along with the

Graphic Design department’s “Visual Communication

Design,” but staff are also seeing a wider range of users

that includes graduate students from the Chemistry, Bi-

ology, and Environmental Science programs. The most

recent round of assessment surveys recorded positive

feedback from individuals who used the service. One

student said, “Poster printing has been a vital tool for

my class, it has helped me out a lot,” while another men-

tioned it as “a very cool addition.” The library now plans

to expand hours and marketing for this service. Addi-

tional efforts will include working to create web-based

instructional sessions on how to plan, design, and for-

mat an academic research poster, and outreach to facul-

ty and students who will participate in campus research

fairs.

AU Library’s new large-format printer is capable of printing images of any

length in widths up to 44 inches. This new service allows students to create

dynamic displays of their research for poster sessions.

13

STUDENT SATISFACTIONSTUDENT SATISFACTION

Assessment was a theme throughout the library this year. Along with participating in AU’s campus-wide Campus

Climate Survey, the University Library engaged in numerous internal assessment projects as well. The Library relies

on various quantitative measures to define success with regard to collections and services usage, but we also rec-

ognize the value of qualitative feedback in helping us color a more complete picture of our overall performance in

these areas.

During the fall and spring semesters, the University Library conducted 26 separate focus group sessions, with more

than 125 AU students participating. One set of sessions was held for undergraduate users, while another set was

held for student employees of the library. All groups were asked to comment on their experiences with the library,

as students, in the five following areas: library services, library collections, library facilities, library technology, and

online resources/library website. The results are summarized in the chart below:

The Library has attempted to respond to some of the more frequent comments in the following ways:

• Some students wish to browse the stacks by subject or are confused by the Library of Congress call number sys-

tem. Signs have been added at the end of the stacks that explain the subject area in each specific row.

• We received feedback that the photocopier/scanners in the lobby are confusing. We are looking into purchasing

scanners that have a more intuitive, user-friendly interface.

Electronic Resources & Website

Building & Study Space

Tech Equipment & Support

Print Resources

Customer Service & Help

PositiveNeutral Mixed Negative

PositiveNeutral Mixed Negative

0

40

0

40

0

40

0

40

0

40

RESP

ONSE

S BY

ARE

A

14

The Library was also interested in hearing students’ ideas for the Research Commons and library renovation project.

A team of library personnel were trained in “participative design” techniques, which come from the ethnographic

research and IT development worlds. The participants, all students, were told to imagine that they had been asked

to design a new library that would meet all of their needs. They were then given paper and art supplies and asked to

draw what they imagined.

The results revealed an intense desire for a more inspiring, impressive, aesthetically pleasing space. There was a

sense that the space needed to set the tone for what needed to happen there—that the space and the elements with-

in were in themselves motivational for study and work. Students overwhelmingly desired more natural light and a

more natural “feel” to the space. Comfort was another important component, not only from a practical and furni-

ture-level perspective (“comfy chairs,” “bean bags”) but for a place to come and stay for a long period of time. Anoth-

er dominant theme was that of providing more choices—a mix of spaces to accommodate any permutation of quiet

or lively, individual or group work, so students could pick the experience they wanted at a particular time.

Some of the library faculty conducted an assessment project on the effectiveness of research assistance services in

helping students succeed in their research papers. A sample of 123 graduating seniors were asked to identify what

tools they used to conduct their research, which research assistance services they used, and if they had attend-

ed a library instruction session. They were asked to rank the helpfulness of each service in completing their work.

Eighty-one percent of students who used the reference desk or research chat service said that the service they re-

ceived was either helpful or very helpful, 49 percent of those who used the reference desk said that it was very help-

ful, and 52 percent of those who used reference chat said that it was very helpful.

This was also a year for the biannual Campus Climate Survey. This survey measures students’ use of and satisfaction

with the library and the library-operated computer labs, among other things. The results showed that frequency of

Student drawings from the participative design workshops.

15

use has remained relatively stable, with most undergraduates using the library in person weekly or more, and al-

most half of the graduate students using the library online weekly or more. More than 80 percent of undergradu-

ates use library-operated computer labs, and about 75 percent of graduate students do. Satisfaction was fairly high

among undergraduates for our collections, research assistance, online tools, and customer service, with lower satis-

faction for our facilities. Satisfaction among graduate students increased for our materials, and remained high for

all other areas, including scoring higher on facilities than for undergraduates. Satisfaction with the quality of our

computer lab facilities dropped among all students, and more work will need to be done to determine what prompt-

ed the decrease.

These projects show the important information we can gather from our users—information we can use to improve

our services and facilities. Services have already been changed to respond to the feedback we received, and the stu-

dent vision for future facilities is being used in the planning of the Research Commons and a future renovation. The

Library will continue its assessment into the coming year—both to uncover more information about the Campus

Climate results, and in the spirit of continuous improvement of the University Library.

SATISFACTION BY ACADEMIC STANDING4+6+36+524+6+39+529+11+42+3814+9+41+360

Undergraduate graduate

60% 0

ExcellentGoodFairPoor Excellent Good Fair Poor

Customer Service

Usability of Online Tools

Library Collections

Research Assistance

General Facilities

Customer Service

Usability of Online Tools

Library Collections

Research Assistance

General Facilities

16

FREQUENCY OF IN-PERSON USE BY YEAR

QUESTIONS ANSWERED AT SERVICE POINTS

4+6+36+524+6+39+529+11+42+3814+9+41+36FY 2012 FY 2013

Never Once a Semester

A Few Times a Semester

Weekly or More

Never Once a Semester

A Few Times a Semester

Weekly or More

GraduatesUndergraduates

3.5%

13.5%9.1% 8.8% 11.3%

41.4% 41.6%36.3% 38.0%

4.4% 5.5% 6.3%

39.1%

52.0% 51.9%

36.4%

305,288 721,553In-person Visits to AU Library in FY 2013

305,288Circulated Items (Books, Laptops, etc.)

FY 20

12FY

2013

99,758

105,692

17

18

SUPPORTING THE AMERICAN

UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

SUPPORTING THE AMERICAN

UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

“Many people think these days that libraries are in the past, over-

taken by technology. As alums of AU, it gives us great pleasure to

see that the AU Library is an even more important resource for stu-

dents today than it was even 15 years ago, and continues to serves

as the nerve center for study and research across the entire cam-

pus. The great work of the AU Library staff in making the library

an integral part of the student experience is one reason we are

happy to continue to support their efforts through our donations.”

—Gregory S. Gadren, SPA/BA ’00 & SPA/MPP ’02

and Andrea L. Browning, SIS/BA ’04

19

The American University Library enables success for students and faculty in three key ways:

THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY LIBRARY VISIONTHE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY LIBRARY VISION

Provost Bass addressing faculty at

Books & Beyond: AU 2030

Students studying on the second

floor of the library.

The Larissa Gerstel Annual Symposium

focuses on education and teaching.

As an academic and research destination that provides ac-

cess to information and research tools, along with expert

and personalized guidance through the entire research

process, including complex, multidisciplinary, and digital

scholarship.

As a community network connecting scholars regardless

of location or program, and partnering with others on

campus to provide the services and expertise needed by

our students and faculty.

As an inspiring place that provides inclusive, welcoming,

and adaptable spaces, and is a center for innovative tech-

nology on campus. The facility is environmentally sustain-

able and is a beautiful and inspiring space within which

the community is proud to study and work.

20

Donations from Library supporters make it possible for us to provide crucial scholarly materials. As the commu-

nity network connecting scholars, it is our responsibility to deliver access to cutting-edge research, historical doc-

uments, classic works of philosophy and literature, and so much more. Your help makes that possible. Donor gifts

also allow us to preserve and protect the history and legacy of AU, through the University Archives as well as the

rare books and manuscripts in our Special Collections. Our donors recognize the important role of the Library in

furthering the scholarship of American University and we are tremendously grateful to them for their support.

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT OUR VISIONHOW YOU CAN SUPPORT OUR VISION

DC

NY/NJ

PHILADELPHIA

BALTIMORE

BOSTON

AU LIBRARY’S 5 LARGEST METRO AREA DONOR BASES21

Contributions to the University Librarian’s Visionary Fund made it possible for us to digitize the Paula Diehl Collec-

tion—more than 70 manuscripts, including vocal pieces, piano solos, string quartets, chamber music, and various

instrumental music including nontraditional instruments such as a prepared-piano. Paula Diehl began her in-depth

study of music theory and composition at American University and later continued it at Temple University, where

she received a Master of Music degree in composition. As a result of her studies, she developed a new total composi-

tion system called “Separation.” This digitized collection will allow scholars, students, and musicians to explore her

pioneering composition system.

The University Librarian’s Visionary Fund is the University Library’s major source of discretionary funding that pro-

vides support for the library’s area of greatest need. The fund is made up of both small and large annual donations

from Friends of AU Library and helps to finance critical projects that help the library reach students and faculty

with new technology, aggressively grow collections in key areas of scholarship, and serve the campus with access to

the best academic research databases.

As we move forward into our next fiscal year, the University Librarian’s Visionary Fund will be integral to many of the

new initiatives we are planning. There are so many exciting opportunities ahead of us, and you can be a part of the

innovation by supporting the University Librarian’s Visionary Fund.

OTHER UPGRADES & IMPROVEMENTSThe Library makes strategic use of our donated funds in a number of ways. Our Technology Innovation Fund allowed

us to acquire a thermal transfer printer, which helps to speed the processing of new books. The Student Endowment

Fund was used to enhance our collection of popular reading materials, a favorite section of students, faculty, and

staff looking to unwind with a good book. We were able to provide terrific professional development opportunities

for our staff through the Helen Goldstein Fund. Both the Roger and Nancy Brown Endowed Fund and the Eagle Digitiza-

tion Fund allowed us to upgrade library equipment, improving our user experience. With so many ways to support

the growth of the Library, we hope that you will be inspired to join us!

UNIVERSITY LIBRARIAN’S VISIONARY FUNDUNIVERSITY LIBRARIAN’S VISIONARY FUND

22

FUNDS

University Librarian’s Visionary Fund

Contributions to the University Librarian’s Visionary

Fund can finance critical projects to address space needs

and to leverage innovation opportunities. Donations to

this fund may also be used to further enhance the Re-

search Commons.

Larissa Gerstel Critical Literacy Fund

In memory of Larissa Gerstel’s contribution to AU and

the community, her family and the School of Education

started this fund to support collection and materials

growth for the library’s Curriculum Materials Center.

Helen Goldstein Fund

To recognize the legacy of Helen R. Goldstein, Access

Service Librarian at AU, the Library established a fund

in her memory in 2004 to support professional develop-

ment opportunities for library staff.

Special Collections Fund

The Special Collections Fund supports the ongoing work

of conservation and makes it possible for our Archives

and Special Collections department to continue to pro-

vide students, researchers, and the public with access to

historical and significant works.

Technology Innovation Fund

This fund supports student-centered programming and

library enhancements that incorporate the innovative

use of technology.

Eagle Digitization Fund

With the help of donors, the Library has been able to

digitize AU’s student newspaper, The Eagle, from its ear-

liest issue in 1925 through 2009.

ENDOWED FUNDS

Roger and Nancy Brown Endowed Fund

Roger and Nancy Brown were among the original found-

ers of the Friends of the AU Library and set up this fund

to support strengthening the Library’s collections, re-

sources, and facilities.

Keker Endowed Library Fund

Samuel and Lucy Keker established this fund to en-

hance the operating budget of the Library, which allows

for building renovations, collections expansion, and

much more.

Student Endowment Fund

Created in 1998 by the American University Student

Government and Graduate Leadership Council, the Stu-

dent Endowment is a student-funded and student-ad-

vised fund to finance the expansion of library resources.

Roger Brown Preservation Fund

Margaret D. Anthon started this fund in honor of Roger

H. Brown, to support the ongoing preservation of li-

brary collections through cleaning, repairing, binding,

or replacing books of significant value.

Lewis Alexander Fund

Made possible by a generous bequest from Lewis M. Al-

exander, this fund supports the purchase of resources

in the fields of economics and business administration.

Class of 1942 Endowed Fund

In an effort to support the acquisition of books, news-

papers, and periodicals dealing with history, economics,

sociology, and literature during the World War II years

(1938–1946), this fund was created by the class of 1942.

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FRIENDS OF AU LIBRARY

The American University Library gratefully acknowledges the following individuals and organizations who made

gifts of $300 or more to the Library between May 1, 2012, and April 30, 2013.

Jorge J. Abud ’83 and Barbara A. Bartoo

Lynda Lees Adams

Karin A. Akerson ’96 and Daniel F. Akerson

Ruth D. Bartfeld ’82 and Charles I. Bartfeld

Bonnie Berk

Sherrill Berk and Jeffrey L. Swartz

Vida Berkowitz

David F. Bleil ’78

Daniel W. Boettcher ’96

Lincoln E. Bragg

Bethany J. Bridgham JD ’88

Roger H. Brown and Nancy B. Brown

Victoria T. Brown and Randall E. Brown

James W. Carroll PhD ’77

Nancy A. Caton

Richard T. Cockerill ’78 and Becky Cockerill

Nancy Davenport

Janice L. Flug MPA ’80

Friends of Colombia

Erin M. Fuller ’93, MPA ’94

Gregory S. Gadren ’00, MPP ’02 and

Andrea Browning ’04

Katherine S. Gaines ’70 and William A. Gaines ’69

Douglas Galbi

Krassimir H. Genov ’96

Ann Kurtz Gray ’65

James C. Ground Jr. ’92

Gail Short Hanson and John N. Hanson

Mary D. Hawley ’82 and Rollins J. Hawley

Donald Hester ’64 and Ingrid Hester

Alex R. Hodges

Christopher S. Jacobs ’01

FRIENDS OF AU LIBRARY

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Thomas L. Jacobson ’87 and Mabel Shaw

Cornelius M. Kerwin ’71 and Ann L. Kerwin ’71

Lara M. Kline ’00 and Nathan R. Kline ’01

Michele L. Mikkelsen MS ’00 and Donald J. Mikkelsen

Caroline O. Moser

Priscilla I. Pagano ’65 and Philip H. Potter

Kate M. Perrin ’73, MA ’81

Kathy Z. Putnam and George Putnam

David Alan Rosenberg ’69, MS ’70 and

Deborah L. Rosenberg

Lisa E. Rosenthal ’97, MBA ’01

Arthur J. Rothkopf and Barbara S. Rothkopf

Irma C. Schechter MPA ’74

Robin Berk Seitz MA ’95 and Richard Seitz

Ann Marie Sharratt ’99

Linda Siegenthaler and Jurg K. Siegenthaler

Trudi K. Trimiar ’56

Judith J. Vandegriff MA ’71 and John H. Vandegriff

Diana L. Vogelsong MA ’81 and Wallace C. Duncan

Gary K. Wright

Derrick L. Cogburn

Alison Amy Dingwall ’00

Donald Hester ’64

Ann L. Kerwin ’71

Robert Newlen MA ’79

Priscilla I. Pagano ’65

Kate M. Perrin ’73, MA ’81

Arthur J. Rothkopf

Robin Berk Seitz MA ’95

Ann Marie Sharratt ’99

Allan J. Stypeck ’72

Diana L. Vogelsong MA ’81

UNIVERSITY LIBRARY COUNCILWith appreciation and gratitude we recognize the time, talent, and dedication of the University Li-

brary Council. This extraordinary group of volunteers works closely with the University Librarian

to support fundraising initiatives and to strengthen the Library’s community focus. The Library

Council are among the strongest advocates for the University Library.

Council Members

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ENGAGEMENT AND OPPORTUNITY

ENGAGEMENT AND OPPORTUNITY

“Often the first thing people think about when it comes to librar-

ies is books and research. However, the strength of the American

University’s Library is its staff and their commitment to helping

students. From technical support, to academic support, to help

planning events on campus, the AU Library staff have been crucial

to my success at American University.”

—Robert Schlehuber, SIS/MA ’13

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DIGITAL FUTURES FORUMDIGITAL FUTURES FORUM

More than 60 attendees gathered for the AU Library Digital Futures Forum to discuss the limits and future of fair

use. The session opened with attendees voicing some of their most urgent questions about fair use, ranging from

the reproduction of visual media in academic works to the use of news organization logos on third-party websites.

Keynote speakers were Patricia Aufderheide, co-director of the Center for Social Media and professor in the School

of Communication, and Peter Jaszi, co-founder of the Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property

and professor at the AU Washington College of Law, co-authors of the recently published Reclaiming Fair Use (Uni-

versity of Chicago Press). Aufderheide opened the session by showing a video example of fair use, in which clips

from recent popular television shows and movies were used to illustrate an important social topic. Afterward, Jaszi

discussed the legal aspects of fair use.

Following their talk, Brandon Butler, public policy director at the Association of Research Libraries, shared infor-

mation regarding recent court decisions affecting fair use in libraries. Additionally, Butler discussed the Code of

Best Practices in Fair Use for Academic and Research Libraries, which was developed in collaboration between the

American University School of Communications Center for Social Media, the Washington College of Law Program

of Information Justice and Intellectual Property, and the Association of Research Libraries, and has been used by

lawyers and judges in guiding policy and court decisions. A lively Q &A followed and included topics such as the ju-

risdictional aspects of international information-sharing, and distinctions between fair-use regulations for differ-

ent types of media.

Left to right: Peter Jaszi, Nancy Davenport, Brandon Butler,

and Patricia Aufderheide

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At our Peace Corps Community Archive Launch

Reception, we displayed some of the dona-

tions from Returned Peace Corps Volunteers,

including photographs, letters, and journals

from their period of service. These items help to

capture sociohistorical information about the

Peace Corps as an organization, as well as the

countries that have hosted volunteers.

Each September, the Library hosts a Faculty

Lunch to kick off the new school year. This is a

great opportunity for teaching faculty to meet

our librarians, learn about our new services,

and enjoy some multidisciplinary mingling!

Library donors helped enhance our collection

at our Warm Winter Welcome Reception, by pur-

chasing Arboretum-related texts for both the

general collection and our collection of rare

books. Our 84-acre campus is a nationally rec-

ognized Arboretum and a certified Wildlife

Habitat. We were thrilled to be able to partner

with the Arboretum & Gardens staff for this

special event.

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EVOLVING APPROACH TO TECHNOLOGYEVOLVING APPROACH TO TECHNOLOGY

In a continuing effort to position the Library as the academic technology center for the campus, many changes are

under way—organizationally, operationally, and technically. Foremost is the creation of an Academic Technology

department within the library. Formed from three existing groups, the new department fuses many aspects of the

Library’s technology mission while at the same time positioning it as the enterprise solution for academic technol-

ogy systems, tools, and support. The components of the department include the enterprise learning management

system, campus audio/video, classroom technology, heavily utilized laboratories in the library and throughout cam-

pus (including the largest computing center on campus), campus printing, and library computing systems. To that

end, the Library has focused on a few key technology initiatives.

DISTRIBUTED EDUCATIONAmerican University is taking a fresh look at, and is expanding, its distance education program. As a result, the li-

brary’s e-learning team is implementing a major upgrade to the existing learning management system while also

leading pilot efforts of different systems to explore the best solutions for the campus. Additionally, the team is sup-

porting campus-wide lecture capture software, remote testing, and instructional videoconferencing.

COMPUTING LABORATORIESThe Library’s duties reach far beyond the walls of Bender Hall. With responsibilities for classroom technology via

the campus audio/video department as well as many computing centers, library staff are continually investigating

how technology can enhance, augment, and alter teaching and learning. One such effort is the creation of a space

where faculty can explore new technologies within mock-up classroom configurations. This space will be housed in

the Anderson Computing Complex and will focus on existing classroom technology as well as demonstrations of

emerging technologies that could be used in the classrooms or for distance education. Our staff will configure the

space with existing campus technologies and also will reach out to form partnerships with companies to loan equip-

ment for demonstration and experimentation.

LIBRARY COMPUTINGPersonal computing changes rapidly, and, in recent years, the industry has seen tremendous growth in mobile com-

puting, including laptops, tablets, phablets, and smartphones. Campus surveys have indicated that the average AU

student now owns an average of 3.5 computing devices, many of which are mobile. The Library has seen this trend

borne out through a (slight but steady) decrease in public computing usage over the past three years coupled with a

high demand for power and wireless connectivity. In response to these trends, the Library is re-examining its fleet

of public computing options. This has led to many initiatives. First, the Library is decreasing the number of public

computers while at the same time increasing the number of open spaces with available power (wireless is readily

available throughout the campus). Second, as a result of the public computer reclamation, the Library will be in a

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position to re-focus its technology lending op-

tions to include targeted task-driven technolo-

gy and fewer general-purpose PCs. In this case,

fully functional tablet PCs will be distributed

for general computing (web browsing, word and

spreadsheet processing) and high-end laptops

will be lent for more processor-intensive com-

puting (e.g., data manipulation and/or multi-

media production). The final public comput-

ing initiative leverages the university’s Virtual

Computing Lab infrastructure: We are replac-

ing public PCs with low-cost, highly energy-ef-

ficient zero-client devices. These 10 small form

factor devices will use the computing power

housed within the Office of Information Tech-

nology’s virtual server farm while offering the

student a desktop environment complete with

all the necessary software. There will be a lim-

ited pilot during the fall 2013 term with a goal

toward continual expansion across campus.

LIBRARY PRINTINGTwo major projects have begun that are in-

tended to streamline and augment the library’s

printing capabilities. The first will create a print

center where all library printing will occur. The

center will be housed on the lower level and will

house four high-volume printers as well as one

color printer. In addition to the print center,

through a generous donation, the library will

purchase a 3D printer—a first for a consortium

school. The 3D printer will be available to the

public, operated by library staff, and will hope-

fully follow the success of other libraries’ 3D

printing efforts where engineering, the scienc-

es, and fine arts departments have found inno-

vative ways to use the technology in teaching

and in student projects.

INTRODUCING THE DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGY

“Throughout my career, I have explored and implement-

ed innovative uses of technology as an educational tool,

as an instructor and as an administrator. My profes-

sional focus has centered on the development and use of

academic technologies to enhance teaching and learn-

ing in higher education. This focus is rooted in my back-

ground as a cognitive psychologist and has required a

successful blend of multiple disparate disciplines: cog-

nitive psychology theory, adult learning theory, instruc-

tional technologies and design, experiential learning,

learning and content management systems administra-

tion, leadership, and teaching. Before coming to AU, I

was the director of academic computing at the Nation-

al Defense University, where I directed technology-rich

simulation labs, online learning, and classroom tech-

nology. I have also used a number of different educa-

tional technology approaches in my own teaching, hav-

ing taught in face-to-face, online, and hybrid formats.”

—Michael J. Piller, Director of Academic Technology

Dr. Piller has a B.S. in Psychology from Wright State

University in Dayton, Ohio, as well as an M.A. and

Ph.D. in Applied Experimental Psychology from the

Catholic University of America.

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MICHAEL MATOSAssistant Librarian

Michael Matos came to the American University Library

in 2007. His innovative work as the subject liaison for

the Kogod School of Business convinced the Library of

the importance of linking librarians directly to academ-

ic programs. Michael was the first Research, Teaching,

and Learning librarian to offer on-site office hours in the

Kogod Building, a practice that is now the standard for

our embedded librarians.

Understanding that research and writing are an iterative

process, Michael began working as a writing and presen-

tation coach part-time within the Kogod Center for Business Communications (KCBC) in fall 2010. This expanded

involvement with the school allows him to better understand the research process of the business students and to

help cross-train writing instructors on resources available for special assignments. The blurring of the lines of aca-

demic support has led to students receiving more holistic assistance from the Library and KCBC.

Michael is very involved with Kogod’s Annual Case Competition, a college-wide competition for undergraduate and

graduate teams held each February. The winning graduate team goes on to a regional case competition. Competing

teams receive the case on a Wednesday and present on Saturday morning to panels of external judges. While the

competition rules prohibit shaping a team’s research process, Michael has supported hundreds of students over the

years.

In addition, Michael has helped create a tablet-compatible research portal for the Professional MBA program. He

has offered training on the use of business databases for research, worked with Economics PhD students to collect

material that supports their dissertation work, and also teaches classes in the Kogod School of Business Informa-

tion Technology department. Michael’s dedication to integrating Kogod and the Library has paid off tremendously,

and his innovations have helped the Library develop our current subject librarian model.

STAFF & FACULTY PROFILESSTAFF & FACULTY PROFILES

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MOLLY HUBBSVisual Media Collections Coordinator

Molly Hubbs’s fascination with movies started as a child

growing up in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and became an

academic and professional interest when she earned

her B.A. from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and M.A.

from NYU in Cinema Studies. In 2009, she returned to

D.C. and worked for FilmFest DC, DC Shorts, and other

area film festivals. She has also been a contributor to

the American Archive of Public Television. Through

her work at the Bullis School Summer Programs, Molly

taught local kids about video production.

Molly joined American University in 2012. As the Visual Media Collections Coordinator, she maintains the video

collections and organizes the preservation of out-of-release and at-risk video items. She has started to build a digi-

tal collection of all American University produced video content as a resource for both historians and the AU com-

munity. In addition to serving the AU community, she continues to keep her pulse on the local film scene by volun-

teering with various D.C. film organizations and events.

Molly also created the AU Library and Media Services Pinterest pages. The creation of these pages helped the Li-

brary land the #4 spot on LibraryScienceList.com’s 100 Most Social Media Friendly College & University Libraries

for 2013. By offering easily searchable lists of film categories like Best Picture Winners and Staff Recommendations,

Molly has made the Media Services Pinterest page a huge hit on campus!

“During my two years in AU’s Department of Literature master’s program, I used

AU Library’s journal database constantly—not only for research, but also to grow

and develop my own curiosity in the field. Now as an alumni, I relish my contin-

ued access to these databases as I prepare for conference presentations and fur-

ther academic pursuits. This service provided by Bender Library is an exceptional

perk—and just one of the many reasons I’m so pleased to call myself an AU Eagle.”

—Roxana Hadadi, CAS/MA ’13

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LOOKING FORWARDLOOKING FORWARD

The planning and projects the Library has embarked on in the past year reflect the issues that many academic librar-

ies and higher education institutions are wrestling with. What do our students and researchers want? What do they

need in order to be successful? How is the research landscape changing and how do we continue to be the expert re-

search guides, the keepers of knowledge (in any format), the partners in new knowledge creation amid the changes?

We are addressing these questions along several strategic directions. One is the planning of the Research Commons.

This will bring several campus partners together to offer more integrated research, writing, presentation, and quan-

titative analysis coaching in one place. We have engaged a consulting firm to help us think through the space deci-

sions—things like how much of our space should be dedicated to collections versus student space and workspace,

what needs to be next to what, what will our services be and how much room do they need, and so on.

For faculty research, we are hiring a research data librarian who will help us tackle the emerging issues around data

sets, access to data, creation and use of data, and long-term preservation. We will be inviting faculty to the newly

created Scholarly Communications Colloquium, a lecture series featuring experts from American University and

the larger academic community that will look at how scholarship is measured, evolving publishing models, and

knowledge creation and preservation in the digital age.

New distance education and online learning programs continue to grow, and the Library is committed to creating

robust remote library services for these far-flung communities of students. This includes making more materials

available online, creating tutorials, improving catalog searching and discoverability, and supporting teaching facul-

ty through technology as they change their pedagogy.

Finally, we plan to continue seeking information from our library users themselves, so that we can uncover their

needs and then work to meet them—whether it’s improving the study experience in the library through new fur-

niture, making the stacks easier to use through better labeling, or providing cutting-edge technology such as a 3D

printer. Being the best library we can be is what drives us, what keeps us evolving and trying new things, what keeps

us going through changes that challenge us.

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If you would like to support our efforts, visit http://www.american.edu/library/friends/support.cfm

and become a Friend of AU Library today!