american university library annual report fy ’13
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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!
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